I'd heard so much hype around this novel that I just had to read it for myself!

The story is centred around a family estate where an older couple live. The family is surrounded by mystery as all of the daughters of the couple have either died or left forever. The only other inhabitants of the house are the couple's granddaughter, Allegra, and a few long-serving staff members. One summer, another granddaughter, the novel's main narrator, arrives after the suicide of her mother and the family secrets start to be revealed. The narrative moves between the summer that the girl arrives, (when she is 15) and the present (10 years or so later) when she returns to the house because Allegra has gone missing; in the years in between she too became one of the Roanoake girls who ran away.

Although the search for Allegra is the main driver of the novel, the narrative is interspersed with the voices of the missing and dead Roanoake girls, something that is cleverly done and works well in revealing the extent of the secrets that the family have covered up for so long. The other characters in the small town are also well drawn and I found that I did get caught up in their hopes and disappointments, although there are few likeable characters in the novel; this isn't a failing of the writing, but it's quite tough reading about all these flawed and twisted people.

The novel is presented as a thriller, although I am not sure the suspense is sustained consistently enough for this. Although some of it is sinister, and the whole premise creepy, I just didn't feel the menace at times. Indeed, the main family secret is revealed very early on in the book (and isn't a huge surprise - the clues are all there and I did guess even before it was said explicitly) so the only real tension is around what happened to Allegra, but this often took a back seat among the other narrative strands. That said, I did read this book so quickly because I wanted to know what happened, so it is engaging without being an on-the-edge-of your-seat thriller.

I'd recommend this book, not least so you can find out what the hype is about. It is clever and well written, although be prepared for an uncomfortable read at times.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mystery was more than enough to keep me turning the pages, however, also loved the flashbacks to the summer Lane spent with Allegra and her grandparents

I'm quite conflicted about this book. The central situation is rather a challenging one. The characters are well developed, with believably limited life chances, in terms of drop out from education and so on. Their physical risk taking, difficulty with mature relationships and emotional need are well realised. The sense of place, with oppressive heat foreshadowing the centrally oppressive relationship, is well handled. The missing girl and the mystery around her keeps the pages turning.

However, for me, there is something slightly off, something not quite right about the whole novel, which I just can't put my finger on. In general I'm starting to have concerns about books with central characters who are vulnerable young women who are, essentially, predated upon in one way or another. I can't decided if this reflects or prompts similar situations in the lived experience of actual vulnerable young women. Why do we find this so alluring and fascinating? Should we allow this to fascinate us? Read the novel and reflect.

"The first time I saw Roanoke was in a dream." From that first line onward, there are definite shades of Daphne du Maurier here.

The Roanoke Girls came garlanded with praise. Compelling... addictive... disturbing... challenging. And dark. Always the dark.

Lane is not quite sixteen when her mother - a deeply damaged woman incapable of normal mothering - takes her own life, leaving only a baffling note: "I tried to wait. I'm sorry." Luckily for Lane (or so she's told), her hitherto unknown grandparents Yates and Lillian Roanoke, who are already raising her similarly-aged cousin Allegra, are keen to offer her a home, and Lane is duly dispatched from New York to the old family home in a remote part of Kansas. After one hot summer, she's gone - returning ten years later for the only reason which could draw her back - Allegra has disappeared.

This family is full of damaged girls and Lane is no exception, angry and prone to verbally lashing out at those who care for her. As Allegra tells her on her first day, "Roanoke girls never last long around here... In the end, we either run or we die." And the litany of lost girls... Jane, Sophia, Penelope, Eleanor, Camilla, Emmeline.... proves the truth of her words.

There aren't a lot of surprises here - the dark, never-spoken secret at the heart of the Roanoke family is revealed early on, and the rest of the book mainly expands on that. There is an element of mystery around Allegra's disappearance, but this is low key and the resolution is no real shock. Nonetheless the novel is compelling, atmospheric and haunting - and yes, it's dark - and will, I suspect, remain in the minds of most readers for a long while as a horrifying portrayal of some deeply twisted relationships and the harm caused as a result.

Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

A simmering and mysterious book which intrigues the reader from the opening page. The ending was not as climactic as I was led to expect, and I found it was a little too voyeuristic for my taste, but despite that it was compelling.

'Roanoke girls never last long around here. In the end, we either run or we die.'
This is the base compelling fact of this book but the story is so much more than that. Lane and her cousin Allegra are the last Roanoke girls. They are the third generation of women who have lived in their foreboding Kansas home, their predecessors, including their mothers who were sisters, either dying or running away. It is not a happy home. The Roanoke girls seem set to have only two choices in life - to die or to run - and this novel tells Lane's story. She is the daughter of a 'runner' drawn back to the family homestead by her mother's untimely death. Can she be the one to break the cycle of the Roanoke girls?
This is a dark read but it is utterly compelling. Once I'd read past around 50 pages I could not put this book down. It consumed me. I had to find out Lane and Allegra's fates. Amy Engel weaves a wonderful, if dark and haunting, narrative which brings the reader along on a breathtaking ride which, at times, is so gripping that I had fingernail marks in my palms.
Every single character is written in a bizarrely understandable way. Believe me the fact that you can understand some of the darkest and most horrific characters in this novel really makes you think. It explores the basest and blackest of human relationships but you will end up rooting for the characters involved in them. Lane and Allegra are not always easy to like but, once you surrender to this novel, you will accompany them on their journey and root for them every step of the way.
This book won't suit everyone but for those who are consumed by The Roanaoke Girls, this book is well worth the emotional journey. I sobbed when it was over and, while I regularly cry reading, I rarely do so right at the very end. It's a completely immersive, beautifully written,, emotional journey. Despite the darkness I loved it.

