From my blog: Always With a Book

Karin Slaughter is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her books are just so complex and thrilling and I find I cannot put them down once I start them. I loved Pieces of Her when I read it a few years back and was ecstatic when I heard there was a sequel coming…it quickly became a highly anticipated read not only for August, but of the summer – and let me just say it totally delivers!

Of course, I’m going to start with my usual two cents about reading this series in order. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, so much happens in Pieces of Her that lays the foundation for Girl, Forgotten, especially when it comes to Andrea and her mother. And it’s just an amazing book on top of that, but that’s up to you…and don’t forget, there is the Netflix series and it is pretty true to the storyline.

While I loved Pieces of Her, I almost loved this more a tad bit more. It’s a very multi-layered mystery with twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way through – and I loved that! While it is dark, it’s not as graphic as some of the author’s previous books, though I will say there is one scene at the doctor’s office with Emily that is just horrific – but more in an old-school, misogynistic behavior way than anything else. It’s cringe-worthy and it just goes to show how well the author is at pointing out society’s bad behaviors.

This book pulled me in right away, and once I started it, I could not put it down. Karin Slaughter’s writing is so captivating that I find myself completely immersed in her stories and this one was no different. I managed to finish this in less than 24 hours. Between the engaging story, the close attention to detail and the fully fleshed out, multilayered characters, I was all in and I loved it. The multiple timelines and two perspectives worked so well here and I found myself equally engaged in it all – I just wanted answers to everything. Even the setting – the small town is itself a character and that plays into the story.

As with most thrillers/mysteries, I’m hesitant to say too much about the plot for fear of giving anything away, but I will say that the characters really do make this book. There are some really good characters and some really bad ones, and I loved that I was all over the place with who I thought had killed Emily Vaughn – never once coming close to figuring out the right person, by the way! And the way this one ends almost leads to me to think that we have not seen the last of US Marshall Andrea Oliver, which makes me one very happy reader!

Bottom line – if you love Karin Slaughter’s books or you love a good small-town mystery full of secrets and suspense, I highly recommend this one.


Audio thoughts: I binged this audiobook – and it’s almost 16 hours but it was so good! It’s narrated by Kathleen Early and she did a fantastic job bringing this book to life. Her pacing and intonation were spot on and she infused just the right amount of tension and emotion into her voice as needed. I have listened to other Karin Slaughter books and Kathleen has narrated them – she just gets the nuances of Karin’s writing.

My sincere thanks to @tandemcollectiveglobal for my gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

A forty-year-old unsolved murder and small town secrets serve as the backdrop for this exciting thriller!

Andrea Oliver (from 𝘗𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘦𝘳) returns on her first case as a US Marshall. Ostensibly, she is in Longbill Beach to protect a judge who is receiving death threats. In reality she is there to solve the forty year old murder of the judge’s daughter, Emily. Andrea also has her own reasons for wanting to solve this murder.

This one kept me engaged from start to finish. It is told in alternating timelines, switching from Emily’s perspective in 1982 to Andrea’s point of view in the present. I enjoyed the mystery and didn’t guess who the murderer was. I liked Andrea and hope to read more novels centered around this character.

I read this and I also listened to this one as an audiobook and the narrator did a perfect job!

If you haven't read Pieces of Her prior to reading Girl, Forgotten I would highly recommend it. Girl, Forgotten could easily be a standalone if you haven't, but you go in with a lot more background and insight.

I never would've guess that Andrea would show up in book 2 as law enforcement, I thought her character development was great! I liked this book a lot better than Pieces of Her. I enjoy Karin's writing and that she really draws you in and keeps you guessing. I thought I knew "who dun it" the entire book, but alas, I was wrong. I'm looking forward to the potential of more books in this series!

The narrator for this book was very good. I would recommend it as an audiobook.

Karin Slaughter is the queen of thrillers!!! This one is a little slower than her other books, but I really liked it. If you havent read Pieces of Her, it's totally ok. This book can easily be read as a standalone.

Absolutely loved this book and this audio. Kathleen Early truly is amazing. One of my favorite narrators. Thank you so much for the opportunity to listen. Highly recommend!!

