While the town prepares for the annual local festival. Spenser helps with the festivities while chatting with the residents. Unfortunately the pleasantry is interrupted when Spenser runs into Rafe Johnson, the man beginning his campaign to unseat her as sheriff.
The standoff between them is tense with Spenser deciding to walk away. Fortunately, when she arrived home to Ryker, she was able to drop down her guard. As he works on his fields, planting an apple orchard for his new apple cider business.
The semi-peace is short-lived when the lead singer of a local band drops dead on stage. Initially, it seems to be an open and shut case of overdose. But when the toxicology reports find poison in the victim, No one, not even Spenser, would have ever expected the troves of victims, or the illicit and depraved turn the case would take.
It seems life at Sweetwater Falls has a way of keeping everyone on their toes. Sex, drugs, murder, and rock & tumble. It’s just another gorgeous day here in the Falls.
Elle Gray lives in a small town with her 2 cats, and her handsome husky. As a girl, she was obsessed with crime novels and thrillers.
Today, she loves writing and creating thrilling novels with courageous, strong heroes/heroines and dangerous psychopaths. She invites you to join her exciting world of detectives and FBI agents that take down killers and kick butt.
Although I’m enjoying this series, this book left me cold. Song’s nemesis, Alex Ricci, teams up with a man to try to derail Song’s bid for re- election. Really?? Ricci is a notorious hitman! Why would he try to destroy her career rather than kill her?? And there he is, a hitman the FBI has been searching for for years, sitting in a town hall meeting in Sweetwater Falls!!! Seriously? How about contacting the FBI and have this guy locked up? And they bring up the murder trial of her ex partner and have all sorts of info on the case! It’s an FBI case! How do they have so much info!? Song constantly states in this series she’s “highly trained” and can take care of herself, yet she, once again (and it has happened numerous times) gets attacked at her cabin and is unable to defend herself! BTW, why would Ryker, knowing there’s a hitman after her, allow her to go to her cabin by herself? The author needs to come up with new verbiage. The same lines are used throughout the series. If I read “circle back” one more time I was going to scream! And by now, her heart should have exploded from “swelling” every time Ryker looked at her!
This series is always a quick read. Lots of festivals in this town, this time Strawberry, during which a country singer dies on stage. The local Doc/coroner is quickly ready to declare this a heart attack but Spensers spidey sense tells her its not.
Supposedly, this well liked guy had no enemies. Turns out he wasn't as well liked as he was made out to be and instead is steriod abuser, womanizer and plagiarist with lots of enemies. As Spenser delves deeper into his background, they finally narrow it down.
At the same time, Spenser's up for reelection soon and a local is running against her with assistance from the tabliod and her enemy from NY-Alex. They try to get her recalled but she holds her own until she is attacked by Alex on her doorstep. Of course there is a cliff-hanger to the next book.
Its a good fast read but always seems to have a lot of typos -( i.e. Sherrif???)
Elle Gray brings the story to a wonderful understanding of finding the truth to the full extent. I would of loved to see the sheriff Song use more than just Amanda and her brother. I know each officer under has a specific skill that should be shown through out her writing these books. Sometimes with just them three it gets boring not to see how she isn't training the other officers their special knowledge and skills how to be the best in their fields of the law. She still has a great twist to the book but needs to include other officers too.
Summer in the Falls(A Sweetwater Falls Mystery Book 9)
OMG!!!!!!!!!! This book was amazing and terrifying, but I loved every minute of it. Spencer starts off trying to keep her job, to solving a murder. I think she saves her job, but her former partner's(from the FBI) brother is going to try and kill her, he attacks, but we are left wondering if she can survive. She also managed not to kill him, so he can go to jail right beside his brother. I can't wait to read the next book.
I really love the characters, and each story has been pretty solid. Easy to read series, I love my trips to Sweetwater falls when a new book comes our.
here's my biggest detractors with the series, and there small.
I'm starting to struggle with some of the repetitive phrases... for example how many inches taller or shorter each character is compared to "Spencer's 5'9" frame"
and also Spencer's a smart, well trained officer, how many times is she gonna blindly walk into danger unaware at the cabin?
While investigating the untimely death of a local singer-songwriter in the midst of the Strawberry Festival, Spenser is beset by a muckraker journalist and her election foe, Johansen, with outright lies and sly innuendo throwing shade on Spenser’s name, career, morals and ethics by means of bureaucratic procedures, attempting to oust her by a Council vote of no confidence.
While battling for her job and reputation, the murder investigation hones in on a suspect wily and duplicitous.
What a great read! This is a book I couldn't put down. I Stayed up to read it. Spenser Song had a murder to solve, and the twists and turns and the number of suspets keeps growing. All this along with the father of a previous felon coming after her job as Sheriff and Ricci coming after her. You love mysteries, this is one you don't want to miss. Of course Elle Gray is a terrific writer that you will want to read all her books.
my favorite book of the series Ella Gray has a way with her characters. She intertwined them into the stories and you just cannot quit until you read the end of the book. I am onto the next set.
Elle Gray is an awesome author, I love how she works with her characters and makes them special, she sometimes brings some of the characters back. This book was was my favorite of the series so far. Spencer is a very strong woman. I am onto the next set.
need five more stars. Sheriff spencer Song will dig until she finds the true killer of Seth.
Sheriff Song is under attack by the man who’s son is in jail for molesting. two high school jocks and almost killing them. The father wants his son out of jail. So he joins up with the murderer of Spencers husband to make her sound weak and incompetent. But she is none of those things so she gently fights back meanwhile trying to close Seth’s murder.
A singer died on stage in front of the sheriff and the coroner examination said cardiac arrest but the sheriff found an unexplained insertion site on his abdomen and refused to release the cause of death. The more the sheriff delved into his background the more insidious his sins were including stealing money from a colleague, music and songs from a friend and finally making videos of all the women he was screwing. Enjoy
Elle Gray and her development of Spenser Song and her ongoing and increasingly dangerous and suspenseful adventures in Sweetwater Falls are amazing. This series is a total must read for any reader who enjoys mystery, intrigue, brilliant detective work, or just outright thrilling suspense. Once you start this series, you will want to continue it to the very end to see what else life holds for Spenser, both professionally and personally.
3.5 stars: Here is my issue with multiple books in a series. They start to loose their appeal for me. Well I hit it at book 9. The story is starting to lack luster. There wasn't any suspense in this book. If your not going to do suspense have the drama more interesting. For me it just fell apart. Rafe little stint was "blah". He remind me of the wicked witch " I'll get you my pretty"...... and that was it........ I will continue with the next book, since its on Kindle Unlimited.
This story its a continuation of 9 great stories. I really enjoy the dynamics of the characters. The build up to the end had me at the edge. This book is about a small town but the events and evil people are everywhere. Another good one from Elle, she never disappoints.
Sheriff Spencer Song is both smart and tough! She has to not only deal with murderers that manage to hide in plain sight, the town Council is being manipulated to believe she doesn't do her job. Wrong again! She is still wearing her Stetson, badge, and gun!
I have now read several books by Elle Gray and have found them to be exceptional in every way. She is very imaginative and her stories are excellent. I would recommend anyone liking mystery books to definitely look at this author. I know you will be very pleased that you did. Incredible work!!
Elli Gray is absolutely one of the best women authors ever. I have so many great authors that I love reading their books. Thank you . This series is very interesting and hard to determine who is the murder in her books always a twist that makes you wonder who did it I am getting ready to read the next book in this series.
OMG. This is a great thriller. I could not put this book down. This is an exciting series. I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book and series. I loved it. Keep them coming.
Good read again. Spenser gets her team on the right track and finds the killer again. Great plot and exciting ending. Looking forward to the next chapter in Sweetwater Falss.
The type of novel you would expect from Ellie. It keeps you on edge the whole timme. I recommend it for all mystery lovers.one of the best of the best. Keep up the good work.
Kept me engrossed. There were times that I couldn't stand the way Spenser questioned the suspects. Or the way that Amanda behaved.But in the end they solved the crime. What a writer you are. Wow
I found the political line particularly unbelievable. A future candidate for sheriff works with a cartel hit man and is taken seriously: unbelievable. Ryker lets Song go back to the cabin alone AGAIN, despite having told her the hit man could attack her at any time….
This book in the series brings Sheriff Song against the people who hate her most. A new case to fighting and fighting for her job who will win. Also the man who killed her husband is aiming for her.
If you haven't read any of these books I feel sorry for you. What a great story teller and writer. I swear I will read every book she has written and I hope you will join me.
As always, the story of sheriff Spenser Strong kept me interested and intrigued as to how the mystery would work its way out. I was pleased at how things fell into place and the good prevailed over the bad again.
Good stories and quick reads. I’m glad some of the villains are fully in the light now and that even though they don’t always agree, Spenser is making her way to success