The Girl Goes Home
by Dorian Box
You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 1 Jan 2025 | Archive Date 15 Jun 2025
Talking about this book? Use #dorianbox #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
The last time Emily Calby was in Dilfer County, Georgia, she was twelve years old, climbing out a window and running for her life, the only survivor of the famous Calby Murders. She went missing and never returned, shut out even thinking of her life in Georgia. Now twenty-four, she’s a law school graduate opening her own firm in Memphis, excited about a new start.
But the past never lets go. Back in Dilfer County, a hidden envelope found in the file cabinet of a dying lawyer cracks open a fifty-year-old vault of treachery surrounding her father. He died in a farm accident a year before the home invasion. Or did he?
She returns to investigate, haunted by the ghosts of her childhood. The secrets she uncovers threaten everything she knows about her family, her very existence. As she works to untangle the mystery, powerful forces seek to block her every move. What are they trying to hide?
Each puzzle piece escalates the danger, not just to her, but everyone around her, including Meggie Tribet, the best friend she abandoned. In Emily’s fractured psyche, there are no limits to what, or who, she’s willing to sacrifice to protect them.
The Girl Goes Home is a standalone mystery-thriller in the multi-award-winning Emily Calby Series, featuring Dorian Box’s unique blend of darkness and light.
PRAISE AND AWARDS FOR THE EMILY CALBY SERIES
“Dark and gritty … an exceptional, heart-pounding story full of raw emotion, deep-seated fear, and an undercurrent of hope and innocence. Deeply atmospheric … without peer in contemporary mysteries/thrillers.” — Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize Finalist in Mysteries & Thrillers
“In Emily, Author Dorian Box has created a rarity—a teenage protagonist that is at once sympathetic, vulnerable and largely fearless.” — BestThrillers.com (Best Psychological Thriller of the Year)
“The story that author Dorian Box has created for Emily Calby is nothing short of thrilling, but it’s the masterful interplay of character, setting, and theme, along with the fast pace and high emotional stakes that make this a real page-turner.” — IndieReader Discovery Award for Fiction
“You root for the lead, Emily, and stick with her throughout. Engaged me from the first page. Excellent story. Dark and grisly, yet a lot of hope comes with this one.” — Feathered Quill Medal for Mystery/Suspense
“A unique mix of hope, shattered innocence, pain, fear, and vulnerability … a great, suspenseful read.” — Readers’ Favorite Medal for Suspense Fiction
“A groundbreaking, nail-biting and wondrous legal thriller.” — Finalist, Best Legal Thriller of the Year (BestThrillers.com)
“What sets this book apart from the rest of the vigilante justice genre is its deep characterization of Emily and Lucas, and its honest look into the psychology of a fractured mind. Emily is a rare find in thriller fiction, a protagonist you’ll both cheer for and cry over.” — Bestselling author Andrew Diamond
“Emily is a bruised, broken, yet tough-as-nails character that readers will instantly root for ... The conflict in this novel is phenomenal, explored at different levels, but what had me turning the pages is the conflict that characterizes Emily’s inner world ... The book is a powerhouse.” — The Book Commentary
“The fast-paced plot races along in a brilliant combination of heartbreaking and hopeful. This would be an awesome TV series—Amazon Prime, are you listening?” — Dee DeTarsio, National Indie Excellence Award Winner
“[S]tandout sequel from Dorian Box featuring a fierce female main character, a perfectly planned and paced plot, and a strong sense of theme … Emily is a brilliant character; she is the perfect balance of admirable and flawed. ... Every scene is meaningful, which makes the book a true page-turner.” — IndieReader (5 Stars, IR Seal of Approval)
“Put this book down if you can. I couldn’t! ... Apart from the engaging, often disturbing events in both books, what fascinated me the most was the author’s superb ability to create then realistically follow Emily’s development from a victim of past tragedy to a near-master of her own life.” — Readers’ Favorite Medal for New Adult Fiction
“Once again, I’m floored, breathless, and sleep-deprived from racing through yet another harrowing and heartfelt adventure in the ever-dangerous life of young Emily Calby.” — NetGalley
Advance Praise
More advance reviews on the way ...
“Fierce, attention-grabbing, and thought-provoking, The Girl Goes Home is a masterwork of psychological suspense.” — D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“The novel’s suspense, legal intrigue, and emotional depth make it a page-turner that’s hard to put down … [A] thrilling and heartfelt story, perfect for fans of John Grisham, Gillian Flynn, Lisa Gardner, Mark Twain, and Charles Dickens. Dorian Box is truly a master of literature.” — Carol Thompson for Readers’ Favorite (5 stars)
“Box continues to blend darkness with humor, showing extensive character development, especially for Emily. … A standout feature of the novel is the inclusion of subtle clues that encourage readers to think creatively to solve the mystery. The unique narrative style and ability to balance action with drama make this novel an exceptional read for fans of adventure and mystery." — Essien Asian for Readers’ Favorite (5 stars)
"Part crime thriller, part sleuthing mystery, and part legal thriller, this has everything you could possibly want in an exciting read. … There are plenty of twists and turns in this action-packed story, and it’s quite emotional in places, tugging on your heartstrings and leaving you reeling with all the different emotions you’ll feel." — Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite (5 stars)
Available Editions
EDITION | Paperback |
ISBN | 9781734639957 |
PRICE | US$11.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 381 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
I was thrilled to be offered this arc to read and review! I so loved the previous three books and had no idea a fourth was coming. In this story Emily is learning a bit more about her father’s family. She learns that her father was possibly murdered and that is where the fireworks start! Emily is tenacious as always and determined to find out what happened to her father. This leads her to go back to her home and face the awful memories of the murder of her mother and her sister. But she is able to reconnect with her best friend in childhood, Meggie and that is a joy. You should read the previous books first and that will give you the background to Emily’s growth. I would so love to see another book, concentrating on the growth of Emily’s law firm and her relationship with Zach, another lawyer. Also, there was a hint at the end that Emily may have figured out why her family was killed, maybe not so random as the authorities first thought! I think I know the answer but I am not giving anything away! Please let us have a fourth book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The last time Emily Calby was in Dilfer County, Georgia, she was twelve years old, climbing out a window and running for her life, the only survivor of the famous Calby Murders. She went missing and never returned, shut out even thinking of her life in Georgia. Now twenty-four, she’s a law school graduate opening her own firm in Memphis, excited about a new start! I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! It had great suspense, murder, mystery, intriguing, family secrets, and a few crazy twists! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
Thank you, Friction Press for the copy of The Girl Goes Home by Dorian Box, book four in the Emily Cably series. Emily is 24 nowI have loved this series ever since I read the second book. I rushed out to buy the first book because I loved Emily’s story. I loved watching Emily go from a 12 year-old-girl to a 24 year-old woman. l enjoyed the story of how Emily was trying to learn more about her dad’s background and discovers more than she had bargained for. It was great how Emily and her next friend reunited and how Meggie became part of the story. As with the first three books, the writing is stellar and drew me into the story and left me wanting more! If you haven’t started this series, you should! 5 stars
My thanks to NetGalley, author Dorian Box and the publisher for the ARC of "The Girl Goes Home" in exchange for an honest review.
Here's as honest as I can get. I think I've finally run out of adjectives to describe how much I love this series of books. Any thriller fan who wants genuine heart and soul mixed in with all the suspense and action......look no further. These books are a pure goldmine of page turning entertainment.
Emily Calby, sole survivor of the home invasion slaughter of her mother and little sister, has been toughened by cruel fate to become a force to be reckoned with.......and a fierce avenger against those who harm others. And yet at the same time, she's an achingly hurting, troubled girl, even as she takes on evil while up against impossible odds. Fortunately, in the midst of her chaotic and dangerous coming-of=age, she acquired ex gang leader Lucas as her mentor-protector and at times, exasperated father-figure.
Now a fledgling new lawyer starting her own practice, Emily's contacted by a fellow young attorney back in her original home of Dilfer County Georgia. He's found suspicious documentation concerning the adoption of her late father, who died in a tragic farm equipment accident. Or was it an accident after all?
Emily's return to Dilfer County to get to the bottom of things runs her afoul of a powerful, corrupt family dynasty who control everything in the county including the courts and police. This repugnant, murderous clan think they have nothing to fear from a skinny little blonde girl. But as Emily continues her relentless hunt for the truth, they find out how terribly wrong they were to underestimate her.
What's truly remarkable about all of Emily's perilous adventures is the expert way these books tug on your heart strings even as they're serving up the violent action. (You might practically tear up and/or smile warmly at Emily's first tentative steps at affection and love). I can only hope that author Box doesn't choose to end the series here.
The five stars I'm giving "The Girl Goes Home" is only because the rating system here won't let me go any higher....(which I would in a heartbeat.) Highest recommendation.