I listened to the ALC for Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell by Gillian French. This book is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, and she does an excellent job because initially this book is slow, but the pace and strength of the narration really kept me going with the story. Shaw Connolly is being stalked, harrassed by phone calls from a man named Anders Jansen. It's creepy because stalkers are creepy but also because Shaw's younger sister, Thea disappeared when she was 17 and Shaw was 18. Her family has been searching for her for the past 16 years. It has shaped her entire family's life, her marriage, her job, etc. Shaw is a fingerprint analyst. Anders is all but claiming to have taken Thea. This is a story about reclaiming your life, your narrative. Overall, I liked this story, and again, really appreciate the narration which kept it going when the story starts out slowly. The last 25% of this story moved very, very quickly, but the uneven pacing earlier is difficult to overcome. If there is another Shaw Connolly story, I will read it. I give this book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC.

You know those people who say “closure is overrated”? Shaw Connolly is not one of those people. It’s been sixteen years since her sister Thea vanished, and Shaw is still spiraling down a rabbit hole like it’s her full-time job. She’s done everything she can to heal, but some wounds don’t close no matter how much you throw at them. So instead, she works crime scenes for a living while her personal life quietly burns to the ground. Husband? Estranged. Kids? Frustrated. Career? Stalled. Sanity? Holding on by dental floss.

Enter Anders Jansen, aka absolute garbage fire of a human being. This man starts calling Shaw out of nowhere, like your worst true crime podcast villain come to life. He knows everything. He hints at everything. He’s playing a psychological cat-and-mouse game while Shaw just keeps picking up the phone like, "Yes, I will continue engaging with the serial killer who is openly stalking me, thank you." And honestly? Same. Because at this point, Anders might be a deranged sociopath, but he’s also the only one offering her answers.

The tone here is straight-up claustrophobic. Every phone call feels like a countdown to something awful. Every scene feels like it’s closing in on her. And meanwhile, poor Shaw is juggling everything. She’s trying to raise her sons, juggle her job, keep her ex-husband from losing his mind, and not lose hers entirely while a murderer breathes heavily into her phone every night like some Dollar Store Zodiac Killer.

Now, even though this is absolutely marketed like a psychological thriller, fair warning: you are getting a heavy dose of family drama baked into your "true crime" cake. A big chunk of this book lives in Shaw’s spiraling personal life. The emotional stakes sit right next to the crime investigation, and sometimes those domestic threads carry more weight than the suspense itself.

The mystery structure flips the usual whodunit formula. We know who. If you believe him, the question is why and how far this guy will take it. And while you do get answers, not every thread wraps up in a perfect little bow. A few leads hit dead ends, some pieces go unresolved, and the final payoff leans more into emotional closure than neatly solving every lingering clue. The weight lands on Shaw’s grief, survival, and the cost of chasing this truth for so long.

Shaw herself? I loved her as a protagonist. She’s messy and obsessive, but she’s also fierce and surprisingly funny in that “if I don’t joke I’ll scream” kind of way. She’s driven by equal parts grief, guilt, and straight-up rage. You root for her even while screaming at her to maybe, I don’t know, involve a few more professionals before letting herself be emotionally waterboarded by a serial killer.

The pacing is solid, though it dips a bit in the middle while Shaw spirals for the 47th time. And the ending? Brutal, but earned. Not clean, not easy, but it feels honest for this kind of story. 3.5 stars for the intense vibes, deeply broken but compelling heroine, reverse-whodunit structure, and the fact that Anders will absolutely haunt my dreams for the next forever. If you want your thrillers with more emotional ruin than tidy clues, this one delivers.

Whodunity Award: For Proving That Trauma Is A Full-Time Job With Terrible Benefits

Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the early access. Saskia Maarleveld’s narration was excellent as always. I’ve loved her work on other audiobooks, and she brought Shaw’s tense, emotional journey to life perfectly.

Are you looking for a typical thriller? If so, this is not the book for you.

Imagine that your sister, only a year younger, went missing at 17. Imagine that many years later, while working as a forensic fingerprint specialist, her killer calls you. He tells you his name but as there is no proof, the police do nothing. Instead, Shaw must confront her memories of her sister, while living her life and trying to pin down her sister's killer.

