The Only Girl Left Alive

A McClintock-Carter Crime Thriller #3

by Susan Lund

A serial child killer plays with authorities and plans his next kill...

Investigative reporter Tess McClintock and FBI Special Agent Michael Carter track down clues in the most important cold case to them both -- the disappearance of Tess's friend Lisa Tate, who went missing from Michael's back yard almost twenty years earlier. Working together, they uncover evidence that suggests a different killer than the police and FBI have identified.

One mistake by the killer leads Tess to take risks to find out the truth, putting herself in danger

The chilling conclusion to the crime thriller series, THE ONLY GIRL LEFT ALIVE follows Tess and Michael as they search for the truth about the case that links them together and which sent them both on the path back to Paradise Hill.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Fiction

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2019

About the author

Susan Lund is an emerging author of psychological thrillers featuring amateur sleuth and crime reporter Tess McClintock and her partner, FBI Special Agent Michael Carter.

Reviews

[Cassandra C. Beach · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been a winner...

...if it had been one book, instead of three. It was not a true trilogy. It was one story dragged out over three books. As such, the story became dragged out, repetitive and often boring.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Justice for all? The final book in this series brings us a thrilling conclusion. I think if the author removed the repetitive conversations between characters and the characters’ inner dialogues perhaps there might have been one incredible book instead of three rather boring books in a trilogy. The storyline and character development was well designed but the dialogues monotonous as history, rationales and conversations were repeated throughout the entire trilogy. The only redemption was that the plot was interesting and engaging.

[Nikki Stinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but didn’t like how the story was dragged out into 3 books, one book would have been nice, especially since the readers figured out the killer in book 1. I felt like there was a lot of “fluff” and repetitive stuff to drag it out, some of it I grazed over to get through it faster. It kept me wanting to read the next books and continue, only because I wanted to see how the story played out.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Serial Killer

In my opinion, this book should have been one book rather than three. I wanted to read the ending, but had to buy books that, in my opinion, were stretched to the maximum.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story did not disappoint, at least not until the very end. I am reducing my rating by one star because of that ending. In spite of that this series held me tight to the end.

I love that Tess is going to give the FBI a go. I love that she and Michael Carter developed such a great relationship. I loved Michael's mother. I was intrigued by the POV of the killer and that he was so fully ingrained in the lives and minds of the small town he lived in he was invisible as a potential suspect.

Here is what I didn't like:

1) Chief Joe, the cop of this small town, telling his adopted son and anyone else who asks about an ongoing investigation.
2) Tess and Michael both deciding that the one girl who was left alive was now so entrenched in her life of being a sex slave that she would not want to be rescued.
They both obviously valued her less because she had been sold as a child to the sex trade. I realize the rescue of Lisa could be a whole other book, and I would read that book.

I won't give any other potential spoilers and I really enjoyed this three book series. I would read more about Tess as an FBI agent if that happens.

[Kirsten Jaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back up in a trilogy

Limited uselessness this is more where book 2 should have picked up. Again writer is quite good, no weird stuff this time other then her use of the d10 gene....it is in adhd type of neurological issues not psychopaths or sociopaths(can be but not exclusive) ending predictible but hey it's a trilogy and someone's writing about a woman lead...the plot hole boy remain plot hole like but not a large one so he's excused. It's more a summer beach book...if she'd cut all the nonsense out and had it as one book rather then goin for the mean green with 3. But it...But only to finish if you can't bum a friend's kindle that bought it.

[Sue Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this trilogy but like some other reviewers, felt that there was a lot of filler - repetition & inner thoughts - that were extraneous.
The writing is good enough that I wanted to find out who did it but it did mean buying all 3 books which was a bit annoying when 1 book would have done.
I liked the characters & might want to follow them in subsequent books.
It wasn't always pleasant reading but nevertheless, good plot.

[Sarahtimms · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good yarn

I enjoyed these three books, the story is good and I found the main characters well rounded, believable and very likeable. My only gripe is that as this has been split into three books (it is really only one) some of it is a bit repetitive incase someone has joined the trilogy part way in.

[Donna Engler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes. It was exciting.

So much perversion has happened and is discussed, reading about it was not relaxing or pleasurable. Having to read three books to finally find the ending seemed like a lot. I prefer books that stand alone. Tess and Michael are good characters, but even their romance didn’t have a totally satisfying conclusion. They could have at least become engaged.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good FBI / Crime Trilogy

I read all three of Susan Lund’s McClintock-Carter Crime Thriller Trilogy books. Once you read the first story, you must read the two following stories. These books will keep you on edge reading into the night. Recommended to anyone who enjoys good crime thrillers.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This “trilogy” is a good story that would have been made even better had the 3 books been combined into one. To make 3 books, there is a lot of repetition and a lot of “filler”.
Don’t start #1 unless you want to read all 3 (#1 is free; the other 2 must be purchased). The story doesn’t wrap up until the end of #3

[Dee Boslet · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

I'm so excited to get to the end of this trilogy
But even more so, I'm sad because of its end. All three books were excellent. The author was sure to keep you interested and on the edge of your seat. You will be surprised to see how fast the reading is because you never want to sit the books down. Another big win for your MUST read list

[Srinivas · Rating 1 out of 5]

A story which atmost can be a single book is stretched into a trilogy. In part 2 & 3 books 90% is repetitive of what was already present in book 1. Very boring to read same thing repeated multiple times. Actual story itself is very lame, predictable and no different to many run-of-the-mill serial killer books. Save your time and avoid this trilogy

[Tizzy Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Each of these books leads to to the next. This is the last in the series and is a nail biter. At the end everything comes out and the serial.killer is caught. The road to that end is full of twists and unexpected turns. Well worth the price and time spent reading!

[Yvonne F Lochner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller

I was hooked when I read the first book in the trilogy. This led me to the next two books. They were hard to put down until I finished them. I’m looking forward to the next release.

[Judith Ingersoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

McClintock-Carter Series

If you are a fan of the macabre, and chilling suspense then you will enjoy this series of books. Very well written and a great read. Will look forward to more books by this author.

[Melodi Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I enjoyed this book in the series. Suspenseful, romance and murder all in one. Hard to but down. Loved the characters, one a crime writer and the other a FBI detective. They share the same passion about their work. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the three books were edited to become one, it would be a best seller. It is a shame the author dragged this out, repeating what we already know. The author is a very good writer but needs to stay away from the trilogy books and concentrate on just one.

[Tay Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting thriller!

This is a good series. The characters are strong with human flaws. The plot is easy to follow with just the right amount of twists. Would recommend to other lovers of thrillers.

[Catriona Kupper · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting finish to three books which achieved a action fueled roller coaster ride throughout. The author expertly kept the reader entertained, horrified an excited enough to immediately pick up th next book in line.

[Winnie Margolis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like these books in this three book series. However, I kept skipping sentences and paragraphs due to the author constantly repeating herself. At the last book, I just wanted to know how they were going to get the bad guy up in the end. The rest of the story I didn’t really care about. Too repetitive.

W

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why 3 books?

If Lund had a good editor to eliminate repetitive ruminations about who the killer might be, this could have been 1 novel. The breaks between the 3 books didn't even make sense.

[Kersia Yarnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand that it’s a series but I felt like it dragged too much. Felt like a repeating cycle and wording. Definitely not for people that might have a fear of hearing child rape/kidnapping. But overall okay.

[Simone Padfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astounding

Unputdownable. This trilogy was fantastic. I just had to keep reading til the end. Looking forward to reading more from Susan lund.

[Julie Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one in a series, but well worth a summer read! Susan Lund has a fresh style -very easy to follow each characters as well as the story development. The ending was not what I expected..

[Meg Sokorai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Wrapup

A great wrap up to the series. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Can't wait to read the next series. a fun read.

[Steve Wyllie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an outstanding series!

[Terry Hillier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Good and quick page turner

[Amity · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please don’t read this book

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 3 had a much stronger ending.