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Twisted Bones
Moonlight shines over the cottage by the river, casting a shadow over the frozen water. Silk fabric rustles in the reeds, moving ever so slightly to reveal five thin bones…
When Detective Morgan Brookes is urgently called to her Aunt Ettie’s cottage, hidden in Covel Woods, she rushes to the scene. Panicked Ettie is shaken having discovered the chilling remains of a woman in the river, one skeletal hand reaching out from the deep water.
The unknown woman was dressed to walk the rugged trails of the Lake District, so Morgan’s team assume she fell in the water and was taken by the current. But thin diagonal bruises on her neck suggest something far more sinister. A faded red rose tattoo helps Morgan identify her as a homeless woman named Martha who went missing seven years ago, and Morgan is horrified to discover Martha stole nappies and baby formula just before she disappeared. Did she have a child? Where is the poor baby now?
Desperately searching through cold case files, Morgan discovers that schoolteacher Aria Burns went missing from the same busy area. But her horror quickly turns to hope when she sees the autopsy results from Martha’s frozen remains. She was killed recently; if Aria was taken by the same killer, she could still be alive.
Morgan is certain a twisted individual is stalking Rydal Falls, and Martha’s body was dumped to signal the beginning of his cruel game. But just as she finds a clear suspect in a visitor with links to the area where Martha and Aria went missing, another body surfaces. Can she uncover the truth about Martha, and find Aria alive? Or is she already too late?
Fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Rachel McLean will hold their breath as they read this addictive and utterly unputdownable crime thriller.
When Detective Morgan Brookes is urgently called to her Aunt Ettie’s cottage, hidden in Covel Woods, she rushes to the scene. Panicked Ettie is shaken having discovered the chilling remains of a woman in the river, one skeletal hand reaching out from the deep water.
The unknown woman was dressed to walk the rugged trails of the Lake District, so Morgan’s team assume she fell in the water and was taken by the current. But thin diagonal bruises on her neck suggest something far more sinister. A faded red rose tattoo helps Morgan identify her as a homeless woman named Martha who went missing seven years ago, and Morgan is horrified to discover Martha stole nappies and baby formula just before she disappeared. Did she have a child? Where is the poor baby now?
Desperately searching through cold case files, Morgan discovers that schoolteacher Aria Burns went missing from the same busy area. But her horror quickly turns to hope when she sees the autopsy results from Martha’s frozen remains. She was killed recently; if Aria was taken by the same killer, she could still be alive.
Morgan is certain a twisted individual is stalking Rydal Falls, and Martha’s body was dumped to signal the beginning of his cruel game. But just as she finds a clear suspect in a visitor with links to the area where Martha and Aria went missing, another body surfaces. Can she uncover the truth about Martha, and find Aria alive? Or is she already too late?
Fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Rachel McLean will hold their breath as they read this addictive and utterly unputdownable crime thriller.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2025
1490 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
April 28, 2025
You know that electric thrill when you open a book and instantly know you’re not going to move until the last page? That was me with Twisted Bones, Book 15 in the Detective Morgan Brookes series by my absolute fave and book community friend, Helen Phifer. 🙌
Let me start by saying this: I am ashamed to admit I’m a new fan — I only discovered Helen through The Vanishing Bookstore (which was 👏 phenomenal 👏). But now? I'm a Morgan Brookes superfan, and I will absolutely be binge-reading the previous 14 books in this series. Consider me hooked for life. 🕵️♀️🔥
🦴 The Premise: Mysterious Bones, Cold Cases, and a Race Against Time
The book kicks off with a haunting scene: moonlight over a quiet river, a splash of silk caught in the reeds, and five thin bones rising from the water… 😱
Morgan Brookes is pulled into the case when her beloved Aunt Ettie stumbles upon skeletal remains near her cottage. What looks like a tragic accident quickly unravels into something far more sinister. The victim, Martha, was a homeless woman who vanished seven years ago, just after stealing baby formula — was she a mother? Where is her child?
With chilling echoes of another missing woman — schoolteacher Aria Burns — Morgan suspects a twisted predator is back. And when another body turns up, it becomes a frantic race to piece together the truth before it’s too late…
👮♀️ Why I’m Obsessed
💖 Morgan Brookes is EVERYTHING. She’s gritty, witty, and so deeply human. Her sense of humor is spot on, her heart is huge, and the way she approaches each case with equal parts logic and gut instinct? Total badass vibes.
💬 The banter and camaraderie in this investigative team are next-level. You can feel the family dynamic among the detectives, and it brings so much warmth to such a dark subject matter. Helen Phifer has this magical ability to make you laugh in the middle of a murder investigation — a true gift! 😂
🧠 The twists are sharp, the pacing is breakneck, and the emotional layers (hello, that baby subplot? 🥺) add such depth. I couldn’t stop turning pages — nearly finished it in one sitting!
🌟 Final Thoughts: 5 Glowing Stars
This is storytelling at its finest — gripping, atmospheric, emotionally resonant, and filled with characters you want to root for until the very end (and beyond). Twisted Bones releases on May 21st, and you better believe I’ll be shouting about it from the rooftops.
🎉 THANK YOU to Helen Phifer, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the early access to this gem. Helen, you’re a top-tier author and an even better human. I am so grateful our bookish paths crossed 💛
📅 Mark your calendars, crime fiction lovers! Run, don’t walk, to grab Twisted Bones when it hits shelves. And if you’re new to Morgan Brookes like I was? No worries — it’s the perfect excuse to dive into the whole series. Happy reading! 🔍✨
Let me start by saying this: I am ashamed to admit I’m a new fan — I only discovered Helen through The Vanishing Bookstore (which was 👏 phenomenal 👏). But now? I'm a Morgan Brookes superfan, and I will absolutely be binge-reading the previous 14 books in this series. Consider me hooked for life. 🕵️♀️🔥
🦴 The Premise: Mysterious Bones, Cold Cases, and a Race Against Time
The book kicks off with a haunting scene: moonlight over a quiet river, a splash of silk caught in the reeds, and five thin bones rising from the water… 😱
Morgan Brookes is pulled into the case when her beloved Aunt Ettie stumbles upon skeletal remains near her cottage. What looks like a tragic accident quickly unravels into something far more sinister. The victim, Martha, was a homeless woman who vanished seven years ago, just after stealing baby formula — was she a mother? Where is her child?
With chilling echoes of another missing woman — schoolteacher Aria Burns — Morgan suspects a twisted predator is back. And when another body turns up, it becomes a frantic race to piece together the truth before it’s too late…
👮♀️ Why I’m Obsessed
💖 Morgan Brookes is EVERYTHING. She’s gritty, witty, and so deeply human. Her sense of humor is spot on, her heart is huge, and the way she approaches each case with equal parts logic and gut instinct? Total badass vibes.
