Desperate Girls

Laura Griffin

Aug 2018 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this eBook

New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin’s Desperate Girls is a tightly wound, fast-paced romantic thriller that follows a desperate woman on the run as she hides from a killer’s symbolic revenge spree.

Defense attorney Brynn Holloran is right at home among cops, criminals, and tough-as-nails prosecutors. With her sharp wit and pointed words, she has a tendency to intimidate, and she likes it that way. She’s a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom, but in her personal life, she’s a mess.

When a vicious murderer she once helped prosecute resurfaces and starts a killing spree to wipe out those who put him behind bars, one thing becomes clear: Brynn needs to run for her life.

When the police come up empty-handed, Brynn turns to a private security firm for protection. But when she defies advice and gets involved in the investigation, even the former Secret Service agent assigned to protect her may not be able to keep her safe. With every new clue she discovers, Brynn is pulled back into the vortex of a disturbing case from her past.

As the clock ticks down on a manhunt, Brynn’s desperate search for the truth unearths long-buried secrets and reignites a killer’s fury.

Ratings and reviews

Desperate Girls is a bit of a mixed bag. We have some courtroom drama, a bit of action and suspense by way of an escaped murderer set on getting revenge, some hot and steamy romance, and a little more suspense with an interesting twist. This is my first read by Laura Griffin, and I have to say I was impressed. The story moves at a good pace, there are no big lags, and the flow is good. Brynn is a strong female lead, which I always enjoy, and Erik is the very definition of a protector. They have great chemistry and just fit so well together that you can't help but want to see them together. The big bad in this one is about as bad as they get, and the tension builds as he tries to get to Brynn. I would've liked to have seen a bit more from Corby given his intelligence level, but it was still an entertaining read. We do get an intriguing twist at the end - one that I didn't see coming until it was right there. All in all, I enjoyed the book and will certainly be watching for whatever comes next in this new series.

5 Amazing Stars Review by Amy Late Night Reviewer Up All Night w/ Books Blog I am officially in love with this new series by Laura Griffin. Desperate Girls is the first book in the series and I am completely invested in these characters already! Brynn is a defense attorney who used to play for the opposite side. When a convict from one of her previous cases escapes from prison, he is suspected of going after all the people who helped put him there years earlier. In order to remain safe, her boss hires bodyguards for her and her partner, and that’s where things get really exciting. Wolfe Security comes on the scene and things heat up, in the court room, on the streets, and between the sheets. Danger ensues, people die, and Brynn is still trying to keep her eye on the ball for her current client who is on the line for murder. The last thing she needs is some annoying bodyguards impeding her ability to do things the way she has always done them. I was completely intrigued form the very beginning of the book. It started with a bang and kept up the momentum until the very end. This definitely qualifies as an addicting read. I could not put it down. I am absolutely dying to get my hands on the second book of this series. What a well written, fast moving bullet train thriller. Everything you would expect from a suspenseful story, plus the heat of a fiery romance. What more could you ask for?

When a judge is murdered in her own home, the past rushes in to confront Brynn. The suspect is an escaped prisoner that Brynn helped convict and law enforcement has every reason to believe he may target her next. Now she’s got a team of bodyguards interfering in her daily routine and a trial that demands her undivided attention. Added into that stress is her attraction to Erik who refuses to act on his own desires due to his job to keep her safe. Brynn was one tough heroine who had definite ideas and plans and no one was going to stop her. There were times I was afraid her choices were going to land her in deep water but fortunately that never happened. She was a bit brash and outspoken, a tough, experienced lawyer who fought for justice for her clients. Erik struggled to keep his focus on the case, on keeping Brynn safe and not on what he wanted to do to her. He was intense and stoic, an alpha hero without the over the top alphaness. He knew that a break in his concentration could cost someone their life, possibly even Brynn. This was a fast paced romantic thriller filled with suspense and mystery as well as a twist that was absolutely shocking. The characters were all well developed and the steam was what I would consider a medium heat. When they finally came together later in the story, it was pretty hot but there wasn’t a lot of build up to get to that place Secondary characters were everywhere and were important to the story. I enjoyed this book and the thriller feel to it with plenty of chases and close calls. I did feel that this couple needed more time together to connect but that was almost impossible with a serial killer on the loose. It was missing a certain “humph” factor that made me know this couple would work out and would be together forever and I really, really wanted to feel they were a forever couple. Perhaps an epilogue a few years down the road would have eased my concerns. However, I would definitely recommend this for the suspense/thriller elements as these plot points kept me riveted to the story. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Pocket Books. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the author

Laura Griffin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tracers series, the Wolfe Sec series, the Alpha Crew series, the Texas Murder Files series, and several other novels, including Last Seen Alone. A two-time RITA Award winner and the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award, Laura lives in Austin. Visit her at LauraGriffin.com, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/LauraGriffinAuthor.