Secrets Along the Shore: Beach Read Thrillers

by Jaime Jo Wright, Taylor S. Newport, D.L. Wood

Four exhilarating summer thrillers of faith, love and excitement!

The Ones I Left to Die - Jaime Jo Wright
A decade before, Noa Lorne escaped the sadistic clutches of the Serpent, a serial killer known by the telltale mark he carved into the necks of his victims. She has learned to live being the only known survivor, but her recollection is sketchy, and her desire to relive the trauma, nonexistent. But now a new victim has been discovered, and it seems the Serpent has returned. With a detective from the cold case division desperate to connect the dots, Noa concedes that to find the Serpent, she must remember them—the other victims—the ones she’d behind left to die.

Survival Mode - Taylor S. Newport
Medically discharged from the Australian SAS, Tyler Reid struggles to adjust to life as a civilian. When an old friend offers him a high-risk mission to rescue a woman and her son from a ruthless crime boss, Tyler can’t refuse. The assignment is deadly, the enemy relentless, and Tyler's new teammates are strangers. Can he trust them? As he fights off the enemy, the stakes rise with every move, testing his limits and pushing him to his breaking point. In a world where survival depends on split second choices, failure is not an option.

All That Lies Beneath - D.L. Wood
The case was closed. Until another body turned up.
Private investigator Sophie Walsh thought the nightmare was over when a conviction finally came in the Perfect Princess serial killings. But when another young woman is found murdered—with the same chilling signature—the certainty shatters. As whispers of a copycat, partner, or devastating mistake surface, Sophie races to uncover the truth. Did they convict the right man? Or is the real killer still watching—and ready to strike again?
Set in a small Southern town with secrets as deep as the Tennessee River, All That Lies Beneath delivers gripping suspense with twists you won’t see coming.

The Girl Between Us - Julia Blythe
Typically, strong friendships never develop between a local and a summer girl—especially a summer girl from the school for the Deaf. But that’s just what happens when Scarlet McBride is chosen every summer to spend July 4th week at the school headmaster’s lake lodge. Surprisingly, the headmaster has left her the lodge in his will. Fifteen years since her last summer at the lake, Scarlet returns with plans to sell the house but learns her old summer friend Becca Bishop still resides across the water. They had once been inseparable—until the night Becca’s little sister drowned. That’s when all fingers pointed at the outsider as the one to blame, and Scarlet was never chosen again—until now.

Genres: Suspense, Contemporary, Christian, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Christian Fiction

666 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2025

About the author

Daphne du Maurier and Christy Award-Winning author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing suspenseful, mysteries stained with history's secrets. Jaime lives in dreamland, exists in reality, and invites you to join her adventures at jaimewrightbooks.com!

Reviews

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Not such a Perfect Princess now.”

“You don’t say no when a serial killer wants to talk to you about his last kill.”

“I spend a lot of time facing the unthinkable depths humans will go to in this life for all kinds of selfish reasons, leaving raw, broken people in their wake. It’s a heavy and sobering truth which might lead me to question whether there really is a benevolent God with a plan, if I weren’t convinced to my core that there is.”

This review is only for DL Wood’s novella “All That Lies Beneath”, though I will also definitely be reading Jaime Jo Wright’s novella as well. Since DL Wood (and Jaime Jo Wright) are two of my favorite authors so I was excited about this collection.

All That Lies Beneath hooks you early on with a great heroine (PI Sophie Walsh) in a great setting (Alabama) and deals with a great mystery plot (a serial killer). As usual, DL Wood does not disappoint. I always feel like she pays attention to all the little details in writing that make a story so good: descriptions of scenes as well as knowing when to show rather than tell, a main character that quickly you feel like you know right away, and an unraveling mystery.

If you like edge of your seat suspense with great characters and setting, then try All That Lies Beneath.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[It's Sunrise Again · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ones I Left to Die by Jaime Jo Wright
Wow, what an intriguing title that perfectly sets the scene for the story. This is the first book I've read by Jaime Jo Wright but it won't be the last. The ones I left to die is an absolutely amazing mystery and I hope we continue to see Noa's story play out in the future.

Survival Mode by Taylor S. Newport is the perfect introduction to Tyler and the team. A high-octane, action-packed mystery. It does have a cliffhanger, but it is explained in the early pages of Line of Fire.

All That Lies Beneath by D. L. Wood is the first book in a new series. Sophie is a detective turned private investigator. There are multiple threads of the mystery and not all of them are solved. There were several unexpected twists, and the storytelling focused on the details. I can't wait to see where this series goes next.

