Miranda Rader is an officer in the police force of the small town in Louisiana where she grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Estranged from her family, she has spent 14 years working hard to bury "Randi"Rader, considered by most people to be a liar and a sneak, who spent 6 months in juvenile detention on a drug charge after a terrible traumatic night. She has done a pretty good job in erasing her past until she is called to the gruesome murder of a popular English professor, son of the college president. As the investigation progresses, things just don't add up for Miranda. Then she is implicated in the crime and her carefully rebuilt life begins to crumble. There are quite a few secondary characters, most of whom are not so nice, who seem insignificant, but are they? The twists and turns in the plot leave me suspecting most of them at one point or another. I liked Miranda a lot but I was ambivalent about her partner and lover Jake. She forgave him when I don't think I could have and indeed I was surprised that she did. This mystery is well plotted and well written with believable dialogue. It has mystery, suspense, some romance and an interesting backstory. I have read other books by Erica Spindler so I was excited to get the chance to read a review copy thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

This is a good, modern, thriller. Miranda is a Police Officer in Hammond, a small American town. When she and her partner Jake are called to a murder scene of a renowned college professor, she gets the feeling that she knows him. A newspaper cutting is then found in the professor's room, showing an article about Miranda when she was a teenager and had reported that she had been kidnapped and another girl raped. No-one in the police station had believed her. Evidence starts to mount up against Miranda as another murder happens. How will she be able to prove her innocence? Read on!

The Other Girl is a tale of small towns, secrets and the things we do to protect the ones we love. While far from perfect, the book does a good job of capturing the intense relationships parents have with their children and the lengths they will go to in order to keep them safe.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf is Aesop’s famous fable about how lying frequently can result in not being believed when it matters. Miranda – Randi -Radar learns this lesson the hard way when just fifteen years old. On a dark, sultry night in the backwoods of Louisiana, she escapes from the drunken arms of the pervert she was partying with only to head straight into the clutches of a far worse predator. Finding herself drugged and tied up sends her into a panic but with a bit of ingenuity and luck she is able to escape yet again and runs for help while leaving a second victim behind. But Randi’s lies have caught up with her; a juvenile delinquent with a record a mile long and a bad relationship with the cops, she is belittled rather than believed. When she finally connects with someone willing to help her look for the other girl, she and her abductor have vanished and Randi is sent to juvie for being a general public menace.

Fifteen years makes a huge difference in her life. Leaving behind the sassy, rule breaking Randi and going by her full name of Miranda, she has turned into a sedate, meticulous detective for Harmony PD. She’s steady, reliable, dependable – in short, all the things her teenage self would have scorned. She’s also typically unflappable, but the crime scene laid out before her has rocked even her usually stoic demeanor. A man lies on his bed, naked, with his throat slit and his penis stuffed into his mouth. It’s a gruesome, bloody scene that’s shocking in its own right but what Miranda finds when leafing through his papers surprises her even more. A yellowed newspaper clipping speaks of “a teenager who’d sent the police on a wild goose chase in an attempt to divert the authorities from her own infractions.” It was a short column – about her – which most definitely didn’t make front-page news. So why is it in the possession of a man she’s never met, a man who was recently ruthlessly slaughtered?

Jake Billings, Miranda’s partner, doesn’t know why the clipping is in the files of the deceased but he does know that his partner couldn’t have had anything to do with whatever is happening. When Miranda’s prints are found at the crime scene, a place where she should have touched nothing without gloves, he lies smoothly and easily to help cover for her. He may not know what’s going on but he does know the woman he has slowly been drawn to more and more and one thing is certain: she’s not guilty.

There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this novel. I loved the familial reconciliation that takes place between Miranda and her dysfunctional relatives and the subsequent conversations which clear the air about the night which changed the course of Miranda’s life. I really liked the way two different sets of parent/child relationships are examined and that within them the reader is shown how love can go wrong even when that love is genuine. I liked the way small/midsize town policing – which showed the interconnectedness of all the players and the difficulties that could create in an investigation – is portrayed. I loved the atmosphere of the story, a sort of hopelessness and struggle against big odds that fit really well with the small/midsize town policing angle. I liked that the story is intense but also easy to read, with prose that flows smoothly from one scene to the next. But none of that was quite enough to turn this into a good book, although it did keep it from being a totally bad one.

The biggest problem is that the book crisscrosses over the line between reality and fiction. Real life is a messy thing. Events and people can blindside us and completely derail our day, our week, our month or even our year(s). Decisions by those around us can seem to be random, requiring a psychiatrist armed with a full evaluation before we can even begin to figure out what motivated them to do what they did.

Fiction is not real life. Good fiction uses foreshadowing, creates concise characters and gives us a clean lens with which to look at real life’s little foibles. That’s why people who are screaming for reality in fiction really mean they want something realistic and believable – and this book is neither of those things. Do I think in real life horrifically bad investigations happen, grand conspiracies occur and affairs take place with no flirting or foreplay? Sure. But does it work for a romantic suspense novel to have Jake and Miranda hook up with zero relationship building? Absolutely not. Two detectives whose most passionate conversation revolves around evidence with nary a double entendre in sight, should not be burning up the sheets later that night after a quick couple of sentences about how one of them really digs the other. Most of their pre-sex conversations shouldn’t be about the case and determining if one or the other of them might somehow be criminally involved.

It’s also difficult to buy into a detective being clear headed, detail oriented, tenured and sharp when you see that person – in this case Miranda – respond with emotionalism and poor judgment at every opportunity. She isn’t smart about any of her choices – how she handlea crime scenes, the way she interacts with witnesses, the decisions she makes when following evidence or leads or even the timing of when she would sleep with her partner. In a lay person, all of that would have been understandable but in a veteran detective with years of experience under her belt, someone the author wished us to believe in as competent and mature? No.

It doesn’t help that the hero of the tale has almost zero personality and that the rest of the players in the story are caricatures of small town authorities. Nor does it help that the author shortcuts through most of the book, relying on Miranda simply ‘knowing’ or ‘feeling’ in order to move things forward. A good example of that is how she works out the identity of the guilty party: “She knew it without proof. In her gut.” Too much of the plot depends upon magic hunches and strong intuition/feelings.

I can’t really recommend The Other Girl but I am reluctant to completely condemn it. I’m left with damning it with faint praise. This is a readable but deeply flawed story with some mildly intriguing concepts thrown in that keep it from completely sinking under the weight of its problems. Fans of the author may find something to enjoy here and die-hard police procedural/romantic suspense fans may be hard up enough to need this in their life. To all others I would encourage choosing another book over The Other Girl.

Miranda has overcome a lot in her life. She was attacked when she was young, arrested for pot, sent to juvie, and basically disowned by her family. She overcame all these things to become a detective. But, her past has come back to haunt her and take her down.

Miranda was raised hard and she is a tough, no nonsense detective. So of course I related to her right away…strong women hit the right spot with me. She is living in a mans world determined to overcome and she succeeds. Then a murder occurs. One which cause so much havoc and trauma she may lose all of what she has achieved.

I hate it when innocent people are accused of something they did not do. It frustrates the devil out of me. I know this type of plot makes a good storyline and it works! I just read faster and faster trying to get Miranda out of this mess. Which is exactly what the author intended.

This is a fast paced read. If I had not been working, I probably would have finished this in one sitting. This has a wonderful rhythm. However, it is just a regular mystery. I very seldom mention the price of a book…that is up to the reader on whether it is worth their money. But, $12.99 for this ebook. Not sure it is worth that money.

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.

A lot of people run from their past but for Miranda she didn't get far enough away for her past to find her again. Although completely reformed from her wild teenage days (she's now a police officer) a local investigation lands her smack in the middle when a prominent member of the community is murdered and her prints are found at the scene. Despite backup from her partner her chief is on her case and before she can turn around she's a suspect. While trying to keep her own demons at bay with her ill friend, her estranged family and now her career, she's determined to find out who is trying to frame her and why. This was a fairly quick read and I had a hard time putting it down.

Fifteen years ago, Miranda Rader was a teenager and involved in a crime where she and another girl were abducted.  The other girl was raped but Miranda escaped to try to get help.  Nobody believed her and she never knew what happened to the other girl.  Present day, Miranda has become a police officer.  She and her partner are assigned a murder case.  On the scene is a newspaper article as well as Miranda's fingerprints.  

This is my first experience with Spindler's writing.  The mystery was well written and a fast read.  I enjoyed that it had short chapters which allowed me to feel like I was making a lot of progress as well as providing numerous places I could set the book down and come back to it easily.  The past and present story involving Miranda were properly intertwined.  The book stays mostly in the present with brief flashbacks to the past which were appropriate for this story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this mystery.  It kept me engaged, entertained, and guessing.  I look forward to reading more by this author.

This book is fast paced. Lately, it seems like I’ve been reading slower, procedural thrillers, but The Other Girl by Erica Spindler moves quickly. And you know what, I’m Into it.
BEER, TRUCKS & BAD DECISIONS

Right away, readers learn of a horrible night that altered Miranda Rader’s life. Erica takes us to a truck on a country road with young teens making bad decisions. No spoilers here, but this night haunts Miranda & changes the course of her life.
Let me just say that Miranda ‘Randi’ Rader is such a great character. First, she beats the odds when she lifts herself out of a dire home & family life. Second, she’s risen through the ranks of her local police department. She’s tough & well respected. Third, she’s got her partner chasing after her & it seems as though he’s legitimately in love with her. He’s got a six pack to boot, but make no mistake, this is not a romance novel.
WORKING A CASE IN A SMALL TOWN

