A bit of a slow start followed by the ending which felt like it happened at a breakneck speed. Usually that pace is okay but something about this storyline made that feel out of left field.
My main issue with the book was the overall character development with Kat. She didn’t quite feel like a fleshed out character and was a tad unlikeable and maybe that was the point but i wanted to like her.

The seventh girl by Andy Maslen.
Detective Kat Ballantyne, Book 1.
Fifteen years ago, a serial killer was on a rampage murdering young women in Middlehampton. Then, suddenly, the killings stopped, and the murderer was never found…
So when the body of another young woman is found bearing the twisted killer’s unique hallmark—the overpowering stench of lavender and an origami heart—DS Kat Ballantyne knows this can only mean one thing: the killer is back.
I really enjoyed this first book in this series. I do like Kat. The team Craig Leah and newbie Tom I did like. I didn't like Carver. Didn't trust him. Twisty and gripping. I certainly didn't see that coming. I liked how Kat kept to listening to her gut and trusted her instincts. Tom fitted right in and I felt he was a part of the team. I'm glad he didn't go in with Carver. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.

"The Seventh Girl" is a thrilling debut in a new crime series that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The author, Maslen, has created an intricate web of complex and fascinating characters, with the main character, Kat, standing out as particularly intriguing and exciting. Maslen has masterfully weaved together a story that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish, with a well-paced plot that flows seamlessly.

I highly recommend this read to anyone looking for a fresh take on the crime thriller genre. Don't miss out on the first book of this exciting new series, available now!

This author has a new reader! Release Day!

“The Seventh Girl” is the first of a fantastic new British serial crime thriller series featuring a strong female protagonist, Detective Kat Ballantyne. As she investigates a cold case, there are lots of unpredictable twists and turns that keep you guessing until the last chapter.
If you enjoy binge-watching mystery/crime series or reading books by authors such as Karin Slaughter, you’ll love this one! I’ll definitely be reading the next two installments coming out in May and September of this year.

The Seventh Girl is the first in a new series by Andy Maslen. It focuses on a DS, Kat Ballantyne who, as a reader I felt very ambivalent about. She is trying to balance her job, especially being thrust into the lead on a serial killer’s reemergence after 15 years and her role as a wife and mother. At times Kat reacted in ways that didn’t reflect well on her - her reaction to the new coroner for example. She presented as a real down to earth person, but somehow at times this didn’t seem to gel with the storyline.
Her involvement with the original origami serial killer case made it complicated from the beginning. I totally was immersed in the ways Kat and Tom followed the evidence to eventually solve the case. It did seem to follow procedures shown on popular shows like CSI which captured me immediately. The relationship between Liv and Kat for some reason never rang true to me, despite their background. I found myself questioning Liv’s purpose in reconnecting.
While my perceptions of pecking orders in police departments was in the forefront as I read The Seventh Girl, my disdain for Stuart Carve up Carter, grew and grew. I cannot help but think that this is more common than we wish it to be.
The Seventh Girl kept me awake and engaged on a cross country flight. Many many thanks to Andy Maslen, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read an arc of this read, to be published on January 1st. I am looking forward to reading future books in this series. Three and a half stars.

Another Excellent book by Andy Maslen. He draws you into the story and makes you part of it.
Excellent book.


Thank you

15 years ago, Kat Ballantyne best friend Liv was the last victom of the so-called Origami Killer. Kat never forgave herself, leaving her friend alone that fatal night. She joined the Police Force and now as a DS, still obsessed with finding the murderer.

Now, fifteen years later, the body of another young woman is found. The Killer is leaving his trademark of an origami heart with the body. It's just like he did 15 years ago. Kat knows the killer is back and is more than ever determined to bring him finally down.

I liked DS Kat Ballantyne, a straight talking, no nonsense detective, even though she acted impulsive at times. I suppose this stems from the personal connection to the case. I don't think in reality she would have been involved in the case because of this.

There are a few suspects to choose from, and there were several twists. The story is fast-paced and kept me interested.

This is the first in a new series of books featuring DS Kat Ballantyne. Andy Maslen created a strong character and introduced several of her colleagues, which I am sure we find out more in the next book. I am also hoping the author will re-visit the feud between Kat and her immediate boss, DI Stuart “Carve up” Carver in the next book.

The Seventh Girl is a very promising start to this series, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes books about police procedures.

Thank you, Andy Maslen, @@netgalley , and @amazonpublishing for the advanced reading copy.

Detective Kat Ballantyne is assigned a case when a young woman is found dead. Kat is shocked as the scene is like it was fifteen years ago when her best friend was the last know victim of who became known as the Origami Killer. Kat is sure the same killer is back. Several more young women are found before Kat and her team get a decent lead, but will it help them find the real killer or just lead to more suspects who are not the killer?

The Seventh Girl is a page turning British serial killer crime thriller featuring a bad ass female protagonist, DS Kat Ballantyne. This book checked so many boxes for things I love in a novel. The twists were unexpected and the ending was satisfying. I look forward to reading more about DS Ballantyne’s future investigations.

I highly recommend reading this book, especially if you love strong female characters, serial killers, unexpected twists, and British crime novels.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read this novel ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This review was also shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

This was a good start to a new series featuring Detective Kat Ballantyne. I thought she was a great main character, and the writing in this book was easy to fly through quickly. I wouldn't say that the ending was that shocking in any way, but there was a pretty big twist before we even reached the halfway mark. Kat's relationship with her father was intriguing, and I have a feeling that it will be explored more in the future. Overall, this was a solid procedural, and I will definitely be checking out future books in the series.

