Silenced Girls by Roger Stelljes is a thrilling start to the Agent Tori Hunter series, and I was hooked from the very beginning! The storyline was gripping and kept me on edge with its twists and turns. Tori Hunter is such a compelling character, and her determination and grit made me root for her throughout the entire book. The plot was full of suspense, making it a real page-turner—well, in this case, a real "listen-to-the-next-chapter" moment!

Now, I must admit, the pacing slowed down a bit in some parts, but boy, did this story hold my attention. Even in those quieter moments, I found myself deeply invested in the characters and their development. Stelljes’ writing is captivating, and I loved the balance between the action-packed scenes and the investigative elements of the story.

As for the narration, what can I say? Kate Handford did an amazing job bringing the story and characters to life. Her voice captured the intensity of the plot perfectly, and she really made the story soar. I would absolutely love to listen to more books that she has narrated, especially if they are as action-packed and suspenseful as this one!

If you're a fan of crime thrillers, *Silenced Girls* is a must-read (or must-listen)!

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The story was great but at some points it felt like the story was dragged out a little too much and got a little boring on a few parts. I'm just glad the killer did not turn out to be who I was thinking it was gonna be though, I did not see that coming on who was actually behind it all in the end.
Overall a good read, It's a good ‘who did it and why’ and I’d would also take up reading the next book in the series.

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Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC 🫶🏼

An exciting thriller read with twists that keep you guessing till the end! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you are a fan of criminal minds then this series is for you. I love how you are kept guessing and in suspense throughout the entire book. I also was bamboozled with who the killer actually was and I loved that aspect. I also really enjoyed the main characters and watching their developing relationship.

When agent Tori gets a message baiting her back to the hometown that she left 20 years ago things go awry. I enjoyed this read and will definitely be reading more of this authors books

This was a fantastic read. I loved Agent Tori Hunter and her flawed character. I loved the tie in with her sister's old cases to the new cases, and the way the killer was constantly playing games with the cops. I can't wait for another Tori Hunter book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook!

I absolutely loved this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC copy of this audiobook.

I was first attracted to this story because of the title and the cover. I went in with no synopsis other than I knew it was a mystery and it involved an FBI agent and investigation. Immediately sign me up! I was not disappointed at all. This story is long but it was so well written that I had no trouble following the characters and story line.
I can see this playing out as a movie or series because of the in between stories that were involved. That made for a great character development because you got to learn more about what a great agent the FMC is. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist and more uncovered.

This is the first book I have read from Roger Stelljes and now I cannot wait to get into the other books in this series.

All I can say is wow. This was a great book, full of little red herrings. My 13 year old daughter and I kept trying to piece the clues together, and I must say, she said pretty early on who she thought it might be. She ended up correct, but not for the correct reasons. I however, was very wrong. I went in not realizing this was the first in a series, and now I must read the rest. This was definitely a book that got you tangled up in the story and one you couldn't put down.

Super great read!!! Loved it from start to finish! Found it a little slow in parts Toria came off a little ehh at 1st but she did grow on me!!!

Silenced Girls (Agent Tori Hunter #1)
Roger Stelljes
Narrator: Kate Handford
Twenty years ago, Jessica, Tori’s twin sister, disappeared. It was July 4, 1999; Jessica’s car is found abandoned about three miles from her home; the car has a flat tire from a puncture. FBI Special Agent Tori Hunter’s life has centered around her missing sister. Tori focused on her work and shut everything else out, until she received the letter. She had no way of knowing who sent the letter, but she knew it was time to face her fears. Tori wanted to solve the mystery of what happened to her sister. She returned to Manchester, Minnesota where it all began. Another young woman is missing.
In Manchester Tori works closely with the police to solve the missing girl. She works closely with the Shepard County Chief Detective Will Braddock in hopes of finding the link between the two missing girls. Someone wants Tori and Brock dead. Tori was taking a run when someone attempted to shoot her; Brock’s vehicle was armed with a bomb, when he tried to start it was his key fob it exploded. As the police investigate more deeply, they discover more missing girls. Tori is convinced it is someone local.
When I read a police procedure or mystery book, I also attempt to guess who the culprit was, before the plot reveals him. In this instance I thought I knew who it was but until the final fourth of the book, I was wrong. I enjoyed the relationship between Brock and Tori. It was the perfect amount of romance without overdoing it. The plot is well paced, begins with a bang and follows up with a well written tale. There are quite a few characters in this tale. This is the first book in a new series, I am eagerly waiting for the next installment

NetGalley provided me with a free copy of this book for review purposes. My reviews are always my opinions.

