Very good, pulled you in from the start and kept your attention. Characters very well written, very interesting plot lines and overall just really well written.

This is a great addition to the series! I love Detective Maria Miller! This was very thrilling and well written.

Detective Maria Miller is called to a double homicide in a rundown hotel in NYC. The girls had been lured to the hotel by an unknown assailant. This is a great supernatural story that keeps you engaged. This is my first book by this author. I would be interested in reading the first 2 in this series for sure.

I have bought book 1 in this series after reading book 2 which I loved. Unfortunately I didn't love this book quite as much - the spooky story was great and the mysterious murders of the teenagers in Room 1303 of the hotel were gripping. However, I didn't love the interaction between Maria and Harrison, or Maria, Frankie and the owner of the diner where they have their coffee/breakfast. It all felt contrived and unrealistic. I don't know of anyone that speaks in this way. So this brought my enjoyment down as I eye rolled my way through this dialogue. Otherwise an enjoyable spooky story for October.

This book had a bit of everything! Good writing, twists and turns, crime and a little spooky element!

Highly recommend!

Book Review: The Girls on Floor 13 by Helen Phifer

Rating: 3 Stars

I recently had the pleasure for reviewing The Girls on Floor 13 by Helen Phifer, and it was quite the spooky vibe! This is the third installment in the series featuring Detective Maria Miller, and while it can be read as a stand-alone, I can't help but recommend diving into the first two books, The Haunting on West 10th Street and Her Lost Soul. They're just too good to miss!

The story kicks off with a chilling scene: two teenage girls are found dead in a run-down hotel room in New York City. They were supposed to be having a sleepover miles away, so how did they end up there? The mystery deepens when it turns out there’s no record of them checking into the hotel, which is notorious for its hauntings. The way their phones reveal messages that hint at being lured there is just downright eerie.

Detective Maria Miller’s investigation is gripping as she tries to piece together the puzzle. With no DNA left behind and the hotel staff being her only leads, it feels like a race against time. The link to old unsolved murders adds an extra layer of suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat. You can sense the urgency as Maria interviews staff, trying to uncover secrets before another tragedy strikes.

Now, let's talk about the atmosphere—oh boy! Phifer nailed the creepy vibe in this book. The old hotel setting is perfect for a spine-chilling mystery, and the tension builds beautifully throughout the story. I found myself completely immersed in the narrative, enjoying every twist and turn along the way.

On top of that, I have to mention how much I love the cover of this book! It sets the tone perfectly for the chilling tale inside. Overall, The Girls on Floor 13 was an enjoyable read that kept me engaged from start to finish. If you enjoy well-written mysteries with a haunted twist, this one is definitely worth picking up!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

So this is the 3rd installement of the Detective Maria Miller series and having read the other 2 books in this series I had big hopes for this book.
I would say this is the best book of the 3. It completely grips you, its terrifying. The thing I loved the most was being right along side the Dectective working out who done what.
I love a good crime thriller so this was right up my street I thoroughly enjoyed this.

This book is a gripping crime thriller that blends elements of mystery and the supernatural

what i liked
The combination of murder, a haunted hotel, and a mystery surrounding the victims' disappearance creates a compelling and atmospheric backdrop.
Maria Miller is a relatable and complex protagonist, and her partnership with her colleague, Frankie, adds a dynamic element to the story.
The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged and guessing until the very end.
The haunted hotel setting adds a sense of dread and eeriness to the story, enhancing the suspense.

what i didnt like
While the plot is generally well-paced and full of surprises, the final resolution might not be as shocking or unexpected as some readers may hope.


The Girls on Floor 13 is a thrilling read that will appeal to fans of crime fiction and supernatural mysteries. With its intriguing premise, well-developed characters, and atmospheric setting, it offers a satisfying and suspenseful reading experience.

Reading Between the Wines book review #92/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3🍷🍷🍷
Book: The Girls on Floor 13
Author: Helen Phifer
Available now!! Released on May 30, 2024!

Sipping thoughts: Detective Maria Miller is at it again, and this time, the supernatural is not letting her work easily. It was pretty touch and go for Detective Miller and her partner. I loved the setting and the spookiness behind the 13th floor. I am a numbers girl and love my lucky numbers and while I do not have issues with any numbers, I would err on the side of caution and avoid the number 13 after this. I didn’t love the story behind the killing and was a little confused, but I enjoyed it mostly.

Cheers and thank you to @StormPublishing and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheGirlsOnFloor13.

#TheGirlsOnFloor13 #HelenPhifer #StormPublishing #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

The Girls on Floor 13 is book 3 of Detective Maria Miller. It was my first read of the series and I highly recommend reading the books in order as there are lots of references to past events (that sound really interesting!) and established relationship dynamics. This is totally my own fault (I was drawn to the book's name and didn't read the synopsis!) so I did feel a bit out of the loop at times.

The supernatural plus modern day crime solving is a unique combination and not something I come across very often in my reading. and Maria seems like an interesting lead character. Now I need to go back and get caught up!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the gift copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed Girl on the 13th Floor! Helen Phifer's ability to build an atmospheric, suspenseful setting truly shines in this novel. The haunted house premise is fresh and engaging, with just the right balance of supernatural intrigue and psychological tension to keep readers hooked. I particularly loved how Phifer developed the characters—their depth made it easy to connect with their experiences, fears, and motivations.

The pacing of the story was excellent, moving the plot forward while giving moments for the suspense to build. The twists Phifer incorporated were unexpected and really enhanced the story's tension without feeling forced. I also appreciate how Phifer handled the creepier elements—just enough detail to evoke fear without overwhelming the reader, making it a perfect blend of mystery and horror.

One aspect that might elevate the experience even more could be a deeper dive into the backstory of the haunting. The history of the house and its connection to the characters could offer additional layers of intrigue, allowing readers to immerse themselves further in the world Phifer's created.

Overall, Girl on the 13th Floor is a fantastic, spine-chilling read. Phifer's ability to create suspenseful, engaging stories is a real talent, and I’m excited to read more! Thank you for such an enjoyable book!

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for my ARC of this book.

Love Helen Phifer's books, especially this series. Would be a great Hallowe'en series

4/5

I’m a massive Helen Phifer fan and I love crime fiction and paranormal stuff so I was super excited to read this book.

A hotel with a very creepy past, two dead girls and disturbingly creepy messages. .The thirteenth floor of a rundown New York City hotel room is no stranger to chilling events happening. What or who is responsible for the deaths of the two teenage girls? How is this case connected to the past identical case?

This is the third book in the series, I really enjoyed it. It was tense and had that spooky edge which loved. Helen is such an amazing writer and she consistently writes fantastic books. This didn’t disappoint at all a very. Solid five stars.

A spooky rundown hotel and two dead girls? Yes! The creepy vibes were perfect. Detective Maria miller is back in this creepy instalment. I love paranormal vibes in a book and this had the perfect amount. I would highly recommend reading the first two books first but it could possibly be read as a standalone to

Detective, serial killer AND paranormal........yes, please! This book has a great combination of all of those aspects, and they were intertwined so well. This is the third book in the Detective Maria Miller series, and we follow Maria and her partner Frankie as they try to solve another eerie crime. The bodies of two young girls are discovered in a rundown hotel, in a room with a disturbing history, on the 13th floor. The hotel has a reputation of being haunted and attracts those interested in catching some paranormal activity. Is it the haunted hotel luring them in or something or someone more sinister? This book literally gave me the creeps and chills and was such a fun read. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley & author for an ARC of this book. #netgalley #thegirlsonfloor13 #helenphifer

This was an interesting read but a little too graphic for me at times. I had to put it down a handful of times for a while before coming back to it. The first half was thrilling but kinda went downhill from there...and the ending was lackluster.

The premise of the book is solid. A police procedural with a paranormal element. Mainly, set in an old, creepy hotel. Murders that mirror another mystery, in the not too long ago past.

I didn’t realize that this was #3 in a series. I found the book lagging at times but an overall good read.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

The first half of this book had me in a chokehold. It was so creepy, and I loved the spooky comparisons to the Chelsea Hotel. I was excited about the premise of the book and the buildup was fantastic. I was kind of disappointed that there wasn't more story about the actual girls on floor 13, and the resolution seemed kind of rushed. Some of the dialogue was odd, and I'm not really a fan of religion solving every paranormal conflict.

I wish I had paid more attention to the fact that this is a part of a series, because I'd probably want to go back and read the other books. However, there were so many spoilers referenced from the previous book(s), that now I don't really want to.

This is the 3rd book in the Maria Miller series. I have read number 1 but not number 2 and I would suggest you read them in order to get to know the characters. This is a mixed bag with genres of paranormal plus crime.

whoa!!!! this was super spooky and thrilling!!! very well done and a perfect book for all thriller lovers. 4.5/5 stars!!!