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Georgia Fell #1
The Darkwater Girls
Recognition hits me as I look at the woman lying in the long grass. It’s my sister. Her hot-pink nails are chipped and caked with dirt, her blue eyes are cold and vacant. I desperately shake her, even though I know. She’s gone.
Fresh out of the Military Police, Georgia Fell has returned to her Michigan island hometown a decade after she ran away. Late to meet her younger sister at a bar on the isolated tip of the isle, she arrives to her worst nightmare: Rachel dead, purple bruises around her slim, beautiful neck.
When the police rule out murder, Georgia knows it can’t be true. Reluctantly, she must turn to the person she’s been avoiding since she came home. Georgia can’t forgive single dad Lincoln McNamara for his betrayal the night she left, but he has an in with the dangerous crew operating out of the roadhouse where Rachel was killed. The question is, can she trust him?
But before she can convince Lincoln to help her, another local girl goes missing. How deep into the darkness of island life must Georgia go to find out the truth? And with an innocent girl’s life on the line, does she even have a choice?
An absolutely unputdownable suspense thriller. Readers who adore Tami Hoag, Mary Burton and J.D. Robb will be hooked on this jaw-dropping new crime series.
Fresh out of the Military Police, Georgia Fell has returned to her Michigan island hometown a decade after she ran away. Late to meet her younger sister at a bar on the isolated tip of the isle, she arrives to her worst nightmare: Rachel dead, purple bruises around her slim, beautiful neck.
When the police rule out murder, Georgia knows it can’t be true. Reluctantly, she must turn to the person she’s been avoiding since she came home. Georgia can’t forgive single dad Lincoln McNamara for his betrayal the night she left, but he has an in with the dangerous crew operating out of the roadhouse where Rachel was killed. The question is, can she trust him?
But before she can convince Lincoln to help her, another local girl goes missing. How deep into the darkness of island life must Georgia go to find out the truth? And with an innocent girl’s life on the line, does she even have a choice?
An absolutely unputdownable suspense thriller. Readers who adore Tami Hoag, Mary Burton and J.D. Robb will be hooked on this jaw-dropping new crime series.
317 pages, ebook
First published November 4, 2021
35 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Maegan Beaumont
16 books165 followersMaegan Beaumont is the author of CARVED IN DARKNESS, the first book in the Sabrina Vaughn thriller series (Available through Midnight Ink, spring 2013). A native Phoenician, Maegan’s stories are meant to make you wonder what the guy standing in front of you in the Starbucks line has locked in his basement, and feel a strong desire to sleep with the light on. When she isn’t busy fulfilling her duties as Domestic Goddess for her high school sweetheart turned husband, Joe, and their four children, she is locked in her office with her computer, her coffee pot and her Rhodesian Ridgeback, and one true love, Jade.
She also writes a blog dedicated to helping writers with plot woes and answering writing questions. Check her out – maeganbeaumont.blogspot.com
She also writes a blog dedicated to helping writers with plot woes and answering writing questions. Check her out – maeganbeaumont.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
November 1, 2021
Maegan Beaumont is back! I’d previously read her Sabrina Vaughn series and loved it and then I didn’t see any new books from her ages. Until now. This is to be the start of a new series. And what an impressive start it is.
Georgia Fell returns to Angel Bay Island after 10 years away. Ten years after she ran away from her foster home because Lincoln McNamara, the young man she adored, had gotten her younger foster sister, Jenna, pregnant. Now, after a stint in the army as an MP, she returns to the island because of a surprise inheritance. Elizabeth Fell has left her substantial estate to Georgia, even though she is not a real ‘Fell’, only in name and that was a mistake. But I digress. A text message one night, using a long established code among the foster children, summons Georgia to the Devil’s Den, a shady establishment where motorbike gang members hang out. She thinks the message is from Jenna but apparently not. Jenna is off her face and clearly ‘with’ the bikers. But as Georgia leaves she stumbles across the body of another former foster sister, Rachel. Rachel has been violated and strangled to death.
Georgia’s boyfriend is the town sheriff, Alex. But when she learns that the death is being officially filed as an overdose she gets angry with him. She knows what she saw. Also, why has young Julie Kates been arrested for stealing a boat and crashing it on Devil’s Island? Georgia pays the bail and takes Julie back to her place, the enormous mansion which she hasn’t even fully explored yet.
Georgia soon starts to realise there is some really shady stuff going down on the Island and she is concerned for the safety of young Julie and even Savanna, the daughter Lincoln had with Jenna. She vows to protect the girls and find out what the heck is going on. There is a sense of impending doom through the story, which only ramps up as the book progresses.
The pacing of this story is relentless and there are many secrets to be revealed and twists to be discovered. Georgia needs to work out, and soon, who she can really trust if she is to survive and protect the girls. The truth, when it is revealed is so ‘big’ as to be shocking and the sheer number of people involved and the betrayals and the lies are breathtaking. Georgia is a fabulous character - hard as nails and gritty yet with a soft heart and a sense of what is right! You will have no trouble rooting for her. I really enjoyed reading and I can’t wait for the next book! Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Georgia Fell returns to Angel Bay Island after 10 years away. Ten years after she ran away from her foster home because Lincoln McNamara, the young man she adored, had gotten her younger foster sister, Jenna, pregnant. Now, after a stint in the army as an MP, she returns to the island because of a surprise inheritance. Elizabeth Fell has left her substantial estate to Georgia, even though she is not a real ‘Fell’, only in name and that was a mistake. But I digress. A text message one night, using a long established code among the foster children, summons Georgia to the Devil’s Den, a shady establishment where motorbike gang members hang out. She thinks the message is from Jenna but apparently not. Jenna is off her face and clearly ‘with’ the bikers. But as Georgia leaves she stumbles across the body of another former foster sister, Rachel. Rachel has been violated and strangled to death.
Georgia’s boyfriend is the town sheriff, Alex. But when she learns that the death is being officially filed as an overdose she gets angry with him. She knows what she saw. Also, why has young Julie Kates been arrested for stealing a boat and crashing it on Devil’s Island? Georgia pays the bail and takes Julie back to her place, the enormous mansion which she hasn’t even fully explored yet.
Georgia soon starts to realise there is some really shady stuff going down on the Island and she is concerned for the safety of young Julie and even Savanna, the daughter Lincoln had with Jenna. She vows to protect the girls and find out what the heck is going on. There is a sense of impending doom through the story, which only ramps up as the book progresses.
The pacing of this story is relentless and there are many secrets to be revealed and twists to be discovered. Georgia needs to work out, and soon, who she can really trust if she is to survive and protect the girls. The truth, when it is revealed is so ‘big’ as to be shocking and the sheer number of people involved and the betrayals and the lies are breathtaking. Georgia is a fabulous character - hard as nails and gritty yet with a soft heart and a sense of what is right! You will have no trouble rooting for her. I really enjoyed reading and I can’t wait for the next book! Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
November 11, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
I’m nine— eavesdropping is the only way I ever learn anything useful.
“He’s not island.” I can’t keep it out of my tone, the immediate distrust I feel. It’s ridiculous. Makes me feel like one of the old biddies that sit on their porches in their house dresses, drinking their morning coffee and writing down the license plates of cars that they don’t recognize that have the nerve to drive down their street.
I’m going to put a BOLO out on you… When they find you, I’ll have you detained until the paramedics come strap you to a gurney and take you to the hospital where Evie will be waiting with a horse syringe full of Thorazine.
