The Spirit Girls
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Average rating3.5
"Where are you taking me?" Rylan follows the figure through the trees. The girl's dark ponytail swings as she turns back, then walks on without answering. Deep in the woods, she disappears... and Rylan finds her body, mouth wide in a silent, final plea for help. Rylan Flynn has always been able to see what others don't-the restless spirits haunting Ashby, Indiana. She's learned to live with her "gift" but sometimes she longs to escape. The woods have always been a peaceful place for Rylan. But on a visit to her aunt's cabin, she catches sight of a spirit in the trees. The ghost of a young woman approaches, leading Rylan to her body. With a flood of horror, Rylan realizes that the girl, Celeste Monroe, has been murdered. An outgoing newcomer to town, Celeste had no enemies. Who on earth would want to see her dead? When a coin carved with strange symbols is discovered in Celeste's throat, it's clear that a twisted, cold-blooded killer is at work. Rylan's abilities could be the only way to prevent further deaths. But Ashby's handsome head detective, Ford Pierce, has made it very clear that he doesn't want her help. And any unexplained knowledge of the case could make Rylan the perfect suspect. When another body is discovered and blood at the scene points to Rylan's family, she is more determined than ever to uncover the truth. She must race against time to untangle a web of dark secrets... but can she find answers before the murderer claims another victim? A heart-pounding mystery with a touch of romance, The Spirit Girls begins a new series of paranormal thrillers that are impossible to put down. If you love urban fantasy or psychic thrillers by Heather Graham and Wendy Wang, this book will grab you from the first page and never let go. See what everyone's saying about Dawn Merriman: "I feel likeI just finished running a marathon... My heart is still racing, hands trembling, emotions swirling... Incredible." Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "One word, 'WOW'... Brilliantly written, couldn't put it down until I finished." Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Wow. New favorite author... starts out with a bang and never slows down." Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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1 primary book#1 in Rylan Flynn
Rylan Flynn is a 1-book series first released in 2023 with contributions by Dawn Merriman.
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Thank you to #NetGalley and #SecondSky for the copy of this book! Rylan Flynn sees ghosts. Not a psychic, she just as the gift of seeing ghosts as they present themselves to her. When a ghost in the woods of her aunt Val's property lures her into the woods, Rylan stumbles upon the body of the ghost, stuck to a tree. Turns out the victim is Celeste Monroe of Toledo, and she came to Rylan for help. A murder investigation ensues, and Rylan can't seem to steer clear of law enforcement. When another young girl is found murdered in the same location, Rylan turns to her gift to steer her in the direction that the officers and detectives cannot see.
I rated this 3 stars based off of the quick pace, lack of plot development - this had the potential to really build over the course of the book and it missed the mark. It was a very quick read, most likely because the plot failed to develop to its full extent. The character development was lacking as well. I feel as though there was so much opportunity and it failed to execute. I also feel like there wasn't a thrilling plot. I was expecting more paranormal interaction, as well as more juicy details in the murder investigation. I also felt as though it was a predictable ending. The twist didn't WOW me as much as I had hoped.
In this great audiobook, narrator Stephanie Cannon brings Dawn Merriman's paranormal thriller to life.
Rylan Flynn, a psychic who can see (and help) spirits, stumbles on the ghost of a murdered girl near her aunt's cabin. While Rylan dives into her own investigation, considerate and handsome Detective Ford Pierce (love that name!) tells her to steer clear of the case. But when a second body pops up and it looks like it's linked to Rylan's family, she's hell-bent on getting to the bottom of it.
This is very much a clean contemporary mystery, Rylan doesn't even curse once. It is safe for new adult, possibly even mature YA readers. It's set in Indiana, her dad is a minister, and her unrealised love interest is a police officer, all very wholesome. Overall, it gives me Stephanie Plum series vibes, (but clean!) which I love. Be aware, that there are slightly graphic depictions of injuries leading to death, including suicide.
Stephanie Cannon's voice really captures Rylan Flynn's go-getter attitude and the vibe of the story. The audio narration makes the book's fast-paced, suspenseful plot even better. Cannon's lively delivery keeps you engaged, I listened to it non-stop and finished it in one day!
Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for providing a review copy of this audiobook.
