"The Girls on Floor 13" by Helen Phifer is a chilling and captivating thriller that keeps readers engrossed from beginning to end. Phifer's ability to create an eerie atmosphere and build suspense is masterful, making this book a standout in the genre. The story follows a gripping plot with well-crafted twists and turns that keep readers guessing. The setting, a seemingly ordinary building with a dark secret, adds an extra layer of tension and intrigue. Phifer does an excellent job of slowly unraveling the mystery, ensuring that the suspense remains high throughout the novel. The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, who is both relatable and complex. Her journey through the maze of secrets and danger on Floor 13 is compelling, and readers will find themselves rooting for her at every turn. The supporting characters add depth to the story, each bringing their own unique contributions to the unfolding drama. Phifer's writing style is engaging and descriptive, allowing readers to visualize the scenes vividly and feel the underlying tension. While the pacing is generally well-balanced, there are moments where the story could benefit from a faster tempo to heighten the sense of urgency. One of the strengths of the book is its ability to blend elements of psychological thriller and horror, creating a unique reading experience that keeps the adrenaline pumping. However, some readers might find certain plot points a bit predictable, though this does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the story. In summary, "The Girls on Floor 13" is a thrilling and atmospheric read that showcases Helen Phifer's talent for crafting suspenseful and eerie narratives. With its well-drawn characters, engaging plot, and chilling setting, it is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and horror. Despite a few minor drawbacks, it delivers a satisfying and gripping experience that will leave readers eager for more.

"The Girls on Floor 13" by Helen Phifer is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that keeps readers engaged with its dark and suspenseful narrative. While the book has many strengths, there are also a few elements that prevent it from reaching its full potential, resulting in a solid 4-star rating.

One of the standout features of this novel is Phifer's ability to create an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. From the very first page, the setting of the old, dilapidated hotel where Floor 13 is located is vividly described, drawing readers into a world filled with mystery and dread. Phifer excels at building tension and maintaining a sense of foreboding throughout the story.

The protagonist, Detective Maria Miller, is a well-developed character with a strong presence. Her determination and resourcefulness make her a compelling lead, and her personal struggles add depth to her character. Phifer does a commendable job of balancing Maria's professional challenges with her personal life, making her relatable and human.

The plot of "The Girls on Floor 13" is intriguing and full of twists. The mystery surrounding the disappearances of several girls is skillfully unraveled, keeping readers guessing until the end. Phifer's pacing is generally good, with enough action and suspense to maintain interest. However, there are moments where the story feels a bit slow, and some scenes could have been tightened to improve the overall flow.

One area where the book falls short is in the development of secondary characters. While Maria is well fleshed out, other characters, including some of the victims, feel somewhat one-dimensional. This lack of depth makes it harder to connect with them and lessens the emotional impact of their stories.

Additionally, the resolution of the mystery, while satisfying in some respects, feels a bit rushed. The final revelations come quickly, and certain plot points could have been explored more thoroughly to provide a more comprehensive conclusion. Despite these issues, the ending does tie up the main storyline and leaves room for future installments in the series.

Phifer's writing style is engaging and descriptive, making it easy to visualize the scenes and characters. Her attention to detail in the setting and atmosphere adds to the overall immersive experience. The dialogue is generally well-written, though there are instances where it feels a bit forced or unnatural.

In conclusion, "The Girls on Floor 13" is a compelling thriller with a strong lead character and an atmospheric setting. Helen Phifer's talent for creating suspense and tension is evident throughout the book. While there are areas that could be improved, such as the development of secondary characters and pacing, the novel remains an enjoyable and gripping read. Fans of dark, suspenseful mysteries will find much to appreciate in "The Girls on Floor 13." My thoughts are mine and mine alone. *Sidenote: This was read out of order, and reading the first two of the series could change my review rating; I will go back and read Detective Maria Miller #1 and Detective Maria Miller #2.

Thank you NetGalley and Helen Phifer for the ARC read.

4.5 stars

The Girls on Floor 13 by Helen Phifer is the third in the Maria Miller paranormal detective series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Storm Publishing  and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Detective Maria Miller lives in Greenwich Village, in an old apartment building.  She occasionally dates super-rich Harrison Williams, who wants more out of the relationship than does Maria.  Her police partner and best-friend is Frankie Conroy, and he too would like to further their relationship.  Due to a case they solved which involved the supernatural, Frankie and Maria now head a new department looking into unusual and strange crimes.  Her elderly neighbours Missy & Emilia have become friends, and are quite keen on the supernatural aspects of Maria's cases.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions):
Teenager Dory Painter is hooked on ghosts, and convinces her best friend Michelle Carter to skip school and take the train to New York.  She found someone who will let them into the 13th floor of the Parker Hotel, which is supposed to be one of the most haunted hotels in New York.

