What a brilliant story this is!!! I found it a slow burner to begin with but oh my days when it grabbed me I was hooked. This is the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to reading more.

Wow! So many twists in this book that I did not expect!

Nichole Severn’s “The Girl Who Survived” started a little slow but after a few chapters, I could not put this book down.

I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong. And the bomb dropped at the end – stellar!

This is Leigh Brody FBI Mystery #1 and I’ll be watching for the next one.

If you're into thrillers that keep you guessing, "The Girl Who Survived" should definitely be on your list.

The Girl Who Survived is expected to be published May 6, 2024.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC.
#TheGirlWhoSurvived #NetGalley #NicholeSevern

This book grabs your attention from the start.
There’s definitely some slower parts that made it harder for me to get through but the twist at the end made me so happy that I kept with the book.

Leigh Brody returns home when there are copycat murders happening that are way too similar to how her brother and his friend were killed. She’s attacked in her home twice and in the street once. She even sees the attacker at a police crime scene and no one puts it together. That part was so unrealistic to me. Also, that she’d still be working the case after the two attacks.

The ending is so good. I’m happy I kept reading the book

I truly enjoyed this mystery. The author wrote a riveting tale. The plot was excellent. I was unable to figure out the real serial killer until the very end. I enjoy being kept entertained with the twists and the characters. Very surprising ending. I would very much welcome the opportunity to read any future books by this author.

I love murder mystery books and this one did not disappoint. It was a very compelling read and kept me guessing. The characters were very likable and I felt a lot of empathy for them over the book. Great read, overall!

I absolutely couldn't put down The Girl Who Survived by Nichole Severn, staying up far into the wee hours of the morning to finish the book. The main character of FBI agent Leigh Brody was heartbreakingly compelling, and the harassment that she endured as a teenager and upon her return to her hometown was appalling. The murders in the book are gruesome and the hunt for the killer intriguing and page-turning.
However, once I hit the end twist, my wonder at this superbly written and suspenseful story soured considerably. The final twist cast every portrayal of the Leigh's struggle with her brother's death and her sometimes debilitating panic while trying to solve a case linked to the death of the two boys 20 years earlier in doubt. It's as though the author thought up the ending after writing the rest of the book, and forgot to go back and edit the actions, reactions and words of her main character to fit the new narrative. In short, they just didn't match.
Add to that, the title is misleading as well. While Leigh definitely endured plenty of hardship and pain, she is not the survivor of the novel.
Overall, I was thoroughly disappointed in how the book panned out, and where I was prepared to leave five stars, I have downgraded to two.
Perhaps the editors can fix the discrepancies between the final twist and what came before to something more ambiguous, leaving room to allow for the ending to ring true.
Thank you for the ARC of #TheGirlWhoSurvived to #NetGalley.

This story follows FBI Agent Leigh Brody. Glad to have received and ARC of this book!

As the story unfold it follows the story of two young boys that were murdered and Leigh father was convicted of the murders and sent away to prison for a life sentence. Leigh is sent back to the town where the murders occur and she does not have a welcome from the town because of her name. She is there to find out and research what happened and why.

This is a fast paced read and the main character is not a likable character but i hope that the series continues. I will be waiting to see what happens in the series.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

I was excited to receive an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The story line intrigued me and I was looking forward to reading. I wanted to like this book. I really struggled to get into the story. I personally struggled with the dialect and could not relate well to the main character. However, to be fair, the book just wasn't what I had expected. It was too much detective/police work for me and too little story and character development. I think it would make a better show than book.

Whew! What a wild ride. The Girl Who Survived is a spectacular mystery/thriller by Nichole Severn. This book had me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. Leigh is a FBI analyst and is called to her hometown to work a case the looks like a copycat of her brother's murder. This story has enough twists and turns you might want to leave a trail of bread crumbs. The last twist was my favorite and a read shocker. The Girl Who Survived is book 1 of the Leigh Brody FBI Mystery Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliffhanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I definitely feel I may be the outlier in my rating of this book because… I was not impressed.. at all.
Here we go .. Leigh Brody who is now working for the FBI is called to help on murders that happen in her hometown. She is chosen because they seem to be linked, copycat or related to murders that happened there over 20 years ago in which her brother Troy and other boys were murdered and the person arrested and serving a life sentence for those murders… her Father, Joel. Leigh has always been convinced of her Father’s innocence however this is not an opinion shared by others in her old hometown. When she returns she is met with harassment, hatred, and all around dislike. She wants to solve these murders because could it finally clear her families name???

Ok where do I begin with my issues with this one .
1. Get ready to let go of all reality because the police and law procedures are so unrealistic it’s eye rolling . In no way would they have Leigh come help with this case with her connections and beliefs.
2. I could not connect with Leigh at all … frankly her character was allll over the place. There were so many times I just wanted to scream at her to spit it all out because she kept insinuating she knew what happened in the past and on the other hand she played completely clueless. This book was just went on and on for way too long.

