The Girl Who Couldn't Stop Dying is the first book in a new series featuring a very interesting heroine, one who lost her daughter several years ago and has moved to this isolated town in order to cope with her grief. Unfortunately, she finds herself in the midst of town politics and secrecy as she investigates a situation for a person for who no one else will help. The cast of characters is quite diverse and quirky and although I enjoyed this story. and thought the plot was quite interesting, there were too many underlying threads happening at the same time, ones that will continue in future books. Because of this, I did find Same somewhat difficult to relate to at times, and the main mystery sometimes got relegated to the background due to the other things that were going on.

Even though I had difficulty relating to Sam as a main character at times, I still thought she was interesting; she has a background that is somewhat mysterious and only scarce details were given to the reader throughout the book although we were given some about her daughter. Being married to a military man, I can relate to the periods of PTSD and what she was suffering so I definitely liked those aspects of the story and of her personality as it felt so real. While she is definitely capable, she does have a tendency to act before thinking which gets her into trouble especially when investigating a town full of secrets, one in which its people can hold onto grudges for decades. I did cringe a couple of times at some of her actions and some of the things she said, but it certainly makes for good drama in the book. I liked how there were serious consequences for what she did however, as it upped the danger level in the story and I wasn't sure when I was reading if any of the main characters were going to make it through.

The best part of this book was its ending as it had a twist I didn't see coming. The first part of the book moved along a bit slowly, but it is the first book in a series so I didn't mind too much as the author took the time to build up the town and its characters, slowly unveiling the seething underbelly that exists in all such places. I did feel like the story line meandered a bit and didn't always focus on Beth's situation, setting up the story line for the second book. It made me realize that Beth's story is actually the weakest part of the book and the underlying political atmosphere and the secrets pacts from the top brass are propelling most of what is happening in this town. There is also Sam's friend at the trailer park, a person whom we actually discovered little throughout the story who seems to be at the center of a lot of things and I grew very suspicious of him as the story progressed. There were a lot of little threads being developed, none of which were really explained, all being set up for future books. While that is fine, it does leave you with a sense of unfinished business at the end of the book.

The Girl Who Couldn't Stop Dying was very different from what I expected, but in a good way. I pretty much read it in one sitting and found the political infighting to be quite fascinating, but that is something I really enjoy as I am interesting in political dynamics. There were some good twists and turns in the story, some which caught me off guard. As the writing was solid, I am planning on reading the next book in this series to see what Sam gets into next.

This new series by Lauren Street follows the experiences of Sam Salazar, a retired military police officer who has lost everything she lived for. After the death of her 5-year-old daughter, she moves to a small town in Northern California to literally blend into the landscape. However, her plan is spoiled when she gets a tip that the sister she thought was dead is seen alive in town. It's an exciting read as Sam seeks the truth about her sister and discovers her small town has skeletons in its closet.

In her gripping debut novel, The Girl Who Couldn’t Stop Dying, Lauren Street introduces readers to former military police officer Sam Salazar, a woman who has endured profound loss and sought solace in the secluded town of Redwood Falls, Northern California. Encircled by towering Redwoods and meandering highways, Sam's life of isolation and routine is shattered when she is drawn into a chilling mystery that blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural.

After the devastating death of her five-year-old daughter, Sam moves to Redwood Falls seeking peace. Her fragile tranquility is disrupted when a member of her Narcotics Anonymous group, claims to have seen her long-deceased sister Dorothy wandering the town. The same sister who died thirty years ago. Desperate and tormented, the woman begs Sam for help, propelling her into a search that will challenge her understanding of life and death.

Sam's investigation into Dorothy's mysterious reappearance unveils layers of secrets hidden by the tight-knit community. With no death certificate, grave, or body, Sam's quest for the truth becomes more perplexing as the townspeople grow increasingly hostile to her inquiries. The more Sam digs, the more she encounters ghostly sightings and eerie testimonies from locals, further entangling her in a web of suspense and unease.

Street masterfully crafts a narrative that combines elements of psychological thriller and supernatural mystery, creating an atmosphere thick with tension and dread. The ancient Redwoods, with their imposing presence, serve as a fitting backdrop for a story where the past is never truly dead, and secrets lie just beneath the surface, waiting to be unearthed.

