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Badlands Thriller #1
Bílá tma
Lily Bakerová přežije autonehodu na zledovatělé silnici v Hagenu v Severní Dakotě. Probere se, aniž by tušila, kdo je a kde se nachází. Pronásledují ji verše z Bible a výjev muže ležícího v kaluži krve. Téže noci dojde k vraždě mladé ženy, jejíž tělo je pohozeno v popelnici. Kylie Milliardová, jediný detektiv v Hagenu, oběť zprvu nepoznává, ale brzy zjistí, že Lily s mrtvou ženou pojí temná minulost . . . Kdyby si jen Lily pamatovala, jaká. Lily i Kylie hledají odpovědi. Kylie musí hrát podle pravidel, Lily na jistotu. Čím víc se o sobě Lily dozvídá, tím víc se bojí pravdy. Stihne zjistit, kdo ve skutečnosti je, než ji minulost dožene? Tento thriller je prvním dílem nové série příběhů, nazvané Badlands Thrillers, která postupně odhaluje příběh Lily Bakerové a dalších obyvatel fiktivního městečka Hagen.
351 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2020
8069 people are currently reading
11130 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Girard
23 books1,078 followersDanielle Girard is the USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author of sixteen novels, including the Annabelle Schwartzman Series, Chasing Darkness, and The Rookie Club series.
Her books have won the Barry Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and White Out was in the top 100 bestselling e-books of 2020. In addition, two of her titles have been optioned for screen. Her next thriller, Pinky Swear, will be out from the Emily Bestler Imprint of Atria books February 24, 2026.
Danielle is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana.
Her books have won the Barry Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and White Out was in the top 100 bestselling e-books of 2020. In addition, two of her titles have been optioned for screen. Her next thriller, Pinky Swear, will be out from the Emily Bestler Imprint of Atria books February 24, 2026.
Danielle is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 962 reviews
August 26, 2021
Well, hmmm, ahem, okay: these plot holes at this book seem bigger than the cracks in my head!
Can you hear the sound of frustration ship horn meets with disappointment Choo Choo sounds of approaching train: these are the signs of my semi unpopular review!
Okay: there are things about this read bothered me a lot:
Firstly: I have no problem with short term memory, amnesia or head wound traumas which confuse MCs’ blurry minds. But in this novel, we have two characters suffer from the same memory loss problem which is too horrible to be true! (If this kind of traumatic experience may be contagious it will be logical!)
And police officers in the book reminded me of Brooklyn nine nine officers ( or 80’s police academy cast ensemble)but unfortunately these officers are not comedians, they’re just dumb, clumsy, lost. Yes, I’m talking about Kylie Milliard who wants to one of the MCs of the book but her brain cells don’t function properly and she is not charismatic or strong, willfulI enough to be leading character.
I know it makes sense when a stupid person become business man, politician or leader of a country because at least he/ she has a team of people with higher IQs to support him/her but when I read about a stupid female character with compelling job, I just hit my forehead with my palm and start screaming “Noooo!”
One of the POVs and most likable MC Lily finds herself upside down, stuck in wracked car positioned in a ditch covered in snows. As she turns her head, she sees a man but she has no idea who he is. As she crawls out of the car, another woman’s body is found in a dumpster behind the bar. Very very unfortunately the bar owner Ivar also has memory issues just like Lily and the detective who is assigned for the case was Kylie Milliard!
All of these characters are acting spooky, decisive, mysterious and cagey. Their talkings reminded me of less philosophical version of Matthew McConaughey’s long True detective interrogation scene monologues as he uses the beer cans to sharpen his origami skills.
The dialogues address to nowhere and the characters do their bests to keep you in the dark. And as a result: there are so many explained situations and inconsistencies.
Overall: I wrote a little harsh review even though I liked the author’s previous works. And surprisingly I’m rounding up my 2.5 stars to 3 because however this book has worst kind of detective, too many illogical inconsistencies and plot holes, it was not boring. You still want to know where the story will go and what the characters are hiding. The ending was also not dissatisfying so I’m giving my three Switzerland: this is not my cup of Cabernet Sauvignon but I also didn’t hate it : let’s meet in the middle and have a party kind of reading!
Can you hear the sound of frustration ship horn meets with disappointment Choo Choo sounds of approaching train: these are the signs of my semi unpopular review!
Okay: there are things about this read bothered me a lot:
Firstly: I have no problem with short term memory, amnesia or head wound traumas which confuse MCs’ blurry minds. But in this novel, we have two characters suffer from the same memory loss problem which is too horrible to be true! (If this kind of traumatic experience may be contagious it will be logical!)
And police officers in the book reminded me of Brooklyn nine nine officers ( or 80’s police academy cast ensemble)but unfortunately these officers are not comedians, they’re just dumb, clumsy, lost. Yes, I’m talking about Kylie Milliard who wants to one of the MCs of the book but her brain cells don’t function properly and she is not charismatic or strong, willfulI enough to be leading character.
I know it makes sense when a stupid person become business man, politician or leader of a country because at least he/ she has a team of people with higher IQs to support him/her but when I read about a stupid female character with compelling job, I just hit my forehead with my palm and start screaming “Noooo!”
One of the POVs and most likable MC Lily finds herself upside down, stuck in wracked car positioned in a ditch covered in snows. As she turns her head, she sees a man but she has no idea who he is. As she crawls out of the car, another woman’s body is found in a dumpster behind the bar. Very very unfortunately the bar owner Ivar also has memory issues just like Lily and the detective who is assigned for the case was Kylie Milliard!
All of these characters are acting spooky, decisive, mysterious and cagey. Their talkings reminded me of less philosophical version of Matthew McConaughey’s long True detective interrogation scene monologues as he uses the beer cans to sharpen his origami skills.
The dialogues address to nowhere and the characters do their bests to keep you in the dark. And as a result: there are so many explained situations and inconsistencies.
Overall: I wrote a little harsh review even though I liked the author’s previous works. And surprisingly I’m rounding up my 2.5 stars to 3 because however this book has worst kind of detective, too many illogical inconsistencies and plot holes, it was not boring. You still want to know where the story will go and what the characters are hiding. The ending was also not dissatisfying so I’m giving my three Switzerland: this is not my cup of Cabernet Sauvignon but I also didn’t hate it : let’s meet in the middle and have a party kind of reading!
