The Girl Who Survived
Nichole Severn

This was a fantastic read to hunt down a truly meticulous serial killer, and with a killer back story to boot.

“We’ve all lost someone, Agen’ Brody. That doesn’t make us special. It’s how we respond to that loss that defines us.”

I love a serial killer storyline especially when they are escalating rapidly! The stakes are high! And I loved that twisty conclusion!!! Masterful!

“But if there’s one thing I’ve learned since Derek died, it’s that sooner or later, we have to take charge of our own happiness. We have to write our own narrative. Otherwise, we’ll always be stuck, and isn’t that just a waste?”

Leigh Brody returns to her hometown after a body is found, marked with her name. It’s been twenty years since Leigh found the murdered body of her twelve year old brother Troy. Troy and his best friend were murdered and it was Leigh’s father arrested for the crimes, something Leigh never accepted and profusely proclaimed his innocence.

Now Leigh works for the FBI and a copy cat of these horrific crimes that took her brother are being committed. The killer has left a very specific calling card.

This case is personal.
And Leigh is determined to make the right person pay.

This is book one and I will absolutely be following along for the next instalment, Leigh Brody FBI Mystery #1. If you enjoy your crime and police procedural books, this is for you.

A new series starter starring FBI Agent Leigh Brody.

This case brings Leigh back home. The last place she wants to be. Twenty years ago, her brother and his friend were kidnapped and murdered. Now there are similar crimes happening again.

A lot of plot building and character introductions during the first part of the story. Once all that was underway I couldn't stop reading. A twisty tail that will keep you guessing. I had a feeling about a couple of things that would happen and they did. This did not take away from the story at all.

I couldn't help but feel for Leigh for what she had to endure early in life and what she is still dealing with today. I loved that she was determined not to give up when others wanted her to.

If you like a mystery with a strong female lead this is a good choice for you. I am interested in what the next installment will bring. I found another new author to enjoy!

Thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc.

Amazing new series! Severn is a favorite author but this is a different style for her and it’s fantastic. It’s very much a murder mystery with a twist. As the story progresses it evolves and the puzzle becomes more intricate. Our leading lady is forced to return home and work a murder that is similar to a case from twenty years ago. The details and suspense are carefully laid out for readers and will keep you guessing. The ending has great potential for a successful series with endless possibilities. I was given an advanced copy through NetGalley and give this review voluntarily.

Nicole Sevren brings us a new a psychological thriller that follows FBI agent Leigh Brody as she is called to investigate copycat murders in her hometown of Lebanon, New Hampshire.

This book has everything you would want in a thriller novel. It had me on the edge of my seat for most of the story and my brain was thinking of every possible scenario of how it would play out. I LOVE when I don’t see the twist coming and that happened with this book for me. Again, my brain was in overtime and it didn’t register until the last possible moment!

The first half is a little slow with a lot of plot building and character information, which is beneficial for this story but keep going. Halfway through you won’t be able to put it down and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Centered around FBI Agent Leigh Brody returning to her hometown 20 years after the abduction and murder of her brother and his friend. Leigh’s father was convicted of the killings and the town doesn’t welcome her homecoming. Leigh’s return is prompted by similar styled killings to that of her brother. Perfectly paced with a healthy balance between character building, action and suspense. An ending that’s not to be missed. What a great start to the Leigh Brody series.
Thank you Storm Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you love NCIS or Criminal Minds, this book is for you. Follow along as Leigh works to uncover the death of her brother, release her father from prison, and find the real murderer that disrupted her town. I had a difficult time putting this book down. It’s action packed and full of twists.

This was an enjoyable suspense thriller with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Beautiful. Thrilling. Absolutely unputdownable. A supremely addictive and suspenseful read. The writing is beautiful, the pace never lags - this is an amazing book, one of my favourites this year.

What a great book!
Many twists in this one. I thought I figured everything out but then there would be a twist which made me second guess myself.

Great character build up for sure. A must read. Great read!

Leigh Brody is called back to her home town to help in a couple of murders tied in to the deaths of her brother and his best friend 20 years ago. The story goes on to try and connect the murders to see if it's the same killer or a copycat since the sheriff had around sent a man to prison for the boys murder.
The story sounded interesting but I found it extremely hard to get into. It was very repetitive and I honestly debated whether I would finish it or not. It couldn't really get in to it and just when I thought it was starting to get interesting it would let me down. Others may love the book and find it amazing but the way the story came together just wasn't for me.

This is a thriller you don’t want to pass up! I was on the edge of my seat for the entire read with jaw, dropping twist and turns.

Leah, an FBI agent, carries a haunting burden from her past. When she was just a girl, she stumbled upon her brother's lifeless body, a discovery that led to her father's wrongful conviction for the crime. However, Leah has always harbored doubts about his guilt. Jumping forward, 20 years, a copycat killer emerges, and and she is now determined to figure out who the murderer is.

