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PI Julie Collins #3
Shallow Grave
Surveillance on an insurance fraud case in Bear Butte County unfolds tragically for PI Julie Collins when the reappearance of a mysterious hole-the cause of a fatal accident-brings about the landowner’s unsettling confession. Bones were recently uncovered on the remote ridge but, fearing repercussions from their illegal off-season hunting, the hunters reburied the remains and kept quiet. Now the hole is back, but the bones have vanished. Julie is left to wonder Were the bones part of an ancient Indian burial ground or perhaps connected to the unsolved disappearance of a Native American woman? The overworked, understaffed sheriff asks for Julie’s help, but the case opens old wounds and she soon finds herself at odds with the Native American community. On the wrong side of tribal politics, family disputes, and employee rivalries, Julie continues to dig for answers, while the personal stakes climb ever higher.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2007
About the author
Lori G. Armstrong
22 books278 followersLori Armstrong is the two-time winner of the Shamus Award given by the Private Eye Writers of America and a New York Times bestselling author of contemporary western erotic romance, written as Lorelei James. Her books have won the Willa Cather Literary Award and have been nominated for the High Plains Book Award and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She lives in western South Dakota - See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/L...
Series
* PI Julie Collins
* Mercy Gunderson Mystery
Series
* PI Julie Collins
* Mercy Gunderson Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 13, 2017
Julie is still an asshole, still strong, still runs off half-cocked but in this book her vulnerability shines through. We get to see a softer side of her as the mysteries unravel.
Shallow Grave focuses on a loose thread that began in the first book among other things. We, the readers get answers to our many questions while Julie finally gets closure. However that closure comes with a hefty price but I like where Julie is at, at the end. I also like where her and Tony are at.
I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next between them and how the series ends. I would definitely recommend this book and series to mystery lovers.
ARC provided by author but that has not influenced my review
Shallow Grave focuses on a loose thread that began in the first book among other things. We, the readers get answers to our many questions while Julie finally gets closure. However that closure comes with a hefty price but I like where Julie is at, at the end. I also like where her and Tony are at.
I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next between them and how the series ends. I would definitely recommend this book and series to mystery lovers.
ARC provided by author but that has not influenced my review
April 19, 2008
This, and the other books in Lori Armstrong's Julie Collins series, are the kind of books I talk about to people until they wish I'd just shut up already.
I confess, I've fallen hard for Lori's heroine Julie Collins, a chain smoking, hard-drinking redneck woman with a serious obsession over finding the person who killed her beloved half brother. That story arc is finally resolved in this book, with devastating results for Julie. And her other obsession,with the dangerous biker warlord Tony Martinez, provides erotic sparks that are enough to raise a sweat on a bishop's forehead.
Add in Lori's gift for loving description of the landscape of her native South Dakota, and you've got...well, one of those books I talk about to people until they wish I'd just shut up already.
Check it out or I will get in your face about it again.
I confess, I've fallen hard for Lori's heroine Julie Collins, a chain smoking, hard-drinking redneck woman with a serious obsession over finding the person who killed her beloved half brother. That story arc is finally resolved in this book, with devastating results for Julie. And her other obsession,with the dangerous biker warlord Tony Martinez, provides erotic sparks that are enough to raise a sweat on a bishop's forehead.
Add in Lori's gift for loving description of the landscape of her native South Dakota, and you've got...well, one of those books I talk about to people until they wish I'd just shut up already.
Check it out or I will get in your face about it again.
May 20, 2012
I've yet to read a LGA story that doesn't ROCK and this is no exception.
This 3rd book in the Julie Collins series (and must be read in order) is the best one yet. We see Julie dealing with her demons, her on/off relationship with Hombres motorcycle "club" president Tony Martinez (swoon!), her friendship with Kevin and a new family member. Secrets abound! We also get to see a thrilling showdown between Julie and the person who killed her brother Ben (yes, we finally find out whodunnit) which leaves Julie at deaths door.
Fantastic read. If you've read Lorelei James and like her work, this is the same author and you will LOVE her writing as Lori G Armstrong. It's completely different in tone but the same stellar storytelling carries the series.
This 3rd book in the Julie Collins series (and must be read in order) is the best one yet. We see Julie dealing with her demons, her on/off relationship with Hombres motorcycle "club" president Tony Martinez (swoon!), her friendship with Kevin and a new family member. Secrets abound! We also get to see a thrilling showdown between Julie and the person who killed her brother Ben (yes, we finally find out whodunnit) which leaves Julie at deaths door.
Fantastic read. If you've read Lorelei James and like her work, this is the same author and you will LOVE her writing as Lori G Armstrong. It's completely different in tone but the same stellar storytelling carries the series.
