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Suburban Murder #3

The Coveted Girls

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In the magnificent, sought after Hamptons a young au pair has vanished. When she shows up savagely raped and murdered, in the Bronx, top SVU detective Bella de Franco is called to the scene and ordered to find her killer. She enters the life this young woman led, from the sleazy NYC nanny agency whose owner runs a sex ring, to the wealthy families who employ these girls, both in the city and at the beach, and finds a world whose physical beauty masks a twisted existence.

Bella is no longer a stranger to places where privilege and money hide secrets. She and her new partner, Mack, have just solved two murders in towns inhabited with the one percent. But in this fabled playground of the rich, where thirty million dollar homes hide behind electric wrought iron gates and hand cut hedges, Bella encounters a culture sharper, and more shocking, than anything she has seen before. Husbands with power and influence, revered for their money and status, do whatever they want. Wives, fixtures for a public image, look the other way, as long as the perks keep coming. Friends, who love the lifestyle, keep friends secrets. Even the kids, who once knew better, remain quiet in the face of it all.

Bella works tirelessly to uncover the truth about the high paid escorts, phony marriages, and broken families that littered the life of her victim, and to find who it was who needed the young girl out of the way. But she doesn’t expect the answer she gets, one that leads her to question all she thought she knew…

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2017

84 people are currently reading
194 people want to read

About the author

Alexa Steele

28 books108 followers
Alexa Steele is author of the #1 bestselling series THE SUBURBAN MURDER series, which begins with THE FORGOTTEN GIRLS (Book #1)--a free download. Book #2 in the series, THE LOST GIRLS, and book #3, THE COVETED GIRLS, are now also available. Alexa Steele is an attorney, practicing in New York City, where she lives with her family. An avid mystery reader, she loves to hear from you, so please visit www.alexasteele.com to join the email list, receive a free book, receive free giveaways, get the latest exclusive news, connect on Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch!

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5 stars
246 (52%)
4 stars
165 (35%)
3 stars
50 (10%)
2 stars
8 (1%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Tina B..
155 reviews29 followers
May 26, 2020
A intriguing case that unwinds slowly, but keeps you guessing. Two seasoned detectives whose pasts seemingly haunt them as they teeter on the brink of becoming something more than partners.

“The Coveted Girls” is the third book in Alexa Steele’s Suburban Murder Series. As a standalone police procedural, it’s an engrossing, satisfying, and quick read. The book weighs in at less than 200 pages, and there’s no denying Steele’s writing is smooth as silk. But as the third book in the series, it leaves you wanting more answers than it gives.

Like the other two, “The Coveted Girls” ends in a cliffhanger. The murder is solved, but other things are left hanging in the balance, such as the growing possibility of a Bella and Mack coupling. A little more payoff would be nice after three books. After three books, it’s time for something to happen with the secondary storyline involving Bella and Mack, as well as their pasts. Yet, it doesn’t.

The crime and list of colorful suspects in “Coveted Girls” is enough to hook readers who love reading police procedurals or mysteries. However, the cliffhanger is not only frustrating to anyone invested in the series — it’s not needed. Steele’s superior writing can stand alone as a lure to read book #4 when it comes out.
56 reviews
December 30, 2017
Alexa Steele Rocks

The first 3 books in this series were sooooo good I don't know what else to say except that you must read them. Detectives Belle and Mack make the perfect team. And I just noticed there will be a book #4 (and I hope 5, 6, 7 etc). Keep writing and I will keep reading. I do a lot of reading and this is one of the best series I have read in a long time.
Profile Image for Sara.
66 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2018
I got the first book for free on kindle, and I loved it! So of course, I got the second and third. I’m waiting for the fourth! Hopefully it comes out soon!! These are so gripping and I couldn’t put them down.
Profile Image for Danielle Grant.
182 reviews2 followers
September 21, 2018
The first 3 books in this series were so good! I don’t know what else to say except that you must read them. Detectives Bella and Mack make the perfect team. I just noticed there will be a book # 4 ( and I am hoping 5,6,7 etc.) Please keep writing and I will keep reading. I do a lot of reading and this is really one of the best series that I have read in a long time 😊
25 reviews
January 5, 2018
Thought it was really good just like the first two. They are easy reading with the books not much more than over 200 pages. I read one book in one day. I enjoyed the stories. They kept you guessing. I will definitely read her 4 th book as soon as it comes out.
Profile Image for Kelly.
248 reviews5 followers
October 30, 2018
So many unanswered questions

Having now read book 3 of 3 in the series , still leaving me wanting more knowledge of Bella and her history will Mack and Bella reveal their feelings ? All while a murder is uncovered and solved notifications on for book 4
58 reviews
January 8, 2019
Book 3 lives up to expectations

Having read the first 2 books in the series I was interested to see whether this would be as good. I wasn't disappointed and will now look forward to book 4.
195 reviews
September 22, 2020
Lynnie

Great series. Loved the book and the story line. Strong main characters. Bella, strong woman and her partner, fantastic DUO.

Looking forward to the next book. Great work.
Profile Image for Diana.
20 reviews
January 2, 2018
This series is great! I can’t wait for the 4th book!
116 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2018
Another great story

One of those books that are so hard to put down once you start reading. I’m looking forward to number 4.
13 reviews2 followers
February 2, 2018
Bella Franco series book 3 nannies employed by rich families and the men have parties with them. One is killer by one man's daughter because of jealousy.
354 reviews3 followers
March 27, 2018
Wow another great story

I loved this story so much. Bella and Mack are the best team ever. I hope the author has more stories as I can't wait.
1 review
April 8, 2018
Another great read !!!

Very suspenseful and easy to read. Well written and has me waiting not so patiently for #4 Fantastic!! I highly recommend reading her series.
Profile Image for Daira.
2 reviews
July 4, 2018
Read the first two books and I have to say this one is by far the best. I read all the books in about 4 days, easy reads, great story line.
Profile Image for Heidi.
126 reviews10 followers
December 30, 2018
This latest in the Suburban Murder Series is not as good as the first two. Similar premise: a young Irish nanny is found raped and murdered. The investigation quickly leads back to the husband of the family she is working for. Several twists and turns (although the murderer was obvious from early on) before leading to a murderer suffering from dissociative identity disorder, a rare state in which the murderer performed the action not knowing what was occurring. Sound far fetched? It was ... and also farfetched that Bella, the female protagonist's boyfriend Ryan (a professor) would be part of the sting operation. Book 4 is coming out. I hope that Steele relies on more realistic methods rather than needing to create twists and turns with these dubious means.
Profile Image for Becca Resop.
39 reviews
April 13, 2018
Honestly this one took me the longest to get through, it just didn’t hold my interest. There’s not one thing I can specifically say wasn’t good, I think it was the similarities to the first two books that kept me off put. While the first one was great, the repetitious story line of the second was annoying, by repeating it a third time I was bored. I’m not sure if I’ll read the upcoming novel, or call it quits.
Profile Image for Kathleen DeStefano Pennington.
81 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2018
Waiting for Book 4

I enjoy police procedure novels. I enjoy comparing the fictional procedures with real rules of criminal procedure. Alexa Steele brings depth to get characters and does not complicate the story with unnecessary drama. Looking forward to reading book four of this series.
240 reviews
January 6, 2019
Love hate relationship

Although this book was just as well written as the other 2 and a medical diagnostic came up that I had never heard of and was nice to.learn about. There was a few spelling mistakes and typos which let it down for me.
I am excited that there will be another book though!
122 reviews
September 17, 2018
Great book but the ending left me hanging!

Things happened that sent you one way and then another. Everyone is not what they seem. The book makes you realize that some people do not take responsibility for their actions and others pay the price. Bring on the next book!
Profile Image for Billi Hoyle.
299 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2018
High Society Secrets

I instantly felt myself connecting with the characters and the storyline. It grabbed me from the beginning and did not disappoint.
1 review
July 22, 2018
Amazing!

I love this Author and this series! This book was well worth the wait. I can't wait for book #4!
Profile Image for Pam App.
59 reviews2 followers
February 5, 2019
Very much enjoyed all three of these books and looking forward to the fourth. Well written, detailed plot & believable characters. I especially liked the dynamic between Bella & Mack in particular.
15 reviews
Read
April 1, 2019
I love her books and the storyline. But I just realized that all the characters have the same monotone. Meaning I don't see the different personalities in the way they speak. It's very annoying.
1 review
April 2, 2020
Amazing!

The third book was amazing! I highly recommend this series and cannot wait for a fourth book! I will be waiting impatiently!
2 reviews
August 10, 2021
Brilliant crime book

Loved this book just as much as the other two.
Can't wait for the next one will definitely be getting it.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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