Interesting story, but ruined by sex scenes in the early portion of book. Almost didn't continue reading, thought that the detailed sex scenes between Randi & partner weren't needed. The attempted rape scene added to the story, but sex between her & her partner didn't. Later in the book just said they had sex, which was fine. If detailed sex scenes weren't in first part of book, and dealt with the same way sex scenes were later in book I would have given it 4 stars.
Since I only leave 4 & 5 star reviews will not leave any reviews anywhere.

The Other Girl is one of those books you can’t help not read from start to finish in one day, it’s the perfect summer read. Erica Spindler’s writing is fast paced and engrossing, it begs to be read to the point that you have to drop everything you're doing because you need to know what happens next. I finished this in two 2 hour reading sessions and each time I just could not feel the time passing, I was fully immersed in the story. To call this book addicting would be an understatement. Throughout the novel, Erica Spindler manages to maintain a sense of urgency that had me biting my nails.

For what was an almost perfect suspense novel, there was only one thing that didn’t quite work for me, and the reason I can’t give it a full 5 star rating, and that thing was the ending. It felt rushed and abrupt. I wanted to see more.

The story follows Miranda, a police officer, who takes the case of the gruesome murder of Richard Stark, a charming college professor beloved by students and faculty alike. Coupled with the present-day story we also get glimpses from Miranda’s past, 14 years ago, when she was kidnapped and witnessed a girl get raped. Given the opportunity to escape, she does something she’ll never be able to forget.

Miranda is certain that she has moved on from her past, but when she discovers new details about the murder of Richard Stark, she realizes that her past has come back to haunt her and this time it could cost her everything: her career, her friends and even her life.


The Other Girl is a perfect book for Mystery fans and for newcomers to this genre alike, a quick and compelling read, ideal for a lazy summer day.

I'm a pretty big fan of detective novels but this ranks pretty highly at the top of my favorites. It's so refreshing to find one where the female lead doesn't portray herself and some hard-ass unemotional bitch. I was grateful for a hot love interest and found myself craving more! I did figure out rather early on "whodunnit" but when I found it who it really was I was extremely surprised!! Love twisted endings like these! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Erica Spindler for the ARC!

Calling all suspense/thriller fans!!!! The Other Girl is a must, must, MUST read!!!!! From the prologue, Erica Spindler had hook, line, and sinker! I feel like I was just taken on craziest, jaw-dropping, most insane ride where me feet didn't touch the ground until the very end. As the story unfold there is a primary mystery that I racked my brain to try figure out answers to, but in addition there are several secondary mysteries that stumped me as well--LOVE that! Erica Spindler had my conspiracy theories running wild, but I can officially say none of them were correct!! Once everything was revealed my jaw literally dropped--shocked!! I enjoyed The Other Girl so much that I looked up Erica Spindler's prior novels and I am kicking myself for not reading her sooner--I now have three books of hers I plan to read asap! The Other Girl is a total and complete 5 star read!!! Go 1-click it!!!

This isn't my usual genre, so I don't remember requesting this book, but so glad that I did. Great read with a few twists of "who done it" keep you guessing. Will look for more by this author.

Erica Spindler has a knack for writing the quick, go-to mystery novel. Her characters aren't necessarily deep, and for some reason seem prone to making mistakes which get them into a bigger jam than necessary, but that's ok. Her stories are entertaining, suspenseful, and hard to put down.

I enjoyed reading through Miranda/Randi's struggle to do what's right, even when the easy thing would have been to take the path of least resistance. Her determination to bring truth to the forefront when everyone was battling her, was inspirational.

This book was quite a treat, and I look forward to trying other novels from this author.

This is an excellent mystery about two related events of abduction and abuse of two young women, about fifteen years, give or take, apart. It is impossible to write about the story without revealing any additional details, as those would be spoilers, and I don't write spoiler reviews. Suffice to say, the cast of characters in each event are almost the same, and there is police corruption and academic impropriety in each event. I think I read it in one or two readings - the suspense is that good.

