Murder Mountain

CeeCee Gallagher #1

by Stacy Dittrich

When a young woman disappears from home without her personal effects, Detective CeeCee Gallagher is determined to find her - only to discover she was not the first to vanish. CeeCee and FBI Agent Michael Hagerman follow the trail of chilling clues deep into the West Virginia woods, and a dark world of drugs, torture, and cannibalism. With her family in grave danger, CeeCee will have to risk everything if she's to bring justice to ... Murder Mountain.

In this haunting prequel to The Devil's Closet (2008), Stacy Dittrich introduces her readers for the first time to CeeCee Gallagher, Agent Michael Hagerman, and the case that changed both of their lives forever. Murder Mountain is the fifth novel published, first in the series, in Dittrich's provocative detective series - novels inspired by actual police cases, told by one of America's leading female crime experts, and now in production for a syndicated television series.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

545 pages, ebook

First published December 7, 2010

About the author

Stacy Dittrich is an award winning 15-year law enforcement officer and former detective specializing in sex crimes. With past training by former FBI Behavioral Specialist, and bestselling author, Roy Hazelwood, Stacy is certified through the National Institute of Truth Verification as an examiner (CVSA- lie detector). Stacy has also been assigned to a federal drug task force that resulted in arrests from California to Mexico and has been involved in the investigations of numerous homicides. In 2002, Stacy received the Victims of Crime Award from former Ohio Attorney General, Jim Petro. A certified law enforcement instructor, Stacy is also a media consultant in the area of law enforcement."

Reviews

[Trisha Bowers · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first half of this book was absolutely incredible! The book was written by an experienced decorated police officer. The first half of the book was captivating and my husband and I could not put it down. We loved it so much that we added all of the author’s other books to our TBR.

The second half of the book was painful to read. It took us forever to finish the book because the second half was so horrible that we both dreaded reading it. We even started another book and talked about not finishing this one. We forced ourselves to finish it but it never got better. The second half of the book felt like it was written by a teenage girl. There is absolutely no way that a decorated police woman could write the second half of this book with any self respect. We grew to hate the main character and every choice she made.

2.5 stars, 5 stars for the first half and absolutely no stars for the second half. Our TBR just got a lot shorter as we have removed all of the books written by this author.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The other day I finished reading The Devil's Closet by the same author, and despite that being the 2nd book in the CeeCee Gallagher series i was so impressed that I set about finding the 1st book to the series. I am more than happy to tell you that I was not let down in the slightest. if anything the 1st book was even better than the 2nd.

It all starts as normal for the Detectives in the Major Crimes Unit, and then CeeCee is handed a missing persons case which will take priority over everything else. A young woman has gone missing, but hasn't taken any of her belongings with her, and the woman's father just happens to be a boyhood friend of the Chief of Police. Initially there doesn't seem much to go on, but as the investigation digs deeper, a larger, more sinister, picture begins to emerge.

Written from experience, and some great characters in this book, just what I have come to expect from this author

[♥ Joy Joy ♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had so much potential but fell so very short. The main issue is the flow of the story. The writing was choppy or rushed in various places and the dialogue was just not believable. The main character was also not believable nor likable. The triangle romance felt more thrown in just to be thrown in. It wasn't needed at all and actually detracted from the story..which is a shame because the plot and such were interesting. Too many things came off as forced and the other characters just seemed shallow.

Would not recommend at all.

[Danigerous · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! The writing was horrendous. Sloppy and patchy. The characters were among the flattest I've come across. And the love triangle was just slapped there without any connection to the main plot. And the dialogue! The ones between CeeCee and Michael were like taken from a cheap romance novel written by an amateur writer. I was doing an eye roll every single time they said something. Not that the rest of the lines in the book were any better. To be honest the plot itself was boring, even better writing could not have saved it. Definitely would not add it to my crime series to follow.

[Ulrik Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it is ok. And would do fine for an airport read

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great dark and twisted mystery, very engaging and hard to put down. Would love to finish this series one day!

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Stacy Dittrich book and I overall enjoyed it. Good pacing, great detail about a police investigation and a disturbing case that gave me the chills at times (I detest rodents and there was a scene involving rats toward the end that was nightmare inducing). The writing style was very direct and there was little emotion written into any of the characters or scenes. Because of this, it was challenging to care about any of the characters or relationship issues that arise.

I'll definitely be reading more of this series because I enjoy the level of detail about the police investigation.

Grade: 3/5

[Julie scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was FABULOUS great characters & very fast paced which I love. I've already read the 2nd novel in the series which I also loved & realised it was a series so I have some insight into what happens next. This book is very violent & gruesome not 4 the faint hearted & the terrifying feral rats could very well give you nightmares they certain made my skin crawl. Looking forward to reading Ceecee's next adventure!!!

[Mimi Davis Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

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This is a great story. This could have come straight out of our local news, (minus the in-depth look into the personal lives of the police and FBI). I absolutely love this story, I have already read book two (didn't know it was a series until I finished book one), I'm on my way to book three. Buy read and you will truly enjoy.

[Holly VanDyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

[Gina Folkersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second great book by Stacy Dittrich that I have read. This author really knows how to keep you in suspense. Hard to put her books down!

[Mariann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Fast pace, great story with humor too. I'll read the rest of the CeeCee Galagher series right away!

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worse writing ever, and then I did this and then I did that, and I am such an insecure former model who gives women a bad name, ugh. Actual plot was okay if only written by someone else.

[Rhonda]

Good read!