Maybe I read too many thrillers, but this one missed the mark for me. Ruth-Ann lives in her trauma a bit too much for my liking. Seeing a therapist would do her well

Irrational decisions, revenge and mystery rule this novel, so if that's something people are into, then this is good. But for me, I need something deeper.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The premise sounded right up my alley, serial killers, amateur detective who loves true crime, missing girls, so I wanted to love this one! Sadly, it was not as exciting as I had hoped. It takes a minute to get going and then there is a LOT going on. Ruth is a true-crime junkie still tormented by her childhood friend who was killed by a serial killer. That killer has been dead awhile, but now girls are going missing again. Ruth was an interesting character, and I did enjoy the journey. I also liked getting to know the family of a serial killer and how they are affected. Overall, a decent read, it just was a lot to keep straight. I would read more from this author.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Jacqueline Bublitz and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own. I will post my review to Amazon, Facebook and other retail and social media sites upon publication.

Did not care for this one.

Way too many things going on here. Ghosts, Killers, Missing Girls, and a lot of bad detective work by a bartender.


NetGalley/ Atria October 29, 2024

A really good thriller,

Kept me interested, although it was a slow start for me but after that it kept building and was able to finish it.
Honestly, an interesting plot however, the writing and the pace did not match the expectations I have of the book.

Overall, a good read.

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for the free advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Ruth is trying to stay away true crime news due to her “episode” a few years back, but an amber alert brings her back into the world. I thought this was a good story, with a hard look at the true crime genre and the people it affects.

Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz is a captivating thriller that I absolutely couldn’t put down. The story centers around Ruth-Ann Baker, a college dropout turned amateur detective who becomes obsessed with solving the murder of her childhood friend, a crime linked to serial killer Ethan Oswald nearly two decades earlier. When another girl goes missing from the same town, Ruth’s true crime fascination kicks into high gear, leading her to uncover new evidence that suggests Oswald didn’t work alone.

What makes this novel especially gripping is the true crime element that adds layers of realism and intrigue to the narrative. I loved how the plot weaves in Ruth's relentless investigation, taking her across the globe and connecting her to three very different women, each of whom holds a piece of the puzzle. The pacing is relentless, and the twists keep you guessing right up to the final reveal.

If you're a fan of thrillers with a true crime twist, Leave the Girls Behind is an exhilarating ride from start to finish. The exploration of old crimes and long-buried secrets makes it a must-read for anyone who enjoys unraveling mysteries alongside deeply compelling characters. I highly recommend it!

Unfortunately, this book was not it for me. The premise was interesting but it was poorly executed. I think the writing style wasn't for me. Perhaps it could have used a more detailed edit as well.

The plot was really slow and very underwhelming. I found myself skimming at times to get through it. The story dragged on and I didn't get the point of some of the characters. Confusing and pointless overall.

So, I have to be honest—I really struggled with this one. The premise is intriguing: Ruth Barker, a true crime addict working in a bar, is haunted by the murder of her best friend nineteen years ago at the hands of the notorious Ethan Oswald. With a new death on the scene, Ruth suspects there might be an accomplice involved, leading her to investigate three women who could hold the key. 🔍

Unfortunately, I found the plot to be quite slow and lacking in excitement. The characters didn’t feel fully developed, which made it hard for me to connect or stay engaged. When my mind starts to wander, it’s tough to keep going, and while I did finish the book, I can’t say it’ll stick with me.

Just a bit of a letdown, but I know not every book can hit the mark!

I really liked the writing of this book, but I feel that the build up didn’t match the delivery. The description makes it sound like there’s going to be some kind of grand discovery, but it’s not in the way you think, which made it fall flat to me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this ARC! This will be out this October!

“Leave the girls behind” is a fast paced psychological thriller by Jacqueline Bublitz. The protagonist is Ruth-Ann Baker, a bartender and amateur detective who sets out to find the truth about her murdered childhood friend, Beth, by the serial killer, Ethan Oswald. It was an exciting, quick read.

I think the concept of this book was good, but it fell short on the execution. I like the angle of exploring the impact of murder through for a serial killer’s wife, mother, daughter, and other women in his life. Very thought-provoking.

The protagonist was all over the place, both physically and mentally. She often made questionable decisions that didn’t really move the story along. The many women’s stories and the ghost girls started to get hard to keep track of.

The writing was good, there were some phrases that were beautifully written and moments that got me to laugh out loud.

In the end, the book may not have been for me, though I really wanted to like it.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

In this book we are following Ruth Ann Baker and another pov who seems to be another little girl but is actually Ruth when she was kidnapped as a little girl. Ruth’s best friend Beth was kidnapped when she was seven years old and they share the same birthday. Another little girl gets kidnapped on the anniversary of when Ruth is taken. Ruth decides to look up the women who she find out have a connection to Ethan the man who killed her best friend. Ruth decides to make a podcast (not really she lies about actually doing it) and she interviews the women who actually married serial killers and who actually changed their names and moved away but they all have a connection to Ruth’s hometown. Ruth also sees Beth and other dead girls that she believes Ethan has killed and she started seeing them once she turned 21. Ruth sets out to learn the truth and figure out if the other women helped Ethan. After Ruth visits them they figure out what’s actually going on and band together to get her to stop. They confess that they were the ones that called anonymously and helped save Ruth from Ethan. The little girl that went missing ends up reunited with her mom and was kidnapped by her biological father who never knew about her. This book was very interesting and will have you reading this book in one setting so you can figure out what happens next

Kind of hard to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book had a good plot to it and loved the idea behind it but it wasn’t what I expected. It was slow and I got confused several times reading it. Some what predictable also. No major “no way” moments

Thank you to NetGalley,  Jacqueline Bublitz, and Atria Books for an ARC copy of "Leave the Girls Behind ".

Leave the Girls Behind is an absolute page-turner that had me hooked from the first chapter. The story follows Ruth-Ann Baker, a college dropout, who is haunted by the unsolved murder of her childhood friend at the hands of suspected serial killer Ethan Oswald. Nineteen years later, when another girl goes missing from the same town, Ruth is drawn back into the mystery that has consumed her for years.

The global investigation and Ruth’s interactions with three very different women add layers to the plot, making the twists and turns all the more compelling. Jacqueline Bublitz's ability to push the boundaries of crime fiction shines through in this spine-chilling novel, leaving readers with a story that lingers long after the last page is turned.

If you’re a fan of suspense novels that keep you guessing and leave you wanting more, Leave the Girls Behind is a must-read. Highly recommended!

Thank you, Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the copy of Leave The Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz. I loved the idea of this book, but didn’t expect literal ghosts! The basics of the story were great, but the writing was uninspired and wordy; some judicious editing would have helped. There were too many characters, and having names that start with the same letters got confusing. I liked how there were lots of reveals, but I’m not sure the BIG reveal was surprising to me. This book was not really for me, because I am not a fan of the extra words that didn’t add anything to the story, but if that doesn’t bother you, you might love it! 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

I'd give it a 3.5. It is full of potential but at times was a bit confusing. There's characters with similar names and a lot of names to keep track of at first. The ending was a bit unsatisfying as well. If you like an unreliable narrator this is the book for you! Despite feeling like it was a bit long at times, it was still a very intriguing story.

Thank you so much to the publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a free review. Wow, this book blew me away for sure! The plot twists and characters were all so intriguing!

This is the perfect way to write a paranormal thriller, and make it work instead of being a flimsy ghost story. I appreciated the pacing and majority of the plot although I feel like the ending was a bit out of nowhere and difficult to follow. Overall the premise was good and it was a fun read!
Having ghosts with her was a cool thing way to put a spin on the usual tropes, and the first twist was very impressive. I look forward to reading more by this author! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ePub!

If I’m going to read paranormal (my absolute least favorite thriller trope), this is definitely how it needs to be done.

I was NOT prepared for that last chapter at all. Such a surprising reveal. Bravo!