In the fourth installment of the Amanda Steele series, Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold, Amanda is assigned to a gruesome murder case where a 19 year old ecology student who is well-known by park rangers has been found dead on the banks of the Potomac River and has a black orchid on her body. Later her roommate is also found murdered and also has a black orchid. Steele must solve the murder before more bodies are found.

This is a good series, and Amanda Steele is a good detective and protagonist. Arnold does an excellent job of developing her characters so that they are believable, and also so that they fit with the story. As the story unfolds, there are several suspects, and Arnold keeps readers on the edge and guessing. Arnold is also an excellent storyteller, creating twists and turns and ups and downs with a surprising dénouement. The building suspense in this novel is palpable.

All told, this is definitely worth reading, and can be read as a standalone novel. Readers will want to read the previous Amanda Steele installments to catch up on her personal life including her personal difficulties which play a large part of the novels. The books are excellent, keep readers on the edge of their seats, and are very suspenseful. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Reading Between the Wines book review #8/115 for 2023:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: Black Orchid Girls (Detective Amanda Steele Book 4)
Author: Carolyn Arnold
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: This one was my second favorite after the first book in the series. I did not guess anywhere near as to who the culprit was. I loved the reveal and all the craziness that ensued afterwards. I really like Amanda and her relationship with Trent but something is up and I can’t wait to see how it is going to play out. I am currently reading book 5 and have book 6 to follow because book 7 comes out in a few weeks.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @BlackOrchidGirls.

#BlackOrchidGirls #CarolynArnold #Bookouture #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

A teenager is killed by the lake, carefully posed nude with a black orchid. Detective Amanda Steele finds a possible link with an old case but can she catch the killer before he strikes again...?
Black Orchid Girls is the fourth book in the Amanda Steele series and I have previously reviewed the other books in the series: The Little Grave, Stolen Daughters, and The Silent Witness.
Amanda's personal life does follow on from the previous books and she is in the process of adopting a child who was in danger in the last book. There are also other family elements which relate to previous events. However, I think there is enough information to understand the personal background of our detective.
The plot itself is emotive as a young woman is killed. She was passionate about the environment and frequented the park to study nature but in which she eventually died. The description of the murder in the opening chapter is vivid and shocking, a real attention grab!
Amanda takes her time eliminating suspects before the connection with the old case is made. We follow the investigation as it unfolds and suspects are interviewed. The level of mystery is maintained throughout with a big twist at the end.
Black Orchid Girls is an entertaining detective thriller and I enjoyed meeting the main character Amanda again.

Detective Amanda Steele series is a favourite of mine. The reader can be assured of a gripping read from the author. This book delivers as much as I expected from this installment. A fabulous thriller.

*5 Stars*

ARC kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

This book had lots of twists and turns as to who the killer was. I liked the partnership between Amanda and Trent. This was an interesting read with good characters and I liked the ending. Would recommend.

The book kicks off with a bang right from the start. Her writing style kept me engaged and turning the pages. I found it to be suspenseful and unpredictable.

This book was a great addition to the Detective Amanda Steele series. It was suspenseful and it kept you guessing and on your toes the whole way through. These books could be read as a standalone however, I think it would be better to read in order to understand small things as the series goes on. This was another fast paced book by Carolyn Arnold and I hope this series continues!

Another in the Detective Amanda Steele series
And another great read
Will have you guessing to the end
Would recommend this book
Thanks NetGalley

Fast-paced! Riveting! Emotional! Suspenseful! Compelling! Complex! This book brings it ALL! It was an artful melding of twisted psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense. THIS is how you successfully keep a series interesting and keep your readers wanting more!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

The Black Orchid Girls is the fourth book in the Detective Amanda Steele series. It begins with a chilling scene when a lone woman is attacked at a park. Detectives Amanda and Trent have very little to go on. Despite the woman being identified pretty fast, its unclear why she was in the park so early in the morning. Was she meeting her attacker? Was this someone known to her? There was a black orchid placed on her posed body which further raised more questions.

This was a solid, complex case with false leads and an unsub who was good at hiding. I couldn’t guess the identity of the perp until the final pages when the reveal was made.

