The 13th Girl

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

Wow this book is twisted in so many ways, it is quite tough going with as the scene is set but I am glad I stuck with it as it took me down rabbit hole after rabbit hole second guessing people until it all came clear....

A malevolent force known as The Righteous Wraith is terrorizing the city, leaving a trail of chilling letters detailing his gruesome deeds. Dee, who has weathered years in a mental health facility and understands the agony of false accusations, is determined to prevent history from repeating itself. When a man is accused of being the elusive killer without concrete evidence, Dee takes it upon herself to unveil the truth and prove his innocence.

However, as Dee delves into the investigation and meets with the accused, she finds herself grappling with uncertainty. The lines between innocence and guilt blur, and the quest she thought would exonerate the man becomes a complex journey where the distinction between right and wrong is shrouded in shadows. The chilling pursuit of truth unravels a web of suspense, leaving Dee torn between the pursuit of justice and the unsettling possibility that she might uncover more than she bargained for.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

There is a serial killer on the loose-The Righteous Wraith-and he is taunting the public and police with letters about his kills. Dee has spent many years of her life in a mental health hospital and knows what it’s like to be accused of something you didn’t do, so when she finds out a man is being accused of being the killer without evidence of guilt, she resolves to prove his innocence. But after meeting with and investigating the case, Dee isn’t sure if she is going to be proving his innocence or his guilt.

This book was interesting from start to finish, but seemed a bit predictable. It almost seemed a bit “much” as far as how the ending played out. I’m not sure how to expand on what I mean by that without giving away too much. That being said, I did finish the book and would still recommend this to a friend.

Thank you thoroughly enjoyable .

Below review left on Goodreads ! Happy new year ☺️
I enjoyed this book!

Following the story of Dee an interesting soul who is incredibly frosty !

We learn quickly that Dee comes with her own baggage and has just been released from a Mental Asylum , and was the subject to her very own crime documentary ( possession and exorcism ) let’s just say she had not had it easy !

With the dissapearance of 12 girls Dee decides to take matters into her own hands when an Acquaintance is accused of being a serial killer themselves …

The serial killer is aptly known as the Righteous wrath .

I love thrillers and wasn’t really sure what to expect with this book but I thoroughly enjoyed it , thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC .

This was excellent. It felt claustrophobic and intense because of the narration style and how close you are to the mind of the narrator - exactly what you want from this flavour of thriller. I’ve never read anything quite like it - I thoroughly enjoyed it

I really enjoyed this authors first book, and was looking forward to another pager turning thriller. While this one was a little bit more far fetched, it was still a highly entertaining read. It had me at serial killer and amateur sleuthing and certainly deliver on both accounts.

Our main character Dee was interesting, very naive and trusting. After years in a mental hospital, she is now trying to have a normal life. But that isn’t easy when she was the subject of a popular true crime documentary. But now somebody she knows is being accused online of being the local serial killer, she decides to film her own true crime documentary to prove his innocence….but is he?

This book will keep you guessing until the very end. There were plenty of times that I doubted what was happening and who I believed to be the killer,

Thanks to Hera for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on February 1st.

Mondays are for :

🕷️ not washing your hair
🕷️ leaving the laundry on the floor
🕷️ not cooking dinner
🕷️ concluding the next bestseller before it hits the press

It’s been a lazy ole Monday and I’m late to post but that’s cool because it’s Monday. I put off all my chores and decided to just lay in my pile of dirty laundry reading instead of actually doing it.

What does craig know? I mean if I’m IN the laundry room, it counts for something, right?

The 13th Girl, was worth it!!!!

This book is down right thrilling and I have finally caught my breath after concluding. I became lost within the pages and the pungent smell of dirty laundry became ancient history. Nothing else mattered, I was completely immersed in my book.

This book has bestseller written all over it, check out this teaser :

12 girls gone. Can she save The 13th Girl?

After decades in a mental health hospital, Dee knows that people find her creepy – because they tell her so. Once the reluctant star of an infamous documentary, she is trying to blend back into the outside world. But when a string of local girls disappear, only to be found dead days later, she becomes fixated on the case and decides to film her own True Crime documentary.

There is a serial killer on the loose - The Righteous Wraith. Girls are being found one by one, their bodies gruesomely staged in the most innocent public spaces. With the killer taunting the police and public fear mounting, the armchair detectives begin pointing fingers at one suspect. But for Dee, something isn’t adding up.

