Three drowned girls:
I loved the characters, especially Detective Freya Sinclair. This book kept me on the edge of my seat!! I couldn’t put it down! 5 stars!!! Really enjoyed this book. Can’t wait to read the next one with Detective Sinclair. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC copy of this book. Three Drowned Girls is book 1 in a series about Detective Freya Sinclair set to be published on 04/22.

Detective Freya returns home to NC from Texas after being gone for 5 years. Freya is a detective who discovered her parents were serial killers and now her return isn’t so welcomed by the people in town. Outside of the stress of being back home, her first day back in the force becomes consuming and hectic when a young girl’s body is discovered in a river.

I loved the short, quick chapters that immediately got to the crime so the mystery of who and why begins. Within the first 20% of the book other details and clues are revealed. While I did appreciate this aspect of the book I don’t feel the suspense was built very well. Things were a little predictable in my opinion. Without spoiling it I had an idea of what was going on prior to the reveal so there was no shock factor for me which I enjoy in my mystery/suspense reads. While reading I was hoping for more on her parents being serial killer’s and the full story of the arrest, but it was vague. This could be the lead up to book 2 in the series. The ending also obviously tried to set that up and I feel they crammed details about it in the end.

This was my first read by the author and while this wasn’t mind blowing it did keep my attention enough for me to want to read the 2nd book in the series. That and the fact that I did like the characters (Detective Freya, her small team Candy & Brad, and Esther) in the book and feel they have a lot of potential.

3.5 STAR

Whilst, I loved the concept behind this book and the characters involved, I found some parts of the storytelling unnecessary, whilst, some parts were not talked about enough.

I found this book to be very fast paced, yet slow at the same time. Throughout the book, every time the main character is driving, the scene is very descriptive, which whilst, I was getting through the pages, it didn't seem like I was getting anywhere in terms of the actual story. I felt the same way towards every time Esther entered the scene, I adored the character, however, was not a fan how she was constantly described as an elderly women in nearly scene she was in. One of the main reasons why this book attracted me was due to Freya's backstory of her parents, whilst, in the book they are briefly mentioned every now and then, it slightly annoyed me that there wasn't a conversation or even a small chapter dedicated to exclusively to Freya's background, as more information on them was provided on the blurb.

That being said, I look forward to getting to know more about Freya, Candy and Brad, in the upcoming books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

"Three Drowned Girls" by Emily Shiner is an absolutely gripping and unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The story follows Detective Freya Sinclair, who returns to her hometown of Fawn Lake after five years away. As the daughter of serial killers, Freya faces hostility and suspicion from the tight-knit community she swore to protect. But when the body of a young girl is found in the river, Freya is determined to prove herself and bring the killer to justice.

Shiner masterfully weaves together a complex and suspenseful plot, filled with twists and turns that will leave readers guessing until the very end. From the moment the first body is discovered, the tension builds steadily, keeping you hooked with every page.

One of the strengths of this book is its well-developed characters. Freya is a compelling protagonist, haunted by her past but determined to make amends. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she faces obstacles and challenges that test her resolve and push her to her limits.

The supporting cast is equally compelling, from Freya's estranged family to the residents of Fawn Lake, each with their own secrets and motivations. Shiner does an excellent job of keeping readers guessing about the identity of the killer, throwing in red herrings and false leads that add to the suspense.

But perhaps the most chilling aspect of the book is its exploration of the darker side of human nature. As Freya uncovers the truth behind the murders, she is forced to confront the evil that lurks beneath the surface of her seemingly idyllic hometown.

Overall, "Three Drowned Girls" is a riveting and atmospheric thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. With its well-drawn characters, twisty plot, and tense atmosphere, it's a must-read for fans of the genre. Emily Shiner has crafted a truly unforgettable tale of suspense and intrigue that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

Thanks to @bookouture for having me on this tour.

This is the first book in the Detective Freya Sinclair series. We follow Freya as she moves back to her hometown as a detective, having been shunned due to her parents' horrific acts. I have really enjoyed the quick pace of this book, and the writing style is nice and easy to follow. I couldn't put this book down as I read. I was creeped out by the ongoing events, and my heartstrings were pulled for those young girls who had gone missing. This book makes you suspicious of everyone involved in the questioning of the disappearing girls. Within all the darkness, there was a tiny hint of romance between Freya and Lance, although the circumstances only helped lighten the mood. The ending shocked me a bit, and I felt jaded and heartbroken. We also have a hint of what's to come in the next book, which I can't wait to read.

#threedrownedgirls #booksofinsta #books #detective

Three Drowned Girls
by Emily Shiner
Pub Date: April 22, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Two drowned girls. One daughter still missing. Can Freya save Isa before she becomes the third victim? Or has the killer already set their sights on Freya next?

The first in a new, totally gripping serial-killer thriller series by Amazon bestselling author Emily Shiner. Fans of Melinda Leigh, Mary Stone and Elle Gray won’t be able to put this down!
This slightly dark police procedural is driven equally by a fascinating main character named Captain Freya Sinclair with a complicated backstory, and an intricately woven and shocking plot. I loved the distinctive secondary characters including her fellow detectives Candy and Brad and also Esther, the woman who took her in as a teen when her parents abandoned her. I don't want to give away any of the plotting, but it's twisted and disturbing with red herrings a bound. A great read for fans of crime fiction and psychological thrillers.

For this was just an ok read. When I read a book I need to feel or connect to it. I didn’t love or hate anyone in this book. I will say I wanted to know who the killer was. But usually I am racing to the end because I’m so invested. Unfortunately for this book I just wanted to be done to start a different book. The main character just didn’t bring any zip for me. And honestly I don’t even need to like the main character. I just need to be invested and it just was not there.