There was a ton of suspense, not in a who did it kind of way, but making the reader wonder what was coming next. This was unusual but in terms of thrillers, it felt like a breath of fresh air.

The narration is excellent and pulls the reader right into the story, even when there is tons of suspense.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Net Galley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

Part police procedural, part atmospheric suspense, part family drama, this is a slow burn story that builds up to a dramatic conclusion. Shaw Connolly is a complex character. She's a loving mom and a devoted sister and daughter but she's also obsessed with her other sister's disappearance, so much so that she's allowed her obsession to affect her marriage and her career. She can be unsympathetic at times, and at others you can feel her love for her family through the page.

I enjoyed how the clues in this story were revealed slowly, building the suspense and keeping the reader guessing. There were plenty of tense moments along the way to keep the story moving and to introduce some doubt, all leading to a dramatic ending. There weren't many shocking twists, but there were plenty of action scenes.

Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite narrators, especially for thrillers and mysteries, and she did not disappoint in this audiobook. She captured the atmospheric nature of this story perfectly, and she built the tension in all of the right places. I definitely recommend the audio of this one!

Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell is a raw, unflinching novel that doesn’t flinch from the bruises life leaves behind, both physical and emotional. Gritty in tone and harsh in its depiction of violence, loss, and loyalty, the story unfolds with the tension of a slow-burning fuse, pulling you into Shaw’s world with all its battered complexity.

At the heart of the novel is the obsessive, almost claustrophobic pull of family, particularly Shaw’s fierce need to protect, preserve, and avenge. At times, this connection teeters on the edge of too much, bordering on fixation. But Gilbert crafts it with such emotional honesty that it feels not only believable but inevitable. In a world that repeatedly fractures and fails him, Shaw’s devotion becomes both his armor and his Achilles’ heel.

The writing doesn’t shy away from ugliness. It’s sharp, lean, and laced with a kind of poetic brutality. And yet, amid the broken glass and bloodstains, there’s a surprising tenderness, moments of connection, memory, and the ache of wanting to hold on to something good, even when everything else has gone to hell.

This isn’t a comforting read, but it’s a compelling one. Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell doesn’t promise redemption, but it does deliver survival. And sometimes, that’s the more honest story.

When Shaw's teenage sister goes missing she was never found. As an adult she works with crimes to help get justice for other people. It isn't until she gets contacted by a man who claims he killed her sister. Shaw gets tormented by this guy with phone calls at all hours. When she is out walking her dog in the woods where her sister was last seen she stumbles upon human remains and that is when things get even more intense. Yes Shaw is flawed but i loved her character- she is truly a badass and does not back down on getting answers for her family. is it a little predictable? yes. but did i enjoy every moment of this book? yes. overall the book had me at the edge of my seat needing to know what happened.

A slow-burn suspense, "Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell" follows main character Shaw as she is stalked and harassed by a man who is potentially responsible for the disappearance of her little sister almost two decades ago.

I had a lot of trouble getting into the pacing of this novel. I think it had great potential, but it just fell flat for me. I appreciate the slow-burn thrillers, but this one felt like it had too much of a slow-burn, and it was difficult to get invested in the characters. This was my first book by Gillian French, and I would be willing to try another, especially if she kept this particular character going. I'd be interested to see if it evolves into a great read.

As always, Saskia Maarleveld was a fantastic narrator. I have listened to so many of her audiobooks and always look forward to seeing her attached to new titles.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced digital audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this one but I didn’t love it. Had a hard time staying interested in it. The narration was decent. I didn’t love any of the characters really. Just an ok listen for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me a physical, audio and digital ARC of this debut adult mystery by Gillian French, with the audio perfectly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Shaw Connelly is a fingerprint analyst, a mother, a devoted sister and daughter, semi-estranged from her husband. But she's desperate to get answers to her sister's disappearance 16 years ago. The not knowing has affected everyone in their family in different ways. Shaw is also being taunted by Anders Jansen, who claims he has info about Thea's disappearance, but his stalking is becoming threatening.

I really liked this family drama/mystery and its characters, especially Shaw and Gauthier, a young analyst Shaw is charged with mentoring. These characters are not perfect nor do they make perfect decisions, but they felt real. It's atmospheric and tense, as Anders seems to get closer and closer. I thought the fingerprinting storyline was interesting as well. But at heart, it's a story of grief and how differently people handle it, but especially the unfathomable grief that comes with a disappearance and no answers. Looking forward to more from this author - this would be a great series!

Love the narration by Saskia Maarleveld! She’s a top tier narrator and her performance is excellent as always.

I like the main character, Shaw, and would definitely read or listen to more books with her character at the forefront. She’s tough, good at her job and loves her family. The book is enjoyable but a bit too long for my taste. Would definitely read more by this author.

4.5 / 5 stars

Sixteen years after her little sister vanished without a trace, Shaw Connolly still hasn’t stopped searching. A fingerprint analyst with a front-row seat to rural Maine’s worst crimes, Shaw carries her grief like armor. When a man named Anders Jansen begins calling her with cryptic hints and veiled threats, claiming to know what happened to Thea, Shaw is drawn back into the darkest chapter of her life. As his calls escalate, Shaw's obsession with a resolution deepens – and she must decide how much she’s willing to risk for the truth.

Shaw gave me serious Mare of Easttown vibes – not in the sense that she’s a detective (she’s a fingerprint analyst), but she’s deeply involved in the investigative process and carries herself with the same gruff, no-nonsense energy. She’s cynical, weary, and often keeps people at arm’s length – but underneath it all, she’s someone warm, loyal, and deeply nurturing. I loved her dogged determination, but I also appreciated that the narrative wasn’t afraid to interrogate it – to ask what she’s lost in her pursuit of closure, and whether obsession can ever really coexist with healing.

The tone and pacing here are really interesting. From the outset, we know Shaw is receiving phone calls from a man who claims to be responsible for her sister’s disappearance. There’s suspense in what he knows and why he’s reaching out – but it’s not a twisty whodunit in the traditional sense. It’s more of a how-and-why story – one that explores the emotional toll of grief, the long reach of trauma, and what it means to live in limbo for sixteen years. The stalker storyline adds a chilling layer of menace, but it’s Shaw’s unraveling – and resilience – that kept me locked in.

There were moments, especially early on, when I wasn’t sure how some of Shaw’s casework tied into the larger plot. But by the end, everything clicked into place in a (mostly) satisfying way.

I listened to the audiobook and found it incredibly compelling – and a lot of that credit goes to narrator Saskia Maarleveld. She’s long been a favorite of mine, and her performance here really delivers. Her Maine accent feels like a close cousin to the Delco accent from Mare, and it adds to that same grounded, gritty atmosphere. Total win on the casting front. But, I'm biased towards Saskia and Delco.

If you like your thrillers emotionally layered, full of messy women making impossible choices – this one’s for you. It’s suspenseful without being showy, deeply atmospheric, and rooted in character. Great for audiobook fans, lovers of rural noir, and anyone who finds themselves drawn to stories about the long shadows grief can cast.

I struggled to get into this one, and I felt it had a slower pace than I tend to enjoy. There was quite a bit of detail on the main character’s occupation which tended to distract me along the way. I did enjoy it overall, but it wasn’t a hit for me I’m sorry to say.

I will say that I did quite enjoy the audiobook narration which was well done.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Shaw Connolly is still searching for answers to her sister Thea`s disappearance from 16 years ago. She has trauma from this. She has become a fingerprints analyst working on-site for crimes. A man name Anders calls Shaw and all but admits to the crime of taking Thea. As his stalking progressing it threatens Shaws everything.
This was slow for me but had lots of little thrills or gasping moments. Shaw's job was interesting to follow through the book and I liked all the side characters at her job. I felt for Shaw and her family for the loss of Thea. What that loss did to Shaw and how it pulled her away from her ex-husband and made her obsessed with Anders too.
I do wish the book had been shorter and more suspenseful overall. The last 20% was a wild ride. THIS is kept me listening the whole time. I did think Shaw made a dumb mistake though. This book was very sad to me. I recommend this story though as a family drama, police type book, missing person, grief, and a very creepy/mystery. 3.5 stars

Dark, gritty - a mysterious missing sister and a taunting stalker that's been calling her for over a year now.