Erica Spindler is a gifted writer with a talent for suspense and gore. Her characters, even the unsavory ones, are three-dimensional, Detective Miranda Rader, the main character, in particular. This is an excellent read.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

A late night in Louisiana, and a 15 year old rabble-rouser rebel, Randi Radar, decides she is going to get into anything wild. She decided to jump into the truck with her brothers friend and go for a ride to party. However Billy-Bo had other things in mind. He parked and decided he was going to take whatever he wanted, but Randi feigned like she was going to throw up in his truck. Of course, he made sure she got out of his truck. Once she was out of the truck, she let him know that she wasn't about to let him touch her. He said he was leaving and reminded her that she had no way of getting home. Randi started walking and finally got a ride with a college boy and a girl. She woke up on the ground with packing tape on her hands and feet and mouth. The other girl was laying close to her crying and said that he had raped and beat her. He had left for food, and was coming back. Randi was able to use her teeth to break free of the tape and to get loose. She tried to help the other girl, but he had come back and she wasn't able to get the girl freed. She had to leave her, but promised to get help, but the authorities would not believe her, because of her history of lying to them. Furthermore, she receive no help from her mother or brothers, and had to face the consequences all alone. Miranda basically wiped her family out of her life, after hat they did to her. Fast forward fourteen years later, Randi had turned her life around. She was now using the name of Miranda, and she was a Detective. She was investigating a case where the victim's death was very frenzied and personal. He was the son of the President of the University. Little did she know that this murder would be the one that would literally turn her life upside down. Someone had planted evidence at the scene to incriminate her. What did the murder have to do with her life in the past? Is Chief Caldwell, her mentor, covering something up? Why would he suspend her? Who is after her? Will she go to prison? I could not put this book down! I enjoyed the plot, which keeps the reader guessing. I also like the character development as well. There is a little romance added in, which makes this story more human and adds some spice to it as well. I also like the author's writing style. She keeps the reader on their toes throughout the entire book. I look forward to the next book!

I read a lot of books and it's hard to find a book that makes me want to stay up all night to read BUT this book I didn't want to stop!!!! Its the perfect mystery . Who killed Richard Stark (beloved professor) or was he?? Loved it ! I would highly recommend this book . Perfect sit by the pool and relax read! Miranda was a great character would love if there was another book with this character in it. Another great book by Erica Spindler!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a good mystery that was a little grisly but drew you in from the beginning. I really liked the character of officer Miranda Rader. A woman who turned her life around and became an honest, strong women with integrity. Even though you knew who the bad guys were in this story you kept reading to see how Miranda was going to get out of this mess. When the murder she and her partner are investigating turns out to involve her and her past it gets very interesting. Could not put this book down. Will read a lot more from this author.

Review will be posted on my blog, The Worn Bookmark (link attached) at 8 am CST on 7/25/17.

I love a good thriller so I was excited to get a chance to read and review this one. Right off the bat, I was hooked. Randi seemed like a girl who was mad at life and wanted any escape from it by way of drinking and drugs. But at only 15 years old, her life quickly went south when something absolutely horrible happened to her and yet nobody believed her because of her past issues. The story goes back and forth between the present where Randi has grown up to be Miranda, a detective on the local police force, and that night where everything went wrong. In the present she is called to the scene of a murder where one small thing alerts her to that night long ago. I was so enthralled by the story that I read the entire book in one sitting. The only issue I had was that I came up with a prediction pretty early on in the book and I turned out to be right. However, a twist showed that there were other factors involved that I had no idea so when those were revealed I was both shocked and appalled which I believe is the mark of a good thriller. After reading and enjoying this book I will definitely be checking out the author’s other books.

It was an easy uncomplicated read but the plot was a little obvious and cliched. There's nothing to make this book stand out from others of this genre and while it was enjoyable enough I wouldn't rush to read any other books by this author.

So, don't mind me. I'm just looking up all of Erica Spindler's books so I can read them, because what an amazing writer! I loved this story about Det. Miranda Raider, who spent her whole life trying to be better than that lying troublemaker of a teenage girl. She grew up, joined the Jasper police force and had been known as rock steady and a good cop.

Until one night a college professor, the son of the college preisdent, is found murdered. The kicker is that Det. Raider's prints are found at the scene, a long with a clipping about an incident that she was involved in when she was a teenager. And there begins the spiral into an intrigueing, engrossing story about coming face to face with the man that attacked you so long ago.

Only he's dead. And you've been implicated in his murder.

Like I said, SUPER good read. A little slow in the beginning but hang in there. It gets good, then REALLY good, and then (ya'll know I love this!!) a twist out of nowhere.

This book will be available August 22nd, 2017. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy

“You can never run away from your past, it always catches up to you…”

Born on the wrong side of the tracks, a young Randi Rader has worked hard to to leave that girl from Jasper behind. With stints in juvie, a father in jail, and a beaten down mother, Randi vowed to become a model member of society. Now part of the Harmony PD in Louisiana Detective Miranda Rader is working a gruesome murder scene at a University. A beloved English professor and prominent figure has been murdered. While gathering evidence at the scene, fingerprints are found in addition to an old newspaper clipping describing a local troubled Jasper teen. All evidence points to Randi. “A leopard cannot change it’s spots.” Was someone trying to frame her? Why? Is there something in her past? She knew the victim from the past…How could she forget?

This book was such a thrilling read. Past and present are woven seamlessly. The character Miranda is very palpable. You vacillate along side her as she doubts the character she has become unable to let go of the past. As a suspenseful mystery there were many suspects leaving your thoughts to trail in many different directions. This is one of the first books I have read by Erica Spindler and will not be my last. I am always excited to discover new authors!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC of The Other Girl. in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley, for an advance e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

Erica Spindler is a new author for me. I knew she was a popular author so was delighted to get a copy of her latest novel. I can see why she is popular! She certainly knows how to write a well-plotted murder/mystery/suspense/romance book that will grab you at the start and never let you go. There were some twists and turns that keep you guessing.

The protagonist is Miranda Rader, a small-town police detective who has turned her life around from a troubled childhood. She came from the "wrong side of the tracks" and had a family who didn't support her when she needed them the most. After spending time in juvenile prison, she decided to make something of her life. The novel involves two time periods: 2002 when Miranda was a 15-year-old and the present time when she is assigned to investigate a grotesque murder. The novel flows effortlessly with well-developed characters. This is a thriller with lots of action, sex, and graphic violence.

Well...I'm a big fan of mystery books and I was expecting to be immersed in a great story. However I was disappointed.
Firstly, there were nothing special about this book, it seemed like I read this story more than few times and, to be honest, better written than this one. From the start of this book I knew what will be the ending. Of course, I still wanted to read this book, just to see if I was correct. For me the story was lacking of suspense, mystery and plot twists - everything that a mystery book should have.
Secondly, the main character was sloppy, boring, whiny and unprofessional. The main thing that bothered me the most was that it was emphasized in few places that she was one of the best detectives, but she acted like total rookie - mistakes all over the place. Sometimes she reminded me more of a problematic teenager, than a grown up professional women.

I don't say this book is total disaster, but it definitely needs more editing.

I’m new to Spindler though I’ve since found out she’s written a great many books which comes as no surprise considering how well-written this one was including some great character work.

Her novel was full of mystery, a bit of violence, the much needed twist, and page turning suspense that will leave you turning pages faster than normal. Her chapters’ flow one into another at such an easy pace when you do stop to look you’ll be surprised how far you’ve read.

Plenty of suspects, clues, motivations and actions abound as you try to piece together what is relevant evidence from the red herrings. I got fooled at one point which rarely happens so this was a good use of my time and plenty entertaining.

First time reading this author, not my last. Miranda is a cop with a past that has turned her life around. A incident in her teen years has came back to haunt her. A savage murder opens up the past. She has a partner who loves her and has her back. There is the return of her brother from her dysfunctional family with a request from their mother. Miranda is trying to solve the murder case which is starting to look like she may have had something to do with it. Throw in a chief with possible motives to keep things under wrap, the very influential father of the murder victim, and a bar owner which will have major impact on this story. This book holds your interest and you will not want to put it down until done. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced reading copy of this book in return for my honest review.

This is a book that surprised me, a lot! The Other Girl's cover and blurb intrigued me, but I had never read anything by Erica Spindler before so I wasn't sure the book would suit me. I read a lot of thrillers, and it takes a lot nowadays to really charm me.

However, this book had everything I wanted in a thriller, a compelling story, well-developed characters and an ending that made me question my conviction on whom the killer is. Seriously, I was quite sure for a long time who the killer was, but at the end, did Spindler twist the story so much, and throw in a couple of red herrings that made me question my belief. I won't tell you if I was right or not, but I ended up quite pleased with the resolution.

I can say that this is the kind of book that, despite perhaps not being that surprising still engrossed me from the beginning until the end. I was captivated. I'm so delighted in this book that I need to find me some more Erica Spindler books to read.

So, in the end, I just want to say that The Other Girl is a superb thriller, a page turner that kept me entertained all the way until the end!

Fabulous story,great characters whose strength shines through. Thought I knew who it was fairly early but not which other girl.