The Girl in the Grave: (Beth Adams Book 1)
Helen Phifer
2⭐⭐
This book sounded like it was going to be amazing and i had high hopes for it. However after starting this book I had my doubts that i was going to like it. It starts out way too slow for my likeing and kind of boring. Then it started picking up speed and caught my attention more but failed to keep it. It's not the most exciting thriller I’ve ever read and it's not the worst. It was an okay read . I figured out too early on who the killer was and that ruined it for me.There were WAY too many characters for me and their names started with the same letter. Some That seemed to have no purpose at all. That made it so confusing.I had to keep going back and re reading and take out my notebook to keep track of them all. There was also several things that seemed so far fetched. Hopefully book 2 will be better. This book just was not for me. However I would consider reading another one of Phifer's books in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great start to a new series.
Beth Adams is still recovering from being attacked in her home and now works as a pathologist.
She’s good friends with Josh, a local detective and is called out to a particularly troubling crime scene.
The body of a young woman has been found in the grave of a woman whose body was being exhumed.
No-one can get to the bottom of why the exhumation was requested and Josh suspects it was orchestrated by the killer of the young woman.
Soon another young woman is abducted and Josh faces a race against time to find her before it’s too late.
Beth is trying to live her life after the attack and is taking small steps to get back to normal when her whole world is turned on it’s head.
Josh saved her life once before but can he do it again?
This is a brilliant read and it will have you on the edge of your seat during the final pages.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc.

I have read the first three books of the Lucy Harwin series by this same author and enjoyed them all very much.

But sadly I was not nearly as impressed with the Beth Adams or Josh Walker characters. The story line felt predictable and stale ("Been there. Done that"). Beth, in particular, felt unreal. She's apparently still traumatized by an attempt on her life seven years ago and yet she goes off to investigate the first and second victim's lives of this story on her own??? All the while locking herself in after dark and jumping at shadows? Oh, she's also apparently very attractive to most all men that come into her orbit and thinks of them often (when she's not busy shaking in her shoes). Josh also has unresolved "issues". The "psychologically damaged" protagonists are really getting to be overdone for my tastes. At some point the story goes from interesting and engaging over to yawning incredulity.

2.0 stars

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Beth Adams is a forensic pathologist and has a new case that is disturbing from the very outset. There is a body to be exhumed as there is a case that presented more questions. While the grave site staff are undertaking the task, they are shocked to find another body underneath the casket.

Beth dives right into the case, but is dealing with the aftermath of an attack she experienced in her home previously. While on the current case, she returns home one night only to discover that two of her security cameras are not operating. This makes Beth very nervous and is more than a bit distracted when it comes to her job.

But, answers must be found as to the identity of the woman they found so she dives into her investigation. Beth is working alongside Detective Josh Walker and the two are old friends. I can already anticipate their relationship to surpass the professional one they have now.

When another woman turns up missing, Beth and Josh work hard and as quickly as possible to hopefully save her the same destiny as the first woman. What Beth does not know is that things are much closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

What a great start to a new series! I love Beth. She is broken, yet strong. She experienced a horrific trauma yet made something out of her life. Quite naturally, since she was a pathologist, my mind went to the television show, Quincy. So, I am eager to see other cases she works on so that she can make a difference for survivors of other victims.

Helen Phifer is new to me, but I will definitely follow this series. I love her writing style and the fact that it shows evidence of good research. She gave me characters that I admire and that I want to read more about. This book comes highly recommended.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Often crime series put the police in the picture, but this time we have a wonderful collaboration between police and a forensic pathologist, with the doctor on the biggest stage.

I don't like blood at all, but I am very fascinated by everything the CSI does. I would not want to have to watch a PM but I am often stunned by what they can find out with the smallest of evidence.

I also love crime series where the main characters have a history and Beth certainly has and she is not home free yet.

The author shows us that even a truckload of security systems can't give you a 100% warranty and that the person you trusted the most is often the one you should have avoided.

A very good start to a new series. Looking forward to Beth Adams #2

Thank you, Helen Phifer, Bookouture and Netgalley.

A body is discovered in a grave during an exhumation but this one is not in a coffin. Dr Beth Adams is responsible for the autopsy. Plenty action, a fast pace and a list of suspects will keep the reader engrossed. I liked the character development between Beth and Josh as well as the beautiful setting of the Lake District. I enjoyed this book with it's likeable characters and have no hesitation in recommending the read. The author sucks you in from the very first page. My thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for my ARC. Reviews on Goodreads and Facebook with Amazon to follow on publication day.