Once I started this book, I could not put it down. Devoured this in two days. The twist and turns of the story had me literally gasping out loud! If you love a good crime fiction thriller with a strong heroine lead, you need to read this book.

Thank you Storm Publishing, NetGalley, and Nichole Severn for this ARC and giving me the opportunity to leave an honest review.

This was a new author for me, but one I will be adding to my list. At the beginning it seemed like the killer was known and someone had been put in prison by error, but there was so much more to it. I did not expect who was really involved and I definitely did not expect the ending. There was plenty going on in the plot so don't start it if you have plans as hard to put down!

This book gets you hooked from the very beginning! You think you have it all figured out but the more you read you start questioning yourself! The Girl Who Survived keeps you on the edge of your seat and the ending was a totally unexpected, mind blowing surprise. This was the first book I have read by Nichole Severn and it won’t be the last.

I have whiplash after reading this book! This author is new to me so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I went in blind and so glad I did. Literally from the beginning to the end you will be on the edge of your seat. It was a crazy thrill ride of “who the heck did all of this?” I look forward to continuing this series to see where this story takes us next!

I really enjoyed this book. It was gripping from page one. I feel a lot of murder mystery books follow a strict formula but this one didn’t. There were good twists and turns that weren’t expected and some that were.

Thanks to NetGalley and Nichole Severn for the ARC. I think if you’re looking for a fresh murder mystery, this is worth the read. It will not leave you disappointed.

Wow! This is the first book I've read by Nichole Severn but it certainly won't be the last. What an amazing, gripping and fast paced thriller. It pulled me in from the first page and kept me hooked til the very end. With great characters, an incredible storyline that kept me guessing and a killer twist, this book is a definite must read. I cannot wait for the next Leigh Brody thriller. I'm now off to get stuck in to all her Nicole's previous novels.

Thank you to Neg Galley for the ARC of the Girl Who Disappeared in return for an honest review. This book started strong and was hard to put down it started slowing down and getting a little bit confusing about what was going on and keeping characters straight. The end wasn’t a huge wow either which I was hoping was coming. I would try the next book to see if I like it more. I did like Detective Brody. I want to give it another shot. Thank you again for the opportunity.

This was my first book by this author, and I really liked it! I have been loving crime thrillers lately, and this one didn't disappoint. I was intrigued from the beginning, and enjoyed playing detective right along with FBI Agent Leigh Brody. I was fully immersed in this well written plot. Not only was the plot strong and well-developed, the characters were fully fleshed out. By the end of the book, I felt I knew Leigh and the supporting characters as well. There were twists and turns, all of which were shocking. The ending was great! I am really looking forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Nichole Severn’s “The Girl Who Survived” takes readers on a thrilling journey with Leigh Brody as she confronts her haunting past in search of justice and closure. The tale begins with Leigh’s homecoming to her birthplace, triggered by an eerie revelation—a corpse bearing her name, linked to a long-standing enigma surrounding her brother’s killing. By skilfully blending past traumas and current investigations, Severn plunges readers into a story of unwavering perseverance and individual redemption. The heart of the narrative is Leigh’s character, an FBI agent driven by her complex past in her pursuit of truth.

The tension intensifies as she investigates the copycat crimes and confronts repressed memories, pulling readers further into a captivating web of intrigue and suspense. The way Severn writes is both intense and captivating, perfectly depicting a small town filled with hidden mysteries. With its fast-paced pacing, the story keeps readers engaged with unexpected twists and turns until the final reveal. Adding a specific calling card adds an intriguing twist to the mystery, blending past and present in a disturbingly personal fashion.

This book is going to run you through an emotional roller coaster like none other!

Leigh Brody has had all of her worst nightmares imagined. Her brother is dead, her father has been arrested, and her life is falling apart. All she wants is to prove that her father is innocent, that he was not the monster that everyone is looking for. But no one is willing is willing to listen to a teenage girl, especially when the local school counselor is saying the exact opposite.
But the past has a way of staying with you, and Leigh is not willing to let it go. She is determined to find justice and prove that her father is innocent. To do it, she must return to the town she grew up in, and face those who would rather not see her return. All it will take is a fresh set of victims, and the seal is cracked on a case that people thought closed years ago.

If you are looking for a thrilling psychological read, then you are going to LOVE this one. It will keep you hooked.

I just finished reading this book, literally just put it down moments ago. Oh my heavens. At first, I wasn't too sure about the book, but I kept reading, and I am so glad I did! I was so drawn into the story, and to the intense emotions that our MC was feeling, that I could not stop. As the heartbreak of those who were dealing with it, I could not imagine. As the mother of two boys, this one hit me a bit closer to home, but the emotions were true.
This is one that takes a slow burn to get into the book, and the suddenly ignites into a stream of intense, so intense, that you will lose track of time. This is one of my top reads for the year.
Very well done!