Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Emma Griffin FBI Mysteries #20

The Girl in Apartment 9

Rate this book
There once was a girl.
A beautiful girl with the world at her palms.
But then the girl slowly and surely discovered,
The world she once loved was nowhere to be found.
Happiness and hope?
That’s for fairy tales.
There’s no prince charming to the rescue,
No knight in shining armor.
And for the Girl in Apartment 9?
Well, her story is about to be told...

FBI Agent Emma Griffin has had to overcome many obstacles throughout her life to get to her happily ever-after.
But somehow death and destruction always loomed over her shoulders.

When she is asked by her neighbor Paul to find Sydney Parker, a girl that has gone missing from a nearby college, Emma jumps on the case.

On the surface, Sydney seems like a high-achiever. A good student, a good daughter, and a girl that champions for mental health awareness.
So, what could have possibly happened to cause her to vanish from her apartment?
Did she leave on her own or was she taken?

What is the truth behind the girl in Apartment 9?
And what does it have to do with the trail of bodies piling up on campus?

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 13, 2022

1032 people are currently reading
1238 people want to read

About the author

A.J. Rivers

147 books1,530 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,330 (61%)
4 stars
1,043 (27%)
3 stars
342 (9%)
2 stars
57 (1%)
1 star
23 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
Profile Image for Kyra.
134 reviews
July 17, 2022
I would say check trigger warnings. All I got to say is the twist were there and I thought I was solving it and all that but no I was not at all I was so far off I didnt pick up on so much. Emma Griffin I love this girl I will read the rest of them. I cant believe she connect so many of the details and it was very interesting. I think every thing was laid out so well and I think if you want a good mystery book this is a good one. At the start it was kinda boring but like after 100 pages and she has more information it gets good really quickly.
Profile Image for Beth Stromberg.
448 reviews11 followers
May 18, 2022
As usual, I enjoyed an interesting story, but find myself annoyed by tiny bits and pieces , dropped here and there about Xavier/Jonah and the Marini stories.
I really do not like how long these are dragged out. I don't mind a thread, but this is way too choppy. Will I read the next one? Yes, but once these stories are wrapped up, will I come back? I just don't know.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Lanaghan.
1,135 reviews4 followers
July 26, 2022
Book Review: The Girl in Apartment 9 by A.J. Rivers

Rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Genre: Thriller
Published: 5/13/22

Review: Trigger Warning:: Mental Health and Suicide. As someone with mental health issues, this book really hit close to home. While it was sometimes hard to read, I think it had a really great message in it. My favorite character Xavier said that you don’t suffer from mental illness, you live with it. If you say that someone is suffering from mental illness, you are saying that they are not living through it and that they are always down. That’s not true. Yes we have our down moments, but it doesn’t define us. They compared it to someone who has allergies and I think that is a good comparison. I like that that quote was toward the beginning of the book as it helped me get through all the hard parts. This was probably one of my favorite books of the series so far. I am looking forward to reading the final book tomorrow!

Summary: There once was a girl. A beautiful girl with the world at her palms. But then the girl slowly and surely discovered, The world she once loved was nowhere to be found. Happiness and hope? That's for fairy tales. There's no Prince Charming to the rescue, No knight in shining armor. And for the Girl in Apartment 9? Well, her story is about to be told...FBI agent Emma Griffin has had to overcome many obstacles throughout her life to get to her happily ever-after. But somehow death and destruction always loomed over her shoulders. When she is asked by her neighbor Pail to find Sydney Parker, a girl that has gone missing from a nearby college, Emma jumps on the case. On the surface, Sydney seems like a high-achiever. A good student, a good daughter, and a girl that champions for mental health awareness. So what could have possibly happened to cause her to vanish from her apartment? Did she leave on her own or was she taken? What is the truth behind the girl in Apartment 9? And what does it have to do with the trail of bodies piling up on campus?