I loved Shaw. She's a forensic fingerprints analyst so she's pretty versed in crime scenes, trials, and detectives. She's rough, so angry after she lost her sister years ago and has never had answers, that she's never moved her life on from it. Each year, she still puts up posters, keeping her memory and crime alive. She just wants to bring her home.

I found the family dynamic and I liked that Shaw was so gruff and coming undone. She still fought to be a good mom and good to her dad, her instinct to gather her family around her. I can't imagine how tough it would be to lose a sister so in ways, I understood how she could let her life spin and go off the rails as she refused to give up on finding her.

The audio was phenomenal, the narrator giving that perfect gravely voice to both the main character and the stalking caller. It really sucked me in, kept me hooked on the story - and I loved every moment of it. This one was great, I will definitely be searching for this author's next book!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Shaw is on a quest to get to the bottom of her sister's disappearance. This was a fantastic audiobook, especially the last 25% which kept me absolutely enthralled with my heart beating so fast in sections! While it starts out a bit slower than most thrillers, I recommend sticking with it as it really picks up the more you read.

Shaw Connolly became a forensic scientist specializing in fingerprint analysis because she wanted to be sure that the bad guys got caught. Shaw is also a mother, a wife, a daughter and a sister who has never been able to get over the disappearance and presumed death of her 17 yo sister, when she herself was only 18. While this is a police procedural and a very interesting and detailed look at fingerprint analysis it is really an in-depth look at grief, family dynamics, and how an unhealthy mindset affects everything you do. As the title says, Shaw Connolly lives to tell (and so does the dog) but as the story reaches its very climactic end you may begin to wonder at what cost. If you enjoy slow burns and a deep look into the psyches of the different characters you will love this poignant, but sometimes dark story about Shaw Connolly and her grit and determination to finally find out what happened to her sister.

I was excited for Shawn Connolly Lives to Tell based on the synopsis and sadly it didn’t meet expectations. I found it to be too slow without any twist, turns or suspense.

The was my first book by Gillian French. Saskia Maarleveld did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for letting me read this ARC.

Gillian French's latest novel (her adult novel debut) Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell was a great book! The narrator did a great job bringing this book to life.

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

4.5 stars!

This book is a thrilling page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat! I found it nearly impossible to put down, even when I really should have.

Shaw Connolly, a fingerprints analyst, is haunted by the disappearance of her sister Thea sixteen years ago. Despite the toll it takes on her family and marriage, Shaw is determined to uncover the truth. She receives unsettling calls from a man named Anders Jansen, who claims to have information about her sister's case and threatens her and her family. As Shaw navigates these dangerous encounters, she becomes increasingly desperate to find answers, raising the stakes on what she might sacrifice to uncover the truth.

The protagonist, Shaw Connolly, is masterfully developed throughout the chapters. She’s clever, fiercely independent, and utterly relatable—a true badass with a nurturing side that makes her all the more endearing. As we follow her journey, it’s impossible not to despise the tormentor who dares to cross her path. After all, nobody messes with Shaw Connolly!

The atmosphere is palpably claustrophobic, enhanced by the chilling phone calls that send shivers down your spine. Each ring feels like a countdown to something sinister, and the tension is expertly crafted. This book is anything but predictable; you can’t help but root for a happy ending, even as the plot twists keep you guessing.

If this is the author’s debut in a new genre, then hats off to them! I was completely engrossed in this book for an entire day. If you enjoy police procedurals that keep you guessing—where you might know the identity of the perpetrator early on but still can’t predict their next move—this is the read for you. The ending is a rollercoaster of emotions: unpredictable, satisfying, and heartbreakingly tragic. I adored Shaw and her journey!

Bravo to the author! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

I understand, if the written word didn't resonate with you, I suggest the audio version. One of my favorite narrators was a part of this project, and she did an excellent job of portraying emotions, and adding depth to the story. Great choice! I understand that the written word may not have resonated with you. If that’s the case, I recommend trying the audio version instead. One of my favorite narrators contributed to this project, and she did an excellent job of portraying the emotions and adding depth to the story. It's a great choice!

Thank you, MacMillan and Minotaur Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.