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The Killing Plains
Two victims. Twenty years apart. One elusive killer.
Crescent Bluff, West Texas. Everybody knows everybody. And everybody has a secret.
When a boy is found dead with the skin of a hare’s head in his hand, everyone knows who killed him—Willis Newland, just released from prison after serving twenty years for an identical murder.
But what if everyone’s wrong?
Detective Colly Newland reluctantly agrees to investigate a case that seems to involve the whole town, including her dead husband’s extended family. But the deeper she digs, the more secrets she unearths. And as threats against her escalate, Colly realizes someone is willing to kill to keep theirs…
Crescent Bluff, West Texas. Everybody knows everybody. And everybody has a secret.
When a boy is found dead with the skin of a hare’s head in his hand, everyone knows who killed him—Willis Newland, just released from prison after serving twenty years for an identical murder.
But what if everyone’s wrong?
Detective Colly Newland reluctantly agrees to investigate a case that seems to involve the whole town, including her dead husband’s extended family. But the deeper she digs, the more secrets she unearths. And as threats against her escalate, Colly realizes someone is willing to kill to keep theirs…
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 796 reviews
September 16, 2024
Review: A well written mystery with great characterization and amazing visual renderings. So why only three stars? Someone with this kind of talent needs to make the whodunnit more intricate. As it was, by the 20% mark, you should pretty easily be able to figure out who is doing it and why. Yeah there are familial secrets and sudden clashes with the townsfolk, but those are obivious red herrings that tend to markedly separate the guilty party.
One of the better mysteries I have read without the constant olde english verbosity or the man-crushing.
I received this ARC for an honest review
3.4/5
One of the better mysteries I have read without the constant olde english verbosity or the man-crushing.
I received this ARC for an honest review
3.4/5
September 27, 2024
Small town in West Texas. Everyone knows everyone- their secrets, their families, their most embarrassing moments. A young male is found dead- the skin of a hare's head clutched in his palm. Super weird, I'd say probably very unique calling card for a tiny Texas town! Willis Newland- slow, touched in the head- has been released from prison after 20 years for committing a murder against a young boy found in the same manner as the recent one. He must be the killer, right? Colly Newland, a retired detective and caretaker of her fragile seven year old grandchild, is called back home from Houston to assist on the case and get it off the ground running. In true crime fiction fashion, Colly is sent threats to back off- aren't they always? No disrespect toward anyone- it's just so overdone and obvious for this particular genre.
As a lifelong resident of a small Southern town, I felt right at home in this town and plot- aside from the gruesome murder. I liked the characters in this- they really reminded me of Karin Slaughter's beloved Will Trent characters, which I loved and delivered quite the dose of adrenaline. The plot moved along quickly, but was also slow at times. The culprit was quite obvious, but the book was still genuinely so fun to read. The parts with the snakes- terrifying, creepy, hate that. Altogether, really enjoyed reading this book. Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the eArc.
As a lifelong resident of a small Southern town, I felt right at home in this town and plot- aside from the gruesome murder. I liked the characters in this- they really reminded me of Karin Slaughter's beloved Will Trent characters, which I loved and delivered quite the dose of adrenaline. The plot moved along quickly, but was also slow at times. The culprit was quite obvious, but the book was still genuinely so fun to read. The parts with the snakes- terrifying, creepy, hate that. Altogether, really enjoyed reading this book. Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the eArc.
February 15, 2025
⭐️ 4.5/5 Stars - 📚 The Killing Plains by Sherry Rankin
📖 Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sherry Rankin’s The Killing Plains is an atmospheric thriller that plunges readers into the unforgiving landscape of West Texas, where danger and secrets simmer beneath the surface. As a thriller enthusiast, I was hooked from the first page – Rankin masterfully crafts a suspenseful read.
Set against the stark beauty of the plains, the novel follows Detective Colly Newland as she’s pulled into a chilling murder investigation that mirrors a crime from twenty years earlier. A boy is found dead, and all fingers point to Willis Newland, just released from prison for an identical murder. But Colly isn’t convinced – and the deeper she digs, the more tangled the web of secrets becomes.
