Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold is another murder mystery locked up for Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Detective Trent Stenson had been called out early to a murder scene on the banks of the Potomac. A beautiful young girl, 20 or so, laid out nude, with a Black Orchid placed on her chest. It was enough to make one cry. Even hardened murder teams. Who could have done such a well-planned and orchestrated act? The investigation began, as always, with assumptions and errors. They notified her parents. That, as always, had been horrible. Then her boyfriend, pretty awful, too, although they had supposedly broken up. Next, her roommates. What a pair they were. They enlisted Amanda's brother, Kyle, to see if he could identify the make of a car with no more than the headlights visible. He narrowed it down considerably. Still the investigation moved on. Another body. Eliminated suspects: they were in lockup. More investigating.

Amanda Steele is a complicated character and a moving one. She is in the process of adopting a little girl, Zoe, who had seen her parents brutally murdered only a couple of months ago. Amanda and Zoe had bonded almost immediately but such things were never meant to be easy or smooth. Then there were the odd moments with Trent recently. The plot was a good one. Almost a serial killer, but not quite. It was certainly unexpected when they figured it out, and nearly fatal. As Always, Arnold has written an engaging and thought-provoking murder
mystery/police procedural. The police are part of the story. They have lives, too.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Black Orchid Girls by Bookoutre, through Net galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #bookoutre #blackorchidgirls #carolynarnold

This was the first Amanda Steele book I've read, and I look forward to reading more. This book was totally engrossing and held my interest from start to finish. If also had a surprise ending. I highly recommend this book to other police procedural readers.

I have missed Amanda and Trent and all their crime solving!

There is something in the air and I am starting to think it’s not just murder!

Carolyn Arnold is one of my favorite mystery writers! She leaves me hanging on and guessing until the very end and let me tell you; Black Orchid Girls was no different. I thought I had our suspect pegged from the get-go, but wow!

We had a lot of clues, plenty of suspects, and a crime that just kept on giving… and may have given long before now!

Carolyn Arnold has the most fabulous way of putting you right there with Amanda and Trent – immersing you in the crime scene while you work through the puzzle of determining who the killer is.

Each book in the Detective Amanda Steele series can be read as a stand alone without too much confusion, but they really have been a treat to read together and in order. Carolyn does an amazing job at bringing new readers up to date if you missed passed books, but I will tell you now; once you start one, you’re going to want to go back and read the others. They really are that good!

Disclosure. This post is a review of an ebook I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.

This is the fourth title in the Detective Amanda Steele series.

The story begins with a murder of a young girl in the park, left naked by the Potomac river with a black orchid on her chest. Who is the victim and could the flower signify a serial killer?

We learn that a black orchid can symbolise bad luck, death, black magic, strength, virility, sexual desires or success. Does one of these present a message?

The park rangers recognise her as a regular vistitor but don’t know her name. Soon she is identified as 19 year old Chloe Somner, a student at Geoffrey Michaels University.

Detective Amanda Steele and partner Trent try to unravel the mystery, interviewing Chloe’s classmates and friends. A number of potential suspects are considered, and they also review a 20 year old cold case, where another murdered girl was left with a red rose. Could there be a link?

But then there is a second murder, this time it is one of Chloe’s housemates Jayne and again she has been left naked with a black orchid. Can they identify the killer before there are more deaths?

Meanwhile a sub-story runs through the book based on Amanda’s personal life, featuring 6 year old Zoe whom Amanda is fostering and hoping to adopt. This links it to the previous title in the series when Zoe’s parents were murdered, but this book works perfectly as a stand-alone read too.

A brilliant book with plenty of twists and turns. Highly recommended. Although I have loved all the titles I have read by Carolyn Arnold, I think the Amanda Steele series are my favourites, possibly because it is the only series I have read from the start. And this one certainly lived up to my expectation.

I really like this series, of which this is the 4th book. You can read these as standalones.

Amanda has really changed since the first book. She has begun to heal from losing her husband and daughter over 6 years ago. I think this is helping her to empathise with the victims and their families.

The opening of this book is brutal and quite shocking. Chloe was so young and had so much life ahead of her. Her murder seems personal. Full of passion, anger but also a bit of remorse.

For me, this case was very slow-moving. There wasn’t much action and for ages, Amanda and Trent were just following lots of false leads. For me this is okay. I don't need a book with constant action. I like seeing how the Detectives figure these things out. What leads them where when they get stumped.

When the action came through it was very intense. The ending of the book really surprised me. I really didn’t suspect the killer or the reasons.

Thank you to Bookouture for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

This is my first Amanda Steele book, but I didn't have any problems following it--it works perfectly as a standalone. The premise was compelling--a young woman is killed and left arranged with a black orchid, and Amanda has to figure out who killed her. The flower seems to be a key to figuring out the identity of the killer (of course), but the author uses the symbol well, in an emotionally evocative and interesting way. While Amanda is working the case, she's also learning to navigate being a mother to Zoe, a little girl she is fostering (and hoping to keep custody of). The passages with Zoe were beautiful and moving, and made me fall in love with Amanda's character. The author also did a good job of presenting the teen characters with subtlety and authenticity rather than relying on cliches of adolescence. All in all, a well-written and absorbing read.

Twists and turns abound in this story from the start. A girl is stabbed and left near a river, there are so many dead-end leads pointing to different culprits that are nowhere near to solving the crime. Then, another victim is found. Who and why are they killing girls at the prime of their lives? Who is the culprit? Is there a relation to a previous case? Is this a serial killer? What's the significance of the flowers? Amanda has all questions in her brain whilst dealing with a personal problem - Zoe's future. She is also troubled with her partner, Trent, and their relationship, as he seems to understand her more than could be normal, and on top of it all, her boss, Malone, is acting really strange. Will she be able to solve the crimes and put the culprit behind bars? A most entertaining and enthralling reading that leaves me looking forward to the next book in the series.

This is the fourth book in the Amanda Steele series. While it can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend you read at least the previous book, The Silent Witness, as some of the story carries over.

A young woman turns up naked on the bank of a river, black orchid placed on her. Amanda and her partner Trent are immediately called in to this baffling case. Frustrations rise as they can't figure out why the young woman was targeted. A second body shows up posed in exactly the same way. Is there a serial killer on the loose?

What an utterly gripping book this was! I've been in a bit of a reading slump the last couple of weeks, but Black Orchid Girls got me out of it.

As with the other books in the series, Black Orchid Girls is packed with tension and plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Amanda is really growing on me. In the first book I read from this series, I found her a bit standoffish and harsh, but now I feel she's softening a bit around the edges. Also, I felt there was a hint of romance in this book, which I, for one, am looking forward to seeing where that's heading.

Black Orchid Girls is a fast-paced and absorbing crime thriller that has left me looking forward to seeing more from these characters.

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Black Orchid Girls’ by Carolyn Arnold in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book 4 in Arnold’s series of police procedurals set in Dumfries, Virginia featuring Detective Amanda Steele. I was new to this author and series but enough background was provided so I didn’t feel lost.

When hikers discover the naked body of a young woman on the banks of the Potomac River with a black orchid resting on her torso, it is the beginning of a troubling and complex case. It doesn’t take long for Detective Amanda Steele to discover her identity though the motive and reason for the flower remains elusive.

Is there a link to a cold case of twenty years ago where another young woman was murdered and a red rose left on her body? The story has plenty of suspects, red herrings, and the like before all is revealed.

There’s also a side plot linked to Amanda’s personal life that refers back to events in earlier books.

I found ‘Black Orchid Girls’ an engaging crime thriller and following this positive experience I am interested in reading previous books in the series as well as future titles.

Thrilling, edge of your seat suspense awaits you in this brilliant page turning mystery. Amanda and Trent make such a great pair, and I love watching them work together. I love how the main characters feel so real, and that we get a peek into the way they work and their personal lives. The suspense builds pretty quickly, and there are enough twists to keep you reading. You'll find yourself trying to figure out who the killer is right along with Amanda and Trent. If you enjoy thrilling mysteries, you're going to love this one! I definitely recommend reading the other books in the series too, so you can get a fuller picture of the characters.

