3 stars

This book switches back and forth from the third person to the killer's point of view.

This book is about a ten-year high school reunion. Starring are the youngest police chief in the U.S. Krista Larson and her father Keith, a retired detective from a nearby town. They now live together in an old house in Galena, Illinois.

This is not a bad read; part mystery and part police procedural. It reminds me a great deal of a cozy. Something that bothered me about this book is that everyone was successful. Another reviewer commented on the lack of office workers and blue collar types. They are right. Where were the ordinary people?

The novel is fairly well written in a linear fashion, and the story idea was good but was not carried off well. This book also lacked the usual Max Allan Collins style. I forgot from time to time who had written the story, as it didn't sound like Collins' voice. While I found the novel somewhat interesting, it was overly trite and kind of blah. The reporter-type woman in the story was doing an expose on sexual abuse, but as she describes it, she is dismissing it at the same time. I felt that she wasn't really invested in the subject.

I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.

This book started off well with an interesting first person view of what was happening. Due to it being unusual it took a couple of paragraphs to get into the correct mindset but added a depth to the story.

However I found the middle of the book was too descriptive and I struggled to stay interested through to the end. The idea for the story is good but I felt it was very predictable, though that may be because I have read several books of the same genre.

The ending was ok but I felt there was a lack of explanation as to what happens next and questions left unanswered. I am assuming there is going to be a follow up book which is why these loose ends have been left.

This is a good story, with a lot of potential. I had a massive problem with Krista liking a wimp like Jerry! A mama's boy, living with his parents, she is the Chief of Police?! Made no sense to me. I loved her father, a very sexy man; which makes her choice in a guy, truly questionable! It could use more in-depth characterization, some of the people, and dialogue did not seem real. The killer was on target, why he needed to cover it up, no murder truly makes sense, his motivation, as usual, massive ego; I found it hard to believe two intelligent women would open the door to a rapist, at all, much less, so late at night?
Thank you Netgalley!
carolintallahassee.com

Thank you to NetGalley, Max Allan Collins and Thomas & Mercer for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

In a small town, twenty-eight year old Krista has now made her mark as the youngest police chief from the country and she has learned all she knows from her father, a retired detective. Usually it is a quiet town, but Krista’s ten-year high school reunion stirs things up. All the people from out of town are holed up in the lodge and it doesn’t take long for old resentments to show their face. Astrid, the girl voted most girl most likely to succeed, is back to town and her reputation among her classmates make her infamous. As the reunion begins, so does a triple murder.
I loved this novel! I loved all the different characters and secrets that they are all keeping from the police. I especially loved Krista and her father and how they get along. I also loved that the police chief is a young female who knew how to do her job and knew to ask for help when she needed it. I love how it was around a high school reunion, which usually is stressful enough without people showing up dead. I loved seeing her father get back into action helping her and how we usually don’t see other family members helping out with cases. I adored the chapters from the killer’s perspective because they gave you a little insight into what was going on with them and it made me suspect others! It was a really easy read to binge and I will definitely be looking out for Collins next novel!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick, easy read, but it didn't really cash in on the promising beginning. A murder happens, then another one - and the story reads like a detective story that doesn't really involve any detecting. Admittedly, I am not in law enforcement, but there is a lot of sloppiness in terms of normal police procedures. The young police chief is meant to be the main character, but once she hires her father, a retired policeman, as a consultant, he morphs into the main character, at least in terms of how much of the story is devoted to him, his thoughts etc.

Also, I felt the female characters were badly written, flat or at most two-dimensional (ncluding the main character), and there was way too much description (clothes, right down to the brand names, meals) and zany sub-plots which are never followed up on.

It’s time for Krista’s tenth high school reunion. While some of her classmates have to travel to get back home, Krista has stayed put, becoming a very young police chief for the town where she grew up. As with any high school reunion, old jealousies, rivalries and grievances are awakened, only this reunion ends with three murders. As if you needed more reasons to dread your school reunions! Collins has given me the perfect excuse to skip my next one!

Who loves a high school class reunion? It would probably be a lot more fun if murder wasn't on the agenda!

Chief of Police, 28-year-old, Krista Larson plans to attend the festivities for the Galena, Illinois, Class of 2009 reunion at Lake View Lodge, a little resort managed by one of the classmates. The event is well-attended with the highlight being the triumphant return of the "girl most likely", Astrid Lund. She's done very well for herself, as predicted, and people swarm to her all night long. Unfortunately, the next day, Astrid is found dead in her home. Combined with another murder of a classmate in Florida, Krista believes that there is someone targeting women in their class and enlists the help of her father, retired police detective Keith Larson, to help with the investigation. As they sort through alibis and history, there are many red herrings and possible suspects -- and then yet another woman is killed! The stakes are high and the pressure is on for Krista to find out exactly what is going on and take down a remorseless killer.

This was fast paced and fun though full of inane descriptions about everything from menu items to attire! Indeed, everything is detailed and you almost feel as if you're seeing it all yourself. Although the characters aren't too well-developed, you do get a sense of the father-daughter bond and the painstaking nature of a police procedural. I enjoyed it. Definitely kept my interest as I, too, couldn't wait for the revelation of the identity of the person committing these crimes though the end came fast and I'm not sure I fully understood the motives of the killer. I wonder if we will hear more about this duo in a future book?

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review.

An intense and quick read. This story was a fun read. I was gripped and kept on my toes throughout and was surprised at some parts too. Hopefully the beginning of a new series. I think this is an easy , enjoyable read

The first difference I noticed in this new Max Allan Collins novel is the setting which is a small town in the Midwest different from his historical novels. From the inception, the writer conveys a sense of ill - will and terror. This entertaining and fun novel stars Krista Larson who is the chief of police along with her retired father who was a cop. A killer is doing away with members of Krista's high school graduating class. Understandably, Krista is concerned and enlists her father's assistance. Keith, Krista's father, is dealing with the recent passing of his wife. In this way, we get insight into his character, which we do not with his daughter. The book provided snippets of small-town police work as well as into the dynamic between father and daughter. From what I hear a sequel is in the offing, which is always good to hear

If you’ve attended a high school reunion you probably hope that people will remember only the good times. What happens when someone assumes some bad times might come to mind? Well, in the case of the Galena HS ten-year reunion someone is very worried and takes matters in hand to make sure certain events will not be topics of conversation. Before the reunion ends there will have been three murders for the new police chief, a reunion attendee herself, to solve.

While this genre isn’t my usual fare I like to dip into it occasionally. Girl Most Likely was especially interesting to me because I know the area where most of the novel takes place. I enjoyed the young female small town police chief’s perspective as well as her relationship with her recently widowed and retired detective father. I would read a series with those two as stars! Although I didn’t figure out the murderer I liked trying to sift through all the red herrings you’d expect to find at a high school reunion and I’m glad I gave this book a try.