Agent Tori Hunter works for the FBI as part of a team that helps bring kidnapped children home safe.  And she's great at what she does.  But when a woman goes missing from her hometown, in a manner similar to her sister's disappearance 20 years ago she feels compelled to go back home, consequences be damned.  

The killer made sure Tori would take notice.  He sent her the news clipping with a note.  Why does he want her home after all this time?  Is she playing right into his hands? 

It would seem that way, but the killer has no idea who he's dealing with.  Tori isn't the same girl who left all those years ago.  And she's determined to bring him down and find out what happened to her sister. 

Things I enjoyed:  

*The killer was not easily identifiable, I thought I knew who it was until 75% of the way through when I realized I had no clue. I love a good twist and this had a couple!  

*Tori tried to take charge.  Often times, in novels, I see some specialist come along and talk about all the ways they're better than the detective (their training, insights, persistence etc) and it can come across as derogatory towards actual detectives.  Here Tori tried pushing her FBI weight around but the author gave his detective a backbone and intelligence worthy of it. 

*Multi points of view- We read from Tori's POV, the detective's and even a few thoughts of the killer.  

*Tori was called away on an FBI matter and we got a glimpse into her life doing what she does best.  

Complaints:

The majority of the novel was fast-paced but there were a few parts that I felt dragged and so I skimmed.  Finally, while I couldn't predict the killer, I foresaw the ubiquitous enemies to lovers plot from their first argument. 

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

In 1999 17 year old Jessie Hunter from Manchester Bay in Shepard County, Minnesota, disappears after the town’s 4 July celebrations, never to be seen again. Her car is later found abandoned on a back road with a flat front tyre, it had been slashed. In 2019 27 year old Genevieve Lash disappears from Manchester Bay after the town’s 4 July celebrations and is not seen again. Her car is found abandoned on a back road not far from her home with a flat front tyre, also slashed. In New York, Tori Hunter, the twin sister of the girl who went missing 20 years ago, who is now an FBI agent, is sent a press clipping of the 1999 disappearance and a note to look up the current news in Manchester Bay. She surmises that’s she is being summoned by the killer. As she also thinks it’s about time she found out what exactly happened to her sister she heads back home for the first time in 20 years.

This time the investigation is being headed up by Shepard County Chief Detective Will Braddock, formerly from NYPD. He and Tori work together to try and find a link between the two disappearances 20 years apart. Tori is convinced the culprit is a local man. But things soon escalate. Someone tries to shoot Tori while she is on her morning run and, later that day, Braddock’s car explodes as he uses the remote starter (just as well he used that baby)! The detectives are also looking for similar crimes over the years in the general area. What they find astounds them in terms of sheer numbers. And when they analyse the data, it points to someone that no one suspected. How could Tori have been so wrong? But there is more than a little misdirection going on here and the danger is not over yet! This was a good story that seems to fit squarely in the police procedural genre. It will appeal to fans of crime thrillers and general mysteries. There was nothing earth shattering here but it was, nevertheless, an enjoyable story to read. 3.5 stars rounded up. My thanks go to Netgalley, Bookouture and Roger Stelljes for providing a copy of the book. My opinions are my own.

This just wasn't for me.  While the writing was good I just can't put my finger on it but there were just issues I had with it

Silenced Girls – Roger Stelljes

As a preface to this review, I have to say that I discovered Roger Stelljes and his work a few years ago, after receiving an ‘authors you may like’ email from Amazon. He, within the first few chapters of that first book, became a favorite author of mine, and his character in that series, Mac McRyan, could stand up any number of characters I enjoy reading – Lucas Davenport & Harry Bosch, for example. Imagine my surprise when I discovered him here on Netgalley – and with a new character to boot! To my delight, this new character, Tori Hunter, is also amazing, and I cannot wait to read more of her exploits. I feel like I say that about a lot of books I read, but I’ve just found so many fabulous writers here!

Twenty years ago, in Manchester Bay, MN, on the 4th of July, after a night of celebrating with high school friends, Victoria “Tori” Hunter’s twin sister Jessie disappeared, her car found empty on lonely stretch of road. Despite a lengthy investigation into her disappearance, no trace of her was ever found.  Now, out of the blue, another woman has gone missing, on the same night, in eerily similar circumstances…

FBI Special Agent Tori Hunter has just finished a run around downtown Manhattan, when her doorman hands her a stack of mail.  A specialist in child abductions with the Behavioral Analysis Unit, she lives and works in NY City. As her stack of mail falls, she finds and opens a handwritten envelope, only to find a news clipping of her sister’s disappearance, and a typed note telling her to check her hometown newspaper.  Tori does so, immediately seeing the similarities to her sister’s disappearance, and swiftly makes plans to return to her childhood home. 

As she attempts to insert herself into the investigation, she initially finds herself at odds with the chief detective, Will Braddock. Desperate to be accepted, she and Will discuss their differences and are able to form an uneasy alliance. As the investigation heats up, and they begin re-interviewing people from 20 years ago, Tori wonders what the killer has done for those intervening years, and slowly identifies a string of similar murders in various other states in the Midwest. Will tentatively identifies a suspect, who later turns up dead, by suicide. The town is ready to close the case, but Tori just isn’t so sure….

I cannot say enough about Mr. Stelljes, and his writing! He grabs your attention from the first page and keeps you turning pages well into the night, just to discover what happens next!! I thought I had the killer identified fairly early, but I was all wrong.  Loaded with suspense, plot twists, a touch of romance and a strong, yet vulnerable protagonist, this book has everything you need to settle in for a long, satisfying read, and will leave you wanting more! I can’t wait to read more of Tori Hunter!

This is the first book in the Agent Tori Hunter series.

Agent Tori Hunter returns home to Manchester Bay, Minnesota after a woman named Genevieve goes missing on the 20th anniversary of the disappearances of Tori's twin sister.  Not only that the killer sends Tori a newspaper clipping drawing her into the case.

Tori ends up having to figure out who is friend and who is foe in the town where she grew up but has not returned to since the death of her father.

Will Agent Hunter find the killer before another woman goes missing?

I found this book captivating and well written.  I would definitely read more books in this series.

This is the first time I have read anything by this author but I thoroughly enjoyed this author's writing.

Silenced Girls is the first in a new series from Rober Stelljes featuring FBI agent Tori Hunter. 
Promised more than it delivered, enjoyable overall but with some flaws. 

The set up is great. We first meet Tori as a teenager as she is being questioned by the police as her twin sister has gone missing. Tori is heartbroken as the two were inseparable. 

Fast forward 20 years and Tori now lives in New York working as an FBI agent specialising in child missing cases. She left her home town not long after he sister went missing and the trail went cold and hasn’t returned since. But when a girl in her hometown goes missing again on the 20th anniversary of her sisters disappearance, and she receives a letter from the abductor goading her, she feels compelled to return to the town she tried to forget and try and help with the case, and face her past demons. 

The opening of the book is great. A great set up and everything zips along. I was all in. As you get further into the book some problems do arise unfortunately. Firstly, the book is just too long for what it is. At least 100 pages too long, if not more. After the riveting opening it settles down and kind of meanders along as the story is slowly etched out. It takes way too long for the story that’s actually there. 
Also the characters go from interesting to incredibly cliched. Tori herself starts off as a really interesting character and remains so for the most part but, she jumps the shark on occasion and spends a chapter or two here and there completely out of character. 

There’s a very solid story in here. Maybe a 350 page story to tell. It’s just tarnished somewhat by the bloated and unnecessary word count. 

It’s good. Not without its faults but still good. When it is good it’s really good. It’s just hard to get away from the unnecessary length of the book. 

My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

This is the first book in a new crime series. It was a suspenseful read which kept me turning the pages.

A catchy cover? A new fbi series based in Minnesota? Sign me up! The book starts quick but slows down a beat. I guessed here and there what was going to happen which isn’t always a bad thing! This is a good start and I’m sure each book will be stronger than the last. I’ll be anxious to see the continued story of Agent Tori!

A girl goes missing, and the presumed abduction has similarities to another missing person's case of years ago. The twin sister, now an FBI agent, of the girl that went missing 20 years ago, returns to her home town with hopes to find out what happened to her sister all those years ago.

The plot seemed so promising but it just didn't live up to my expectations. Nothing wrong with it but I just found it so cliched, both the plot and the characters. It started out really good and gripping but somewhere in the middle, it all fizzled out, and I struggled to continue. It was just very very run-of-the-mill for me. The ending was contrived and satisfying, but the reason for the crime was just oh-so-predictable! It was like watching a 90's chick-flick murder mystery right down to the ending. So if that's your thing, go for it, you are in for a ride!

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley, author, and publishers. All opinions are my own.

This is one of those books that as soon as your done you want to read the next in the series. I honestly can't say anything bad about this book it has a great female lead character, great story line and lots of mystery. Tori's twin sister disappears one night and after going back to her hometown years later Tori soon learns her sister is just the first of many women who have disappeared in her hometown. I couldn't figure out who the serial killer was I suspected but this book took you on some twists to make sure you never really figured it out. I would give this book more stars if I could. I think anyone who loves a great suspense book will enjoy ready. Brilliant! Look forward to another book in this series.

My thanks to Bookoutre, Roger Stelljes and Netgalley.
I haven't a negative thing to say about this book. I absolutely loved and was equally horrified by the story.
The setting was magnificent! It just was. I'm often astounded by the beauty of Minnesota, but seldom read of upper Minnesota. Wowsers! 
I even loved the romance. Thankfully, not too much, but it made sense.
Much to my delight, I've discovered that I already own 2 of this authors books! Does that mean I'll be reading them? Honestly? Probably not. I love Tori, and will definitely be reading more of herstory! "See what I did there!" But, the St. Paul thing? Maybe. .eventually. For now? Mr. Stelljes has hooked me on these books.
Also, am I the only one who was waiting for that "F**king Flowers to show up, just towing his fishing boat behind?" 
 Great story, Mr. Stelljes. Encore!

Thanks in appreciation for allowing me to read this book and for introducing me to this author. This is the first I've read but my God it certainly won't be the last!!
I was totally emersed and engrossed from the first page. 
It was fast paced and gripping, all the things I love. Loads of twists. 
I would highly recommend it.

This book was recommended by one of my favorite authors, so I was thrilled to have been able to get an arc of it. What a story. It has twists you don’t see coming and it’s almost impossible to put down. I will certainly be looking up any of the authors other books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Roger Stelljes for providing me with a copy of Silenced Girls in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of SILENCED GIRLS  In exchange for an honest review.  

Roger Stelljes introduces a new series with FBI agent Tori Hunter as the main protagonist.  The book starts off with a great hook! .The interesting plot line has a good pace with Interesting characters and good dialogue. The momentum builds to a gripping climax.... then kind of fizzles.  I believe I was disappointed because I figured out there was a problem with the police investigation before the officials realized it. Two red herrings were obviously just that.   There was tension, but not the edge-of-your-seat suspense kind.  The pace slowed and it became  frustrating that the FBI didn’t pursue some  rather obvious lines of investigation.  However, it did keep my interest throughout!   The climax seemed contrived and therefore was not as suspenseful or gripping as I would have hoped.  The conclusion was anti-climactic, yet satisfying. Tori Hunter’s character will be developed more in future installments, I am sure.  I look forward to her new adventures as a retired FBI agent!

Mr. Stelljes’ first series featuring Mac McRyan is one you won’t want to miss reading.  In all fairness, I admit to comparing Mac with Tori.... and Mac’s character is much sharper, rounder  and more dynamic.  Mr. Stelljes is a great story teller and I have read all of his books!  And I will continue doing so!

A brilliant start to what will hopefully be a long series
A 17 year ld girl leaves her home town shortly after her twin sister goes missing
20 years later, and now an FBI agent working in New York Agent Tori Hunter gets a letter telling her to look at a similar case. Another girl has gone missing from from the same town on the 20th Anniversary of her sisters disappearance, and under very similar circumstances.  The issue with the invitation is it was sent the day before the girl went missing
A return-home story, a psychological thriller, and a great crime thriller all rolled into one story.

This first book in a new series has potential, because I like Tori Hunter. She’s working for the FBI and is specialized in child abductions. She leads a lonely life, and has a past that she wants to forget, but can’t.  She gets drawn back to her hometown when a woman, and another go missing. She hasn’t been back since her dad’s funeral...

The premises are good, and the plot works. The writing flows well, but the book is too long. Sometimes I complain that authors leave too much out, and I get confused, because I think I missed something and I go back looking for it, but it’s not there. This time around everything is there, which means it’s a bit too much. 

I like the small town, a town that has changed a lot over the years. There were too many characters for me to keep a tab on everyone. I hope Tori will be back. If you enjoyed detailed police procedures, and small town drama, this could be a book for you! 3,5 stars.

She moved far away to try and forget her past. 

This book had me hooked from the start! 
This was amazing! 
And I was here for it! WoW
The character development was just out of this world. 
You might think you have figured out..... But you don't!

Thanks NetGalley. publisher and author for this ebook!

Mr. Stelljes has a great new character

I really enjoyed this new character from Roger Stelljes. Tori Hunter (not the former Minnesota Twin) is lured back to her home town of Manchester, MN after a women was abducted 20 years after her twin sister disappeared. Now with the FBI, Tori has dedicated her life to finding abducted children. She is career focused and doesn’t have time for anything outside of work.

I really enjoyed the character of Tori as well as a number of the supporting characters in this book.  It took a little bit to determine the responsible party, but I did.  Even with guessing who it was, it still didn’t make the book less enjoyable or make me want to put it down.  I am interested to see how Mr. Stelljes is going to continue this series with the way he ended it.  If you like a good thriller set in Minnesota, this book will be right up your alley.  Thank you to Net Gallery and Bookouture for a free Arc of this boo for an honest review.

Tori Hunter is one of the best new mystery literary characters!! After suffering unimaginable losses as a teen, Tori moves to Boston and leaves Minnesota far behind. She becomes an FBI agent specializing in child abduction cases. Her professional life is on the upswing when a troubling blast-from-the Minnesota past arrives in her daily mail. Drawn back to Minnesota to face the loss that has haunted her since a teen, Tori throws herself into working a very special case. With a fabulous supporting cast including Cal (the sheriff) and her besties from high school, Tori not only navigates this professionally, but also makes some deep realizations personally. I absolutely LOVED this book!!! It's an incredible start to a new series -- and I hope we hear more of Tori Hunter soon! Pick this book up TODAY!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I thought the premise of this book sounded very interesting, but unfortunately that is where my interest stopped. I found it a bit too slow going and couldn't focus on it.