Pod hladinou lží

Detective Madison Harper #6

by Wendy Dranfield

Tajemství zabíjí. Šestý díl návykové detektivní série. Městečkem Lost Creek otřese brutální vražda mladého páru a jejich dvojčat. Šlo snad o vloupání, které se tragicky zvrtlo? Detektiv Madison Harperová si to nemyslí. Když totiž dorazí do zchátralého a až strašidelně prázdného domu, zjistí, že oběti nelze identifikovat a z místa činu zmizely všechny jejich osobní věci. Ani výslechy sousedů nepřinesou mnoho informací – vypadá to, že rodinka se sotva přistěhovala. Nikdo se s nimi nesetkal, nikdo nezná jejich jména.

S objevem dětského trička s nápisem Tatínkova holčička pochopí Madison mrazivou skutečnost: v domě bylo další dítě. Kam ale zmizelo? Madison je odhodlaná dívenku najít, ale bolestně si uvědomuje, že s každou uplynulou vteřinou se snižuje šance, že bude nalezena živá. Přesto je připravená riskovat cokoliv, aby ji našla, dokonce i svůj vlastní život.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Detective

400 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2023

About the author

Wendy is the author of the Detective Madison Harper series. Her novels and short stories have been shortlisted and longlisted for various writing competitions and awards, including the International Thriller Writer Awards.

Please note; as Wendy writes crime fiction, including police procedurals and psychological thrillers, her books contain plots, characters and actions dealing with a variety of crimes, including physical and psychological.

Wendy does not use social media, so if you find an account pretending to be her on any platform, it’s 100% fake! Visit her website for the most accurate and up-to-date information about her books: wendydranfield.co.uk

The final book in the Det. Madison Harper series will be out in May 2026.

Reviews

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better! This one is pretty emotional, as it involves child victims and is pretty heartbreaking at times. Detective Madison Harper is working on the case of a family murdered in their home with no clues to their identity to be found. It appears they just moved in, which makes it even stranger that they could have been attacked so quickly. There are a few nearby neighbors, but their house is in a secluded area and no one saw a thing. Madison has an even harder time when her partner, Detective Adams, drops the ball multiple times at the crime scene leading to late discoveries that turn the case on its head.

Thank goodness her team has the assistance of her close PI friend, Nate, and his faithful canine companion, Brody! Brody is such a sweetheart and I love how the author acknowledges that he’s the one character nothing bad will ever happen to! If they thought the case was getting complicated before, his actions lead them to rethink the way they’ve approached their entire investigation. Parts of the story are told in the present and other parts are a flashback to fifteen years ago. Because the past is catching up with someone. But will Madison be able to bring about justice without becoming the next victim?

This is one story where I definitely didn’t empathize with certain characters and their fate. Evil people deserve what they get. I don’t think anyone would disagree when they read about the heinous crimes committed. On a lighter note, I was pleasantly surprised by some other action going on… This is one book you can’t miss!

[Tove R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madison is one of my all time favourite detectives. I am not sure I can really explain why, but she is so real, vulnerable, and likable, and even though she has gone through hell, she still lives her best life, but right now is not the best of times, because her son is about to move away. This is very hard, sort of losing him again.

She has an interesting case going on, a puzzling one, with several dead people, and one missing child. Nate gets news, good in a way, bad in other ways, but makes him think about life, and he is about to change his life even more.

Love the story, love the characters, and the character growth. This is such an interesting, haunting, and emotional book, a typical detective story in some ways, but very atypical in other ways. This really works!

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Lonely Bones (Detective Madison Harper Book 6)
By Wendy Dranfield
Pub Date: 5 October 2023
Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4.25/5

Her Lonely Bones (Detective Madison Harper Book 6) is an intricate and hands-on police procedural. Staying on top of multiple characters requires close attention to details. Madison is a skilled investigator, but she and her team must dig deep into the past to uncover the truth about an increasingly baffling case. It is filled with twists and turns that kept me engaged until the very end.

I read all of Wendy Dranfield's books and find them highly entertaining. Intriguing plots and vivid characters make each story a page-turner, and I look forward to the next installment. The more I read, the more invested I become in their struggles, and I'm always eager to see what adventures they'll have next. This is book 6 in the Madison Harper series, but it can be read on its own.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this book with me. I am a huge fan of the Madison Harper series. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling mystery with a strong female protagonist.