A well narrated and intense story, dark and twisty in nature. A good read but could probably have done with finishing earlier than it did

For me this book started really strong with a great main character full of confidence with a little edge and curiosity.

I was so intrigued by Tori and the home town she left behind. Reopening the case and revisiting what happened 20 years ago kept me interested however I felt the story became a bit too drawn out making this an unnecessary long read often lacking excitement or purpose.

The book did pull it back at the end with a great finale pulling the whole story together which didn’t disappoint

The narration was great and paced the story well.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an author that I have never heard of.

Tori Hunter became a FBI agent years after her sister disappeared in High School. Twenty years later Tori receives a cryptic letter that directs her to an online article. Another girl has disappeared in her hometown. Tori is compelled to go home and dig up the past. This is a twisty thriller of a book. Tori and the local police department are pressured to figure out how two women have disappeared without a trace. This turns into a multi-murder investigation over several states. There is a spark between Tori and the local detective which leads to some spice.

I do feel like the book could have been a tad shorter. The narrator did a good job. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I loved this audio - it was fantastic and I don’t have a negative thing to say about it. It had me gripped from the beginning. The setting was brilliant

Tori Hunters twin sister disappeared in her teens, 20yrs later, it’s FBI Tori Hunter who specialises in finding missing persons. Tori has had no closure about her twin as yet….

Absolutely addictive, fast paced - loved it!

This audio can be a Netflix film it was that good

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre Audio

4.5 ⭐️ - Hooked from the first minute! I think I found myself a new favorite series to binge!

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Kate Handford. I have listened to audiobooks by her before and she is absolutely great. They way she narrates the story just kept me glued to my AirPods until it was finished. The suspense was so palpable, I just could not stop listening.

The story follows FBI Agent Tori Hunter, who has been haunted by guilt for twenty years since her twin sister vanished. The shadow of that unsolved disappearance looms large over her return to Manchester Bay, triggered by an anonymous newspaper clipping about another missing girl, Genevieve. Like Tori’s sister, Genevieve disappeared without a trace, her car found abandoned on a lonely lakeside road as fireworks lit up the night sky.

The local police, under pressure to make an arrest, are focused on a suspect—a man seen flirting with Genevieve the night she disappeared. However, the plot thickens when that suspect is found dead in his cabin, just days before another girl’s body is discovered, bound and strangled in the trunk of her car. Bloodstains surrounding the body belong to the one man Tori thought she could trust, forcing her to confront the unsettling reality that the closer she gets to the truth, the more her own life is at risk.

Stelljes's writing is sharp and captivating, drawing readers into a world filled with suspense and emotional depth. Tori is a compelling protagonist, portrayed as both strong and vulnerable, grappling with her past while remaining dedicated to her work. The author skillfully balances Tori's professional challenges with her emotional journey, making her a relatable and multidimensional character.

"Silenced Girls" is very fast paced, ensuring there is never a dull moment. The author excels at building tension, as Tori races against time to uncover the truth and save the victims. Moreover, her romance with Will and the tension between them, adds an nice layer to the narrative.

My only point of critique: I think this book could have been a 100 pages shorter. Half way there was a plot line that didn't make any sense to me of the overall plot line. The author could have left that out in my opinion.

I am definitely going to continue reading or listening to this series, it is a must read for crime fiction and thriller fans!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This story centres around abducted women and the police investigation - where are they and what happened to them?

I like the narration. The story is well written and engaging, especially at the beginning. I like how it is told from different perspectives, too. It's ominous.

At the start of the novel, the timeline was unclear and I thought - Who is this Steak character? Is he a teenager, or a police officer? Tori is 17 years old and mentions kissing him. Was that in the past, and he grew up to become a police officer? The timeline isn't clear at first. It would have been helpful to have something like a date for the chapters so the reader easily understands the progression of time.

As the story progressed, there was growth for the characters and interesting relationships between them.

The novel was a bit long and the investigation into Genevieve's disappearance wasn't that interesting.

The scene where Tori first arrives at her hometown and visits the police station is just so much longer than it needs to be and didn't keep my attention as much as the other parts of this book.

