I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Black Orchid Girls’, book four in the Detective Amanda Steele series written by Carolyn Arnold, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The body of nineteen-year-old female student Chloe Somner is found lying next to Potomac River in Leesylvania State Park having been stabbed, cleaned and carefully arranged with a black orchid on her chest. As Detectives Amanda Steele and her partner Trent Stenson question her friends and fellow-students, the victim’s room-mate Jayne Russell is found dead, again with a black orchid. As they trawl through the records of cases in other districts they come across a cold case that happened twenty years ago when a young woman died with a red rose. Is it a coincidence or could there be a serial killer in their midst?

‘Black Orchid Girls’ leads on perfectly from the previous book in the series and is action-packed from start to finish. It’s an addictive, fast-paced and exciting thriller that has a strong well-written plot, numerous twists and turns, and a number of possible suspects that have kept me guessing throughout. I admire Amanda who’s dealing with a personal issue as she and Trent work their way through interviewing the never-ending list of Chloe’s friends, students and staff. Amanda remains tough, hard-working, loyal to her partner, yet regrets she’s unable to give her foster daughter as much of her time as she deserves due to the pressure of the job. I've thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and can’t wait for book number five to learn if there’s a relationship blossoming between Amanda and Trent?

Thanks NetGalley, Bookouture and Carolyn Arnold for an ARC to review.
Book 4 of Detective Amanda Steele series.
A young student was found murdered and posed implying the terrifying prospect of a serial killer.
Following every possible lead, Amanda and Trent tries their best to crack the puzzle.
Adding more layers and depths to Amanda's character and personal life, the book is a hit like its predecessors.
Book 5 maybe?

This is the fourth book in the Amanda Steele series. It was well written, with some excellent descriptive passages, and had good characterisation. It was just a little too bland, a bit repetitive and not enough character development to satisfy me but the plot was interesting and solid. I worked it out early on and this spoiled my enjoyment somewhat. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This series just gets better and better! Couldn't put this book down!
Amanda and Trent are called to the scene of the murder of a 19 year old college girl. She is found in a park and the list of suspects is rather long. But then her roommate is murdered, and the list of suspects takes an interesting turn, especially when the two most likely suspects were in police custody at the time of the second murder. Is this the work of a serial killer, or is the killer someone right under their noses? Great plot, with lots of twists and turns. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Character development was good. The plot was very interesting. Not a lot of typos.

Another twisty mystery with an explosive ending you won't see coming! Wow! While dealing with a complicated case Amanda is also facing complications in her quest to adopt Zoe. There are a lot of emotions happening in this book. I loved the dynamic between her and Trent in this one even more than previous stories. I can't wait to see what happens next.

If you like fascinating detective novels, "Black Orchid Girls (Detective Amanda Steele Book 4)" by Carolyn Arnold is a great read!

Beautiful 19-year-old Chloe Somner, is a beautiful blonde environmentalist with a very bright future ahead of her. She is murdered at Leesylvania State Park. Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Trent Stenson are called to the scene of the crime to work what turns out to be a very intriguing investigation.

What I liked:
The author Carolyn Arnold, does an excellent job spinning a web of interesting scenarios that keep the reader's attention. I also enjoyed the procedural scenes. Carolyn's descriptive writing and explanation of the storylines make them come to life. Additionally, the scenes including Amanda's daughter Zoe were heartwarming.

What I liked less:
The book became a bit repetitive about half way through, but it was not enough that I lost interest in finishing it. I did figure out who the killer was, but the novel is still definitely worth reading. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from the author.

Thank you NetGalley, Carolyn Arnold, and Bookouture for allowing me the honor of reviewing this lovely twisty crime novel. I really appreciate you all!

I received this book thru "NetGalley" and I am leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Amanda being called to a report of a dead body. When she arrives along with Trent, her partner, on the scene she discovers a dead girl who has been posed and there is no other evidence around except for a Black Orchid. Trying to discover who the body is she talks to the Park Ranger and luckily another employee and is able to discover a name. Once she had this information, she and Trent started looking for who did it. The 1st thing they had to do was make a death announcement to her parents. From info from the parents, they got several names that needed to be looked into. Their next stop was the college where the girl was attending. Here after talking with classmates, they began to narrow down a list of suspects.

