Member Reviews
Detective Josie Quinn and her team are called to investigate when a woman's body is seen floating in the flood waters of their small town. Seems she was buried under one of the houses and when the house broke apart, her body floated to the surface.
Fortunately the woman's body is perfectly preserved.... she's even wearing a special leather jacket ... one that belonged to her ex-husband. But he's been dead 5 years so how did this woman wind up with it?
Josie identifies the girl as Beverly Urban, both were in high school at the same time. It looks like a tragic accident until they find the bullet in her brain ... and the secret she was keeping.
As all this author's books, SAVE HER SOUL is well written with mystery and suspense starting on the very first page. The book takes place partly in Josie's memory of her high school years as she was in love with her future husband to be ... and the victim, who also had thing for the young man. There was a lot of angst between Josie and Beverly.
The mystery deepens as Beverly's mother, who has been missing 16 years, appears and wants to talk to Josie. But the mother is murdered before that happens.
The character are skillfully drawn and being a small town, there are lots of lies and secrets waiting to be uncovered. Although 9th in the series, it is easily read. I highly recommend reading all in this series ....
Many thanks to the author / Bookouure / Netgalley for the digital copy of this continuing crime fiction/ thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Josie has been dealing with the loss of ex husband, Ray, for the last five years and, just when she thought that she was able to process the grief a lot easier than before, memories of Ray as a living human being come back to slap her in the face with a vengeance. Its crazy how one item of clothing can open the flood gates, isn’t it?
Josie Quinn, when will you finally get some good luck?! I do feel like this character was born with a short straw, as bad luck seems to find its way to her quicker than anyone else. That said, if she did have good luck, then there wouldn’t be much of a story! Not that I’m relishing in her misfortunes of course!
I did enjoy ‘Save Her Soul’ and the way in which the storyline kept me on my toes. I couldnt help but think of many questions relating to Ray and the body that was found. It took a little while things to make sense, naturally, but i was so intrigued I just wanted to find out straight away!
Whilst I understand the need to bring up previous books in the series to ensure that the series remained seamless, i did feel as though the rehashing was a bit too frequent and seemed to take up a large portion of the story which should have been kept for the new storyline.
Just like other Lisa Regan novels, the suspense is second to none and the character development was very well thought out. As a huge Regan fan, ‘Save Her Soul’ definitely ticked my boxes – I really cannot complain.
ThIs is a first with a new author for me and It won’t be my last, a very well written book that had a storyline full of twists and turns. Such an intricate web of lies, deceit and turmoil, it was fast paced and there was always something happening to hold my interest and wanting to know what would happen next. I won’t go too much into the storyline that is what the blurb is for but overall a great read, I’m just off to track down the previous 8 books lol
I was able to imagine myself watching the entire book happen as I read. Being a former lifeguard (no spoiler but all I say is... pants) and have lived in a flooded town, wow! I promise you NEVER guess Who-Dun-It, and when you think you know...BOOM, she throws another twist! Absolutely phenomenal!
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley from Bookouture. I'll be honest, I read my advanced copy in advanced, but had to list to it on release day via Audible!
What an opening scene! Right away, the audience is immersed in a high octane setting where Detective Josie Quinn and Detective Gretchen Palmer are rescuing survivors from a dangerous flood in Denton, PA since resources are spread so thin. Following the rescue of Mrs. Barrett, Josie notices a tarp that appears to be in the shape of body, and immediately dives in to retrieve it without thinking twice (and even at the risk of her crew).
It turns out that the murder victim had been buried for 16 years and went to high school with Josie. But the real surprise? The murder victim was wearing the baseball jacket of Josie’s dead husband, Ray. Now Josie and Gretchen must dig through Josie’s past in order to figure solve this murder.
From start to finish, this one was a wild ride. Every time Josie and Gretchen got closer to answers, it felt like they ended up taking several steps backward, which made for an exciting cat and mouse game. I loved that the timeline of the story alternated between the present and the past because it allowed the readers to see a different side of Josie versus the disciplined detective. One thing that was difficult was watching Josie’s current significant other and fellow detective, Noah relive the shadow of Ray.
Overall, if you’re looking for a fast paced and thrilling murder mystery, definitely pick this one up!
