This was really well done, I enjoyed every minute of it, the descriptions and characters brought me right in. I have never been to Alantic city but I could picture it vividly from the descriptions and that's always a sign of a good book, one that takes me somewhere new. The pacing, dialogue was great too, which many crime/thrillers lack but I thought this one had it just right,

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book to review !
Please See Us
Caitlin Mullen

A great new thriller involving several missing women near the northeastern new jersey region. Summer has come and gone. The tourists are barely seen. The boardwalks are nearly empty in Atlantic City. Yet one thing is active the crime rate and murder.
Two women have just been found in the marshland behind the Sunset Motel and only one person knows they're there. The women each have secrets of their own, and they must face their personal demons while working together to save missing girls.

You need to try this book. You will not be sorry

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book to review !
Please See Us
Caitlin Mullen

Historical Fiction

Women's bodies are found murdered and dumped in marshland behind a seedy motel on the outskirts of Atlantic City. A young and genuine clairvoyant has unintentionally tapped into the psyche of a couple of the dead girls but she doesn't understand the messages she is receiving. She feels the tickle of fly legs and wings on her body when there is no fly to be seen, she hears a baby crying when there is no baby anywhere around. All Clara wants is to earn enough money to get out of this haunted city. Will she finally understand the messages she is receiving and or will she be the next victim?

This book affected me. Made me think. Made me feel. Made me “ See” . I don't believe there is any higher rating then that.. I will be thinking about it for awhile even if I don't want to.

With that said, I have mixed feelings about this book. I felt that it had a slow start but gained momentum after the first few chapters. The story was interesting, was based on actual events and was hard to put down once you got involved in the story. What has me mixed is not whether or not it's a good book, it's a difficult book for me to read because it hit close to home.

I lived in Atlantic City during the time of these murders. I must have driven by the body dump site at least twice a week before the women were discovered. That alone gives me the chills. Although I was aware of the murders as they became news, there was not a lot of continued coverage on the crimes and it quickly became an older story. I believe this was political move for the city. A place that thrives on tourism, Atlantic City did not need people thinking there was a serial killer on the loose and threaten their cash flow.

I am grateful to the author for bringing the story out again and hopefully others like myself will think, feel and see similar women who struggle on the streets of Atlantic City today, with more kindness.

This novel made me aware of so much more then any news coverage at the time. The book is fiction, it is based upon the murders of 4 women in Atlantic City that actually occurred in 2006 however the book is set in more recent times very accurately describing the current state of Atlantic City and how it has deteriorated in the past 10-15 years. The recession of 2008 hit the area hard, devastating the financial security of so many. Casinos have closed, drugs, prostitution and crime are predominant. Distressed and boarded up homes are located on almost every block and damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 still remains. Debris strewn lots, damaged buildings and a feeling of destitution is the primary mood of a once exciting and glamorous city by the sea.

While reading this book I researched and updated my knowledge on the actual murders by going back to news stories on the crimes. In the novel, The Sunset Motel represents the actual Golden Key Motel which has been demolished and is nothing more then asphalt and trash on the Black Horse Pike heading into AC. The drainage ditch that held the bodies is still there. There were 4 real women who were murdered between September and mid-November 2006. Nobody has ever been charged with the murders. The few suspects that were questioned were eventually released. The murderer is dubbed “The Eastbound Strangler” because the bodies were placed facing east.

A major credit to the author is she made these real women more real by writing a fictional story. They were looked at as the dregs of society, drug users and prostitutes, many tended to turn to look away not wanting to see them as people. This book forced me to look deeper, open up my mind and heart and see them. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy true crime and historical fiction.

Claire/Ava is a young girl who had reads fortunes for vacationers and Lily is a just a tad older and has fled New York City after a devastating event. The two become unlikely friends despite their surroundings. Claire is doing everything she can to leave town when she starts having visions of women that have disappeared. Can they come together before another woman is murdered?

Although this isn’t the type of thriller I typically read, I loved the depictions of what these women were thinking and feeling in this book- so much of it made me truly feel the desolation these characters faced.

There were times that I.felt aspects of this book were just too gritty...too depressing.... but every time I thought I couldn't read any further, I somehow went right back to it. I'm glad I finished it, even though parts of the ending made me kind of sad. However, I felt like the stories of these women, those less desirable in the eyes of society needed to be told, even if this was just a work of fiction. A main-ish character died, and that was hard to swallow, but I was happy with how the story ended. I will absolutely recommend this book.

I really enjoyed reading an advanced copy of Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen. It’s a hard to put down mystery following 2 women as they try to piece together clues to find a woman before it’s too late. I was hooked right away and enjoyed the ending. The author does a great job developing the characters and emotions.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy. Clara is a psychic who starts seeing visions that she thinks is related to recent crimes in Altantic City. She meets Lily a local artist. They try to piece together their clues to try an save a girl before it's too late. Twisty and suspenseful.

Please See Us is a unique, enigmatic narrative by debut author Caitlin Mullen. The plot moves at a nice steady pace with surmountable tension and is well supported by Mullen’s creative cast of characters. The writing is smooth and effortless as the narrative shifts from one point of view to another. The reader is quickly engaged and abruptly seized by the story line. A fantastic read by an up and coming author. 5 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC of #PleaseSeeUs, which I read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Please See Us is a thriller set in Atlantic City that follows two women and unlikely allies as they attempt to reveal mysterious events happening around the town. The women each have secrets of their own, and they must face their personal demons while working together to save missing girls.

This was a good thriller that gave a lot of background to the characters. I really appreciated the character development. I was able to gain insight not only of our protagonists, but of the killer's victims. I did find some parts slow and depressing instead of a quick, page-turner that I was expecting. The story really picked up in the second half as more pieces to the puzzle began to fit and I could get a clear idea of what was happening. Overall, it was a good story mystery, just not as quick-paced as I would have liked.

What a fantastic read!!! Please See Us grabbed me from the very first page!! I found this thriller equal parts creepy and alluring!! I loved Caitlin Mullen’s writing style and I felt the pacing and flow was spot on!! Please See Us is told in alternating points of view which works perfectly with the plot and added to the suspense! I knew after reading the description that this book would definitely keep my attention, but I had no idea it would be so consuming!!!! I am truly shocked that this is Caitlin Mullen’s debut novel— she writes like a seasoned vet!!!! Please See Us is a complete 5 star novel that I guarantee will “wow” even the most avid mystery/thriller fans!!