Member Reviews
When she was 7-years-old Kara McIntyre survived what became known as the"McIntyre Massacre," when police allege her half brother, Jonas, slaughtered nearly her entire family in cold blood. Kara barely escaped, and her half-sister went missing that night, never to be seen again. Now twenty years later, Jonas is being released from prison on a technicality, and soon after people connected to the case begin to turn up dead. And Kara begins receiving weird messages which imply her sister is alive after all these years. Is Jonas behind recent events? Or is Jonas truly innocent and the real killer is still out there, seeking revenge?
I like these type of "last person standing" books that have become popular in recent years, because they have some interesting layers to them - no other witnesses, usually a cold case, or one that is assumed to be solved, but has some kind of hole in the assumed solution. Figuring out the solution is going to be tricky and the backstory is going to be very interesting. That's also the case here, with Lisa Jackson creating a complex family background to navigate through, which offers plenty of suspects and motives to keep things interesting.
And the ending was quite a thriller, I loved that it was complex. I can't say too much, but I enjoyed it. Lisa Jackson is one of my favorite authors and it's because she's a skilled writer, and this book really shows that. I wish there was a little more resolution with Kara herself and maybe some of the other characters, but I didn't really take away from anything for me. The ending gave resolutions that were satisfactory enough.
This book was really dripping with suspense and I loved every minute of it. It's one of my favorites from Lisa Jackson (an author I'm a big fan of anyway) to come out recently. If you're a fan of mystery and suspense, you're going to want to pick this one up.
I knew this was going to be great as soon as I read the blurb and I had to read it. Kara's family were slaughtered 20 years ago and on that fateful night, Kara's sister Marlie hides her in the attic upstairs to keep her safe. Kara is frustrated being locked away and when she bravely decides to emerge she ventures down the stairs and Marlie is no where to be seen, only her stepbrother Jonas seems to be alive, Jonas is injured but tells Kara to run and when she sees a man in a mask in the loungeroom this is what she does, as fast as she can.
Kara survives but Marlie is missing presumed dead but her body is never found. Jonas is accused of the crime and is sent to prison for 2o years. Local journalist Tate is trying to get Kara to speak to him about the events of that night. Not only does he want a story but it was his father who saved Kara that night but sadly died at the scene of a heart attack. Kara is extremely hesitant to let anyone in but between the two of them they set out to find out what really happened that night.
I loved this book and was pretty unhappy that life kept getting in the way of me reading it continuously. A great story line that had you guessing until the end and well thought out characters. Five starts from me. Thank you to Netgalley , the author and publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
Lisa Jackson's The Girl Who Survived is an intricate book alternating between present-day events and bone chilling memories of the past. Through her descriptive writing, Jackson takes thriller fans on a dark intense journey they will not soon forget. This is an intricate book alliterating between present day events and bone chilling memories of the past. Through her descriptive writing, Jackson takes a thriller fans on a d. ark intense journey that they will soon not forget it has so many twists, and turns. The characters and story get you hooked. The end is so not what or how you think it will end and the killer/killers will surprise you. The added relationship/love makes it even better. I am not a big fan of thrillers but I loved this one.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
The book opens with the gruesome slaughter of a Kara McLaughlin's entire family....a scene which reels the reader in quickly. Seven-year-old Kara is the sole survivor of her family with the exception of her sister who just vanishes from the scene and her brother Jonah who is convicted of murdering the rest of the family. The story alternates between the past and the present, with Kara (who has turned into a somewhat functioning alcoholic) slowly remembering the bloody events that she has blocked out of her mind for the last twenty years. Then Jonah is released from prison and Kara is looking for him to find out his side of the story which she never actually got from him, starting with his lawyer. Kara and Jonah's Aunt Faiza (technically Kara's guardian) has spent much of their soon-to-be-inherited fortune (that their parents left to them in their will) and is desperately trying to hold onto whatever she can. Reporter Tate, whose father drowned saving Kara from an icy lake on that fateful night, is also looking for answers trying to get an interview with Kara and find out her side of the story. People around Kara are bring murdered one by one adding to the mystery in the past and now in the present, too. There are many characters involved in this intense fast-paced story. I really enjoyed the different points of view throughout which tied everything together at the end. A very interesting thriller! Thanks to NG for the ARC!!
Twenty years ago a brutal slaying left four members of one family dead. Seven year old Kara was hidden in the attic by her older sister, Marlie and told to wait for her. When Marlie didn’t return Kara crept downstairs to find her mother and father slain and her two step-brothers - Sam Jnr. and Donner also dead. Her other step-brother, Jonas, urged her to run and get help. She ran but was chased by a man, she ran onto the ice of a frozen lake and fell in. The man, Officer Tate, was trying to help her. He saved her life but later died himself. Jonas was later convicted of the killings, even though he was injured. Who else could it have been? And the murder weapon was his sword, his prints the only ones on it. Marlie is never heard from again.
