Really good. There are so many twists and shocks. Brilliant characters and hard to read in places. This is a well thought out and well written story.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Grace Allendale is back, oh i love all Mel Sherratts books.A mugging that's gone wrong and now a young woman is dead but as grace digs into the case she learns more about the victim did someone really want her dead.Mels books are brilliant and i love the grace ones.excellent read 5*

A 16 year old girl is found dying near home the victim of a mugging gone wrong however as DS Grace Allendale and her colleagues dig deeper things appear to be much more complex.

Good Girl is the latest and the last book in the Grace Allendale series set in Stoke by Mel Sherratt and it is a good police procedural that nicely ties up the series arc whilst still being readable on a stand-alone basis.

The entire series has been enjoyable and Good Girl is a nice finale

Recommended

This is the second book in the Det. Sgt. Grace Allendale series that I have read and really enjoyed. Erin and Mollie are neighbors who were born two weeks apart and grew up as "twins" in their closeness. Their mums, Sara and Lucy, were also life-long best friends. One night when Erin and Mollie were returning home, Erin is stabbed and dies. Det. Grace Allendale is assigned to the case and as she works the case, things don't quite mesh with what Mollie is saying. There are lots of twists, turns and surprises in this book which made it a real fast-paced read. I am definitely going to go back and read the other two books in this series that I have not read yet.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC of this fascinating page-turner in exchange for an honest review.
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This is the 4th in the series but still readable as a standalone.

This story centres on the stabbing of a local 16 year old girl, Erin, the murder is witnessed by her best friend Molly. It appears at first that it’s a mugging gone wrong, but when it’s discovered that Erin and Molly had been going to sex parties and had possibly been groomed, it raises the possibility that the mugging was in fact a murder and the people involved in organising these parties may be responsible. The race is on for Grace to find these men and stop the parties.

The story moves at a good pace and we get to see some flashbacks of how the girls get involved and we see a bit about their home lives and that of their grieving and frustrated parents. We also see a little about Grace’s home and personal life, but this is well done and is never intrusive.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of Good Girl, the fourth novel to feature Stoke based DS Grace Allendale.

When 16 year old Erin Ellis is murdered in an apparent random mugging her best friend Molly is terrified because she was with Erin and it could have been her. Grace thinks Molly isn’t telling the whole truth and starts digging into Erin’s personality and life.

I enjoyed Good Girl which is a gripping police procedural but which also takes a hard, realistic look at the ramifications of murder on the family. The novel is told from various points of view, Grace on the investigative side and the relatives and friends/acquaintances of the two girls on the other. It also slips back in time on a regular basis to chronicle Erin’s life over the past year. It’s not hard to keep up but I prefer a more one dimensional narrative.

I’m not a big fan of domestic noir, so some of the wailing got on my nerves and I kind of skim read some of Erin’s history as it’s quite distressing and, again, not one of my favourite subjects. I haven’t read this series before so I didn’t know what to expect but, the preceding comments aside, I think it is powerful and realistic writing. The depiction of the families and their grief seems natural and the criminal elements involved are suitably disgusting, selfish, greedy and all too believable. There is little sentiment in any of it and while it’s gritty and unflinching it comes to life.

The investigation by contrast is businesslike. Equally unsentimental the team are hard and unprepared to let anything stand in their way. I thoroughly enjoyed their drive, commitment and professionalism. Grace is the exception who lets things get to her and is more emotional in her drive.

Good Girl is a strong novel that I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read.

Another fab read from Mel Sherratt. Quite hard hitting at times and difficult to read thinking of the young girls being groomed into that situation. I did wonder whether it was going to be rehashing the storyline of the first book in this series but it did bring something different to the table with it. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Avon for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy books from this author, well written with good characters and great page turners. This one as usual kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and I loved every page.

I can thoroughly recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read this great book.

