The Girl Who Survived
by Nichole Severn
Pub Date: May 06 2024

The Girl Who Survived is the 1st in the Leigh Brody FBI Mystery series by Nichole Severn, it was gruesome, gritty, intense. At times it was a little over my comfort zone when describing the grisly details. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read. I will definitely read the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book.

Synopsis: Leigh Brody returns to her hometown after a body is found, marked with her name. Will it give her the chance to solve a mystery that has shadowed her life for years? It’s been twenty years since Leigh found the murdered body of her twelve-year-old brother, Troy. Her father was arrested for the crime, but she never accepted that he did it. Her hunt for the real killer almost cost her everything…

Many thanks to #TheGirlWhoSurvived #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Leigh Brody is a federal agent tasked with assisting on a case back in her hometown of Lebanon. This book takes us through the struggles of solving a crime in a town where everyone despises you and your family. Everyone believed the case was open and shut. Lies, deceit, kidnapping, murder, and corruption make everything much more complicated.

Overall the story was decent. I found many of the twists impossible and unrealistic. I wouldn’t object to reading more about Leigh but I’m hoping the story is more believable next time.

I love Ms. Severn ‘s books! This book has so many twists, turns, deception, and lies. I would think I knew what was going to happen next, and found out I didn’t know anything! Something terrible had happened to Leigh’s family when she was in high school and she had not been to her hometown since she left. I understood why Leigh became a BAU in the FBI because of what happened to her family. Because of her job, Leigh had to go back to her hometown to help find a serial killer. No one in her hometown wanted anything to do with her which made it harder for her to get the evidence she needed. I was on the edge of my seat so many times, and snapped at people if they talked to me! If you like thrillers, I strongly encourage you to read the book.

Leigh Brody is fascinating. Highly intelligent, strong and resilient are all accurate descriptives. A trauma from her teenage years left her grief-stricken and ostracized molding her to be closed off and wary but determined to join law enforcement to right an old wrong. She is called back to her hometown to solve a couple of murders where she is plagued by memories and prejudice which draw on her stores of stoicism and tenacity. There are several twists and turns not to mention- maybe- a few surprises. Thoroughly enjoyed this first installment and can’t wait to see what is in store for Leigh next.

It’s been 20 years since Agent Leigh has been back into her hometown after the murder of her brother and his best friend. New murders have started back up in Lebanon, New Hampshire and she was called on to come in and help investigate the murders since they were murder just like her brother and his best friend had been murder. Is this the same murderer or is there a new murderer in town?

This book had you interested right at the beginning of the book. The story was very mind blowing and very fast past and kept you wanting to know more and needing answers. The last chapters will really blow your mind away. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A twisted mystery that will keep you guessing until the final twist! FBI Agent Leigh Brody is called to investigate a murder in her former home town. Neither the police or the town want her there, but she hopes to find out who murdered her brother and his friend twenty years ago…and framed her father who is now in prison. She is aggressive and doesn’t mind upsetting the police, even the police chief who she feels did not due his job twenty years ago. She has long suspected one individual, but before she can begin her investigation, she learns that a man was killed months ago, in a similar manner. Now, a local woman’s body has been found. How many more will die before the killer is caught? Leigh will be insulted, attacked and threatened as she deals with her own personal health issues. Even during a visit to her father in prison, he tells her to leave things alone. Leigh won’t quit until the children and adult victims receive justice. What an ending! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Leigh Brody is an FBI agent and she has gotten the call to go back to where she grew up at. There has been another murder that is the same MO as two other murders from twenty years ago. The one from twenty years ago directly relates to her as it was her brother that died and his best friend. Her father is the man who was arrested for the crime even though she knows he didn't do it. Now another murder has happened and other than it being a woman the rest seems to be the same. Why has the murderer changed their MO? Things in this town are going to get worse instead of. better.

