Good Girl

What can i say all of Mel's books are brilliant. Gritty, page turner and read in bed in one sitting. If you haven't read Mel's books best you get buying. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read early

I really enjoyed Hush Hush, the first in Mel Sherratt’s Grace Allendale series, so was more than happy to receive the offer to read the follow up. I wasn’t disappointed. I downloaded last night and finished this afternoon - only putting my kindle because I had to sleep.
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There are a few familiar characters still hanging around two years on, and the plot follows on very nicely from the previous book.
I felt both family’s pain, being the mother of a teenager (we don’t always know what our kids are up to) and the perfectly described breakdown of friendships between both girls and their mothers added to the poignancy of the storyline. How can you ever get over a child’s death at the hands of another?
A few characters were thrown in the mix as possible culprits before Grace got to the bottom of what turned out to be a harrowing case, but a deserved ending for those involved

Looking forward to the next instalment in the Grace Allendale series.
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DS Grace Allendale is on the case of a mugging gone terribly wrong, one that leaves a young woman dead. But the more she investigates the more she learns about the victim, Erin, and that someone had a reason to want her dead. Suddenly this random mugging seems anything but and begins to bear striking similarities to a case Grace investigated years ago

Great book. The story was engaging with plenty of twist and turns. The characters were both likeable and not in equal measure! I've read all of Mel's books and this one won't disappoint.

I love Mel Sterrett and Good Girl is just as good, if not better, than all her books I've read before.

A whole range of emotions were felt whilst reading this book. I was heartbroken, angry, shocked.

I cannot wait for her next book to come out.

Erin Ellis is stabbed on her way home from meeting her best friend Molly, close to her home. Molly alerts Erin’s Mum and Erin dies in her Mum’s arms.
DS Grace Allendale is part of the team tasked with finding Erin’s killer but Molly seems to be hiding something. Grace is sure Molly knows more than she is letting on about what Erin has been involved in and what could have led to her being attacked.
As things begin to unravel Grace begins to notice links to an old case she worked on, one that she thought was over.
The Grace Allendale books are always good with strong characters and good storylines, this was brilliant and I didn’t see the twist coming.

I have read every book that Mel Sherratt has written and this one certainly doesn't disappoint. It is the fourth book in the Grace Allendale series so I would recommend that you read the other three in the series first. I was lucky enough to be given an advanced copy of this book and can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is based on the story of two sixteen year old girls who have been bests best friends for all of their lives. They become involved in grooming from older men as well as drugs and sex parties. There is a lot of involvement from characters from the previous three books. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, can't wait for Mels next bestseller book.

This is the fourth book in the police procedural series featuring DS Grace Allendale and I think this is the third I have read. Each book is a stand-alone but features Grace and her team solving a different crime. So it is no surprise to see familiar characters like her niece and sister, her brother-in-law and the criminal Steele family and Grace’s connection to them. However, I found myself at a loss a couple of times when I couldn’t figure out where Matt fitted in.

Mel Sherratt always produces a good plot and this was no exception although I cannot say I was surprised by the ending. That said, I do not hesitate this latest book which is very much in the genre of Martine Cole. Great read!

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Another outing for DS Grace Allenby, this time a teenage girl is murdered while her best friend runs for help. Grace soon finds there may be a connection to a grooming gang she thought she had tidied up and worries that one of her half-brothers may be involved. There is plenty of fast paced action and you won't guess who the killer is. Mel Sherratt's books ought to be required reading for all teenage girls who think they know it all.

Grace Allendale and her team are called in to investigate an upsetting case when 16 year old Erin is stabbed and dies in her best friend Molly's arms in what looks like a mugging gone wrong. However, even from the initial investigation, with only a devastated Molly as a witness, it soon becomes clear that its more complicated than a mugging, and the deeper they dig, the more complex the case becomes.

Good Girl is simply a stunning novel, even though parts of it are dark and somewhat difficult to read, its so bloody well written and simply goes to show Mel Sherratt is absolutely at the top of her game!!

I was so delighted to receive this as an ARC from Mel and her publishers, as I’ve read everyone of Mel’s books, but have to say this series of hers is my favourite, with “the estate series” coming a close second.

Graces’ vulnerability with regard to being a member of the Steele family is evident throughout, and whilst they are villains they are still flesh and blood. I did sympathise with her because it’s always difficult where families are involved.

When Erin is murdered it is very difficult to pinpoint who’s done it, and everyone in the community is trying to take in such a heinous crime. Her best friend Molly is distraught as are Mollys family as the children were best friends having been born within weeks of each other.

It is a case that will puzzle Grace and her team and it soon appears that the girls weren’t as angelic as first thought. What were they up to?

As usual Grace is concerned that her estranged family the Steeles have a part to play, which makes it difficult for her as a police officer. It’s not long before she’s putting two and two together and a previous crime is rearing it’s ugly head. Will she manage to find Erin’s killer?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it was good to be back with the familiar characters. Although the Steeles are a rum lot it added a lot to the story.

My thanks to the publishers and Mel for the ARC it is another wonderful addition to the series.

Erin and Molly are best friends. They were born days apart and have been close every since, until Erin is murdered.

The story centers around the two girls who went to the local cafe, hung out, sneaked a drink or two and went home. Well that is what their parents thought!

I liked how the story flitted from the present to the past so we could get Erin's point of view, even though she was dead. It was a gritty, harrowing, dark, slow build story but it flowed really well. It was an uncomfortable read at times but I couldn't help but carry on reading because the author drew me in.

Oh my, what a read this was. Absolutely loved it. Another gritty page turner part of an equally gritty series. If you have not read this authors work then now would be as good a time as any to start it.
It's tough but I think this is my favourite one of the series so far and this is book 4.
Best friends, teenagers Erin and Molly are on their way home, so close to home when Erin is mugged. A fatal stab wound leaves Erin to die in the arms of her best friend. Life is never going to be the same for Molly.
​We have Erin's family in turmoil yet as the girls mothers are also best friends it hit's Molly's family just as hard.
DS Grace Allendale is called in to investigate. ​As Molly was with Erin when it happened Grace needs to get as much info as she possibly can from Molly but clearly the friend is traumatised and grieving.
Grace and her team have to dig deep to get clues, and as the story unfolds we learn just what the girls had been doing before the fatal incident. Could this be linked to why Erin died or is this totally seperate?.

I could not put this book down, I wanted and needed to know what had happened and believe the author did a fantastic job with the twists and finally letting us know who and why. An ending I really don't think I was expecting. Families in this book who I wanted to console, I felt very much a part of it all. Brilliant characters and brilliant story line. I soooooo can't wait for the next one.

​Well done Mel, you never fail. This book has been added to my 2020 Must Reads list.