October 9, 2012
Absolutely fabulous twisted read and Julie's past collides with her present when a body is discovered on insurance fraud case that Keven and Julie were investigating. Julie and Martinez's relationship is starting to scorch the pages. While the romance isn't the focus of the book, the times when they are on page are completely off the charts sexy, as LA channels her inner Lorelie James. :-) The mystery aspect was top notch and very twisted in a Karen Rose kind of way. If you haven't read a Julie Armstrong mystery, brace yourself for a strong woman with a chip on her shoulder, a bottle a booze and a really smart mouth that constantly lands her in hot water. Of course it doesn't hurt that she has the local president of the Hombres motorcycle club in her bed...err pocket. :-)
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March 24, 2017Life is never easy for Julie. In the third PI Julie Collins book, she is still dealing with the death of her brother, the relationship with her father who used to beat her, his family and if that isn’t enough yet another horrific case to investigate. Her relationship with badass sexy biker, Tony Martinez is a mess too.
Julie is so tenacious. She can’t stop seeking answers. While she tries to solve the case the agency has been retained for, she’s also deeply embroiled in turmoil with Tony’s crew. I honestly don’t think I’d be able to get out of bed if I had Julie’s problems.
She’s so dang hard-shelled, she doesn’t know how not to keep working to figure out whose bones she found and helping find the thief in Tony’s organization.
After a rocky few weeks, it’s so nice to see her relationship with Tony take another turn for the better. Tony is my favorite book boyfriend and I’m always happy when he and Julie are doing well. Julie needs Tony more than she wants to admit and he’s so good at dealing with her.
Every book in this series is multi-layered. Personal trauma, professional cases with more intrigue than every appears on the surface and relationship problems make for a serious page turner. Julie, of course, solves several mysteries including finally finding out who killed her beloved half-brother, Ben. It’s gut-wrenching watching her depression after killing Ben’s murderer in self-defense. Because as strong as Julie can be at times, she’s human and suffers deeply. Tony, of course, is there to pick her up, hold her tight and help her work through her issues.
The character development, the story pacing and details all make for another fabulous novel.
Julie is so tenacious. She can’t stop seeking answers. While she tries to solve the case the agency has been retained for, she’s also deeply embroiled in turmoil with Tony’s crew. I honestly don’t think I’d be able to get out of bed if I had Julie’s problems.
She’s so dang hard-shelled, she doesn’t know how not to keep working to figure out whose bones she found and helping find the thief in Tony’s organization.
After a rocky few weeks, it’s so nice to see her relationship with Tony take another turn for the better. Tony is my favorite book boyfriend and I’m always happy when he and Julie are doing well. Julie needs Tony more than she wants to admit and he’s so good at dealing with her.
Every book in this series is multi-layered. Personal trauma, professional cases with more intrigue than every appears on the surface and relationship problems make for a serious page turner. Julie, of course, solves several mysteries including finally finding out who killed her beloved half-brother, Ben. It’s gut-wrenching watching her depression after killing Ben’s murderer in self-defense. Because as strong as Julie can be at times, she’s human and suffers deeply. Tony, of course, is there to pick her up, hold her tight and help her work through her issues.
The character development, the story pacing and details all make for another fabulous novel.
January 7, 2022
Coincidence is fate in disguise.
March 28, 2012
Life is never easy for Julie. In the third PI Julie Collins book, she is still dealing with the death of her brother, the relationship with her father who used to beat her, his family and if that isn’t enough yet another horrific case to investigate. Her relationship with bad-ass sexy biker, Tony Martinez is a mess too.
Julie is so tenacious. She can’t stop seeking answers. While she tries to solve the case the agency has been retained for, she’s also deeply embroiled in turmoil with Tony’s crew. I honestly don’t think I’d be able to get out of bed if I had Julie’s problems.
She’s so dang hard-shelled, she doesn’t know how not to keep working to figure out whose bones she found and helping find the thief in Tony’s organization.
After a rocky few weeks, it’s so nice to see her relationship with Tony take another turn for the better. Tony is my favorite book boyfriend and I’m always happy when he and Julie are doing well. Julie needs Tony more than she wants to admit and he’s so good at dealing with her.
Every book in this series is multi-layered. Personal trauma, professional cases with more intrigue than every appears on the surface and relationship problems make for a serious page turner. Julie, of course, solves several mysteries including finally finding out who killed her beloved half-brother, Ben. It’s gut-wrenching watching her depression after killing Ben’s murderer in self-defense. Because as strong as Julie can be at times, she’s human and suffers deeply. Tony, of course, is there to pick her up, hold her tight and help her work through her issues.
