The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves

Author: Sarah Graves
Publisher: Random House - Ballantine
Date of publication: January 2016 

In the remote backwoods of Bearkill, Maine, a forest fire rages out of control. As embers swirl dangerously in the smoke-filled air, a teenage girl with a history of running away has dropped out of sight again. Lizzie Snow, a prickly but effective female deputy, thinks Tara Wylie is up to her old tricks—until her mother receives a terrifying text message. And when news gets out that convicted kidnapper Henry Gemmerle has escaped from a nearby prison clinic, Lizzie’s fears for Tara’s safety take on even greater urgency.

Following a trail of grisly clues—a bloodstained motel room, a makeshift coffin in a shallow grave—Lizzie races to save an innocent and corner a monster. On top of it all, someone else is desperately seeking Tara Wylie and the escaped convict, though, for reasons that have nothing to do with mercy or justice. And when they all meet, the inferno threatening Bearkill will pale in comparison to the hell that’s about to break loose.

With a fast-paced plot and a dark, bloodcurdling setting, THE GIRLS SHE LEFT BEHIND is sure to please new and longtime fans of Sarah Graves alike. 

The Girls She Left Behind is a convoluted, twisted, and dark mystery and I enjoyed every minute.  It's the second book featuring Lizzie Snow but the first one I have read.  Lizzie is settling into her job in Maine and trying to work on the search for her niece when a local girl goes missing.  As Lizzie digs deeper, she realizes that Tara's disappearance is not just a case of a runaway teen. 

I swear, every time I thought I had it figured out, I discovered I was wrong.  There are so many twists in the book.  I'm not sure I have been this entertained by a mystery in a while. I'm not going to spoil anything because it would ruin the story.  I really felt like the author did a great job of revealing information just at the right time.  It definitely made me want to keep reading right through to the end.  

 Lizzie is a great character.  She is a good detective, but has some flaws.  She is a character I look forward to getting to know in future books.   The only thing I didn't love was the "love triangle". Maybe it was more involved in the first book, but it is  of glossed over in this story.  I really felt like it was unnecessary and was kind of distracting.  You all know I'm not a fan in general of those anyway.  

I definitely recommend this mystery.  You won't be able to put it down!

About the author:

SARAH GRAVES lives with her husband in Eastport, Maine, in the 1823 Federal-style house that helped inspire her Home Repair is Homicide books. The series and the author's real-life experience have been featured in House & Garden and USA Today.

Throwback Thursday: Dead Cat bounce by Sarah Graves

Author: Sarah Graves
First published in 1998 by Bantam

dead cat bounce n. Stock market jargon for a small, temporary rise in a stock's trading price after a sharp drop.

Since she bought her rambling old fixer-upper of a house, Jacobia Tiptree has gotten used to finding things broken. But her latest problem isn't so easily repaired. Along with the rotting floor joists and sagging support beams, there's the little matter of the dead man in Jake's storeroom, an ice pick firmly planted in his cranium.

Not much happens in her tiny Maine town, but that's about to change. Jake's unknown guest turns out to be a world-famous corporate raider, local boy turned billionaire Threnody McIlwaine. When Jake's best friend, quiet and dependable Ellie White, readily confesses to the murder, cops and journalists swarm into snowbound Eastport.

Jake smells a cover-up, and begins poking into past history between McIlwaine and Ellie's family. But someone doesn't like nosy neighbors...and Jake's rustic refuge may become her final resting place.

As I started this audio-book, I had the feeling that I had read this book before a while ago.  I'm not usually one for re-reading books, but I remember  enjoying it.  I did not remembering the identity of the killer.  So, I stuck with it.  Dead Cat Bounce was a very enjoyable mystery.  I think fans of Murder She Wrote from the 80s will enjoy this cozy mystery.  That is what it reminded me of as I was listening.

I loved Jake.  I thought she made a great amateur sleuth.  She is smart, tough, and loyal to her friends.  After just under a year living in the small Maine town, she is becoming accepted by the locals.  She has settled in nicely as has her son, Sam.  She has a new love in her life and everything with her ancient house is going nicely.  Until, she finds a dead man in her storage room.  When her best friend confesses to the crime, Jake knows something isn't right.  I thought the mystery was well laid out with a few surprised along the way.  

This is a series I know I will definitely be checking out once again.  There are about 16 books so far, so I have a lot of catching up to do!