💬 The banter and camaraderie in this investigative team are next-level. You can feel the family dynamic among the detectives, and it brings so much warmth to such a dark subject matter. Helen Phifer has this magical ability to make you laugh in the middle of a murder investigation — a true gift! 😂
🧠 The twists are sharp, the pacing is breakneck, and the emotional layers (hello, that baby subplot? 🥺) add such depth. I couldn’t stop turning pages — nearly finished it in one sitting!
🌟 Final Thoughts: 5 Glowing Stars
This is storytelling at its finest — gripping, atmospheric, emotionally resonant, and filled with characters you want to root for until the very end (and beyond). Twisted Bones releases on May 21st, and you better believe I’ll be shouting about it from the rooftops.
🎉 THANK YOU to Helen Phifer, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the early access to this gem. Helen, you’re a top-tier author and an even better human. I am so grateful our bookish paths crossed 💛
📅 Mark your calendars, crime fiction lovers! Run, don’t walk, to grab Twisted Bones when it hits shelves. And if you’re new to Morgan Brookes like I was? No worries — it’s the perfect excuse to dive into the whole series. Happy reading! 🔍✨
April 30, 2025
Another brilliant read from Helen Phifer,book 15 in this series, is one of my favourite authors. Etta is Morgan Brooks' aunt who discovers a womans body near her home and Morgan Ben, and the team investigates the crime scene they discover the shocking truth..This book is very addictive and I highly recommend this series.looking forward to reading the next instalment.A five star book.
April 17, 2025
Book fifteen Detective Morgan Brookes.
When a call out to aunt Etties cottage, Coval Woods, Morgan does not hesitate and leaves the spa break she is taking.
Ettie while out collection pine, finds the chilling remains in the icy water of a woman, could she have been a Walker and falling in?
There's more to this in a shock horror story that Morgan once again is involved.
This is the most gruesome case yet with a lot more following.
Oh my word, unputdownable, chilled through to the bone, dynamic in every way.
Absolutely spot on read.
Fabulously loved it all.
When a call out to aunt Etties cottage, Coval Woods, Morgan does not hesitate and leaves the spa break she is taking.
Ettie while out collection pine, finds the chilling remains in the icy water of a woman, could she have been a Walker and falling in?
There's more to this in a shock horror story that Morgan once again is involved.
This is the most gruesome case yet with a lot more following.
Oh my word, unputdownable, chilled through to the bone, dynamic in every way.
Absolutely spot on read.
Fabulously loved it all.
June 8, 2025
TWISTED BONES is book 15 in a police procedural series featuring Detective Morgan Brookes by Helen Phifer. I have read all of the books in this series and this book is a definite winner! Although this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the books in order to get a full history.
The books in the Detective Morgan Brookes Series:
1. One Left Alive (2020)
2. The Killer's Girl (2020)
3. The Hiding Place (2021)
4. First Girl to Die (2021)
5. Find the Girl (2022)
6. Sleeping Dolls (2022)
7. Silent Angel (2022)
8. Their Burning Graves (2022)
9. Hold Your Breath (2023)
10. Stolen Darlings (2023)
11. Save Her Twice (2024)
12. Poison Memories (2024)
13. Two Broken Girls (2024)
14. Their Dying Embrace (2025)
15.Twisted Bones
This is my review of Twisted Bones.
The cast of the small control team includes:
DS Ben Matthews-Boss & partner
DC Morgan Brookes
DC Amy Smith
DC Cain Robson
Amber-Police Officer
Wendy- Morgan’s friend
Martha Mackay, was homeless, supported by the church, for warmth, rations of food and second-hand clothing.
When Ettie, Morgan’s aunt came across the remains of a woman in the river, a skeletal hand reaching out of the water, she ran back to her cottage to get help, by calling her niece. As a result, Detective Morgan Brookes is urgently called to her Aunt Ettie’s cottage, to the scene.
Declan, the pathologist was called to the scene to assess a body that was deemed suspicious. Morgan’s team assume she fell in the water and was taken by the current. But the victim had bruises on her neck, and a faded red rose tattoo.
Morgan was able to identify the victim as a homeless woman named Martha who went missing seven years ago.
Morgan discovers that a schoolteacher Aria Burns went missing from the same busy area. But her horror quickly turns to hope when she sees the autopsy results from Martha’s frozen remains. She was killed recently; if Aria was taken by the same killer, she could still be alive.
Morgan suspects a visitor with links to the area where Martha and Aria went missing, another body surfaces.
Time is ticking and Morgan must uncover the truth about Martha, and find Aria alive.
This is an addictive and utterly unputdownable crime thriller.
A well-written crime detective novel with relatable characters, another unputdownable crime thriller.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my digital copy.
The books in the Detective Morgan Brookes Series:
1. One Left Alive (2020)
2. The Killer's Girl (2020)
3. The Hiding Place (2021)
4. First Girl to Die (2021)
5. Find the Girl (2022)
6. Sleeping Dolls (2022)
7. Silent Angel (2022)
8. Their Burning Graves (2022)
9. Hold Your Breath (2023)
10. Stolen Darlings (2023)
11. Save Her Twice (2024)
12. Poison Memories (2024)
13. Two Broken Girls (2024)
14. Their Dying Embrace (2025)
15.Twisted Bones
This is my review of Twisted Bones.
The cast of the small control team includes:
DS Ben Matthews-Boss & partner
DC Morgan Brookes
DC Amy Smith
DC Cain Robson
Amber-Police Officer
Wendy- Morgan’s friend
Martha Mackay, was homeless, supported by the church, for warmth, rations of food and second-hand clothing.
When Ettie, Morgan’s aunt came across the remains of a woman in the river, a skeletal hand reaching out of the water, she ran back to her cottage to get help, by calling her niece. As a result, Detective Morgan Brookes is urgently called to her Aunt Ettie’s cottage, to the scene.
Declan, the pathologist was called to the scene to assess a body that was deemed suspicious. Morgan’s team assume she fell in the water and was taken by the current. But the victim had bruises on her neck, and a faded red rose tattoo.
Morgan was able to identify the victim as a homeless woman named Martha who went missing seven years ago.
Morgan discovers that a schoolteacher Aria Burns went missing from the same busy area. But her horror quickly turns to hope when she sees the autopsy results from Martha’s frozen remains. She was killed recently; if Aria was taken by the same killer, she could still be alive.
Morgan suspects a visitor with links to the area where Martha and Aria went missing, another body surfaces.
Time is ticking and Morgan must uncover the truth about Martha, and find Aria alive.
This is an addictive and utterly unputdownable crime thriller.
A well-written crime detective novel with relatable characters, another unputdownable crime thriller.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my digital copy.
May 23, 2025
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book in an great series
being back in morgans world is amazing you just dont know what to expect or where its going to lead plus we catch up with the gang
this time its morgans aunt that calls out for help when she finds a body in the stream by her cottage and the mystery begins
poor theo is still recovering from his ordeal and isnt quite ready to face being back at work, but its a face from the past that comes calling for theo that gets morgans antenna twitching
so when another body appears again in the same place as the first body and again found by morgans aunt she has to go and see this blast from the past of theos... there just isnt something adding up....
what a ride this book was.... so many twists and turns and red herrings galore....this gang of friends are becoming family in the best possible way but do they really need to have danger at every turn.....yes they do poor morgan though she always attracts the nasty
being back in morgans world is amazing you just dont know what to expect or where its going to lead plus we catch up with the gang
this time its morgans aunt that calls out for help when she finds a body in the stream by her cottage and the mystery begins
poor theo is still recovering from his ordeal and isnt quite ready to face being back at work, but its a face from the past that comes calling for theo that gets morgans antenna twitching
so when another body appears again in the same place as the first body and again found by morgans aunt she has to go and see this blast from the past of theos... there just isnt something adding up....
what a ride this book was.... so many twists and turns and red herrings galore....this gang of friends are becoming family in the best possible way but do they really need to have danger at every turn.....yes they do poor morgan though she always attracts the nasty
April 18, 2025
Review to follow nearer the publication date.
Another thrilling read from Helen Phifer. One of my favourite characters in this series has been Morgans Aunt Ettie, so I really enjoyed this one.
Aunt Ettie lives in a cottage in Covel Wood. Unfortunately Ettie has found a dead woman in the river near her home. Morgan rushes to be by her aunts side and is soon caught up in another serious crime.
I can’t believe I’ve just read book 15 in this series and I’m enjoying it just as much as the first one. I would highly recommend reading the whole series, it’s definitely worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Another thrilling read from Helen Phifer. One of my favourite characters in this series has been Morgans Aunt Ettie, so I really enjoyed this one.
Aunt Ettie lives in a cottage in Covel Wood. Unfortunately Ettie has found a dead woman in the river near her home. Morgan rushes to be by her aunts side and is soon caught up in another serious crime.
I can’t believe I’ve just read book 15 in this series and I’m enjoying it just as much as the first one. I would highly recommend reading the whole series, it’s definitely worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 18, 2025
This is the fifteenth in the Morgan Brookes series. Helen Phifer is one of those authors for whom when I see her name, I request the title without reading the synopsis. She writes books I have to force myself to put down or I would accomplish nothing until it is finished. This latest entry in the series does not disappoint. It can be read as a standalone as important background for the repeating main characters is filled in as part of the story.
When Morgan’s Aunt Ettie discovers a body hung up in a tree on the side of a river, Morgan and her team have questions about manner of death and time of death. Then they discover at least one other woman is missing and, as the case progresses, one of her colleagues is placed in grave danger. There are a number of suspicious suspects, which one is it?
This well plotted story combines a bit of horror with keep you guessing suspense. I like Morgan, a smart, capable, empathetic protagonist and the convivial, teasing relationships among her team. Interspersed with the tension of the case is some biting humor.
If you enjoy fast moving, suspenseful police procedurals, check out the Morgan Brookes series or any of Phifer’s other books.
Thanks to #NetGalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.
When Morgan’s Aunt Ettie discovers a body hung up in a tree on the side of a river, Morgan and her team have questions about manner of death and time of death. Then they discover at least one other woman is missing and, as the case progresses, one of her colleagues is placed in grave danger. There are a number of suspicious suspects, which one is it?
This well plotted story combines a bit of horror with keep you guessing suspense. I like Morgan, a smart, capable, empathetic protagonist and the convivial, teasing relationships among her team. Interspersed with the tension of the case is some biting humor.
If you enjoy fast moving, suspenseful police procedurals, check out the Morgan Brookes series or any of Phifer’s other books.
Thanks to #NetGalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.
May 26, 2025
Twisted Bones is another fantastic entry to the Detective Morgan Brookes series by Helen Phifer. Aunt Ettie is out in the woods looking for pine to add to her candles. As she gets closer to the river where the good pine trees are, she sees something in the water. It's a body of a woman! She is horrified and shaken as she calls the police and her niece, Morgan. As Morgan and her team arrive at the scene, the woman in the water looks dressed for hiking. They assume she must've fallen into the river. until they notice bruises on her neck. This looks like a murder. Thanks to a tattoo, they are able to identify the young woman. Martha is the dead woman found in the river and she has been missing for 7 years!
As Morgan goes through cold cases from that same time she discovers another young woman was reported missing and never found. Her name is Aria Burns. When the autopsy report comes back on Martha it's discovered that she was only recently killed. Morgan has hope that Aria might still be alive if they can find her! When Morgan goes to comfort Theo who is recovering from injuries suffered in an attack, he has company. John is visiting from Theo's previous church. There's something about John and the way he looks at Morgan that makes her blood run cold and the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Why is Theo friends with a man like this? He's from the same town as the missing girls. Could he be involved?
As the investigation progresses, another body is found in almost the same spot. Aunt Ettie is the person to find the body again. Who is killing these women and putting them in the river? When one of the team vanishes the stakes are raised and the race is on to find her before it's too late. Twisted Bones is a fantastic book that you will race through to find the truth. I read the book in a day and a half and rate it 4 stars. If you love a good thriller, get this book now! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Twisted Bones in exchange for a fair review. #TwistedBones
As Morgan goes through cold cases from that same time she discovers another young woman was reported missing and never found. Her name is Aria Burns. When the autopsy report comes back on Martha it's discovered that she was only recently killed. Morgan has hope that Aria might still be alive if they can find her! When Morgan goes to comfort Theo who is recovering from injuries suffered in an attack, he has company. John is visiting from Theo's previous church. There's something about John and the way he looks at Morgan that makes her blood run cold and the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Why is Theo friends with a man like this? He's from the same town as the missing girls. Could he be involved?
As the investigation progresses, another body is found in almost the same spot. Aunt Ettie is the person to find the body again. Who is killing these women and putting them in the river? When one of the team vanishes the stakes are raised and the race is on to find her before it's too late. Twisted Bones is a fantastic book that you will race through to find the truth. I read the book in a day and a half and rate it 4 stars. If you love a good thriller, get this book now! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Twisted Bones in exchange for a fair review. #TwistedBones
June 12, 2025
Twisted Bones by Helen Phifer is the 15th in the Detective Morgan Brookes series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely love this series. The characters are like a family, and for a short time, I become one of them. Their camaraderie and love for one another again shines through in this book, especially when one of them is in trouble. I love the supporting cast of Declan and Theo, and was so glad to see Ettie return in this one. I'm even beginning to like Marc.
The plot was intriguing with enough suspects to keep me wondering. I guessed the real perpetrator, but almost wished it had been another. There were a couple of real slimeballs in this one. The overall pace was fast, with short chapters and plenty of action, both helping to move the story along.
Bottom line, I can't recommend this series enough.
I am finally caught up, and although I can't wait for the next in the series, I almost wish the author would slow down a little, as I do have other books in my pile.
Anyway, until next time....
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
April 15, 2025
I almost feel its an injustice to an author who's taken lots of time to write their novel when I read it in one day. But when the books are as riveting as this series is its hard to put them down.
Morgan, Ben and the team are only just catching their breath from the last bout of murders in Rydal Falls when Morgans Aunt Ettie finds a body in the river beside her remote cottage. Theo is slowly recovering from his injury but is called upon to identify the body and give information about her life.
I absolutely love this series, all the characters work well together, and their softer sides are slowly brought out.
I love the banter between them all there are a few lighthearted moments in this novel which are welcome as the case and tension heighten. Another cracker from Helen Phifer
Morgan, Ben and the team are only just catching their breath from the last bout of murders in Rydal Falls when Morgans Aunt Ettie finds a body in the river beside her remote cottage. Theo is slowly recovering from his injury but is called upon to identify the body and give information about her life.
I absolutely love this series, all the characters work well together, and their softer sides are slowly brought out.
I love the banter between them all there are a few lighthearted moments in this novel which are welcome as the case and tension heighten. Another cracker from Helen Phifer
May 27, 2025
This is one of my favorite series! Super addicting and unputdownable from the first page. The murder/ mystery parts will. draw you in, but you'll stay for the characters... and to find out who the killer is of course!
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Well, Morgan almost managed a nice day off.. with a massage and everything! But her poor aunt Ettie went and stumbled across a body in the woods while gathering supplies fir candle making. I mean Morgan cant not go right?
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I was hooked from the first page, I love Morgan and Ben along with all the others that work along side them and love seeing all the relationships grow. The mystery had me at the edge of my seat and I had no idea what was going to happen next or who the killer was going to end up being!
.
.
Well, Morgan almost managed a nice day off.. with a massage and everything! But her poor aunt Ettie went and stumbled across a body in the woods while gathering supplies fir candle making. I mean Morgan cant not go right?
.
I was hooked from the first page, I love Morgan and Ben along with all the others that work along side them and love seeing all the relationships grow. The mystery had me at the edge of my seat and I had no idea what was going to happen next or who the killer was going to end up being!
.
September 30, 2025
Devoured this! So freaking good!!
May 19, 2025
This is the fifteenth book in the series, but the first I've read, and what a read it was. Even though I haven't read any previous books in the serious it was easy to get into the main characters and understand the plot. I will absolutely go back to the beginning and make my way through the series after this exciting start.
The story is well plotted and pacey, keeping you guessing throughout. Morgan as the main character is smart, likeable and strong, with a good team around her. I really enjoyed the odd bit of dark humour that is interspersed through the story as a lighthearted moment to the serious subjects.
If you like a police procedural then this is for you. Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
The story is well plotted and pacey, keeping you guessing throughout. Morgan as the main character is smart, likeable and strong, with a good team around her. I really enjoyed the odd bit of dark humour that is interspersed through the story as a lighthearted moment to the serious subjects.
If you like a police procedural then this is for you. Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
April 19, 2025
Morgan and team saves the day again…I love all the characters and how they interact with each other and how their relationships have grown and develop now they are on book 15 . As ever the team must put all the clues together and go in search of the murderer. The plot is good and builds suspension well…I just hope Morgan and Ben get the holiday they deserve before having to solve any more murders or maybe they solve one whilst they are away 😂
Thank you netgalley and bookouture as this was an advanced readers copy. Whenever a new Detective Morgan Brookes novel is released, I know to clear my diary for the next 24 hours and how lucky is it that it is Easter bank holiday 👏🏻 I’m gripped and can’t wait to find out where their next case takes them.
I would highly recommend any of @helenphifer books but especially this series
Thank you netgalley and bookouture as this was an advanced readers copy. Whenever a new Detective Morgan Brookes novel is released, I know to clear my diary for the next 24 hours and how lucky is it that it is Easter bank holiday 👏🏻 I’m gripped and can’t wait to find out where their next case takes them.
I would highly recommend any of @helenphifer books but especially this series
May 21, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. Morgan is such a cool character. And the characters around her are so fun, their interactions make me laugh. I was gobsmacked at who was the killer. I did feel like the end was a bit rushed but all in all a very good addition to series.
May 14, 2025
Another brilliant book in one of my favourite series
Morgan is shocked when she gets a call from her Aunt Ettie to say she has found a body near her cottage in the woods.
Morgan and the team race to the woods and are confused by what they find. The woman’s hand is skeletal but the rest of her body looks as if she died recently.
Their enquiries take them down some interesting paths and whilst Theo is still recovering from the attack, he has some information that’s key to the investigation as he knew the victim many years ago.
When another body is found, Morgan is determined to catch the killer. However, when someone close to her goes missing Morgan is desperate with worry.
This is a gripping crime thriller that definitely kept me guessing who the killer was.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.
Morgan is shocked when she gets a call from her Aunt Ettie to say she has found a body near her cottage in the woods.
Morgan and the team race to the woods and are confused by what they find. The woman’s hand is skeletal but the rest of her body looks as if she died recently.
Their enquiries take them down some interesting paths and whilst Theo is still recovering from the attack, he has some information that’s key to the investigation as he knew the victim many years ago.
When another body is found, Morgan is determined to catch the killer. However, when someone close to her goes missing Morgan is desperate with worry.
This is a gripping crime thriller that definitely kept me guessing who the killer was.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.
April 28, 2025
Another whirlwind of a story which is gritty and straight into the action! You will want to devour this one as quickly as possible so clear your diary!
When Morgan’s aunt finds a body in the river near her house, the team must work together to find how it got there and whether anyone else may be in danger. The circumstances seem unusual, even ever confident Declan is unsure quite what is going on.
I love how this author draws you straight in at page one. She has this way of really captivating you, not just with her story telling, but with how the characters interact, how she makes you feel you are a fly on the wall, how you feel you really know these characters. However, I certainly wouldn’t want to be a colleague of Detective Morgan Brooke’s! You never quite know what situation you may end up in.
All in all another fantastic instalment, fast paced, full of action and full of twist and turns to keep you guessing.
April 29, 2025
Detective Morgan Brooke’s is one tough lady. This is book 15 in the series – and they keep getting better and better. She doesn’t stop until she has all the answers and the way her brain works putting the scenarios together is just mind boggling. I am a little sad that I have finished and I cannot wait until the next book to come out. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC – I was so honored to be chosen. #HelenPhifer #TwistedBones #NetGalley
May 25, 2025
Another who done it, but you won't figure it out. Until the end. The twisted bones story, will have you on the edge of your seat.
The women that go missing, where they end up, how they got there, wow.
The killer is unbelievable. You would never guess whom the killer is. Or why he does what he does. Sick sadistic, person.
Detective morgan it's awesome.
Have you never read a book by this author.
well, you should her books are simply phenomenal, phenomenal phenomenal.
I simply love reading books by helen Phifer.
The women that go missing, where they end up, how they got there, wow.
The killer is unbelievable. You would never guess whom the killer is. Or why he does what he does. Sick sadistic, person.
Detective morgan it's awesome.
Have you never read a book by this author.
well, you should her books are simply phenomenal, phenomenal phenomenal.
I simply love reading books by helen Phifer.
August 7, 2025
Love this series
May 21, 2025
I absolutely love this series. can't wait for book 16. if you looking for a brilliant series look no further I highly recommend this book and series
June 14, 2025
You know that buzz of excitement you get with certain authors? Well, Helen Phifer, in the past few months, has easily become one of my most favourite and ‘go to’ authors, and I absolutely love the Detective Morgan Brookes series.
One thing I would highly recommend with this series though is to start from the beginning, whilst it maybe easy enough to pick up from any within the series, I personally think you need to full back story, not only on the characters but on previous cases, as they are mentioned and looked back on!
Book #15 sees Morgan racing to her Aunt Ettie’s isolated woodland cottage after she receives a frantic phone call. Ettie has found a body.
The body is that of a young woman, caught up in the river. She looks like she may have drowned, but their is a strange peculiarity. One hand is skeletal.
Consulting missing persons records, the woman is identified by her tattoo as Martha, but she has been missing for 7 years. Her autopsy shows she died very recently. Where has she been all that time?
Combing the records, Morgan sees the report of another young woman who disappeared around the same time, Aria, with no trace since. Are these women connected, and if so, is she still alive?
Visiting her friend, local priest Theo, she sees he has company, an old acquaintance from his old church, John. On sight, Morgan is uncomfortable in his presence, and finding out he is from the same place that the missing girls were from makes the hair on her neck stand up. Is this just a coincidence, or should she trust her gut.
As always, the character execution is absolutely sublime. Morgan is a witty, headstrong, and empathetic woman with a huge heart and brilliant humour. I love the relationships she has with her team and extended friendship of Theo.
The writing style has you sucked deep within its pages from the very first paragraph. The twists, turns, and fantastically weaved sub plots just constantly leave you wanting more, and Helen never leaves you without.
If you’re after a series that will have you gripped, then look no further. This is one hell of a read that gives atmosphere, grit, tension, suspense, and a whole load of emotion along the way.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
One thing I would highly recommend with this series though is to start from the beginning, whilst it maybe easy enough to pick up from any within the series, I personally think you need to full back story, not only on the characters but on previous cases, as they are mentioned and looked back on!
Book #15 sees Morgan racing to her Aunt Ettie’s isolated woodland cottage after she receives a frantic phone call. Ettie has found a body.
The body is that of a young woman, caught up in the river. She looks like she may have drowned, but their is a strange peculiarity. One hand is skeletal.
Consulting missing persons records, the woman is identified by her tattoo as Martha, but she has been missing for 7 years. Her autopsy shows she died very recently. Where has she been all that time?
Combing the records, Morgan sees the report of another young woman who disappeared around the same time, Aria, with no trace since. Are these women connected, and if so, is she still alive?
Visiting her friend, local priest Theo, she sees he has company, an old acquaintance from his old church, John. On sight, Morgan is uncomfortable in his presence, and finding out he is from the same place that the missing girls were from makes the hair on her neck stand up. Is this just a coincidence, or should she trust her gut.
As always, the character execution is absolutely sublime. Morgan is a witty, headstrong, and empathetic woman with a huge heart and brilliant humour. I love the relationships she has with her team and extended friendship of Theo.
The writing style has you sucked deep within its pages from the very first paragraph. The twists, turns, and fantastically weaved sub plots just constantly leave you wanting more, and Helen never leaves you without.
If you’re after a series that will have you gripped, then look no further. This is one hell of a read that gives atmosphere, grit, tension, suspense, and a whole load of emotion along the way.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
May 28, 2025
Twisted Bones by Helen Phifer is the 15th book in the excellent Detective Morgan Brookes series and one of the best series you can read and this book did not disappoint. It was full of excellent twists and turns from the very beginning till the very end and Detective Morgan Brookes is one of the best detectives out there! and I love Aunt Ettie who is her auntie and she lives in the local woods called Covel Woods. Aunt Ettie enjoys making candles, herbal teas etc and sales these to make ends meet. She goes searching for some pine to add to her magical candles, when she finds more than pine etc, she finds a body of a woman in the river with one Skeletal hand. She is shocked to the core.
Runs back to phone her niece Morgan. Morgan and her team arrive quickly to the scene, and find the woman in the water, she looks dressed for hiking, and it was just an accident and she has fallen into the river. But, as they look closer they notice bruises on her neck. This is no accident, it looks like she was Murdered! No one recognises her, Luckily she has tattoo which helped to identify her. Her name is Martha and she has been missing for 7 years!
When the autopsy report came back on Martha it informs them that she has recently killed!
So, where has she been for the last 7 years?
Detective Morgan Brookes and her team start to go through cold cases of missing people, to see if there has been another murders etc, like Martha and they come across another young woman called Aria Burns, she was reported missing and never found. Fingers cross Morgan and her team find her alive, but the clock is ticking. . . . . .
Poor Auntie Ettie is rummaging again in Covel Woods and she stumbles on another body!!! She must have a strong heart!!!!
Who is killing these women and why are they putting them in the icy river?
Tick Tock. . . . . .Will they catch the killer before another body is found and fingers cross its not by Poor Auntie Ettie!
This book was superb and I've loved this series from the very first book. Helen has away of writing that will have you hooked from the very beginning.
Runs back to phone her niece Morgan. Morgan and her team arrive quickly to the scene, and find the woman in the water, she looks dressed for hiking, and it was just an accident and she has fallen into the river. But, as they look closer they notice bruises on her neck. This is no accident, it looks like she was Murdered! No one recognises her, Luckily she has tattoo which helped to identify her. Her name is Martha and she has been missing for 7 years!
When the autopsy report came back on Martha it informs them that she has recently killed!
So, where has she been for the last 7 years?
Detective Morgan Brookes and her team start to go through cold cases of missing people, to see if there has been another murders etc, like Martha and they come across another young woman called Aria Burns, she was reported missing and never found. Fingers cross Morgan and her team find her alive, but the clock is ticking. . . . . .
Poor Auntie Ettie is rummaging again in Covel Woods and she stumbles on another body!!! She must have a strong heart!!!!
Who is killing these women and why are they putting them in the icy river?
Tick Tock. . . . . .Will they catch the killer before another body is found and fingers cross its not by Poor Auntie Ettie!
This book was superb and I've loved this series from the very first book. Helen has away of writing that will have you hooked from the very beginning.
June 19, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Helen Phifer’s Twisted Bones is the fifteenth installment in the Detective Morgan Brookes series, and it wastes no time plunging readers into the kind of darkness that ripples beneath the skin of quiet English towns. Here, murder doesn’t announce itself—it slips through cracks, coiled in secrets and festering in the mundane. With this book, Phifer isn’t merely spinning a thriller—she’s performing a postmortem on trust itself.
From the opening discovery of a disfigured body beneath an abandoned church, the atmosphere is immediately thick with dread, like fog that never lifts. Morgan, haunted yet determined, is more emotionally exposed than ever. Phifer cleverly leverages Morgan’s vulnerabilities—her complicated past, her tenuous relationships within the force, her relentless drive—to unspool a mystery that feels both intimately personal and dangerously public.
What sets this entry apart in the series is its confident tempo. The pacing feels like a drumbeat beneath your skin—insistent, unrelenting. Phifer manages multiple narrative threads (victims, suspects, Morgan’s own psychological toll) without ever letting one fray. The result is a tightly braided plot that keeps tension taut without feeling mechanical.
Phifer also gives just enough forensic texture to ground the story in procedural realism, without losing the emotional stakes. This isn’t gore for gore’s sake; it’s tragedy filtered through the lens of a woman who can’t afford to look away. The crime scenes are chilling not because of what they contain, but because of what they suggest: a killer who sees humanity as discardable, anatomy as puzzle pieces.
In a genre saturated with formula, Twisted Bones succeeds by keeping its moral compass spinning. It doesn’t just ask whodunit—it interrogates what it costs to keep looking for answers in a world that punishes empathy.
For long-time followers of Morgan Brookes, this is a standout entry: gritty, intimate, and pulsing with dread. For newcomers, it’s an irresistible gateway drug—just know you might not sleep until you’ve devoured the entire series.
Helen Phifer’s Twisted Bones is the fifteenth installment in the Detective Morgan Brookes series, and it wastes no time plunging readers into the kind of darkness that ripples beneath the skin of quiet English towns. Here, murder doesn’t announce itself—it slips through cracks, coiled in secrets and festering in the mundane. With this book, Phifer isn’t merely spinning a thriller—she’s performing a postmortem on trust itself.
From the opening discovery of a disfigured body beneath an abandoned church, the atmosphere is immediately thick with dread, like fog that never lifts. Morgan, haunted yet determined, is more emotionally exposed than ever. Phifer cleverly leverages Morgan’s vulnerabilities—her complicated past, her tenuous relationships within the force, her relentless drive—to unspool a mystery that feels both intimately personal and dangerously public.
What sets this entry apart in the series is its confident tempo. The pacing feels like a drumbeat beneath your skin—insistent, unrelenting. Phifer manages multiple narrative threads (victims, suspects, Morgan’s own psychological toll) without ever letting one fray. The result is a tightly braided plot that keeps tension taut without feeling mechanical.
Phifer also gives just enough forensic texture to ground the story in procedural realism, without losing the emotional stakes. This isn’t gore for gore’s sake; it’s tragedy filtered through the lens of a woman who can’t afford to look away. The crime scenes are chilling not because of what they contain, but because of what they suggest: a killer who sees humanity as discardable, anatomy as puzzle pieces.
In a genre saturated with formula, Twisted Bones succeeds by keeping its moral compass spinning. It doesn’t just ask whodunit—it interrogates what it costs to keep looking for answers in a world that punishes empathy.
For long-time followers of Morgan Brookes, this is a standout entry: gritty, intimate, and pulsing with dread. For newcomers, it’s an irresistible gateway drug—just know you might not sleep until you’ve devoured the entire series.
May 25, 2025
I look forward to every addition to the Detective Morgan Brookes series and this one didn't disappoint. Morgan's Aunt Ettie calls with an urgent message that she has found a body in the river by Covel Woods, right near her house. Morgan leaves her spa day and heads there as quickly as she can. With one hand skeletonized, it doesn't take Declan long to determine that the victim had been frozen, so determining the time of death would be difficult. Searching Missing Person reports, she is eventually identified, but they find another women is missing from the same area and the same time frame. Now they are looking for a possible serial killer, or perhaps a still living victim.
Twisted Bones picks up where the previous book ended. Theo is suffering from PTSD, and Declan asks Morgan to try and help him. While out on a case, she stops by and meets a man there visiting him. He gives her the creeps and is on her radar for the murder she is investigating. I really like Morgan's character. In each book she follows her instincts and her radar for criminals to figure out the crimes. She often finds herself in danger as well. The whole team works well together and I love their interpersonal friendships. We also get the POV from the culprit, but with no identification, so it is definitely creepy. As the investigation unfolds, I thought I had it all figured out, but once again, I was way off. It's Morgan searching the original investigations from the jurisdiction where the women were grabbed, that finds a small tidbit that helps to unravel the case. With one of her colleagues in danger this time, I was holding my breath to see what would happen. A well written, plotted, twisty and tense police crime thriller had me zooming through this one. I highly recommend this series to those who enjoy police procedurals, crime thrillers or detective stories. I am already anticipating what will be next in Detective Morgan Brookes #18. There is another coming isn't there, Helen Phifer?
Twisted Bones picks up where the previous book ended. Theo is suffering from PTSD, and Declan asks Morgan to try and help him. While out on a case, she stops by and meets a man there visiting him. He gives her the creeps and is on her radar for the murder she is investigating. I really like Morgan's character. In each book she follows her instincts and her radar for criminals to figure out the crimes. She often finds herself in danger as well. The whole team works well together and I love their interpersonal friendships. We also get the POV from the culprit, but with no identification, so it is definitely creepy. As the investigation unfolds, I thought I had it all figured out, but once again, I was way off. It's Morgan searching the original investigations from the jurisdiction where the women were grabbed, that finds a small tidbit that helps to unravel the case. With one of her colleagues in danger this time, I was holding my breath to see what would happen. A well written, plotted, twisty and tense police crime thriller had me zooming through this one. I highly recommend this series to those who enjoy police procedurals, crime thrillers or detective stories. I am already anticipating what will be next in Detective Morgan Brookes #18. There is another coming isn't there, Helen Phifer?
July 13, 2025
I am thrilled to share my thoughts on Twisted Bones as part of the book tour hosted by Bookouture. My thanks to them for my spot on the tour and their patience as its a little late, and to NetGalley for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
Twisted Bones is the 15th book in the Detective Morgan Brookes series, and while it functions perfectly well as a standalone novel, I recommend reading the series for better backstory, character development and context. This is a quick paced, compelling read, which I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
I like Morgan Brookes. She is a great character. She investigates logically and methodically but also using her years of experience and intuition. The camaraderie and banter between Morgan’s police colleagues during the investigation took me back to the best days of another life.
The twists came unexpectedly and threw my ideas out the window more than once. A term I have seen used by reviewers but don’t particularly like is “unputdownable”, but if I were forced to use that term, it would fit this book perfectly.
Overall, this is probably the best Morgan Brookes book so far, one which I am happy to recommend with the caveat that you should read the series because they are all brilliant. I gave Twisted Bones, by Helen Phifer, five stars and I look forward to reading book 16.
#ad #gifted #twistedbones #detectivemorganbrookes #helenphifer #bookouture #thriller #booklover #bookstagrammers #johnsbookshelf #bookstabloggers #bookreader #blogtour #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookshelf #bookaddict #igreads #bookblog #readabook #johnsbookshelfblogs #bookaholic #fortheloveofbooks #goodreadschallenge2025 #bookpost #blogpost #johnsbookshelfreviews #honestreviewsonly
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
Twisted Bones is the 15th book in the Detective Morgan Brookes series, and while it functions perfectly well as a standalone novel, I recommend reading the series for better backstory, character development and context. This is a quick paced, compelling read, which I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
I like Morgan Brookes. She is a great character. She investigates logically and methodically but also using her years of experience and intuition. The camaraderie and banter between Morgan’s police colleagues during the investigation took me back to the best days of another life.
The twists came unexpectedly and threw my ideas out the window more than once. A term I have seen used by reviewers but don’t particularly like is “unputdownable”, but if I were forced to use that term, it would fit this book perfectly.
Overall, this is probably the best Morgan Brookes book so far, one which I am happy to recommend with the caveat that you should read the series because they are all brilliant. I gave Twisted Bones, by Helen Phifer, five stars and I look forward to reading book 16.
#ad #gifted #twistedbones #detectivemorganbrookes #helenphifer #bookouture #thriller #booklover #bookstagrammers #johnsbookshelf #bookstabloggers #bookreader #blogtour #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookshelf #bookaddict #igreads #bookblog #readabook #johnsbookshelfblogs #bookaholic #fortheloveofbooks #goodreadschallenge2025 #bookpost #blogpost #johnsbookshelfreviews #honestreviewsonly
April 17, 2025
Another day, another book by Helen. It seriously amazes me how many books this woman publishes in a year and how good each any every one of them are.
This time, it's another book in the Morgan Brookes series, we're already at the 15th one and it still excites me when a new one comes out.
This book will be published on the 21st of May.
I won't have to tell you who we're following, right? Since it's a Morgan Brookes series book, we're obviously following Morgan and company. Meaning her partner Ben, best friend Declan, vicar Theo and colleagues Cain, Amy and Mark.
When Ettie is out looking for fresh pine, she spots something poking out of the river. Upon closer inspection she sees its actual bones of fingers, but the rest attached isn't skeletonized.. She calls it in and within hours the police protocols are in place. But who is she? She doesn't match any resent missing person reports..
When the identity is uncovered and doing some digging, they have a date from when she went missing and had contact with the detective that handled the case. A year after JD (Jane doe) went missing, another girl was taken in the same city.. Morgan thinks there is a connection but the others don't see it. The girls couldn't be even more opposite from each other.
There are some good surprises in this book, and I really love reviewing and detailing some further details and a bit more about the story but I don't want to spoil it.
You won't see the perp coming. Seriously. I went with the story and the ones who the police thought where the one, I could actually see it.. But the actual perp. No, really did not see it coming.
"forgive me father, for I have sinned"
This time, it's another book in the Morgan Brookes series, we're already at the 15th one and it still excites me when a new one comes out.
This book will be published on the 21st of May.
I won't have to tell you who we're following, right? Since it's a Morgan Brookes series book, we're obviously following Morgan and company. Meaning her partner Ben, best friend Declan, vicar Theo and colleagues Cain, Amy and Mark.
When Ettie is out looking for fresh pine, she spots something poking out of the river. Upon closer inspection she sees its actual bones of fingers, but the rest attached isn't skeletonized.. She calls it in and within hours the police protocols are in place. But who is she? She doesn't match any resent missing person reports..
When the identity is uncovered and doing some digging, they have a date from when she went missing and had contact with the detective that handled the case. A year after JD (Jane doe) went missing, another girl was taken in the same city.. Morgan thinks there is a connection but the others don't see it. The girls couldn't be even more opposite from each other.
There are some good surprises in this book, and I really love reviewing and detailing some further details and a bit more about the story but I don't want to spoil it.
You won't see the perp coming. Seriously. I went with the story and the ones who the police thought where the one, I could actually see it.. But the actual perp. No, really did not see it coming.
"forgive me father, for I have sinned"
May 20, 2025
4.5⭐
Detective Morgan Brookes is enjoying a well-deserved afternoon off at a local spa with her friend and colleague, Wendy. However, their relaxation is interrupted when Wendy receives a call for assistance at a crime scene near Morgan's Aunt Ettie's cottage in Covel Woods. Concerned for her aunt's safety and eager to be involved in the investigation, Morgan rushes to the scene.
And what she discovers is shocking.
As a body has been found in the water and the team believe it belongs to a hiker who lost their footing and fell in. However, bruises on the body suggest a far more sinister story. Especially when Morgan identifies the victim as Martha, a homeless woman who had disappeared seven years ago.
Which raises numerous questions and provides very few answers. But the last known sighting of Martha was when she was stealing nappies and baby formula, which leads Morgan to wonder if Martha had a child—and, if so, where that child might be now.
And as Morgan sifts through cold case files, she uncovers another missing woman, Aria, who vanished from the same area as Martha and Morgan believes there's a connection; and when the team receives the autopsy results, they realise that Aria might still be alive, suggesting that the killer is playing a disturbing game with them.
One Morgan is determined to stop but is he already two steps ahead?
And with red herrings, excellent pacing, and a killer I didn't see coming, Twisted Bones is another fantastic addition to the series.
I would wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Twisted Bones. All thoughts expressed are my own. ☺️
Detective Morgan Brookes is enjoying a well-deserved afternoon off at a local spa with her friend and colleague, Wendy. However, their relaxation is interrupted when Wendy receives a call for assistance at a crime scene near Morgan's Aunt Ettie's cottage in Covel Woods. Concerned for her aunt's safety and eager to be involved in the investigation, Morgan rushes to the scene.
And what she discovers is shocking.
As a body has been found in the water and the team believe it belongs to a hiker who lost their footing and fell in. However, bruises on the body suggest a far more sinister story. Especially when Morgan identifies the victim as Martha, a homeless woman who had disappeared seven years ago.
Which raises numerous questions and provides very few answers. But the last known sighting of Martha was when she was stealing nappies and baby formula, which leads Morgan to wonder if Martha had a child—and, if so, where that child might be now.
And as Morgan sifts through cold case files, she uncovers another missing woman, Aria, who vanished from the same area as Martha and Morgan believes there's a connection; and when the team receives the autopsy results, they realise that Aria might still be alive, suggesting that the killer is playing a disturbing game with them.
One Morgan is determined to stop but is he already two steps ahead?
And with red herrings, excellent pacing, and a killer I didn't see coming, Twisted Bones is another fantastic addition to the series.
I would wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Twisted Bones. All thoughts expressed are my own. ☺️
May 28, 2025
As the series progresses, it is getting a little darker. There are the same great characters that I love to read about, but their encounters and cases are getting to be a little more. And it isn’t that they were less before.
At some point the case always seems to hit close to home and this time it is Morgan’s aunt. And a bonus connection that you’ll just have to read to discover.
As the story unravels, this almost felt a little like it could be ripped from the headlines. It kept me guessing and twisted and turned to make sure I couldn’t quite predict who the team was after. The case is layered and the team works at a breakneck speed to catch the killer.
One of the best things about the series is the characters. I like how both they and the relationships grow from book to book. That is part of why the personal cases have an even bigger stake. I’ve spent enough time with the characters that they feel like friends. I root for them both professionally and personally. Morgan and Ben and the rest of the team have such great chemistry. All the books can be read as a stand alone but there are things that carry from book to book. Theo is still struggling with issues from a previous book and I can see the foreshadowing of what is heading towards another. That’s a testament to the plotting and planning the author has put into the book and series. It has a complex plot that reads with an ease that I didn’t want to put it down.
Whether you jump in at book 16 or read the entire series, if you are a crime buff, you’ll want to jump on board.
At some point the case always seems to hit close to home and this time it is Morgan’s aunt. And a bonus connection that you’ll just have to read to discover.
As the story unravels, this almost felt a little like it could be ripped from the headlines. It kept me guessing and twisted and turned to make sure I couldn’t quite predict who the team was after. The case is layered and the team works at a breakneck speed to catch the killer.
One of the best things about the series is the characters. I like how both they and the relationships grow from book to book. That is part of why the personal cases have an even bigger stake. I’ve spent enough time with the characters that they feel like friends. I root for them both professionally and personally. Morgan and Ben and the rest of the team have such great chemistry. All the books can be read as a stand alone but there are things that carry from book to book. Theo is still struggling with issues from a previous book and I can see the foreshadowing of what is heading towards another. That’s a testament to the plotting and planning the author has put into the book and series. It has a complex plot that reads with an ease that I didn’t want to put it down.
Whether you jump in at book 16 or read the entire series, if you are a crime buff, you’ll want to jump on board.
May 20, 2025
Detective Morgan Brookes Book 15
When Detective Morgan Brookes is urgently called out to her Aunt Ettie's cottage, hidden in Covel Woods, she rushes to the scene. Panicked Ettie is shaken having discovered the chilling remains of a woman in the river, one skeletal hand reaching out from the deep water. The unknown woman was dressed to walk the rugged trails of the Lake District, so Morgan's team assumed she fell into the water and was taken by the current. But thin diagonal bruises on her neck suggest something more sinister. A faded red rose tattoo helps Morgan identify her as a homeless woman named Martha who went missing seven years ago. s a sick individual stalking Rydal Falls, or was Martha's death a pure accident?
I love Morgan Brookes, she's not scared to go above and beyond in her line of duty. She does all the things other members of the team hold back on, she's not afraid to out her life in danger. I also like her Aunt Ettie who features a bit more in this book.
This is one fast-paced, twisted, and gripping read. All the regular characters are back investigating, Theo, the local vicar, is still recovering from his injury, but Morgan needs him to identify a body. I can't wait to read the what Morgan gets up to in the next book.
Published 22nd May 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #HelenPhifer for my ARC of #TwistedBones in exchange for an honest review.
When Detective Morgan Brookes is urgently called out to her Aunt Ettie's cottage, hidden in Covel Woods, she rushes to the scene. Panicked Ettie is shaken having discovered the chilling remains of a woman in the river, one skeletal hand reaching out from the deep water. The unknown woman was dressed to walk the rugged trails of the Lake District, so Morgan's team assumed she fell into the water and was taken by the current. But thin diagonal bruises on her neck suggest something more sinister. A faded red rose tattoo helps Morgan identify her as a homeless woman named Martha who went missing seven years ago. s a sick individual stalking Rydal Falls, or was Martha's death a pure accident?
I love Morgan Brookes, she's not scared to go above and beyond in her line of duty. She does all the things other members of the team hold back on, she's not afraid to out her life in danger. I also like her Aunt Ettie who features a bit more in this book.
This is one fast-paced, twisted, and gripping read. All the regular characters are back investigating, Theo, the local vicar, is still recovering from his injury, but Morgan needs him to identify a body. I can't wait to read the what Morgan gets up to in the next book.
Published 22nd May 2025
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #HelenPhifer for my ARC of #TwistedBones in exchange for an honest review.
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