The character development, the story pacing and details all make for another fabulous novel.
Julie is so tenacious. She can’t stop seeking answers. While she tries to solve the case the agency has been retained for, she’s also deeply embroiled in turmoil with Tony’s crew. I honestly don’t think I’d be able to get out of bed if I had Julie’s problems.
She’s so dang hard-shelled, she doesn’t know how not to keep working to figure out whose bones she found and helping find the thief in Tony’s organization.
After a rocky few weeks, it’s so nice to see her relationship with Tony take another turn for the better. Tony is my favorite book boyfriend and I’m always happy when he and Julie are doing well. Julie needs Tony more than she wants to admit and he’s so good at dealing with her.
Every book in this series is multi-layered. Personal trauma, professional cases with more intrigue than every appears on the surface and relationship problems make for a serious page turner. Julie, of course, solves several mysteries including finally finding out who killed her beloved half-brother, Ben. It’s gut-wrenching watching her depression after killing Ben’s murderer in self-defense. Because as strong as Julie can be at times, she’s human and suffers deeply. Tony, of course, is there to pick her up, hold her tight and help her work through her issues.
The character development, the story pacing and details all make for another fabulous novel.
February 17, 2017
WOW....This series is unbelievably amazing. I'm not a big mystery reader but Lori Armstromg just grips you, brings you into the suspenseful dark mystery!..Her writing brings you in and you can't get out!!...Another Fantastic Julie Collins mystery series.
February 19, 2011
I thinnk that this is my favorite one of the 3 so far. Julie has really developed and I am really beginning to understand her better. Dreams play such a big part in these stories which fascinate me because they are such a big part of my life. Julie's journey has definitely been an interesting ride so far and I am looking forward to the next and final installment.
January 27, 2011
LOVED,LOVED, LOVED it....and boy did things heat up with Julie and Tony. Each book keeps me in suspense until the end. I love Julie's hard ass attitude and hidden vulnerability, and man is Tony one sexy bad boy =)
I am sad to know there are only 4 bks in the series.
I am sad to know there are only 4 bks in the series.
February 15, 2017
Private Investigator Julie Collins is back in Shallow Grave, book 3 of the Julie Collins Mysteries Series. Shallow Grave is set a few months after the events of Hallowed Ground and finds Julie and Kevin working together on a more even footing after Lily’s death. While conducting surveillance on a Worker’s Comp case Julie and Kevin witness the accidental death of their subject. The circumstances surrounding the accident lead them to the discovery of a body and into the middle of a five-year-old murder case. This case will bring Julie face to face with her brother’s murderer and finally give her the closure that she has been seeking for more than three years. Between facing past demons, proving her loyalty to Martinez, and solving the murders of a young woman and her brother Julie deals with her roughest challenge yet.
The Julie Collins series is intriguing and gritty; if you have issues with explicit and gory crime scenes be warned this book has several. Every book in the Julie Collins series is compelling and will draw you in the way only a good mystery can. If you like mysteries with nerve wracking suspense these books are a must read.
The Julie Collins series is intriguing and gritty; if you have issues with explicit and gory crime scenes be warned this book has several. Every book in the Julie Collins series is compelling and will draw you in the way only a good mystery can. If you like mysteries with nerve wracking suspense these books are a must read.
February 14, 2017
Kevin and Julie have found their stride again since Lilly died and Kevin came back to work. They are working an insurance fraud case when the subject in question dies in front of them. While figuring what happened to cause his death Julie stumbles along another body. The body of a young Indian woman. Someone with a connection to a friend of her dead brother, Ben.
Julie and Tony have been working through the beginnings of their relationship. But Julie is starting to feel some frustrations about their relationship, or the lack of anyone knowing they are together. Kevin had asked her to keep her relationship with Tony on strictly personal level so she was a little upset when he asked her to go undercover in his club, Bare Assets, to find out who's been ripping him off. But things don't appear as they seam.
Will Julie finally figure out who killed Ben? Will she figure how to handle her feeling for Tony and that it entails being with El Presidente of The Hombres motorcycle club? Can Tony handle being with someone outside of the lifestyle and on the fringes of law enforcement?
Julie and Tony have been working through the beginnings of their relationship. But Julie is starting to feel some frustrations about their relationship, or the lack of anyone knowing they are together. Kevin had asked her to keep her relationship with Tony on strictly personal level so she was a little upset when he asked her to go undercover in his club, Bare Assets, to find out who's been ripping him off. But things don't appear as they seam.
Will Julie finally figure out who killed Ben? Will she figure how to handle her feeling for Tony and that it entails being with El Presidente of The Hombres motorcycle club? Can Tony handle being with someone outside of the lifestyle and on the fringes of law enforcement?
March 5, 2022
It’s been years since I read the first two books in this series. The other two were gathering dust on my bookshelf so I pulled this third book down and started. Took me a bit to reacquaint myself with the characters but eventually I remembered. Julie is a tough, foul mouthed private investigator who is still struggling with the death of her brother. She’s also girlfriend to a biker gang president and still trying to run a business. All takes place in South Dakota near Bear Butte. This third book wraps up her brother’s murder but still leaves some crumbs for the fourth book; which may or may not gather more dust….
February 13, 2017
Just when you think wow theist book in this series was amazing she goes and out does herself with the next one!! I loved it. Julie collins is having some crappy luck at work and questioning her relationship with Martinez not to mention the bombshell that gets dropped on her from her brothers past. You don't wanna miss this book it'll have you turning pages nonstop just to see what'll happen next. Once again another great book for this series. Way to go Lori!
February 25, 2017
I am finding a new love in my reading materials and it is mysteries. Julie Collins is one tough PI who doesn't think things through sometimes. If you mysteries or have never read a mystery book you should read this series. This book is my favorite of the series. I love that we got our answers that were brought up in the first book but still want more from Julie Collins the PI.
I was given an ARC from the author but that hasn't influenced by opinion of the book in any way.
I was given an ARC from the author but that hasn't influenced by opinion of the book in any way.
March 25, 2019
Great continuation
So Julie Collins is one of my favorite female protagonists although she's a head strong moron most of the time. She is always spouting off this tough girl persona but she cries a lot and she gets herself into these dumbass situations well because she's a dumbass. Like come on Julie you're supposed to be smart. But did I enjoy this book...hell yes. But Tony has got to go as the love interest. I am team Kevin!!!
So Julie Collins is one of my favorite female protagonists although she's a head strong moron most of the time. She is always spouting off this tough girl persona but she cries a lot and she gets herself into these dumbass situations well because she's a dumbass. Like come on Julie you're supposed to be smart. But did I enjoy this book...hell yes. But Tony has got to go as the love interest. I am team Kevin!!!
February 13, 2017
I have to start off by saying I love how real Julie is. I'd honestly feel like she reacts the way I would to the situations in this book which of course makes it all the more real for me. The writing is fantastic, the action is awesome and the mystery is there because it really does take towards the end of the book before you know who did it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
February 13, 2017
Wow, this book was better then the last ones. I really enjoy this series and Julie. She is still running off doing crazy stuff without thought but it makes a great story. I am really looking forward to the next book. I am also excited to see her and Martinez relationship evolve. Great twists and mystery.
August 3, 2019
These books are so fast-paced I just blaze through them. Nobodies life can be so complicated and screwed up as Julie Collins but that's part of what makes them so much fun and at least she has a great group of supporting characters to see her through all the drama. Looking forward to getting my hands on the next one.
March 1, 2017
Julie is the same determined tough girl in this 3rd book of the series. She continues to have trouble follow her and the search for her brothers killer still mingles with her PI work. Her and Tony's hot relationship continues steamed up full force.
March 23, 2017
5 amazing star!!
This one was my favorite so far. The story was fast paced. I loved how Julie and Martinez moved into a new place in their relationship. The ending was phenomenal. Love this series, but this book put it over the top.
This one was my favorite so far. The story was fast paced. I loved how Julie and Martinez moved into a new place in their relationship. The ending was phenomenal. Love this series, but this book put it over the top.
May 5, 2017
This one brings together threads from the earlier books and resolves the mystery that has been challenging the heroine for 4 years. There is a lot of action. There is a rather unusual romance. I really like the heroine.
May 9, 2017
love the references to music in the books.
love that she is fierce and sweet. not a mess but also doesn't have it figured out.
her history has provide empathy rather than 100% bitterness.
Love the line in book #1 - And the only person with worse taste in men, is my dead mother.
love that she is fierce and sweet. not a mess but also doesn't have it figured out.
her history has provide empathy rather than 100% bitterness.
Love the line in book #1 - And the only person with worse taste in men, is my dead mother.
March 3, 2017
The book follows Julie still working for Kevin within the PI world and old tragedies and family secrets are revealed. The story starts with Julie and Kevin staking out a guy who the insurance company thinks is faking his injuries, when Lang decides to go riding on his four wheeler the two of them follow him, but he is unaware of him being trouble bound.
Lang then takes off across the field and all of a sudden is launched off the vehicle and crashes to the ground, Kevin and Julie run from their vehicle to see if he is alright and discover that he is dead. The sheriff arrives, also the wife of the deceased and asked what happened, when the sheriff tells her that her husband ran into a sink hole she becomes irate by telling them there are no sink holes around this part of their land but she then realises that someone has retrieved something from the hole.