Thank you to Bookouture for my blog tour invite and providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Rating 4.5/5*
This is the ninth book in this series but I suspect it would still be a brilliant read for anyone who enjoys murder mysteries with a police officer as the leading character, even if you haven't read the other eight books. The police officer is Detective Josie Quinn and she's not someone to be constrained by expectations or rules. When Denton, the town where she lives and works, is flooded, Josie is out there on the rescue boats. However, she never expected to have to swim in the fast flowing waters to retrieve what she suspects is a tarpaulin wrapped body..... or for that body to be clothed in the jacket of Ray, her teen sweetheart and dead ex-husband . . . .
The victim's body is that of Beverly Urban, someone Josie regularly clashed with when they went to High school. This is a story of uncovering the past, not only of Beverly but also of some prominent, contemporary, influential residents. As Josie starts to discover more about Beverly there is a mysterious woman contacting her wanting to reveal what happened but someone else is determined to stop the revelations at any cost. Can Josie and her team survive long enough to bring the murderer to justice?
The story is full of surprises, an enthralling read with so many twists and turns to keep you guessing right to the end. It reveals much about Josie's personal history as she has to remember people and events from her years at High School. It is a gripping read and a brilliant addition to the series with some extra revelations that impinge on her personal relationships, too!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and thoroughly enjoying doing so, though I hope the next book will have more about Josie's current romance with Noah, rather than more about Ray!
Constant rainfall and subsequent flooding pervade this story, creates the narrative and undermines every attempt at resolution. There is a body, there is a murder, there is old history, high school memories, not all pleasant, there is doubt, so much doubt. There are lots of unlikable people all determined to preserve their entitled lifestyle in the midst of a natural catastrophe. Many of them are suspects in the crime(s). Then there is Josie Quinn.
Josie Quinn is Superwoman. She had been badly abused as a child and recognizes that she is damaged goods. She is a thoughtful, caring, loyal woman. She is not perfect, she is fallible. She falters, shakes herself awake and stands back up. The dynamics of her family are changing. There are lots of reasons to like her. She is a detective in the Denton, Police Department. She is going to solve this crime. She is going to speak for the harmed and the dead.
Other than some awkward grammar the book was a solid four stars. Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutre for a copy.
I am of the opinion that when a series reaches past five books, the author has a challenge to meet: either they can keep things essentially the same and comfortable, so that the readers know what will happen or they can allow their characters to grow and experience new things, thereby allowing them to have a different perspective on events.
Neither approach is wrong. They both have their place in literature, and I don’t have a preference for either – it all depends on the mood that I am in at the time I choose a book. I would say that for Josie Quinn, the author has chosen the latter.
That is what really struck me about this book. After the events that touched her so personally in Find Her Alive, there’s a new vulnerability to Josie which plays a big part in the events of this book. I have enjoyed Josie’s personality, but think this new addition is very welcome.
The plot starts with a gasp-worthy scene involving a rescue in raging flood waters. However, Josie gets more than she expected when she sees something else in break away from a house that is ripped off its foundations. We soon find out that once again, Josie may have a personal connection to the case.
What follows is a taut crime investigation with occasional visits to Josie’s past as she tries to reconcile the clues with events that happened many years prior. Sometimes bouncing back and forth in time can be jarring, but the author does a great job of continuing the flow throughout the narrative.
I also liked the way that town politics had a bearing on the case. Details like that make a story more real. Everyone has been caught up in something similar at one point or another, so it’s instantly relatable.
As always, the author includes members of Josie’s team and secondary characters in a holistic investigation. Nobody gets short shrift and everyone’s contributions are recognized.
This is another winning entry in the series, and I look forward to watching Josie continue to grow emotionally (and in her crime solving abilities).
Lisa Regan is the queen of crime thrillers! Josie Quinn is back in the ninth installment of this stellar series. Each book in the series is bursting with tension, atmosphere, brilliant storytelling, fascinating characters, twists, turns, and thrills. This book kicks off with Josie and Gretchen involved in a water rescue. Denton is in the midst of epic rain storms and the city is rapidly flooding. This really offered the perfect ominous atmospheric setting for this mystery. While in the middle of the water rescue Josie discovers a dead body. The body had been buried for over 16 years and the flooding has brought it to the surface. Turns out the dead woman is someone Josie went to high school with and the kicker she’s wearing Josie’s dead husband ray’s baseball jacket. This mystery drags up many pieces of Josie’s past. A dead body, a hairdresser, a drug dealer, A mysterious caller, floodwaters, gunshots, protests, DNA, and an orange cat.
