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7 hours, 35 minutes

As day breaks over the Tanner family home, the house is deadly silent and the door is firmly closed. Upstairs, the whole family lie cold and lifeless in their beds. All with the same look of fear in their unblinking eyes…

Detective Eve Bennet takes a steadying breath as she enters the main bedroom of the Tanners’ modest home in the tight-knit town of Hilldale, Utah. Mrs Tanner’s high-collared nightgown and her long plaited blonde hair are soaked in blood. Next to her, Mr Tanner’s hands are clasped together in a final prayer.

Filled with dread, Eve forces herself towards the children’s rooms. But instead of two children, she only finds one. Where is the youngest daughter, Hannah? And why are there long scratches across the walls?

Eve tracks Hannah down to her uncle’s house nearby. But he won’t let her step foot in the house. Eve knows what it’s like to be held captive by a family member, and fears for Hannah’s safety. What is he terrified Hannah might reveal?

Back at the Tanner home, Eve makes a shocking discovery in the dust covered attic. Mr Tanner was hiding a dark secret from the rest of the community—the kind of secret someone would kill for.

Realizing another family could be in danger, Eve runs from the house and stumbles into the path of the one man she spent years trying to forget— and he won’t let her get away this time. Can Eve escape the evil that has haunted her whole life? And will she catch the killer before another innocent family is murdered?

Audiobook

First published January 13, 2023

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About the author

Holly S. Roberts

71 books1,002 followers
Holly S Roberts is the USA TODAY bestselling author of more than forty books. She began writing several years into her career as a homicide detective and never stopped. Holly writes crime thrillers, wildlife thrillers, mysteries and romance. They are not sweet books though she's a stickler for a happy ending.

For more information, visit her website at wickedstorytelling.com.

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5 stars
254 (46%)
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191 (34%)
3 stars
75 (13%)
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19 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
Profile Image for Brenda.
4,606 reviews2,883 followers
January 8, 2023
Detective Eve Bennett and her specialist team - Clyde, Collin, Ray and Bina - entered the Tanner home in Hilldale, Utah, in the centre of a large polygamist community, and found themselves stunned by the ferocity of the murders. The husband, his two wives and son all lay dead, but the daughter was missing. Where was Hannah, and was she safe? The more Eve tried to interview Hannah, the more she was blocked from meeting her, talking to her.

The investigation was hindered by the local attorney, her step-brother Aaron, a man Eve had feared for most of her life. He was a bully, brutal and cruel - and very involved in the polygamist community. But Eve had escaped that life, and now her intent was justice for the brutalised women and children. Would she be able to solve this case, discover who murdered the family?

Only Girl Alive is the 1st in the Detective Eve Bennett series by Holly S. Roberts and it was breathtaking! I was completely involved in the plot, the intrigue which wove its way through the pages and the mind blowing horrors that was the polygamist community. Eve's complete team are well-crafted characters, including Eve herself, and I'm very much looking forward to book #2. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,231 reviews1,665 followers
December 22, 2022
3,5 stars rounded up

#1Detective Eve Bennet

Detective Eve Bennet takes a steading breath as she enters the main bedroom of Tanners' modest home in the tight-knit town of Hilldale, Utah. Mrs Tanner's high-collared nightgown and her long plaited blonde hair are soaked in blood. Next to her, Mr Tanner's hands are clasped together as if in final prayer. filled with dread, Eve forces herself towards the children's rooms. But instead of two children, she only finds one. Where is the youngest daughter, Hannah? And why is there long scratches across the walls?

This is the first book in a new detective series. It's a fast-paced and easy to follow thriller. There are parts that are really drawn out, so I took half a star from my rating. Detective Eve Bennet is called in to investigate the murders in a polygamist community. Eve used to be part of the same community but managed to leave. The research and details of the community was good, but it can be harrowing to read. The characters are well rounded. This is quite a dark book to read. There are plenty of twists to keep you invested. This is a great start to this series.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #Bookouture and the author #HollySRoberts for my ARC of #OnlyGirlAlive in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,332 reviews87 followers
February 1, 2023
Only Girl Alive (Detective Eve Bennet Book 1) by Holly S. Roberts was 5 ⭐️ for me! I thought this was so good. It’s a mystery crime novel I just couldn’t get enough. The story was engaging, the author made me care about all the characters and I can’t wait for book two. I really liked every thing about this one and highly recommend. It was an incredible audiobook and was narrated by Stacia Keogh. She’s a new favorite of mine now that I’ve finished this.
Listen to this book!
Thanks Bookouture via Netgalley.
1,391 reviews100 followers
January 27, 2023
This was a debut book from an author I hadn’t read. The story started off well but, it soon dragged I to a lot of police procedures which became very long-winded and slightly boring. The pace picked up again later but, it wasn’t the best crime story I’ve read recently. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Arathi Chitrapura.
387 reviews28 followers
December 31, 2022
Detective Eve Bennet is shocked as she enters a house filled with dead bodies, and as she enters the children’s rooms she is surprised to find that one child is missing – what happened to the missing kid?
The missing child Hannah is in her uncle’s house, but as Eve tries to meet with Hannah she faces a lot of backlash and hurdles. In the middle of such a tough time Eve and her team discover a attic filled with more secrets – looking like a torture scene.
This book also talks about the tight knit communities that existed, in detail which was pretty shocking at places.
Only Girl Alive by Holly S. Roberts is a debut book which is pretty fascinating, shocking and really an eye opener in some parts. Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and the author for approving the audiobook copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
The narration by Stacia Keogh was very good.
Profile Image for Sean Peters.
740 reviews118 followers
January 10, 2024
First in the series and the first read by this author for me.

