4.5⭐

The Girl in the Pink Shoes kicks off Stacy Greens Lucy Kendall series brilliantly.

As Lucy is an unusual crime solver. Being that she works as a PI. But has a sideline as a serial killer (think Dexter, but less messy.) And a history before that working in child protection services.

So her life is complicated to say the least. But when she hears a young girl called Kailey has disappeared on her way home from school. Lucy is keen to help.

Only the detective in charge is no friend. In fact Lucy believes his brother Justin, who has recently been released from jail could be responsible. And she's determined to find the truth.

But Lucy also has a bigger problem. As her secret has been found out by a stranger. Who claims to be a serial killer and one who wants to join forces with her.

The question is, is he telling the truth? And can Lucy keep her secret safe, find Kailey and stop her latest target before time runs out?

And with intriguing characters and lots of twists. The Girl in the Pink Shoes was a cracking read. That I genuinely found hard to put down. But be warned this story does feature some heavy issues, including suicide, child molestation, sexual assault, rape and trafficking of minors.

Wow! What a ride this book was.

Lucy Kendall is a private investigator. Formerly, she worked for CPS. Oh, the other thing? She’s a serial killer. But, before you judge her, she only kills people who have hurt children and managed to evade justice.

She’s scouting out another victim of Lucy Kendall justice when a man introduces himself and tells her he knows what she is. He’s not going to go to the police, because he’s just like her. And he wants to work together.

Suddenly, Lucy’s perfectly crafted world comes crashing down as this mysterious man reveals he knows her dark secrets. Then, a perpetrator from her past reappears, just as a little girl - Kailey - goes missing. She was wearing pink shoes.

This book is an excellent story and I’m thoroughly looking forward to reading more featuring Lucy Kendall. She’s not your standard PI or the usual lead in a mystery/crime novel and that’s something I really enjoyed about her story. It takes you to a place where things aren’t exactly black and white, but justice is served one way or another. The twists did keep me on my toes, and I have to say I definitely didn’t see some of them coming!

A strong 4.5 stars, rounded up.

i thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading this. despite the long(er than what i’m used to) chapters which i often use as milestones or cues to go to the toilet, i think what differentiate this book from other books that involve child exploitation is that, unlike many crime/thriller involving child exploitation, the book surrounds itself with the topic of child exploitation i.e., there were more than one case of child exploitation. whereas in other books, the entire length of the book may just be about one case that is child exploitation (if this makes sense).

on top of that, we get to see how Lucy Kendall operated. how she justified her actions, how she turned to doubt it, why she pushed as hard as she did (and sometimes past the scale of annoying), and also how she came to terms with one of the cases that had haunted her since her days with the CPS.

i cannot wait for the other titles to be re-released on 30 Jan to see how it will all pan out the series.

The Girl in the Pink Shoes is the first book in the Lucy Kendall series written by Stacy Green. Lucy is a private investigator who delivers her own justice to some of the lowest of the low. This book has many twists and turns as Lucy spends her days getting rid of the undesirables of the world. The book has several trigger warnings (child abuse, paedophilia) that may turn readers off but if you can get past that I would definitely recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series as well as Stacy's other series.

To begin, I found this book to be an addictive read and a page-turner. However, the book needs a trigger warning for molestation and crimes against children. If I would’ve had this knowledge beforehand, I wouldn’t have requested the ARC. On the other hand, I found this book to be very well written and a great mystery.

First things first!! A HUGE THANK YOU to netgally and bookouture for the copy of The Girl In The Pink Shoes by Stacy Green.
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
Just....WOW! If I could write a review with just wow, it would be this book! Sleep was not coming to me last night and I finished this around 4am. This is the first of 4 in the Lucy Kendall series. Lucy, a former Child Protective Services worker, left her work behind to become a Private Investigator tracking lost and missing children. She also carries her own brand of deep seated trauma that leaves her hunting predators of the kid 'loving' kind. So when 8 year old Kailey goes missing, her first instinct is the newly released sex offender that was previously her charge as a CPS worker.
.
So for those needing a trigger warning ⚠️ this is it. While it did not go into excessive and gross detail, it was there.
.
Back to the book. As stated the book was kinda heavy in parts and I definitely teared up a bit. But knowing that ultimately the bad guy was going to get what's coming, made it worth it! This book was dark and gritty with near constant page turning drama that I craved. There were so many twists and "maybe it's this person," that I had to wrap my head around. Plus having her trusty cat "Mousecop," her reclusive hacker friend Kelly, and another few key players to help Lucy track down said creeps just ties it all up so perfect!
.
Again, HUGE thanks to netgally and bookouture for ARC copy for review. All opinions are mine alone.
*also added to Goodreads, however when tried to submit through the link below it was unable to recognize the isbn*

The Girl in the Pink Shoes is the first book of the Lucy Kendall Crime Thriller series.