Although this was a stellar read, it wasn’t my favorite in the series so far. I felt like it lacked the urgency I am accustomed to in this genre. The pacing moved a little slower and, in the end, I took quite long to read it. Don’t get me wrong though, Carolyn’s writing is top-notch and I had to find answers. I just wasn’t in a hurry to. I don’t know if that makes sense. I also hope to see more character development especially with the support characters as they still feel more like just names but not people that I know like the Lead Character.

I can’t wait for the next installment in the series. I look forward to catching up with Amanda and seeing the new developments in her life especially with her new family.

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I have read all of the books in the Amanda Steele series. When I read the first book, The Little Grave, I wasn’t too sure how I’d like the series because that first book was more about Amanda’s grief than the mystery she was working on. After reading the next three books including this one, however, she has become one of my favorite Carolyn Arnold characters.

Amanda and her partner, Trent, work well together. It’s a good thing because they spend a lot of hours working on this case. The girl who is murdered goes to school so there end up being a lot of possible suspects and the case has some twists along the way. In fact, once I got halfway through, I had to stay up late to finish the book. It had a surprising but good ending!

I definitely recommend this book and although it stands on its own, you’ll get more out of the story if you read the whole series.

Amazing. I could not put this one down
Intriguing. Pacy. Love this series and thus book was just brilliant.

Amanda Steele and her partner Detective Trent Stenson are called to the scene where a young woman has been stabbed, stripped, washed and posed with a black orchid on her chest along the Potomac River in Leesylvania State Park. She has no identification, all personal possessions are gone as well as her car. Who is the girl? Why was she killed? What is the significance of the orchid? Did the killer know the victim or was it random? Is this another serial killer? While trying to solve this case, Amanda is also trying to balance her personal life of fostering a young girl who was left with no family in their last case.

This is only my second book by Carolyn Arnold, but I will be reading more. She pulled me into this story from the first page and kept me glued to the pages. I really like Amanda, someone who has dealt with her own personal tragedy, is working on family issues and has real human flaws. She is relatable and of course has me rooting for her success in all areas. We get to know Trent a bit more in this story and their relationship seems to be growing a bit beyond the partner stage. There were several suspects to pin down with various motives and what does the black orchid have to do with it all? Research told them the black orchid can represent positive and negative connotations. Can symbolize bad luck, death and black magic. Also, strength, virility, sexual desires and success. This is an interesting police procedural with twists and turns, a step by step investigation, where Amanda and Trent don't always agree and plenty of clues to follow. Black Orchid Girls was a quick, easy read, with enough suspense to keep me interested. The killer turned out to be a complete surprise and I did not expect that ending. I am looking forward to what is next for Amanda Steele.

Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold is the forth book in the superb Detective Amanda Steele series and this is one of my favourite series I have read. It is very fast pace with lots of twists and turns throughout that will just have you hooked. When Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent Stenson, get called to a crime scene a young woman's body has been found. She is completely naked and a black orchid placed on her chest and her hands wrapped around it. There is no identification around the body initially.

Who is she?

Why is there a Black Orchard on her naked body? What does it mean?

Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent Stenson soon find out who she is, she is only 19 years old and a
ecology student from the local university. .They both start to investigate and soon Chloe's roommate is found dead in the same park with a black orchid placed on her body .......

OMG! Why?

Who has killed Chloe?

Will they catch the killer before someone else is murdered!

Time is running out!!!!!!

This book was superb and I highly recommend this book and all Carolyn's books. They have been brilliant. However, the only downside to all her books is Don't start to read them when you are about to go to bed or start you house work!!! You will not sleep or finish your housework etc. These books are so addictive!

Big Thank You to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Carolyn Arnold, for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own

If crime thrillers are what you enjoy to read,
This book could be just the one that you need!
It is the fourth book involving Detective Amanda Steele,
A brilliant series with so much more to reveal.

The murder of a student has them all perplexed
What is the significance of the black orchid with which she was left?
As Amanda and Trent start to piece what occurred,
Can they sort out the facts from the absurd?

