This one didn't have the same grittiness and impact that Karin Slaughter's book usually have. Don't get me wrong, it was okay, but I think if it weren't for the narrator I would have tossed it aside and moved on to the next book.

Emily Vaughan is killed on her prom night 40 years ago and the mystery revolving around her murder is still unsolved. In the present day, a new US Marshal recruit Andrea Oliver is assigned to protect a judge who is none other than Emily Vaughan's mother. This small town has a lot of secrets and so does Andrea. The story switches between 1982 to the events leading to Emily's death and present day, where Andrea is looking into Emily's murder and unraveling the secrets this town is hiding!

Girl, Forgotten was an amazing thriller in typical Karin Slaughter style. The book is engaging and not as predictable as I expected. Karin Slaughter has a unique way of presenting the harsh realities of how people can be that makes you uncomfortable yet empathize with the characters. I had a huge obsession with Karin Slaughter's books in 2019, time to read more of her work!

Thank you Blackstone Publishing for the ALC of this book.

I had figured out who did it way early and kind of felt like this book could have been half as long because I figured it out so early.

However it was still a good thriller I wish I had remembered more of the first book though (especially at the end). The majority of the people in this book are downright awful so there is no one but Andrea to like. If you were a fan of the first book you will like this one. I will also be reading the 3rd book as the ending alluded that the story isn’t over yet.

Narration by Kathleen Early was fabulous; she truly brought all the emotion.

3 1/2 Stars

I received this audiobook from the publisher Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

I’ve never read Karin Slaughter and I’m glad I was given the opportunity to listen to this pre-pub audio. The narration is first rate and the story was engaging.

***SPOILERS**

Girl, Forgotten was a phenomenal follow up to the first book of the series Pieces of Her. Slaughter did a great job continuing the Story for Andrea and her mother, but with bring more of the history of her imprisoned fathers childhood, devious nature, and gave more grounds for the way she portrayed him as a natural cult leader. Keeping us glued with the current blackmail of the judge, while allowing pieces of the cold case murder to surface or Andrea was very well done. I truly enjoyed the new characters introduced in this book, like Bible her partner, and her love interest from book one! I hope to see more from Slaughter with a third book for Andrea and her crazy family.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read the ARC.

Thank you to netgalley for the audiobook ARC. I typically enjoy Karin Slaughter, I've only ever read her books as audiobooks and they're always so well done. The first book in this series wasn't my favourite, this was about the same. It was fine, nothing more. Pretty predictable, but the narrator was really great.

A good audio experience, but pretty unoriginal imo

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio-ARC of Girl Forgotten by Karin Slaughter, narrated by Kathleen Early.
This book begins with the brutal beating of a pregnant high school teenager and a large group of suspects. Four decades later, Andrea Oliver is sent as a US Marshall to the small town and begins to unravel its secrets. Slaughter creates a story that is full of mystery and intrigue. She creates characters that have secrets and unwinds the story through the use of dual timelines. This is a fast-paced book that will keep you guessing until the end.

This book was a lot. I wasn't sure what to expect going in and was a little thrown by the beginning (probably because I didn't actually read the blurb) to think that it was set in the 80s, but then chapter 1 hit and I was "synched up" I guess you could say.

There was a LOT of swearing and quite a bit of adult stuff in it that I really don't care for in my reads. The language especially made it hard to focus on the plot.

Finally, I honestly just felt sad the whole time I was listening/reading it. I know that sounds silly, but there wasn't much hope in this book. It was a bunch of bad people doing bad things with one person trying to do the 'right' thing and. yet what acted as "justice" in the end didn't really hit at a satisfying level for me. Perhaps I like a little bit more fiction to my fiction.

That said, if you've read and loved previous books by this author this might be something you enjoy. I would say the ending has a level of satisfaction, even if it wasn't enough for me.

My rating: 2.5*
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Thanks to NetGalley for this gifted audio copy. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 8/23/22
Genre: crime fiction, mystery
Series: Andrea Oliver, book 2
One sentence summary: Newly minted US Marshall Andrea Oliver is assigned to protect a judge - but she's really tasked with investigating the death of Emily Vaughn, a girl with ties to Andrea's father.

Do I need to read book 1 first? I think the story will make more sense if you do. Book 1, Pieces of Her, tells the story of Andrea's mother and father.

Karin Slaughter is the queen of dark police procedural/suspense/mysteries, and I'm always impressed by her plotting and the connections between characters.. Both time periods were compelling here. I loved following Andrea as she investigated present and past crimes. I related to Emily's struggles in high school - it wasn't easy to be a girl with big dreams in 1982, and I had to know what happened to her. The timelines coalesced well at the end of the book, and I would definitely read another Andrea Oliver novel.