If you are not reading Carolyn Arnold, you are missing out!

The fourth installment of the Amanda Steele series finds our protagonist investigating a murder involving a body staged nude with a flower on it. She needs to find the killer before he strikes again.....but for the first time in a long time, she wants to do it and still be home for dinner with family.

I absolutely loved every single thing about this book. The way the author has slowly, beautifully, transformed Amanda Steele from the hardened, depressed person she was in the first book, to the gentle, caring person she is in this book without losing her footing in a demanding career, is masterful.

The cases in Arnold's book are just as compelling as the characters; they're unique without being unrealistic and they keep you reading.

I absolutely devour these books and I can't wait for more!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'Black Orchid Girls' by Carolyn Arnold.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Carolyn Arnold, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous


Publication date 10th February 2022.


This is the third book I have read by this author. It is also the fourth book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'Stolen Daughters' which I also highly recommend and is the second book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series and 'The Silent Witness' which is the third book in the 'Detective Amanda Steele' series.



I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching stunning cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A totally compulsive crime thriller! Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine ' I am a huge fan of Lisa Regan so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Carolyn and if this is half as good as 'Stolen Daughters' and 'The Silent Witness' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 41 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in Virginia, USA 🇺🇸


This book is written in third person perspective and the protagonist is Detective Amanda Steele. The benefits of third person perspective with are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.


What an ending and yet another epic read from the very talented Carolyn Arnold!!! Congratulations Carolyn on yet another page turner!! This is an extremely well written book with vivid descriptions that will suck you straight into the storyline and captivated from beginning to end. The synopsis and cover worked perfectly with the storyline.


The storyline means that there is no problem with this being read as a standalone which is what I did. I was absolutely hooked throughout, a true page turner from beginning to end. The storyline was in depth and packed with suspense, twists, turns, shocks and was an edge of your seat, nail biting and heart racing psychological thriller. I was absolutely hooked. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I'm looking forward to reading the previous book on this series as well as more to come. It certainly promises to be an epic series. It is one of the best books I have read this month and I really enjoyed and loved the perfect ending!!! It is filled with suspense, tension, mystery, shocks, love, friendship, sadness, crime and everything you could ever want in a crime novel. There were several bombshells that I was not suspecting and I am quite happy by what happened to certain people, especially at the end to a certain one, or should I say two ♥ I won't say more as not to spoil it for future readers. It is a true page turner that will leave you biting your nails on the edge of your seat with your heart racing. I loved the ending and I cannot wait to see what Amanda is going to do now!!!! Hope your busy typing the next one up Carolyn as I cannot wait!!!


Although this is the fourth book in the series you will have absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.


I loved meeting all the characters again who were all strong, well defined and unique. I became completely invested in Amanda, Trent and Zoe. Amanda is absolutely whoop a## and I love seeing strong female leads in books. She has a background but will not let it pull her down and she is definitely someone I would love to have on my side. It was so bitter sweet watching her bond with Zoe even more and watching their relationship develop and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. I personally hope she gets the happiness and family she deserves but then at the same time how will she work everything out?? I am glad that a certain thing didn't happen, again I won't say more as not wanting to spoil it for others!! One can only wait and see!! Trent is another fantastic team member and they work perfectly well together. I would love to see more happen between these two amazing characters but again only time will tell!! I loved Rideout's (medical examiner) character and personality with his morgue humour and I also quite like Malone and see him as a sort of fatherly figure to Amanda. I am definitely looking forward to meeting them all again!!!


I could not praise this book enough and highly recommend. Carolyn I cannot wait to read more of your very successful work!!! I would also love to see this book turned into a movie. An absolutely addictive, compelling and gripping true page turner!!! If you have not read any books by this epic authour then you are seriously missing out!!!



Some of my favourite quotes/sayings in this book include the following:

🖤 "“Everything will be okay in the end; if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” Maybe there was some merit to that saying, after all."



Overall an absolutely captivating, engrossing page turner that is compelling and addictive!!!


Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Mystery, Police Procedural, Suspense, Hardboiled, Romance Novel, Psychological Thriller, Noir Fiction, Psychological Fiction and Crime Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Carol Wyer, Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni, Rachel Caine, Angela Marsons and ANYONE looking for an epic page turner .



318 pages.


This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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Wow.... visiting Carolyn Arnold's fourth novel in the Amanda Steel series just blew my mind!! I loved it. I was gripped from the first page. I thought I'd got it all worked out but I didn't see that twist coming. Can't wait for the next installment

This is the 4th book in the series and just as good as the others. Amanda and Trent are looking for the killer of a college student that everyone seems to love, or do they? I enjoyed this very much and look forward to more kn this series. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

A Review of: “Black Orchid Girls: A completely nail-biting and gripping crime thriller (Detective Amanda Steele Book 4)” by Carolyn Arnold

Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the authors but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own.

Protective Instincts

She was young, smart, and beautiful. An activist who loved protecting the environment down to the smallest snail. But when she is discovered naked, stabbed multiple times, and dramatically posed in her beloved state park with a black orchid adorning her chest, the speculations fly. Who would want to murder Chloe Sumner in this most brutal way? Was it a jealous classmate, an unrequited crush, class rival, ex-boyfriend, or someone entirely different? Detectives Steele and Stenson are on the case, following up lead after lead but the more progress they make, there always seems to be something that sets them back. Then when a second body is discovered the rumblings of a serial killer begin. The similarities between Chloe’s murder and the newest victim are almost identical but also very similar to a cold case from twenty years ago. Is there a possibility that the killer has returned, but why now? As Amanda gets closer to the truth, she also must navigate a personal development that may threaten her looming adoption of Zoe. Can she keep her personal concerns out of her professional life, or will her growing affection for the little girl cause a distraction that ends up placing Detective Steele in harm’s way?

Black Orchid Girls is the fourth in the Detective Amanda Steele series of books by international best-selling author Carolyn Arnold. Picking up shortly after the close of “The Silent Witness”, Amanda and the orphaned Zoe have settled into a comfortable routine. While Zoe may never be a replacement for Amanda’s daughter she is helping to heal old wounds and vanquish the demons of grief. Having read this series from the beginning, the change in Detective Steele from “The Little Grave” and “Black Orchid Girls” is like night and day. The once resigned, self-destructive, hard-hearted Amanda is more vibrant, optimistic, and levelheaded. As I get more into this series it is apparent that this is not your typical police procedural novel. In crafting this series, Arnold has taken great care to provide a realistic backstory for even what seems to be the smallest character. In this approach we also see some backstories interweaving with characters in other books. I like this as it leaves options open for a larger cross-story adventure in the future rather than the occasional Brandon Fisher cameo. With Black Orchid Girls, Arnold has once again delivered a page-turner of a novel that will have the reader guessing until the final reveal. As with all of Arnold’s books that I have read to date, even though this is part of a larger series, Black Orchid Girls can also be enjoyed as a standalone novel without the reader feeling as if they are missing parts of the story. With this chapter of Detective Steele’s life coming to a close along with the case, I am eager to see what Carolyn Arnold has planned in the upcoming books in this series.

Black Orchid Girls is the fourth instalment in Carolyn Arnold's Detective Amanda Steele series, set in Dumfries, Virginia.

With its excellent plot and comfortable pacing, I had difficulty putting this book down between chapters. Black Orchid Girls was such a compelling read, and I relished every moment. Detective Amanda Steele is really well-drawn - a determined, passionate though sometimes a reckless woman who had an inclination to be acerbic with her colleagues. In Black Orchid Girls Chloe Somner, a local nineteen-year-old ecology student is found dead at the Potomac River, Leesylvania State, Park, Virginia with a delicate black orchid resting on her chest. Trawling through cold cases, working with Detective Trent Stenson, there is a discovery that twenty years ago another local girl was murdered, a red rose left on her body.