May 3, 2020
Amidst all the 4 and 5 star reviews, comes me – the outlier, the downer. White Out takes the prize for one of the worse books I've ever read. If I hadn't of received a complimentary copy it would have been a clear cut dnf, but I've made a promise to myself to finish all books I'm lucky enough to receive for free so I can write a fully informed review. Unfortunately, this was a case of the more I read the worse it got. Badly written, immature, hateful characters whose actions and behaviour didn't ring true, unnecessary and unnatural dialogue, cliché after cliché, and a slow, boring plot where nothing made sense. And, apparently having amnesia in this novel mean't that everyone you encounter speaks in riddles? Or, if you limp into the ER, disorientated, with noticeable head trauma, and other injuries, because you're a nurse at said hospital you're expected to perform CPR on a critically ill patient before being sent off for radiology and x-rays?
The police procedures were a joke – the female detective having grave fears for someone's safety because they are not home and their car's in the driveway?! I don't understand why she would jump to dire conclusions so quickly when the person could've simply been out for a walk, visiting a neighbour, been picked up by a friend or colleague, or caught a taxi or uber? There were numerous sensible explanations and the plot was littered with discrepancies like this.
As I said White Out has received a lot of praise, but if you have similar tastes to me, or if any of the above are red flags for you I would give this one a wide berth, or if you’re still curious borrow it from the library.
I'd like to thank #BookishLadiesClub VIP Bookclub, Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Danielle Girard for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 1st August, 2020.
The police procedures were a joke – the female detective having grave fears for someone's safety because they are not home and their car's in the driveway?! I don't understand why she would jump to dire conclusions so quickly when the person could've simply been out for a walk, visiting a neighbour, been picked up by a friend or colleague, or caught a taxi or uber? There were numerous sensible explanations and the plot was littered with discrepancies like this.
As I said White Out has received a lot of praise, but if you have similar tastes to me, or if any of the above are red flags for you I would give this one a wide berth, or if you’re still curious borrow it from the library.
I'd like to thank #BookishLadiesClub VIP Bookclub, Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Danielle Girard for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 1st August, 2020.
May 23, 2020
A twisty mystery told from multiple POVs. I will start by saying this book definitely required suspension of belief because there were a lot of implausible situations, plot holes and questions left unanswered but it was such a quick read that I just rolled with it. There was murder, amnesia, kidnapping, a suspected cult, drug abuse, small town politics and more. There was A LOT going on here and at times it felt like too much for me. I much prefer for things to be fully explained and fleshed out, versus having so much thrown at me. Not my favorite mystery but not the worst I've read either.
April 26, 2020
I am a big fan of Danielle Giard’s Anna Schwartzman series I was excited to read an early copy of this boo. Thank you to the ladies at BLC VIP Book Club for having me along for this one.
This is a twisty story told from multiple characters points of view. We open with Lily, who awakes in a crashed car with a man she does not know with no idea why she is there. The man is dead and she is desperate to get away. She cannot remember who she is, what she does.. anything. Then we meet Detective Kylie Millard who is called to the scene the towns first murder case in a long time. She wants out of Hagen, where she believes she is wasted. The body of a woman has been found in a dumpster outside a bar.. owner by Iver. Iver is Lily’s only ally and helps her to remember her past. Kylie finds that there is a connection between the dead woman and Lily.
This is a twisty story told from multiple characters points of view. We open with Lily, who awakes in a crashed car with a man she does not know with no idea why she is there. The man is dead and she is desperate to get away. She cannot remember who she is, what she does.. anything. Then we meet Detective Kylie Millard who is called to the scene the towns first murder case in a long time. She wants out of Hagen, where she believes she is wasted. The body of a woman has been found in a dumpster outside a bar.. owner by Iver. Iver is Lily’s only ally and helps her to remember her past. Kylie finds that there is a connection between the dead woman and Lily.
August 9, 2020
I thought this started quite well and I was interested for the first twenty percent. Then the seemingly interesting premise started to unravel and the plot started to make less and less sense. I won’t bother reading the follow up if there are any.
Amazon Prime First Read - July 2020
Amazon Prime First Read - July 2020
July 24, 2020
2.5 stars. Suspenseful and twisty!
This novel started off a lot stronger than it ended for me. I was immediately intrigued by the storyline opening with a woman waking up in a car wreck, not knowing how she got there. It had an air of mystery and tension from page one which intrigued me.
Told through multiple perspectives, I was curious with how all the characters would fit together. The writing kept me interested but felt overwritten and clunky at times and didn’t flow smoothly. It sometimes felt like forced descriptive detail.
The characters were memorable and likeable but their refusal to ask questions about their current situations to clear the air on what was happening became frustrating. That “unknown” aspect failed to pull the plot forward for me. There were several aspects to the storyline that didn’t make sense but I was willing to overlook those and simply enjoy the story.
Overall, this was an entertaining and suspenseful mystery. I simply didn’t connect with the writing or storyline.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my review copy! This comes out Aug 1, 2020.
This novel started off a lot stronger than it ended for me. I was immediately intrigued by the storyline opening with a woman waking up in a car wreck, not knowing how she got there. It had an air of mystery and tension from page one which intrigued me.
Told through multiple perspectives, I was curious with how all the characters would fit together. The writing kept me interested but felt overwritten and clunky at times and didn’t flow smoothly. It sometimes felt like forced descriptive detail.
The characters were memorable and likeable but their refusal to ask questions about their current situations to clear the air on what was happening became frustrating. That “unknown” aspect failed to pull the plot forward for me. There were several aspects to the storyline that didn’t make sense but I was willing to overlook those and simply enjoy the story.
Overall, this was an entertaining and suspenseful mystery. I simply didn’t connect with the writing or storyline.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my review copy! This comes out Aug 1, 2020.
July 1, 2020
This thriller had some twists and turns but unfortunately they came at a point in which I had already lost most of my interest in the story. The book starts off in a decent fashion and has potential but a key plot point annoyed me. I can go with the flow and believe one character doesn't recall certain events. But two characters? That's asking too much of this reader.
Lily Baker was unconscious and when she comes to she realizes she was a passenger in a bad car accident. That's pretty much the only thing she realizes as she has no idea who she is, how she got there, or the identity of the man in the driver's seat who is unresponsive. Her gut instinct is telling her she better quickly leave the scene of the accident.