Lucy Kendall is a child protective service worker turned Private Investigator. After working in a system she felt was broken Lucy decided that someone needs to lookout for the children from the monsters in the world. She feels partly responsible when bad things continue to happen to the children.

A young girl goes missing on the way home from school wearing the brand-new pink shoes her mother bought for her. Her mother is distraught with the news. Lucy hears about the missing girl and reaches out and offers her help free of charge to find the little girl.

Lucy has a rag tag group of people that are her eyes and ears to use while hunting for the abusers and to save the children.

There are many twists and turns from the past that connect to the present which makes this a thrilling read. The topic of children and abuse is terrible and not one I enjoy reading about. However, I felt like rooting for Lucy when she was taking care of business. Lucy is a complicated character and worth peeling back the layers to get to know her.

I was interested in this because I found the cover design eye-catching, and I was hoping for a good thriller.

This is the first in a series of books featuring Lucy Kendall as the protagonist, and I took an immediate liking to her. I liked the way she narrated and communicated with the reader, and I liked the way she expressed herself. It didn't take me too long to finish, but I was gripped and kept turning the pages. I think I would be interested in reading some more of this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

The Girl in the Pink Shoes is book #1 that looks to be the first in a new series. Lucy is a private investigator unlike any other I have ever read about. There are many disturbing “actions” in this book which makes this very dark and twisty but I found myself glued to the pages.
Triggers - physical and mental abuse, rape among young, very young girls explained in detail throughout the book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for my honest review.

“I’m not a killer. Or a savior. I’m just one person trying to repair the broken scales of justice one jagged crack at a time.”

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Girl in the Pink Shoes’ by Stacy Green.

This is the first book in Green’s Lucy Kendall series of crime thrillers, originally published as ‘All Good Deeds’ in 2014. All four are being republished this January.

At the outset I will note that this novel is about child abduction and vigilante justice. When 8-year-old Kailey Richardson, clad in her brand new pink shoes, fails to arrive home from school it quickly becomes clear that someone has taken her.

While the police look for Kailey, private investigator Lucy Kendall offers her services to Jenna, Kailey’s desperate mother, pro bono. Having lost her own sister to the darkest evil, Lucy is determined to help find Kailey before it is too late.

In her ten years working for the CPS (Child Protective Services) in Philadelphia Lucy was deeply distressed at how many predators evaded justice. Now she has a sideline in ‘taking out the trash’. Yet are her extracurricular activities starting to attract attention? No further details to avoid spoilers.

I do appreciate that crime thrillers with themes of child abduction can be triggering for some readers. Then there’s the vigilante aspect. While it can make for cathartic reading, it’s not my favourite trope. Colour me Lawful Good….

Overall, while some aspects of this novel seemed improbable, once I started reading it was difficult to put down. As a result I plan to continue with the series combining reading with the audiobooks for an immersive experience.

This is the first book that I have read from this author and I am now already near the end of her next book in the series the first book was was that good. It tells the story of Lucy who was once a social worker but is now a private investigator trying to help young vulnerable and troubled children who have got into the hands of bad people. She has her own ways of dealing with these corrupt people when she finds them which doesn't involve the police.
I have nearly read book 2 and will have 2 more books to read in this series. Can't wait to see what else she gets up to.

Thank you to Stacy Green, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC e-book. This book was so good. I devoured it in less than a day. It sucked you in from the start. Every parents worst nightmare, a child predator and the many layers of the flawed CPS system and children who have been through it. I cannot even put into words how much I enjoyed it. The author clearly had done research nothing seemed crazy far fetched justice was served in one way or another and I am anxiously waiting to read the next book in this series.

