(4.5) Another Girl Lost has a lot going on. Twisty, dark, complex, with triggers. The plot goes back and forth between present and past, which is my least favorite, but Mary handles it well. Another Girl Lost took me on an emotional ride. What sticks out in my head, that I cannot let go, and over shadows everything for me is the ending. The last thing that Detective Dawson does. Argghh , what, why? Thank you for the opportunity for an early read. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #AnotherGirlLost #MaryBurton #Montlake #NetGalley

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Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for my copy of Another Girl Lost by Mary Burton.
It's 10 years since Scarlett Crosby was rescued from a car and the man who had kidnapped her and held her captive for 88 days.
But Della wasn't found and rescued, the police could find no trace of her. Was she just a figment of Scarlett's broken mind.
Now another girls body has been found. Is the killer back? Is Della real?
So many twists and turns you will race to the end.

"How did you scare someone who'd been tortured by the devil?"

Another Girl Lost - Mary Burton
Pub date: Sept 17, 2024
★★★★☆

What a wild ride. I couldn't guess the actual villain until the very end because the author succeeded in tossing me to doubt literally everyone. I find it interesting how all the characters are connected through one major young girls abduction case and how it also brought character development to each of them. Another Lost Girl was shelved under romance tag which i doubt why but when you get into it, you will see through it. It's just i can't truly embrace the warm vibe due to the never ending suspense and i just keep suspecting either of them lol. The twist and ending was unexpected but i think it is the best way to conclude this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mary Burton, is one of my favorite suspense writers. She has always been a click buy for me. This one got me thinking—a kidnapped girl, Scarlet. And another girl Della, that nobody knew about. When the past comes back to Haunt Scarlet, weird things start to happen. And with possible Della sightings, Scarlet goes to the police, enter Detective Kevin, with things not adding up; he doesn’t know what to think. With some definite twists that will definitely blow your mind and an ending that had me go wow!! This was one of my favorites by Ms. Burton.

A tension filled, mind twisting novel that had me invested from page one. Scarlett had a terrifying experience being abducted as a young girl who was then kept locked in a basement for 88 days and sexually violated. Told from 2 persons’ perspective (Scarlett and Dawson, the lead detective), it was interesting to see the thoughts and reasonings of each individual. I liked that both were complex characters, with strengths and foibles. I was a little disappointed that Scarlett had a Barbie-like figure. I was picturing more a Linda Hamilton/Terminator physique. Maybe too cliche? But this was a small disappointment that didn’t really affect my enjoyment of this story.

I loved this well written thriller. I loved Scarlet and was proud to see how far she had come after she went through a horrible experience. I loved all the twists and turns that happen as we see if Scarlet is good or bad. I could not put this book down. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This gifted storyteller always delivers a compelling, edge-of-the-seat suspense that keeps the reader guessing until the last page. In this story we meet Scarlett Crosby, a childhood survivor of kidnapping and subsequent trauma who now lives a quiet life as an artist in a small town. When a body is found, it reopens the wound of Scarlett's trauma as well as the mystery of the girl held captive with Scarlett who seemed to disappear into thin air.

It also brings Detective Kevin Dawson back into Scarlett’s life. He was the one who dispatched her captor all those years ago, and he's also investigating the current found body, one that seems to be tied to the mysterious Della. As Kevin and Scarlett grow closer, he gets closer to finding the answers he needs to solve his current case and finds answers to questions that have plagued him since Scarlett's abduction.

While I’ve loved everything I’ve read from this talented wordsmith, this one wasn’t the best of hers I’ve read. I loved the twist when it came to Scarlett and Della, but the story seemed to end abruptly and I was puzzled as to why the detective seemed to just let it go. Still, it was a fascinating read that kept me turning the pages and I don’t hesitate to recommend it to romantic suspense fans.

September 17, 2024
Another Girl Lost is a complex psychological read true to Mary Burton’s style and will not disappoint! Be prepared to dive into a deeply meaningful dark story about Scarlett Crosby and her tragic yet eventful life. It switches from present to past and back again. I was unsure which characters were trustworthy at times which added to the mystery. Mary Burton’s books always give me insight into life as other people live it. Stay tuned for a surprise ending!
I am a true Mary Burton fan and have read and loved every book she has published. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery and story with a deeper, darker meaning you can sink your teeth into.

Another Girl Lost, like most Mary Burton books, hooked me from page one!
When Scarlett Crosby was 15, she was kidnapped and held as a sex hostage. She managed to escape and her captor was killed, but she bears the scars of her experience, especially when it comes to relationships. The fate of another girl (Della) held at the same time as her has always been a mystery and most people think Scarlett made her up. Now, 10 years later, a girl's body is found, the detectives think Scarlett knows more than she has told (was she a victim or an accomplice?), and Della might be back (but is she friend or foe?). I was sure I had the big twist figured out early on, but it turns out I didn't, so kudos to Burton on surprising me! The story is fast-paced and focuses on the present but has flashbacks to 10 years ago. While mostly told from Scarlett's point of view, some chapters focus on the detective Kevin Dawson, who was also involved in the case 10 years ago. Both are complex characters, damaged but relatable.