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[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 5 out of 5]

You need to start reading this series now!
Her Lonely Bones was an intense, intriguing and definitely could not put down book!
There are so many layers weaved throughout the story! You will be shaking your head and saying WHAT????????
Madison and her team are called to investigate the brutal murder of a family. What they find shocks them. Can they figure out what happened and get closure to this horrendous murder?
I love the growth in Madisons and Nates relationship. I wonder if Madison and her new partner, Detective Adams, is going to be a positive one. One minute he seems to be a good guy and next, he is being weird.
Each Detective Madison Harper book draws me in. Her Lonely Bones deserves more than 5 stars. This story was so intense and brilliantly written. Author Wendy Dranfield has delivered a solid story that I am still thinking about. The twists and turns in the story are ingenious! This is book 6 in the series and each book just gets better and better! I do encourage you to read the books in order. There is so much back story to Madison and Nate you need to know.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Wendy Dranfield, for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Linda Leone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Lonely Bones is the 6th book in the Madison Harper series. I have enjoyed them all and this one is no exception.

I love how this series just keeps getting better and better.

The current case is a family who is murdered just after moving to a new home. I loved the tension throughout the book. The fact that there was a family member not found with the rest of the family kept me glued to the book wanting to know more.

The progression of her personal relationships throughout the series is satisfying. I could feel her angst of Owen going off to college. Given their history that is completely understandable.

Looking for fast paced and intriguing reads? Start this series today!

Please write faster Wendy. I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.

[Valleri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to both Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Her Lonely Bones. This book is #6 in the Detective Madison Harper series and the expected publication date is October 5, 2023.

The house is deathly silent. A couple and their young twin boys have been brutally murdered. It's up to Madison to find a cold-blooded killer, not to mention identify the victims, too! No phones have been located, nor a single piece of paper with their names on it. Their car is missing, as well.

The storyline kept me on my toes and the pace was incredibly quick. The characters were well-fleshed out and the case was truly baffling. A few of the chapters went back in time 15 years, which made things clearer.

I didn't love this book like I did the previous one. It almost felt as though it had been written for young adults, rather than a more mature audience. So many times I found myself feeling that whatever Madison was saying or asking or thinking sounded and felt too young for a police detective. And then there was this:As Madison is standing at a crime scene and watching the bones of a murdered baby being dug up, Nate walks up to her and kisses her on the lips. He also tells her he is going to do that every time he first sees her. I believe there are a lot of Team Madison and Nate fans out there, but really???

I know, I know. I'm totally an outlier here!! The other reviews have been absolutely GLOWING, so take mine with a grain of salt!!

[Susan Audia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child goes missing in Lost Creek, Colorado, and is never found. Fifteen years later, Madison is a detective with the Lost Creek PD when a family is murdered in an abandoned house. She now has the task of identifying the people and finding out who killed them and why.

This is book six in this series, and having not read the others, I was a little lost regarding the characters and their back stories. However, that did not detract from the amazing mystery and the twists and turns. I love police procedurals, and this book had detectives, forensics, and everything involved in solving a complex case.

The story goes back and forth between the present and 15 years earlier, and it is so interesting to see whether or not these two seemingly separate cases are related. You will be very surprised by the ending!

This was a 4/5 for me. I want to go back and read the first five books to get a better understanding of the characters as I think it will be extremely interesting to see what made them into who they are by book six.

[Jenn Brouwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a wild ride! I loved this one. Super fast paced it runs at breakneck speed. More twists and turns than a rollercoaster. Wonderful characters that feel like friends. A store that will chill you to the bone. Gruesome and gritty. The writing is superb and you are able to fully immerse in this. This isn’t just a book… it’s an experience. You feel like you are living the story. The detail is amazing. A resounding 5 stars!

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Her Lonely Bones, book six in the Detective Madison Harper series, delivered a hard hitting and fast-paced police procedural. Despite it being the sixth book in the series, it works well as a standalone. However, reading this instalment left me wanting to read the previous books.
 

 

Her Lonely Bones encompasses all the ingredients needed to make for a compelling story. Interesting and relatable characters, an intriguing and twisty plot, and a mystery that keeps the reader guessing.

The main characters, Madison and her love interest Nate, had hard hitting backstories. Wrongly accused and forced to serve time for crimes they did not commit. A situation which changed their lives and still has an impact even now.

The mystery featured in this instalment to a crime has connections which occurred fifteen (15) years ago. The story provides readers with flashbacks to the events which occurred 15 years ago. I suspected from the start that both cases were connected. Unravelling their connection revealed surprising and brilliant plot twists. The story pulled me and had me reading into the wee hours. For readers who have a weakness for dogs will be happy to know the story feature an adorable canine who plays a role in unravelling the mystery.

The story hidden in the pages of this book shows how the evil actions of one person can adversely affect the lives of many. This is one of those books that fans of the genre will want to add to their reading list. 
 

 
 

 This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this exceptional book oh my goodness me where to start with this one without giving anything away well for a start read it and once started you wont be able to put it down.... a family move into a dilapidated house... but the next day they are all found murdered in the most horrendous way maddison is in charge of the investigation and with very little to go on she starts questioning neighbours but nobody met them or recognised them and to make matters even worse no identity can be found so they cant notify anyone they are dead what a book and storyline i for one couldnt put this book down ... and it was great to catch up with maddison and the rest of the characters in this book cant wait for the next book in this brilliant series

[Bella Crooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each series in the book gets better and better I LOVE this series!! I AM SO HAPPY WITH CERTAIN THINGS THAT FINALLY HAPPENED IN THIS BOOK!!! Lots of twists and my mind was spinning throughout the book I am so excited to see what happens next! I couldn’t put this book down one of the best in the series!

[Lori Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Lonely Bones is book 6 in the Madison Harper series by Wendy Dranfield. I have never read a book in the series and jumped in with this one. I absolutely loved Her Lonely Bones and could barely keep up with all of the twists down the stretch! This book will blow your mind! I'm usually one to figure out the killer before the end, but not with this book! If you love a good mystery that is hard to figure out, this is the book for you! I will also say that jumping in on book 6 was okay as you are given crucial background info, but not all info is possible. I definitely want to go back and read the first 5 books in the series.

Detective Madison Harper is dealing with a lot in this book as her son, Owen, is leaving for college in a week. Madison is a wreck over it, but is trying to hide that from Owen. She wants Owen to go to college and have some fun, but she's going to miss him so much. An empty house to come home to after work doesn't excite her. Madison gets a call about a horrific murder and is asked to come to the scene immediately. When Madison arrives at the house there are many cops already there working the scene. What Madison finds inside will haunt her for weeks to come. A couple is dead in their bed and their faces have been smashed in so much that they have no face anymore!
In the next room a young boy is dead in his bed and because of his bluish coloring it is assumed he was suffocated with his pillow. Who would do this and why?

Madison finds out that the couple had just moved in and she wonders why they would move in to such a rundown house? There's hardly any furniture, no pictures, and they brought very little with them. No cellphones or ID's have been found so they have no idea who these people are. When Madison is outside walking around the yard she hears a faint cough. As she approaches the area where it's coming from she hears it again. She goes into the bushes and there's a young boy laying there holding his hand over a wound in his stomach. He's been stabbed and has lost a lot of blood. Madison tries to help him and applies pressure to the wound. Then she picks him up and runs to the front yelling for EMS. Madison and another officer give the boy CPR while they wait for the ambulance. Before the boy lost consciousness, he asked where his mom was? By the time EMS arrives, it's too late. The boy is gone. An entire family killed while they slept.

As the police go around to the neighbors houses to try to get information on the family they quickly realize that no one knows them as they just moved in. Madison notices a trailer that must've been pulled behind their vehicle. Her partner, Adams, who was supposed to have checked everything before she arrived had already dropped the ball. He should've been the one to find the boy and if he had, the boy might still be alive. She knows that he said everything was checked, but Madison goes in the trailer anyways. She sees 2 moving boxes inside. She opens one and pulls out clothing, but it's girl's clothing for a 2-3 year old. Madison's heart starts pounding as she now thinks there's another child and she's missing!

