Your Preview Verdict: Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz

Buy a copy of Leave the Girls Behind here.

Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:

I enjoyed this mesmerizing crime thriller covering that terrible world still besetting our societies of serial killers and accomplices, abduction and murder of girls. Our protagonist 26 yr old Ruth who lost her childhood friend Beth Lovely leaving lasting impact on her mental state, takes us on her journey after a 5 year hiatus of recovery, becoming an amateur detective to save such victims and find perpetrators. Warnings of “don’t talk to strangers” strike home that monster strangers are men who are husbands, teachers and fathers. A range of characters are brought to life – the wives of the killers, their children, particularly Juno, the police sergeant, Ruth’s supportive uncles and the ghosts of 3 unsolved victims and Hecate, Queen of the restless dead as the action , funded by a bequest from Beth’s parents, occurs in New York, New Zealand and Norway We learn of useful websites and online interactive maps providing info and leads of missing victims and unidentified bodies. There is also a possible love interest in Gabe and surprises keep coming. I loved the way chapter insertions written in italics between ongoing chapters on Ruth’s sleuthing mission, give us updates on the feelings and scary reality of the current unsolved abduction of 7 yr old Coco Wilson, echoing Beth’s trauma and reminding us of the urgency for action to save her. Fran, VIC, 5 stars

I was hooked from the first page, loved this novel. So well written and engaging. The main character, 26-year-old Ruth Ann Baker, lives in New York. She is a modern day Nancy Drew. When Ruth receives an Amber Alert for a child abduction, Coco Wilson, from her old hometown Hoben Connecticut it brings back memories of her friend Beth who was abducted and murdered 19 years earlier when she was 7 years old by Ethan Oswald, 31 year old music teacher from Hoben Heights High School. The similarities of Beth’s case makes Ruth believe that although Ethan is dead there may be a copycat or that Ethan did not work alone in abducting and murdering young girls. From 7 years of age Ruth began seeing her dead friend and although they never spoke about the abduction they just played and had fun together. 5 years ago Ruth had ‘an episode’ as her uncles referred to her breakdown. She could see other dead girls who were abducted and murdered. She came out of that and was better and moved on until the amber alert. As her quest to discover who is behind Coco’s abduction, Ruth becomes obsessed with finding out the truth about Beth’s abduction and if Ethan worked alone. As the story goes on more information comes to light as to what is behind her obsession. Beth’s parent’s left Ruth money that they were going to give to Beth for her 21st so that Ruth could move on and succeed. Ruth never wanted to use this money but decided to use it to discover the truth. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t delve any deeper. This book had me guessing and engaged all the way through. Loved it!!  Renae, QLD, 5 stars

Ruth has 3 women in her sights. 3 women she is investigating! Ruth casts her net wider as the NY bartender/sleuth entertains her morbid curiosity and fascination with serial killer connections. Ruth herself has some dark secrets in her past. Her detective work with the promise of creating a podcast take her to far off NZ and Norway all the while filling her head and room with dead girls who show up unexpectedly. Small truths, big lies! Maybe the only difference is which part of the story gets told! A first Jacqueline Bublitz novel for me but will definitely seek out other titles from this author. A fascinating story with well formed characters, a cute Aussie guy and a faithful pet Ressler. Dolores, QLD, 5 stars

The story is well-constructed. Characters get pulled into the narrative as Ruth (the protagonist) sleuths her way through the latest missing child case. But it gets tangled up in her own life in ways the reader likely won’t see coming. There’s the air of something psychic/supernatural happening. Or is it just trauma-induced imaginings? Finding the line is part of the challenge of the narrative–and a lot of the suspense. Samantha, QLD, 5 stars

Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz is a profound examination of sorrow, sisterhood, and the intricate nuances of trauma. The narrative centers on two sisters, Beth and Lauren, who share a profound bond while grappling with their personal challenges. Bublitz encapsulates the authenticity of female perseverance and fragility, giving a realistic representation of how personal tragedies reverberate across life.The work explores the profound anguish associated with loss and the cultural expectations imposed on women, set against a backdrop of both emotional and physical solitude. The sisters’ relationship, pivotal to the tale, is laden with unarticulated conflicts, reflecting the overarching themes of gender expectations and individual autonomy. Bublitz’s work is beautiful and haunting, articulating the sometimes neglected experiences of young women traversing a world that may appear uncaring and unfriendly.What distinguishes Leave the Girls Behind is its rejection of simplistic resolutions. Rather, it elucidates the intricacies of recuperation, healing, and comprehension, prompting readers to contemplate how we either assist or neglect the women in our lives. This story is a compelling and introspective exploration of love, loss, and the resilience discovered in confronting one’s realities. Ariba, NSW, 5 stars

This is an outstanding second novel from Jacqueline Bublitz. Great characters, interesting locales and an air of mystery lead to an absolute page turner. Congratulations Shannan, NSW, 5 stars

I loved this book! The writing style had me immediately wanting more. I found it hard to put this book down. I enjoyed going from present to past and finding out more about what had happened as time went on. I enjoyed it so much I am off to buy another book from this author. Jo-Anne, NSW, 5 stars

Jacqueline Bublitz has penned an intriguing and remarkable serial killer mystery thriller that I simply was unable to put down and days later I haven’t been able to get out of my mind. The clever yet troubled Ruth finds bubbles of memories surfacing from the kidnap and murder of her best friend Beth when she was 7 years old. There has been another kidnapping of a 7 year old child 19 years after but the convicted killer of Beths case is long dead after being in prison. The story is a detective hunt to solve the puzzle of the women surrounding the killer whom…is a serial killer per say. The writing is stunning, adult and this is going to be a bestseller for sure… Preeya, QLD, 5 stars

Leave the Grls Behind is an intriguing story that just as you think you know what has happened it goes galloping off in a different direction. The characters are all flawed and you wonder what happened to make them that way. This book is a very unusual thriller with twists and turns, and even when I finished the book I needed to re-read parts to fully comprehend the whole story. Wow well done Jacqueline Bublitz. Merry, TAS, 5 stars

If you are expecting a light, easy to read ‘who dun it ‘ – forget it. ‘Leave the girls behind ‘ is a unique masterpiece. Jacqueline Bublitz has written a fast, at times confronting mystery with unexpected twists and multi layered characters. Just when I thought I knew where she was taking the reader, another part of the story evolves. I experienced many emotions with the main character- Ruth – frustration, fear, enlightenment and disappointment. Jacqueline takes us on an amazing journey with Ruth as she discovers herself and faces her demons. She quotes Dr Jung: “ People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own souls.” Such a poignant quote. Heather, VIC, 5 stars

A mystery from the start, with a historical disappearance the haunts a wide cast of characters, this new Jacqueline Bublitz is a winner. Lots of unexpected twists, interesting characters and crossing the globe this is a worthy follow-up to Before You Knew My Name. A great read Sue, NSW, 5 stars

Just wow. I didn’t put this book down and devoured it in less than 24 hours. If you love taunt psychological thrillers then this for you. The blurb gives the overall journey you’ll embark on but not how you will champion Ruth (the main character), how worried you will be for her and how you will want to protect her from the layers that this book takes you through. More than an exploration of outward ripple effect of violent crimes on those around them, and what legacies it may leave, it will keep you hanging on by your fingernails right to the last page. Strap in and enjoy! Caroline, QLD, 5 stars

Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz is an intriguing mystery that sees Ruth travel from New York, to New Zealand, to Australia and Norway. When a young girl goes missing, it triggers memories of Ruth’s past. It send her on a journey to solve the mystery of the other missing girls. Ruth is a loner, but she has the loving support of her uncles and beloved dog Ressler. She also has some very unique friends that have recently reappeared in life. As this story winds its way through different countries, different parts of Ruth’s story are revealed. She is determined to solve the mystery of the missing girls and in turn, solve the mystery of her life story. There are a few different characters to keep track of throughout this story, and the reader needs to focus on the individual stories to see how they play their part in the big picture. This book certainly poses a challenge for the book reading sleuths. Kelly, VIC, 4 stars

Leave the Girls Behind is a great novel written by Jacqueline Bublitz. The twists and turns in this thriller novel kept me on my toes and not wanting to put the book down. The way Jacqueline has developed her characters and the journey they take is exciting and adds to the suspense throughout the novel. Definitely worth reading this novel. Christine, WA, 4 stars

