I think this may be one of Charlie Gallagher's best work ever, if not the best. It's a little different than his normal work. He has a very intense plot, with many sub plots. So there is a lot to go through and sort. But for me this made this book even more intense. This author knows the police procedure's intimately, and he knows where he can get away with some over the top writing. In this book, he is using more background characters, and showing us their stuff!!! And then there is the one little girl that can break the case wide open for DI Maddie. But she can't remem a thing. Mr Gallagher is one of my favorite British Authors, and this book/series is one of the reasons why!!

This story had a lot of elements that I liked. I didn’t realize this was a series until after selection and I usually like to read in order for back story on the characters but I’m not sure it’s necessary to understand the plot here. A good story can make you feel even for the villain and that’s what this story did to me. A murder mystery/thriller with many players that will keep you guessing until the end. I also liked the side plot with Vince’s family that really humanized his perspective in the plot. The scenario here is a series of murders but where children were either contacted or present at the time of the murders but the connection to the murder victims is not clear. As the plot thickens with Vince and Maddie investigating a well known criminal family, circumstances change quickly to point them in the direction of the real killer.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A procedural story that requires extensive thought in determining the actions of those behind the scenes.
What would propell anyone to commit such a heinous act much like having two families just days apart? Could these similarities end there or is there a whole 'Pandora's box' literally waiting under the wing -or the floor - no pun intended.
The fact there's a young child involved named Jade who is an eyewitness to murder but can't recall details makes this a more heinous crime.
Who would kill Maria (Jade's mom) and why on Earth are the Blackman's the 2nd in line to be brutally murdered?
The attention to detail per each crime nearly knocked me to my knees. It was so descriptive and hair-raisingly alarming. For example, the woman involved fought for her life so much so she had lost fingernails in the process. Her child was covered in her mother's own blood.
Added to the pressure was the fact that these families might have been targeted.
Blood money? Drug money? What MO (modus operandi) could we have incurred?
Could the reasoning lie somewhere in the 'fine print' with the Blackman's (Ron/Sandy) and will there be a 3rd similar crime?
As the writing goes forward we uncover so many secrets, lies, hidden agendas that we're left wondering if these crimes will ever be solved and those who went missing be found?
If they're found will they be alive or dead? Will the truth be exposed?
Could there be more than just, 'meets the eye' happening here?
Will there be a LAST ONE!!!
My word, so much action here that you'll want to take a few gulps in between.
Thank you to Charlie Gallagher, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This was a thriller with lots of twists. It had alternating pov's which at times, seemed hard to follow. It seemed a bit slow in parts.
That being said, it was a good read and i would say 3.4 stars. It is worth picking up!

This has to be one of the most enticing book titles I have come across in a long time. I couldn't wait to get stuck in and I wasn't disappointed. I love a good police procedural especially one with a great cast of characters. I think I went through the entire range of emotions while reading this book. One minute I was laughing out loud at a sarcastic comment from one of the team, the next I had tears running down my face at some personal tragedy. The strongest feeling however was anger, this story has one of the most sickening motives I have come across. The depths some people can sink to while convincing themselves it is their last resort never fails to amaze me. This is one of a series but can also be read as a standalone and is a really enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

It was a bit confusing to start with but once I got into it I enjoyed it. What a brilliant read. Thank you netgallery for allowing the girl under the floor. It was very well written. I enjoyed how everything was tied into the cases they were trying to solve.

The Girl Under The Floor sees a return for Acting DI Maddie Ives and colleagues and it is another highly entertaining and enjoyable read from Charlie Gallagher which is well paced to keep the pages turning

Recommended

I’d like to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Girl Under The Floor’, the eighth in the Detective Maddie Ives series written by Charlie Gallagher, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Acting DI Maddie Ives is about to enjoy a relaxing day with her boyfriend PC Vince Arnold when she gets a phone call from DI Harry Blaker that two people have been found dead in circumstances similar to another attack that occurred four days previously where the witness, Jade, is the eleven-year-old daughter of the victim. Jade is so traumatised she can’t remember what happened so Maddie needs to find the connection between the victims so that she can identify the perpetrators.

‘The Girl Under The Floor’ is a good solid police thriller with all the drama that I’ve come to expect from this series but unfortunately it seems overly long and drawn out and parts are so slow that it’s been hard to keep interested. This is unusual for me as I normally devour books by this author and even though I’ve read all previous seven books I’ve still found myself jumping over some chapters so that I could get to the action. I like the characters of Maddie, Vince and Harry, and the illness of Vince’s sister has been handled sensitively, so for that alone it’s worth reading although in my opinion it hasn’t been the best in the series.

