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The Thirteenth Girl
A little girl in a white nightdress stands out in the snow, watching the large brick house burn before her eyes…
My name is Lucy Townsend.
I was born on Friday the thirteenth, and I was the thirteenth girl living in the big house. Unlucky for some.
But I was the fortunate one. I escaped. The only one who made it out alive.
And now, twenty years after that fateful night, the secrets of the past and what happened in that house are pulling me back.
I might not be so lucky this time…
A totally gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller with twists and turns you just won’t see coming. Perfect for fans of Girl A and The Family Upstairs.
My name is Lucy Townsend.
I was born on Friday the thirteenth, and I was the thirteenth girl living in the big house. Unlucky for some.
But I was the fortunate one. I escaped. The only one who made it out alive.
And now, twenty years after that fateful night, the secrets of the past and what happened in that house are pulling me back.
I might not be so lucky this time…
A totally gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller with twists and turns you just won’t see coming. Perfect for fans of Girl A and The Family Upstairs.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2022
701 people are currently reading
903 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Goodwin
23 books769 followersAlso writing as Amy Cunningham (The Serial Killer's Party) and Amelia Wildwood (rom-com coming in summer 2026)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
June 20, 2022
I need to learn to DNF!
1.5 stars
The Thirteenth Girl is an over-the-top psychological thriller about the lone survivor of a former cult whose members were murdered in a terrible fire.
7-year-old Lucy was thought to be the only survivor of a fire at the manor that housed a cult. 20 years have passed, and Lucy is now married to an MP’s son and pregnant with her first child. However, Lucy’s secretive past comes to haunt her. She is caught up in a plot that puts her life in danger.
Narrated by Lucy, she isn’t so bright. She fails to see what is going on right in front of her eyes. She acts like a helpless child, and I wanted to shake her repeatedly for her dumb choices. She eventually grows and develops a backbone by the end, but it was too late at this point for me to care about her.
There are a few chapters narrated by another cult member, but they didn’t make much sense to me.
I should have stopped reading this around the 30% mark when Lucy receives a threatening letter written in menstrual blood. For no apparent reason, I kept reading. I deeply regret this choice.
The plot centers on a cult--it has some potential, but it gets increasingly convoluted and unbelievable as the novel progresses. In addition, there are many plot holes and elements that just don’t make sense. The ending wraps things up nicely, which helped my rating a bit. I enjoyed Stranded by Goodwin, but this book needed a lot of help, to say the least.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
1.5 stars
The Thirteenth Girl is an over-the-top psychological thriller about the lone survivor of a former cult whose members were murdered in a terrible fire.
7-year-old Lucy was thought to be the only survivor of a fire at the manor that housed a cult. 20 years have passed, and Lucy is now married to an MP’s son and pregnant with her first child. However, Lucy’s secretive past comes to haunt her. She is caught up in a plot that puts her life in danger.
Narrated by Lucy, she isn’t so bright. She fails to see what is going on right in front of her eyes. She acts like a helpless child, and I wanted to shake her repeatedly for her dumb choices. She eventually grows and develops a backbone by the end, but it was too late at this point for me to care about her.
There are a few chapters narrated by another cult member, but they didn’t make much sense to me.
I should have stopped reading this around the 30% mark when Lucy receives a threatening letter written in menstrual blood. For no apparent reason, I kept reading. I deeply regret this choice.
The plot centers on a cult--it has some potential, but it gets increasingly convoluted and unbelievable as the novel progresses. In addition, there are many plot holes and elements that just don’t make sense. The ending wraps things up nicely, which helped my rating a bit. I enjoyed Stranded by Goodwin, but this book needed a lot of help, to say the least.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2022
Lucy Armitage is the thirteenth girl. At the age of seven she is found scantily clad and barefoot in the snow as the Manor House behind her burns. Now married and newly pregnant Lucy’s past comes back to haunt her, can she piece together her fragmented memories and leave things to rest?
The start of the novel is done well and the premise sounds very promising. Lucy’s early memories appear as bad dreams, you get hints of the trauma and the early details of the cult are extremely unsettling. In addition to this the vibe you get from her husband and his family means it soon becomes very disturbing. You feel sympathy for Lucy, none of the situation she finds herself in is her fault and yet I don’t connect with her, she is too unemotional and ambivalent about what is happening to her, probably understandably so. The characters are not easy to like and some are simply dreadful in the way they treat her.
However, it falls apart for me in the second half. There’s way too much explanation and over detail which slows the pace and prevents the tension and suspense which you should most definitely be feeling. There are sections here I just couldn’t take seriously especially details around the cult and there’s a lot of eye rolling from me. This is especially true with some of the dialogue which makes my jaw drop for the wrong reasons! The end is pretty good and saves the book from a lower than three star rating from me.
Overall, there is disappointment as I really enjoyed the authors last book ‘Stranded’ but with this one there are too many sections that require suspension of disbelief.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books for the much appreciated arc return for an honest review.
