I received a free advance digital copy of “ The Girl Who Survived” from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
The book begins with FBI investigator Leigh Brody returning to her home of Lebanon, N.H. in response to a request from state authorities who wanted her expertise in the investigation of two recent murders that matched two that occurred twenty years before. Leigh had devoted her life to finding evidence proving that her father was not guilty of kidnapping and mutilation murders of two children.Her career as a profiler/ digital investigator was prompted by her belief that, twenty years ago, the local police had failed to follow up all leads back then and framed her father.
Obviously, the locals, police and civilian, were not happy with her reopening past wounds. In their view, Leigh was a loose cannon,driven by her desire for revenge against an inept, if not crooked, police department. Most of the book is taken up with agent Brody’s simmering contempt of the local cops which often rises to the boiling point , resulting in the local ,Police denying access to records and facilities and assistance.
I thought that the book had promise of an intriguing journey of redemption against the odds , of re-opening past wounds and righting wrongs , but , in my opinion, the author let het story get bogged down in her heroine’s mental anguish and vitriolic verbal jousting with the police. This tended to make agent Brody look unprofessional , if not neurotic. She was a sympathetic character, damaged , determine to overcome illness, Brody’s character became so obsessed that it took away from the excitement , slowed the pacing of the novel , and detracted from the matter at hand Furthermore, the “twist ending “ was , in my opinion , was completely unbelievable, as was the pages long physical confrontation preceding the “ twist ending” which turned the petite computer computer- nerd agent into Jason Bourne. Just unbelievable.
“ The Girl Who Survived” - two stars, barely.

Brilliant book, well written with an excellent plot. So many guesses of who but the ending ! Well I didn’t see that coming. Highly recommend and best of it is that it seems to be book one of a new series so hope to catch up with Leigh and her career with the FBI and the BAU and Chandler Reed
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Storm publishing

The Girl Who Survived was a great book! I would highly recommend reading it, or adding it to your TBR list. The Girl Who Survived was about a girl who's brother was murdered. Her lives mission was to learn all she could about serial killers. First becoming a cop then a FBI agent. Will she find the answers before it's too late? This book held my attention, and kept me guessing what would happen next and who really was the killer.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book started off slow for me but the second half I thoroughly enjoyed.
I predicted part of the twist at the end, but the identity of said twist was unexpected and shook me to my core!
This won’t be my last book of this series, I’m looking forward to reading more about the adventures of Leigh!

This thriller was INSANE!! I enjoyed every second of it. There were no slow points and I became very attached to Leigh Brody. There are so many shocking twists and turns, there was no way I could have predicted that ending! This is definitely one of my favorite thrillers of 2024. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

FBI agent Leigh Brody returns to her hometown of Lebanon, New Hampshire, to investigate a murder. The town and the local police are extremely hostile to her, and there are many attempts on her life and on her childhood home. Leah’s younger brother and his best friend were found murdered twenty years ago. Her father was found guilty of the crime and her mother committed suicide soon afterwards. Leah is investigating a possible copycat as the homicides increase, her goal being to prove her father’s innocence. Be aware, the homicides are explicit and gory. This author skillfully weaves the past and present, as well as developing interesting and unique characters. The book grips you and doesn’t let go. There are red herrings and shocking twists at the end. I am looking forward to the next book in the series! With thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this engaging ARC. My opinions are my own.

FBI Profiler, Leigh Brody has returned to her hometown because a killer is copying the murder from twenty years ago of two boys. One of those boys was Troy, Leigh’s brother.
Leigh knew twenty years ago who killed her brother but nobody believed her and instead arrested her father for the killings.
This time is no different and even if she has to go it alone, Leigh is going to prove who the killer really is. Drama fills this book with different characters all having their own agenda against Leigh and she must constantly be on guard. A good psychological thriller with tense writing throughout the book and several twists at the end that really surprised me. I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy. This review is my personal opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced reader copy!

Leigh Brody returns to her hometown to assist on a murder investigation that ties into one from her past. A mystery thriller filled with deception, twists, and a fight for survival and truth.
A huge twist I could not see coming! Loved Leigh Brodys character and can't wait to read more stories with her as the lead.
The beginning was a slow burn but once I got about halfway I finished the rest in one day. Couldn't put it down.
My biggest dislike with this one was a few of the twists/answers were just so far fetched. But still a 4 star book overall ✨️

I didn't enjoy this. I felt the main character was extremely unlikable, unprofessional, and just annoying. I don't have to like the central character to enjoy a book, but normally it helps. I just couldn't connect with the story, as it felt contrived and very unrealistic. The twists were, well, not surprising.

I can see where people would like this -- I just didn't and couldn't wait to finish it.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being given freely.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eARC! Leigh Brody is an FBI agent with the behavioral analyst unit. She comes from a tragic background where her brother and his best friend were killed and her father in jail for their murders. Leigh has been fighting to find out the truth all these years knowing her father would never be capable of doing the crime. Leigh is brought back to her hometown when murders start happening again that are mimicking those of brother two decades ago. If you like Criminal Minds or Law & Order this is the perfect book for you. I was obsessed with following this crime and the twists were INSANE! I can't wait to read more books involving Agent Brody! Highly recommend.

A murdered brother...a guilty father...or was her father guilty? Leigh Brody...A protagonist who is trying to solve the murder...wondering if what she remembers is what really happened. Secrets and red herrings make it difficult to discern the ending of this story too soon. Family and friends, realistic characters, add to the story that is a quick read. Enjoy. Thanks Netgalley

The twists kept me going - especially towards the end, some jaw droppers where thrown at us!
Characters were mainly unlikeable and some of the storylines were repetitive. I like it and I probably would give Leigh another chance.

