4.5⭐️

DCI Maddie Ives

Someone is k*lling police officers.
Maddie is teamed with Harry to catch the k*ller.

The reader gets the POV of Maddie and Harry as well as the antagonist, it’s a format that works well for me as the reader gets to understand more about what is in the head of the antagonist.

Harry is such a fab character he has his own problems that he is trying to deal with, but he brings so much empathy and caring to those going through the same as him. It introduces emotional depth to the book.
Eileen’s carpet slippers makes me smile, I just love her to bits, what an amazing character. You have to love her.

You get a good glimpse into the workings of the team and procedure but it manages to weed out the mundane procedural elements to keep the interest levels up.

Oh my gosh it had me in tears!
It’s emotional, it builds up the tension well to an action packed drama filled finale. I have to say it’s one of my favourites in the series. It reads well as a standalone.

I read this as a standalone and found it really easy to pick up who was who and get sucked in pretty quickly. It didn't grab me from the very start but after a few chapters I started to get into it. A well written police procedural with some well done twists thrown in. Def perfect for fans of police procedural

This book delivered on everything you would want a murder mystery to have! There were numerous twist and turns, suspense and the shock of discovering who the murderer was. I did not except the murderer to be who they were! I enjoyed how this book was written from multiple POVs. I liked getting to experience the book from the killer, detectives and victims perspectives.

As much as I enjoyed reading the book from different POVs, there were times when I was confused with who’s perspective I was reading from.

If you are looking for a classic murder mystery with twists and turns, this book is for you!

Charlie Gallagher has gone above and beyond with this book. The Girls Upstairs was intensely thrilling and suspenseful. It had all the elements a thriller should have. It grabbed me from the very beginning, and I had no choice but to finish it on one day. Maddie and her crew had their hands full especially of the overall threat being against law enforcement officers and not knowing the outcome. It's difficult to review this because there are just so many moments to share but I would be giving the finale away. Just when I thought Charlie Gallagher couldn't throw it out of the park (as in a homerun) he went and did it. Storyline made me hold my breath and made me cry. That's what's called great writing.

Thanks to #Joffe Books and #NetGalley for the advanced copy. And thank you Charlie Gallagher. You reign as one of the best!

Yolie McLaughlin

One of my favorite genres to read are crime/thrillers, so I was excited to recieve this book! I wasn't aware of the author beforehand, or that this book was part of a series, but I plan on reading the series in the near future because I really enjoyed this one!

✨️ murder mystery/thriller
✨️ lots of plot twists
✨️ short chapters
✨️ release date: April 11, 2024

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-arc copy of this book.

The Girls Upstairs is the latest Maddie Ives police procedural from Charlie Gallagher and it is another page turner that races along at a cracking pace.

Whilst this is the 8th outing it can be read as a stand-alone although you’ll probably want to go and get the other seven books in the series.

A fantastic read.

Fabulous fast paced read. Police officers are deliberately targeted and murdered in this sometimes harrowing heart racing story. So many suspects with twists galore. Loved it!
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I enjoyed this book but I have some criticisms. I enjoyed the storyline and the twists and turns but kept getting confused due to the title and the blurb. There is a harrowing scene in which the action in the blurb and references from the title happen but for me this isn’t what the story was about. I kept expecting the story to come back to ‘the girls upstairs’ but they are barely mentioned again.
10/10 thriller and storyline but I personally feel the title needs to be changed to something more reflective of the whole story.

Part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

I haven't read any other books in the series, but it was still easy to slip into the storyline. The multiple perspectives was interesting and I really liked how they tied everything up very nicely. I love Eileen and her slippers

Charlie Gallagher is always a guaranteed good read and this one was no different. There were a few tears, which just demonstrates his ability to character build. Believable, a really intense read. Look forward to the next in the series

THE GIRLS UPSTAIRS is the 9th book in the Maddie Ives detective series. Someone is targeting police officers in a small town in England, and DI Maddie Ives and her partner DI Harry Blaker are determined to find whoever is responsible and bring them to justice. They're racing against time to ensure that they catch the culprits, because one of their own could be the murderer's next target. Everything is not as it seems with this case, and you will not see the twist at the end of this book coming! Trigger warning for this book: There are some graphic descriptions of crime scenes in this book, along with some mild gore. Thank you to Charlie Gallagher, NetGalley, and Joffe Books for allowing me to have an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. There are a lot of chapters, but they were so quick and easy to read it didn't feel like that long of a read at all! I didn't realize it was part of a series when I requested the ARC, but I'm still glad I read it. There are some background stories that you don't get reading this book as a standalone, but it's definitely still very readable and enjoyable on its own.