Now, 20 years later with the anniversary of the deaths coming up, one of the officers on the old case has an attack of conscience and says there was a break in the chain of custody of the sword and Jonas is to released from prison. Detective Cole Thomas and his partner Detective Aramis Johnson are charged with reviewing the case from scratch and going over all the evidence. They soon realise there are other potential suspects.
Meanwhile, Wesley Tate, the son of the man who saved Kara and working as a journalist is seeking an interview with Kara. She is not receptive.but she is getting strange anonymous messages saying “she is alive!” Are they from Marlie? Where has she been? And as Jonas is released from prison and the killings start again Kara, who is feeling increasingly anxious, decides to trust Wesley and they pool their resources to try and work out what really happened that night.
It was certainly suspenseful and a very engaging read. Towards the end though it all got a little bit much and stretched the limits of my credulity. 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 pace was crisp and the book was very readable. It certainly fits the bill for some light reading with a bit of a bite to it! Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
After losing her entire family in a brutal and confusing mass murder, Kara doesn’t want to be known as just the girl who survived a vicious attack at her family cabin in Oregon. All she knows for sure is that her sister locked her in the attic and left. When she got herself out she found no sister and only one brother clinging to life in the bloody living room. And he says one thing. Run. So she does. At seven years old, she can’t run far or fast but she runs from the shadowy figure standing at the door.
Her brother, Jonas, could be violent but she isn’t sure he did this. The state, however, is certain and now after twenty years, he is out. On a technicality, but out. As Kara tries to process what this means for her she also begins getting messages from someone claiming to be her sister telling her she is alive.
As she gets closer to figuring out what happened, will she finally be the girl who didn’t survive? Because the killer is still out there and is very close to finishing his job.
So much tension in this thriller! Just when I thought I knew, I did not. Good read!
NetGalley/ June 28, 2022, Kensington
Lisa Jackson’s newest certainly kept me on the edge of my seat! The story follows Kara, who is the only (known) survivor, after her whole family was murdered by one of her brothers two decades ago on Christmas Eve. It’s been twenty years and now her brother is being released from prison on account of false evidence. This book is filled with suspense, true crime elements, and an ending that will leave readers satisfied! There were even a few twists that I didn’t see coming that left me reeling. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was written very well! Thank you NetGalley for an opportunity to read this ARC!
I've been reading Lisa Jackson's novels for years and I think it becomes very clear after this long that she's a top notch author! The Girl Who Survived was excellent! It's dark, exciting, and unputdownable! I highly recommend all her books!
This is not a fast paced thriller. The story slowly unfolds as Kara and Tate look into what happened the night her family was massacred on Christmas eve. Did Jonas really kill her family? and what happened to Marlie? So many questions that Kara needs answers for so she can move on with her life. Love Lisa Jackson's books they always keep me reading into the night and this book was no exception once you start you HAVE to know what happened on that Christmas Eve to the McIntyre's.
Kara McIntyre was just seven when a killer went on a rampage at her cabin in Oregon and most of her family was murdered. Her sister, Marlie saved her that night but has been missing since. Her brother, Jonas was convicted of the murders.
That was twenty years ago. Jonas was just released from prison and Kara is receiving cryptic messages from someone. Wesley Tate’s father died saving Kara from a lake as she escaped the murder scene. Now he wants answers about that night. When someone close to the case is found murdered, the police are on the hunt for answers. Soon, secrets and lies will be revealed. The truth of that night will finally come to light.
This is my first book by this author. It was a really good read. The mystery kept me guessing and I couldn’t wait to find out the truth.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Kara McIntyre was the only known survivor of a Christmas Eve massacre that killed her entire family with the exception of the person convicted of the murders -- her half brother Jonas. Also missing was her older half sister. Kara was only 7 when that occurred but it's now 20 years later and her brother has been released on a technicality. The press is all excited about this turn of events and it is just a headache for Kara. She teams up with a member of the press who also happens to be her neighbor from long ago that also has an interest in the situation. This has a lot of twists and turns -- a real whodunit. If you enjoy this sort of thing then you will want this on your reading list.
I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my own honest opinion.
DNF for me. This is not a good book so don't waste your time.
What's wrong with it? Everything. The book is like a soap opera, a lot of overexaggerated emotions and reactions without any depth. It is written from too many different point of views (the girl who survived, a journalist, a detective and even including one who is killed within the next few chapters), it has a lot of people and dialogues that add no value to the story, and in contrast they distract from it and and loses the momentum of suspense. Characters speak like children, very basic language and everyone uses profanity, a bit too much for my taste. I even thought that the author was a teenager because the speaking style and thoughts were quite immature.
