I was pulled in right away and this thriller didn’t let go until the end.

Randi is a misguided teen and like some teens she has made a few bad choices and is no stranger to the police. When she is in dire need of their help to rescue a girl that is being held against her will, they don’t believe her and dismiss her story. She has nowhere to turn and is sent to juvie for the pot she had in her pocket.

Present day. Randi is now Miranda and a respected police officer in the town where she grew up. Miranda and her partner Jake are called to investigate a murder scene. She follows procedure to a T and is shocked when she is questioned why her prints were found at the scene. One thing after another and it looks like Miranda is being framed for the murder. She doesn’t know the deceased and doesn’t know of anyone that would frame her or does she? The past has a way of catching up and she is at odds with law enforcement from her youth. Suddenly she struggles to prove her innocence.

I like the format of using alternating flashbacks throughout. They fill in the details and give perspective to the investigation.

I thought the ending was exciting and will look for more titles by Erica Spindler.

The Other Girl is my first Erica Spindler novel and I thank the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

Miranda (Randi) Rader has worked very hard to become a valuable member of the Hammond, Louisiana police department. Even though she was a bit of a wild child as a teenager, she has turned her life around, and works as a successful and respected officer. But when she's called to investigate a vicious murder, she gets pulled into a dark and dangerous game that may bring to an end everything she has struggled so hard for. 

Beloved college professor, and son of the college president, Richard Stark is found tied to his bed and mutilated, clearly the victim of no ordinary murder. The investigation is an important one, as his father is a friend of the chief of police, and Randi feels the pressure to solve the case and find the killer. She and her partner Jake Billings discover a couple of suspects, another college professor that Stark had been seeing more casually than she realized, and a former teaching assistant whose advances were rebuffed. But as strong as the emotions of betrayal or rejection are, these suspects don't seem angry or hurt enough to do the damage that Stark's killer did. Randi knows that there has to be another explanation. 

When Randi's fingerprints turn up at the murder scene, and a newspaper article of her teenaged exploits turn up in Stark's home office, Randi starts to wonder if Stark is the only victim of this killer, or if she is being set up as well. And how does her past factor in? Clearly someone is trying to make a point, and if Randi doesn't figure out who it is and why, she may be the next one in mortal danger. 

New York TImes bestselling author Erica Spindler has crafted yet another page-turning thriller. The Other Girl is a masterpiece of murder and malice, of secrets and lies, of double lives and the consequences of past choices. Well-paced and beautifully written, this is a twisty thriller that will keep you awake long past your bedtime. If you're a fan of the newly minted genre grip lit, then you need to grip this one tight and don't let go until you get to the end. Highly recommended. 



Galleys for The Other Girl were provided by St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.

This crime thriller combines a few of my essential parts of a great mystery: a twisted past, a character no one will believe is telling the truth, and the need for revenge.

Thank so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

The story follows Officer Miranda Rader who is lead on a new case. A beloved university professor is found murdered in his bed, gruesomely dismembered. As they begin to work the scene, Miranda discovers an old newspaper clipping from her own past, fifteen years ago when she was briefly abducted, along with another girl. But no one believed her then and she has worked so hard to move on. Soon another man turns up murdered, Officer Wheeler - the officer who took Miranda's statement all those years ago and branded her a liar. While seemingly unconnected, the only link between the murders is Miranda.

Firstly, I enjoyed the way this story was written. Spindler writes what is happening in the present day and occasionally slips back into the past, telling the story again. I was worried that it would just be alternating chapters and it would be tedious but Spindler worked it perfectly. The flashbacks were well spread out and only really came up when it was relevant to the story in the present. Most of the details of the past were easily deduced from Miranda's comments and reactions later on, which Spindler expertly crafted so we didn't need to know the whole story right away.

I'm always a little hesitant when there is a female MC who is a police officer. While I enjoy the POV it provides, in my experience, I find that they spend half the book talking about how hard it is to be a female cop. And I totally understand that working in that male dominant profession is really difficult and you have to work twice as hard, but when I'm reading a crime thriller, that's not why I'm reading a crime thriller. Luckily, Spindler recognizes this and only brought up Miranda's complaints intermittently. But I think that more of Miranda's problems was that no one believed what she was saying. Knowing the ending, I see why, but throughout the book, it was so overwhelmingly ridiculous.

I liked the way the mystery itself was worked out, I didn't find it predictable at all. There were a few moments, toward the end that made me question what was really going on but I had no idea who the murderer was.

I am taking away a star for a few things I wasn't a fan of. The first being the romance. I didn't think it did anything for the story, Miranda could have gotten to the same end without it. I also felt like it was a bit random, thrown in at the last minute to fill some gaps in the story. It didn't feel real enough to me to feel worth it. The other reason I am taking a star is that I still don't know where the button and other items came from. Unless I missed it, Spindler never says. Everything else got wrapped up nicely, I'm just not sure why this was left open. And if I totally missed it, then I guess it wasn't explained well enough for me.

Overall, this book was definitely interesting and a little bit different from the other crime novels I have read. I think it is unique enough in the overwhelmed genre and would recommend you give it a go!

This was my first Erica Spindler, and I'm a bit embarrassed to say I had never heard of her before Netgalley reached out to me for a review. It seems she has had quite the career already! I enjoyed my first read by her and will lookout for other titles by her.

The book goes back and forth in time with our main character, Miranda/Randi Rader. Now a detective, Miranda is still haunted by her past. She was a girl who was raised in a rough area with a rough upbringing. But that's not her anymore, she's a well respected officer. As much as she tries to forget what happened to her that night, it still in the back of her mind. Although she left that girl behind, it seems someone else isn't willing to let her do that.

Detective Rader comes upon a horrific and grisly murder. She finds an article that makes her think the victim has ties to her from so long ago. But the mystery is just starting to unfold. She isn't sure what happened to the other girl that night because no one believed her. But it seems that other girl has found her after all these years...or is Miranda self-sabotaging, becoming that liar she once was? This is a great psychological thriller with good twists and turns. I did have a good idea whom was behind it all, but still thoroughly enjoyed the read.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved! 5 Stars +. Set in a small southern Louisiana town of Harmony—Erica Spindler continues to raise the bar with her latest: THE OTHER GIRL, following (2015) The First Wife.

A chilling and "unputdownable” taut crime suspense thriller (her best yet)! A clever blending of past and present with masterful twists.

Officer Miranda Radar has not had an easy journey in life. In 2002, at fifteen years old, she was called, “Randi” (from the wrong side of the tracks). She was caught in a crime and no one believed her. After all, she had her own problems with her dysfunctional family: mom, brothers, dead beat dad, and the law.

She no longer is this scared fifteen-year-old girl. The one caught with possession of pot, shoplifting, drinking, and truancy. However, can she run away from her past? Has it caught up with her or did she just move on?

Who was her tormentor from that summer fourteen years ago? The beautiful monster in the Alabama ball cap. The guy who picked her up on the side of the road. Supposedly sent by her brother. She had escaped and left for help. She had to rescue "the other girl."

What happened to the girl (Cathy) who was left behind after the rape and torture? The one she promised to save. She went for help and no one believed her?

What if she had been a girl who did not lie. One who was cautious instead of reckless. The kind of person people believed. Back then no one would believe her. The girl could have been saved.

Clint Wheeler the cop. His voice still haunts her. He thought she was a liar.

Who was the monster who populated her nightmares? He was the reason she became a cop. They would have to believe her now.

Presently, years later she and her partner, Jake (friend, partner, and possibly more) of two and half years are called to investigate a brutal crime. A college professor. A murder. A murder of hatred and rage?

Richard Stark. Handsome, single, charming, and smart. He was also writing a novel. A dominatrix and the lives of her clients. A sexual predator? Abuses women. He liked his women immobilized and unwilling.

President Ian Stark (father) is quite anxious to protect the school’s reputation. What is he hiding? A powerful and rich man. How many people does he control and have in his back pocket?