📖BOOK REVIEW📖⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#goodgirl by @mel_sherratt @avon_books @netgalley

This author has done it again! This series is just great! Everything was excellent; the characters, the story, the mystery etc. It effortlessly keeps you guessing and changing your mind about ‘who’s done it’ and was an easy and enjoyable read.
The book hooks you from page one and has plenty of tricks, clues and suspicions to keep your mind busy throughout. Couldn’t put it down. Really recommend this series!!!

➡️for synopsis

Thanks to author #melsherratt, #avonbooks and #netgalley for allowing me to read this one early!

Out 10th of December in #ebook and 18th Feb 2021 in #paperback!

-Emily

This series just gets better, you know that you are in for a brilliant read when you pick up a Mel Sherrat book and this one is no exception. I absolutely loved it from start to finish, it's got so much going on with an up to the minute storyline. Grace Allendale is as straight as a die but sometimes her extended family connections to gangland crime can be a curse, not a blessing.

This us the 4th book in the Grace Allendale series and, as anticipated, this did not disappoint.
Dark and fastpaced Mel Sherratt certainly knows how to draw you into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the ongoing storyline of Grace and her colleagues too.

4.5 stars

The excellent Mel Sherratt is prolific, and all the strands of her output are entertaining. However, the Grace Allendale series is the most impressive and gets better with each release. Grace has moved to Stoke from Manchester and works alongside Allie Shenton, familiar to Sherratt's readers from another thread. In this instalment, a teenage girl is stabbed and Grace must work out which of Erin's acquaintances is responsible. A tricky job which is made harder by Grace being related to local Stoke criminals! A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Having enjoyed the previous books in this series I was looking forward to reading this one, did not disappoint. Great book, definitely worth reading

Good Girl is the fourth book in the DS Grace Allendale series,and in my opinion it is the best yet.Molly and Erin are best friends and have grown up together but when they are attacked on their way home and Erin dies Molly's life is changed forever.Grace with her usual team is tasked to get to the bottom the murder and once again she crosses swords with the Steele family of which she is one and Grace learns more about her brothers and her past the story touches on the dark issue of grooming ,but Mel Sherratt has proved just what a great author she is in this genre,with the short chapters that i think keeps you more gripped to the story Mel Sherratt has a superb series of books going here with DS Grace Allendale and long may it continue,a 5 star winner once from Mel Sherratt.

Love this series, Grace is a really likeable character as a DS. This case looks on the surface to be a stranger stabbing a young girl by her home, her best friend is distraught as was with her. As the police are trying to find the murderer we go back a year to see what happened to the victim Erin and Molly, we are left in suspense right until the end and although I thought at one point I knew who it was I was still shocked when got to the part.
As always Graces family are involved this time with a tragic ending

Good Girl
By Mel Sherratt

4 star

A drama filled mystery triller that keeps the reader guessing until the end.

This is the latest instalment in the DS Grace Allendale series. She follows her hunches as she normally does, revealing more that the initial investigation and skirting the rules as she investigates.

When sixteen-year-old Erin Ellis is attacked, she dies in the arms of her best friend Molly, just metres from her home. Molly is the surviving girl but says she easily could have been the victim – it was a random mugging gone wrong. With inconclusive evidence, DS Grace Allendale must dig deep within the tight-knit Stoke community for leads. And she soon finds that someone had a motive to kill Erin. As the investigation unfolds, Grace is reminded of a horrifying case she worked on earlier in her career.

The story is well written to draw the reader in and hook them to the plot. The suspense of who the killer is will keep the reader guessing.

This title has been reviewed by www.books-reviewed.weebly.com

This title was provided by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an open and honest review.

#GoodGirl #NetGalley

One word ... excellent! Mel Sherratt never fails to deliver a fast-paced, page turning mystery. Love DS Grace Allendale.

Thank you #netgalley and #avonbooks for another great eARC in this series.

Ok, so I’m blaming Mel Sherratt for me sitting in the Bath for the last two hours, freezing cold as all the heat had gone from the water, in the dark as it was light when I got in and with my kindle on stupid sized font as I didn’t want to get up and had left my glasses in the bedroom! 🙄

Good Girl is without doubt my fav book by Mel to date, with the usual great characters for whom you can catch up on, to the most gripping and saddening two stories twisting around it other... was totally brilliant and perfect for my last nights cocktail ridden head today, read it in one sitting. If you haven’t pre ordered... get it done today!

Now I’m off to warm up in my dressing gown and feed the dogs and cat who keep poking their heads round the bathroom door to see if I’ve drowned!!

BRILLIANT!! Thanks Mel xx

Mel Sherratt never fails to write dark gritty thrillers this is another true page turner.There are so many twists and turns based with all his books I read this late into the night.Highky recommend this and all his books#netgalley#avonbooksuk

This is the 4th book in the DS Grace Allendale series by author Mel Sherratt but works perfectly well as a standalone.

Sixteen-year-old Erin Ellis is attacked and murdered close to her home and dies in the arms of her best friend Molly. There is no significant evidence so it is up to DS Grace Allendale to try to uncover the truth from the tight knit Stoke community for leads.
This is a fast paced novel which makes good reading. Some interesting characters along the way. I have read several books by this author previously and she never fails to deliver. Good police procedurals which is just up my street.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Avon Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Children have secrets but in this case unimaginable ones.

A gripping, edgy and chilling story of murder and the grooming of young girls, and yet again tied closely to the dark side of DS Grace Allendale's family.

Strong characters and links to past books in the series, and will definitely not disappoint.

A great read.

Erin & Molly. 16 years old. Best friends, like sisters.

But Erin lies dead on her way home one night, and Molly says it could have been her. It looks like a mugging.

But it isn't.

Stoke is full of secrets, and more than one person had a reason to want Erin out of the way....

DS Grace Allendale finds the past coming back - again - as she battles to find Erin's murderer.

Brilliant

Mel is back the top form with this instalment!
Grace and her team (including Allie Shenton, I'd love to see a return of her series!) are faced with a difficult and frankly soul destroying case of horrible child exploitation. Again the Steele family feature heavily, hopefully for the last time.
My only negative comment is that I wish some of the characters voices were more authentic; nobody ever swears or seems to really lose their temper, neither the criminals, devastated victims or the frustrated police, everyone is so polite!

Another great crime story!

This is book 4 in the DS Grace Allendale series. For some strange reason I never read the first book, then I read the second as an ARC I enjoyed it so much that I bought the third one, but did not get around to reading it yet, but now received this fourth one as an ARC and read it in just a couple of days.

So one thing is clear, although it is part of a series of crime books, each one centers around Grace solving a different crime together with her team, so you do not need to have read them all or to read them in order. Enough background information was given for all characters and how they related to Grace, except for Matt. He was referenced once or twice, but one or two sentences of a reminder about who he was and what happened to him would have helped.