The pacing is spot-on, with each chapter ending in a way that makes it impossible to stop reading. Rankin’s descriptive writing brings the desolate, windswept plains to life, creating a haunting sense of isolation that mirrors the unease coursing through the story.
Colly is a brilliantly complex protagonist – determined, vulnerable, and relentless in her pursuit of the truth. Her personal stakes in the case add emotional weight, while the supporting cast adds layers of intrigue (and suspicion!). The townspeople, each with something to hide, make for an unsettling backdrop that keeps the reader guessing.
Just when you think you’ve cracked the case, Rankin throws in a twist that turns everything upside down. The surprises are well-executed and feel organic to the plot, making the final reveal all the more satisfying.
💭 If you love atmospheric thrillers with rich character development, unexpected twists, and a strong female lead, The Killing Plains is a must-read. I’m already looking forward to more from Sherry Rankin!
📌 The Killing Plains releases 1 February 2025.
📚 For more reviews, visit instagram.com/liisalovesreading
📖 Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sherry Rankin’s The Killing Plains is an atmospheric thriller that plunges readers into the unforgiving landscape of West Texas, where danger and secrets simmer beneath the surface. As a thriller enthusiast, I was hooked from the first page – Rankin masterfully crafts a suspenseful read.
Set against the stark beauty of the plains, the novel follows Detective Colly Newland as she’s pulled into a chilling murder investigation that mirrors a crime from twenty years earlier. A boy is found dead, and all fingers point to Willis Newland, just released from prison for an identical murder. But Colly isn’t convinced – and the deeper she digs, the more tangled the web of secrets becomes.
The pacing is spot-on, with each chapter ending in a way that makes it impossible to stop reading. Rankin’s descriptive writing brings the desolate, windswept plains to life, creating a haunting sense of isolation that mirrors the unease coursing through the story.
Colly is a brilliantly complex protagonist – determined, vulnerable, and relentless in her pursuit of the truth. Her personal stakes in the case add emotional weight, while the supporting cast adds layers of intrigue (and suspicion!). The townspeople, each with something to hide, make for an unsettling backdrop that keeps the reader guessing.
Just when you think you’ve cracked the case, Rankin throws in a twist that turns everything upside down. The surprises are well-executed and feel organic to the plot, making the final reveal all the more satisfying.
💭 If you love atmospheric thrillers with rich character development, unexpected twists, and a strong female lead, The Killing Plains is a must-read. I’m already looking forward to more from Sherry Rankin!
📌 The Killing Plains releases 1 February 2025.
📚 For more reviews, visit instagram.com/liisalovesreading
January 10, 2025
I enjoyed reading it, but there were just one too many lifetime secrets and red herrings. The most annoying part was the people of Crescent Bluff blaming the main character Colly for her husband’s and daughter’s death. It came up often enough, but with no explanation or hint of what happened until near the end of the book. It would have made the story much better to have known about the details nearer to the beginning. There was no reason to leave that hanging for so long. In the end, it was fairy easy to figure out the likely suspect a third of the way through. There weren’t enough clues on the long held secrets to figure them out ahead of time. They just sprung up to knock off the suspects.
January 8, 2025
I read this book as part of Amazon Prime members free two books per month. This one started off with too many characters thrown at me at once. I had a hard time keeping up with how they were related. Great whodunnit storyline but dragged in parts. There were also a couple of unnecessary history of the town lessons that threw me off from the story. I did like that the author spent time on the ending of the story wrapping up loose ends. I could see this character, Colly, developing into a series of books about her cases and her life as well.
January 9, 2025
I just finished Killing Plains by Sherry Rankin, and it was such a great way to start the year! It’s a crime thriller that had just the right mix of clues and misdirection to keep me guessing, and I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter” way too late at night. The writing has this southern tone that felt so familiar and comforting—probably because I’m from the South myself. The ending didn’t disappoint either; it wrapped things up in a way that really made me think about how complicated human emotions are, from guilt and shame to grief and anger. Honestly, it’s such a good read—definitely worth checking out if you’re into thrillers.
January 6, 2025
The book started out slow but ramped up around page 20 and then turned into a book I couldn’t book down.