#mybookfeatures #bookstagrammer #bookstagramit #bookstagram #bibliophile #booksaremylife #bookasthetic #booktalk #readingtime #booklove #bookphotography #bookrecs #bookish #readingcommunity #readaholic #instabooks #bookcollector #bookcollection #bookhaul #bookcommunity #bookstack #bookaholic #booklover #bookaddict #readinglife #bookshelf #bookrecommendations #bookreview #thegirlinapartment9 #ajrivers
Profile Image for Gina Marie ~books are my drug of choice~.
285 reviews6 followers
September 1, 2023
hard read

The latest book in the series was very difficult to read. I’m not sure if I would have read it if I had known there was going to be so much focus on depression, anxiety, mental health and someone leading young people to kill themselves, as their choice. The thing is feeling suicidal is just that, a feeling and it may come back many times but if you stay safe and give it time, it always fades.
I actually liked Emma in this book. She was a bit extra a few times but this time she didn’t make it all about her and what she felt like saying or doing at any given time. I absolutely love Xavier he sees all the things most people overlook because he sees what doesn’t quite fit and what it’s hiding.
This book was a bit different from those closest in front of it. She really only dealt with the Emperor’s case, Miley and how she attached and the missing student/suicides. Many of the most recent books had so many things going on and all of them trying to cover that I almost felt I needed to take notes to not get lost. There was a little bit about Marie but all told that was less than a chapter. There were very few time jump chapters which was welcome. They provide backstory but also they either interrupt the flow of the story or they leap about in time so much I have to wonder if it is actually intended to confuse the reader and prevent them from figuring out the mystery early.
I still don’t understand why they say you can read them as a stand alone book. If you only plan to read or buy one and don’t care that even though the mystery of that book is solved you know you are missing a whole bunch of the story I guess. The thing is every one of these books starts in the past but in the middle on things. They also end with only one of the two to five mysteries having been resolved. Do yourself a favor, start with book one and read through. It will take a bit of time. I think it has taken six or seven days for me to get this far.
6 reviews
May 25, 2024
Bookclub Miss (for me)

In full transparency, I am not a regular Mystery reader, and this came via my bookclub.

To jump into a series at such a late point is always tenuous, and my fears of why manifested in this book. The long-running cast of characters were not introduced well. Often, they were brought in to the story with little to no detail of who they were, their relation to Emma, and their roles . . . Though generally with a reference to earlier events in the series. As a result, I spent most of the first third of the book wondering in the "mystery" among the Mystery genre was the mystery of what a book was even about.

After enough context clues and general suspension of higher expectations though, the book flowed well. Once the main character was pulled out of focusing on what evidently is a larger overarching case in the series and focused on the case in this book, it was a much more enjoyable read.

I could additionally critique the ease to which Emma gains access to whatever she desires, even from characters in positions of authority.

The book did offer some interesting points of discussion. Ideas around an individual's right to choice and bodily autonomy were thought-provoking, if not fully explored.

Overall, it was a fine distraction of a read, but not an ideal jumping on point into the series and, potentially, not into Mystery either.
Profile Image for Nadine Younger.
124 reviews4 followers
August 27, 2023
Maybe the best yet

A. J. Rivers does an excellent job of treating mental illness and people living with mental illness with dignity and respect. This novel addresses complicated issues, Suicide, murder, and interpersonal relationships with mental health professionals, patients, parents and friends with compassion and understanding. And while doing so, weaves in an excellent mystery and a very good story. A. J. Does character development so well, and their interactions are so relatable and believable. On to book 21!

(A. J., I’m still willing to offer proofreading services, as typos and grammatical errors bug me! There are fewer in this book than the last few, however)
Profile Image for Monica.
1,072 reviews
November 17, 2023
Warning: Mature Audience

Another good one in the Emma Griffin FBI Series by A J Rivers. Emma is asked by her friend, Paul, to help his friend with a missing person case. A girl has gone missing from Baxter College. She's a good student and popular, so why would she walk away one day? Emma decides to look into the case in an unofficial capacity. Soon, there are students dying at the college. Will she be able to find the missing student before it's to late?

