This was a good police thriller. It was a little slower than I normally read. It was a good story. I did enjoy the book.
Thanks to Net Galley and Joffe for allowing me to receive this ARC.

DNF at page 76. The plot was slow going and I didn't connect with any of the characters. In all fairness, those who have read the previous books in the series will enjoy it but it just wasn't for me.

**Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**

what a fun thriller! i loved all the twists and turns throughout the book and had so much fun reading it. i was quite a bit confused at the beginning as i was unaware this was part of a series, but it was easy to get into the story.

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Girls Upstairs’, book 9 in the Detective Maddie Ives series written by Charlie Gallagher, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The vicious murder of PC Philip Jones at Frant Village Hall sets in motion DI Maddie Hunt and DI Harry Blaker’s hunt for an out-of-control killer that can only end with more bloodshed and tears. Together with the team at Cranbrook Police Station they’re determined to catch the killer of a much-respected member of their police family and get justice for his family.

‘The Girls Upstairs’ is a brilliant action-packed crime thriller with Maddie Ives and Harry Blaker who form a strong working partnership. I’ve been fortunate at having been able to read this series from book one and have enjoyed them all although some have been better than others, but I can honestly say that ‘The Girls Upstairs’ is the best and most exciting one of them all. Despite the odd chapter where the plot seems to slow down, the excitement has gradually increased to a crescendo where I’ve simply been unable to stop reading. With the numerous twists and turns, I guessed there was going to be a surprise towards the end but little did I expect such a shocking tear-jerking result that took me by surprise and had me reaching for a tissue. I can wholeheartedly recommend this novel for anyone who wants to read an outstandingly tense and heart-stopping thriller.

A fast paced and thrilling read!

I’m quite late to this series, having only read the last three of the nine published so far. But I am a fan already! And Charlie Gallagher’s work as a firm favour on my bookshelf.

His narrative is fast paced and quick to the point. Chapters are short, but always left with a cliffhanger, meaning that you could never put the book down after. Just reading a couple of chapters, because you end up staying all night, reading the whole thing!

Told from multiple perspectives including the killer (although we aren’t told the gender or who that person actually is) It’s a real cat and mouse crime fiction, thrille! All of the the characters in it are so well developed that even at book 9. I think you can come in as a new reader and read it as a standalone novel. Within this book you’re given just enough backstory to get you quickly, up-to-date with characters and their history together, whilst also being completely entertained by the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for my arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t particularly enjoy this book. I found the writing to be boring and hard to follow for me. It may be a personal preference but it just wasn’t something I was overly excited about. I will say the story was good and exciting, I just struggled with the writing. I did not write a review on Goodreads or TikTok because I just didn’t love it.

This is a complete edge of your seat thriller from Charlie Gallagher and can easily be read as a stand alone. I read this in one sitting and really thought I would have a panic attack halfway through! I love the characterisation, especially Eileen and her amazing slippers, if you know you know! Police officers are being targeted and killed and Maddie and Harry are struggling to find the person responsible. Everything, and more, you could want from a thriller is all wrapped up in this excellent read from Charlie Gallagher. Murder, suspense, twists, tension and action all combined in this rollercoaster of a read. Thanks to Joffe Books and Net Galley for my ARC.

This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. I have not read any of the other books and I did not feel like I was missing anything. Some great twists kept me interested the whole time!

Another great book from Charlie Gallagher, rejoining one of my favourite lead characters Maddie Ives who continues to be Acting Inspector with her dedicated support team of Harry and Eileen.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this book and I spent a lot of time trying to guess what way it was going to go.
There was also a massive emotional shock in this book which I cannot say much about without a big spoiler, but oh wow, that one really got me tearing up!

Thank you to Joffe Books, Charlie Gallagher and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Good police thriller, suspenseful, action packed story I enjoyed reading, had a gripping plot,
good characters, will keep you turning pages. Recommend book.
Given arc by Net Galley and Joffe

Charlie Gallagher knows how to ramp up the tension and emotions in this edge of your seat thriller that keeps you guessing. I like the interaction between Maddie, Harry and the team. In my opinion the best book yet. Thanks to Joffe books and Netgalley for a review copy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Girls Upstairs, the ninth novel to feature Acting DI Maddie Ives of Kent Police.

A husband and wife are brutally murdered while their children sleep upstairs. Maddie and Harry Blaker, her teammate, know the victim and are determined to bring the perpetrator to justice.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Girls Upstairs, which is a fast, action packed read with some good twists and a lot of sadness. The novel takes a while to get to the girls, in fact I first thought that I was reading the wrong novel, but it’s simply part of the setup. I would note, however, that it’s not a slow setup as it involves violent crime, just a bit confusing to a simple soul like me.

The first half of the novel alternates between Maddie and Harry in the first person and the unnamed killer in the first person, while the second half concentrates more on Maddie and Harry, who have things going on in their lives as well as hunting a psychopathic killer. I think it works quite well if you can tolerate the glee the killer takes in their work. I suppose everyone needs a hobby.

The plot is fast moving and holds the reader’s interest throughout. There are more murders and quite a few red herrings, not least the perpetrator’s identity. I guessed some of it in advance, but there are some real shocks in amongst the twists. It even brought me to tears at one point. I think that this is probably the most emotional and least humorous novel in the series so far. This adds to the strength of the plot to make it a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I hadn't realised that this was the 9th book in the series, but I do know that if they are all as good as this one I'll be reading them as well.
I enjoyed how all the characters really get on with each other and that I was able to relate to a few.
It took a while to get into, but once I did, it was a really good read with plenty of twists and turns
A new author for me but one Ill be catching up with again.
Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this copy in return for my honest review.

This is a fast paced, gripping crime thriller which has you on the edge of your seat!

A murder mystery which is full of twists and turns. I enjoyed following the detectives as they try and solve the murders.

This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

This book kept me guessing! If you like crime investigations this book is perfect. The Girls Upstairs is part of a series. I read it as a stand alone and it was easy to follow. There is enough context to not get lost or confused being the 9th book in the series. I really enjoyed the partnership between Maddie and Harry. You can tell they cared and admired one another. It was a little difficult for me to get into and there were parts that were dull. The second half picked up. Overall it was entertaining. It kept me wanting to solve the case

This is the ninth book in the series featuring D I Maddie Ives but the first I have read. Obviously there is some character background that is relevant but this can be read as a standalone book. The story follows the investigation into the killing of police officers.
I found the story slow to start with but the pace did pick up as the investigation progressed. The character of Maddie Ives in this book was rather flat. Presumably she is better defined in the earlier books but in this book she is more of a background character. The killings are quite gruesome and disturbing. This is definitely not a cozy mystery.
I liked the character of Eileen, with her quirky slippers and Maddie's police partner Harry came across well.
The ending, for me, was rather rushed and a bit confusing. I'm still not sure of the details of why and how exactly.
I think I would have appreciated this book more if I had read the previous ones in the series, nevertheless it was an entertaining read.

I have read all of this series so far so was looking forward to reading this. It’s a great addition to the series but very intense and terrifying in parts so be prepared! The relationship between Maddie & Harry is so good you can see why they work so well together. In fact the whole team work well together, not sure how many’s teams would gel as well as this in real life!! Although it can be read as a standalone it is better to read the series from the start as some of the things in the book might not mean much if you don’t have the background story. I also didn’t guess the ending at all. It’s quite an emotional story in places that had me welling up a bit. I recommend this book and author.

I have read all of the Maddie Ives novels so far, and this is the most terrifying I have read. I had to pause it at times as I found it too intensive... Clever but also very manic... Be prepared and take a serious good breath before you open this one! Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy. #THEGIRLSUPSTAIRS #NetGalley

This is one of my favourite book series, so I was delighted to hear another book was being written.

This story was centred on the brutal murders of police officers and the investigation into who was carrying out these murders and why.

The story was very well written, and I believe the author was a serving officer himself, so the police procedure is always extremely interesting to read. My favourite part of this series is the partnership and friendship of Harry and Maddie, which went up a notch in the last book with the arrival of Eileen, who has quickly risen to my favourite character. Who doesn't want to go to work in their slippers!!

This story had me laughing, angry and also crying which is incredibly rare for me. Yes you can read as a stand alone, however to fully appreciate the story its best to read in order, which, trust me, is not a chore as its one of the best series I have read.

The girls upstairs is the 9th book in the Maddie Ives detective series. Police officers are being targeted and DI Maddie Ives & her partner must race against time to catch the culprits before they strike someone in the police community again.

I have not read this series as I didn’t know it was one when requesting this one, it can be read as a standalone but there’s definitely some back story in the book that didn’t make sense to me.

Honestly the first half of the book was hard for me to get through but once the action started I couldn’t put the book down. I did not guess the twist/killer at all.

Thank you @netgalley and Joffe Books for this advanced copy.