Excellent beginning for a new series! I read in one sitting, couldn't put it down. Freya is such an intriguing character. And I really enjoyed Esther. There is a lot of tension and suspense. I didn't see the reveal coming. I also enjoyed that the case was solved but there is still a mystery that looks like it will continue over more books.

I have been craving a "simple" type of thriller lately - one where it's just thrilling for entertainment value, with no ulterior motive or preaching (and honestly, no drugs). Emily Shiner answered my desires with The Drowned Girls, book one in the Detective Freya Sinclair series!

This story jumps right into the action with a disturbing prologue and doesn't let up for a minute! Detective Freya Sinclair is a strong female character, trying to overcome ghosts of her past as she relocates back to the town and police department she left a few years ago; her own secrets slowly unravel along side the mysterious drownings of the young girls, and it was addicting! I was hooked early on, and at 22% in, I simply had to know more about Freya's history, and I needed to know who was behind the killings!

Audiobook narrator Amelia Sciandra brought the book to life! The voice acting was superb, and each characters voice was very distinct! I found myself remembering which character was speaking more so on the voices used with narration than what my Kindle page told me!

I'll be starting One Liar Left, book two in the series, later this week, and I just can't wait to see what happens next in Fawn Lake!

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Instagram review post link: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6EUIMZroHK/
GoodReads review link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6433633459

Ahhhhmazing! Kept me hooked from the beginning. 5 star for sure. I read this in one sitting I couldn't put down!

Emily Shiner takes a break from her standalone thrillers with the first in this new dazzling cop procedural series, Detective Freya Sinclair #1—THREE DROWNED GIRLS.

The local town's little girls are missing in this small lake town in North Carolina. With a troubled detective, this haunting, deeply unsettling, atmospheric, shocking, and riveting crime thriller will keep you on the edge until the last page is turned.

Innocent little girls go MISSING.
Then DROWNED.
What SECRETS lie buried in the dark
rivers of Fawn Lake, North Carolina?

THREE DROWNED GIRLS is spine-chilling! Complex and multi-layered, with plenty of red herrings to keep you turning the pages. It's a haunting and beautifully written thriller chock-full of secrets and twisted evil. Surprising and unexpected, it is a dark, unsettling story of a sociopath and a damaged detective out to stop the murderer in a race against time. She must save the young girls from those who should be protecting them.

A big fan of the author —this is one heck of a spine-tingler steeped in the secrets of dark river waters and a mysterious forest. A harrowing venture into a cult-like community hidden among everyday suburban families.

A troubled Detective, Freya Sinclair (emotionally and physically damaged), with her demons, is determined to do the right thing, to make the world a better place, and feels guilt from the past after making a mistake arresting the wrong people for a heinous crime on the road to redemption. Now she has her chance.

The author skillfully hooks you from the Prologue with a drowning and never lets go. A young girl is wearing her best white dress and somehow in the water, and someone is pushing her down. She longs for her mother and someone to help her. She is not strong enough to get to the surface.

Detective Freya Sinclair is back in her hometown of Fawn Lake, North Carolina. She knew coming home was always going to be complicated. When Freya was young, she had no clue what her parents were hiding in their basement. They were evil. Due to her last name and the media, she has a bad name in town. She must prove herself.

She had run away from NC to Texas for five years and is now returning. Freya became a detective to bring serial killers like her parents to justice. However, some do not trust her since she is the daughter of two serial killers (she helped put away). In the process, she was shot in the hip and currently lives with the trauma and pain in her hip every day.

She returned for Esther, the kind-hearted woman who raised her when no one else was there for her. Esther owns the local Parker's bakery across the street from the police department, and she adores her.

Now, Freya is a Captain in charge of the detectives due to the department restructuring after she left town when she could not face the scrutiny every day. She must answer to her boss, Chief Callahan, and oversee and work with detective team members Candy and Brad (a rookie).

On her first day back, the call comes in about a body found in the river near the woods. A young girl around 5 to 6 years old. The caller was fishing with his young son and discovered the body. He had pulled her from the body to try and help her but was unable to save her. The body had been in the water for some time.