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#CarlislePublicLibrary
#LonokeCountyLibrarySystem
#AJRivers
#EmmaGriffinFBISeries
#TheGirlInApartment9
#serieslove2023
48 reviews1 follower
October 29, 2024
Outstanding, relevant and timely, worth a sixth star!!

At a point where we are becoming more attuned to mental health A.J. has come up with what I consider a masterpiece. College aged individuals are portrayed very accurately as are the psychological aspects. I say so as a 76-yr-old father of 5 from 34 to 54 and 9 associated grandchildren. My youngest is a clinical psychologist who works inpatient with youth like these.
It's not easy to portray these scenarios, but Rivers shines here. If you are dealing or have dealt with high school and/or college aged mental well being don't miss it.
Profile Image for Karen Wright.
605 reviews4 followers
May 6, 2022
I found myself quickly interested in this story. It is well written and I love the characters. Emma Griffin is back again in this installment to solve another case where everything is not always what it seems. Sam, Xavier and Dean are all in it but don't help out as much as in previous books. They mystery is a good story and I live that it helps Emma to realize some things in solving other ongoing mysteries. As usual this story kind of ends feeling finished but with the hope of more to come, including getting closer to solving the big mystery surrounding the Emperor.
76 reviews
June 9, 2022
Going into something she never expected

I doubt Emma expected the craziness in the disappearance she was asked to look into. I think this book is different from other books in this series and touches on a tough subject. Reader beware, suicide is rampant in this book and not for the faint of heart especially if you know people that have taken their lives by suicide. Overall, it is a good book and has a decent ending. I love Xavier's thought on life, it is definitely a gift and should be cherished.
33 reviews
May 17, 2022
Really good to step away from Jonah for a bit

Great writing as usual. I enjoyed this book as it was its own mystery. The Marini story was involved just enough to stay relevant, but not overwhelming. Most of the book was on the mystery of the kids and their suicides and problems. It was different, and very enjoyable. Not that I don't want the mystery of Marie and Marini and Jonah to be solved, but it was a nice break. Can't wait for the next installment of Emma Griffin!!!
Profile Image for Patt.
466 reviews6 followers
May 23, 2022
Another terrific book by A.J.! This time Emma investigates the disappearance of a college co-ed. The more she gets into her investigation, the more unusual things begin to happen in the area. Two suicides and one close call keep her on her toes. As always these books are hard to lay down. References to other cases always occur so it is a good idea to read this series in order. You won’t regret starting it.
Profile Image for Karen Rigsby-Ferree.
48 reviews
June 9, 2022
Fascinating,twisty story!

AJ wrote another compelling "chapter" in FBI Agent Emma's life! In this, mental health is brought to the fore! This is a valid subject today as many do not receive or seek treatment, may remain undiagnosed & suffering from the Demons! Not to downplay or intimate that therapy or psychiatry is not valuable, but I am realistic about some treatment or medical personnel that does not work in all cases!
Profile Image for Melonie Kingsbury.
41 reviews9 followers
July 16, 2022
After the last couple of books that was so full of errors, I was worried about reading this one.
I like that she explored assisted suicides in a different way and related to other cases that she was working on.
It still had many errors such as Emma didn’t think about checking surveillance videos or what happened to the camera after the suicides?
I did enjoy this one even with the errors but wish that in future books she will make less errors.
45 reviews
November 7, 2022
The girl in apartment 9

Another great read by this author & this series of Emma Griffin… She had me thinking along another avenue about the mental health of Sydney I really thought she had several personalities, I didn’t think of her having the problems she had (can’t spell name of it lol)… I’m glad she & Rachel survived. Suicide is such a rampant problem in our society & never heard of such awful things as what was going on in now times.
2 reviews
November 18, 2022
Great Series

I started reading A.J. Rivers about 2 years ago. I was looking for something different to read. I usually read romance novels. But I wanted to try something new. I am so happy I did. This series is just what I was looking for. You get to know the characters and care about them. The way A.J. writes I forgot they were , are characters. I am looking forward to reading more about Emily and Sam and Dean and everyone else.
6 reviews
November 20, 2022
such a tough topic handled beautifully!