In addition to the audiobook, I also purchased a text copy for my shelves. I preferred the audio - narrator Kathleen Early did a great job bringing Andrea and Emily to life. Her narration made me feel like I was listening to a crime podcast - I think fans of Serial, My Favorite Murder, etc. will enjoy this audiobook. The writing felt a little bit choppy in text form, but I didn't notice that in the audio, so I recommend listening to this one!

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Pieces of Her had me absolutely hooked. I couldn't put it down, and then I still couldn't get enough so I binged the TV show. When I saw a SEQUEL was coming out, I was ecstatic, and it did NOT disappoint.

Andrea is now a US Marshal, still denying her feelings for Mike, and searching for the rapist and murderer of a young girl named Emily Vaughn who died tragically after her high school prom. The book switches between the 1980s, when Emily was a high school student (in a "clique" with none other than Clayton Morrow, aka Nick Harp, aka... well, if you've read Pieces of Her, you know) and the present as Andrea seeks answers. What starts as an investigation into who is sending death threats to judge Esther Vaughn (Emily's mother) turns into so much more and unravels secrets that have been buried for decades.

Girl, Forgotten is not quite as good as Pieces of Her, but it is still a solid follow-up. However, I did have some issues with it, because I guess in the 1980s, it was normal for parents to victim-blame their own daughters? This isn't necessarily a gripe with Slaughter's writing, but more a gripe because it was SO infuriating to listen to Emily's parents disgusting, victim-blaming, misogynistic response to their daughter being assaulted. Also, virtually every character is completely unlikeable aside from Emily, Jack, Andrea, Mike, and Bible. I know that's kind of the point, because at least one of them assaulted Emily, but they're awful, awful people. Kudos to Slaughter, I guess, for really riling up my emotions in this one!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook!

This is the second book with this character. I am wondering if Slaughter is gearing this up to be another long running series like her other two. I find that I like getting to know the reoccurring cast of characters in her series better than her standalone books. I listened to the audio book version. While the narrator did a commendable job of differing her voice for the different characters, I prefer my own imagination to the rendition she gives different voices. Plot was OK but some of it was very under developed. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

There’s so much going on with this book I think audio is not the best way to read. It seems longer and I got confused very early on. Hoping the physical read is a better experience

This book was the perfect sequel to a Girl in Pieces! It could be read as a stand-alone, but having the back story definitely helped! I loved getting the back and forth timelines to see what happened in the small town so many years ago, and then how all the teenagers had grown up and how they had changed, or not. The narrating was so well done! It kept me completely entertained and I couldn’t wait to get to listen to this one! The ending set up nicely for another book, so I really hope Karin delivers on that!!

Another great book by Karin Slaughter! This story, following Pieces of Her, has Andrea exploring a long-past murder that hits close to home, along with dealing with current threats in her new job. The multi-layer mystery is a fun one that keeps you guessing until the end. The narrator is the same one for many of Slaughter's books and, once again, she does a fantastic job. Thank you to Blackstone Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

An absolute must read by Karen Slaughter. 17 year old Emily Vaughn is pregnant-father unknown- and on the evening of a disastrous prom..... she is murdered.. 40 year later Andrea Oliver, a newly minted US Marshall, is determined to unlock the secrets surrounding Emily.. The early 80's were a rather unforgiving time to be a pregnant teen and it did make for some difficult reading but realistic and indicative of the times. The story is told from the POV of Emily and Andre, transporting us between to very different cultural worlds. Andrea has her own secrets and motives for her intense interest in this cold case....you will have to read Girl, Forgotten to find out! A superb narrator brought the story to life and without the use of gimmicks or voices, made a complex plot easy to follow.

Glad we got more Andrea!

I read Pieces of Her in 2019 and I remember thinking reading more books with Andrea and Mike in it was something I was down with.

Thankfully, Karin Slaughter felt the same way.

Andrea drove me crazy in Pieces of Her. She was so lost and I was annoyed by her actions. By the end of it, she grew on me and in Girl, Forgotten, she has matured.

The novel begins with Andrea's graduation as a US Marshall. Of course, her mother is not happy about it, and let's just say that I would never want to upset Laura Oliver.

For her first assignment, Andrea is sent to Longbill Beach to protect a judge who has received death threats. She gets a new partner, "Catfish" Bible. Yet, Andrea has another assignment and it is to find out the killer of the judge's daughter, Emily Vaughn.

Emily was a teenager who was murdered in 1982 on prom night. Emily was part of a group nicknamed the clique. The other girl in the group was Ricky. Her twin Blake, Nardo, and Clay Morrow complete the ensemble. Andrea has a connection to Clay, one that she wishes didn't exist.