As they continued the investigation further, another girl was killed and all of a sudden, their suspect list went south. While this was going on Amanda has a personal issue which was bothering her in addition to how her boss, Malone, was acting.

While going to talk to an individual their case was solved for them and the culprit is one that you wouldn't have thought possible. You must read this book; you won't be disappointed in addition, you will learn why Malone was acting the way he was plus what Amanda's issue was.

This is the fourth in Carolyn Arnold’s Detective Amanda Steele series. It is the first one I have read. Although it does make reference to past cases and personal history, I felt enough background information was provided so that it worked well as a standalone.

A college student, Chloe, is found dead in a state park, killed very early in the morning. She has been stripped of her clothing and possessions, posed, and a black orchid placed on her. Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent Stenson, are on the case. Was the perpetrator someone close to Chloe or is there a serial killer at large?

This was a fast, engrossing read. Amanda is a bit of a flawed character, but the death of her husband and daughter a few years earlier has had its impact on her. And, by the way, she is trying to adopt a young child, Zoe, orphaned after her parents were killed in an earlier story. I did have some questions about the partners’ procedures (really, interviewing two persons of interest together?), yet it remains a decent police procedural.

I don’t feel compelled to go back and read the prior books in the series, but am looking forward to the next one. And, I wonder if the spark that was hinted at between Amanda and Trent will ignite, or will they remain supportive friends and partners……

FANTASTIC series with Amanda & Trent as lead detectives involved in solving the murder of two college girls found with black orchids on their bodies. Great plot interspersed with lots of suspense throughout. Enjoyed totally & RECOMMEND fully all of this series & definitely look forward to more. Thanks to Hibbert & Stiles & NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest reveiw.

This was a gripping read and a great addition to the series. the writing was good, the characters were well developed and as always the story was believable, suspenseful and unpredictable. I thought I had the ending figured out but I didnt. I really enjoyed it.

A dead girl is found next to a river. Naked, stabbed and with a black orchid on her chest. Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Trent are on the hind to find the killer. Is he a one time murderer or a serial killer? While they’re investigating the dead girls friends, family and university, another victim is found. Stabbed, naked and with a black orchid on her chest. Who did this? And why?
And then there’s also Amanda’s personal life: the little girl she wants to adopt.

There’s not much I can say about this book. It is the fourth one in a series but the first one I read. It was a fluent read and I didn't foresee the ending.
But all in all it was a good book.

This is the first book I’ve read by Carolyn Arnold and I’m wondering what took me so long! Black Orchid Girls is a perfectly paced, tightly plotted crime thriller, expertly mixing the case with elements of Detective Amanda Steele’s personal life. Both elements ramp up the tension! There’s a terrific sense of urgency when it comes to the investigation. The police procedural elements, slipped in amongst the action, had me biting my nails as Amanda and her partner Trent wait for crucial evidence from phone companies etc. The sub-plot relating to Zoe, a young child Amanda met through an earlier case, is every bit as compelling. I’m keen to find out more of the background now, but I had no problem launching in with this fourth book in the series. First-rate – I’m hooked!

The fourth book to feature Detective Amanda Steele and this is another cracking read. I read this book in one sitting and finally turned the last page in the wee hours. I just had to keep on reading I HAD TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!!! Packed to the rafters with tension and suspense, full of misdirection and a conclusion which left me speechless. Another fantastic five star read from this gripping and very addictive series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

This is the 4th book in the Amanda Steele series by Carolyn Arnold. I love this series it just keeps getting better with each book. This book has Amanda and her partner investigating the possibility of a serial killer with the death of two college students. Both girls were found with black orchids on their body. This was a well written book with some twists and I highly recommend you read you won’t be sorry. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful arc.

