I could not get into this book. I was unable to finish it.

This looks like it's the first book in a series it has a a really interesting story line running through it. I personally felt like this book was setting the scene for us to learn about Angie and her relationships within the force and also to learn about her. An enjoyable read. This series looks very promising and hopefully won't be long till we see the next one

First volume in the Angie Pallorino series, following the heroine of the same name, investigator in the sex crimes unit who wants to transfer in the homicides unit, The Drowned Girls is a romantic suspense quite light on romance.

Angie is a hard, strong, and intense heroine, who’s about to blow a fuse. She lost her partner several months earlier during an intervention, and even if she was cleared by Internal Affairs numerous other cops consider she caused his death. She begins to see a little girl appearing at anytime, and these hallucinations are more and more frequent, along with sensations that make her lose control. Beside this she feels guilty not to have a lot of time for her mother who’s just been committed in a psychiatric ward, and she’s afraid to be developing the same psychiatric illness. That’s a lot of things to deal with at the same time, and it’s more and more difficult for her.
To try and cope with all this, instead of turn to drugs or alcohol, she prefers one night stands with strangers picked in a bar. That’s how she meets James, who gives her the disturbing desire to see him again.

When an investigation about a serial rapist meets an investigation about a possible serial killer, Angie finds herself having to team up with the homicides new comer, none other than James. He’s intelligent, decent, and really keen on going further with Angie, even if she tries hard to keep him at a distance. And what’s more he notices quickly that she’s got problems and he’s going at the same time to support her and force her to confront them.

The story in itself is very dark, creepy, with lots of details and descriptions whether it be crime scenes or autopsies. We feel the author has also (or principally) written thrillers, as everything related to the investigation is very advanced. There are numerous leads, numerous suspects, and I thought everything fit together quite well in the end.
There’s also the parallel story concerning the heroine’s hallucinations, based on her past, which is interesting but that I found a little difficult to believe when we learned more about it.

Note that it will be a series centered on the heroine, so in the end of The Drowned Girls only the investigation about the serial killer rapist is solved. To know more about the heroine’s past or the couple she ends up unwillingly forming with James, you’ll have to read the next volume.

Darkness permeates The Drowned Girls. Loreth Anne White creates a world filled with sick and twisted individuals who commit heinous sex crimes. Thankfully, kick-ass sex crimes investigator Angie Pallorino is there to take them down! There are some very disturbing and gruesome moments in this book, but romance, a likable crew of characters, and a three-legged dog are mixed in to counteract the darkness.

Sex crimes investigator Angie Pallorino days are filled with investigating horrible cases. At the same time, Angie is running from her own demons, and has anonymous sex to cope and stay in control. However, Angie makes a mistake when she chooses the wrong man, James Maddocks, for one of her anonymous flings. Unbeknownst her, Maddocks is her new partner and superior.

Further complicating Angie’s life is her relationship with her parents. Her schizophrenic mother has recently been admitted to a mental health facility, and things concerning her childhood aren’t adding up. When Angie begins having hallucinations, she fears she too is facing mental illness. She sees visions of a little girl, and repeatedly hears polish nursery rhymes. To sum things up, Angie is on the brink of disaster.

When Angie is brought in on a homicide case, all of the different facets of her life collide: her new partner, her past, and a new case all come together to reach an explosive ending.

This book kept me on my toes. I wasn’t sure how things were going to play out, which I always love. I also loved the chemistry between Angie and Maddocks. But my favorite part, was Jack-O (the three legged-dog)! Looking forward to book two!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! A great start to a brand new thriller/detective series (Angie Pallorino #1). Intriguing characters (Detective Pallorino is a new fave!), and a complex, meaty mystery. Standalone, but with just enough loose ends to make you want more. Definitely a must read for fans of Karin Slaughter-type crime dramas

The Drowned Girls is an atmospheric, dark, and captivating mystery. Add in the chemistry filled romance between Angie and Maddocks and you have another win from Loreth Anne White.

We’re launched into Angie Pallorino’s life as she’s on the prowl for anonymous sex. This is her escape of choice ever since losing her partner and a three year-old victim on the same tragic night. The encounter is passionate and brief, but ends up being not as anonymous as Angie would’ve liked, because the next day Angie finds out her she’s working with the man, James Maddocks, at the Victoria Metro Police Department. The awkward situation takes a back seat (sort of) to the troubling case Angie has landed, because her newest case bears striking similarities to two brutal rape cases she was unable to close. It soon becomes apparent that this sicko is back and upping his game. Angie and Maddocks struggle to catch this guy before he grabs up a new victim, while dealing their growing attraction.