Read many of Linda Castilo's books, this book is a slower and less gripping version, but still strong characters, strong lead, but sadly still a bit slow and a weak ending, which I had guessed much earlier in the book. The author who was a real Homicide detective is writing her first crime thriller I am sure will get stronger.

As day breaks over the Tanner family home, the house is deadly silent and the door is firmly closed. Upstairs, the whole family lie cold and lifeless in their beds. All with the same look of fear in their unblinking eyes…

Detective Eve Bennet takes a steadying breath as she enters the main bedroom of the Tanners’ modest home in the tight-knit town of Hilldale. Mrs Tanner’s high-collared nightgown and her long plaited blonde hair are soaked in blood. Next to her, Mr Tanner’s hands are clasped together in a final prayer.

Filled with dread, Eve forces herself towards the children’s rooms. But instead of two children, she only finds one. Where is the youngest daughter, Hannah? And why are there long scratches across the walls?

Eve tracks Hannah down to her uncle’s house nearby. But he won’t let her step foot in the house. Eve knows what it’s like to be held captive by a family member, and fears for Hannah’s safety. What is he terrified Hannah might reveal?

Back at the Tanner home, Eve makes a shocking discovery in the dust covered attic. Mr Tanner was hiding a dark secret from the rest of the community—the kind of secret someone would kill for.

Realizing another family could be in danger, Eve runs from the house and stumbles into the path of the one man she spent years trying to forget— and he won’t let her get away this time. Can Eve escape the evil that has haunted her whole life? And will she catch the killer before another innocent family is murdered?

Three stars
Profile Image for Nicola “Shortbookthyme”.
1,897 reviews138 followers
December 26, 2022
Holly S. Roberts writes a very intriguing story with her Detective Eve Bennet series. I have to say this a great start to a series I definitely want to keep on reading.
Detective Eve Bennet is a very complex character. What she has gone through from childhood is still continuing to haunt her. Raised in a polygamist community until she was 12 has really taken a toll on her mentally. But, with the help of her team she is trying to deal with her emotions.
Detective Eve Bennet and her highly trained investigative team are asked to solve a very brutal murder of 4 family members living in a Fundamentalist community. This brings back so many memories to Eve. Can she solve the case? Will her past interfere with finding the killer? How can you get answers when no one is willing to tell the truth?
I had no clue who the killer was in this story. And, when I found out who this killer was….I was shocked. Talk about a dark and chilling outcome.
The authors writing and descriptions of life in a polygamist community is eye opening, terrifying and downright heart wrenching. (Please be aware parts of the story will shock you)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Holly S. Roberts for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Donne.
1,345 reviews25 followers
December 29, 2022
When I requested this book from NetGalley, I didn’t know then that I would be reading it right after I read another book about a polygamist, fundamentalist, religious group. First and foremost, I didn’t realize the other book was about a polygamist, fundamentalist, religious group when I first started to read it. Secondly, I REALLY dislike cult stories, which is what I consider polygamist, fundamentalist, religious groups that force minor girls to “marry” (there is nothing legal in the US about this practice and form of child abuse and enslavement) and become “sister wives” of old and married elders, regardless of how incestuous the relationships are of the individuals involved. As far as I’m concerned, the “sister wives” are just as deranged as the elders after having been permanently damaged by the lifetime of indoctrination. I have no problem with consenting adults who want to live a polyamorous lifestyle. However, forcing minor girls into this particular lifestyle against their will and holding them hostage and brainwashing them is despicable.

The best part about this story is the MC, Eve Bennett, the lead detective for a Utah state crime unit that specifically investigates crimes within the polygamist, fundamentalist religious communities in Utah and who grew up in this community until she was rescued and escaped that enslavement with her bio mom. Eve, of all people, knows how these communities operate and knows their secrets and rituals and the people who call the shots. As the book summary lays out, the primary storyline is the investigation of the murders of a polygamist family and the protection of the surviving member.

There is also a secondary storyline that revolves around the contemptuous relationship and interactions between Eve and her stepbrother, who is the county DA as well as a polygamist elder in the religious community. Most of the story revolves around the investigations of the murders and the obstruction that Eve and her team face. Along with the obstruction, the five-member team also must deal with a lot of racism and misogyny because the team is comprised of two women, one a native American, as well as a black man, a Hispanic man, and a non-fundamentalist Mormon.

