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simon_w's review against another edition
5.0
This story was able to consistently surprise me and kept me enthralled. The characters were incredibly well written and the plot flowed at a reasonable pace. I’m looking forward to reading the continuation of the series.
noveldeelights's review
5.0
Woo! What a fantastic way to kick off a new series!
The prologue alone already made me move to the edge of my seat and after finishing those two pages, I was hooked and utterly convinced this would be one tense ride. My expectations skyrocketed at that point and I was not left disappointed as the promise of something dark and twisted was completely fulfilled.
When the body of a young woman is found in a local park, DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane are put on the case. But Chloe quickly becomes distracted and obsessed as someone is taunting her about the death of her brother, Luke. Did he commit suicide or was he murdered?
Joys of joys, what a wonderful team of women we have here. Girl power and all that! Both are flawed and have baggage which makes them all the more realistic and believable. Chloe struggles with her past in more ways than one and Alex, while divorced from her husband, is still sleeping with him. As you do.
The Girls in the Water is an incredibly compelling and gripping read. There are characters I loved and characters I’d happily strangle myself. The book had me glued to the pages as the investigation into the murder victim unfolded and various layers of the skilfully crafted plot came together. I stayed up way too late in a desperate attempt to finish as the team races against the clock to save another potential victim.
This is an incredible debut by Victoria Jenkins and a thrilling and exciting start to a new series. It has so much to offer, from a chilling killer to a haunting backstory and with an intelligent plot and interesting characters. I can’t wait to see more of Alex and Chloe!
The prologue alone already made me move to the edge of my seat and after finishing those two pages, I was hooked and utterly convinced this would be one tense ride. My expectations skyrocketed at that point and I was not left disappointed as the promise of something dark and twisted was completely fulfilled.
When the body of a young woman is found in a local park, DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane are put on the case. But Chloe quickly becomes distracted and obsessed as someone is taunting her about the death of her brother, Luke. Did he commit suicide or was he murdered?
Joys of joys, what a wonderful team of women we have here. Girl power and all that! Both are flawed and have baggage which makes them all the more realistic and believable. Chloe struggles with her past in more ways than one and Alex, while divorced from her husband, is still sleeping with him. As you do.
The Girls in the Water is an incredibly compelling and gripping read. There are characters I loved and characters I’d happily strangle myself. The book had me glued to the pages as the investigation into the murder victim unfolded and various layers of the skilfully crafted plot came together. I stayed up way too late in a desperate attempt to finish as the team races against the clock to save another potential victim.
This is an incredible debut by Victoria Jenkins and a thrilling and exciting start to a new series. It has so much to offer, from a chilling killer to a haunting backstory and with an intelligent plot and interesting characters. I can’t wait to see more of Alex and Chloe!
kizzia's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A well plotted and well paced thriller with a realistic and interesting main character in DI Alex King. Chloe Lane also makes for a compelling “side kick”. I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it but I won’t be rushing to read the next in the series as I didn’t quite gel with the author’s writing style.
yvo_about_books's review
4.0
Finished reading: July 27th 2017
"You couldn't escape the past. It stayed with you, there, in your shadow. It lurked at your shoulder, breathing on your neck like a ghost."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
Spoiler
Basically I wanted to read this one as soon as I saw the cover and the blurb sounded really positive as well. Then I saw positive reviews popping up here and there and the writing style being compared to Robert Bryndza's Erika Foster series and I was sold. This comparison wasn't wrong, because the writing style definitely has a similar feel and is very very engaging. I was hooked as soon as I started reading and both the pace and prose made it very easy to read The Girls In The Water. Of course the sole fact that this first book of a new detective series has a serial killer is already a huge bonus for me... Call me twisted, but I have a weird fascination for those. The case detective King and Lane have to investigate is intriguing and the story has quite a few plot twists and potential suspects to keep you busy guessing. It's always a good sign when that happens! I wasn't completely charmed by the characters though. The whole damage past for the detective characters is just getting old I guess... And I never managed to warm up to Alex and Chloe completely. I do admit I was curious about Chloe's past and it did add a little something extra to the story. And my lack of connection to the main characters was probably my only complaint of an otherwise fast-paced, entertaining serial killer rollercoaster ride. I will be looking forward to book two!
The body of Lola Evans is found in a local park and both Alex King and Chloe Lane are called in to investigate the case. When a few days later a second girl goes missing, they fear they might have a serial killer on their hands... Especially since the two girls seem to share a troubled history and were members of the same support group. Just a coincidence or does the killer have a specific target? It's up to detective King and her team to find out before it's too late... And more vulnerable girls might be in danger.
If you enjoy reading fast-paced and well written detective thrillers I can definitely recommend The Girls In The Water. Both the writing style and pace made me fly through this serial killer thriller and the case itself was intriguing as well. Lots of plot twists and potential suspects to keep you guessing and that is always a bonus! I wasn’t completely charmed by the characters, but that doesn't take away I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
maggymags's review
3.0
3.5* Not a bad read, but also not the best this year. I found it difficult to connect with the two main characters, and disliked Chloe intensely. Story dragged a bit in places and I wanted more from the investigation.
kjs1995's review
5.0
This book has become the most fascinating reading in all my years of reading. The book was beautifully constructed and kept me at the edge of my seat every page I turn. The author had allowed the readers to follow along what each person in the book is thinking, doing, how they feel, and how the series of events has effected them. She also adds in another issue,such as the past of DC Lane, and how everything is connected from the recent killings to her past.
Here's a quick synopsis of the book:
The Girls in the Water is a book that follows to female protagonists, DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane, to find the person responsible for the murders of two young women. As they start to dig a little deeper, they start uncover that there is a possible chance that there is a link to these two murders and a death of a woman fifteen years ago as well as an incident that happened eight years ago in Chloe's past. Will the truth be uncovered before the murderer makes his next kill?
This is a little synopsis that is not from the back of the book, but from what I had read from the book itself. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for it to be released so I can add it to my collection. This will definitely be the book to re-read to help me get out a reading slump and just read a good mystery.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Here's a quick synopsis of the book:
The Girls in the Water is a book that follows to female protagonists, DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane, to find the person responsible for the murders of two young women. As they start to dig a little deeper, they start uncover that there is a possible chance that there is a link to these two murders and a death of a woman fifteen years ago as well as an incident that happened eight years ago in Chloe's past. Will the truth be uncovered before the murderer makes his next kill?
This is a little synopsis that is not from the back of the book, but from what I had read from the book itself. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for it to be released so I can add it to my collection. This will definitely be the book to re-read to help me get out a reading slump and just read a good mystery.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
robinlovesreading's review
5.0
All of my reviews can be found at robinlovesreading.blogspot.com.
4.5 Stars
The Girls in the Water is Book #1 in the Detectives Alex King and Chloe Lane series. Early one cold winter morning, Alex is called to a gruesome murder scene where the body of a woman is found in a river. Before long, another woman goes missing, and her body, too, is eventually found. What do these two women have in common? We the reader are quickly introduced to a support group they both belonged to and there the beginning of our answer lies.
Meanwhile, Alex's partner, Chloe, is more than a bit distracted. She has a secret, one she knows she must share with Alex. She has been receiving enigmatic email messages, ones that have to do with the death of her brother, who tragically died sometime after he was accused of murdering his girlfriend, something to which Chloe stoically refuses to accept. Alex is very willing to help Chloe, but wants full attention to the case at hand first.
I love reading series, and because I am coming in late, I already have books two and three, The First One to Die and Nobody's Child, both of which I am quite eager to read. This book was a great mix of suspense, the solving of the crimes at hand, and the sensitive nature of Chloe's situation.
Will both Alex and Chloe get the results so desperately needed? Will the young Chloe manage to hold onto her job with her inability to focus on her work? Both questions are clearly examined in this book by Victoria Jenkins. I enjoy the fact that I will be able to see these characters develop in the series that is now available, as well as what no doubt is to come. This is an excellent debut novel, with a terrific plot and subplot, great characterization, shocking twists and turns, while offering great promise for future novels.
4.5 Stars
The Girls in the Water is Book #1 in the Detectives Alex King and Chloe Lane series. Early one cold winter morning, Alex is called to a gruesome murder scene where the body of a woman is found in a river. Before long, another woman goes missing, and her body, too, is eventually found. What do these two women have in common? We the reader are quickly introduced to a support group they both belonged to and there the beginning of our answer lies.
Meanwhile, Alex's partner, Chloe, is more than a bit distracted. She has a secret, one she knows she must share with Alex. She has been receiving enigmatic email messages, ones that have to do with the death of her brother, who tragically died sometime after he was accused of murdering his girlfriend, something to which Chloe stoically refuses to accept. Alex is very willing to help Chloe, but wants full attention to the case at hand first.
I love reading series, and because I am coming in late, I already have books two and three, The First One to Die and Nobody's Child, both of which I am quite eager to read. This book was a great mix of suspense, the solving of the crimes at hand, and the sensitive nature of Chloe's situation.
Will both Alex and Chloe get the results so desperately needed? Will the young Chloe manage to hold onto her job with her inability to focus on her work? Both questions are clearly examined in this book by Victoria Jenkins. I enjoy the fact that I will be able to see these characters develop in the series that is now available, as well as what no doubt is to come. This is an excellent debut novel, with a terrific plot and subplot, great characterization, shocking twists and turns, while offering great promise for future novels.
bedhermit's review
3.0
This is a solid, promising debut but it seems a bit soulless and could have done with a sweeping cut from the editors knife.
The two female protagonists are in need of further development as both are a bit flat and as of yet I don’t feel an affinity for either (I find this very important in crime writing as not wanting the detective to meet a grisly end is surely paramount!)
The story itself is interesting but overlong. The endings of the chapters are styled on a kind of cliffhanger which doesn’t do anything to add drama to the atmosphere.
3 stars from me and sadly I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.
The two female protagonists are in need of further development as both are a bit flat and as of yet I don’t feel an affinity for either (I find this very important in crime writing as not wanting the detective to meet a grisly end is surely paramount!)
The story itself is interesting but overlong. The endings of the chapters are styled on a kind of cliffhanger which doesn’t do anything to add drama to the atmosphere.
3 stars from me and sadly I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.
mabellouise's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
DI Alex King is called out to a scene where the body of a young woman has been found. The woman was obviously killed elsewhere & dumped in the river in a local park, & there is evidence of torture. The victim is identified as Lola Evans who had attended a local self-help group, but they can't find any viable suspects or a reason for her death. When a second victim is found, the pressure is really on to crack the case. Meanwhile, one of her team, DC Chloe Lane, comes to her to ask about reopening the case into the death of her brother's girlfriend. Luke's girlfriend was killed & Luke was blamed on circumstantial evidence, & he ended up committing suicide. Chloe is certain that Luke wouldn't have killed his girlfriend & she's not entirely sure he would have killed himself either.
This starts off quite well but soon gets bogged down. Alex King is the usual 'police detective with a broken relationship' & is in fact sleeping with her ex-husband who turns out to be cheating on his present girlfriend with Alex. Chloe Lane meanwhile comes across as more of a stroppy teenager than a young woman with a promising career. The plot itself is okay but nothing different to what has already been done a thousand times before. You can't always tell from the first book though as characters can grow on you, so I intend on reading the next one, just to see if things have improved.
This starts off quite well but soon gets bogged down. Alex King is the usual 'police detective with a broken relationship' & is in fact sleeping with her ex-husband who turns out to be cheating on his present girlfriend with Alex. Chloe Lane meanwhile comes across as more of a stroppy teenager than a young woman with a promising career. The plot itself is okay but nothing different to what has already been done a thousand times before. You can't always tell from the first book though as characters can grow on you, so I intend on reading the next one, just to see if things have improved.