GOOD GIRL by Mel Sherratt is the fourth book in the DS Grace Allendale British crime and police procedural series set in England. The author brought this reader an intense and intriguing story. Sixteen-year-old Erin Ellis is attacked on her way home with her best friend Molly. Despite the paramedics’ efforts, Erin dies and the mugging becomes a murder investigation. DS Grace Allendale works the case with several others and is also assigned to liaise with Erin’s family. Was this simply a mugging gone wrong or was Erin targeted? How could this happen when she was only a short distance from home in a quiet neighborhood? Is else is going on in the community? With few clues, Grace and the team do extensive interviews as the crime scene team look for evidence.

Grace is a great protagonist. She has a family history that haunts her, but is hardworking and dedicated to justice and protecting the innocent. She continues to gain more depth in each book and is a compelling character with clear goals. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story, but the reader doesn’t get a lot of background on Grace’s co-workers. There are several familiar characters from book three of the series, making the large cast more manageable.

The plot switches back and forth between current times and events that occurred during the past year. While this could have been a distraction or interrupted the overall flow, the author managed the transitions smoothly. It was an excellent way to provide needed data using showing versus telling.

This is a slow-build story but it flows well and the edginess kept me engaged. There are lots of twists and turns in this engrossing and shocking book. There was a good pace from scene to scene. The tension was high and this reader was on an emotional rollercoaster throughout most of the story making it a page-turner. The subplots tied together well. While I was not surprised by who the killer was, I was caught off-guard by other events that occurred in the book. Themes explored include murder, assault, family, friendship, coerciveness, grief, exploitation, drugs, alcohol and much more that is withheld due to spoilers.

Overall, I enjoyed this well-written and gripping novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy crime dramas and police procedurals. It is the second book that I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading the first two in the series. This is an amazing “new to me” author and GOOD GIRL did not disappoint me. This author delivered on the promise of the novel’s premise and opening scenes.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Mel Sherratt for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 10, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

This isn't my first date with DS Grace Allendale and I very much hope it won't be my last. Erin and Molly's friendship was so eloquently described, I was able to recognise my teenage friendships. It was terrifying how easy it was for the girls to get caught up in something so terrible. Although obviously again, credit must go to the writing of Ms Sherratt, who's smooth penmanship carries you off and into a situation before you realise what had happened. This case was solved through the hard work and tenacity of the police and Grace's moment of inspiration. There was never a dull moment and we were led up a number of dead ends before we found the way through to the truth of the matter. The denouement was so heartbreakingly sad - and I think it's fascinating that we get to see the impact of this crime on not only the victim's family but the perpetrator's family as well. The DS Grace Allendale series often deals with the worst crimes of humanity yet you always feel at the end of each book, that there is hope, that good might eventually triumph over evil. A well developed plot with interesting and thoughtful characters. Definitely worth reading.

A great, but devastating read. I am happy to see that there are authors out there who are willing to tackle such a tough subject like grooming. I think this is a well-written, thought provoking book, and just because it’s something you wish didn’t exist, and it might feel repulsing to read at times, it’s therefore even more important to know about it to be able to understand what it is.

It sadly seems like a realistic story, which is why it’s so heartbreaking. The characters feel so real. Do we ever really know our children? Do we know the town we live in, and its people? So many secrets, so many lies. This book will stay with me for a long time. It’s not easy to forget.

Another great episode in the series. Good girl by Mel Sherratt is the fourth in the Grace Allendale series but you can read it as a standalone.
Sixteen-year-old girls Erin Ellis and Molly Redfern have been best friends since they were little and so has their mothers. They are close and tell each other everything. On the way home Erin is mugged and stabbed and left for dead. Molly first tries to help her but leaves her and goes to get help. Only when the paramedics arrive that Erin dies from her wounds.
DS Grace Allendale oversees the investigation, without much evidence and not much being said by Molly Redfern. She is keeping silent of what happened that evening. The story backtracks to the time before Erin dies and what happened between the two girls that lead up to that fatal time.
This is another excellent but gritty read by the author. I couldn’t put this down. It had an excellent storyline which was sensitively written considering the subject and the usual characters that we have got know and love. I also wasn’t suspecting the twist at the end.

Why would someone kill 16 year old Erin Ellis? Is it a mugging gone wrong? DI Allie Shenton and DS Grace Allendale believe Erin’s best friend, 16 year old Molly Redfern isn’t telling them everything.

With Grace also still having to deal with her estranged half brothers, Eddie and Leon Steele, her days and nights are well and truly hectic.

This was quite a hard read, not only due to the murder of a young girl but also because of the nature of the build up to the murder.

I found myself hooked by this story and couldn’t put it down. Excellent characters and beautifully written, some scenes brought tears to my eyes. A fantastic storyline and a great ending to this gritty police procedural.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3-4 stars

Sixteen year old Erin Ellis is murdered whilst walking home with best friend Molly Redfern. Is it a case of wrong place, wrong time or does it go deeper? DS Grace Allendale investigates. The story is told from several perspectives in the present and backtracks a year.

This is the fourth in this series but can easily be read as a stand-alone as past events are explained, there are links to previous cases but it all makes sense to a first time reader, especially in relation to Grace's estranged half brothers Eddie and Leon Steele. The premise is good although by no means unique as the girls are mixing with things they most definitely shouldn’t. The topic is dark and although the reader knows what’s happening it is never gratuitous in tone and sadly, after much publicised actual cases I have no trouble believing the storyline. The plot unfolds well and the pace is good as the place team try to extract the truth from a multitude of lies and buried secrets. The family dynamics of grief and shock are conveyed well. The ending is quite dramatic and although I did guess the truth that does not spoil the read.

My negative is that at times the style is rather flat in tone especially at the beginning although this does improve significantly as the novel progresses.

Overall, this is an easy to read police procedural. I like the character of Grace and her background makes her a bit more interesting than some other lead characters and I would certainly want to read books more featuring her.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the arc.

I’ve been a fan of Mel Sherratt through both the Allie Shenton and Grace Allendale series. This, book four for Grace’s series, deals with the murder of a 16 year old girl. Walking home with a friend, Erin is stabbed. Everyone thinks it’s a random stabbing in an attempted phone theft, but her friend is not telling the police everything.
Grace is a fully fleshed out, developed character. Unlike most police officers, she struggles with her emotions. “Their grief was rubbing off on her and she needed to compartmentalize it before going back into work. She couldn’t help being emotional; would never apologize for it, but she didn’t like showing it.”
The book moves quickly. I loved how we get to see the emotions of the four parents as the book progresses - the shame, the anger, the confusion. I kept picturing myself in each of their shoes. This is much a family drama as it is a typical police procedural. I was completely invested in this story and raced through it.
This series has a lot of backstory between Grace and her half siblings, the Steeles. It’s touched on here but one needs to have the earlier books to get the full grasp. Still, this book would work as a standalone.
My thanks to netgalley and Avon Books for an advance copy of this book.

great book, once I started pretty much the same as Mels other books this was hard to put down. You have to keep reading to see if grace and her team catch the killer.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Mel Sherratt is one of my favourite authors and this was just as good as the previous novels, fast paced, will have you hooked until the end. Loved it.

Erin and Molly, 16 year old best friends since birth. Living across the road from each other, their parents are also lifelong friends.
On the way home one evening, Erin is attacked in front of her best friend and dies in her mother's arms. Clues are very limited...cctv reveals nothing although her mobile phone is found in the bushes.
This book switches between the girls last year together, where they are dragged into a world way outside of their life experiences, alongside detective Grace allendales struggle to gather evidence where clues are minimal.
Although this book is the fourth in a series, is my first one and I didn't feel this ruined my reading. At times an uncomfortable read where young innocent girls are groomed into a life that is difficult to escape from. Twist at the end I didn't see coming.
Highly recommend.

Good Girl by Mel Sherratt is a superb read! It is an engrossing page turner of a read well worth the time spent

A good plot, with interesting characters, a lot of emotion, and a good amount of suspense. Erins killer was a total surprise, I was not expecting that one. I enjoyed the read and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.