As Julie is looking around she spots something on the ground and places it in her pocket, her and Kevin are then dismissed by the sheriff and return the office. Once they finish up in the office she goes home to be greeted by a woman and a small child, as soon as Julie looks at the child's face she is transported back as he looks the spitting image of her half-brother Ben. The woman was Ben's girlfriend when he was in Arizona and when he left, but when he left did not know she was pregnant. Julie is floored and now has more questions than answers regarding Ben's time away from South Dakota. She then gets involved with the investigation of the missing bones and what deep dark secrets will surface that have been buried for years and will she survive uncovering these secrets.
As the book goes on you learn more about Ben’s time away from Julie and will Julie ever find out who murder her brother. As Julie also does a favour for her boyfriend in his strip club, Julie gets to understand more of the world of the Hombres and Martinez himself.
I enjoyed this book probably more than the other two as this delves more into the mind of Julie and how truly devastating her brother’s death was to her, you also love the fact Martinez is so the right fit for her and that now Kevin has finally been able to give up the knight in shining armour badge over to Martinez
Lang then takes off across the field and all of a sudden is launched off the vehicle and crashes to the ground, Kevin and Julie run from their vehicle to see if he is alright and discover that he is dead. The sheriff arrives, also the wife of the deceased and asked what happened, when the sheriff tells her that her husband ran into a sink hole she becomes irate by telling them there are no sink holes around this part of their land but she then realises that someone has retrieved something from the hole.
As Julie is looking around she spots something on the ground and places it in her pocket, her and Kevin are then dismissed by the sheriff and return the office. Once they finish up in the office she goes home to be greeted by a woman and a small child, as soon as Julie looks at the child's face she is transported back as he looks the spitting image of her half-brother Ben. The woman was Ben's girlfriend when he was in Arizona and when he left, but when he left did not know she was pregnant. Julie is floored and now has more questions than answers regarding Ben's time away from South Dakota. She then gets involved with the investigation of the missing bones and what deep dark secrets will surface that have been buried for years and will she survive uncovering these secrets.
As the book goes on you learn more about Ben’s time away from Julie and will Julie ever find out who murder her brother. As Julie also does a favour for her boyfriend in his strip club, Julie gets to understand more of the world of the Hombres and Martinez himself.
I enjoyed this book probably more than the other two as this delves more into the mind of Julie and how truly devastating her brother’s death was to her, you also love the fact Martinez is so the right fit for her and that now Kevin has finally been able to give up the knight in shining armour badge over to Martinez
June 7, 2017
A most excellent 5 star read! HOT, HOT, HOT
November 5, 2017
love it. couldnt put this series down.one more to go
May 2, 2018
4.25 overall stars
Couple 4.25
Plot 4.25
Story 4.5
Sex 4.0
Series 4.25
Couple 4.25
Plot 4.25
Story 4.5
Sex 4.0
Series 4.25
August 9, 2018
This is a good series
I really like this series. Like the characters and their interactions. I usually can't guess 'who did it'. On to #4.
I really like this series. Like the characters and their interactions. I usually can't guess 'who did it'. On to #4.
March 14, 2017
Shallow Grave – Julie Collins Book 3
I love this series, but for me, this third book is my favorite. To paraphrase English poet Philip Larkin, our families f**k us up. Julie’s life is about as dysfunctional as any I know, but her extended family is somehow worse. A shocking relative is revealed and the greatest hurt and mystery of Julie’s life is answered in this book. Despite the pain and disappointment surrounding Julie’s family, I love her growing relationship with Martinez and the sense of family he provides her.
Lori Armstrong’s characterization and imagery are superb – Shallow Grave will not disappoint!
I love this series, but for me, this third book is my favorite. To paraphrase English poet Philip Larkin, our families f**k us up. Julie’s life is about as dysfunctional as any I know, but her extended family is somehow worse. A shocking relative is revealed and the greatest hurt and mystery of Julie’s life is answered in this book. Despite the pain and disappointment surrounding Julie’s family, I love her growing relationship with Martinez and the sense of family he provides her.
Lori Armstrong’s characterization and imagery are superb – Shallow Grave will not disappoint!
March 13, 2017
This is the 3rd book in the Julie Collins series and I really enjoyed this book. Each book just seems to get better and full of suspense until the end. The intense feeling between Julie and Tony are still strong and comes to a point where they know what each other wants. Julie puts herself on the line to get to the bottom of the unsolved mystery but what will the cost be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews