Title:	Saratoga Woods
	Author:	Elizabeth George
	Published:	September 7, 2024, Elizabeth George
	No. of Pages:	407
	Cover Price:	$9.99 Kindle

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Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley series was one of my favorites, until she killed off my favorite character, Helen, and Lynley started seeing other women; it seemed a travesty at the time and I quit reading her books. Now, many years later, I saw that she has a new series, The abandonment of Hannah Armstrong, and I thought it was worth a try. The first installment in this series, Saratoga Woods, introduces Hannah who is forced to change her name to Becca King because she and her mother are fleeing from Becca’s stepfather, who is a criminal. Hannah has the ability to hear whispers (other people’s thoughts), knows her testimony could send him to prison. Her mother makes arrangements with a friend to take 14 year old Hannah, and sends her on her own on the ferry from Seattle to Whidbey Island to hide out until she can join her. Her mother is adamant that she memorize details of her new identity; she is now Becca King and now has dyed hair and must wear heavy make-up to avoid recognition. The cell phone her mother gives her doesn’t work, and when Becca arrives at the home of her mother’s friend with only a bicycle, she learns that the friend has died; Becca has nowhere to go and has to fend for herself until her mother shows up. Becca befriends a Ugandan boy named Derric, who is injured in a fall while they are at Saratoga Woods, and most believe he was pushed.

George’s excellent storytelling ability stands out from the beginning, and while this first novel in a new series must introduce the characters and the setting, the story will grab readers immediately. The novel is well written and flows with building suspense. Becca, the protagonist, is a character that readers will love, and she is well-developed. The supporting characters seem real, and most readers will be able to relate to them. The story is fascinating, and Becca’s adventures on her way to accepting her abandonment will keep readers on the edge.

All told, Elizabeth George has created an excellent new series, and it is highly recommended for anyone who wants to read something new by a gifted writer.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.