Black Orchid Girls drew me in from the first page as it started out with a bang. A girl, Chloe Somner, goes for a walk in the park and is stabbed. I like stories that start out with the murder at the beginning and you are then left hanging as to whodunit. Then in steps Detective Amanda Steele as she is called in to investigate this young, beautiful, college girl’s death.

Chloe was found with a black orchid on her chest. What was the reason for the black orchid? Why was the killer’s reasoning behind the black orchid? Oh, the secrets and mystery Black Orchid Girls takes you on and is slow to reveal the answers keeping you hanging on page after page until the final reveal leaving you in suspense the whole time.

Another body is found. Do Amanda and her partner, Trent Stenson have a serial killer on their hands? Are the two murders related? Are these two murders related to another murder from a few years back? The suspense just keeps ramping up with each turn of the page.

Black Orchid Girls reminds me of several TV shows but one, in particular, comes to mind and that is the Prodigal Son, starring Tom Payne. The descriptions were so vividly written that I had no problem picturing each and every scene in my head.

Carolyn Arnold is a great writer, a writer that you look forward to reading any of her books and would highly recommend any one of them. I can’t wait to dive into the next Detective Amanda Steele book or any book written by Carolyn Arnold!

Now is the time to one-click your copy of Black Orchid Girls for another great murder mystery!

Great ending - did not see it coming and I love that the book led to a few potential outcomes and I didn’t guess it right! Don’t be put off by the fact that this is one of a series. The author is one of the few I have come across who is able to give enough info for new readers without seeming to rehash old ground. The trope of leaving a flower on the corpse is a classic and it added a sense of almost noir to this interesting mystery.s

While this is the fourth book in this series, it is the first one that I have read. The author did a good job giving enough information regarding the recurrent characters without bogging the story down. Detective Amanda Steele has a lot of challenges in this story. Not only does she have a murder to solve with her partner, but she is also in the process of trying to adopt a little girl, and her Sargeant is acting out of character. As Amanda and Trent work the case, there are multiple potential suspects and some unexpected twists along the way. And Amanda has a surprising revelation in her personal life.

I love the cover for Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold, but it doesn’t matter what is on the cover when it comes to reading her books. I have read a lot of them and eagerly pick up each new story she has to share.

Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent, work for the Prince William County Police Department, and before she could even sit down at her desk, she and Trent, were called out to Leeslyvania State Park for a murder. A young woman was found, naked and cleaned of all traces of evidence, except a Black Orchid.

The gorgeous Black Orchid can represent positive and negative connotations. Can symbolize bad luck, death and black magic. Also, strength, virility, sexual desires and success.

Could the fact that Chloe Somner is deep into the environment and climate change be involved? She is a student at Geoffrey Michaels University and attends classes at the Potomac Center for Environmental Science and Policy. She is also involved with Planet Rebirth, an environmental group. She is studying the snails in Leesylvania State Park, where her body was found.

I love when a peripheral character takes center stage, and Zoe does just that. We have met her before. She has become an anchor for Amanda, a bundle of love and joy.

Also, does Amanda have romance on the horizon?

Twists and turns abound. Step by step, suspect by suspect, clue by clue…we investigate.

Characters from the Brandon Fisher FBI series make an appearance.

Carolyn Arnold is a master at penning police procedural’s that keep me on my toes, flipping pages, unable to quit reading until the last page is read. Black Orchid Girls was a quick, easy read, filled with heart in my throat suspense and edge of my seat moments that made it unputdownable.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

Black Orchid Girls is #4 in the Detective Amanda Steele series. And, what a gripping story! A crime thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat!
Amanda and her partner, Trent, are on the hunt to find out who killed a college student. As they are just starting into this investigation, another student is murdered. Both students have a black orchid laid on their bodies…..what is the meaning of this to the killer?
I loved the personal side of Amanda with her journey to adopt a young child she became close to in book #3.
Interested in where the author is going with Amanda and Trent.
Can’t wait for next book in the series to come out!
The ending to the story was quite surprising as I never saw it coming. I had many other outcomes but, not this one.
Carolyn Arnold always writes a solid police procedural.
I recommend reading the complete series….it’s always nice to know the back story to the main characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Carolyn Arnold, for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Hikers find a body in a park at the Potomac River, Chloe Summer a bright well-loved student, she is naked and a black orchid is found on her body. Then her roommate’s body is found, again with a black orchid, is this is serial killer, and why?
Keeps you once again on the edge of your seat. It’s great to see Amanda’s relationship grow with Zoe, and will the adoption go through?
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy

Compelling and enthralling and one that grips you from start to finish, this quite simply is a book that you will not want to put down. This will inspire anyone into further world of reading and that is a rare magical quality for a book .

I was torn between rating this one a 3 and a 4 but I realized I read it all in one day and enjoyed it overall so it got bumped up for me! This was a very quick, face paced, no-nonsense police procedural. I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series and I was missing some of the backstory but it didn’t take away too much from the overall flow for me. Amanda is dealing with a lot in personal life, in addition to working the new murder case. Her and her new detective partner Trent are still feeling each other out and learning to work together. You can tell the author is writing this as a long running series with the pacing which I don’t mind. I look forward to following along with this one!

This is the first book I've read by Carolyn Arnold, but Black Orchid Girls was recommended by a friend and the description sounded really good. Homicide Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Trent Stenson are called in when a young woman's body is found in a state park near the Potomac River. They carefully follow up on several leads, questioning witnesses and possible suspects who attend a local college. Just when they think they're close to solving the case, the killer strikes again and they need to look at all the evidence in another way.

Even though this is the fourth book in the series, it reads well as a standalone mystery. I thought there were a few loose ends as well as instances of unnatural dialogue, but I like that the book is fast-paced and suspenseful. I really like the character of Amanda and seeing how she has to balance a very demanding job with her personal life. Amanda and Trent often see things differently during the investigation, but work well together. The story provides many details about Amanda's personal life, but not much about Trent. I would love to read further books in this series and get to know both characters better. I think fans of Lisa Regan or Wendy Dranfield will enjoy this police procedural/crime thriller.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Bookouture. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

When hikers find the body of a beautiful young girl on the banks of the Potomac River, Detective Amanda Steele is shaken and confused. What is the significance of the delicate flower resting on the girl’s torso? The girl is Chloe Somner, a local nineteen-year-old ecology student well-known to the park rangers and loved by all her classmates. Twenty years ago another local girl was murdered, a red rose left on her body. Are they linked? Focused on the past, the last thing Amanda expects is the news that Chloe’s roommate has been found dead, another black orchid left.
This is the fourth outing for Amanda & it could easily be read on its own. I was drawn in from the first sentence & whilst that was gripping I felt the momentum was lost a bit in the middle & then it picked up again for an action packed conclusion. That said I thoroughly enjoyed the twists & turns & how Amanda chased leads, interviewed suspects & eventually identified the villain. She's aided again by Trent Stenson who is still somewhat of a mystery to me, hopefully his character will grow in future books. A well written murder mystery, which I recommend
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This book was so great. Loved it so much. It was a very smooth ride, it wasn't jumping around. This a first time author for me.

Thank you net gallery.

Great first sentence! This was a well written crime thriller/police procedural with lots of possible suspects. It can be read as a stand alone but it's always a more enjoyable read when you start at the beginning and are invested in the characters.  I enjoyed how Amanda was learning to balance taking care of a child with her demanding job but I would've liked more development of other characters.  I am looking forward to what's next for Amanda and Trent.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

When a young girl is found murdered Amanda's worst fear is another serial killer terrorising PWC. She is determined to catch this killer whatever it takes.

Juggling her need to find them with her new family situation you really feel her conflicting emotions.

A great page turner with a twist I didn't see coming. I love this series and look forward to see what happens next.

Black Orchid Girls is the fourth book in the Detective Amanda Steele Series, but it's only the second one I've read. Yet, it has been easy enough to catch up with what has happened in Amanda's life since my last visit.

And this was certainly a very solid police procedural that developed at a steady pace as Amanda and her colleague Trent investigate the death of student Chloe Somner. But with little motive or obvious suspects Amanda and Trent struggle to find a lead that is until evidence points them to someone close. Yet, just as they find their breakthrough, another young woman is murdered and whilst I never guessed who the killer was, I did feel it came somewhat out of left field.

But I enjoyed it nonetheless and with plenty of investigative detail I was engaged throughout and the characters are certainly intriguing enough to want to read more.

Would recommend.

This is a great crime thriller.
The body of a young woman is found naked and posed with a black orchid.
Amanda and Trent want to find the killer quickly as she was brutally stabbed.
She was a student at the local university so questions are put to those who knew her.
The symbolism of the flower is a puzzling one and their enquiries lead them down several avenues.
This is a gripping crime thriller.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 stars rounded up for a suspenseful police procedural. Detective Amanda Steele is called to the scene of a brutal murder. Before they can solve it, there is a second murder. They do eventually solve them, but not until the end did I suspect the killer. They follow several false leads. Amanda is also dealing with some personal issues. This is book 4 in the series, but it worked ok for me as a stand alone. I have read other books by this author, but none in this series.
One quibble: There is a gun grab, where someone grabs an officer's gun. I am retired law enforcement. I retired 20 years ago. Four years before I retired, I was issued an anti gun grab holster. I had to be trained to use it. I had to practice and be able to draw and shoot accurately within a certain time frame. I was also trained in defensive blocking moves. I believe most police departments do the same. While this worked well as a plot device, it just seemed too easy. Gun grabs still happen , but they are not that easy. In the author's defense, the character grabbing the gun was not perceived as a threat.
One quote, describing the 1st body: "The girl could have been Sleeping Beauty with a creamy pale complexion waiting for her prince to kiss her and resurrect her to life-if not for the numerous stab wounds in her torso..
And the black orchid that lay on her chest."
Thanks to the author, and George Arnold at Bookouture for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#BlackOrchidGirls #NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent Stenson, get called to a morbidly curious crime scene. A young woman's body has been found. She is completely nude with a black orchid placed on her chest and her hands wrapped around it. There is no identification around the body initially. They soon find out it is a 19 year old ecology student from the local university. As the detectives delve deep into this crime you will have a multitude of suspects to choose from. Shortly thereafter Chloe's roommate is found dead in the same park with a black orchid placed on her body. You will be drawn into the bizarre world of competitive education, lies and deceit and people who are not who they appear to be. This is a superb thriller that will captivate you from the beginning. It is tense and electric. In these detectives' minds there is nothing worse than a serial killer loose not only in their town but especially in a college town full of young female co-eds. Amanda Steele is a very likeable character with a sharp mind for clues. The jaw dropping ending will have you cheering for more! Forget about sleep because you will not be able to put this one down! Sleep is overrated anyway especially when you have a good book to read! Carolyn Arnold has written another winner!

Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold is the 4th book in her fantastic Detective Amanda Steele series. I have noted this many times, that I am a big fan of Arnold, having read most of her series, and I love this series, which I feel is the best one yet.

Amanda Steele, our heroine, is a homicide detective in Dumfries, Virginia Police Department. She is called with her partner, Trent to a scene where a girl (local college student) is found murdered in the forest of Leesylvania State Park. The dead girl was stabbed 7 times, with the murderer cleansing her body and leaving a black orchid flower on her. What does the Black Orchid mean: sign of affection, or a dark death wish?

Both Amanda and Trent learn more about the girl (Chloe), especially after they meet her two roommates and find out more information about her ex-boyfriend, as well as students who hated her. Josh the boyfriend was a suspect, since he supposedly sent her a message to meet him at the park; and another boy was also suspected, since he dropped off someone at the park. Both Amanda and Trent have their hands full, investigating all the suspects, including another boy and girl who hated Chloe. While deep in their investigation, another girl is murdered, found the same way as the previous girl. Is this a serial killer?

While deep in the case, Amanda also worries about Zoe, the young girl she is adopting; seems the biological father wants to meet her, to perhaps fight for custody. Amanda does her best to spend time with Zoe, as she has come to love her; luckily Amanda has friends who can watch her while she is spending long hours at work. Amanda’s feels the pressure of the case, as well as concern about Zoe.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, tense mystery that kept me unable to put the book down. There were so many suspects, and even surprises at the end. To say too much more would be spoilers, and this was a very good story that needs to be read from start to finish.

Black Orchid Girls was a very good excellent crime thriller that was suspenseful, intense, and kept us guessing who was the murderer to the end. I loved the team of Amanda, Trent & her Sergeant, as well as many of the secondary characters. Amanda is a great heroine, and a fantastic detective. Black Orchid Girls was so very well written by Carolyn Arnold, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next. If you like mystery thrillers, police procedural, then you need to be reading this book.

One of the best series out there today. Suspense in spades. This book is well written and the characters are phenomenal. From the first page to the last, this book grip your heart. Full of suspense, twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out you are gobsmacked with another terrifying twist. The characters are like family that you never want to say goodbye too. I have not a single thing to critique this was an incredible read

Book 4 in the Amanda Steele series by Carolyn Arnold, publication date 10th Feb 2022. Thank you to netgalley, Carolyn Arnold and bookouture for the ARC of black orchid girls.
I am beyond a fan of this series from book 1 to book 4 I am yet to be disappointed. Before reading book 4 pick up the first 3 books it’s a must.
When the body of local studenr Chloe is found near the river naked, posed and with a black orchid laid on her Amanda and her team are assigned the case. One thing that bothers her is the flower; why is it there and what is its significance. So many suspects but what are their motives?

I love Carolyn Arnold and the way she writes. From the very first page I was hooked right until the last page, probably why it was read in 2 sittings. The concept of the crime was really interesting as there seems to be no real reason why anyone would want Chloe dead and yet she was. I loved the way we were introduced to the suspects strangelt enough quite early on I correctly guessed the killer and I found myself talking myself out of my guess when more suspects were presented throughout . It was done very cleverly because every suspect could of been the killer quite frankly a each one of them had motive . The police procedural throughout the book was inviting , I wanted to know more and uncover all the clues along the way.

As per usual the prose was fantastic, like the others in the series the book was told in third person but this did not take away from the experience. The way scenes were described and depicted if was so easy to imagine . The striking description of Chloes body was both shocking and sad creating imaginary as if I was stood there myself. This is differently a strength that is held by the author.

Plus let’s nit forget Poppy (although I completely did so was pleasantly surprised when I remembered her character) she adds a whole new detention to Ananda as a person. We’ve known her as the childless mother grieving, now she’s a foster mum with the intention to adopt Poppy. Her character is like a breath of fresh air although she’s still grieving it was interesting to read the contrast between Amanda as a detective and Amanda as a mum. That’s why I’ve always loved this series all the characters are layered and interesting and with each book I love them a little bit more. Roll on book 5!!

Would I recommend Black Orchid Girls? Yes ofcourse I would whilst recommending the entire series!! Each book is an adventure into another mystery and I always feel like the 3rd detective there to help solve the crime. Even with guessing the killer really early on , it made no difference at still needed to did out if I was correct. It’s a page turner and if I hadn’t had to give in at 5am and sleep I would of read it in one sitting! Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Carla Kovach, D.K Hood and Rita Herron.