I loved this 'book. Christina Alger knows how to develop characters and a story line. The Bankers Wife was one of my favorites from last year and Girls Like Us w'ill be Favorite for this year for sure.

Absolutely loved this book! Bankers Wife was one of my favorite thrillers I read this past year so I was excited when I received this one from Net Galley. I’m looking forward to seeing what she writes next. Loved how different both books were but enjoyed them both.

FBI Agent Nell Flynn hasn't been home in ten years. Nell and her father, Homicide Detective Martin Flynn, have never had much of a relationship. And Suffolk County will always be awash in memories of her mother, Marisol, who was brutally murdered when Nell was just seven.

When Martin Flynn dies in a motorcycle accident, Nell returns to the house she grew up in so that she can spread her father's ashes and close his estate. At the behest of her father's partner, Detective Lee Davis, Nell becomes involved in an investigation into the murders of two young women in Suffolk County. The further Nell digs, the more likely it seems to her that her father should be the prime suspect--and that his friends on the police force are covering his tracks. Plagued by doubts about her mother's murder--and her own role in exonerating her father in that case--Nell can't help but ask questions about who killed Ria Ruiz and Adriana Marques and why. But she may not like the answers she finds--not just about those she loves, but about herself.

This is one you will not want to miss! It's a fast paced, exciting thriller.

#GirlsLikeUs #NetGalley
Pub Date: 02 Jul 2019

Girls Like Us is the story of Nell Flynn, an FBI agent in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. While on medical leave her father dies in a motorcycle accident. While back home in Suffolk County she is pulled into a potential serial killer investigation. It turns out that her father, a homicide detective, was investigating the case before he died but Nell starts to think that he might be the killer.

This book contains it all: rich people, immigrants, escorts, good cops, bad cops, etc. This story is very timely with the resurgence of the Epstein case and there is a "character" for whom he was clearly the inspiration. The story moved along at just the right pace. If you enjoy cop novel this is a good one to pick up and it reads quickly.

Last year I put Algers book THE BANKERS WIFE in my top ten for the year. It was addicting, refreshing and fast-paced. She returns again with a fantastic female protagonist which I’m always 💯 there for. Unfortunately I felt like this was too much of a slow burn for me. The setting is one that will either resonate with people that are familiar with Long Island or become mundane to those that aren’t. I was the latter and really found it quite boring. I did love Nell but found the plot predictable. I’ll still read anything Alger writes as I think she has immense talent but this was not for me.

This was a fast pace book that I really enjoyed. THE BANKERS WIFE is a well loved book at the library where I work so I will order this book for the fans of Alger. I liked the twists and turns and it really held my attention.

Ever since Nell's mother, Marisol, was murdered when Nell was only seven years old, her relationship with her father, Martin, has been complicated. After his death and despite the fact that he was a Homicide Detective, Nell begins to suspect he might have been a serial killer.

"Dad had an unshakable, almost evangelical sense of right and wrong. But there were contradictions."

Since Nell is a federal agent herself, the local Police Department asks her to consult on one of her father's unsolved murder cases. As she delves deeper into the case, however, her suspicions about her father increase even more. Could he really have committed the serial murders? If so, who can she tell? Who can she trust? And, most shockingly, could he have murdered her mother as well?

Girls Like Us was suspenseful, twisty, and full of surprises. It kept me guessing all the way to the end, and I would recommend it for murder mystery fans who like to try guessing whodunnit.

"These are girls like us, Sarah. I want people to know their names. I want to know who killed them. They deserve that, at least."

Lastly, be sure to check out the author's previous book, The Banker’s Wife (4 stars) as well. It was a sophisticated and fast-paced international financial thriller, and I read it in just 1.5 days because I couldn't put it down.

Location: Suffolk County, New York

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

I was crazy obsessed with Tje Bankers Wife and could not wait for Cristina Algers' next book. Definitely have to say that this one is not as good as TBW but that could be because I am more biased towards books that are domestic thrillers involving husbands, money and travel! Still wonderful though, cant wait to see what she comes up with next.

This is my first book by this author and I absolutely loved it! I believe this author will be a new favorite of mine from now on. I read this book in two days, and I probably would’ve read it in one but sometimes life gets in the way. It kept me focused on the characters and usually I can guess who did it, but in this one I didn’t. I enjoyed her characters immensely, I enjoyed where the story took me.Which says a lot about the book. Plan on reading the rest of her books, they’re already on my TBR list. I gave this book a five star rating. My reviews will be seen on Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon when allowed, Twitter, and with my book club online friends.
Thanks to net galley, penguin books, and especially Christina Alger

