I needed this book after reading The Witching Tree, and The Shadow Girls delivered. Alice Blanchard has a way of creating a character that does not leave your mind. Natalie Lockhart is one of those for me. She is determined, fixated, needs to find out what happened and why. She is a detective on the Burning Lake Police Force and over the past years there has been an uptick in cases being solved, thanks to Natalie. These cases will make your hair stand on end, your blood turn to ice, and your mind will race. The evil is thick in this small upstate New York town.

The book opens with a bang. Luke is in a coma, they are still trying to track down fellow policeman Peter Murphy, Veronica's murder is still being investigated, and there is another body found in the Halloween shop in town. When Natalie goes to investigate this man's home, she stumbles into so much more than she bargained for. From there it is a high-octane race against the clock. Old cases come up, past friendships are uncovered, and Natalie is left trying to make light of how it is all connected and who is involved. There is also Natalie's boyfriend, who she has moved in with. Making the tension between her a Luke thick.

I devoured this book. I would suggest starting on book one and enjoying the adventure. This series is fantastically written and will quickly draw you in. You will be fighting with anyone who makes you put your book down. Thank you to Alice Blanchard and Minotaur Books for this thrill a minute read.

One of my problems with the last book in the series was that it ended right in the middle of the story. I hadn’t read the first books, so I went back and did so. This series tends to run the books together. So this book picked right up where the last left off. So this is not a series you can jump into very easily. Going back made the entire series more enjoyable. This is one of those small towns that seems to have a murder rate higher than it’s birthrate. They should really be a ghost town by now. So, this book continues on and leads to the next book. I only recommend it if you are up to date. Otherwise their are too many balls in the air that date back a book or more.

Mesmerizing, dark and spine-chilling!

The Shadow Girls is an unpredictable, sinuous thrill ride that takes us back to Burning Lake, NY, where Detective Natalie Lockhart and her team now find themselves not only keeping their fingers crossed that Lt. Pittman will quickly awake from his coma but also investigating the death of a local employee of Murray’s Halloween Costumes, Randolph Holmes, who unbeknownst to most, seems to have had a penchant in the past for kidnapping, confining, and murdering young girls.

The writing is seamless and fluid. The characters are tough, determined, and flawed. And the engrossing plot is a tightly-paced, ominous tale full of twists, turns, surprises, violence, manipulation, depravity, and murder.

Overall, The Shadow Girls is a highly entertaining, gripping, eerie thriller by Blanchard that highlights her exceptional ability to write police procedurals that have well-drawn characters and disturbingly realistic storylines. It is the fourth novel in the Natalie Lockhart series, and if you’re not already reading this series, you really should be!

Stevie had come into the party store for her morning shift but something is very wrong. Her coworker Randy was supposed to close up last night. She starts walking around and that’s when she finds him dead in the store with a clown nose on.
Detective Natalie is the first one on the scene and something about this case is feeling funny. After a while she is remembering another case involving a missing woman and someone saw a man dressed up as a clown. There are several women missing from this small town in the Adirondacks. While investigating Randy’s death the detectives discover a secret room in the basement where the unimaginable seems to have taken place.
Could all of this also lead to answers of what happened years ago after a Graduation Party where Natalie’s best friend Bella turned up missing and no leads.
The twists and turns in this mystery are so engaging. The ending will leave you totally drained.

Detective Natalie Lockhart cannot catch a break.  Just as soon as she thinks she's making some headway, something else goes wrong.  Every time she breaks a big case, another is thrown at her.  This time, however, it's personal because her longtime friend, Luke, is attacked and left for dead.   

Natalie is a fierce woman.  She fights for the things she wants, even when she knows the odds are against her.  The way she throws herself into a case, even when she's strung out and ready to quit, really drives the story.  In addition, she has a lot of character growth over the course of the series and finally finds her feet in this final novel.  

I discovered this series several years ago when the second book - The Wicked Hour - arrived in a book box.  The story immediately drew me in and I became hooked.  Between the characters, the setting, and the seemingly paranormal, witchy elements, this series has everything I could want.  I was alarmed when I discovered that this is going to be the last in the series, however it wraps up nicely without leaving any loose ends or unanswered questions.   While I'll miss Natalie and Burning Lake, I do like how it all ended and can be content with that.