The Seventh Girl by Andy Maslen is the first in a new series by the author, featuring Detective Kat Ballantyne. In this book Detective Kat Ballantyne is investigating a serial killer referred to by the press,as the Origami Killer, who after a gap of fifteen years is back on another killing spree.
There are two main details of this serial killer’s identification and that is the pink origami hearts, he leaves tucked into the left hand side of the victim’s bra and the lavender soaked wheat that he chokes his victim with.
There are many other details involved in the storyline before the killer is caught, all adding to the twists and turns of the story.
Recommended

The first in a new police procedural centered around Detective Kat Ballantyne. Years ago, Kat’s best friend, Liv, was murdered by a serial killer, the Origami Killer. After her death, he stopped killing, but now, 15 years later, Kat is called to the scene of a crime where the victim is killed in the exact same way as the Origami victims. Kat sets out to investigate to get justice for Liv and stop a deadly killer.

I really enjoyed this one! I thought this was a great mystery and I really didn’t want to put it down. It focused mostly on the mystery and investigation, with just the right amount of personal life of Kat thrown in. The clues and pacing were great and I think this series will continue to build off this good foundation. Can’t wait for the next one!!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another enthralling and thrilling read. I was captivated from start to finish and loved it. Would highly recommend.

I just finished up my reading of The Seventh Girl and must say. Andy keep Kay going! She is a special character that can be used endlessly. You kept my interest through the whole book without figuring out the “who done it” way up to the end. Plus many sidelines that could have gone different ways. Can’t wait to see what’s up for her next!

I found this new series, captivating, you feel the emotion, the questions why is the killing beginning again. DS Kat this case was personal, it shaped her career, and now an excellent police officer. Her friend fifteen years was said to be his last victim. Can she find the pieces to catch him. Well written flowing plot, good
characters that will get their stories in following books in this new series.
Given arc by Net Galley and Amazon UK for my voluntary review.

What would you do if the past came back to haunt you? Kat is a detective trying to solve a serial killer mystery that once involved her best friend. As the twists start coming out and the bodies keep piling up, she has to grapple with what is truth and what is lies. I enjoyed the mystery in this book; however, I wanted more about Kat as a person. The reader gets glimpses into the past and present non-police life, but it always left me wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and author Andy Maslen for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kat gets the chance she needs to upgrade her career but she'll have to fight her father, her immediate boss, and her own personal demons when she is confronted with her past with the Origami Killer. The story is fast-paced, tense, full of mystery, and superbly written, keeping the reader glued to the book!
I thank Mr. Maslen, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Fifteen years ago, Middlehampton was terrorized when a serial killer dubbed the Origami Killer murdered several young women, their mouths filled with lavender-scented wheat grains and each with a pink origami heart in her left bra cup. Although the killer was never found, the murders stopped abruptly. DS Kat Ballantyne has a personal connection to these cold cases: her best friend was the seventh girl. Now all these years later, when the body of a young women is found in a park bearing all the hallmarks of the earlier victims, Kat knows immediately that the Origami Killer has returned, and she’s determined to hunt him down.

Wow! If you love serial killer thrillers as much as I do, you will not want to miss this one! Twisty, unpredictable, and intricately plotted; when I say I couldn’t put this one down, I mean it! I was reading it while waiting in the pick-up line at school and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it! The serial killer’s M.O. is original and the suspects are plentiful and plausible enough to keep you guessing the whole time. And if you’re skeptical about male authors writing realistic and appealing female characters, let me introduce you to Andy Maslen! I loved DS Kat Ballantyne – she’s fierce and tenacious, but also emotionally vulnerable, as well as slightly morally grey. Best of all, this is the first book in a new series, I already can’t wait to get to know Kat better in future installments!

Fans of Isabella Maldonado or Tami Hoag (one of my all-time favorite serial killer/police procedural authors) will definitely enjoy The Seventh Girl! Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me an advance copy of this book.

The Seventh Girl kicks off a new series by Andy Maslen about DS Kat Ballantyne. Kat joined the police after her best friend was murdered by a serial killer, and now, 15 years later, the killer is back.

The book goes through Kat's work to find the killer before he kills again, while dealing with the emotions that come back to her and also introduces her to her family, friends and colleagues. There's a twist early on in the book that really knocks Kat and changes everything, and this gives her an ethical/moral dilemma which was really interesting to think about the impact of it.

I enjoyed coming into a series with the first book, and seeing some threads pick up - including the twist - that I think will run through the books and I can't wait to see where they go.

The book is really well written, with characters and locations fleshed out and able to easily picture them. I've not read any books by this author before and I will definitely look out for more as I really like the writing style and plot

I can't wait to read book two - the downside of a new series is the wait for the next books!

Andy Maslen is a new author for me and I loved everything about this book!

The writing flows really well, the pace is steady and the characters are brilliantly written and developed. I’m so pleased I found this new series at book one, because I really enjoyed getting to know DS Kat Ballantyne, her rookie partner, Tom, and the arrogant and misogynistic DI Stuart Carver.

There was a good balance of getting to know Kat and the other characters personally, for continuation of the series, vs, the plot, which was completely gripping! I loved the idea of the return of the “Origami Killer”, believed to have killed Kat’s best friend Liv 15 years ago, which inspired Kat to join the police force. As the body count rises, the pressure is on and I couldn’t stop reading.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Andy Maslen and Amazon Publishing for an ARC in return for an honest review.