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Tallman's Valley Detectives #4
The Burning Rooms
A SERIAL KILLER WITH A BURNING DESIRE
In the country town of Tallmans Valley, an arsonist is burning homes down. Their signature move is placing an identical model of the house on the front porch before setting the fire. But no one is there to witness this in the silence of each dark winter night.
A happy couple is out celebrating their anniversary when they receive a chilling phone call – a recorded children's verse warning them their house is on fire and their children gone. They race home to an inferno and missing children.
Detective Jace Franco is first on the scene and is confronted by scenes that will haunt him. The couple were good friends of his. And there's something else – a model house near the front door. He sighted exactly the same thing thirteen years ago, at a fire that claimed the lives of a whole family.
Franco becomes certain a twisted killer is at work. But with the fire officially deemed a tragic accident, his team is not convinced.
There is just one other person who saw what Franco did thirteen years ago – Franco's former homicide partner, Kate Wakeland. Can he tempt her away from her new role with the federal police for this one case?
Or will the arsonist continue to destroy the evidence with each of their deadly blazes?
In the country town of Tallmans Valley, an arsonist is burning homes down. Their signature move is placing an identical model of the house on the front porch before setting the fire. But no one is there to witness this in the silence of each dark winter night.
A happy couple is out celebrating their anniversary when they receive a chilling phone call – a recorded children's verse warning them their house is on fire and their children gone. They race home to an inferno and missing children.
Detective Jace Franco is first on the scene and is confronted by scenes that will haunt him. The couple were good friends of his. And there's something else – a model house near the front door. He sighted exactly the same thing thirteen years ago, at a fire that claimed the lives of a whole family.
Franco becomes certain a twisted killer is at work. But with the fire officially deemed a tragic accident, his team is not convinced.
There is just one other person who saw what Franco did thirteen years ago – Franco's former homicide partner, Kate Wakeland. Can he tempt her away from her new role with the federal police for this one case?
Or will the arsonist continue to destroy the evidence with each of their deadly blazes?
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2024
183 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 9, 2024
The fourth book in the Tallman's Valley Detectives series and this time we have a serial arsonist at work.
When the home of Javier and Nicole Garcia burns down Detective Jace Franco is first on the scene. The family are friends of his and, after the emergency is over and they discover the teenage daughter is missing, he is determined to find her as well as catch the fire bug. As the police investigate, this fire is discovered to be just part of a history of similar events.
Franco is a bit of a loose cannon in this book but fortunately he is able to persuade Kate Wakefield to return to work and assist on the case. She has been my favourite character throughout this series so this made me very happy. What follows is lots and lots of great investigative work and some very creative thinking from Franco and Kate leading to a satisfying conclusion.
The book is written from several different points of view which helps to maintain the tension as well as developing each individual character. I was totally absorbed and read it as fast as I could. And did I detect a hint there at the end that we may be seeing more of Kate in the future? I hope so.
An excellent read and well worth five stars.
My thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
When the home of Javier and Nicole Garcia burns down Detective Jace Franco is first on the scene. The family are friends of his and, after the emergency is over and they discover the teenage daughter is missing, he is determined to find her as well as catch the fire bug. As the police investigate, this fire is discovered to be just part of a history of similar events.
Franco is a bit of a loose cannon in this book but fortunately he is able to persuade Kate Wakefield to return to work and assist on the case. She has been my favourite character throughout this series so this made me very happy. What follows is lots and lots of great investigative work and some very creative thinking from Franco and Kate leading to a satisfying conclusion.
The book is written from several different points of view which helps to maintain the tension as well as developing each individual character. I was totally absorbed and read it as fast as I could. And did I detect a hint there at the end that we may be seeing more of Kate in the future? I hope so.
An excellent read and well worth five stars.
My thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 13, 2024
Celebrating their twenty fifth wedding anniversary at a posh restaurant, Nicole Garcia couldn't let go of the worry for her children. Her sister Lucy was meant to babysit, but at the last minute, couldn't. So Sienna, their fourteen year old daughter, was caring for her younger sibling, Elijah, for the couple of hours they'd be gone. But a haunting phone call to Nicole and Javier saw them fly out of the restaurant and tear home. The house was on fire, the children unable to be found...
Detective Jace Franco raced to the scene, terrified at what he might find at his good friend's house. And it was worse than he could imagine. The strangeness of the model house on the front verandah hit Franco, but before long it was gone. In his devastation, Franco began the investigation, but was soon to learn Sienna's body wasn't in the ruins of the house. Was she alive? Frantically, Jace went to the home of his old homicide partner, Kate Wakeland, begging her to help. Kate's instincts were always spot on, but this was a bad one.
The Burning Rooms is the 4th in the Tallman Valley Detectives by Aussie author Anni Taylor and it was exceptional! Set three years since the last episode, Tallman Valley police force was in the middle of an upheaval. With a new Inspector, and a couple of other detectives that weren't particularly nice, nevertheless, the team around Franco and Wakeland worked well. I enjoy Kate's character and this whole series and am looking forward to #5. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Jace Franco raced to the scene, terrified at what he might find at his good friend's house. And it was worse than he could imagine. The strangeness of the model house on the front verandah hit Franco, but before long it was gone. In his devastation, Franco began the investigation, but was soon to learn Sienna's body wasn't in the ruins of the house. Was she alive? Frantically, Jace went to the home of his old homicide partner, Kate Wakeland, begging her to help. Kate's instincts were always spot on, but this was a bad one.
The Burning Rooms is the 4th in the Tallman Valley Detectives by Aussie author Anni Taylor and it was exceptional! Set three years since the last episode, Tallman Valley police force was in the middle of an upheaval. With a new Inspector, and a couple of other detectives that weren't particularly nice, nevertheless, the team around Franco and Wakeland worked well. I enjoy Kate's character and this whole series and am looking forward to #5. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2024
THE BURNING ROOMS is the fourth book in the Tallman's Valley Detectives series by Australian Author Anni Taylor. I was first introduced to this author's work when I read ONE LAST CHILD, the first book in this suspense series, and was immediately drawn to the author's expertise in setting a steadily increasing dire tone of impending doom that kept me on the edge of my seat. Taylor has crafted the same sense of urgency, complex characters and emotional turmoil in THE BURNING ROOMS. While each book in this series stands alone, I advise reading the previous books for an evening of entertaining reading.
Javier and Nicole Garcia are having a celebratory anniversary dinner at a nice restaurant when a creepy phone call sends them rushing home to find their house burning down - presumably with their children inside. Without any thought of their own safety, they rush inside and find themselves trapped by the fire. By the time their friend, Detective Franco, arrives on scene, the only person he can save is their young son. After the ashes cool, Javier and Nicole's bodies are recovered but there's no trace of the remains of their teenage daughter Sienna who was babysitting her young brother. Deeply disturbed by the devastating experience and the haunting flashback to a similar fire over a decade earlier, Det. Franco vows to find the arsonist he suspects has done this before - despite the fire being ruled accidental. Calling on his ex-homicide partner Kate Wakefield, Franco begins a frantic search for the missing girl and a serial arsonist. His superiors believe he's losing it and close to a breakdown, but Kate was also at the scene of the earlier fire and agrees Franco may be on to something. Can they unmask a murderer and arsonist before he strikes again? Where is Sienna? Is she hiding . . . or in danger?
THE BURNING ROOMS is a tense, action-packed thriller that had me burning through pages searching for answers. Taylor expertly sets a dark tone of desperation early on that drives the increasing pace throughout until the final shocking reveal. Multiple points of view, including one from "the Incinerator", gives readers insight into the minds and motivation of various players, and yet the identity of the arsonist remains a mystery until the end. With a large cast of red herrings, the author does a clever job of misdirection challenging Kate and Franco, as well as readers, to sift through the evidence and unmask a villain. Taylor's attention to minute details is evident as she meticulously builds suspense through twists and turns as is her gift for manipulating and developing strong characters. Fans of previous books will enjoy seeing Kate in action again.
