Today, I am honoured to say I am part of the book tour for Black Orchid Girls by Carolyn Arnold. Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the gifted copy of the book.
The first rays of sun filter through the tall trees, casting a faint light on the girl lying at the water’s edge. Her tears have frozen on her pale face, a black orchid rests against her cold white skin.
When hikers find the body of a beautiful young girl on the banks of the Potomac River, Detective Amanda Steele is shaken and confused. What is the significance of the delicate flower resting on the girl’s torso? A sign of affection, or a twisted killer’s calling card?
The girl is Chloe Somner, a local nineteen-year-old ecology student well-known to the park rangers and loved by all her classmates. Searching Chloe’s home, Amanda can’t work out who could have tempted her to the water in the early hours of the morning, but a long night hunting through cold cases gives her a possible lead: twenty years ago another local girl was murdered, a red rose left on her body. But why would this killer strike again now?
Focused on the past, the last thing Amanda expects is the news that Chloe’s roommate has been found dead, another black orchid left. Terrified that more innocent victims will follow, can Amanda uncover the significance of the flowers and stop this cold-hearted killer before he returns for the next orchid girl…?
A totally compulsive crime thriller! Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
This is the fourth book in the Detective Amanda Steel series. It stands alone brilliantly. I know this as I am behind on catching up with all the Bookouture books and I kept up with this book easily.
I love the cover to this book and the synopsis drew me in so much! I just hoped that the pages held as much promose as the cover and synopsis. They did! Carolyn Arnold has again brought a fast-paced story from the first page to the last. This is a real page turner that really won’t let you go!
Her characters are well defined, strong, and unique. Detective Amanda Steele is fostering six year old Zoe Parker, a young girl whose parents have been murdered. Amanda has applied to adopt her, and we see her struggling to deal with her work and her traumatised six year old.
A 19-year-old girl, Chloe Somner, is found murdered with a black orchid placed on her body. Amanda and Trent, her partner, go to notify the family. They don’t expect the reception they receive, especially when a lawyer is in attendance.
After Amanda trawls the cold cases she finds a possible lead. A case from twenty years ago where a red rose was left on a victim. Could this be a link and why so long? Chloe’s roommate is found dead again with a black orchid placed on her body. Can Amanda get to the bottom of the case before more people die?
A story that really had me guessing constantly. The number of twists and turns had me holding my breath at times. I love a story that constantly holds my attention, and this certainly did that.
Author Bio
Carolyn Arnold was born in a small Canadian town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower. As an international bestselling and award-winning author, she has several continuing fiction series, including her popular Detective Madison Knight series. She offers readers nearly three dozen published books in genres ranging from crime thrillers and hard-boiled mysteries to cozy mysteries and action adventures. She currently lives north of London, Ontario, with her husband and two beagles.
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