Another glimpse into the sordid world of pedophilia…….why do we keep looking? The stories are all horrific and beyond anyone’s belief except those who have experienced them. Are we all voyeurs?
   In this book there is a bizarre connection between several of the characters. Besides the fact they have all been sexually abused or were related to someone who was, there is a familial connection. Is this deviant behavior genetic? It’s interesting twist that keeps us reading.
   We also meet a PI vigilante who has decided to personally eliminate these deviants any chance she can. She has a little army of kinsmen who are willing to support her chief goal in life with their technical skills and connections. She is certainly a warrior for the cause.
   While the subject matter is very uncomfortable, it’s a reminder that there are bad people out there and we should remain vigilant.

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!

This book!

Just…..

I need to take a moment!

What a twisty, sadistic, vile storyline but an utterly riveting story I couldn’t stop listening to! This book was just wow! I think I have said that enough now! I had the ebook of this but when I heard there was an audiobook I had to listen instead. It’s the only thing that keeps me sane but yikes this book!

I haven’t read anything by Stacey before but I can tell you I will be reading more! This series is going to be explosive! It’s hard-hitting, shocking and so emotive! I was sickened by some of it and when Justin was recounting his story, I had to stop what I was doing and take a moment. A moment to listen to his story and to pick my jaw up off the ground. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Justice! That is a bit part of the book, justice for the children and the adults. Lucy is stepping on a thin line with where she now sits and the conflict in her was interesting to watch as she tries to figure out where she is to go from now on.

I CAN NOT WAIT for the next book! I will get it on audio as I LOVED the narrator. She did the book justice, she made me come back time and time again to find out what was happening in the case with Kailey and how Chris fitted into the story – NOT WHAT HOW I IMAGINED!

So many plotlines are woven, and when we come back to them next time, it’s going to cause some BIG ripples!!

Is it wrong to say, I can’t wait?

Seriously addictive!!

Talk about a great way to start a series, introducing Lucky Kendall, former CPS worker turned Private Investigator/Vigilante, tracking down the monstors who take the innocence of young.

This book introduces you to a great cast of characters, each with an incredible backstories that weave together for some great twists.

Thankfully I started reading this on a weekend when I could essentially read uninterruped because I did not want to put it down.

Available on Amazon Unlimited from Jan 30, 2023.

I very much enjoyed Lucy Kendall and her support group. Great character, very dedicated to her calling in life. Murdering abusers. Especially those who abuse children.
After years of working as a social worker with little benefit, Lucy decides to become a private investigator. And rid the world of trash.
One of her first assignments is back in the news - living across the street from a little girl taken. Lucy becomes obsessed with his guilt.
Lucy struggles to even grasp the concept it could be another suspect. I found this very challenging to get past.

Lucy Kendall once worked as a Child Protection Officer. The things she saw & the things she was unable to prevent meant that she retrained as a Private Investigator. However her methods are not always within the law. If there is a paedophile involved she has her own methods of dealing with them. When Kailey goes missing on her way home from school & Lucy knows that a recently released child abuser lives nearby she is determined to investigate. However Lucy's extra-curricular activities have been observed & in order to keep her secrets she can no longer work alone!

This was an engrossing read. The characters were unusual & made the reader what to know more about them. I'm really pleased to find this is the beginning of a series & look forward to reading the rest. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book

This book was a fantastic psychological thriller that I could not leave down until I had finished it. It was such a different story to a lot of books I have read, so many twists and turns and lots of suspense that left you wanting to keep reading after every chapter. The characters were all very intriguing and so well written that you felt you were with them at every point. I would really recommend this book to everybody that loves amazing mystery and thriller books by a fantastic author

A solid four star read. Great premise. Well written. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Private Investigator Lucy Kendall is trying to find out what happen to 8 year Kailey who went to school but has now disappeared. Lucy also has her own personal vendetta campaign trying to rid the town of sex offenders using a specific method. Lucy has very strong feelings to wards sex offenders after her sister took her own life after being attacked by one of her mums boyfriends.
Lucy encounters Chris, a like minded vigilante. The pair are conducting their own investigation despite police involvement. Together they strive to find Kailey before it’s too late.
A really good read, the start of a compelling series. Can’t wait to see what Lucy does next. You can sympathise with the underlying cause to her action