The Girl Between Us Julia Blythe is a very complex, eerie mystery. Scarlett is a fantastic character. There are so many interesting themes and moments. I hope that there is a second book that continues this story.

I received a complimentary copy from Two Dogs Publishing. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read two stories in the collection so far. I do plan to read the other two at some point.

The Ones I Left To Die by Jaime Jo Wright. 5 Stars for this story.
As a longtime fan of Jaime Jo’s stories, I knew this would be a great read. It did not disappoint. The mystery kept me guessing, and the other elements Jaime wove in made this story unputdownable. I definitely can see more with these characters in the future and I am hoping just that!

The Girl Between Us by Julia Blythe 3 Stars for this story.
This one sounded intriguing from the synopsis for the book. It is definitely an unusual and interesting mystery. I never completely clicked with this one though. As details emerged, it did seem a bit far fetched and not all the ends of the mystery seem like they are resolved. This one was just okay for me.

[Tara | Mercyandgracereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets Along the Shore - Beach Reads Thriller Collection

What a great way to finish off the summer and enter fall with some spooky and thrilling reads. I gave this collection 5⭐️ overall. See below for my thoughts on each book included.

The Ones I Left to Die by Jaime Jo Wright
I mean… this is Jaime Jo Wright at a whole new level! This story is set entirely in a contemporary timeline and includes some psychological elements. .. There are mentions of the main character seeing a dead girl. I was okay with it because it felt like a very psychological response for someone that had been through her type of trauma.

Survival Mode by Taylor S Newport
This book was new territory for me. It is a military style tactical exfil story. The ending felt very abrupt, and I was wanting it to be more fleshed out. I enjoyed how action-packed pacing of the story.

All That Lies Beneath by D.L. Wood
I love this author so much and this story is the beginning of a new series that I cannot wait to continue. A Private Investigator story with a serial killer plot twist, and the best little restaurant setting that gives that reprieve from the intensity.
The Girl Between Us by Julia Blythe
I’m adding more books by Nulia Blythe to my TBR. This cold case psychological thriller was intense! It features a deaf main character, and I love the storyline. The mystery keeps twisting and turning and makes you second guess everyone.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of novellas can all be read separately, but they all have the same theme, secrets that have survived the test of time and are now presenting danger to those who are looking for truth. All are great reads, with plenty of suspense and action.
The Ones I Left to Die by Jamie Jo Wright
Noa is the only surviving victim of a serial killer known as The Serpent Killer, and even ten years after she escaped from her grave, she cannot put the past behind her. Now, in her small town that is supposed to be her refuge, more women and girls are missing or being murdered. With an ethereal connection to one of the victims named Sophia, Noa doggedly investigates, putting herself in danger. The action is fast and furious and the story is mesmerizing with characters that compelled me to like them and root for them to triumph against evil. The ending leaves the door open for more stories about Noa and her never-ending quest for justice.
Survival Mode by Taylor S. Newport
This is a gripping story of a woman held captive by the mob in Croatia and their brutal leader Viktor. Elara had fled her native Australia to try to find love and acceptance. She thought she found it with Viktor, even producing a son for them to raise together. Unfortunately, once Viktor starts grooming Rian to be a cruel, vicious taskmaster like him, Elara wants to escape so she calls on her father Koen, a man who was a secret agent before his retirement and who has all kinds of people he can call on to assist Elara. Koen enlists the aid of Von and her team in Croatia and sends them one of his best operatives, a skilled daredevil named Tyler Reid. This novella is so fast paced that the pages sped by as fast as Elara was being pursued by the Rukas, Viktor’s mercenaries. The action is realistic and somewhat scary as their attempts to escape are constantly blocked and danger lurks everywhere. The characters were likable and believable and the plot was engrossing and well written, with an open ending that left me wanting to know more about Tyler and his future.
All that Lies Beneath by D.L. Wood
Sophie Walsh is an investigator without equal, one who pursues evildoers as far and as long as she needs to in order to get justice for victims. A consultant with the local sheriff’s office and engaged to one of the powerful Calder brothers, Sophie is enjoying life. Then the serial killer that is standing trial and about to be sentenced is jeopardized and she knows the case isn’t solved yet. Dead women, secrets buried deep and an investigator determined to ferret them out regardless of the cost to her own life make this a fast-paced and immersive read. The characters were dynamic and relatable and the plot was compelling, with twists and turns and a mystery that begged to be solved. I am happy that this novella is an introduction to the Sophie Walsh character because I definitely want to read more of her story of unwavering courage.
The Girl Between Us by Julia Blythe
This novella is a haunting and compelling story of deaf children who are used for evil purposes by someone that they trusted. When Scarlet inherits the old Scanlon lodge that she used to visit as a student, she has no idea of the secrets it holds and the danger that she will uncover as she reveals them. The characters are relatable, if somewhat unreliable narrators at times, but that is because the truth is unraveled slowly in the course of the story. The plot is fast-paced with plenty of red herrings and fake trails laid out to keep me guessing. I enjoyed the story and will definitely look for other books by this author.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via BookFunnel. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Erin Laramore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish my favorite authors did not continue to contribute to anthologies. I understand why they do, but I would love to give 2 of the 4 stories 5 stars, but the other 2 have 3 star ratings, so I'm averaging this out to 4 stars. Here's a breakdown in my review:

