This is a twisted tale of the massacre of an entire family. There is a lot of enmity between the various factions of the extended and blended McIntyre family. Lust, jealousy and greed combine to form a maelstrom that many don't survive. But the burning question is 'Did Jonas do it?' I found myself suspecting everyone at various points in the book.

Definitely suspenseful and engaging as only Lisa Jackson can deliver. In the end though it all got a little bit over the top. Is that a bad thing? It is a fiction book and meant to enjoy. Some of the dialogue was a bit cheesy too. I didn’t think the characters were as fully developed as they could be but the book was on point and enjoyable. I'll always look forward to what Lisa Jackson brings to us next as she is a satisfying writer.

Special shout out to NetGalley and Kensington for a chance to enjoy the book.

This book started off with a bang! I do NOT recommend starting this book at night, right before you go to bed and/or home alone. This first chapter had my heart pounding and I wanted to keep reading.
Recently, I have become obsessed with the ‘final girl’ trope. (Ex: Jamie Lee Curtis - Halloween or Neve Campbell - Scream). There aren’t many books in this particular trope. A few months ago, I started searching and searching but everything I found I had already read - with the exception of this book because it wasn’t yet released. I checked Netgalley almost daily until I could request it!
I really enjoyed this book overall. My heart broke for Kara. She witnessed so much horror in her life and was strong enough to keep going. She may have been paranoid, but that is totally understandable! I loved how this book dropped little hints here and there as to the plot twist. I had figured out some of it, but not all. The one thing I didn’t like about this book: how long the chapters were!!! Made it really hard to say ‘just one more chapter’ so I had to make due with stopping at scene breaks.
Definitely recommend this book! But make sure you can handle gore …. Because there will be some!

Lisa Jackson has been hit and miss for me but his one was hit. Set in the beautiful but mysterious Pacific North West, the mountains and weather are just another character in the story. Kara survived a brutal family annihilation that never really had a satisfying conclusion. Not even with the conviction of her half brother for t crime. With his conviction overturned, everyone wants to know what happened in the huge house in the woods that night twenty years ago. I was immediately hooked and spent a good day reading it. This one will pull you in and hold you.

Kara is only 7 years old when she is woken up by her older sister in the middle of the night. Pushed to hide up in the attic when unspeakable evil happens downstairs. When she hears a scream she goes downstairs to find most of her blended family murdered. Her brother tells her to call for help and run. While it looks like he was also a victim he is then convicted of killing his family.

Now twenty years later Jacob is released from prison after an evidence collection error wins him an appeal. With his release it appears someone doesn’t want the secrets of that night to get out.

Kara still hasn’t recovered for that horrible night, self treating with alcohol she wants to find out the truth. With the help of a pushy reporter who also has ties to that night they find themselves in the crosshairs of a killer.

This book left me on the edge of my seat, keeping me guessing as to what really happened that night.

I received an arc from NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own and given freely.

This twisted story of the massacre of an entire family had me almost chewing my nails and definitely had my heart racing. Kara McIntyre survived but her life has never been the same. At the beginning of the book, Kara is still dealing with the memories of that night that haunt her when she finds out that her brother Jonah is being released from prison because of some legal snafu. Jonas has served twenty years for the murder of his family and now the police detectives on the case have to start over with the investigation and try to find the real killer, if Jonah indeed is not the one. With more bodies piling up and avaricious relatives waiting in the wings to take Kara’s inheritance, this book has all kinds of suspects, many clues and tons of red herrings. I enjoyed all of the “look over here” moments in the story while the real action was taking place elsewhere. The characters were deeply involved in the story, realistic and emotional. The plot was complex but easy to follow as it meandered its way through what really happened that night. My favorite character was investigative reporter Wesley Tate, the son of the police officer who saved Kara’s life that night and who is doggedly determined to find out the truth. Kara seemed to be a weak character at times, not in her portrayal, but just that she was not an overcomer but rather still a victim. I loathed her Aunt Fazia who took advantage of her being an orphan and moved right into the family mansion as if it were her own. Since I’m sure that she was meant to be a despicable character, the author did a great job there! This is a suspense with more surprises than I expected and an edgy feel of horror that had happened and was maybe going to happen again. Fans of brilliantly crafted mystery drama will enjoy this book and may or may not be able to sleep before you finish it.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