Is the case linked to one from 20 years before
If so, why's the killer killing once more?
With twists galore to keep you guessing
No one is likely to be confessing

Along with the case there's personal drama, too,
With potential heartbreak if everything falls through.
It is a story where Amanda's relationships also are key
I highly recommend you read it, so you'll also see.

I've now enjoyed reading all four books in this series and say
I'll definitely looking for others in the future some day!
Thanks you for my complementary copy of this book
This is my honest review - I hope it encourages you to take a look!

Black Orchid Girls finds our new favorite heroine and hero of Carolyn Arnold wrapped up in a mystery that takes you on a ride with nothing more than a thread to hang onto. Her knowledge into police procedurals really shines bright in this book!


Amanda is truly starting to grow on me as she crawls out the dark hole of pain she had put herself into once losing her husband and daughter. Seeing her trust, develop relationships, and (dare I say?!) love, adds to the excitement of the case unfolding before us.


The unveiling of the culprit pulls the reader in, gently revealing layer by layer, until you're left with the raw reality that someone committed such heinous crimes. Arnold slays with her ability to set the scene with the perfect characters who make it come to life before your very eyes. All five senses were on high alert with this book.


FANTASTIC series!

This is the fourth in the Amanda Steele series but can be read as a stand alone as I did. I have read another series by Carolyn Arnold - Brandon Fisher FBI - so knew I was in for a cracking crime thriller and it didn’t disappoint!
Amanda and her partner, Trent Stenson, are called out to a murder scene of a young woman at the Leesylviaria State Park. Her body has been staged with a black orchid on her chest. When another body is discovered in similar circumstances they fear they may have a serial killer on their hands…..
A fast paced and well written police procedural, makes me want to read this series from the start!

Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold is another murder mystery locked up for Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Detective Trent Stenson had been called out early to a murder scene on the banks of the Potomac. A beautiful young girl, 20 or so, laid out nude, with a Black Orchid placed on her chest. It was enough to make one cry. Even hardened murder teams. Who could have done such a well-planned and orchestrated act? The investigation began, as always, with assumptions and errors. They notified her parents. That, as always, had been horrible. Then her boyfriend, pretty awful, too, although they had supposedly broken up. Next, her roommates. What a pair they were. They enlisted Amanda's brother, Kyle, to see if he could identify the make of a car with no more than the headlights visible. He narrowed it down considerably. Still the investigation moved on. Another body. Eliminated suspects: they were in lockup. More investigating.

Amanda Steele is a complicated character and a moving one. She is in the process of adopting a little girl, Zoe, who had seen her parents brutally murdered only a couple of months ago. Amanda and Zoe had bonded almost immediately but such things were never meant to be easy or smooth. Then there were the odd moments with Trent recently. The plot was a good one. Almost a serial killer, but not quite. It was certainly unexpected when they figured it out, and nearly fatal. As Always, Arnold has written an engaging and thought-provoking murder
mystery/police procedural. The police are part of the story. They have lives, too.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Black Orchid Girls by Bookoutre, through Net galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #bookoutre #blackorchidgirls #carolynarnold

This was the first Amanda Steele book I've read, and I look forward to reading more. This book was totally engrossing and held my interest from start to finish. If also had a surprise ending. I highly recommend this book to other police procedural readers.

I have missed Amanda and Trent and all their crime solving!

There is something in the air and I am starting to think it’s not just murder!

Carolyn Arnold is one of my favorite mystery writers! She leaves me hanging on and guessing until the very end and let me tell you; Black Orchid Girls was no different. I thought I had our suspect pegged from the get-go, but wow!

We had a lot of clues, plenty of suspects, and a crime that just kept on giving… and may have given long before now!

Carolyn Arnold has the most fabulous way of putting you right there with Amanda and Trent – immersing you in the crime scene while you work through the puzzle of determining who the killer is.

Each book in the Detective Amanda Steele series can be read as a stand alone without too much confusion, but they really have been a treat to read together and in order. Carolyn does an amazing job at bringing new readers up to date if you missed passed books, but I will tell you now; once you start one, you’re going to want to go back and read the others. They really are that good!