The Drowned Girls: An Angie Pallorino Novel, Book 1

This was a book club pull I was unsure of, but man, so good! And none of the stupid drag it out frustrating tricks. Just a solid book. It was my backup phone book, but didn't last long. Read it. But be aware, there's some disturbing content for subject matter.

Loreth Anne White’s voice in the romantic suspense genre is one that resonates with readers like myself who need that dark edge to their reads. This makes Loreth’s books heavy reads, and mind you, they can get quite heavy because they delve into the darkest and most forbidden aspects of humanity itself. But for all that and more, Loreth’s books are unbeatable, and I would never have it any other way.If I am not mistaken, this is the very first series of books that Loreth has written, interconnected in terms of stories and characters with one another. Entitled “Angie Pallorino” after the lead female detective in the series, The Drowned Girls as the debut novel deals with crimes of the kind that would make a woman look twice over her shoulder in paranoia, lock their doors and double and triple check to see whether they are actually locked, and worry about the whereabouts of loved ones, especially if they deviate from the normal hours they keep.Angie Pallorino works on sex crimes at the Victoria Metro Police Department. Angie comes with issues that are layered with issues, and she is one of the most complex female leads I have ever come across. Angie has a way of dealing with the darkness inside of her, the voices that won’t quit, that feeling that has always hounded her that the life she has been living wasn’t really hers. Did I mention that she was complex? Yes, Angie is the definition of the word itself.Usher in Sergeant James Maddocks, the newest recruitment to the Department, who is actually hired for the job that that Angie herself has been eyeing for quite some time. Coupled with the fact that the guy Angie randomly hooks up with at her pickup bar the previous night, the man she had labeled as “Mr. Big Dick”, and made her react in a way that was totally unlike her when it comes to her anonymous hookups turns out to be the one and the same? Needless to say, the tension and sparks between the two were very much a part of the unfolding story.When a Jane Doe is discovered by a tour guide, with signs of mutilation of her sex organs, with a cross carved into her forehead, the tingles running up and down Angie’s spine tells her that this was no ordinary criminal that had done the deed. That it in fact looked like the perpetrator that Angie and her now deceased partner had been after for serial rape cases that had landed on their case pile, a lead that had gone cold for two years, now surfacing once again, and in a way that does not bode well at all.When a second dead body surfaces, also bearing similar marks on her body, thus begins the investigation to find the person behind the heinous crimes. With the newly elected mayor reportedly having promised to make the city “great again”, the department is under enormous pressure to deliver, and to deliver fast and without bumbling it up in the need to rush.What unfolded was way more than I bargained for, even knowing that Loreth is capable of taking a story in a direction that readers usually wouldn’t see coming. There are multiple threads running through the story the entire time, and in hindsight I wondered if that could have been the reason as to why one of the most crucial aspects of the story didn’t get much time – i.e. the villain and how he came to be who he was.The discovery of his premises, the fate of his father when he was young, and the theories that had been floating around about what had made the monster out of a child who had seemingly looked happy in his childhood pictures was one that I wanted to read about. I feel that when authors write about evil personas such as the villain, they do so after a ton of research, and its not easy to craft a character as such without investing a lot of time on them. The villain in his own right, in novels like this, becomes part of the main protagonists in the story that unfolds. But, given the direction that the story took, taking readers onto sex crimes on an international scale, I suppose the villain that brought so much horror to the minds of the readers was a little overlooked in the end.But, that does not by any means indicate that the story was lacking. The furthest thing from that in fact. I was fascinated with the multitude of connections, the painstaking work involved in terms of investigations, the interviews, the tedious work of corroborating witness statements etc. that goes into crime solving – not just solving a crime but making the charges stick.However, in the end, it was Angie’s actions that came to the forefront; her “rash” actions that had saved the lives of two very important people in her life, or two people who could become the most important in her life, that changed the ending.Loreth has an ability to bring to life a scene in a way that makes you feel like you are walking right through it. Every single aspect of the scene from the chilly, foggy, and wet weather of the region in which the story takes place, to the creepy characters you encounter along the way; all that and more are more or less alive, in front of you, like a myriad of images that goes through your mind as you read along. That is one of the aspects to Loreth’s books that makes them so darn difficult to put down and makes you crave for more.Detective James Maddocks aka Mr. Big Dick (I like the sound of that way too much), is the type of hero that makes you swoon, even without realizing it. There is a way about him that just soothes those jagged edges to you, makes you simmer down a little, sit up and take notice of a man whose tamped down sexuality makes it all the more prominent perhaps. James and his life story takes a backseat to the baggage that Angie brings to the table. Angie is the one whose past comes roaring to life, making her question every single thing that has been part of her life narrative as long as she could remember. Her volatile temperament certainly does not help, and if it were a man less patient than Maddocks, they would just walk away and wash their hands off of her.But then there are the moments in which Angie shows that side of hers that is vulnerable, hurting, and in need of someone that understands where she comes from. This is in fact the place from which she takes on the offensive; in her mind, lashing and fighting out is way better than letting people know exactly where to prick and prod if they intend to hurt her. Plus, the crimes that she works on? They are the kind that would probably make you go home and drown your sorrows in alcohol or worse when it gets to be too much. Or in Angie’s case, her outlet comes in the form of random sexual encounters with strangers, the high she gets out of being in control of the setting, when in reality her life is spiraling out of control and there is nothing much she can do about it.If this is your very first read from Loreth, worry not. She has a couple of standalone romantic suspense titles that are absolutely to die for. I for one, can’t wait to find out what Loreth has in store for Angie and Maddocks in the next couple of books.Final Verdict: Involuted and engrossing, The Drowned Girls is an eye opening tale of human depravity at its most obscene perhaps, because it speaks to parts of your conscience that everyone tries to hide from. Recommended!Rating = 4.5/5Reviewed by: MBR

Fantastic story line!!! Characters are complex and relatable. Definitely looking forward to reading the next one she put out…like right now!!