January 12, 2025
This was one of my Amazon First Reads for January. It was one of the rare books, in my opinion, that thrives in the middle. The beginning of the book took some time to get into, and the ending felt rushed. I’ve seen some reviews talking about how easy it is to guess who the killer is, and in this case it is pretty easy to guess who it is, but I prefer when an author leans towards making the killer a little obvious as opposed to a random killer with no clues at all. My biggest complaint is that the ending in the snake pit scene annoyed me to no end. The killer did not know that they were caught, so had Colly not come at them with guns blazing, they wouldn’t have taken a child hostage. The whole ending could have been completely diffused had Colly used common sense. If the author meant to use this scene to show that Colly is hot headed and makes poor judgments in order to add layers to her daughter and husband’s deaths, then I like it. But I’m pretty sure it was just included to add drama. Overall I enjoyed it, even if I got tired of reading about characters chewing their lips (and this author certainly is not the only writer guilty of the lip chewing crime). This is her debut novel, but at times it felt like I was reading the second or third in a detective series and that I was expected to know all the characters and their relationships to one another. But on a story level, it held together. Even if it did do the cliche thing of running back all the clues to show that they all fit together, all the clues did fit together and the logic did add up. I wouldn’t have a problem recommending this to people who want a fun page turner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 4, 2025DNF. After dredging to halfway, this story didn't appear to be as involved in the murders. It had too much family drama for me, plus a detective that would forget to pick her grandson up from school and spend little time with him.
April 21, 2025
★★★★
This was a nice surprise! Not that I thought it would be a bad book but I downloaded it as part of the Prime Members free Kindle book option and for some reason, I'm always suspicious of free books. I know, I'm being silly as this story proves.
The story takes place in a small town in West Texas. I don't know much about this area of the U.S. but the author provided enough detail and atmosphere to allow me to picture it in my head. The pacing of the story is good - fast but not so fast that necessary details about the characters and the setting are lost.
Colly Newland, still dealing with her own personal tragedy, agrees to come back to Crescent Bluff to assist her brother-in-law and Sheriff of the town, Russ Newland, with a cold case/closed case investigation. Now a retired detective and raising her grandson, Colly is reluctant to dig up secrets about her dead husbands family and it seems, to her surprise, there are many secrets being hidden - not only by the Newland family but by others in town as well. When Colly starts to receive threats, she realizes that she's on the right track.
The only knock that I have against the story is that it uses a trope that I don't like which is that the state police investigated and closed both cases - in the first, questionably convicting one of the Newland brothers and in the second, closing the case assuming that the same killer simply killed again. Thankfully, the story does not portray them as incompetent but rather, simply willing to jump to the conclusion that everyone in town also jumped to.
The mystery was interesting. There are lots of reveals as each secret is exposed, eventually culminating in the solution to the murders of two young boys 20 years apart.
I recommend picking this one up if you like small town mysteries and/or atmospheric police procedurals.
This was a nice surprise! Not that I thought it would be a bad book but I downloaded it as part of the Prime Members free Kindle book option and for some reason, I'm always suspicious of free books. I know, I'm being silly as this story proves.
The story takes place in a small town in West Texas. I don't know much about this area of the U.S. but the author provided enough detail and atmosphere to allow me to picture it in my head. The pacing of the story is good - fast but not so fast that necessary details about the characters and the setting are lost.
Colly Newland, still dealing with her own personal tragedy, agrees to come back to Crescent Bluff to assist her brother-in-law and Sheriff of the town, Russ Newland, with a cold case/closed case investigation. Now a retired detective and raising her grandson, Colly is reluctant to dig up secrets about her dead husbands family and it seems, to her surprise, there are many secrets being hidden - not only by the Newland family but by others in town as well. When Colly starts to receive threats, she realizes that she's on the right track.
The only knock that I have against the story is that it uses a trope that I don't like which is that the state police investigated and closed both cases - in the first, questionably convicting one of the Newland brothers and in the second, closing the case assuming that the same killer simply killed again. Thankfully, the story does not portray them as incompetent but rather, simply willing to jump to the conclusion that everyone in town also jumped to.
The mystery was interesting. There are lots of reveals as each secret is exposed, eventually culminating in the solution to the murders of two young boys 20 years apart.
I recommend picking this one up if you like small town mysteries and/or atmospheric police procedurals.