Okay readers buckle up because Another Girl Lost is going to take you on a roller coaster ride that will have you reeling! A decade ago, fifteen year old Scarlett Crosby was taken against her will. She was held captive by a man in his basement dungeon and would have occasional visits from the other captive, Della. As the days turned into weeks then months, Scarlett feared that she would never be free. When opportunity arises, Scarlett seizes it at the last moment and finds freedom at the hands of Detective Dawson. It's now a decade later and from the outside it appears as if Scarlett has healed. She's a successful artist and lives alone by her own choosing. In reality the past is never far from her thoughts. When an entombed body is found near where Scarlett grew up, the past comes knocking at her door once again. There's a new police officer in town who has wormed her way into the detective in charge of the case that has the police asking lots of questions. Was there really a mysterious Della? Was Scarlett more involved with her abductor and the other missing girls? Can she finally get the answers and move forward with her life and leave that basement behind? And what about Detective Dawson, will he get the answers that he wants or will he miss signs again? Another Girl Lost was very good. It's incredibly gritty and based on the subject matter that shouldn't come as a surprise. I loved this book even though I had my suspicions about some of the characters for awhile. It was told from dual POV and there are quite a few explicit scenes so if that's not your cup of tea, then stick to cozy mysteries because there's nothing cozy about Another Girl Lost.

I've been reading this author's work for a few years and the books keep getting more and more exciting! This one was no different!
I really enjoyed the back and forth from the past to the present! It allowed us to keep forming our opinions and guesses as to what might happen next!

The twists and turns kept me hooked until the very end! Well done!

Another Girl Lost was great! I loved the mystery and the many plot twists kept me guessing until the end.

4.5⭐

Mary Burton delivers a twisting, gripping and at times dark crime thriller in Another Girl Lost.

As Detective Dawson ten years ago rescued Scarlett Crosby from a car and a man called Tanner Reed. Who had held her captive and repeatedly raped her during the 88 days she was missing.

Days she has made it a point to forget. While simultaneously thinking about them. But not Tanner Reed. But of Della, the girl who aided in her abduction, and endured all that Scarlett did and more.

The only problem is that when Scarlett was rescued, Detective Dawson and his colleagues could find no sign of Della. In the end, no one but Scarlett believed that Della ever existed.

Now ten years later, everything about that time is brought to the fore, including the suspicion and distrust the local police had in Scarlett after she was rescued.

And when remains of a young girl are found in the wall of a house and identified as Sandy Taylor. A girl who went missing just a couple of months before Scarlett and had dated Tanner the questions start again. Especially from Detective Dawson who attends the scene.

And then Scarlett sees a woman who she is sure is Della.

But how can she prove it? And will anyone really listen?

Especially when another body is found. One who had a connection to Scarlett both in the past and present.

And suddenly the victim at the heart of the original investigation becomes the number one suspect.

And with plenty of twists and turns and a dual timeline. This is a truly compelling story. That easily switches from the present to the past. And keeps you guessing and I would happily recommend it to others.

Another Girl Lost by Mary Burton was a suspenseful, quick-paced and action-packed read and I loved it from start to finish!
It was engaging, had an intriguing mystery and has me interested till the very end.

Wow !! A delicious and intense thriller that was masterfully written . Surprise ending !
Thank to @Netgalley# @MaryBurton #@ Montlake for the opportunity to read and review this amazing book !
AnotherGirlLost #

The trauma suffered 10 years ago as a 15-year-old teen resurfaces when a body is found that is linked to that horrific part of Scarlett’s life. Scarlett, at 25, has been focusing on her present self, a painter working on making a living. Psychologically affected from when she was held in a dark basement for approximately three months, her body having been violated and beaten, she ends up becoming entangled with others who had been involved in imprisonment and torture. This suspense thriller with added romances was brilliant. From the present to the past, as you gradually learn of her time in captivity, the now expands to other survivors who are still alive. Unraveling the mystery of all who were involved takes you on a journey that is a scary thrill ride. It was fantastic!

This was my first Mary Burton book and unfortunately I was not a huge fan. None of the characters were especially likable or even relatable despite their flaws: Dawson’s chapters were repetitive and gross. Margo was smug and manipulative. Scarlett was obsessive and took things too far. The twist at the end came out of left field, and the big reveal was anticlimactic, halfway over before I realized that’s what it was. All in all I was not impressed.

This is my first Mary Burton book. Overall, it was a good thriller, but not to the level of being a compulsive page turner. I also struggled with the basic fact that I didn't like one of the main characters, or maybe even both of them. Scarlett was okay. I quickly got tired of the repetitive nature of her scenes. We know she is going to move past her PTSD, so let's go! The issue with whether Della exists or not got annoying. I almost didn't care. But perhaps my biggest peeve was Dawson. I felt uncomfortable reading his thoughts about Margo, even though they did play a part in the story. And when he interviewed Scarlett, it was completely out of line. I just didn't like him and that somewhat tainted the reading for me. All the characters seemed to be surface level either good or bad. Needless to say, I seem to be in the minority and will definitely look to read another book from Ms. Burton in the future. Not all books hit the right spots for all readers!

A mix of mystery and psychological thriller, with some romance and drama thrown in. A disturbing look at both criminals and those adjacent to them who allow them to continue on their criminal paths.

Thanks for the nightmares again Mary Burton. I love this author but the stories are always too real. This was a lot. I love how flawed and real she made the cop and the protagonist.