The acclaimed author of the “tour de force” Before You Knew My Name returns with this suspense thriller about a woman haunted by a serial killer and the ghosts he left behind. This delivered some supernatural elements which is perfect for Spooky Season, a little murder, and some big twists. As thought provoking as it was, it was a little jumbled. The ending felt tidy, it all came together maybe too easily. I think if you read it with a open mind you will love it, but with Before You Knew My Name being so phenomenal, you can easily go in with higher expectations and this will always lead to disappointment. Nadine Amber, NSW, 4 stars

A rescued victim of a known child killer searches into his past to try and discover whether he was working alone and how much his partner and family really knew about the crimes. An interesting question is explored in this novel whether the people in his life were keeping his secrets or really had no idea. Great story telling, but left with no definite answers which was a little disappointing. Lee, VIC, 4 stars

“Leave the Girls Behind” is the first book I have read by Jacqueline Bublitz and I wasn’t disappointed. I love a good thriller and believe that the spirit of the people we have loved and lost definitely come back to visit. This book was a perfect fit for me and my eclectic taste! I did find the book to be a bit slow-moving in parts and the number of characters often had me thinking I should have drawn up a family-tree style diagram, depicting all of the relationships and where the characters fitted in. The link with New Zealand was a great homage to Jacqueline’s roots. Having now read “Leave the Girls Behind” and hearing the hype about Jacqueline’s first book (“Before You Knew My Name”), I look forward to reading that too. Rondelle, SA, 4 stars

Leave the girls behind by Jacqueline Bublitz. Right from the beginning this book held my interest. An intriguing story that takes the main character, a 30 year old woman, from her home in New York round the world to New Zealand, Melbourne and then Oslo. She is pursuing her passion of trying to find the connection between several serial killers. She talks to her childhood friends, who were victims of the serial killer, and although this is not usually my style of book- talking to ghosts, it is all part of a very interesting, and at times, very confronting story. It actually helps to have compassion for victims of any conflict. I recommend this book to everyone. Crystal, TAS, 4 stars

Wow I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was quite unique and was very surprised by a couple of the twists that I didn’t predict. I love the character of Ruth and her girls – and the storytelling of their lives was really easy to follow and gave readers a really good insight into the past. I found this a really easy read and would highly recommend if your into thrillers. I am going to go and get her other book as I imagine that is just as good as this one.  Jodi C, QLD, 4 stars

Leave the Girls Behind, follows true crime addict Ruth-Ann Baker as she tries to uncover the truth behind her childhood friend’s murder. I enjoyed reading this for the most part. I liked the story line and the twists and I found Ruth’s character unique. Overall I found it little too jumbled and got a bit confused at some points which resulted in the book not being able to hit as hard as it could have. Tara, ACT, 4 stars

I enjoyed this. Wanted to keep reading. Bit of crime & thriller. Some interesting twists thrown in. The ending really annoyed me. Felt incomplete. I am sure endings are hard to write. But would recommend this one. Mandy, TAS, 4 stars

Here’s my honest review of “Leave the Girls Behind” – and wow, what a journey! I was immediately drawn in by Ruth-Ann Baker’s quest to uncover the truth about her childhood friend’s murder. As I got deeper into the story, I was genuinely surprised by the direction it took. Bublitz expertly weaves a complex web of secrets and lies that kept me guessing until the very end. One of the things I loved most about this book was the exploration of trauma and its lasting impact. Bublitz handles these themes with sensitivity and depth, making the characters and their struggles feel incredibly real. “Leave the Girls Behind” is a gripping thriller that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend! Lauren, VIC, 4 stars

Leave the Girls Behind by Jaqueline Bublitz is a gripping thriller that intertwines the themes of mystery, trauma, and female resilience. Ruth, originally from a small town, finds herself haunted by a series of kidnappings and murders that compel her to uncover buried secrets from her own past. Her search for answers takes her across the globe—from New York to New Zealand and Oslo—where she meets women connected to these tragic events in unexpected ways. The novel skilfully weaves lies, hidden truths, and complex relationships, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. What stands out is the compassion displayed by the parents of one victim, who channel their grief into forming a support group for others affected by similar tragedies. This humanizes the story, adding emotional depth beyond the suspense. The narrative raises important questions about the long-term effects of violence on communities and individuals, particularly women. Leave the Girls Behind is both a compelling thriller and a sensitive exploration of trauma and redemption. Susana, QLD, 4 stars