But their trip is short-lived.  Both are killed and laid out on the beds in Room 1303.  They are not the first to have died in that room.

Maria and Frankie are sure the girls were lured there, and it had to be someone in the hotel.  Rickie, the hotel manager, shows them an old newspaper article about an identical double murder from 40 years before.  Do they have a copycat?  Or is there more to this hotel than can be explained?


My Opinions:
I couldn't wait to start the third book in this series.  I absolutely love Maria, and Frankie is a hoot.  These characters are wonderful, and the side characters are just as interesting (Missy & Emilia in particular).

As always, this book was full of horror and humour...which is a strange combination which works well.

These are just really fun supernatural books to read, and I fear this run may be coming to an end, but I sincerely hope not.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this awesome book

oh man this was scary.... going into hotels is never going to be the same again.....

when two teenage girls are found murdered with their feet missing it became a case for maria and her partner who were affectionally known as mulder and scully for all the strange cases they were on

and this one was a doozy

with reports of anyone seeing the woman in blue and then them turning up dead didnt bode well for maria as she saw her and the next thing she knew she had the worst nightmare in her life and was then stabbed....

oh my word this book just dont read it at night before bed because you wont sleep after reading the ghostly goings on but it was also sad at the end to make me cry at one of the outcomes...

but hopefully there will be another book in this brilliant series

This was an amazing journey. A spooky but heart-warming journey with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Who doesnt love a spooky hotel story? Amazing!

Let me start off by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It started off at a good pace, but it started to slow down throughout the middle. I had a hard time wanting to keep reading. I’m glad I did though because I was not expecting the ending of the book.

The Girls on Floor 13
by Helen Phifer
Pub Date: May 30 2024

The story starts out with two friends, Michelle & Dory skipping school to take a bus trip to NY traveling to The Parker Hotel, a supposedly haunted hotel looking for ghosts in room #1303 on the 13th floor to film where 2 woman were murdered. One of the woman in question that was murdered has been reliving the same day over and over in a loop every day since 1945 with the same ending each time. Was she stuck for the rest of eternity? When the bodies of the two teenage girls are discovered in the New York City hotel room, Detective Maria Miller is called to the case. What or who is responsible for the deaths of the two teenage girls and why?

I absolutely loved this book! I didn't realize when I started the book it is the 3rd book in a series so I definitely will be reading the other 2 books immediately. This book was definitely good as a standalone. I enjoyed the mystery, the ghost story was actually very scary, parts were a little too gruesome for me but I got past that part! I also enjoyed learning about Detective Maria Miller's private life and her partner Frankie I found very likable. I highly recommend this book be put on your TBR list immediately!

Many thanks to #TheGirlsonFloor13 #NetGalley #StormPublishing and #HelenPhifer for the opportunity to read this E-ARC.

Publication date 5/30/2024

If you loved The Exorcist and enjoy the paranormal then this is a book for you. My jury is out about those topics but I really liked this book, probably because the main characters were flawed and therefore human. The story unfolds with sections about what occurred years before in the hotel, and especially on the 13th floor in room 1303 but also prior to that what happened to the mysterious woman in blue on the 10th floor. Now in modern time two girls have been found murdered in the unused room 1303. The police procedural part of the book was interesting but the compelling reason I liked this book was the relationships within the story. If you’re at all cynical, don’t read this book but if you can suspend your prejudices for a moment, then I think you’ll enjoy the ride.

Two teenaged girls, Dory Painter and Michelle Carter, are found dead in a haunted room on floor 13 of an old rundown hotel in New York City. Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie are on the case. Since the girls are found missing their feet, Maria doesn't think this has anything do to with ghosts. But who would kill two teenagers? And why has floor 13 seen more murders?
I enjoy the mild paranormal aspect of this book. It kept my interest and was an interesting read. This is the first book I've read in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will go back and read the other books but I don't feel I have to to understand this story completely. I'd like more backstory on the main characters though.