The start of the novel is done well and the premise sounds very promising. Lucy’s early memories appear as bad dreams, you get hints of the trauma and the early details of the cult are extremely unsettling. In addition to this the vibe you get from her husband and his family means it soon becomes very disturbing. You feel sympathy for Lucy, none of the situation she finds herself in is her fault and yet I don’t connect with her, she is too unemotional and ambivalent about what is happening to her, probably understandably so. The characters are not easy to like and some are simply dreadful in the way they treat her.
However, it falls apart for me in the second half. There’s way too much explanation and over detail which slows the pace and prevents the tension and suspense which you should most definitely be feeling. There are sections here I just couldn’t take seriously especially details around the cult and there’s a lot of eye rolling from me. This is especially true with some of the dialogue which makes my jaw drop for the wrong reasons! The end is pretty good and saves the book from a lower than three star rating from me.
Overall, there is disappointment as I really enjoyed the authors last book ‘Stranded’ but with this one there are too many sections that require suspension of disbelief.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books for the much appreciated arc return for an honest review.
July 8, 2022
2.75
I had such high hopes for this book. I beyond loved Stranded and thought I would love this one as well. The book beings well enough and then I just started losing interest. I pushed myself to finish the book as I felt that it would go back to being more enjoyable for me. Sadly, it never did.
The gist is that as a child, Lucy was the sole survivor of a horrific fire. Now twenty years later, she is a married woman with a baby on the way. The past doesn't want to remain in the past. The past sometimes comes back with a vengeance.
Goodwin proved she can write and tell a story. This just wasn't the story for me. I did not connect with Lucy, nor did I connect with the story. Plus, the whole cult thing is getting old to me. I wondered was it that I came into this book with such high expectations after loving Stranded?
Even though I did not love this book, I will read books by her in the future. Not all of them can be winners.
Others enjoyed this more than I did, so please read their reviews.
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
I had such high hopes for this book. I beyond loved Stranded and thought I would love this one as well. The book beings well enough and then I just started losing interest. I pushed myself to finish the book as I felt that it would go back to being more enjoyable for me. Sadly, it never did.
The gist is that as a child, Lucy was the sole survivor of a horrific fire. Now twenty years later, she is a married woman with a baby on the way. The past doesn't want to remain in the past. The past sometimes comes back with a vengeance.
Goodwin proved she can write and tell a story. This just wasn't the story for me. I did not connect with Lucy, nor did I connect with the story. Plus, the whole cult thing is getting old to me. I wondered was it that I came into this book with such high expectations after loving Stranded?
Even though I did not love this book, I will read books by her in the future. Not all of them can be winners.
Others enjoyed this more than I did, so please read their reviews.
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
April 12, 2022
This book has an interesting premise and a promising start. Lucy Townsend is living in loved up bliss with husband Paul when she learns, to her shock, that she is pregnant. Lucy is not ready to be a mother, after all her own mother was a terrible role model. Marshal is a councillor on the Bristol Council and his father is an MP. They are very proper and are delighted to hear the news. Unfortunately Lucy has been keeping some big secrets about her past and a journalist has been sniffing them out. The publicity is not good. What will people think? Lucy is bundled off out of the limelight so things can settle down. It all for the best. By the way it doesn’t take long until you realise Marshal is a controlling and manipulative twat!
However, when Lucy arrives at her remote hideaway she decides to look into her past. Of course she does! She grew up in a cult. Yes, folks the dreaded cult strikes again. When she was 7 years old the manor house where a bunch of them lived burnt down, well nearly down, and there were few survivors. Lucy was one of them. So of course, since she’s in the area she needs to go poking around the manor. Doesn’t she know you never go into the basement?
The middle of the book was all about the cult and it got quite boring and totally unrealistic. A bunch of women prancing around worshiping the moon and having no rules, free love and all that stuff. After the fire of course it seems to be over. But is it?
In the final part of the book you learn that the cult has changed its focus, has gone a bit underground, figuratively and literally, and is now hellbent on …. I can’t tell you that.
The ending was quite good and totally fitting. I was rooting for Lucy by then and applauded the difficult decision she made. But it was not enough to save the book from being simply average. I don’t mind stories about cults, mostly, but this one seemed pretty ridiculous and I could imagine how it hung on as long as it did. But hey, you might enjoy the book a lot more than I did. I really enjoyed the author’s previous book, Stranded, but this was a little disappointing. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
However, when Lucy arrives at her remote hideaway she decides to look into her past. Of course she does! She grew up in a cult. Yes, folks the dreaded cult strikes again. When she was 7 years old the manor house where a bunch of them lived burnt down, well nearly down, and there were few survivors. Lucy was one of them. So of course, since she’s in the area she needs to go poking around the manor. Doesn’t she know you never go into the basement?
The middle of the book was all about the cult and it got quite boring and totally unrealistic. A bunch of women prancing around worshiping the moon and having no rules, free love and all that stuff. After the fire of course it seems to be over. But is it?
In the final part of the book you learn that the cult has changed its focus, has gone a bit underground, figuratively and literally, and is now hellbent on …. I can’t tell you that.