She knows what it’s like to be accused of something that you didn’t do.

She resolves to prove his innocence, unmask the real killer, and save The 13th Girl.

But who will believe her?

This is my first book by N V Peacock, I enjoyed the writing style. I found the book had a lot of suspense and I liked that it kept me guessing for a while. The ending had a nice plot twist. I would recommend.

Very entertaining and dynamic book with touches of horror. I loved the character of Dee, and seeing her evolve back into the real world. The subtle touches of evidence that allowed us to doubt several characters made it an interesting read that begged to continue reading.

"The 13th Girl" by N.V. Peacock is a chilling and inventive thriller that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Dee, the protagonist, is a complex and intriguing character who has spent years in a mental health hospital. Her determination to prove the innocence of the prime suspect in a string of brutal murders adds an unexpected twist to the story.

Throughout the book, Peacock skillfully builds tension and creates a sense of unease, making the reader constantly second-guess the true identity of the serial killer known as The Righteous Wraith. The author's writing style is gripping and atmospheric, immersing readers in the dark and sinister world of the investigation.

What sets "The 13th Girl" apart is the unique perspective of Dee, who knows what it’s like to be wrongly accused. Her personal experiences bring depth to the narrative and create a strong emotional connection with the reader. The incorporation of Dee's own true crime documentary adds an intriguing layer to the plot, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

While the story is engaging and the pacing is generally well-maintained, there are moments when the plot feels slightly predictable. However, this does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Fans of authors such as Chris Carter, Alice Feeney, and C.J. Scuse will appreciate "The 13th Girl" for its dark and suspenseful narrative, intricate character development, and its exploration of themes of innocence, guilt, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth.

Overall, "The 13th Girl" is a gripping and solidly entertaining thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, making it a worthy addition to the genre.

This book felt like a darker version of a good girls guide to murder in the best way!

I found it impossible to like any characters except Dee, cookie and craig. All the other characters treated them so horribly and it was painful to constantly read Dee being treated as crazy when she was a victim.

I found this had a lot of suspense and I liked that it kept me guessing for a while, I couldnt have guessed the ending if I tried!

I’ll definitely read more from this author, it was a great thriller!

Diving into the depths of a dark thriller, this novel centers around a woman grappling with mental health challenges, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative. My enjoyment of this gripping tale was heightened by the multitude of suspects, keeping me guessing as I frequently revised my theories.
The conclusion left me utterly speechles its unexpected twists and turns caught me off guard in the best way possible. While some moments might be deemed a tad far-fetched, they didn't detract from the overall brilliance of the story. This was a fabulous read that had me glued to the pages, unable to put it down until the very end.

I have enjoyed all the books I have read by N V Peacock including this one! I always enjoy the tense atmosphere and twists and turns that her books bring.

N V Peacock's "The 13th Girl" presents a dark thriller featuring Dee, a former mental health patient re-entering society. A series of brutal murders by the elusive killer, The Righteous Wraith, drives Dee to create her own True Crime documentary.

The narrative unfolds with intriguing twists as Dee investigates, aiming to prove a suspect's innocence while unmasking the true culprit. However, the lack of detailed description about Dee's appearance detracts from the story's visualization.

Peacock's storytelling maintains engagement, though some readers may desire heightened suspense and deeper character exploration. Despite this, the novel keeps readers hooked with its intriguing mystery, challenging perceptions and maintaining intrigue until the conclusion.

"The 13th Girl" delivers a thought-provoking tale, although it could benefit from more detailed character development and heightened suspense. Overall, it's a gripping read sure to entice fans of dark, inventive mysteries.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Dee suffered a brain injury and was sent to a mental institution as people including her parents felt she had been the victim of demonic possession. She has now returned home and is considered an outcast by the people she works with and many in her town. Her parents struggle with issues she still deals with on a daily basis, I will not mention some as it takes a little while in the book to find out what actually happened to her.
A girl that she thought was a friend then makes a documentary film on what happened to Dee and becomes a famous for it, Dee of course is not happy about this. She feels she has been exploited and who could blame her, her life is hard enough without this documentary making assumptions about her mental health. Her only real friends are back at the mental home where she used to be housed.
Meanwhile a serial killer called the righteous wrath is killing young woman and taunting the police with words regarding the kills. Dee is suspicious of people that attend a group meeting at the local pub and decides that she is going to make her own documentary on this killer, she wants to be as famous as her friend has become.

This was very different to anything I normally read but I really enjoyed it. The theme of mental health is well documented and the scenes with Dee and her therapist seem very real. I really liked Dee as a character and felt the author provided a great deal of depth when developing her. The story kept me reading until the last page and it was an afternoon well spent. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley , the author and publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

An authentic thriller that makes you question the way you perceive things and people. When a serial killer, who proclaimed oneself the righteous wraith, starts killing women in Northamptonshire with a particular modus operandi. Panic and terror succumb in the streets about who will be next. This is when our main character makes her entrance. Dee (real name Dinah), who had a traumatic brain injury, returned to her home after being sent to a mental institution for apparent demonic possession. Adapting to a society that labels her as crazy won't be easy for her and even more so, with a serial killer on the loose. Not giving up, she creates a documentary to unravel the identity of the killer and try to save the victims. The real question is: Will everyone believe her? This is definitely one hell of a book. I was a little skeptical of how all the religious aspects, mental health issues and moral compass would be handled in this book, but it turned out in a way that was interesting and well-addressed at times. During the book, I had many suspicions from everyone, including Dee, but little by little, I realized who the culprit might be. Even if I got some of them right, everything came as a surprise with all those plot twists and turns. I enjoyed reading the book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC

When a traumatic brain injury left Dinah as simply Dee .. which stands for Demon, at least that’s what a trusted friend made her religious parents believe, so she could use them in an exorcism documentary, which brought Dee so much unwanted fame .

Upon release from life at St. Alda’s everyone sees Dee as the possessed weird girl. Determined to claim her life back Dee embarks on a documentary journey following a serial killer in her sleepy town.

When she starts getting closer to the truth and the police don’t believe her where will she turn ?

I truly enjoyed this read. Seeing Dee claim her life back whilst almost loosing herself again in the process was a very unique read for me. I couldn’t figure out who the serial killer was. Every character has me believing it was them at one point in time . There were definitely some twists and turns I did not see coming . I couldn’t put it down I read it in a night I had to see what would happen and who did it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

If you love a good thriller novel, then this will definitely be the one for you. Someone is killing women in Northamptonshire - they kidnap them, then 3 days later the woman is found dumped with their eyes missing in a pose. Who is it, and why are they doing this?

Our main character is Dee - a woman in her 30s who has spent most of her life in a mental institution and has now been released and living back with her parents. Said parents were religious when she was younger, which is why after an accident gave her a traumatic brain injury as a child and changed her behaviour, they agree for her to be in a documentary showing her possession and exorcism from a demon. This, understandably, gave Dee a lot of mental trauma on top of her existing head injury trauma, and it also made her infamous.

The documentary went famous, and everyone knows her as the girl who was possessed. As a result, people don't like her or trust her and she had a lot of problems to deal with. She's struggling to exist in a world outside of St Aldas, and what she really wants is to make a documentary of her own to reclaim what was stolen from her. She decided her topic is the serial killer on the loose.

Dee was hard for me to like - she felt very paranoid and obsessive at points, and it made me roll my eyes sometimes. She did silly things that she really shouldn't have, she ignored blatantly bizarre stuff and she had habits I found annoying, but these are all well explained in the book. Some of it is leftover from her head injury, some of it is just that she's not been properly socialised to the society because of her circumstances. There's even a moment all this is specifically addressed, which I did enjoy.

I think I had about 20 suspects whilst reading this, including Dee herself. Even though, I still didn't see the perpetrator coming and enjoyed the twist. Some things I figured out early, but there was a lot of red herrings that threw me off enough that the revelation was more than enjoyable. The author did a fantastic job of making every character seem like a suspect, so I really had no idea what was going on.

The ending was quick paced and enjoyable, and it definitely felt like the lead up was worth it.

My main issue was her mum - what an absolute arsehole she was. Patronising, cruel, distrusting and generally a terrible person. She refused to treat Dee like an actual adult and instead treated her like a child. A child who angered her when she did something she didn't like.

A dark murder/thriller with a woman with mental health problems at its centre. Really enjoyed this one. So many suspects i changed my mind numerous times. The ending left me speechless, i certainly didn't see that coming. A little far fetched in places but overall a fab read which i just could not put down. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.