As mentioned in the book summary, there is a discovery in the attic, a really disgusting and disturbing revelation. It’s stuff like this why I REALLY dislike cult stories. I find the disgusting perversion of the elders, so often found in polygamist, fundamentalist, religious cults, as well as the sexual abuse and molestation of women and, especially children, absolutely repulsive and hard to read. For me, the end couldn’t come soon enough. It got really frightening and intense for the Eve and the team when they were confronted by the killer. The end wasn’t as satisfying as it could have been, but then there wouldn’t be anything else to write about in the next installment.

I liked this book, I guess if I could give it 3.5stars, I would. This was another two sitting read. Don't you just love holiday vacations, where you can spend a cold and rainy afternoon curled up with a good murder mystery? Anyway, I have mixed feelings about continuing the series and haven’t decided yet whether or not it will be a one and done for me. It’s not just the religious subject matter either (I’m an evolutionist).

I am a HUGE fan of Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder series. Like Eve, Kate Burkholder is a survivor of a deeply religious upbringing. Both female MCs are deeply flawed and damaged women who have worked hard to become the bad-@$$, female, officers of the law that they are and are determined to not let their tragic upbringings prevent them from becoming the best they can be. Unfortunately though, the polygamist, fundamentalist, religious group in this series is very different than the Amish community in Painters Mill, in so many ways. I don’t know if I could stomach committing to a whole series based around the depraved wackos in the Eve Bennett series.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

@NetGalley @Bookouture @OnlyGirlAlive
Profile Image for Carly Rushforth.
490 reviews31 followers
January 13, 2023
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What an incredible start to a new series this is, I was hooked almost instantaneously. The dark and murky world of some communities in Utah has intrigued me for quite a while so I found this book fascinating.

Eve and her team are a close knit establishment team and I loved that the author gave us a little run down of each team member and a hint towards what kind of personality they have, this sets you up for the rest of the story and beyond.

I was absolutely enthralled in this story and stayed up late one night to finish it as I just couldn’t put it down.

The flashbacks to Eve’s childhood and the abuse she suffered was heartbreaking but it gives you the reason why she does what she does to try and bring it all down, the storyline was obviously fictional but a lot of it happens in real life too which make it even more chilling to read.

The author is a former detective and you can really tell with all the descriptive detail that’s in the story.

I can’t want to read the next book in the series.

Merged review:

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What an incredible start to a new series this is, I was hooked almost instantaneously. The dark and murky world of some communities in Utah has intrigued me for quite a while so I found this book fascinating.

Eve and her team are a close knit establishment team and I loved that the author gave us a little run down of each team member and a hint towards what kind of personality they have, this sets you up for the rest of the story and beyond.

I was absolutely enthralled in this story and stayed up late one night to finish it as I just couldn’t put it down.

The flashbacks to Eve’s childhood and the abuse she suffered was heartbreaking but it gives you the reason why she does what she does to try and bring it all down, the storyline was obviously fictional but a lot of it happens in real life too which make it even more chilling to read.

The author is a former detective and you can really tell with all the descriptive detail that’s in the story.

I can’t want to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Julie Lacey.
1,841 reviews117 followers
January 3, 2023
This is a great start to a new series.
A family have been murdered in their home and Detective Eve Bennet is sent to investigate.
The family are part of a very tight knit community and are fundamentalists.
Eve knows the community well as she was raised here as a child until her mother rescued her.
It’s a different world where men have several wives and girls are married off at a very young age.
Girls are not treated well and as Eve managed to escape, the community do not take well to her questioning them.
The daughter of the murdered family is missing annd Eve thinks she knows where she is, but she’s not allowed anywhere near the property.
This is a great crime thriller with an interesting background to the lead Detective.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Profile Image for Robin Loves Reading.
2,425 reviews422 followers
January 16, 2023
Detective Eve Bennet finds herself at a gruesome crime scene. There are three victims, a husband, wife and child. However, there is a missing child among the slain family. The missing little girl is ten-year-old Hannah and Eve is desperate to find her as well as to find the murderer.

This is no ordinary case for Eve. In fact, the victims belonged to a polygamous community, one which Eve is all too familiar with. This community is a harsh part of Eve’s past, especially as some of its current members have very good standing in the community. These members include the local prosecutor, Aaron, a man who was the bane of Eve’s existence when she was a child, and he is just as unpleasantly difficult now. Thus, this latest case has Eve and her fellow officers tied up in knots.

