This is a complicated story but we’ll worth persisting with. Emily is on of a small clique of senior pupils almost ready to find their own way in the world. She falls pregnant when overdosing on drugs and doesn’t remember who the father is. Then she is killed. Forty years later her unsolved murder is is interest to Andrea Oliver, newly appointed to be a U.S. Marshall but more importantly on witness protection because her father is in gaol for murder and is a threat to her and her mother Laura. He is also the prime suspect to be the racist father of Emily’s child Judith. Andrea is appointed to protect a judge, Emily’s mother. She wants to know if she is Judith’s half sister. That involves re-examining the unsolved case and investigating the men who were at the party where it all happened. It can be demanding on the reader to know who the original boys are now and sometimes they are called by a different name but the book is a good read with a gripping finale. I recommend it.

Wow! This book captured my attention right from the beginning and would not let it go. The flips between past and present were seamless, gradually piecing together the story of what really happened to Emily. I haven't read a thriller this good since Gone Girl.

The treatment of Emily was despicable and made me extremely grateful that I was not born in an era where women were shamed for being pregnant - well, not really. There was so much about this book that was horrifying, and I was desperate for Andrea to find justice for Emily.

The ending seemed to leave off implying a sequel so I'm very excited for what's next for Andrea.

Rating: 3.3/5

I have not read "Pieces of Her", nor have I seen Netflix adaptation of it, so I came to this book with no prior knowledge of the character of Andrea Oliver. If you find yourself in the same situation, then I am pleased to say that I didn't find that it was a barrier to enjoying "Girl, Forgotten" in its own right. Of course, it is perfectly possible that readers familiar with book one may have been able to appreciate certain elements more fully, but Karin Slaughter does a perfectly decent job of introducing the essential background information into the narrative, so that new readers are put suitably in the picture. That aspect aside, the central mystery contained in "Girl, Forgotten" works perfectly well in isolation and does not require you to be familiar with the first book in the series.

There is a lot to like about this novel. The core structure is essentially that of a procedural (it cannot really be referred to as a "police procedural", because the investigating officers are US Marshals rather than cops). The narrative alternates between two timeframes - the present day and the time around the murder of Emily Vaughn in 1982. I liked the nostalgic elements of the 1982 sections and readers of a certain age will, no doubt, take some pleasure in being reminded of some of the socio-cultural references made. I also admired the characterisation of the two lead investigators in the contemporary setting - Andrea Oliver and her experienced partner, Deputy Leonard "Catfish" Bible. The relationship and interaction between the two is skilfully portrayed and suggests that the author may have been laying the foundations for future books featuring this pair.

The aspect that I was less taken with was the pace of the novel. There were periods in the central block of the story when it felt more drawn out than it really needed to be and this detracted from the overall impact of the narrative. I have made a similar observation when reviewing Karin Slaughter's writing previously, so it does appear to be a deliberate stylistic choice on her part. At the end of the day, this review is purely a personal viewpoint and I am sure that there are also many readers who find this approach appealing - and the author's repeated success would underline that! Nonetheless, this is a well-structured and enjoyable story that is well worth adding to your reading list.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

This was different from other books I've read by this author, but definitely a page-turner in my opinion. The characters were easy to visualise and the plot easily wove various storylines into one. The ending was also a surprise. I'm hoping for more books featuring these Marshals.

It’s a decent read though heavily reliant on knowledge of book one. I struggled with it a bit to be honest and I feel it was written with the Netflix “pieces of her” sequel in mind. That said I will always read a Karin Slaughter. I do like the Andrea character and the focus on the US marshals service is new and interesting.

I have to admit I was surprised to see Karin Slaughter resurrect Andrea Oliver in this tense thriller, first encountered in Pieces of Her, but her character has been developed and transformed as she completes her training and becomes a US Marshal here, something her parents, Laura and Gordon, are far from happy about. 4 decades ago, at Longbill Beach in 1982, kind, conscientious and hardworking student, 17 year old Emily Vaughn, heavily pregnant, sets out to attend the Prom, despite being ostracised and a pariah in the local community and a school student body that treat her with utter contempt. Barefoot, in pain, she pushes aside all attempts to deter her from going to the prom from the likes of teacher Dean Wexler, this includes threats and physical violence, was it her secrets that resulted in her being murdered later that night?

This is a cold case with links to Andrea's imprisoned birth father, the psychopath Clayton Morrow, aka Nicholas Harp, who is up for parole in 6 months, she plans to secretly investigate the cold case in which he is a suspect. Her first assignment as a Marshal is to help protect a judge, Esther Vaughn, Emily's mother, who has been receiving credible death threats. Her partner and mentor is the experienced Marshal Leonard 'Catfish' Bible, whose relationship with his boss and wife, Deputy Chief Cecilia Compton provide some much needed comic moments in what is otherwise an extremely dark narrative that takes us back to the past. This includes Emily embarking on a Columbo like investigation of the night of which she has no memory, in which she was given an acid tab and left to handle the devastating life altering repercussions, with no idea of how she got pregnant or by whom.

