In Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell, Gillian French weaves a dark and chilling thriller centered around a woman whose relentless obsession with uncovering the truth about her sister's disappearance puts her entire life at risk. Shaw, a fingerprint analyst who has witnessed some of the most brutal crime scenes in rural Maine, is haunted by the unsolved mystery of Thea's disappearance 16 years ago. Her determination to find answers has not only strained her marriage but also disrupted her relationship with her children. As she begins receiving cryptic, increasingly disturbing calls from a man named Anders, who claims to know what happened, Shaw is pulled deeper into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

The book balances intense, graphic crime scenes with a steady, suspenseful pace, keeping readers on edge as Shaw's obsession unravels the stability of her life. French does an excellent job of portraying Shaw’s desperation, making the psychological aspect of her journey as gripping as the physical threats she faces. The grim, atmospheric setting heightens the tension, and as the threats against her family escalate, the reader is pulled into a dark and twisted path where Shaw is forced to confront just how far she’s willing to go for the truth.

Overall, Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell is an engrossing read, combining gritty crime scenes, a tense investigation, and a deeply personal story of loss. It's a compelling, fast-paced thriller that keeps you hooked until the very last page. Four stars for its gripping suspense and emotional depth.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for sharing this captivating thriller's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Shaw Connolly is my new favorite heroine!
Shawnee has the unusual job of fingerprints analyst, and thus enters the crime scenes before most and comes face to face with some of the goriest murders and deaths that can be imagined in her small Maine town. None of this matters to her as she is still morning the loss of her sister from many years prior.

The whole family seems to be stuck in time from the death of Theodora and 16 years later, very little has changed. But when Shaw begins hearing from a known caller she thinks she might be getting close to finally get answers. It doesn't matter that the man on the other line knows far too much and is harassing her and becoming more and more aggressive. Shaw can't hang up, he knows too much and seems so close.
Gothic, gritty, creepy, sad and hopeful, don't miss this book!
#stmartins #shawconnollylivestotell #gillianfrench

This was an average book. I did not really connect with the main character though. I did enjoy the story though.

A finger print analyst in Maine may appear to have moved on after the disappearance of her sister 16 years earlier, but her marriage and career take a back seat to her continued search for the truth