When Emily was murdered, she was pregnant. Her child survived the attack but she didn't. Forty years later, it is up to Andrea to find out the truth. There were so many candidates for the attack. Any member of the clique, Jack Stilton (police chief's son) or Dean Wexler, their teacher.

Karin Slaughter's books are not easy to read. There is violence against children and women in most of her books. The scene in this book with the doctor had me fuming, to say the least. So many abusers in different skins. So be aware before you decide to jump in.

I love Bible as Andrea's partner. He was funny and supportive and I love his relationship with his boss and his wife too. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, I liked how Andrea has matured. The two years in between books have really helped her. I do root for her and Mike's relationship to be successful.

I can't end my review without saying how much I enjoyed Kathleen Early's narration. She is one of my favorite narrators.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by William Morrow/Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio advance reader copy of this book. I love books with alternating povs and time periods. Slaughter does a nice job with this, keeping the reader entertained by switching up the chapters. She also has created a likeable character in Andrea Oliver. Looking forward to more in this series. The narrator speaks clearly and is pleasant to listen to. 4 stars

From my blog: Always With a Book

Karin Slaughter is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her books are just so complex and thrilling and I find I cannot put them down once I start them. I loved Pieces of Her when I read it a few years back and was ecstatic when I heard there was a sequel coming…it quickly became a highly anticipated read not only for August, but of the summer – and let me just say it totally delivers!

Of course, I’m going to start with my usual two cents about reading this series in order. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, so much happens in Pieces of Her that lays the foundation for Girl, Forgotten, especially when it comes to Andrea and her mother. And it’s just an amazing book on top of that, but that’s up to you…and don’t forget, there is the Netflix series and it is pretty true to the storyline.

While I loved Pieces of Her, I almost loved this more a tad bit more. It’s a very multi-layered mystery with twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way through – and I loved that! While it is dark, it’s not as graphic as some of the author’s previous books, though I will say there is one scene at the doctor’s office with Emily that is just horrific – but more in an old-school, misogynistic behavior way than anything else. It’s cringe-worthy and it just goes to show how well the author is at pointing out society’s bad behaviors.

This book pulled me in right away, and once I started it, I could not put it down. Karin Slaughter’s writing is so captivating that I find myself completely immersed in her stories and this one was no different. I managed to finish this in less than 24 hours. Between the engaging story, the close attention to detail and the fully fleshed out, multilayered characters, I was all in and I loved it. The multiple timelines and two perspectives worked so well here and I found myself equally engaged in it all – I just wanted answers to everything. Even the setting – the small town is itself a character and that plays into the story.

As with most thrillers/mysteries, I’m hesitant to say too much about the plot for fear of giving anything away, but I will say that the characters really do make this book. There are some really good characters and some really bad ones, and I loved that I was all over the place with who I thought had killed Emily Vaughn – never once coming close to figuring out the right person, by the way! And the way this one ends almost leads to me to think that we have not seen the last of US Marshall Andrea Oliver, which makes me one very happy reader!

Bottom line – if you love Karin Slaughter’s books or you love a good small-town mystery full of secrets and suspense, I highly recommend this one.


Audio thoughts: I binged this audiobook – and it’s almost 16 hours but it was so good! It’s narrated by Kathleen Early and she did a fantastic job bringing this book to life. Her pacing and intonation were spot on and she infused just the right amount of tension and emotion into her voice as needed. I have listened to other Karin Slaughter books and Kathleen has narrated them – she just gets the nuances of Karin’s writing.

My sincere thanks to @tandemcollectiveglobal for my gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

A forty-year-old unsolved murder and small town secrets serve as the backdrop for this exciting thriller!

Andrea Oliver (from 𝘗𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘦𝘳) returns on her first case as a US Marshall. Ostensibly, she is in Longbill Beach to protect a judge who is receiving death threats. In reality she is there to solve the forty year old murder of the judge’s daughter, Emily. Andrea also has her own reasons for wanting to solve this murder.

This one kept me engaged from start to finish. It is told in alternating timelines, switching from Emily’s perspective in 1982 to Andrea’s point of view in the present. I enjoyed the mystery and didn’t guess who the murderer was. I liked Andrea and hope to read more novels centered around this character.

I read this and I also listened to this one as an audiobook and the narrator did a perfect job!

If you haven't read Pieces of Her prior to reading Girl, Forgotten I would highly recommend it. Girl, Forgotten could easily be a standalone if you haven't, but you go in with a lot more background and insight.

I never would've guess that Andrea would show up in book 2 as law enforcement, I thought her character development was great! I liked this book a lot better than Pieces of Her. I enjoy Karin's writing and that she really draws you in and keeps you guessing. I thought I knew "who dun it" the entire book, but alas, I was wrong. I'm looking forward to the potential of more books in this series!

The narrator for this book was very good. I would recommend it as an audiobook.