Item: The Burning Girls
Rating: 4.00
Author: starcrossedreviews

by Rita Herron

The girl was beautiful, even in death. Her skin was translucent beneath the sliver of moonlight peeking through the bare branches of the surrounding pines, and her chestnut hair had tumbled around her pale shoulders. Around her, smoke twisted in the air, curling into the inky sky.

The remote town of Crooked Creek has barely recovered from its most recent tragedy when wildfires tear through the mountains. Detective Ellie Reeves is grappling with her own heartbreak––she has just discovered she was adopted and that her childhood was a lie.

Under the scorching summer sun, Ellie is called to a river where a body has been found. She spots a lone woman’s shoe caught in a nearby tangle of vines, and a pearl necklace scattered by the water’s edge. The remains are surrounded by a circle of stones, which Ellie is certain means something. Was the victim––whoever she was––caught in the fire or is something more sinister at play?

The Fourth of July usually means festivals and fireworks, but when another body turns up the town is left in tatters. A young girl with dark hair lies dead, surrounded by stones, smoke drifting in the air. Thanks to an engraved silver necklace, Ellie identifies the body as eighteen-year-old Katie Lee Curtis, and the diary she finds hidden under the teenager’s mattress could get her close to the killer.

With two victims in less than twenty-four hours, it’s clear Ellie’s up against a serial killer, and she vows that no more innocent girls will be sacrificed. For her, every day is a battle to come to terms with her past, but when this case becomes personal, will she win?

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. This is the third book in this series but all three can be read as standalones.

Detective Ellie Reeves has been through the mill these last few months and life doesn't seem to be improving much for her. Ellie has a very determined streak. She won’t let anyone stop her from doing her job even if it puts her in danger. I think Ellie has incredible strength too, to stay in the town after everything that has happened can’t be easy.

The story flicks between Ellie, the killer and a few other POVs. I love different POVs as it really allows you to understand how the different characters are thinking and feeling. I think it gives a much more rounded story.

This book was fast-paced and had you on the edge of your seat. Who would the next victim be and what was the connection? Rita had me constantly worrying about the characters.

I was gripped from the first page, the chapters are short so it’s very easy to keep reading long past your bedtime. Rita had me so engrossed!

A thrilling read for all crime fans!

The Burning Girls

by Rita Herron

Reviewed by Emma (SCR) on Sep 6, 2021

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