A clever mystery that kept me guessing. It was a bit too on the bloody side for my taste. Yikes! Body count was high, too. I couldn't stop turning the pages though. I had to know what really happened twenty years ago and what was going on currently. Surprised me! Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After spending almost her entire life crippled by her past, Kara is again caught up up a fight for the truth and just maybe her life. This is an edge of your seat page turner! A fast paced story told from many viewpoints and a whole lot of twists and turns! Was her brother wrongly convicted? What happened to her sister, is she still alive and where has she been for 20 years if so? Can Wesley Tate get answers to help him cope with his fathers death saving young Kara? A great who-dun-it.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Kensington in exchange for honest review.

Such a fantastic read even if it is a little unbelievable at parts. Throughly enjoyed this plot line for a thriller.

3.5⭐

At the age of seven, Kara McIntyre’s world was shattered when during the Christmas holidays, her parents and two of her three half-brothers ( from her parents’ previous marriages) were butchered by an unknown assailant in their family cabin in Oregon. After locking her in the attic to keep her safe, her older half-sister Marlie disappeared and her fate is unknown. Kara after escaping the attic was later saved by an off-duty copy who died from his efforts. Her older half-brother Jonas, eighteen at the time was injured in the attack but survived. Circumstantial evidence has Jonas convicted for the murder and he serves 20 years in prison but is being released because of a glitch in the chain of evidence recently discovered by his lawyer.

As a child, her statements during Jonas’s trial helped put him away though that was not her intention and her words and testimony were twisted to suit the purpose of the prosecution. Twenty years of trauma and memories of her family have haunted Kara throughout her life as has her questions about the fate of her half-sister Marlie. Her life has been mostly devoid of friends, raised by an aunt whose intentions were driven mostly by greed for Kara’s family fortune which she is weeks away from inheriting and her life has been a series of therapy sessions, anxiety and the occasional alcohol to take the edge off. The "Cold Lake Massacre" as the tragedy is dubbed has been the subject of much media attention through the years and the twentieth anniversary of the killings along with Jonas’s impending release has sparked renewed interest in the case – the media are all over it, the police are reopening the investigation and Kara is at the center of it all. She is being hounded by a freelance journalist whose interest in the truth is personal. As the narrative progresses, Kara starts receiving cryptic messages seeming to indicate Marlie is alive and people related to the case are found murdered, the method of killing eerily similar to the massacre years ago.

What really happened to Kara’s family all those years ago? Was Jonas innocent of the crimes for which he had been incarcerated and if so, who was responsible for the massacre? What happened to Marlie? Is she alive? Is Kara in danger?

Lisa Jackson’s The Girl Who Survived is a gripping thriller that captures your attention from the first page and keeps you engaged till the very end. I am a bit tired of the overused traumatized alcoholic female protagonist trope. However, the author does manage to keep the alcohol-induced moments within reasonable limits. Please note that the descriptions of the scene of the crimes are quite vivid and might be disturbing for some. The law enforcement officials handling the case in the present day were a bit sloppy in some crucial moments which was frustrating since we readers could make more sense of some of the clues that were uncovered along the way. Overall, I enjoyed the mystery and suspense and the consistent pacing as the plot progressed. Lisa Jackson's thrillers are always a pleasure to read. As with most thrillers, the ending is a bit far-fetched but the twists and turns and the red herrings make for an absorbing read.

Many thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of this thriller in exchange for my honest review.

(There are some glaring mistakes in crucial moments in the text that need to be edited before the book is released but given that this is an uncorrected proof, it has not impacted my rating. )

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great premise, but unfortunately ruined by excruciatingly bad writing. Clunky dialogue, emotionally overwrought characters without any depth to them, very basic language, too many POVs - and even for an ARC way too many typos and grammar mistakes. I only slogged through this due to my feeling of obligation, having been granted an ARC, but definitely would not recommend.

Kara McIntyre was seven years old when nearly her whole family was murdered twenty years ago on Christmas Eve. The murders are once again in the news with the anniversary coming up, and the release of Kara’s step brother, Jonas, from prison after being convicted of the murders. Jonas’ lawyer found evidence that caused the courts to set him free. Just as this is happening, Kara starts receiving phone calls and texts from an unknown number saying Marlie, her step sister who disappeared the night of the murders is alive. Then Jonas’ lawyer is found murdered, and several more people connected in some way to the event are murdered. Can Kara remember the events of that night to make sure she stays alive?

The Girl who Survived is a thrilling suspense novel with a happily ever after. It was heavy on the suspense and light on the romance. It was written in third person from the point of view of many of the characters, and this allowed the reader to see all sides but also helped to build the drama and suspense.

Kara McIntyre is the little girl that survived the McIntrye Family Massacre, but twenty years later she is still struggling to live a normal life. Her brother, convicted for killing her entire family has been released on a technicality and is looking for payback. Her long lost thought to be dead sister is sending her cryptic messages. As the press and danger surrounds her, will Kara be able to rely on Wesley Tate, a reporter with a link to that tragic event, to keep her safe and stop a killer? Read it and find out!

This is the first full length book by Jackson that I have read, but it won’t be my last. I look forward to reading more of her suspenseful novels.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced readers copy received from Netgalley.

This book was pretty good, not great, my first by this author. The premise was very interesting, what happens to a young woman who survived a terrible attack on her family when she was a child. Her brother who had been in jail for the crime was being released. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and at times what felt like a lot of extra details that could have been edited to make the story stronger . I wanted to find out what happened before as well as what was going on in the present as more people were getting killed

Mid-day Saturday I got notification via NetGalley that Kensington had made Lisa Jackson's The Girl Who Survived available to me.

I started reading about 2:30pm. I went to bed, book finished, about 1am. I did make dinner, watch some tv, and snooze a little on the couch between times, but all in all this was most definitely an "I'll Sleep When I've Read..." kind of book!

It wasn't as "on the edge of the seat" as some suspense/thriller, and I felt like I could have probably edited out at least a quarter of it from repetition without missing a beat, but I still couldn't bring myself to put it down for more than a few minutes -- and not because I wanted to have something to post this morning. I needed to know what happened twenty years ago when the book began. Towards the end there were several audible "holy heck" moments which got me some strange looks from the 16 year old sitting across the room from me (I think he was waiting to sleep until I'd read, also).

These were the moments that jumped my rating from 3 stars to 4 ... and will make me look for more Lisa Jackson books to read as this was my first.

Full teaser review at https://wellreadpiratequeen.blogspot.com/2022/06/ill-sleep-when-ive-read-girl-who.html

This one really kept me guessing! There are a lot of twists and action. The characters are interesting. I read this one straight through. I just had to get the answers! This is one of the better books by this author.

This book had my attention from the very first paragraph. Almost an entire blended family slaughtered on Christmas Eve. One sibling vanishes, one goes to prison, and the youngest is scarred for life. It’s a muddled murder and I really had no idea who had done the slaying. One sibling kept gnawing at me and finally when once clue kept popping up, I made the connection.
Great plot and great read.

This was my first Lisa Jackson book... I know, I know, how did I go so long without reading her books?! My mom is actually a HUGE fan of Jackson so when I saw her book available on NetGalley I requested it. Yay, lucky me!

This book captured my complete attention from the first chapter. I immediately stopped reading everything else and it became my sole focus. The Girl Who Survived is mainly told from the POV of Kara who survives the murder of her family when she is 7. Her brother is convicted of the murders and has been in jail for the passed 20 years. Suddenly, due to a technicality, her brother is released and some shit starts to go down.

There are multiple points of view that I found easy to follow because they are mainly all in the current time and Jackson is a fantastic writer so you're really not confused over who is talking (just confused about who's going around murdering everyone).

What I loved: Kara was a fully developed character. I could see her struggles and the moments of hope that she tried to hold onto. My mom had already broke it down that I was never going to guess who the murderer was because she (who has been reading mysteries since she was a wee tot) can never guess with Lisa Jackson books. She was right. I literally had no idea, I didn't even try.

The only thing that was a little off for me was that the story takes place during Christmas and it's snowy. I'm sweating over here currently, so if I could change one thing it would be reading it in the winter. Just an aesthetic preference.

Who I think would like this: Mystery book lovers, especially those who love dark family secrets and twisty can't-trust-anyone characters. Lisa Jackson is an icon. If you haven't read her books, then imma go with - give this one a shot.

