Still Out There

by Laurie Holbrook

Sixteen years ago, Mabel Peters was left to die by the monster who'd killed her mother and brother. He was never brought to justice.

Mabel left everything behind, including her name, to find a new life in safety. Now she's back and determined to find the man who ruined her life, even if it means risking everything. She can't rest until it's done. But when a series of suspicious events happen around her, it becomes clear that she is being hunted once more. And one of her students may just be the key to unlocking the mystery that has consumed her life.

Determined to bring her family's murderer to justice and protect those close to her, Mabel races against time to find her attacker . . . before he finds her.

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 5, 2019

About the author

Laurie grew up on a farm in a small town on the southern border of Colorado. She spent most of her days outside playing in the dirt, the fields, or with her cats. Her first story she ever wrote was about her cat named Ashes. Laurie was a tomboy and still is to this day. She left the small town after high school ending up in Denver where she met her husband.

After more than twenty-five years in retail, Laurie went back to her love of writing. Her debut novel, a thriller suspense, Still Out There, released in March 2019, and the sequel, In Plain Sight, released April 14, 2020.

Laurie loves chocolate, salsa (not together), dogs, and the mountains. She is married to the best man in the world, has three children, and two pups.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know many of us have gotten sick and tired of weak, whiny and overall annoying female leads lately, especially in thrillers and I am so happy to tell you that Mabel was a strong woman who you can root for! 🙌 She’s seriously a badass who has trained in all types of different self defense and hand to hand combat, honestly it was just refreshing to actually admire a heroine instead of loathing her!

This is told in multiple points of view and the chapters are fairly short which is a technique that makes for a real page turner and I was sucked right in. One of the things that I liked most here was that the reader is aware of who the killer is, but the characters aren’t. It was fun and made for an interesting game of cat and mouse that kept me gripped the whole time.

This one went dark, which I love and the insight directly into the killers psyche was simultaneously fascinating and creepy! Recommended as a solid thriller that you can easily binge read in one sitting, the pacing was fast enough it’s not easy to put down and the writing style was easy and fast as well.

Still Out There in three words: Quick, Engrossing and Original

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

Still Out There by Laurie Holbrook is a book that will keep you in suspense up until the very last page!

What it's about: After her dad dies in a car accident and her mom and brother are murdered while she was left for dead, Melodi Stucker needs to get away from where it all happened. She is only eleven and her entire family is now dead plus there is a killer still on the loose. She moves with her grandparents from Colorado to Oregon and changes her name to Mabel Peters. Now, 16 years later, her mom and brother's killer still has not been found and she is determined to find him herself . . . before he finds her.

The first thing I want to say about this book is the fact that the reader does know who the murderer is, but the characters do not. So instead of being the type of novel where the reader is following the mystery of 'whodunit' along with the characters, we are instead following the character's process of figuring out who it is while we know all. I loved many of the multiple viewpoints in Still Out There as well as following the different storylines between past and present.

Mabel turns into SUCH a badass, and I love when an author has strong female leads. One of my favorite books that I've ever read was Two Girls Down because I loved the female leads, and one of the characters in that book reminds me a lot of Mabel as an adult. Mabel has learned all the different fighting techniques and she is ready to kick that murderers a**!

There is some violence in Still Out There, and there will be a few scenes that will most likely stay with you for a very long time, I know they will for me. Inside the mind of Mabel's family's killer is especially disturbing, and he will leave you cringing at how awful he is.

Final Thought: Still Out There is a super quick read that I was able to get through in just under 4 hours. Multiple POVs, different timelines, a badass female lead, what more could you ask for? The only thing that I didn't necessarily love was all of the parts of Mabel when she is young and still Melodi, and we probably didn't need ALL of the POVs. But this was a very solid read and one that I will be recommending to almost everyone. And really, how can you resist the gorgeous cover?!

Thank you to the author, Laurie Holbrook, for providing me with a review copy of this book!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mabel Peters is a survivor and final girl of a serial killers killing spree when he killed her family when she was young. Now that she is older, can she avenge her family? Read on and find out for yourself.

This was a pretty good horror suspense thriller. If you enjoy these types of stories, be sure to check out this authors debut novel on Amazon and wherever books and ebooks are sold.

[Reading Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read Still Out There by Laurie Holbrook. This is a story about a woman (Mabel), who as a girl, was left to die by the man who killed her mother and brother. He was never caught, so Mabel grows up knowing the killer is still out there. I really enjoyed this one! The chapters alternate between Mabel's perspective and the killer's, which I found fascinating. The killer's perspective adds a dark, sinister element to the story. As I was reading his chapters, I could feel the hairs on the back of neck stand up, and as the story progressed, my heart was racing. As you read, you know the killer is getting closer to Mabel, which makes this an addictive read. I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. Mabel is a strong female lead, and she wasn't one to play the victim. She learned how to protect herself at an early age, and is for lack of a better word, a badass. Holbrook's writing style is concise and smooth; the way she connects various plots is effortless and straightforward. I also think Still Out There would make a great movie! This is a fast-paced thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5.

[booksforbrit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!!!

Laurie asked me if I’d read this via Instagram and I said absolutely!

I received it quick in the mail and I read it as soon as I finished my current read.

I am so thankful I did.

This is a suspense thriller. I had the chills.
I read it fast as I needed to know what the hell was going to happen!

The thing I love most about this book is it told the POV of the murderer. So it gives you insight of what an asshole, entitled psycho he was. It didn’t make you feel sorry for him or want to be on his side. I loved it. Raw.

Also, Oregon shout out so of coarse it hit home and I loved it even more!

I recommend this if you want to read a sitting-on-The-edge-of-your-seat kinda book!

[Sophie Fahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a good Crime/Thriller you will LOVE this. Laurie pulled me in from the get go, her characters had lots of quirks I loved and for it being a third person book, I really did enjoy everything about it.

I'm normally a first person kind of girl, but I still managed to get that same feel with her characters as I went on a journey with them; what made it even better was that it felt like I was inside their heads. The books starts off with a heartbreaking beginning, one that makes you feel for not only her characters but those world-wide who, unfortunately, go through similar things. You're left gripping the book and asking, where will it go from here? And I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

Kick-ass characters, great storyline, an ending that leaves you wanting more. I swear I groaned when I got to the last page, and I'm so excited for the sequel.

[Community Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

One if my favorite reads so far this year! Laurie Holbrook’s, Still Out There, kept me in full suspense. I have to say the antagonist in this thriller was one of the darkest characters I have read this year which made me love it even more!!!

Mabel Peters was forced to leave everything behind following the death of her father and the murder of both her mother and brother. New life, new name, Mabel is faced with the reality that the killer is still out there, but Mabel is determined to get revenge and seeks justice at all costs. Oh, and did I mention Mabel is a BADASS! Like a total BADASS.

Seriously loved. Totally recommend. Accolades upon accolades. Definitely a page turner!

[Laura Hanzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought the book and began to read it to support the author - I finished the book because the story was very good! It has been a while since I've read chapter to chapter, faster and faster, anxiously trying to get more of the storyline. Still Out There is a real "page turner" holding my attention all the way through. I hope to be able to read a sequel sometime soon.

[JANELLE || WHATSHESEEES · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I look for in a thriller.
High paced from the start and intriguing all the way through. This book also made me emotional at times because of how the relationship was and bond that was created by Melodi/Mabel and her grandfather John. I was very close to my grandfather growing up and he was also like a friend to me than a peer. It truly made the story even more special to me and resonated with my soul.

This thriller will for sure have you on the edge of your seat while feeling the constant ache of the Stucker family. It's one of those books that you just get the character and understand her motivation and payback that she's feeling she needs to deliver. Melodi/Mabel is a perfect example of a badass who never let her life's tragedies affect her ability to be anything other than a true heroine.

The twist's and how each plot connected more than I ever would have thought. And done so naturally, by tying everything in together the way you did make this story everything it is.
It would have been hard not to rate this 5 stars!
This novel was SO good, and any thriller lover out there would be in love with this book too!

I can't wait for the sequel!

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debut novel, Still Out There, by Laurie Holbrook.
Mabel (or Melodi formerly) not only suffered the loss of her dear father in a car accident, but a year later on the anniversary of his death, her mother and brother are murdered, while she witnesses and barely escapes with her life. The killer still roams out there in the world and she is desperate to find him and make him pay.
Mabel’s character is ferocious and I love a strong female protagonist! Laurie does a good job with her character development and making sure Mabel shone throughout the story.
A quirky thing about this book that I liked was the fact that you know who the killer is and why he did what he did from the very beginning. So, you aren’t going through the book trying to ‘figure it out.’ Instead, you’re watching the characters who have no clue about the killer’s identity figure it out for themselves. This style may not be for everyone, but I personally liked the change-up.
For a debut novel this was a good, suspense-filled read and kept my attention throughout. I read it quick, the chapters short and engaging for the most part. The dialogue was a little choppy and void of emotion in sections. Also, the first three chapters felt out of place and seem like they could have been incorporated in the book somewhere else for better flow. But for a debut author I thought the book was well thought out and written with heart.

[Stephani Beltran · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You can’t get over your past"

First off, I want to thank the Author, Laurie for sending a copy to me for review. When I first saw a few friends post about this book it immediately caught my attention with such a great premise that I had to get my hands on a copy.

What it’s about: Sixteen years ago, Mabel Peters was left to die by the monster who’d killed her mother and brother. He was never brought to justice. She left everything behind, including her name to find a new life. She comes back and is determined to find this man who ruined her life.

Reasons why you need to read this:
1. I don’t know about you, but I love a book with Multiple POVs and timelines of past and present, which come together at the end. This was done pretty flawlessly, however there were a few more POVs than needed I felt, but not too many to be confused.
2. Not the typical "whodunnit" This story is told where we know who the murderer is, but characters do not, making this an enjoyable read to pace to the end to know the outcome of how it’s figured out by them.
3. Who doesn’t LOVE a badass strong female lead? Character development was spot on.
4. Quick Read, very intriguing
5. Although the first 2-3 chapters felt a little out of place, they are short chapters and does pick up pretty fast, keeping you engaged.

[Dawn Hosmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurie Holbrook has written one heck of a debut novel in Still Out There. This Psychological Thriller kept me on the edge of my seat and made me stay up way too late, far too many times. The book was full of twists and turns and kept me guessing until the end. I can't wait to read more by this talented author.

[Norma Nikutowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting to follow Mabel who needs to face the death of her father and the murder of both her mother and brother. The killer is still out there. Mabel is determined to find him and get revenge and justice at all costs.
Great storyline with multiple points of view. Full of suspense, Laurie Holbrook created well developed, relatable characters. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. Fast paced story, easy to read.

[readbyashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the space of 12 months, Mabel looses her entire family. A gunman hunts her down and shoots her in the chest. Her grandparents cover up her death and move 11 year old Mabel out of the state. 16 years later and Mabel is on the hunt for justice, but fate has a funny way of throwing the killer in her path. I liked the heroine, she is fearless and tough, although sometimes a little too ‘moulded’ by the people around her. Holbrook didn’t create a character that you instantly love, she created a character that you respect and route for because you’d like to think that if that happened to you, you’d fight back.
The reader knew who the killer was, but the characters in the book didn’t. The thrill came from working out how their paths would cross and what would happen along the way. Would definitely recommend!

[Charlene]

Dnf‘d at 39%

[dachs.what.she.read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those guilty pleasure trips most closely related, in my head, to The Expendables (Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Statham, Li...) No? Get outta here 🚪😂 Ya just don’t mess with classics because they’re always going to deliver whatcha want. You know where they’re going but you wanna go too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Although, far-fetched for daily life (not what I’m after anyway 😂 I want airplanes through bridge shenanigans) it made me want to learn to judo chop somebody. The heroine’s character development is swift and you immediately like her (very Arya Stark). Her quick thinking and grit as a child turn into a galvanized warrior who is constantly assessing, solving, and aiding circumstances and those around her. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I love that she is a teacher tying her origin to her pathological need to protect and guard innocence. I also think it’s rad because you don’t often see educators doing mercenary work in their free time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The crew is motley and the bad guy is heinous. I wanted to hear more about what else his joker’s (Leto version) behind was up to because he was so unhinged. Thank you to author @laurieaholbrook for letting me read your adventure in return for an honest review. Excited to see what you do next!

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It starts off directly into the action which is what I love about a good thriller. From the start we as readers know who the killer is, the characters in the book do not. I found it refreshing to read a book written this way. I loved how Holbrook made her characters evolve throughout the book. Mabel is a kick ass heroine, strong minded and kind hearted soul. The chapters alternate between Mabel and the killer, he did give me chills. It made the story so dark and creepy, he is really a disturbed individual. Holbrook kept my heart racing throughout the whole book, she gripped me and kept me hooked. The more the killer got close to Mabel the more I needed to keep reading. This is her debut novel and I must say wow ! I cannot wait to see what she comes up next. Looking for a fast paced, well written thriller, don't delay go pick it up.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting debut. This one starts at a pretty fast pace but can be a little slow at times. The pacing could use some work as the chapters can be a bit choppy and left me feeling they were incomplete. The characters are interesting but I found that they could use a little more development. I feel the antagonist was a bit bland but I still managed to hate him throughout. I think the author was trying to convey the humanity of a killer through the eyes of his little daughter while still showing what an absolute monster the man really is. There is an interesting dichotomy between the villain and the heroine in this story that can get a bit fuzzy but is definitely present throughout this book. (Our main characters tied together in loss and in their commitment to revenge.) Overall I will say that I look forward to seeing what is next for this author and I have no doubt there will be solid improvement in the next installment.

[C.L. Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t like giving stars because writing is such hard work and writing grows, changes, builds etc with time and experience. This is a debut novel. So with that in mind, this story is intriguing and a perfectly genre tight plot that fits well in the suspense genre. What worked was the exploration of the villain (I’m not sure I’ve been given so much access to a villain before). I also liked the grandfather. I also loved that Mabel is a strong female lead who kicks butt!!

What I would love to have seen... I got lost a bit in the back and forth especially with time. I think this could have been tightened, but it didn’t distract with my overall understanding of the story just slowed me a bit. I would have also liked a bit more character development. They felt a little over simplified at times. I’m looking forward to see how this author continues to grow and build because I think she’s got promising Lisa Gardner-like chops.

[Erica (sand_between_pages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to author Laurie Holbrook for a copy of STILL OUT THERE!

This story is pure edge-of-my-seat thriller. When Mabel Peters was a little girl, she lost her father in a snowy-day car accident. One year later, a man brutally murdered her mother and brother. The man was never caught, and is thus, still out there!

The events of Mabel's youth shaped her, and she refuses to let go of the events of that night until she finds the perpetrator and brings him to justice.. how could Mabel ever fully relax unless he was caught?

The multiple POVs were very nice - especially having a glimpse inside the head of the murderer. The chapters are short and easy to digest. Some chapters seemed a bit out of sync with the overall flow of the story, and I found the dialogue to lack a compelling quality, but the book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat!

[Addie BookCrazyBlogger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminiscent of “Low Pressure,” by Sandra Brown, the novel flips between past and present features lead Mabel, formerly Melodi. A victim of a horrific crime in which her family has been murdered, she swears to get revenge on the killer. A great premise, there were a lot of inconsistencies (whose the dead little girl? How did Isabel get to Susan in record time? Dad Mike just APPEARS out of nowhere??) and the first three chapters would have been better placed later in the story, as I didn’t have enough background to really get the point. A good debut that I would recommend hitting your local library up for!

[paiges_prologue · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a car crash leaves multiple fatalities, 11 year old Melodi never thought losing her dad could hurt so much. On the one year anniversary of his death her brother and mom are shot to death and Melodi left for dead. How could one child have such bad luck? Sixteen years later by a twisted form of fate Melodi, now Mabel, lives life disguised until her families death is brought to justice.
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The badass female lead was my favorite part. Much of the book was gathering all the background story before really diving into the exciting parts. The villain was unlikeable as should be, but his character felt very amateur. I’m looking forward to cracking open the second book and following Mabel’s story further.

[Bella Rayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book for me was interesting, intriguing and kept me wanting more, page after page. I felt like I could relate with the characters in the story and where they were coming from. The strength that Melodi displays is inspiring to anyone who has been through a traumatic event. The fear she feels is real and manages to keep a level head about her from beginning to end. I found myself getting wrapped up in the book and had to stop reading for a few minutes so I could cry it out. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
I read the paperback!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! I was hooked from the start and didn't want to put it down, I kind of flew through it. I liked that it's told from multiple perspectives, which, in my opinion, allowed for good character development-the killer and motive weren't just rushed through at the end. I did feel that one or two points of the plot were a little random/serendipitous, but I was really interested in the story so it didn't really bother me too much. Overall, well written and would recommend!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway. I found it to be a little too predictable, and Holbrook's writing could use some development, but for a debut this isn't bad at all.

This story is a little bit convoluted, but has potential. A few of the characters are relatable and developed reasonably well, but some of the characters don't make a lot of sense to me. Overall I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I wanted to. I will be interested to see what else Holbrook comes up with though.

[David Kummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the better books I've read since quarantine started and I've gotten through about a dozen. A really incredible premise, plus the kind of cover that a best-selling book would get. I can't believe more people haven't read this! I can't say much without giving it away, but the entire book keeps you on your toes, really an exciting read through. Definitely get it for yourself or any thriller-lovers you know.

[Jenn Dunne · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great debut. A little predictable. But the story lines and characters were great. I enjoyed the plot and how well it was written. The author had a great descriptive quality and the book read quickly. Overall a wonderful debut and a great story. I could also see this become a series focusing on Mabel/Melodi and her devotion to save children.

[Anna Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It took a few chapters to really get into it but once I was enveloped into the story it was fantastic. I absolutely loved the strong female in this book, I mean who doesn't? It's a very quick and easy read because it's hard to put down. Be prepared to read with the lights on.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only reeling from the death of her father, Mabel survives the attack that killed her brother and mother. Sixteen years later, she seeks the man who destroyed her family. This is a tense multi-POV story that flows nicely and kept me engaged. Great suspense for those that love that type of story.

Thank you to Goodreads and the author, who provided me a free copy.

[Christina Shelite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out a little bit slow for me and confusing going back and forth from different time points in the story but by page 30 I was hooked. The book took a off and I could hardly put it down. The story unfolds in an exciting and unpredictable way and was so so good. I can’t wait to continue reading Mabel Peters story!!!!