The Ones I Left to Die by Jaime Jo Wright - 5 stars - this one felt a lot like her dual timeline reads without the historical element. It did not have the spook factor that I've come to enjoy in Wright's dual timeline books, but still had a creepy feel with a potential repeat serial killer in a small town. There was good character development in this one, some twists and turns and a decent faith thread. There was even a twist at the end that made me suck in my breath. I hope there is more to Noa's story!

Survival Mode by Taylor Newport - 3 stars - Newport is a new-to-me author. While I enjoyed the overall story line and enjoyed how the characters got from the beginning to the end, the characters were not likable to me and I felt like I needed to suspend belief a bit during some of the firefight scenes. The faith thread is strong as Elara and Rian pray often, but we don't actually see any real results or growth in that. While I did enjoy the overall story, the telling fell a bit flat for me.

All That Lies Beneath by D.L. Wood - 5 stars - I thoroughly enjoyed this start to a new series by an author I have known and enjoyed for awhile. Though I was able to predict some of the details (it's hard to stump a suspense reader), the "why" and the ride to get there was still a fun one and this one also ended with a bit of a twist that has me frustrated that I have to wait till spring to get the next installment in the series. I liked the characters in this one and the faith thread was present beneath the surface.

The Girl Between Us by Julia Blythe - 3 stars - Blythe is another new-to-me author. The story begins when Scarlett is a teenager, but fast forwards 15 years after setting the stage. To me, the entire thing read like a young adult novel though, which are not my cup of tea. There was no faith thread contained in this one and though there was some character development at the end, the characters did not seem to grow much through the story and were generally not likable to me. I did enjoy the mystery element of this one and the discovery of the past secrets was interesting. This was another where the overall story arc was good, but the telling fell a bit flat.

All in all, this was an enjoyable anthology. I really enjoyed the stories by the authors I already know and love and am anxious to get more from them with these characters. The authors that were new to me are not ones I will likely pick up again, but the stories themselves were enjoyable enough. Special thanks to the authors and publisher for an advance e-copy of this anthology. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Survival Mode by Taylor S Newport
Having read two books by this author, this story is a bit of a 0.5 for that series where we go back in time and see him get connected up with his “team.” After losing his team in the military and being discharged with a TBI, Tyler feels a bit adrift. When his friend receives a call from his long lost daughter, who is in trouble, he reaches out to Tyler to help find her. As Tyler joins this team in Croatia temporarily, he has to deal with his own uncertainties about his abilities and push back from the members on the team. As things continue to go wrong and bad turns to worse we worry about finding the young lady and her 10 year old son. This is a thriller with a lot of action and gun fights. There is no romance for these characters and any on page intimacy for any characters is level 1.