Thank you Netgalley!!

First of all, thank you for letting me read this book.

Holy moly this book is a rollercoaster!!! The journey Leigh goes on almost feels like it’s yours too.

The book is so well written. The characters flaws aren’t just mentioned but they’re shown.

It shows the fight a sister will go through for her brother. It shows Leigh as a strong, independent, headstrong woman. She doesn’t let anything stop her from getting justice for those who need it.

And can we talk about those plot twists?!
I was here shipping her with Chandler Reed😂
This book is definitely a top 5 I’ve read so far

If you love a good ‘whodunit?’ Mystery thriller with epic plot twists then this is the book for you!!

I’ll definitely be keeping up with Nichole and reading the rest of her books!!

I really enjoyed this book! While there were a lot of storylines going on here, they all made sense and added something to the story. And the end! WHAT?!?!??! What a great twisty ending! This one was one of the better thrillers that I've read in a while. It was unique and different unlike the same old thing of most other thrillers these days! I can't wait to read the next one!

This review was also published on Goodreads.

A thrilling read with an interesting flawed protagonist, Leigh. With plenty of twists and an intriguing storyline where her brother was killed twenty years ago and crime were being committed again, I had to keep reading. It took me a while to get into the writing style and story but glad I perservered. Some parts were far fetched but still want to read more.

The Girl Who Survived by Nichole Severn was so good. I would recommend this book and this author. The author has an engaging writing style.

Leigh Brody returns to her hometown after a body is found, marked with her name.

It’s been twenty years since Leigh found the murdered body of her twelve-year-old brother, Troy. Her father was arrested for the crime, but she never accepted that he did it. Her hunt for the real killer almost cost her everything.

Now working for the FBI, Leigh is called back to New Hampshire when a series of copycat crimes are committed. Only the killer has left a very specific calling card, a plastic army figurine, the same as the one she found on Troy’s body, and carved into its base: Leigh’s name.

Leigh is such a strong and determined character. I really enjoyed getting to know her and could identify with her in not wanting to get close to people or trust people. I love the line that instead of trying to share the weight of things happening to her, Leigh taught herself to shoulder it alone. Plus, she really wanted to hold on to memories that didn't hurt and bring her pain.

Leigh definiately had the ability to compartmenalize and get her job done, but at time it did take a toll. She carried a lot of anguish and weight that sometimes brought her down.

The story had a shocking twist, and I gasped out loud when it was revealed. I never saw the twist coming. I cannot wait to read more in this series.

The Girl Who Survived is a page-turning thriller with a jaw-dropping conclusion. A must-read. I would highly recommend his book.

#TheGirlWhoSurvived #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

From the gripping prologue to the jaw-dropping conclusion, Severn had me hooked on every word. The premise alone, with Leigh's haunting past and the eerie copycat crimes, had me flipping pages faster than I could keep up. It's been twenty years since Leigh's world shattered, and the raw intensity of her quest for justice had my heart pounding.

Leigh's life gets flipped upside down when she stumbles upon her brother's murdered body. But here's the kicker—she's convinced her dad didn't do it, even though everyone else in their small town thinks he's guilty. Fast forward twenty years, and Leigh's now working for the FBI, but she's still haunted by her brother's death. Then copycat crimes start happening, and they're all linked to Leigh's past. She's thrown back into the case that shattered her world all those years ago. But this time, she's determined to uncover the truth and put the real killer behind bars.

Leigh is not your typical FBI agent. Sure, she's tough as nails, but she's also dealing with some serious baggage. I'm talking major demons from her past that she's still trying to shake off. Plus, the whole town blames her for what they think her dad did, so you can imagine the pressure she's under.

And let me tell you, the twists and turns in this book? Insane! Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Severn throws you for a loop. I'm talking plot twists that'll make your head spin and keep you guessing until the very end. I won't spoil it for you, but let's just say, it's a jaw-dropper. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and when I finally got to the last page, I was shook.

So, if you're into thrillers that'll keep you guessing, with a badass heroine, "The Girl Who Survived" needs to be at the top of your TBR list, like, yesterday. Can't wait for next books in this series!

NIchole Severn has written a deep, flawed, and tough character in Leigh Brody. After her brother was found murdered beneath their house when she was 12, and her father convicted of not only his murder, but one of her brother's best friend, Leigh got out of town as soon as she was able. Now working with the FBI, Leigh studies crime scenes and evidence to find a serial killer's pattern. She's called back home as someone is murdering people in her town in an eerily similar way to the murders attributed to her father. Leigh is sure her father did not murder her brother and his friend - and either the original killer is back or there's a copycat at play. Written with incredible detail and emotion, The Girl Who Survived will keep you guessing until the end - and the twist! WOWZA! Thank you to Storm Publishing for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Leighs 12 year old brother is murdered, her father is blamed, and her best friend is missing. Years later she becomes an FBI analyst and must return to her hometown to investigate a copycat murderer. A fast paced thriller with twists that keep you interested in the story. I loved Leigh as the MC.

After leaving New Hampshire after a family tragedy, Leigh Brody finally returns years later as an FBI analyst. Her choice of profession was a direct result of a traumatic experience in early life, when her 12 year old brother was murdered and her father blamed for the crime.

Now, a series of serial killings indicate a link to the murder of Leigh's brother all those years ago. Can she do for that cold case what she was unable to do at the time - namely, identify the real killer?

This is a suspenseful story which requires some suspension of disbelief. It will be particularly enjoyed by those who are interested in stories featuring tropes about serial killers and FBI agents.