Linen suit. No socks. Preppy haircut. Crazy white teeth. Flashy watch. Looked like Miami Vice and Tom Cruise had a baby.
I slap the magazine home and rack one into the chamber, making sure the barrel of the gun is pointed away from my houseguests… I look up to find both of them staring at me like I’m juggling chainsaws.
My Review:
This gripping story kept me on edge and kept an itch going in my curiosity from beginning to end. The tale was an uncomfortably prickly and gritty page-turner with a pervasive sense of peril, widespread corruption, and impending doom while something horribly tragic and vile was occurring right around the corner, but just what exactly that something was seemed just out of focus. I had my theories and was apprehensive about having it pegged correctly; I mostly had and have mixed feelings about being on target, as I didn’t want to be in this case.
The premise was dark and original, the plotting was brilliant and dastardly, and the pace was relentlessly electric. This author was such a crafty tease with dribbling and slipping sly little hints but giving nothing away. I adore her, am in awe of her skills, and have added her entire listing to my TBR as I covet all her clever arrangements of words. I hope I’m paying attention when the subsequent volumes are released.
I’m nine— eavesdropping is the only way I ever learn anything useful.
“He’s not island.” I can’t keep it out of my tone, the immediate distrust I feel. It’s ridiculous. Makes me feel like one of the old biddies that sit on their porches in their house dresses, drinking their morning coffee and writing down the license plates of cars that they don’t recognize that have the nerve to drive down their street.
I’m going to put a BOLO out on you… When they find you, I’ll have you detained until the paramedics come strap you to a gurney and take you to the hospital where Evie will be waiting with a horse syringe full of Thorazine.
Linen suit. No socks. Preppy haircut. Crazy white teeth. Flashy watch. Looked like Miami Vice and Tom Cruise had a baby.
I slap the magazine home and rack one into the chamber, making sure the barrel of the gun is pointed away from my houseguests… I look up to find both of them staring at me like I’m juggling chainsaws.
My Review:
This gripping story kept me on edge and kept an itch going in my curiosity from beginning to end. The tale was an uncomfortably prickly and gritty page-turner with a pervasive sense of peril, widespread corruption, and impending doom while something horribly tragic and vile was occurring right around the corner, but just what exactly that something was seemed just out of focus. I had my theories and was apprehensive about having it pegged correctly; I mostly had and have mixed feelings about being on target, as I didn’t want to be in this case.
The premise was dark and original, the plotting was brilliant and dastardly, and the pace was relentlessly electric. This author was such a crafty tease with dribbling and slipping sly little hints but giving nothing away. I adore her, am in awe of her skills, and have added her entire listing to my TBR as I covet all her clever arrangements of words. I hope I’m paying attention when the subsequent volumes are released.
November 13, 2021
Georgia Fell had been in the foster care system for years. Seventeen placements, in fact. One thing she always did before her next placement was to give the same SOS message to her many foster siblings. If they were in any kind of trouble, she would be there to help. It is ten years later and Georgia finds herself back where she thought she'd never go again. There are events of the past that she must uncover in order to find justice for her sister Rachel, who she found dead.
Georgia is forced to deal with her feelings as the man she once was in love with was the very man who raped Jenna, one of her foster sisters. She never planned on setting foot on the island again, but she received an inheritance. Meanwhile, Georgia finds herself at the Devil's Den in order to rescue Jenna. Things definitely were not as she expected, because that is exactly how and where she found Rachel.
Georgia's boyfriend Alex is the village sheriff and he rules the cause of death something other than Georgia thinks it is. This creates a conflict between them, so Georgia looks for answers on her own. When Jenna was assaulted those years ago, she had a daugther named Savanna. What was happening to the girls in the group home where Georgia once lived, and what is going on with Jenna and Savanna now?
What a thrilling book that might have started of slow, but then that reminds me of a roller coaster slowly rising to the top. As this book reached a crescendo the intrigue, danger and disturbing truths it grabbed my heart as if the roller coaster made a rapid drop. The conclusion truly floored me. Well done Meagan Beaumont. What a perfect book for a new series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Georgia is forced to deal with her feelings as the man she once was in love with was the very man who raped Jenna, one of her foster sisters. She never planned on setting foot on the island again, but she received an inheritance. Meanwhile, Georgia finds herself at the Devil's Den in order to rescue Jenna. Things definitely were not as she expected, because that is exactly how and where she found Rachel.
Georgia's boyfriend Alex is the village sheriff and he rules the cause of death something other than Georgia thinks it is. This creates a conflict between them, so Georgia looks for answers on her own. When Jenna was assaulted those years ago, she had a daugther named Savanna. What was happening to the girls in the group home where Georgia once lived, and what is going on with Jenna and Savanna now?
What a thrilling book that might have started of slow, but then that reminds me of a roller coaster slowly rising to the top. As this book reached a crescendo the intrigue, danger and disturbing truths it grabbed my heart as if the roller coaster made a rapid drop. The conclusion truly floored me. Well done Meagan Beaumont. What a perfect book for a new series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
November 12, 2021
New series that I think will be a good one….full of twists and turns, fast paced with lots of action going on.
The main character is Georgia and she is full of spunk! She knows what she wants and has no qualms going for it….no matter who or what gets in her way.
Overall, a interesting mystery with a slow start but eventually the story takes off.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
The main character is Georgia and she is full of spunk! She knows what she wants and has no qualms going for it….no matter who or what gets in her way.
Overall, a interesting mystery with a slow start but eventually the story takes off.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 4, 2021
I am always excited to start a new good series! I enjoyed the story, and the characters are just insanely good, including the island, which I think it's one of the main characters. The only downside for me was that I figured out the main culprit almost immediately, but I did not let it stop me from thoroughly enjoying the book.
I immediately fell in love with this weird little island and its quirky people. Everything and everyone is connected, and some (evil) people rule the island. As a resident you know who is good and who is bad. Or so you think...
Georgia Fell has the perfect background story for this book. Everyone knows who she is, and she is back on the island. There is something really fishy going on, and it is worse than she ever could have imagines. Her friend and foster sister is killed, and nothing is going to stop her from finding out the truth.
Can't wait to get to know Georgia and the other islanders better! I highly recommend this book, especially for people who enjoy reading about close communities, small town mysteries, and great characters. This book is brilliant in many ways! It has lovely description that I did not get tired of at all. The book immediately sucked me in, and I could not put the book down for a second!
I immediately fell in love with this weird little island and its quirky people. Everything and everyone is connected, and some (evil) people rule the island. As a resident you know who is good and who is bad. Or so you think...
Georgia Fell has the perfect background story for this book. Everyone knows who she is, and she is back on the island. There is something really fishy going on, and it is worse than she ever could have imagines. Her friend and foster sister is killed, and nothing is going to stop her from finding out the truth.
Can't wait to get to know Georgia and the other islanders better! I highly recommend this book, especially for people who enjoy reading about close communities, small town mysteries, and great characters. This book is brilliant in many ways! It has lovely description that I did not get tired of at all. The book immediately sucked me in, and I could not put the book down for a second!
November 4, 2021
As a teenager, Georgia fell in love... until another girl showed up claiming he was the father of her unborn baby. The woman was Georgia's foster sister. Feeling betrayed, she packed her bags and left.
Years later, she returns... she's been left a lot of money and property to go with it.