NOW my biggest issue is the ending and big reveal. I was mind blown but not in a good way. In a way that I was I wanted to reach through the book and shake characters for their idiotic unbelievable actions. I was furious with many aspects related to this that I can’t say because of spoilers. But the ending was so far fetched I felt as is I left the book I had been reading and jumped to a completely different book . The beginning and how it ended did not connect well for me in anyway..

Thank you to the Author, Netgalley, and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

This book started off strong. Lots of great characters, plot lines that keep you guessing. I loved it right up until the last chapter. There's a twist...and while the twist itself is questionable....the repercussions of that twist that carry on throughout the book make no sense to me.

Such a great start to what I hope will be a long series! I have this thing about small town mysteries from way back in town, and someone returning to find out the truth years later. I like the main character and even though her family history is not one you want, it is definitely one you want to read about.

It was impossible to let this book down, and I just needed to keep on reading until the very end. I love it when I find a new author and a book that is fantastic! Well-written, great story line, intriguing characters, and the perfect atmosphere!

“The Girl Who Survived” by Nichole Severn introduces us to FBI agent, Leigh Brody.

Leigh returns to her hometown, a place she isn’t welcome, to solve a series of murders that resemble the murder of her little brother twenty years ago.
Faced with her past, Leigh has to put her emotions aside to catch a killer.

Ms. Severn writes a story that is engrossing, twisted, and shocking. When you think you know who the culprit is, the author throws in a red herring and makes you second guess yourself.
Like it states on the cover, this book is “unputdownable” and I one hundred percent agree.

FBI agent Leigh Brody, who profiles killers, has never lost sight of her young brother's abduction and murder 20 years ago, nor has she abandoned her believe that her father was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for the crime. When she is called back to her hometown for a similar murder, she is determined to find out if the man accused 20 years ago has begun to kill again, and if corruption in the local police department has paved the way.

Surprise endings are few and far between in mystery/suspense novels. Usually the author drops enough clues that an engaged reader can figure out the whodunit, and that's part of the fun of reading this genre. This spell-binding book's bombshell ending was totally unexpected and completely satisfying. Rarely are those two things accomplished in the same story with such skill.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Firstly, thank you NetGalley for this ARC and I'm giving my honest (emphasis here) review.

Initially, my rating would have been 4.5 stars, my only critique was some of the prose was ""too prosey"" and it sometimes distracted me. That's subjective and it was just a minor thing.

I liked the pace. I enjoyed, for the most part, Leigh. I appreciated the fight she had against all odds. She fought where others might have given up. She had chips on both her shoulders and that spoke to me. I'm okay with not agreeing with every choice a character males, I find imperfection far more interesting.

I enjoyed the narrative. The set up. The premise. All good things. It kept me reading and I devoted it in a few hours.

That was me at 90% of the book.

Then... the end.

I don't know how to put this delicately but... what the... actual.

Firstly, the unsub. Yeah OK, not so much a surprise. But that, to me, is a good thing. It should make sense. There should be little crumbs throughout a books that get you there. Their motive... didn't make sense to me. I was willing to try and reconcile that with their trauma and I could buy that. It doesn't have to make sense to me, a generally sane person.

But, the other ""twist"" was hands down ridiculous to the point where I was tempted to rage quit at 98%. I have done this before. I am petty and stubborn and I'll do it.

It made no sense and beyond that... well [here come the spoilers]
(Removed spoilers - on goodreads)

Phew, got that out of my system. I'm sorry Nichole, I actually really like your writing and your pacing , but that end ruined it all for me. It feels like you could lift it out and it would make no substantial change to the story, but to make it better.

I would read her writing again, but Leigh is kinda ruined for me as a character.

I liked the setting and the fact that they wanted her specifically on the case and why. However, it did seem a little confusing because typically that same reason is why someone would not be on a case. I liked the twists. I just didn’t feel a connection to the book for some reason and I’m not sure what it was other than some books are just not for everyone.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley + Storm Publishing for my DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eARC!

One word comes to mind with this book, and that’s WOW. So many twists I did not see coming. So much action packed into one book. I absolutely loved this book. It was a bit of a slow burn at first, but when it took off, I was in for a WILD ride. The ending had me absolutely shook. Fantastic action, great plot, likable protagonists. Everything about this book I loved, and I will absolutely be reading sequels when they come out.

This is the perfect psychological thriller!! It dives deep into the complexities of the human mind, delivering an enthralling journey filled with unexpected twists and a jaw-dropping finale that will leave readers stunned. With its gripping narrative and expertly crafted suspense, this book is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I'm excited to follow along on Leigh Brody's journey!

I really enjoyed this first in the series.
I opened it and just fell straight into it it really called to me and I couldn’t. Put it down. I adored Leigh and can’t wait to find out more about her she’s totally a bad ass.
The crime was shocking and gripping
It’s a fast paced intense crime thriller which I loved

Returning to her hometown to help right a terrible wrong from the past and help solve a string of new murders Leigh Brody comes up against hatred and prejudice from law enforcement and townspeople. So much going on in this suspenseful mystery. The connections to the past are overwhelming. The ending was a total shocker. I didn’t see that coming at all. This is a great start to what looks to be an amazing series.