As Madison and her team investigate they're not only looking for the killer, but they have to figure out who the victims were! How has no one reported them missing? Where did they come from? Why are there no wallets, no cellphones, and nothing to give them any help? The neighbor who sent the police for a welfare check said she and her grandson came by to introduce themselves. They found the front door ajar and when the woman was calling out, her grandson ran upstairs. The way he screamed terrified her so much that they ran from the house. She knew something was very, very wrong.

As time is ticking by, Madison fears that the chances of finding the girl alive are getting smaller and smaller. As she discovers a secret about the dead family things start to get even more complicated. Will Madison and her team be able to find the girl? Will a cold case help with this case? A terrible thing happened at this same house years ago. Are the two incidents related? Why are the neighbors so secretive? Someone knows something and Madison is determined to find out who! Does the detective who worked the cold case know more than he's saying? Did the man in prison really do what he's accused of from the cold case? Will Madison be able to solve the case before someone else dies?

Her Lonely Bones will keep you guessing throughout and it's impossible to put down! I really love the characters in the book and look forward to reading the next book in the Madison Harper series. I rate the book 5 stars with my highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Her Lonely Bones in exchange for a fair review. #HerLonelyBones

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Madison Harper book 6 and O.M.G. It's the best one so far! I made the mistake of starting this at bedtime and ended up reading into the early hours. There's so many twists and turns I'm sure I have whiplash! Brilliant book and I absolutely loved it.

When a couple and their young twin boys are discovered brutally murdered in their beds, everyone suspects this is a home invasion gone tragically wrong. But as Detective Madison Harper walks into the run-down house that is eerily empty, she isn’t so sure.

Talking to the neighbors, Madison soon discovers that the family only recently moved to the small town of Lost Creek, Colorado. No one has met them, and no one knows their names. With nothing to identify them in the house, or even to show that the house belonged to them, Madison is suddenly faced with not only having to find a cold-blooded killer, but needing to identify the victims too.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALLY enjoy this series! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
This starts out 15 years in the past about a missing child and the mother Tiffany, making a threat to kill herself if her daughter is not returned. Then we are in present day where Madison is called to a house where 3 people have been murdered. During the search she finds another victim. These murders were hard since it was 2 adults and 2 children, but while searching the property Madison discovers that there is a child missing, a little girl. So it begins to try and figure out who murdered these 4 people, who are they and where is the little girl. Sprinkled in we are getting the story from 15 years ago. Madison is also dealing with her son, Owen, leaving for college and how she was going to handle taking him and leaving him there. I was surprised on how Owen handled it and having left a couple kids at college, one out of state and VERY far away, I wasn't cool with what Owen did. I am very pleased with who Madison turned to to help her through it. This was a really good mystery. I liked the old story mixed with the current case. Interesting to see Mike Bowers when he was a patrol cop. I will admit that I did not figure out who the killer was and was surprised. I still am not impressed with Madison's partner Adams. Looking forward to the next book!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Lonely Bones by Wendy Dranfield is the sixth book in the brilliant Detective Madison Harper series and what a series this is. This is a series that just gets better and better. Every page I turn on my kindle is full of twists and turns that will have you gripped form the beginning full the very end.

Her Lonely Bones is Wendy's best book so far but then, all her books are a 5 star read.....They will not disappoint. Just brilliant!!!

I highly recommend this series.....

Big thank you to Netgalley and especially Bookouture for my ARC.

[Susan Colley · Rating 5 out of 5]

MARVELOUS addition to this wonderful series which I have faithfully read from the very beginning. Riveting
story line, well written & with great characters portrayed by Madison & Nate. Enjoyed fully & RECOMMEND highly this & the full series. Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for this arc in return for my honest review.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Detective Madison Harper book and woweeeee! Where have I been?

A fantastic plot, starting with the murder of a couple and their twin boys - no ID, no DNA matches on the database and their faces beaten beyond recognition. That in itself was a gut-punch of a start to the book, and then there were flashbacks to 15 years before, which gradually revealed their connection to the present-day case.

The characters in this story are really well written - Madison, Nate, Adams, Alex and Lena were the main stars of the story, with Kai, Dawn, Richard and all of the other locals adding layers of intrigue and creating a web of twisty behaviour for Madison and her team to unravel.