Without giving any spoilers, Georgia re-meets many of the people she knew from before .. including the ex-boyfriend, his wife and their daughter. Another of her foster sisters is murdered .... but that's not the only body that falls.
There are many characters ... most of whom are lying or covering up. No one can be trusted .. not even the cops. There are crimes and heinous crimes. A lot more is at play than at first thought.
The protagonist is a woman with issues. She spent some years in the military. there's a whisper about something that happened to her during that time. As this is the first of a series, I expect this will expanded on in a later book. Another interesting part of her background .... she never knew her parents. When born, she was left in a mall and abandoned. The entire town kind of adopted her. Because of an error on her birth certificate she was given the last name of Fell .. the name of the richest woman in the area... the woman who left her fortune to Georgia.
It's a fast-paced, complex plot filled with curves and frequent changes of direction. The story line is intriguing and filled with solidly drawn characters intertwined in a terrific story. The ending was unexpected and explosive.
For fans of the author's earlier series, Sabrina Vaughn, it's been a long waiting time for another book. I guarantee you won't be disappointed, and it will be worth the wait. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Years later, she returns... she's been left a lot of money and property to go with it.
Without giving any spoilers, Georgia re-meets many of the people she knew from before .. including the ex-boyfriend, his wife and their daughter. Another of her foster sisters is murdered .... but that's not the only body that falls.
There are many characters ... most of whom are lying or covering up. No one can be trusted .. not even the cops. There are crimes and heinous crimes. A lot more is at play than at first thought.
The protagonist is a woman with issues. She spent some years in the military. there's a whisper about something that happened to her during that time. As this is the first of a series, I expect this will expanded on in a later book. Another interesting part of her background .... she never knew her parents. When born, she was left in a mall and abandoned. The entire town kind of adopted her. Because of an error on her birth certificate she was given the last name of Fell .. the name of the richest woman in the area... the woman who left her fortune to Georgia.
It's a fast-paced, complex plot filled with curves and frequent changes of direction. The story line is intriguing and filled with solidly drawn characters intertwined in a terrific story. The ending was unexpected and explosive.
For fans of the author's earlier series, Sabrina Vaughn, it's been a long waiting time for another book. I guarantee you won't be disappointed, and it will be worth the wait. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 12, 2021
This book is the first instalment in the Georgia Fell series written by Maegan Beaumont, set in Michigan. It was a compelling read and I was soon wholly absorbed in the storyline. Georgia has returned to her homeland, Angel Bay Island ten years after leaving her foster parents house. Coming back because of an unexpected inheritance, she is due to meet her sister, Rachel one night, but it never happens...
Georgia has plenty of issues and has an interesting background; I'm keen to discover more about her. The pacing is swift and the tale is chockablock with betrayals. With a number of evil beings and shady shenanigans, The Darkwater Girls is well worth a look and I can't wait for book two!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Georgia has plenty of issues and has an interesting background; I'm keen to discover more about her. The pacing is swift and the tale is chockablock with betrayals. With a number of evil beings and shady shenanigans, The Darkwater Girls is well worth a look and I can't wait for book two!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 9, 2021
suspenseful from the very start and fast paces as well , couldn't stop reading if i wanted to. The characters, the story , it was everything i was hoping and much more. The perfect read , to just set and do that which was read. Plus I was was constantly trying to figure out who to trust and who was lying , and every time i thought i had it I was wrong , what a great start to a new series .
December 1, 2021
Wow what an incredible start to a series! I cannot wait to see what the author delivers next as in my opinion this was sheer perfection. Loved loved loved. Great great read.
November 2, 2021
This is a brilliant start to a new series.
It took me a while to get into the story but once it was explained how Georgia fits in with a few of the other characters, I was hooked.
Georgia was fostered but left home suddenly after overhearing a conversation.
She’s now back where she grew up and people she was once close to are being murdered.
There’s clearly criminal activities being carried out in the small town but Georgia is only scratching the surface with her initial suspicions.
With her boyfriend being the Sheriff, Georgia expects him to keep her updated but when an attempt his made to kill her, she wonders who she can trust.
This is a gripping read and I can’t wait to see what happens next for Georgia and Lincoln.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
It took me a while to get into the story but once it was explained how Georgia fits in with a few of the other characters, I was hooked.
Georgia was fostered but left home suddenly after overhearing a conversation.
She’s now back where she grew up and people she was once close to are being murdered.
There’s clearly criminal activities being carried out in the small town but Georgia is only scratching the surface with her initial suspicions.
With her boyfriend being the Sheriff, Georgia expects him to keep her updated but when an attempt his made to kill her, she wonders who she can trust.
This is a gripping read and I can’t wait to see what happens next for Georgia and Lincoln.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
March 9, 2022
This is my first book by this author and hot diggity I really was all in. From the first page I could not stop reading. I absolutely loved it. I pretty much figured it out early but honestly that didn’t matter. It was so dang good.
I’m completely hooked on Georgia and Linc. I can’t wait to read more. She is really a favorite character of mine.
I’m completely hooked on Georgia and Linc. I can’t wait to read more. She is really a favorite character of mine.
November 9, 2021
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Darkwater Girls' by Maegan Beaumont.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Maegan Beaumont, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 4th November 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in the 'Georgia Fell' series.
I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Readers who adore Tami Hoag, Mary Burton and J.D. Robb will be hooked on this jaw-dropping new crime series.' I am a huge fan of Mary Burton so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 65 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Michigan, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonists are Georgia Fell and Lincoln. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.
'The Darkwater Girls' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Maegan discusses/includes child abuse.
OMG!!! JUST ABSOLUTELY WOW!!! THIS IS AM ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!!
This book is fantastically written with extremely vivid descriptions which leaves you with the salty taste in your mouth from the sea and your heart absolutely pounding!!! The cover, description and title suit the book perfectly.
This book is extremely fast paced with so much going on it completely sucks you in. If you are going to start reading this lady and gents then clear your schedule because you will not be able to put it down!!! It is absolutely rammed with secrets, romance, lies, murder, gangs, twists, suspense, turns and absolutely everything you can ask for in a page turning thriller!!! There are tears, shocks, twists, love and so much more. I loved the atmosphere which is perfect for the storyline. It is an absolutely explosive start to what promises to be an epic series!!! I always write honest reviews and I will say I cannot say I was shocked with the 2 twists and I did work it out quite early. However I will say two things about this. Firstly I have read hundreds of crime thrillers so what didn't shock me doesn't necessarily mean it won't shock you. Secondly, I normally cannot justify rating a book higher than a 4 if I work out the twists. However I loved this book so much I'm going to break my own rule and give it a 5/5. I cannot wait until the next one!!! It kept me on my toes throughout as even though I had a feeling I knew who did what there is so much suspense and tension in between it left my heart pounding and me flipping the pages absolutely hooked!! I think it ended perfectly and it definitely left me wanting more.
It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but those who surround them too.
I had absolutely nothing to worry about as I fell in love with Georgias character. She is one of those characters who has been through alot but has an absolutely amazing personality and instead of being dragged down by it she uses what she has learned to her benefits. She is an absolute kick @## woman which I love being a woman myself especially as she's so strong. I also absolutely love her sarcastic attitude. She made me laugh so many times which is nice as although this is a crime thriller it's good to have some light hearted parts. I became completely invested in her and cannot wait to see more of her. I need to be careful with what I say about the other characters as I don't want to give anything away. However I will say I was suspicious of one quite early and had a feeling about the other too and was proven right. Damn!!! Went to say something about one of them but I think it will give too much away so I will mention it when I read the next book in this series instead. I really liked several of the other characters too and although I can't go through them all, again as it may give too much away, I will say that Georgia has a very good friend in Evie and I'm looking forward to meeting her, Georgia and several of the other characters again.
