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queenbeejj's review against another edition
4.0
Slow start, but it picked up and I didn't want to put it down.
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
3.0
Good mystery but a lot of side tangents that were unnecessarily distracting. I actually skipped a disc and don't feel like I missed any of the story.
Liked the characters
Liked the characters
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
The Forgotten Girls by Owen Laukkanen is a fast-paced and spellbinding police procedural about a hunt for a serial killer preying on woman on the fringe of society (runaways, prostitutes, etc). Although this is latest release is the sixth installment in the Stevens & Windermere series, it can easily be read as a standalone.
FBI Agent Carla Windermere and BCA Agent Kirk Stevens are called in to investigate a man, Mark Higgins, who has a picture of a dead woman on his cell phone. He says he has no idea how the picture ended up on his phone and when Stevens and Windermere learn the dead woman was found by the railroad tracks in Idaho, they decide to investigate the odd series of events. They quickly discover there have been rumors of serial killer (known as the "Ghost Rider") who preys on women not far from the High Line-the trains that run between Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA. With the help of local Deputy Sheriff Kerry Finley, Kirk and Carla have identified twenty-five dead women who are most likely the victims of the ghost rider and they are hot on the trail of the killer and an at risk young woman they have identified as Mila, a friend of the last victim. With a massive winter storm bearing down on them, Kirk, Carla and Kerry are one step behind the elusive killer who is very much at home in the vast wilderness that serves as his home and his hunting grounds.
Carla and Kirk's investigation picks up steam immediately as they figure out how the picture of the deceased girl ended up on the stranger's cell phone. Using the other photos that Mark insists he did not take, they are able to track her travels, as well as those of her friend, Mila. Realizing almost immediately that Mila is in grave danger, they quickly issue a bulletin for the railroad bulls and workers to be on the look-out for her. Carla's boyfriend, Agent Derek Mathers, puts his computer skills to work and uses the various photos' metadata to pinpoint Mila's whereabouts. Tracking her movements, Kirk and Carla soon realize that Mila has figured out the identity of the ghost rider, but will they find her and the killer before it is too late?
A solid police procedural with an unusual storyline, The Forgotten Girls is a pulse-pounding mystery that is quite enthralling. Once Windermere and Stevens know the killer's identity, the manhunt is quickly thwarted by the weather and the vast territory they must cover during their search. Tracking a diabolical killer who is intimately familiar with the terrain is a herculean task but Kirk and Carla know they have to capture the ghost rider before he permanently disappears into the wilderness. Old and new fans of the clever investigative team in the Stevens & Windermere series are going to love this latest high-octane thriller by Owen Laukkanen.
FBI Agent Carla Windermere and BCA Agent Kirk Stevens are called in to investigate a man, Mark Higgins, who has a picture of a dead woman on his cell phone. He says he has no idea how the picture ended up on his phone and when Stevens and Windermere learn the dead woman was found by the railroad tracks in Idaho, they decide to investigate the odd series of events. They quickly discover there have been rumors of serial killer (known as the "Ghost Rider") who preys on women not far from the High Line-the trains that run between Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA. With the help of local Deputy Sheriff Kerry Finley, Kirk and Carla have identified twenty-five dead women who are most likely the victims of the ghost rider and they are hot on the trail of the killer and an at risk young woman they have identified as Mila, a friend of the last victim. With a massive winter storm bearing down on them, Kirk, Carla and Kerry are one step behind the elusive killer who is very much at home in the vast wilderness that serves as his home and his hunting grounds.
Carla and Kirk's investigation picks up steam immediately as they figure out how the picture of the deceased girl ended up on the stranger's cell phone. Using the other photos that Mark insists he did not take, they are able to track her travels, as well as those of her friend, Mila. Realizing almost immediately that Mila is in grave danger, they quickly issue a bulletin for the railroad bulls and workers to be on the look-out for her. Carla's boyfriend, Agent Derek Mathers, puts his computer skills to work and uses the various photos' metadata to pinpoint Mila's whereabouts. Tracking her movements, Kirk and Carla soon realize that Mila has figured out the identity of the ghost rider, but will they find her and the killer before it is too late?
A solid police procedural with an unusual storyline, The Forgotten Girls is a pulse-pounding mystery that is quite enthralling. Once Windermere and Stevens know the killer's identity, the manhunt is quickly thwarted by the weather and the vast territory they must cover during their search. Tracking a diabolical killer who is intimately familiar with the terrain is a herculean task but Kirk and Carla know they have to capture the ghost rider before he permanently disappears into the wilderness. Old and new fans of the clever investigative team in the Stevens & Windermere series are going to love this latest high-octane thriller by Owen Laukkanen.
mojoshivers's review against another edition
4.0
This was another great installment in the series, this one involving a sadistic rapist/killer who picks his prey from the female hobos who ride the rails as a lifestyle. Not only was it the typical cross-country manhunt the series is famous for, but it had an interesting twist in the teenage vigilante, a friend of one of the victims, who takes it upon herself to track down the killer.
