I really liked Lucy Hardin. That was the first book I’ve read by this author and last in that series, abut it was so good, and I wasn’t lost. Great stand alone which is rare.

This was good too! It wasn’t as good, but I think this may be due to the fact that it is a new series and you have to lay some groundwork. It’s tricky to know how much to put out there.

The writing is solid and the characters are well fleshed out. I liked them and I am curious how their stories evolve so I guess I’m on for the ride!

I liked the story from this perspective (forensic pathologist) and I was happy to see the Beth’s evolution; so I guess I’m invested.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.

The first in a series with Beth Adams who is a Forenisc Pathologist. As a main character I find she is kind of mediocre. I only found that her personality blossomed near the end of the book, the rest of the time I wasn’t overly fond of her. Detective Josh Walker on the other hand I really enjoyed his narrative. I like the concept of a small Scottish town that doesn’t have a lot of major crime so finding a dead body underneath an exhumed grave is big news!
The story was good and I will definitely read the next book in the series to see how the characters and the authors style strengthen.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and it won’t be the last.
I really enjoyed the story, it gripped me from the start and keeps you guessing throughout.
Recommended to any psychological thriller fans.
Looking forward to the next in this series.

A great start to a new series, Helen Phifer gives us Beth Adams, a forensic pathologist who has had her own experiences with personal violence. With her past affecting her every decision, Beth receives a request to assist in the investigation of an unusual murder. The evidence suggests a serial killer who is staying one step ahead of the investigation.
The back story here is very detailed. The characters all have their own complicated background so there are many avenues open for the next book, and the next one. Lucky for us, as this looks to be a series well worth following.

When Forensic Pathologist Beth Adams is called to a gruesome scene at a cemetery, she is determined to do all she can to help her good friend, Detective Josh Walker, solve the senseless murder of the teenaged girl found buried in the grave, under someone else’s coffin.

When another local girl goes missing, the investigation picks up in urgency. Are the cases coincidences or is this the start of a serial kill?

Beth has a haunting traumatized past, trapping her in a cycle of suspicion and fear. What she does not know yet, is that the missing murdered girls are traps set by someone who ultimately, wants to hurt her. The police investigations are deliberately led in circles, but each turn of events is meant to reopen and unravel Beth’s past, to terrifyingly crash into her present.

Beth and Josh have a bond that can easily and hopefully go beyond the friendship and respectful workplace, into something more personal. I will be looking forward to seeing that develop. All the characters are relatable, have a great rapport and, everyone has their own story which engages you throughout the book.

Cleverly written with a sharp plot, the first in the Beth Adams series opens with a riveting scene, and it is fast-paced action right from go, to the shock end-reveal.

Very much enjoyed and highly recommend this crime mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the read of Helen Phifer’s, The Girl in the Grave.

My expressed opinions are my own.

A new series from Helen Phifer teams a forensic pathologist Beth Adams with lead detective Josh Walker. The duo are investigating a murder after a woman’s body is discovered under a coffin during an exhumation. The body has been deliberately hidden and then revealed due to the unnecessary exhumation, meaning the murderer is cleverly acting as puppet master.
The anticipation is ramped up by the author’s narrative device of letting us see a variety of perspectives so we are made suspicious of some named characters and some mystery ones. However, there are other secrets that have nothing to do with the murder investigation…
The main characters of Beth and Josh have a wonderful chemistry as he once saved her life. He is enduring an unhappy marriage and Beth is facing her own demons which are gradually revealed over the course of the book.
Featuring a forensic pathologist, there are obviously some graphic details of an autopsy but these are delivered in a clinical way so are not gratuitous or overwhelming. The methodical police procedure is also at the forefront of the plot.
I felt that the explanation of the killer’s motives did not fully explain his choice of earlier victims, and instead focussed on his final act of violence which was the culmination of the clues dropped earlier in the book.
The style of writing was fast paced and the chapters were mostly short, making it tempting to keep reading just one more even when you are desperate to go to sleep! The main characters are really easy to like and the ending gives lots of potential for sequels to develop their friendship.

This is the first book in a new series featuring Beth Adams. We learn that Beth had been an A and E Doctor but after a brutal attack changed career and is now a forensic pathologist. She works alongside DC Josh Walker who is the only person who knows about the attack as he saved Beth’s life. Josh calls Beth out to an exhumation where another body has been found under the coffin. They then have to find if there is a link with the woman in the coffin and the woman buried underneath. As Beth investigates the case she starts to feel uneasy. Since her attack she is paranoid, has top security systems in her home and is taking self defence classes but she still finds herself being threatened. When another woman goes missing Beth and Josh have a race against time to find the killer before a body is found and Beth’s life is in danger. I thought this was a brilliant read, with interesting characters, plenty of twists and turns and I am already looking forward to book number two in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Set in the Lake District this appealed to me as it’s where I live. I enjoy reading about places I am familiar with. Beth Adams is a really well written character and I’m hoping there will be more to come from her. Fans of MW Craven and Rachel Lynch will love this author!

