In Her Sights: A Jenna Graves Suspense Thriller, Book 1

Jenna Graves #1

by Blake Pierce, Vicki-Jo Eva (Narrator)

Midwestern Sheriff Jenna Graves has a unique secret—the dead communicate with her through lucid dreams, helping her solve both active crimes and cold cases.

When hikers vanish without a trace in the local forest, Jenna must confront her own haunted past. As she communicates with a former victim in her dreams, a 20-year-old cold case resurfaces—one that may hold the key to finding her long-lost twin sister.

In Her Sights is the first book in a long-anticipated new series by USA Today best-selling author Blake Pierce, whose best-seller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 7,000 five star ratings and reviews.

The Jenna Graves series delivers a pulse-pounding experience for mystery lovers. Follow the complex journey of a brilliant yet troubled female protagonist as she navigates intense investigations filled with unexpected twists, shocking revelations, and relentless suspense. The fast-paced narrative and gripping action sequences will keep you captivated until the very end. Fans of Kendra Elliot, Rachel Caine, and Teresa Driscoll are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are now available!

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Ebooks, Fiction, Audiobook, Crime

Audible Audio

Published June 17, 2025

About the author

Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Miss M 🌻 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t hate this for a freebie, the story was interesting.
The ending did feel a little bit abrupt but I enjoyed it. Was pure crime investigation not thriller, didn’t find myself scared at any point.

[Jessy · Rating 2 out of 5]

felt like the book dragged out and then the end was really rushed and stuffed into the last chapter. over kill on the adjectives, though it wasn't a bad story line. the book didn't grab me enough to want to read the next book.

[Klare · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read, I’ve got the second one so will continue on with the series.

[Kalyani More · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by Blake Pierce.

*In Her Sights* by Blake Pierce is a compelling blend of crime fiction and the supernatural, featuring a unique and intriguing protagonist, Sheriff Jenna Graves. With the ability to communicate with the spirits of the dead, Jenna is able to solve cases through the clues they provide. The plot takes a darker turn when Sarah goes missing, and Jenna, driven by the need to uncover the truth, must rely on her unusual gift to piece together the mystery. But as the investigation unfolds, Jenna is forced to confront her own haunting past—the disappearance of her sister 20 years ago.

Blake Pierce does an excellent job of creating a tense, suspense-filled atmosphere that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Jenna is a layered character, balancing her role as a determined sheriff with the emotional weight of her personal losses. The supernatural element adds a fascinating twist to the traditional detective story, making the process of solving the mystery feel fresh and exciting.

The pacing is strong, and the suspense gradually builds as Jenna uncovers more clues, but there are moments where the plot could have benefited from more depth in terms of supporting characters and their motivations. Nonetheless, the blend of crime-solving, supernatural intrigue, and emotional conflict makes *In Her Sights* a gripping and enjoyable read.

Overall, this is a strong entry in the genre, and fans of mystery thrillers with a paranormal twist will find it hard to put down. It’s a solid 4-star read, with just a few small areas that could be further developed.

[Mrs Jean Daigneault · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow read as there was too much padding, both descriptive and speculative, neither of which helped move the plot along. Won't bother with the follow on book.

[Normalee M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but poorly executed plot

I think I should start off by saying that I've read a lot of this author's work (I have at least 6 of their books in my Kindle library right now). With that said, I strongly believe one of the following is true:
A) This author has ghostwriters or
B) "Blake Pierce" is actually a pen name for a group of writers

These are the only possibilities that would explain the difference in the quality of the books. As a result, you're never really sure what you're getting.

This one had an okay plot that was let down by constant repetition — imagine someone just adding words to allow an essay to reach the word requirement — and a lackluster romance trope that felt forced and was honestly unnecessary.

Also, while the story was primarily told by Jenna, the author chose to deviate briefly from this, with one chapter being narrated by Jake and another from the killer's point of view. While I can see the merit in the killer's chapter, I'm still at a loss as to why Jake's was necessary.

Additionally, the chapters sometimes ended weirdly and the actual end of the book gave me no reason to want to carry on with the series.

I'll just end here by saying that if I hadn't downloaded this book for free, I'd probably be upset right now.