A young child disappears in a town where young girls went missing 19 years ago. Ruth grew up in that town, she knows the case well. Now living in New York, she dons her sleuth hat to travel the globe to New Zealand and Norway to get some answers, in disingenuous ways. What she discovers does not go the way she hoped. I absolutely devoured this book. It was so propulsive; I had to find out who was who and who did what and how the story ends. I suspected bits of the ending and guessed a couple of the links but it still “got” me in the end. I haven’t read this author’s first book, but will definitely be grabbing it off the shelf now. Leigh, NSW, 4 stars

A gripping read. Thoroughly enjoyable. Elizabeth, NSW, 4 stars

Very interesting book bit hard to follow to start with but kept you guessing right to the end Sharon, NSW, 4 stars

Move over the sixth sense, Ruth Anne Baker is about to make you question everything you have just read. Great mystery thriller for the spooky month. This book will have you questioning your friend, family and neighbours. Kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. If you loved Jacqueline’s first novel ‘Before You Knew My Name’ you will love this book! Loaded with suspense and easy to read. Wow what an ending. Christie, NSW, 4 stars

This was a quick and enjoyable read I’d recommend to those interested in murder mysteries with a psychological thriller element. It was paced very well and kept the reader engaged with the plot. As a young adult myself, I enjoyed and partially related to the perspective of Ruth-Ann, the 26-year-old protagonist. I found it interesting seeing how she navigated her complicated relationships with friends and family as Ruth-Ann was trying to move forward from past trauma. I did find the final resolution of the plot to be a bit incoherent as it wasn’t clear enough to understand how everything tied together at the end. I think there was supposed to be a dramatic effect there which unfortunately wasn’t pulled off. Overall this was a good and somewhat fulfilling read. Gabrielle, QLD, 4 stars

Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz was a gripping tale of trauma and how going down one path can lead you to a great sense of self discovery. I throughly enjoyed this novel and it had me drawn in from the first page. Tayla, VIC, 4 stars

I love a good thriller and J.B. never disappoints. Very enjoyable prose, plenty of suspense and believable characters. Would recommend to fellow crime fans of any age, and I look forward to more from this very talented author. Zephyr, WA, 4 stars

The story follows Ruth Anne, a woman whose life has been dominated by the murder of her childhood friend. The story jumps between two timeliness, lending perspective to Ruth Anne’s obsession with serial killers. The writing is good and flows along nicely, keeping the reader interested. I did find towards the end that parts of the story were a bit too convenient – until it all comes together. That said, the ending had a lot of characters with stories that became confusing. Overall an enjoyable read. Nicole, VIC, 4 stars

Leave the Girls Behind is a gripping novel that had me hooked from the first page, making it hard to put down until I finished it in one sitting. What sets this book apart from your typical crime novel is its thought-provoking approach; it explores the impact of murder from multiple perspectives—not just that of the victim, but also the people left behind, which adds depth to the narrative. The characters are well-developed and likable, making it easy to immerse yourself in the story. The writing style vividly brings the scenes to life, allowing readers to visualise the unfolding drama. However, there are moments when all the stories get a bit complicated, making it challenging to keep them all straight. Overall, it’s a really enjoyable read that I would recommend to crime fans. Just keep an open mind about the supernatural elements throughout the story; they add an intriguing layer that enhances the overall experience. Carly, NSW, 4 stars

Something terrible happened to Ruth-Ann when she was just seven years old. Nineteen years later she’s still trying to process the trauma. Her parents have moved on and wish Ruth would do the same. She can’t. Her memories of those long-ago events fade in and out; she is unsure what is true and what is imagined. Reader, so are we, although not about our heroine’s only reliable confidantes – three dead girls, all murder victims of adult males. The novel begins slowly and confusingly, perhaps reflecting Ruth’s state of mind. She is suspicious that the girls’ murderers are connected in some way, and that they may have had female accomplices. Various suspect characters come into the story, and there is tension and potential danger as Ruth plays detective. It’s hard to be sure whether she is on to something or becoming more enmeshed in fantasy. I found the story difficult to follow at times. I kept reading because Ruth-Ann was such a sympathetic and likeable character, and because the novel was well written despite its complex plot and unconvincing ending. I’m still not entirely sure who was a good guy and who wasn’t – perhaps that was the point?? Susan, VIC, 4 stars

The first chapter of the book was definitely a good hook and I initially thought I was going to enjoy the novel. It was a clever and important theme to explore the effects of murder on others but I think that ultimately it was too much to keep focussed. The supernatural element was not my usual genre but I persevered, thinking the ghosts would move along once Ruth dealt with her trauma, but they never really did. I felt that Ruth was all over the place, trying to prove her theory that others were involved in the deaths and kidnappings but not really getting anywhere. Her visits to the other women did not enhance the story and seemed to just create a jumbled mess of ideas and thoughts. None of the characters was well-developed. Bublitz is an accomplished writer and her use of language is quite poetic. Unfortunately, this time, I feel that the threads were lost and the story became a difficult and confused read. However, this was not my style and I was unable to rate it higher. Maree, ACT, 3 stars

I was excited to read Jacqueline Bublitz second book – Leave the girls behind. I enjoyed this thriller however the writing was a bit all over the place for me. Jacinda, NSW, 3 stars

Jaqueline Bublitz’s Leave the Girls Behind is an unusual take on the murder mystery thriller genre. Ruth-Ann is haunted by the ghosts of the past and feels she needs to solve the mystery of a killer. She pretends that she’s making a podcast as a cover to talk to get closer to people and get to the truth – or at least what she thinks is the truth. But is her emotion and trauma which drives her to find out what others don’t seem to care about, actually blinding her? This is more of a take on trauma than on mystery and rather than the tense thrills it makes us think about the consequences to the humans involved way after the event – not that that’s a bad thing. An interesting, thought-provoking read though at times a little slow. Rebecca, NSW, 3 stars

Leave the girls behind by Jacqueline Bublitz explores the trauma of the family and friends affected by violent crimes. Ruth-Ann Baker was affected by a kidnapping in her home town when she was a child and now as an adult she still sees the victims of the convicted killer. When another child is kidnapped, it triggers her to revisit the past to find whether the killer had an accomplice. When reading this novel, I had to accept a few handy coincidences and suspend my disbelief a few times. Ruth-Ann makes some strange decisions and some of the side characters felt a little under developed but it was an enjoyable read that may not make my top 10 reads of the year, but was good enough to want to finish reading. This one is for fans of murder mysteries with a hint of the supernatural. Joanne, QLD, 3 stars

I had read Jacqueline Bublitz’s first book ‘Before you knew my name’, so I was very keen to read her new book ‘Leave the girls behind’. I admit that during my reading of ‘Leave the girls behind’, I kept thinking that I should have reread ‘Before I knew her name’ as it had been awhile since I had read it and the new book seemed to rely on me remembering the characters and circumstances from that book. I often became confused with the storyline of’Leave the girls behind’ as I didn’t understand the background of the main character. In my opinion the complication of the story was never really resolved. The story goes into a lot of detail about how the main character sets about solving the problem but it doesn’t really relate to the reason for her becoming so obsessed with a similar situation described in the story. The story does look at the ability to speak to people beyond the grave which is an area I am not very familiar with hence my difficulty in relating to the characters. The setting of New York does seem appropriate as it too is a place of mystery and intrigue. The book would suit readers who are interested in solving mysteries beyond the grave. Robyn, QLD, 3 stars

Nineteen years ago, Ruth-Ann Baker’s childhood friend Beth Lovely was abducted. Eleven days later her body was found, and Ethan Oswald was convicted of her murder. Ruth-Ann is haunted by Beth’s murder and is convinced that Oswald had other victims. Ethan Oswald is now dead, but when another girl is abducted from Ruth-Ann’s hometown, she is convinced that Oswald had an accomplice who is still active. Can Coco, the girl recently abducted, be located in time? Ruth-Ann starts her own investigation, and travels across the world posing as a true crime podcaster, seeking interviews with three women connected with the past as she seeks to prove her theory. Gradually we learn of the trauma in Ruth-Ann’s past, of her desire for justice and need for truth. While the novel illustrates the reverberating impact of trauma on the lives of survivors and family members, aspects did not work for me. While I could appreciate Ruth-Ann’s need to find a pattern to prove her theory, it required too many coincidences for me. And yet … I could empathise with Ruth-Ann’s obsession as she struggled to make sense of the past and to try to protect other children in the future. Jennifer, ACT, 3 stars

Leave the Girls Behind has such an interesting and unique approach to the murder mystery genre. Jacqueline Bublitz has once again created intriguing and varied characters, as well as scenarios of heightened anticipation that are both emotionally and psychologically confronting. Jacqueline explores quite a few powerful themes that will resonate with readers, especially in connection to the vulnerability and safety of women in our society. Also embedded in the story and drawing upon similarities from the play Carousel and one its main character Julie Jordan, a major underlying theme of the book is how love is not always positive and its negativity and hurt can reverberate long after it is over. Ruth, the central character, hearing that a young child has been kidnapped and haunted by the death of a childhood friend, decides to prove what she has always believed – her friend’s killer has other victims and worked with an unknown accomplice. Ruth is determined to keep looking for what others cannot see and refuses to give up on the restless dead. There are some quite powerful moments in the story that makes the reader uneasy and wary about what is to follow and untangling the threads of possibilities becomes quite a difficult task as Bublitz constantly adds layers and diversions to the story. By the end of the story I felt that Ruth (the main character) manages to find a sense of fulfilment and peace, but as the reader I cannot say I felt the same way. Perhaps that is the beauty of Bublitz’s writing – leave the reader with that haunting sense of unease? A challenging read Louise, QLD, 3 stars

I had high expectations of this new Jacqueline Bublitz novel after loving her first novel ‘Before You Knew My Name’. I loved the premise of the story and thought the consideration of trauma and loss from more than one perspective was very thought provoking. Once again, I thought the author’s writing was wonderfully expressive and created a worthy tone for the important subject matter. However, despite enjoying some pockets of the narrative, I struggled to engage with this new work. The overabundance of characters and complicated plot lost me. At times, I felt the protagonist Ruth’s decisions were inauthentic and confusing. Even through all the twists and ‘reveals’ I was left feeling underwhelmed. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. However, I can see that others may be totally on board, enjoy the beautiful writing and be fascinated by the journey this book takes you on. Jill, VIC, 3 stars

I really enjoyed her first novel, “Before You Knew My Name”, but this one I really struggled with. I found the story line quite confusing and hard to follow, too many characters. I skimmed quite a bit of it. Keryn, SA, 2 stars

My heart just wasn’t in this one. I think it started well. I enjoyed the idea of Ruth communicating with her murdered childhood friend and the cold case girls hoping for their own disappearances to be solved, I can see how trauma might bring about this kind of mental instability for a person. I even like believing the after world connection actually exists for some people. It reminds of episodes of “Medium”, “The Ghost Whisperer”, and “Tru Calling”. The story just became too complex for me. There were a number of thought-provoking themes through the book, such as the idea of “the less dead” being cases that are not deemed as important or worthy of solving as others, and the effects that trauma and desperation can leave on those who have suffered cruelty and loss at a young age (or any age really), but there was a lot that didn’t ring true…. I know that it helps to suspend the notion of reality when reading a book like this, but for some reason, I just felt more annoyed by the implausibility of certain actions made by Ruth. Overall, I was disappointed because it could have been so good. Natalie, NSW, 2 stars

It took two attempts for me to read this book. I got halfway and had to start again as I was not grasping the main theme. Finally finished the book and just found it not conclusive, untied plot threads and created more questions than answers. I did enjoy the characters created and could see that it had merit in my opinion. If I am honest just did not enjoy reading it. Then again, I will get Jacquelines first book and read it. Mark Wye, SA, 1 star

Buy a copy of Leave the Girls Behind here.