In the present, Andrea looks into Emily's clique of 'friends', Clay, Blake, Nardo and Ricky, all revoltingly nasty pieces of work. She and Catfish come across a harrowing young woman's suicide on a fava bean farm owned by Wexler, running a cult with female 'volunteers' that resemble walking corpses. This is a compulsive read, loaded with suspense and tension, that had me gripped from beginning to end. The author does a wonderful job in depicting a green and apprehensive Andrea slowly coming to terms with her new role as a US Marshal, ably trained and supported by Catfish with his rules. This crime thriller will appeal to fans of Karin Slaughter and other crime and mystery readers too. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I didn't like the first book and found the show incredibly boring. This was better than the first. I enjoyed the past and present chapters. Very different from other karin slaughter books. Not as violent or gory. One to read.

Another corker by Karin Slaughter. I really enjoyed this one, she is very much back to her best. It's so hard to review thrillers without giving away anything that will spoil the twist for you, so I'll just say 'Read it!'

My first bit of advice would be to cancel all important events when you decide to read "Girl, Forgotten"! I loved it.

Karin Slaughter is one of my favourite authors and with this title she is her engaging, thought-provoking self. I found as the story developed it was difficult not to want to know what happened. I read half the book in a day, between working, looking after my family and housework. The way the story is developed, flipping between the two timelines, keeps the reader hooked enough to just want to keep reading.
The book is focused on Andi and her development after "Pieces of Her" and the revelations about her mother and father. She has to adjust who she thought she was and all that she has thought about herself and background. To do this she joins the Marshal Service and moves away, in effect trying to reject her past to try and find her future. This takes the shape of keeping her father behind bars which leads to trying to solve the 40 year old murder of Emily Vaughn. If you like Karin Slaughter you will love this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the advance reading copy and to Karin Slaughter for her talent!

Thank you to netgalley and HarperCollins for access to this text!

I didn’t realise that this was a #2 when I requested it, and perhaps this influenced my experience. It heavily relied upon the backstory from book 1. I didn’t really get to know Andrea as a character which impacted my reading. I would highly recommend reading the first book before diving into this one. I also prefer standalone thrillers.

I enjoyed the start of the novel being set in 1982. However, I felt the pace dipped following this, to later pick back up. I realise that this may not be for everyone.

It was still an enjoyable thriller - gruesome and exciting. I was invested. However, some times things felt unnecessary with too much going on. Perhaps being a bit shorter and more fast paced would make up for this.

I love Karin Slaughters books and I really appreciate being able to read an advance copy although I would of bought this, but Girl Forgotten isn’t Karin Slaughter at her best, it is the sequel to Pieces of her and mainly focuses on Andrea who has just qualified as a US Marshal and is partnered with a character called Catfish Bible, the story jumps between the present and 40 years in the past where a young pregnant girl is beaten half to death & subsequently dies and the killer is never found. The problem I had was that the characters were quite one dimensional as there was no connection for me between any of them Andrea is ruled by her fears & wanting to prove she’s not ( although not surprising when you consider the revelations from the first book) and none of the other characters (apart from Mike who was under used) were very relatable. All in all it’s a good book but unfortunately not great.

I adore Karin Slaughter, her books just keep getting better and better. I really enjoyed this story. Emily I felt so sad for her. The clique were all a horrible bunch of people and Emily deserved so much better. Will be recommending this book and I can't wait for the next book in this series or the next Will and Sara.

This is the second book in the Andrea Oliver series
Emily Rose Vaughn seventeen discovers she’s pregnant and it lines up with a party she went to and had a tab of acid but she doesn’t remember anything so when she start asking her friends and starts remembering pieces of that night she starts to see what her friends are really like until she’s murdered in 1982 in longbill beach
Andrea Oliver is newly qualified US marshal she gets posted to protect the federal judge who’s been getting death treat’s and she’s also been asked to investigate the unsolved murder of the judges daughter forty years ago of Emily Vaughn and to see if she can find any links to the prisoner Nicholas Harp formally Clayton Morrow who’s serving forty eight year sentence for conspiracy to commit acts of domestic terrorism but is due for parole also Andrea’s father a psychopathic cult leader bent on mass murder and she doesn’t want him to remain in prison
I really enjoyed and totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and HarperCollins Uk HarperFiction
I just reviewed Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter. #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!!

I LOVE Karin Slaughter so I was thrilled to be approved for this book!! I love that there has been a 2nd book written and I really hope this turns into a series!!

This gave everything as always from Slaughter! Kept you guessing throughout with plenty of twists and turns. You begin to love (and hate) some characters....the story just takes you and I really couldn't put this down!!

Highly recommend!!

I'm reviewing? A KARIN SLAUGHTER book????
FEELS SO UNREAL. I never expected to be approved for this copy and guess who screamed aloud when received the mail? This girl.
Karin Slaughter never fails to deliver and she does it again in here.

Girl, Forgotten by Karen Slaughter is the second book in a series, the first book was called Pieces of Her.
Andrea has finished her training as a US Marshall and her first assignment is look to after a Judge who has been getting death threats in the mail.
Years before the judges teenage daughter was attacked and murdered.
I enjoy this book better the the first book in the series, probably because I was familiar with the characters and their backgrounds.
A good thriller with some twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Girl Forgotten Karin Slaughter

5 stars

A brilliant story linking the past and the present.