Eve faces constant danger as she pursues her case, as she must go against the tenets of the religious community. The circumstances of polygamous marriages, and this involves girls forced into marriage at a young age, are very disturbing in this first book in a thrilling new series by Holly S. Roberts. Eve’s past was tragic, and knowing what goes on in that group makes Eve work extra hard in trying to identify the killer. Full of tension, surprises and a shocking conclusion made Only Girl Alive a nail-biting one-sitting read.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/REA9DkzSliI
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
1,672 reviews134 followers
January 15, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW 


Review for 'Only Girl Alive' by Holly S. Roberts. 


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Holly S. Roberts, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous 


Publication date 13th January 2023. 


This is the first book I have read by this author.


I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Lisa Regan will be absolutely gripped by this explosive and totally unputdownable crime thriller from a USA Today bestselling author.' I am a huge fan of all three of these authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of a prologue and 34 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in Utah, USA 🇺🇸. 


This book is written in third person perspective and the protagonist is Detective Eve Bennet. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.  


'Only Girl Alive' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Holly discusses/includes sexual assault. 


AN ABSOLUTELY INTRIGUING, THOUGHT PROVOKING, UNPUTDOWNABLE HEART RACING AND EXPLOSIVE START TO WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN ADDICTIVE SERIES!! 


Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.


I absolutely loved this unique page turning explosive page turner. I have never really given much thought to the Fundamentalist Mormons previously but while reading this book I was researching the Fundamentalist Church Of Jesus Christ in Utah and I was absolutely shocked, disturbed and disgusted at some of the things I came across which included the heartbreaking 'Babyland' which is mentioned in this book. I wanted to sat a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to Hannah on her extensive research (plus her experiences) which absolutely shone through the storyline. There's not much worse than when an author doesn't research their topic and it becomes littered with unnecessary mistakes as it can spoil the storyline. However, you not only chose an intriguing topic to write about but you've researched it well and definitely piqued my interest on it. I will most definitely be looking more into the polygamist community and the FLDS as soon as I have completed this review. I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies, secrets, polygamy, murder and omg the twist!!! I DID NOT see that coming!!! Another MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Holly!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over and over!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with crime, shocks, suspense, tension, deceit, history, research and murder. There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. It is also very thought provoking and intriguing!! The storyline is scarily realistic after looking into the subject myself and it is something I am not sure many people realise goes on. 


Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!! 


I read approximately half of this book on kindle and listened to approximately half on audio book. I must also give a huge congratulations to the narrator Stacia Keogh who not only brought the storyline to life by really portraying the emotions through his voice but by doing absolutely fantastic impressions of males and females so a HUGE congratulations Stacia!! I cannot imagine that this was anywhere near an easy feat!!! I am looking forward to discovering more books read by yourself as you definitely have a perfect "book" voice!! I sometimes struggle to absorb the storyline through an audio book but if you are the same as me I can promise you will not have that problem with this amazing narrator!!


It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but also any characters that may make repeat appearances during the series too.


I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. I really liked Eve and felt so sorry on her throughout the book. She had a heartbreaking childhood and the more I discovered about her history the more my heart went out to her. However, the fact that after everything she went through she held her head up high and refused to allow the community to get away with what was going on the more I liked her. I found that she is such a strong female protagonist and was extremely likeable. I loved her relationship with her team and I am looking forward to meeting her and the rest of the members again in the next book. I thought Clyde was sweet and I am looking forward to seeing if the relationship continues to develop between him and Eve. I thought it was lovely how he looked out for her and that they were also such good friends while working well together. Colin, Ray and Bina were also great team members each with their own personalities and I loved watching the friendship and relationships between each of them grow and develop and learning about their pasts along with Eve and Clyde's. They make a fantastic team and I am looking forward to meeting each and every one of them again in the next book in what promises to be an explosive series!!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline. 



Welcome to my favourite author Club Holly!! Bring on the next book in this gripping series!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to the next success 🥂 



Overall an absolutely heart racing, nerve wracking, thought provoking, unputdownable addictive start to what promises to be an absolutely fantastic new series!!! 



Genres covered in this book include Romance, Noir Fiction, Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Police Procedural, Romance Novel, Women's Popular Fiction, Crime, Thriller & Mystery Adventures, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction and Psychological Thriller amongst others. 



I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', Shari Lapena, Karin Slaughter, Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot, Lisa Regan, Paula Hawkins, Freida McFadden, Rachel Abbot and anyone who loves an explosive ending!!! 



276 pages


This book is just 99 to purchase and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 


Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 


#OnlyGirlAlive #HollySRoberts #DetectiveEveBarret #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger 


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Profile Image for Kylie.
853 reviews17 followers
January 26, 2023
Narrated by Stacia Keogh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Story by Holly S. Roberts ⭐⭐⭐

First time trying Holly S. Roberts and if it was her goal to make the reader rage with those unbelievably horrible misogynistic males then goal achieved.
Profile Image for Emma Alvey.
776 reviews37 followers
January 13, 2023
"The killer lightly inhaled and exhaled into the silence, awaiting God's next command… Sinners waited for salvation in the next rooms"

The bodies of four members of the Tanner family are found lifeless in their beds. An entire family, wiped out as they slept. Or so it first appears. There is actually a survivor. One child that is still alive who may hold the key to solving this violent and unthinkable crime. But her uncle won’t allow the police to speak with her and the entire community seems determined to keep the ten-year-old hidden. What are they so scared she might reveal?
As Detective Eve Bennett and her team investigate, they make a shocking discovery in the attic of the Tanner’s home that leads to even darker revelations. Now they must race against the clock to catch the brutal killer before they strike again.