Anyways, the crime that takes center stage in this story is the murder of a 16 year old girl. Why was she killed and by whom?
Grace the main detective on this case is just super likeable, as described in this book "she was softly spoken, made everyone feel as if she was there for them, and not just doing her job." The story is not just about solving this crime but also about Grace and her family and it is well worth reading.

Wow. This author is amazing i love this series. Look forward to every book. Cant wait to see what happens next. I actually need the next one right now.. I didnt expect any of the big twists that were in there

GREAT book that pulls you in with good characterization, storyline & suspense to keep you guessing until the end. This police procedural involves investigating murder & the luring of young girls into the degrading realm of prostitution. Well written. Totally enjoyed. First time reading this author but will definitely backtrack for the other 3 in this series. RECOMMEND highly. Thanks to NetGalley & Avon publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Really good. There are so many twists and shocks. Brilliant characters and hard to read in places. This is a well thought out and well written story.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Grace Allendale is back, oh i love all Mel Sherratts books.A mugging that's gone wrong and now a young woman is dead but as grace digs into the case she learns more about the victim did someone really want her dead.Mels books are brilliant and i love the grace ones.excellent read 5*

A 16 year old girl is found dying near home the victim of a mugging gone wrong however as DS Grace Allendale and her colleagues dig deeper things appear to be much more complex.

Good Girl is the latest and the last book in the Grace Allendale series set in Stoke by Mel Sherratt and it is a good police procedural that nicely ties up the series arc whilst still being readable on a stand-alone basis.

The entire series has been enjoyable and Good Girl is a nice finale

Recommended

This is the second book in the Det. Sgt. Grace Allendale series that I have read and really enjoyed. Erin and Mollie are neighbors who were born two weeks apart and grew up as "twins" in their closeness. Their mums, Sara and Lucy, were also life-long best friends. One night when Erin and Mollie were returning home, Erin is stabbed and dies. Det. Grace Allendale is assigned to the case and as she works the case, things don't quite mesh with what Mollie is saying. There are lots of twists, turns and surprises in this book which made it a real fast-paced read. I am definitely going to go back and read the other two books in this series that I have not read yet.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC of this fascinating page-turner in exchange for an honest review.
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This is the 4th in the series but still readable as a standalone.

This story centres on the stabbing of a local 16 year old girl, Erin, the murder is witnessed by her best friend Molly. It appears at first that it’s a mugging gone wrong, but when it’s discovered that Erin and Molly had been going to sex parties and had possibly been groomed, it raises the possibility that the mugging was in fact a murder and the people involved in organising these parties may be responsible. The race is on for Grace to find these men and stop the parties.

The story moves at a good pace and we get to see some flashbacks of how the girls get involved and we see a bit about their home lives and that of their grieving and frustrated parents. We also see a little about Grace’s home and personal life, but this is well done and is never intrusive.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of Good Girl, the fourth novel to feature Stoke based DS Grace Allendale.

When 16 year old Erin Ellis is murdered in an apparent random mugging her best friend Molly is terrified because she was with Erin and it could have been her. Grace thinks Molly isn’t telling the whole truth and starts digging into Erin’s personality and life.

I enjoyed Good Girl which is a gripping police procedural but which also takes a hard, realistic look at the ramifications of murder on the family. The novel is told from various points of view, Grace on the investigative side and the relatives and friends/acquaintances of the two girls on the other. It also slips back in time on a regular basis to chronicle Erin’s life over the past year. It’s not hard to keep up but I prefer a more one dimensional narrative.

I’m not a big fan of domestic noir, so some of the wailing got on my nerves and I kind of skim read some of Erin’s history as it’s quite distressing and, again, not one of my favourite subjects. I haven’t read this series before so I didn’t know what to expect but, the preceding comments aside, I think it is powerful and realistic writing. The depiction of the families and their grief seems natural and the criminal elements involved are suitably disgusting, selfish, greedy and all too believable. There is little sentiment in any of it and while it’s gritty and unflinching it comes to life.

The investigation by contrast is businesslike. Equally unsentimental the team are hard and unprepared to let anything stand in their way. I thoroughly enjoyed their drive, commitment and professionalism. Grace is the exception who lets things get to her and is more emotional in her drive.

Good Girl is a strong novel that I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read.

Another fab read from Mel Sherratt. Quite hard hitting at times and difficult to read thinking of the young girls being groomed into that situation. I did wonder whether it was going to be rehashing the storyline of the first book in this series but it did bring something different to the table with it. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Avon for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy books from this author, well written with good characters and great page turners. This one as usual kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and I loved every page.

I can thoroughly recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read this great book.

This isn't my first date with DS Grace Allendale and I very much hope it won't be my last. Erin and Molly's friendship was so eloquently described, I was able to recognise my teenage friendships. It was terrifying how easy it was for the girls to get caught up in something so terrible. Although obviously again, credit must go to the writing of Ms Sherratt, who's smooth penmanship carries you off and into a situation before you realise what had happened. This case was solved through the hard work and tenacity of the police and Grace's moment of inspiration. There was never a dull moment and we were led up a number of dead ends before we found the way through to the truth of the matter. The denouement was so heartbreakingly sad - and I think it's fascinating that we get to see the impact of this crime on not only the victim's family but the perpetrator's family as well. The DS Grace Allendale series often deals with the worst crimes of humanity yet you always feel at the end of each book, that there is hope, that good might eventually triumph over evil. A well developed plot with interesting and thoughtful characters. Definitely worth reading.

GOOD GIRL by Mel Sherratt is the fourth book in the DS Grace Allendale British crime and police procedural series set in England. The author brought this reader an intense and intriguing story. Sixteen-year-old Erin Ellis is attacked on her way home with her best friend Molly. Despite the paramedics’ efforts, Erin dies and the mugging becomes a murder investigation. DS Grace Allendale works the case with several others and is also assigned to liaise with Erin’s family. Was this simply a mugging gone wrong or was Erin targeted? How could this happen when she was only a short distance from home in a quiet neighborhood? Is else is going on in the community? With few clues, Grace and the team do extensive interviews as the crime scene team look for evidence.

Grace is a great protagonist. She has a family history that haunts her, but is hardworking and dedicated to justice and protecting the innocent. She continues to gain more depth in each book and is a compelling character with clear goals. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story, but the reader doesn’t get a lot of background on Grace’s co-workers. There are several familiar characters from book three of the series, making the large cast more manageable.

The plot switches back and forth between current times and events that occurred during the past year. While this could have been a distraction or interrupted the overall flow, the author managed the transitions smoothly. It was an excellent way to provide needed data using showing versus telling.

This is a slow-build story but it flows well and the edginess kept me engaged. There are lots of twists and turns in this engrossing and shocking book. There was a good pace from scene to scene. The tension was high and this reader was on an emotional rollercoaster throughout most of the story making it a page-turner. The subplots tied together well. While I was not surprised by who the killer was, I was caught off-guard by other events that occurred in the book. Themes explored include murder, assault, family, friendship, coerciveness, grief, exploitation, drugs, alcohol and much more that is withheld due to spoilers.

Overall, I enjoyed this well-written and gripping novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy crime dramas and police procedurals. It is the second book that I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading the first two in the series. This is an amazing “new to me” author and GOOD GIRL did not disappoint me. This author delivered on the promise of the novel’s premise and opening scenes.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Mel Sherratt for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 10, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

A great, but devastating read. I am happy to see that there are authors out there who are willing to tackle such a tough subject like grooming. I think this is a well-written, thought provoking book, and just because it’s something you wish didn’t exist, and it might feel repulsing to read at times, it’s therefore even more important to know about it to be able to understand what it is.

It sadly seems like a realistic story, which is why it’s so heartbreaking. The characters feel so real. Do we ever really know our children? Do we know the town we live in, and its people? So many secrets, so many lies. This book will stay with me for a long time. It’s not easy to forget.

Another great episode in the series. Good girl by Mel Sherratt is the fourth in the Grace Allendale series but you can read it as a standalone.
Sixteen-year-old girls Erin Ellis and Molly Redfern have been best friends since they were little and so has their mothers. They are close and tell each other everything. On the way home Erin is mugged and stabbed and left for dead. Molly first tries to help her but leaves her and goes to get help. Only when the paramedics arrive that Erin dies from her wounds.
DS Grace Allendale oversees the investigation, without much evidence and not much being said by Molly Redfern. She is keeping silent of what happened that evening. The story backtracks to the time before Erin dies and what happened between the two girls that lead up to that fatal time.
This is another excellent but gritty read by the author. I couldn’t put this down. It had an excellent storyline which was sensitively written considering the subject and the usual characters that we have got know and love. I also wasn’t suspecting the twist at the end.

3-4 stars

Sixteen year old Erin Ellis is murdered whilst walking home with best friend Molly Redfern. Is it a case of wrong place, wrong time or does it go deeper? DS Grace Allendale investigates. The story is told from several perspectives in the present and backtracks a year.

This is the fourth in this series but can easily be read as a stand-alone as past events are explained, there are links to previous cases but it all makes sense to a first time reader, especially in relation to Grace's estranged half brothers Eddie and Leon Steele. The premise is good although by no means unique as the girls are mixing with things they most definitely shouldn’t. The topic is dark and although the reader knows what’s happening it is never gratuitous in tone and sadly, after much publicised actual cases I have no trouble believing the storyline. The plot unfolds well and the pace is good as the place team try to extract the truth from a multitude of lies and buried secrets. The family dynamics of grief and shock are conveyed well. The ending is quite dramatic and although I did guess the truth that does not spoil the read.

My negative is that at times the style is rather flat in tone especially at the beginning although this does improve significantly as the novel progresses.

Overall, this is an easy to read police procedural. I like the character of Grace and her background makes her a bit more interesting than some other lead characters and I would certainly want to read books more featuring her.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the arc.

Why would someone kill 16 year old Erin Ellis? Is it a mugging gone wrong? DI Allie Shenton and DS Grace Allendale believe Erin’s best friend, 16 year old Molly Redfern isn’t telling them everything.

With Grace also still having to deal with her estranged half brothers, Eddie and Leon Steele, her days and nights are well and truly hectic.

This was quite a hard read, not only due to the murder of a young girl but also because of the nature of the build up to the murder.

I found myself hooked by this story and couldn’t put it down. Excellent characters and beautifully written, some scenes brought tears to my eyes. A fantastic storyline and a great ending to this gritty police procedural.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been a fan of Mel Sherratt through both the Allie Shenton and Grace Allendale series. This, book four for Grace’s series, deals with the murder of a 16 year old girl. Walking home with a friend, Erin is stabbed. Everyone thinks it’s a random stabbing in an attempted phone theft, but her friend is not telling the police everything.
Grace is a fully fleshed out, developed character. Unlike most police officers, she struggles with her emotions. “Their grief was rubbing off on her and she needed to compartmentalize it before going back into work. She couldn’t help being emotional; would never apologize for it, but she didn’t like showing it.”
The book moves quickly. I loved how we get to see the emotions of the four parents as the book progresses - the shame, the anger, the confusion. I kept picturing myself in each of their shoes. This is much a family drama as it is a typical police procedural. I was completely invested in this story and raced through it.
This series has a lot of backstory between Grace and her half siblings, the Steeles. It’s touched on here but one needs to have the earlier books to get the full grasp. Still, this book would work as a standalone.
My thanks to netgalley and Avon Books for an advance copy of this book.

great book, once I started pretty much the same as Mels other books this was hard to put down. You have to keep reading to see if grace and her team catch the killer.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Mel Sherratt is one of my favourite authors and this was just as good as the previous novels, fast paced, will have you hooked until the end. Loved it.

Erin and Molly, 16 year old best friends since birth. Living across the road from each other, their parents are also lifelong friends.
On the way home one evening, Erin is attacked in front of her best friend and dies in her mother's arms. Clues are very limited...cctv reveals nothing although her mobile phone is found in the bushes.
This book switches between the girls last year together, where they are dragged into a world way outside of their life experiences, alongside detective Grace allendales struggle to gather evidence where clues are minimal.
Although this book is the fourth in a series, is my first one and I didn't feel this ruined my reading. At times an uncomfortable read where young innocent girls are groomed into a life that is difficult to escape from. Twist at the end I didn't see coming.
Highly recommend.

A good plot, with interesting characters, a lot of emotion, and a good amount of suspense. Erins killer was a total surprise, I was not expecting that one. I enjoyed the read and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

Good Girl by Mel Sherratt is a superb read! It is an engrossing page turner of a read well worth the time spent

A good crime novel .I like the detective , Grace and the setting (Stoke-on-Trent) .One of a series , I have read others but on the whole it is fine to read it as a stand alone book. The book follows the stories of the girls over the last year so you come to understand how they became involved and howtheirrelationship chanaged. The investigation and interviews were also pieced together . Sadly, given the subject matter which is sexual grooming of young girls, the book is all too believable. You read how young teenagers are reeled in through flattery and attention and who end up almost as prostitutes. The viewpoints are well written , the teenage girls exhibit reckless behaviour , albeit to an extreme extent which is typical of that age group.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARCin exchange for an honest review .

Totally fabulous book. Absolutely loved it, you think you might know the answer but you’re probably wrong, and you won’t want to put this down. Just what can happen and how easily a young life can go wrong. You will want to check up on what your own kids are doing, you might think you know them but this shows just how easily they can be lead astray. Great book.

Molly and Erin are the best of friends
They were always together
They started to go to party’s and have a great time
Erin had an accident at the party and Molly had to help her
I had an ARC

DS Grace Allendale has been called to the tragic stabbing of a 16 year old girl but it would seem there are links to a case she worked on before.
Wherever there is trouble Grace’s estranged extended family seem to be a help of a hindrance.
I haven’t read all the books in this series but this does not detract from this at all. The characters are great and the subject matter is handled well. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A gritty ,powerfull realistic storyline that was so hard to put down . I love Grace Allendale she is one of my favourite female characters . Mel sherratt writes brilliant books which I have read most of and this one tops them . Hopefully there will be more jn the series

I have always enjoyed Mel Sherratts books and this was no exception.

Erin Ellis was with her best friend Molly when she was stabbed and killed aged only 16.
DS Grace Allendale has to find out who killed her and why.
She has her work cut out for her with no real leads and lots of secrets.

This book is fast paced and has you gripped from the beginning. Great characters that although is part of a series could still easily be read as a standalone.

Can’t wait for the next book.

This is book four of this series and, as usual, series rules apply. Although the main story is self contained, to get the very best from it, especially with regard to the main characters' background and development, do please start from book one and read in order.
In this book we follow the investigation of the death of 16 year old Erin Ellis who died in the arms of best friend Molly, after being attacked on their way home. Initially thought of as a mugging gone wrong, backed up by what Molly recalls of the event, DS Grace Allendale starts to investigate. But as she and her team start to gather background on the girls, as the parents start to open up about their increasingly strange recent behaviour, it soon becomes evident that there is so much more going on than on face value and it becomes a race against time to bring the perpetrators to justice. Things get tricky as certain elements of the case start to become familiar to Grace, she's seen this behaviour before and this can only mean one thing... her family could be involved...
I love this series. It gives me everything I need for a book of this genre. Great characters - both series and episode - acting out a cracking storyline that's both gripping and intriguing. All delivered at quite a pace with no superfluous padding or waffle. The book sucked me in right from the first page, held me captive throughout, spitting me out at the end completely satisfied.
All in all, a cracking addition to a now well established series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Molly and Erin have been best friends pretty much from birth. Their mothers are also best friends and have been since they were four years old. The death of Erin has an awful impact on both families. It soon becomes clear though that Erin’s death isn’t a straight forward mugging but something way more sinister than I could ever have envisioned.

This was a highly charged and at times, emotional read. Towards the end I have to admit to either tearing up or full on tears at certain parts. I got so wrapped up in this case that it was hard not to get emotionally involved.

The story flicks from present with Grace and the team working together on the case as well as to Molly and Erin in the run up to Erin’s murder. It makes for some harrowing reading that again had me go through so many emotions. Grace’s past is never far behind which causes her more issues and nothing is sadly ever straight forward.

Good Girl was a powerful read that really grabbed hold of me as well as making quite an impact. Its written in a way that the reader will struggle to put the book down and even when you do, all you can think about are the characters and the case. There are some jaw dropping moments that I hadn’t expected and boy was I literally on the edge of my seat as things really ramp up towards the end. This is one hard hitting crime thriller that packs more than a punch.

Good Girl is the latest instalment in the DS Grace Allendale series. Although it’s the fourth book I do believe it could be read as a stand-alone.

When sixteen year old Erin is stabbed, she dies in the arms of her best friend Molly. It seems it was a mugging gone wrong, but as Grace and her team investigate, it becomes apparent the girls were involved in something much more serious.

This book is tense, gripping and with twist and turns galore, you’ll find it hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

Another fantastic read from Mel. This is book 4 in the Grace Allendale series and what a series. As usual I was gripped from page one. Grace and her boss Allie are called to the death of a young schoolgirl stabbed near her home. This case has lots of twists and turns to it leading Grace very close to home. I don’t want to spoil it by giving anything away but all I can say is it’s well worth reading this series you won’t be disappointed. A fab 5 star read.

Good Girl is the fourth instalment in the Detective Sergeant Grace Allendale series, set in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Sixteen-year-old Erin Ellis and her best friend and neighbour, of 8 doors down, Molly Redfern, have been close friends since their birth merely days apart, and their mothers, 38-year-old single parent Sara Ellis, who also has a younger son, Nat, aged 10, and Lucy Redfern, are also long-term besties. Having taken a wander together to the local cafe one Wednesday evening, Erin and Molly are making their way home when Molly returns to the Ellis’s house crying, shaking uncontrollably and covered in blood. Sara Ellis runs down the street to where her daughter has dropped to her knees, with blood seeping through her jacket. She cradles her daughter in her arms and calls an ambulance but it may be too late to save her. DS Allendale gets a call from her DI, Allie Shenton, who informs her she's needed to liaise with a distraught family after an apparent mugging-turned-stabbing across the street from the Bennett Estate. Erin is in critical condition and has been taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Molly tells them that a man ran up to them and attempted to grab Erin's mobile before brandishing a knife and stabbing her in the chest. She later dies of her injuries as the paramedics are unable to save her.

The team begin house-to-house enquiries on Sampson Street, the cul-de-sac in close proximity to the walkway in which the two girls were attacked. Neither the residents nor the local police can believe what has happened, but as evidence is initially thin on the ground, Allendale must resort to good old fashioned police work for answers. She soon discovers that the deeper she digs the more complex and disturbing it becomes... why are those close to the investigation, in particular the only witness, Molly, seemingly hindering the police's ability to get to the truth? This is a riveting and compulsive thriller and is much more sinister and profound than it may initially appear. The two teens were mixed up with some bad people and as the story unravels there really were some shocks in store, which I certainly wasn't expecting. It's a fast-paced, expertly plotted crime novel with enough action, drama and tension to keep you turning the pages long into the night. I enjoyed that we were treated to more character development and to do this Sherratt cleverly ties Erin's murder to our intriguing protagonist Grace and her estranged family. It all makes for a cracking read liberally sprinkled with twists, surprises and a dynamite conclusion. Highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this novel before it’s 12/10 release date!

Good Girl is the fourth book in a series following Detective Grace Allendale. In this one we follow the murder for a 16-year-old girl Erin.

When I requested this, I had no idea it’s was the fourth in a series. Luckily it was able to be read as a stand alone with some family relationships that carry from the earlier books. This book was A LOT darker than I was expecting!

I loved watching the mystery unfold and it kept me guessing until the end about who killed Erin. The story was pretty intricate and our author does an outstanding job of weaving through the web she has created in this story!

My only complaint is that it was hard to understand when POV’s would change. I hope that when this book is finally released, that detail is edited because it was quite confusing at times.

Overall a solid 4 star read!

A very good and at times a very sad book to read. This is a story that is very relevant today with lots of exposés about young girls being groomed to be used and abused by rich older men and woman.
It is also a story about friendship. How much can a friendship endure and what will happen when jealousy takes over.
I found it an easy read and I liked the family dynamics with 1 on the good side, 1 bad apple and 1 sitting on the fence.......or is it all about power?

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Having read the first three books of the DS Grace Allendale series I was really looking forward to the next book.
I have to say that I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
Good Girl gripped me from the very start and kept me hooked until the very end.
The story is based on the murder of 16yr old Erin who died in the arms of her best friend.
I don’t want to spoil it by giving away anymore of the story line but I can thoroughly recommend this book and have no doubt that this will be another winner for Mel.

A twisted mystery full of betrayal. The girls at the center of the investigation are something else. I didn't know whether to feel sorry for them or shout at the book. Grace and her team are tied up in this case. Grace must revisit past cases as well as deal with uncomfortable family connections.
It's a fast paced read that will leave you with your mouth hanging open and shaking your head.

I have never been disappointed by anything written by Mel Sherrratt so had no hesitation in reading this, the fourth in the series, and, once again, it was as good as I was expecting and, as an added bonus, you don't have to have read the others in the series, as this works well as a standalone so don't worry!

What we have in "Good Girl" is a pretty dark and hard-hitting police procedural which follows the investigation of DS Grace Allendale and her team into the apparent mugging and murder of a young 16 year old but as Grace delves deeper, all is not what it seems.

With believable characters, an authentic and frighteningly realistic story line written at a great pace and with sensitivity, given the subject matter which is difficult to read at times, this is another excellent book.

Thank you to Avon Books UK, a division of HarperCollins, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

I love Mel Sherratt and have read a fair few of her books. The ones staring Grace Allendale are some of my favourites. In part because of the ‘push-pull’ that comes with her family, who are local gangsters, ones she wants to bring down but doesn’t quite seem able to. I’m always waiting for her to cross a line, and weighing the balance between what’s right and what’s legal when she does.

Saying that, there isn’t much line-crossing here, though her family are still there, doing things they shouldn’t and in a story that feels ripped from the headlines. It’s also a story that is uncomfortable to read at times given the subject matter. That discomfort, though, is one of the things that I enjoyed so much about this book. It makes it feel more real and makes it stand out from other books in the same genre.

You can’t ask for more than that – but you do get it. You get great characters that feel fully formed. You get a setting that feels real. And you get a plot that twists and turns and keeps you getting. Sherratt really is a great writer and I couldn’t be happier having read Good Girl – roll on the next book in the series!

This is the fourth book in the DS Grace Allendale series and what a corker it is.

Sixteen-year-old Erin Ellis is stabbed and murdered on her way home with her best friend Molly Redfern. Grace Allen is assigned the case and visits Erin's parents.
Grace is careful in her job as she is the half-sister of notorious crime lord Eddie Steele and his brother Leon some of her colleagues are still wary of her connections and find trusting her a challenge.
Whilst investigating the murder it comes to her attention that private parties are being held in the district. involving very young girls, drink drugs, and older men. She soon learns that Erin and Molly are involved but Molly is keeping quiet and not revealing anything. It is soon discovered that Erin was pregnant much to the shock of her parents
The story drops back to before Erin's murder and the life of the two life long friends and their families. Then up to date. It is very cleverly worded so as not to confuse the reader.
Such a fantastic gripping story with lots going on to keep the reader interested.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. xx

Grace Allandale #4

Erin and Molly are best friends. They were born just days apart. They had been close since they were born. That was, until Erin was murdered.

The story centres around the two girls. Their mother's were also best friends. Erin's death shocked the close knit community. It had first appeared to be a mugging that went wrong. Erin and Molly had been up to things their mother's knew nothing about. Grace Allandale and her team are on the case. This is a dark and in some places it's difficult to read. This is the last but the best book in the series. The gripping storyline is filled with shocks, secrets and it's a thrilling book to read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #MelSherratt for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another excellent book in this crime family saga.
A 16 year girl is stabbed. But nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and hope this series has a few more books in it please!

Reading Good Girl by Mel Sherratt it's obvious it is part of a series. But Ms Sherratt fills in enough details that the reader is able to follow along without any problems. The Good Girl keeps you guessing as to "who done it" until the very end. This book is about every parent's nightmare regarding their daughters and what could happen to them. I want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books Uk for an early copy to review.

Quite a good police procedural where the atmosphere was quite tension-filled with a stabbing of a young girl. This was my second book by this author, and I found it quite immersive.

The prose showed me the investigation conducted by Grace along with the life of the young girl leading to the days of her her death. Emotions were absorbed into the story and Grace too was affected.

The story clutched by the throat by the power of the author's writing, there were quite a few harrowing scenes. Twists and turns along with a nail biting finish. Whew.

Although I have not read the first two books of this series, I don’t think it is entirely essential to understand the complete back story. However, I did feel something was missing as Sherratt frequently refers to previous cases that Grace has worked on. Instead of disappointing, this just fired me up to want to get my hands on the other two books!

This story is rather dark and I did find it a little uncomfortable to read. Focusing on two teenagers, Erin ends up stabbed in an alleyway close to her home. Her best friend, Molly, was there at the scene and describes a male attacker who committed the crime. Molly and Erin, both considered as ‘good girls’, are seen as victims of a bigger crime and, as the details emerge, I found this part difficult to read. The theme of the crime in this book is sex rings and the exploitation of young, teenage girls, offering them up for prostitution. As a mother of two girls myself, I found it impossible not to project onto the story, imagining the worst scenarios. Crazy, right?! However, I think this reflects how well Sherratt creates this dark story and how believable this crime is.

As the novel delves deeper into this secret, readers are taken on flashbacks into the nine months leading up to Erin’s death. It becomes clear that Molly and Erin’s reputation is not accurate and the descriptions offered are pretty harrowing. Therefore, when the novel closes on a positive conclusion, I felt satisfied that the perpetrators were appropriately punished; justice had been served.

This police procedural novel is really pacey and I think this reinforced by the punchy chapters. Despite involving a flashback, events move pretty quickly. There was not a lot of discussion by the police force, deciding what move to make next. Sometimes I find crime books of a similar genre have too much of this, which lessens the impact of the investigation. Instead, the novel is also driven by Grace’s connections to the local criminals who roam free, and this helps to make this series stand out from the rest. Sherratt reveals more about the family that haunt Grace and the local police. I really like the fact that Grace has distanced herself from her family, whilst also using them as informants when things get really tough.

Characterisation is intense in this book and you do get a true understanding of the conflicted teens in the centre of this plot. Whilst the exploitation is uncomfortable, I think this is because Sherratt has created such an atmosphere in her writing. It’s another good read from this writer and I hope this is a series that she continues.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book in the Grace Allendale series.
Grace is called out after a teenage girl has been stabbed down an alley in a residential area.
Her life is hanging in the balance and her best friend is in shock after the attack.
Sadly, Erin loses her fight for life and a murder investigation is underway.
Grace asks her best friend Molly for information about the attack but when she changes her story, Grace knows she knows more than she’s telling her.
The discovery of Erin’s diary shows her that the girls were being groomed and being paid to have sex at parties organised by a gang of men and women.
Soon the link goes back to the Steele family and Grace is shocked when Eddie gives her information on his brother, Leon.
This is a gripping crime thriller with a few twists and turns along the way, and I loved it.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Another great instalment in the grace Allendale series.

When two teenage girls are attacked in a street alleyway and one dies as a result the police believe the motive is robbery of the deceased girl’s mobile. However, the discovery of the discarded mobile turns the case on its head and investigation takes a shocking turn.

The subject matter of this book is very relevant in today’s society and highlights the vulnerability of some teenagers and the exploitation they can be exposed to.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The fourth DS Grave Allendale novel is a fast-reading police thriller that starts with a shocking knife murder of a sixteen year old girl walking the path to home with her best friend. The murder makes no sense at least until Grace starts digging into the dark underbelly of the city and the secret lives these young girls led. The story is a fast paced easy read despite to shocking subject matter.

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Good Girl’ by Mel Sherratt in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Everybody says sixteen-year-old Erin is a good girl but as she walks home with her best friend Molly after a night out Erin is attacked with a knife and dies in Molly’s arms. DS Grace Allendale and her team DS Perry Wright and DC Frankie Higgins are called out to investigate but this crime brings up unpleasant reminders of an earlier case she was involved in. Grace can’t decide whether this is a mugging that’s had disastrous consequences or if it’s going to turn out to be something much bigger.

‘Good Girl’ is the fourth in the DS Grace Allendale series and is every bit as gripping as the previous three. Set in Stoke, this fast-paced police thriller has a gritty and disturbing plot with devious characters, unsavoury suspects, drama, suspense and twists and turns. As soon as I started reading I knew I was going to enjoy this book and I wasn’t disappointed. I like Grace who’s honest, straightforward and hardworking despite having personal connections to the notorious Steele family, and the last few lines is the perfect ending to what I consider a very enjoyable and thoroughly entertaining novel. No pressure Mel, but I’m looking forward with great anticipation to reading book five!

I didn't realise this was book 4 in a series before requesting. This is the first book I've read by this author but I will look out for her books in future.

Grace is a great character and from what I've read in this book I'm going to make sure I read all the others.

Really enjoyable thriller.

OH, MY GOODNESS!
I LOVED the previous three books in the DS Grace Allendale series, and I have absolutely LOVED this book. Talk about an utterly compelling story. Heart-breaking, but compelling.
To say this story is hard hitting would be an understatement. It starts with the stabbing of a sixteen-year-old girl, Erin, just a stone’s throw from her home. Every parent’s worst nightmare! I can’t even begin to imagine the pain. It doesn’t bare thinking about. Absolutely devastating for all involved and, as if this isn’t traumatic enough, the story proves to be far more harrowing than I could have ever imagined.
Grace, and the team, are obviously determined to get to the bottom of what initially seems to be a random mugging gone terribly wrong. I really feel for police who have to deal with such horrific incidents. They might not be personally attached to the victims and their families, but they are still human and are obviously affected by the cases they are faced with, especially where young lives are devastated at the hands of despicable people. I applaud their determination and dedication. It’s isn’t a job I would be able to do.
I love the police procedural aspect to this story. It always fascinates me.
I love that we have got to know Grace that little bit more with each book also and I especially loved how this book ended!
Her ‘relationship’ with the Steele family is an interesting aspect of Grace’s story too. It makes her a unique character, especially as she is a police officer.
My heart went out to Erin’s best friend, Molly. Even at the end. Another young life devastated by exploitation. My heart broke for the parents of both girls also. Their reactions to finding out just what had been going on during the previous few months is heart wrenching. I could physically feel their pain.
This was such an emotional read which I finished past 1am as there was no way I could sleep until I knew what happened. It is most definitely one I won’t forget in a hurry.
I can’t recommend it highly enough.
All the stars, and then some, for me!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for my ARC via Netgalley.
#teamsherratt

Good Girl by Mel Sherratt is an entertaining detective murder mystery. The main characters are all believable and easy to empathise with. The detectives are interesting people and we get the right balance of their professional and personal lifes. At times, the content is a bit gritty but never in a gratuitous way. It’s a good series of novels to follow if this genre is for you.

My thanks to Netgalley and Avon, a division of HarperCollins Publishers for the advance copy.

Erin was a good girl. But someone wanted her dead…

Sixteen year olds Molly and Erin have been best friends since they were two and are inseperable, their mums, Lucy and Sara, are lifelong best friends too and live across the road from each other. When Molly bangs on Sara's door one night, screaming that Erin has been attacked in the alleyway minutes from their home, so begins every parent's worst nightmare, sadly Erin doesn't make it and dies on the way to hospital. Molly insists it was a random mugging gone wrong, DS Grace Allendale is convinced there's more to her story, but what is she keeping from them and who is she trying to protect? When they start digging they uncover some horrifying evidence that could explain a motive for Erin's murder. Her death and the events that follow sends shockwaves throughout the community and has a devastating effect on both families concerned. Grace and the team endeavour to find the person responsible and bring them to justice.

This latest crime thriller by Sherratt is told from various perspectives and switches between the current day with the team investigating the murder, and the events leading up to that day. What I love about this authors books is that her characters are real, down to earth people that you would be associated with every day in your own life, you connect with them like you're actually living alongside them and this makes them authentic. There are some very dark topics covered in this book, but they are done so with sensitivity and integrity, the plot is well crafted and seamless, with so many twists along the way that I gave up guessing in the end and just went with the flow, and what a cracking ending! This is the fourth in the DS Grace Allendale series and whilst it can be read as a standalone it's better to read them in order, to enable you to understand the background of Grace and her relationship with the Steele family. I've loved all the books in this series and this latest one is no exception.

I'd like to thank Avon Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

A solid four star read. Good premise if a little disturbing at times due to storyline. Great characterisation. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Would definitely read her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Am a big Mel Sherratt fan.
This is the fourth in the DS Grace Allendale series set in Stoke.
A young girl Erin is attacked near her home and dies in her friend Molly’s arms but who attacked her and why?
Molly says it was a mugging and either of them could have died but is she telling the truth?
Grace must uncover what happened and why would someone attack a ‘good girl’ like Erin.
The story is a slow burner but builds up over the course of the book with lots of details and background.
Grace has an interesting family history and this gives additional interest to the reader and insights into Grace’s character.
The story moves between ‘now’ and ‘before’ and the reader finds out what was really going in Erin and Molly’s lives, dealing with some difficult topics along the way.
Enjoyable, well written police procedural story with a few twists and turns.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Avonbooks for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review. 4 Stars ⭐️

This is book 4 in the DS Grace Allendale series. It could definitely be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the others so you understand Grace's background, particularly when it comes to her connection with the Steele family.

In this instalment, Grace is called to the stabbing of a 16-year-old girl who had been walking home with her best friend when she was attacked just round the corner from her house.

The unfolding story, as Grace tries to find out what happened on the night Erin was attacked, uncovers a dark world that Grace is all too familiar with and has her locking horns with her estranged family once more.

Another well-paced story covering a disturbing topic really well and showing the realities of family grief from both sides. It is always good to come back into a series with such well-written characters. Grace is not your typical leading police detective and that makes her all the more interesting, as well as a good team that you look forward to catching up with.

When 16-year-old Erin is murdered, DS Grace Allendale once again has to investigate her own corrupt family. As the investigation unfolds, so the girls’ parents and police team unearth exactly what Erin and her best friend, Molly, have been involved in recently. Much to their parents’ horror. The two had been drawn into the seedy world of sex, drugs and alcohol.
Molly, who was with Erin at the time of the murder, seems to be lying to the police. What is she hiding? Is she protecting someone? There were so many who seemed to have reason to kill Erin, complicating things for Grace and the team.
Good Girl exposes the horrible truth that parents often don’t know what’s going on under their very noses. So much of the girls’ behaviour, such as coming home drunk, was written off because they were teenagers. The mums, friends for years, remembered how they too had lied to their parents and got up to mischief when they were that age.
Worse, it shows just how easy it is for impressionable young girls to be taken in by older, seemingly rich and sophisticated men.
This is an action-packed read, full of tension, and once again Grace has to walk the tightrope between her corrupt, criminal family and her police family. Ultimately, though, this is a desperately sad book about child grooming, made even more so because it’s so prevalent in the real world.

Mel Sherratt offers an excellent crime thriller with robust writing skill. The narrative captures a multitude of dynamics surrounding dark, gritty topics that Sherratt portrays both respectfully and realistically. Each and every character is crafted with precision and the plot moves along effortlessly. As the story draws to a conclusion, readers are only left wanting more of DS Allendale.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #GoodGirl which was read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#melsherratt #crimefiction #avonbooks #dsgraceallendale #bookish #tbralert #readreviewrepeat #bookstagram #bookblog #booktweets

Erin and Molly were best friends, living in the same street. They always hung out together at the local chippy café. Their mothers were also best friends, since school days. The death of Molly was a massive shock within the close-knit community.
What appeared to be a random mugging took a much more sinister turn.
As Grace and her team investigated, they dug deep. So many things were unearthed, many secrets. Erin and Molly were up to things that their families knew nothing about. It broke my heart at times. Feeling the despair of Erin’s family and the way it affected them, especially her little brother.
An old case seemed to be linked, one that Grace thought had been solved.
Grace is related to the Steele brothers who are very well known to the police in Stoke-on-Trent. Connected by their violent father, Grace and her mother escaped when she was young. There is always an underlying feeling of tension between her and the brothers when they creep into an investigation. There are lots of twists and turns in the plot, many suspicions, making it a real page-turner.
I like the way the story moved from present to past, so we could get an insight into what was really going on with Erin.
This was a brilliant ending to a fantastic, gritty series which I highly recommend.

Aww. The end. Can you believe it? What a brilliant and thrill laden series Mel Sherratt has given to us with the Grace Allendale stories. I'll be sad not to be coming back to Grace and the team, but we really have seen the series rounded off in style, with shocks, thrills, secrets and the gripping storylines we've come to expect from this author.

This time we find Grace caught in the middle of an investigation into the murder of teenager, Erin Ellis. Out with her friend, Molly, for the evening, Erin is stabbed in a seemingly random mugging attack just steps away from her home. Her mother and best friend are left devastated, the community in shock. But what seems like a simple, if tragic case, is anything but, and once again Grace finds her personal life drawing uncomfortably close to the investigation, links back to her notorious half siblings making Grace's job all the more complex.

What I have loved about this series is the way that the author looks beyond the tangled web of the investigation and into the personal side of the characters too. Not just the police, although I have really enjoyed getting to know Grace and even her terrible family, but also they way in. which the lives of the victims and their families play a real part in the storyline. Even though we don't have a chance to meet Erin before she is murdered, by the end of the story we have a really clear idea of who she is, what made her tick and what led to her tragic death on the cold dark night. Using the present day investigation and some narrative scenes that take us back into Molly and Erin's pasts, Mel Sherratt sets the scene perfectly in a story that will make your skin crawl and highlights a story that is sadly all too believable and could easily have been ripped from the headlines.

There is a perfect blend of tension and emotion in this book. Mel Sherratt has pitched the tone perfectly, bringing Grace, and. the characters full circle in a way that will be clear to people who have read the whole series. For that reason, and because you'd be missing out on a real treat if you don't, I'd suggest not reading this book until you have read the first books. A lot of what plays out links into earlier stories and really do bring closure to some of. the more difficult storylines that first introduced us to Grace and her family. It is not always an easy read, a story of manipulation, abuse and deceit, and the build to the shocking final scenes really did hold my attention right to the end. And as for those very final pages - well what better way to round off the series. After all the sadness and shocks that preceded it, that ending was just what the reader ordered. Another cracking read that I'd heartily recommend.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

erin and molly are best friends, they have been friends since birth, even their mothers had been childhood friends....an idealistic friendship but one of the girls will end up dead....stabbed to death


a brilliantly written and very topical storyline that will grab you from the first page and keep you shocked and sickened right to the end...

along the way we meet up with several characters that we know and love and a few new scrots along with way, but this book hooks you in and keeps you reading right till the end...

cant wait for the next book in this series

This is the fourth book in the Grace Allendale series but can easily be read as a standalone. A 16 year old girl is murdered near to her home and Grace is investigating. Erin, the victim, is not all as she seems, as Grace soon discovers. There are so many good characters in this emotional tale, filled with twists, a good storyline and plenty drama. I would recommend this series to lovers of crime thrillers. Another good read by the author. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.