Sam Salazar is a compelling protagonist whose resilience and determination drive the narrative forward. Her background as a military police officer equips her with the skills to investigate, but it is her personal grief and quest for closure that add depth to her character. As she confronts the town's dark side and the possibility that Dorothy's reappearance may be linked to something far more sinister, Sam's journey becomes one of both external and internal discovery.

The Girl Who Couldn’t Stop Dying is a haunting tale that explores themes of loss, isolation, and the enduring impact of the past on the present. Lauren Street’s debut is a promising start to The Salazar Redwood Forest Thrillers series, leaving readers eager for more. As the mystery of Dorothy’s death intertwines with the shadows of Redwood Falls, Street challenges readers to consider whether some truths are best left buried.

The Girl Who Couldn’t Stop Dying by Lauren Street 3.75⭐️
Rounded up to 4.

I enjoyed the story, I found it intriguing and liked that it was told in two separate timelines from when Beth and her childhood friends were younger to the present day. Rush is certainly a town with dark and shady characters and a few good people, or people who tried to be good, I found them all interesting and I was invested in the story and wanted to know what happened in the past and what would happen in the end, and I wasn’t at all expecting the ending, I always love an unpredictable ending.
I found it to be a very heavy read, there are many themes that could be upsetting or triggering to some. I don’t typically have any triggers but at times I felt I needed to take a break from the book.
That said I wanted to read it until the end and will definitely read the next book in the series because I want to know how the story continues, it is definitely one of those stories where you hope someone gets their own one day!

Thank you NetGalley and Sterling and Stone for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I received this book from NetGalley.

The book is very slow at the beginning. It takes a while for anything to happen. Then when things do start to happen it takes a while for things to add up and make sense. That's fine, but it's a bit much trying to figure everything out without much information.

There are also a few editing mistakes in the book - words switched around, or seemingly missing.

Everything gets tied up at the end which is a good way to blend the story. However, I feel like I would have liked a lot more of the story from Dorothy's point of view. She's such a big part of the story but we never really get to know her feelings about anything.

Not a fan of the ending. Unless the book has a sequel, I don't see why the book would end that way. It just opens up questions again and I find that a bit annoying.

Im giving this book 4.5⭐ im really like this book was really easy to read and was really interesting from the start and i really like the main character sam like how she did what she thought was right against all odds which i really like and the story was really good which was got me going in this book so if you want easy thriller kind of book the have some found family kinda of a vibes i really recommend to try this one and thank to netgalley and the author for this early access and i can't wait to read the second book in the series 😊

I love thrillers with complex characters that you both feel for and also don't like. In this book, you both feel for Sam and everything she goes through and has gone through, but also get frustrated because she doesn't make great decisions. I am also a fan of small town thrillers, as nothing is creepier to me than rural towns with secrets. Honestly, I have no complaints about this book! Really great thriller and I plan on reading more from Lauren Street in the future.

Wow the story was definitely more messed up than I thought it would be... Samantha definitely does not have it all, does not live the happy go lucky life and she sure as shit doesn't have it all figured out! Life in a trailer, living paycheck to paycheck, stuck in a job you hate...sound familiar? But she keeps it together long enough to go on a "help thy' neighbor" mission when Beth reaches out to her. What happened next was an edge of your seat, take your breath away, jaw dropping chase and breadcrumbs trails to bring to justice those at fault. Character development was just great. The small town politics and red tape was nicely laid out and hatred ran high. Highly recommend for anyone interested in a not so cozy mystery, wtf happened kind of story, one that will keep you guessing and on your toes until the end!

I want to thank NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy for an honest review.

I both loved and hated this book. I found the characters to be interesting though keeping everyone separate was a little difficult at first as they are all damaged characters dealing with the fallout of trauma. I think the trauma responses were extremely well done, varied and well drawn. Though, the story really serves as a reminder of how unfair life is and that money/power dictate everything. It felt real and sad and frustrating.

Sam is former military police and while in Afghanistan, her five year old daughter dies. She moves to Rush, California and attends NA meetings. Sam is working at a bar and living in a camper. She has been sober for a year but wants so bad to join her daughter. Sam is not a friendly person but when a woman, Beth who attends meetings with her, claims to have seen her dead sister, Sam decides to help her. The town is corrupted and the man who Beth blames is rich and powerful and not about to go down. Can Sam save herself and her new “friend “?

I could not put it down. Sam is on the road to disaster. Mystery. Secrets. Most of it is told in Sam’s point of view. A little humor between Sam, her landlord and a dog.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed for Netgalley *

I loved reading the synopsis and was really excited to read this. Unfortunately, it did drag on a bit and for someone that has ADHD, it can be hard for me to read books like that.

Excellent suspense through to the very end with this one. Twin? Lookalike? Dream? Psychosis? Or perhaps all of the above? I especially liked that the characters were real and flawed. Not everyone has their life put together and they don't always make the right choices - or even what's good for them. Those were the elements that kept me going through "...Couldn't Stop Dying" to find out who/why/how. This is my first from Lauren Street and I am currently looking for more from her and the three she partnered on.

Sam Salazar is an addict with a past full of dark memories , her depression dragging her down .
When one of her AA group . Beth often seen as crazy , starts telling all who will listen that she
has seen her dead sister Dorothy no one believes her .. she's crazy after all - isn't she ?
Investigating , albeit reluctantly , Sam comes up against a common theme in small town America
............... secrets abound , made to be hidden and those who poke their nose in will have to
accept the consequences .
This is an interesting read with multiple characters , perhaps too many , showing just how a small
town can pull itself in and keep newcomers on the outside . I did find Sam a difficult character to relate
to at times - perhaps she was too real for me !

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

The Girl Who Couldn't Stop Dying by Lauren Street, this was a new author for me so I thought I would give her a try. I found this to be an interesting read, even in my opinion that at times it was hard to follow along with. I guess Sam would be considered the main character in the book, but she wasn't one that really caught my interest. This book certainly contained some twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. I would recommend it to others, even though it was not one of my favorites reads

I received and ARC from NetGalley and the publisher Sterling and Stone, and I am leaving my review voluntarily

I was disappointed with this book. Very slow and not an interesting storyline. To many characters which made reading laborious.

It was just ok to me and it drug on a lot! Thank to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review

OMG, this book was amazing! It was a psychological thriller that keep you guessing all the way to the end. This is the first time I read a book from Lauren Street and based on the twist of this book I will be reading her other books.

Sam is a 41 year old Hispanic that ran to Redwood to get away from her own demons but becomes entangled with Beth's mystery and issues. Beth is a mentally ill person who lost her sister Dorothy in a fire but 2 years later sees her and want to help her find the truth of her death. While trying to solve this mystery Beth becomes more mentally ill and everyone thinks she is crazy for trying to find her dead sister.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a psychological thriller with multiple twists. I was not able to put down the book until I knew how it ended.

I do recommend to approach the book with caution because it does have addiction, mental illness, and racism.

Thanks NetGalley and The Author for this arc

I will said I was pleasantly surprised at the very beginning it definitely hooked me in. I did felt like at times the story line got confusing :/ they are SO many characters that probably wasn’t needed.

The main plot was interesting but once again a bit confusing at points since there was so much more going. I wish I would’ve been able to see more into Sans past and her own trauma since I thought that’s what the book was about.

I really liked the characters in this story! Main character Sam is a likable addict who helps to solve a town murder mystery while dealing with her own demons. I loved Syc and his dog Dog and Sam’s fling Chris. The writing was descriptive and the cliffhangers at the end of the chapters made me want to keep reading. The ending left a bit to be desired which made it a 4 instead I’d 5 star.

Would be interested in more books in this series and would 100% recommend.


Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Storm publishing for the download!

I am on a terrible streak, with every book that I requested lately failing to hit the mark for me... Unfortunately, this was another in a string of books that sounded interesting, with fabulous cover art, that wound up being a bit of a dud as far as my own reading tastes were concerned. I liked the opening, and loved the cover. The premise had promise, but unfortunately the delivery just didn't work for me. I couldn't connect to the characters. The "action" was spectacularly non-climactic and didn't engage me at all. I get a slow burn, but with a title and cover like this one, as well as the description provided and the opening scene, I expected things to be happening at a pretty quick pace. Unfortunately it felt like things were just dragging along and I just couldn't stay with the writing long enough to see if they eventually did... This wasn't a good fit for me.