The ending was quite good and totally fitting. I was rooting for Lucy by then and applauded the difficult decision she made. But it was not enough to save the book from being simply average. I don’t mind stories about cults, mostly, but this one seemed pretty ridiculous and I could imagine how it hung on as long as it did. But hey, you might enjoy the book a lot more than I did. I really enjoyed the author’s previous book, Stranded, but this was a little disappointing. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
March 17, 2022
I had high expectations for this book, since I loved stranded. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to the anticipation. The premise was promising; A girl who grew up in a cult, not remembering what had happened. In the beginning I liked the book, even if I found myself annoyed by Lucy’s ambivalence towards figuring out what had happened to her. I felt the unsettling vibe from the relationship she was in, and looked forward to what would happen next. After the first chapters, I sadly felt disappointed. The story unfolded to slowly, there was far too many details which halted the suspense. I liked the ending which made it worth reading the rest of the story. Hopefully Godwin’s next book will again have me sitting on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, not wanting to miss a single page.
Thank you for NetGalley and AvonBooksUk for this arc
Thank you for NetGalley and AvonBooksUk for this arc
June 20, 2022
Her second novel and recently published, The Thirteenth Girl by Sarah Goodwin is another standalone thriller. Lucy Townsend grew up in foster care, having been rescued from a cult. Now happily married, she discovers she’s pregnant and a whole series of unfortunate events occur, spiralling outside her control. Struggling with flashbacks and her new infamy, Lucy’s secrets are revealed, placing her in grave danger. Despite a flowing narrative, escalating tension and twists aplenty, it wasn’t an imaginatively gripping tale. So overall, an average domestic noir with a three star read rating as it lacked some resonance. With thanks to Avon Books UK and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
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June 19, 2022DNF at 48%. Could not connect with the story, characters, or writing style.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
August 1, 2022
the mc was really whiny and i couldn't stand her, the writing was kind of good tho
June 23, 2022
Oh how disappointing! I had loved Goodwin’s previous novel and went into this book with such high expectations. But for a second novel, I was really let down by the plot and its development, finding it slow, repetitive and, worst of all, rather far-fetched in the second half.
Lucy believes her tragic past is safely hidden until her secret is splashed across the newspapers. Being married into an affluent family means her husband and father-in-law will not tolerate a stain on their name. Bundling her off to a remote cottage in Wales, Lucy soon realises that she is camped out not far from the mansion of horrors. Leaving her friend, Ellie, at her work conferences, Lucy starts to investigate the dilapidated ruins in the hope that some of her repressed memories resurface. Detached from the outside world, Lucy has little knowledge of how the scandal of her past is being investigated and is keen to keep exploring the mansion. However, an unfortunate accident turns her already shattered world upside down, leaving her fighting for her life.
The first part of the novel helps to establish Lucy’s character. There are some flashbacks to life in the mansion, told from the perspective of another child. In this way, we see a different interpretation of Lucy’s character, which I thought was quite interesting as it meant you could watch events unfold and not from her perspective. At the same time, it illustrates exactly what Lucy went through as a child, which was also when I started to feel that the novel was pushing too hard on the realism of the story.
Alas, the second part of the novel is where I felt it truly fell apart. For a lot of time, not much happens, with Lucy merely debating her existence from her life in the cult, to her marriage and the scandal. Yet, her treatment beggared belief and I felt like this was more of a fantasy read than a suspenseful thriller. Indeed, when Lucy does take some action, I did not feel my heart was in my mouth, merely desperate for her to escape so that it meant the novel was closer to its conclusion.
I find it difficult to compare Goodwin’s two novels as they feel as if they have come from two separate writers. This story was lacking in any atmosphere and I quickly grew to dislike the protagonist. Whilst I was keen to see how the novel would end, I felt frustrated by scenes that felt too unbelievable and as if the writer had not carried out her research. The only redeeming element to the story was seeing how Lucy changed her attitude towards life, showing an inner strength at the end that was desperately needed throughout.
All in all, I thought the shaky cover was reflected by the dissatisfying narrative. It started off in a mediocre fashion but never really redeemed itself. If you have yet to read a novel by this author, then I would highly recommend her debut as this does not seem to be her most appealing work. I hope the next novel is far more of a page-turner.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lucy believes her tragic past is safely hidden until her secret is splashed across the newspapers. Being married into an affluent family means her husband and father-in-law will not tolerate a stain on their name. Bundling her off to a remote cottage in Wales, Lucy soon realises that she is camped out not far from the mansion of horrors. Leaving her friend, Ellie, at her work conferences, Lucy starts to investigate the dilapidated ruins in the hope that some of her repressed memories resurface. Detached from the outside world, Lucy has little knowledge of how the scandal of her past is being investigated and is keen to keep exploring the mansion. However, an unfortunate accident turns her already shattered world upside down, leaving her fighting for her life.
The first part of the novel helps to establish Lucy’s character. There are some flashbacks to life in the mansion, told from the perspective of another child. In this way, we see a different interpretation of Lucy’s character, which I thought was quite interesting as it meant you could watch events unfold and not from her perspective. At the same time, it illustrates exactly what Lucy went through as a child, which was also when I started to feel that the novel was pushing too hard on the realism of the story.