Angie is complex, a little prickly, and flawed, but she’s a likable character. Her actions and reactions were understandable making it easy for me to form an attachment to her, and hope everything worked out. Angie is distrustful of Holgerson, her new partner, and initially of Maddocks, and has every reason to be considering the blowback from the department after losing her partner. Angie’s family life and past are a whole other story, and I had my suspicions early on about what had happened. Her past will continue to be a factor in the next story.

Holgerson, Angie’s partner in the sex crimes unit, reminds me of Detective Stephen Holder in the TV series The Killing. A great secondary character I’m sure we’ll learn more about in the future.

James Maddocks was every bit a main character as Angie, IMO, and I just loved him! How could I not love a man who rescues a three-legged scruffy terrier?! Angie and Maddocks were a great team, even with some of the friction they had trying to feel each other out, they were in sync with each other as they investigated, interrogated suspects, and slowly got close.

The setting of Victoria, British Columbia in winter was eerie and beautiful; brought to life through Ms. White’s vivid descriptions that gave a sinister edge to the mysteries at play. I must warn that the crimes described were graphic and gruesome at times, but not any more than you’d get from a Criminal Minds episode.

The Drowned Girls is a thrilling, addictive mystery, with many interesting layers and side stories. The multiple POVs completely worked, IMO, and I enjoyed every viewpoint. Well, maybe except for the killer’s. The Drowned Girls is a tie for my favorite Loreth Anne White story or at least a close second to In the Waning Light. While this main mystery was solved parts of Angie’s past is still up in the air. I know she won’t be able to stop until she has all the answers. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment!

4.5 stars

After reading a handful of books coined as thrillers and being unimpressed with most of them, this story simply blew me away! I was in awe of the excellent storytelling, detailed, descriptive writing style, and the elaborate character portrayals! The shifting POVs allowed the reader to be privy to key information the other characters hadn't been granted yet and it was a most delightful treat watching all of it play out!

It was difficult to put this book down and I fell in love with the main characters straight away! Angie Pallorino was gutsy and ambitious with a razor-sharp tongue, but she was also wonderfully flawed. Her POV kept me riveted and rooting for her every step of the way!

While no one physically restrained Angie, this heroine was battle-weary from the onslaught of traumatic experiences that left her feeling psychologically restrained and bound by certain things she couldn't explain. One of those moments?

I loved the working dynamics between all of the characters! Loved the way the members of the Victoria Metro PD fed off each other's sneakiness, snarky tones, and exasperating ways. Leo finally came to his senses at the end and Holgersen still had that air of mystery surrounding him down to the final chapter! Maddocks made my heart melt because of his kindness towards Jack-O and his level of unfaltering patience served to Angie. I also loved how the terrain, weather, and atmospheric conditions were vibrantly painted into each scene like a separate character. It made me feel like I was experiencing that frigid weather up close and personal as well!

✟ Side note: Father Simon was HOT! I can't see how he'll be worked into The Lullaby Girl, but a girl can dream...right?!

✟ First time reading this author's work after seeing this very thorough review in my GRs feed: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Looking forward to reading more from this author!

*ARC kindly provided by Montlake Romance via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A NetGalley e-book in exchange for an honest review.

“He surfaced two years ago. Then he disappeared…”

Warning, lots of triggers in this story.

We open the book into an intro where a girl is fighting for her life hooked up to ventilators her mind screaming to help the others. From there the plot continues to escalate.

The first in the Angie Pallorino series this book really takes off and leaves you with high expectations for the rest of the series.

Two years ago Pallorino worked two rape cases where the serial rapist had very distinct callings cards. After two silent years he has popped up again and his crimes are escalated to a new extreme. Pallorino has her own demons between her ailing mother, the loss of her partner months ago and slowly losing her mind. She has found comfort in anonymous sex and knows that she is going to get herself into trouble, not realizing how soon. Enter in new guy James Maddocks.

James is now her not so anonymous hookup and he becomes her new partner for the case, and her boss. They are both fighting to keep their personal lives separate while trying to find the serial rapist.

Those are not the end of her problems though. As she chases the killer and the truth of what is happening she stumbles across secrets from her own past.

This is a big book, 524 pages, but a quick thrilling read.

This book was so damn good!
Im really into the Suspense with Romance thrown in.

This one was a little creepy and kept me turning the pages until I was done.

And WTF

I just want book 2 now so badly.

Mare~Slitsread

I just loved this book. This author is a new author for me. I will be reading more of her books. It is very well written. It is a very dark, gritty, and twisty thriller. It kept me on the
edge of my seat. The intrigue kept me on my toes the entire time and even if I had many pieces of the puzzle, I couldn’t figure out how exactly they connected to make the whole picture. There were several storylines in this book and, in my opinion, there were all captivating. I just couldn't stop reading it. It was so suspenseful and a great turn pager.

Lots of great characters and a serial killer that you couldn't figure out who they were till the end. I
loved the flawed,realistic and amazing characters!I can't even begin to describe how much I loved Angie.She is feisty and smart, but at times impulsive with her anger issues,past hurts and desire to have control. Angie Pallorino and her partner, James Maddocks, make a dynamic pair of detectives. Each dealing with their own issues, they're both sharp, interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed following with them as they followed the clues to track down one of the most sadistic, sexual predators.

Detective James Maddocks has picked up his life and moved to Victoria to be closer to his daughter, Ginny. He is trying to make up for his absence in her life. James and Angie meet under some very unorthodox circumstances. When they learn who the other is, it comes as quite a shock. Then, when they are partnered up, things get hairy. There is a killer on the loose and Angie is determined to catch this sadistic freak who is torturing and killing young teens. Little does she know, this case goes far deeper than she ever could have imagined.

I just loved the ending in this book. It was so good. When I got close to the end I was in such awe. It was a five star ending to me. I hope I do not have to wait long to read book two. I can't wait to read it.

I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher and Loreth Anne White for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. (less)

If you are a fan of Law & Order SVU you will love The Drowned Girls. It is dark and the subject matter is pretty brutal, but the mystery is top notch. There is also a parallel romantic storyline that hooks you right in. Angie Pallorino, our heroine, is struggling with her mother’s dementia while also trying to make detective in a police department that is a total boys club. Angie and her partner are working a case that has surprising similarities to a girl who has been brutally raped and tortured. Because of the similarities, Angie is asked to work with Homocide to try to solve these crimes. Surprisingly, the detective she is asked to work with was her one night stand from the night before. Awkward! Pallorino and Maddocks decide to put that behind them but as the mystery unwinds the tension between them amps up and when they finally give in their passion is explosive.

Both of these characters are flawed and some of their foibles are psychological in nature. The combination of Angie’s possible hereditary turn towards dementia, the horrifying details of the crime they are trying to solve, and the hallucinations she is having about a young Polish girl gives the story a gritty dark tone. Throw in Maddocks new job, his troubled relationship with his teenaged daughter, and both of their inclinations for control in the bedroom making this a very dark tale. However, the fact that these two troubled people support each other with all of their issues gave me hope and kept me reading until the end, which was really satisfactory.

I saw this title on a best romance list and questioned that choice. Not that it isn’t a good book. It is a very good book. But it’s a mystery first and a romance second. Actually, when I think about this novel as I’m writing, the larger aspects of these characters and the storyline are the sinister, mystery elements. Not the romance, though thank God it had one because those scenes lightened the tone a little. Not much, but a little. Anyway, it is an excellent mystery about the darker aspects of humanity, and also about two people who find each other in their darkest hour and learn to trust and support each other. I liked that angle a lot. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review, and it was honest.

I don't typically read a lot of crime novels, but this year it seems as if every other book I've picked up has been a crime/police procedural. And "The Drowned Girls" certainly stood out for me!

Angie Pallorino is the perfect flawed protagonist. Her mother has recently been put into a facility for schizophrenia, and Angie is terrified that she's experiencing early symptoms. To make things worse, she's mourning for her partner, killed in the line and duty. And her new, temporary partner is someone she never thought she'd see again!

She and Jake Maddocks investigate a series of brutal murders of teenage girls, and it's soon apparent that the murders are an escalation of unsolved sex crimes Angie had been unable to solve years before.

No spoilers, but I think this is a fantastic start to a series. Angie and Jake have great chemistry. I don't normally compare books to TV, but I couldn't help picturing Angie Harmon's Jane Rizzoli character as Angie in this book. And dark horse Detective Holgersen is a dead ringer for Stephen Holder in the detective show, 'The Killing.'

I definitely look forward to the second book in this series! Thanks to Netgalley for a free arc!

The Drowned Girls is the first book in Loreth Anne White’s new series featuring Detective Angie Pallorino who works in the sex crimes division of the Victoria Metro Police Department in Canada. I have read multiple romantic suspense novels written by Loreth and I have yet to be disappointed. This one is no different. The characters are all flawed and there is literally no way that you would figure out who the antagonist is until the big reveal. I was on the edge of my seat trying to stay ahead of all of the action as it unfolded but there is just so much going on that you have to just let it all unfold.

Although Angie is a detective, she can’t figure out her own life. The recent murder of her partner and a child that she couldn’t save has given her PTSD. In addition, revelations regarding her mother have brought up some odd memories and hallucinations that she can’t quite reconcile. To make things even more interesting, Angie creates a new set of problems when the guy that she meets during one of her anonymous hook-ups at an adult club ends up becoming essential to her career. But wait there’s more, someone is murdering and mutilating young women in a ritualistic manner that is tied to older crimes that Angie and her now deceased partner could not solve. With all of this going on, it’s almost impossible to see how Angie could even find the mental energy to get out of bed in the morning.

Angie is not alone in this investigation. She also has to contend with a handsome Canadian Mountie who has just moved down to be closer to his college aged daughter while he is going through a nasty divorce. He is Sergeant James Maddocks who finds several ways to get under Angie’s skin. Their sexual tension is thick and they have to work together to solve these murders. During the course of the investigation, there are so many secrets that come out, I lose count. Many careers are cut short and more than one person goes to jail. There is nothing pretty about how this all ends. Be advised that the nature of the crimes involved are brutal and the descriptions are graphic. The steamy sex scenes aren’t enough to stop you from being horrified by what happens. Consequently, it was a roller coaster ride of epic proportions. I can’t wait to read the next book.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
The Drowned Girls follows sex crimes Detective Angie Pallorino and her temporary partner, Sergeant James Maddocks, as they track down a serial killer who is linked to unsolved rapes Angie worked on four years ago.

The first quarter or so of this book is a little slow going and requires patience. The author does a good job setting the scene and creating atmosphere. The story is set in Canada in December in freezing, stormy weather and I felt cold just reading this.

As the story unfolds, we get the points of view of not only Angie and Maddocks but of various characters, including the new Mayor, a local crime reporter, and the serial killer. But the most fascinating character for me was Angie's partner in the sex crimes division, Kjel Holgersen. He is a little odd and very good at his job and I thought there was more to him that he was letting on.

As well as chasing a serial killer, Angie is having visions of a little girl which start to affect her ability to do her job and has her worried that she is developing schizophrenia like her mother. Ultimately it leads her to solving a mystery in her personal life.

The pace of the story picks up a little at it goes but generally it unfolds in quite a methodical fashion leading to a heart stopping climax. The Drowned Girls is an excellent read and I look forward to more books in this series.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Angie Pallorino and James Maddocks are a strange couple. Both are wanting to have a connection, but only a physical one. Angie is more of the risk taker and picks up random people in a bar – which is where she meets James Maddocks. They have a random, hot hookup before Angie is called to a crime scene. Because neither exchanges information, it's quite a shock when they are connected as partners for a temporary assignment.

Angie has been having a difficult time, as of late. Her mother is suffering in a mental institution and her father doesn't understand why Angie needs to be a sex crimes police officer, gunning for joining the homicide unit. Angie and her then partner caught a case about four years ago that still haunts her to this day. When this new case shares similarities, she will stop at nothing to be put on the case.

James is made lead on the case and finds himself intrigued by both the case and his temporary partner. But both come with baggage and neither really wants to deal with it. James wants to make sure that he corrects his mistakes of the past with his family – mainly his daughter, who is snarky and kind of a pain. But he also decides that he wants more out of life than just his job.

While Angie and James are racing the clock, Angie is continuing to struggle with her mental wellbeing and James is trying to help in any way that he can.