Miranda is working the murder case of a beloved & handsome college professor. The crime scene is horrific. Memories start to flood & she is immediately thrust back into the life she left behind. It seems like someone is leaving clues for her to find. These are clues only Miranda can understand. Miranda quickly travels down rabbit holes of long buried town secrets. Her chief & partner begin to question her ethics. They also question her ability to maintain neutrality in this case. She’s leading witnesses & meeting old school acquaintances at bars. She is driving to the victim’s house & digging around; the list goes on.
Miranda is spiraling. But once you know her back story, you can’t really blame her. She’s got a long history with her police chief, but it seems like he’s trying to put politics above police work. Miranda’s estranged family attempts to contact her, but why now? Can she really trust her partner? Can she trust herself?
THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book & I am also Really Into Erica Spindler’s writing style. She describes her characters with such clarity they each feel like old friends or enemies, depending upon the person. The Other Girl is a tasty, fast-paced summer thriller. Erica & my girl, J.T. Ellison should write a book together. I would be Really Into That thriller.
Special thanks to Erica Spindler, St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Miranda (Randi) Rader has a past and it comes back to haunt her in this book, "The Other Girl" by Erica Spindler. Currently a detective with the police department of her hometown, in another life Miranda was branded a liar and all around bad girl throughout her teens. After a time spent in Juvenile halls she turns her life around and becomes a respected member of the police. When Miranda is assigned to check out the grisly murder site of a local professor she finds a clipping that brings back her scary event from that past. The book moves fast and the writing is clear and interesting. The only issue I have is that the plot was too predictable to me.However keep in mind I read a lot of crime novels. I think this book would have read better to me if I was 20 rather than 48. I may be overdosing on books about murders and find this book filled with stereotypes but someone newer to the genre would likely really enjoy it.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.

This is my very first Erica Splinder novel so I have no reference to her other works. I was not wowed by The Other Girl. In fact the mystery was underwhelming, I was able to guess whodunit in the murder investigation as well as how it all tied into lead detective Miranda Rader's past experiences. It is a quick read, if you like police procedural novel, this one is light on details. Also, there is a romance thrown into mix.

Fantastic! Erica Spindler does it again! I loved the characters, Miranda and Jake are great partners, and I would love to see them in a series of titles????
The story was full of suspense, and kept you guessing all the time!

Great psychological thriller that keep you guessing and guessing and still surprised by the ending!

Outstanding! Spindler always writes an edge of your seat thriller and this one proved how amazing she is. Though I unraveled the mystery fairly early on, it was still a wild ride! Thank you, Erica and NetGalley for the advance copy!

5* Page Turning Stars

This gripping fast paced story caught my attention from the first page. The book was well written and also flowed well pulling the reader deeper into the enthralling tale of suspense and twists.

In parts of the book it alternates between Miranda’s past and the future, which worked well for the flow of the story.

I liked the Heroine Miranda, she was strong and smart and worked hard turning her life around. The secondary characters were also very interesting and complex.

It definitely was a page-turner and had you guessing till the end.

This was my first Erica Spindler book and it won’t be my last.

ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In the past few years, I haven't really read many thrillers/suspense/mystery novels, but lately I've been drawn to them after reading a spate of good ones, like Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinbrough, Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, and He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly. That renewed interest led me to request The Other Girl from Netgalley, and I'm pretty glad I did. The thriller follows Detective Miranda Rader, who has had to earn respect and trust in her little town after a rough youth. She's called to the scene of the violent murder of a college professor and finds a newspaper clipping linking him to a terrible night from her past. As others involved in that night turn up dead, evidence starts to pile up that points to Miranda, threatening to destroy her reputation, her career, and the life she's built for herself. 

Trigger Warnings: rape/attempted rape, abduction

From the very beginning, this book was very intriguing and hard to put down. Miranda is a compelling and likable character. She's also a very strong woman, and while she makes poor choices sometimes, you'll definitely feel like you're in her corner. As we're given snippets of her life, you grow to respect her even more. She does get involved in a romance throughout the course of the book, and I really could've done without that aspect, but it's a relatively benign romance--and I was able to somewhat appreciate it. 

The story itself starts with suspense and never really stops. It opens right up with the murder and then flits back and forth between Miranda's current life as a detective, trying to solve the case, and her previous life as a rough and tumble teenager who occasionally got into trouble with the law, including the full story of the night that seems to be related to the current murder. The details are given sparingly and slowly, but enough that I vaguely guessed what happened. Over the course of the book, I slowly connected the dots. I had my suspicions all along, but the story did a good job of feinting multiple times so that I second guessed myself all throughout, which made it really hard to put down. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller. At times, it felt a bit predictable, but did a good job of making me unsure of my guesses until the very end. It covered some important topics but was also just a really enjoyable thriller with a strong female character at the lead. If you like thrillers, you'll likely enjoy this one! 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Miranda Rader, a police officer in a small town, is called to a horrific crime scene. But when she gets there, she discovers a newspaper clipping from fifteen years ago, all about the crime in her past she's tried her hardest to forget. As Miranda attempts to discover how her past and the murder victim's present are connected, she will be forced to confront the truth about that terrible night so many years ago.

This book was extremely suspenseful. I love a story concerning secrets from the past coming into the present, and Spindler integrated the past and present really well. The flashbacks added to the suspense, and were a really important part of the plot.

I really liked the character of Miranda-she was strong, smart, and determined.

I was also really surprised by all the plot twists. I never had the story figured out, which is always a lot of fun, especially with all the mysteries I read.

While I really liked the romance, I felt the writing of it was a little cliched.

This is a quick, gripping read that will keep you in suspense and have you turning pages.

I have never read an Erica Spindler book but I am SO glad Netgalley has introduced me to her. I am officially a huge fan and was delighted to see she has quite a number of other books under her belt. Spindler reminds me greatly of my favorite author, Karin Slaughter. Both authors are able to a take a run-of-the-mill murder mystery and turn it into something truly frightening, memorable, and special. The main character is such a fighter, I really wish she would be turned into a series but it doesn't appear to be that way. I'm not upset though since I have so many other books to read by Spindler. Can't wait!

This book is Erica Spindler's best yet. Of course I say that every time she puts out a new book! I won't be giving a spoiler to say the title of the book gives a huge clue. We're kept wondering until well near the end of the book just who the 'other girl' is. Lots of twists and turns, red herrings as to who the 'bad guys' are, right up to the satisfying conclusion.

A very entertaining mystery!

Officer Miranda Rader turned her life around after one very scary night when she was fifteen years old. She intended to leave the small-town way of life in Louisiana, but instead she straightened up her wild teenage ways and became known for her honesty and integrity. Never again would someone doubt her word. Unfortunately, a murder case lands in her lap that has is bringing up all of those long-forgotten memories. Could the murder of a well-loved college professor somehow tie into Miranda’s path? Now Miranda’s own honesty is in question and she’ll have to find out who is behind the murder or risk losing everything she’s worked so hard to gain.

I’ve always had a soft spot for characters who face trauma and survive, never mind ones who must stand alone to do so. Consequently, it’s no real surprise that I love Miranda and her spunk in the face of adversity. Her back story is heart-wrenching as Erica Spindler does a great job weaving together the past and the present. In fact, my only complaint is that THE OTHER GIRL isn’t the first in a series featuring Miranda as she’s exactly the sort of character I want to visit with over and over again.

I can’t believe I’ve never read Erica Spindler before! THE OTHER GIRL is a spectacular thriller that kept me up far too late as I just had to know what would happen next. I was in a huge reading slump and THE OTHER GIRL kicked me right out of that slump as it demanded my attention. Thrills, chills, and even a few tears were shed as Erica Spindler crafts one heck of a good story. I’ll definitely read more of her books in the future!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

I've been a fan of Erica Spindler's for a long time. I started reading her when she first wrote romances for Loveswept & Harlequin. I just loved them. Then as she moved or to writing general fiction and I followed. I don't usually read general fiction because at heart I'm a romance reader, but I've always loved her so I gave her a try in her newer genre.

I'm so glad I did! She kept enough romance in her story that my romance heart was satisfied and since I do enjoy romantic suspense I was a happy camper.

Over the years I've enjoyed many good stories by Spindler and even had the honor of going to one of her book signings with my two bff's and getting to meet her. I spent many hours talking to those same bff's about her books. All of us love them.

The Other Girl is her latest book and I have to say it hit the ball out of the park! I just loved it. I spent so much of this book trying to figure out who the killer was and why. I just love when a author can keep me on my toes. It doesn't happen often.

Not only was I busy trying to figure out who all the players were, I was busy trying not to hate some of the characters. Yes, you read right, HATE! I can't help it! I really liked Miranda and everything she stood for. She is one tough woman who worked very hard to fight some really bad demons.

While having her comfortable world torn apart makes for a good story you won't be able to not feel for her. I wanted to fight the bullies in her defense. The Other Girl for me was turning into a interactive story without me really being there!

Crazy, I know! But also that good!

I'm so glad that I took the time to read The Other Girl. As I said, it's a wonderful story with so much going on that you won't be able to put it down until your done reading it. I can't wait for what she has coming next!

This looked like my kind of book--I like mysteries, characters with complicated pasts that they try to leave behind to start a new life. This book was okay, but it somehow fell flat for me. I was drawn in enough to finish the book, but I felt more relief when I finished it, just to have finished it, than feeling anything about the book itself.