Alas, the second part of the novel is where I felt it truly fell apart. For a lot of time, not much happens, with Lucy merely debating her existence from her life in the cult, to her marriage and the scandal. Yet, her treatment beggared belief and I felt like this was more of a fantasy read than a suspenseful thriller. Indeed, when Lucy does take some action, I did not feel my heart was in my mouth, merely desperate for her to escape so that it meant the novel was closer to its conclusion.
I find it difficult to compare Goodwin’s two novels as they feel as if they have come from two separate writers. This story was lacking in any atmosphere and I quickly grew to dislike the protagonist. Whilst I was keen to see how the novel would end, I felt frustrated by scenes that felt too unbelievable and as if the writer had not carried out her research. The only redeeming element to the story was seeing how Lucy changed her attitude towards life, showing an inner strength at the end that was desperately needed throughout.
All in all, I thought the shaky cover was reflected by the dissatisfying narrative. It started off in a mediocre fashion but never really redeemed itself. If you have yet to read a novel by this author, then I would highly recommend her debut as this does not seem to be her most appealing work. I hope the next novel is far more of a page-turner.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2022
Wow, thanks to Avon Books UK for the arc to read and review this The Thirteenth Girl by Sarah Goodwin.
This is the second book by Sarah Goodwin and having thoroughly enjoyed Stranded last year, I was hoping for something good, instead I got something even better with this very exciting psychological high octane thriller.
This book is about Lucy Townsend is the 13th girl living in the Manor and born on Friday the 13th. Luckily she was able to escape and the story takes us to now, 20 years after this event when she finds herself married and pregnant with her first child, through something has brought back memories of her childhood.
I initially didn't like the character of Lucy very much as she found herself bullied by her husband Marshal and didn't stick up for herself, but you soon understand it is due to earlier traumas. The story takes on a very different and sinister turn into the cult that she used to live with until she escaped aged seven. Slowly her memories begin to piece together and evolve and you really find yourself rooting for Lucy. So many unexpected twists, turns and changes of direction really make this very thought provoking book. Can she escape again?
Great descriptive writing flowed throughout and and the relationships are detailed and believable throughout the book. and I didn't want it to end. I hope this book gets made into a movie as with the great location and characters, would be amazing to watch.
Again, like Sarah's first book, my only complaint is that the blurb doesn't do the book enough justice.
I absolutely loved The 13th Girl and think this could be my book of the year!! I know we're barely half way through the year, but I have read or listened to 27 books so far this year, and I've read some really good contenders.
This is the second book by Sarah Goodwin and having thoroughly enjoyed Stranded last year, I was hoping for something good, instead I got something even better with this very exciting psychological high octane thriller.
This book is about Lucy Townsend is the 13th girl living in the Manor and born on Friday the 13th. Luckily she was able to escape and the story takes us to now, 20 years after this event when she finds herself married and pregnant with her first child, through something has brought back memories of her childhood.
I initially didn't like the character of Lucy very much as she found herself bullied by her husband Marshal and didn't stick up for herself, but you soon understand it is due to earlier traumas. The story takes on a very different and sinister turn into the cult that she used to live with until she escaped aged seven. Slowly her memories begin to piece together and evolve and you really find yourself rooting for Lucy. So many unexpected twists, turns and changes of direction really make this very thought provoking book. Can she escape again?
Great descriptive writing flowed throughout and and the relationships are detailed and believable throughout the book. and I didn't want it to end. I hope this book gets made into a movie as with the great location and characters, would be amazing to watch.
Again, like Sarah's first book, my only complaint is that the blurb doesn't do the book enough justice.
I absolutely loved The 13th Girl and think this could be my book of the year!! I know we're barely half way through the year, but I have read or listened to 27 books so far this year, and I've read some really good contenders.
June 15, 2022
A little girl in a white nightdress stands out in the snow, watching the large brick house burn before her eyes....
My name is Lucy Townsend. I was born on Friday 13th, and I was the thirteenth girl living in the big house, Unlucky for some. But I was the fortunate one. I escaped. The only one who made it out alive. And now, twenty years after that fateful night, the secrets of the past and what happened in that house are pulling me back. I might not be so lucky this time....
Lucy had been brought up in a cult until she was seven, then she was taken into a care home. She had tried to forget all about her past. But now, twenty years later, she is married and has a baby on the way. She has little memory of her past, but now it's coming back to haunt her.
The premise showed so much potential, but unfortunately it fell short. The pace is slow and there were parts that dragged out and were unbelievable. There's also a lot of unnecessary detail. The first part of the book was the best part. The part describing the cult was a bit extreme. I did enjoy the book, the ending was satisfactory, I just didn't love it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #SarahGoodwin for my ARC of #TheTirteenthGirl in exchange for an honest review.
My name is Lucy Townsend. I was born on Friday 13th, and I was the thirteenth girl living in the big house, Unlucky for some. But I was the fortunate one. I escaped. The only one who made it out alive. And now, twenty years after that fateful night, the secrets of the past and what happened in that house are pulling me back. I might not be so lucky this time....