Well if you’re looking for a blooming good crime thriller then don’t look any further, The Girl in the Grave is just that and it’s a fantastic start to a new series.
When the body of a young girl is found dead under a coffin in a grave that’s being exhumed, Detective Josh Walker and Forensic Pathologist Beth Adams find themselves in a race against time to catch a Killer and what follows is a fast-paced story that had me totally and utterly gripped.
The Girl in the Grave starts off at a fast pace, it had me hooked and gave me spine tingles in the first few pages and it didn’t let up and I flew through this story basically sitting on the edge of my seat.
Beth and Josh are old friends, Josh is a good detective and his friendship with Beth is a close one. We know at the beginning that something terrible happened to Beth a few years ago, she struggles to feel safe, always looking over her shoulder, taking security to the extreme but we don’t know why until further on in the book, the author slowly reveals the mystery which I found frustrating (cause I’m nosey) but it had me totally intrigued.
Both Josh and Beth are fantastic characters and although there is a mystery to Beth’s past it was very easy to get to grips with both characters, they felt quite real and I really enjoyed getting to know them.
The author really brings the story to life, set in the Lake District it was very easy to imagine the story playing out, almost like a wee film in my head. I had vivid images of not only the beautiful setting but also of the horrors that the investigation entailed. I still get shivers thinking about it.
The Girl in the Grave is honestly an absolute cracker of a story that had me biting my nails, trying to figure out the who’s, the why’s and the what next. It has many twists and turns and all the way through I had that horrible feeling in my stomach, the feeling where the tension builds and you know you can’t put the book down until you get the answers you need.
So I’ll definitely be recommending this absolute cracker of a book and I honestly can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Hopefully we won’t have too long to wait.

The Girl In The Grave by Helen Phifer is a gripping and fast paced thriller that drew me in from the very first page and didn’t let go until the final page had been turned. It’s book one in the Beth Adams series and what a fantastic opener to the series it is! I love finding a new series of books to sink my teeth into and can’t wait to see what happens next. Hopefully this will be the first of many!

Beth Adams is a forensic pathologist with a troubled past. Something happened seven years ago that’s caused her to lead a solitary life, unable to trust anyone new that she meets and afraid to let anyone get close to her. She lives in a secluded lakeside property that’s protected by the best security system money can buy, takes regular self defence lessons and puts her trust in very few people.

The book opens with the shocking discovery of the body of a young girl, buried beneath the coffin of another person. Beth and Detective Josh Walker, one of the very few people she trusts, are called in to investigate the case. But it quickly becomes clear that there is more to this discovery than meets the eye and things are about to become personal. And then another girl goes missing. What, if anything, does this have to do with what happened to Beth seven years ago? And can Beth and Josh crack the case and find the missing girl before it’s too late?

What follows is an intense, dark and twisted tale that takes you on a rollercoaster of a journey that keeps you guessing throughout. Beth’s past is slowly revealed as the story unfolds, with the tension rising as she finds her life in danger once again. I liked Beth from the outset and found myself caught up in her story, the intensity of her fear and dread palpable as you move through the story.

Helen Phifer has written an addictive and fast paced thriller that once started I could not put down. A very promising start to what I hope will be a fantastic series!

This is my first book by this author. It was gripping, intense and fast paced.
I had worked out the killer quite early in the book though
Recommended for anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller

What an absolutely wonderful beginning to a brand new series! I loved Beth. Adams - she was so strong. even though she was broken. Now a Forensic Pathologist, though previously an A & E Doctor, she experienced a horrific attack yet still managed to get on with her life. I am very keen to read other cases she works on.

Helen Phifer is a new author for me, but I will definitely follow this series. She gave me characters that I admired and that I would wish to read more about. I loved her writing style and that it displayed evidence of some excellent research. This book is certainly worth five stars and comes highly recommended.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Wow, oh wow!

There is a good reason for the fact that I read this book in one go - Helen Phifer is an incredible author!

Poor Beth has been through the mill, being attacked some years ago but slowly getting her confidence back. She is now a forensic pathologist, working closely with Josh and his team in the police force. Josh happened to come to her rescue when she was attacked, and they have been good friends ever since but now there are a series of murders which are baffling all and sundry who are associated with them.

Bit by bit, the case unravels and Josh finds himself chasing leads with the help of his team and Beth, and despite his marriage being in a very bad place indeed.