Three Drowned Girls by Emily Shiner is a new series featuring Captain Freya Sinclair as she returns to her hometown that holds a lot of bad memories. She is thrust into an investigation focused on discovery of a dead girl and all that follows.
The storyline was good. Great suspense, great characters, good twists. I did find it to be repetitive at times and I felt the pace could have been a tad faster. It had a lot of chapters and I felt it could have been shorter and still done what it needed to do.
I have read several Emily Shiner books and will continue reading this series as it becomes available.
Overall, I think it was good not spectacular. I would recommend however.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Another one I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book. Be ready for an afternoon or evening of completely neglecting any chores as this one will have you hooked within the first chapter. I live for books that leave me speechless and this book did just that.

Three Drowned Girls by Emily Shiner is a good crime thriller featuring a new detective, Freya Sinclair. After five years away from her hometown of Fawn Lake, Detective Freya Sinclair isn’t expecting a warm welcome from the people she’s sworn to protect. She became a detective to bring serial killers like her parents to justice, but the tight-knit North Carolinian community can’t see past her twisted roots.

Minutes after returning home, the body of a dark-haired young girl is pulled from the river. Freya is determined to identify the child and finally prove herself, but before Freya even has a chance to search through missing persons, another girl is reported missing.

The story started off well, but then did get a bit tedious and was slow and repetitive in parts. There were many repetitive gestures and things the characters did, such as "hit the gas pedal...eat up the road"..."she ate up the interstate"..."she pressed down harder on the gas", it just got to be too much when reading.

Overall, the story was entertaining, and it had a good ending.

It was nice to get involved with a new crime drama and new characters. I really liked Candy Ellinger, an officer in Fawn Lake, and Briseyda Hernandez, the lead paramedic.

I will check out more books in this series and by this author. I would recommend this book.

#ThreeDrownedGirls #NetGalley @bookouture

This was such a wonderful new series
We return home with Freya, and she is immediately thrust into an investigation, she’s back in a hometown as the new chief

This book I could not put down
I really enjoyed it and I am sure there’s much more to Freya that will be revealed in upcoming books

Fraya Sinclair comes back to her hometown to face her past and start her job as captain on the police force-- and on her starting day - dead little girl is found-- starting a spiral of situations in the town.

I devoured this book ! -- finished it in one day - Fraya is a great character and very likeable and the story was also fast paced, with red herrings while also building up the secondary characters you felt like you were building relationships with many of the characters --I didn`t want to leave these characters and was happy to see another book in the series is coming out as well.

The book overall was engaging with good character development and keeps you wanting more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Did anyone else feel super anxious reading this? Anxiety inducing for all the rushing around and in and out of the car and forever go go go. The mystery has faded, the allusions to her parents and the town itself, unremarkable..but all that constant energy, unforgettable.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Three Drowned Girls is about Freya Sinclair and how she returns to her hometown to be a detective but then she gets wrapped up in a case of drowning girls which happens in a North Carolina community. This was my first time reading this author and I can not wait to read more of her books. This one was a dark and suspenseful tale that had me turning pages till the very end which I can not wait to read the next book in this series. The book was well written, engaging, gritty and overall the author did an amazing job. I highly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend this one to other readers especially to any reader who loves a good suspenseful book. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review of Three Drowned Girls.

This slightly dark police procedural is driven equally by a fascinating main character named Captain Freya Sinclair with a complicated backstory, and an intricately woven and shocking plot. I loved the distinctive secondary characters including her fellow detectives Candy and Brad and also Esther, the woman who took her in as a teen when her parents abandoned her. I don't want to give away any of the plotting, but it's twisted and disturbing with red herrings a bound. A great read for fans of crime fiction and psychological thrillers.

Intense, riveting, emotional, and totally gripping! Horror of the past and present just won't let go as the police investigate murdered and missing young girls, in a town that won't forget the past. Tense investigation with a solid team - a must for mystery fans.

Freya Sinclair ran from her hometown of Fawn Lake after she had to arrest her parents for being serial killers. Now, five years later, Freya is back - and not a moment too soon. A young girl was found floating in an area river, clothed in a white dress. Freya, and her newly assembled team, are having a hard time identifying the little girl, as none have been reported missing. And, when they go to the school, they know there's something hinky going on there. The team discovers more girls may be missing than they initially thought, so they're on high alert and focused on solving this case. In addition, Freya is trying to readjust to being home with the help of the most excellent supporting character, Esther. Not much is said about Freya's past with her parents - so I'm super excited to read more in this series! Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC**

Freya Sinclair returns to her hometown as the new chief. When a young girls body is found in the water, Freya sets out to catch the killer before they can claim another victim. There are a few frustrating parts where you want to shake the characters but I enjoyed Freya and Candy and am looking forward to the next books in the series.

I'm hoping we get more about Freya's back story and her parents in the next novel.

This is a fair start to a new series, with good plotting and characterisation, although I would have liked a bit more detail of Freya's past life. She makes for an interesting character and works well with her small team. The language became a bit repetitive at times, which is quite frustrating and the pace was too slow. The premise of the plotting drew me in but left me feeling a bit disappointed with the ending, sadly. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Overall, this one was a VERY interesting thriller. It involves kids and by the title you will have a clue to that. It seemed very slow at parts where nothing seemed to be happening or getting solved. There are a lot of clues to what was going to happen but the ending was a little surprising but there are enough clues to see the reasoning behind this certain group's beliefs.

I actually wish I could read a book about the detective's family and what happened years prior. Honestly, I wish we got a little bit of both stories so it made the book a little faster pace. We got vague information but I really wanted to know what was going on behind closed doors with those people!