Abby, a woman who was held captive alongside of Lily ten years ago, is found murdered. That same night, Lily woke up in a strangers crashed car with no memory, and watched as the car fell over the guardrail and off a cliff to the drivers death. The police force and detective found evidence implicating Iver in the murder of Abby. But Iver has a past with Lily- and despite the evidence, Iver is the only one Lily trusts. Meanwhile, Lily is realizing that someone is trying to murder her like they did to the other women she was held in captivity with. But her memory loss complicates things... We follow the three of them as they work to find the true killer(s) and save Lily from a similar fate.

White Out starts with a bang and we are introduced to multiple characters. Told from each of their POV's, the chapters are short and yes, it makes you want to keep reading!

When Lily regains consciousness after a car accident, she can't remember where or who she is.

The same night of the accident, a woman is murdered and tossed into a dumpster behind a bar. Kylie, the town's only detective, doesn't recognise the woman but is quick to piece together that Lily and the deceased knew each other.

Iver, the owner of the town's bar has an alcohol addiction and as a result, often suffers memory loss. The night of the murder is conveniently one night he can't remember anything about. Was he involved?

So midway through the book, I thought I had it all figured out. I won't say much more except that I was wrong. Overall this was a gripping book. The only downside being that it was a little confusing at times and a few things were left unanswered by the end of the book. But maybe we'll be lucky to get another book to explain things!

Wow! Talk about a nail-biting experience! Danielle Girard gets right to it in her upcoming suspense novel, White Out. Immediately, the reader meets a woman who appears to be involved in some sort of car accident and trapped in a vehicle. She seems to be experiencing some memory loss as well. What follows is a gripping and twisty tale that will result in you having absolutely no fingernails left. True story. You will be on the edge of your seat the entire time! I especially love that this thriller takes place in the state that I’ve called home for the past 12 years, North Dakota. I loved all of the local references and northern living vibes. It made me feel more connected to the story. I must say, there are a few incidents in the novel that almost made me throw up in my mouth, but that’s fine. I got through it. Let’s just say I have a weak stomach. You can DM me if you want more details. The novel left me craving more details about the backstory regarding the women in this novel, but I hope that Girard will give us more information in the second installment of this series. All in all, this is a solid thriller and I highly recommend it! If you need some excitement in your life, grab a copy of this one on July 7th! 4/5 stars for a White Out!

A twisty mystery told from multiple POVs. This book definitely required more than the usual suspension of belief because there were a lot of implausible situations, plot holes and questions left unanswered but it was such a quick read that I just rolled with it.

There was murder, amnesia and memory black outs, kidnapping, a suspected cult, drug abuse, small town politics and more. There was A LOT going on here and at times it felt like too much. I much prefer for things to be fully explained and fleshed out, versus having so much thrown at me and still being left with so many questions in the end.

Overall, not my favorite mystery but not the worst I've read either. I'd definitely still read more by this author.

Review
I'm so thankful that Danielle messaged me asking to review her book, as someone who judges books by the cover and the title. This is defiantly a book I wouldn't pick for myself to read but I loved it!

At first, I was getting confused with all the characters and who was who and how they was linked up together, but it soon made sense.

I loved the way you read from three different POV's and how they all piece together. The ending had such good plot twists that even I couldn't guess! It was the kind of book you don't want to put down until you find out who the dead women is and how the story is all linked back to 10 years ago! The final storyline that took place in the forest during the snow and was such a climax!

This book is great if you love books by Cara Hunter or TV shows like Broadchurch.

Star Rating: 5

How have I never heard of Danielle Girard before?!? She has a lot of books published and the reviews on Amazon all show 4 ½ stars, so this book being so good isn’t a fluke.

And even with all the hype, this is going to be a short review. Even though there is so much to talk about, there’s also a lot of things to give away. This book is mainly told by three different points of view and I was never confused as to whom was talking or what was going on.

I don’t even want to tell you what Lily’s dark past is since it takes a bit to come out, but it’s not hard to figure out what it is even before it’s revealed. There are so many twists and turns and I really thought I knew who the killer was. Towards the end something happens, and I was crowing to myself how smart I was, and then, Bam! Everything changed. It was so excellent!!! I highly recommend White Out by Danielle Girard, and I will be reading more of her books.

