First book I have read by Nichole Severn which was well developed from a simple idea. A very easy quick read that tackled some violent episodes without ever getting too gruesome. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Holy cow!!!

This book was absolutely amazing!!! I am still thinking about this book…the ending!!!

If you love a good plot twist or two…THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!!!

My first time reading this author but definitely not my last!!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the book #TheGirlWhoSurvived by #NicholeSevern. Leigh has come home to help solve a twenty year old case where two boys had been murdered. It just so happens her brother was one of them and her father was accused. The town seems to be against her and somebody is out to get her. Who is behind all this and is it the same person that murdered those boys? I could not stop reading this book and was so shocked with the big twist ending.

The writers of Criminal Minds have nothing on Nichole Severn. Wow! The creep factor and suspense are off the charts. I literally felt the tension in this story so much that I found myself clenching my jaw and holding my breath. This book worked me over. I always love a good, strong and gutsy female main character, and Leigh Brody had that in spades.

Leigh Brody ran from her hometown 20 years ago like her hair was on fire after the murder of her brother and his friend. Not only did she lose her brother, but her father was convicted of killing them both. Leigh knows her father is not capable of this horrible crime. She had suspicions about the real killer, but no one wanted to listen to a 17 year old girl who they assumed was just trying to protect her father. Now Leigh is back in town, but she comes back with some authority on her side. She is an FBI agent who is highly intelligent. She is not a field agent. She works at a desk behind a computer providing necessary information to catch killers. Think Penelope Garcia on steroids. She not only has a brilliant mind, but she is tough as nails. Someone is killing again in this small New Hampshire town and the modus operandi is eerily similar. Leigh knows she will meet with pushback from not only local law enforcement, but everyone in town. However, her boss believes in her, and understands that not only is Leigh qualified to work this case, but she has some firsthand knowledge.

This book is not for the faint of heart. I can tell you that for sure. It is probably better read in the daylight hours because this killer is beyond depraved. The shocks were off the Richter scale and the twists will leave you with a severe case of whiplash. I am in awe at how good this book was. It was gripping, mysterious, suspense-filled and just downright phenomenal. I cannot wait for the next one in this series.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was almost a 3. It was completely unbelievable in so many ways. It had almost no likable characters. The motives of everyone involved made absolutely no sense. I was at a 3 until about 85% into the book. It was OK.

Then. Then. The entire bad guy telling you everything in great detail even though he is going to kill you and it will make no difference thing was way overdone. The bad guys motives were silly. Leigh's motives were completely ridiculous and contradictory. It just made no sense.

This was such a good crime book, it kept me on my toes and I hated putting it down. I will be looking to read more of Severns work!

When I first sat down to write this review, I was paralyzed - I simply couldn't decide if, after really wanting to give it a high rating up to 95% of the story, the ending made it to be very good or crushingly disappointing.

But then I realized the doozy of a twist in the end made it special - the author had a very good thriller finished, well written - even somehow convincing me that a town could bully a grieving teenager for her father's sins - and leave it at that: another good book by a good writer with her own fan base.
It takes a lot of courage to turn it all on its head just to prove that it's as hard to understand the motivation and psychology behind a good investigator's actions as those of a killer or a serial killer. It wasn't enough to dive into Leigh's soul to justify her obsession, it went all the way to rip everything we thought she was apart. It was almost as if the book challenges you to choose between two endings, where one is safe and satisfying, and the other incredible and improbable.

It certainly is highly unexpected and intriguing, and now I really want to read what's next just to try to understand what this challenge is all about.