Was it MURDER? Or an accident? Why didn't anyone report her missing? Could it be a tourist visiting, or was it a local? The first place to check is the local elementary school.

Then there is vandalism at Esther's Bakery. Was someone trying to get to her through Esther? People had long memories, and it was crazy to think anyone had forgotten what her parents had done.

Deep into the investigation, another girl is reported missing. Her age is six, which is about the same age. Then they find another girl murdered? What is going on? Are the girl's cases connected? These beautiful, innocent little girls. Who would want to hurt them?

The only link is the girls were on the community soccer team, and not all attended public school. Some are homeschooled. There has to be something they are missing. Some of the mothers had taken their daughters out of school. Then the mothers go missing, and the daughters?

Could it be the coach of the soccer team? Why is someone murdering and taking little girls? Then, she discovers a connection between the principal and the janitor (pedophile), who is questionable, creepy, and has a hidden past with a creepy mother.

Two drowned girls. One daughter is still missing. Can Freya save the missing one before she becomes the third victim? What ties all these cases together? How many more little girls are out there dead they do not know about yet?

Sophia, Isa, and Liz
6-year-old innocent little girls.
A leader.
A river.
A forest.
A principal.
A janitor.
A soccer coach.
A predator.
Elementary School
Homeschooling
Mothers.
Daughters.

What is the connection between them?

There is a sociopath on the loose. A murderer. A serial killer. Then, we hear alternating chapters from a mysterious, evil, anonymous, spine-chilling voice. (trust me, it is not the kind of sociopath you can imagine).

Why hasn't someone come forth to claim the dead girls or report missing girls? Some must be homeschoolers since the public school has not reported any child missing or absent. A predator or something else? Trauma tourism? Or has the killer already set their sights on Freya next? Freya must put the pieces of the puzzle together by going undercover before the latest young girl winds up dead.

Do we truly know anyone? Often, the monsters are right in front of us, disguised as "normal" in suburban families.

A dark, fully immersive, addictive, twisty whodunit. With many red herrings, you will not see this clever plot twist coming. From manipulation, sinister acts, motherhood, daughters, and families—the author shines in this twisty crime thriller/cop procedural with tension, mystery, action, and suspense in a race against time.

THREE DROWNED GIRLS is psychologically rich, delving deep into the human psyche. A flawed, troubled detective faces her demons, and this emotionally charged story hurtles toward a shocking and unique reveal. Thought-provoking, the author cleverly parallels the emotional cases of girls not being kept safe and questioning why the parents aren't protecting them, much like Detective Freya's past.

This is a super kick-off series. I look forward to learning more about this mysterious detective and Esther. I also enjoyed the team and how they work together (well, some of them). This is for fans of Christina McDonald's (Det. Jess Lambert) and Robin Mahle's (Det. Rebecca Ellis) and lovers of cop procedural series and crime thrillers.

AUDIOBOOK: I enjoyed the e-book and the audiobook narrated by Amelia Sciandra for an engaging and intense performance.

INTERVIEW: Check out my #LitLiftMiniAuthorChat with Emily, THREE DROWNED GIRLS on pub day, April 22, 2024, and a BLOG Tour stop.

SERIES: You will want to continue this intriguing saga with #2 in the Detective Freya Sinclair series, One Liar Left: (April 22, 2024, pub date). Fingers crossed for a .5 sequel novella about Frey's childhood and past.

Thanks to Bookouture, Hachette UK, and NetGalley for an advanced reading and listening copy.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: April 22, 2024
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Detective Freya Sinclair has returned to her hometown of Fawn Lake after a five year absence and her return is not exactly welcomed with open arms.

Why?

Well for one her parents are serial killers and for another just after Freya arrives back in town the body of a young girl is pulled from the river.

But Freya is determined to prove herself and show this small town she puts killers behind bars, is nothing like her parents and has learnt from the mistakes of her last disasterous case.

And she's going to need all her detective skills and that of her new colleagues if she is to catch this killer. Especially when another girl is found dead and a third goes missing.

And with an interesting back story and secondary characters. Not to mention a small town full of secrets and plenty of twists and turns. This was an enjoyable read. That was only let down for me by the pacing, but I'd happily recommend it and One Liar Left to all.

Three Drowned Girls is a police murder mystery headed by main character Freya who is back on her hometown police department after a several year absence. She takes on a case of missing children and races to find the murderer.

Overall I found this story engaging and it was a quick read. It definitely stirred up some emotions in this mom when thinking of the horrible things that were happening to these small children. The author explained the occurrences in a respectful fashion, yet, with enough description to engage the feelings of fear and worry from a mother’s standpoint.

I enjoyed the main characters, as they were likeable. I am curious to know more background of Freya’s history but assume more will come out as the series progresses. I loved Esther and found myself liking when the story switched to her. I hope she continues to be a main character in the coming series as well.

I was a bit disappointed in that there really was no plot twist involved in the mystery. It was evident pretty early in the story what was likely occurring and it was just a matter of which mother was the culprit. The other moms were not developed enough to really care who it ended up being. I feel like it was pretty average in the world of mysteries, but I will likely read the next in the series to see where the author takes these characters in the future.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the Advanced Copy in exchange for my honest review.

THREE DROWNED GIRLS (Detective Freya Sinclair Book #1) by Emily Shiner is a captivating first book in a new crime thriller/police procedural series set in small-town North Carolina. What sets this dark serial killer series apart is that the female detective protagonist’s background is as shocking and twisted as the serial killers she chases.

After five years away, Freya Sinclair returns to her hometown of Fawn Lake, NC and returns to her place in the Fawn Lake PD as Captain of the Detectives. Not everyone is happy she is back.

On her first hour back on the job, a young girl is found floating in the local river. With the help of newly promoted Det. Candy Ellinger, they begin searching for her identity because no one has reported a missing child. Before they can make any headway, another girl is reported missing. When Freya discovers another young girl dead in the river, she knows she is in a desperate race to stop a serial killer, but the killer has set their sights on Freya as she gets ever closer.

I really enjoyed meeting this new set of characters. Freya is intelligent and determined to prove she can handle returning to her job. While the author gives some information on Freya’s past with the disclosure of her parents being serial killers, there is still much we don’t know, and I liked that because this first book is more of an introduction to the characters and how they are going to work together as a team and not an info dump. This is a darker crime thriller with the serial killing of very young girls, and discussions of serious topics, but I did not feel it was overly graphic. That said, while the overall crime plot is seriously twisted, and I think unique, I did not find it realistic which diminished my overall satisfaction. I am looking forward though to learning more about Freya and her team in future books in this new series.

I recommend this engaging first book in this new crime thriller series.

This is the first book I read of Author Emily Shiner, and I have to say I was not disappointed. I thought it was a well written story, although I did want to know more about Freya Sinclair's parents and why they did what they did.

It was a little predictable for me in regard to what it was, but I was not sure who the ringleader was. It was a great twist, in my opinion. This story left me wanting to know more. Might be that the author will go into depth about what happened to Freya's parents in book #2? I hope so!

Overall, I give it 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ due to it keeping me intrigued. I recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoture for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three Drowned Girls is book one in the Detective Freya Sinclair series by Emily Shiner.
I’m a big fan of this author and her writing. She always keeps me hooked and eager to flip the next page.
I’m thrilled for her new police procedural series and so far it did not disappoint.
It is a fantastic story, exhilarating plot with well developed characters.
I already can’t wait for the next one! This one pulls you in from the very beginning…
The mystery is full of action and twists.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Loved this fast paced mystery about a community whose young girls keep going missing. Freya is a police detective who is returning to her job after a five year hiatus. The hiatus involves her parents and some mistakes she made on the job that caused many of the towns residents to turn against her. On the first day back on the job a young girl is pulled from the lake, having drowned under mysterious circumstances. While trying to identify the young girl and figure out what happened, another young girl is reported missing. Freya must race against time to find the young girl and figure out what happened to the drowning victim before another young girl is harmed. I am so glad this is the first in a series about Detective Freya Sinclair, she is a fascinating character with quite a backstory. Highly recommend!

Oh no, this was not for me at all. I found it very repetitive with a sluggish pace. In addition, the main character's detective work seemed aimless, as if the stumbling blocks she encountered were not real obstacles, but merely points to drive forward the plot. I was also disappointed with the characterization, particularly that of the multiple child victims, none of whom felt like more than paper dolls.

Detective Freya Sinclair is on the case in this unsettling, twisted, and shocking mystery thriller. When the body of a young girl is pulled from the river, Freya is determined to get to the bottom of things. Three Drowned Girls had me doing my own detective work trying to figure out whodunit.

Freya has a dark history. Her parents are serial killers, and she has vowed to do her best to bring other criminals to justice. She knew returning to her hometown would be hard, but she never imagined what would be waiting for her when she did. Freya is determined, hardworking, tough, and unrelenting. I loved her relationship with Esther, the woman who took her during her teenage years. Enough is provided about Freya's serial killer parents to whet my appetite and pique my interest. I look forward to learning more about her past and her parents in future books.

This is an interesting and dark police procedural with a likeable character - Freya, Esther, Brad, and Candy. I enjoyed them and look forward to getting to know more about each of them in future books.

Although this book did not move as fast as I would have liked, I found it to be enjoyable, with a nice number of twists and turns. Reading about the murder of children is not easy but the author handled it with care, and nothing is told in detail or graphic.

I had both the book and audiobook versions of this book. I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. I thought she did a great job bringing the characters to life.

Dark, twisted, captivating and well written.

This was quite different to the other books I’ve read by Emily Shiner. The first detective style in this series follows the story of Detective Freya Sinclair who has returned to her home town. A young girl has been found drowned and as the investigation begins, more young girls are reported missing.
The book has a dark suspenseful plot, it had good characters, it was engaging and had good pace and kept my interest throughout. I will certainly be checking out the 2nd book in this series.
Thank you Emily Shiner, NetGalley & the publisher.

Great start into a great series. Really likeable characters.

I've read some similar books where everyone was super unfriendly and blaming the main character. Happy this wasn't the case here. Lot's of twists and suspects which were keeping me on my toes.

I actually would love to get more background on Freyas Parents :)

I have come to love Emily Shiner’s domestic thrillers, so I was excited to read this first crime thriller in her Detective Freya Sinclair series. This first book did not disappoint. Every chapter left me wanting more. I found myself really liking Freya, and enjoyed the small pieces dropped about her past. At some point in the series, I would love more details about her parents and their crimes.

The plot was fast paced, and the suspense building was intense. I was so invested in this story and what was going to happen. This was such a dark and twisted crime thriller. I devoured this in just a few hours. There were twists and surprises throughout, and some secrets that were revealed as time went on. There was a small, clique-like vibe in this book. So many secrets needed to be uncovered to prevent another death.

Even after the big reveal, I thought the book was over, but there was more drama and more secrets to be revealed. I am IMMEDIATELY jumping into book two.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a well written story of a detective who has moved back to her home town thinking she will be back to a quiet life and instantly thrown into a case that will need to resolved quickly.
Really enjoyed this read and it was all pieced together really well. There weren't any surprises but the story held my attention and I'd look forward to reading more from this author.

Three Drowned Girls by Emily Shiner is a recommended crime thriller and the first book in a series featuring Detective Freya Sinclair

After five years in Texas, Detective Freya Sinclair has returned to her hometown, Fawn Lake, North Carolina. The community knows her history and some will hold her background against her while others are happy to have her back working for their police department again. On her first day back the body of a young girl is pulled from the river. With no report of a missing girl, Freya and Detective Candy Ettinger along with help from Officer Brad Williams, immediately start trying to find the child's identity but before they do another young girl is reported missing.

Although Freya's background is referred to and hinted at throughout the novel, the total story isn't told until the end. This plot device didn't work well at all in the novel. Disclosing Freya's back story right away would have made Freya a more compelling and sympathetic character. Readers will still be supporting her investigative abilities, hoping she finds evidence and pieces clues together quickly before something else happens to some other little girl, but they aren't going to understand some of the interactions she has with others.

The writing is good and the investigation takes a logical direction. On the other hand, the plot moves a little slowly and the final denouement required too much suspension of disbelief. Additionally, there was a part of the investigation that really annoyed me for numerous reasons but to say anything would be a huge spoiler. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This seeks to be a dark thriller, but turns out to be a very stupid plot.

Freya, is a police detective, who carries the burden of her parents having been killers. As a result, there are many in town who do not like her, and her boss at work is also somewhat hostile. The full backstory I expect will come in future books in the series. A young girl is found dead in a lake. As Freya investigates, she finds to her concern that there are other girls from school who might be missing. They are assumed to be somewhere else by the parent, but Freya has her fears. The school Principal Steven and the janitor John are brothers, and are temporarily away, visiting their ailing mother. The girls who cannot be traced right now, were attending football training together.

In a story like this, as expected there are twists and there is quite a bit of dark stuff involving children. The story takes time to build-up and till about 40% of the book, it is not even clear what the mystery is. I found the plot senseless.

This is a common review of these two mysteries as I read one after the other and there’s an interesting character’s arc.
I’m not a fan of Freya. As soon as she appears she starts to insult anyone who’s not an early bird because she can’t understand how they can spend daytime in bed. I’m a night owl and this marks the beginning of our rocky relationship.
That said Freya slowly changes and we go from a stubborn and not very empathic character to one who’s more soft and ready to understand people around her.
The mysteries are well developed and kept me turning pages. They require some suspension of belief but they’re well done and the twisty and gritty plots kept me hooked.
I think that the second is better as we do not know why Freya is disliked by part of the small town and what is really happening when she’s being shunned by parts of the inhabitants and this is a sort of mystery in the mystery even if you know if you read the blurb.
Freya’s a good leader and I liked the member of her team, Candy and Brad, and Esther, the woman who acted as Freya’s mother.
There’s a lot of potential, well plotted thrillers and I had fun in reading both novels.
The rating is 4.5 upped to 5
Recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for these arcs, all opinions are mine

3.5 stars

Three Drowned Girls by Emily Shiner  is the first in the Detective Freya Sinclair series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
 

Series Information: 
Captain Freya Sinclair became a detective in North Carolina, so that she could bring serial killers (like her parents) to justice. She has recently returned home to Fawn Lake to where it all began, and to Esther, who raised her as if she was her own.   It's been five years, but she's re-joining the town's police force. Freya's partner and old friend is Detective Candy Ettinger, and they get help from Officer Brad Williams.  The Coroner in town is Lance Jones.  Her boss is Chief Callahan.



My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions):
Freya has barely started her fist day back on the force in her home town, and she's thrust into a case.  The body of a young girl has been pulled from the river, but trying to identify her will prove to be difficult.  No one has been reported missing.

However, it isn't long before a different girl is reported missing by a distraught father.  Then another girl is found drowned.  But trying to find a connection between the girls, and even their identities continues to baffle Freya.  How could mothers not know their little girls are missing?

Meanwhile, the front window of Esther's bakery is smashed, and Freya is fairly certain that the town is targeting Esther because of Freya.



My Opinions:
First, I loved the characters, in particular Candy and Brad.  I am hoping their back-stories will be fleshed out a little more in future books.  Freya is a passionate and driven leader, and I think her team members will respond in kind.  However, I did not always like Freya.  I felt that as driven as she is, I also felt that some of her actions were bullying.  As well, she seems to be a rather angry driver, always speeding.  Her background was also a little sparse.

The actual plot was really good, and very different.  It was also a little dark. That was all fine, but sometimes I wondered about the police work, and evidence processing.  Bu that didn't detract from the actual storyline.

Overall, it was a fast and entertaining read.  This was a good start to the series, and I will be looking forward to the next in line.