would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping book

book 2 in the series about detective morgan brookes and it carries on from where the last book left off...morgan is now a more established detective though still a bit unsure of herself in the group but her knowledge of serial killers helps when she can see a patterns before anyone else

the body of a young student is found at home mutilated by her parents and morgan and the team are investigating, its a particularly gruesome murder that will have far more repercussions for the team than anyone can know

and when the killer starts to leave messages for one of the team, things start to get hairy, but its the murder of someone very close to morgan that tips it all in the balance...

oh my goodness...what a rollercoaster of a ride this one was...brilliantly written and cant wait for the next one in this series to see where the team will be after this book....

The second book in the Morgan Brookes series, The Killers Girl is a excellent crime thriller, but can also be read as a standalone as the history is well explained.
This was not my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it just as much as the last.
The story follows Morgan investagating the murder of a local girl, however she gets more than she bargained for when it becomes evident that she's more closely connected with this case than is comfortable.
The characters in the book are really likeable and realistic, the relationships that play out alongside the plot make it a really well rounded read.
I did work put where things were going pretty quickly but this being a really fast paced, suspenseful read, meant that I really enjoyed finding out how the events would play out.
The short chapters and questions left open, needing answers meant I flew through the book wanting to see what would happen next.
All in all a great crime thriller, I would highly recommend. I look forward to reading the next in the series and would like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture and Helen Phifer for the chance to read and review.

This book sucked me in from the start.
Gabby is home alone - her parents are on a trip. After working at the bar and drinks with friends after her shift, Gabby goes home. Something feels off. Then he comes out of the shadows.
Morgan, Ben, Amy and their team investigate this brutal murder.
The killer uses Gabby's phone to text Morgan. DNA results come back - showing a link to an incarcerated killer.
Meanwhile Morgan is working on her relationship with Stan, her father. He has been sober for weeks, AA meetings, keeping his apartment tidy.
The suspense and twists were great. Excellent plot. Highly recommend.

The Killer's Girl is the second book in the Detective Morgan Brooks series. Having not read the first book, I found this an easy book to pick up and enjoy. There were some references to her prior experiences but this did not detract from this story. The characters are well written and the clues laid out to the observant followers. So a crime thriller which weaves good investigation and the protagonists' personal backgrounds. The tension is built up nicely and brought to its inevitable climax. Highly recommended with a four star rating.

This is the second book in this series and it is another really good read. I read this in one sitting. I was glued to my seat from start to finish. I love the characters and Morgan's really interesting back story. The storyline was very well thought out and cleverly written. I hope there are more books to come.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The second in the series to feature Detective Constable Morgan Brookes and in my opinion this book is better than the last. Morgan finds out more about herself which literally blew me away. A killer that has a personal adgenda and little does Morgan realise the killer now has her in his crosshairs. I am a great fan of this author, she definitely knows how to deliver. Another one sitting book with tension and suspense, chilling and with plenty of heart in your mouth moments. Yes this book is that good. A must read and I can't wait to read how this storyline develops.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book.

That is a book worth reading, I liked the unusual twist and turns and did not see the person guilty of the crime at all..

A good read with a very satisfying ending. First time reading this author & personally found her a little too British in her writing descriptions & expressions. Enjoyed the plot but found it a little slow paced for my expectations. I will try reading Helen again since I bought her book The Lake House long ago but have not read yet. Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When Morgan is called to the scene of a dead woman the same age as herself, she realizes it’s going to be a difficult case. Not only to solve, but on her emotions as well.

When the second victim is extremely close to Morgan, things take an even more personal turn. As she searches for answers, she discovers that everything she thought she knew, was a lie. Can she come back from this before it’s too late? Or will this killer catch her by surprise now that she’s mentally off her game?

Another great read, the books in this series just keep getting better. It's a story that kept me reading till the last page.

Finally back at work, Detective Morgan Brookes is still trying to prove her worthiness of being part of the murder squad. She and her boss, Ben, catch a murder case that baffles them. Someone is strangling people, and the only DNA evidence traces back to an imprisoned rapist. In the meantime, Morgan is also trying to figure out the cause of her nightmares and what they mean. As she attempts to get to know her newly sober dad, she begins to wonder if she has repressed memories. When her dad is strangled, and the DNA also traces to Morgan, she could become a potential suspect, but Ben is working hard to prevent that from happening. As he and Morgan purse leads, more questions than answers arise. How is Morgan connected to the crimes? Are Ben's feelings for her more than just work-related? The book keeps you guessing until the end. I can't wait to see what happens next with Morgan.

Detective Morgan Brookes is investigating a brutal home invasion and murder, that will strike closer to home than she ever imagined.
At its best when speaking from the perspective of the killer, the writing was strong enough in this novel, but unfortunately the book was rife with structural inconsistencies and erroneous DNA science.. That, along with several far fetched coincidences make the story inauthentic and frustrating to read.
The shame is that with some solid structural editing and basic research this could have been a good book. My hope would be that the author's next book would have both these things, and then I would really look forward to reading it.

My thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

WOW WOW WOW!! What a hair-raising roller-coaster of a read this is! WOW! I had really enjoyed reading 'One Left Alive', the first Morgan Brookes book by Helen Phifer, and if I thought that was fantastic, 'The Killer's Girl' is just sensational!!

When I read the prologue, I was immediately hooked with the drama enfolding but at that point I couldn't fully appreciate the significance of that scene. Everything became clearer as I progressed through the chapters. A young woman is murdered in her own bedroom and the killer leaves the house in disarray as though they were searching for something. But what? Morgan and Ben are called to the gruesome scene to begin their investigation and it's immediately evident that the victim had been dead for a number of days. Who has done this? Why was this innocent young girl murdered, her body left there for her parents to find?

Morgan is so saddened and angered by this case that she vows to hunt down whoever has done this and throw them in prison for the rest of their lives. But this evil killer soon shows how shrewd they are, that they love to play games. And unknowingly, Morgan finds herself the killer's pawn in their macabre game. Riddled by terrible recurring nightmares, Morgan needs to stay alert, because one thing is certain, the killer will strike again. What's not clear is who the next victim will be. Could it be Morgan herself? The discovery that the DNA recovered from the scene matches that of a man who has been imprisoned for many years just adds to the weirdness of the case. But how could this be??

Well, I was very much intrigued by this plot from the word go. A myriad of questions invaded my mind. I wanted to know not only the identity of the killer, but how the DNA of a prisoner ended up in the girl's bedroom. I felt afraid for Morgan's safety and reputation as it was evident the killer was playing a mortal game with her. When I thought I was succeeding in forming a picture of what might have happened and who the killer was, the author did not only enjoy herself disassembling my painstakingly formed puzzle, she upended the whole damn table!

The author made me experience all sorts of emotions with this book. I felt horrified, angry, worried, surprised, astounded, gobsmacked etc. My stomach felt as if it were tied in a knot throughout and at one point my jaw dropped onto my chest and it took me quite a few seconds to pull it back in place! OMG!! What the...??

The plot is pacy and suspenseful, the writing crisp, clean and eloquent. The short chapters made me fly through the book. All characters are realistic and the dialogue natural. What I liked most in this book is that we learn a lot more about Morgan's past. We get to know more Ben too. I really like the dynamics of Morgan and Ben's relationship, and I hope that we'll see them grow closer and closer with every book issued. I also like the chemistry within the close-knit investigation team, including Amy and Declan, the pathologist. How they all work as one to solve a murder case in the shortest and most efficient way. The ending couldn't be more breath-taking and surprising.

All in all, this is a terrific crime thriller and I highly recommend it. Now I can't wait for the next book. With huge thanks to Bookouture for approving my request to read and review this book.