The book is somewhat slow and very descriptive at times. I think that it did set up certain areas well, but overall felt it was too descriptive – at least in the beginning half. It made for a struggle to get to the active part of the story.

Overall, this was a great thriller and I can't wait to see what happens next for Angie.

I don’t even know what to say about this book. It’s a roller coaster ride from start to finish – and I loved every minute of it!

If you break down the story, there’s three separate storylines going on, and each of them is intriguing and had me begging for more. And for the first time in a long time, I found myself seeking out the love scenes, having fallen madly in “shipping” with the main characters.

Before I get further: this book deals with graphic sexual assault. People wishing to avoid this topic should pick another novel.

Angie Pallorino is at a bad place in her personal life: her mother has just been institutionalized with schizophrenia, and Angie fears she may be be showing symptoms herself; Angie seeks release in dangerous, anonymous sexual encounters she describes as “hunting”; and she has some serious questions about her childhood. Then at work, where she’s still recovering from an incident which shook her to her core and claimed her partners life, a violent serial rapist has escalated to serial murderer and is leaving a string of dead, mutilated girls across the city. And Angie’s partner in this new investigation? A guy she slept with at the club, thinking it was completely anonymous.

Each of these storylines: the killer, the romance and the personal issues, all were so good I found myself waiting for the next installment in each – especially the romance. It was HOT. I seriously loved Angie and Maddocks together, I couldn’t wait to see how it all turned out.

The ending is so nuanced and well thought out – I didn’t see it coming, and I don’t know how you could. But it was satisfying and it fit. There were enough layers to keep things interesting and enough clues to make you say “oh yeahhhhh.”

This is apparently the first book in a new series, and I can’t wait for the next one! Things were wrapped up with the main storylines, but enough was left open to keep things interesting!

Mark me down for number two – STAT!

This is the second book by the author that I've read, and while I remember loving that book, I find myself utterly disappointed by this offering.

My biggest complaint about this book is that it gave me as a reader too much. Too much story, too many characters, too many points of view, too many details, too many character conflicts/issues. I had been so inundated while reading it that I had to take breaks, making it hard for me to remember what was happening at a given time. The story had become so dark, dense and overwhelming that it lost some credibility, because it felt as if the author just threw everything she possibly could into the book for the sake of doing so. I wound up becoming bored with things very quickly, though when I finally got it to open up at around the 60% mark, it took off like a shot and didn't let up until the end.

Angie was a good heroine, and I could connect with her on certain levels, but not on others. James was easier to relate to, but even then, I wasn't as invested in him as I wanted to be. The romance angle wasn't enough for me either, as it felt as if it was fitted into the story rather than actually being a fluid extension of the story.

All things considered, I will check out other books by this author, but I'm not so sure I'll continue with this particular series.

Loreth Anne Whites new series begins with a bang in the Drowned Girls. Filled with layers of complexity, this novel kept me guessing the entire way. Angie is not an easy heroine to fall in love with, but once she begins to show her vulnerability I was easily hooked. This is definitely a police procedural with an ongoing storyline. I am very interested to get to know these characters more in future installments and see where the overarching storyline leads. If you are a fan of dark, gritty, realistic police thrillers this is a definite read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

Loved this!

I think what I loved the most was….everything. This book has an excellent cast of characters who are really fleshed out. From the leading characters of Angie and Maddocks, to the police team they work with, to the political "bigwigs", to the suspects and "persons of interest" in the case. There are a number of intriguing characters.

Angie works sex crimes and this is a particularly gory case. The way the crimes are discovered and the clues that are worked through, I was totally captivated by this book. The relationship aspect of Angie and Maddocks was well done with a nice balance between their relationship and the case. I really liked Maddox - definitely one of the good guys.

My only negative is that I have been getting tired of the lead female cop being on such a self-destructive path within a police department and with her colleagues. At the beginning of the book, Angie was very insular, non- communicative and with a very controlling attitude. On the flip side, her character has a really interesting back story (explaining why she is the way she is) that was well woven into the plot and I really appreciated it. I also liked that in addition to the depth that her character was developed, she also matured and started to realize she needed to be more of a team player.

Throughout this book I had a level of revenge anticipation. There were definitely some political types that I wanted to see get their comeuppance.

I can't wait to see what happens in the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for an opportunity to read and review an ARC.