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Detective Chris Bailey #4
Find His Grave
What secrets hide behind these crumbling walls?
Ivy Manor is every realtor’s nightmare. A derelict old pile out in rural Tennessee — with a past even darker than the woods that surround it.
New owner Cal Nolte gets the shock of his life when he finds a bloody handprint smeared across the doorstep.
Detective Chris Bailey arrives to check it out. But his search of the house turns up no body, no weapon — only a terrified young woman and her daughter.
They say they’ve been hiding out in the empty rooms, waiting for the woman’s husband to return. But what are they afraid of?
To add to his frustration, Bailey finds himself on the receiving end of a string of anonymous calls. ‘What if I told you I knew where his body was buried?’ taunts the voice at the end of the line.
Bailey can’t shake the feeling that it’s all connected with the goings-on at Ivy Manor.
Then Bailey uncovers a body — hidden away in a forgotten corner of the house. But this man’s been dead way too long to have left the fresh red handprint.
So where’s the second victim?
The clock is ticking to unravel the secrets of Ivy Manor before the killer strikes again . . .
Ivy Manor is every realtor’s nightmare. A derelict old pile out in rural Tennessee — with a past even darker than the woods that surround it.
New owner Cal Nolte gets the shock of his life when he finds a bloody handprint smeared across the doorstep.
Detective Chris Bailey arrives to check it out. But his search of the house turns up no body, no weapon — only a terrified young woman and her daughter.
They say they’ve been hiding out in the empty rooms, waiting for the woman’s husband to return. But what are they afraid of?
To add to his frustration, Bailey finds himself on the receiving end of a string of anonymous calls. ‘What if I told you I knew where his body was buried?’ taunts the voice at the end of the line.
Bailey can’t shake the feeling that it’s all connected with the goings-on at Ivy Manor.
Then Bailey uncovers a body — hidden away in a forgotten corner of the house. But this man’s been dead way too long to have left the fresh red handprint.
So where’s the second victim?
The clock is ticking to unravel the secrets of Ivy Manor before the killer strikes again . . .
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2023
38 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Kate Watterson
32 books91 followersWriting as both Emma Wildes and Katherine Smith, Kate Watterson has over thirty published books to her credit, plus five Eppie nominations, one Eppie win for best historical erotic in 2007, a RWA Lories win, WisRWA 2005 final for best historical romance, and is a CAPA nominee. She loves suspense and to write erotic stories in the genre is a special treat.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 29, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Find His Grave, the fourth novel to feature Detective Chris Bailey of an unnamed rural Tennessee Sheriff’s Office.
Cal Nolte, new owner, of the rundown Ivy Manor, is shocked to find a handprint in a pool of blood in their latest development. Bailey is tasked to investigate but all he finds is a frightened young woman and her two year daughter, who are hiding there at the behest of her missing husband. With blood and no body Bailey can’t help but link it to a series of mysterious anonymous calls about a body.
I thoroughly enjoyed Find His Grave, which is as much about a budding romance between Whitney Nolte, sister of Cal, and Ross Waylan, the development’s financial guy as it is about murder, anonymous phone calls and a derelict building, with the point of view switching accordingly. To be perfectly honest much of the romance side of things is padding, enjoyable padding as it offers a change of pace, with a few insights thrown in to make it relevant. Chris Bailey’s investigation, on the other hand, starts off intriguing and gets more complex with all sorts of strange events adding to the mystery. With that description it will surprise no one when I say that there is more than one agenda at play, but which one belongs to which event? Bailey isn’t revealing everything he knows and that adds to the mystery. I like the fact that the perpetrator and motive are well concealed until the final chapters as it keeps the reader curious and turning the pages.
I like Chris Bailey and the way he is portrayed. He is smart, dedicated and straightforward, but, in the style of earlier fiction, there is little discussion of his thoughts and feelings, just a concentration on his work and whatever case he is pursuing. He has a girlfriend, Anna, but I think that she is more a convenience than a real partner.
Find His Grave is a good read that I can recommend.