FBI Agent Nell Flynn returns home to Suffolk County after the death of her father, Homicide Detective Martin Flynn, in a motorcycle crash.
After spreading his ashes at sea with friends and colleagues on the force, she begins making arrangements to close her father's estate.
Her first time home since she left for college ten years ago brings up memories of her mother Marisol. Savagely murdered in their home while seven year old Nell and her father were camping overnight. A neighbor was convicted of the crime, but some doubts always remained whether her father had anything to do with her death. Their relationship was never close and they drifted further apart.
Detective Lee Davis, a former classmate and her father's most recent partner, asks her to consult in the cases of two murders, young Latina women working as escorts, the last thing her father was investigating before his death.
As she explores the evidence, she finds that her father and others on the police force may be involved and her mothers murder might also be connected.
A brooding, atmospheric mystery/thriller with a strong, spirited female protagonist.
I was immediately caught up in the puzzle and attached to the characters, caring about what happened to them.
A gripping, emotional story. My first Christina Alger book was a hit! I would love to see Nell return in a series.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book! I'm already a huge Cristina Alger fan, and this one didn't disappoint. Definitely add it to your TBR pile!

I very much enjoyed Cristina Alger's last book. The Banker's Wife was suspenseful, fast read with both good characters and good settings. So, I was very excited to be given a copy of the author's newest novel in exchange for my honest review. Thanks NetGalley and e publisher.

Girls Like Us does its author proud. It, too, is an exciting, fast paced story with a great setting. This time, the locations are all in Suffolk County, New York. Towns in that county like Southampton are populated by many fabulously wealthy and (self) important folk, especially during the summer. Nearby, in towns like Hampton Bays and Riverhead, the locales are not as gentrified and are where many of those who care for the summer dwellers reside. Ms. Alger clearly knows her geography and presents both places with accuracy.

Nell, the protagonist of this novel, works for the FBI. She was injured on her last case and has come to New York following her father's death. She and he lived in Hampton Bays, on the grittier, more realistic end of Suffolk County. Nell's father was a Suffolk County cop. Was his death in a motorcycle crash an accident or murder? Did he kill his wife when Nell was just a young child? What was happening at the parties of the wealthy Mr. Meachem? Why were young Latinas being murdered? Who is covering up what and for whom? Who are the guilty parties? There are questions and questions that are answered over the course of this excellent summer read.

Pick up Girls Like Us if you enjoy suspense stories. Like me, I hope that you will enjoy spending time with Nell and in her world.

A suspenseful thriller is what I wanted out of this book, and a suspenseful thriller is what I got! Girls Like Us twists and turns all over, leaving just enough clues for you to solve the mystery if you want to. Nell, an FBI agent, goes home for her father's funeral, and soon becomes a consultant on both an unsolved and a new murder case her father had been working on. The web tangles deeper and deeper the more she digs, with side crimes spiraling out from her investigation. I wasn't sure everything would be tied up satisfactorily, but it was! Another great book by Christina Alger to definitely add to your TBR.

Nell is an agent with the BAU who has to go home for the unexpected death of her father. She thinks it will be a quick trip. Scatter his ashes and get his estate in order. How wrong she was. When an old high school friend, now local cop turns up and asks her for help with a recent murder of a young woman. She believed she was going to do an easy consult and be able to go on her way. Then she sees that the unexpected death of her father and this woman have too many things tying them together.

This book is fast passed and a real page turner! If you love a good murder mystery book you have found that here!!

Thank You NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this ARC in return for my honest review.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ms. Alger's second novel was a thrilling experience. A completely fresh take on the 'hunting down the serial killer' trope along with a strained father/daughter relationship that is very realistic. This story takes the thriller and puts it on it's edge with unimaginable twists and turns.

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

The main character of this novel, Nell, is an FBI agent on leave from her job who goes home for her police detective father's funeral, and then gets asked to consult on a murder investigation of a young immigrant escort worker which may be the work of a serial killer - and starts to worry that there may be a connection between the case and her father. Cristina Alger's previous book, "The Banker's Wife," was more of a thriller while this is more of a straight mystery told as it is from the perspective of someone in law enforcement - but just like that book, this one is a well-written, thrilling, satisfying page turner. Cristina Alger is definitely going to be an author to follow for me, and I hope she'll actually write another book from Nell's perspective.

Girls Like Us is author Cristina Alger's second novel, but it's my first experience with her writing. She puts a fresh spin on the well-known serial killer trope, making this novel a pleasure to read instead of the slog it otherwise might have been. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good thriller centered around a serial killer every now and again, but it's hard to make something so familiar feel new and interesting. I’m pleased to say that Ms. Alger is definitely up to the challenge.

It's been ten years since FBI agent Nell Flynn has set foot on Long Island, a place that holds a ton of bad memories for her. It's the place where her mother was murdered when Nell was only seven, and the place she and her father, homicide detective Martin Flynn, struggled to keep going afterwards. Nell left home as soon as she turned eighteen, keeping in touch sporadically with her father via email and phone calls. Now though, with Martin killed in a motorcycle accident, Nell must return to the island to settle his affairs.

