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Ella Porter FBI #1
Girl Under the Ice
Once a rising star in the FBI, with the best case closure rate of any investigator, Ella Porter is now exiled to a small gold mining town bordering the wilderness of Alaska. The reason for her new assignment? She allowed a prolific serial killer to escape custody.
But what no one knows is that she did it on purpose.
The day she shows up in Nome, bags still unpacked, the wife of the richest gold miner in town goes missing. This is the second woman to vanish in as many days. And it's up to Ella to find out what happened.
Assigning Ella to Nome is no accident, either. Though she swore she'd never return, Ella grew up in the small, gold mining town, treated like royalty as a child due to her own family's wealth. But like all gold tycoons, the Porter family secrets are as dark as Ella's own.
But what no one knows is that she did it on purpose.
The day she shows up in Nome, bags still unpacked, the wife of the richest gold miner in town goes missing. This is the second woman to vanish in as many days. And it's up to Ella to find out what happened.
Assigning Ella to Nome is no accident, either. Though she swore she'd never return, Ella grew up in the small, gold mining town, treated like royalty as a child due to her own family's wealth. But like all gold tycoons, the Porter family secrets are as dark as Ella's own.
249 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2022
1140 people are currently reading
1320 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Wagner
85 books120 followersHaving worked on projects with New York Times Bestsellers and USA Today bestsellers, Georgia Wagner recently hit #1 bestseller with her newest series. Location and character are two big factors for Georgia, and getting those right allows the story to flow seamlessly onto the page. And flow it does, because Georgia is so prolific a new term is required to describe the rate at which nerve-tingling stories find their way into print.
When not found attached to a laptop, Georgia likes spending time in local arboretums, among the trees and ponds. An avid cultivator of orchids, begonias, and all things floral, Georgia also has a strong penchant for art, paintings, and sculptures. A many-decades-long passion for mystery novels and years of chess tournament experience makes Georgia the perfect person to pen the Artemis Blythe series. That's where it all started, but the drive to craft thrilling mystery tales soon demanded new characters in new locations.
Where will she take us next?
When not found attached to a laptop, Georgia likes spending time in local arboretums, among the trees and ponds. An avid cultivator of orchids, begonias, and all things floral, Georgia also has a strong penchant for art, paintings, and sculptures. A many-decades-long passion for mystery novels and years of chess tournament experience makes Georgia the perfect person to pen the Artemis Blythe series. That's where it all started, but the drive to craft thrilling mystery tales soon demanded new characters in new locations.
Where will she take us next?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 8, 2023
Great Read!
Ella Porter who is a FBI agent gets reassigned to her home town 12 years after she left. She gets partnered with her ex to her surprise. A body is found on the iced over lake and she thinks it has something to do with her corrupt wealthy father.
This was an exciting read and I hope to read more by this author!
Ella Porter who is a FBI agent gets reassigned to her home town 12 years after she left. She gets partnered with her ex to her surprise. A body is found on the iced over lake and she thinks it has something to do with her corrupt wealthy father.
This was an exciting read and I hope to read more by this author!
February 15, 2023
That was a rather disappointing book. It started with promise but quickly became melodramatic and unrealistic. For a supposed expert FBI agent, Ella made rookie mistakes, one after the other. The family dynamics were ridiculous. Overall, not worth the time.
June 5, 2023
New author for me but glad I read her book. Very intriguing. We follow an FBI agent who is sent to her home town in Alaska where she has to confront memories, bad feelings and her family. People are not happy to see her. But she is there to catch a murderer no matter what. Its a mining town and people are a bit gold happy.
A great mystery and I will definitely be reading her other books.
A great mystery and I will definitely be reading her other books.
October 10, 2023
Not one for me.
I didn’t like the writing. I didn’t like the characters and I didn’t like the storyline.
It felt quite vague and if I’m honest I didn’t have a clue what was going on and how the FMC even pieced anything together.
Really disappointed.
1 star
I didn’t like the writing. I didn’t like the characters and I didn’t like the storyline.
It felt quite vague and if I’m honest I didn’t have a clue what was going on and how the FMC even pieced anything together.
Really disappointed.
