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ashlynngiff's review against another edition
2.0
Trigger warnings: racism, bigotry, racial bias, transphobia
Honestly, I almost DNF’d this book, but made myself push through. It’s split into 2 parts and the second part is much better than the first. To me, it dragged on way too much. But also think I disliked every character, so it made it hard to “root” for anyone.
Honestly, I almost DNF’d this book, but made myself push through. It’s split into 2 parts and the second part is much better than the first. To me, it dragged on way too much. But also think I disliked every character, so it made it hard to “root” for anyone.
illidia316's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it is amazing. The characters are all flawed and unique, and the story is really interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it before. There are several really surprising twists too.
Definitely give this book a chance, you won’t be disappointed!
Definitely give this book a chance, you won’t be disappointed!
chrystinielsen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
Pray For The Girl by Joseph Souza - wow what a story! This book had me hooked straight away and I just wanted to keep reading. And that twist - I certainly didn't see that coming and I can't imagine that anybody else will either. There are so many layers to this story and it is one that you can relate to in some way. Fawn Grove is definitely not somewhere that I would want to live - so many unlikeable characters. This was the first book by Joseph Souza that I have read but it will not be the last.
The story is a tragic story in so many ways. Lucy Abbott is a war vet who has returned severely injured and a different person. War in Afghanistan has changed her and suffering from PTSD she leaves her job as a chef in Ney York City and comes back to Fawn Grove in Maine where she grew up to stay with her sister and family to recover and rest. When a 15 year old Muslim girl is murdered Lucy feels connected and memories of her time at war come flooding back. She is determined to find out who killed the girl and why, especially as the local police don't seem to have a clue. Lucy soon makes enemies in this racist town, full of unkind and downright nasty people but she is beyond caring.
Thanks to Kensington Books, Netgalley and Joseph Souza for the advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
The story is a tragic story in so many ways. Lucy Abbott is a war vet who has returned severely injured and a different person. War in Afghanistan has changed her and suffering from PTSD she leaves her job as a chef in Ney York City and comes back to Fawn Grove in Maine where she grew up to stay with her sister and family to recover and rest. When a 15 year old Muslim girl is murdered Lucy feels connected and memories of her time at war come flooding back. She is determined to find out who killed the girl and why, especially as the local police don't seem to have a clue. Lucy soon makes enemies in this racist town, full of unkind and downright nasty people but she is beyond caring.
Thanks to Kensington Books, Netgalley and Joseph Souza for the advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘The girl’s body was found after a daylong search …’
Fawn Grove, Maine was a place that Lucy Abbott never expected to return to. It was part of a life that Lucy hoped to leave behind. She was injured during military service in Afghanistan and is haunted by what happened there. Lucy had a successful career as a chef in New York, but she’s carrying some heavy baggage from the past.
Back in Fawn Grove, Lucy is staying with her sister Wendy and her family. Outside her immediate family no one recognises her. The town has changed: there’s been an influx of Afghani refugees and not everyone is welcoming. Then a fifteen-year-old Muslim girl is found murdered. This murder triggers memories of Lucy’s service in Afghanistan and she becomes quite obsessed by the case.
‘Why in the world would you care about any of that when you have your own issues to care about?’
Lucy starts her own investigation, taking her on a dangerous path into her own past. Who killed the fifteen-year-old girl, and why? And then there’s another murder, and another girl goes missing.
There are a couple of layers of mystery within this novel: some set in the present, others in the past. There are some thoroughly despicable characters, and a couple of quite interesting twists. One of these twists hooked me, another didn’t. While almost anything is believable in fiction, I found a couple of parts of the story difficult to accept.
The best part of the novel was Lucy. Mr Souza’s depiction of her life, past and struggles held my attention completely. Some aspects of how Lucy went about solving problems didn’t work for me. But then Fawn Grove is not a place in which I’d like to live either.
And the ending? You’ll have to read it for yourself.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Fawn Grove, Maine was a place that Lucy Abbott never expected to return to. It was part of a life that Lucy hoped to leave behind. She was injured during military service in Afghanistan and is haunted by what happened there. Lucy had a successful career as a chef in New York, but she’s carrying some heavy baggage from the past.