"The Girl Who Survived" by Nichole Severn is a gripping and intense crime thriller. The story follows Leigh Brody, who returns to her hometown after a body is found marked with her name, triggering memories of her brother's murder twenty years ago. Now working for the FBI, Leigh is determined to solve the mystery that has haunted her for years and bring the real killer to justice.
The premise of the book had me hooked from the start, with the idea of a copycat killer leaving a chilling calling card that links back to Leigh's traumatic past. The tension builds as Leigh delves into the investigation, uncovering dark secrets and facing her fears along the way. The writing is atmospheric and evocative, drawing the reader into the small-town setting and the complexities of Leigh's journey.
While the overall plot was engaging and filled with twists and turns, I did find the pacing to be a bit slow at times, with too much detail and information that felt unnecessary. The ending dragged on a bit, and I was able to predict some of the events before they happened. Additionally, the abundance of subplots took away from the main storyline, making it feel somewhat disjointed.
Despite these minor drawbacks, I found Leigh to be a compelling and complex protagonist, with a strong determination to seek justice and confront her past. Her journey of self-discovery and resilience added depth to the story, and I was invested in her quest to uncover the truth behind the crimes.
Overall, "The Girl Who Survived" is a gripping thriller that explores themes of trauma, survival, and the quest for redemption. While it may have had its flaws in terms of pacing and plot intricacies, the novel delivers an intense and chilling narrative that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Dark, twisted and so addictive! Nichole Severn is shining like never before as she brings FBI Agent Leigh Brody to life on the pages of The Girl Who Survived. I was quickly hooked on what was happening from the very start and once we began to gather the backstory and meet Leigh firsthand, the plot only continued to thicken and delight. There are many twists and turns that will keep you reading as one aspect of the story may get a resolution as another unexpected demon jumps out of the woodwork. The angst is high, the connectability to the main character is easy and the emotions feel spot on. I really enjoyed every minute of this book and hope to see Leigh again with more drama to hook me! What an unexpected ending!

Leigh has returned home as a consultant for the FBI, the murders have started up again after her father was accused of a similar murder, is it a copycat or was the right man In jail. Her brother was killed and her father was accused.

This is a gripping read, read it in one sitting as I needed more. It’s free flowing and an easy read, with great characters. It’s a fast paced detective crime thriller. I liked the back story about Leigh and her brother as kids and was fitting with the story. Great ended that ties it all together. A 5 star read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Oh my goodness, at first I couldn't put it down then with half an hour to go I decided to saviour it at bedtime with no interruptions.
Such epic twists, I had no idea nor did I see THAT coming. I loved that I just immersed myself into this story without trying to work it out...I just enjoyed the ride.
Two decades ago this town was turned upside down with murders. Now former resident returns as an FBI Agent, not only to prove a wrong right but to assist with the latest crimes. Is it the same killer or a copycat and why?
Well done Nichole, I had the shakes long after this was over ...what a rush!

This one grabbed me from page one. FBI Agent Leigh Brody returns home to a town that hates her and her family.. well her father anyway, was convicted of killing his son and another boy. And when two people are murdered in an eerily similar way Leigh is called in.

Leigh has her work cut out for her from the moment she arrives in Lebanon. No one is happy to see her and they make it known time and time again. But she is bound and determined that not only is she going to solve the current murders, but she is going to finally prove that her father wasn't behind her brothers and the other child's death.

I was invested from the first page and was kept on the edge of my seat as each new piece of information was revealed. Leigh was a great main character, she was determined to solve both current and past murders, and even when she was blocked at every turn she didn't let that stop her.
And not to spoil anything but that ending was action-packed and took me completely by surprise.
I think this is a great first book in the series and I can't wait to see where it's going to go from here!

Thank you Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and author for the ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.

WOW. I must be one of the few who did not enjoy this book. Overall 2/5 stars. The plot went in circles and was repetitive, yet at the same time was all over the place. I found it very hard to follow the thought process of our main character, Leigh, because we had multiple story lines happening and none of them cohesively went together. There was no flow between ideas and the chapters are long winded! “Flighty” is the best word to use for the plot. I struggled to understand why certain things were even brought into the plot line as the story unfolded.

