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Girls Like Us
The instant New York Times bestseller, for the first time in mass Worlds collide when an FBI agent investigates a string of grisly murders on Long Island and faces the impossible What happens when the primary suspect is your father?
FBI agent Nell Flynn hasn't been home in ten years. Nell and her father, Homicide Detective Martin Flynn, have never had much of a relationship. And Suffolk County will always be awash in memories of her mother, Marisol, who was murdered when Nell was just seven.
When Martin dies in a motorcycle accident, Nell returns to the house where she grew up so that she can spread her father's ashes and close his estate. At the behest of her father's partner, Detective Lee Davis, Nell becomes involved in an investigation into the murders of two young women in Suffolk County. The further Nell digs, the more likely it seems to her that her father should be the primse suspect--and that his friends on the police force are covering his tracks.
Plagued by doubts about her mother's murder, and her own role in exonerating her father in that case, Nell can't help but ask questions about who killed the two women and why. But she may not like the answers she finds--not just about those she loves, but about herself.
FBI agent Nell Flynn hasn't been home in ten years. Nell and her father, Homicide Detective Martin Flynn, have never had much of a relationship. And Suffolk County will always be awash in memories of her mother, Marisol, who was murdered when Nell was just seven.
When Martin dies in a motorcycle accident, Nell returns to the house where she grew up so that she can spread her father's ashes and close his estate. At the behest of her father's partner, Detective Lee Davis, Nell becomes involved in an investigation into the murders of two young women in Suffolk County. The further Nell digs, the more likely it seems to her that her father should be the primse suspect--and that his friends on the police force are covering his tracks.
Plagued by doubts about her mother's murder, and her own role in exonerating her father in that case, Nell can't help but ask questions about who killed the two women and why. But she may not like the answers she finds--not just about those she loves, but about herself.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 2, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,204 reviews
September 26, 2021
Four I’m hooked from the first page, gripping, fast-paced, making me skip lunch and five tea times ( I already lost 3 pounds, so it works better than Keto Diet) and turning pages nonstop to learn how it ends stars!!!
The plot: FBI agent Nell Flynn returns back to her childhood for his estranged police officer father’s sudden death from motorcycle accident. She finds herself involve into the investigation of grisly murders of young girls and search of a serial killer.
The story progression: As soon as she starts digging more about murders, she finds out her father might have involved. She found his offshore bank account, an apartment lease for a young Latina girl, one of the victim’s cell phone and photos of victims at her father’s place. Considering his father’s anger management issues and alcoholism, barely raising her alone because of her mother’s violent murder, increase the suspicions over him!
The characters: Nell acts like rough, introvert, loner, a typical tomboy. But she’s smart. She can catch the subtleties efficiently. She acts nonchalant, but she’s emotional, hurt, shaken and she needs to make peace with her past to move on!
This book keeps your attention alert, pumping adrenaline, endorphin into your veins, makes you feel like you finished a marathon, sweaty, breathless, smelling.
But you finally realized all the pieces of puzzle have found the right places so you may get a proper and peaceful sleep.
One part about one of my favorite character broke my part. Maybe I shouldn’t connect them so easily. It always makes me feel like I get the news that one of my best TV series is canceled! (As the most mature reaction, I start to cry and scream “WHHYYYY”! So what happens in fiction world should stay in fiction world, right?)
As a summary: I like it a lot. Better than most crime thrillers with satisfying ending and smartly story development. If you keen on this genre, it’s a great “finished at one sit” book for you.
The plot: FBI agent Nell Flynn returns back to her childhood for his estranged police officer father’s sudden death from motorcycle accident. She finds herself involve into the investigation of grisly murders of young girls and search of a serial killer.
The story progression: As soon as she starts digging more about murders, she finds out her father might have involved. She found his offshore bank account, an apartment lease for a young Latina girl, one of the victim’s cell phone and photos of victims at her father’s place. Considering his father’s anger management issues and alcoholism, barely raising her alone because of her mother’s violent murder, increase the suspicions over him!
The characters: Nell acts like rough, introvert, loner, a typical tomboy. But she’s smart. She can catch the subtleties efficiently. She acts nonchalant, but she’s emotional, hurt, shaken and she needs to make peace with her past to move on!
This book keeps your attention alert, pumping adrenaline, endorphin into your veins, makes you feel like you finished a marathon, sweaty, breathless, smelling.
But you finally realized all the pieces of puzzle have found the right places so you may get a proper and peaceful sleep.
One part about one of my favorite character broke my part. Maybe I shouldn’t connect them so easily. It always makes me feel like I get the news that one of my best TV series is canceled! (As the most mature reaction, I start to cry and scream “WHHYYYY”! So what happens in fiction world should stay in fiction world, right?)
As a summary: I like it a lot. Better than most crime thrillers with satisfying ending and smartly story development. If you keen on this genre, it’s a great “finished at one sit” book for you.
September 22, 2019
Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger is a G.P. Putnam's Sons publication.
Another winner for Christina Alger!!
FBI agent, Nell Flynn is having a hard go of it, lately. Her career is teetering on the edge because she is avoiding the necessary therapy required to return to work after killing a man and taking a bullet in the line of duty. Then her father, from whom she is estranged, dies in a motorcycle accident, forcing her to return home to plan his funeral and get his estate in order.
But, when an old friend, who happens to be a homicide detective, asks Nell to quietly advise him with the investigation of two murdered women, she agrees to help. However, the case takes a twisted, horrifying turn when the evidence points to her own father as the prime suspect.
Wow. This book is a real mind-bender. The atmosphere is thick enough to slice with a knife, creating a palpable sense of dread. The murder investigation delves into topics that feel like an eerie premonition of current headlines. The author did an amazing job bringing key issues to the forefront in a realistic, eye-opening manner. Nell’s character is extremely well-drawn and her first -person narrative is haunting and quite effective.
I was sucked into the story immediately and sat on pins and needles from beginning to end. Although one can see where the story is probably headed, there are some truly shocking twists and big reveals that took me completely by surprise. The suspense builds to a near fever pitch, then hits you with a gut-wrenching sucker punch to the emotions. I love it when a book holds me firmly in its grip the way this one did.
Overall, this is a solid page-turning thriller!!
Another winner for Christina Alger!!
FBI agent, Nell Flynn is having a hard go of it, lately. Her career is teetering on the edge because she is avoiding the necessary therapy required to return to work after killing a man and taking a bullet in the line of duty. Then her father, from whom she is estranged, dies in a motorcycle accident, forcing her to return home to plan his funeral and get his estate in order.
But, when an old friend, who happens to be a homicide detective, asks Nell to quietly advise him with the investigation of two murdered women, she agrees to help. However, the case takes a twisted, horrifying turn when the evidence points to her own father as the prime suspect.
Wow. This book is a real mind-bender. The atmosphere is thick enough to slice with a knife, creating a palpable sense of dread. The murder investigation delves into topics that feel like an eerie premonition of current headlines. The author did an amazing job bringing key issues to the forefront in a realistic, eye-opening manner. Nell’s character is extremely well-drawn and her first -person narrative is haunting and quite effective.
I was sucked into the story immediately and sat on pins and needles from beginning to end. Although one can see where the story is probably headed, there are some truly shocking twists and big reveals that took me completely by surprise. The suspense builds to a near fever pitch, then hits you with a gut-wrenching sucker punch to the emotions. I love it when a book holds me firmly in its grip the way this one did.
Overall, this is a solid page-turning thriller!!
August 24, 2020
Nell Flynn is an FBI agent who hasn't been home in ten years. Now she is back because her police detective dad had died in a motorcycle accident and she needs to scatter his ashes and deal with his home, will, and then leave Suffolk County behind forever. Her hometown really doesn't have good memories for her since her mom was murdered in their home when she was seven, and her distant, prone to anger dad, didn't make growing up a pleasant experience. Nell is happiest living out of a suitcase, on the road all the time, investigating cases on her own, working all the time. People are not her thing, work is what she loves and does and working is when she feels the most comfortable.
The young partner of Nell's dad, Lee Davis, asks her to collaborate on a grisly murder investigation of two young sex workers and there are signs that their murders could be the work of a serial killer. It's clear to Nell that law enforcement in Suffolk County is corrupt and several people on the police force could be involved in crimes that include murder. In fact, the more Nell learns, the more she wonders if her dad could have killed her mother all those years ago and might have killed the young sex workers. Nell realizes there are few people she can trust and that even her life may be in danger. This is a very grim, gritty, story and I enjoyed a lot but there is very little happiness to be found in Nell's life and the book. I wouldn't mind reading more about Nell's work and future if there is ever a sequel. She is one no nonsense woman who has no time for fluff in her life.
Fingers crossed for a sequel because Nell is a great character! Published July 2nd 2019
Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for this ARC.
The young partner of Nell's dad, Lee Davis, asks her to collaborate on a grisly murder investigation of two young sex workers and there are signs that their murders could be the work of a serial killer. It's clear to Nell that law enforcement in Suffolk County is corrupt and several people on the police force could be involved in crimes that include murder. In fact, the more Nell learns, the more she wonders if her dad could have killed her mother all those years ago and might have killed the young sex workers. Nell realizes there are few people she can trust and that even her life may be in danger. This is a very grim, gritty, story and I enjoyed a lot but there is very little happiness to be found in Nell's life and the book. I wouldn't mind reading more about Nell's work and future if there is ever a sequel. She is one no nonsense woman who has no time for fluff in her life.
Fingers crossed for a sequel because Nell is a great character! Published July 2nd 2019
Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for this ARC.
July 16, 2019
4.5 stars!
Loved the characters! Loved the atmosphere! Loved the storyline!
Twelve years after moving away, FBI agent Nell Flynn, returns to her small seaside hometown to handle closing her father’s estate. Nell’s mother was murdered when Nell was a child and since then, she and her father, a police detective, had a rocky relationship. When Nell was old enough to be on her own, she left her hometown and never looked back. Now that she is back in her childhood town following her father’s death, old memories return and she is drawn to looking into some unanswered questions about her past. Shortly after her arrival, a dead body is found and Nell finds herself helping the local police investigate. Could the body be connected to one of her father’s old cases?
These characters were fantastic! I ADORED Nell! She was such a strong yet vulnerable character who I was rooting for from start to finish. Each character carried an air of mystery which kept me curious to see how things would play out. The atmosphere was thick and engrossing throughout this thrilling and edgy storyline which had me flipping the pages as quickly as possible. I really enjoyed the writing – the pace and flow of the story was excellent. I look forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC to read and review!
Girls Like Us is available now!
Loved the characters! Loved the atmosphere! Loved the storyline!
Twelve years after moving away, FBI agent Nell Flynn, returns to her small seaside hometown to handle closing her father’s estate. Nell’s mother was murdered when Nell was a child and since then, she and her father, a police detective, had a rocky relationship. When Nell was old enough to be on her own, she left her hometown and never looked back. Now that she is back in her childhood town following her father’s death, old memories return and she is drawn to looking into some unanswered questions about her past. Shortly after her arrival, a dead body is found and Nell finds herself helping the local police investigate. Could the body be connected to one of her father’s old cases?
These characters were fantastic! I ADORED Nell! She was such a strong yet vulnerable character who I was rooting for from start to finish. Each character carried an air of mystery which kept me curious to see how things would play out. The atmosphere was thick and engrossing throughout this thrilling and edgy storyline which had me flipping the pages as quickly as possible. I really enjoyed the writing – the pace and flow of the story was excellent. I look forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing me with an ARC to read and review!
Girls Like Us is available now!
July 12, 2019
Cristina Alger has a new fan!🙋🏻♀️ This was a compulsive dark and gritty ride. Nell has returned home to spread her fathersashes, after being gone for 10 years. Nell is a FBI agent who works in the Behavioral Analysis Unit, amd is currently on injury leave after being shot. Nell thought she was just going to stay home long enough to settle her dad’s estate, but she soon finds herself in the middle of a serial murder investigation. An investigation that will expose corruption and reveal secrets that could possibly destroy those close to Nell, including her father’s Legacy. The story drug me down a dark and twisty road with Nell who would stop at nothing to find the truth.
Nell was one strong relentless Bad b*tch. I love her obsession with justice and the truth. I appreciated how hard she fought for these girls even though others thought they were “worthless“. The title of this book is so appropriate. This was a book filled with strong, smart, and spirited women. GIRLS LIKE US!💪🏻An absolute must read for all crime thriller fans! An intricate intriguing story full of well-developed characters and a multi layered Mystery. The perfect summer read! !
*** Big thanks to GP Putnam for my gifted copy ***
Nell was one strong relentless Bad b*tch. I love her obsession with justice and the truth. I appreciated how hard she fought for these girls even though others thought they were “worthless“. The title of this book is so appropriate. This was a book filled with strong, smart, and spirited women. GIRLS LIKE US!💪🏻An absolute must read for all crime thriller fans! An intricate intriguing story full of well-developed characters and a multi layered Mystery. The perfect summer read! !
*** Big thanks to GP Putnam for my gifted copy ***
July 17, 2019
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 A string of grisly murders on Long Island, a serial killer and a BAU profiler with doubts that her father might be the killer - I was ALL IN for this book. I mean, it sounds like it could be an episode of my fave show Criminal Minds. How could I not read it? This book totally lived up to my expectations! If you enjoy mystery thrillers pick this one up - it will not disappoint.
The book was twisty, tension filled and mysterious, the writing was excellent and the main character was a strong, courageous bad a-- female! Nell Flynn hasn't seen her father in 10 years when she is forced to return home following his death. Nell's shaky relationship with her father is about to get even rockier as she is pulled in to a local investigation of a young undocumented latina sex worker that is suspected to be the work of a serial killer. Nell quickly realizes that her old hometown might be harboring deadly secrets and there are few, if any, people she can trust - including her own father.
Girls Like Us kept me on the edge of my seat, furiously turning the pages. I loved that there were so many strong females in positions of power who weren't afraid to do what had to be done in the face of men who were trying to keep them subservient. I also appreciated that these women were duty bound and determined to uncover what happened to these young women and saw them as "girls like us" despite the hometown boy consensus that these undocumented, latina sex workers were "less than" and not worthy of a full blown, intensive investigation. Nell and her FBI crew were definitely the kind of people you want to see in law enforcement and I'm hoping we might see more of them in the future. Hint, hint Cristina Alger! 😉
Huge thank you to Cristina Alger, Putnam Books and Edelweiss for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. Obviously, I loved it! 🥰
The book was twisty, tension filled and mysterious, the writing was excellent and the main character was a strong, courageous bad a-- female! Nell Flynn hasn't seen her father in 10 years when she is forced to return home following his death. Nell's shaky relationship with her father is about to get even rockier as she is pulled in to a local investigation of a young undocumented latina sex worker that is suspected to be the work of a serial killer. Nell quickly realizes that her old hometown might be harboring deadly secrets and there are few, if any, people she can trust - including her own father.
Girls Like Us kept me on the edge of my seat, furiously turning the pages. I loved that there were so many strong females in positions of power who weren't afraid to do what had to be done in the face of men who were trying to keep them subservient. I also appreciated that these women were duty bound and determined to uncover what happened to these young women and saw them as "girls like us" despite the hometown boy consensus that these undocumented, latina sex workers were "less than" and not worthy of a full blown, intensive investigation. Nell and her FBI crew were definitely the kind of people you want to see in law enforcement and I'm hoping we might see more of them in the future. Hint, hint Cristina Alger! 😉
Huge thank you to Cristina Alger, Putnam Books and Edelweiss for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. Obviously, I loved it! 🥰
August 4, 2019
4.5 stars.