Follow Leigh as she solves this very crazy twisted murder investigation. Nichols Seven has written an impressive book full of twists that I never saw coming! Catch them if you can!

Happy reading!

I enjoyed the book. It was a great mystery with an exciting end. I felt it was a bit odd that Leigh was able to work a case she technically was involved with, but the story was excellent.
Severn's characters are always well written and believable which makes a better story.

Gripping, well written, and well thought out, [book:The Girl Who Survived|209527990] is the first book in a new crime thriller series. The beginning of the book instantly grabbed my attention and did not let go!

FBI Agent, Leigh Brody is called back to her hometown in New Hampshire after a body is found with an army figurine with her name carved on it. Twenty years earlier, Leigh found her twelve-year-old brother's dead body. He had been murdered and her father was arrested and imprisoned for killing him and another boy. Leigh never believed that her father killed Troy, her brother, and the other boy. She has been on a mission to prove her father’s innocence. Leigh wants answers and she is not going to stop until she learns the truth. Who killed her brother and who is killing now? Is it the same person? Leigh is on the case and won’t be deterred.

Having to return to one's hometown to solve a case that has a personal connection to the main character is a plot mystery/thriller readers have seen before. But that didn't hinder my enjoyment of [book:The Girl Who Survived|209527990] at all. Leigh's personal connection to the case, the harsh and unwelcoming locals, the danger, the tension, and Leigh’s drive to solve the murders sold this book for me. I also enjoyed the pacing which was neither too fast nor too slow- for me it was just right.

I was fully invested in the plot, wanting to know whodunit, enjoying the twists, and soaking up the tension. This was a great start to a new series, and I look forward to reading future books in this series.

I think that I first discovered Nichole Severn through her Hunting Grounds series and I have been a huge fan of her writing ever since. The Girl Who Survived is a perfect gritty mystery/thriller. FBI profiler Leigh Brody has been asked to assist a task force for a series of murders in the small town that she grew up in. Leigh has a painful past in this town. Her brother was the victim of a killer. Her father was charged with the crime. Leigh tried to get local law enforcement to listen to her theories but no one cared about the rantings of a high school student. Leigh graduated early and never looked back. She worked hard to advance herself in a career that would help assist others to bring criminals to justice and closure to families. So now she finds herself working with the local police lieutenant, task force coordinator, forensic investigator and a town full of locals that have negative feelings about her family's misfortunate history. In reading The Girl Who Survived you might feel that you have everything figured out until you realize that you were on the wrong track. And if you do think you're on the right track, guess again because another plot twist will be coming your way. The story was written from third person, single POV. It was haunting, gritty, suspenseful, and all around great for any mystery/thriller fans out there. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I really got sucked into the story. The characters are interesting. The plot fast paced and suspenseful. It kept me guessing. This was a great book to kick off a new series!

I just loved this new series, I am a fan of this author but for me this is her best yet. It worked so well and I got addicted to it and just had to keep reading so that I knew what was happening but then I was so disappointed that it ended and there was no more. Looking forward to where it goes next as the ending was wow, was not expecting that.

This was an intense and fast-paced crime thriller. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Nichole threw another twist at me! I loved how this book kept me guessing till the end.

Overall, it was a good book with several twists and turns. This was my first read by this author and I will check out her previous books too. Also, this is the first book of the Leigh Brody FBI Mystery series and I’m so excited for the next book.

I would recommend this book if you love whodunit police procedural crime thrillers.

Thank you so much Storm Publishing, Netgalley and Nichole Severn for this ARC copy!

I did not see that ending coming. I was sucked in from the beginning with the 20 year old case and now a copycat killer. This book was filled with red herrings and it did not disappoint. I will anxiously be waiting for the next story in The FBI Leigh Brody series.