I read this book immediately after the first. This one was sobmuch better. I lokedbthat there was far less confusion than in the first. It read as more of a suspense mystery which I enjoyed.

I liked having the backstory of the characters fresh in my mind, so while this could be read as a stand alone, it was much better not.

I really liked Emily and learning about who she is even though I knew she wasn't going to make it. Towards the end of the book when Emily stands up to her mom was probably my favorite part. I was able to guess who the father of Emily's child was and that a different person killed her. However I was not expecting her killer until a chapter or so before finding out.

This book was pretty great.

𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝, 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕠𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 🖤

🖤|𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔|🖤
Karin has done it once again! This is the sequel to Pieces Of Her, not only does it feature many characters from the first book, it is also very similar in plot structure - However, it can definitely be read as a standalone!!

This is a multi-layered mystery. It’s dark, twisty, emotional and bold.

Slaughter does such a wonderful job of seamlessly incorporating current political topics into her writing.

I am so excited to see what is next from Karin!

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝

Another winner from Karin Slaughter. I was involved from the beginning with the main characters. Great balance between the two time frames. Found the story involving and the narration was excellent.

Once again, Karin Slaughter kills it. I didn't realize this was a sequel to PIECES OF HER (which I haven't read and only saw the Netflix series) until after I finished, but it's perfectly enjoyable as a standalone. The characters are rich and real, especially Marshal Bible and his "Foghorn Leghorn quotes". Two mysteries are unraveled over the course of the book in parallel timelines told through Marshal Andy's POV in the present and Emily, an abused and mistreated teen in the early 80's. The two mysteries connect in horrifying ways, and Slaughter keeps you guessing until the very end. As usual, the audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Kathleen Early.

Highly recommend.

First off I want to thank @netgalley, @blackstonepublishing & @karinslaughter for my free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
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Amazing ! Is the first thing that comes to my mind, this is the first Slaughter book I've read (listened) and it's definitely not my last. I listened to this one and it was honestly such a great experience. I was always looking forward to press play. The narrator did a phenomenal job with the voice changes for each character. From the beginning it hooked me right away, I was invested in the characters.
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Throughout the book, I loved and hated the characters so much. Emily I felt for her so much, I was so affected by how everyone around her failed her at every chance they got. I wanted to hurt some of them, I couldn't believe how they were acting. The only thing some parts I did find moved a bit slowly. The whole intrigue was great, the twists and turns. I loved how researched it was, how detailed, how Slaughter's writing just drags you in.
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If you're a fan of thrillers, mysteries and amazing storytelling pick up this book !

Although not my favorite book by Karin Slaughter, this one keeps you intrigued and trying to guess who murdered the victim. Many red herrings and surprises which will please readers of mysteries. Well written and the audiobook was read by the excellent Kathleen Early.

This is the 2nd book in the Andrea Oliver series and it’s very rare that I say this, but I loved this one even more than the first. Girl, Forgotten is told in 3rd person POV from both Andrea and Emily, alternating between the past (1980’s) and the present. I read this book as a part of a super fun readalong. This book drew me in from the very first page! The narrator was great and it made for an easy listen. I absolutely loved the twists. I had my suspicious but still couldn’t figure everything out. My heart also absolutely broke for Emily. Additionally, I really liked Andrea’s character a lot more in this book than the first one (Pieces of Her). This wasn’t my absolutely favorite Slaughter book but it was still fucking phenomenal. I would literally read anything this woman writes including her grocery list because her writing sucks me in that much. Highly recommend this book!

Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter

In 1982, Emily Vaughn was preparing for the life ahead of her. She was graduating high school and wanted to go to college but suddenly everything changed and by the end of prom night, she was dead. Not one knew who killed her, not even her parents or her tight group of friends and the case was never resolved.

Now, US Marshal Andrea Oliver receives her first assignment: she has to go to Delaware because a judge is receiving death threats and needs her protection. The judge is Emily’s mother and Andrea, who has secrets of her own, feels connected to Emily’s case so, from the moment she arrives in Longbill Beach, she decides to start investigating.