Once again I was 100% invested in figuring out the mystery in the story. Love Josie and all the other characters in these books. Josie has had so much growth throughout the series. I hated to see her drug back into the past dealing with not only The ghost of Ray, but also her terrible supposed mother. My only complaint with the story is that once again poor Noah had to play second string to Ray. I mean I really like them together and I think Noah is really good for Josie, but man I almost want him to call her out sometimes. Another spectacular installment in this series with an ending that took me by surprise.
This book in emojis 💦 🐱 ☔️ 💊 🔎 🧬 ⚾️
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
Save Her Soul is the ninth instalment of the Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan.
There are floodwaters threatening Denton, Central Pennsylvania and this makes a great backdrop for several crime scenes within the story. As Denton police department help the city's other emergency services with the evacuation, detectives Josie Quinn and Gretchen Palmer rescue an elderly woman, during which Josie spies a body floating out of the basement of her wrecked house. The body is a young woman who’s wearing a baseball jacket that Josie recognises. It is the exact jacket that belonged to her then-boyfriend (later, her husband) Ray. So, who is the woman, and why was she buried in the basement wearing Ray’s precious jacket? Josie must dig deep into memories of her own past with Ray and revisit her school days to solve this mystery.
Although I dived into this series here at book nine, there was enough backstory to really enjoy this novel. It was a captivating, well-plotted and twisty police procedural with more than enough action taking place to retain my interest. Once hooked, I was glued to the pages and it was a rollercoaster ride of emotion and surprises. With its stylish and tense plot, the story is told from Josie’s perspective alone, making it an easy reader. The story effortlessly flowed and there was never a dull moment as the plot beelined for the twisty finale. Josie makes a tough, determined and admirable protagonist and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her as I followed her progress and cheered her on. Save Her Soul contains drama, suspense and tension by the bucketload and I highly recommend this worthy novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Save Her Soul by Lisa Regan
Detective Josie Quinn #9
Denton, Pennsylvania is in flood mode with all emergency personnel, police, and available volunteers doing their best to save citizens when one rescue made by Josie’s team ends up with a body and cold case to solve. Of course, there is more to the story than just identifying the body and trying to determine what happened.
What I liked:
* Josie: an intriguing detective who has personal knowledge related to the murdered teenage girl found in a tarp. She is part of a great team at work and in a healthy relationship with her significant others. Josie is still dealing with her past and what a past it was!
* Gretchen: another detective that has come to Denton more recently and is a good partner to Josie on the job.
* Amber: new to the team and fighting hard to do her job as press liaison though the police suspect her of spying for the mayor.
* Noah: Josie’s significant other doesn’t get a lot of time on the page but seems to be a good man who cares for Josie and is willing to help her work through difficult days on the job.
* Lisette: a loving grandmother to Josie
* The new thread of Hayes appearing on the scene – wonder how he and Josie will interact in the future.
* All of the team members that Josie works with
* The plot, writing, police procedural aspects of the story, and how it all plays out in the end
* Having all the loose ends tied up at the end
* Hoping that there will be a book ten in the future.
What I didn’t like:
* The murderer(s)
* Being reminded of how horrible domestic and child abuse are, that bullying has always been around, dysfunctional relationships and families, knowing that much of what was evil, sad or disturbing is real and true for many in this world.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Save Her Soul by Lisa Regan is the 9th book in the Detective Josie Quinn mystery series, and another great addition. Wow this book grabbed me from the very first page, and kept me going. This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. Just when I thought I was on the right track, I realize I wasn't. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author. If you love mysteries like I do, than I strongly recommend this book/ series. I just bought the first three books in this series, Ms. Regan has me hooked.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The 9th book in the series but it can be read as a standalone. Josie gets pulled into a mystery that brings back her ex-husband Ray. There is also severe flooding in her town which entail a few exciting (and maybe implausible rescues). The mystery is solid I figured out one aspect of it but the rest held until revealed. Josie is starting to experience trauma symptoms from her life which adds to the realism since who wouldn't have ptsd going through what she went through. I hope the author takes that on a realistic journey if she continues it.
I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbaised review.
