First Night

Jessie Night Thriller #1

by Ember Scott

A picturesque community, where murder was once unthinkable, something horrible has become a reality.

In the sleepy, lakeside community of Pine Haven, where murder is a foreign word, a gruesome discovery in a lakeside boathouse throws the town into chaos. Jessie Night, a former military investigator seeking solace from her haunting past, finds herself in the center of the storm. Recruited by local officer Alex Thomas, her investigative prowess might be Pine Haven's only hope. Yet, every clue unearths darker questions—from dubious real estate ploys to ties with notorious biker gangs and whispers of the victim's clandestine lover. As a second murder shocks the town, Jessie realizes a dangerous mastermind may be behind everything. Diving into the town's abyss of secrets, from the police chief’s questionable motives to her own tormented memories, Jessie unravels an unsettling truth. In Pine Haven, facades are masks, and trust is a luxury she can't afford. Boundaries blur as Jessie grapples with the malevolent force at play. Will her quest to save the town shatter her, or will the blood-soaked path to salvation lead to her own demise?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 5, 2023

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than 5 stars

This book is not for the faint of heart; it's not a cozy mystery. But if you want a page-turner with lots of twists, a good cop, a competent ex-military investigator, and a great dog, then this book is for you. I won't repeat the storyline, but the killer was definitely a surprise I didn't see coming. I can see the next book continuing Jessie's involvement, but this book could be read as a stand alone.

[Audrey Surma · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Night delivers a gritty, fast-paced dive into a chilling crime mystery that grips you from page one. The plot flows smoothly, with just the right balance of suspense and revelation to keep the pages turning late into the night. The characters are sharp, layered, and interesting —each with motives, secrets, and scars that add emotional weight to the story. The central crime is gruesome, serving as the dark heartbeat of a narrative that refuses to let go. A must-read for fans of atmospheric thrillers who like their mysteries dark and their characters compelling.

[Barbara Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly a 5****

First time reader of this author and as of now I am impressed. Kind of a different spin on the horrors of childhood trauma adding to that the military elite force training. Fast moving, good read. Plus who could resist white German Shepherd. Not me.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!

What a story this was! I felt all the emotions with this one. I loved the characters, the story line & how it kept me guessing & engaged. I liked how there was little or no foul language & no perverted story line. A clean, riveting read with many twists & turns & a perfect “who done it” with a great surprise ending. What else could I ask for! Thank you to the author. I can’t wait to read more her books.

[Rachel Wesson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gripped me right from the start and didn't let go. It's fast paced, tense with emotional scenes mixed in with murder - the worst scene for gore is the first two pages. Then the violence is more hidden but you can use your imagination. I inhaled it, read it in one sitting and can't wait for the next book. Jessie is an intriguing character and Blizzard, I want one just like him.

[Karma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down, my favorite book series to date. Jesse is my hero, Alex is amazing and don't get me started on how awesome Blizard is too. The story, the characters, the whole thing is just my favorite! I've read the whole series and am currently waiting for the 5th to be released so I can find out what my peeps are up to now. You won't wanna put this set down!

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story but there were so many copyediting things that kept me twitchy throughout that it brought the overall rating down for me. If you don’t tend to notice those types of things I’d still recommend.

[Cynthia L Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping tale with interesting and complex characters. The story was full of twists that kept me guessing and even after the killer was revealed subtle changes kept things interesting and me wanting more. Jessie was a criminal investigator before she left the military. Her struggle with being a civilian was realistic and I understood her struggles. While I wasn't an investigator while I was active duty, I did struggle with being lost and trying to figure out things after I got out as well.

Jessie returns to her Aunt's place, that she visited when she was a child after leaving the military. She figures it will be a good place for her to get her bearing and start over. She finds a lost dog on her way into town. When she returns the dog to his owner she finds the owner unconscious on the floor and calls the police. She meets Alex, a local officer and has a tentative connection. They meet again when she finds a dead body in an abandoned boat house near her property and is pulled into the investigation.

[Bethany Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Jessie, recently discharged from the army arrives in pine haven, things just aren't what they seem. With help of a trusty friend she and him discover a murder and they work together to solve it, even though it mean killing someone close to her... this book was not good at all. it shouldn't be a thriller maybe a mystery. it took forever to get to the end and even then it wasn't a attention getter. Took 5 hours to read it was just not my forte.

[margaret waniska · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my first one written by Ember Scott. It did not disappoint me at all. Intriguing characters, fast paced action and some nice twists are all included in her writing. The author describes the scenes so well, you can just picture it as you are reading. I've found a new author to follow, that is for sure. Now, on to book 2!

[Sandra Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Night

What a wonderful book. It really grabbed me right from the start. I really enjoyed the characters and am anxious about starting the second book. I also can't wait to share it with family and friends. This was definitely a five star book for me. Thank you for the couple hours of entertainment.

[Bethany C Hoffman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish

Unfortunately I could only make it so far before Jessie's superior "intellect" and attitude annoyed me too much to continue. Between that and the awful typos, I was put off the book entirely.

[Angelalynn Kramer-Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

first night

When in the 1 st chapter. The book goes into detail about what is happening. I was like wow. I felt like I was seeing the murder through the victims eyes. I felt the hairs on my arms goe up..woo hoo great one to pull ya in and keep reading.

[Dawn Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyline saved this one

The story line is very well written and somewhat twisted though. There is a lot of bad going on in the town. Jessie isn't as likeable as to me so the murder mystery kept me reading. Jessie has the shock of her life when the killer is revealed.

[Patricia A. Biba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small Town

Very interesting story. Jessie was heading toward restarting a new life and ended up in a complex problem in a small town. Solving a couple of murders had the little town not really to handle.

[Mary L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Going to be a good series, one I am looking forward t reading.
Was so surprised on finding who The deranged person was, not expected. But the ending made me happy and sad. Jessie did a wonderful thing taking blizzard to see jeb.

[Pattie Gaudreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

Great read, totally shocked at the end in Alex's house.
Can't wait for the next one.
Keep up the good work.

[Elizabeth Guiney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

I enjoyed the book ,the characters clicked and Jessie wasn't a super women but held her own.
Will continue this series.

[Helene Brimlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Really good book..i enjoyed it from beginning to end. Kept me on the edge of my seat. She was amazing.

[Lisa Gaddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a fast pace and good.

[Carol Gulick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Unfortunately I read 3 before I. But both were awesome. And could be stand-alones. Can't wait to start number three!

[William H. Desvousges · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

I loved the characters and the dialogue. Good story and a very enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next book.

[Dorothy Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery

Ember Scott is new to me but I am now a fan. Her way of describing people and situations keep the mystery going without divulging the outcome.

[Julie Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good start

Not the best thriller or novel I have ever read but not terrible either. A bit rushed and a bit short on set up but I will read the next one.

[Mrs Wendy Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read kept my attention from the beginning right to end 5* and more

[Tonya Spires · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced

This is an easy but good read for suspense fans. I will continue to follow this author for any new books that become available.

[Linda A. Blenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I really enjoyed the characters and the story itself. I love animals especially German shepherds!! Looking forward to more books

[Amanda Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this!!!

Small town Criminal Minds

[Lenora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I loved the characters (well some of them). Can’t wait to read the next one in the series

[Dorca I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

I couldn't put it down. Jessie Night is a real action character. I kept hoping him her brother Brody would turn out to be a good person.