Another part of this story that bothered me was how I could not connect to the main character at all. I found Leigh whiny, illogical, and childish. She doesn’t follow procedure and there’s no way half of the things in this story could happen. I don’t understand her motivation for any of her decisions through book.

We finally learn what is really happening in the last 2-3 chapters and let me tell you, it made me MAD. The author wraps the end of the book with a bow. Except the bow was meant for a totally different book. Everything is explained, mysteries totally solved. And all done while leaving it open for a sequel. The ending was way too convenient, but also doesn’t make any sense. A 17 year old able to do any of the things stated in the last 50ish pages? No way. 2/5 stars. I won’t be reading any other books from this author.

This book had me hooked from the intriguing prologue to the end, which left me speechless. I loved Leigh, a character who's world was shattered 20 years ago when her brother was killed. She's called back to a town that hates her and wants nothing to do with her, as her father's in prison for two murders. A copycat killer has been leaving a toy soldier with her name on it by the victims to lure her back.
Leigh has incredible intuition and investigative skills. I enjoyed how the narrative allowed the reader to see into her mind and know her feelings about the case, the town and her brother as time goes on. The twists are truly unexpected, and just when I thought the tension couldn't get higher, it did.
This book delivers on the promise on the cover- an absolutely addictive thriller. If you enjoy complex characters, a thorough plot and investigation and strong female main characters, read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Nichole Severn for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"The Girl Who Survived" by Nichole Severn offers a mix of compelling writing and a slower-paced storyline that might not resonate with all readers. While the prose is commendable, the narrative's pace may challenge some readers' engagement levels. The characters, while well-crafted, may not evoke strong connections or relatability for everyone. As a first-time reader of Severn's work, I appreciated the quality of the writing, though the storyline didn't entirely captivate me. This honest review was made possible by an early copy provided by NetGalley.

Leigh is brought back to the village where she grew up to investigate a murder that is weirdly similar to her brothers murder 20 years ago.
This book has a lot of twists and turns! There are a few slower moments but it is worth persevering for the unexpected twists.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

I was really excited about reading this book and the connection that Leigh had with the killer really drew me in. Unfortunately I just felt like this book really dragged on and fell short in the execution of the story. I couldn’t really connect to it at all

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read a pre released copy. I don’t want me review to discourage anyone from going on the adventure themselves.

Publishing: May 6th, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️(3/5)
Review:
I enjoyed the author's writing. The pacing was slow for me. I lost interest in it several times. There are many unrealistic procedures when it comes to the law enforcement side of this story. I also couldn't connect with any of the characters. The ending felt far-fetched as well. It made me angry. It also felt like I read a completely different book at the end. I may try another book by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, & Nichole Severn for this ARC.

#TheGirlWhoSurvived #NetGalley #StormPublishing
Also posted on goodreads

The author did an amazing job on the background information for this book. At first, I felt it was slow, but it finally picked up. It is a fast paced read with well developed characters. My only issue was the FMC, for some reason I couldn’t connect with her. That did not mess with the story for me though.

Thank you to NetGalley and StormPublishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"The Girl Who Survived" by Nichole Severn was a captivating 4-star read! This book introduces us to Leigh Brody, an analyst for the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Systems division within the Behavior Analysis Unit. Leigh must return to her hometown to help track down a killer who has left a plastic Army infantryman just like when her brother and his friend were killed 20 years earlier. Not only does she have to try to avoid a deadly killer, but also a town that has not forgotten that it's her dad who is in prison for the killings from her childhood.

I thought this book was very well written, and I didn’t want to put it down. There was a lot going on that kept me interested. The townspeople may have gone a little far with their hatred for Leigh. There were plenty of twists that will keep you guessing. But then there was just one twist too many for me. This was a 5-star read, but after the last twist I wanted to give the book 3 stars, so I went in the middle with 4 stars. I wish I could go more in-depth, but without spoilers, that just isn’t possible. I saw that this author has written several other series I intend to investigate.

Thanks to Storm Publishing, Nichole Severn, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review