Did I need a new crime series on my already overflowing TBR? Not at all. But despite this, and the fact I’d sworn to cut right back on blog tours in the last few months leading up to my wedding, I was unable to resist reading Only Girl Alive and joining the blog tour. Noelle Holten, I blame you. But I also have to thank you, because this book had me hooked and I’ve found a fantastic new series to follow.

"The evil that permeated this community was the history that she unsuccessfully tried to escape."

Only Girl Alive introduces us to a new star in crime fiction. Detective Eve Bennett works for Utah’s special investigative squad, a unit committed to helping find justice for the victims of the polygamist sect of the Mormon Church. Her motives are personal as Eve was raised in the sect before escaping as a young teenager. Her fundamentalist past still haunts her, the trauma and indoctrination a daily battle she must wage. I really liked the author’s choice to give Eve a fundie background as it not only gives the reader an added insight into the community she is investigating, but also makes for complex dynamics and interesting plot points such as working against her own family when investigating crimes. She is a fascinating character who was a joy to read. I also really enjoyed the characters who made up Eve’s team. I loved their dynamic and how they handled the tricky obstacles they faced from the community as they investigated. The hint of blossoming romance was also fun to read and I’m hoping to see that develop in book two.

There aren’t many fiction books that focus on fundamentalism so setting a new series around a fundie community is something that immediately makes it stand out from the crowd. And as someone who has long been interested in fundamentalism and its consequences, it made me even more invested in this book and its characters. The author skillfully portrays what it is like to live with such an indoctrinated mindset, something that is shown particularly well when we read the opening chapter, which is written from the killer’s point of view. This chapter chilled me to my core as it is clear that they are a deeply disturbed person who is so indoctrinated that they genuinely believe they are carrying out God’s judgement and helping their victims atone for their sins. Seriously creepy but sadly understandable with what they are taught.

“An evil corruption that twisted the hearts and minds of over ten thousand people waited to stop Eve's team from discovering the truth. What secret were they willing to kill for? "

Holly S. Roberts’ biography tells us that she is a retired homicide detective, something that totally makes sense after reading this book. Exquisitely written, evocative and utterly compelling, it also includes lots of little details about the inner workings of investigating a crime that felt authentic. I now know why. As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, it isn’t often I can genuinely say that I did not see a twist coming. But that is what happened with this book. There are a lot of surprising revelations along the way, but the big reveal totally blindsided me. My jaw was on the floor and I suddenly had to question everything I thought I knew. How did I miss it?! Well played, Ms. Roberts. Well played.

Tense, twisty and gripping, Only Girl Alive is a fantastic thriller from what promises to be an exciting new series. Thriller lovers, add this to your TBR now!

TW: Religious indoctrination, religious trauma, sexual abuse
Profile Image for Paula Williams .
820 reviews34 followers
July 23, 2023
So excited to have a new series & this one is a great one. #DetectiveEveBennet is a fantastic character. She has a difficult past set in a strict polygamist community. Having escaped it, she still has to intervene in crimes there. This one is one that brings back part of her horrific past.

#StaciaKeogh brings the story to life wonderfully as the narrator to the audiobook.

Thank you, Holly Roberts, Bookouture, & netgalley for my copy! All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Lin Perrett.
297 reviews92 followers
April 4, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Detective Eve Bennet returns to her old community she had ascaped from to investigate a family murder. Luckily the daughter was staying with her uncle and avoided the killer. A gripping story unfolds as Eve comes up against faces from her past trying to sabotage the investigation.
Profile Image for Renita D'Silva.
Author 13 books364 followers
January 17, 2023
Thrilling. Suspenseful. A fast paced roller coaster ride of a book. I loved loved this one. Great start to the series. Brilliant book. Very highly recommended
3,083 reviews60 followers
January 14, 2023
The h is a survivor of the fundamentalist cult where she's investigating horrific murders. The plot and characters are awful, the h and her team work well together but she is caught up in her history. I liked the idea but found the writing heavy on Telling, until the last few chapters. Just OK.
January 8, 2023
Well, this has to be one of the best books that I have listened to in ages. I struggled at first with the narration but the story wow. It was so different and I am so glad I read it. Completely addicted and cannot wait for more.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
Profile Image for Els .
1,966 reviews39 followers
December 9, 2022
Wow this book was such an eye opener. I was shocked by the background story of Detective Eve Bennet. I knew those tight knit communities existed, but I could not imagine they way they worked. Kudos to the author for zooming in on this and draw the attention of the rest of the world to this. I understand they can make some of their own rules, but honestly some of their regulations are disgusting. 

