The mysterious narrative of this novel follows a multi-layered approach, with different aspects of the plot happening in different years, different locations and from different perspectives. I was intrigued by this plot device, keen to know how the story would develop, unfold and ultimately end.

When reading this book, I felt drawn to the main characters of Will, Ivy and Detta, wanting to know what happened to them and how intriguing aspects of their past are resolved or how they develop further.

If you want to read a mystery novel that’s a bit unusual and different, then this could well be the book for you.

I’ve always enjoyed the writing of Richard Montanari, often finding myself eager for the next one. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book as much as I’d hoped, as I found the conclusion to the book unsatisfactory. It wasn’t badly written at all, it simply wasn’t the book for me.

I am a big fan of this author's Balzano & Byrne series so I was quite excited to get my hands on this standalone book from him.
It starts off a little slow but that is to build the foundations of what is to come and the pace also serves to build up the tension. Way back in the past, we follow Dr Rinus van Laar as he emigrates from his native Holland to the US; specifically Ohio. Back in the present and we meet recently widowed Dr Will Hardy, a forensic psychologist, who, together is daughter Detta are still trying to cope with the death of Amanda. Detta blames her father for Amanda's murder, a blame that Will shares. They struggle along for a short while but then Will unexpectedly receives an inheritance; Godwin Hall which is in a small village in Ohio. Thinking a fresh start will do them some good and allow them the time and space to heal from their tragedy, Will and Detta promptly plan their move.
In that same village, Abbieville, Ivy, the Police Chief is investigating the disappearance of several young girls, spanning many years. Shocked that no one has made any connection, she takes it upon herself to try to get to the bottom of things.
And then Detta goes missing...
This was wonderfully and intricately plotted. There is so much going on in the book - Will's tragedy, his efforts to rebuild both the house he has inherited and his relationship with his daughter who is rather reluctant. And all the way through, there's the story of Dr van Laar and the myth and intrigue that surrounds his travel and what he brings with him. I'd love to expand further but I don't want to spoil anything.
If you've read any of this author before you'll know that he doesn't pull his punches. This book is no exception and does get a bit gory and gruesome at times. It's also quite chilling, so much so, that I am glad I read it during the day! It's also a bit complex and convoluted and switches time and perspective often but it's done so skilfully that I was never in doubt of who and when.
Characterisation was excellent. As well as the main characters, we have a whole host minor ones who are just as well drawn and easy to connect to. I especially loved that Ivy asked Will to help her with her investigation and they went on to develop a pretty good partnership all told. Could this be the start of a new series featuring that duo? I do hope so!
All in all, a cracking read that hit the spot nicely for me and left me satisfied at the end. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is a chilling psychological thriller with gothic elements from a favourite author of mine, Richard Montanari, who here moves in a different direction from his long running series. In the 19th century, Dr Rinus Van Laar, leaves Amsterdam to settle in Ohio in the US. In the present, 38 year old Dr Will Hardy is a forensic psychologist who has worked with the NYPD and as a consultant on TV and movies, and written a bestselling book. His wife, Amanda, a social worker is tragically murdered, and a traumatised and guilt ridden Will moves from NYC to a small village, Abbieville, in Ohio with his troubled griefstricken daughter, 15 year old Detta (Bernadette). An unexpected family inheritance, the shut down Godwin Hall, offers the possibility of healing and moving on. Will has never been to the village or his new home before so why does he keep experiencing past memories of the place? Incorporated within the narrative are details from a historical journal by Eva Claire Larson.

Abbieville Police Chief Ivy Lee Holgrove is the latest in a law enforcement career that runs in her family. Ivy is looking into the disappearance of Ohio girls between the ages of 12 and 16 who vanished without trace that go back years into the mists of time, characterised by elements of ritual and white ravens which she observes in the latest murder of a young girl in the present. Ivy and Will connect and a trusting relationship begins to build so she tells him about her thinking with regard to the missing and murdered girls. In the meantime, Will begins the task of renovating and repairing Godwin Hall and getting the requisite permits to open it up for paying guests. Detta has an almighty breakdown in Walmart but begins to emerge from her grief, albeit with the help of medication. She finds a volunteer position at the library and meets a beautiful boy, Billy, who she finds herself drawn to. He proves to be rather elusive, unforthcoming about his life, whilst Detta finds herself opening up about herself. As the Appleville festival opens, Will and Detta finds themselves in a danger rooted in a long gone past.