I chose the 5star rating because this book kept me soooo hooked !! Angie went through a lot -- I was not expecting any of that. And the story behind what was going on-- didn't expect the twists and turns. Will definitely continue reading this series. GREAT JOB

Two years ago, a violent rapist left signature religious marks on his victims. Then he disappeared. When a near-drowning victim is found Sex crimes unit detective Angie Pallarino believes this might be the workings of the same serial rapist.When another victim is found another team is brought in. Sergeant James Maddox recently relocated him and his daughter to the area.Angie needs this case. After what happened to her last partner and a little girl Angie needs to prove she is stable to be trusted on the team.Before the girls were found Angie had spent the morning helping put her mother in a long-term psychiatric facility. As a cop Angie is concerned about the implications of these genetic mental disorders and the affects this will have on her job. Angie is feeling edgy and wired after dealing with the stressful job and personal life issues so she hunts for a man at a club, to burn off steam and pent up anger. The new mayor is putting pressure on the police department with his tough-on-crime mandate. The clock is ticking for these two teams. The department wants this case solved before Christmas which is a few weeks away. Someone from the department is leaking confidential information to the reporter about the dead girls minutes after detectives are working the case which is breeding mistrust and suspicion. Loreth Anne White provided key details pertinent to the case. Loreth kept the information tight and organized. There are several players in this mystery thriller which allows for a steady buzz of activity. It’s a fast pace thriller with multiple angles.The Drowned Girls is book 1 in the Angie Pallarino detective series. Some of the scenes are difficult to read regarding the violent nature of the girls bodies. When your dealing with a violent rapist it’s par for the course to expect some graphic details. Life as a detective is relevant in this dark and grueling world especially as a sex crime detective. It’s intense work and Loreth Anne White portrayed the lives of these characters with a flurry of activity that captivated me from the beginning. This is one of those reads where the words are intense and the activity is flowing. It’s a nail biting thriller as detectives are on the hunt for a serial rapist and time is of the essence to stop this killer from killing more girls. Their personal lives are unraveling around them as calls come in interrupting their already unstable lives.Loreth Anne White is a bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense books.Narrator:Julie McKay is the solo female performer of The Drowning Girls. Julie gave a top-knotch performance for the character of Angie Pallarino. Julie’s voice fit the image I had for Angie’s character. She wasn’t too bad with all the other male characters either. This story had a plethora of characters and Julie met the challenges for each one.This is the type of story that is better received in audiobook form. I prefer owning both the ebook and audiobook. Together it enhances my reading experience to have a seasoned performer bringing life to the story and it’s characters.I listened using the audible app listening at 2.2X speed. This unabridged audiobook allows readers as myself to follow along which I highly recommend.

The girls and women in this are strong and weak in varying degrees. It was a good story with a good end.

The heroine had some mental issues going on which were interfering with her job as a police officer. In comes her saviour riding in another police car as they try to find a serial killer who is sexually mutilating young women. As usual, the heroine has a chip on her shoulder for being the only female detective in the sex crimes unit in a Canadian city. Not only do we read about the atrocities done to these girls sexually, we also read about the "nothing left out sex scenes between the two main characters". I would have liked less words describing those scenes and More left to my imagination of the couple "making love", hence my 3 stars. The book also dragged on at times, no mystery or thrills.

If you like serial killer series then you should read this one. Well laid story, mysterious characters, a very good narrative

Loved this book. The characters, the storyline and the way it was written just drew me in from the first page to the last. Made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Cant wait to read more of her books

4.5/5; 5 stars; AI really like this author and couldn’t put this book down. Her characters, major and minor, are interesting and often damaged. However, she writes in such a way that the reader can relate.One reason that this book also grabbed me was that the story is set in Victoria B.C., where I lived for 9 years. The familiar roads, bridges, and landmarks made it especially creepy.This was a good thriller and I enjoyed Angie Pallorino, the person and the cop, very much. I will definitely read more.

Richtig spannendes Buch, was sich so runterlesen lässt. Bei dem Preis: mega

The book was brilliant.. loved it.. started off a bit slow but built up the further you read.. Detective Angie Pallorino has a lot to handle not just her job but in her personal life as well.. I thought I had worked out who the murderer was but no I was wrong..the book kept me in suspense and I ended up reading it most of the night to get to the end..a couple of surprises at the end but I won't reveal what.. I was intrigued by Det.Holgerson.. a bit of a mystery man there.. maybe in the next book we might find out a bit more about him.