This leads to a two-pronged chase where the friend is inadvertently passing along information to Stevens and Windermere that proves invaluable to tracking down the killer. The more intuitive approach of the friend in finding out who the killer is and where his home turf was, was a nice counterpoint to the more procedural and by-the-book approach taken by the leads.
Also, the last shoot-out was intense and had a different vibe than the other books in the series due to the fact he had taken hostages and no hesitation in killing them to make his point. This put a clock on any negotiation or rescue attempt that leant the sequence extra drama.
All in all, a worthwhile addition to the rest of the novels.
This leads to a two-pronged chase where the friend is inadvertently passing along information to Stevens and Windermere that proves invaluable to tracking down the killer. The more intuitive approach of the friend in finding out who the killer is and where his home turf was, was a nice counterpoint to the more procedural and by-the-book approach taken by the leads.
Also, the last shoot-out was intense and had a different vibe than the other books in the series due to the fact he had taken hostages and no hesitation in killing them to make his point. This put a clock on any negotiation or rescue attempt that leant the sequence extra drama.
All in all, a worthwhile addition to the rest of the novels.
hijinx_abound's review
3.0
Good mystery but a lot of side tangents that were unnecessarily distracting. I actually skipped a disc and don't feel like I missed any of the story.
Liked the characters
Liked the characters
aly36's review against another edition
4.0
I did not realize this was book 6 in the series. This book is about a serial killer called "The Rider". This book is very exciting and I think I should start with book 1 just because I liked this book so much. I always root for the police or detective chasing these serial killers but I want the series to continue so I always feel I little torn. This book was no exception. The cover caught me on this book and made me want to give it a try and I'm glad I did. * I received this book from Netgalley--This is my honest review*
meloches's review against another edition
5.0
For all my reviews, check out my blog Clues and Reviews
https://cluesandreviews.wordpress.com/
This book will be published on March 2017. Mark your calendars!
“You don’t ever surf the trains on Highline” is a common catchphrase used by drifters who hop the trains in the Northwestern railroad. The reasoning? There is something evil there. People just die, they disappear, they never show up to where they are headed. The evil comes in the form of a deadly serial killer; they call him the ghost rider. He never gets caught, he evades the elements and he preys on women who will not be missed. They are prostitutes, runaways, people who have been forgotten. They are his now; the forgotten girls.
The Forgotten Girls, by Owen Laukkanen,is the sixth novel in the Stevens and Windermere series. This police procedural follows these two agents as they discover a photo of the body of a murdered woman on a cell phone. Now, hot on the trail, they chase down lead after lead until they find themselves smack down in the middle of train riding subculture and completely wrapped up in the legend of “the ghost rider". Soon, they realize that it is not a legend or a ghost story; he is very much real and is responsible for up to 25 murders. As they go deeper into the investigation, they realize they are not the only one investigating. A young girl, Mila, is also seeking out the rider but for a completely different reason. Vengeance. As the two tales wrap around, the reader is taken on a gripping and thrilling ride.
I was initially worried that this novel would be difficult to follow; I didn’t realize that it was the sixth in the series. I have made this mistake before with other series and was unable to finish the book due to complete confusion. Do not worry my friends- this novel can completely be read as a standalone. I enjoyed it so much, I will be going back to track down the other five novels in this series. Owen Laukkanen is a fantastic writer and story developer. I was addicted from the first page.
Laukkanen used Canadian serial killer, Robert Pickton, as the background to The Forgotten Girls. This was especially interesting for me; I am Canadian so I remember this case very clearly. I am familiar with the places he speaks of in the novel and the terrain. It just made the novel even better for me. Laukkanen acknowledges this parallel during his author’s notes. I also loved Laukkanen’s use of the train and drifter subculture. It was completely different and so easy to become immersed in.
The novel is narrated as a police procedural normally is; the police case is highlighted with the insights by the officers involved. However, Laukkanen added several different perspectives. The reader gets glimpses and snippets into “the rider” as he prepares for the hunt and stalks his prey. This added a completely eerie element to the novel. He also gave Mila, the young vigilante, her own perspective. This gave so much variety and depth to the story. It was easy to connect with each character this way; I even found myself intrigued by “the rider” and his motivations.