Detective Kylie Milliard is investigating the murder of a young woman. The story will alternate between several characters including Lily and Kylie.
Lily has an interesting backstory and by far I felt most invested in the chapters featuring her. There wasn't anything horribly wrong with Kylie as a character but she didn't really stand out either. I have mixed feelings about the third character who was featured. I wish the author could have come up with a different way to incorporate him into the story that didn't involve him not remembering stuff either. And there were some minor things here and there that made me question if that's how a situation would realistically play out. Instead of losing myself in the story, eventually my interest level took a nosedive.
.
Even though my review sounds mostly negative, this wasn't a horrible read. It wasn't a simple plot that the author just churned out. I just think it needed some fine tuning. As a Kindle First Reads pick, it is slightly above average in the thriller category. This book appears to be the first in a planned series and while I did have some issues, I'm curious what the author has in store for future books.
Lily Baker was unconscious and when she comes to she realizes she was a passenger in a bad car accident. That's pretty much the only thing she realizes as she has no idea who she is, how she got there, or the identity of the man in the driver's seat who is unresponsive. Her gut instinct is telling her she better quickly leave the scene of the accident.
Detective Kylie Milliard is investigating the murder of a young woman. The story will alternate between several characters including Lily and Kylie.
Lily has an interesting backstory and by far I felt most invested in the chapters featuring her. There wasn't anything horribly wrong with Kylie as a character but she didn't really stand out either. I have mixed feelings about the third character who was featured. I wish the author could have come up with a different way to incorporate him into the story that didn't involve him not remembering stuff either. And there were some minor things here and there that made me question if that's how a situation would realistically play out. Instead of losing myself in the story, eventually my interest level took a nosedive.
.
Even though my review sounds mostly negative, this wasn't a horrible read. It wasn't a simple plot that the author just churned out. I just think it needed some fine tuning. As a Kindle First Reads pick, it is slightly above average in the thriller category. This book appears to be the first in a planned series and while I did have some issues, I'm curious what the author has in store for future books.
February 20, 2020
When several good stories perfectly collide at the hand of the skillful writer, the result is a well-crafted story; this is the best way I can describe White Out by Danielle Girard. White Out is the perfect concoction of suspense, mystery, and a little bit of romance, marinated in a fast-paced sauce; genuinely a twisty rollercoaster novel that will leave you on your toes and biting your nails by the end of each chapter. When the quiet town of Hagen North Dakota sees its first murder in almost ten years, it’s up to detective Kylie Milliard, the only detective in Hagen, to solve the case. Kylie, who sees this murder investigation as an opportunity to a promotion to the Fargo Police Department, soon finds out, "There's more than meets the eye”. This isn’t your typical murder investigation, and with several stories intertwined, things ended up being more complicated as we learn more from each character. Each one the main characters has the opportunity to present their story and version on the events through book. Each chapter left me with a feeling of anxiety, desperation, and the necessity of wanting to know more. Thanks to Danielle Girard for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. There is no doubt this will be a success.
June 26, 2020
In White Out, Danielle Girard masters the perfect blend of action-packed suspense and small-town murder mystery in the first of her Badlands Thriller series. When murder shakes a sleepy North Dakota town, detective Kylie sees it as her ticket out of town, but all is not as it seems. Smart and razor-sharp, a fantastic story that will have you one-clicking the rest of the series.
October 25, 2022
Well this book was so memorable I couldn’t remember anything about it or when I even read it (but I’m guessing some time in the last week). I think it’s another one that I picked up on sale from Amazon. I like to have a little lighter reading before going to sleep.
It seemed to start out alright but then devolved into a hot mess. I’ve been meaning to try a Danielle Girard book for some time and now that I have scratched that particular itch I can happily move on. The end!
It seemed to start out alright but then devolved into a hot mess. I’ve been meaning to try a Danielle Girard book for some time and now that I have scratched that particular itch I can happily move on. The end!
January 19, 2023
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Fortunately for all of us, I don’t really have too much to say that’s negative about this first instalment in the Badlands series… except like two things… three things… four things… Okay, whatever, we’ll count them up at the end.
This was twisted, layered and well-plotted, but some of the events required an extraordinary amount of suspension of disbelief on my behalf. Like, I can buy one character having amnesia - even though I hate amnesia as a plot device - but two of the characters waking up and not being able to remember anything? Please.
Lily regains consciousness upside down in a wrecked truck, covered in snow in a ditch off the highway. Next to her is a man she doesn’t know. She doesn’t even know her own name or how she ended up in this predicament. She only has some random bible verses floating around in her head. So, here’s my second “ugh” for this book – why all the religious stuff? It didn’t connect to the plot in any way that I can remember, but I did read this months ago. Was this a Christian thriller? Is that a genre? I’m not sure what it had to do with anything, it was just like “You get a bible verse! You get a bible verse! Everyone gets a bible verse!”
No, thanks. I’m all set. No offence, it’s just not my thing and I don’t really like religious stuff creeping up behind me.
While Lily is crawling out of the car, a woman’s body is discovered in a dumpster behind a bar. The detective assigned to the case feels like she wants to be the main character or at least the grounding character, but I found her to be kind of unforgettable in personality and a bit of a dumb-dumb when it came to investigating a crime. A book becomes a bit frustrating for me when the theory a cop should pursue is neon-light-flashing obvious to the reader, but the cops take forever to catch up to what you had already figured out five chapters back.
The owner of the bar is Iver and he’s the second character in the book with a case of the “I can’t remembers.” This conveniently (read: obviously) makes him very suspicious for the dumpster murder. So, you know, colour me picky, but I found it a little silly that the entire plot required multiple people to have memory issues in order to create mystery and suspense. The novel also employed my biggest pet peeve literary device (I think it’s my biggest. I should really keep a list,) and that is when characters refuse to ask any questions about their current situation or attempt to clear the air. Instead, they choose to be cagey, evasive and secretive for no discernable reason other than to protect the plot mystery.
Characters with amnesia, who also don’t ask questions as a reasonable person would, isn’t exactly my definition of a “twisted” and shocking plot. It just ends up becoming frustrating/annoying, instead of what I assume the intention is – to build mystery that pulls the reader in.
But that’s me and I’m notoriously awful. Maybe you’ll absolutely love this. Lots of reviewers did.
