Nineteen years ago, Ruth-Ann’s childhood friend was murdered by Ethan Oswald. Haunted by the tragedy, Ruth has always believed he had other victims, but no one ever believed her.
After dropping out of college and failing to prove her serial killer theory, Ruth is working in a bar when she learns another young girl has gone missing from her hometown. Ethan is no longer alive, but she begins to suspect he had an accomplice. Did the convicted killer have a partner in crime who is still active today? She is determined to find out. Ruth-Ann embarks on a global investigation that takes her to New Zealand and meets three very different women who may hold the key to what happened to the missing girl - and her friend. However, as she delves deeper into the case, she uncovers disturbing information from her childhood.
Jacqueline’s writing is compelling, and she expertly explores the long-lasting impact of violent crime on those left behind. She challenges the often sensational view of male serial killers by focusing on the lives of the women.
Leave the Girls Behind is a gripping murder mystery, highlighting the realities of male violence against women and the resilience of those left to endure the trauma.
Jacqueline Bublitz is the bestselling author of Before You Knew My Name. She lives between Australia and her hometown in New Zealand. She wrote her debut novel after spending a summer in New York. Follow Jacqueline online.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy
Allen & Unwin