I voluntarily reviewed "THE GIRL WHO SURVIVED" I was totally hooked on this interesting, intriguing, suspense filled murder mystery, danger, angst, secrets, frustration, a copycat, seeking justice, twists that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Leigh Brody is requested to return to Lebanon New Hampshire by Director Angelina Livingston after a body is found & name on it the case is to like the one 20 yrs ago when her brother Troy & his BF Derek were brutally murdered now its Michelle Cross same MO.
Leigh's father Joel was arrested for the murders but she doesn't think he did it & she won't rest till she go ds the true killer before he strikes again.
I definitely recommend to get this a amazing well written murder mustery that hooks you to she mind-blowing shocking ending. I'm so looking forward to the next book in this amazing series a must read you absolutely don't want to miss reading.

Agent Leigh and her Family were shunned by their small town in Lebanon after a tragic incident involving the death of several young boys, including Leigh's brother. Despite her pleas and testimony, no one would believe a high school senior, leading to her father being convicted of the crimes. Devastated by the loss of her mother just two years later, Leigh left the town behind.

Now, decades later, Leigh finds herself back in her hometown as an agent assigned to solve a series of ongoing murders. The killer seems to be using the same modus operandi as Leigh's alleged "killer father," leading Leigh to believe she may be somehow connected to the case. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she is forced to confront her past and come to terms with her own family's dark history.

This book is a gripping thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats as Leigh races against time to catch a killer while also facing her own personal demons.

This book is well written, but I personally don’t think I’m the target for it, if you are into FBI thrillers, don’t sleep on this!

My attention was grabbed from page one. The twists and turns in this book were out of this world! I loved it so much. There were times I thought I knew what was happening and then bam I was wrong. My head was spinning!

FBI agent Leigh Brody finds herself back in her New Hampshire hometown twenty years after her family, her own life, and her town were ripped apart by a shocking crime. Leigh never accepted that her father murdered her younger brother and his friend, but her pleas and protests were brushed aside, leaving her ostracized from her hometown, which she ultimately left. In the present day, two murder victims are discovered, and the parallels to her brother's murder return Leigh to her unfinished search for the truth. Nichole Severn's The Girl Who Survived, the first novel in a new series featuring Leigh, hits the ground running and will keep you guessing (and suspicious of everyone) until the very end, with one final twist that you will never see coming. I already can't wait for the second novel!

This is the first book of Agent Leigh Brady's series.

Synopsis - Leigh Brady's life is turned upside down when her brother's lifeless body was found and her father was sentenced to prison for the murders of her brother and another boy. Now an FBI agent, Leigh Brady return back to her hometown Lebanon New Hampshire when similar styled murders are taking place. Leigh suspected that a former high school teacher might be behind the murders.

Good points--this was gripping from the start to finish. The writing was really great and the author had done a good job of drawing he reader into the story. The whole story was tense, emotional and Leigh is always facing near death experiences. There were some twists and turns and this was actually a fast-paced thriller. In my opinion, I actually liked serial killer thrillers and so this book was no exception. The ending of the story was completely unexpected.

Bad points - well, not much of bad points in this book.

Overall verdict - this was a unputdownable, page turning thriller that will keep you guessing till the end, filled with unexpected twists anf turns--worth 4 stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Storm for ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

It’s been twenty years since Leigh found the murdered body of her twelve-year-old brother, Troy. Her father was arrested for the crime, but she never accepted that he did it. Her hunt for the real killer almost cost her everything…
Now working for the FBI, Leigh is called back to New Hampshire when a series of copycat crimes are committed. Only the killer has left a very specific calling card, a plastic army figurine, the same as the one she found on Troy’s body, and carved into its base: Leigh’s name.
This case is as personal as it gets, and this time, Leigh is determined to make the right person pay. But when another child goes missing, can she dig deep into her past to find the clue she missed years ago, and put a monster behind bars for good?
This is an addictive and unputdownable crime thriller. The edge of your seat twists that happen are unbelievable. I'm glad I kept reading until the end as I was shocked beyond my wildest dreams. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like thrillers that shock you to death then you will love this book.