The Other Girl by Erica Spindler

Officer Miranda Rader of the Hammond PD in Louisiana is known for her honesty, integrity, and steady hand in a crisis—but that wasn’t always so. Miranda comes from Jasper, just south of Hammond, a place about the size of a good spit on a hot day, and her side of the tracks was the wrong one. She’s worked hard to leave the girl she used to be behind and earn respect in her position as an officer.

However, when Miranda and her partner are called to investigate the murder of one of the town’s most beloved college professors, they’re unprepared for the gruesomeness of the scene. This murder is unlike any they’ve ever investigated, and just when Miranda thinks she’s seen the worst of it, she finds a piece of evidence that chills her to the core: a faded newspaper clipping about a terrible night from her long-buried past. Then another man turns up dead, this one a retired cop, and not just any cop—Clint Wheeler, the cop who took her statement that night. Two murders, two very different men, two killings that on the surface had nothing in common—except Miranda. 14 years ago.

And when her fingerprints turn up at the scene of the first murder, Miranda once again finds herself under the microscope, her honesty and integrity doubted, her motivations questioned. Alone again, the trust of her colleagues shattered, Miranda must try to trust the instincts she’s pushed down for so long, and decide what’s right—before it’s too late.

Review

Happy publication day!

The Other Girl by Erica Spindler begins in Hammond in 2002; Miranda undergoes a terrible experience which changes the course of her life. 14 years later, she is in the police force. Miranda gets called into a case which reminds her of the events that took place back in 2002. Things get even crazier when her fingerprints are found at a murder scene. Soon, other events take place pointing all suspicion at Miranda.

I was able to read this book pretty quickly. Once I started it, it became really hard to put down. I was drawn in by the murder mystery. The tension escalated when Miranda became a suspect. The narration is mainly focused on the current case. However, a few chapters take readers back to 2002. I usually like dual narratives but in this case, the 2002 narration scared me. I dreaded going back there and meeting all the unlikable characters. However, I still needed to know what happened back then.

I liked Miranda and thought her portrayal was realistic. I liked her back story which made her even more relatable. It helped me understand her investment in the case and hence explained her motives. In addition, Miranda is the kind of detective that I like in crime thrillers. She is determined to solve the case and is willing to do anything to get answers. Her vulnerability and strength made her a likeable character.

I was able to predict almost all twists in the books. I knew exactly who had committed the murder. At some point, the author did throw me off briefly but I was still convinced on the killer’s identity and I was right. However, this wasn’t really an issue for me. I still enjoyed the book and thought it was quite thrilling. As a matter of fact, the only thing that bothered me a bit was some ongoing romance. Nevertheless, this was a fast-paced, entertaining thriller which I think fans of cop procedural will enjoy.