1 star
Read
February 4, 2023Awful
Unbelievable characters and plot line
Unbelievable characters and plot line
October 21, 2023
This left me really disappointed. I don’t like slating self-published books, because quite frankly, massive kudos to those authors! But this was a bookclub selection so I need to review it, and sadly this did have the stereotypical issues: typos, repetition and being very simplistic. The story was fine, it initially drew me in but ended up not setting the world alight.
One of my pet peeves with thrillers is when the reader is not given the chance to have a go at putting things together themselves and coming up with theories - even if these get completely blown out the water. Having little clues which the reader may or may not notice, or finding things out alongside the protagonist and being able to assess those things is all part of the journey. But in this instance, it was completely impossible to feel involved in the investigation because everything was all secret-squirrel, inside Ella’s head. It wasn’t a complicated plot but I found that style quite alienating as a reader. For example, there would be situations where somebody would say something, and Ella would ‘know’ they were lying, because she knows the person - not due to any clues or basic detective skills. How convenient. Or she would say things like “that confirmed my theory… I think I know who did it… I’m 50% sure“, but there’d be no explanation of those theories or workings to the reader. Rather than being ‘mysterious’, I just found irritating. I wanted those workings out.
I also found the characters to be underdeveloped and not relatable. For example, Brenner is constantly just described as “the tall blonde man“. I think the author could’ve done better than that. As for Ella, she’s the protagonist and we know nothing about her, and what we do know is almost redacted. EG. We know she hates her family and is estranged from them, but we don’t know any real detail or the backstory into that. We know she’s some prodigy FBI agent, but she seems to just constantly make rookie mistakes. We know she’s pretty and blonde and small. And that is pretty much the sum total of Ella. It’s hard to care about a character you don’t feel you know.
There’s too many unanswered questions left in book one, and I just don’t care enough about Ella to find out more by reading book two.
Sad times.
One of my pet peeves with thrillers is when the reader is not given the chance to have a go at putting things together themselves and coming up with theories - even if these get completely blown out the water. Having little clues which the reader may or may not notice, or finding things out alongside the protagonist and being able to assess those things is all part of the journey. But in this instance, it was completely impossible to feel involved in the investigation because everything was all secret-squirrel, inside Ella’s head. It wasn’t a complicated plot but I found that style quite alienating as a reader. For example, there would be situations where somebody would say something, and Ella would ‘know’ they were lying, because she knows the person - not due to any clues or basic detective skills. How convenient. Or she would say things like “that confirmed my theory… I think I know who did it… I’m 50% sure“, but there’d be no explanation of those theories or workings to the reader. Rather than being ‘mysterious’, I just found irritating. I wanted those workings out.
I also found the characters to be underdeveloped and not relatable. For example, Brenner is constantly just described as “the tall blonde man“. I think the author could’ve done better than that. As for Ella, she’s the protagonist and we know nothing about her, and what we do know is almost redacted. EG. We know she hates her family and is estranged from them, but we don’t know any real detail or the backstory into that. We know she’s some prodigy FBI agent, but she seems to just constantly make rookie mistakes. We know she’s pretty and blonde and small. And that is pretty much the sum total of Ella. It’s hard to care about a character you don’t feel you know.
There’s too many unanswered questions left in book one, and I just don’t care enough about Ella to find out more by reading book two.
Sad times.
January 12, 2023
Had it's moments
This had its up and down moments. Some of the story was good but some parts were too hard to even imagine. Like why the police department broke into the United States Marshals office and just released a suspect. Why a civilian is slapping an FBI agent and not getting arrested. Guess they do things different in Alaska.
This had its up and down moments. Some of the story was good but some parts were too hard to even imagine. Like why the police department broke into the United States Marshals office and just released a suspect. Why a civilian is slapping an FBI agent and not getting arrested. Guess they do things different in Alaska.
October 28, 2024
The first chapter was well-written and sucked me in immediately, but the rest of the book wasn't developed/written as well. I thought the characters were more caricatures than real people, and more descriptions of Nome would have been helpful, maybe.
Ella was petite and stubborn, while Cilla was completely over the top in absolutely every way, as was Dad. Brenner was blonde, I know this, because it was stated a lot. Also, the greatest shot ever to have lived.
I'm sorry, but there is no way Cilla wouldn't have been arrested for shooting up the U.S. Marshall's Office and assaulting a Fed. I'm great at suspending disbelief, but even I have my limits.