[JL Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the 1st book in the Jenna Graves series and I can't wait to read more. It had suspense and intrigue and just the hint of possible romance between Jenna and her deputy. I m excited to see where her gift takes us.

[Paula K · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a shorter book, there was plenty of action & kept you guessing what would happen next. I enjoyed the cast of characters & look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice intro to series.

[Taytan Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic murder mystery, reminded me of an in depth Criminal Minds episode which was awesome as that is one of my favourite shows, although other than that there was nothing to write home about just a classic almost cliche murder mystery story.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read and an ok story.

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good police mystery set in Trentville Missouri. Jenna is the sheriff who gets lucid dreams, where dead people give her clues to solve the crimes. Her deputy, Jake, is a possible and hopefully will be, romantic interest. She has been trying to find her twin sister for twenty years after she disappeared so went into law enforcement. Jenna and Jake need to solve the disappearance of a local elementary teacher who was hiking the Whispering Pines trail, she has some lucid dreams which help point her in the right direction. She is forced to tell Jake about her dreams as he thinks she is having too many hunches and gut feelings. This is well-written and I look forward to reading further books in the series.

[Reem Eisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt for her with her sister, the twist was interesting having the killer be a close friend of hers and that they solved a few disappearances (giving closure to their families) and saved one soul. But couldn’t her father give her a clue regarding her sister in the dream?

[Caro Acevedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

- OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

YA/NA/A: A (Adult)

-GENRE: Suspense, Thriller, Paranormal

PAGE LENGTH 230 Pages

OUR MC'S NAMES Jenna Graves ( The Victim in this book gets a POV and a few chapters as well as a deputy, second in command to Sheriff Graves.)

-POV: Multiple POV, Third Person, Past Tense

- TROPES: - Small Town Sheriff
- Missing Person
- Ghosts Tell Me Things In My Dreams (?)

-HOW ABOUT THE CHARACTERS?: 4/5

- THE WRITING: 5/5

-THE PLOT: 4/5

- ⚠️CONTENT & TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️: Missing relative, secrets, violence, kidnapping, torture ( Via dehydration), Child endangerment, child abuse.

- SPICE QUALITY & LEVEL: 🫑

- THE ROMANCE: None ❌ ( There was a slight insinuation of something, but nothing of significance, and I don't believe there will be in the series at large.)

- REPRESENTATION: None of significance

-NOTES & THOUGHTS: I did not know what to expect, really, but I enjoyed this book so much. It was fast-paced, intriguing, and the main character was so interesting to get to know.
The overall plot did not fail; it was strong and easy to follow and understand.

[Denise Zendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midwestern Sheriff Jenna Graves communicates with the dead through lucid dreams, helping her solve both active crimes and cold cases. Hikers vanish without a trace in the local forest and Jenna has to confront her own haunted past while working the case. She’s aided in her job by a handsome yet skeptical partner and a trusted mentor who knows all there is to know about her.

I very much enjoyed this first entry in a new-to-me series by this prolific author. Jenna is a brilliant yet troubled female protagonist who navigates intense investigations filled with unexpected twists, shocking revelations, and constant suspense. Jenna “talks” to dead people, but in a way that seems believable and plausible. I enjoyed watching her work through her internal angst while crime-solving. The fast-paced narrative and gripping action sequences kept me riveted from start to finish, making the time at the gym fly by. I liked this enough that I immediately bought book 2 in the series and was not disappointed. I will read more in this series.

[Jim Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangled web

Riveting is a word I've not used in my reviews but for this story, riveting is just the word I need to use. The time period for this suspenseful thriller is only three days. As you read this tale you will understand how I can be so precise as to how long the investigation/ search period was.

Out of the many suspects that could have been the culprit of misdeed, the true culprit is only revealed at the end of the story. I believe you will be like me, on the edge of my seat, from beginning to end.

I really appreciate that Blake Pierce didn't have to use sex, foul language or graphic violence to write such an entertaining narrative. I hope you enjoy the read as much as I.

[David Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely a detective/mystery/thriller novel with a new twist: A small town police chief who solves crimes with the help of the dead…who visit her in “lucid dreams.” Aside from the paranormal aspect, the ending was a complete surprise, as my hunches regarding the crazed killer were far off base.