Forensic pathology, a branch of medicine which completely fascinates me. In my alternate lifetime, I hope to become one. This entire story was based on the findings of forensic pathologist Dr Beth Adams.

A dead girl found beneath the coffin of an exhumed body was the start of the investigation which followed the convoluted roads of the past and present where Beth found herself to be in the eye of the storm. But nobody could be safe in the midst of the rampaging winds, and Beth was soon embroiled in a case which brought out the nightmares of the past.

My first book by Helen Phifer, it was nail biting to get to the perp. I was completely blindsided when the truth was finally revealed. I loved how Beth was etched with professionalism along with depths of a personal life. She was a person of contrasts, scared of living, loved the dead. She could fight but was scared enough to have a safe room at home. She lived amongst people but was alone.

Detective Josh Walker was a good support to her, there was trust and a great rapport between them. The hints of love had just started in this book. A common past which bound them together. Then came my infamous niggles, I wanted Beth to have a bigger role in the book. I wanted more of her. But this did not hamper my enjoyment of this book.

Helen's writing was smooth, the chapters short and snappy. There was a freshness in the way they were written. I loved the speed with which I turned the pages, the book was so easy to read. Overall, I want book 2 as soon as possible as Beth made quite an impact on me. A fun midnight read.

Honestly, I had a difficult time getting into this book and wound up not finishing it. I made it 20% before deciding it wasn't for me. My issues with The Girl in the Grave were mostly do to a sense of mediocrity. I didn't feel engaged in the plot. The writing is serviceable, but there are a lot of characters introduced right off the bat, I suppose to widen the suspect pool. Ultimately, this book just fell flat but I would consider reading another one of Phifer's books in the future.

The Girl in the Grave is a promising start to the Beth Adams series. Beth is a Forensic Pathologist who has had a traumatic event in her past that she’s trying to get over. She’s trying to help Detective Josh Walker solve a horrific murder. I found it to be a little slow in the beginning. But when it picked up, I didn’t want to put it down. I really enjoyed Beth gaining her confidence through the book. Looking forward to learning more about these characters.

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Girl In The Grave’ by Helen Phifer in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A member of Florence Wright’s family makes a request to have her body exhumed just eight weeks after her burial. When her coffin is lifted from the ground those surrounding the grave are shocked to discover a second body underneath, that of teenager Chantel Price. DS Josh Walker, together with Dr Beth Adams the Forensic Pathologist for the Lake District, work together to discover why nobody reported Chantel missing and who wanted her dead. When another woman disappears they know that time is running out before her body is also found.

‘The Girl In The Grave’ has been well-written with an engaging plot, twists and turns and believable characters. Dr Beth Adams is interesting as she has history that’s revealed during the story, and I feel her personal as well as her working relationship with DS Josh Walker could lead to greater things. Not the most exciting thriller I’ve come across but it’s okay, and although I worked out early on who was responsible for the crimes it’s still an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from Helen Phifer.

I have never read a book by Helen Phifer that I didn't like and this book was no exception. I finished this book in about four hours because I had to know how it ended before I went to bed. Beth Adams is a bad ass woman and I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

It all began when the exhumation revealed a body under the coffin – the girl in the grave had been there for the weeks since the funeral. Who was it? And how did she get there?

Dr Beth Adams, forensic pathologist to the police of Cumbria in the Lake District was called in. Her good friend Detective Josh Walker was on the scene and with the constant rain, the tent covered the grave site, which was a crime scene. Beth herself had suffered a brutal attack seven years prior and was still coming to terms with her near death. But Josh had been the one constant she could rely on.

As Josh’s team tried to find the perpetrator of the girl in the grave’s death, another young woman went missing. The race was on – but still they couldn’t find where the killer was keeping his victims. With Josh finally getting a little closer, suddenly Beth was in danger once again. Would she escape with her life this time?

The Girl in the Grave by Helen Phifer is my first by this author and it was gripping, intense and fast paced. I had worked out the killer quite early in the piece, but still enjoyed the tale right to the conclusion. Recommended to fans of psychological thrillers.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Girl in the Grave’ is written with a clear and straightforward narrative style that makes for a decent read. It doesn’t go beyond that for me, I felt there was more potential with the plot idea than what was delivered. The characters are engaging enough, but some of their dialogue seemed quite unrealistic to me. I can’t quite get to grips fully with why the dialogue and some syntax alienated me at times.
I enjoyed the crime at the heart of the book and the depth to our MC Beth, who is dealing with the aftermath of a terrible attack. Her working and personal relationship with Josh is interesting, but I wanted more angst! The forensic pathology seemed well researched and worked well to aid the plot. Although you can see who is the culprit quite early on, it doesn’t matter and it’s a good journey getting to the climax.
Overall this was a decent read.

Good book, keeps the pages turning. It was definitely descriptive and made me visualize being in the story. Who "dun it" was a bit of a surprise, and the ending was satisfying. I would read this author again, very well written, engaging storyline and characters.

I enjoyed the story a lot. The plot moved quickly and the characters were very well developed. The main character was very simpathetic. I'm curious to see if more people ties to the killers will pop up in future books.

This is the first book in the Beth Adams series. Beth is a forensic pathologist with a past that has left her very wary of strangers and almost OCD about her personal safety. She is close friends with DS Josh Walker and they find themselves investigating the murder of a young girl whose body has been found under the coffin of someone else. As another girl goes missing there is now a race to find her before she is killed.
The book certainly opens in a way that will grab the readers interest and the pace doesn’t really let up from that moment. Not only is there the investigation into the murder and the abduction but there is also someone stalking Beth. What you have to work out is are these two incidents related or is there something more for the team to be worried about.
Even though this was the first in the series I found it easy to connect with the main characters as the author has clearly taken time to ensure that they are not one dimensional and have a great rapport with each other. Josh certainly has a great working relationship with his team and although he doesn’t always want to play everything exactly by the book, they will always back him in his decisions regarding the case. Some of the humour in the book came from his disregard to procedure and his teams response to the inevitable telling off that he gets. Throughout the book you also learn about his history with Beth and what happened to make her the way she is. There is definitely something between them and as Beth slowly starts to trust and open up, she can admit this to herself. It will be interesting to see where that relationship goes going forward.
Although there were slight hints as to the reasons for the murders, I will admit I was not expecting the revelation as to who the perpetrator was and the links to Beth finally became clear with a little help from a totally unexpected source. The Girl in the Grave is a great start to this series and it will be interesting to see what Beth winds up in the middle of next.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping new book in a new series

this story pulled me right in, think scarpetta and quincy...and you are on the right track, though this doctor is a survivor of her own attack by her husband but she is fighting back to regain her self esteem

this starts with a girl waking up and not knowing where she is or how she got there...then she realises that she is somewhere dark and there isnt a lot of room

an exhumation is ordered and once the coffin is raised that isnt all that is found in the grave...another body but whose is it...

love how this story rolled together and how the characters mixed together, flowed really well have to say another author to add my list of authors to keep an eye out for

The Girl in the Grave by Helen Phifer is the first of a series focused on forensic pathologist Beth Adams. This was my introduction to the writing of Ms Phifer, and I am definitely left wanting more.

The body of a young woman is found in an occupied grave, and forensic pathologist Beth Adams is called into the case. Having recently survived an attack of her own, Beth knows that she must throw herself into the case, leaving the safety of her secure home. Working with friend DS Josh Walker gives Beth a sense of security, until her own life becomes endangered yet again. Can Josh and Beth work together to stop a killer before he strikes again?

This is a fast-paced police procedural with just enough twists to keep you guessing. I was delighted to discover this series at its very beginning, and look forward to becoming privy to Beth's future forays into the fascinating world of forensics.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

What a great start to a new series from Helen Phifer. The Girl in the Grave is a really fast paced police procedural, but the main character Beth Adams is a forensic pathologist so we get the story from a different angle. Beth is a threat character, broken and damaged but starting to get her life back after being assaulted in her own home. Her friendship with Detective Josh Walker is nice. I am looking forward to learning more about Beth and the people around her.

This book starts with the victim, realising that they are not where they thought they were. Flash forward and a body is being exhumed for further investigation. It is in this process that a second body is found in the same grave- enter Beth Adams and Josh Walker. Beth is horrified by the discovery and tries o help find who would do this. She is still traumatised from an assault and feels that she is being watched. Is she being paranoid or is somebody out to get her?

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

Love this book! Girl in the Grave is the beginning of a new crime thriller series. Forensic pathologist Dr Beth Adams is called to an exhumation, at which another body is found - in the same grave. As the mystery begins to slowly unravel, we get a glimpse into Beth's life, her past, and the attack which nearly left her for dead.

This book is fast-paced and kept me guessing to the end. There were some elements of this book that were a little far-fetched (will not mention them due to spoilers) but overall this was an enjoyable read. Beth is a great characters and I'm looking forward to more books in this series!