I know this sounds like a mostly negative review, but it’s not. I swear. Girard is a good writer who leans to the minimalist side of the spectrum. There were just some key elements of the plot that didn’t work for me.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
book source: the author in exchange for a review.
Fortunately for all of us, I don’t really have too much to say that’s negative about this first instalment in the Badlands series… except like two things… three things… four things… Okay, whatever, we’ll count them up at the end.
This was twisted, layered and well-plotted, but some of the events required an extraordinary amount of suspension of disbelief on my behalf. Like, I can buy one character having amnesia - even though I hate amnesia as a plot device - but two of the characters waking up and not being able to remember anything? Please.
Lily regains consciousness upside down in a wrecked truck, covered in snow in a ditch off the highway. Next to her is a man she doesn’t know. She doesn’t even know her own name or how she ended up in this predicament. She only has some random bible verses floating around in her head. So, here’s my second “ugh” for this book – why all the religious stuff? It didn’t connect to the plot in any way that I can remember, but I did read this months ago. Was this a Christian thriller? Is that a genre? I’m not sure what it had to do with anything, it was just like “You get a bible verse! You get a bible verse! Everyone gets a bible verse!”
No, thanks. I’m all set. No offence, it’s just not my thing and I don’t really like religious stuff creeping up behind me.
While Lily is crawling out of the car, a woman’s body is discovered in a dumpster behind a bar. The detective assigned to the case feels like she wants to be the main character or at least the grounding character, but I found her to be kind of unforgettable in personality and a bit of a dumb-dumb when it came to investigating a crime. A book becomes a bit frustrating for me when the theory a cop should pursue is neon-light-flashing obvious to the reader, but the cops take forever to catch up to what you had already figured out five chapters back.
The owner of the bar is Iver and he’s the second character in the book with a case of the “I can’t remembers.” This conveniently (read: obviously) makes him very suspicious for the dumpster murder. So, you know, colour me picky, but I found it a little silly that the entire plot required multiple people to have memory issues in order to create mystery and suspense. The novel also employed my biggest pet peeve literary device (I think it’s my biggest. I should really keep a list,) and that is when characters refuse to ask any questions about their current situation or attempt to clear the air. Instead, they choose to be cagey, evasive and secretive for no discernable reason other than to protect the plot mystery.
Characters with amnesia, who also don’t ask questions as a reasonable person would, isn’t exactly my definition of a “twisted” and shocking plot. It just ends up becoming frustrating/annoying, instead of what I assume the intention is – to build mystery that pulls the reader in.
But that’s me and I’m notoriously awful. Maybe you’ll absolutely love this. Lots of reviewers did.
I know this sounds like a mostly negative review, but it’s not. I swear. Girard is a good writer who leans to the minimalist side of the spectrum. There were just some key elements of the plot that didn’t work for me.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
book source: the author in exchange for a review.
September 16, 2020
This is probably one of those rare crime/ police procedural books where you will find that instead of the police, it's the victim Lily Baker, who has escaped a murder attempt and suffers from a case of selective amnesia, and the falsely accused Iver Larson who also suffers from selective amnesia, who put in more effort to figure out and solve the crime.
This book reminds me of those Bollywood crime/police movies that didn't make much sense what with their loopholes but were still entertaining to watch.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Thomas and Mercer and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
This book reminds me of those Bollywood crime/police movies that didn't make much sense what with their loopholes but were still entertaining to watch.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Thomas and Mercer and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
August 19, 2020
White Out was a mystery based in the past and present time. A good thriller with the two main characters having amnesia and describing how they start putting the pieces together.
The story kept me turning pages. The characters are well developed and I'm glad we will be seeing more of them, since this was the first in a new series.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The story kept me turning pages. The characters are well developed and I'm glad we will be seeing more of them, since this was the first in a new series.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 22, 2021
The alternating perspectives were interesting and I enjoyed the plot. I love a book where I don't guess what's going down halfway into the book. I like that shock factor. Well written, interesting characters and short chapters. I can't wait for the next book!!
August 19, 2020
Many Thanks to Net Galley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
#WhiteOut #NetGalley
White Out, be blinded by the snow
White Out, the blackness of a night lost
White Out, the darkness of temporary amnesia
White Out, the rut of being a victim
White Out has an excellent story line but falls a tad too short to make it brilliant. The pace of the book from start to finish was one roller coaster ride but there were some parts of the story that had me going, how crazy is that and not really in a good way.
Amnesia in a story is always intriguing, there are 100 ways it can be used and the author has used it for two characters in this plot. The story progresses thru Lily, Iver and Kylie and the fact that Lily and Iver both have blackouts for the particular night in question leaves the reader in a muddle. Kylie as the lead detective in a town of only 1500 people was not a sharp and quick character, honestly, I wished she was much more astute and shrewder so that the story felt more gripping.
Iver with his PTSD after his time in Afghanistan felt humane and it was interesting to see the spark of hope developing between him and Lily. The first part of the book with Lily continuously being manhandled, pushed and physically assaulted was painful to read especially as the reader is made aware of her gruesome past.
White Out is an absorbing and intense read but for the few things that felt jarring, I am going with 3.5 stars and since this is book 1 in the series, I would love to continue it for the intricate and compelling story-telling.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads and Twitter.
#WhiteOut #NetGalley
White Out, be blinded by the snow
White Out, the blackness of a night lost
White Out, the darkness of temporary amnesia
White Out, the rut of being a victim
White Out has an excellent story line but falls a tad too short to make it brilliant. The pace of the book from start to finish was one roller coaster ride but there were some parts of the story that had me going, how crazy is that and not really in a good way.
Amnesia in a story is always intriguing, there are 100 ways it can be used and the author has used it for two characters in this plot. The story progresses thru Lily, Iver and Kylie and the fact that Lily and Iver both have blackouts for the particular night in question leaves the reader in a muddle. Kylie as the lead detective in a town of only 1500 people was not a sharp and quick character, honestly, I wished she was much more astute and shrewder so that the story felt more gripping.
Iver with his PTSD after his time in Afghanistan felt humane and it was interesting to see the spark of hope developing between him and Lily. The first part of the book with Lily continuously being manhandled, pushed and physically assaulted was painful to read especially as the reader is made aware of her gruesome past.
White Out is an absorbing and intense read but for the few things that felt jarring, I am going with 3.5 stars and since this is book 1 in the series, I would love to continue it for the intricate and compelling story-telling.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads and Twitter.
