A good book but didn't really take to the characters much. Hopefully book 2 will be a bit more impressive.

Firstly thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this advanced copy of the latest Helen Phifer novel and the first in the Beth Adams series. This is the very first book by this author that I have read and wow what a place to start. Everything about this novel is top notch. The story is totally believable, the characters are realistic and the plot just brilliant. I know the phrase an absolute page turner is used a lot when reviewing books but I can honestly say that description is a perfect fit for this book. I for one will be reading more by this author and I highly recommend this book.

The Girl in the Grave is a one in a million story. Not only does it have a great plot idea but it’s written well and feels truly original.
As a huge thriller / mystery fan I can say it’s like nothing I’ve read before.
So excited for the next one!

Well yet again Helen has achieved it.......another brilliantly written book with the right amount of intrigue……Having read (and loved) all of Helens books I was expecting the inevitable twist in the tale as to who the culprit was, and as always, I was wrong. I am not going to give any of the story away as I think that spoils it for other readers but its excellent.
The way that Helen writes is so descriptive that I can imagine the scene (which in some cases is not always a good thing), all of Helens books are excellent from the Annie Graham ghost books, to Lucy Harwin police detective and now to these new ones with Beth.
If you are looking for a well written suspense/murder/horror/scary novel that will keep you gripped to the last page I seriously suggest giving Helen a try.
Only bad thing I can say about this is that now I have finished, I have a long wait for the next instalment.

What a fabulous start start to a new series featuring forensic pathologist Beth Adams. It starts with a body buried beneath a coffin that is about to be exhumed and from that point the pace just doesn’t let up and as with her previous novels the wonderful Helen Phifer has a knack of drawing you in to a story with characters that are interesting and a good solid plot line that for the life of me I couldn’t work out who the perpetrator was!!
I particularly liked the character of Beth and her struggle to overcome a vicious attack that has left her withdrawn, insecure and living her life as best she can while filling her house with security measures, I thought this really added to a great story and look forward to the next in the series as I think this is definitely going to be a winner and many thanks to Helen Phifer for a wonderful 4+ stars that I can well recommend.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Beth is a forensic pathologist who use to work with the living but when she was a attack she withdrew into herself and change career and now she work with the dead.

When she is call to the cemetery a young teen runaway is found hidden in someone else grave as they learn her name is Chantel and she just turn eighteen a another woman name Annie is taken.

The plot was ok but I was more interest in Beth her struggles with her life and how she trying to live it even though she having a hard time doing it even with the man who attack her is in prison.

Beth and her friend Josh work together to find the killer unaware that someone set their sight on Beth. I can also see it that Beth and Josh might become something because his marriage isn't going great and I don't think I want that because I see friendship chemistry not romantic.

The Girl In The Grave Helen Phifer

Introducing Forensic Pathologist Beth Adams. A woman in her mid-forties who carries the physical and mental scars of an event that happened 7 years ago.

Beth is a great character, she is living in a big house on a lake, in solitude, avoiding unnecessary contact with strangers. The house has the best of security systems and even a panic room. As the main story unfolds a second story describing the events of 7 years ago are told explaining why Beth is so introvert and reclusive.

Having said that she is beginning to come out of herself with the help of a few trusted friends, and one of her best friends is DS Josh Walker.

So when Beth is sent to the scene of an exhumation of a recently buried woman, where a second body has been found underneath the coffin, she is glad to see Josh is there as the head of the Police team.

The investigation into the death of the young woman found in the grave gives Beth a chance to flex her brain, and ignoring her fears, she starts to look at the girl’s death and how she ended up in the grave.

This leads to a closer working relationship with Josh, and Beth actually starts to feel normal again for the first time in years.

Just like all crime thrillers this peace of mind doesn’t last long. Somebody is stalking Beth and starts to leave her little surprise presents.

This story runs along at a cracking pace. It’s a Police Procedural, with Josh and Beth, being the lead characters. It’s a psychological thriller with the stalking of Beth, and the pressure put on her by the crimes which take place during the investigation.

It’s also an introduction to a series which I can’t wait to develop.

The character of Beth is brilliantly written as a vulnerable yet determined woman.

The story that Josh brings is just as enthralling. I had a lot of empathy for this guy.

There seems to be more crime series than ever on the shelves at the moment, and I have to admit to yearning for more one offs where I could just read-and -forget.

But, there is plenty of room on my shelves for Beth Adams, not only will she always be welcome, but I’m looking forward to meeting her again.

Pages: 264
Publisher: Bookouture
Publishing date: 16th July 2017