Madigan Knox and Grace Sheppard were innocent girls placed in the foster care system. Together they created a bond as close if not closer than sisters could ever get. The girls were made to do things no child should be forced to do while in the system. Then one night something happened that split them apart. When they become adults they both re-unite in the town of Tall Pines. Madigan is a reporter and Grace is an investigator. When a woman is killed, old wounds are opened that could cause big problems for both Madigan and Grace. The author wrote this story with emotion so strong you will feel it. I would give this story more than five stars if possible. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. The review is of my own opinion, but don't take my word for it....get it and read it for yourself.

This was an edge of your seat, can't put it down thriller for me. The characters were great, the story and the detective work was very interesting. The story progressed and giving us just enough to want to keep reading right until the end. I loved trying to figure out "whodunit" and the sisters had better detective skills than me because I was totally off! I am not a big fan of detective novels but with this one being told in two POV - Medigan the reporter and Grace the detective - I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading the second book in the Knox and Shepperd series that was published this year!

Here's a quick synopsis: Madigan and Grace became sisters the day they entered their foster home. After four years of living in a childhood nightmare, one brave act set them free but they were split into different homes. As adult, they are reunited in a small coastal town they dreamed of living when they were kids. When a woman is found dead in her home, Madigan reports on the crime while Grace investigates it. A dark connection is discovered and pulling them closer to the crime and their traumatic past they are desperately trying to forget.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emerald O'Brien for my electronic copy.

This is a great NOVEL, not "only" a mystery. The plot is very strong and the characters are very well painted. In addition the author points to very important subjects like the abuse of children and their problems later in life, as well as police procedure and undercover work. GREAT!

Emerald O’Brien has written a compelling mystery investigated by two women, one a reporter and the other a police detective, who grew up in foster care together. Madigan and Grace now find themselves in the same small town, where each struggles with difficult colleagues as they try to solve a crime in which some of the suspects turn out to have been connected with their foster family. The author maintains a good sense of conflict at all levels throughout the novel, keeping up the pace and the suspense, mixed in with enough personal information to keep the characters interesting. In the second half of the book, the editing seems to conk out; beyond an increase in easily-corrected copy errors (repeated paragraphs and minor mistakes) the dialogue becomes somewhat repetitive, and the story gets bogged down where previously it was streamlined and fast-moving. The ending, though not a big surprise, makes sense and is satisfying.

A pleasant read,the story had suspence,and kept the reader thinking,flashbacks helped to move the story forward would like to see a follow up book.

It start we two women who met as children in the foster care system who forge a bond that can't never be broken. As years past one became a reporter other a detective when they are both investigate a murder that has ties to there past. This was a good read looking forward to the next book.

It was great story line. It was twisted and brilliant. Madigan with her courage and Grace with her confidence solved the case. They were perfect sisters. This book showed a sisterly bond. It was nice.

Madigan and Grace were both children fostered by the same dysfunctional "family" as children. While their experience with their foster parents, Eli and Evette was horrendous to say the least, the bond they formed as sisters couldn't be stronger if they were related by blood.

At the beginning we learn Madigan has started a new job as a reporter and Grace is working for a new police department, trying to salvage what little of her reputation is left after a stint as an undercover agent went awry. Her relationship with Madigan also appears to be strained, as a year away and lack of communication made Madigan feel forgotten. All that is about to change though, as the sisters begin investigating the same murder that ultimately leads them to reflect on their troubled childhood.

I really did enjoy this book a lot. There were lots of twists, and though most of them were not too surprising they were well written. The characters were likable, though at times I just wanted to yell at them to just "SAY IT!" There were a few loose ends and things about their past, things the characters were very troubled by, that went unexplained. I was kind of disappointed in that, but I also see this is intended to be a series so those are things I can look forward to reading about later I hope.

Thank you NetGalley and Kobo Writing Life for the eARC.
I really liked this book a lot, it was hard to put down and I'm happy that it's the first in a series because I'd love to meet the 2 women again, they're very appealing characters.
Madigan is a reporter and Grace an investigator with the police in the coastal town, Tall Pines, they dreamed of living in as kids. They became extremely close when they lived as foster children under dire circumstances. An unexpected occurrence forces them apart into separate homes until they meet again as adults, where they get involved in a murder case that brings their horrifying foster experience back with a vengeance.
I really felt for the girls, their shocking past has cast a shadow over their mental states; thank goodness they have a wonderful bond that helps them overcome a lot of their traumas. It would be great if we found out more in-depth information about the incidents that caused their traumas, but I 'm sure the next book will go into more detail.
This is a great book, not only as a mystery, but also as the story of 2 strong women determined to overcome the past. Highly recommended.

The Girls Across the Bay by Emerald O’Brien is a well written mystery/thriller that will keep you enthralled and wanting more even as you rad the last sentence. In this novel we meet two young girls who were brought together by the foster care system and then develop3d a bond stronger than most family ties. Relying on each other they endured many things together but one thing was so strong and terrible that it split them apart. Madigan Knox and Grace Sheppard were again brought together as adults when they moved to Tall Pines. A place both girls dreamed of living when they were young. However, this was no ordinary reunion for the two women. Madigan reports a dead woman was found in her home. Grace inevitably is the one who investigates as the Detective for the local police dept. There are many twists and turns and O’Brien does a great job with ensuring the reader has adequate knowledge of events that happened in the past by flashbacks. As I read the book I rally believed that I had figures it out. However, that was not the case. The plot is full of suspense and characters that are well written with flaws and personality. The murder investigation brings in ties that take them back to their time spent in foster care. I love the way the author brings you in just enough and gives you a few clues here and there but just when you think you have it figured out, you are let loose again to believe it might be someone else. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great thriller.

Thank you to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.