August 23, 2021
White Out by Danielle Girard is book 1in the badlands series I must admit I'm not going to continue this series.
I could not connect with any of the characters and I felt the storyline could of been great but it was lacking in something, I can't put my finger on what but it didn't have that enjoyment feeling.
I still think others should give it ago because others may enjoy it, because we can't all like the same books.📖
I could not connect with any of the characters and I felt the storyline could of been great but it was lacking in something, I can't put my finger on what but it didn't have that enjoyment feeling.
I still think others should give it ago because others may enjoy it, because we can't all like the same books.📖
July 9, 2020
White Out has all the ingredients for a perfect suspense/mystery read. It’s a fast-paced, action packed, police procedural read with lots of twists and turns told from multiple POVs. However to fully enjoy this book the reader must be willing to suspend belief and accept some less than plausible situations. I am pretty good with suspending belief and rolling with the punches when it comes to this genre, as I find that a lot of times it’s one of the things that makes the book more enjoyable. This said, I still found myself shaking my head at some points in the plot, and I wish the author was more diligent with facts instead of relying on packing the story with “shocking” actions and situations just to make the plot more convoluted and surprising.
Overall, this was a solid 3 star read for me and I recommend it to all the readers that enjoy a fast paced suspense novels.
Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Overall, this was a solid 3 star read for me and I recommend it to all the readers that enjoy a fast paced suspense novels.
Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 26, 2020
A huge thank you to Danielle Girard for reaching out to be via Instagram and asking that I review "White Out." Moments like this are the sole reason I joined the Bookstagram community and I immediately stopped what I was reading at the time to dive into this one and was LITERALLY GLUED TO MY KINDLE for hours on end because I couldn't stop reading it!
There is something so special when a mystery/thriller novel has all of the perfect pieces in place: heart-stopping chapters, well-written (and believable characters), the perfect amount of suspense and of course the elegant way Girard created twists and turns that kept you breathless (and clueless) til the very end. I was so invested in every character of this book and while reading, I almost felt like they were a part of my family. The one word I could use to describe this novel was - CONSUMED. And consumed in the best way possible. Heck, I even brought my kindle to a bonfire and slipped off for 15 minutes just so I could keep reading.
If I had anything negative to add (which I don't because I am utterly OBSESSED with this book) it would be that I wish the readers got to know Dectective Milliard a bit more. While the chapters flipped between characters, I found myself wanting more of Kylie - who she is, where she comes from, her background, etc. I assume this was done intentionally as this is book one of Girard's new series, so I look forward to learning more about her character in future novels. Also, I wish that we had learned more about Lily's life in captivity. There were only short bursts of information given and I think it would have helped round out the narrative a bit better. Perhaps "Lily - present day" and "Lily - before." I think it would have added an additional element of intrigue.
All in all, this book has solidified its place in my top 5 for 2020 and it's only February. I will be sharing with all of my friends and followers that this is a MUST READ for anyone who loves mystery/thrillers! Bravo to Girard - this was an absolute masterpiece to read!
There is something so special when a mystery/thriller novel has all of the perfect pieces in place: heart-stopping chapters, well-written (and believable characters), the perfect amount of suspense and of course the elegant way Girard created twists and turns that kept you breathless (and clueless) til the very end. I was so invested in every character of this book and while reading, I almost felt like they were a part of my family. The one word I could use to describe this novel was - CONSUMED. And consumed in the best way possible. Heck, I even brought my kindle to a bonfire and slipped off for 15 minutes just so I could keep reading.
If I had anything negative to add (which I don't because I am utterly OBSESSED with this book) it would be that I wish the readers got to know Dectective Milliard a bit more. While the chapters flipped between characters, I found myself wanting more of Kylie - who she is, where she comes from, her background, etc. I assume this was done intentionally as this is book one of Girard's new series, so I look forward to learning more about her character in future novels. Also, I wish that we had learned more about Lily's life in captivity. There were only short bursts of information given and I think it would have helped round out the narrative a bit better. Perhaps "Lily - present day" and "Lily - before." I think it would have added an additional element of intrigue.
All in all, this book has solidified its place in my top 5 for 2020 and it's only February. I will be sharing with all of my friends and followers that this is a MUST READ for anyone who loves mystery/thrillers! Bravo to Girard - this was an absolute masterpiece to read!
June 22, 2020
Loved it. Do you know that feeling when you immediately connect with a story and get completely immersed in it? That is this book! Thank you so much to Danielle Girard for this stunning ARC. I am so thankful for the chance to read it because I loved it! The setting is rural North Dakota and the story begins with a woman who has just survived a car crash but has amnesia. She slowly begins to learn about her life, and realizes she’s in real danger. Someone is trying to kill her and she needs to find out why before it’s too late.
Thoughts: I connected to this plot right away. Right from the start it was fast-paced and engaging. The writing in this story was SO good- very descriptive and relatable. I felt connected to the characters, especially the main character. I loved that there were so many interesting things going on and people to follow. I felt like there wasn’t really a dull moment and it was almost 400 pages of relevant and interesting storytelling.
I can honestly say I had no idea how this story was going to end and it was action packed until the very end. I enjoyed the ending as well as the journey. While it was a little unbelievable, it all tied together nicely. Danielle Girard is a fantastic writer and I will be going back to get her previous books ASAP! 4.5 stars from me!
Thoughts: I connected to this plot right away. Right from the start it was fast-paced and engaging. The writing in this story was SO good- very descriptive and relatable. I felt connected to the characters, especially the main character. I loved that there were so many interesting things going on and people to follow. I felt like there wasn’t really a dull moment and it was almost 400 pages of relevant and interesting storytelling.
I can honestly say I had no idea how this story was going to end and it was action packed until the very end. I enjoyed the ending as well as the journey. While it was a little unbelievable, it all tied together nicely. Danielle Girard is a fantastic writer and I will be going back to get her previous books ASAP! 4.5 stars from me!
December 12, 2020
Never have I given a book a 5-star review, but "White Out" is well deserving. This book is attention-getting right from the start and does not stop.
