Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of The Girl Who Survived by Nichole Severn in return for my honest review.
I really wasn’t sure whether to give this book three or four stars but decided on four as i really liked the story and it kept me captivated till the end. My uncertainty about how many stars was I felt the twist at the end ( no spoilers) was a little to far fetched for me, apart from that is was a good read and I would recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the chance to read The girl who survived (Leigh Brody FBI mystery #1) by Nichole Severn. When I started reading, it appeared that this would be the usual police procedural/thriller; FBI agent goes back to her hometown after 20 years, where her brother had been killed and her Father convicted of the crime. Leigh knew her Father hadn't committed the crime, but the police would not listen to her back then. Now she is back home because there have been several murders which seem to copy those murders years ago.
I was hooked right away to this story and the twists and turns in the story makes this a must read! I was blown away by the ending! I am definitely going to read the next book in the series.

The Girl Who Survived by Nichole Severn is the first book in the new Leigh Brody FBI Mystery series and what a cracking start this was, especially as it grips you from the start till the very end.

It’s now 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 and her hunt for the real killer almost cost her everything….....
But nothing will stop her finding out who the killer was.

Now Leigh is working for the FBI, and she 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", this is the same as the one she found on Troy’s body, and carved into its base: Is Leigh’s name.

This case is as personal as it gets, and this time, Leigh is determined to make the right person pay. But when another child goes missing, she needs to dig deeper onto her past! It's going to be painful, But she needs to do this, to find out the truth on what really happened to her brother Troy and to find out who the true killer was/is and put them
behind bars for good?

This was excellent and a great holiday read, I highly recommend this new book.

Big thank you to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

"An addictive, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller, with a twist you will not see coming." ~~~ Well they certainly had this one right!

Normally I take notes of what I'm reading but this book was so captivating that I read it in one sitting! I could not put it down!

FBI Agent Leigh Brody has a tough job ahead of her returning to the town that shunned her from events 20 years earlier that they believed her father was guilty of.... And boy is it a tough job! She is such a raw, real character that you feel empathy for her, and you cheer her on through every trial and tribulation she faces in this book. Twist after twist after twist! You think you have it figured out and BAM, another twist punches you in the face! I absolutely loved this book (I mean obviously right? You know, since I read it in one sitting and didn't even get up at all for the last 40% of the book)

Seriously, just read it! I think this may have taken the place of the best thriller I have read this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing!

Leigh Brody returned to her hometown 20 years after her father’s arrest for the murder of her brother. The FBI agent specializes as a crime consultant, something that I found interesting and unique. Brody’s past is dredged back up when a copycat killer appears.

I found this book rather enjoyable. There were a few moments, particularly at the end, where the Brody spoke out loud to herself in order to explain some detail to the reader. It took me out of the book as most of the details could have been easily inferred from the rest of the paragraph. There were also a handful of slow moments where the story’s pacing slipped.

Beyond that, the twists were fun and it kept me guessing until the final reveal. I enjoyed Agent Brody’s personality and look forward to reading more of her stories in the future!

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing!

** I received this book as an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

It has been two decades since Leigh discovered her twelve-year-old brother, Troy, was murdered. Although her father was arrested for the crime, she never believed he was guilty. Her relentless pursuit of the true culprit nearly cost her everything...

Now employed by the FBI, Leigh is summoned back to New Hampshire after a series of replicated crimes occur. The perpetrator leaves a distinct calling card: a plastic army figurine identical to the one found with Troy's body, inscribed with Leigh's name.

This investigation hits close to home, and Leigh is resolute in ensuring justice prevails this time. However, as another child vanishes, she must delve into her past to uncover overlooked clues and ensure the capture of the true perpetrator, once and for all.

Overall rating: 3.2/5

Ratings:
1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 3/5 While the premise of the girl who survived intrigued me, I found the plot occasionally meandering, with moments where it dragged and failed to leave a lasting impression.

2. **Characterization:** 3/5 The characters displayed realistic flaws and some degree of unlikeability, yet I often found them frustrating and lacking depth.

3. **Writing Style:** 3/5 Nichole Severn's writing fell into a middle ground; not exceptional, nor poor. The pacing, particularly in the book's middle section, was slower than desired, occasionally wandering, although the descriptive elements were commendable.

4. **Originality:** 4/5 The storyline showed originality, departing from conventional serial killer police procedurals in unique ways.

5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 3/5 I struggled to form an emotional connection with the book, feeling somewhat frustrated towards the end and longing for its conclusion. While the ending tied up loose ends adequately, the twist, though entertaining, felt somewhat implausible.

If you enjoyed this book or you’re looking for more serial killer-focused reads, I recommend The Therapist by S. A. Falk.

The Girl Who Survived
Nichole Severn

This was a fantastic read to hunt down a truly meticulous serial killer, and with a killer back story to boot.

“We’ve all lost someone, Agen’ Brody. That doesn’t make us special. It’s how we respond to that loss that defines us.”

I love a serial killer storyline especially when they are escalating rapidly! The stakes are high! And I loved that twisty conclusion!!! Masterful!

“But if there’s one thing I’ve learned since Derek died, it’s that sooner or later, we have to take charge of our own happiness. We have to write our own narrative. Otherwise, we’ll always be stuck, and isn’t that just a waste?”

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. Troy and his best friend were murdered and it was Leigh’s father arrested for the crimes, something Leigh never accepted and profusely proclaimed his innocence.

Now Leigh works for the FBI and a copy cat of these horrific crimes that took her brother are being committed. The killer has left a very specific calling card.

This case is personal.
And Leigh is determined to make the right person pay.

This is book one and I will absolutely be following along for the next instalment, Leigh Brody FBI Mystery #1. If you enjoy your crime and police procedural books, this is for you.

A new series starter starring FBI Agent Leigh Brody.

This case brings Leigh back home. The last place she wants to be. Twenty years ago, her brother and his friend were kidnapped and murdered. Now there are similar crimes happening again.

A lot of plot building and character introductions during the first part of the story. Once all that was underway I couldn't stop reading. A twisty tail that will keep you guessing. I had a feeling about a couple of things that would happen and they did. This did not take away from the story at all.

I couldn't help but feel for Leigh for what she had to endure early in life and what she is still dealing with today. I loved that she was determined not to give up when others wanted her to.

If you like a mystery with a strong female lead this is a good choice for you. I am interested in what the next installment will bring. I found another new author to enjoy!

Thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc.

Amazing new series! Severn is a favorite author but this is a different style for her and it’s fantastic. It’s very much a murder mystery with a twist. As the story progresses it evolves and the puzzle becomes more intricate. Our leading lady is forced to return home and work a murder that is similar to a case from twenty years ago. The details and suspense are carefully laid out for readers and will keep you guessing. The ending has great potential for a successful series with endless possibilities. I was given an advanced copy through NetGalley and give this review voluntarily.

Nicole Sevren brings us a new a psychological thriller that follows FBI agent Leigh Brody as she is called to investigate copycat murders in her hometown of Lebanon, New Hampshire.

This book has everything you would want in a thriller novel. It had me on the edge of my seat for most of the story and my brain was thinking of every possible scenario of how it would play out. I LOVE when I don’t see the twist coming and that happened with this book for me. Again, my brain was in overtime and it didn’t register until the last possible moment!

The first half is a little slow with a lot of plot building and character information, which is beneficial for this story but keep going. Halfway through you won’t be able to put it down and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Centered around FBI Agent Leigh Brody returning to her hometown 20 years after the abduction and murder of her brother and his friend. Leigh’s father was convicted of the killings and the town doesn’t welcome her homecoming. Leigh’s return is prompted by similar styled killings to that of her brother. Perfectly paced with a healthy balance between character building, action and suspense. An ending that’s not to be missed. What a great start to the Leigh Brody series.
Thank you Storm Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you love NCIS or Criminal Minds, this book is for you. Follow along as Leigh works to uncover the death of her brother, release her father from prison, and find the real murderer that disrupted her town. I had a difficult time putting this book down. It’s action packed and full of twists.

This was an enjoyable suspense thriller with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Beautiful. Thrilling. Absolutely unputdownable. A supremely addictive and suspenseful read. The writing is beautiful, the pace never lags - this is an amazing book, one of my favourites this year.

What a great book!
Many twists in this one. I thought I figured everything out but then there would be a twist which made me second guess myself.

Great character build up for sure. A must read. Great read!

Leigh Brody is called back to her home town to help in a couple of murders tied in to the deaths of her brother and his best friend 20 years ago. The story goes on to try and connect the murders to see if it's the same killer or a copycat since the sheriff had around sent a man to prison for the boys murder.
The story sounded interesting but I found it extremely hard to get into. It was very repetitive and I honestly debated whether I would finish it or not. It couldn't really get in to it and just when I thought it was starting to get interesting it would let me down. Others may love the book and find it amazing but the way the story came together just wasn't for me.

This is a thriller you don’t want to pass up! I was on the edge of my seat for the entire read with jaw, dropping twist and turns.

Leah, an FBI agent, carries a haunting burden from her past. When she was just a girl, she stumbled upon her brother's lifeless body, a discovery that led to her father's wrongful conviction for the crime. However, Leah has always harbored doubts about his guilt. Jumping forward, 20 years, a copycat killer emerges, and and she is now determined to figure out who the murderer is.

Once I started this book, I could not put it down. Devoured this in two days. The twist and turns of the story had me literally gasping out loud! If you love a good crime fiction thriller with a strong heroine lead, you need to read this book.

Thank you Storm Publishing, NetGalley, and Nichole Severn for this ARC and giving me the opportunity to leave an honest review.

This was a new author for me, but one I will be adding to my list. At the beginning it seemed like the killer was known and someone had been put in prison by error, but there was so much more to it. I did not expect who was really involved and I definitely did not expect the ending. There was plenty going on in the plot so don't start it if you have plans as hard to put down!

This book gets you hooked from the very beginning! You think you have it all figured out but the more you read you start questioning yourself! The Girl Who Survived keeps you on the edge of your seat and the ending was a totally unexpected, mind blowing surprise. This was the first book I have read by Nichole Severn and it won’t be the last.

I have whiplash after reading this book! This author is new to me so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I went in blind and so glad I did. Literally from the beginning to the end you will be on the edge of your seat. It was a crazy thrill ride of “who the heck did all of this?” I look forward to continuing this series to see where this story takes us next!