Huge thanks to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for an advanced e-copy of this book and for giving me that elevated heart rate boost.

#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #murdermystery #suspense #thrillerbooks #thegirlwhosurvived #netgalley #lisajackson

I would like to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Girl Who Survived’ by Lisa Jackson in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
It’s Christmas-time and carols are playing on the radio when seven-year-old Kara’s older sister Marlie creeps into her bedroom and leads her to the attic where she’s been told to hide and keep quiet. Kara doesn’t want to stay in the attic as there are creepy crawlies and worse, so she forces the lock and tiptoes down the stairs, looking into each room in turn. What she sees is shocking as her parents and three half-brothers have been attacked, all dead except for Jonas who’s barely alive. Jonas is charged with their murders but his conviction is overturned after twenty years and he’s released from prison.
‘The Girl Who Survived’ tells the story of Kara who twenty years later is still seeing a psychologist to help with her guilt for being the only survivor of what was called the ‘Cold Lake Massacre’. The story has a thrilling start as Kara discovers her family and she nearly drowns in the frozen lake but then it starts to slow down and drags as the story unfolds, sadly lacking the excitement I was anticipating. Although the book is well-written, the way it ends was disappointing and let down the rest of the book. I’m sure other readers will enjoy this book but unfortunately it’s not for me.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of The Girl Who Survived, a stand-alone thriller set in Oregon.

Twenty years ago seven year old Kara McIntyre survived a family annihilation, her parents and two brothers were killed, her teenage sister Marlie disappeared, never to be seen again and her third brother, Jonas, went to jail for the massacre. Kara has never recovered from the tragedy and it’s about to get worse with Jonah’s conviction being overturned and mysterious texts appearing on her phone, hinting that Marlie is alive. Then people close to her start getting murdered.

I enjoyed The Girl Who Survived which is an interesting read, as much an examination of Kara’s psyche as it is a thriller. The novel is quite slow to start in terms of present day action. It opens with the events of twenty years ago told from seven year old Kara’s perspective. It does its job in scene setting and conveying a certain level of terror, but she’s an extremely precocious seven year old and that jars with the present day nervous wreck. Then there’s all the scene setting of Kara’s present day situation, her lack of trust, her anxiety and the fact that those surrounding her are bleeding her substantial inheritance dry. Throughout this first 20% are woven Kara’s recollections and perceived truths.

Then the murders start and Kara’s narrative alternates with the detectives tasked with re-investigating her family’s murders and the new ones. I found the murder story quite compulsive but I felt it lost a little immediacy and impact with the equal concentration on Kara’s mental health. Still, I would never have guessed the outcome, even if offered big, fat clues, because it’s quite torturous and taught this reader to take nothing at face value. You’d have thought after so many crime novels that I would have learned this lesson, but, no, I got sucked in and believed what I was told. A bit of Jackson magic, I think.

I didn’t like Kara so, at some points, it was difficult to identify with her. I know I’m supposed to be supportive of mental health issues, but in fiction I just wanted her to buck up and get on with it.

The Girl Who Survived is a good read that I can recommend.

Kara has survived the worst experience a seven year old child could. It was Christmas Eve and her older half sister woke her up and demanded she be quiet but to follow her. Kara was scared because she knew something was really wrong. Her sister locked her in the scary attic and told her she would come back for her. Kara waited a bit then picked the lock and started to go to the bottom floor of the house. The horror she sees will be forever ingrained in her mind. Her 2 half brothers, her mom, and her dad were all slaughtered and there was one body that moved and told her to run and get help, Jonas. She never saw her older sister who saved her after she was locked in the attic. That was 20 years ago and Kara is still dealing with the terror and anxiety attacks. Now it is all coming full circle when Jonas who went to jail for the murders is left free. Everyone is now reliving that moment from 20 years ago including a very pesky reporter, Trent. Trent has been tied to this case since his dad died that night 20 years ago while saving Kara from drowning in the frozen lake. Trent is determined to get Kara to give him an exclusive to everything about that case but how far is he willing to go. Things start to happen around Kara and she is determined that someone is watching and following her. Is she crazy or is it really happening? Trent is determined to be there for her and protect her when things go sideways. Will they ever find out who really killed her family and where her missing half sister is and survive? I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.