Even though I am a voracious reader, it was only recently that I picked up a novel by the amazingly prolific Blake Pierce. All in all, I am amazed at how she is able to make both her male and female characters so completely believable. As it appears that she cranks out books at an unbelievable pace, my "to read" has just grown exponentially.

[Billi · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5 ⭐️

In Her Sights by Blake Pierce
Jenna Graves #1
Sheriff Jenna Graves has a unique gift. The dead communicate with her in her dreams which helps her solve cases. When hikers vanish, Jenna must confront her own past.

The audio of this was good but at parts it was hard to understand and I would have to slow down the speed.

Loved the idea of this book and super excited to continue with this series. Jenna has me hooked with her gift, her wit, and her determination. Fast-paced and twisty this thriller had me from the first chapter. Love me a good procedural thriller but this also has some psychological unease and paranormal aspects. It had a good mix of it all.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aiding by lucid dreams, Sheriff Jenna Graves solves crimes in rural Trentville. When a young woman goes missing while hiking, the Sheriff and her deputy turn to Jenna's ability to converse with the dead to find the abductee.

The story was passable, but I was so disappointed in the plot's execution. With such a fantastic premise, I hoped for more than just ethereal interchanges within the main character's dreams. The angst and the needless repetition of daily routines and thoughts bogged down the flow. The entire book felt as wispy as cotton candy and about as substantial, too.

[Rory Munton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun read and the build up to the ending made me sit on the edge of my seat wanting to find out more. However, the only thing stopping it from being 5 stars is that the timing in the book is weird, because they just get in the car and then the next minute they are at their destination with little to no detail explaining what was going on before they arrive at their destination, but other than that this book was amazing and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a suspense thriller and books that won't take a week to read

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: In Her Sight by Blake Pierce
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

A quick and intriguing murder mystery with a paranormal twist! At first, I wasn’t sure if the writing style was for me, but as the story unfolded, it enhanced the suspense and helped set the tone for what I imagine will be a compelling series.

There were moments where the pacing slowed and parts felt repetitive, but overall, this was a solid and entertaining read. I’ve already added books 2 and 3 to my TBR because I’m curious to see how the FMC develops with each installment.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this story although the main character - Jenna - is quite similar to others written by Ms. Pierce (she is psychic, has a missing sister and is an officer of the law), but the plot is good, and the story is fast-paced and with enough mystery that kept me glued to it until I reached the end.
I thank the author for this ARC.

[J Vernon Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Pierce knocks it outta da park with riveting, compelling action and a great story of values and love. He also brings to the forefront the world's most heinous of crimes - human trafficking and his very definite and appropriate dealing with those who perpetrate it! Can't wait to find the sequel(s)..!!

[Victoria Murata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see where this is a popular series for people who like a quick mystery. It's short, a quick read, and all the loose ends get neatly tied up. But two days after reading it, I can't tell you what it's about. Nothing about it is memorable. And for an author who has written so many books in multiple series, I was surprised at the poor editing.

[Souluvlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable and the Brittish narration made some of the statements more passive and doubtful than I would normally expect from an experienced sheriff. I liked Frank, her mentor. Jake was a decent character, but there wasn't much layering to him. Maybe my mind will change in further installments. It was just "ok" for me.

[Holly Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought the trio of books and did enjoy this first one. I look forward to more character development of the primaries in the next books. I did figure out the connections sooner than Jenna did, and glad the author didn’t muddle and make the motives so obtuse that only Sherlock could figure it out.

[Heidi Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author and I did enjoy it. It was about a sheriff in a small town that has a 6th sense and solves cases by getting dreams of the deceased. This is part of a 3 book series and will continue reading them. I listened to this as an audio book and I also enjoyed the narration.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

There were lots of twists and turns which I found challenging. I'm glad Jenna had Jake and Frank as steady arms supporting and encouraging her. They helped balance out her suspicions.

[Edna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting!

This cop has a very different tool bag to aid her investigations! She is very contained and self-sufficient, but her partner and deputy share a new level of understanding that defies belief!

[Sara Pawelkoski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was MEH! While the twist at the end came out of nowhere and the concept of her speaking to the death is awesome. The dialogue was boring and I got annoyed with the FMC and the MMC. They seemed whiny and repetitive.