Nell is beyond surprised when her father's partner - detective Lee Davis - asks her to unofficially consult on an ongoing murder case, one her father had been working on before his death. Nell is a little reluctant to help out, fearing her superiors will frown on it, but she eventually agrees to take a quick look. Of course, that quick look turns into something more as Nell begins to delve into the mysterious deaths of two young women, both of whom worked as part of an elite escort service. The case brings up a lot of old memories for Nell, many of which harken back to the long ago night when her mother was killed. Soon, she finds herself doubting everyone with even the barest connection to the victims of what seems like a sadistic serial killer, and it's not long before she begins to wonder if her mother might have been one of his earliest victims.

If you read the publisher synopsis for Girls Like Us, you'll see that Nell starts to suspect that her father might have been involved in the killings, and in a way, this is true. However, it's important for potential readers to know that this particular plot point doesn't end up being as central to the overall story as that blurb would suggest. Nell does suspect her father, but she does so in a rather lackluster manner. I was never completely able to buy into her suspicions, mostly due to the lack of page time those suspicions actually get. This particular angle could have been explored so much more if the author had allowed Nell to really dig in and chase the answers to the many questions she had about her father's past.

Fortunately, Ms. Alger developed all other aspects of the plot extremely well, making it possible for me to enjoy the story in spite of my above criticism. The mystery itself is anything but predictable. Certain things may have been a bit underdeveloped for my taste, but there were some twists I definitely did not see coming, and I flew through the book in order to learn how things would be resolved for Nell.

Speaking of Nell, she's a complex character with a lot of emotional baggage that often gets in her way. She's dedicated to her job, but doesn't always exercise the best judgement. Even so, I found her super easy to relate to. She's not the kind of heroine who makes the same mistakes over and over again. Instead, she learns from them, allowing them to shape her future actions in a positive rather than a negative manner.

I fell in love with the novel's setting. I lived on Long Island for three years right after finishing graduate school, so this part of New York will always hold a special place in my heart. Ms. Alger brought it to life so vividly, describing highways, towns, and beaches I remember fondly. If you've never been to Long Island, trust me when I say that experiencing it through Nell's lens really is the next best thing.

Girls Like Us has its problems, but it's still a well-told story that will appeal to fans of dark plots and complicated characters. I plan to check out Ms. Alger's first novel as well as keeping my eye out for her future books.

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
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We’re about to head off to Legoland but I wanted to jump on really fast and tell you guys how much I enjoyed Alger’s latest. This was a fast paced and exciting read and I loved that it was told via one POV, it made for a really nice change. Nell was exactly the kind of strong and determined lead character that I live for and the setting was seriously detailed and truly brought to life. Throw in a current mystery as well as some questions about Nell’s mothers death from years ago and this had all the ingredients for the perfect, binge worthy summer thriller! Recommended as a vacation read, I read this over mine and it was exactly what I was in the mood for.

FBI Agent Nell Flynn returns home Suffolk County Long island after the death of her father, a Suffolk County detective. What initially drew me to this book was the setting as I grew up in Nassau County, Long island - immediately familiar with the landscape I wanted to see if that connection would deepen the narrative for me. In some ways it did, especially Agler's descriptions of the juxtaposition of wealth and poverty that is consistent on all parts of the Island and not just Suffolk County. I really enjoyed her ability to make Suffolk County a character which made this story stand out in a crowded field of procedural that feature a "damaged" female detective/FBI agent.

This brings me to Nell Flynn; fresh off a recent PTSD inducing incident and grappling with upsetting memories from her past, Nell is faced with helping to solve the gruesome murders of two Latina working girls that may implicate her own father. Flynn is Latina herself (her mother was Mexican) which brings an intriguing layer to the story.

The story was engaging and although some plot points were a bit silly, and the end seemed a bit rushed and opened ended at the same time. I wish some of the bigger reveals were explained a bit better.

Overall, an enjoyable FBI procedural with depth - if there are further installments along the line I would def. sign up for more.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review

Just as I was getting worried that thrillers could no longer thrill me - I read Girls Like Us. I read this in one afternoon and literally gasped out loud at one point. I think that’s the definition of thrilling.

Nell left her hometown for college and hasn’t returned in the last 10 years. She’s been working in the FBI for the BAU (any Criminal Minds fans?) but has just returned home after her father’s death.

While there - she starts consulting on a case because 2 women have been found murdered and it looks like it could be a serial killer.

There were a few things that I didn’t entirely love - but keeping this spoiler free so I won’t go into specifics. However I would definitely still recommend this if you’re looking for a fun thriller - perfect beach read!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free review copy in exchange for my honest review.