Just finished this in less than a day, couldn't put it down! Great dark, twisted thriller! 5 stars !

This really reminds me of Virginia Andrews and the Flowers in the Attic type books. But more modern. I loved Lane and Cooper! Really enjoyed this book and will look forward to more from this author!

Unfair to leave a review on a book I could not finish

I had seen lots of publicity for this and had been very keen to read so was delighted when it came up here. What a gripping story! Despite the deeply disturbing subject matter I raced through it. I guessed the outcome too soon but it was a fantastic read.

This book delves into a dark subject - well actually several dark subjects! I pretty much guessed the secret that underlies the whole plot (which I won't ruin by mentioning!), but felt compelled to continue reading as I couldn't quite believe it could be that. Most, if not all, of the characters are edgy, and it was hard to feel much empathy with some of them. The book made me feel sad and also angry - things could have been different if certain people had the courage to speak up and change them. It made me think that similar things are no doubt going on in the real world - and that made me even sadder and angrier. A thought-provoking read alright...

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book (Kindle edition) in return for my unbiased and honest review.

Oh My God - I loved this book, It was a little creepy and disturbing but brilliant with it. I was so content to let the storyline flow I wasnt questioning the whys, hows, or whodunnits - or even the genetics. this is a real page turner that makes your toes curl!

would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read an review this book
this one wasnt for me...i gave it a go but i just couldnt get on with it...i think the format of the then and now chapters that then left you thinking where am i now...
the subject matter didnt bother me i just couldnt get on with the flow of the book to disjointed for me...sorry

This book is absolutely phenomenal! Probably my favourite read of the year so far.

Amy Engel has created a well ravelled mystery (although I guessed the ending and several plot twists) and I loved reading about Roanoke. Even though I guessed right a lot of the time it didn't take away from my enjoyment of this incredibly well written story.

Every character felt vibrantly real, especially Lane and Allegra. They are explored in such depth and their stories are totally heartbreaking. I loved the snippets we got of each of the girls in the flashback chapters so much too. Gran and Grandpa are so well crafted it's ridiculous. Cooper is lovely and perfect and I love him. Tommy is an incredibly character and not at all what you first think.

I honestly think you have to read this and experience it first hand to even slightly appreciate the genius of this novel.

Opinion sent direct to the publisher to explain why I will not be posting any reviews about this book.

So much hype surrounded The Roanoke Girls: "the most addictive thriller of the year". Well, it did not keep me enthralled. This tale of small town America and one family cloaked in a long running secret spanning decades. It is a disturbing story line but all too soon it became obvious what had occurred in the Roanoke family. The constant switching between 'then' and 'now' began to irritate and I breathed a sigh of relief when I had completed the book, particularly as I had figured out who had been doing what well before the end. A bunch of characters with no redeeming qualities, save perhaps Cooper and, at a pinch, Lane Roanoke. Amy Engel writes well and I am sure there are readers who will enjoy this more than I did.

With thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC.

A disturbing and yet irresistible read. One that will haunt your thoughts long after you reach the end of the novel.

A beautifully written book that deals with some extremely difficult issues in a sensitive way. There's no dawning realization for the reader as to what's going on, we are slapped in the face with the truth quite early on. The realization of the depth and horror of what is going on in the Roanoke family comes more slowly however. There are no heros in this book, every character is weak and damaged in their own way but even so I felt uplifted and hopeful at the end. A great read that I devoured in one sitting.

This book really does push boundaries, but you know what? I love it when an author is brave enough to approach subjects that others wouldn't dare touch. And there were so many other unique elements too, such as Allegra's tendency to carve words into word - and while on the subject of Allegra, what a beautiful name! Both Allegra and Lane are so flawed as people, but I don't think this book would have been the same without their flaws, which do make sense as the book goes on. I did at the beginning wonder what the point of introducing Lane's mother into it was and thought it should have started with her turning up at Roanoke and purely using flashbacks, but by the ending I could really see the need for her to be shown. The only reason I marked this book as four stars instead of five is because I found the clues too obvious, so the family secret wasn't a particular shock to me, as I'd suspected it throughout.

Wow this book was absolutely fantastic. It took a while to actually get into it but once I did it floored me. It's one of those books that you think of even when your not reading it. It's always on your mind as to what is going to happen next, how it's going to happen and with who. Definitely a 5 star read. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It is brilliant