Miranda promised herself back then she would escape to California and never look back. Escape her family and every memory of the God-forsaken place. The girl who had done time. She had not belonged and not sure she still does. She had to let the past go. She was almost thirty years old.

However, she may have to visit her painful past in order to find clues to save herself in the present.

A clipping was found. About Miranda from that summer years ago was found the old. A coincidence? How could her fingerprints be found at the scene? Why would her past abductor keep this clipping, or was it planted?

She did not know Stark and had never met him. Yet they had found her prints at the scene and the news clipping about her?

A sexual predator who had hurt an untold number of women and gotten away with his crimes for years . . . until now.

Someone had to be setting her up.

No one believed her back then. Will they believe her now? Her own mom never defended her, nor her brother.

What happened to the Jane Doe years ago? The missing girl?

Miranda had to protect herself from whoever was setting her up. She was a good cop. Now a box. A key.

However, who could she trust?

Was the person who killed evil Richard, the who planted her fingerprints at the scene?

Is someone out for revenge and is she the target?

With pressure from her Chief — her job is to find the killer, not to vilify the victim. Is she in jeopardy of losing her badge? Everyone thinks she is losing it. She thinks Richard Stark is the perp, not the victim.

Now Wheeler is found dead. Miranda (Randi) had spent six months in juvie because of this Officer, and now dead. Fingers are pointing at her. Does she have a score to settle, or is it someone trying to take her down?

Will she have an ally or champion this time, or will it be just like fourteen years ago?

Jam-packed full of dark secrets and a twisty story that never stops . . . and a sprinkle of romantic suspense. Hooked from the first page to the explosive conclusion – Spindler keeps readers glued to the pages, and a kick ass leading lady, Miranda. (hope we see more of her in the future).

With clues from the past to present, a complex whodunit mystery thriller which will keep you guessing.

Fans of Lisa Gardner, Sandra Brown, Chevy Stevens, and Karin Slaughter will devour fast-paced THE OTHER GIRL.

In addition to the reading copy, also purchased the audiobook and wow, Tavia Gilbert delivers a perfect voice for Spindler’s characters in this small dark town of secrets and corruption.

Move this one to the top of your list!

A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early reading copy.

JDCMustReadBooks

Being a big fan of this author's, I was excited to read her new novel. I found it to be intriguing and suspenseful. I liked Miranda's character who came with quite a bit of baggage from her childhood. I did not connect as well to Jake and did not believe in their relationship as much as I wanted too. I enjoyed the storyline and found the ending to be surprising.

This was my first foray into reading an Erica Spindler book, and it won't be my last! "The Other Girl" was a fast-paced gripping murder mystery that grabbed me by the first chapter. Detective Miranda Rader of the Hammond Police Department in Louisiana is called upon to investigate the gruesome and disturbing murder of the town's esteemed college professor, Richard Stark. At the scene of the murder, she discovers a faded newspaper article from the Harmony Gazette about a harrowing night from her past when she was an out-of-control teenager. Miranda has worked hard to bury her past and establish herself as a revered detective in Hammond.

As Miranda delves further into the murder investigation along with her partner, Jake Billings, she can't shake the feeling that her past indiscretions are catching up with her. To make matters worst, her supervisor, Chief Cadwell, informs her that her fingerprints were found at the scene of the murder. The Chief also shared details of the crime scene with the parents of Richard Stark, who are demanding justice. Her boss's impropriety alarms Miranda and makes her wonder what side he's playing on. Miranda is tied to Chief Cadwell because of events that transpired 14 years earlier. She is very troubled by his current behavior.

Erica Spindler does a masterful job of weaving a tight plot between Miranda's past and present. The story seamlessly moves from 2002 to present day. In these flashbacks, we learn more about Miranda's troubled teenage years and how it relates to present day events. "You can't run away from your past. It always catches up with you."

This book will grab you by the throat and take you on a thrilling ride. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it highly. My thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Erica Spindler for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Other Girl starts off with Randi, a fifteen year old girl from a dysfunctional family, taking off to have some fun. That fun time turns into a nightmare, one that she relives over and over. Fast forward a number of years, and she finally turns her life around and makes something of herself. This time she ends up on the right side of the law. But then things start to go bad and she finds herself reliving those days from her past that she just wants to forget. And no one believes her....again.