I didn’t realise this was book 8 in a series but it does read as a stand alone. The plot follows Di Maddie and her cop partner Vince. The murders are brutal and two in a row with lots of torture. This book is long but still enjoyable. It was an interesting story well written and makes me want to go back and read the other 7. I loved the twists and I struggled to guess which is something I love in a good book. I liked the main characters and do wish I had read the first 7 so I could know them better but it’s not something you need if you just want to start with this book. I would recommend to anyone who loves a crime mystery thriller.

County Lines drugs gangs, and a mother hell bent on revenge.

County Lines drug dealing is having a massive effect on organised crime in the south east. The old timer, and the upstart son.

Two murders of people closely linked to the crime family, and their going ons.

A young girl, trapped in the worst of places at the worst of times.

The police have very little to go on apart from a handful of drawings from a traumatised young girl.

Add into the mix a family hell bent on revenge for the death of their daughter at the hands of the criminals.

This is a fast paced read that holds your attention from the minute that you start reading.

The plotline is handled really well, as there are some quite disturbing details that come to light.

Only the British, could have police that go ‘rogue’ in this manner.

This is a really good read, and I’m going to have to find some of the back catalogue to read. If they’re as good as this one is its going to be an entertaining time.

Status: Completed

Rating: 4.7/5.0

4.25/5 stars! I love, love, loved this story. The title pulled me in from the very beginning and it only got better from there. There was a complexity about the premise that I really appreciated and having a child who has just witnessed and experienced a major trauma be the link to everything was clever and emotionally inviting. It took a bit for the story to catch up with the magnitude of its premise, but once it did it was truly enjoyable to the very end.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc of The Girl Under the Floor. I could not get into this book and tried my hardest to finish it but couldn’t bring myself to do so. Maybe I’ll try and go back to it one day but at this point in time I just can’t bring myself to finish it. The story is very slow going and jumps around often between ideas. There are several characters introduced over the crime scenes with no real connection (maybe it comes together later). This is part of a series, which I have never read, and maybe that would have helped. If I bring myself to finish this book I will revise my review.

Called in on her day off Maddie Ives investigates a series of murders that at first seem unconnected. Plenty of plot twists to keep you reading. An excellent story in the series.
I received this book from Joffe books and Netgalley for a review.

I really enjoy this Maddie Ives series and this book is just as good as the rest. Great storyline which was quite emotional in places. A few twists that I was expecting but some I wasn.t so that made the book more enjoyable. Although I would think it’s better to be read from the beginning to get the background it could easily be read as a standalone too. I highly recommend this book and author

I very much enjoy all of this author's books but Maddie Ives series is my favourite. I find the authors style of writing gets you hooked straight in and you feel like you know, and trust, Maddie and the team.

This story centres on the brutal murders of seemingly unconnected people and Maddie and the team must try find out why they were killed.

Another major storyline for me is seeing the different side to Vince and him coping with devastating events with his family. And what can I say about Eileen other than I loved her inclusion into the team in the previous book - and I love her even more now, especially after it was revealed why she loves her slippers.

A fantastic book from a 5* series. I really hope there will be more to come.

Detective Maddie Ives this is book eight in this slap bang series that I just love.
Saturdays are rest days but Maddie get a call in once again partner Vince Arnold knows work comes first for this detective and its not pretty. " There's been another one" as she heads out to the village of Lower Halston a second house of horror. And I'm not giving away the story.
Oh My this has to be my best in the series but I always say that, Loved the characters, Loved the story, Love this authors work, right to that end. Did my emotions hit me and run wild big time? did I fill up? Pick this up and read its a must all the way through once again I loved it.

A truly horrific story that will give you nightmares! I read it in a day, I just couldn’t put it down.

I have really enjoyed the Maddie Ives series so far, and this was no exception. A lot of focus on the personal lives of our protagonists, which played an important part on the main story. Very descriptively written plenty of plot twists, some I was not surprised by but others I definitely did not see coming.
The addition of Eileen in the previous book was brilliant and I particularly enjoyed learning the story behind the slipper.
Eight in the series, but with enough background given to read as a standalone.

A really good tale that was a little overlong as it sagged in places. Loved the police characters, they seemed very real. Eileen was my favourite, just loved the slippers!

I have read all of the Maddie Ives books this one has a lot of twists and turns both professionally and personally. There is a lot of emotion in this story i felt that grips you but not moving away from the main storyline. A great read thankyou for advanced copy.