In "White Out," we are introduced to Detective Kylie Milliard, a detective working in the small town of Hagen, North Dakota, seeking a job in the bigger city of Fargo. She is thrust into a case of a dead woman, seemingly working with a group of men who are hiding details of the case with her. Ms. Girard has done an excellent job of weaving in some unexpected twists and turns in this novel that you will not expect. As soon as you think you have figured out who the bad guy is, you'll find out that you are wrong. There is even a hint of romance! This is sure to be a top-selling series for Ms. Girard.
Readers will not be disappointed. Thank you for letting me be one of your early readers, Ms. Girard. I am very much looking forward to the rest of this series. Well done!
In "White Out," we are introduced to Detective Kylie Milliard, a detective working in the small town of Hagen, North Dakota, seeking a job in the bigger city of Fargo. She is thrust into a case of a dead woman, seemingly working with a group of men who are hiding details of the case with her. Ms. Girard has done an excellent job of weaving in some unexpected twists and turns in this novel that you will not expect. As soon as you think you have figured out who the bad guy is, you'll find out that you are wrong. There is even a hint of romance! This is sure to be a top-selling series for Ms. Girard.
Readers will not be disappointed. Thank you for letting me be one of your early readers, Ms. Girard. I am very much looking forward to the rest of this series. Well done!
July 1, 2020
Willing Suspension of Disbelief Shattered
While it isn't the only genre of fiction I read, the promise of a good thriller is hard to pass up. I had heard marvellous things about this book before I downloaded it from one of my favorite book review sites. Unfortunately, I did not feel like this book lived up to the promise or the hype; I did not find it to be a particularly good thriller. The first thing that turned me off from the book was the very awkward turns of phrases and image descriptions that were meant to be evocative but were just odd (like comparing blood oozing down a neck to warmed-up, second-day turkey gravy). At times, I felt the author tried too hard to come up with a unique way of describing things, and that her attempts just fell flat or brought up images that were wrong or inappropriate at the moment (like the turkey gravy).
As both a nurse and someone who has read and watched a lot of police procedurals and detective thrillers, I found this book to be riddled with errors in both the hospital aspects and the police procedures. After a certain point, I just felt like I was reading to see what gaffes she would make next! I don't like a book to be a “page turner” for that reason!
For any fiction, there always needs to be a willing suspension of disbelief, but to me, that only extends so far. This book has such a wide variety of unlikely situations only loosely linked, so many questions left unanswered until the very end, unlikable and one-dimensional characters, and plot holes you could drive a truck through that it stretched that suspension of disbelief until it snapped and broke completely. It felt like the author certainly had too many components going on in the story, and she wasn’t able to handle them all deftly. She should have chosen a few and drilled down into those. All in all, I found this to be a very disappointing read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
While it isn't the only genre of fiction I read, the promise of a good thriller is hard to pass up. I had heard marvellous things about this book before I downloaded it from one of my favorite book review sites. Unfortunately, I did not feel like this book lived up to the promise or the hype; I did not find it to be a particularly good thriller. The first thing that turned me off from the book was the very awkward turns of phrases and image descriptions that were meant to be evocative but were just odd (like comparing blood oozing down a neck to warmed-up, second-day turkey gravy). At times, I felt the author tried too hard to come up with a unique way of describing things, and that her attempts just fell flat or brought up images that were wrong or inappropriate at the moment (like the turkey gravy).
As both a nurse and someone who has read and watched a lot of police procedurals and detective thrillers, I found this book to be riddled with errors in both the hospital aspects and the police procedures. After a certain point, I just felt like I was reading to see what gaffes she would make next! I don't like a book to be a “page turner” for that reason!
For any fiction, there always needs to be a willing suspension of disbelief, but to me, that only extends so far. This book has such a wide variety of unlikely situations only loosely linked, so many questions left unanswered until the very end, unlikable and one-dimensional characters, and plot holes you could drive a truck through that it stretched that suspension of disbelief until it snapped and broke completely. It felt like the author certainly had too many components going on in the story, and she wasn’t able to handle them all deftly. She should have chosen a few and drilled down into those. All in all, I found this to be a very disappointing read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
March 31, 2020
Looking for a whodunnit detective novel that gives nothing away until the very end? A book that is so hard to put down because the suspense is killing you so you keep reading and reading and reading...
Look no further.
We follow Lily, a victim (or is she?), Iver, the suspect (or is he?), and Kylie, the detective (or is sh... just kidding. no doubts here).
Abby, a woman who was held captive alongside of Lily ten years ago, is found murdered. That same night, Lily woke up in a strangers crashed car with no memory, and watched as the car fell over the guardrail and off a cliff to the drivers death. The police force and detective found evidence implicating Iver in the murder of Abby. But Iver has a past with Lily- and despite the evidence, Iver is the only one Lily trusts. Meanwhile, Lily is realizing that someone is trying to murder her like they did to the other women she was held in captivity with. But her memory loss complicates things... We follow the three of them as they work to find the true killer(s) and save Lily from a similar fate.
This was a suspenseful, complex, nail-biting book. It reads like a law and order SVU meets criminal minds meets detective murder mystery meets The Butterfly Garden with more shocking plot twists. I was absolutely propelled through the second half of this book because Girard managed to keep the twist a secret until the very end (and I pride myself on guessing twists early 😏). Perfect when paired with green juice, hot tea, emergen-C, and a freshly cloroxed apartment. 4.3 ⭐️
Look no further.
We follow Lily, a victim (or is she?), Iver, the suspect (or is he?), and Kylie, the detective (or is sh... just kidding. no doubts here).
Abby, a woman who was held captive alongside of Lily ten years ago, is found murdered. That same night, Lily woke up in a strangers crashed car with no memory, and watched as the car fell over the guardrail and off a cliff to the drivers death. The police force and detective found evidence implicating Iver in the murder of Abby. But Iver has a past with Lily- and despite the evidence, Iver is the only one Lily trusts. Meanwhile, Lily is realizing that someone is trying to murder her like they did to the other women she was held in captivity with. But her memory loss complicates things... We follow the three of them as they work to find the true killer(s) and save Lily from a similar fate.
This was a suspenseful, complex, nail-biting book. It reads like a law and order SVU meets criminal minds meets detective murder mystery meets The Butterfly Garden with more shocking plot twists. I was absolutely propelled through the second half of this book because Girard managed to keep the twist a secret until the very end (and I pride myself on guessing twists early 😏). Perfect when paired with green juice, hot tea, emergen-C, and a freshly cloroxed apartment. 4.3 ⭐️
July 20, 2020
A twisty, multi-person murder mystery set in a sleepy, small town, White Out is one of those fast-paced, evocative thrillers that you want to inhale in one go. I loved the writing, the characters, the setting, everything. Ferociously smart, intensely intriguing, it's just a fun, speedy read.
The book begins with a bang: Lily wakes in a crashed car that's hanging over a crash with a man she doesn't know and with absolutely no memory. It's a gripping beginning, and becomes even more tense as Lily stumbles away to the hospital, only to learn she works there. And then we find out she escaped from a serial killer many years ago.
There's a lot of action, a lot of suspense, a lot of subplots all coming together in the end, and I was totally there for it. I love reading this sort of book in the summer. It's perfect escapist reading.
The book begins with a bang: Lily wakes in a crashed car that's hanging over a crash with a man she doesn't know and with absolutely no memory. It's a gripping beginning, and becomes even more tense as Lily stumbles away to the hospital, only to learn she works there. And then we find out she escaped from a serial killer many years ago.
There's a lot of action, a lot of suspense, a lot of subplots all coming together in the end, and I was totally there for it. I love reading this sort of book in the summer. It's perfect escapist reading.
September 21, 2020
This is an interesting mystery to start. A girl, Lily, wakes up without knowing who she is or what is going on. She's on a cliff, in a car and appears to have been in an accident. From there you slowly discover Lily's life and the small town she lives in...and what she's been through.
There are two other POV to this story - Iver who has had a lot to drink the night before and has blacked out - no idea how he got home or what he did all night. There's also a detective, Kylie, and you learn the evidence and the case from her.
I didn't like Kylie. I think her assumptions, rough treatment of everyone and horrible tactics as a police officer/detective were horrible and hard to read. It colored the whole story and made it tough to finish. I did like Iver and Lily and found their stories interesting but Kylie was a hard pass.
There are two other POV to this story - Iver who has had a lot to drink the night before and has blacked out - no idea how he got home or what he did all night. There's also a detective, Kylie, and you learn the evidence and the case from her.
I didn't like Kylie. I think her assumptions, rough treatment of everyone and horrible tactics as a police officer/detective were horrible and hard to read. It colored the whole story and made it tough to finish. I did like Iver and Lily and found their stories interesting but Kylie was a hard pass.
August 3, 2020
This thriller started out with a bang, crash, wham literally. Lily Baker comes to and realizes she is in the passenger seat of a car that has been in an accident - with a man she doesn’t know. She also doesn’t know who she is or why she is there. All she instinctively knows is that she needs to get out of there now!
Ivar Larson, local bar owner, wakes up with a killer hangover and doesn’t have the first clue what happened last night. Upon arrival at his bar he finds the police waiting for him to question him about the night before. Too bad he doesn’t remember anything, and his best friend and bar manager is acting strangely.
Kylie Milliard, Detective at the local police department very desperately wants to prove herself so she can be promoted to another town. She quickly begins to suspect something is rotten in Denmark.
This story is told with multiple point of views and has a large cast of characters, and suspects, and it is easy to get confused. All in all, it was an okay read and I gave it three stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read.
Ivar Larson, local bar owner, wakes up with a killer hangover and doesn’t have the first clue what happened last night. Upon arrival at his bar he finds the police waiting for him to question him about the night before. Too bad he doesn’t remember anything, and his best friend and bar manager is acting strangely.
Kylie Milliard, Detective at the local police department very desperately wants to prove herself so she can be promoted to another town. She quickly begins to suspect something is rotten in Denmark.
This story is told with multiple point of views and has a large cast of characters, and suspects, and it is easy to get confused. All in all, it was an okay read and I gave it three stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read.
March 1, 2020
This was my first novel by this author and I really enjoyed it.
Lilly Baker wakes to find she has just survived a car crash, but she has no idea who she is or where she is. Then there is a man lying next to her in the car and again, she has no idea who this person is.
The same night, Kylie Millard, a detective in the same town of Hagen, attends the finding of a murder and discovers that both Lilly and the dead woman share a past.
As the story goes along, the author reveals pieces of the puzzle. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense of this one and the way in which the author introduces us to the past as we go along. Will definitely read more by this author in the future.
Lilly Baker wakes to find she has just survived a car crash, but she has no idea who she is or where she is. Then there is a man lying next to her in the car and again, she has no idea who this person is.
The same night, Kylie Millard, a detective in the same town of Hagen, attends the finding of a murder and discovers that both Lilly and the dead woman share a past.
As the story goes along, the author reveals pieces of the puzzle. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense of this one and the way in which the author introduces us to the past as we go along. Will definitely read more by this author in the future.
February 28, 2020
White Out by Danielle Girard is a perfectly blended murder mystery and thriller with a wonderfully complex cast of characters; an amnesic woman, a female detective surrounded by small minded men in a small town and a seriously sketch tavern owner who’s more likely drunk than not. A series of seemingly random events unfolds but there’s more to the story than those involved are willing to admit and it seems everyone has a secret … or five. It’s up to Detective Kylie Hilliard to put the pieces together, not an easy task but her investigation will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages.
White Out is quickly paced and action packed, convoluted and baffling in the best possible way and, I’m happy to say, the first book in the Badlands Thriller series. I’m excited to see where Ms. Girard takes this series. My sincere thanks to Ms. Girard for providing me with a DRC of White Out in exchange for my honest review.
White Out is quickly paced and action packed, convoluted and baffling in the best possible way and, I’m happy to say, the first book in the Badlands Thriller series. I’m excited to see where Ms. Girard takes this series. My sincere thanks to Ms. Girard for providing me with a DRC of White Out in exchange for my honest review.
August 19, 2020
Reading this book was like eating a stale pack of cookies. As from the first bite, you know it's a real bad idea to continue, but you can't stop yourself even if you discover only a hint of the original flavor and the texture is all wrong. At the end, you just feel sorry you've spent your calories/time on something that should have been better.
What was it that I didn't like?
Let's start with the characters. First there is Lily, she has been in a car accident and wakes up with absolutely no memory. Knowing the ambulance is heading her way, she does the only thing that makes sense: run, of course. After that, she just makes every dumb mistake you can imagine. There is Iver, the bar owner who will help her. But naturally, he is also suffering from amnesia and alcoholism. And then there is Kylie, the detective who is supposed to solve the mystery, but she either doesn't check her clues, and if she does she can't interpret them.
The writing style is clean and precise and although it is generally not my preference, I must say that in this context it works perfectly to describe a cold and stormy atmosphere. Mrs. Girard can certainly write well. If anything bothered me was the continuous wrong use of the order of pronouns, something that I see in a lot of books this last decade. To all the writers out there: the correct order is "You and me" not "Me and you". It's a form of courtesy, just like holding a door for someone.
But the reason why this is a 2 star is by far the plot, that had more holes than a chunk of gruyere cheese. There are a lot of characters that have no added value, and they are more of a distraction than anything. The denouement was quickly dealt with, leaving a lot of questions unanswered.
Will I read something else by Mrs. Girard? Maybe I will because I liked the style and if the plot is better, I will sit down with a fresh pack of cookies and a cup of tea and go for it.
My sincere thanks to Netgalley to provide for a free copy.
What was it that I didn't like?
Let's start with the characters. First there is Lily, she has been in a car accident and wakes up with absolutely no memory. Knowing the ambulance is heading her way, she does the only thing that makes sense: run, of course. After that, she just makes every dumb mistake you can imagine. There is Iver, the bar owner who will help her. But naturally, he is also suffering from amnesia and alcoholism. And then there is Kylie, the detective who is supposed to solve the mystery, but she either doesn't check her clues, and if she does she can't interpret them.
The writing style is clean and precise and although it is generally not my preference, I must say that in this context it works perfectly to describe a cold and stormy atmosphere. Mrs. Girard can certainly write well. If anything bothered me was the continuous wrong use of the order of pronouns, something that I see in a lot of books this last decade. To all the writers out there: the correct order is "You and me" not "Me and you". It's a form of courtesy, just like holding a door for someone.
But the reason why this is a 2 star is by far the plot, that had more holes than a chunk of gruyere cheese. There are a lot of characters that have no added value, and they are more of a distraction than anything. The denouement was quickly dealt with, leaving a lot of questions unanswered.
Will I read something else by Mrs. Girard? Maybe I will because I liked the style and if the plot is better, I will sit down with a fresh pack of cookies and a cup of tea and go for it.
My sincere thanks to Netgalley to provide for a free copy.
November 22, 2020
Detective Kylie Miniard is young, new to town and finding herself having to prove herself to the good-old-boys club. Kylie is the town's only detective. She's being excluded from all kinds of aspects when it comes to solving crime.
On this particular night, she, again, is the last to be called to the scene of a murder. A woman's body has been found in a dumpster. She starts the investigation wanting to take a look at a local bar which is pretty close to the crime scene. However, the higher-ups have tied her hands.
At the same time, a car accident on an icy road has left Lily Baker without a memory. She has no idea who she is or where she is. She has vague images but nothing she can sink her teeth into. And who is that man lying in a pool of blood in her car?
What Kylie discovers is that Lily and the dead woman have a history.. if only Lily could remember. The more Kylie discovers, the more Lily fears what Kylie will find.
This author is not new to me. As with the others of her books I have read, I have come to expect a solid plot with deftly drawn characters. I was not disappointed. This is the first in a new series featuring a strong female protagonist. She is flawed, but those flaws make her credible. She is intelligent, determined, and wants nothing more than finding closure for victims and their families.
There's lots of action, many and varied suspects to watch, a page-turner for sure. I look forward to the next installment of this series.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer ? Amazon Publishers / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
On this particular night, she, again, is the last to be called to the scene of a murder. A woman's body has been found in a dumpster. She starts the investigation wanting to take a look at a local bar which is pretty close to the crime scene. However, the higher-ups have tied her hands.
At the same time, a car accident on an icy road has left Lily Baker without a memory. She has no idea who she is or where she is. She has vague images but nothing she can sink her teeth into. And who is that man lying in a pool of blood in her car?
What Kylie discovers is that Lily and the dead woman have a history.. if only Lily could remember. The more Kylie discovers, the more Lily fears what Kylie will find.
This author is not new to me. As with the others of her books I have read, I have come to expect a solid plot with deftly drawn characters. I was not disappointed. This is the first in a new series featuring a strong female protagonist. She is flawed, but those flaws make her credible. She is intelligent, determined, and wants nothing more than finding closure for victims and their families.
There's lots of action, many and varied suspects to watch, a page-turner for sure. I look forward to the next installment of this series.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer ? Amazon Publishers / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 31, 2020
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy.
This is the first book I've read by Danielle Girard and the first book in her newest series. As you all know I love series and am so glad to not only have found a new one to read but have also discovered a new author on top of it!
I love books that deal with amnesia - there is just something intriguing to me when you have that concept of forgotten memory. Add in a car accident, a murder, some cultish goings-on and small town politics and I am all in!
This book starts with a bang and never lets up. There are strong female characters that I felt I wanted to learn more about as well as a host of other intriguing characters. The twists and turns really kept me glued to this book and I had no idea where things were headed - this was one complex, complicated mystery that didn't let up until the very end.
I liked that not only does Lily seem to have memory issues, but Iver, who owns the bar where a body was found, does too and his memory issues might not be just due to his drinking. There were definitely some sinister things afoot here.
I cannot wait to see where this series goes next...and while I wait, I will definitely be checking out this author's backlist. Have you read any of her other books?
You can see all my reviews at: http://alwayswithabook.blogspot.com/
This is the first book I've read by Danielle Girard and the first book in her newest series. As you all know I love series and am so glad to not only have found a new one to read but have also discovered a new author on top of it!
I love books that deal with amnesia - there is just something intriguing to me when you have that concept of forgotten memory. Add in a car accident, a murder, some cultish goings-on and small town politics and I am all in!
This book starts with a bang and never lets up. There are strong female characters that I felt I wanted to learn more about as well as a host of other intriguing characters. The twists and turns really kept me glued to this book and I had no idea where things were headed - this was one complex, complicated mystery that didn't let up until the very end.
I liked that not only does Lily seem to have memory issues, but Iver, who owns the bar where a body was found, does too and his memory issues might not be just due to his drinking. There were definitely some sinister things afoot here.
I cannot wait to see where this series goes next...and while I wait, I will definitely be checking out this author's backlist. Have you read any of her other books?
You can see all my reviews at: http://alwayswithabook.blogspot.com/
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