Lucy had been brought up in a cult until she was seven, then she was taken into a care home. She had tried to forget all about her past. But now, twenty years later, she is married and has a baby on the way. She has little memory of her past, but now it's coming back to haunt her.
The premise showed so much potential, but unfortunately it fell short. The pace is slow and there were parts that dragged out and were unbelievable. There's also a lot of unnecessary detail. The first part of the book was the best part. The part describing the cult was a bit extreme. I did enjoy the book, the ending was satisfactory, I just didn't love it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #SarahGoodwin for my ARC of #TheTirteenthGirl in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2022
Can you imagine what life would be like if everyone around you was controlling you, bending and moulding you to their needs? When you open this book you will meet Lucy, a woman haunted by nightmares, or are they memories? The 13th Girl is a gripping page-turner that will see you reading into the early hours. This book is full of twists, making it a fantastic read you will not want to miss out on.
This was my first Sarah Goodwin book and it has made me a fan. She pulls you into her story, keeping you gripped from start to finish. I enjoyed the uncertainty of where this story was going. The characters are original and realistic. She adds a little mystery to the characters leaving you unsure of who to trust. My heart broke for these young girls as the past truth was revealed.
Lucy is haunted by her past. Her memory of what happened to her during childhood is unreliable, but twenty years ago she was saved from a fire, yet so many others were not that lucky. She remembers their screams; it was the night she lost her mother. A mother who was not there for her. A mother she barely remembers. When Lucy finds out that she is pregnant, it is not good news. She is not ready to be a mother, she is not even sure she wants to be a mother. When the press reveals her true identity, Lucy is forced back to her childhood, forced to remember what really happened, especially when new allegations point a finger at her mother, calling her a murderer of children. Now people are blaming Lucy, but is she ready for the truth that awaits her?
My heart broke for this woman. She is carrying so much guilt with her. She feels responsible for things that happened when she was seven years old. I was enraged by the actions of her mother. Thinking it possible for a mother to treat her child this way left my blood boiling. I found myself so engrossed in this book, I was forced to remind myself that it is only fiction.
Lucy Townsend is introduced as a troubled woman. She is hiding what little she remembers about her past, and when her husband finds out the truth, he is forced to help his MP dad deal with a media frenzy they never saw coming. This man was just annoying with his concern, it did not feel balanced. Lucy is sent away – for her own good – but she finds herself in an unusual situation that forces her to face her past. I love how the author kept her real, not turning her into a super-human to overcome the situation she is faced with. Yet the author allows Lucy to find her strength and become a woman determined to stand up for herself. Her selfless act at the end of the story showed just how strong she was.
This booked breezed its way onto my loved list for 2022. I loved every minute I spent reading it and I cannot wait to have the chance to read more books from this author.
If you enjoy a twisty thriller that will leave you turning pages till the early hours, then I would highly recommend this book. It’s a fabulous moving story you will not want to put down until you have reached the last line. The 13th Girl is a brilliantly creative tale.
https://featzreviews.com
This was my first Sarah Goodwin book and it has made me a fan. She pulls you into her story, keeping you gripped from start to finish. I enjoyed the uncertainty of where this story was going. The characters are original and realistic. She adds a little mystery to the characters leaving you unsure of who to trust. My heart broke for these young girls as the past truth was revealed.
Lucy is haunted by her past. Her memory of what happened to her during childhood is unreliable, but twenty years ago she was saved from a fire, yet so many others were not that lucky. She remembers their screams; it was the night she lost her mother. A mother who was not there for her. A mother she barely remembers. When Lucy finds out that she is pregnant, it is not good news. She is not ready to be a mother, she is not even sure she wants to be a mother. When the press reveals her true identity, Lucy is forced back to her childhood, forced to remember what really happened, especially when new allegations point a finger at her mother, calling her a murderer of children. Now people are blaming Lucy, but is she ready for the truth that awaits her?
My heart broke for this woman. She is carrying so much guilt with her. She feels responsible for things that happened when she was seven years old. I was enraged by the actions of her mother. Thinking it possible for a mother to treat her child this way left my blood boiling. I found myself so engrossed in this book, I was forced to remind myself that it is only fiction.
Lucy Townsend is introduced as a troubled woman. She is hiding what little she remembers about her past, and when her husband finds out the truth, he is forced to help his MP dad deal with a media frenzy they never saw coming. This man was just annoying with his concern, it did not feel balanced. Lucy is sent away – for her own good – but she finds herself in an unusual situation that forces her to face her past. I love how the author kept her real, not turning her into a super-human to overcome the situation she is faced with. Yet the author allows Lucy to find her strength and become a woman determined to stand up for herself. Her selfless act at the end of the story showed just how strong she was.
This booked breezed its way onto my loved list for 2022. I loved every minute I spent reading it and I cannot wait to have the chance to read more books from this author.
If you enjoy a twisty thriller that will leave you turning pages till the early hours, then I would highly recommend this book. It’s a fabulous moving story you will not want to put down until you have reached the last line. The 13th Girl is a brilliantly creative tale.
https://featzreviews.com
July 8, 2022
Lucy thought she had finally escaped her past, that night where the fire burned and she got away from the cult that had taken over her life as a little girl. But twenty years later, they are hunting Lucy. And this time she might not get away.
I love a good cult book! This had EVERYTHING you could possibly need to make an absolutely fantastic, rollercoaster of a cult book. It was packed with fantastic twists, a build up of tension that finished incredibly. This is, without a doubt, one of the best cult books I've read in a long time. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
I love a good cult book! This had EVERYTHING you could possibly need to make an absolutely fantastic, rollercoaster of a cult book. It was packed with fantastic twists, a build up of tension that finished incredibly. This is, without a doubt, one of the best cult books I've read in a long time. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
July 12, 2022
Lucy Townsend is the sole survivor of a horrific fire that happened twenty years ago. Now she is married to Marshal who is from a well-known family with a baby on the way. But the past doesn't want to stay buried.
The Thirteenth Girl possesses a flowing narrative and the escalating tension makes it compelling. With twists aplenty, there are also flashbacks to Lucy's former life in the mansion, a redbrick ivy-covered Manor House, told from the perspective of another child. The first part of the tale has disturbing and unsettling vibes. The second part which explains the cult in detail makes for a slower pace. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the fitting ending. A good tale by Sarah Goodwin.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Avon Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The Thirteenth Girl possesses a flowing narrative and the escalating tension makes it compelling. With twists aplenty, there are also flashbacks to Lucy's former life in the mansion, a redbrick ivy-covered Manor House, told from the perspective of another child. The first part of the tale has disturbing and unsettling vibes. The second part which explains the cult in detail makes for a slower pace. I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the fitting ending. A good tale by Sarah Goodwin.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Avon Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
August 3, 2025
What a wild ride! Slow to start but the middle had me hooked and the end was worth it. My first by this author so I’ll try a few more for sure.
Love the cult tie ins with an MLM storyline.
Love the cult tie ins with an MLM storyline.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2022
A book I had high expectation after Stranded but this was unfortunatelly was not what I expected. It was about a cult and all the dark things you can immagine in a family that is not that. And was really shit on shit. But I was glad the good wins at the end.
What can you do when you have noone that is reliable and that has no second expectations for you. That need you for his purpose. It was really dark one for me. I immagine many can enjoy it. I liked the writing but not enjoy the story for real ro be honest.
Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for this opportunity.
What can you do when you have noone that is reliable and that has no second expectations for you. That need you for his purpose. It was really dark one for me. I immagine many can enjoy it. I liked the writing but not enjoy the story for real ro be honest.
Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for this opportunity.
March 15, 2022
Lucy was the sole survivor of a fire that destroyed a building that housed a cult of which her mother was a leading member. Lucy was then taken into foster homes for the duration of her childhood. In the next stage of her life she meets Marshall and marries him, not because she was totally madly in love , more because she felt safe with him and did care for him. She remembers little of her life after leaving the cult and is not sure if this is a good or bad thing, but her past does catch up with her and the consequences of this leads to some tragic circumstances.
I found myself feeling quite emotional regarding Lucy's character. She never had any parental love nor was she really given any guidance regarding life and what to expect of her future or what opportunities may have been open to her. Just like marrying a particular kind of man to feel safe, Lucy did the same with her job, never really exploring her potential.
The idea of a cult is always an interesting theme, I think many of us wonder how life would be if this were to happen to ourselves and how people become victims of this lifestyle. Too many of us this seems incredulous, but sadly this does occur, even in todays society.
I do have to say I found the first half of the book more enjoyable, after such an interesting start it seemed to slow down quite a bit in the second half. In saying that I did enjoy this story and would recommend this book to others, 3.5 rounded up to four stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book, this is review is purely my own thoughts.
I found myself feeling quite emotional regarding Lucy's character. She never had any parental love nor was she really given any guidance regarding life and what to expect of her future or what opportunities may have been open to her. Just like marrying a particular kind of man to feel safe, Lucy did the same with her job, never really exploring her potential.
The idea of a cult is always an interesting theme, I think many of us wonder how life would be if this were to happen to ourselves and how people become victims of this lifestyle. Too many of us this seems incredulous, but sadly this does occur, even in todays society.
I do have to say I found the first half of the book more enjoyable, after such an interesting start it seemed to slow down quite a bit in the second half. In saying that I did enjoy this story and would recommend this book to others, 3.5 rounded up to four stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book, this is review is purely my own thoughts.
May 9, 2022
Lucy was brought up in a cult as a young child, she was taken into care and she tried to forget her past.
Now a married woman with a child on the way her past life is about to come back to haunt her.
A harrowing story with some very unsavoury characters that felt unbelievable in parts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Now a married woman with a child on the way her past life is about to come back to haunt her.
A harrowing story with some very unsavoury characters that felt unbelievable in parts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I liked the ending.
I liked the ending.
January 29, 2025
Twenty years after 7 year old Lucy escaped from both a fire and a cult, she finds herself pregnant. Her husband is, let's call a spade a spade, a jackass. When her secret past threatens his father's career, he sends his pregnant wife away and in doing so, puts her life in grave danger.
This is the kind of book where nothing is as it appears. You do need to suspend your disbelief when it comes to certain parts of the story, but the twists are big and plentiful. The ending was not entirely satisfying to me, but I sat with it for a few hours before I wrote my review and realized that it was the only way for it to end.
This book is a Read It!
This is the kind of book where nothing is as it appears. You do need to suspend your disbelief when it comes to certain parts of the story, but the twists are big and plentiful. The ending was not entirely satisfying to me, but I sat with it for a few hours before I wrote my review and realized that it was the only way for it to end.
This book is a Read It!
September 15, 2022
2.5 ....if i could...
Luce has suppressed her passed memories of growing up in a cult until the age of 7. When her past comes to light, with a new pregnancy and media madness, she's no longer safe.
This book had potential being centered around a cult involved in devious behavior. However, a lot of the plot was hard to believe. A lot of "why would she do that?" moments. If she was such a big deal in the media and stories were circling about the cult, why wouldn't the manor be surrounded with press at all times. It just didn't make sense.
Luce has suppressed her passed memories of growing up in a cult until the age of 7. When her past comes to light, with a new pregnancy and media madness, she's no longer safe.
This book had potential being centered around a cult involved in devious behavior. However, a lot of the plot was hard to believe. A lot of "why would she do that?" moments. If she was such a big deal in the media and stories were circling about the cult, why wouldn't the manor be surrounded with press at all times. It just didn't make sense.
March 22, 2022
From a young age, Lucy was raised by a cult that her mother was a leading member of. She is now an adult and married to Marshal, who is from a well known family. When news comes out that Lucy was a part of a cult growing up, things become difficult for the family and Lucy is sent to a cottage to spend some time away and out of the spotlight. During her stay, Lucy has an accident and is taken to a hospital. But when she wakes up in the hospital she finds out her past is back to haunt her and that the members of the cult need her back, but why?
This was another page-turner! I have read several books about cults lately, but this one was very interesting and I liked the suspense of the story very much. I think Sarah Goodwin is a great story teller and you will find THE THIRTEENTH GIRL to be a quick and exciting read until the very last page!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This was another page-turner! I have read several books about cults lately, but this one was very interesting and I liked the suspense of the story very much. I think Sarah Goodwin is a great story teller and you will find THE THIRTEENTH GIRL to be a quick and exciting read until the very last page!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
November 11, 2023
Please keep writing books! They hook me and I have to keep going … bc I have to know!
I can see how some would get lost in the plot or think this would be over the top though. I agree there. Part of me leaned that way. Stranded was so good. I hope we see more like that one; on that level.
I can see how some would get lost in the plot or think this would be over the top though. I agree there. Part of me leaned that way. Stranded was so good. I hope we see more like that one; on that level.
November 19, 2022
I had been looking forward to reading this book as it sounded intriguing, the thirteenth girl to escape and it had to do with cults, which I tend to enjoy. The book starts with a girl who disappeared at a birthday party and was taken to a cult and introduced to a new family. The book then jumps to the present time and we meet Lucy who is getting ready for dinner with her husband Marshall's family. On that night, Lucy discovers she is pregnant -how can this be when she is religious about taking her pill as she never wanted children. We learn then that Lucy has been going to therapy and suffered a tragedy, a fire when she was seven years old and was placed in foster care and went from home to home. During this time, Lucy heads to work like a normal day, but it won't be normal as somehow her past and true identity as Lucia Green has come to light and the newspapers are running stories about the cult that Lucy grew up in and was rescued from when she was seven. As Marshall's parents are upper-class UK and both Marshall and his Dad are MPs and in parliament, the news starts affecting and looking like a scandal. I have to admit, this is where the story went downhill for me as I hated both characters from Marshall being an arrogant prick and blaming Lucy for her past - it's like Hello, she not only had the memories repressed but she was a child and it happened before she was 7 years old. She didn't need to tell you and here you are making it all about yourself and Lucy- grow some balls and yes it is your past, so grab it by the horns and run with it- turn the narrative to yourself and uncover the truth and then that freaking ending like WTF, I understand why she did what she did but in my mind, it makes her just as bad as her mother as now she has done the same to her child as her mother did to her. Overall, this was an average UK fiction mystery/thriller past/present read.
June 4, 2022
When Lucy was a child her mother joint a cult and took her with her. She remembers that all ended when a fire broke out and all members died except her. That’s at least what Lucy can remember. Now she is grown up and married to the son of a politician. She is deeply insecure after everything she went through with the cult and the rest of her childhood spending in foster care. Then suddenly her past is leaked to the press. Her husband and her father-in-law are not very pleased about that unwanted attention and the reporters waiting in front of their house. At the same time Lucy learns that she is pregnant. So she decides to hide in a remote cottage in Wale not far away from the place the cult lived. She wants to explore the place and see if she can remember more of what happened there.
This is a weird and not very realistic story. Lucy is like a mouse. Her husband is manipulative and treats her like a stupid child. Unfortunately Lucy acts like a stupid child most of the time. The second half of the book gets even more unbelievable. It turns out the cult is not dead but it is all very unlikely and weird. I like books about cults but I did not get this one and why those women kept clinging to it. Lucy grew some spine at the end to take finally her life into her own hands even if it means to make difficult decisions. But it did not save the story from being chaotic and average. I was impressed by the previous book from this author; it was a 5–star-rating for me. But this one felt flat for me and never reached the intensity of “Stranded”.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a weird and not very realistic story. Lucy is like a mouse. Her husband is manipulative and treats her like a stupid child. Unfortunately Lucy acts like a stupid child most of the time. The second half of the book gets even more unbelievable. It turns out the cult is not dead but it is all very unlikely and weird. I like books about cults but I did not get this one and why those women kept clinging to it. Lucy grew some spine at the end to take finally her life into her own hands even if it means to make difficult decisions. But it did not save the story from being chaotic and average. I was impressed by the previous book from this author; it was a 5–star-rating for me. But this one felt flat for me and never reached the intensity of “Stranded”.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2022
I absolutely loved Stranded, so I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into the book. The story was OK and I would give it 2.5 stars. I didn't love any of the characters. I hated how Lucy kept apologizing to Marshal and his parents, like anything that was happening was her fault. She was seven years old when she was rescued from the cult. Marshal and his family were just as controlling as the cult. I'm pretty sure Lucy would have been able to be found. I enjoyed the beginning of the book more than the end. It was when Lucy was sent off to the cottage where the story lost me. It wasn't hard to figure out who was going to behind Nutrisoul or the truth about Ellie. The members of the Luna Vitae were CRAZY and definitely went to lengths after the fire to find the girl that Carlisle proclaimed to be the perfect vessel. Selene would never had won a Best Mother Award. She was terrible. Does Lucy make the best decision at the end? About her husband- DEFINITELY!!!! I would be afraid the baby would end up in the wrong hands. Those crazy cult members were everywhere.
Definitely give the book a try, it just wasn't what I was expecting. Look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Definitely give the book a try, it just wasn't what I was expecting. Look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 3, 2022
I was pleased to get hold of a copy of this book after enjoying the author’s debut novel, Stranded. Unfortunately, this novel didn’t hold my attention and stretched my credulity too far.
My main issue lies with the character of Lucy/Lucia. At the start of the novel she is living a humdrum life, working in an administrative job but firmly under the control of her simultaneously wet yet condescending husband, Marshal. He, in turn is patronised and managed by his awful parents, Marshall senior, an MP and Enid, a columnist. Nothing about any of these relationships rings true.
Then we move on to the main ‘plot’, involving cults, kidnapping and wellness brands and if that all sounds like an OTT dream sequence, it also reads like that.
Sadly, this book just didn’t engage me at all. I found the characters, settings and plot almost farcical. The ending was just as dissatisfying as the beginning. Hopefully the author will have a return to form with her next book.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon books Ltd for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
My main issue lies with the character of Lucy/Lucia. At the start of the novel she is living a humdrum life, working in an administrative job but firmly under the control of her simultaneously wet yet condescending husband, Marshal. He, in turn is patronised and managed by his awful parents, Marshall senior, an MP and Enid, a columnist. Nothing about any of these relationships rings true.
Then we move on to the main ‘plot’, involving cults, kidnapping and wellness brands and if that all sounds like an OTT dream sequence, it also reads like that.
Sadly, this book just didn’t engage me at all. I found the characters, settings and plot almost farcical. The ending was just as dissatisfying as the beginning. Hopefully the author will have a return to form with her next book.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon books Ltd for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2022
If you love slow burners, this book could be for you. There are no aspects of a thriller for a while at the beginning but it definitely comes through by the end. Lucy has a controlling husband, who has an equally, if not even more, controlling family. I personally struggled relating to any of the characters, but other than Lucy, the characters are her husband and his manipulative family, plus cult members, so they weren’t written to be likeable. Lucy was quite bland; she lacked a lot of personality, art being her outlet, but I think this was a result of a lifetime of manipulative surroundings. There was one character in particular I did really like though.
It switches between the past and the present, the past voice not that of Lucy, but I actually much preferred the scenes that were written in the past. The past, living within the cult… well, I’d quite enjoy a prequel and I could imagine it being a five-star read.
A massive part of the book, the hospital part, lacks a lot of anything much happening. The book really picks up the last 20% though and THIS was the point it had me on the edge of my seat. It progresses slowly and ends with a bang. I personally like books filled with action and tension, but this book would be much better suited to people who like slow burners.
Thank you to Sarah Goodwin, NetGalley, and Avon Books UK for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.
It switches between the past and the present, the past voice not that of Lucy, but I actually much preferred the scenes that were written in the past. The past, living within the cult… well, I’d quite enjoy a prequel and I could imagine it being a five-star read.
A massive part of the book, the hospital part, lacks a lot of anything much happening. The book really picks up the last 20% though and THIS was the point it had me on the edge of my seat. It progresses slowly and ends with a bang. I personally like books filled with action and tension, but this book would be much better suited to people who like slow burners.
Thank you to Sarah Goodwin, NetGalley, and Avon Books UK for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.
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