Slaughter launches a new series here, though definitely ones filled with some of her familiar themes (including a horrific murder). In the '80s, Emily Vaughn, a pregnant teenager, is beaten to death, her murder unsolved. Years later, new US Marshall Andrea Oliver ends up getting assigned to guard Emily's mom, a conservative federal judge who's life has been threatened. She's also given a shadow assignment of looking into Emily's murder.

That last is because she herself is in Witness Protection, and the man who seduced and attacked her mother and is now in jail was also a suspect in Emily's killing. There's a bit of handwavy ethics stuff around this (and a LOT around Andrea sleeping with the Marshall assigned to protect her, which is never addressed satisfactorily; similarly, another Marshall is married to his supervisor, which seems like a huge issue ethically, if not legally).

Once the book's kicked in properly, the story bounces between Andrea's present-day investigation (and interactions with Emily's friends) and the nine months in Emily's life prior to her murder. The flashbacks, of course, start to reveal that none of Emily's so-called friends were actually good people, and Andrea's present-day encounters confirm this, as she encounters a sex-slave cult run by one of those friends alongside Emily's former teacher.

As with any Slaughter book, there are lots of fantastic twists, and a great, well-researched look at criminal investigations. The major weaknesses are those aforementioned relationships, and the almost amateurishly awful (to the extent that I can't believe Slaughter wrote them) witness statements from Emily's friends, all of which are filled with petulant asides and are almost unreadable.

Still enough good stuff here to make me want to read the sequel, though.

This title was up and down for me, but an overall 3 stars. I definitely have liked other Slaughter titles more. This is the second in a series and it felt more like a character bridge and a older mystery that was a good story. Frankly, not sure I love this character but I enjoyed the overall mystery.

Don’t mind me, just impatiently waiting for book 3….
Loved it, always put down everything for a Karin Slaughter book, and Girl, Forgotten did not disappoint. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I will keep it brief. But I really hope I see another pairing of Andrea and Bible in the very near future!

Girl, Forgotten is the second book in the Andrea Oliver series (Pieces of Her). Andrea has just completed rigorous training to become a US Marshall and has her first assignment - protecting a judge in the same hometown her father is from. The judge's daughter, Emily, was murdered as a teenager and was friends with Andrea's father at the time. Did he kill her? Or was it someone else from their clique? (Who are all horrible people, by the way)
I like how the book is written in the past from Emily's POV and also the present, as Andrea tries to figure out who's behind the judge's death threats. There's also the side mystery of the bean farm in town where a young woman is found dead.
But, overall, this book was just okay.
Has Slaughter lost her grit? Her edgy darkness that I loved from her previous books? I hope not, but I've not been impressed with her last three books (Pieces of Her, False Witness, and Girl, Forgotten).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This is the second Andrea Oliver book. I read the first one four years ago and rated it a 3.8. I didn't remember much of the book (I have read hundreds of books since then) but I recently watched the Netflix series so my memory was refreshed. I really enjoyed Girl, Forgotten and highly recommend it.

Andrea Oliver is the newest US Marshal officer and is whisked away from graduation to help protect a judge who received death threats. The judge's pregnant teenage daughter was left for dead 40 years ago but lived long enough to give birth. No one knew who was the killer and the father of the baby. Andrea and her mom were in Witness Protection because of Andrea's father. Coincidently, the assignment is in her dad's home town.

The story goes between Emily's life 40 years ago and Andrea today as they both deal with the same locals trying to figure out the mystery.

I hope we see more of Andrea in the future.

An OK book, not her best. Who killed Emily vaughn? That we do know. But do we know who raped her, not sure that was answered satisfactorily. And what is the connection between Andrea and Laura with Emily? Confusing. Thank you NetGalley for this advance copy.

Karin Slaughter proves, with every book, that she is the QUEEN of thriller, suspense, and mystery. Girl, Forgotten did not disappoint. I was concerned it would be a retread of Pieces of Her but it definitely is NOT. Thank you for providing the egalley.