Cal Nolte, new owner, of the rundown Ivy Manor, is shocked to find a handprint in a pool of blood in their latest development. Bailey is tasked to investigate but all he finds is a frightened young woman and her two year daughter, who are hiding there at the behest of her missing husband. With blood and no body Bailey can’t help but link it to a series of mysterious anonymous calls about a body.
I thoroughly enjoyed Find His Grave, which is as much about a budding romance between Whitney Nolte, sister of Cal, and Ross Waylan, the development’s financial guy as it is about murder, anonymous phone calls and a derelict building, with the point of view switching accordingly. To be perfectly honest much of the romance side of things is padding, enjoyable padding as it offers a change of pace, with a few insights thrown in to make it relevant. Chris Bailey’s investigation, on the other hand, starts off intriguing and gets more complex with all sorts of strange events adding to the mystery. With that description it will surprise no one when I say that there is more than one agenda at play, but which one belongs to which event? Bailey isn’t revealing everything he knows and that adds to the mystery. I like the fact that the perpetrator and motive are well concealed until the final chapters as it keeps the reader curious and turning the pages.
I like Chris Bailey and the way he is portrayed. He is smart, dedicated and straightforward, but, in the style of earlier fiction, there is little discussion of his thoughts and feelings, just a concentration on his work and whatever case he is pursuing. He has a girlfriend, Anna, but I think that she is more a convenience than a real partner.
Find His Grave is a good read that I can recommend.
July 30, 2023
What secrets hide behind these crumbling walls in Find His Grave by Kate Watterson.
Ivy Manor is every realtor’s nightmare. A derelict old pile out in rural Tennessee, with a past even darker than the woods that surround it. New owner Cal Nolte gets the shock of his life when he finds a bloody handprint smeared across the doorstep.
Detective Chris Bailey arrives to check it out. But his search of the house turns up no body, no weapon, only a terrified young woman and her daughter. Then Bailey uncovers a body hidden away in a corner of the house. But this man’s been dead way too long to have left the fresh red handprint. The clock is ticking to unravel the secrets of Ivy Manor before the killer strikes again.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting through this story. The pace is slow throughout, and the characters are a bit boring and one-dimensional. The dialogue is tedious to get through, stilted, and sometimes hard to follow who is talking and the various POV shifts. I was not able to connect with any of the characters. This was not a gripping or page-turning story for me, and the scenes seemed to drag on.
I would try other books by this author, but Find His Grave missed the mark for me.
I give this a 3 out of 5 stars.
#FINDHISGRAVE #NetGalley @JoffeBooks
Ivy Manor is every realtor’s nightmare. A derelict old pile out in rural Tennessee, with a past even darker than the woods that surround it. New owner Cal Nolte gets the shock of his life when he finds a bloody handprint smeared across the doorstep.
Detective Chris Bailey arrives to check it out. But his search of the house turns up no body, no weapon, only a terrified young woman and her daughter. Then Bailey uncovers a body hidden away in a corner of the house. But this man’s been dead way too long to have left the fresh red handprint. The clock is ticking to unravel the secrets of Ivy Manor before the killer strikes again.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting through this story. The pace is slow throughout, and the characters are a bit boring and one-dimensional. The dialogue is tedious to get through, stilted, and sometimes hard to follow who is talking and the various POV shifts. I was not able to connect with any of the characters. This was not a gripping or page-turning story for me, and the scenes seemed to drag on.
I would try other books by this author, but Find His Grave missed the mark for me.
I give this a 3 out of 5 stars.
#FINDHISGRAVE #NetGalley @JoffeBooks
November 4, 2025
I just finished Find His Grave by Kate Watterson, and I’m still trying to decide how I feel about audiobooks. The story itself I thought was excellent, but regarding the format, the jury is still out.
This was one of those times when I really wished I had the physical book in my hands. I think each chapter started with an excerpt from a diary or a book that one of the characters received, but without being able to flip back and look, I can’t be entirely sure. Listening while driving or doing chores is great, but when the plot gets twisty (and this one does), I miss being able to check something or reread a section.
Still, Watterson hooked me, and I finished it. The mystery had layers, and the small-town setting added that feeling of “everyone knows something.” The characters were flawed but real, and the pacing kept me interested from start to finish, even though I occasionally forgot who characters were in relation to the story and each other. I really needed the physical book.
All in all, Find His Grave was a solid story: Creepy, well-written, and satisfying. But next time, I think I’ll go old-school with the paperback so I can actually see what’s going on.
This was one of those times when I really wished I had the physical book in my hands. I think each chapter started with an excerpt from a diary or a book that one of the characters received, but without being able to flip back and look, I can’t be entirely sure. Listening while driving or doing chores is great, but when the plot gets twisty (and this one does), I miss being able to check something or reread a section.
Still, Watterson hooked me, and I finished it. The mystery had layers, and the small-town setting added that feeling of “everyone knows something.” The characters were flawed but real, and the pacing kept me interested from start to finish, even though I occasionally forgot who characters were in relation to the story and each other. I really needed the physical book.
All in all, Find His Grave was a solid story: Creepy, well-written, and satisfying. But next time, I think I’ll go old-school with the paperback so I can actually see what’s going on.
August 29, 2023
I was a little creeped out when I started reading this. It is definitely a good read, with romance mixed into the mystery. I recommend😊.
New owner Cal Nolte just purchased Ivy Manor, an old home that needs a lot of repairs. Unfortunately, his plans for the house will be put on hold when he discovers a bloody handprint and notifies the authorities. Did someone die here?
No victim is located but a very scared young lady and her little girl have been using the house. Do they have any idea what could have happened there?
Detective Bailey is receiving some very strange calls from an anonymous source. They claim that they know where the body is buried. Whose body are they talking about? Is this connected to the case at Ivy Manor?
When a body is indeed located in the basement, the case gets even more complicated. It’s apparent that this victim has been there a while. What happened to him? Is there another victim? Can Bailey get to the bottom of this mystery?
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
New owner Cal Nolte just purchased Ivy Manor, an old home that needs a lot of repairs. Unfortunately, his plans for the house will be put on hold when he discovers a bloody handprint and notifies the authorities. Did someone die here?
No victim is located but a very scared young lady and her little girl have been using the house. Do they have any idea what could have happened there?
Detective Bailey is receiving some very strange calls from an anonymous source. They claim that they know where the body is buried. Whose body are they talking about? Is this connected to the case at Ivy Manor?
When a body is indeed located in the basement, the case gets even more complicated. It’s apparent that this victim has been there a while. What happened to him? Is there another victim? Can Bailey get to the bottom of this mystery?
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2023
I will preface to say I did not finish this book. While I did try my best to get to the end since I was reading an advanced reader’s copy, I just couldn’t will myself to do so.
The dialogue is unnatural and makes it hard to get a flow into the book. The point of view switches so much without necessarily learning anything new from the switch which makes you wonder what the point of it was. There’s a few times were things are repeated to characters as if it’s new information when really it was already discussed between those two characters in a different chapter. One of the main characters makes spaghetti like two nights in a row and each time it seems as if she hasn’t made it in a long time.
It had potential for being a page turner but unfortunately fell short for me.
The dialogue is unnatural and makes it hard to get a flow into the book. The point of view switches so much without necessarily learning anything new from the switch which makes you wonder what the point of it was. There’s a few times were things are repeated to characters as if it’s new information when really it was already discussed between those two characters in a different chapter. One of the main characters makes spaghetti like two nights in a row and each time it seems as if she hasn’t made it in a long time.
It had potential for being a page turner but unfortunately fell short for me.
August 5, 2023
I want to thank NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book.
In general, I definitely enjoyed this read. It’s a light, quick, curious thriller that has hints of romance.
However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters and I felt like I read books with a lot better writing. For me, there’s a lack of detail and history in the overal writing which makes me disconnect a little. There were many conversations without enough explaining what the character really is going through or thinking of. I definitely had to pick up the book a couple of times to get through. With good editing, this book has great potential.
In general, I definitely enjoyed this read. It’s a light, quick, curious thriller that has hints of romance.
