Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
This is the story of 4 girls who are best friends, until 1 of them goes missing. The other 3 know why and have been sworn to secrecy and the knowledge has plagued them for 25 years.
The book is good, but also confusing what with the different timelines; plus I also at times found it difficult to
differentiate between the girls.
However, the story was good enough to keep me reading, even though I did guess the ending.
3 stars rounded up to 3.5

This was solid but it definitely started SLOW for me. It picked up in the middle, but I wasn't as invested as I could've been in the characters or the plot. Still. It was entertaining and bingeable!

Caroline Winterfield,walked away from her family home, The home is known as Haven Cliff. She is never seen again. Her friends,Kelly, Talia and Midge, all know what happened but have kept her secret for a 25 years. Kelly has restored Haven Cliff to its original luster. Now the girls are supposed to have a reunion at Haven Cliff.
People have been dying. People from Carolines graduation party at her home. .Is Caroline back, is she taking her revenge on her past classmates, or is someone doing it for her. Thanks netgalley.

I loved this book as it kept me reading long into the night! Ir begins with four friends, Midge, Talia, Kelly, and Caroline--all 16--as they make a promise to each other. and share matching charm bracelets with each of their initials on them--T I C K--so they are bound together with love. The novel then jumps to the present as Midge--now the police chief--discovers two dead bodies that may or may not be connected to each other. What happens in-between will have you gasping for breath as Staub shakes you around like a rag doll! It's one of those thrillers that will stay with you and have you hugging your friends and family closer!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I tried really hard to enjoy and get into this book but unfortunately it really didnt work for me. I found myself being bored and not wanting to pick it up so I had to DNF.

This is my first book from this author. I really enjoyed it. I didn't see the twist coming at the end, but it was soooo good! I'd love to read more from Staub!! 5 big stars!!

I’ll be honest, I did not initially expect to finish this book. I really wanted to DNF around 30% because it just wasn’t getting anywhere. Once I was hooked though (around 50%), I could not put this book down. This story follows the friend group of Talia, Kelly, and Midge as they seek to find answers about the disappearance of the missing piece to their friend group, Caroline Winterfield. The narrative jumps back and forth (maybe a little too much?) between the girls’ high school days and present day where Midge, detective sergeant of the Mulberry Bay PD, is now investigating the recent death of Gordy Klatte, Caroline’s high school lover, on the 25th anniversary of Caroline’s disappearance. With twists galore, a friend group that you’ll come to love, and decades of Winterfield family lore to unpack, this book is sure to get you thinking!

Rating:🌟🌟🌟- it was so slow to get started and there were some elements of the story that I think could’ve been woven better or left out entirely. Overall, it kept me interested at the end and I look forward to reading more from this author!! Let me know if you give it a read :)

Thanks to NetGalley & Thomas and Mercer for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I had a hard time getting into this story. It started off slow and was a little confusing at first. I found most of it slow and predictable. I could see where some would really like this story, it just wasn't for me

This book was going to be a 3 star review, until I realized it said that it's book 1, implying there will be another book. The ending definitely leaves you wanting more, there are a lot of loose ends!! That being said, it was an enjoyable read. It does get a little tiresome with the flashbacks, especially with the multiple points of view, but I will be looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

How deep do the bonds of childhood friendship go? For Midge, Talia, Kelly and Caroline the bonds run deep causing them to keep secrets that span decades. When the past starts to rear its head, the women will have to use caution if they want to survive. Full of intrigue, family drama, murder, and plot twists, The Fourth Girl is an engaging read.

I adore this author and her ability to being a town to life. This book was no exception. She brought amazing characters to life, a plot based on a towns sordid past with something lurking in one families heritage. I fell in love with these characters. As each layer is peeled back like an onion you delve into secrets and darkness that you won’t see coming.
Five stars

This is one of those books that not only has well developed characters, but also the plot and structure that moves back and forward, between the past (several of them) and the present, and more than one secret and twists revealed. I also must mention that the writing style was beautiful, and the description of the setting was so complete in every detail, that it makes you feel that you're there. Congratulations to the author, and a big thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. Can't wait to read the next book in this series!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I have read and loved all of Corsi Staub,s books and loved them. This was no exception, just brilliant! I loved the characters and the mysterious storyline. The story is told through multiple POVs and timelines but is easy to follow. The mystery was enthralling and kept me glued until the last page. The ending!!! Wow! Grab a copy today you will be glad you did!!

I found this pretty difficult to keep track of the characters, mainly because they started blending together with nothing really keeping each from standing out to me. I felt the ending could have been wrapped up much easier and quicker. It felt drawn out just for the sake of it. I liked the premise, however it just was lackluster for me.

Gosh, I had a really hard time getting into this book. There are SO many descriptions of the town layout and atmosphere/history, and it got incredibly boring. I did enjoy the alternating timelines. I guess I just expected more from this one just based on the synopsis. I can understand the mixed reviews. It wasn't bad enough to hate it, but it wasn't good enough to love it either. 3 stars.

Great book. I was entranced. Couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read more from this author. Sending to all my book loving friends.

Really enjoyed this one! I thought it was a fun thriller and loved all the secret revealing. I did think it was a little predictable however I still liked it.

I really enjoyed this book, there was some great twists and turns and kept me engaged until the end.
The only thing that had me wondering was, what was the real significance of the walking man and who was the father of the baby at the end which would have been good to find out considering Caroline's demeanour.
Just left those story lines open and felt a little unfinished in that department.
But otherwise I loved this book and the different point of views and had me guessing until the end.

🔮 The Fourth Girl by Wendy Corsi Staub 🌲✨

Old secrets, dark nights, and a reunion no one saw coming! Wendy Corsi Staub’s The Fourth Girl is a twisty thriller that had me questioning every character and every chapter.

It all began 25 years ago, when Caroline Winterfield vanished into the woods on prom night, leaving her friends with a secret that shattered their bond. Now, Midge, Kelly, and Talia are back at Haven Cliff—a mansion that holds its own dark past—to confront what happened that night. But someone else remembers too, and they’re determined to make sure the truth comes out, one way or another. When a new body turns up with a chilling clue, Detective Midge realizes the mystery is far from buried… just like the memories they’ve tried so hard to forget.

If you love suspense, dark friendships, and hometown secrets that won’t stay buried, The Fourth Girl is a must-read! It kept me on edge the entire way. These characters are carrying so much guilt and pain over the years. There's so much fear in them reuniting and each has their own secrets to divulge. I went into this one with no context and I kept cheering for these women to find their happily ever after together. Things get messy, but the mystery itself was so intriguing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

What’s your favorite reunion thriller? Drop your recs in the comments! 🕯️🔍

Normally I enjoy Wendy Corsi Staub’s books but this one was hard to finish. The story was convoluted, flipped back and forth from present day to past events, nickname changes, all made it difficult reading. The ending was unexpected but all in all I was glad it was done.