Karin Slaughter is one of my favourite authors and I have read many of her books. I reviewed her previous book ‘False Witness’ and although the story was good as always I found some of it too graphic and too much influenced by including the Covid pandemic in the storyline.

In this book the author has returned to what she is best at, a gripping plot which keeps you guessing. The story starts in 1982 when 17 year old Emily Vaughan, with her whole future ahead of her, takes a drug at a party with her 4 best friends and wakes up outside her house in a terrible state and no memory of what has happened to her. It soon becomes apparent that she has been raped as she discovers that she is pregnant. But who could have done this to her. It can only be one of her 3 male friends, Clay Morrow, Nardo Fontaine, Eric Blakely or a young teacher, Dean Wexler, whom she vaguely remembers bringing her home.

After seven months of complete misery, Emily has been totally ostracised by all her friends and the community of Longbill Beach, the small place where she lives. In an effort to show that she is not completely cowed by her experiences, Emily decides to go to her school prom. Shortly afterwards her body is discovered badly beaten up, Emily is put in an induced coma in order for her daughter, Judith, to be born and she subsequently dies.

We then move forward to the present day and are introduced to Andrea Oliver, a 32 year old who has just become a United States Marshall. Her first job is to be assigned as a guard to Judge Esther Vaughan who happens to be Emily’s mother. However what no one knows, apart from Andrea’s on-off partner, Mike Vergas, is that Andrea’s father was Clay Morrow who is now in prison although he is now called Nick Harper. Andrea and her mother Laura have no communication with him but are terrified that he may be granted parole.

Andrea is determined to solve the mystery surrounding Emily’s rape and murder but without anyone knowing of her link to one of the suspects.

The book jumps between Emily’s story back in 1982 and Andrea’s own story in the present day. Sometimes I have found this confusing in other books that I have read but this did not happen here. The whole story is gradually built up until we learn the truth and as in any good book of this genre it is not the ending that I expected. There are also lots of other characters caught up in this story but they all added to the plot and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am sure it will appeal not only to Karin Slaughter fans but anyone who likes books of this type.


Karen Deborah

What an absorbing read!
Heart-stopping in one breath and then heartbreaking the next.
such a good read i couldn't put it down.
Some secrets will stay with you to the grave, but to be murdered for surely it cannot be that bad? can it?
With twist and turns this book just keeps you turning pages desperate to find out what happened.

As a huge fan of this author I found her new book very different in both storyline and characters although still delivering the usual high standard of writing with a hugely enjoyable mystery involving a set of interesting three dimensional characters Andrea, a recent graduate of the federal marshals office is offered the prime task of guarding a senator and family who have received death threats. This assignment is linked not only to a personal trauma in her own family’s life but one that may be related with a tenuous tie in to the politicians back story. Two separate time frames,; two families striving to overcome the traumatic violence and dysfunction of their past , and a young inexperienced federal marshal struggling to fulfil her duties as a security presence with that of solving a historical murder . Gripping mystery delivering an unexpected conclusion resolving the many questions raised as the story unfolds. Looking hopefully forward to seeing if this naive inexperienced protagonist will figure in more of this authors excellent books. Many thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for giving me an ARC of Girl, Forgotten. I couldn't wait to read this book after reading the first book in the series. Although given to me free of charge, I would have purchased this book myself upon release and it would not effect my review in the slightest!

Wow! Girl, Forgotten was a rollercoaster ride I was kind of expecting having just finished Pieces of Her. I will say now, you need to read Pieces of Her before reading this book. I won't say its essential, but you get more of a feel for Andy and how she is (Plus just how she has grown since that book) and of how her relationship is with her mother Laura (And trust me that book was so good, you just need to read it anyway). That aside, Girl, Forgotten is an amazing mystery which I don't even want to discuss. I don't want to talk about The Clique and what each of them are like. I don't want to talk about Emily and what happened to her. I don't even want to talk about Esther or any of the family. Why you may ask? By talking about any of them I'm giving you my opinion of them which is now influenced because I have read the book and know how it ends. Did I work out the mystery and the murderer? No I didn't. There are strong red herrings which make total sense, but whether they are actually right you'll have to read it to know.

I loved that Andy finally has a 'direction' in her life with the Marshalls, I also loved her partner in this book too. I liked seeing Mike again, but like with Pieces of Her, romance for Andy isn't the 'forefront' of the story. Its a subtle side line which Karin (Author) tells you just enough of to give you a taste without overshadowing everything else.

I literally consumed this story. Even when my other half wanted to watch a film I'd begged him to watch my mind was on this book. I'm finding the more I read of Karin's book I realise how much I love her writing style, her mysteries and her characters. She is becoming a favourite author of mine and I highly recommend her. As I said win my disclaimer at the beginning, this book was gifted to me but I would have happily purchased it on its release. Just as when the third book in the Andrea Oliver series is announced that too will be added to my list to preorder (Less I am lucky enough to be selected on NG again to get an ARC). A solid 4 star read, I highly rate this book and recommend it to those who like a good mystery with a likeable strong female lead.