I admire Eve for having found the strength to break free even though she still struggles with some things that happened in her past. She does not have a lot of family to fall back on, but her team is her rock. They protrect her, support her and love her. Together they battle the people keeping them from doing their job: unmasking a killer.

The community's lips are sealed. Even worse: they try and do everything to hold Eve and her team back. No matter how hard they try though, Eve will find out who is behind all this even if her life is in danger more than once.

A very good start to a new series. I do wonder if Eve's other cases will bring her to her home town again. 

In the first part of the book, the author gives us a lot of Eve's history. It was very interesting, but I took my focus a bit away from the case. Maybe it would have been better to alternate a bit of info about Eve with the investigation in order to make it a bit easier to read, but that only my opinion of course. ;)

I was shocked, disgusted and horrified, but I also welcomed the warmth between Even and her team. 

Thank you
Profile Image for Colleen Chi-Girl.
746 reviews161 followers
January 23, 2023
FOUR BIG STARS
Colleen Chi-Girl's review written on Jan 22, 2023

This novel is the 1st book in a new crime series with a female lead and it was both edgy and unputdownable. Furthermore, I found it to be both a compelling and very disturbing novel that read like a true crime novel. This really heightened the tension and drama for me, and I had to remind myself frequently it wasn't real. The narrator, Stacia Keogh, did a terrific job with all characters, which isn't an easy thing to do.

The setting for this novel is Utah and involves a fundamentalist polygamist LDS group. We all know they exist and when information in the news arises, I am always struck by how outrageous and awful it all seems. Note: I always feel for the regular LDS community when one of these polygamist stories make the headlines, even though polygamist groups are not a part of their LDS community and should definitely be exposed.

The female lead is Detective Eve Bennet and she and her expert detective team work closely together to solve the horrific crime of a polygamist family found brutally (savagely) murdered in their beds in their own home. There is one child missing.... There are secrets in the attic as well.... (Breathe....)

A great twist by the author is that you learn early on that Eve lived in and escaped from a polygamist group when she was 12 years old. Her mom had escaped earlier and finally came back for Eve who had been treated horrifically by an older brother and other male family members. Eve and her mom don't have the best relationship for obvious reasons. This certainly speaks for the impetus and reasons for Eve's passion and profession. Roberts really nails it as the plot opens and expands on the polygamist families harboring grudges towards the team, especially towards Eve (a traitor and sinner for leaving their specific cult). What I was truly surprised by was how bluntly honest this novel felt, once again making it all the more chilling and heart-breakingly real. It was as if Roberts, the author, had been a part of (or knew someone closely who was part of) a polygamist group. Regardless, her research and writing are realistic and compelling.

Thank you very much to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author, Holly S. Roberts, for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for mommy_and_books.
1,096 reviews23 followers
January 6, 2023
A highly engaging thriller. I literally couldn't stop reading. I haven't read a novel with polygamous families yet. Mormons are a branch of Christianity. However, I don't think they believe in the same God as Catholics. The book introduces the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members form a closed group. They're betting on marriage. They marry their relatives. Sick children are born. What do they do with them? You will know after reading. The husband is the most important. He has at least 2 wives. The boys can play. Women and girls have to work hard. In this hermetic environment, a tremendous tragedy took place. A family was killed, which consisted of a man, his two young wives and a son. Outside agents investigated the matter. They discovered that a 10-year-old girl had survived. Only no one knows where she is. The officers were worried about her. Her life is in danger. Whoever killed her family is probably hunting her now. I was horrified. I literally had shivers down my spine.
She met some interesting and less interesting characters. Including: local prosecutor, Aaron. Pretty nasty dude. It does not facilitate the work of an external team. Why? Does he have something to hide?
Another character and at the same time the main character is Detective Sergeant Eve Bennet. She used to belong to this community. Fortunately, she was saved from it. She had a hard time coming to her senses. This sect is brainwashing its followers. Will her reappearance in this environment suit her? Our heroine decided to help the woman and children of this sect. She is currently photographing crime scenes. Will this thing be easy for her? Will the members of this sect let go of her escape so easily? Will they work with her on a quadruple murder case? I liked this heroine. Eve is tough. She doesn't give up that easily. I've been wondering for a long time why she hasn't cut her hair yet? Was she going to return to that terrible sect? I fear for her future.
The case of the quadruple murder will not be easy. Who wants the truth not to come out?
The whole story takes place in the Utah.
You will be truly horrified by this whole book. I would never want to belong to this sect. They are not followers of God. The men belonging to her are paedophiles. They take underage girls as wives. They are elderly themselves. They believe in some strange prophet and blindly follow his instructions.
Thanks to author Holly S. Roberts for mentioning this community. We can learn a lot from it.
Only Girl Alive is a sensational thriller that you must read. I hope that at some time there will be a second part of Detective Sergeant Eve Bennet. I'm very curious about her.
I keep thinking about this book after reading it. She made a very positive impression on me. I didn't expect this.
On top of all, this is a wonderful cover.
If you're looking for a thriller that will shake you up, then be sure to read "Only Girl Alive".
Learning what happened there, you will pick your jaws from the ground. The ending shocked me. I didn't expect that.
An additional advantage is the plot twists. I never had a dull moment reading this novel.
I wholeheartedly recommend Only Girl Alive, mommy_and_books.

Merged review:

A highly engaging thriller. I literally couldn't stop reading. I haven't read a novel with polygamous families yet. Mormons are a branch of Christianity. However, I don't think they believe in the same God as Catholics. The book introduces the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members form a closed group. They're betting on marriage. They marry their relatives. Sick children are born. What do they do with them? You will know after reading. The husband is the most important. He has at least 2 wives. The boys can play. Women and girls have to work hard. In this hermetic environment, a tremendous tragedy took place. A family was killed, which consisted of a man, his two young wives and a son. Outside agents investigated the matter. They discovered that a 10-year-old girl had survived. Only no one knows where she is. The officers were worried about her. Her life is in danger. Whoever killed her family is probably hunting her now. I was horrified. I literally had shivers down my spine.
She met some interesting and less interesting characters. Including: local prosecutor, Aaron. Pretty nasty dude. It does not facilitate the work of an external team. Why? Does he have something to hide?
Another character and at the same time the main character is Detective Sergeant Eve Bennet. She used to belong to this community. Fortunately, she was saved from it. She had a hard time coming to her senses. This sect is brainwashing its followers. Will her reappearance in this environment suit her? Our heroine decided to help the woman and children of this sect. She is currently photographing crime scenes. Will this thing be easy for her? Will the members of this sect let go of her escape so easily? Will they work with her on a quadruple murder case? I liked this heroine. Eve is tough. She doesn't give up that easily. I've been wondering for a long time why she hasn't cut her hair yet? Was she going to return to that terrible sect? I fear for her future.
The case of the quadruple murder will not be easy. Who wants the truth not to come out?
The whole story takes place in the Utah. You will be truly horrified by this whole book. I would never want to belong to this sect. They are not followers of God. The men belonging to her are paedophiles. They take underage girls as wives. They are elderly themselves. They believe in some strange prophet and blindly follow his instructions.
Thanks to author Holly S. Roberts for mentioning this community. We can learn a lot from it.
Only Girl Alive is a sensational thriller that you must read. I hope that at some time there will be a second part of Detective Sergeant Eve Bennet. I'm very curious about her.
I keep thinking about this book after reading it. She made a very positive impression on me. I didn't expect this.
On top of all, this is a wonderful cover.
If you're looking for a thriller that will shake you up, then be sure to read "Only Girl Alive".
Learning what happened there, you will pick your jaws from the ground. The ending shocked me. I didn't expect that.
An additional advantage is the plot twists. I never had a dull moment reading this novel.
I wholeheartedly recommend Only Girl Alive, mommy_and_books.
Profile Image for Branita J.
147 reviews14 followers
December 30, 2022
This story begins with the murder of a fundamentalist Morman family. The secrets discovered during the investigation is atrocious. Someone killed this family for their sins and it's Eve and her teams job to find that person. Eve is no stranger to the Morman world, she had been raised in it. She must battle her step-brother and the church community to find the truth. They're trying to keep her from talking to the only person in the family that is still alive, a young girl. What does she know and will it bring the community down with it?

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Stacia Keogh did a fantastic job. She brought the book to life. However, this book is a little hard to get through, at times. It wasn't a bad book, it didn't grab my attention and keep it, though. I don't know if it was the subject matter of the Morman church or something else. But everyone has a different view point, maybe this is the book for you. It's worth a read.

Thank you to netgalley, Bookouture and Holly S Roberts for this complimentary copy.
Profile Image for Mags.
2,830 reviews31 followers
January 9, 2023
Only Girl Alive introduces readers to Eve Bennet. Who grew up in Utah's polygamist Mormon community before her mum rescued her. And now she works as a detective heading up a specialist unit that investigates the biggest cases, many of which involve the community Eve was rescued from.

And in this debut novel Eve and her team are called in by Eve's step brother Aaron. A county attorney and polygamist member to investigate the murder of the Tanner family.

But all is not as it seems and Aaron was light on the details, including the fact one member of the family is missing.

And Eve's team soon discover something much more disturbing inside the house.

But with a community that doesn't talk to outsiders, Eve and her team know they have their work cut out.

And with twists and a fast-paced and intriguing storyline. Only Girl Alive was an enjoyable debut novel. That certainly entertained and offered lots of mystery and shocks along the way.