And teasing us with the serial killer, i.e., not giving us nearly enough information to understand what that was all about (I honestly thought there was a previous book that I had missed) just to make us want to read the next book? Sorry, it wasn't written well enough for me to spend money on the second book, and I predict that he is continued throughout the whole series.
Ella was petite and stubborn, while Cilla was completely over the top in absolutely every way, as was Dad. Brenner was blonde, I know this, because it was stated a lot. Also, the greatest shot ever to have lived.
I'm sorry, but there is no way Cilla wouldn't have been arrested for shooting up the U.S. Marshall's Office and assaulting a Fed. I'm great at suspending disbelief, but even I have my limits.
And teasing us with the serial killer, i.e., not giving us nearly enough information to understand what that was all about (I honestly thought there was a previous book that I had missed) just to make us want to read the next book? Sorry, it wasn't written well enough for me to spend money on the second book, and I predict that he is continued throughout the whole series.
January 29, 2023
Suspense filled, scary and well written. Great book!
June 10, 2023
While I felt that some parts of the book weren’t necessary to the story, it still kept me wanting to know what had happened. I’m not usually one for series lately, but now I need to know why she let the Graveyard Killer go. This book ended on a cliff hanger so now I have to know.
This is the story of Ella Porter - an FBI agent that made a choice that ultimately messed her career up. Now she was reassigned back to her hometown on Nome, Alaska. She immediately finds herself trying to solve a double murder as well as the abduction of two women - and her mother happens to be one. Her family is crooked - including her twin which just happens to be married to the police chief. Her family is rich and powerful, and now they have the police in their pockets. Did they have something to do with Ella’s mom’s disappearance and the murder of 2 people found under the ice?
Once Ella solves this case, she is contacted by someone she never wanted to hear from again.
This is the story of Ella Porter - an FBI agent that made a choice that ultimately messed her career up. Now she was reassigned back to her hometown on Nome, Alaska. She immediately finds herself trying to solve a double murder as well as the abduction of two women - and her mother happens to be one. Her family is crooked - including her twin which just happens to be married to the police chief. Her family is rich and powerful, and now they have the police in their pockets. Did they have something to do with Ella’s mom’s disappearance and the murder of 2 people found under the ice?
Once Ella solves this case, she is contacted by someone she never wanted to hear from again.
September 26, 2023
Available on Kindle Unlimited as of September 25, 2023.
This is, by far, the most ridiculous book I have read in a long time.
I gave it two stars because I did read to the end and as silly as it was, it was somewhat entertaining once I accepted that it was in no way based in reality.
There’s a family drama, but there was nothing believable about this family.
Now I’m struggling with the idea of reading the second book because there’s a serial killer and for some reason the main character, Ella, let him go which is how she ended up being reassigned by the FBI to her home town of Nome, Alaska.
If I could be guaranteed the serial killer kills everyone I might read the second book. Somehow I don’t think that is happening and every character is just so lame and one dimensional and I just did not care about any of them.
Read this if you are in the mood for a really bad take on a really bad action movie.
This is, by far, the most ridiculous book I have read in a long time.
I gave it two stars because I did read to the end and as silly as it was, it was somewhat entertaining once I accepted that it was in no way based in reality.
There’s a family drama, but there was nothing believable about this family.
Now I’m struggling with the idea of reading the second book because there’s a serial killer and for some reason the main character, Ella, let him go which is how she ended up being reassigned by the FBI to her home town of Nome, Alaska.
If I could be guaranteed the serial killer kills everyone I might read the second book. Somehow I don’t think that is happening and every character is just so lame and one dimensional and I just did not care about any of them.
Read this if you are in the mood for a really bad take on a really bad action movie.
December 21, 2022
Ella Porter, FBI agent, is sent to Nome, Alaska as a punishment. Worse than that is the fact that she grew up there and escaped. Her family still remains there. Most of them are unhappy to see her return.
Also, there is an enemy she won’t be able to ignore while she’s there. It’s her identical twin Cilla who hates her with a passion.
Cilla pairs her with a former boyfriend as her liaison while there. Cilla thinks it will be a bad thing for her twin, but it has the possibility of being a good thing.