I truly enjoy reading the Emma Griffin FBI mystery series. I have enjoyed the realness of the characters, how you can feel yourself in their situations and in the struggles they go through trying to solve the mystery. Thanks Mrs. AJ Rivers for handling a very tough topic with such heart and love for the characters! Beautifully done again!
Profile Image for Patricia A. Biba.
394 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2023
Mental Health Issues

Well this story about mental health issues was very interesting. Emma became involved because she was asked as a favor from her neighbor. Researching the why and finding the direction to help find out the causes was really consuming a lot of time and energy. She solved the puzzles and saved some lives and caught the guilty party. Found the book interesting reading.
1 review
June 24, 2024
I have been reading the Emma Griffin FBI books from the first book and am starting to read Book #21.
The stories are great but in Book #20 as soon as the Dr entered into I figured out before the end. The only problem I find is whoever does the proof reading is pathetic. They need a lesson in punctuation how to slit words properly They need lessons to improve their skill. I do very much enjoy the books.
Thank you A.J. Rivers
Profile Image for karin whitehead.
1,010 reviews7 followers
May 13, 2022
I received this novel as an ARC and this is my review. I have read several of "The Girl" series And found this book difficult to read. Too many characters are hard to follow for me, so possibly why I just couldn't get deeply into the story: seemed disjointed, confusing and didn't "hook me", Sadly to be blunt, I rarely give up on a book, I just couldn't stay with it.
185 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2022
Great moving story

This one had me speculating during the whole book. Didn't even get close. The story was very moving talking about how depression is handled. It was very informative on the subject. It will definitely make you think and give you a better understanding. I highly recommend this book and the whole series.
Profile Image for Deb.
32 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2022
Agent Emma Griffin FBI

Another great read in the Amma Griffin series. All 20 books in this series keep you trying to future with out who the culprit is up until the end.
Highly recommend this book and all 19 others in this series. Always looking forward to the next one.
Thanks for the book AJ!
301 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2022
Thumbs up

Apartment nine is an awesome stand alone story. A real page turner and for that I would issue 5 stars but here we go again pulling in the old unfinished stories. Conclude them, tell how Jonah escaped ( which we should have read in this book up front), catch him, and tie up the Emporer's end of it and finally let it go.
179 reviews
May 29, 2022
Twists and Enlightenment

This is a true psychological thriller and, in addition to the main story it covers a wealth of information about mental health. I was surprised at the ending and amazed at all te confusion. An excellent read and especially interesting if you deal with anyone with mental health issues.
58 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2022
Loved it!

I really enjoy this series and all the interesting characters in it. Such a tough subject to deal with and done well. It is hard to believe there are people who pray on persons such as this. Mental health is becoming such a prominent issue, I hope more people will pay attention to this problem.
Profile Image for Paulette Reecer.
224 reviews
August 14, 2022
The Gorl in Apartment 9

The plot thickens once again as it's determined that there is someone helping these young kids to kill themselves. They give the person strength to carry out the suicide of their choice. Where they want to carry it out. They give them all the support that is needed to end their own life they're way.
Profile Image for Kaytey.
176 reviews
September 6, 2022
Read in 2022 - I will say, I was not expecting it to end the way it did and have the people involved that were, that was a nice twist and of course, a book that brings up the awareness of mental health isn’t bad either. But the Marini case is being dragged on and I’m just ready to find out the end already
Profile Image for Anastasia Huber.
32 reviews
December 1, 2022
This is not as good as her other books in the series. I don't mind solving an individual case that has nothing to do with Jonah or who killed Greg, but make it at least interesting. I didn't like subject of mental health or the way it was rushed at the end. I hope that the last book in this series will answer ALL my questions.
38 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2023
Wow...

It's hard to say how good this book was, all things considered. I can empathize how difficult it is writing such a long series. But A.J. does it so well. They all have for the most part blended well one to the next. This one was well written and kept me wondering until none end. Bravo!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.