**I was kindly provided with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Profile Image for Shannon Mullins.
225 reviews5 followers
January 11, 2023
The story was compelling, as are the strength and unity demonstrated by Eve and her team.

The research done for the procedural was very well done. I really like the characters and didn’t dislike which is normally a hard feat.
Clearly, Eve's familiarity and experience with the polygamist cult are key in this story. However, that was harped on a little too much.
With it being the first one in the series it is normal for there to be a lot of background history.
For the next book, I would probably perfer to read rather than listen to the audio version. I definitely recommend this current book to those who enjoy a good police procedural with a strong female lead and a team that works well together.
Profile Image for Catherine Craig (Angelic Light).
1,130 reviews23 followers
May 10, 2023
This is an interesting police procedural/thriller, which I enjoyed listening to.

Detective Eve Bennet has to solve the case of a family who have been murdered in their home. She goes after some people from the cult that she was brought up in, and this uncovers many bad memories for her, which she has to battle.

The audiobook narrator was great, and she helped to bring the story alive, keeping it full of tension and suspense once it got past the first part, which I found was slower. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Profile Image for Diana Brown.
962 reviews13 followers
February 12, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the chance to listen to Only girl alive by Holly S. Roberts. This is the first book in the Detective Eve Bennet series, and I enjoyed listening to it. The narrator, Stacia Keogh was very great which made listening to the book enjoyable. I did find some parts slow but it picked up afterwords. I will enjoy reading the next book.
Profile Image for Stacy.
382 reviews8 followers
November 24, 2022
This is the 1st book in the Detective Eve Bennet series. It’s my first book by this author and all I can say is WOW! I was awed and appalled by the story and absolutely cannot wait to read the next one!

Detective Eve Bennet and her team have been called to a home in Hilldale, Utah. They are a specialist team that deal with crime in the Fundamentalist Morman community. The team learns that the Tanner family has been killed and they are here to investigate the homicide.
The bodies seem staged in a way that makes Eve feel like something personal happened. When they get to the final child’s room, they learn that the youngest, Hannah, is missing. Eve is soon told that Hannah is safe and was at her uncles house when the murders occurred, but he refuses to allow Eve and her team to interview Hannah. Is the family or the church trying to hide something?
Upon further investigation at the house, a horrible discovery is made. A dark secret is revealed that could lead to a motive for the killings. Eve is forced to deal with people from her own past that she would rather avoid. Will her team solve this crime before anyone else is harmed?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Merged review:

This is the 1st book in the Detective Eve Bennet series. It’s my first book by this author and all I can say is WOW! I was awed and appalled by the story and absolutely cannot wait to read the next one!

Detective Eve Bennet and her team have been called to a home in Hilldale, Utah. They are a specialist team that deal with crime in the Fundamentalist Morman community. The team learns that the Tanner family has been killed and they are here to investigate the homicide.
The bodies seem staged in a way that makes Eve feel like something personal happened. When they get to the final child’s room, they learn that the youngest, Hannah, is missing. Eve is soon told that Hannah is safe and was at her uncles house when the murders occurred, but he refuses to allow Eve and her team to interview Hannah. Is the family or the church trying to hide something?
Upon further investigation at the house, a horrible discovery is made. A dark secret is revealed that could lead to a motive for the killings. Eve is forced to deal with people from her own past that she would rather avoid. Will her team solve this crime before anyone else is harmed?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
229 reviews3 followers
January 12, 2023
BOY, DO I LOVE A GOOD CULT STORY.
Eve is a detective investigating a multiple person homicide in a polygamist Mormon community. She grew up in this same community as a child.

This novel might need a little more polishing/ a little more filler material. It reads half as a documentary on FLDS Mormon sects and half as a CSI procedure manual.

I really liked the plot and I feel like I learned a lot on religious cults (if the material is accurate). But the ending was very predictable. I didn’t love the narrator. She was too monotone and there was no “feeling”.

This was an arc from Netgalley.
Profile Image for Shirley McAllister.
1,075 reviews150 followers
January 16, 2023
Cruel Beliefs

Four people are murdered in their beds in the religious complex of the fundamentalist LDS community where polygamy is still practiced. Women are not treated well and married to older men at a very young age. Children are indoctrinated into the religion at an early age and live by the rules of the prophet that leads the community.

Detective Eve Bennet is sent to investigate. She knows about this community she was part of it as a child until she was rescued from it by her mother. She is at odds with her step brother who is in a high ranking spot in the community. She must fight him for an development in the case.

The church is very secretive and they do not wish to have anyone interviewed or spoken too. They refuse to help and soon Eve finds herself in danger.

The narrator did a good job her voice was clear and easy to understand and it was pleasant to listen to.

This was a very thrilling mystery, in so much as it is about a religion that has had much controversy and something like this could potentially happen. I have to say the ending was a real shocker.

Thanks to Holly S. Roberts for writing a great thriller, to Stacia Keogh for narrating it, to Bookouture Audio for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the audio book to listen to and review.
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