Overall, I did like this story. But I wish the investigation section of the novel was less drawn out. I wish it was more condensed so we can focus on the interesting parts of the novels. Like what actually happened to the girls.

Thank you to Roger Stelljes for the ARC.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my audio book of Silenced Girls (book 1 in the Agent Tori Hunter series) by Roger Stelljes.

In 1999 after the 4th of July celebrations 17-year-old Jessie Hunter goes missing in Manchester Bay, Minnesota. The police only ever find her car with the front tyre slashed.

In 2019 27-year-old Genevieve Lash goes missing after the 4th of July celebrations in the same town of Manchester Bay, with the police also only finding her car with the front tyre slashed. Coincidence or something more sinister like the MO of a serial killer?

Special Agent Victoria (Tori) Hunter has not been back to her hometown of Manchester Bay in 20 years, since the disappearance of her twin sister Jessie. But after receiving a mysterious letter on the eve of the 20th anniversary of her sister’s disappearance, she knows she has to go and see who is messing with her and why do they want her back home? The letter mentions that another missing woman’s case should look very familiar to Jessie’s.

Tori is soon investigating the new case with the local police, Detective Will Braddock. They work together and soon have a suspect in mind but then other things happen and it all looks too coincidental. Further digging soon reveals more missing women over the 20-year period.

A solid crime book with a smatter of a burgeoning love story.

A promising start to this FBI series.

4.5 stars rounded up.

On July 4, 1999, at the age of 17, Tori Hunter's twin sister Jessie was abducted from their small town in Manchester Bay, Minnesota. Twenty years later, Jessie has never been found and Tori is now an FBI agent specializing in finding missing children. When a mysterious letter arrives from her former hometown, Tori realizes that there has been another abduction with eerie similarities to her sister's case. Returning to Manchester Bay for the first time, Tori promptly joins the local investigation into the most recent disappearance, hoping to finally be able to solve the mystery of what happened to Jessie as well.

Putting aside jurisdictional issues and, most importantly, the fact that no one in their right mind would let the sister of a victim join a criminal investigation, not even unofficially and no matter how talented of an investigator they are - any defense attorney right out of law school would have a field day with it! -, this is an excellent procedural. Sure, the whole "FBI agent has a traumatic past that catches up with her as she's chasing a serial killer" idea is not exactly new. But with a gripping story, characters that possess actual depth, good writing, and a well-done (if not completely surprising) whodunnit, this book has all the hallmarks of a great thriller. My only complaint was the book's sheer length; some aspects of the story were too drawn-out and could have easily been shortened. Other than that, I was swept up in the case and will gladly return to Manchester Bay for more.

I listened to the audiobook, and really enjoyed both the production in general and the narration specifically.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The audiobook of "Silenced Girls" is slated to be released on November 1, 2024.

The mystery around her sister's disappearance has shaped FBI agent Tori Hunter. When she receives a newspaper clipping with another missing girl in her hometown, she knows she has to go back. She knows the murderer is playing with her and gets help from the police to try and figure how it is all related. As she connects with her high school friends, it becomes apparent that it has to be someone she knows. More women go missing. She calls in favors and finds out that this is part of a pattern and that she is dealing with a serial killer. There are a few times when they narrow down to a suspect, but it isn't until she is kidnapped until it all becomes clear. She will then need the help of those she's been working with to save her and take down the murderer. The mystery and suspense are good and it's hard to put the pieces together other than knowing that her first two suspects aren't right.
Since I listened to this I rate the narrator as good but not great. She has a great voice, but I like my male characters to sound male and female characters to sound female as otherwise, it's tough to keep characters straight. It's just someone talking. A personal preference which may not bother others.
Also, I had a hard time liking the main character as she was arrogant and difficult at times. She would be all enthusiastic they had the correct suspect in the interview room and then suddenly decide maybe they didn't do it. It seemed like she only started acting like a professional the last half of the book. And once again, it may not bother some and it may not have bothered me if I had read versus listening.
Overall, a good story and I would definitely read another book in the series.

Tori Hunter is now an FBI Agent but 20 years ago she lived in Manchester Bay when her sister disappeared. She is now back after another woman dissapear. Could they be related and why now? Will Tori find out?

Very enjoyable well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters in this well paced and action packed novel. Lots of tension as Tori investigates this and other cases. Good read, enjoy.