Randi, or Miranda, as she prefers to be called now, is a cop who, while investigating a murder, finds all sorts of connections to her past. As more and more connections are uncovered and weave themselves around her, she finds that she no longer knows who or what to trust.

The Other Girl is the first book of Erica's that I have read and I am not sure why I haven't discovered her stories before now. I like her writing style and the way she makes me want to like her characters. This thriller kept me guessing with all the twists and turns and it was a hard book to put down. I am excited to read more of her stories.

This was my first Erica Spindler book, and what an introduction it was! I was pulled in by this story and flew through it in about 2 days! I’ve glanced at the other Erica Spidler books and it seems she has a large following and is pretty consistently rated at least 4 Stars. That’s important to me! I’ve added Erica Spindler to my TBR books… when I get some down time (haha) I’ll be sure to revisit some of her previous stories.

The Other Girl starts of extremely strong. A popular English professor is found murdered with some evidence left behind to make some people think he wasn’t well liked for his manly ways! Miranda, the lead detective, is an interesting character. She’s smart but lacking a bit since I stayed step-by-step with her. So why is this professor who is liked by all, killed in such a way? Let’s not leave out the fact that daddy is a prominent and wealthy man in the area… he’s also playing the Captain like a puppet. That drove me insane, I like good strong characters and the captain made me want to smack him around!

This was such a gripping read… you’ll feel like you’re on this roller coaster ride that shoots from the past and whirls into the present. Yeah, I was able to guess who the killer was fairly early, I am a lover of thrillers after all, I found the story to still keep me enthralled, interested. I really like the short snippets of the past tossed in… just when we’re getting elbow deep into the story Spidler will take us back to the past and leave us wondering.

I found The Other Girl to be very well plotted and an extremely entertaining read. There were points within this book that I was rushing through the pages wondering what was going to happen next. I’ll give you some of it being pretty obvious, and some other being fairly funny, but it still had some good twists and some good character development. The characters were well developed with a realistic dialogue. I could really relate to Miranda and her back and forth with her partner Jake. Nothing is a secret in a small town! I found that I wanted to know more about Miranda and Jake.

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.

'The other girl' was an awesome read who turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. I was looking forward to a fast-paced thriller and got an easy-to-relate-to main character on top.

This is the story of Miranda Rader, a young police officer who is proud of being in the police force and having turned her life around after a bumpy start. She has cut off all family ties after a tragic incident in her teens that labeled her a liar. The girl who cried wolf one too many times.
At the beginning of the story, she gets called to a crime scene to a loved and cherished professor. What seems to be a clear case turns out to be way more personal than she expected when evidence is found that ties her to the murder.

I believe the author did a great job presenting the character of Miranda. There are alternating chapters telling her backstory as well as what is happening in the present. It was easy to relate to her as well as conclusive why she acted in a certain way.
I didn't mind the romance in the novel but it wasn't that important anyway. However, Jake was a great character and I liked what he added to the story. To be honest, most characters were really well-written and made it even easier to like the story.

Yes, the story might be a little predictable if you read a lot of novels in the genre but the author has a great way of writing. I was thinking more than once 'Just one more chapter' and because the chapters were really short I gave in a lot.
All in all, great book. I would like to read more by the author.

Jasper, Louisiana - 2002

Randi Rader has crept out of her family’s trailer to meet up with her brothers, Wes and Robby. Instead, she sees Billy Boman, her brother’s friend who says her brothers asked him to pick her up. Randi likes to drink and party but has gotten into trouble with it. But tonight she’s drinking Billy’s beer and having a good time. She cannot wait until she can get away from this place. When Billy tries to have sex with her, she gets away from him but he dumps her out of his truck and leaves her to get home alone. When a car with a young man and woman come along and offer her a ride, she accepts it. What happens next is a nightmare.

Harmony, Louisiana - Today

Miranda Radar is a PD Detective for Harmony, Louisiana. She is investigating the death of Richard Stark, an English professor at ULH and the university president’s son. He had been stabbed and mutilated. The killer had gone out of their way to clean up afterward leaving no trace to point to their identify.

Miranda used to be Randi Radar and now, years later, she has cleaned up her act and made something of her life.

As the investigation continues, her police chief, whom she admires, becomes harsher with her and keeps bringing up her past mistakes. But when some things come up that make it appear that she may have been involved in the murder in some way, she lands in hot water.

OK. No more spoilers! This is a really good story which I enjoyed. The characters are real yet while they seemed to be true friends, any one of them could be an enemy. Don’t miss this mystery you won’t regret it.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC of this novel, received in exchange for an honest review.

The story centers around Detective Miranda Rader and her partner Jake Billings. In Louisiana, a local and popular college professor and son of the college president is gruesomely murdered. Miranda and Jake are assigned the case but are only alerted after their boss arrived on the scene first.

I was hooked from the first chapter and loved the writing style. The dialogue was realistic and I enjoyed the back and forth from past to present to understand how their past shaped their future. Miranda has issues from her past and no matter how hard she has worked to overcome them, they still come back to haunt her.

There are some unexpected developments, tension and some twists that keep you turning pages. This was my first Erica Spindler book and I really enjoyed it. I'll certainly read more of her books.

This is my first Erica Spindler and it will not be my last. Ms Spindler sure knows how to weave a good mystery/thriller that kept me up too late trying to get to the end.

My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy.

NetGalley gave me this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fast pace book and it really grabbed me right from the beginning. The main character of the book, Randy Rader, is a police officer in her local town where she also grew up. She grew up in the very poor part of town, trailer park living with little supervision. One night she has a horrific experience and runs to the police department to report the crime, but no one believes her, and not only don't they believe her, but they arrest her for possession of marijuana, and she ends up going to the juvenile facility. She decided to change her life while she was in jail, and many years later she actually becomes a police officer and the very person who didn't believe her all those years ago is chief of police.

A horrible crime has been committed, Randy arrives at the scene and while she is gathering evidence she comes upon an article about herself and the crime that she reported all those years ago. She has no idea why this article would be in this mans house. But she soon figures it out and there is where the story begins.

In the process of reliving her past experiences she comes to term with herself, her ability to love and trust others, and how to truly let go of her past and embrace her life as it is in the present. This is the first book I read by this author, but I doubt it will be the last.

I've read loads of books by this author over the years and always look forward to any new books.This one doesn't disappoint.It is very basically a story featuring a bad girl turned good who is now a cop.Miranda is an interesting and likable character and one that won my heart and that for me is always good when I like the lead character and am on their side.The pace of the book was good, the story was intriguing and I enjoyed reading this book, I liked Miranda so much that I hope she pops up again shame to leave a good character like her sitting on the shelf, I think.Not going to give the plot away and spoil it for other readers but if you like detective books that are well written and keep you guessing you will enjoy this, I did and would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Spindler definitely has the formula for writing fast paced, entertaining thrillers- but the reason they're so good is that they aren't formulaic. This time around, Randi is a wild child turned cop, who finds herself questioned and questioning what's going on when there are two murders (some of this is gruesome) that relate to her backstory. There's a great setting, a good mystery, and a fast paced plot, combined with some terrific characters, not the least of which is Randi, who now that she's grown up calls herself Miranda. This one proves that your history can be revisited upon you, unfairly or not, but you can work your way out of it. Miranda is nothing if not intrepid and determined to untangle things. This is good beach or travel book- you'll find yourself ignoring other things in order to reach the end. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was my first book from Erica Spindler but it wont be the last. I really did enjoy this one and I will so be reading more from her in the future. This book grabbed me right off the bat. I couldn't put it down and I was turning the pages as fast as I could read. This one had a lot of great twists and turns that will keep you going. It kept the flow going as well.
The characters were great as well and felt real. Miranda was wonderful the characters made you want to read more of this one.

This book was just so engrossing that I couldn't put it down. Although I did enjoy this title I have to say that parts of it were predictable. I figured out the killer long before the end of this one.

If you are looking for a quick story to read with some great twists and turns then check this one out.

The Other Girl by Erica Spindler begins in Hammond in 2002; Miranda undergoes a terrible experience which changes the course of her life. 14 years later, she is in the police force. Miranda gets called into a case which reminds her of the events that took place back in 2002. Things get even crazier when her fingerprints are found at a murder scene. Soon, other events take place pointing all suspicion at Miranda.

I was able to read this book pretty quickly. Once I started it, it became really hard to put down. I was drawn in by the murder mystery. The tension escalated when Miranda became a suspect. The narration is mainly focused on the current case. However, a few chapters take readers back to 2002. I usually like dual narratives but in this case, the 2002 narration scared me. I dreaded going back there and meeting all the unlikable characters. However, I still needed to know what happened back then.

I liked Miranda and thought her portrayal was realistic. I liked her back story which made her even more relatable. It helped me understand her investment in the case and hence explained her motives. In addition, Miranda is the kind of detective that I like in crime thrillers. She is determined to solve the case and is willing to do anything to get answers. Her vulnerability and strength made her a likeable character.

I was able to predict almost all twists in the books. I knew exactly who had committed the murder. At some point, the author did throw me off briefly but I was still convinced on the killer’s identity and I was right. However, this wasn’t really an issue for me. I still enjoyed the book and thought it was quite thrilling. As a matter of fact, the only thing that bothered me a bit was some ongoing romance. Nevertheless, this was a fast-paced, entertaining thriller which I think fans of cop procedural will enjoy.

The Other Girl had everything that I normally look for in a book: a protagonist with a past she would like to put behind her, an evil villain who’s one step ahead of the law, and a ritualistic murder, for good measure. I jumped at the opportunity to read an early copy.

There is no taking away from the fact that Erica Spindler is a good author and storyteller. The story was well written and developed at a good pace, not too fast and not too slow. Her characters were well crafted, with intriguing pasts, but there was something that just didn’t work for me.

When a book just isn’t hitting me right, I’ll often wonder why. Sure, poor spelling and grammar will turn me off, but that certainly wasn’t the case here. Shallow or unrealistic characters who I can’t relate to are another thing, but once again, this was not the case. What was my issue?

I guess it might come down to reading choices, what to read and when. I like to mix up my genres from thriller to historical to apocalyptic and so on. Perhaps I’ve read too many mystery/thrillers lately. I was left with this nagging feeling that I’ve seen all of this before. Even though the story contained different names, places and a whole new crime, the interactions and the dynamic seemed familiar. I want a story that brings me something new, that excitement of a twist that I didn’t see coming or a storyline that shocks me. It just seemed to me that Erica Spindler played it safe.

Perhaps at a different time I would have enjoyed The Other Girl more. I can appreciate the story, I just wanted more.

*3.5 Stars

From my blog: Always With a Book:

My thoughts: It's been a long time since I've read an Erica Spindler book, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to read and review her latest book...and I am so glad I did! Now I remember why I used to pick up her books and really need to get back to reading her again soon!!!

This book is so engaging - right from the start I was pulled in and ended up reading this book in two sittings. I found the characters to be very-well developed, especially Miranda. I was intrigued by her and wanted to know all about her, especially her relationship with her partner Jake. I have to admit, I was a little suspicious at times about that. I couldn't put my finger on why, but there were times that I did question certain things.

Miranda has a past. She has managed to turn it around and become a cop - a really good cop, but that past haunts her! And now, someone is using that past to taunt her. Two deaths occur and the only thing that links them is her.

While I was able to guess the identity of who was behind the killings about half-way through, I was still completely hooked. I wanted to know why this person was targeting Miranda and I definitely wanted to see how it would all play out. And boy oh boy was it good! This book takes you on quite a roller-coaster of a ride and is gripping throughout. Between the flashbacks and the present-day story - it totally consumes you. It's an addicting read for sure!

I really enjoyed this quick read and know that I will be picking up more of Erica Spindler's books. I think I have a few of her older books on my shelves somewhere that I plan on digging out. Have you read any of her books?