Back in Fawn Grove, Lucy is staying with her sister Wendy and her family. Outside her immediate family no one recognises her. The town has changed: there’s been an influx of Afghani refugees and not everyone is welcoming. Then a fifteen-year-old Muslim girl is found murdered. This murder triggers memories of Lucy’s service in Afghanistan and she becomes quite obsessed by the case.
‘Why in the world would you care about any of that when you have your own issues to care about?’
Lucy starts her own investigation, taking her on a dangerous path into her own past. Who killed the fifteen-year-old girl, and why? And then there’s another murder, and another girl goes missing.
There are a couple of layers of mystery within this novel: some set in the present, others in the past. There are some thoroughly despicable characters, and a couple of quite interesting twists. One of these twists hooked me, another didn’t. While almost anything is believable in fiction, I found a couple of parts of the story difficult to accept.
The best part of the novel was Lucy. Mr Souza’s depiction of her life, past and struggles held my attention completely. Some aspects of how Lucy went about solving problems didn’t work for me. But then Fawn Grove is not a place in which I’d like to live either.
And the ending? You’ll have to read it for yourself.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
Lucy Abbott has returned home to Fawn Grove after being away for over fifteen years. First she served in Afghanistan, then she was a very successful sous chef in New York. When she hears of the murder if a fifteen-year-old Muslim girl, she is driven by memories and even voices to go back to Fawn Grove to get to the bottom of things.
Lucy does not have it easy, but her cousin gladly provides her a home in order to help her to adjust. This is a blessing, because things are more than awful. Not only is Lucy dealing with PTSD and other traumas due to the war, there are secrets and hatred in the town. Lucy is very pained by the racial inequality that is so prevalent.
This was a very sensitive story. This passage provides insight about the protagonist. “Was broken in more ways than one, What person in their right mind would want to be with a woman like me? A tortured mind to go along with a tortured body. Two prosthetics that hid my sorry past, although they were the least of my secrets. Then so close to a dishonorable discharge before the incident that cost me my legs. I spent two brutal years recovering at Walter Reed. Who in their right mind would want someone like me sleeping next to them at night?”
Lucy begins asking questions and befriends Dalton, the detective handling the case. Although she has very good reasons for keeping him at arm’s length, she is very drawn to him. Before long, another teen is found murdered. Eventually things get very dangerous for Lucy and she makes a very difficult decision.
What an effective read! I was completely drawn in by Lucy. In no way, however, was I expecting the massive twist that occurred during this story. There were some doubts about her as I read, especially as this story was delivered in first person. Despite my shock, I kept on reading with eager anticipation for the identification of the murderer of the girl, but also for Lucy to find peace in her life.
Pray for the Girl is a very well-rounded book. I have never read anything by Joseph Souza before, but I enjoyed this book so much that I am eager to place his backlist in my TBR. If he writes other stories that are equally as twisted as this book, then consider me a fan.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Lucy does not have it easy, but her cousin gladly provides her a home in order to help her to adjust. This is a blessing, because things are more than awful. Not only is Lucy dealing with PTSD and other traumas due to the war, there are secrets and hatred in the town. Lucy is very pained by the racial inequality that is so prevalent.
This was a very sensitive story. This passage provides insight about the protagonist. “Was broken in more ways than one, What person in their right mind would want to be with a woman like me? A tortured mind to go along with a tortured body. Two prosthetics that hid my sorry past, although they were the least of my secrets. Then so close to a dishonorable discharge before the incident that cost me my legs. I spent two brutal years recovering at Walter Reed. Who in their right mind would want someone like me sleeping next to them at night?”
Lucy begins asking questions and befriends Dalton, the detective handling the case. Although she has very good reasons for keeping him at arm’s length, she is very drawn to him. Before long, another teen is found murdered. Eventually things get very dangerous for Lucy and she makes a very difficult decision.
