Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz was a book that took me by surprise - it wasn't what I was expecting, but that's not a bad thing!

Ruth-Ann Baker's friend from childhood was murdered by a suspected serial killer and as an adult, she still hasn't gotten over the murder. A new child abduction from their small town brings all of those memories to the forefront and evidence that suggests the killer, Ethan Oswald, didn't act alone makes Ruth resolved to find out who helped him then and is continuing the abduction/killings now.

In her investigation, she finds different women and one who may just have the answers she needs to find the missing girl and the resolution of what happened to her friend.

Ruth is haunted (literally) by her dead friend and other victims and this is the element that was a surprise to me - but one I didn't mind and thought was what sets this book apart from others in the genre. Ruth was tenacious, likeable, and I just kept hoping she would find the answers to give her peace. (Not spoiling that for you.)

Ms. Bublitz wrote a book that made me keep thinking about it after I was finished reading it, and I think that's a sign of a good book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in consideration of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Leave the Girls Behind.

This wasn't the right book for me, and that's because I misinterpreted the premise.

I thought this was a straight forward mystery or thriller, but it turned out to be a story about a young woman searching for answers to her own traumatic abduction when she was seven and the people who may have aided and abetted his felonious acts.

I respect the themes of the narrative; how families and social circles are greatly affected by the heinous acts committed by one person and remains a stigma attached to your identity forever.

There's also a not so subtle message at how people are misled, manipulated, and charmed by predators, but does that absolve them of their own complicity.

I didn't like or dislike Ruth-Ann; I thought it was courageous of her to pursue her leads and discover the truth of her abduction.

I also liked the supernatural element where the deceased victims visit her, but I wasn't sure what the point of it was. Survivors' guilt? To find justice for the victims because she lived?

But I wasn't able to connect with Ruth-Ann. I understand she's an unreliable narrator due to her youth when she was abducted but when that was revealed, it felt like a trick. Or maybe it was the way it was written.

As some readers noted, it wasn't easy keeping track of all the names of the women and how they were related to the perv abductor. And then the author throws in another name, Julie Jordan, to further stir the pot.

I soon forgot who was related to whom but I guess it didn't matter since I wasn't very sympathetic to any of them.

I'm still not sure what the ending was about.

The writing was good, and I loved Ressler, and Ruth-Ann's relationship with her uncle Joe, and his partner, Gideon.

I loved Before You Knew My Name, so was excited to read this next book by Jacqueline Bublitz. I was hooked right away by the story of Ruth-Ann Baer, who survives being kidnapped by a serial killer and keeps company with the ghosts of the girls who were his victims. The story lagged in the middle for me, because the details about the women who were close to the serial killer did not hold my interest as much as the girls. However, II enjoyed the ending twist, and will continue to read whatever Bublitz writes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Pub Date: Oct 29, 2024

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Loved this one from the first page! Such a fun new thriller! I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun binge worthy thriller

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and unfortunately, it missed the mark for me. I did love Ruth, and her dog. I thought this book had a lot of interesting commentary on what it’s like to love a bad man, whether he’s a husband, a son or a father, and know that you shouldn’t, but be helpless to stop the feeling. The commentary on true crime was interesting as well. However, I had the worst time keeping all the characters, and now they were related, and what terrible man they were related too, straight. I was still confused by the end of the book, especially because more relationships were revealed by the end of the book. This book dragged towards the end, and I felt it could have been wrapped up sooner than it was. The ending did not feel satisfying to me, something about it just felt off to me. Finally, there is a plot twist in this book that feels like a cheat, as it involves information about Ruth we should have had from the beginning, since we are spending so much time in her head. I think this book tried to do a lot of things, but the execution is flawed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC e-book. An interesting premise as the ghosts of a serial killer’s other victims guided the main character’s search for the truth behind the death of her childhood friend 19 years earlier. Occasionally, the story was quite predictable. At other times, the twists and turns were surprising. Did the serial killer work alone? Was a recent child abduction connected to events almost 20 years ago? Sometimes it was difficult to follow the plot as it jumped around. Still, it was an enjoyable read. I

My students are very fond of supernatural thrillers, of people feeling/being haunted by someone who was murdered. I think they will enjoy this one. It didn't really work for me, as that is not my preference as a storyline.

Jacqueline Buitz’s latest thriller, Leave the Girls Behind, follows true crime addict Ruth-Ann Baker as she tries to uncover the truth behind her childhood friend’s murder.

Although I am not particularly fond of paranormal elements or ghost stories, I found this one to be quite captivating and enjoyed it from start to finish. The storyline was particularly engaging and held my attention throughout.

Synopsis-

Ruth-Ann Baker is a college dropout, a bartender—and an amateur detective who just can’t stay away from true crime. Nineteen years ago, her childhood friend was murdered by suspected serial killer Ethan Oswald. Still tormented by the case, Ruth can’t help but think of the long-dead Oswald when another young girl goes missing from the same town. And when she uncovers startling new evidence that suggests Oswald did not act alone, she is determined to find his deadly partner in crime.

Embarking on a global investigation, Ruth becomes close to three very different women—one of whom might just hold the key to what happened to the missing girl. And her childhood friend, all those years ago.

Add this one to your tbr as it comes out October 29, 2024✨

I agree with other reviewers who loved this premise, but were a little surprised by story itself. The main character being, quite literally, haunted was so unexpected that I went back and reread the blurb to see if I missed an obvious piece of context. And while the idea is cool, it was very heavy and that added sadness made it challenging for me to enjoy the story. Ultimately, I have mixed feelings about this book. I think the marketing could more clearly let readers know what to expect, but also the heaviness just wasn't a fit for me personally.

Unfortunately this book was a little bit like....very cool premise with not very cool execution. The idea of having a woman work to solve past crimes with the help of the dead victims is so cool! The writing was just all over the place though, I was lost half the time, and the characters just didn't have the depth I want from a book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc.

Jacqueline Buitz’s latest thriller, Leave the Girls Behind, follows true crime addict Ruth-Ann Baker as she tries to uncover the truth behind her childhood friend’s murder.

Somehow, I didn’t realize that “a fresh suspense novel about a woman haunted by a serial killer and the ghosts he left behind” meant the MC was literally haunted by her best friend and other victims. I’m not a fan of supernatural elements, so that oversight is totally on me; unfortunately, it kind of diminished my overall enjoyment of the book.

Beyond that, I found the story to be a bit predictable and a little… strange? I’m not sure how to describe it. Something just felt off to me.

I can see why others would find Leave the Girls Behind entertaining and captivating, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Engaging and immersive. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

I just didn’t get this one. I would say maybe I don’t get trauma, but I don’t think that’s it. To me, the main character here was just making unexplained conclusions, and I guess we, as readers were just supposed to drift along with that? The whole thing was odd.

So, in it Ruth-Ann Baker, college dropout, bartender and true crime addict is still mourning the loss of her one time best friend Beth Lovely who was murdered by suspected serial killer Ethan Oswald nineteen years ago. Oswald has since died, but now it’s suspected that he did not act alone and now another girl is missing.

So, pretty typical story with not a great resolution. Can’t recommend it.

A true crime enthusiast, Ruth, is drawn into a chilling mystery when a child vanishes from her hometown of Hoden, Connecticut. Plagued by visions of her murdered best friend Beth, Ruth suspects that the infamous Ethan Oswald had an accomplice. As her investigation intensifies, she encounters the apparitions of other victims, pointing to a broader, more malevolent conspiracy. Her quest for answers takes her from New Zealand, where she meets Rose and her daughter Juno, to Norway, where she confronts Helen, the wife of a killer. The revelations she uncovers are shocking.

A good twists and turns kind of novel. I did feel as though all of the loose ends that got tied up in the conclusion felt a little rushed and unbelievable.