I received an eARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fabulous anthology! All of the books were really well done, which is not always the case in an anthology, and I enjoyed each of them. There were two that were complete standouts for me though and made the book a keeper in my opinion.
I love Jaime Jo Wright, I would read anything by her, and lately she's been branching out from her historical dual timeline stories. Her story in this anthology, The Ones I Left to Die, was nothing short of brilliantly done. It was both somewhat creepy, a trademark of hers, but also moving and edge of your seat as well. I kept turning the pages to see what would happen, and I loved the ending. Even if I am slightly perturbed at her for how she kept me guessing on one aspect of the story. I really hope to see this character featured again, in another story somewhere.
The other standout, All That Lies Beneath by D.L. Wood, was a riveting story featuring P.I. Sophie Walsh. This was an excellent detective/suspense story, one that kept me guessing right up until almost the end. I loved Sophie and I'm super excited to see her featured in future stories. This was the first D.L. Wood book I've ever read, but I am totally going to go devour her other books.
The other two books in this anthology were good as well, though I didn't find them quite as satisfying as the two mentioned above. I did enjoy each story though, and that alone shows how well the authors do their jobs. I highly recommend this anthology if you love suspenseful stories but want more of a moral foundation to be involved with said suspense. This collection is a keeper.
*I read an early ARC copy of the book from the authors/publisher. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve only finished Taylor Newport’s book in this Anthology so far but I absolutely was on the edge of my seat with her book. Was glad we were able to meet Tyler Reid and some of his teammates technically before the first two books in Dauntless Defenders series. He’s a tough character from all he’s had to go through but still preserves through it all til the last minute of rescue. I loved seeing a new different way of thriller and action without the romance even though that’s my number 1 genre I like I am loving this way. I’ll be considering more thrillers in the future. Now onward to finish the other stories in the book…..coming back again for other reviews.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ones I Left to Die by Jaime Jo Wright is a gripping story about Noa, who was captured by and escaped from a serial killer named the Serpent Killer ten years ago. When a woman Sophia goes missing, Rueben, a detective, thinks the case may be linked to the Serpent Killer. This was an interesting read with twists and turns, and the ending was a surprise.
Survival Mode by Taylor S. Newport was a fast-paced, well-written read with plenty of action that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The plot was engaging, I was drawn into the story from the first page, and I enjoyed seeing how Tyler got his start as a mercenary.
All That Lies Beneath by D. L. Wood was a wonderful story about Sophie, a PI investigator working on a case. The first chapter starts off with the evidence pointing to the man accused as being a killer, but new evidence pointed him as not being the killer. Who is the real killer and why? This story has twists and turns and surprises that I didn't see coming. Set in North Alabama, I loved seeing how Wood wove familiar landmarks into this story. As always, she did a fantastic job crafting a riveting story.
The Girl Between Us by Julia Blythe was well-written with twists and turns, secrets, and Scarlett's friend Becca's little sister's death. Scarlett, who is deaf, inherits the school headmaster's lodge she was a student at in the summertime after his death years later. It becomes clear someone doesn't want her to uncover the truth of what happened to Becca's sister Olivia nor what really occurred in the school. Was it an accident, did Scarlett truly kill Olivia, or did someone else kill Olivia? The plot was engaging, the storyline drew me in, and the story was riveting and suspenseful.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ethelann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets Along the Shore Anthology is a pretty exciting book.

The Ones I Left to Die was a story that caught me from the beginning. It had a great psychological feel to it. Noa had escaped a serial killer, the Serpent, 10 years ago and it looks like he's back after her again or is he? Some things that have happened are the same, and Noa isn't so sure it is him.

Survival Mode is Tyler's story. He's at loose ends after being medically discharged from Australia's SAS. When an old friend of his calls him needing his help and to work with a specialized team who did rescues. Tyler takes the job, but trust for him is hard. But he'll do what needs to be done to rescue his friend's daughter and her son.

All That Lies Beneath is an amazing story. A serial killer is put behind bars and the case is closed for PI Sophie Walsh or is it? Another killing has happened with the same signature, copycat, or is the wrong man in jail. The twists in this story keep you reading. But the ending, I didn't see that coming at all.

The Girl Between Us was a pretty good story. Scarlett McBride has inherited an old house from her childhood. She wants to sell it, but something horrible happened 15 years ago there and no one wants it.
Scarlett knows her friend drowned there, but her sister Becca still lives there. But the longer Scarlett stays the more memories start to vaguely resurface.
The ending of this story was a twist I didn't see coming.

[Deena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthologies can be tricky to review. I’ve never read a collection and loved every single story. So it can be tricky.

However, this set came very close to being a winner across the board. Rather than try to judge the whole, let me tell you about the parts, my favorites in particular.

In Jaime Jo Wright’s contribution we meet Noa—an abduction survivor dealing with survivor’s guilt, and Reuben—a cold case detective determined to help Noa make peace with her past while solving a decades old crime.

For her first foray into the suspense genre this was a home run.

My other favorite is by an author that I love, and she really shines in her story. D.L. Wood introduces us to P.I. Sophie Walsh and her team of investigators as they work to connect a new murder case to an already convicted serial killer. This one was perfect for an adrenaline junkie reader such as myself.

Overall I was very pleased with this quartet of suspense. I received an advance copy from the publisher. I’m under no obligation and my review has not been solicited.

[Diane Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has 4 novellas in one! All of the books are by different authors and aren't connected. This review is for Eye of the Mind by Sara Davison. I really enjoyed this one. Sara Davison does a great job of bringing new plots and twists to her books. This one deals with a woman who was aphantasia. I have never even heard of that before! I loved the chemistry between the main characters, Jules and Dante. And talk about twists and action! Every time the characters turned around, something else happened. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed! I received this book for my honest opinion.