The relationship between the main detectives was really well written, and I loved how you could tell that they both respected each other. They butted heads throughout the book, but challenged each other to be better, both as people and as detectives. I really enjoyed that this book was written from multiple POVs, including the main detectives, the victims, and the killer themselves.

The only perspective that was written in the first person was the killer's perspective. I found that so interesting, and it kept me guessing as to who was the killer until the very last chapters. It also made me more sympathetic to the killer and what they were struggling with, both in their mind and in the world. I was definitely more sympathetic than I would have if it wasn't written from their perspective. It's also interesting reading the story through their eyes, as you can experience them sliding more into the darkness within them. I definitely did not see the twist of who turned out to be the killer coming!

A police officer lured to a village hall and trapped inside hears his police car being destroyed, but when the door opens again for him he cannot expect that it will be some of his final moments. What follows is a potential epidemic for Kent Police - officers being targeted at work or at home, only to be savagely attacked. Can Maddie Ives and Harry Blaker find the perpetrator before the crosshairs turn on them?

Having read some of Charlie's previous books I was very excited to read this one and it did not disappoint. It cracks along at a serious pace and is very emotional in parts, especially to those who have read the previous books! An easy 5*.

This book was full of suspense and tension that kept me hooked, coupled with the twists and turns, a thrilling read overall.

A great crime thriller. With many twists that you don't see coming.
An easy read as well a great edition to the series

Love when books are such a easy read. Mever heard of this author before, but wasn't disappointed. Will definitely be reading more by this author. Highly recommend to others.

I didn’t know this was apart of a series. But it was a good stand alone. I will be going back to read the rest of the others though as this was a great read. I can’t wait to dig in to the next

This was a great classic murder mystery with all the twists and turns that you hope for in this genre. I haven't read the others in the series but will be putting them on my list now.

"The Girls Upstairs" by Charlie Gallagher delivers an electrifying crime thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. With a gripping narrative filled with twists and turns, Gallagher crafts a story that hooks readers from the very first page.

The tension is palpable as Emmy and her little sister Dani find themselves in a terrifying situation, held at knifepoint with their parents downstairs. The menacing presence of the intruder sets the stage for a heart-pounding tale of suspense and intrigue.

Detective Maddie Ives, the protagonist tasked with unraveling the mystery, is a compelling character whose determination and resilience drive the investigation forward. As she delves deeper into the case, she uncovers shocking truths that will leave readers reeling.

Gallagher's writing is sharp and evocative, painting vivid scenes that immerse readers in the world of the story. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter delivering another twist that keeps the suspense mounting.

What sets "The Girls Upstairs" apart is its ability to blend intense action with nuanced character development. As the layers of the mystery are peeled back, the complex motivations of the characters come to light, adding depth to the story.

Fans of authors like Kimberley Chambers, Angela Marsons, and Rachel Abbott will find much to love in Gallagher's work. With its gripping plot, memorable characters, and relentless suspense, "The Girls Upstairs" is a must-read for anyone craving an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride.

What a delightful treat to be introduced to this series! Rest assured, The Girls Upstairs is a completely standalone novel. When a call goes horribly wrong and a police officer dies, DI Maddie Ives has another tough day on the job when she must deliver the news to the family. And the days keep getting tougher, when they realize this attack was personal. The beginning is a bit slow but establishes that this is a team of officers who know what they are doing and do it well! However, when the action builds with a targeted home invasion- yikes! The action and anticipation does not stop! The clock is ticking to solve the mystery behind these attacks and prevent anyone else from dying!

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on Instagram ahead of 3/16.

I thoroughly enjoyed this riveting and gripping read with its non stop drama. Police officers are being deliberately targeted and murdered. I loved the chapters expressing the thoughts of the mystery killer. I thought Eileen Holmans's slippers a nice touch which made me laugh. This is one not to be missed.