January 31, 2025
IN A NUTSHELL
'The Killing Plains' is a solid mystery with a strong sense of place, believable characters, creepy child murders, a wound tight town, complex family history and an atypical but believable investigator.
It's set in Crescent Bluff, West Texas a town full of secrets, many of them revolving around the Newland family that retired detective Colly Newland married into, so there's a rich suspect pool and lots of deception.
The fast pace and short timelines kept the tension cranked up as this complicated but believable plot unfolded.
From the start of 'The Killing Plains' I was impressed by the clarity of the writing and the skill of the storytelling. The people and the place felt real.
At first, the story seemed a familiar one. Willis Newland, who was a little off by community standards was tolerated because his father employed half the town, until he was convicted of murdering a child. He did twenty years in prison, came home to his rich family and then became the prime suspect for a similar murder.
I thought I knew how the story would go until I met the main character, Colly Newland. At forty-six, she's a former Houston PD Detective who, after the sudden death of her husband and daughter, retired so that she could focus on raising her traumatised, eight-year-old grandson. Colly had no desire to return to Crescent Bluff, her dead brother's home town, but her brother-in-law, Crescent Bluff's Chief of Police guilted her into doing an informal review of the Texas Ranger's murder investigation which identified, Willis Newland, another brother-in-law of hers, as the murderer.
I liked that Colly wasn't an outsider looking askance at the odd West Texas folks. She married in, never intended to stay but ended up spending decades enmeshed in the family's dramas which she's about to be pulled back into. Colly has brought her troubled grandson with her and has to place him in a school where her sister-in-law is the Counsellor. To add to her stress, Colly is disliked by some of the people in Crescent Bluff who hold her responsible for her husband's death. It's easy to see how everything gets very tense very quickly.
Crescent Bluff has lots of people with secrets to hide. I admired how the pacing of the reveals of the various secrets and subplots sustained the mystery. I kept finding things out but each new piece of information raised more questions and gave me new people to suspect rather than giving me clarity.
I was kept guessing about who the murderer was until almost the end of the book but the final reveal made sense.
i’d never have guessed that 'The Killing Plains' was a debut novel. I’m looking forwared to seeing more of Sherry Rankin’s work.
'The Killing Plains' is a solid mystery with a strong sense of place, believable characters, creepy child murders, a wound tight town, complex family history and an atypical but believable investigator.
It's set in Crescent Bluff, West Texas a town full of secrets, many of them revolving around the Newland family that retired detective Colly Newland married into, so there's a rich suspect pool and lots of deception.
The fast pace and short timelines kept the tension cranked up as this complicated but believable plot unfolded.
From the start of 'The Killing Plains' I was impressed by the clarity of the writing and the skill of the storytelling. The people and the place felt real.
At first, the story seemed a familiar one. Willis Newland, who was a little off by community standards was tolerated because his father employed half the town, until he was convicted of murdering a child. He did twenty years in prison, came home to his rich family and then became the prime suspect for a similar murder.
I thought I knew how the story would go until I met the main character, Colly Newland. At forty-six, she's a former Houston PD Detective who, after the sudden death of her husband and daughter, retired so that she could focus on raising her traumatised, eight-year-old grandson. Colly had no desire to return to Crescent Bluff, her dead brother's home town, but her brother-in-law, Crescent Bluff's Chief of Police guilted her into doing an informal review of the Texas Ranger's murder investigation which identified, Willis Newland, another brother-in-law of hers, as the murderer.
I liked that Colly wasn't an outsider looking askance at the odd West Texas folks. She married in, never intended to stay but ended up spending decades enmeshed in the family's dramas which she's about to be pulled back into. Colly has brought her troubled grandson with her and has to place him in a school where her sister-in-law is the Counsellor. To add to her stress, Colly is disliked by some of the people in Crescent Bluff who hold her responsible for her husband's death. It's easy to see how everything gets very tense very quickly.
Crescent Bluff has lots of people with secrets to hide. I admired how the pacing of the reveals of the various secrets and subplots sustained the mystery. I kept finding things out but each new piece of information raised more questions and gave me new people to suspect rather than giving me clarity.