Congratulations Maegan on one hell of a page turner!!! I would love to see this on the big screen and I'd like to welcome you to my favourite crime author club!!! Looking forward to reading more in this explosive series and here's to your next success 🥂!!!
Overall an absolutely addictive heart racing explosive page turning start to what promises to be an addictive new series!!!
Genres covered in this book include Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense. and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Tami Hoag, Mary Burton, J.D. Robb, Angela Marsons, Carol Wyer and ANYONE looking for an explosive new series to start!!
402 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'The Darkwater Girls' by Maegan Beaumont.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Maegan Beaumont, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 4th November 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in the 'Georgia Fell' series.
I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Readers who adore Tami Hoag, Mary Burton and J.D. Robb will be hooked on this jaw-dropping new crime series.' I am a huge fan of Mary Burton so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 65 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Michigan, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonists are Georgia Fell and Lincoln. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.
'The Darkwater Girls' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Maegan discusses/includes child abuse.
OMG!!! JUST ABSOLUTELY WOW!!! THIS IS AM ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!!
This book is fantastically written with extremely vivid descriptions which leaves you with the salty taste in your mouth from the sea and your heart absolutely pounding!!! The cover, description and title suit the book perfectly.
This book is extremely fast paced with so much going on it completely sucks you in. If you are going to start reading this lady and gents then clear your schedule because you will not be able to put it down!!! It is absolutely rammed with secrets, romance, lies, murder, gangs, twists, suspense, turns and absolutely everything you can ask for in a page turning thriller!!! There are tears, shocks, twists, love and so much more. I loved the atmosphere which is perfect for the storyline. It is an absolutely explosive start to what promises to be an epic series!!! I always write honest reviews and I will say I cannot say I was shocked with the 2 twists and I did work it out quite early. However I will say two things about this. Firstly I have read hundreds of crime thrillers so what didn't shock me doesn't necessarily mean it won't shock you. Secondly, I normally cannot justify rating a book higher than a 4 if I work out the twists. However I loved this book so much I'm going to break my own rule and give it a 5/5. I cannot wait until the next one!!! It kept me on my toes throughout as even though I had a feeling I knew who did what there is so much suspense and tension in between it left my heart pounding and me flipping the pages absolutely hooked!! I think it ended perfectly and it definitely left me wanting more.
It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but those who surround them too.
I had absolutely nothing to worry about as I fell in love with Georgias character. She is one of those characters who has been through alot but has an absolutely amazing personality and instead of being dragged down by it she uses what she has learned to her benefits. She is an absolute kick @## woman which I love being a woman myself especially as she's so strong. I also absolutely love her sarcastic attitude. She made me laugh so many times which is nice as although this is a crime thriller it's good to have some light hearted parts. I became completely invested in her and cannot wait to see more of her. I need to be careful with what I say about the other characters as I don't want to give anything away. However I will say I was suspicious of one quite early and had a feeling about the other too and was proven right. Damn!!! Went to say something about one of them but I think it will give too much away so I will mention it when I read the next book in this series instead. I really liked several of the other characters too and although I can't go through them all, again as it may give too much away, I will say that Georgia has a very good friend in Evie and I'm looking forward to meeting her, Georgia and several of the other characters again.
Congratulations Maegan on one hell of a page turner!!! I would love to see this on the big screen and I'd like to welcome you to my favourite crime author club!!! Looking forward to reading more in this explosive series and here's to your next success 🥂!!!
Overall an absolutely addictive heart racing explosive page turning start to what promises to be an addictive new series!!!
Genres covered in this book include Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense. and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Tami Hoag, Mary Burton, J.D. Robb, Angela Marsons, Carol Wyer and ANYONE looking for an explosive new series to start!!
402 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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November 9, 2021
In a small town, sometimes it’s hard to know who to trust. When you are the Angel Bay Baby, maybe the only person you can trust is yourself. Criminal activity is rampant in this fast-paced, nonstop novel by Maegan Beaumont.
From page one you are drawn into this psychological thriller, captivated by the characters and consumed by the scenery. In Angel Bay, Michigan, the west vs. the east and the haves vs. the have-nots all while the town’s Sheriff tries to keep everything under control. When an unruly biker gang begins to take over, all bets are off when a Case Manager for Foster children is found dead.
Georgia Fell has returned to the island ten years after running away – a previous foster child herself, abandoned at birth, now back after inheriting Fell Manor – Georgia knows just enough to be dangerous as a past Military Police who has worked crimes and sexual assault cases. When Georgia finds her previous foster sister dead, she is convinced she has been murdered but her boyfriend Alex – the Sheriff – is adamant it’s an overdose and Georgia is imagining things.
Has everything Georgia knew about growing up as a foster child on Angel Bay a lie? Will she believe her boyfriend or Lincoln McNamara – the boy she fell in love with at 18 whom inadvertently caused her to flee the island in the first place?
This book brought a different meaning to my understanding of the term “double-dutch,” now making me think of loyalties, back up plans and outsmarting the person who plans to double-cross you. Baumont sure knows how to weave a story, allowing the reader to be tricked by her writing into thinking that you have it all figured out several chapters in. I found myself frustrated at Georgia for not seeing what was right in front of her face . . . and mad that I was able to “know” the ending that soon into the book – only to be surprised by not knowing the totality of the circumstances. (“Oh what a tangled web we weave / When first we practice to deceive” by Sit Walther Scott should be the underlying theme of this book for the characters and the readers!!!)
It’s amazing to me how the majority of the novel takes place over the span of only a couple days, but I warn that some of the crimes and topics may be a lot for the faint of heart. Having multiple close families to me that are Foster Parents (and doing Family law cases where parents are either fighting for – or losing their parental rights), at times you have to remind yourself that this is just fiction.
The Dark Water Girls was great start to a new series, and I will definitely be reading the Georgia Fell Book #2 when it comes out. I was fully drawn to the characters in the book – told in the voices of Lincoln and Georgia, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel! All opinions are fully my own.
From page one you are drawn into this psychological thriller, captivated by the characters and consumed by the scenery. In Angel Bay, Michigan, the west vs. the east and the haves vs. the have-nots all while the town’s Sheriff tries to keep everything under control. When an unruly biker gang begins to take over, all bets are off when a Case Manager for Foster children is found dead.
Georgia Fell has returned to the island ten years after running away – a previous foster child herself, abandoned at birth, now back after inheriting Fell Manor – Georgia knows just enough to be dangerous as a past Military Police who has worked crimes and sexual assault cases. When Georgia finds her previous foster sister dead, she is convinced she has been murdered but her boyfriend Alex – the Sheriff – is adamant it’s an overdose and Georgia is imagining things.
Has everything Georgia knew about growing up as a foster child on Angel Bay a lie? Will she believe her boyfriend or Lincoln McNamara – the boy she fell in love with at 18 whom inadvertently caused her to flee the island in the first place?
This book brought a different meaning to my understanding of the term “double-dutch,” now making me think of loyalties, back up plans and outsmarting the person who plans to double-cross you. Baumont sure knows how to weave a story, allowing the reader to be tricked by her writing into thinking that you have it all figured out several chapters in. I found myself frustrated at Georgia for not seeing what was right in front of her face . . . and mad that I was able to “know” the ending that soon into the book – only to be surprised by not knowing the totality of the circumstances. (“Oh what a tangled web we weave / When first we practice to deceive” by Sit Walther Scott should be the underlying theme of this book for the characters and the readers!!!)
It’s amazing to me how the majority of the novel takes place over the span of only a couple days, but I warn that some of the crimes and topics may be a lot for the faint of heart. Having multiple close families to me that are Foster Parents (and doing Family law cases where parents are either fighting for – or losing their parental rights), at times you have to remind yourself that this is just fiction.
The Dark Water Girls was great start to a new series, and I will definitely be reading the Georgia Fell Book #2 when it comes out. I was fully drawn to the characters in the book – told in the voices of Lincoln and Georgia, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel! All opinions are fully my own.
October 24, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Darkwater Girls, the first novel to feature former military police investigator Georgia Fell, set on the fictional Michigan island of Angel Bay.
Georgia returns to Angel Bay after an unexpected inheritance and settles in to restoring her new home until she gets a text one night from a former fellow foster child, a woman she regards as a sister, asking for help. What she finds is another “sister”, Rachel, strangled to death, but whose death is labelled an overdose, she starts to investigate. All roads seem to lead to Lincoln, the man she left the island to escape.
I enjoyed The Darkwater Girls to a point as it is full of action and twists and turns, but I feel it occasionally loses its way and gets bogged down in circular thinking.
The novel is told mainly from Georgia and Lincoln’s first person points of view with the occasional switch to other characters. Each chapter is helpfully titled with the character’s name but when I forgot to check it got confusing. Georgia’s narrative is fairly straightforward as she’s reacting to events, although that reaction isn’t always logical or clear headed. Annoyingly so at times. Lincoln, on the other hand, is keeping secrets, both past and present. It is these secrets and Georgia’s reactions that form the basis of the novel. There is a strong feeling of unfinished business about their dealings and that may be colouring her reactions.
The novel has all the prerequisites for a crime novel, secrets, tension, misdirection and a strong action scene as a denouement. It loses its way at times, playing up the romantic tension and losing the logic and the middle is circular. There is plenty of action in this middle bit, but Georgia makes no effort to question what she’s being told and follows the misdirection blindly. It’s incredibly frustrating for the reader. Some of the twists are easier to guess than others and to give her her due the author saves the most blinding one till last.
The Darkwater Girls is a promising start to a new series. 3.5*
Georgia returns to Angel Bay after an unexpected inheritance and settles in to restoring her new home until she gets a text one night from a former fellow foster child, a woman she regards as a sister, asking for help. What she finds is another “sister”, Rachel, strangled to death, but whose death is labelled an overdose, she starts to investigate. All roads seem to lead to Lincoln, the man she left the island to escape.
I enjoyed The Darkwater Girls to a point as it is full of action and twists and turns, but I feel it occasionally loses its way and gets bogged down in circular thinking.
The novel is told mainly from Georgia and Lincoln’s first person points of view with the occasional switch to other characters. Each chapter is helpfully titled with the character’s name but when I forgot to check it got confusing. Georgia’s narrative is fairly straightforward as she’s reacting to events, although that reaction isn’t always logical or clear headed. Annoyingly so at times. Lincoln, on the other hand, is keeping secrets, both past and present. It is these secrets and Georgia’s reactions that form the basis of the novel. There is a strong feeling of unfinished business about their dealings and that may be colouring her reactions.
The novel has all the prerequisites for a crime novel, secrets, tension, misdirection and a strong action scene as a denouement. It loses its way at times, playing up the romantic tension and losing the logic and the middle is circular. There is plenty of action in this middle bit, but Georgia makes no effort to question what she’s being told and follows the misdirection blindly. It’s incredibly frustrating for the reader. Some of the twists are easier to guess than others and to give her her due the author saves the most blinding one till last.
The Darkwater Girls is a promising start to a new series. 3.5*
November 2, 2021
One thing I like about reading ARC is I get to start on a series. This is the first book of Georgia Fell series.
Plot:- Fresh out the Military Police, Georgia Fell returns back to her small island near Michigan after being away for more than a decade. She came back to meet her little sister but instead found Rachel dead. Though the police rule out murder, Georgia believes that Rachel was murdered and set about to find the truth about Rachel's death. Meanwhile, she reconnects with her former childhood lover, Lincoln who is actually an ex con. Is Lincoln innocent as he seems or something sinister?
Writing:- The story is told from the perspectives of Georgia and Lincoln that you have a chance of getting to know their characters. There were some twists and turns but it started a bit slow and soon it got fast paced. I was on the edge of the seat while reading this book and then couldn't wait to see who the killer was! The author does a trick of tricking you to believe that particular person is the killer but the ending completely threw me off the radar. So anyway, this book actually was a complete surprise to me. The writing was really good and the author did a good job of drawing the reader to the story, making the reader feel like they are a part of the story.
Characters:- Since the story is told from the perspectives of Georgia and Lincoln, you get to know both their characters. I didn't like Jenna's character and I like how the relationship between Georgia and Lincoln soon developed towards the end.
Overall:- This was a great book, quite unputdownable with twists and turns along the way--worth four stars
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Plot:- Fresh out the Military Police, Georgia Fell returns back to her small island near Michigan after being away for more than a decade. She came back to meet her little sister but instead found Rachel dead. Though the police rule out murder, Georgia believes that Rachel was murdered and set about to find the truth about Rachel's death. Meanwhile, she reconnects with her former childhood lover, Lincoln who is actually an ex con. Is Lincoln innocent as he seems or something sinister?
Writing:- The story is told from the perspectives of Georgia and Lincoln that you have a chance of getting to know their characters. There were some twists and turns but it started a bit slow and soon it got fast paced. I was on the edge of the seat while reading this book and then couldn't wait to see who the killer was! The author does a trick of tricking you to believe that particular person is the killer but the ending completely threw me off the radar. So anyway, this book actually was a complete surprise to me. The writing was really good and the author did a good job of drawing the reader to the story, making the reader feel like they are a part of the story.
Characters:- Since the story is told from the perspectives of Georgia and Lincoln, you get to know both their characters. I didn't like Jenna's character and I like how the relationship between Georgia and Lincoln soon developed towards the end.
Overall:- This was a great book, quite unputdownable with twists and turns along the way--worth four stars
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
February 14, 2022
The darkwater girls by Maegan Beaumont.
Georgia Fell Book 1.
Recognition hits me as I look at the woman lying in the long grass. It’s my sister. Her hot-pink nails are chipped, her blue eyes are cold and vacant. I desperately shake her, even though I know. She’s gone.Georgia Fell is forced to return to her Michigan island hometown after a decade of military service away from her family. It’s time to end the years of silence and meet her younger sister at a bar on the isolated tip of the island. But Georgia arrives to a scene of devastation: Rachel is dead, purple bruises around her slim, beautiful neck.Georgia is beside herself with grief. But when the police rule out murder, she knows it can’t be true and vows to hunt down her sister’s killer, no matter the cost. Even if it means turning to the last person she ever wants to see again.Single dad Lincoln McNamara is the reason Georgia ran away ten years ago, but he has an in with the crew operating out the roadhouse where Rachel was killed. The question is, can she trust him?But before Georgia can act, her heart shatters at the news that another of her sisters has been murdered. Why would a twisted killer be targeting her family? Are more of the people she loves at risk, and could it be connected to her return? How many more innocent lives will be lost before Georgia uncovers the devastating truth?
Absolutely brilliant. I loved the story and most of the characters. Georgia was my favourite character. I wasn't sure how I felt about Lincoln or Will or Alex. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.
Georgia Fell Book 1.
Recognition hits me as I look at the woman lying in the long grass. It’s my sister. Her hot-pink nails are chipped, her blue eyes are cold and vacant. I desperately shake her, even though I know. She’s gone.Georgia Fell is forced to return to her Michigan island hometown after a decade of military service away from her family. It’s time to end the years of silence and meet her younger sister at a bar on the isolated tip of the island. But Georgia arrives to a scene of devastation: Rachel is dead, purple bruises around her slim, beautiful neck.Georgia is beside herself with grief. But when the police rule out murder, she knows it can’t be true and vows to hunt down her sister’s killer, no matter the cost. Even if it means turning to the last person she ever wants to see again.Single dad Lincoln McNamara is the reason Georgia ran away ten years ago, but he has an in with the crew operating out the roadhouse where Rachel was killed. The question is, can she trust him?But before Georgia can act, her heart shatters at the news that another of her sisters has been murdered. Why would a twisted killer be targeting her family? Are more of the people she loves at risk, and could it be connected to her return? How many more innocent lives will be lost before Georgia uncovers the devastating truth?
Absolutely brilliant. I loved the story and most of the characters. Georgia was my favourite character. I wasn't sure how I felt about Lincoln or Will or Alex. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.
October 21, 2025
Former military police officer Georgia Fell returns to her hometown where she was abandoned at birth. She finds the body of her foster sister dead outside a bar but her lover, the sheriff Alex, rules out murder. Incensed, Georgia turns to the man she has been avoiding since her return: Lincoln…
The Darkwater Girls is a crime thriller and the first book in a new series.
Georgia is an intriguing lead character. She has been through a lot since birth and has a cynical opinion on human nature. This makes her feisty and determined to seek justice for those that are vulnerable like her younger self. She left Angel Bay a decade earlier and has returned to claim an inheritance she feels is not hers. She needs to confront the past and protect her heart as she meets Lincoln again.
The book is mainly written from the two first person perspectives of Georgia and Lincoln. I liked that we can see the internal emotional upheaval and mental wrangling that they endure as they tentatively develop a new friendship.
Georgia has a strong emotional tie to the plot. She was fostered and is keen to help other children in the same situation. A text message from one foster sister leads her to discover the body of another. There appears to be a cover up as the sheriff denies any signs of foulplay and again this has a personal edge as the sheriff is her boyfriend.
The Darkwater Girls is an entertaining crime thriller with a sparky and unique lead character. I enjoyed the introduction to Georgia and her back story and look forward to seeing what happens next.
The Darkwater Girls is a crime thriller and the first book in a new series.
Georgia is an intriguing lead character. She has been through a lot since birth and has a cynical opinion on human nature. This makes her feisty and determined to seek justice for those that are vulnerable like her younger self. She left Angel Bay a decade earlier and has returned to claim an inheritance she feels is not hers. She needs to confront the past and protect her heart as she meets Lincoln again.
The book is mainly written from the two first person perspectives of Georgia and Lincoln. I liked that we can see the internal emotional upheaval and mental wrangling that they endure as they tentatively develop a new friendship.
Georgia has a strong emotional tie to the plot. She was fostered and is keen to help other children in the same situation. A text message from one foster sister leads her to discover the body of another. There appears to be a cover up as the sheriff denies any signs of foulplay and again this has a personal edge as the sheriff is her boyfriend.
The Darkwater Girls is an entertaining crime thriller with a sparky and unique lead character. I enjoyed the introduction to Georgia and her back story and look forward to seeing what happens next.
September 28, 2021
Georgia Fell was abandoned as a newborn in the maternity ward of a hospital and became known as the Angel Bay Baby, before being thrust defenceless into the local foster system. Now, a decade after all her plans for the future collapsed in a moment of betrayal, she has been forced to return home to claim an unwanted legacy and face the devastation that has befallen the lives of those she left behind.
Finding loyalties and friendships shattered, and secrets hidden deep in the past of those she cares for the most, Georgia is devastated to discover the body of her closest foster sister outside a notorious biker bar. An ex military police officer she can’t help but investigate for herself, and when another girl disappears, Georgia knows time isn't on her side.
This is the first in a new series and is a gritty story focusing on the darker sides of society and how the influence of those involved allows them to indulge in their perverted pleasures with no thought of the consequences. It isn't an easy read as very little good happens and nobody expects it to. Hopefully the next instalment will be a little lighter, or at least slightly more cheerful in places, because here there was no real let up in the desperation of those living on Angel Bay Island.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this but it was heavy going in places. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Finding loyalties and friendships shattered, and secrets hidden deep in the past of those she cares for the most, Georgia is devastated to discover the body of her closest foster sister outside a notorious biker bar. An ex military police officer she can’t help but investigate for herself, and when another girl disappears, Georgia knows time isn't on her side.
This is the first in a new series and is a gritty story focusing on the darker sides of society and how the influence of those involved allows them to indulge in their perverted pleasures with no thought of the consequences. It isn't an easy read as very little good happens and nobody expects it to. Hopefully the next instalment will be a little lighter, or at least slightly more cheerful in places, because here there was no real let up in the desperation of those living on Angel Bay Island.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this but it was heavy going in places. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
October 31, 2021
🦄 Summary:
When Georgia's foster sister texts her, saying she needs help, she reluctantly agrees to return to her home town. Because why would Jenna even want her help? Their falling-out was one of the reasons for Georgia's disappearance, after all. But when she gets there, Jenna insists she didn't write that message - and another one of their foster sisters is found dead - but no one believes Georgia that it was murder, though she must know, she worked for the military police. Soon, Georgia finds herself entangled in a net of secrets and lies.
🦄 My opinion:
First of all, I loved the setting on a Michigan island, it was so atmospheric and described beautifully. Also, the community and internal rivalries gave me huge Megan Miranda vibes. Unfortunately, I didn't like Georgia as a main character. She was too gullible for an ex-military cop, and her toughness seemed staged, I just didn't buy it. Sometimes, I wanted to scream at the characters to just get over themselves. I also figured out most of the major twists, but there were some that did surprise me, which I really liked. This book definitely holds potential for the second book in the series!
🦄 This was my first book by Maegan Beaumont.
🦄 Parts of this book reminded me of:
-Into The Water by Paula Hawkins
- The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
- Night Falls Still Missing by Helen Callaghan
I received a free ARC by Netgalley, Bookouture, and Maegan Beaumont in exchange for an honest review.
When Georgia's foster sister texts her, saying she needs help, she reluctantly agrees to return to her home town. Because why would Jenna even want her help? Their falling-out was one of the reasons for Georgia's disappearance, after all. But when she gets there, Jenna insists she didn't write that message - and another one of their foster sisters is found dead - but no one believes Georgia that it was murder, though she must know, she worked for the military police. Soon, Georgia finds herself entangled in a net of secrets and lies.