I also loved the progression of this novel. As I was reading, I could feel the plot building and I was waiting for the plot to resolve itself. I had a pretty solid idea of where it was going to go- there weren't really many options. However, at that point, Laukkanen takes the reader on another journey and rebuilds the plot back up. I felt like just when the novel couldn’t be filled with any more tension, Laukkanen found a way to take it to the next level. I loved this.
If you are a fan of the police procedural, or just want a really gripping and enthralling read, then I think you have found the next book to add to your TBR list.
I voluntarily received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from G.P Putnam’s Sons, Owen Laukkanen and Netgalley; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
https://cluesandreviews.wordpress.com/
This book will be published on March 2017. Mark your calendars!
“You don’t ever surf the trains on Highline” is a common catchphrase used by drifters who hop the trains in the Northwestern railroad. The reasoning? There is something evil there. People just die, they disappear, they never show up to where they are headed. The evil comes in the form of a deadly serial killer; they call him the ghost rider. He never gets caught, he evades the elements and he preys on women who will not be missed. They are prostitutes, runaways, people who have been forgotten. They are his now; the forgotten girls.
The Forgotten Girls, by Owen Laukkanen,is the sixth novel in the Stevens and Windermere series. This police procedural follows these two agents as they discover a photo of the body of a murdered woman on a cell phone. Now, hot on the trail, they chase down lead after lead until they find themselves smack down in the middle of train riding subculture and completely wrapped up in the legend of “the ghost rider". Soon, they realize that it is not a legend or a ghost story; he is very much real and is responsible for up to 25 murders. As they go deeper into the investigation, they realize they are not the only one investigating. A young girl, Mila, is also seeking out the rider but for a completely different reason. Vengeance. As the two tales wrap around, the reader is taken on a gripping and thrilling ride.
I was initially worried that this novel would be difficult to follow; I didn’t realize that it was the sixth in the series. I have made this mistake before with other series and was unable to finish the book due to complete confusion. Do not worry my friends- this novel can completely be read as a standalone. I enjoyed it so much, I will be going back to track down the other five novels in this series. Owen Laukkanen is a fantastic writer and story developer. I was addicted from the first page.
Laukkanen used Canadian serial killer, Robert Pickton, as the background to The Forgotten Girls. This was especially interesting for me; I am Canadian so I remember this case very clearly. I am familiar with the places he speaks of in the novel and the terrain. It just made the novel even better for me. Laukkanen acknowledges this parallel during his author’s notes. I also loved Laukkanen’s use of the train and drifter subculture. It was completely different and so easy to become immersed in.
The novel is narrated as a police procedural normally is; the police case is highlighted with the insights by the officers involved. However, Laukkanen added several different perspectives. The reader gets glimpses and snippets into “the rider” as he prepares for the hunt and stalks his prey. This added a completely eerie element to the novel. He also gave Mila, the young vigilante, her own perspective. This gave so much variety and depth to the story. It was easy to connect with each character this way; I even found myself intrigued by “the rider” and his motivations.
I also loved the progression of this novel. As I was reading, I could feel the plot building and I was waiting for the plot to resolve itself. I had a pretty solid idea of where it was going to go- there weren't really many options. However, at that point, Laukkanen takes the reader on another journey and rebuilds the plot back up. I felt like just when the novel couldn’t be filled with any more tension, Laukkanen found a way to take it to the next level. I loved this.
If you are a fan of the police procedural, or just want a really gripping and enthralling read, then I think you have found the next book to add to your TBR list.
I voluntarily received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from G.P Putnam’s Sons, Owen Laukkanen and Netgalley; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
readinggrrl's review against another edition
3.0
This is the 6th installment of Stevens/Windermere series. I haven't read the others and it didn't seem like a big issue to the storyline but I may have missed connecting with the characters. This book is action driven rather than character driven but there aren't very many twists and turns. I wish there had been more suspense or twists to the story. Despite the story being predictable it kept me entertained and I felt it was a good read. I've heard that the other books by Owen Laukkanen are quite good so I may have to give this author another shot. Overall I enjoyed the book I just wish there had been a bit more to it.
jonid's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't realize that this was a series of books when I pulled it off the library shelf. It's not a bad one. The killer kills women on the edges of society that no one would miss if they were gone which is why it takes the cops so long to figure things out. It's a bit formulaic and somewhat plodding in parts, but picks up half way through and takes an interesting plot that keeps the tension up until the end. The northern winter makes everything a challenge and I marveled at how the cold was impossible for some, difficult for others, and simply annoying for a few others.