THE BURNING ROOMS is a raw, emotional, suspenseful story that's impossible to put down. Once again, Author Anni Taylor has rendered a mesmerizing story rich in suspense and place. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries and suspense thrillers and especially to fans of the Tallman's Valley Detectives Series.
Many thanks to Author Anni Taylor for an arc of this title. All opinions expressed are my own. Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine.
Javier and Nicole Garcia are having a celebratory anniversary dinner at a nice restaurant when a creepy phone call sends them rushing home to find their house burning down - presumably with their children inside. Without any thought of their own safety, they rush inside and find themselves trapped by the fire. By the time their friend, Detective Franco, arrives on scene, the only person he can save is their young son. After the ashes cool, Javier and Nicole's bodies are recovered but there's no trace of the remains of their teenage daughter Sienna who was babysitting her young brother. Deeply disturbed by the devastating experience and the haunting flashback to a similar fire over a decade earlier, Det. Franco vows to find the arsonist he suspects has done this before - despite the fire being ruled accidental. Calling on his ex-homicide partner Kate Wakefield, Franco begins a frantic search for the missing girl and a serial arsonist. His superiors believe he's losing it and close to a breakdown, but Kate was also at the scene of the earlier fire and agrees Franco may be on to something. Can they unmask a murderer and arsonist before he strikes again? Where is Sienna? Is she hiding . . . or in danger?
THE BURNING ROOMS is a tense, action-packed thriller that had me burning through pages searching for answers. Taylor expertly sets a dark tone of desperation early on that drives the increasing pace throughout until the final shocking reveal. Multiple points of view, including one from "the Incinerator", gives readers insight into the minds and motivation of various players, and yet the identity of the arsonist remains a mystery until the end. With a large cast of red herrings, the author does a clever job of misdirection challenging Kate and Franco, as well as readers, to sift through the evidence and unmask a villain. Taylor's attention to minute details is evident as she meticulously builds suspense through twists and turns as is her gift for manipulating and developing strong characters. Fans of previous books will enjoy seeing Kate in action again.
THE BURNING ROOMS is a raw, emotional, suspenseful story that's impossible to put down. Once again, Author Anni Taylor has rendered a mesmerizing story rich in suspense and place. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries and suspense thrillers and especially to fans of the Tallman's Valley Detectives Series.
Many thanks to Author Anni Taylor for an arc of this title. All opinions expressed are my own. Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine.
September 6, 2024
Tallman's Valley Detectives, Book #4
Detective Kate Wakeland is once again called back to assist the local police in investigating what appears to be a serial arsonist case. This crime is different, however, because the newest victims were good friends with Kate's former partner, Jace Franco.
With each home that the arsonist targets, a young girl either dies or goes missing. Discovering what the motive is for these crimes is going to be a tough one to decipher. The latest young girl taken is a fourteen-year-old girl named Sienna Garcia. Is she still alive or will the detectives be able to crack the case and find her in time?
___________________________________________________
I absolutely adore this crime series, available through Audible. Narrator Caroline Lee is one of my favorites and she does a spectacular job. Also new to this story is narrator Raphael Corkhill, who voices Jace Franco.
Highly recommend!
Detective Kate Wakeland is once again called back to assist the local police in investigating what appears to be a serial arsonist case. This crime is different, however, because the newest victims were good friends with Kate's former partner, Jace Franco.
With each home that the arsonist targets, a young girl either dies or goes missing. Discovering what the motive is for these crimes is going to be a tough one to decipher. The latest young girl taken is a fourteen-year-old girl named Sienna Garcia. Is she still alive or will the detectives be able to crack the case and find her in time?