I was kept guessing about who the murderer was until almost the end of the book but the final reveal made sense.
i’d never have guessed that 'The Killing Plains' was a debut novel. I’m looking forwared to seeing more of Sherry Rankin’s work.
January 17, 2025
Why didn't I just stop reading 😒
Started off a bit slow for me & I was considering not reading any further...but I pushed through and I got into it for the majority of the story. Then, the script flipped to an embarrassingly unrealistic ending. The "twist" was rubbish as it wasn't believable, exciting or thrilling...very meh. I was so frustrated and annoyed by it that I had to force myself to read the final chapter. The explanation of what actually happened was rushed but, at the same time, boringly tedious. It felt as though the author was in a hurry to finish the novel, but knew she couldn't write "and then they woke up and it was all a dream", so she jotted down the first piece of nonsense that came to mind. Not impressed, it was a real let down and left me feeling like I wasted my time.
Started off a bit slow for me & I was considering not reading any further...but I pushed through and I got into it for the majority of the story. Then, the script flipped to an embarrassingly unrealistic ending. The "twist" was rubbish as it wasn't believable, exciting or thrilling...very meh. I was so frustrated and annoyed by it that I had to force myself to read the final chapter. The explanation of what actually happened was rushed but, at the same time, boringly tedious. It felt as though the author was in a hurry to finish the novel, but knew she couldn't write "and then they woke up and it was all a dream", so she jotted down the first piece of nonsense that came to mind. Not impressed, it was a real let down and left me feeling like I wasted my time.
January 12, 2025
Wow! A debut novel?! This book is excellent. The writing is detailed enough that you feel like you are in the scenes! The characters are well developed, and there is a steady flow of excitement. The author used the opportunity of telling a character about the killer to explain some of the hints she gave us in plain site! I highly recommend this book.
January 9, 2025
A really good book for my first non-romance read in a while! Def recommend
February 2, 2025
When a boy is found dead with the skin of a hare’s head in his hand, everyone knows who killed him—Willis Newland, just released from prison after serving twenty years for an identical murder.
Detective Colly Newland has been called in to investigate despite it being a seemingly airtight case. In the small town if Crescent Bluff un West Texas it seems everyone is involved in some way. That includesher dead husband’s extended family. As she begins to dig up secrets threats are made against her. The situation is more complicated than she could ever have imagined.
The setting of Crescent Bluff is important to the story. The remoteness creates a small town feel despite being a large area of desolate land. The descriptions are done very well and I could see the beauty even while Colly was struggling with her surroundings. The setting also makes it harder to investigate. The writing in general is great and I felt completely immersed in the surroundings.
Colly is a great main character. She is determined to do things the right way. The town and her family are lucky to have her. There are other likeable characters as well despite some of them having many flaws. They are people you want to root for.
There is never a dull moment in the story. Many bizarre things happen to make you question what's going on. There is a great balance between the investigative process and more personal issues.
I don't know if this is going to be a series but I would definitely love to read more about Colly and the town of Crescent Bluff. There is a sad feeling hanging over the town and Colly's family. I would love to return and spend more time there.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read!
Detective Colly Newland has been called in to investigate despite it being a seemingly airtight case. In the small town if Crescent Bluff un West Texas it seems everyone is involved in some way. That includesher dead husband’s extended family. As she begins to dig up secrets threats are made against her. The situation is more complicated than she could ever have imagined.
The setting of Crescent Bluff is important to the story. The remoteness creates a small town feel despite being a large area of desolate land. The descriptions are done very well and I could see the beauty even while Colly was struggling with her surroundings. The setting also makes it harder to investigate. The writing in general is great and I felt completely immersed in the surroundings.
Colly is a great main character. She is determined to do things the right way. The town and her family are lucky to have her. There are other likeable characters as well despite some of them having many flaws. They are people you want to root for.
There is never a dull moment in the story. Many bizarre things happen to make you question what's going on. There is a great balance between the investigative process and more personal issues.
I don't know if this is going to be a series but I would definitely love to read more about Colly and the town of Crescent Bluff. There is a sad feeling hanging over the town and Colly's family. I would love to return and spend more time there.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read!