The story, told in dual timelines, alternates between Emily’s and Andrea’s point of view. Both timelines are very suspenseful, filled with red herrings that keep you guessing until the very last page.

It has enraging scenes that are difficult to listen to and others that will have you at the edge of your seat. It’s no secret that Karin Slaughter can write great
And Girl, Forgotten wasn’t the exception. I already can’t wait to read more about Andrea and her very unique family.

The audio was narrated by Kathleen Early who did a great job with all the characters and maintained the suspense and the mysterious atmosphere throughout the story. Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the review audio copy of this book.

I struggled with Girl, Forgotten, a lot, which was disappointing because I generally enjoy Karin Slaughter's books. I definitely recommend reading or rereading Pieces of Her first to get a better grasp on the story. This one just fell a little flat for me.

Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter was such a thrilling, exciting, pulse-pounding story.
I've been anticipating this story for some time now and I'm here to say.... Slaughter didn't disappoint.
She has been a go to for me since I read Pretty Girls. And it's been an amazing ride ever since.
Karin did an excellent job with the plot and character development which had me totally invested in what I was reading as the suspense and tension developed.
An intense, quick and wild, edge-of-your-seat, fast-paced thriller with a very satisfying ending.
The narrator Kathleen Early did a fabulous job with the narration. She kept me hooked and listening for hours.
Another stellar book by one of the best out there today.
Would highly recommend!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Blackstone Publishing ,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.

"There was no bigger motive than keeping a secret."

Once again, with her latest audiobook, Girl, Forgotten, resident mystery author Karin Slaughter has written a well rounded detailed murder mystery ready made for a Sunday night TV mini series.

Girl, Forgotten is the second installment of the Andrea Oliver mystery series but is easily a stand alone story. We first met Andrea in Pieces of Her trying to escape getting murdered by her psychotic father. In this new story Andrea is a new graduate of the U.S. Marshalls and her first assignment is keeping a judge safe after she has received death threats.

However, it's never that cut and dry for Andrea. See the Judge's pregnant teenage daughter, Emily, was murdered in 1982, the killer was never found, and it's very possible Andrea's father was the murderer.

As this story goes back and forth from 1982 and the present, narrator Kathleen Early made me extremely emotional with her performance of Emily. This poor confused girl was treated with such venomous discontent when her pregnancy became public and everyone denied being the father. In fact , all the suspects, and townspeople were just vile humans.

The good news is there is humor with Andrea's partner Leonard "Catfish" Bible and I loved the reveal of who his wife is and their hysterical relationship.

As the two time lines converge we get intense confrontations, some jaw dropping truths, a cult, well more like a sex trafficking farm, and some fine good old justice for a Girl Forgotten. I can't wait for Andrea Oliver's next story!

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publishers via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wow. I loved this book even more than the first. I found myself on edge waiting to find out what would happen next. Switching being the povs really gave an in depth look at what was going on. Well done Karin Slaughter on another great read.

𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨!

I have a new favorite, what a ride, Karin did it again, thrilling, intense, suspenseful, twisty, dark and addictive. I love her books and I think this one is her best one yet, and that’s saying a lot because I have love everything I read so far. If you like intense thrillers you need to read this book.

𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 by Karin Slaughter released August 23, 2022.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

This was a superb follow up to Pieces of Her! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was phenomenal! The dual timelines were both compelling and easy to follow and from the start It’s easy to empathize with Emily in the past timeline and root for her. In the present timeline, I enjoyed Andrea’s character arc and development. The storyline was fast-paced and full of twists and turns. The ending seemed to hint at some sort of continuation so I’m hopeful and excited for that as well any future adaptations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for a copy of this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Karin Slaughter comes back with another gripping novel. I listened to this as an audiobook on an eight hour drive, and the book truly made the drive fly by. Told in a dual point of view is a story about a young girl murdered, and the woman who seeks justice years later when she believes it is connected to her cult leading father, Clay. A sequel to Pieces of Her, we are back with Andy, who is less annoying this time around 😅 You don’t need to read Pieces of Her in order to understand what is going on in this one. Although the ending fell a little flat, it’s hard to be disappointed by any of Karin Slaughters books and I’m looking forward to hearing what others thoughts are!