There is something truly bone chilling about a stalking story line. This one really made me nervous to read because it truly freaked me out, but I also couldn't stop reading because it was so well done.

This book was incredibly slow moving and didn’t have enough of that thriller suspense feeling for me. I never felt intrigued or wanting more or having that feeling that I need to keep going and know what’s next. I actually felt like I wanted to dnf the book even at 15% of the way in. I finished it but felt it to be a complete waste of time. I think that for some people it probably would be a good read but for me it wasn’t worth it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early read.

I felt that this book moved too slowly. I just did not really enjoy it. I didn't love the characters or the story line

Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell by Gillian French is a police procedural thriller but unfortunately, I did not experience enough of the thriller aspect. Shaw is a fingerprint expert which is a fascinating occupation, intriguing to read about. Her sister had disappeared sixteen years ago which understandably consumes her. Shaw neglects her loved ones and her grating personality did not endear me to her. Stalking, deceit and various crimes add layers of interest but not enough to keep me engaged. I seldom find novels bland but this is an exception. I opted not to finish due to these reasons and lack of connection. Others may feel differently.

Cat-and-mouse thrillers are one of my favorite tropes, and
Gillian French’s Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell is a must-read. The back-and-forth dynamic between Shaw and Anders is gripping, and I never quite knew where the story would go next, but I was there for every minute of it. Add in the fact that it takes place in my beloved home state of Maine, and this is one that I’ll be recommending to all my thriller-loving friends!

Shaw is a fingerprint analyst, her sister disappeared 16 years ago, and she can't quit obsessing about it. she alienates her husband and children, and her friends but she is determined to find out what happened to her sister.

Gillian French’s latest thriller features Shaw Connolly—a character who grows on you with every page. The tension in this story is subtle but relentless, and I loved the way the narrative slowly peeled back layers of mystery and emotional vulnerability. It’s not a fireworks thriller, but instead, a measured exploration of how secrets can change a person.

I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a slow-burn suspense that digs into character as much as plot.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review and wow it was quite the thriller. Shaw works as fingerprint analyst. In the midst of her demanding job, she continues to search for answers to the disappearance of her sister, Thea, for many years after the incident meshed is determined to get the real truthful story so she can bring closure to her and her family. But while all this is going on in her life, she begins to receive calls from a psycho and he leads her to believe that he knows what happened and might even be the one who committed the crime. He taunts her at every turn with his phone calls at all hours of the day and night. Then the stalking begins, which not only puts her in danger but her family as well. This book is quite the page turner with lots of twists and turns. So if you are in to horrifying adult suspenseful fiction , you will want to add to your list to read.

I loved every second of this dark, twisted read. My heart pounding through my chest, my palms sweaty, my breathing ticking up as the hairs on the back of my neck get triggered. I raced through this book. Not daring to put it down and dwell on what could have happened. When I did try to leave the book on my nightstand, I had to get back up a half an hour later to just finish it. See what happened to Thea that frigid winter night and if Shaw follows her down that path. Leaving her family to wonder what happened to her as well.

Shaw is bound and determined to figure out what happened to her sister sixteen years ago. Shaw and her father have never moved on. Shaw did marry her high school sweetheart and has two gorgeous boys. Shaw has even been able to have an amazing job as a fingerprint analyst. There is still Thea taking stage, front and center. Never being able to move on and just accept that Thea is dead and it is okay to put herself first. Ryan cannot handle it anymore and has moved out. Shaw has her dad move in to help with the boys. There is also a twist. A man named Anders Jansen has been calling her for a few years. Claiming to have killed Thea and that he has all the answers. Shaw is caught in a place of believing him and that he could also be another sicko crank. When Anders stalking ramps up and Shaw is feeling like an uncontrollable car caught on a slick road. Not knowing if she is going to destroy everything she built or finally have the answers about what happed to Thea.

I loved the characters in this book. They are deeply flawed and layered. Giving the book depth and piquing my interest. I yelled at Shaw to wake up. To let it go, that her sister is gone, and to protect her own two boys before it is too late. This one gave me chills, I will be looking over my shoulder, wanting to sign up for self-defense classes. You need to add this one to your TBR. Thank you to Gillian French and Minotaur Books for my gifted copy of this heart stopping read.

Police procedurals usually work for me. Granted, I prefer the European or Australian variety, but sometimes even the American will do. This did not do.

Shaw does not have it together. Her sister Thea disappeared sixteen years ago. She can't give up trying to find out what happened to her. She has turned down promotions and opportunities to move to do this. She alienates her husband, children, coworkers, and everyone else.

Who thinks this ends well? It doesn't end well. And it's boring, to boot. If you're looking for a mystery with a detective that has a sob story about her sister, just read THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK.

I was also a little annoyed when the token Vietnamese American character broke out into random Vietnamese amongst his white coworkers. One Asian does not make your story diverse.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books

It was okay. It wasn’t my favorite but don’t mean other people won’t enjoy it. I hope all the success of this author. And best wishes

There’s a sharp, quiet ache running through this book that sticks with you more than the twists do. Shaw is brittle and layered and not interested in making herself palatable, which made her compelling even when she was hard to like. The mystery moves slowly, but it builds in a way that feels intentional, with each chapter adding just a bit more tension to her already fraying edges. I liked the forensic angle and how her work as a fingerprint analyst played into both the plot and her internal unraveling. That said, the middle lost some of its footing for me, and I found myself wishing a few threads had been pulled tighter. Still, it’s atmospheric and emotionally restrained in a way that’ll really work for readers who prefer their thrillers with a quiet, lingering intensity.

I read to chapter 5/19% & just wasn't feeling it. Maybe because I clicked immediately w the characters & plot in the next 4 books I read in 5 days. So I don't think it's the book, just me and maybe the timing of me picking it up to read. I may pick it up again at a later date.

This book blew my mind! Shaw's sister Thea is presumed dead but her body was never found. Now aging Mr. Cloyd is dead and his dog is missing. Shaw struggles as she's caring for her two young sons, Beau and Casey. Now Shaw is put on leave but never stops investigating as she has a personal interest in this town and the people who refuse to leave their little hamlet. There's action, arson, trackers, and craziness that all lead to the least-expected outcome; so good!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

intense, dark, well written, interesting book with cool ideas. our MC is very interesting, too. would definitely recommend 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted copy.
This is a dark, slow, chilling mystery that will appeal to many readers, but unfortunately wasn’t for me. Right from the start we are introduced to mostly everyone from Shaw life and I was overwhelmed. By page 60 I was still confused with who is who and why they are important. MC career was very interesting to read about, but to me it took away from the main story and kept me confused a lot.
Overall, I wish I liked it more but I am sad to say this wasn’t for me.

This took me a looooooong time to get into - things just didn't click for me. Not that it was written badly - it wasn't - but I never connected with the narrative. I was moderately entertained throughout, and hoped that Maine made more of an impact on the story - it didn't. Having finished the book, I don't really understand the title, either.

Anyway, I know a large group of people will grab hold of this one and love it. I just wasn't one of them. Will I read more from the author? Probably not.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

This story is terrifying in the most human way. I couldn’t stop reading, and I didn’t want to. It’s haunting and raw and so beautifully written it makes your skin prickle.

I couldn't put down Gillian French's "Shaw Connolly Lives To Tell"—a thriller that excavates the raw terrain of family trauma while never sacrificing its razor-sharp edge. I found myself instantly drawn to Shaw Connolly, who emerged as a compelling analyst—abrasive and unflinching at crime scenes yet harboring a fierce protective instinct for her two sons and wounded family.

What gripped me most was how French transformed typical cat-and-mouse suspense into something viscerally personal. During Shaw's confrontations with her sister's suspected killer, I felt my mouth go dry and muscles tense—particularly when her analytical mind battled against her primal need for answers.

I was surprised by the unexpected emotional depth in the professional dynamics as Shaw's mentorship of her colleagues developed. These relationships evolved with authentic friction and grudging respect, creating moments of unexpected lightness amid the darkness she navigated daily between her broken marriage and on-call demands.

I admired how French brilliantly counterbalanced forensic brutality with intimate family portraits. Shaw's interactions with her father carried the weight of shared grief, while her relationship with her sons revealed the nurturing core beneath her hardened exterior. The cold case involving her sister didn't just drive the plot for me—it created psychological texture that elevated this above standard thriller fare.

The psychological architecture fascinated me—how Shaw's childhood fractured when tragedy struck, creating a distance between her and younger sister Mads, while memories of her revered lost sister fueled her relentless pursuit of justice.

This slow-burn mystery built with deliberate precision before revealing its devastating heart. If you appreciate complex female protagonists wrestling with both external threats and internal demons, "Shaw Connolly Lives To Tell" is a must-read!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for the e-ARC for review.

This one was a slow burn, and honestly, I was a little confused at the start. It felt like I had jumped into the middle of a series rather than the beginning of a standalone, and I had to work to piece together who was who and what was going on. Once things started to fall into place, I appreciated the moody atmosphere and gritty tone, but it took a while to get there. Shaw is an intriguing character, and there were definitely moments that held my attention but overall, I was left wanting more clarity and connection from the beginning. Not a bad read, just not quite what I expected.