Montanari writes a terrifically atmospheric and compelling novel, tense and suspenseful, with multiple threads that slowly begin to connect, central to which is Godwin Hall and Pieter Bruegel sketches of the seven virtues and the seven vices. The well drawn characterisation is wonderful with all three main characters damaged, but beginning the process of recovering. Will and Ida prove to be a formidable team as they hunt down a horrifying killer and Detta and Ivy begin to form their own deep connection. I am not sure that there will be a sequel to this novel but I sincerely hope there is. This was a fantastic read which I recommend highly to those who love crime fiction and thrillers. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.

It has been a long time since we’ve had a new book by this author and this one doesn’t disappoint.

After a tragedy hits his family and an unexpected inheritance is dropped into his lap, forensic psychologist Will Hardy moves himself and his daughter Bernadette from New York to Abbeville in Ohio.

Ivy Holbrook is Abbeville’s Chief of Police; she is investigating the recent abduction and murder of teenage girls. Enlisting the help of Will, they discover that teenage girls have been disappearing without a trace for years. Can they discover who is behind the abductions and their motive?

Another great book by Richard Montanari, a story told mostly in the present but with snippets of the past thrown in. A compelling thriller with excellent characters which is well worth a read.

This is an amazing book, and one of very few I wish I could give more than five stars. It begins in the past which is returned to at intervals throughout its length.  The present day takes place in New York and Abbeville, two places as unalike as it's possible to be.

The three main characters, Will Hardy, his daughter, Bernadette, known as Detta, and Chief Ivy Holgrave are wonderfully written, they are likeable, troubled, engaging and believable from the start. The tragedy you know will happen grips you, drags you closer, even though you know you don't want to witness it and from then on you are complicit in everything that happens, experiencing it, wanting to work it out, to stop the inevitable outcome that moves ever nearer.

This could be a very complex and confusing story but the author succeeds in making each changing point of view or time frame clear with a few apposite words and you are almost immediately in the zone once again. The diary gives just enough assistance from the past and the obvious love of their history from the present day inhabitants of Abbeville helps put it all into perspective. I really hope there will be at least one further book with these characters in the lead. At least one loose end still needs a conclusion and there is definitely more mileage in the town and its residents.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and the publishers and would recommend this book highly. There is history, a murder mystery and a feel good factor which makes me a little sad that I've already finished it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book.

A stand alone Richard Montanari with a bit of a creepy twist.

I really liked it, although I did get a bit lost wondering where it was all going. However, all the plots and turns meld together and you end up wondering how you got lost in the first place.

I liked the way it went back and forth from different character perspectives.

Reading this has made me want to go back and read all his others again!

thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have not read anything from this author for a bit and shall be changing that. This is a standalone thriller and well worth a read

The Buried Girl is a standalone, intelligent psychological thriller from Richard Montanari, maintaining his trademark chills but telling a different story.

It was beautifully atmospheric, with some intriguing and highly engaging characters and as usual with this author a bit of a page turner.

Will and Detta, dealing with the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, make a sudden move to Abbeville, a small town with a dark past that still lingers in the present time. Through an old diary and ongoing events this dark past starts to come to light.

The Buried Girl works on more than one level – as a portrait of grief and an attempt to readjust, the Father/Daughter relationship is beautifully done. Then we have a creepy, intense mystery element that is unpredictable and fascinating with a rich history and mythology that is utterly gripping.

I loved Will, Detta and Ivy – as a trio of characters they all brought depth to the storytelling. The small town vibe is classically excellent and I was riveted by the events unfolding on the page.

I hope this ends up being more than a standalone, plenty of life left yet even as one part concludes in edge of the seat fashion. I want to know what else is buried in Abbeville, I’m sure there is more to be said and I for one will wait hopefully to find that out.