March 22, 2025
Once again, I have no idea how a book ended up on my radar but I'm glad it did! I still can't believe The Killing Plains is Sherry Rankin's debut, and I definitely wouldn't be mad if this ended up being the start of a new series. The mystery was twisty and surprising, and I loved our FMC Colly. The setting of West Texas felt very atmospheric, and I could practically feel the dust in my mouth thanks to Rankin’s writing. The small town drama and suspicion was on point and I loved that basically everyone had a secret.
The audiobook made for easy listening, and I couldn’t help but enjoy the narrator, Traci Odom. She did an excellent job voicing not only the book but Colly as well. There were a few parts that completely grossed me out so I wouldn’t recommend reading this while eating if you are at all squeamish like me. There were also times that were particularly startling or traumatic and Odom handled them all with ease while brilliantly conveying the emotions Colly was feeling. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
Read this if you are looking for well developed characters, wonderful visuals, and hopeful endings.
The audiobook made for easy listening, and I couldn’t help but enjoy the narrator, Traci Odom. She did an excellent job voicing not only the book but Colly as well. There were a few parts that completely grossed me out so I wouldn’t recommend reading this while eating if you are at all squeamish like me. There were also times that were particularly startling or traumatic and Odom handled them all with ease while brilliantly conveying the emotions Colly was feeling. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
Read this if you are looking for well developed characters, wonderful visuals, and hopeful endings.
January 10, 2025
A murder in a small town with plenty of suspects. Interesting characters in an atmospheric setting. A good crime mystery.
February 6, 2025
*Source* Kindle First
*Genre* Mystery
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Killing Plains is the debut novel by Sherry Rankin. It is a story set in Crescent Bluff, West Texas, where two murders twenty years apart force a Detective out of retirement in an attempt to solve the murders and bring closure to the family that blames her for the loss of her husband and daughter. The novel follows former Houston Detective Colly Newland. Newland (46) retired after the sudden death of her husband and daughter to focus on raising her traumatized eight-year-old grandson Satchel and prevent him from going down the wrong path.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Mystery
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Killing Plains is the debut novel by Sherry Rankin. It is a story set in Crescent Bluff, West Texas, where two murders twenty years apart force a Detective out of retirement in an attempt to solve the murders and bring closure to the family that blames her for the loss of her husband and daughter. The novel follows former Houston Detective Colly Newland. Newland (46) retired after the sudden death of her husband and daughter to focus on raising her traumatized eight-year-old grandson Satchel and prevent him from going down the wrong path.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 15, 2025
As far as thrillers go, this one was average for me. I did listen to it on Audible and, to be fair, my listening was sporadic -- took about 3.5 months of very intermittent sessions.
The voice actors were excellent and kept me involved in the story almost more than the story itself, which seemed a bit predictable. The West Texas setting was unique and descriptive and the characters were well developed, especially for a debut author. Overall, I felt the story lacked in pacing and cadence.
My review of "The Killing Plains" in five words:
Atmospheric. Predictable. Average. Visual. Unmemorable.
The voice actors were excellent and kept me involved in the story almost more than the story itself, which seemed a bit predictable. The West Texas setting was unique and descriptive and the characters were well developed, especially for a debut author. Overall, I felt the story lacked in pacing and cadence.
My review of "The Killing Plains" in five words:
Atmospheric. Predictable. Average. Visual. Unmemorable.
January 12, 2025
Guessed the murderer twice and was wrong. Great plot twist! Couldn’t put this down.
January 14, 2025
“Small-Town Secrets and the Cost of Isolation”
Sherry Rankin’s The Killing Plains, an Amazon First Reads selection for January 2025, is a chilling and thought-provoking story that dives deep into the hidden dangers of small-town life. Rankin masterfully explores how family secrets, misplaced trust, and the exploitation of vulnerable children can lead to devastating consequences.
The novel’s atmospheric setting heightens the tension, showcasing how tightly woven communities can hide fractures that eventually erupt. Rankin challenges readers to consider the long-term impact of secrecy and manipulation while unraveling a gripping narrative full of suspense and moral complexity.
A standout addition to the thriller genre, The Killing Plains is a must-read for fans of psychological drama and stories that delve into the dark corners of human behavior.
