The Third Girl

Molly Sutton Mysteries #1

by Nell Goddin

Boston girl Molly Sutton moves to a small village in France to lick her wounds after a divorce. Castillac is charming, the croissants amazing, the wine delectable. Molly's new life is full of contentment, if a bit short on excitement. But then a girl goes missing...and Molly's world gets turned upside down. Truth be told, no one in the village feels safe. They struggle to believe such darkness could exist in a friendly village, where people spend most of their time thinking about nothing more frightening than what to have for lunch. And when the missing girl's distraught parents come to stay at Molly's bed and breakfast, she is drawn into the case, like it or not. Will Molly and the French detective figure out what happened to Amy Bennett before someone else disappears?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, France, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy, Contemporary

278 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2015

About the author

She has worked as a radio reporter, SAT tutor, short-order omelet chef, and baker. She tried waitressing but was fired twice.

Nell grew up in Richmond, Virginia and has lived in New England, New York City, and France. Currently she's back in Virginia with teenagers and far too many pets. She has degrees from Dartmouth College and Columbia University.

Reviews

[Sharon Dodge · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author could do very interesting things in the future, but for the most part, this book reminded me of why mystery genre conventions exist--and why they shouldn't be flouted until you're a lot more senior. The most distracting of these departures is pacing; the scenes flipflop at irregular, often confusing intervals, and I never understood why some characters' POV was provided. Still, that's mostly experience, and I'd be quick to overlook most of the time. But there were also simply plenty of choices I just don't understand.

In the first chapter Goddin provides a flashback of the murderer's childhood along with his name, leaving you to wonder why you're reading a mystery when she unveiled the murderer in the opening scene. She seems to attempt to mitigate this by providing childhood scenes of a few other characters, but the murderer's childhood is obviously the memorable one, and the red herrings do nothing to distract you. (Edited to add: I was also especially confused when Lapin is interviewed and he hesitates to admit what happened after he walked the drunken victim out of the bar. When he won't answer, the obvious answer which our detective should have intuited is that he put her in a taxi, what is apparently the only taxi in town, driven by our murderer who was already clearly identified earlier. It was so obvious that I really did begin to doubt everything and read through to the end mostly to see if there was something entirely different going on that I'd missed. There wasn't.)

Yet at the same time, key clues are kept from the reader so that you can't attempt to solve it alongside the strangely disinterested heroine (possibly I missed them, but I've been reading mysteries avidly for thirty years), and in an incredibly bizarre move, the author skips the climax - the terrifying moment when Our Heroine figures out the murderer, and he begins hunting her. It just skips to the next day with a vague summary of what happened! All that tension, built up for nothing. What a waste.

On top of that, I felt dubious over the character's a) ability to open a b&b legally in France as a foreign resident b) extra dubious that she got the house ready for visitors in 3 days and c) overwhelmingly dubious that she made close friends in a week in a small tight-knit community when her college French has been presumably out of use for twenty years.

Although I really do want to attend their village party. Excellent, excellent sounding party.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took a long time to find interest in the characters in this book especially the protagonist, Molly. She was scattered, shallow, and had very few redeeming qualities. The other characters, again, were more self-serving than working towards the ultimate goal of finding what happened to the missing college student. I trudged through and finished. Not sure I would ever take the time to read any more books in this series.

[Chantel DaCosta · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first Nell Goddin novel and the story's premise was good and was set up to be a cozy mystery. I have always enjoyed these stories even if they are formulaic but somehow this first Molly Sutton mystery fell flat. Molly is new to Castiallac and for an American expat living alone in France Molly's attitude and actions felt false. She seems far removed from the actions of investigation and instead the police officers were far more keen on solving the mystery. This was also told from multiple POVs, featuring Molly, the detectives and also flashback scenes from a view characters. The mystery of it all was slow to wrap up and unlike other cozy mysteries the reader isn't given enough clues to help the main amatuer sleuth crack the case.

There are also several instances where the story line gets chopped. As a reader there are exceptions of certain interactions to play out but instead these are not shared and only brief synopsis are given from snippets of community gossip.

I like the little community and I may read book two in the series. Nell Goddin has a good idea to work with so maybe the series and Molly's investigative skills and intuition improved in book two.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my!! I couldn't believe he was the murderer...

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was entertaining and lovable, and I'm definitely a fan of the series after reading this! There's just something about this book that grabbed me from the first page, I fell head over heels into Molly's world; her excitement at living in France, seeing it all for the first time, it felt like I was seeing it too (I've never been to France, so I enjoyed exploring the countryside through her eyes.) Maybe it was the colorful characters or the beautiful setting, all drawn as rich as French food. Maybe it was the easy way the story progressed, with the characters evolving with the story. I liked how effortlessly it segued between the point of views of several of the characters and even how it segued between the French and English characters. The intriguing plot, surrounding the disappearance of a local art school student, had many suspects and I didn't suspect who the murderer was until the very end of the book, just before the MC did. Very well crafted! The only criticism I have is the ending wasn't entirely satisfying. At the pivotal point, the action cut off, then went to Molly telling everyone what happened. It was a bit of a let down for me, but not enough to put me off the series. Loved it!

[Johanna (jojreads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Admittedly, I was painting and not paying close attention for a majority of this book, but I would say about 90% of the story lacked any compelling events to interest me in the plot line. Finally in the last few minutes of the book the murderer is at last revealed when he goes after the main character. At last! Something interesting! But no. We never really get to discover how the murder was caught and the whole scene is glossed over. Very anticlimactic, unsure I would read/listen to further in this series.

[F J Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good premise, disappointing execution

I was attracted by the idea of a plot set in rural France but the result failed to demonstrate it. A few French words and passing references to cuisine does not portray French village life. Characters were not convincing and somewhat stereotyped and lacked any depth. The 'red herrings' did not really add to the suspense and the final resolution seemed contrived and simplistic as though the writer had run out of ideas.

[Pragati Bidkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The statistics can't be wrong! This is mentioned time and again in The Third Girl. But what statistics? That is never clearly mentioned.

The book maintains the intrigue without going into too much unpleasantness or gory stuff. There is a Gothic element. Many people 'feel' something bad is about to happen. Village life in France is painted as idyllic but not perfect. No matter where you go, there will always be some crime. The author drives home this point through the story.

Molly Sutton voraciously consumes baked goods and weeds her garden. She makes friends with people and feels at home in her new surroundings. She stumbles upon a crime if only by serendipity.

Overall, there is plenty of suspense and intrigue to keep you turning pages, and the background plot is one that will endure for many books to come.

A good find for sure.

[Sandra Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

Loved it. A nice mystery with no sex. Great book for anyone who likes a nice clean mystery. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was “recommended” to me after I put two others into my hold list at the library. The premise sounded fun. But I very nearly gave up about 30% through. I only kept reading because I kept hoping it would get better. It didn’t.
The basic story started well enough - young woman goes through an unpleasant divorce and decides (seemingly on a whim?) to buy a centuries-old farmhouse, site unseen, with a couple of out buildings in France. The timelines get so convoluted - she moves to this farmhouse (I think it’s a farmhouse - the name of it translates as best as I can figure out to “shack”), cleans it up, renovates a cottage on the property, sets up her b&b business, and has two different couples within a week of setting foot on French soil. Seems like within hours of our American hero moving in there’s a disappearance of one of the (conveniently) American students at the prestigious local art school. Our heroine is, naturally, caught up in the worry and brainstorming immediately because, even within that first week, she’s completely accepted by the villagers. The missing girl’s parents come from the US and (also conveniently) stay our protagonist’s b&b, staying hidden inside for most of what seems to be less than ten days because they’re so depressed. It’s understandable why they’re upset but it also seems that most of the characters in the book have negative attitudes toward life in general so they fit right in. And lo and behold, in the end, our protagonist not only finds the body (sad because the reader is sort of strung along with the hope that the missing girl is just missing and not murdered) but she also solves the murder.
The timeline for all of this to happen was too short to be remotely realistic. The characters, for the most part, were absolutely not developed, and there were grammatical errors periodically. I spent 40 years writing construction specifications so even small grammar issues frequently spoil things for me even if everything else is wonderful. And I’m still trying to work out what a “cantilevered skylight” is. I’m just ever so glad that I didn’t buy this book.

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Third Girl lovely! The first in a new mystery series, set in a small village in France. The protagonist, Molly, just has purchased and opened a small bed and breakfast type establishment as she finds her feet after a divorce. The village is home to a small exclusive art school and one of the students goes missing and though Molly does not set out to investigate she becomes mixed up in the case.

The strong point of this book is the sense of place. You come away feeling that you really know the community, the village in France, the people, the cafe, the neighbor who hangs out her La Perla lingerie, the barman and the police officers. That is what really drew me into this book. The mystery was entertaining and wrapped up well in the end. There were enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[John Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now please dont get me wrong as many of my favourite authors are women but others, especially when writing about youngish single/divorced scatty types leave me fuming and the book consigned to early rest in the waste paper.
On the plus side here I had a mystery (tick) set in the french countryside ( tres bon ) so I decided to give it a go. I have to admit to a few worries as our heroine arrives at her new home ( do people really buy new homes for themselves in foreign countries without seeing them first?)

Ms Goddon's description of the village francais certainly matched the likes of those from Martin Walker's Inspector Bruno series and the books by Jean Luc Bennelec set on the Brittany coast. She captures the atmosphere brilliantly right down to the delicious moment as you enter the patiserrie. or a favourite bar.

I have a couple of moans with the story and maybe if you have not read the book then you better stop reading here. The first and most significant, comes under the heading of "Would it happen like that?"I find it difficult to believe that with such a serious crime as this (especially with two earlier similarities) a different Law Enforcement Agency would not have been quickly on the scene whether or not the local Gendarmerie "chose" to investigate..
The second moan is from the point of view of the armchair sleuth who had precious little to go on in the way of clues.

So over all did I enjoy it? Yes, I did. I could see a couple of avenues that the author has left free to explore and there is always the patiserrie to enjoy . Will I be on the look out for number 2 ? Again , perhaps rather surprisingly, Yes. May be I might try a negroni to get me in the mood next time !

[Lise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t love this book. I enjoyed the setting but Molly was not my favorite main character. Molly thought a lot but didn’t do much but weed her garden while listening to blues music, walk to town for pastries or drink kir at the bar while gossiping. Also she is stupidly careless with her own safety knowing there’s a abductor/murderer in their town. For example: “Molly was quite happy to be living alone, thank you very much, and she was not going to get frightened just because some young girl ran off with somebody else’s boyfriend. She stayed firm in her belief that her new country was much safer than her former one. Spitefully— although whom she was spiting was a little unclear —she left the French doors to the terrace not only unlocked but cracked open that night.” Why? She and everyone else know the girl didn’t run off so why be that willfully stupid? Also why walk alone out into the countryside without mace? (Again left at home because she’s not afraid.)

Molly also just does stupid stuff like “ordering what she’s drinking” rather than think for herself then is surprised when the drink is terrible. “She narrowed her eyes at her drink and then took a long slurp of it, hating it but wanting to be done, making herself drink it instead of ordering something else as a kind of penance. Penance for what, was not clear.” Again, why? Molly doesn’t seem to like herself much so I don’t either. I found myself almost wanting her to be the fourth girl.

[Dick R. McCart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite up to middling

Molly, the lead character, is a bit of a light weight. She worries about a killer ranging free, but takes walks in secluded places frequently. She gets very rattled over mildly stressful things. The way she figures things out is not as interesting as it could be. The French police take up about a fourth of the story and act with more sense. After all, the book is a cozy and falls within that range. The French location and food were fun, and it is a fast read..

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the setting of the story, being in a village in France, and Molly’s day to day life in this village. Also Molly and her friends characters were all very interesting to me. Part I didn’t like was the mystery and how it was resolved. Also I did not understand the purpose of the flash back stories which were only composed of 1-2 sentences!! What was they supposed to tell or reveal??
All together, I don’t mind reading the other books in the series just to know what will happen to the people of the village !

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5. This is more of a cozy than I usually read. I am sort of on a "bender" reading fiction with memorable settings. The setting of this novel is lovingly depicted, somewhat making up for the fact that the mystery is predictable. I might not read another in the series, but I would love to visit this part of France.

[Melissa Abelev · Rating 1 out of 5]

So bad I skipped the last third just to get to "whodunnit" and be over with it .. a girl goes missing and the cops don't even start to investigate? I don't know anything about France, but I'm pretty sure they would start investigating. She's missing for 10 days before they even start talking to the prime suspects? Give me a break...

[Carolyn Breckinridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Third Girl' by Nell Goddin is an interesting interplay between the flighty, immature thoughts and behaviors of the mystery's main character, Molly Sutton, and the disappearance of a young British art student (the third woman to disappear from the village). The other characters in the village of Castillac are also complicated and flawed, and interactions among them serve as the backdrop for the story. Thus, the reader is simultaneously being introduced to expensive underwear hanging in the sun to dry, vicariously enjoying Molly's bakery-purchased croissants, and feeling the grief of the missing girl's parents. While the mystery takes center stage, village life is nearly a character unto itself--the dynamics among the persons who inhabit this rather insular, small community. Ms. Goddin's writing style is clear and at times, her descriptions are stunning. The only aspect of the book I found a little off-putting was the time-hops to the childhoods of several of the villagers, despite the fact they were dated as such. The mystery itself intensifies as the book moves along, the main character appears to grow emotionally somewhat, and the author kept me guessing incorrectly until the very end. She provided plenty of suspects but kept the clues in clear sight all the while. It was fun to visit a small French village for a couple of weeks and I will definitely read the next in the Molly Sutton series, which I believe currently consists of six books.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forty-something, recently divorced Molly Sutton moves to a classic French village to begin a new life as the proprietor of a classic French gite (B&B). She falls in love with the ambiance and the villagers and already has some bookings. When a gifted English art student disappears, Those in town are especially worried, because two other young women disappeared a year or so earlier. Is there a serial killer living among them?

The gendarmerie begin investigating, but there is frustratingly little to go on. The narrative switches between the work of the three officers and Molly’s observations of the reactions of her new neighbors. There are a few moments of mild suspense, but basically The Third Girl fits snugly into the cozy genre. While there is plenty of conversation there isn’t much action. Surprisingly when the setting is in the south of France, the author frequently mentions the beauty and charm of the village without actually describing it. With the exception of Molly herself, the characters are rather bland, and Molly is prone to making iffy decisions based upon emotion. As for the mystery, there are no clues that could lead the reader to discover whodunnit.

Yawn.

[Anastasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Third Girl by Nell Goddin is the first book in the Molly Sutton Mysteries series. Following her marriage break-up. Molly Sutton moves to a village in France and becomes embroiled in a local student's disappearance. I found it difficult to get into this book as it took a while for there actually to have an investigation into the case and everything just happened by chance. The mystery seemed more of a background story rather than the focus. A bit disappointing for a mystery novel.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very solid start to this mystery series. I really enjoyed it and the murderer was a complete surprise.

I also liked how the author populated and created her world. You had a very strong sense of place and I really enjoyed the character of Molly, recent divorcee starting afresh. I will definitely keep an eye out for this author.

[David Schwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun start to a series of books about a woman who gets divorced and moves from Boston to a small village in the south of France. Part of her reason for moving is that she expects life to be safer (less crime filled), only to find out a local art student is missing. Quick, fun read.

[Cassandra Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah to live in France!! Great introduction to some colorful characters. Good story line and had several plot twists and kept me guessing throughout. Definitely can’t wait to listen to more in this series.

[Marguerite Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

France is always a good thing. A thirty-eight-year-old divorcee claims that statement. Is a small French village still the right move when a murderer is wandering the streets? Enjoy a host of new characters in a fresh "Who dun it?"

[Releanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

a pleasant cozy mystery, with nice French village, but a bit on the flat side with character development and solving the mystery.

[Annette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Molly isn’t doing for me. I even tried to go audio. I love the French feel but the story’s too slow.

[Sandy Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book was the description of the French village, the countryside, and the food. As far as a mystery, it was all right. There are several books in the series, and I would probably read another of these books if I could get it at the library.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Gaylen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, Molly Sutton is a very relatable and all the people in the little french village are interesting and fun.

[Melody Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a hankering now for croissants. And kir. And aperitifs.