Last Girls Alive
Kindle Edition, 364 pages
Published October 7th 2020 by Bookouture
Goodreads synopsis:
Half-buried in the muddy earth and surrounded by puddles of water lies the naked body of a beautiful young girl. Her pale skin looks like porcelain in the early morning light. Her fragile arms bent and crooked like a broken doll.
When Detective Katie Scott is called to the discovery of a young girl buried on the grounds of a former children’s home in Pine Valley, California, she’s hopeful it’s the end to a devastating cold case she’s been working on. No one has seen Candace Harlan since she ran away from Elm Hill Manor five years ago. Her death will be a tragedy, but it will also bring peace to those who miss her most. But the girl in the ground is not Candace.
The victim is almost identical to Candace in every way, but fear grips Katie as she takes in the black ink that decorates the girl’s back – a terrifying message tattooed on her skin after she drew her last breath.
Forcing down traumatic memories of losing her own parents, Katie is certain someone mistook this poor soul for Candace, and that this crumbling home for lost girls is at the heart of this terrible crime. She sets to work digging into the tragic history of the owners who lost so many children of their own and tracking down the last six residents and the staff who cared for them – but no one wants to talk, let alone remember.
The next day, as second girl’s body is found down by the creek at high water, the same words etched into her skin. Katie’s worst fear is confirmed: someone is picking off the last of the Elm Hill girls one by one. But what does the tattoo mean? And what monster would target these innocent girls who have already been through so much?
Katie must dig deep to confront her own fears and protect the vulnerable – but as the body count rises further, will there be anyone left to save?
***
4.5 stars
This is the fourth book in the Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase.
Detective Katie is back! They begin to investigate a dead body on the grounds of a former children’s home. They think that this body is related to a cold case she and her partner are working on.
This case really triggers Katie as she reflects on the death of her parents and how she is still conflicted about committing to a relationship to her fireman beau.
This is definitely a great mystery. It turns you up and down many roads and puts a ton of red herrings into our path. Plus, you learn a lot more about her partner, Sean McGaven and I feel like he is expanded greatly in this book. As always, Cisco the dog is just a wonder to behold. Love all the scenes where he is featured.
This is a story you need to pay attention to. Remain focused and you will love this book too. If you need more of a backstory, go back and read the first three books in this series. That won’t be wasted time since all those books are wonderfully written, especially book three that features Katie’s uncle.
Great series worth digging into!
If you like police procedural/detective fiction, mystery, or thriller, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
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