Next Girl Missing by L.A. Larkin is a completely addictive and gripping crime thriller with a shocking twist. It's book 1 in the series and is off to a great start.

There were so many uh oh and oh man moments in this book. This is the first book in a new series featuring Sally Fairburn, an ex-cop and former victim support advocate who becomes a private investigator. She's grieving the loss of her daughter, Zelda, who committed suicide at 13. The question of why Zelda did it reverberates in Sally's head day and night. Those revelations about Zelda were sad.

Scott is Sally's ex-husband. He was infuriating in his behavior, and he could be very cruel. I wanted to reach into the book and scream in his face.

This book was so good, with surprises and twists. Sally grew as a character as the story progressed, and I found myself rooting for her because, at first, she came across as too compliant. She's a great character, and I look forward to seeing how she progresses as more books unfold. Sally was truly on a personal journey to find her true self after her abusive marriage. I cannot wait for more from this author and this series. I cannot wait to see Sally grow because, at first, it was frustrating to see how she reacted or acted in certain scenes. I really liked getting to know Paul. Such a good start to a new series.

I was surprised who the culprit turned out to be sad about deaths that occurred, and there were good surprises, with heart-pounding moments.

#NextGirlMissing #NetGalley @bookouture

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Sally Fairburn is a retired ex police officer come victim support officer. She still thinks about the big case that was never solved-young teen girls disappeared and a missing person poster with their photo appeared. When a missing person photo of Sally appears she fears they got the wrong man and vows to solve the case.

Wow this one had my heart in my mouth at times. The suspense towards the end genuinely was a bit scary in a way. I couldn’t put it down. Thought I’d figured out the killer many times over but I was wrong! A page turner to the end. Highly recommend.

Next Girl Missing #1 in Sally Fairborn Thriller series
By L.A Larkin
Pub date June 16, 2023
Bookouture
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Larkin did a great job writing this book. The story is fast and riveting! Please mention the trigger of suicide for those this could bother.
We also deal with the effects of a bad marriage to an awful husband, this book kept me interested and I did not guess who the serial killer turned out to be.
I recommend!
5 stars

I'm so glad this is the first in the Sally Fairburn series. The story was full of twists, turns and red herrings, what a brilliant story. Can't wait for the next one in the series.

I read this book in a day, then started on the next one in the series as by then I wanted to know how Sally was coping. As you can probably tell, I found the characters likeable and I could sympathise over her ex husband. I didn't guess who the culprit was until it was revealed, I found a few bits sad, but overall I enjoyed this book and was glad I didn't have to wait a long time for the following one.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this wonderful arc!

I really liked the book. Although the beginning was a little bit boring, I was almost giving up on the book.
The growth of Sally's character was brilliant and she turned out a very brave woman throughout the book, and her son was brilliant too!

One thing I disliked on the book was the fact that the story has s-icide and SA mentions and nowhere in the book is a trigger warning page... Please, always make sure you have a trigger warning page in the book.

Amazing book.

I literally couldn't stop reading it.

I read it in one night, I had to know who was to blame, who was responsible.
Sally seemed like a very real character to me. The fact of being a woman who suffered from gaslighting makes you connect with her. Sally has suffered a lot, but together with the help of her son Paul and her daily jogging, she can gradually build herself up.

This story was progressing little by little, the whole story was built that you immerse yourself in it and you can't get out.
The person responsible for the murders was not at all who I expected. I already had the culprit at the police station but they completely deceived me.
Enjoy the story, how it developed and how it ended.
100% recommended

I really enjoyed this book by a first time author for me,it took awhile for me to get into but once I did I was happy about the way the rest of the story picked up..A real good thriller that left me wanting more so on to book 2 I go.
Recommended
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fantastic! I love the serial killer thrillers and this one did not disappoint! I really loved the main character of the book, Sally Fairburn, and how her recent past colors everything that happens in the book. It was so easy to become attached to the characters and to love them or hate them. I read this in one day because I couldn't put it down. I was fully invested in the story and had to know what was going to happen next. There were some really great plot twists and the author has a great writing style that will keep you coming back for more. Can't wait to read book two of this series!

When I hear on the news or read in the papers about someone being abducted, it always gives me goose bumps;  When the victim is a young girl or boy, it makes my blood freeze. An adult might have a chance of defending himself. A child on the other hand is completely helpless. 

I cannot understand how people can be so cruel, but unfortunately they are and it does not only happens in books. There are the tugs you would expect it from maybe, but some baddies hide behind respectability. People you would turn to for help and let them into your house. The latter group are the most dangerous ones, because you trust them and they turn on you.

Sometimes the most charming people are the most despicable ones too. Nobody would believe if they did no see it with their own eyes how someone can hide their true colors in public. They are like real life Dr Jekyll's and Mr Hide's. Imagine living with someone like that...

This is a great and fast paced first book of a series with Sally as the main character. I was really shocked when the culprit was revealed and I had a totally different name in my head. 

It looks like Sally, supported by her son Paul, has some unfinished business with someone. I am looking forward to book 2 where I hope she hits them hard where it hurts the most. 5 stars

Thank you

Seriously gripping story covering historic and current crimes. The premise of the story is that someone was putting up missing posters of young girls before they actually went missing and were abducted by the same perpetrator. The crime was never solved so shock waves had resonated through he small town because of the number of missing girls, all of whom were in the same age range.
The story also involves our main character Sally who had been a serving cop married to another cop. We follow her life pan out as a victim of him and his control over her and domestic abuse and the tragedy of their oldest child taking her own life. She is now living with just her youngest, a teenage I’m but echoes of her life with her husband still resonate and deeply affect them both. Although now working in victim support the case is very close to her, disturbingly so, so she is determined to crack it and bring the perpetrator to justice.
There are plenty of twists and turns, the pace is fast, I became emotionally invested in a good conclusion. The end was excellent and as with any good story has left me desperate to see what happens next. Brilliantly written, very enjoyable.

Brilliant! Full of suspense, heart stopping moments and non-stop action . I can't wait to start the next book . This one kept me guessing til the end .

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Thus far, this is a series of 2 books. I don't know if there will be more. L.A. Larkin did a great job with this book. It's a crime/mystery/bit of thriller. We have Sally Fairburn, an ex police officer and now a victim advocate. She is recently divorced from her gas lighting husband, who was also a police officer. She was on the force when the missing poster killer took 6 girls. He hung missing posters at bus stops before the girls went missing. Sally has never gotten over not finding the girls, as she still speaks to their parents. She lost her 13 year old daughter to suicide and has a son, Paul. The story is fast and riveting. It kept me interested and I never would have guessed who the serial killer turned out to be. The book goes deeper than just crime and serial killers. We delve into the effects of a bad marriage to an awful husband. A father who always put Sally down. A son who blames Sally for her daughter's suicide. It is a poignant book and I really enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book. Very well done.

The first in a new series of Sally Fairburn adventures. I loved the concept, missing posters appearing before a person goes missing, the plot moves along well with loads of twists and shocks. The conclusion is fast-paced and exciting. My only issue is the amount of personal family connections to the crimes and lead investigator, this happens way too often for me in novels and slightly spoils the believability.
Having said that, I loved the story and have already downloaded the next in the series.


Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Next Girl Mussing is a great story about one woman who was mentally abused by a husband who is a cop and how she perseveres and saves lives along the way.
A good thriller with all the right components to make it a great read!

My first book by this author. Thank you net galley for the advanced copy.
It took me a bit to get into this. it seem to be a bit scattered. When it really got started, it took off and I couldn't wait to finish. I do hope we get answers on certain things in book 2.

3.5 ⭐️

This book took me a bit to really get into. There’s a lot going on and is a boy scattered. I will say that about 60% it started to pick up and I was surprised by the killers. And I need closure on the other thread. So I will be reading book 2. I’m just not sure I find Sally to be a character I like.

This is an author I haven’t read before, and I wasn’t disappointed. I was immediately drawn into the story. I stayed up late and read this in one sitting it was so good.

Very well written, totally gripping, bring on book 2!

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one but I do love serial killer thriller so I was keen to get stuck in and omg, I wasn't disappointed

This story is so vividly told. The characters feel so well written and complex and there is just so much going on. Its not just simple serial killer story, it's also the story of people who have struggled and suffered loss and the after effects of those incidents.

I was absolutely invested in what was going to happen next and found the writing style to be so easy that it just pulls the reader through the story and you have no idea what's going to happen next.

I can't speak highly enough about this one. It really did keep me on the edge if my seat and have me staying up a lot layer than I should have lol. I just couldn't out it down though and couldn't wait to find out if the poster killer was back or not

A must read