What an effective read! I was completely drawn in by Lucy. In no way, however, was I expecting the massive twist that occurred during this story. There were some doubts about her as I read, especially as this story was delivered in first person. Despite my shock, I kept on reading with eager anticipation for the identification of the murderer of the girl, but also for Lucy to find peace in her life.
Pray for the Girl is a very well-rounded book. I have never read anything by Joseph Souza before, but I enjoyed this book so much that I am eager to place his backlist in my TBR. If he writes other stories that are equally as twisted as this book, then consider me a fan.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
chymerra's review
4.0
Mystery and thrillers have always had an enormous appeal for me. I love reading a book that makes my heart race. I also love reading a book where I have to figure out who the bad guy is. Of course, I have read duds, but it comes with the territory when you read as much as I do.
Pray for the Girl takes place in the fictional city of Fawn Grove, Maine. Lucy, a disabled veteran, has gone back to confront and make peace with her past. Soon after her arrival, Lucy gets caught up in the murder of a young Muslim girl. Investigating on her own, Lucy finds out that her hometown is not what she remembered. Secrets are many in Fawn Grove, and Lucy has her own. Who killed that girl? Why? The truth will be stunning.
I got caught up in Pray for the Girl’s main plotline. It was well written. I will say that the book is slow to start. But, it was laying the groundwork for the rest of the book. After the first couple of chapters, the book is on fire and doesn’t stop. I couldn’t put it down.
There was a massive twist in the middle of the book. I was not prepared for it. Not. At. All. After I got over my initial shock, I loved it. So much made sense when I looked back in the first half of the book. I do wish that it had been revealed a tad bit sooner. But then certain scenes wouldn’t have played out the way they did.
Lucy was one of my favorite characters, ever. She had my sympathy because of what happened to her. I liked that the author didn’t hold back when it came to her PTSD. Instead of glossing it over, he chose to go into detail about what Lucy went through daily. Being back in such a toxic town such as Fawn’s Grove didn’t help her either. I was a little surprised when she took it upon herself to look into the death of the Muslim girl. I didn’t understand why she took such an interest in that girl’s death. But, everything was explained around the same time the twist in the plot was revealed. Then it made perfect sense.
The end of the book was fast paced. There was a point where I had to stop and reread paragraphs to digest the information that was given. The very end of the book threw me for a loop. I am wondering if the author is setting up for another book involving Lucy? I hope so. That would be a book that I would love to read.
Pray for the Girl takes place in the fictional city of Fawn Grove, Maine. Lucy, a disabled veteran, has gone back to confront and make peace with her past. Soon after her arrival, Lucy gets caught up in the murder of a young Muslim girl. Investigating on her own, Lucy finds out that her hometown is not what she remembered. Secrets are many in Fawn Grove, and Lucy has her own. Who killed that girl? Why? The truth will be stunning.
I got caught up in Pray for the Girl’s main plotline. It was well written. I will say that the book is slow to start. But, it was laying the groundwork for the rest of the book. After the first couple of chapters, the book is on fire and doesn’t stop. I couldn’t put it down.
There was a massive twist in the middle of the book. I was not prepared for it. Not. At. All. After I got over my initial shock, I loved it. So much made sense when I looked back in the first half of the book. I do wish that it had been revealed a tad bit sooner. But then certain scenes wouldn’t have played out the way they did.
Lucy was one of my favorite characters, ever. She had my sympathy because of what happened to her. I liked that the author didn’t hold back when it came to her PTSD. Instead of glossing it over, he chose to go into detail about what Lucy went through daily. Being back in such a toxic town such as Fawn’s Grove didn’t help her either. I was a little surprised when she took it upon herself to look into the death of the Muslim girl. I didn’t understand why she took such an interest in that girl’s death. But, everything was explained around the same time the twist in the plot was revealed. Then it made perfect sense.
The end of the book was fast paced. There was a point where I had to stop and reread paragraphs to digest the information that was given. The very end of the book threw me for a loop. I am wondering if the author is setting up for another book involving Lucy? I hope so. That would be a book that I would love to read.
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