🦄 My opinion:
First of all, I loved the setting on a Michigan island, it was so atmospheric and described beautifully. Also, the community and internal rivalries gave me huge Megan Miranda vibes. Unfortunately, I didn't like Georgia as a main character. She was too gullible for an ex-military cop, and her toughness seemed staged, I just didn't buy it. Sometimes, I wanted to scream at the characters to just get over themselves. I also figured out most of the major twists, but there were some that did surprise me, which I really liked. This book definitely holds potential for the second book in the series!
🦄 This was my first book by Maegan Beaumont.
🦄 Parts of this book reminded me of:
-Into The Water by Paula Hawkins
- The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
- Night Falls Still Missing by Helen Callaghan
I received a free ARC by Netgalley, Bookouture, and Maegan Beaumont in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2021
For some reason I dreaded starting another crime novel and I am so very glad this was for a blog tour and I needed to read it now, because I really enjoyed it.
Georgie grew up on Angel Bay and left when the guy she was in love with got another girl pregnant. Now she is back and finds her foster sister dead.
This book has a great cast of characters. There are some that I really liked, like Georgie and Lincoln. I was invested in them, their tension over their past relationship and their potential. There were characters I didn’t really like but still wanted to know more about them along with the ones I couldn’t decide and wanted to discover more and make a decision. I liked how the characters interacted with each other, always hinting at what was to come without giving too much away. And I was sure I knew exactly where the story was headed and fell for a few red herrings.
Once I was a couple of chapters in, I couldn’t put this one down. And then knowing this is the first in a series, I wanted to put it down and draw it out since I know I wouldn’t have any patience to wait for the next installment. But I have no willpower and powered through it.
This is a great start to a new series. It has a story you want to solve along with characters that draw you in. And there was enough left hanging to get you excited about the rest of the series. I highly recommend this for those that love crime series with great characters.
Georgie grew up on Angel Bay and left when the guy she was in love with got another girl pregnant. Now she is back and finds her foster sister dead.
This book has a great cast of characters. There are some that I really liked, like Georgie and Lincoln. I was invested in them, their tension over their past relationship and their potential. There were characters I didn’t really like but still wanted to know more about them along with the ones I couldn’t decide and wanted to discover more and make a decision. I liked how the characters interacted with each other, always hinting at what was to come without giving too much away. And I was sure I knew exactly where the story was headed and fell for a few red herrings.
Once I was a couple of chapters in, I couldn’t put this one down. And then knowing this is the first in a series, I wanted to put it down and draw it out since I know I wouldn’t have any patience to wait for the next installment. But I have no willpower and powered through it.
This is a great start to a new series. It has a story you want to solve along with characters that draw you in. And there was enough left hanging to get you excited about the rest of the series. I highly recommend this for those that love crime series with great characters.
October 24, 2021
The Darkwater Girls is a riveting thriller that takes place on lakeshores of Upper Michigan. Georgia Fell returns home after years away to find her sister has died, OD they say . Or was it? All the evidence points to accidental death, but Georgia swears she saw strangulatiaon marks when she happened upon the body.
The Darkwater Girls hooked me from the first chapter. A thoroughly engaging story, by Chapter 5 there was a list of questions that NEEDED answers. This is an immersive read, keeping the reader fully engaged in the story. It's like the ultimate game of Clue. There are so many possible scenarios, each one having merit. The story flows so smoothly, leading you right up to the shocking conclusion. With a myriad of shady side charachters Georgia will be extremely busy from here on out!
The characters are so well done. Georgia is a perfect main character and I can't wait to see where she goes from here. To be stranded on island, with it's own island life deep state, hidden agenda, not sure who to turn to, giving each resident a side eye... It was GREAT!
Maegan Beaumont has made an explosive return with her new Georgia Fell series!
The Darkwater Girls hooked me from the first chapter. A thoroughly engaging story, by Chapter 5 there was a list of questions that NEEDED answers. This is an immersive read, keeping the reader fully engaged in the story. It's like the ultimate game of Clue. There are so many possible scenarios, each one having merit. The story flows so smoothly, leading you right up to the shocking conclusion. With a myriad of shady side charachters Georgia will be extremely busy from here on out!
The characters are so well done. Georgia is a perfect main character and I can't wait to see where she goes from here. To be stranded on island, with it's own island life deep state, hidden agenda, not sure who to turn to, giving each resident a side eye... It was GREAT!
Maegan Beaumont has made an explosive return with her new Georgia Fell series!
November 4, 2021
I love the beginning of a new series and I loved Georgia from the very beginning. I loved her even more at the end of the book.
Georgia Fell… What’s in a name? She never ‘fell’ once, but always stood strong, fought for what she was worth and never gave up even if she was on the verge of collapsing.
I loved the structure of the story. The beginning is in fact the middle and the author takes us back and forth between the past and the present afterwards.
My mind was constantly trying to figure out who to trust. Is the bad guy really as bad as I thought in the beginning? No, it seems like is isn’t, or is he? Or this must be a friend, right? But, once again, people seem to be very good actors or is my feeling going in the wrong direction?
It shows how a first impression can be the correct one, but you can be sooo wrong too.
Georgia… she is so great. A one woman army and she is funny too. I do hope I will read more about her in the near future.
A really great book that left my mind all over the place which is a very good thing in this case. More, please. 😊 5 stars.
Thank you
Georgia Fell… What’s in a name? She never ‘fell’ once, but always stood strong, fought for what she was worth and never gave up even if she was on the verge of collapsing.
I loved the structure of the story. The beginning is in fact the middle and the author takes us back and forth between the past and the present afterwards.
My mind was constantly trying to figure out who to trust. Is the bad guy really as bad as I thought in the beginning? No, it seems like is isn’t, or is he? Or this must be a friend, right? But, once again, people seem to be very good actors or is my feeling going in the wrong direction?
It shows how a first impression can be the correct one, but you can be sooo wrong too.
Georgia… she is so great. A one woman army and she is funny too. I do hope I will read more about her in the near future.
A really great book that left my mind all over the place which is a very good thing in this case. More, please. 😊 5 stars.
Thank you
November 7, 2021
Holy cow, what a rollercoaster ride this was!!! From the first page to the last, I was holding my (metaphorical) breath the entire time.
Georgia is a strong woman, but she has an interesting past - a past she shares with the first murder victim that turns up. Her sister. Something just doesn't add up with the case though; what she sees and what she is told are two different things. And then there is Lincoln. Her foster brother back in the day, who broke her heart when she was 17 and whom she just doesn't really understand anymore. He has a story to tell as well, and finding out the whole story of what happened to him, is one of the major components of this book.
I loved the character of Georgia. I can't even imagine what it is like for kids in the foster system, especially when there are foster parents who are fostering with their own agendas in mind.
There are foster kids, bikies, ex-military types, fine upstanding citizens and complete ratbags in the mix and it all really works.
I can't wait until the next book comes out!
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Georgia is a strong woman, but she has an interesting past - a past she shares with the first murder victim that turns up. Her sister. Something just doesn't add up with the case though; what she sees and what she is told are two different things. And then there is Lincoln. Her foster brother back in the day, who broke her heart when she was 17 and whom she just doesn't really understand anymore. He has a story to tell as well, and finding out the whole story of what happened to him, is one of the major components of this book.
I loved the character of Georgia. I can't even imagine what it is like for kids in the foster system, especially when there are foster parents who are fostering with their own agendas in mind.
There are foster kids, bikies, ex-military types, fine upstanding citizens and complete ratbags in the mix and it all really works.
I can't wait until the next book comes out!
