Only Girl Alive is the first book in a new series by Holly S. Roberts. Eve Bennet is leading a team that are investigating the murders of a fundamentalist family. This was a well written story that kept my attention but was hard to read at times, but I really liked it and can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc.

The storyline really had potential, but the writing was just not there. It read very choppy and had a lot of unnecessary fluff.

Not a bad start to a new series. There is a lot of potential for this to be a solid series and I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next in the Eve Bennet story. My biggest complaint was that parts of it seemed really drawn out and repetitive.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

Wow. Hooked from the prologue
“ This story is the consequence.”

What a thrill ride. This book follows Detective Eve solving a murder in a polygamist colony. Having been brought up in this community, Eve understands and disagrees with all the practices.
This was a real look into a polygamist society, one that I’ve known nothing about… Well eve, solves this murder mystery

A great start to a new series. It hits the ground running and the pace never misses a beat. An absolutely gripping detective thriller that will keep you reading late into the night, unable to put the book down for a second.

Female cop who’s a survivor of a polygamist LDS cult and now leads a team that’s investigating the grisly murders of a fundamentalist family? Sign me up! (Sorry that sounds so tacky and insensitive but it really is such an interesting premise.)

This book is the first in a new series and was such a good read. I could tell that the author actually had experience with polygamist cults and law enforcement, and after finishing the book I saw that she had been a detective in a region of Utah where she worked cases with that community.

The details about the fundamentalist culture, especially towards women and children, were heartbreaking and accurately showed what life is like for those trapped in the cult. Eve is a strong woman who is still damaged by her past. Not only does the case bring back all that pain and anger, but she has to work with her abusive former half brother who tormented her during her childhood and is now the county attorney in the corrupt town. Her team is diverse and interesting, though some of the members could use deeper fleshing out. I’m sure they will be in later books.

I read this quickly and really enjoyed it. I’ll happily read all the upcoming books in the series.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

Dang! Ms. Roberts starts this series out with a bang! Only Girl Alive is the first in the new Eve Bennet Series - Eve is an investigator in Utah who helps assure law and order (and speaking for those who cannot) in the fundamentalist Mormon population. It is also the same area that she grew up in - when she and her mother escaped an abusive relationship... only to find themselves escaping once again. She is called in by her stepbrother (who is also the county attorney and a fundamentalist Mormon) to investigate the death of a husband, his two sister wives, and a young son. Nothing is as it seems - and Eve is sure she's not being told everything to solve the murders. It's an incredibly well written book - with so many insights into the Mormon way of life. And, Ms. Robert's support cast, including Clyde and the rest of Eve's investigative team, are fabulously well written. I am looking forward to further installments of the Eve Bennet Series! Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced reading copy of this book - the opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you for this advanced copy. While the cover of this book really drew me in, the religious aspect really turned me off. I did not care for this book. At all. I’m not into cult books. I did skim it and the writing was good, but I don’t think I will read any more by this author if it’s all going to be based around the Mormon church.

This is the 1st book in the Detective Eve Bennet series. It’s my first book by this author and all I can say is WOW! I was awed and appalled by the story and absolutely cannot wait to read the next one!

Detective Eve Bennet and her team have been called to a home in Hilldale, Utah. They are a specialist team that deal with crime in the Fundamentalist Morman community. The team learns that the Tanner family has been killed and they are here to investigate the homicide.
The bodies seem staged in a way that makes Eve feel like something personal happened. When they get to the final child’s room, they learn that the youngest, Hannah, is missing. Eve is soon told that Hannah is safe and was at her uncles house when the murders occurred, but he refuses to allow Eve and her team to interview Hannah. Is the family or the church trying to hide something?
Upon further investigation at the house, a horrible discovery is made. A dark secret is revealed that could lead to a motive for the killings. Eve is forced to deal with people from her own past that she would rather avoid. Will her team solve this crime before anyone else is harmed?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Creepy Series Starter. This one has a more rare premise than any detective story I've ever encountered: Set in Utah, the lead detective here was raised in the polygamous - and heretical, according to current LDS doctrine as I understand it - branch of the Church of Latter Day Saints, aka Mormons. Her squad is sent in to deal with particularly sensitive investigations primarily involving this group, and in this particular case actively involving her former family. Which is interesting enough, but then you get into the truly creepier/ seedier side of humanity generally and this particular sect specifically, and it gets truly... icky, let's go with. There is a LOT of crazy to unpack here, and a lot of childhood trauma for our lead detective to try to handle in the process. Overall the mystery itself is solid, but this is clearly yet another in the police procedural genre where you're coming into this for the team/ personal dynamics as much as for any given mystery, and Roberts does a great job of setting that up and setting it in motion. The *one* criticism is that our lead Detective is constantly referred to as "Detective Sergeant", which is a British position and not an American one, at least per my own knowledge of American policing. (Which in some areas is quite extensive, but admittedly exact ranks within departments and peculiarities among States in those ranks is not one of them. It is *possible* that this rank exists in Utah and I am simply unaware of it, and it is a minor detail anyway, though one that can throw the reader out of the book when encountered.) Overall an interesting tale well told, and I'll be looking forward to the next book in this series. Very much recommended.

Only Girl Alive is a great start to a new series I was sucked in from the very beginning, it was dark and suspenseful it kept me guessing about what was going to happen next, and I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series, and can't wait to see what kind of crime Eve and her team will be solving next!

A great start to what i hope will be one a great series. I enjoyed the story which was intriguing and i couldn't put it down

Ok…where do I begin. I was intrigued from the beginning and somewhat appalled with my own thoughts of this fundamentalist church. Eve’s background if I’m honest made me cringe. But the more I read the more I was sucked in.

I will say that I did figure it out and was deeply saddened at the whole thing. This book was dark and fast paced. I couldn’t put it down. I’m definitely looking to the next time I meet this cast of characters.

This book gave me chills throughout. This was an intense and suspenseful story that made me uncomfortable at times but the protagonist, Eve Bennett, acted like a beacon that guided me through this storm of a story. I was happy to discover this was is the first book in a series and I’m definitely considering picking up the next installment.

Complex mystery with shades of Handmaid's Tale hovering over the male dominated Mormon cult. Some taboo and sensitive topics, child abuse, incest, and rape. Quite an intense read and strong team of characters. It will be interesting to see how the series developes.

This was an intense read. The mystery was engaging and kept me involved until the end. Detective Eve Bennet Walks into a nightmare murder scene but quickly realises there is one victim who was kidnapped and is on the case to get her back. This is a book that will appeal to fans of Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh. The romance element was a slow burn that I’m looking forward to seeing develop as the story progresses. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. This was my first book by Ms Roberts but I will definitely be checking out her prior catalogue while I wait for boo, 2! Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eve Bennett solves crime with the assistance of her team. Murders…while remembering her past…this talented author has written a page turner. Dynamic characters who come alive on the pages. Mystery and intrigue…secrets and red herrings…frightening happenings…if this were a crime show, it would be episodes. Evidence and clues…families in despair…this book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley. I liked the mystery but not so much the goings on of this religion.