Another difficulty for Ella is the small town “royalty.” Oh, yes. You guessed it. It’s the Porter family.
Just read the book. You’ll be hooked on the Ella Porter series. I know I am.
Thank you, Ms Wagner, for giving us Ella and her adventures.
***Book provided by the author without charge.***
Also, there is an enemy she won’t be able to ignore while she’s there. It’s her identical twin Cilla who hates her with a passion.
Cilla pairs her with a former boyfriend as her liaison while there. Cilla thinks it will be a bad thing for her twin, but it has the possibility of being a good thing.
Another difficulty for Ella is the small town “royalty.” Oh, yes. You guessed it. It’s the Porter family.
Just read the book. You’ll be hooked on the Ella Porter series. I know I am.
Thank you, Ms Wagner, for giving us Ella and her adventures.
***Book provided by the author without charge.***
April 16, 2023
Really great suspense that keeps you turning those pages.
Ella Porter is one of the best FBI agents, until something went wrong with a serial murder case she was working. Now, they are exiling her to Nome, Alaska. Ella is dreading going there, because that is where she is original from and and never wanted to go back. She hasn't talked to her family in over 12 years and the man she loved abandoned her.
Now she is heading back for a murder case and who is going to be her partner, no other, then the man she loved! No only that, but now two women are missing and one is her mother!!
I can't wait to read the next one in this series!
Ella Porter is one of the best FBI agents, until something went wrong with a serial murder case she was working. Now, they are exiling her to Nome, Alaska. Ella is dreading going there, because that is where she is original from and and never wanted to go back. She hasn't talked to her family in over 12 years and the man she loved abandoned her.
Now she is heading back for a murder case and who is going to be her partner, no other, then the man she loved! No only that, but now two women are missing and one is her mother!!
I can't wait to read the next one in this series!
June 20, 2023
It kept my interest, but I felt some points were hard to follow and keep up with. I felt like the ending brought it all together, as it should, but I found myself rereading certain parts to make sure I understood. It was also listed as this “must read thriller” and it didn’t give me those vibes. It was interesting, but it was more, but I don’t think it’s a “must read”. I also didn’t realize when I purchased it that it was a part of a series, but it didn’t drive me to purchase the other 3 books. I’ll get to them eventually
September 23, 2025
Its a shame the writer didn't have an editor
The FMC is calm, cool, collected one minute and a milk sop the next, at no time during the story did she ever reflect the feeling of a law enforcement officer. Depending on a drunk ex boyfriend to do all the hero work while she "Kept a firm demeanor" 😑. Ugh. The story line wasn't terrible, just the main characters were so boring . Spoiler Warning** she actually doesn't arrest anyone but her father...and the Drunk ex kills all the bad people.
The FMC is calm, cool, collected one minute and a milk sop the next, at no time during the story did she ever reflect the feeling of a law enforcement officer. Depending on a drunk ex boyfriend to do all the hero work while she "Kept a firm demeanor" 😑. Ugh. The story line wasn't terrible, just the main characters were so boring . Spoiler Warning** she actually doesn't arrest anyone but her father...and the Drunk ex kills all the bad people.
November 21, 2022
Girl Under the Ice has everything I look for in a story when I read it! It’s fast-paced, full of action, full of drama, and broken relationships, and it happens in a place where men believe they can be above the law. Deceit and lies abound and a broken FBI agent that did not wish to return to her small town in Alaska has to face her demons. Great plot, well-written! Looking forward to reading book #2!
March 23, 2023
Girl Under The Ice by Georgia Wagner
Girl Under The Ice by Georgia Wagner is an Ella Porter FBI Mystery Thriller Book 1.
Ella Porter his an FBI agent who has been ordered back to her home town to look into a suspicious death. She ends up coming into contact with her estranged family and her old boyfriend and solves a murder or two.
Slick, entertaining mystery thriller.
Recommended
Girl Under The Ice by Georgia Wagner is an Ella Porter FBI Mystery Thriller Book 1.
Ella Porter his an FBI agent who has been ordered back to her home town to look into a suspicious death. She ends up coming into contact with her estranged family and her old boyfriend and solves a murder or two.
Slick, entertaining mystery thriller.