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
November 7, 2021
This is not the kind of book you read if you want a heartwarming and relaxing story because it's gritty, twisty and heartbreaking at time.
It's not one of those book you read before sleeping because it will let you wired after you read till late in the night.
It's atmospheric, claustrophobic and adrenaline fuelled.
That said I loved this first in a new series, it kept me on the edge till the end and reading.
Georgia and Lincoln are the two main POVs. Lincoln the boy that grew into privilege, Georgia, the child adopted by an entire island who run away and came back.
There's a lot going on with these characters, they're both hurt and they have to restart from the moment we read at the beginning of the book.
Georgia is hard nail but there's a strange naivety and sweetness in her. She stands for the children and the women who are being killed.
It's a story of privilege, corruption but also of solidarity and hope.
The author did an excellent job in developing fleshed out characters and the closed world of Bay Angel, the island and a character at the same time.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's not one of those book you read before sleeping because it will let you wired after you read till late in the night.
It's atmospheric, claustrophobic and adrenaline fuelled.
That said I loved this first in a new series, it kept me on the edge till the end and reading.
Georgia and Lincoln are the two main POVs. Lincoln the boy that grew into privilege, Georgia, the child adopted by an entire island who run away and came back.
There's a lot going on with these characters, they're both hurt and they have to restart from the moment we read at the beginning of the book.
Georgia is hard nail but there's a strange naivety and sweetness in her. She stands for the children and the women who are being killed.
It's a story of privilege, corruption but also of solidarity and hope.
The author did an excellent job in developing fleshed out characters and the closed world of Bay Angel, the island and a character at the same time.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
November 2, 2021
Georgia Fell’s plans for her future fell apart. She had been abandoned at birth, placed in foster care, and the man she hoped would be hers, would never be. She left Angel Bay Island and enlisted in the Military Police Corps of the Army and became a warrant officer with their criminal investigation division. Now, ten years later she returns to the island after inheriting the estate of Elizabeth Fell, no relation even though she has the same last name. When she receives a text from a friend who needs help, she instead finds the dead body of another friend. She knows this friend had been murdered, but the police are calling her death an overdose with no foul play involved. Something is terribly wrong on the island and she is determined to get justice for her friend. An interesting mystery although it took a while for me to get in to the story. I did enjoy Georgia’s character, her no-nonsense attitude and her willingness to stand up for the foster girls. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
November 5, 2021
I am always eager to find a new author, and I always give the first book in a series a shot. I am so glad I did that with this one because it is one of the best crime thrillers I have read in a long time. Everything from the characters to the background to the setting is fresh. I like Georgia. She is a real person. In fact, everyone seemed that way. I felt like I was just dropped into a regular town – albeit one with a biker problem (and the things that go along with that). The author is smart in letting us know bits and pieces about Georgia, as well as how she feels about returning home to a place where she has lots of connections. Unfortunately, not all of them are good. But I was drawn in and read this in one sitting which is pretty much unheard of for me. I definitely recommend getting in on this first book in the series, because I can tell it is going to be good. For more details, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Bookouture.
October 24, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for the ACR of The Darkwater Girls by Maegan Beaumont that I read and reviewed.
This is the first book in a new series and I had mixed feeling about it. I really enjoyed the mystery and whole concept of trying to figure out who where the bad people in the book and who where the people Georgia could really trust but it was told by too many perspectives. I am not one of those readers that like to be in the head of every character. I like one or two at the most. As they say there were too many chefs in the kitchen in this book. I think the same thing would have been accomplished without having so much going on.
I am going to hold off and wait and see how the next book if before I give my final judgment on what I feel about where this series will go. But this book was had a really good story and I would recommend it for that.
I am giving The Darkwater Girls four out of five stars.
This is the first book in a new series and I had mixed feeling about it. I really enjoyed the mystery and whole concept of trying to figure out who where the bad people in the book and who where the people Georgia could really trust but it was told by too many perspectives. I am not one of those readers that like to be in the head of every character. I like one or two at the most. As they say there were too many chefs in the kitchen in this book. I think the same thing would have been accomplished without having so much going on.
I am going to hold off and wait and see how the next book if before I give my final judgment on what I feel about where this series will go. But this book was had a really good story and I would recommend it for that.
I am giving The Darkwater Girls four out of five stars.
January 11, 2022
I never knew I needed Georgia Fell in my life until I read this book, and I can not wait for more! I could not put this book down and I finished it in one day.
A fast paced, addictive read, about former foster child, Georgia Fell, and the politics and coverups in her small hometown. When Georgia discovers that one of her foster siblings has been murdered she will stop at nothing to learn the truth.
There is so much to say about this book, yet no words at good enough to explain how amazing this book is. The plot twists that have you questioning who is and is not involved. The events leading up to the big reveal make you question what you know about even Georgia herself. The characters and their relationships leave you wanting more.
When is book #2 coming out? I need it now!
I want to thank Netgalley, and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
A fast paced, addictive read, about former foster child, Georgia Fell, and the politics and coverups in her small hometown. When Georgia discovers that one of her foster siblings has been murdered she will stop at nothing to learn the truth.
There is so much to say about this book, yet no words at good enough to explain how amazing this book is. The plot twists that have you questioning who is and is not involved. The events leading up to the big reveal make you question what you know about even Georgia herself. The characters and their relationships leave you wanting more.
When is book #2 coming out? I need it now!
I want to thank Netgalley, and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 18, 2021
Some books you start and you want to know where they have been! Great first book in a new series. I was hooked from page one.
Meet Georgia Fell, left as a baby, grew up in foster care, and due to a little slip on her birth certificate got the last name the prestige Fell family (one of the richest families on the island), ran as far as she could, joined the army as a Military Police, and now the heir of the Fell family fortune.
She always looked out for “brothers” and “sisters” – a coded text for help gets her to least the desirable place on the island, and she stumbles over one of her sisters dead body – never to let things rest, Georgia sets out to solve the murder and steps into a much larger plot.
Can’t wait to read book 2!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange of my opinion.
Meet Georgia Fell, left as a baby, grew up in foster care, and due to a little slip on her birth certificate got the last name the prestige Fell family (one of the richest families on the island), ran as far as she could, joined the army as a Military Police, and now the heir of the Fell family fortune.
She always looked out for “brothers” and “sisters” – a coded text for help gets her to least the desirable place on the island, and she stumbles over one of her sisters dead body – never to let things rest, Georgia sets out to solve the murder and steps into a much larger plot.
Can’t wait to read book 2!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange of my opinion.
September 27, 2021
So, I wasn’t sure about this one for about the first 1/4… and then it got crazy. Such a good twisty turn-y mystery which till the last few pages was hard to figure out besides Georgia who the good guys really were.
Georgia was a foster child who left Angels Bay with the intention of never looking back until she lands back. After spending many years in the military PD, she’s back as a civilian… after her foster sister is murdered she’s sure there is more going on In town than meets the eye and she sets out to figure out the truth, no matter the cost. This is the first book in the Georgia Fell series and I’ll be back for the 2nd!
Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the read.
Georgia was a foster child who left Angels Bay with the intention of never looking back until she lands back. After spending many years in the military PD, she’s back as a civilian… after her foster sister is murdered she’s sure there is more going on In town than meets the eye and she sets out to figure out the truth, no matter the cost. This is the first book in the Georgia Fell series and I’ll be back for the 2nd!
Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the read.
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