___________________________________________________
I absolutely adore this crime series, available through Audible. Narrator Caroline Lee is one of my favorites and she does a spectacular job. Also new to this story is narrator Raphael Corkhill, who voices Jace Franco.
Highly recommend!
September 24, 2024
Many houses are burning in this small town, people are either hurt or die, young people are being abducted. Some are missing and others are found. What is odd is that those homes that go up in smoke have a miniature model of that same house on front porch and it burns too. Who is doing this? Is there a serial killer out there?
Good story plot and and really good characters, from the victims, to those missing, to relatives and Neighbors in community, and the police/detectives.
Would have given five stars but the ending was rather abrupt and not as satisfying as expected. Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to reading more by this newly discovered author.
Good story plot and and really good characters, from the victims, to those missing, to relatives and Neighbors in community, and the police/detectives.
Would have given five stars but the ending was rather abrupt and not as satisfying as expected. Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to reading more by this newly discovered author.
July 2, 2024
Javier and Nicole Garcia were having a nice dinner together to celebrate their anniversary when a strange call came in. Together they raced home to find their house on fire. They left Sienna in charge of babysitting Elijah. The phone call was a warning that their children would be in danger.
…
Jace Franco, a volunteer firefighter, went into the burning house to rescue the kids. Except he only found Elijah. Sienna was missing. Jace Franco was assigned the missing persons case with Grimshaw. Franco remembered a similar case thirteen years ago when he was working with Kate.
…
Kate Wakeland had been on a month long vacation with her husband Pete when Jace Franco approached her to join him on the case. He’s backed up against a wall with the new inspector who seems to favor the Rigby unit and Reagan Grimshaw doesn’t allow Jace Franco the free rein to do what he does best. He needs to work with Kate who understands him. She’s the reason he went into homicide because she asks the questions that need to be asked.
…
The Burning Rooms is book four in Tallman’s Valley Detectives series written by Anni Taylor. Anni Taylor is one of my go-to one-click authors. I’ve been following Anni Taylor from the very beginning of her writing career. I’m always excited to see a new book release. Taylor writes steady pace thrillers with a flurry of activity. The great thing about reading series is the familiarity with the characters it’s like slipping into a pair of comfortable shoes. There’s no trying to gain perspective on who the characters are. It’s an easy transition from one book to the next. I enjoyed trying to play detective. Anni Taylor kept me guessing all the way until the end.
…
Jace Franco, a volunteer firefighter, went into the burning house to rescue the kids. Except he only found Elijah. Sienna was missing. Jace Franco was assigned the missing persons case with Grimshaw. Franco remembered a similar case thirteen years ago when he was working with Kate.
…
Kate Wakeland had been on a month long vacation with her husband Pete when Jace Franco approached her to join him on the case. He’s backed up against a wall with the new inspector who seems to favor the Rigby unit and Reagan Grimshaw doesn’t allow Jace Franco the free rein to do what he does best. He needs to work with Kate who understands him. She’s the reason he went into homicide because she asks the questions that need to be asked.
…
The Burning Rooms is book four in Tallman’s Valley Detectives series written by Anni Taylor. Anni Taylor is one of my go-to one-click authors. I’ve been following Anni Taylor from the very beginning of her writing career. I’m always excited to see a new book release. Taylor writes steady pace thrillers with a flurry of activity. The great thing about reading series is the familiarity with the characters it’s like slipping into a pair of comfortable shoes. There’s no trying to gain perspective on who the characters are. It’s an easy transition from one book to the next. I enjoyed trying to play detective. Anni Taylor kept me guessing all the way until the end.
July 16, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tallman's Valley has more crime in it than Mount Thomas and I love it!
This is a fast paced story that I binged in one day. This story is told from a few POV's that all started to come together beautifully and it had me guessing the who and why until the very end.
This can be read as a stand lone BUT I strongly suggest that you read 'One Last Child' it's absolutely fantastic and is book 1 in a series that one of the characters in this book belongs to.
Tallman's Valley has more crime in it than Mount Thomas and I love it!
This is a fast paced story that I binged in one day. This story is told from a few POV's that all started to come together beautifully and it had me guessing the who and why until the very end.
This can be read as a stand lone BUT I strongly suggest that you read 'One Last Child' it's absolutely fantastic and is book 1 in a series that one of the characters in this book belongs to.
March 12, 2024
This was an awesome story! There’s a serial arsonist in Tallman’s Valley but Detective Jace Franco knows in his gut that there’s more to the crimes. He remembers another fire over a decade ago where a model house was left on the front porch of a house that burned down. But as it also burned, there’s no proof connecting that crime to this one. And as he already has a strained relationship with other officers, no one is inclined to listen to him. Luckily, our favorite ex-detective Kate Wakeland is brought in by Jace to consult on the case and she trusts his instincts.
The story is told from multiple points of view, giving the reader more insight into the case's developments than any particular character has. As the plot progresses, the different threads weave together, and you won’t believe how they all connect in the end. There are many suspicious characters and it’s easy to think they’re all somehow involved, but don’t be fooled! Not everyone is as they seem in this town.
This story hooked me from the start - a creepy phone call of a children’s rhyme and a house on fire - crazy! And it only took a few instances of the word ‘ladybird’ for me to end my confusion by Googling it to discover it’s another word for ladybug! I never knew that, and it makes sense once you realize that’s what the characters are talking about. Fun facts like this are why I love reading stories not based in the U.S.!
I hope there are more books in this series to come. Even though Kate was supposed to be retired, the author was able to include her in the special role she was hired for. And the end of the story definitely makes me feel like we’re not done with Tallman’s Valley. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
The story is told from multiple points of view, giving the reader more insight into the case's developments than any particular character has. As the plot progresses, the different threads weave together, and you won’t believe how they all connect in the end. There are many suspicious characters and it’s easy to think they’re all somehow involved, but don’t be fooled! Not everyone is as they seem in this town.
This story hooked me from the start - a creepy phone call of a children’s rhyme and a house on fire - crazy! And it only took a few instances of the word ‘ladybird’ for me to end my confusion by Googling it to discover it’s another word for ladybug! I never knew that, and it makes sense once you realize that’s what the characters are talking about. Fun facts like this are why I love reading stories not based in the U.S.!
I hope there are more books in this series to come. Even though Kate was supposed to be retired, the author was able to include her in the special role she was hired for. And the end of the story definitely makes me feel like we’re not done with Tallman’s Valley. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
August 5, 2024
Another great "who done it", Annie keeps you guessing the whole way through all her books
July 29, 2025
Loved the continuation of characters, but the storyline wasn’t quite as engaging as the last three books. Still a great read!
March 10, 2024
A brilliant follow on from the other Tallman's Valley books. A suspenseful thriller that keeps you guessing and turning the pages. Great!
July 6, 2024
Great book Keeps you guessing until the end
So many twists and turns in this book! Great characters and storyline.
I couldn't put it down, heart wrenching knowing what the children have gone through or the ones missing may be going through.
So many twists and turns in this book! Great characters and storyline.
I couldn't put it down, heart wrenching knowing what the children have gone through or the ones missing may be going through.
July 5, 2024
I have enjoyed every one of the books in this series and sped through them in a day or so. Very happy to have discovered a new author I like.
July 8, 2024
Another great book by Anni
August 20, 2024
I LOVED this book. It was the perfect way to continue on where the last book left off, and showed where our favorite characters have been and what they are up to now. I do wish there was a was less of a focus around the Wakeland family this time around, and that the idea was really handing off baton to Grimshaw and Franco, but I still love Wakeland's character and don't think I can complain that much.
September 1, 2025
Es gibt kaum eine Krimi-Reihe, die mich so überzeugt wie die Tallman's Valley Detectives-Reihe von Anni Taylor. Normalerweise gibt es zwischendurch immer mal einen schwächeren Teil, aber hier konnten mich alls gleichermaßen überzeugen.
Die Charaktere sind menschlich und sympathisch (mit wenigen Ausnahmen, die aber keine "Hauptrolle" spielen). Es sind eben nicht die typischen stereotypischen Cops, die einen Haufen Probleme mit sich herumschleppen und natürlich geschieden sind. Es sind ganz normale Menschen mit ganz normalen Problemen.
Die Fälle sind spannend, komplex und originell. Es sind keine 0815-Serienmörder-Fälle, sondern jedes Mal etwas Besonderes und Neues. Diese Mischung macht die Reihe für mich so erfolgreich.
Ich hoffe jedenfalls, dass Kate Wakeland und Co noch ein paar interessante Fälle ermitteln dürfen.
Ein klitzekleiner Kritikpunkt (wenn man das so nennen kann) ist, dass es hier quasi keinen Hauptprotagonisten oder Hauptermittler gibt, wie das bisher immer Kate Wakeland war. Die Ermittlungen werden aus der Sicht von mehrer Polizisten geschildert.
Die Charaktere sind menschlich und sympathisch (mit wenigen Ausnahmen, die aber keine "Hauptrolle" spielen). Es sind eben nicht die typischen stereotypischen Cops, die einen Haufen Probleme mit sich herumschleppen und natürlich geschieden sind. Es sind ganz normale Menschen mit ganz normalen Problemen.
Die Fälle sind spannend, komplex und originell. Es sind keine 0815-Serienmörder-Fälle, sondern jedes Mal etwas Besonderes und Neues. Diese Mischung macht die Reihe für mich so erfolgreich.
Ich hoffe jedenfalls, dass Kate Wakeland und Co noch ein paar interessante Fälle ermitteln dürfen.
Ein klitzekleiner Kritikpunkt (wenn man das so nennen kann) ist, dass es hier quasi keinen Hauptprotagonisten oder Hauptermittler gibt, wie das bisher immer Kate Wakeland war. Die Ermittlungen werden aus der Sicht von mehrer Polizisten geschildert.
April 1, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! I am a fan of this author, but this one might be favorite. Told from multiple point of view, this book jumps right in and keeps you reading until the end. I absolutely loved the characters- even the less likable ones were written in a way that made them feel real- and enjoyed following the investigation and the creepy tone the story has. I will say it took me a minute to get into it because the first chapter, the one where the fire is actually happening and there's a dog and kids inside the home, was written so well that it was really stressful and emotional to read (this is possibly just a me issue because I have a small child and a dog :). I was a little concerned that the whole book would be too heavy, but it quickly moved away from the fire scene and into the investigation and it ended up being totally fine. I really enjoyed this!!
July 6, 2025
Another fascinating book from Annie Taylor about the community in the blue mountains Kate and Franco are amazing detectives Strange house fires are the story in this book. Normally the family burns to death all except the girls.
The latest one is Francis fireman’ and his wife are out for their 25 wedding anniversary their teenage daughter is babysitting her young brother the house goes up in flames and the parents rush home on a panic. They burn to death , but Franco manages to save the young boy , but the daughter is missing. While searching for her they discover strange similarities with house fires that happened years ago and it appears that a serial killer is at large.
The latest one is Francis fireman’ and his wife are out for their 25 wedding anniversary their teenage daughter is babysitting her young brother the house goes up in flames and the parents rush home on a panic. They burn to death , but Franco manages to save the young boy , but the daughter is missing. While searching for her they discover strange similarities with house fires that happened years ago and it appears that a serial killer is at large.
July 20, 2025
The Burning Rooms is dark, twisty, and deeply unsettling in the best way. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, the pacing tight, and the tension builds steadily. Anni Taylor dives deep into emotional trauma without going overboard on graphic detail. A few plot threads felt underdeveloped, but the characters kept me invested. It’s the kind of psychological thriller that lingers. Perfect for fans of slow-burn suspense with secrets buried deep.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Rated R for disturbing subject matter and language.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Rated R for disturbing subject matter and language.
July 11, 2024
This was a dark, psychological thriller set in Tallman's Valley in Australia. Detectives are on the hunt for arsonists, missing girls and more.
It's told from multiple points of view, which gave the story depth and developed characters.
I liked the switching of characters, although, sometimes, I had to remind myself who was speaking.
It was well-written, fast-paced, suspenseful, twisty and tense.
I enjoyed this engaging, clever story.
Recommended.
It's told from multiple points of view, which gave the story depth and developed characters.
I liked the switching of characters, although, sometimes, I had to remind myself who was speaking.
It was well-written, fast-paced, suspenseful, twisty and tense.
I enjoyed this engaging, clever story.
Recommended.
September 25, 2024
Anni Taylor knows how to construct a mystery. This was a fast-paced, well-written story with new characters in this crime filled town. I always enjoy the villains Taylor constructs and the way the mystery unravels. I’m not usually a big fan of detective stories but the Tallman’s Valley Detectives series has kept my interest without being over the top and making the detectives infallible geniuses. At this rate, I will read all of Taylor’s books.
December 22, 2024
3.5 Honestly I expected way more fires.. can you even call someone a serial arsonist if they only set one fire in present day? A lot of different narrations, I don't think they were all necessary. I do wish books would leave breadcrumbs throughout the book so you could solve it. I am a sucker for the detective series though..
Oh an FYI... A ladybird is another name for ladybug. That might be helpful to know, I thought it was a weird bug, but nah.
Oh an FYI... A ladybird is another name for ladybug. That might be helpful to know, I thought it was a weird bug, but nah.
August 25, 2025
This is such a great series! This is book four of the Tallman's Valley Detectives and it was awesome! I love that I think I know who did it, but Anni does such a great job of making the twists and turns through the entire story so it isn't easy to figure out who the "one" is! Love this series and definitely recommend listening because it is read by people with the Australian accent which just makes it even better!
July 10, 2024
Anything Anni Taylor writes is GOLD.. she got me back into my reading journey & I binged all her books and have been waiting for the newest Tallmans Valley book. Anni’s writing is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Her stories are complex but not hard to follow, character AND plot driven .. just SO good!!
September 3, 2024
Please, please keep writing books in this series! I savored each one. The characters are easy to connect with and recall from each book. In this fourth novel set in Tallman's Valley, the perspective of three people worked much better than I expected. I still love Kate! She is so well written.
July 18, 2024
I feel like I broke all the laws of reading.. Never have I ever paused a book to start another until I got the notification that this book dropped!
Anni, your writing is amazing! 😍 I have loved every book! I can't wait for the next!!
Anni, your writing is amazing! 😍 I have loved every book! I can't wait for the next!!
July 23, 2024
Burning Fast Pace Read.
I loved the fast paced action and the return of familiar characters from the previous books in the series. I look forward to the next installment of Tallman's Valley!
I loved the fast paced action and the return of familiar characters from the previous books in the series. I look forward to the next installment of Tallman's Valley!
July 29, 2024
I enjoyed all of her books but this one reminded me of a Criminal Minds meets SVU episode. I loved getting to know Franco more and the other characters. I hope we get to see them more often.
I hope there are more books to come in this series.
I hope there are more books to come in this series.
August 5, 2024
Scary mystery with a surprise twist
Enthralling police procedural with great characters and enough backstory to keep you invested. Kate is one of my favorite detectives. This was a creepy case.
Enthralling police procedural with great characters and enough backstory to keep you invested. Kate is one of my favorite detectives. This was a creepy case.
August 14, 2024
Excellent
This was by far the most complex of the Tallmans Valley plots. It kept you guessing until the very end…and I never did solve the crime until the author made the big reveal.
This was by far the most complex of the Tallmans Valley plots. It kept you guessing until the very end…and I never did solve the crime until the author made the big reveal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews