Thanks to NetGalley, Greyson Media, and Christopher Greyson for the opportunity to read his latest thriller! I'm a big fan of the Jack Stratton series and this stand-alone thriller is just as exciting.

Faith is the lone survivor of brutal murders that took place at her family's cabin. She is released from a psychiatric hospital right before the 10th anniversary of the murders. She is ravaged with guilt and anger which she handles with alcohol. She is desperate to find the killers but the police think she's crazy and won't listen to her; her psychologist thinks she's suicidal; her mother is totally disconnected. While on her own searching for the killer, she starts feeling she's being targeted as well.

This is a great thrill ride that you won't want to put down until you find out all the answers - and I was totally surprised by the ending!

4-4.25 STARS

The day that Faith Winters turned 13, was also the day that her life was irrevocably shattered. It’s been 10 years since the brutal murder of her family and friends; 10 years, since she narrowly escaped the same fate. Yet, the gruesome events of that day are never far from mind. Each day that Faith “survives,” is just another reminder of who she has become. Ten years ago, on April 13, she ceased being Faith. Now, she’s just an empty shell, known only as “the girl who lived.”

Alcohol is Faith’s only friend, and self-destruction has becomes her norm. In and out of psychiatric hospitals, every day for Faith is a struggle. Her only focus is singular: find the “rat faced man” responsible for destroying her life. With a police force that doesn’t believe her, Faith is met with resistance at every turn. And while odd occurrences have everyone questioning if Faith is really sane, it's Faith who must question who she can truly trust.

While I found the story’s premise to be quite intriguing, it was slow to play out. Although well written and suspenseful in content, the pace of the story made it difficult to remain engaged. So, while the story initially drew me in, it failed to consistently hold me in its grip. Still, with a cast of characters that took turns falling under my suspicious eye, “The Girl That Lived” kept me guessing right up until the very end. But, mostly, it’s a fascinating portrayal of the psychological effects of living through a life-altering trauma.

Faith is a very interesting protagonist. A wild character! Fun to read.

What a fantastic roller coaster ride!

I was caught off guard, I laughed, and I cried. I wanna blame PMS, but you guys... this ending is powerful.


I wanna be just like Faith, minus the tragedy she endures. This girl is the strongest woman I've ever encountered. When faced with a situation where you can literally trust no one, what would you do? Faith? Well she fought and fought hard. I want to hug her, and tell her I'm proud of her and I admire her.


I don't even think I can put into words how much I loved this book. Suspicion is cast upon so many characters, and they all fit the bill. But the reality of the thing is so much crazier than anyone could anticipate!

I'd never say this in real life, but thank god for hidden cameras :)

This is a most amazing story, full of suspense, deceit, mistrust and a profound fondness for the main character, Faith. Faith is badly flawed, she survived the murder of her father, beloved sister, a friend and her mother. She is released from a mental institution determined to find the killer. The police do not believe her story as to how she survived. She feels guilty having survived, uses alcohol to ease her pain and has no idea who she can trust. If you are a fan of tense thrillers, this is for you. I am now going to devour other books by Christopher Greyson!

A suspenseful page turner that delivered a plot twist with every page. I highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.

I've read one other book by Christopher Greyson (JACK OF HEARTS) and despite it being part way into a series, I really enjoyed his writing style and the pacing of the mystery! So when I saw this new standalone novel out I had to request it.

A decade ago, four people were brutally murdered, but one girl lived. As the anniversary of the murders is approaching, Faith Winters is finally released for a psychiatric ward. Unfortunately, she is brought back to her home town - the last place on Earth she wants to be. She is grief stricken with survivor's guilt and this has made her spiral into alcoholism and self-destruction. With the pressure of no one believing her story, thinking she's unhinged, suicidal,and a dangerous drinker, she decides to find her sister's killer. As she begins her search, so begins to realize that she's not the only one doing the hunting - this turns into a cat and mouse thriller as there's a race to find the killer before the killer finds her.

I don't want to give away anymore information than that! This was a fast read and I kept turning the pages to see who was the killer. So many people, even Faith, were suspects and it wasn't one you could figure out right away. Greyson's writing is great - it pulls in the reader right away. The loose ends get tied together well for the ending and I enjoyed it. I'll always be a fan of the more cat and mouse thrillers and mysteries because it keeps the suspense up throughout.

Overall, if you want a fast cat and mouse thriller, then look no further! Murders, a sole survivor who saw the killer, and everyone doubting her. You get the unreliable narrator vibes in this one as well - is she the witness or the killer?

I give this one a solid 4/5 stars!

I absolutely loved this book! It kept me interested and the twists and turns just kept on coming in this one. Sad and heartbreaking at time- I wasn't sure what direction the story was going to go and who was the mastermind. The truth and reality were what kept the story moving and this was hard to put down!

This was amazing! It kept me guessing until the very end. I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong...so very wrong.

I didn't love 'The Girl Who Lived', but it was entertaining and kept me turning the pages. I found the characters to be lacking depth, and the scenes were repetitive: Faith went to a meeting, go blindingly drunk, did something stupid, and was rescued by someone. Repeat. There were so many red herrings in the book it was almost ridiculous, but they did provide enough distraction that I wasn't sure who the real killer was until near the end. I was disappointed when the killers were partially revealed early in the book; they came across as bumbling and foolish, which set the tone for the rest of the book. I think the book would have been better if the readers were left to doubt Faith for longer; did she really see what she thought she saw? Is she a reliable witness?

In all, just an ok book but there are much better in this genre.

She saw Rat Face man on Death Day and now she cannot get his face off her mind. Faith has spent almost ten years in mental institutes and today her mother is signing her out, she will finally be free, or will she? Faith is having a hard time with the rules of her probation, she needs the alcohol for the rough days and the gun for security and protection. She’d love to join the others but the need for vengeance is stronger. They saw each other by accident, Rat Face and Faith and what happens next is anyone’s guess but it seems as if the tables have been turned.

There were a few instances where Faith’s behavior made me cringe, what was this girl thinking? She was stubborn and certain in her movements, she’s on a mission. She encounters plenty of roadblocks along the way but they don’t stop her, she finds ways around them. It’s an intense, thrilling novel with an incredible ending.

I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley and Greyson Media in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl Who Lived is a slow build in the beginning, painting a picture of a disturbed young woman who has survived something horrific. The story begins with her release from a psychiatric hospital and things steadily progress from there with Faith becoming increasingly convinced that she's being targeted even while she tries to find the killer. With the list of suspects growing, Faith doesn't know who to trust, especially when everyone seems to be somehow connected. The book is wonderfully written and the suspense builds with twists and turns that are enough to give you whiplash. The allure of any great suspense story is trying to figure out the whodunit before it's revealed, and I did quite a lot of that with this gripping psychological thriller. Of course, every time I was sure I knew who the killer was, Christopher Greyson threw another wrench into the works, making me second guess everything. I won't say more so as not to give spoilers, and this is one that should be enjoyed spoiler-free. Overall, The Girl Who Lived is a gritty psychological thriller, full of suspense, angst, and 'oh my gosh, who did that' moments.

My first encounter with this author came via "Jack of Hearts," a recent entry in his series featuring detective Jack Stratton. That one made a favorable impression - I look forward to the next one, hint, hint - and when I ran across this new standalone, I considered giving it a try. When I read the description, I was convinced that reading it would be a good idea - so even though it was just days before the release date, I requested, and was approved for, an advance copy (thank you).

In fact, it turned out to be a GREAT idea; my concern that I might not get it finished on time vanished after a handful of chapters. NFL and college football games came and went unwatched, Lawrence Welk got recorded, and I even skipped at least one lunch because I couldn't bring myself to put it down. A 5-star rating? A no-brainer.

The book's title reflects the title of another book - one written by the mother of Faith Winters. Ten years earlier, Faith's beloved sister Kim and two others died violent deaths, reportedly at the hand of her father, who then committed suicide. Faith, who was present at the time, managed to hide out in the dark woods. She escaped certain death, yes, but she was left with deep psychological wounds. Faith's mother, a therapist, worked through her own grief by way of writing a tell-all book about the daughter - Faith - who survived.

Faith continued to bury her anguish by way of alcohol, temper tantrums and other behavioral no-nos, which in turn landed her in a psychiatric hospital. But now, close to the anniversary of the murders, she gets the okay for release - on the condition that she return to the hometown in which all the blood was shed and participate in group therapy programs. No matter what she tries, though, she's not able to shake off the trauma of her past - nor her belief that the father she loved did not commit the awful crimes. That's because she'd seen another person at the scene back then - an unknown man she calls "Rat Face."

But alas, no one - not even the police - believed her then, nor do they believe her now. Even when she spots him once again, everyone thinks it's all in her twisted mind. Everyone, that is, except Rat Face, who learns that Faith has spotted him again. Now, he - and possibly his partners in crime - must do whatever it takes to keep from being identified, including making sure that this time, they leave no witnesses. Several twists and turns lead to an exciting conclusion (I won't say it's totally satisfying, but the loose ends get pretty well tied up). In short? Very well done and highly recommended.

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Christopher Greyson, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

Ten years ago, four people were brutally murdered. One girl lived.

No one believes her story.
The police think she’s crazy.
Her therapist thinks she’s suicidal.
Everyone else thinks she’s a dangerous drunk.
They’re all right—but did she see the killer?

As the anniversary of the murders approaches, Faith Winters is released from the psychiatric hospital and yanked back to the last spot on earth she wants to be—her hometown where the slayings took place. Wracked by the lingering echoes of survivor’s guilt, Faith spirals into a black hole of alcoholism and wanton self-destruction. Finding no solace at the bottom of a bottle, Faith decides to track down her sister’s killer—and then discovers that she’s the one being hunted.

How can one woman uncover the truth when everyone’s a suspect—including herself?

This was my first Christopher Greyson novel, and I was not disappointed. First, let's talk cover envy. This cover is GORGEOUS. And with that, the writing was superb: Greyson definitely spent a lot of time plotting this one, where the plot points intertwined perfectly and left me guessing what would happen next until the perfectly executed ending. I greatly admired the character development--Faith in particular. Greyson managed to pull at every emotion I had with this one! If you love psychological thrillers, you'll enjoy this one.

The Girl Who Lived grabbed me on page one. This is the first book I have read by Christopher Greyson but it won’t be the last. This book follows Faith, the lone survivor of a horrible crime, from her release from an institution a few days before the anniversary of the murders through solving the crime. Greyson’s story line gives hints as well as red herrings. It is a great story. I have already personally recommended this book to friends.

We all deal with grief in different ways. Some of us survive a tragedy and move on with our lives. Some of us do not.

Ten years ago, when she was 13, Faith Winters watched the brutal killing of 4 people she knew and love. And for 10 years she’s been in and out of trouble with the law and committed to psychiatric institutions because of it. As the 10th anniversary of the murders approaches, she is released from her most recent psychiatric incarceration and sent back to a world where no one believes anything she says. They see her as the sole victim who survived a massacre, never as her own person.

Faith has always maintained that the man who was accused of the crime – her father – was innocent. No one believed her back then and no one does today.
Faith’s goal now is to find the real killer.

Thrown back into a world where she is an outcast, a felon, and considered delusional, Faith must weave and bob through court-ordered therapy sessions, parole meetings and a deal with a mother who profited in the worst possible way from the tragedy of the past.

When we first meet Faith, I will admit, she was a totally unsympathetic character for me. The chip on her shoulder had to weigh 5oo pounds and her I hate the world mentality was off-putting. As the story progressed I grew less annoyed with her and began to see her more as a single-minded, multifaceted young woman who, even though the judicial and mental health systems had failed her, never the less stuck to her internal motivation of proving her father innocent at all costs – even her own life. The people surrounding her are all suspects, their behaviors, their words, even the way they treat her are untrustworthy and make Faith feel she is truly on her own – and she is.

In this book, Faith survives one event after another that probably would have felled a lesser willed person. Even though she states frequently that she’d like nothing more than to die, her will to live and survive each event is strong.

By the final chapters of the book, I was rooting for her to not only find the real killer but to finally believe life was worth living.

I was given an arc of this novel from Netgalley for an honest opinion and I can truthfully say it The Girl Who Lived is a thrilling rollercoaster ride of terror, harsh emotion, and redemption. Well worth the read!

I started this book early this morning and was unable to put it down, until I finished, just now! It was divinely dark and angsty. The character of Faith was so complex and deeply-developed, that you are easily pulled into her story and her emotions. Her survivor's guilt weighs heavy on her, sending her spiraling out of control and straight into the pit of addiction. As she tries to reconcile her past, she find herself teetering on the edge of sanity, while also being hunted by a crazed killer.

The plot of this story moves at a rapid pace and is deliciously twisted, keeping you guessing the whole pulse-pounding way through. I loved the combination of fear and anticipation I experienced, as I wondered what would come next with page I turned.

As a devoted connoisseur of psychological thrillers, I found this book to be superbly satisfying and supremely gratifying. It's easy to see why Greyson is a leader in this genre.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this story through NetGalley and Greyson Media Associates in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

The Girl Who Lived by Christopher Greyson is the first book I’ve read by this author. And it definitely won’t be my last! This expertly woven story kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down. And I definitely didn’t see the shocking ending coming. One of the best thrillers I’ve read all year! Fans of Karin Slaughter need to check out Christopher Greyson.

*ARC proved by NetGalley for an honest.

Survivor’s guilt has driven Faith Winters a little mad. She survived when others did not, and even though the police and her therapist dismiss her as an addled drunk, she believes she saw the killer, who was never captured. Now the anniversary of the slayings is approaching, and Faith is back in her hometown where the murders took place. Released from a psych unit, she quickly spirals out of control and begins drinking again. Anything to dull the pain and repress the memories. Unfortunately for Grace, the booze isn’t working and in a last-ditch effort to rid herself of the guilt she has for surviving, she sets out to find her sister’s killer. Greyson does an amazing job of creating a character hellbent on her own destruction, somehow making her a character readers will cheer for. A terrific read

This is a top notch psychological thriller from Christopher Greyson. The plotlines are tight and there is excellent character development. The suspense slowly builds throughout the book, keeping the reader on edge and furiously flipping pages. The plot is multi-layered and full of twists, each one casting more doubt as to the main character's credibility and sanity. This all culminates in a shocking and satisfying conclusion.

The beginning of the book finds Faith preparing to be discharged from a mental institution after spending a year locked up behind its walls. The conditions of her release call for her to return to her hometown, where everyone knows her story and treats her like an unhinged psych patient. The anniversary of the horrible murders is also looming.
Little does Faith know that someone is watching her every move. She soon begins to sense that she is being watched and targeted as strange things begin to happen in her life. The problem is that no one will listen to her, writing it off as delusions or a call for attention. While battling her demons of alcohol and survivor's guilt, Faith desperately tries to put the pieces together and track down her watcher before time runs out. A series of new murders casts a looming suspicion on Faith, and she feels completely trapped as the walls close in around her. Faith feels utterly helpless as she doesn't know where she can turn or who she can trust.

The writing style and pace of this book is excellent. Chapter 5 is one of those epic chapters that makes you appreciate good writing. Chapter 26 gave me chills. The last chapter is heartwarming and hopeful. The plot twists are masterfully crafted. This is the stuff great books are remembered for.

I would recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers and suspense. I received this as a free ARC from Greyson Media Associates on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.