This riveting tale was complex and Carolyn Arnold brilliantly builds the suspense. The intoxicating story also allowed the reader to learn more about protagonist Amanda, especially the dynamics with her home life. Danger, drama, along with several twists and enough mystery and intrigue to compel me to read late into the night, this was an absolutely cracking piece of crime fiction, superbly delivered and the ending is surprising. I'm keen to devour book 5.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Amanda Steele is a homicide detective in Fairfax County, VA. She and her partner, Trent, are called in to investigate the murder of Chloe Somner, a beautiful 19 year old college student. Chloe’s body is found naked and posed with a black orchid. The popular ecology student has been brutally stabbed seven times.

As the investigation proceeds, we learn that Chloe is not popular with everyone. Amanda and Trent interrogate Chloe’s classmates and associates and find several suspects who had the means, motive, and opportunity for the murder. Which one is guilty?

At the same time, Amanda is in the process of adopting a little girl whose parents were murdered in a previous novel. This adds a human touch to Amanda’s difficult world.

Although this is the first Amanda Steele book that I read, I found that no information is needed from previous novels. (I have read and liked other books by Carolyn Arnold). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to future Amanda Steele episodes.

Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold is the fourth book in the Detective Amanda Steele series. I have been following the series from the beginning and became invested in the lives of the principal characters. So imagine my joy when offered a copy for review. Once again Arnold delivered a story filled with twists, turns and a shocking end.
Nineteen-year-old college student Chloe Somner was found murdered on the banks of the Pontomac River. What made this puzzling was the manner in which the body was displayed. The killer placed a black Orchid on the victim’s torso. What was the significance of the black Orchid? Are they dealing with a serial killer or was this an isolated situation? Amanda and her partner, Trent, find themselves in a race against time to the killer before he claims another victim.

Each book in the series features a different mystery, making each easy to read as a standalone. However, to get a better understanding of the growth of the characters throughout the series, I would recommend reading the books in order.

Amanda made a life-changing decision in the previous installment. In Black Orchid Girls, she juggles the pressures associated with being a detective with this change in her life. It’s difficult, but like all the strong and independent women, she handled it like a champ.

The mystery held me captive from the discovery of the body to the taking down of the murderer. I made several attempts to figure out the villain’s identity, but each time I was off the mark. Arnold sprinkled so many breadcrumbs, which led to several potential suspects, all of whom had motive and opportunity. This, along with the many twists and turns, made for a complex mystery. As Amanda and Trent got closer to the truth, the danger intensified.

I enjoyed how well Amanda and Trent worked together. Their partnership has come along way since the first book. It also appears that a tiny spark is developing between them. This will no doubt change the dynamics of their relationship. Not sure how Arnold will handle that aspect. I will wait and see how it will play out.

In Black Orchid, Arnold delivered a suspenseful, fast-paced tale that keeps the reader on their toes from start to finish. It features characters with whom readers can relate. Fans of police procedurals, mysteries and thrillers should read this series.

So much suspense - Amanda and Trent are called to the scene of a brutal murder. A young woman stabbed to death in a local park - research for a mysterious snail and the environment loves in her life.
So why was she murdered, a black orchid left on her nude body?
Along with Amanda's family issues - an older brother holding a grudge. Her petition to adopt Zoec may be contested.
Great read. Loved the characters.

Detective Amanda Steele has just been assigned a gruesome murder case and is awaiting word on her petition to adopt Zoe. After witnessing her parents’ murder, six-year-old Zoe had no one to care for her and has been living with Amanda who is hoping to adopt her. A young woman, Chloe Sumner, was found with a black orchid on her chest…was this symbolic in some way to the killer? Chloe was a college student and well liked, or was she? With no leads and no evidence from the body, Amanda and her partner Trent Stenson finally get a break from a video of the parking lot. As they continue to question other college students, was it something in her past that led someone to seek revenge? Just as a connection may lead them to the killer, another student is murdered in a similar manner and Amanda learns unsettling news about Zoe’s parentage. Is there someone else who may be able to adopt Zoe? A heart racing ending to take down the killer and save their own lives was a twist that I didn’t see coming. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)