However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters and I felt like I read books with a lot better writing. For me, there’s a lack of detail and history in the overal writing which makes me disconnect a little. There were many conversations without enough explaining what the character really is going through or thinking of. I definitely had to pick up the book a couple of times to get through. With good editing, this book has great potential.
January 16, 2024
I owe a big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Find His Grave by Kate Watterson. Overall, this book was an enjoyable read. It's just that I found it a bit challenging to truly connect with the characters, and the writing style left me desiring more depth and background. The story seemed to lack the intricate detailing and depth that could have allowed me to better understand the characters' emotions and thought processes. Despite these minor reservations, the book still held my interest.
February 25, 2025
I owe a big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Find His Grave by Kate Watterson. Overall, this book was an enjoyable read. It's just that I found it a bit challenging to truly connect with the characters, and the writing style left me desiring more depth and background. The story seemed to lack the intricate detailing and depth that could have allowed me to better understand the characters' emotions and thought processes. Despite these minor reservations, the book still held my interest.
December 15, 2023
I love the setting on this one. A man buys a historic mansion with the intention of turning it into a luxury hotel. I have been in some of those so I could visualize it well.
He brings his sister to see it and find a blood spot on the floor, more like a puddle, and a bloody handprint, but no body.
The cops are trying to find out where all the blood came from. It is very creepy and twisty.
Thank you for the ARC.
He brings his sister to see it and find a blood spot on the floor, more like a puddle, and a bloody handprint, but no body.
The cops are trying to find out where all the blood came from. It is very creepy and twisty.
Thank you for the ARC.
August 6, 2023
This was frustrating. The premise was interesting but the pacing was not great. The characters were very one dimensional and had the most mundane conversations. It jumped around so much it was hard to follow. I felt like we got so much story about personal relationships in the book that were at face value very simple but they were made to be over complicated and completely unnecessary.
July 31, 2023
It's a weird, twisty, surprising and highly entertaining story that mixes southern gothic and mystery.
Well plotted, complex, and gripping
I thoroughly enjoyed it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Well plotted, complex, and gripping
I thoroughly enjoyed it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 8, 2023
A bloody handprint in an abandoned house, mysterious phone calls to the police. Are they connected? Suspense from the first page that never lets up, plus a romance. What more could you ask for. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
August 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this! The mystery was intriguing and I liked the romance. Overall, I enjoyed this and would recommend it! Special Thank You to Kate Watterson, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for allowing to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2025
The success of this story is that Chris Bailey is not front and centre the whole time. An excellent and unusual story which has many twists and turns. Looking forward to no. 5.
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire
August 16, 2023
Brilliant
Really enjoyed reading this book,fantastic quirky characters,marvellous plot developing slowly drawing you in keeping you turning the pages to the very end
Really enjoyed reading this book,fantastic quirky characters,marvellous plot developing slowly drawing you in keeping you turning the pages to the very end
August 22, 2023
Disappointed ending
Great story, moved along nicely, kept my attention, but ending left me unfinished!
Would have liked more of a closure on main characters lives!
Great story, moved along nicely, kept my attention, but ending left me unfinished!
Would have liked more of a closure on main characters lives!
January 23, 2024
Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book. It did not grab my interest. I did not enjoy the character development and feel like the dialogue didn't flow well.
December 14, 2023
This book is about a trio who are planning to turn an old abandoned house into a hotel and all of the unexpected things that happen along the way, including murder.
The book contains several elements that I look for in a book: interesting characters, twists, and creepy old houses. That said, at times I found the story hard to follow as it wasn’t always clear whose POV that particular section was from. I also found the relationship between Ross and Whitney to be unrealistic. Overall I did enjoy the book, it was a quick read and did keep me wondering.
The book contains several elements that I look for in a book: interesting characters, twists, and creepy old houses. That said, at times I found the story hard to follow as it wasn’t always clear whose POV that particular section was from. I also found the relationship between Ross and Whitney to be unrealistic. Overall I did enjoy the book, it was a quick read and did keep me wondering.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews