I have recently developed a taste for suspense/thriller fiction, in particular the psychology that plays out with either death or disappearance; how it breaks relationships and makes people evaluate themselves and those they know. I expected a lot from GIRLS' NIGHT OUT by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, especially with a tantalizing summary of not knowing what happened and the reasons for it happening.

I loved are the mystery behind what happened to Ashley, especially when the authors threw some unexpected red herrings which kept me turning pages and trying to piece the story together. Figuring out the mystery is the fun part of the story, especially towards the end when there are more questions than answers. The relationship dynamic between the friends is well done and its obvious that the authors have experiences with dealing with life-long friendships.

While there are a lot of good things about GIRLS' NIGHT OUT by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, it did have some issues, namely that the three women weren't too well- developed, and a lot of time is spent telling the reader about Ashley being charismatic and the glue of the friendship rather than seeing that side of her personality. I also found that the male suspect was also thinly drawn.

Still, for a reader who loves thrillers where nothing is at it seems, as well as the enduring bonds of long friendships, GIRLS' NIGHT OUT by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke should be a good late summer read.

Book Summary