Desperate Girls by Laura Griffin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Expected publication August 7th!
Desperate Girls is the first book I’ve ever won in a Goodreads giveaway! I was ecstatic to receive an advanced copy in physical form!
I had not previously read anything by Laura Griffin so I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this book. Man, was her character development good. I really enjoyed Brynn and Erik as main characters and felt like I had a true sense of who they were as people. I understood their motives, values, attitudes, and decisions throughout the book and appreciated the attention Laura Griffin placed on encapsulating their spirit.
Desperate Girls is a murder mystery, but it also has a love story angle that I really enjoyed. It starts with the escape of a serial killer from prison, and the murder of several high ranking individuals involved in his conviction. Brynn, who now works as a defense attorney, was once the prosecutor that helped put this killer behind bars. Her boss hires Wolfe Security to protect her and her partner during their most recent trial, where she meets Erik Morgan, a handsome and serious bodyguard employed by the firm.
The story has several interesting plot angles including the escape and search for the escaped killer, a trial where Brynn serves as the defense attorney for her client, the interaction between Brynn and Erik, and some other story lines involving various law enforcement members.
I would describe this book as a “slow burn.” It wasn’t a fast paced thriller on par with The Girl on the Train or The Woman in the Window. It developed slower and took it’s time, but not in a way that was boring. I felt like there was a lot of tension building throughout that kept it engaging and interesting.
I was shocked by the ending to be honest. Since it was such a slow burn, I wasn’t expecting a thriller-esque surprise twist. But it was there lurking within the last few pages of text.
Only giving it 4 stars because it didn’t blow me out of the water, but it was extremely well written and I enjoyed it very much.
Home Sweet Houser 
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