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Sweetwater Falls Mystery #13

Shades of the Falls

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Sweetwater Falls is a town full of beauty and unexpected surprises.
When a high school student is found dead in her car,
Sheriff Spenser Song is called to investigate.

It seems the life of a popular teen girl is full of hidden mysteries.
With an empty pill bottle discovered in the car, it was initially ruled a suicide.
But something strange is afoot.
Her seemingly perfect life clashes with the possibility of her taking her own life.

While searching through the teen's belongings, Spenser stumbles upon her diary.
The young girl's diary contained hints about a secret boyfriend.

Hoping to fill in the blanks from the diary, Spenser attempts to track down the girl's phone.
Unable to find it, she sends her deputy to shadow potential suspects connected to the teen.

Envy, exploitation, betrayal, and hearts that are deceptive above all things.
It seems the shades of the Falls are full of treacheries in disguise.

With every new clue unraveling in a dramatic twist, the very fabric of this once idyllic town might be changed forever.

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 28, 2025

778 people are currently reading
142 people want to read

About the author

Elle Gray

129 books671 followers
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.

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5 stars
1,874 (69%)
4 stars
673 (24%)
3 stars
142 (5%)
2 stars
13 (<1%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
4 reviews
March 29, 2025
Great read

I've read all of the books in this series so far and have loved each of the books! Can't wait for the next one!
41 reviews1 follower
April 3, 2025
OK. But not great

This story left a few unanswered questions and some details out. I thought from the beginning it was going to be the step dad that abused her than covered it up with murder. I would have loved to hear them to the mom and have her answer some questions about why she didn't notice her daughter being abused or how she felt from a mother's perspective. A decent book but definitely unanswered questions and predictable from the beginning.
3 reviews
April 8, 2025
Great series

Although I wasn't a big fan of the self-talk of an insecure woman, I loved the tough sheriff that Spencer Song was. That self-talk led to some important dialogue that I was a big fan of.

The story lines of each book were unique except for the consistent maturing of two adults deeply hurt by life and loss. I loved the police mysteries and the struggle to solve them. The clues were not always obvious but sometimes I got ahead of the sheriff. I guess that is what a good mystery is supposed to do.

The language is clean. No sex details. But still very much adult. I even thanked the author by email for this.

I highly recommend the series. Binge read it. Even the price is reasonable.
40 reviews
March 31, 2025
Great Story As Always

The underlying theme of the gory of sexual abuse of vulnerable underage females is certainly evident throughout this book. As Sheriff Song and her team work to solve the events surrounding the death of a young lady who had a promising future in life despite her dark secrets, the readers learn much more about the dominance forced over our youth, due to the selfish desires of the adults in their life. This is a powerful and engaging novel as we watch Sheriff determine, first, if the death is a suicide or a murder, and confirm who motivated a suicide or committed a heinous murder. Readers won’t be able to put this book down until they read the ending.
Profile Image for Ricki.
1,391 reviews14 followers
April 2, 2025
As a fan of Sheriff Spenser Song, it is surprising to see she won't stand up to boyfriend Ryker's father who is vile to her. She has also been up for election for quite a few books now and it's time that part of the story is over as well.

This storyline of a teen girl found dead in her car at first seems like suicide but quickly is classified as murder. The main culprit, her secret older boyfriend. It is however not that straight forward and a few surprises in the autopsy report and tox screen point at someone totally different. The doer was evident to me from the start but I don't want to give out any spoilers.

A good filler read.
419 reviews4 followers
April 4, 2025
Shades of the Falls(A Sweetwater Falls Mystery Book 13)

OMG!!!!!!!! This book was super worth the wait. It was sad because a seventeen year old girl lost her life, but there were so many twists and turns, at first it appears to be suicide, then murder, and then back to suicide. They finally figured out it was murder. There were 2 grown men involved and it just shows how sick our world has become. I can't wait for the next book to come out.
376 reviews
April 29, 2025
A sad one that should have a warning with it.

I do not like to give details of the story when I review a book because it ruins the plot. This was a good mystery. It bogged a little with talk of near time for her run for sheriff. In line with this series it added to Song's story.

This author writes a good mystery and this series is a top one. I look forward to the next. I really appreciate the fact that she does not need fowl language or sex scenes to carry her stories.
24 reviews
May 10, 2025
The best one yet!

I've read all the Sweetwater Falls books in order and this one is by far the best because it had just the right amount of interaction between Ryker and Sheriff Smart to keep my romantic heart interested. The mystery of the crime she had to solve kept my curiosity engaged as well. Her involvement in running for another term as sheriff was a nice addition to the plot also.
Profile Image for Linda Thomas.
842 reviews9 followers
May 12, 2025
Sheriff Spencer Song is up for election but gets side tracked by the murder of a teenager.

Spencer is being tortured by the campaign manager for her election . Her boyfriend’s and the tension is terrib father is trying to undermine herRelation with Ryder. She is brought to her duties by the murder of a seventeen year old high school student. Spencers life is over flowing right now and the tension is really high.
Profile Image for Carol Michael.
104 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2025
heartbreaking

It is always sad when a young life is lost, but it is more heart wrenching when that beautiful young life has been abused by people she trusted. This case has a lot of twists but with Spencer and her team’s determination they got there in the end. Can’t wait for her next case.
Profile Image for Lisa Moody.
71 reviews
April 7, 2025
NAILED IT!!!

WOW!! This story was INCREDIBLE!! I think it is the best one yet. Your writing style has gotten better with each story in this series and I LOVE IT!! Up until the last few pages, you kept me guessing and, again, I LOVE IT!! I can't wait for the finale: I'm sure it's going to be dynamite!!! Thank you, Ms. Gray!!
232 reviews
April 13, 2025
Big Show

This is a good police procedural. I read too many mysteries and listed the possible suspects early. For the sake of the story, there has to be a few blips and red herrings. I do not know the regulations in Falls area but I can't imagine it being legal for the election team to set up shop in the conference room of the Sheriff station.
1,507 reviews7 followers
April 1, 2025
Shades of the Falla

Loved this book. This was a book. I could not put down. This book keeps you in suspense until the very end. I can't wait till the next book comes out. I highly recommend this book and series.
247 reviews1 follower
April 4, 2025
Shades of the Falls

I enjoyed Spades of the Falls very much. I find myself already looking forward to the next book of the series. Elle Gray never disappoints me, her characters are amazingly life like and her plots are intriguing.
Profile Image for Mary Rowe.
2,627 reviews8 followers
April 6, 2025
evildoers rooted out

A lovely young high schooler is found in a park.

Was her death a suicide? A homicide? And why?

Indeterminate findings on autopsy do little to assist the investigation.

Much digging uncovers the facts, and the tragedy.
178 reviews
April 7, 2025
an intriguing murder mystery!

I have to say this was one of the best books I’ve read by Elle Gray!! I’m always amazed at how Ms Gray puts her thoughts together to make such interesting reads!! This book seemed so real and I couldn’t put it down!!
82 reviews
April 10, 2025
Incredible story a must read

Once again you get to go on a wild ride through the crime and love stories all mixed by a master wordsmith. This book was hard to put down but I loved It and hope you will too. Bravo Elle Gray Bravo!
Profile Image for Vicki Gilbertson.
422 reviews11 followers
April 17, 2025
Spencer had so many things going on at once. It's a shame that we have people like this can treat youth girls like this. It's even more disturbing when family, and adults that youth are supposed to look trust.
200 reviews
April 23, 2025
Great read !

Lots of grammatical errors and repetitive words , but still a fantastic mystery story . I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a good book to enjoy . Really great 👍 !
2 reviews
November 23, 2025
Another good entry

I really enjoy this series. Enough red herrings thrown in to make me second guess my initial guess at whodunnit. Still don't trust Evan and wonder how long this tiny victory of a truce will actually last before he tries splitting Spenser & Ryker again.
33 reviews
March 31, 2025
Mic drop

Another wonderfully amazing book. I will be anxiously awaiting the next one. Thank you for all the great stories thus far!
Profile Image for Mary Ott.
80 reviews
March 31, 2025
Ahhhh

Elle Gray is one of my favorite authors. As usual, she grabbed my attention and kept it again wit!h this story. What a wonderful storyline. Don't miss one!
3 reviews
April 6, 2025
The sweetewster falls series is my all time favorite
Love Ryker n Spencer relationship, storylines r terrific, I hope #14 is not the last
737 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2025
This was a great story about Spenser and team going all out who killed a young girl and finding who it is with lots of suspense and action. Thank you.
2 reviews
April 9, 2025
Love this series

I love this series. The mystery, the intrigue. Spenser Song is a human with feeling and emotion. Always gets the bad guy.
140 reviews
April 16, 2025
spencer is in love

For the first time in reading your books, I guessed who the murderer was and got it right. Still a great story though
Profile Image for Stacey West-feather.
106 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2025
So Good

This one has more twist and turns than a road course. Spenser has a long road to walk until she is elected Sheriff and it is taking its toll.
2 reviews
Read
May 25, 2025
Great book

I like her way of writing.doesn't go on and on one event, and has a realistic ending to the book with a few words To make you want to continue reading in her next book.
Profile Image for Deb.
825 reviews27 followers
June 4, 2025
A good mystery in the Spencer Song series. the characters were well developed, and the story moved along at a brisk pace.
3 reviews
June 19, 2025
Fantastic


This is a fantastic read. I reread this book and I loved it the 2nd time around.
I really like how you bring out the story line.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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