Carolyn Arnold's Amanda Steele series is one of my all time favorite detective series. Black Orchid Girls is the 4th book and it's just as good at the previous books. Someone is murdering college girls and Amanda and her partner Trent are working hard to uncover if there's a serial killer out there or something else entirely. This story is, as the first three books, full of suspense and mystery. We also get to see a more personal side of Amanda that we haven't seen previously. Great story, lots of twists and an unexpected ending. Can't wait for the next one!

Carolyn Arnold brings suspense and pulse-pounding moments to her gripping crime thriller and police procedural Black Orchid Girls which is the fourth book in a series. The setting largely takes place in Prince William County in northern Virginia and features Detective Amanda Steele. Amanda, a seasoned detective, is partnered with Detective Trent Stenson. They catch a case at Leesylvania State Park when hikers find the body of a young woman along the Potomac River. There’s no identification on her and she has been staged for public display. This includes a black orchid being placed on her chest. 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?

Amanda has to balance work and family. She is fostering a young girl from a previous case and is in the process of adopting her. Her flaws and struggles made her seem realistic. While Amanda shows growth and depth as the story progresses, readers get little insight into Trent other than his work ethics. However, despite only being partners for a few months, their dynamics enhanced the story line.

What a first sentence! The novel starts with a vivid and brutal scene that immediately pulls the reader into the lives of the characters. The author does a great job of showing the dark and gritty reality of a killer at work and the devastation one leaves behind. The descriptive writing style draws one in and keeps you turning the pages. However, despite being descriptive, I couldn’t really tell that this was set in northern Virginia versus elsewhere with a nearby river. Another quibble I had was with an interview with two people which seems counter to normal procedure. It seems that they should have been interviewed separately.

The plot is suspenseful, full of chasing down leads and interviewing suspects and witnesses in anticipation of identifying and stopping the killer. The story gradually builds momentum until it finally peaks with a fantastic action scene and astonishing conclusion. I enjoyed how the author twists the plot points and provides unpredictable moments in the story. These twists and surprises keep readers on their toes. Will you see that ending coming? Themes include murder, flower symbolism, relationships, families, secrets, bullying, grief, and more.

Overall this novel was gripping, engaging, and atmospheric. This is the fourth book that I have read by this author, but the first I’ve read in this series. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Amanda and Trent. Thought-provoking and engrossing, I recommend this to those that like gritty police procedurals.

Bookouture and Carolyn Arnold provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be February 10, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

It’s not safe to attend college in Prince William County. Two young women’s bodies are discovered, nude, with a black orchid poignantly displayed on their chests. They were roommates. What is the other the connection? As Amanda and Trent scurry to follow up with clues and interviews, Amanda is facing her own potential crisis with Zoe, her charge.
I love the direction both Amanda’s professional and private life is taking. I’m waiting with baited breath to see if one pans out in the next book. My Nancy Drew instincts need recharged because I waffled back and forth with who the perp was; only to be completely Thrown by the clever twist Arnold provides at the very end.
Who will die next? Can’t wait to find out in this series.

Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold is the fourth book in her Detective Amanda Steele series. Detective Amanda Steel and her partner Detective Trent Stenson's latest investigation leads to several viable suspects and maybe a lead from a cold case. I enjoyed following along with their thinking processes and investigative prowess. Amanda's personal troubles added to the tension of the story. Great conflict and resolution.

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Who would want to kill a young university student? Detective Amanda Steele & her partner Detective Trent Stenson have just been given a new case. A young woman has been found murdered in a national park but they can’t identify her as yet as she is nude and all her belongings are missing. Amanda knows that they need to move quickly to find out who she is and what is the meaning of the black orchid left on the body? Luckily they are able to find out who she is but who wanted Chloe dead? They have some suspects but they have no hard proof of who killed her? Will they be able to give Chloe’s family some answers or will the killer strike again?
Amanda has personal things going on as well as the little girl that she has been looking after someone has come forward to claim her. Amanda can’t lose Zoe they are a family now and she just has to hope that things work out. And all of suddenly she had started to see Trent in a different light. Can things get any harder for her right now? Can they stop the killer before anymore young woman are killed?
I did not see the killer coming. A great read. Love Amanda and her ability to juggle so many issues at once. And the feelings for Trent I hope that we get to explore that? I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.