The premise is a cliche and has been used before but it would have worked if the author was a better thriller writer. I do not remember whether I have ever heard Lisa Jackson's work before but I am surprised that she is a bestselling author - I do not see it from this book at all.
Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange of an honest review.
This fast paced thriller will have readers baffled as Kara searches for answers about the murders of her family. Wesley Tate also wants answers but for different reasons. Is he using Kara for a news story or genuinely concerned? Readers will have to wade through a tangled family mess and sort through many characters to find the truth about the massacre. Recommended for readers who love thrillers and don't mind the bloodshed.
I chose this book because I'm a fan of the author's, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Kara McIntyre suffered a horrible trauma on Christmas Eve when, at seven years old, she witnessed the massacre of her family. Although her step brother, Jonah, and step sister, Marlie, survived, Marlie disappeared that night and hasn't been found in twenty years. Jonah was tried for the murders of his step siblings and found guilty. However, due to a technicality discovered twenty years later near Christmas, he was released from prison.
When other murders begin taking place of people involved with the McIntyre's, the police believe Jonah is striking again. One detective isn't too sure, and Kara, receiving odd text messages that may mean her sister is alive, wants to remember the truth of that terrible night to finally learn what really happened. Teaming up with the reporter whose father died saving her, Kara returns to the cabin where her family had spent that Christmas season.
I highly recommend this book to those who like dark fiction and enjoy thrillers with twists.
DNF at 64%
Thanks, Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this ARC.
Do you know crime shows that are on around that 10pm hour? Everything that feels cliche, dated ways ( racially biased) people communicate to each other, and thin. Thin stories, bare minimum character traits, and random details that happened to show up mid season to catch viewers. This is that show. This is that story.
I didn’t care about anyone and the level of intensity of the first chapter vanished. This felt like those thick paperbacks that are trade and sit on library back shelves.
I can’t do it. I can’t put my precious reading time into finishing.
Wow just wow. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did.
I was captivated from start to finish. The storyline was very well written and the characters I really enjoyed reading about. So engaging and such a good read.
Full of twists and turns and keeps you wanting to turn the page. I loved this book and would recommend to fellow book readers. I also look forward to what the author next brings out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange of an honest review.
This book was a rollercoaster ride for sure. It started off with a bang and was suspenseful the whole way through. The final 25% was a real page turner. The author had me guessing most of the time and the twists were interesting. There is one particular scene near the end of the book that will stick with me for a long time. The only reason I gave this four instead of five stars is that I felt most of the action was in the first 5% and last 25%. There were a few parts in between that dragged a bit. This is my first Lisa Jackson book and it won't be my last!
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
An intriguing stand alone thriller from the queen of romantic suspense, Lisa Jackson. Be prepared to be kept up all night reading this. It’s action packed and keeps you turning the pages.
Kara survived a family massacre one Christmas as a young child with her entire family killed, minus her missing sister and her brother who murdered them. She is a shell of a person and barely functioning intone world as an adult when she finds out new brother, Jonah is being released. As the media descends on her, she starts receiving communication from someone claiming to be her sister. Is it really her? Who is messing with her mind? As people start to die around her she wonders if she will survive this time.
Edge of your seat suspense is what I’ve come to expect from Lisa and I wasn’t disappointed. Highly recommend to her legion of fans.
Lisa Jackson's The Girl Who Survived is an intricate book alternating between present-day events and bone chilling memories of the past. Through her descriptive writing, Jackson takes thriller fans on a dark intense journey they will not soon forget.
Synopsis:
It has been over twenty years since seven year old Kara escaped a brutal massacre at her family's cabin in Oregon. On Christmas Eve, Kara's father, mother and two step-brothers were brutally murdered. Marlie, Kara's older sister disappeared that day without a trace. Kara's other step-brother Jonas survived with minor injuries and was later convicted of the crime. As an adult Kara still struggles with the emotional aftermath of this horrific event.
Kara receives word that Jonas is being released from prison on a technicality. Jonas has always claimed he did not commit the murders and was wrongfully convicted. However, when brutal recurrent murders start happening after Jonas is released from prison, police reopen the old murder case. Kara is unsure who to trust or what she should believe. Will Kara's quest for truth endanger her life?
Lisa Jackson is one of the most popular and highly acclaimed writers of today. I always find her books to be extremely spooky and entertaining. Lisa is not afraid to take on tough topics and present them in a realistic manner. The Girl Who Survived does contain graphic violence so check the trigger warnings before proceeding.
The Girl Who Survived is available June 28th. Applause to Lisa Jackson for writing this fantastic 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ book!
Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books for this nail biting novel! I love every page of it!
Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, and a bunch of who done it! The storyline was so twisted with some crazy killer! The story was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book! It was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!