Another good murder story from Helen Phifer where Morgan Brooks is the central character. Having read the first in the series, I have got to know the characters and it was good to read about them again. The book is told from different perspectives and involves an historical crime. All in all an interesting read which kept the interest up thoughout the book with a couple of twists in the plot along the way .
My one criticism would be the way emotions are described at times. Some characters could be fleshed out a little more (Amy & Tom for example) and there are lots of coincidences. But I am looking forward to the next episode in the lives of These Cumbrian detectives
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

My thanks to Bookoutre, Helen Phifer and Netgalley.
I'm slightly worried about how much I actually enjoyed this book. It's not my usual.
I really liked it. Just me being cautious and all, but I think I'm going to have to check this author out.. Or, at least this series.
Yeah, it's 5 damn stars! I would like more.

I was pretty intrigued after reading the couple of chapters. A young woman is murdered in her bed, then found by her parents a couple days later. Morgan is called to the scene and meets Ben a fellow officer.
I thought the plot of the story was pretty interesting but I found myself not really connecting with the characters. The only thing I was really interested in was about the case from the first chapter and how it was going to relate to Morgan. It took me a couple days to get through the first half of the book. Not because I didn't have time, but I just didn't feel like I needed to pick it up right away. Once I got past the halfway point I did find myself flying through it. Some parts took me out of the story a bit, like the DNA when its an almost but not exact match to Morgan and she becomes a suspect instead of thinking it must be someone shes related to.
The ending did spark some interest in where the next book will be going so I might check that out when its released..

The Killer's Girl , second in the series of Morgan Brookes does not disappoint.

The action is non stop from page one to the final page.

Morgan becomes a stronger character in Book 2 but girl you have no luck!

Morgan and DS Ben Matthews and the team are scrambling to see who murdered Gabby.

DNA leads them to a local prison, how can Gary be a suspect.

Morgan has the best instincts and yet she continues to deal with her past and her nightmares that she cant be explained.

I went back and forth trying to decide who the murderer was .

The pages fly by, I stayed up late to finish The Killer's Girl.

Can't wait for Book 3 in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an edge of your seat thriller.

Non-Stop Suspense! The Killer's Girl by Helen Phifer is a gripping thriller that is the second in the Detective Constable Morgan Brookes series. I really enjoy this series! From the start, all the way through to the ending Morgan is shocked with more than she bargained for in her life and job.
Morgan has sleepless nights with nightmares she cannot remember upon waking. She is called to the murder scene of Gabriella Stevens, a young woman her own age. She is soon dealing with confusing circumstances when she receives texts from the dead girl's phone. I won't post spoilers, but Morgan is shocked to learn horrible things about her family's past. During the investigation, Morgan comes under suspicion of being more involved in the case when Stan is found murdered.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Publication Date: December 10, 2020

Second book in the DC Morgan Brooks series. I was really looking forward to this follow up but came away disappointed. I enjoyed the first book ‘One Left Alive’ more.
The story itself is ok but some of the detail is off - particularly around the DNA.
I also had worked out who the killer was fairly early on.
Easy read but found some of the plot predictable and some of the main police characters were fairly incompetent.
3 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

The Killers girl is the second book in the Detective Morgan Brooks series and is an excellent follow up from the first in the series.
When local girl Gabrielle Stevens is found brutally murdered, tied to her own bed DS Ben Matthews and DC Morgan Brookes are called to the scene. DC Brookes is horrified at the scene which does not help her nightmares and insomnia. When DNA that was taken at the scene is identified it turns out that the persons DNA is still banged up in Strangeways prison so they couldn’t have committed the murder. So, DS Matthews and Dc Morgan Brooked investigate and found out who is the killer really is and what is the connection to Gary Marks.
During the investigation somehow the killer finds out Morgan’s telephone number and starts texting her. Ben and the team investigate to find out the connection between the killer and herself. The team briefly doubted Morgan they thought she might be the killer. But Ben knows the brief time he has known her that she wouldn’t do that. As she has given her all since being with the team and he goes out of the way to protect her.
This is another great episode in the series by Helen Phifer. This had a great storyline and I liked getting to know a little more about each of the characters especially Morgan who is not afraid to get her hands dirty and has something to prove to the rest of her team that she is not just the newbie. Although I guessed the killer towards the end, I think this is another great page turner and I can’t wait for the next book.