Another thrilling case for Detective Josie Quinn. Josie and her team are dealing with the flooding of Denton, Pennsylvania. When a house is swept away a body is turned loose from its grave. Josie is flung back to her past as she recognizes the school jacket that is wrapped around the body…it belonged to her first husband, Ray. Every time she and her team begin to make headway in the investigation, another clue or suspect is revealed. Their suspects so far - the murdered girl’s mother who disappeared, the people the mother sold drugs to, or an older man who was involved with the teen? Ms. Regan takes the reader along as she investigates and although the case has many facets, she walks you through as if you are part of her team. As Josie closes in on the murderer, she knows her life is on the line. Hopefully, Josie will finally heal from her abusive childhood and her rocky past with Ray. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
Lisa Regan never disappoints! This next installment in the Josie Quinn series kept me on the edge of my seat, and I read it in a day’s time. During unprecedented rain and flooding in Denton, a body is unearthed from its resting place with unexpected connections to Josie’s childhood. We travel along with Josie as she works to find out who this is and what happened to her all those years ago. I love how Regan intertwined the past and the present together between the different chapters. Another must read!
Save Her Soul by Lisa Regan is a Josie Quinn mystery. Josie is a terrific character with a frightening background. Right now the universe is sending more fright her way with flooding. The rains won't stop and neither will the flooding. It is so bad that police detectives (Josie) are out on boats rescuing people. As that is happening the floodwaters literally send the house of the newest rescued down the river. And a long with the house, floats up something wrapped in a blue plastic tarp. It's a body; Josie knows it and so goes to stupid lengths to retrieve it from the rushing water. For that, she gets several dressings down, but save it she does and because of the general mess in the area she ends up transporting it to the morgue in her car . . . her brand new car. After taking care with the tarp and the tape holding it on (possible fingerprints), the coroner was able to ascertain that it was a young woman, partly mummified, definitely a murder victim. The awful part was that she was wearing a letter jacket from the local high school; a very special letter jacket that Josie knew in an instant had belonged to her dead husband and high school sweetheart, Ray. High school had been when he truly loved her and would never have cheated. Who was t his and how had she gotten the jacket? Was Ray going to be he latest person who had let her down?
Josie Quinn has the most complicated and horrific early life imaginable. It was every nightmare available assigned to one person. She has come through it, mostly, with grace and humor, and a taste for alcohol. Thankfully, the alcohol is behind her, but she is still tempted, a need that is a deeply ingrained part of her character. She is a clever and hard-working detective who has opened her home, in this tragic time, to the girlfriend Ray had had before he died, after their marriage broke up, and her and Ray's son. She visits her grandmother in the nursing home regularly. She is generally a good human being about to be kicked in the teeth again. Fortunately her live-in boyfriend, Detective Noah Fraley is there for her and loves hr for all the good in her, and refuses to let her be pulled down by the bad. This was a terrific mystery/police procedural/thriller. The plot was complicated and well thought out. Regan was very careful throughout to reveal it slowly, allowing the tension to build, for both the reader and Josie. Enjoyable read. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Save Her Soul by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #savehersoul
The small town of Denton had been inundated by heavy rain; days it had been raining and riverbanks had broken while areas were being evacuated. The rescue teams were spread thin, so Detective Josie Quinn and her partner, Detective Gretchen Palmer were currently on a rescue boat on the way to flooded houses. Mrs Bassett’s home was engulfed and with sheer grit and determination, Josie rescued her as she was swept away. But it was what Josie and Gretchen saw as Mrs Bassett’s house began to float that set the scene for the next week or so – Denton police department suddenly had a sixteen year old murder on their hands.
This case drew heavily on Josie’s past – the victim was a girl from the school Josie and her then boyfriend Ray had attended. Beverly Urban was a bully with few friends, but Josie was determined to find them. Answers from so long ago were evasive but Josie and Gretchen continued to dig deeply. Frustration and sleep deprivation hounded the team, and the more they dug, the deeper the secrets were buried. Would Josie solve the long ago murder? Or was there someone out there who would kill again to stop those secrets being revealed?
Save Her Soul is the 9th in the Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan and once again I loved it. A fast paced, intense and chilling series, I can’t wait for the next. Josie and Gretchen work well together and Noah, another detective on the team, and Josie’s significant other, is another great, down to earth character. This is a series that needs to be read in order because of the growth of the characters; it would be a shame to miss what have been notable events in the characters’ pasts. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Save Her Soul is the ninth instalment in the Detective Josie Quinn series, set in Denton, Pennsylvania. Historic flooding in Detective Quinn's hometown exposes a decades-old murder and a killer who will do anything to keep such deadly secrets buried. Denton is in a state of emergency due to some of the worst flooding ever experienced in the area and the stormy weather is causing chaos for residents. Josie and Detective Gretchen Palmer are attempting a daring rescue mission after Mrs Evelyn Bassett becomes trapped in her home due to the high floodwater and the local authorities have been called in to help. When a well-preserved corpse wrapped in a blue tarpaulin floats to the surface, seemingly from under the house that has just descended downstream, Josie fails to recognise the victim, a young woman who turns out to be Beverly Urban former school bully and all-round troublemaker, but she instantly recognises the jacket Beverly is wearing. It's part of the Denton East High School uniform and she realises this particular letterman baseball jacket belonged to her late ex-husband Ray Quinn. The case is about to become a little too personal.
This is a captivating, well-plotted and twisty police procedural with more than enough action taking place to keep your interest from waning. Josie must gather all the strength she can muster in order to try and treat the victim like any other and remain dedicated to solving the slaying despite the victim having possibly had an affair with her former husband and her bullying behaviour towards Josie in their schooldays. I was glued to the pages once it hooked me in after the first chapter or so and from then on it was a rollercoaster ride of emotion and surprises. It's gripping with an intense and fascinating plot and the fact it is told solely from Josie’s perspective makes this easy to follow and the story flows effortlessly from page to page. There's never a dull moment and it barely gives you a chance to breathe as the plot races onwards towards the twisty conclusion. Josie is a tough, determined and admirable protagonist and I enjoy learning more about her with each new book. An excellent addition to the series that features drama, suspense and tension aplenty. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
Detective Josie Quinn is helping with rescue efforts in the little town of Denton PA. Rain has been relentless as they find an old woman whose home is being wept away and a body, wrapped in a tarp, pops up shortly behind her.
The body turns out to be an old classmate of Josie’s. But worse, the body is wearing Josie’s high school boyfriend/ex-husband’s (now deceased) letterman jacket. It was thought the girl and her mother had moved—vanished. Beverly was a bully living with a disabled mother with whom she’d been known to have major disagreements.
Josie takes on the cold case, anxious to know the relationship between the girl and her ex, Ray. I appreciated Josie’s investigation with help from partner Detective Gretchen Palmer and her team, but occasional flashbacks to her high school years without preamble had me going back a page or two to get some continuity.
As the storyline increased in complexity, so too did details about Josie’s childhood increase—elevating her from damaged protagonist to basket-case dealing with one revelation after another.
The plot is fast-paced and well-plotted with twists and red herrings always making progress to the climax. The climax, however, doesn’t conclude the story. There is still more complications behind that with one final and soul-crushing surprise.
While I seriously enjoyed the mystery and the characterizations of the rich ladies’ clique and their thoroughly catty and believable dialogue, I’m also seriously tired of the damaged protagonist trope. Also, the clichés have me rolling my eyes. Pul-leeze don’t hit me with another “let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.”
Not thrilled with the clichés and tropes, I’ll come back every time to engaging writing style and intriguing characters. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this one. 4.5/5
WooHoo, another fantastic addition to one of my favourite series and characters. I love Josie even more after each book and there are nine now. They just keep getting better and better!
Lisa Regan blows me away with each book with how Josie develops with each one. I love all the characters, and with each book, we see Josie grow and her relationships with the characters. I love all the characters and look forward to seeing them in each book.
The story starts off exciting and tense here as Josie is caught up in a flood and finds a body flooding. She soon discovers the body is connected to her past and what she finds rattles her soul and she left questioning everything she believes what makes her, her. I love it when we see more into Josie's past and see a raw, vulnerable side to her and here in this one, we are taken back to Josie's high school years with Ray. I love the connection between Josie and Ray and loved seeing more into their past. I was glued to the pages, my heart breaking for Josie and rooting that she doesn't lose herself.
The case is exciting with plenty of action, suspense and tension with some great twist and turn that had me tapping my kindle as fast as I could. As always Lisa Regan kept me guessing right up to the end and I loved everything about this story! I just can't get enough of Josie and the dynamics between her and the other characters. I highly recommend this series!