What a pleasure it is to read a thriller that doesn't have an unreliable narrator, one which keeps you guessing about every single plot point because you don't know what is true and what is a figment of their imagination!
FBI agent Nell Flynn returns to her childhood home in Long Island's Suffolk County for the first time in 10 years when her father, Martin, a homicide detective, is killed in a motorcycle accident.
Nell and her father were never close, particularly after her mother was brutally murdered when Nell was seven. Even though she followed in Martin's footsteps and became a cop, their relationship was always a bit strained and never really went beyond the exchange of polite information and conversation.
"Dad had an unshakable, almost evangelical sense of right and wrong. But there were contradictions. He loathed drugs but felt comfortable pickling his liver in scotch....The criminals he most despised were abusers of women and children, but I once saw him strike my mother so hard across the face that a red outline of his hand was imprinted on her skin. Dad had his own code. I learned early not to second-guess it. At least, not out loud."
Returning home to Suffolk County awakens a lot of memories for Nell, and she's anxious simply to scatter Martin's ashes, get his house ready to sell, and never return again. But her father's partner, whom she knew from high school, asks for her help investigating the murder of a young woman whose body was found mutilated in a park. It seems this murder is connected to another murder uncovered about a month earlier, which means there very well could be a serial killer on the loose in Suffolk County.
It turns out that Martin was investigating the first murder when he died. While the police seem to have a suspect who looks good for both murders, or at least was involved somehow, they couldn't seem to make the charges stick the first time, but they hope to nail him this time. Nell, however, sees that there are definitive doubts about this man's guilt, yet the police don't seem interested in pursuing any other avenues in terms of a suspect.
The more Nell starts to dig into the lives of the two young women, the more she realizes that there is definitely a second suspect—her father. There are too many coincidences and too many connections. But could her father have been capable of murder? And if he murdered these two women, was he guilty of murdering her mother all those years ago? That question fills Nell with rage and sadness, especially because her seven-year-old self was her father's alibi.
As Nell conducts her own secret investigation, she discovers the murders were part of a much larger operation, involving allegations of police brutality, blackmail, corruption, and prostitution, involving people far beyond Suffolk County. It's easy for the police to write off the two young women as victims because they were undocumented and occasionally worked as escorts, but Nell is determined that their deaths not be in vain���but she doesn't realize what a hornet's nest she's stirred up.
Girls Like Us drew me in from the very first pages and didn't let go until the last. I read the book in one sitting, and stayed up late last night (or this morning, technically) to finish it. There certainly were a few twists I didn't see coming, one which confused me in the way it was initially presented and one which disappointed me a bit, but Cristina Alger didn't let up with the book's pacing until the very end.
Nell is a fantastic character and I wouldn't mind seeing her featured in another book. I've been a big fan of Alger's writing since her first book, and I love the way each book she has written is somewhat different. I had been waiting to read Girls Like Us for a while, and I'm so glad it was as good as I hoped it would be.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
What a pleasure it is to read a thriller that doesn't have an unreliable narrator, one which keeps you guessing about every single plot point because you don't know what is true and what is a figment of their imagination!
FBI agent Nell Flynn returns to her childhood home in Long Island's Suffolk County for the first time in 10 years when her father, Martin, a homicide detective, is killed in a motorcycle accident.
Nell and her father were never close, particularly after her mother was brutally murdered when Nell was seven. Even though she followed in Martin's footsteps and became a cop, their relationship was always a bit strained and never really went beyond the exchange of polite information and conversation.
"Dad had an unshakable, almost evangelical sense of right and wrong. But there were contradictions. He loathed drugs but felt comfortable pickling his liver in scotch....The criminals he most despised were abusers of women and children, but I once saw him strike my mother so hard across the face that a red outline of his hand was imprinted on her skin. Dad had his own code. I learned early not to second-guess it. At least, not out loud."
Returning home to Suffolk County awakens a lot of memories for Nell, and she's anxious simply to scatter Martin's ashes, get his house ready to sell, and never return again. But her father's partner, whom she knew from high school, asks for her help investigating the murder of a young woman whose body was found mutilated in a park. It seems this murder is connected to another murder uncovered about a month earlier, which means there very well could be a serial killer on the loose in Suffolk County.
It turns out that Martin was investigating the first murder when he died. While the police seem to have a suspect who looks good for both murders, or at least was involved somehow, they couldn't seem to make the charges stick the first time, but they hope to nail him this time. Nell, however, sees that there are definitive doubts about this man's guilt, yet the police don't seem interested in pursuing any other avenues in terms of a suspect.
The more Nell starts to dig into the lives of the two young women, the more she realizes that there is definitely a second suspect—her father. There are too many coincidences and too many connections. But could her father have been capable of murder? And if he murdered these two women, was he guilty of murdering her mother all those years ago? That question fills Nell with rage and sadness, especially because her seven-year-old self was her father's alibi.
As Nell conducts her own secret investigation, she discovers the murders were part of a much larger operation, involving allegations of police brutality, blackmail, corruption, and prostitution, involving people far beyond Suffolk County. It's easy for the police to write off the two young women as victims because they were undocumented and occasionally worked as escorts, but Nell is determined that their deaths not be in vain���but she doesn't realize what a hornet's nest she's stirred up.
Girls Like Us drew me in from the very first pages and didn't let go until the last. I read the book in one sitting, and stayed up late last night (or this morning, technically) to finish it. There certainly were a few twists I didn't see coming, one which confused me in the way it was initially presented and one which disappointed me a bit, but Cristina Alger didn't let up with the book's pacing until the very end.
Nell is a fantastic character and I wouldn't mind seeing her featured in another book. I've been a big fan of Alger's writing since her first book, and I love the way each book she has written is somewhat different. I had been waiting to read Girls Like Us for a while, and I'm so glad it was as good as I hoped it would be.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
August 27, 2019
An easy-breezy, entertaining and quick read!
GIRLS LIKE US by CHRISTINA ALGER was an interesting premise with a fabulous and strong female character that mildly held my interest throughout. I was immediately intrigued and thoroughly enjoyed the mystery but felt like I was never fully engaged though. I was a little disappointed with the way a few things played out in the end which lowered my rating to 3 stars.
I enjoyed it just didn't love it as much as I would have liked. It was a much loved book by quite a few other Traveling Friends though so please don't let my rating/review deter you from picking this one up.
3.5 Stars rounded down!
Thank you so much to Edelweiss, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Cristina Alger for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of this book.
Review can also be found on our Two Sisters Lost in a Coulee Reading book blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
GIRLS LIKE US by CHRISTINA ALGER was an interesting premise with a fabulous and strong female character that mildly held my interest throughout. I was immediately intrigued and thoroughly enjoyed the mystery but felt like I was never fully engaged though. I was a little disappointed with the way a few things played out in the end which lowered my rating to 3 stars.
I enjoyed it just didn't love it as much as I would have liked. It was a much loved book by quite a few other Traveling Friends though so please don't let my rating/review deter you from picking this one up.
3.5 Stars rounded down!
Thank you so much to Edelweiss, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Cristina Alger for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of this book.
Review can also be found on our Two Sisters Lost in a Coulee Reading book blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
May 30, 2019
It should have been so simple. FBI agent Nell Flynn hasn’t seen her father in 10 years when she gets news he died in a motorcycle accident. All she has to do is return to Long Island, scatter his ashes & put the house up for sale. Poor Nell…she has no idea her visit will make her rethink everything she thought she knew about about her family & friends.
Nell is on medical leave due to events around her last case. Being back in her childhood home lifts the lid on a lot of memories & that’s amplified when her father’s colleagues begin to drop by. Martin Flynn was a cop & these men were his brothers in blue. Nell’s mother died young & she’s known most of them since she was a kid. Among them is Lee Davis, an old school friend & her dad’s last partner. And he has a favour to ask.
The body of a young woman has just been found. The MO is not only disturbing but eerily reminiscent of a case her father was working on when he died. Lee is well aware Nell works with the Behavioural Analysis Unit & wants her to visit the crime scene to see if she has any insight to share.
That should have been the end of it. But Nell’s innate curiosity & need for answers kicks in & soon she’s spending more time investigating than dealing with her father’s estate. Picking away at the dead woman’s life leads her to information that turns her world upside down. As she hunts for a suspect, witness statements & other evidence keep pointing to the same person….her father.
There are many threads in this book & it’s better you go in without any more hints from me. An intricate plot & well developed characters combine for a thought provoking read with plenty of surprises. I read this author’s previous work (The Banker’s Wife ) & found this slower with darker tones I enjoyed.
The story is just as much about Nell’s past as it is about the present. There are long passages interspersed throughout that reveal various vignettes from her childhood. They help us understand her relationship with her parents & why Nell left when she was 18. But I did find this frustrating at times as it slowed the pace & any building tension was snuffed each time the current story line was interrupted. They inform the present to some extent but fewer of them would pack the same punch & even out the book’s flow. It would also provide more space for the ending. The pace picks up at warp speed with many elements wrapped up at once but instead of “being there” while it all went down, we’re only told about them after the fact.
But what these passages did very well is illuminate how our memories are influenced by time & circumstances. Things you remember from childhood can take on a different spin when revisited as an adult. Experience gives us the tools to see more angles & like Nell, you might be left wondering what was real.
I really liked Nell. She’s smart, confident & fearless. She may have had a rocky past with her father but he’s still her Dad. She’s a daughter who doesn’t want to acknowledge where the clues lead but she’s also an FBI agent who can’t ignore evidence. It’s one thing to not really like your father, quite another to accept the possibility he’s a killer. Either way, Nell decides she has to know & her desire for the truth ends up changing the lives of everyone involved. If this is the start of a series, I’d gladly tag along on her next adventure.
Nell is on medical leave due to events around her last case. Being back in her childhood home lifts the lid on a lot of memories & that’s amplified when her father’s colleagues begin to drop by. Martin Flynn was a cop & these men were his brothers in blue. Nell’s mother died young & she’s known most of them since she was a kid. Among them is Lee Davis, an old school friend & her dad’s last partner. And he has a favour to ask.
The body of a young woman has just been found. The MO is not only disturbing but eerily reminiscent of a case her father was working on when he died. Lee is well aware Nell works with the Behavioural Analysis Unit & wants her to visit the crime scene to see if she has any insight to share.
That should have been the end of it. But Nell’s innate curiosity & need for answers kicks in & soon she’s spending more time investigating than dealing with her father’s estate. Picking away at the dead woman’s life leads her to information that turns her world upside down. As she hunts for a suspect, witness statements & other evidence keep pointing to the same person….her father.
There are many threads in this book & it’s better you go in without any more hints from me. An intricate plot & well developed characters combine for a thought provoking read with plenty of surprises. I read this author’s previous work (The Banker’s Wife ) & found this slower with darker tones I enjoyed.
The story is just as much about Nell’s past as it is about the present. There are long passages interspersed throughout that reveal various vignettes from her childhood. They help us understand her relationship with her parents & why Nell left when she was 18. But I did find this frustrating at times as it slowed the pace & any building tension was snuffed each time the current story line was interrupted. They inform the present to some extent but fewer of them would pack the same punch & even out the book’s flow. It would also provide more space for the ending. The pace picks up at warp speed with many elements wrapped up at once but instead of “being there” while it all went down, we’re only told about them after the fact.
But what these passages did very well is illuminate how our memories are influenced by time & circumstances. Things you remember from childhood can take on a different spin when revisited as an adult. Experience gives us the tools to see more angles & like Nell, you might be left wondering what was real.
I really liked Nell. She’s smart, confident & fearless. She may have had a rocky past with her father but he’s still her Dad. She’s a daughter who doesn’t want to acknowledge where the clues lead but she’s also an FBI agent who can’t ignore evidence. It’s one thing to not really like your father, quite another to accept the possibility he’s a killer. Either way, Nell decides she has to know & her desire for the truth ends up changing the lives of everyone involved. If this is the start of a series, I’d gladly tag along on her next adventure.
December 14, 2019
If you like smart, strong female leads then you will find much to like in this book. FBI agent Nell is on medical leave from her job and travels to her hometown for her estranged father’s funeral. As she reconnects with her father’s coworkers in the police department, Nell gets pulled into the investigation of the murders of two undocumented sex workers. What follows is a complicated tale that uncovers a dark underbelly in her hometown that may involve her father. An underbelly that anyone who follows the news will find familiar.
I appreciated the respect the author gave the young women who died, despite their status as undocumented sex workers. They are ‘girls like us’, even though the authorities saw them as less than deserving of a full-blown investigation. I also loved Nell’s determination and persistence to find justice for them despite all the dangers and roadblocks.
Marialyce and I both enjoyed the author’s previous book, The Banker‘s Wife and looked forward to this one. If I had to choose between the two I’d say I enjoyed The Banker’s Wife a bit more, but this is a well-plotted, easy read that I would recommend for fans of straight up police procedurals with no crazy out-of-left-field twists or eye-rolling moments. I wouldn’t mind seeing Nell’s character developed further in future books, but either way, I’ll anxiously await the author’s next book.
*I received an e-galley of this book from edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
* For our duo review of this book and others please visit https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
September 22, 2019
An exciting, entertaining, and twisty read. I was hooked from page one and almost read it one sitting. It was that good.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
February 23, 2019
“Girls Like Us is something special: A beautiful, deeply textured novel and a poignant, surprising mystery. I loved it, every chapter and every word. I’m going to be thinking about it as a reader, a father, and a storyteller for a long, long time.”
July 29, 2019
After reading so many reviews on my Goodreads feed for Girls Like Us I decided to use it for another prompt for the Goodreads Summer Reading Challange. Now I didn’t enjoy this one as much as some of my friends did. There was just something missing here for me to create that fast-paced suspenseful reading experience I was looking forward too. Maybe it was my expectation for that.
I loved our main character here Nell Fynn and she has all the elements to her character I love. She is strong with emotional baggage, independent and determined to find answers even at a high cost to herself. Christina Alger started off building that suspense for me and I really wanted to see more of how that high cost to Nell all comes together however it all just didn’t wrap up as well as I wanted it too. I struggled to get to the ending. I still recommend as Norma and I were the outliers here leaving Lindsay and our friends in this group read loving this one.
I received a copy from the publisher on Edelweiss
I loved our main character here Nell Fynn and she has all the elements to her character I love. She is strong with emotional baggage, independent and determined to find answers even at a high cost to herself. Christina Alger started off building that suspense for me and I really wanted to see more of how that high cost to Nell all comes together however it all just didn’t wrap up as well as I wanted it too. I struggled to get to the ending. I still recommend as Norma and I were the outliers here leaving Lindsay and our friends in this group read loving this one.
I received a copy from the publisher on Edelweiss
June 21, 2019
I started reading Girls Like Us on 6/18/2019 and finished it on 6/21/2019 at 2:45am. This book is a great read! I enjoyed the conversations and connecting the dots from one murder scene to another. It has a slow start but picks up when a dead body was found. I like that the main character is independent and smart. She sounds like a tomboy who fixes her own roof and able to navigate around a rough house. The mystery and suspense were well placed and I couldn’t guess who the killer was. I enjoyed the mystery with Nell’s dad.
This book is told in the first person point of view following Nell Flynn, 28 FBI Agent as she and her father’s co-workers ride the fishing boat out to the open water to spread Nell’s dad’s ashes. She grew up with her dad, homicide detective after her mom was murdered but moved away for 10 years after high school. That is to say she hasn’t been close with her dad and doesn’t know what he’s been up to. Now she’s back home with an injured shoulder, a gunshot wound inflicted on the job about a month ago, to deal with the aftermath of her father’s untimely death. While at home, her high school classmate Lee, also her dad’s partner in homicide came to ask her for help on a new murder case, a body just discovered that morning. As she investigate, she couldn’t help but noticed the connection of the new murder case to the one her dad worked on last year.
Girls Like Us is well written and an interesting read involving undocumented Latina. This book should’ve been longer because towards the end, I feel like it was all a summary instead of actual actions. I want to read the steps and strategies leading up to finding out who the killer is and the raid from the FBI. I think that would’ve been an adrenaline rush read. I would have enjoyed more if there’s a view of the bad guy, killer or the SCPD going about doing their misdeeds. Revealing everything after the fact makes the main character sounds smart but it takes away the excitement of the actual occurrences. I would also have enjoyed the process of police doing the undercover, walking among the enemies while pretending to be the bad guys. Overall, it was an interesting plot and I do recommend everyone to read this book.
Pro: diversity, rich vs poor neighborhoods, local police vs FBI, unsolved murders, serial killer
Con: lack of detailed actions
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
This book is told in the first person point of view following Nell Flynn, 28 FBI Agent as she and her father’s co-workers ride the fishing boat out to the open water to spread Nell’s dad’s ashes. She grew up with her dad, homicide detective after her mom was murdered but moved away for 10 years after high school. That is to say she hasn’t been close with her dad and doesn’t know what he’s been up to. Now she’s back home with an injured shoulder, a gunshot wound inflicted on the job about a month ago, to deal with the aftermath of her father’s untimely death. While at home, her high school classmate Lee, also her dad’s partner in homicide came to ask her for help on a new murder case, a body just discovered that morning. As she investigate, she couldn’t help but noticed the connection of the new murder case to the one her dad worked on last year.
Girls Like Us is well written and an interesting read involving undocumented Latina. This book should’ve been longer because towards the end, I feel like it was all a summary instead of actual actions. I want to read the steps and strategies leading up to finding out who the killer is and the raid from the FBI. I think that would’ve been an adrenaline rush read. I would have enjoyed more if there’s a view of the bad guy, killer or the SCPD going about doing their misdeeds. Revealing everything after the fact makes the main character sounds smart but it takes away the excitement of the actual occurrences. I would also have enjoyed the process of police doing the undercover, walking among the enemies while pretending to be the bad guys. Overall, it was an interesting plot and I do recommend everyone to read this book.
Pro: diversity, rich vs poor neighborhoods, local police vs FBI, unsolved murders, serial killer
Con: lack of detailed actions
I rate it 4 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
July 2, 2019
A dramatic and tension-filled crime thriller with a delightfully strong and courageous female protagonist.
SUMMARY
FBI Agent Nell Flynn hasn’t been home for ten years. It’s a place she had no desire to see again. Her mother had been brutally murdered there when she was only seven. She and her father never had a particularly close relationship. And now her father, a thirty-year homicide police officer, is killed in a motorcycle accident. She returns to Suffolk County on Long Island, New York to scatter his ashes and sell his house.
While she is there, her father‘s partner, Lee Davis asks Nell for help on the investigation of the murders of two young Hispanic women. It’s the case her father was working on when he died As Nell investigates, she discovers that her father had all the traits they were looking for in the murder suspect. He was tall, left-handed and drove a red truck. His truck had might even had been seen sitting outside one of the victims house just before she disappeared. Could his friends on the police force be covering his tracks. Did her father perhaps kill himself over his guilt or was something else going on here?
REVIEW
GIRLS LIKE US is a irresistible crime thriller with a strong, vulnerable and relatable protagonist. Nell’s courage and persistence drives the plot of this dramatic story. I was hooked when Nell climbs on board Glenn Dorsey’s fishing boat with a cooler of Guinness and an urn. The plot is tightly woven and packed full of tension and mystery. Suffolk County on Long Island seems like the perfect setting for this gray novel.
My favorite part of the novel was Nell’s character, particularly her objectivity and need for answers. I loved how the story is told from her perspective. While I didn’t like the frequency of Nell’s flash backs to her childhood, I did appreciate how they greatly informed the backstory of her relationship with her father. In a sense this is a story about how our past, our childhood, make us who we are today. If you like crime mysteries you have to put this one on your reading list.
Author Cristina Alger is a lifelong New Yorker. She graduated from Harvard University and NYU Law School. She worked as a financial analyst and a corporate attorney before becoming a writer. Her third novel The Banker’s Wife (2018) was a USA Today bestseller and was one of my favorite books of 2018.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher G. P. Putnams’s Sons
Published July 2, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
FBI Agent Nell Flynn hasn’t been home for ten years. It’s a place she had no desire to see again. Her mother had been brutally murdered there when she was only seven. She and her father never had a particularly close relationship. And now her father, a thirty-year homicide police officer, is killed in a motorcycle accident. She returns to Suffolk County on Long Island, New York to scatter his ashes and sell his house.
While she is there, her father‘s partner, Lee Davis asks Nell for help on the investigation of the murders of two young Hispanic women. It’s the case her father was working on when he died As Nell investigates, she discovers that her father had all the traits they were looking for in the murder suspect. He was tall, left-handed and drove a red truck. His truck had might even had been seen sitting outside one of the victims house just before she disappeared. Could his friends on the police force be covering his tracks. Did her father perhaps kill himself over his guilt or was something else going on here?
REVIEW
GIRLS LIKE US is a irresistible crime thriller with a strong, vulnerable and relatable protagonist. Nell’s courage and persistence drives the plot of this dramatic story. I was hooked when Nell climbs on board Glenn Dorsey’s fishing boat with a cooler of Guinness and an urn. The plot is tightly woven and packed full of tension and mystery. Suffolk County on Long Island seems like the perfect setting for this gray novel.
My favorite part of the novel was Nell’s character, particularly her objectivity and need for answers. I loved how the story is told from her perspective. While I didn’t like the frequency of Nell’s flash backs to her childhood, I did appreciate how they greatly informed the backstory of her relationship with her father. In a sense this is a story about how our past, our childhood, make us who we are today. If you like crime mysteries you have to put this one on your reading list.
Author Cristina Alger is a lifelong New Yorker. She graduated from Harvard University and NYU Law School. She worked as a financial analyst and a corporate attorney before becoming a writer. Her third novel The Banker’s Wife (2018) was a USA Today bestseller and was one of my favorite books of 2018.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher G. P. Putnams’s Sons
Published July 2, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
December 12, 2019
A brainy, complex and addictive murder mystery.
I was really taken with Algers’ debut, The Banker’s Wife, an international finance thriller on par with early Grisham, and now she’s back with a very different kind of story, yet with the same plot-driven action and appeal.
Our intrepid heroine, an FBI agent on medical leave, uncovers police corruption and a prostitute ring all while coming to terms with her deceased father’s legacy. Set on Long Island and shining a light on the divide between the year-round residents and the lifestyles of the rich, Alger delivers another tense, emotional and riveting read.
Highly recommended if you’re looking for page-turning pleasure. Also Chris Bohjalian put this on his list of 2019 Favorites, if that’s any indication of its literary chops. 4+++
I was really taken with Algers’ debut, The Banker’s Wife, an international finance thriller on par with early Grisham, and now she’s back with a very different kind of story, yet with the same plot-driven action and appeal.
Our intrepid heroine, an FBI agent on medical leave, uncovers police corruption and a prostitute ring all while coming to terms with her deceased father’s legacy. Set on Long Island and shining a light on the divide between the year-round residents and the lifestyles of the rich, Alger delivers another tense, emotional and riveting read.
Highly recommended if you’re looking for page-turning pleasure. Also Chris Bohjalian put this on his list of 2019 Favorites, if that’s any indication of its literary chops. 4+++
June 28, 2019
I’d really like to give this book 3.5 ⭐️’s. It was mysterious and twisty enough to keep me intrigued to the end, and the writing was excellent, so I’m rounding up to 4 ⭐️’s.
My previous read was focused around memories. This book didn’t focus on memories quite as much, but they certainly played their part. Are they always reliable? Can we tell ourselves something enough times, it becomes real to us? The author threw out so many threads that lead in so many different directions, I wasn’t sure where to focus my attention. I was kept guessing to the end!
While Nell and her father went on a camping trip when she was seven, her mother stayed home. She was brutally murdered, so Nell was raised by her father. Marty was a cop with the local PD, in the homicide division, but they were never very close. She grew up around his PD coworker’s and they were like her family. Dorsey, was even Nell’s godfather. Nell herself became an FBI agent in the BAU, after leaving home.
She returns to her home in Long Island after her father is killed in a tragic motorcycle accident, to attend his funeral and take care of his estate. Just a quick trip and she’s out of there. Then a murder victim is found and she’s asked to consult on the case by Lee. Her father’s previous partner and another local that Nell grew up with.
Her father had a case the previous summer that he never closed. Similar profile. She begins to suspect the local PD of corruption. Even her deceased father isn’t above her suspicion. It turns out that her father had secrets that could link him to the murder. But was he capable of murder? Even though they weren’t close, it’s hard to imagine the man that raised her being responsible for murder. And if the local PD is corrupt, she can’t share her suspicions with them.
Excerpts:
Between the investigation and being in her childhood home, memories of her own mother’s murder begin to bubble to the surface. She was so young. She was never sure about what happened that night. Her dad had a fierce temper, but could he have killed his own wife...and her mother?
I love trying new authors and Cristina Alger is one I’ll read again!
Thank you to Edelweiss, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Cristina Alger, for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: July 2nd 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 288
Recommend: Yes
My previous read was focused around memories. This book didn’t focus on memories quite as much, but they certainly played their part. Are they always reliable? Can we tell ourselves something enough times, it becomes real to us? The author threw out so many threads that lead in so many different directions, I wasn’t sure where to focus my attention. I was kept guessing to the end!
While Nell and her father went on a camping trip when she was seven, her mother stayed home. She was brutally murdered, so Nell was raised by her father. Marty was a cop with the local PD, in the homicide division, but they were never very close. She grew up around his PD coworker’s and they were like her family. Dorsey, was even Nell’s godfather. Nell herself became an FBI agent in the BAU, after leaving home.
She returns to her home in Long Island after her father is killed in a tragic motorcycle accident, to attend his funeral and take care of his estate. Just a quick trip and she’s out of there. Then a murder victim is found and she’s asked to consult on the case by Lee. Her father’s previous partner and another local that Nell grew up with.
Her father had a case the previous summer that he never closed. Similar profile. She begins to suspect the local PD of corruption. Even her deceased father isn’t above her suspicion. It turns out that her father had secrets that could link him to the murder. But was he capable of murder? Even though they weren’t close, it’s hard to imagine the man that raised her being responsible for murder. And if the local PD is corrupt, she can’t share her suspicions with them.
Excerpts:
“So many puzzle pieces, none of which seem to fit. The white board looks like a spider’s web, connecting Suffolk County’s richest residents to its poorest.”
Between the investigation and being in her childhood home, memories of her own mother’s murder begin to bubble to the surface. She was so young. She was never sure about what happened that night. Her dad had a fierce temper, but could he have killed his own wife...and her mother?
I love trying new authors and Cristina Alger is one I’ll read again!
Thank you to Edelweiss, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Cristina Alger, for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: July 2nd 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 288
Recommend: Yes
July 30, 2019
FBI agent Nell Flynn has never had a close relationship with her father Martin. When she was seven, her mother was brutally murdered in their home, while Nell was out camping with her father. The police quickly found a culprit, although there were some doubts voiced by an astute reporter. Now Nell is back to Suffolk county to scatter her father’s ashes. Her father, who had a recurring problem with alcohol, had a motorbike accident, which could and was easily attributed to his tiredness, slippery road conditions and old tires on the bike. Nell is still recovering, physically and mentally, from a shoot out during her previous case, when, unexpectedly, her father’s partner and Nell’s former schoolmate Lee Davis asks her to come to a murder scene and give a consult as a behavioural profiler. The victim is quickly identified as Adriana Marquez, a young Latina girl who lived with her sister’s family and provided escorting services from time to time. The case bears an uncanny resemblance to another cold case her father was working on. Soon Nell begins to suspect that her father might have known a lot more and could have even been involved in these crimes either as a perpetrator, or an accomplice.
The book is extremely fast-paced and gripping. It kept me up until the small hours- I just needed to know how it was going to end. I loved the protagonist with her tenacious spirit and sense of justice. After all, Ria and Adriana were girls like us, girls who deserved a better life and chance for happiness. At the very least, as victims of these horrendous crimes, they deserve their case being properly investigated, the murderer punished and their death being mourned for what it was- a tragic waste of young life and hope.
Highly recommended for anybody who loves action-packed thrillers with a strong female lead.
Thank you to Edelweiss and G.P.Putnam’s sons for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
My reviews can also be found on:
https://readingtonic.home.blog/
The book is extremely fast-paced and gripping. It kept me up until the small hours- I just needed to know how it was going to end. I loved the protagonist with her tenacious spirit and sense of justice. After all, Ria and Adriana were girls like us, girls who deserved a better life and chance for happiness. At the very least, as victims of these horrendous crimes, they deserve their case being properly investigated, the murderer punished and their death being mourned for what it was- a tragic waste of young life and hope.
Highly recommended for anybody who loves action-packed thrillers with a strong female lead.
Thank you to Edelweiss and G.P.Putnam’s sons for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
My reviews can also be found on:
https://readingtonic.home.blog/
August 1, 2020
In a genre completely overrun with domestic thrillers and unreliable narrators, Girls Like Us is a breath of fresh air and a very welcome addition. A true mystery in the best sense of the word, Girls Like Us stars FBI agent Nell Flynn who has come to Suffolk County, on Long Island, New York, to handle her homicide detective father’s affairs following his untimely death. Soon after she arrives, the local police force asks her to consult on a case involving the deaths of two young women. The more she investigates, the more Nell becomes convinced that her father was involved in their deaths and that someone is covering up his tracks. Beset by questions and uncertainty, Nell struggles to solve the murders amid doubts about the way the case is being handled by the local police.
The story is told from Nell’s first person perspective which works perfectly. Alger’s prose is crisp and succinct, and the pacing of the story is flawless. Her carefully-crafted characters almost leap off the page, and the tense, taut storyline will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
I was a huge fan of The Banker’s Wife and am thrilled that Alger has created another stellar and clever mystery and hope that Girls Like Us is the start of many more books involving Nell Flynn. I highly recommend Girls Like Us – it is a true page turner.
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
The story is told from Nell’s first person perspective which works perfectly. Alger’s prose is crisp and succinct, and the pacing of the story is flawless. Her carefully-crafted characters almost leap off the page, and the tense, taut storyline will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
I was a huge fan of The Banker’s Wife and am thrilled that Alger has created another stellar and clever mystery and hope that Girls Like Us is the start of many more books involving Nell Flynn. I highly recommend Girls Like Us – it is a true page turner.
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
July 3, 2019
FBI Agent Nell Flynn has come home after an absence of 10 years. Her father has died in a motorcycle accident and she's there to spread his ashes and take care of his estate. He was a Homicide Detective and when his partner, Lee Davis, comes to pay his respects, he also wants something else from her.
Nell's father was working a case of a murdered young woman when he died. There's been another woman brutally murdered and Lee wants her to consult on the case.
Even though she is on medical leave, she accepts without telling her supervisor. After all .. better to ask forgiveness than ask permission in her case.
Nell's investigation leads her to believe her father may have been involved with local law enforcement covering up for him. Who does she turn to? Who can she trust? And how can she find the truth about her father?
A slow start leads to a real page turner of a mystery. Well written with stand out characters, I found this one hard to put down.There are twists and turns and a very surprising ending.
Many thanks to the author / GP Putnam & Sons / Netgalley / Edelweiss for the advance digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 2, 2019
FBI Agent Nell Flynn returns to her hometown after her father’s death. The two of them had a strained relationship, ever since her mother’s murder years earlier. Her father was a homicide detective, and Nell gets involved with a case he was working at the time of his death.
An intriguing mystery featuring a trustworthy female protagonist. Nell is smart, courageous, and independent. She also has a vulnerable side under her tough exterior. When she returns to her hometown, she starts to doubt things about her father. To understand her father and what was happening in his life, she gets involved with a local case of two murdered girls. The case is much more complex than she anticipated.
Interesting characters in a fast-paced mystery. Great for fans of crime fiction with a strong female lead. Also, I enjoyed that this was a standalone novel. It seems so many police procedurals fall into series. Addictive, intense, and suspenseful.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
An intriguing mystery featuring a trustworthy female protagonist. Nell is smart, courageous, and independent. She also has a vulnerable side under her tough exterior. When she returns to her hometown, she starts to doubt things about her father. To understand her father and what was happening in his life, she gets involved with a local case of two murdered girls. The case is much more complex than she anticipated.
Interesting characters in a fast-paced mystery. Great for fans of crime fiction with a strong female lead. Also, I enjoyed that this was a standalone novel. It seems so many police procedurals fall into series. Addictive, intense, and suspenseful.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2019
Review to come.
October 27, 2019
5 can't believe I waited so long to read this stars!
I thought this book was terrific by Cristina Alger. I will definitely read her earlier book and future books that she writes. This is a new author for my list!
I loved the strong female character Nell Flynn – she’s an FBI agent on leave after a work-related shooting. She returns home physically and mentally battered after the death of her estranged police officer father. She quickly (and unofficially) gets drawn into cases of murdered young women in Suffolk County, New York. Things seem shady with the local police force and Nell starts to become suspicious about her father’s role in the police force and his lifelong colleagues. As she digs deeper into the investigation, she isn’t sure what she will dig up, but old secrets are definitely still lingering in the town.
The ending was a stunning deadly one that I did not see coming. Nell is a force to be reckoned with! I hope that Cristina Alger writes a series of books featuring her.
I thought this book was terrific by Cristina Alger. I will definitely read her earlier book and future books that she writes. This is a new author for my list!
I loved the strong female character Nell Flynn – she’s an FBI agent on leave after a work-related shooting. She returns home physically and mentally battered after the death of her estranged police officer father. She quickly (and unofficially) gets drawn into cases of murdered young women in Suffolk County, New York. Things seem shady with the local police force and Nell starts to become suspicious about her father’s role in the police force and his lifelong colleagues. As she digs deeper into the investigation, she isn’t sure what she will dig up, but old secrets are definitely still lingering in the town.
The ending was a stunning deadly one that I did not see coming. Nell is a force to be reckoned with! I hope that Cristina Alger writes a series of books featuring her.
July 7, 2019
Read the book instead of the blurb.
If you haven't read the blurb yet, then don't.
I think it gives away far too much, and this mystery/thriller would have been more enjoyable if I didn't know quite so much going into it.
Other than that, this was a great quick read. Girls Like Us is different because the main character, Nell Flynn, is a totally badass female FBI agent, and the men get relegated to the bit parts.
I hope Cristina Alger is starting a new series!
Thanks to Edelweiss and G.P. Putnam's Sons for my DRC of this novel.
If you haven't read the blurb yet, then don't.
I think it gives away far too much, and this mystery/thriller would have been more enjoyable if I didn't know quite so much going into it.
Other than that, this was a great quick read. Girls Like Us is different because the main character, Nell Flynn, is a totally badass female FBI agent, and the men get relegated to the bit parts.
I hope Cristina Alger is starting a new series!
Thanks to Edelweiss and G.P. Putnam's Sons for my DRC of this novel.
July 10, 2019
FBI Agent Nell Flynn has not seen her father for ten years when she gets the news that he has passed away in a motorbike accident. Her mother had been brutally murdered when Nell was just seven years old. She returns to Suffock County, Long Island to scatter his ashes and sell his house. While she is there, she is asked by her fathers partner, Lee Davis for help investigating the murders of two Latina women. The case is similar to another cold case her father had been working on. It's not long before Nell suspects that her father knew a lot more and could even have been involved more than he should have.
The pace is fast and the storyline gripping. The story is told from Nell's point of view. The book is well written with well rounded characters who were true to life, complies with some dark secrets. The tension builds throughput. I liked the authors style in writing. It's full of twists and surprises. My first book by the author but it won't be my last.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder& Stoughton and the author Christina Alger for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The pace is fast and the storyline gripping. The story is told from Nell's point of view. The book is well written with well rounded characters who were true to life, complies with some dark secrets. The tension builds throughput. I liked the authors style in writing. It's full of twists and surprises. My first book by the author but it won't be my last.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Hodder& Stoughton and the author Christina Alger for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2020
Many thanks to Putnam for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
Fair warning, this is going to be a short review.
Girls Like Us was a very cookie-cutter thriller that follows Nell, an FBI agent who has just returned home after her father's death. During her return, a mysterious case arises and all the evidence seems to be pointing to her father.
I have mixed feelings for this book. Overall, I did enjoy it but I kept waffling. If not for the fast-paced, twisty ending, I would probably have given this three stars, maybe even 2.5.
Fortunately, the ending twists made up for the slow beginning
Overall, this thriller is worth a try in spite of its cookie-cutter-ness.
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3.5 stars! That last chunk was quite a ride! Review to come
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July 1, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
Girls Like Us is my first time reading a book by Cristina Alger and I enjoyed it so so much.
What it's about: Nell Flynn is on leave from the BAU after shooting and killing a man, and suffering a gunshot wound. While on leave, her homicide detective father whom she hasn't seen in 10 years dies in a motorcycle accident and she is forced to go back to her home in Suffolk County to settle his estate. She hasn't been back since she left for college, and it brings back many nasty memories including her mother's gruesome murder when Nell was only seven. But she ends up getting more than she bargained for when her dad's old partner asks her to consult on the murders of two young women. As she digs into the investigation, she starts getting a bad feeling about her dad and the other cops of Suffolk County. Who killed Ria Ruiz and Adriana Marques, and why did they do it? And was the person who got sent to prison for killing Nell's mom actually her killer?
I saw a few reviewers that mentioned they thought Girls Like Us was fast paced but I feel inclined to disagree. For me, this book was more of a slow burn - at least in the first half - and there was a lot of detail in the beginning that was meant to bring the setting to life. Which Alger did by the way, because I felt like I was right there with Nell. Because of the detail, I ended up reading this book slower in the beginning, but by the end I felt like I was speeding through it because of how much was happening. Overall, I ended up reading this insanely fast and finished in just 3 hours and 21 minutes. This is literally the fastest I think I've ever read a book, and I was completely drawn in by the plot and by Nell.
I loved Nell as a character and was so intrigued by the grittiness of Girls Like Us. The overall feel to the book for me was oppressive, like we were under a dark cloud due to all the bad things happening. For me, this was a good thing and the book really came to life for me as I read it. I also loved that Nell was a profiler because, Criminal Minds.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Yesterday by David Guetta feat. Bebe Rexha
Final Thought: I haven't read any of Alger's other books yet so I can't do any comparisons, but I loved the style of writing she used for Girls Like Us. I didn't see any of the twists coming either, and it felt like I was watching a TV show as I read it. I can't wait to read more of her books ASAP!
Thank you to Get Red PR and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Girls Like Us is my first time reading a book by Cristina Alger and I enjoyed it so so much.
What it's about: Nell Flynn is on leave from the BAU after shooting and killing a man, and suffering a gunshot wound. While on leave, her homicide detective father whom she hasn't seen in 10 years dies in a motorcycle accident and she is forced to go back to her home in Suffolk County to settle his estate. She hasn't been back since she left for college, and it brings back many nasty memories including her mother's gruesome murder when Nell was only seven. But she ends up getting more than she bargained for when her dad's old partner asks her to consult on the murders of two young women. As she digs into the investigation, she starts getting a bad feeling about her dad and the other cops of Suffolk County. Who killed Ria Ruiz and Adriana Marques, and why did they do it? And was the person who got sent to prison for killing Nell's mom actually her killer?
I saw a few reviewers that mentioned they thought Girls Like Us was fast paced but I feel inclined to disagree. For me, this book was more of a slow burn - at least in the first half - and there was a lot of detail in the beginning that was meant to bring the setting to life. Which Alger did by the way, because I felt like I was right there with Nell. Because of the detail, I ended up reading this book slower in the beginning, but by the end I felt like I was speeding through it because of how much was happening. Overall, I ended up reading this insanely fast and finished in just 3 hours and 21 minutes. This is literally the fastest I think I've ever read a book, and I was completely drawn in by the plot and by Nell.
I loved Nell as a character and was so intrigued by the grittiness of Girls Like Us. The overall feel to the book for me was oppressive, like we were under a dark cloud due to all the bad things happening. For me, this was a good thing and the book really came to life for me as I read it. I also loved that Nell was a profiler because, Criminal Minds.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Yesterday by David Guetta feat. Bebe Rexha
Final Thought: I haven't read any of Alger's other books yet so I can't do any comparisons, but I loved the style of writing she used for Girls Like Us. I didn't see any of the twists coming either, and it felt like I was watching a TV show as I read it. I can't wait to read more of her books ASAP!
Thank you to Get Red PR and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 30, 2019
rounded up 4.5 Stars
Girls Like Us is an addictive mystery in a thriller/suspense genre that so often churns out the same old same old unreliable narrator and predictable twists. The novel is told through the 1st person POV of FBI agent Nell Flynn, definitely as trustworthy and reliable a narrator as you can get, as she returns home to Long Island after the death of her dad, a local homicide detective. While there, she is pulled in to the investigation of a girl found brutally murdered and her body buried. The case is almost exactly like one Nell's dad was working one the summer before and as she begins digging into both cases, she is convinced her dad had something to do with the deaths of these young girls. But what? Not only that, but memories of her mom's brutal murder begin to surface and she can't help but wonder what really happened and who killed her. The more Nell uncovers about the cases, she discovers mishandling of the investigations and police corruption at almost every turn.
Alger's writing is fresh, taut, and captivating and her characters are truly complex, some with deep, dark secrets. The tension in the book reaches a palpable level as the story unfolds. Nell is a character I hope to read more of and really hope this is the start of a series-I'll be one of the 1st in line for more if it is!
Girls Like Us is an addictive mystery in a thriller/suspense genre that so often churns out the same old same old unreliable narrator and predictable twists. The novel is told through the 1st person POV of FBI agent Nell Flynn, definitely as trustworthy and reliable a narrator as you can get, as she returns home to Long Island after the death of her dad, a local homicide detective. While there, she is pulled in to the investigation of a girl found brutally murdered and her body buried. The case is almost exactly like one Nell's dad was working one the summer before and as she begins digging into both cases, she is convinced her dad had something to do with the deaths of these young girls. But what? Not only that, but memories of her mom's brutal murder begin to surface and she can't help but wonder what really happened and who killed her. The more Nell uncovers about the cases, she discovers mishandling of the investigations and police corruption at almost every turn.
Alger's writing is fresh, taut, and captivating and her characters are truly complex, some with deep, dark secrets. The tension in the book reaches a palpable level as the story unfolds. Nell is a character I hope to read more of and really hope this is the start of a series-I'll be one of the 1st in line for more if it is!
October 3, 2019
Read in one sitting - on the day Jeffrey Epstein was found dead. Art freakishly imitates life in Girls Like Us - Cristina Alger is a talented storyteller.
From the bestselling author of The Banker’s Wife, Cristina Alger’s latest crime thriller, Girls Like Us, takes us to Long Island where a possible serial killer is at large, leaving latina sex workers dead in his wake. Nell, an FBI agent, returns to Suffolk County, the place where her mother was murdered .... see full review on https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/10/0...
From the bestselling author of The Banker’s Wife, Cristina Alger’s latest crime thriller, Girls Like Us, takes us to Long Island where a possible serial killer is at large, leaving latina sex workers dead in his wake. Nell, an FBI agent, returns to Suffolk County, the place where her mother was murdered .... see full review on https://booknationbyjen.com/2019/10/0...
July 6, 2019
Nell Flynn has reluctantly returned home to Long Island after the death of her father, Martin Flynn, a homicide detective. Nell hasn't seen her father in years, but must settle his estate after his motorcycle skidded off Montauk Highway in the early morning. She assumes her dad was drunk, per usual, when the incident occurred. Nell's mom was murdered when she was a child, and there's nothing about being home that makes her happy. But when Lee, a young homicide detective and her dad's latest partner, asks her to informally help with a case, Nell's curiosity is piqued. She is, after all, on paid medical leave from the Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI. Lee and team have found the body of a girl, murdered, near the dunes. It's similar to a case her father worked a year ago. Nell gets caught up in the investigation and the more she digs, the more she can't help but wonder if her father was involved in the killings.
"Dad had his own code. I learned early not to second guess it. At least, not out loud."
This was a great thriller--it features an interesting plot, a strong, complicated female heroine, and it's so easy to get caught up in it from the start. I had a great time unraveling the puzzle of the two murders, figuring things out alongside Nell. She's a really engaging character--smart, funny yet not without her own problems.
"The bureau thinks my head should be on straight, too. It isn't yet. Maybe it never was to begin with."
I really enjoyed the way this story is told--via Nell, but since she's not formally FBI or police, we get the pieces of the puzzle and story along with her. It's a twisted web that she uncovers: a dark, gritty story that feels timely and real. It's a fast read that kept me flipping the pages, desperately wanting to know what was happening next.
It's clear that Alger knows her stuff--police/FBI procedures, investigative techniques, and more. There are no tricks or unreliable narrators: just a strong, well-told story. And there's certainly series potential with Nell. I would love to see her again! 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for a honest review (thank you!).
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"Dad had his own code. I learned early not to second guess it. At least, not out loud."
This was a great thriller--it features an interesting plot, a strong, complicated female heroine, and it's so easy to get caught up in it from the start. I had a great time unraveling the puzzle of the two murders, figuring things out alongside Nell. She's a really engaging character--smart, funny yet not without her own problems.
"The bureau thinks my head should be on straight, too. It isn't yet. Maybe it never was to begin with."
I really enjoyed the way this story is told--via Nell, but since she's not formally FBI or police, we get the pieces of the puzzle and story along with her. It's a twisted web that she uncovers: a dark, gritty story that feels timely and real. It's a fast read that kept me flipping the pages, desperately wanting to know what was happening next.
It's clear that Alger knows her stuff--police/FBI procedures, investigative techniques, and more. There are no tricks or unreliable narrators: just a strong, well-told story. And there's certainly series potential with Nell. I would love to see her again! 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for a honest review (thank you!).
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
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