Sherry Rankin’s The Killing Plains, an Amazon First Reads selection for January 2025, is a chilling and thought-provoking story that dives deep into the hidden dangers of small-town life. Rankin masterfully explores how family secrets, misplaced trust, and the exploitation of vulnerable children can lead to devastating consequences.
The novel’s atmospheric setting heightens the tension, showcasing how tightly woven communities can hide fractures that eventually erupt. Rankin challenges readers to consider the long-term impact of secrecy and manipulation while unraveling a gripping narrative full of suspense and moral complexity.
A standout addition to the thriller genre, The Killing Plains is a must-read for fans of psychological drama and stories that delve into the dark corners of human behavior.
March 9, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Took me awhile to get into, which could have been because I’ve been so busy or maybe she was just a slow burn but I loved how intricate and descriptive the writing was! I definitely guessed who done it, but she still gets a higher rating for being well written and different from the murder mysteries I have read recently! 4.5/5 ⭐️
January 16, 2025
I chose it as one of my free Amazon First Reads books for Jan. and was not disappointed!
The writing is well done, the plot on pace, the small town description and toxic small town attitudes are all there. The family secrets, twists and surprises kept me wanting more. The snake rodeo was super creepy and for someone like me terrified of snakes I admit I actually gasped at the final terror. I did figure out the major reveal pretty early but I am pretty good at that for most books so I was not disappointed at the pacing or the reveal.
I will be looking for more books from this author.
The writing is well done, the plot on pace, the small town description and toxic small town attitudes are all there. The family secrets, twists and surprises kept me wanting more. The snake rodeo was super creepy and for someone like me terrified of snakes I admit I actually gasped at the final terror. I did figure out the major reveal pretty early but I am pretty good at that for most books so I was not disappointed at the pacing or the reveal.
I will be looking for more books from this author.
July 30, 2025
This was super good! Really liked the plot line & the characters felt like friends to me! Didnt expect the ending at all, which is so fun! Yay!
January 28, 2025
I really like the first half and for the most part the writing is amazing. Where it fell for me was the initial “twist” which IMO was severely underwhelming and the ending was silly. It also started digging deeper into psyche but that felt shallow despite the constant conversation about it.
February 14, 2025
Such a clever book and plot a must read with a great twist
January 24, 2025
EVERYONE!! This is an Amazon First read - so you can get the download free!!! This is one of our professors at ACU and her writing is excellent! (I'm not very far into it yet)
FINISHED! Yes, I gave this 5 stars. It was excellent. A real page-turner that I couldn't put down -actually lost sleep over.
Set in West Texas, the place is also a character and so many references to West TX! There's even a Rattlesnake Roundup. She was able to capture the beauty of W TX and I could see the vistas in my imagination. I was questioning every character, all through the book, if they were the killer.
I would highly recommend even if I didn't know the author......
FINISHED! Yes, I gave this 5 stars. It was excellent. A real page-turner that I couldn't put down -actually lost sleep over.
Set in West Texas, the place is also a character and so many references to West TX! There's even a Rattlesnake Roundup. She was able to capture the beauty of W TX and I could see the vistas in my imagination. I was questioning every character, all through the book, if they were the killer.
I would highly recommend even if I didn't know the author......
January 7, 2025
Colly is a young grandmother who is raising her grandson, Satchel. She lost her husband and daughter as a result from her work as a detective: her grandson a witness to their deaths.
Now she is called back to her husband’s hometown to try and solve the murder of two boys who died in a similar fashion twenty years apart.
Colly is threatened and her grandson suffers from traumatic episodes while she tries to solve the murders.
I enjoyed reading this book and trying to solve the mysteries myself.
Now she is called back to her husband’s hometown to try and solve the murder of two boys who died in a similar fashion twenty years apart.
Colly is threatened and her grandson suffers from traumatic episodes while she tries to solve the murders.
I enjoyed reading this book and trying to solve the mysteries myself.
January 24, 2025
Good police procedural with complicated family dynamics thrown in. Didn't figure out who dunnit. Enjoyed it.
March 16, 2025
Dnf. This story is nothing but people talking. The story does not move forward. It feels like listen to people trying to figure out something via text. Each paragraph is about 2-3 sentences long. If the author couldn't explain it via conversation it doesn't get explained.
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