The pace is fast and intense, i devoured this gripping book and can't wait for the next one!

5⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Wendy Dranfield and Bookouture for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gah!!! This one wiped me out by putting me through the wringer!
I actually wailed in chapter 8 when I thought Nate was going to do something and I was very disappointed, like Brody, in what he reverted to doing.
However, I was whooping for joy in a subsequent chapter at a rapid turn of events and even yelled Freaking finally!!!!
The story has many layers and wow are there some truly vile characters. Brody is still my favorite and Owen slipped many rungs on my approval ladder. What he did to Madison was truly shitty.
I appreciated Dranfield’s note at the end of the book with one assurance, but I have no idea what the next book will bring.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.

[Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this 10 stars I would.

HOLY GUACAMOLE!

This book was FANTASTIC, absolutely bananas. It was such a twisted plot. Dark, full of mayhem, secrets and so many plot twists…I have whiplash. I had an idea of how it was going to go for a part of it but man I was still gobsmacked with it all. And I don’t do spoilers but I will say this…FINALLY‼️

I’m a huge fan of crime thrillers. My favorite author is Lisa Regan. I gotta say this author for me is right up there. She is a master story teller. I tried so hard to read this slow because I knew I was going to be sad to be done. Like Lisa’s books. I could not put it down. I had to finish. This series is a must read.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading these out of order (by mistake and I now need to go back to the beginning as the author suggested in her afterword) . So bearing that in mind, it is quite a complicated book and makes you think and need to concentrate on the backstory - it does become clearer and it would definitely be clearer if you did it as you should have.

It was a well written book which got me completely engrossed and I honestly not until the end knew who the culprit was and for me that is a sign of a great book.

I was given a copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Detective Madison Harper is called to the scene of a brutal murder, she immediately knows she has her work cut out for her with this one. An entire family has been slaughtered, a mother, father and two boys. Whoever killed the mom and dad did so with a lot of rage. It appears that it is a robbery gone wrong, but Madison does not believe that is the case. Her worst fears are realized when she finds a box with a little girl's shirt that reads "Daddy's Girl". Now they not only have a murder to solve, but a child is missing. There is no identification in the home to identify the victims. The vehicle is missing, so they cannot run the vehicle registration. So, they have a missing child of indeterminate age with no clue as to what she looks like or anything else. This was a convoluted, complex mess that some predator has left behind. This predator has met his/her match with Madison Harper because this woman is like a dog with a bone. She is fearless and determined to identify this family and find this young girl alive and well.

The story went back and forth between 15 years ago and the present. You will find that today's tragedy is not the only tragedy to occur in this household. As the gap lessens from 15 years to the present, the mystery just continues to deepen. I have never read a book with so many twists. This book exhausted me, but it also enthralled me. Wendy Dranfield is a genius as you are pulled into story grasping at straws while trying to figure out exactly what happened. Shock and awe will grip you as the end nears and the hits just keep coming. Wow! I need a breather after running this marathon. I was officially hooked from the first few chapters thinking I was so smart and had it all figured out, only to be fooled again. Five stars are insufficient for this rating, but will have to do.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Lonely Bones is the sixth book in the Detective Madison Harper series. I've read all five of the prior books. For new readers, basic information is given about the two main characters, Madison and her friend, private investigator Nate Monroe, making the book accessible to new readers. However, I would recommend at least reading the first one or two books in the series first to get more details about the things Madison and Nate have gone through in their lives. While it's not necessary to understand this case, it will help you appreciate how far they've come in their lives since the series began. 

After a gruesome beginning describing the murder of a couple and their twin boys, the pace of the book slows down. Part of the reason for the uneven pacing is the flashbacks to an older case which are relevant but interrupts the momentum of the current case. The story picks up about midway and becomes more suspenseful as Madison tries to solve this brutal killing that may have ties to a cold case that Nate, who is working as an investigator for an attorney, is looking into. The case has a dramatic ending, and fans of the series will especially enjoy the developments in Madison's personal life. 

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Bookouture, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Mags · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Madison Harper returns with a bang! And a little romance. As she and Nate finally get together. But before that can happen Madison has a doozy of a murder to solve and a son to say goodbye too.

As Owen is off to College in Arizona and after missing so many years of his life after being imprisoned for a murder Madison didn't commit she isn't ready to say goodbye.

Yet, she barely has time to dwell on that thought. Thanks to a family of four who have been bludgeoned, stabbed, and suffocated. And that's not all. As Madison soon realises there's a two-year-old girl missing.

But as the killer has gone to so much trouble to ensure none of the victims can be identified. How are they going to find this little girl?

And as the story brilliantly melds two timelines. Madison and the team desperately search for answers.

And Nate who is struggling after receiving some shocking news decides to take on a cold case of his own. That could have massive consequences for Madison and the team.

And with the most confounding crime and a killer I did not see coming. This was a cracking read that I genuinely couldn't put down and I honestly believe this series has got better and better. And I'm excited to see where this series goes next.

I'd one hundred percent recommend Her Lonely Bones to all. 😊

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read an early copy of Her Lonely Bones. 😊

[Danielle Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in this series, and while it absolutely worked as a standalone, as soon as I finished I went on Amazon and bought the first book!

Madison has her work cut out for her when a family is found murdered just a day after moving into their new home. The violence of the crimes screams that this is personal, and when they realize that a member of the family a baby girl is missing the race is on to figure out who the killer is and hopefully find the little girl alive.

This book was a rollercoaster of a ride. There are twists and turns around every corner, the case itself is emotional, especially once they figure out its connection to a case from the past.
I was hooked from the first page and read it in one sitting. I can't wait to read this series from the beginning and see how it all started!

[Julie Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great crime thriller.
Madison is called when a family is found dead in an old house. The adults are unrecognisable due to their faces being beaten badly and they have no idea who they are.
There’s also chapters from the past where a young girl is missing and the person charged with her murder says he’s innocent. He contacts Nate and asks for his help and it seems there’s an overlap with Madison’s case.
They soon realise a young girl is missing from the murdered family but haven’t got a clue where she could be.
This is a gripping crime thriller with some great twists that I didn’t see coming.
I highly recommend this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fantastic series and although each book can be read as a standalone I recommend reading them in order so that you understand the characters and their growth. Madison and Nate are such great characters and I’m really rooting for them both. I’m not 100% sure how I feel about a certain event in their personal life but I look forward to reading more. As for the murder, I had no idea who the killer was and I wasn’t expecting that twist. The pace does slow in the middle as they work on identifying the family and you can feel the frustration of not much happening. It soon picks up again and the flashbacks start to make way more sense.


I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Katlyn Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t get enough of this series!

Wow! I flew through this series in no time at all. Despite each being able to be read as a stand alone it really makes a difference to read in order and get to know the characters and the town

I appreciate the continuity across the series. Detective thrillers have been my genre of the year and Madison Harper has to be my favorite

Each one layers so well with the one before while still being unique every time

I can’t get enough of Brody, he is a wonderful addition. I also hope to see more from Owen and Madison after being apart for so long

I will read every one of these!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a real tear-jerker from the very start. As always, the author knows how to grab the reader’s attention and keep them completely involved in her story. Anything involving harm or even possible death to young children is very disturbing and this case really caused Madison and Nate to work extra hard to find the missing child and catch the killer. I found myself dropping off to sleep trying to solve the cases and waking up in the morning with the answers – and I was extremely pleased when I discovered I was correct. This book is fast paced all the way through with a rip-roaring race to a climatic and emotional ending. Brody was excellent and did a great job in helping the Nate and the police to find important evidence – good to know he is earning his well-deserved place in this series. An excellent read and I’m pleased to say it has kept me wanting more – so looking forward to book 7.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

*5 Stars*

Copy kindly recevied via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a really interesting read, with a lot of twists and turns as to who the killer was. It pointed to alot of people, but Madison never gave up. Great characters. The ending was both happy and sad. Would recommend and want to continue this series.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unbelievably good read. A real rollercoaster of a ride with an unimaginable plot of twist after twist after twist.
It has been a long time since we last caught up with Madison, Nate and Brody, but you're instantly back in their world and it feels great. A brilliant main plot with so may turns you're left reeling and the subplot is just a delight, although it gives you a few ‘oh no’ moments early on!
I'm so looking forward to what's next in store for them in this must read series.