An excellent murder mystery, ghost story. Great characters with plenty of action and humour throughout, a must read, highly recommended. I received an ARC copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Girls on Floor 13 is book 3 in the Detective Maria Miller series by Helen Phifer.
I’m a big fan of this author’s writing. So when I seen a new title in her series I had to start it!
The Girls on Floor 13 is nail-biting and suspenseful.
I was totally absorbed in the story from the first page. It is a fascinating and fast-paced book.
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys intriguing crime thrillers.
The characters are relatable and soon feel like family. As a huge fan of Helen Phifer's writing, I read every book she writes. She always delivers a delicious high-octane story.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Holy Cow this book just had me wanting to know and was definitely hard to put down.

It gave all kinds of things... spooky, creepy and just very well written.

I will recommend this to everyone and just cannot believe what i just read. This book will stay with me and want to read more by this author.

Great writing, great plot and character build.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

This was one of those books that I seriously couldn't put down! At one point one of my dogs barked and I actually jumped thinking someone was in my house! Thriller does not give this enough of a synopses! Helen Phifer you are an amazing artist of story telling!
Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy are homicide detectives in the Strange Case Review Team. They, as you might guess, get the highly unusual cases. This one is no exception.
Dory Painter and Michelle Carter are best friends from Boston. One day Dory has an idea for the both of them to take the bus from Boston to New York to visit the Parker Hotel. It is the most haunted Hotel in America and Dory has been there before but she really wants to go again so they can experience it again to see if there really are ghosts or not!
Unfortunately for the girls it is the end of the line. Mina a regular from the Hotel smells smoke and calls 911. When the emergency trucks get there they discover the girls..
There is mystery with a lady in the blue dress that is said if you see her something bad will happen to you or someone you love.
There is even more mystery and scary stuff with wall walkers and things that hurt you in your dreams. There may or may not be more than one killer.
This book has been written in a way that seems to make me feel like the Parker Hotel really exists and is steeped with such great history that I want to research it. That is how well written this book!
Highly recommend this book!

This book is for fans of American Horror Story. It has a supernatural component without being over the top. The characters are relatable and eclectic enough to keep the book interesting.

Creepy....Chilly....Malicious....

Maria and Frankie are called to the Parker hotel to investigate two teenage that have been murdered and their feet removed. The story quickly takes the turn into the supernatural and gives you chills and goosebumps. From the nightmares that Maria starts having, the ghost that is seen in the hotel that means something bad is going to happen, to the horrific story of "Cherry" this book will have you on the edge of your seat. You either have to keep reading to see what is going to happen next or to get the scary images out of your head.

There were a few spots that seemed a bit disjointed to me and got a little slow, but it doesn't last long and the author is able to reel you back in. If you are looking for a spooky, chilling book that will make you want to turn the lights on; then this is a great book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

This book was a perfect combination of a thriller, suspense and supernatural. I loved the two detectives (they gave me a Scully and Mulder vibe). And even though some things were sort of cliché, all in all was a good read.

The Girls on Floor 13 is a Ghost Thriller about a haunted room in a reputed hotel in New York where the girls were lured into the room and their feet were cut off making them die.

This is the third book of the Detective Maria Miller series although this is the first time I have been reading from the series. Maria and her partner Frankie are called to the scene at the Parker Hotel when the bodies of two teenage girls are found in a haunted room and their feet missing. Maria Miller start investigating the case while investigating the paranormal effects that the room may have caused the perpetrator causing them to cut off the victims' feet.

I do like the horror element in the thriller book. Kind of like Riley Sager and Ruth Ware. I also liked the creepy sense that I got from reading this book, when reading about the horror side of the story. Not only that, this book is not very long and so frankly, you could easily finish this book off quickly. However, despite the fact that I liked the plot and the creepy element as a background, I didn't really like the dialogue between the characters much. Also, since I haven't read the first two books, much of Maria's private life was revealed and so I was slightly a bit clueless about what is going on.

However overall, this is an enjoyable thriller and worth 3 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

This is the third book by Helen Phifer I have read. An interesting plot for this book that made an excellent story and was well written. I have to confess this is the first time I have read a story about a haunted hotel. A very quick read as with Helen's other books. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Such a great book!!! Gave all the feels and then more, highly recommended!! I really enjoy crime/mystery/thriller and this books had it all
Thank you NetGalley

I thought that this was creative and didn’t mind the paranormal aspect of it. I just felt like sometimes the dialogue got a little repetitive, and there was some extra characters in the book that were a distraction that proved to be confusing rather than to aide in the mystery of trying to figure out what was going on. There was a lot on the side between her and her partner, her and her boyfriend, him and the doctor and we were just trying to find out what happened to the girls which was so appalling. For most of the book things were confusing, until they began to fall into place, in regards to what POV some of the chapters are being told in. Still a decent read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing + the author for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.