I didn't pick who the "baddie" was at all - it was definitely a surprise!

Loved this book and hope there will be another one, starring Beth and Josh.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

A beautiful young girl's body is found under a grave that is being exhumed ! This is the first book in the Beth Adams series . A chilling and disturbing police procedural that was masterfully written ! I highly recommend ! Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book ! #Netgalley #Bookouture #TheGirlInTheGrave

A three out of five from me I’m afraid. This novel was ok and I was happy enough reading it but it wasn’t pacy and I was surprised that a novel with a pathologist as the main character didn’t focus more on forensic pathology to solve the crime.

Beth and Josh were a bit one dimensional and it took far too long to reveal exactly what had happened to Beth in the past. The ‘whodunnit’ storyline was far too simple with no real red herrings. The ending was quite rapid and it was all far too easily tied up after a lot of initial scene setting.

I think the concept and characters have legs but the execution needed to be cleverer and better developed for me. The descriptions of the Lake District scenery were good and I enjoyed this aspect of the book.

In conclusion this is an ok book if you want a gentle crime thriller.

The Girl in the Grave by Helen Phifer is the first in the Forensic Pathologist Beth Adams series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.



My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Adams is called when the body of a young woman is found in the same grave as an elderly woman who they were exhuming.  Unsure if the two corpses are related, she hopes to discover more after she performs the autopsies.

Detective Josh Walker is in charge of the investigation, and Beth is thankful that her close friend will be handling this.

Meanwhile, Beth is still coming to terms with her own near-death experience.  Adding extra security around her home and taking self-defense classes is helping, but she is still on edge.  It looks like she may have reason to be fearful.



My Opinions:  

I love getting in on the ground floor of a new series.  Especially when it has an interesting and fresh character such as Beth Adams.  In particular, I like the fact that this series will center around a female forensic pathologist instead of a detective.  It's a nice change, and there were even references to Quincy (I'm feeling old) and Kay Scarpetta.

Not only was the premise of a forensic pathologist helping to solve a crime good, but the plot was interesting.  I loved Josh Walker as her side-kick, as they seemed to have a natural chemistry, and they've already had a long friendship, so if things develop....I'm okay with it (even though I am not a romance reader).  It was action-packed, and a really fast read.  

The author has already established herself as a "series" author, so I am sure that starting a new series must be a little scary.   This one worked!  I thoroughly enjoyed it, although it seemed a little "light", and I am looking forward to more!

I have enjoyed Helen Phifer's previous books so i was delighted to find a new series was starting.

Beth Adams is a forensic pathologist & after an awful attack she has retreated from the world of emergency medicine & spends her time among the dead & making sure her world is as safe as possible. However when the body of a young girl is discovered after a body is exhumed she finds herself drawn back into the world of the living. As she works with her friend & the only person she really trusts, Detective Josh Walker, she little realises the danger she is in herself.

This was a fast paced police procedural.Itwas a great start to a series & I'm already looking forward to the next one! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read & review this book.

I love these types of books. A body is found under a grave that is being exhumed. Beth Adams is called to assist when they find out that the girl was murdered but by whom. A perfect crime thriller and whodunit. The characters are fresh and developed but there is so much more to them. The story had one of the better plots that I have read in a while with enough twists to keep you guessing. I will definitely be reading more by this author and look forward to the next book in the series.

The girl is the Grave was a hard read for me. I didn't connect to this book 1/2 way in I wanted to give up reading it. I barley was able to finish and the end left me hanging. With the lackluster I just cant give more then 2 stars.

WoW.....WoW.........what a brilliant book..........The Girl in the Grave by Helen Phifer was...........I just Loved it and was hooked from the very first few pages. This is the First book in the new series featuring Forensic Pathologist Beth Adams and DS Josh Walker.

This book starts with a body buried beneath a coffin that is about to be exhumed. 😲

Who are they?

What a brilliant start to a book............

I loved Beth's character and wanted to read more about her. Beth is a very strong woman. She was once a doctor in a busy Accident and Emergency Department but a tragic event in her life caused her to rethink her life and she changed career paths to become a pathologist. She survived a horrific attack where she nearly lost her life and is struggling to overcome a vicious attack that has left her withdrawn, insecure and living her life as best she can while filling her house with security measures. She is excellent in her new job role, but is always looking over her shoulder.

Beth works closely with Detective Josh Walker, they're old friends and have a brilliant relationship.

Can they find out who was buried underneath the coffin?

Another woman turns up missing, Beth and Detective Josh Walker work together and hopefully they find her before the same destiny as the first woman happens.

I'm a massive Helen Phifer fan and her books just get better.

I highly recommend all her books especially this one. It's a cracking read.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher Bookouture for the ARC.