Overall absolutely excellent. One of my favourite thriller writers working today.

Highly Recommended.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of The Buried Girl, a stand alone thriller set in New York and rural Ohio.

When forensic psychologist Will Hardy’s wife, Amanda, is killed in New York he decides to accept an unexpected inheritance and moves with his teenage daughter, Detta, to Godwin Hall in the village of Abbeville, Ohio where police Chief Ivy Holgrave is investigating a decades long series of murdered and missing teenage girls. With the killer becoming active again she enlists Will’s help.

I found The Buried Girl to be compulsive reading although I’m not sure I got it all as even after re-reading the final chapters I’m still puzzling over the motive. Obviously I can’t discuss it in any detail so all I’ll say is that while I got all the salient points it didn’t all fit together in my mind. This may be down to the supernatural elements or the madness of the perpetrator’s thinking or maybe I’m a bit dense. Nevertheless this is actually a bit of a minor point as the journey to the conclusion is great and had me turning the pages feverishly (did I miss a vital clue in my rush to find out what was coming next?). The novel is a bit of a slow burner initially with the narrative switching between Will’s life in New York and Ivy’s investigation into the death of a teenager. It’s slow and steady and absolutely fascinating as the reader tries to work out how it all fits together. I found all the jumping about and apparent randomness a bit frustrating but never once thought about giving up as I was intrigued about the outcome. Mr Montanari certainly knows how to set a scene, maintain the tension and produce twist upon twist. It is cleverly done.

There isn’t much to say about the characters as the novel is all about the plot. Both Ivy and Will are decent, likeable, hardworking people who end up in a situation not of their making. Detta is more problematic as she is a teenager, brattish and overly mature by turn. Not so sure I found her convincing but her meltdown in Walmart is funny.

The Buried Girl is strange but compulsive so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

I have read all Richard Montanari’s previous books & I was so looking forward to this.

I found this a little difficult to follow however as the story jumps back over 100 years.

Good ending & I’m glad I stuck with it but sadly this wasn’t for me.

I have read all previous Richard Montanari books and this lives up to the previous. This can be read as a stand-alone.
Dr Will Hardy and his daughter Bernadette move to the country town of Abbeyville after the death of his wife. The chief of police in Abbeyville is investigating a series of missing young girls which goes back decades.
Will had never been to Godwin hall which has been left to him by a relative but feels he has knowledge of this place. Is Will’s past somehow linked to the missing girls?
I loved how the story unfolded and chapters contained the diary of a girl who lived 100 years before. If you’re an avid Richard Montanari reader you will not be disappointed and if this is your first you will soon be going through his back catalogue.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sphere for an ARC.
#TheBuriedGirl #NetGalley

If you have read Richard Montanari’s previous books then you will know exactly what you are going to get picking up this book and it certainly doesn’t disappoint and if you are new to this author then after reading this book you will be rushing out to pick up copies of his previous books!

It is listed on Goodreads as being book 10 in the Jessica Balzano & Kevin Byrne Series but personally I would have put this as a standalone novel or hopefully the beginning of a new series 🤞🏼 New characters and new settings so if this is your first book by this author you can jump straight in, no back story needed and as much as I would love to catch up with Balzano and Byrne again, I hope we get a followup to Will and Ivy’s story!

The story follows Will and his daughter Bernadette from the tragic death of their wife/mother in a house fire to a rural villiage with both father and daughter dealing with their own demons. Has their past followed them from the city all the way to Abbeville? Is it possible that thier shared history is linked to this small rural villiage? And could police cheif Ivy Holgrave’s investigations into the missing girls somehow connect to Will and Detta’s story? And how does a diary written in 1868 connect to all three of our protagonists?

Weaving together multipul storylines, gruesome crime scenes, plot twists and a heart pounding conclusion this is a psychological crime thriller not to be missed in 2019.

The Buried Girl is due to be published on 14 February 2019 and can be pre-ordered now.

Many thanks to the author Richard Montanari, publishers Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest, independent review.

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