Lily Baker awakes to find herself inside the tangled wreckage of a car. Beside her is an unconscious man, she has no idea who he is or why she is with him. Images flash in her mind: a man lying in blood, a woman running, Bible verses scattered. As Lily stares out into the cold, icy surroundings she realizes she doesn’t even know who she is.

Iver Larson doesn’t remember last night. Sure he drinks, and there are the meds, but how does he not remember anything from the bar last night.
Life has been tough for Iver ever since coming back from Afghanistan, with a brain injury. But things are about to get a whole lot messier.

Kylie Milliard has been a detective in Hagan, North Dakota for only a few months, but she makes the connection between Lily Baker and Abigail Jensen, the woman killed behind the bar the same night as Lily’s car accident. These women share the same dark past, but why is someone after them, and who?

Although there are a few details in the book I’m left confused about, Danielle Girard pulls together a story from basically two main characters that can’t remember much of anything - quite the feat.

This book has the suspense of a thriller and the grit of a police procedural. Chapter to chapter, you’re never sure who to trust. Girard does a great job placing doubt in your mind. If you love a strong female, in a detective role, then you will be sure to enjoy White Out.

Thank you to @daniellegirardbooks and Thomas & Mercer for reaching out and supplying an advanced copy for review.

This book is scheduled for release: August 1, 2020.

Wow! This is my first experience reading a book by Danielle Girard and boy, does it pack a punch. It had me on the edge of my seat, heart pounding just a few short minutes into the first Chapter. This book really has it all - mystery, suspense, a touch of horror, thrill and love all wrapped up in one.

In White Out, we follow the story of Lily Baker, who struggles with amnesia from not only a recent accident, but from her horrid past. The past which ties everything about what's happening in her town together. Detective Kylie Milliard is thrust in the middle. She isn't from Hagen so she is less vested in the town and in the town's locals, in fact, all she really wants to do is to get out of the podunk town and back to Fargo. Perhaps that gives her an edge and helps give her a different perspective or does it?

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and there were many twists that I didn't see coming. The end was shocking!

Thank you to NetGalley, Danielle Girard and the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

On a winter’s night, Lily Baker wakes up in a crashed SUV suspended over a guardrail with no memory of her identity or the unconscious man in the driver’s seat. Her only clue to her past is a purse with an Arizona ID card, an old Bible, and a gun.

Detective Kylie Milliard receives a call that there’s been a murder at Skål, a popular bar in the usually quiet town of Hagen, North Dakota. A woman was found in the dumpster after having been killed at another location the night before, the same night as Lily’s accident.

Iver Larsen, owner of Skål, who has turned to alcohol to forget his experiences as a solider in Afghanastan, strikes Milliard as a prime suspect, especially after incriminating evidence comes to light. Yet, Lily is inexplicably drawn to him and believes he is the only person in town she can trust.

Soon, Milliard learns that Lily Black and Abby Jensen, the woman killed and dumped at Skål, had both been victims of a macabre and evil crime. Lily might be able to explain what lies at the root of Abby’s murder, if she can stay safe until her memory returns.

White Out by Danielle Girard was fun to read: with likable characters and mounting suspense, the book was quick and entertaining. Because it is set in North Dakota during the winter, I almost wished I’d read it while it was cold and snowing! Detective Milliard is intelligent, observant, and sassy (if sometimes only in her head) and dreams of getting a job in Fargo so she can leave the small parochial town. She isn’t so rebellious, though, that her job is in danger, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to see how she develops.

After finishing the book, I did realize there were some inconsistencies and unanswered questions about the plot and backstories of the characters. Also, both Lily and Kylie had point of view chapters, and sometimes, if I didn’t look at the heading, I couldn’t tell whose voice it was: I would have preferred them to be more distinct. Overall, though, I enjoyed it.

If you are looking for a gripping thriller with interesting characters and surprising turns, add White Out to your reading list!

Amidst all the 4 and 5 star reviews, comes me – the outlier, the downer. White Out takes the prize for one of the worse books I've ever read. If I hadn't of received a complimentary copy it would have been a clear cut dnf, but I've made a promise to myself to finish all books I'm lucky enough to receive for free so I can write a fully informed review. Unfortunately, this was a case of the more I read the worse it got. Badly written, immature, hateful characters whose actions and behaviour didn't ring true, unnecessary and unnatural dialogue, cliché after cliché, and a slow, boring plot where nothing made sense. And, apparently having amnesia in this novel means that everyone you encounter speaks in riddles? Or, if you limp into the ER, disorientated, with noticeable head trauma, and other injuries, because you're a nurse at said hospital you're expected to perform CPR on a critically ill patient before being sent off for radiology and x-rays?

The police procedures were a joke – the female detective having grave fears for someone's safety because they are not home and their car's in the driveway?! I don't understand why she would jump to dire conclusions so quickly when the person could've simply been out for a walk, visiting a neighbour, been picked up by a friend or colleague, or caught a taxi or uber? There were numerous sensible explanations and the plot was littered with discrepancies like this.

As I said White Out has received a lot of praise, but if you have similar tastes to me, or if any of the above are red flags for you I would give this one a wide berth, or if you’re still curious borrow it from the library.

I'd like to thank #BookishLadiesClub VIP Bookclub, Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Danielle Girard for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 1st August, 2020.

Danielle Girard offers a fantastic introduction to her Badlands Thriller series. Readers are introduced to a unique cast of characters that each embrace captivating and intentionally developed qualities. The novel is atmospheric and intriguing as it challenges the reader to sift through minimalistic foreshadowing and dark undertones for the truth. Girard expertly provides a multitude of depth in both the narrative and characterization. Great read.

Thank you to @daniellegirard and #NetGalley for the ARC of #WhiteOut, which was read and reviewed voluntarily by @wayward_readers

I haven't picked up a thriller in quite some time.

I am glad I chose to read this one.

Thank you Danielle Girard and Netgalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

(from Goodreads) After surviving a car accident on an icy road in Hagen, North Dakota, Lily Baker regains consciousness with no idea where or who she is. Scattered Bible verses and the image of a man lying in a pool of blood haunt her memory. The same night of the accident, a young woman is murdered and tossed in a dumpster. 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. Lily and Kylie both want answers. But Kylie has to play by the book. Lily has to play it safe. And the more Lily learns about her identity, the more she fears the truth.

This novel was fast-paced after a few chapters. It is a little bit of a slow-burn type of story, but about 10% in, the action and intrigue really picks up. I enjoyed the mystery and unknowns that made the storyline much more twisty than I have expected. The POVs were well-done and easy to keep up with. I enjoyed the shocking twists and the ending was perfectly summed up with hope and love. It was also nice to be drawn into a thriller that contained both psychological aspects and police procedural. It is always nice to have dual ways to look at a story.

Overall, I rate this book a 4/5 stars and would recommend this one to any fan of the thriller genre.

White Out was the perfect blend of thriller, murder mystery, and police procedural. The story alternates between three perspectives: a young woman waking up with amnesia in the aftermath of a car accident, a small town North Dakota detective desperate to solve a murder, and the local bar owner turned murder suspect.

The book starts with a bang as one of our characters, Lily, comes to in the aftermath of a terrifying car accident on an icy road. With no memory of how she came to be in the car or, even her own name, she acts solely on an overwhelming sense of fear and guided by ominous snippets of bible verses and directives playing through her mind. Meanwhile, back in town, a murdered woman is found outside of the local bar. Kylie, the only detective in town needs to find out the identity of this woman and how this rare murder came to happen. Our local bar owner, Iver, is an alcoholic who cannot recall the events of the previous night and is struggling with demons from his own past. Now, he is also a suspect.

The main characters in White Out are all believable, sympathetic, and interesting. From a woman once held captive in a cult-type situation, to post-war PTSD, to addiction, and a police detective fighting against gender stereotypes, this story does not shy away from hard topics. Instead, it embraces and weaves them seamlessly though the mystery. The multiple viewpoints and shorter chapters had me flying through the novel. Girard's writing is so descriptive, I could feel the chill of the icy surroundings while reading. A minor caveat, I will say there were two things that left me wanting: details and development around Lily's captivity, and expanding Kylie's backstory and how she came to be a detective in Hagen, ND. Still, this was a n easy 5 star read!

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I had heard such great things that I was nervous it would be one that I didn't like (you know how that happens!). Luckily, I thought this was great though!

In White Out we follow (mainly) Detective Kylie Millard and Lily Baker.
Lily Baker wakes up in a car that has gone off an icy road next to a man she does not recognize. She has no memories of anything for a matter of fact and does not even know her own name. One the same night that this happens, another woman is murdered and thrown in a dumpster. Millard does not recognize the woman at all and Lily does not remember anything that has happened during her entire lifetime. Both women start looking for answers which leads them down a very dark and dangerous path.

I am always hesitant to read detective novels because they are usually hot or miss for me, but the premise of this one was just so interesting!

I really loved the setting of snowy and cold North Dakota, I feel like it painted the perfect scene for this mystery/thriller. I also really enjoyed our cast of characters. I thought Lily was an interesting one to follow with her memory loss and her lack of knowledge about who she really is. I really liked Detective Millard! She was a strong lead trying to prove herself and do whatever she could to solve the mystery at hand.

I also thought the twists and turns were pretty well planned out and executed. Some were predictable, but I always say that even predictable ones written well still make for a great narrative!

I am giving this one 4 stars because there were still loose ends that needed to be tied up, but it was overall a great read!

WHITE OUT was a great mystery that i truly couldn’t figure out until the end! it had so many good twists and character overlap at the end. if you liked THE FAMILAR DARK, i think you’d also like this one. it follows another small town with tons of drama and mystery! thank you @netgalley and @daniellegirardbooks for the gifted copy! 📖🤓💙
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the book is about Lily Baker. after surviving a bad car accident where the other passenger did not, Lily cannot remember where she is, who she is or what she’s supposed to do next. that same night, a woman is found murdered and left in a dumpster in her hometown.

after making it home with the help of context clues and a visit to the hospital, Lily finds an address to a friends house—Iver—and decides to go there to get more information about who she is. there, she learns that she was kidnapped and held hostage for years with the woman that just turned up dead.

the more Lily learns about her identity, the more scared she becomes. thankfully, Iver is there to help her along the way. but as the police start to piece things together, more people turn up dead, and the person closest to her is in trouble.

are these deaths somehow related to Lily? even worse, could her kidnapper (that she was told was killed) still be alive?

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I was sucked in from start to finish. The story is about a woman with a forgotten past and a town with dark secrets. I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say that once the action starts, you won’t want to put this book down! The writing is sharp, the pacing is perfect, and the chills and thrills are all there.

Thank you to author Danielle Girard for reaching out with a gifted e-copy through Netgalley for review!
I truly enjoyed this read - it kicks right into action at the scene of a car crash, with victim Lily Baker who can't remember who she is or how she got there. Meanwhile, Det. Kiley Milliard is called to investigate the murder of Abby Jensen, who is connected to the car crash victims. The two women share a history of abduction at the hands of a man since deceased, and memory loss contributes to the tension as details are revealed. Some dark and intriguing character backstories going on here!
White Out is the first in a planned series and I definitely look forward to the next one. Recommended!
For release on Aug. 1.

I loved this book and will searching out more by this author! So heart pounding and suspenseful for sure ! Thanks for the opportunity to review this as well as get an early copy.

4 stars!
If you are a die hard thriller lover, this is for you !

White Out was my first Danielle Girard book and I was pleasantly surprised!! Huge thank you to Danielle Girard for giving me an E-ARC of this one!

The title is so appropriate for this book. I loved this so much. It was a start reading and instantly sucked in read which is my favorite kind. The characters were so likable and I found myself rooting for both Kylie and Lily throughout. And Iver. Oh Iver... I never once thought any ill will of him. Girard paints a perfect picture of a storyline that twists and turns and at times can be a little confusing to follow with the amount of characters but once it all comes together, WOW. I didn't see the ending coming and was literally sitting there reading with my jaw open.

I was so impressed. I loved this book so much.

White Out is the first in Danielle Girard’s newest series, introducing tough, take no nonsense Detective Kylie Milliard, who is Hagen, North Dakota’s only female detective. White Out begins with an accident involving Lily Baker, a survivor of a childhood kidnapping. After the accident, Lily develops amnesia and attempts to remember the missing pieces with the help of local bartender and veteran Iver Larson. Although homicide is rare in rural Hagen, North Dakota, the same night as Lily’s accident, a woman is found in a dumpster behind Iver’s bar, clearly the victim of a homicide, and Iver and Lily both struggle to remember how they might be connected.

I loved everything about White Out. A strong female detective, kidnapping, murder, and amnesia, all wrapped up together in a thoroughly entertaining and thrilling read definitely left me anxiously waiting for the next installment in Danielle Girard’s new series, and I can’t wait to see what bad ass Detective Kylie Milliard is up to next!