White Out by Danielle Girard is a perfectly blended murder mystery and thriller with a wonderfully complex cast of characters; an amnesic woman, a female detective surrounded by small minded men in a small town and a seriously sketch tavern owner who’s more likely drunk than not. A series of seemingly random events unfolds but there’s more to the story than those involved are willing to admit and it seems everyone has a secret … or five. It’s up to Detective Kylie Hilliard to put the pieces together, not an easy task but her investigation will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages.

White Out is quickly paced and action packed, convoluted and baffling in the best possible way and, I’m happy to say, the first book in the Badlands Thriller series. I’m excited to see where Ms. Girard takes this series. My sincere thanks to Ms. Girard for providing me with a DRC of White Out in exchange for my honest review.

A mystery thriller in the vein of Robert Ludlum’s great Bourne series, this book throws you immediately in a car crash of questions.

A huge thank you to Danielle Girard for reaching out to be via Instagram and asking that I review "White Out." Moments like this are the sole reason I joined the Bookstagram community and I immediately stopped what I was reading at the time to dive into this one and was LITERALLY GLUED TO MY KINDLE for hours on end because I couldn't stop reading it!

There is something so special when a mystery/thriller novel has all of the perfect pieces in place: heart-stopping chapters, well-written (and believable characters), the perfect amount of suspense and of course the elegant way Girard created twists and turns that kept you breathless (and clueless) til the very end. I was so invested in every character of this book and while reading, I almost felt like they were a part of my family. The one word I could use to describe this novel was - CONSUMED. And consumed in the best way possible. Heck, I even brought my kindle to a bonfire and slipped off for 15 minutes just so I could keep reading.

If I had anything negative to add (which I don't because I am utterly OBSESSED with this book) it would be that I wish the readers got to know Dectective Milliard a bit more. While the chapters flipped between characters, I found myself wanting more of Kylie - who she is, where she comes from, her background, etc. I assume this was done intentionally as this is book one of Girard's new series, so I look forward to learning more about her character in future novels. Also, I wish that we had learned more about Lily's life in captivity. There were only short bursts of information given and I think it would have helped round out the narrative a bit better. Perhaps "Lily - present day" and "Lily - before." I think it would have added an additional element of intrigue.

All in all, this book has solidified its place in my top 5 for 2020 and it's only February. I will be sharing with all of my friends and followers that this is a MUST READ for anyone who loves mystery/thrillers! Bravo to Girard - this was an absolute masterpiece to read!

What do you get when you have a murder, a woman with amnesia, an alcoholic bar owner, and a detective desperate to get out of a small town? In the case of White Out, you wind up with a story that had me using all of my little grey cells to figure out whodunnit and why.
Detective Kylie Hilliard is just biding her time in Hagen, North Dakota. She is hoping that something, anything will get her noticed so that she can transfer to a larger department in a bigger city. You know what they say, be careful what you wish for because she soon has to solve a murder and deal with multiple suspects.
There is Lily Baker, a woman who knows more about these events than she is saying. Unfortunately, Lily has amnesia and only a few vague memories of what happened that night. Let's add Ivar Larson to the mix since the murder happened outside his bar and he seems to have quite a few secrets, as well as a few gaps in his memories. Are Lily and Ivar somehow connected? If so, can they help Kylie by providing some answers, or are they in over their heads and involved in the crime?
Kylie is perplexed, struggling to connect the pieces of this puzzle. The plot moves along at a breakneck pace, and it didn't take me long to become invested in the characters.
This was my first read by Danielle Girard and it won't be my last. This is described as Badlands Thriller #1, and I am excited to see where this series goes next. 4.5 stars.

I appreciated the opportunity to read White Out, in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed the overall concept of this story; a woman kidnapped and held captive in a cabin with other young girls, who later escapes by killing her captor, saving two other girls. This story has multiple layers, from amnesia to PTSD and throughout the book, you’re not sure who you can trust. My only constructive feedback (As a person who has trouble remembering names) is that I had a hard time keeping track of the characters when they were referred to by their first, and later, their last name. I had to keep a log and refer back to make sure I knew who was who. Overall, I thought this was a good story and enjoyed reading it.

4 STARS

After surviving a car accident on an icy road in Hagen, North Dakota, Lily Baker regains consciousness only to realize that she doesn't remember how the wreck happened...or who she is. That same evening, another woman is murdered and found in a dumpster outside of the local bar.

Kylie Milliard, Hagen’s only detective, doesn’t immediately recognize the victim, but Kylie soon discovers that Lily and the dead woman share a dark past…if only Lily could remember what it was....
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When Danielle Girard contacted me asking if I would be willing to read her new book, WHITE OUT, I couldn't say yes fast enough! The synopsis sounded right up my alley and I started reading it as soon as it downloaded on my kindle. The story is fast paced and I really enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery of Lily's past as the bits and pieces were slowly revealed.

My only complaint (and really, it's definitely on me!) is that I didn't realize that this was the start of a new series - so I was initially upset about the loose ends that weren't tied up. However, I wouldn't say that this heavily impacted my enjoyment and I will definitely pick up the sequel in hopes that it answers some of the questions I was left with!

Recommended for readers who are looking to start off a new series or enjoy twisted small town thrillers with strong female leads.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netalley for my ARC!

Detective Kylie Milliard does not get the respect or work she would like in this small town. Maybe if she can get a break she will be detective in Fargo, her main ambition. When a body of a young woman turns up in a dumpster a lot of questions are asked.

Lily Baker is in a car accident and suffering from amnesia but some how she is linked to this body and Kylie needs to find out why before a killer strikes again.

This was the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading more by her. Thank you to netgalley, the publishers and the author for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Kylie Milliard definitely did not want to be a detective in a small town of Hagan, North Dakota. She had her sights on Fargo. This town was such a peaceful town that there was hardly ever anything for them to do. And to make matters even worse, she was the only female in this very small 4 person office. She had to deal with the condescending treatment from the other male officers. When a car had been reported to have gone over the guardrail, it was a bit unusual for this small sleepy town. The car was registered to Dr. Brent Nolan. They did find him alive, but barely. The one thing that the officers didn’t know was that Nolan wasn’t in the car by himself. The passenger was Lily Baker. She had managed to get out of the car, before it went over the guardrail. She had tried to get Nolan out of the car, but she just couldn’t. He was too heavy, and she had injured her ankle as well. During the accident, she had managed to lose her memory. Why was she in his car? Who is he? Who is she? She started to panic. She had absolutely no memory whatsoever. Lily managed to hobble away from the accident, and was picked up by a trucker. He took her to the hospital in Hagan. When she arrived in the ER, the staff knew who she was. They started talking to her as if she were an employee. Was she as nurse? As The plot thickens dead bodies start to emerge. Was she involved somehow? Why couldn’t she remember anything? Where did she live? Where was her car? Why was her friend dead? Lily started to have flashbacks of a very dark cabin and someone whispering to her. Why was she in a cabin? Where did the cuts come from? She was remembering things that didn’t make any sense. Detective Milliard is determined to find out who the murderer is? She had her sights set on Iver Larson, the owner of the only bar in town, the Skal. He seemed to be hiding something? What would she find out about him? The other officers in the department were hiding evidence from her? She was having trouble putting the puzzle pieces together. Why all the secrecy? Would she find out who the murderer is? How did Lily fit into all this? The plot was so intricately woven in this book, that every time the reader thought they knew who the antagonist is, it changed course. It kept the reader completed intrigued throughout the entire book. The character development was extremely clear and the reader could almost feel what the characters were going through. The book was written in a very clear and descriptive way, and it flowed so well. I enjoyed this book immensely and cannot wait for the next one.

Once again Danielle Girard is presenting her gift of writing with "White Out" This work will amaze, entertain, and keep readers on the edge of their seats. Just when you think that you have it figured out, another plot twist or piece of evidence will surface and have you eagerly reading page after page without disappointment. This story starts dramatically and will keep you intrigued until the last word!

I gave this book 3.8 Stars,
Check out my review video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA7NN80CL4M&t=3s
1. I really enjoyed it!
2. I would recommend it.
3. I will look for other books by Danielle Girard.
4. Thank you to the author for sending me this book to review!

Never have I given a book a 5-star review, but "White Out" is well deserving. This book is attention-getting right from the start and does not stop.

In "White Out," we are introduced to Detective Kylie Milliard, a detective working in the small town of Hagen, North Dakota, seeking a job in the bigger city of Fargo. She is thrust into a case of a dead woman, seemingly working with a group of men who are hiding details of the case with her. Ms. Girard has done an excellent job of weaving in some unexpected twists and turns in this novel that you will not expect. As soon as you think you have figured out who the bad guy is, you'll find out that you are wrong. There is even a hint of romance! This is sure to be a top-selling series for Ms. Girard.

Readers will not be disappointed. Thank you for letting me be one of your early readers, Ms. Girard. I am very much looking forward to the rest of this series. Well done!