Loved it!!! It's been almost two years since I read the The Witching Tree, so I couldn't remember everything that happened in the previous books. As soon as I started reading this, everything came back and the book did a great job of recapping earlier events. Detective Lockhart managed to wrap up all her previous cases and finally figured out who was behind everything. Hopefully this isn't the end of the Natalie Lockhart series. There's got to be more murders for Natalie to solve. I hated Hunter and Natalie together. It was all lust and no love. She never seemed happy and he was simply creepy. I always thought he wouldn't be happy unless he had Natalie locked in a house far, far away and all to himself. I knew he had to be hiding something and was happy when he finally spilled all his secrets. It was huge. I thought he might be the mastermind behind all the murders. The people behind everything went to great lengths to keep everyone quiet. When the truth was finally revealed about everything, I was shocked. I loved how everything was tied together and related. It was crazy. From the start, I always wanted to know the mystery behind Bella's disappearance. Was she alive, locked in someone's basement or dead? There were so many questions and everything was finally answered. Everything about Bella's whereabouts were surprising. I thought something different happened to her, I'm pretty sure Natalie did too. Burning Lake is a huge crime/murder magnet. How can so much bad stuff happen in one little place? Hopefully a lot more happens so there's more books in the series!!! Loved the ending! I no longer hate Luke and I'm glad he finally came to his senses.

Definitely recommend the book and the entire series. It was a great mystery/thriller with so many twists and turns. Loved the characters, story and writing style. Hopefully there will be more murders in Burning Lake that she will need to to investigate. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a detective mystery that is best read in order, as there are major plotpoints from previous books that you need to understand to really feel comfortable with this storyline. The whole story is very intense, and there is a lot packed into one book. It was fun to read but I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read the previous books. If you're into quite intense mysteries with lots of interpersonal drama mixed in, you may really enjoy this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

This was a bit of a twisted story. It’s fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It has some surprises along the way. You won’t be able to put it down!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This was a fun read with a good atmosphere. I liked the spookiness of it as well. I thought the author did well with the prose and character development.

Let me start off with that I love the Natalie Lockhart novels. Natalie is a character that is strong willed and determined, sometimes to her detriment. This novel changes none of that.

Natalie's best friend Bella has been missing for years. It deeply affects how Natalie views cases. When she's called to a murder scene in a costume shop in Burning Lake, it is a reminder of the last two crimes she solved. Natalie has become something of a celebrity in her town and further beyond for her ability to find the culprits in serial killings. Will she be able to do it again?

Add in that her longtime best friend Luke is comatose in the hospital, due to a confrontation with a deputy gone rogue, and the murder of a local witch who was researching a string of unsolved murders, Natalie's plate is currently very full. Her partner, Hunter, is in the midst of a huge business deal, and he'd like to whisk Natalie out of Burning Lake. It's a lot for Natalie to process.

I will continue to read these novels as long as Alice Blanchard keeps writing them. What I love about series is that you get completely invested in the characters. While a particular story arc may end, there is usually another arc that follows through the whole series. In this one, it's the relationship between Luke & Natalie. What is going to happen next?

A gripping romantic suspense that is part of a series and would be best enjoyed as such. Alice Blanchard writes an intriguing storyline leading readers through a suspenseful murder investigations while incorporating interesting bits of of the MC's personal life. The writing and characterization are excellent with a dynamic plot and well-crafted story.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheShadowGirls

This is an intriguing psychological drama. It is an interesting and gripping story from start to finish. Set in upper New York State in a town with a background in witchcraft, the stage is set for an exciting story. Natalie is a detective who has become famous for solving major crimes. Luke is a Lieutenant who has her complete trust. Together they are on the case of solving a new murder as well as a cold case. Readers will be held in suspense as all the parts of the case come together. There is action as well as romance involved in the plot. This is a well written book that will be enjoyed by readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I requested this book, I saw that it was #4 in the series but expected that the author would provide a brief 'catch up' for those of us readers new to the series. It took awhile for me to understand that the lead character had 2 prior large cases, and this new case was somehow connected. The 'catchup was a little confusing for me. It seemed as though I was missing something and clearly I was. Take note that this book does not do well as a stand-alone and you need to have read the prior 3 books to get the full experience from this one.

I wanted to like this book and the blurb sounded like it ticked my boxes but for me, it just did not deliver. I found that I did not really connect to Natalie. Also, I could have done with less information about her love life as I am in it for the murder and thriller aspect. The ending seemed rushed as the author tried to tie up the story as an end to the series. The plot involving the actual case seems well thought out.

Overall, this one was hard to finish and not a favorite of mine.

I love books in a series, being that I am binge reader, this book is a continuation of the previous one and it has already been built to read the other books to be able to understand this one, since it wraps everything up. So I recommend reading the others before this one. I never read the other books but one thing I really enjoyed about the book is the female MC, the plot is gruesome, and I couldn’t read this book before bed. As crazy as that sounds, I really like books like this. I couldn’t put it down but at times I got confused when things were mentioned clearly from the other books. But other than that I enjoyed the read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Unfortunately I didn't love this book as much as I loved the last book in the series, The Witching Tree, but I still really enjoyed it. While The Witching Tree had a lot more action and ended on a cliffhanger, this one really wrapped everything up, which is a good thing, just not as exciting. I also could have done with a lot less time spent on Natalie's love life because I'm here for the murder. I still need to go back and read the first two books in the series, which I will do even though Blanchard does a great job of recapping Natalies first two cases, The Violist and The Crow Killer, because they just sound awesome. I love how on the surface, Blanchard's novels seem like cozy mysteries, and then you hit some really graphic and disturbing violence, ala Karin Slaughter. I'm here for it.

Exciting scenes, a twisty plot, and an engaging protagonist will keep readers rapidly turning the pages in The Shadow Girls by Alice Blanchard. The fourth book in this police procedural series continues to feature Detective Natalie Lockhart with the Burning Lake, New York police department. This is a town that makes the most of its history with witchcraft and has a large tourist trade around it that culminates with the Halloween celebration. It’s March, so the town is quieter until police lieutenant Luke Pittman is attacked, Veronica Manes, a modern-day witch is murdered, and a new body is discovered in a costume shop. What is happening in this small tourist town?

Natalie is a protagonist that solved several high-profile murder cases and is questioning her career and her love life. She is strong when she is pursuing leads and has insights that others miss, but she is also overworked. Her character felt real with clear goals for solving the case and believable motivations for why she is questioning her lifestyle. Hunter, the wealthy man she moved in with four months ago, loves her deeply, but is also overprotective and somewhat vulnerable. While he is a successful and shrewd owner of a technology company and exhibits a strong determination to succeed, his vulnerability around his relationship with Natalie seemed uncharacteristic. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story.

As in the previous books, the prologue easily hooks readers. The writing is fluid, atmospheric, and descriptive. The world-building enhanced the setting and gave me a clear sense of place. I felt transported to Burning Lake as though living through the events with Natalie.

This novel shines a light on corruption, love, power, friendship, murder, trust, and much more. Blanchard is a superb storyteller who provides compelling characters, a fantastic plot, and gripping scenes in this disturbing story. The tension is high throughout and the suspenseful narrative kept me fully engaged from the beginning to the end.

Overall, this has a riveting and dynamic plot and is a well-crafted story. It is a page-turner with its complex characters, twisty story line, and fantastic writing that keep me coming back to this series for more. I can’t wait to see what is next for Natalie and the town of Burning Lake. To get the most enjoyment from it, the first three books in the series should be read before starting this one. That will give readers a better understanding of Natalie’s situation.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Alice Blanchard provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for July 25, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

This is book 4 in the Natalie Lockhart series. In this book, Luke Pittman is lying in the hospital in a coma. Natalie is called to the scene of a murder that ;leads her in places she never thought would happen. She sees clues to unsolved cases as she tries to solve the murder than takes her away from her friend's hospital bed. Can she solves the case and maybe make some headway on the unsolved cases as well?

I've read all the books in this Natalie Lockhart series and this is the fourth - they are addictive. You really should read these books in order - I don't think it would be good as a stand alone, but it's great if you've been following the story. This is a good police procedural with a strong female lead, and there's a good mystery here as well as a romance triangle involving Natalie and her ex-boyfriend and her current boyfriend. This book seemed like an ending to me and I hate to think Natalie the series has ended, but they have to end sometime, right?

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on July 25, 2023.

Detective Natalie Lockhart kicks off the fourth in her series by investigating the murder of a Halloween costume store employee while dealing with her romantic feelings for Luke, a colleague who was injured during the events of the previous installment. The town, with its connection to witch trial executions, and the occult themes make this series stand out from other police procedurals.

Natalie makes a great lead in that she’s smart and committed to solving the cases she’s assigned. Her connections to victims and suspects alike keeps things interesting.

Usually, I have no issues with jumping around in a mystery series, but later books in this series have strong connections early books. For example, based on the reviews stating that the previous book ended on a cliffhanger, some of the major threads carried over to THE SHADOW GIRLS.

While I found the atmosphere of the town and the nature of the crimes interesting, there were some things that kept me from fully enjoying this book. A great deal of backstory was shared about the crimes in each of the previous books, which makes me more interested in reading a future installment of the series rather than an earlier one. Often things were told rather than showed, multiple coincidences were employed, and some threads were resolved with minimal conflict/detective work. The final confrontation takes place in a fascinating location, but it felt underutilized. The thing that bothered me the most was the frequent repetition of information, for example a character being related to another character was mentioned four times over the course of three short and sequential chapters. This type of repetition seems to imply a lack of confidence in the reader.

I’d recommend this book, but suggest that the series be read sequentially.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Fourth in a series, and while I often read mysteries as stand alones, this one had some gaps by having not read the other three books first.

Date is for review not for reading.