Recommended
November 19, 2022
They say money is the root of all evil
I'm sure it's at the forefront, for sure, but it's a pity that common sense always seems to take a back seat when massive amounts of wealth of any kind are at play. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing well into the story. Get that fireplace going, grab a cup of hot chocolate and let the games begin!
I'm sure it's at the forefront, for sure, but it's a pity that common sense always seems to take a back seat when massive amounts of wealth of any kind are at play. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing well into the story. Get that fireplace going, grab a cup of hot chocolate and let the games begin!
December 8, 2022
Girl Under the Ice Book 1 Georgia Wagner Ella Porter
A good read and fast paced. Making for a thrilling ride with FBI Agent Ella Porter. Located in Nome Alaska making the story challenging to her and anyone who helps her. An excellent book read in 3 days. On to book 2. Hope you enjoy as much as I did.
A good read and fast paced. Making for a thrilling ride with FBI Agent Ella Porter. Located in Nome Alaska making the story challenging to her and anyone who helps her. An excellent book read in 3 days. On to book 2. Hope you enjoy as much as I did.
October 11, 2025
Disappointing
I bought this thinking I would be treated to a great read about a.female Alaskan cop. I was misinformed. This author is no Dana Stabenow and Elle Porter hasn't a morsel of Kate Shugak in her. However, if you are into chick lit mysteries, this will keep you pleasantly entertained. I'm not knocking chick lit, it's just not my choice.
I bought this thinking I would be treated to a great read about a.female Alaskan cop. I was misinformed. This author is no Dana Stabenow and Elle Porter hasn't a morsel of Kate Shugak in her. However, if you are into chick lit mysteries, this will keep you pleasantly entertained. I'm not knocking chick lit, it's just not my choice.
April 1, 2023
Interesting
Ella's Porter, a disgraced FBI agent, is reassigned to Nome, Alaska, her hometown. Her first few days are very eventful from confronting her ex-boyfriend, her father, and her twin sister. This is obviously only the beginning.
Ella's Porter, a disgraced FBI agent, is reassigned to Nome, Alaska, her hometown. Her first few days are very eventful from confronting her ex-boyfriend, her father, and her twin sister. This is obviously only the beginning.
May 1, 2023
Only part of a book
Bits and pieces of a larger story requiring at least $5 to continue. Confusing and improbable. Really annoying that the story isn't complete. If it were well written I could maybe forgive it but it's just a stupid side plot that makes no sense.
Bits and pieces of a larger story requiring at least $5 to continue. Confusing and improbable. Really annoying that the story isn't complete. If it were well written I could maybe forgive it but it's just a stupid side plot that makes no sense.
May 13, 2023
I read this in one setting. Not really because it was that gripping but because it was fairly short. It was an okay story but I kind of with the story of the graveyard killer was first then maybe this story. Meh. It wasn’t really anything to get excited about.
June 5, 2023
Very quick read which was nice. Interesting plot and love the Alaska setting but a lot of gaps in how and why. Which is fine for now. Downloaded the 2nd book which promises a serial killer, my favorite kind of killer.
July 14, 2023
Can't stay away from multiple series mysteries. Thought I'd give this one a shot. I'm hooked. Seems they do things a little different in Alaska. Always thought that if you struck a federal officer you would end up in handcuffs. Hoping for a little more attention to detail in the future.
February 17, 2024
ella is assigned to Alaska by the fbi she does not even get to unpack before the bodies start to pile up. ella thinks her family is behind this but will she service to find out. very good story but a lot was packed into one day.
March 20, 2024
Good read, solid plot
Kept my attention throughout the book. Characters were solidly developed. I enjoyed the author's writing style and look forward to reading her next Ella Porter book.
Kept my attention throughout the book. Characters were solidly developed. I enjoyed the author's writing style and look forward to reading her next Ella Porter book.
July 20, 2024
Good read
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast pasted book from page one til the end. You really root for the main characters. And so much left to learn. It really makes me want to read the whole series.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast pasted book from page one til the end. You really root for the main characters. And so much left to learn. It really makes me want to read the whole series.
December 13, 2022
Like the new character, bossy and taking no crap from anyone family included.
June 11, 2023
Not only was the main character dislikeable, but almost every other character in the book was, too. The plot was "eh" and the pace of the story was plodding.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews