What a fantastic addition to this series! Combining a police procedural with family drama and a little romance, On Her Watch by Melinda Leigh, is the What a fantastic addition to this series! Combining a police procedural with family drama and a little romance, On Her Watch by Melinda Leigh, is the eighth book in the Bree Taggert series. Bree has been sheriff in her home county in upstate New York for over a year and the book is set in fictional Grey’s Hollow in Randolph County. A pair of hikers find a tarp-wrapped body in the woods. When a search of the surrounding area yields two more bodies, Bree knows they’ve found a serial killer’s dumping ground. With the help of her team and civilian criminal investigator and Bree’s boyfriend, Matt Flynn, the case is worked. However, the killer is escalating and threatening Bree’s family.
Bree is smart, skilled, confident, honorable, and determined. She joined law enforcement to help people and that is what she intends to do. She has a commanding presence and utilizes common sense. She can also be stubborn and is unwilling to fully utilize media outreach to help her politically. However, she is learning to navigate the politics, media, and paperwork associated with being a sheriff in a county with a limited budget. Matt is a former sheriff’s deputy injured in the line of duty. He was going to start a K-9 training program, but his sister Cady is using the kennels for rescued dogs. Matt is a great investigator and is a master at interviewing suspects. He loves dogs, including his retired K-9, Brody. He’s also developing a mentor-type relationship with Bree’s sister’s children. Chief Deputy Tod Harvey gets some additional responsibility late in the story to continue his confidence-building.
The storyline is engaging, suspenseful, and includes some very tense scenes. The first chapter pulled me into the tale quickly and kept me rapidly turning the pages all the way to its shocking conclusion. This engrossing crime novel keeps you on the edge of your seat as the race is on to find the killer. As always, the world-building is great. The March mud season was vivid and easily immersed me in the atmosphere. I also enjoyed the few moments of humor as well as some tender moments when they occurred. Besides the investigation, readers get insight into Bree’s family dynamics and how that is changing, as well as how flu epidemics can affect small police departments. The author has weaved another installment involving family, relationships, balancing work and family, trauma, a slow-burn romance, murder, lies, domestic violence, missing persons, and much more.
Overall, this book has twists, tension, violence, and relatable main and secondary characters. If you are expecting a solid series that will have mysteries, suspense, crime, action, and a little romance, then this is a series that I recommend. Besides this one, I’ve read the seven other books and the prequel in the series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date May 14, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
----------------------------------------- My 4.61 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon....more
Catch Her Death by Melinda Leigh is the seventh book in the Bree Taggert romantic suspense/police procedural series. Bree has been sheriff in her Catch Her Death by Melinda Leigh is the seventh book in the Bree Taggert romantic suspense/police procedural series. Bree has been sheriff in her home county in upstate New York for almost a year. The book is set in fictional Grey’s Hollow in Randolph County with a few scenes in the nearby town of Redhaven. Sheriff Bree Taggert and her team of officers arrest murderer Travis Ekin with the help of the new K-9 team of Deputy Collins and Greta. Travis’s mother and one of his brothers vow revenge.
Meanwhile, Bree’s best friend and former detective partner in Philadelphia, Dana Romano, walks into her date’s home, fights with an intruder who escapes, and finds Kent shot in the chest. The crime scene is in the jurisdiction of the Redhaven police department. The Chief of Police focuses on Dana as the prime suspect. While Bree and investigator Matt Flynn work to clear Dana with their own off-the-books investigation, Bree’s family receives threats from a stalker.
Bree is smart, skilled, honorable, and determined. She joined law enforcement to help people and that is what she intends to do. She can also be stubborn and is unwilling to fully utilize media outreach to help her politically. Matt is a former sheriff’s deputy injured in the line of duty. He was going to start a K-9 training program, but his sister Cady is using the kennels for rescued dogs. Matt is a great investigator and loves dogs, including his retired K-9, Brody. Dana is strong and known for her integrity. Being considered a suspect brings out a different side of her. Matt’s brother, Nolan, is strong, thoughtful, and nice, but can fight well. This book allows Dana and Nolan to come to the forefront.
The storyline is engaging, suspenseful, and includes some very tense scenes. The first chapter pulled me into the tale quickly and kept me rapidly turning the pages all the way to its shocking conclusion. Besides the investigation, readers get insight into Bree’s family dynamics and how that is changing. The author has weaved another installment involving family, relationships, balancing work and family, trauma, integrity, loyalty, revenge, a slow-burn romance, murder, lies, and much more.
Overall, this book has twists, tension, violence, and relatable main and secondary characters. If you are expecting a solid series that will have mysteries, suspense, crime, action, and eventually some romance, then this is a series that I recommend. Besides this one, I’ve read the six other books and the prequel in the series. I plan to read book eight this month and am looking forward to reading book nine which will be published in early July.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date September 12, 2023. ---------------------------------------- My 4.59 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon....more
Lie to Her by Melinda Leigh is the sixth book in the Bree Taggert romantic suspense/police procedural series. Bree has been sheriff in her home coLie to Her by Melinda Leigh is the sixth book in the Bree Taggert romantic suspense/police procedural series. Bree has been sheriff in her home county in upstate New York for almost a year. The book is set in fictional Grey’s Hollow in Randolph County. Sheriff Bree Taggert and criminal investigator Matt Flynn respond to a call when a man is found murdered in his backyard with his hands and feet bound and plastic wrap around his face. Soon, the killer strikes again. Both victims use internet dating sites and have left behind a string of angry and hurt women. Every interviewee seems to be lying or hiding something or refusing to talk.
Bree is smart, skilled, honorable, and determined. She joined law enforcement to help people and that is what she intends to do. She has trouble delegating at times because it’s out of her control. She is also relentless, patient, and ruthlessly polite in political showdowns with the city commissioners. Bree shows a lot of growth in this story and her character was more dynamic. Matt is a former sheriff’s deputy injured in the line of duty. He was going to start a K-9 training program, but his sister Cady is using the kennels for rescued dogs. Matt is a great investigator and loves dogs, including his retired K-9, Brody. Cady has common sense, teaches kickboxing and self-defense classes, and has good people skills. Her role is reduced in this novel, but Chief Deputy Todd Harvey gets a larger role. His self-confidence is building. The storyline is engaging, suspenseful, and includes some very tense scenes. The first chapter is from the killer’s perspective and is chilling. It pulled me into the tale quickly and kept me rapidly turning the pages all the way to its shocking conclusion. There are occasional other chapters from this antagonist’s perspective. Besides the investigation, readers get insight into Bree’s family dynamics and how that is changing. The author has weaved another installment involving family, relationships, balancing work and family, a slow-burn romance, murder, lies, trust, jealousy, betrayal, and much more.
Overall, this book has twists, tension, violence, and relatable main characters. If you are expecting a solid series that will have mysteries, suspense, crime, action, and eventually some romance, then this is a series that I recommend. Besides this one, I’ve read the five other books and the prequel in the series. I plan to read books seven and eight this month and am looking forward to reading book nine which will be published in early July.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date January 17, 2023.
---------------------------------------- My 4.36 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon....more
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