[Denise A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Interesting Collection!!

These stories will definitely leave you glancing over your shoulder and leaving the lights on as you read them! Suspense, mystery, twists you won’t see coming, and plenty of action to keep you up late, trying to finish just one more chapter. There’s a definite creep vibe going through the stories! Well written with great character development, the books are all told with a first person narration, except for the second story, Survival Mode, which had a dual point of view. I enjoyed reading this collection and I recommend it!!

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four books in one

I like anthologies, but I dislike that Goodreads only counts it as one book. I've officially read 10 more books than Goodreads counted for me. Oh well. I enjoyed all four of these books. Had a little trouble getting into the last two, because they were written in first person. Once I got past that, the stories were riveting. Moving on to book 2 in the series now.

[Tina Lowery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets Along The Shore definitely combined an intense set of books to curl up with!! As I read "The Ones I Left to Die", by Jamie Jo Wright, my heart shattered. The compassion I had for Noa, the victim, left me on an emotional alert throughout the entire book! The characters cast alongside Noa, amidst the suspensefully written story, were amazing!! It was so written so well, I just couldn't put it down!
Taylor S. Newport's story "Survival Mode" took suspense to another level. This well-crafted story fascinated me as Elara and her son ran for their lives, away from her mobster husband. Tyler Reid made an impressive hero, his actions swift and sure. He led his team and narrated how this retrieval and rescue was to play out. I loved this story and the suspense kept me up until the very end!
D.L. Wood wrote the story "All That Lies Beneath" with precision and clarity. It was well-crafted, suspenseful and delightfully intriguing!! Sophie, an ex-cop within the Sheriff's Office was an expert at finding ways to the truth as a P.I., and wasn't afraid of hard work. This story was crafted in a way that all of the twists and turns delightfully impacted me as a reader!! I enjoyed this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

[MileHighSunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each story so different and excellent!

This anthology was fantastic! None of the thrillers was anything like the others.

Each author did a fabulous job writing their story. They built believable characters that made each story strong and relatable. These were truly thrillers!

I’m moving on to the second anthology of this series. You’ll want to also!

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ones I Left to Die - Jaime Jo Wright
Wright brings her Gothic vibe to this haunting tale. She keeps you guessing until the end.

Survival Mode - Taylor S. Newport
Newport delivers a fast-paced Military suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat until the end.

All That Lies Beneath - D.L. Wood
Wood exhibits her outstanding investigative skills to this sublime drama.

The Girl Between Us - Julia Blythe
Blythe delivers a chilling psychological thriller.


Recommend to readers who enjoy mystery suspense.

I borrowed a copy from KU. I have expressed my honest view.

[Emily Forro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets Along the Shore-Great Book

Every one of these stories was fantastic! Julie Blythe was a new author to me, and I’m so glad she was included! I will definitely be looking for more of her books, what a great thriller! Taylor Newport was also a new author, loved her story! Will also be searching for other books by her. Now I can’t wait to read the next Sophie Walsh, PI book by D.L. Wood. I already follow Jaime JoWright, but this thriller was exceptional!! Highly recommend this book ad these authors!

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

SURVIVAL MODE by Taylor S. Newport (story 2): Elara tries to escape with her son, Rian, from a ruthless husband. It is her faith that is strong and knows God will provide a way. Her father sends the one man he knows will bring her home, Tyler Reid. The action is non-stop! My thanks to the author and the publishing co. for this ARC. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.

[Heather Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew!

Oh.my.goodness!!! These books are INTENSE! I mean, of course they are, since they are thrillers, but phew! They had my heart pounding and my brain twisting every which way trying to figure out what was happening! Each of these stories is SO GOOD! You just might not want to read them right before bed...

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ones I Left to Die - 138 pages

[Christy Foss]

I really enjoyed the first 3 stories in this collection…. The last one, well it was just not the best.

[Joni Truex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this anthology. The stories were all different and very good. Jaime Jo Wright's story was very good. The second story was good. The third and fourth were very good. This anthology was provided to me. The opinions expressed here are my own thoughts. Worth the read.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of stories! The first book by Jaime Jo Wright especially kept me reading and I can’t wait to hear more of the story. Each book was quite different and interesting!

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. This is a collection of Christian thrillers. We have stories by four different authors. I was so excited to receive this as I love a good thriller book. I have also never read any books by any of these authors before and these books did not disappoint me. Overall, I rated this collection as a whole and gave it 4 ½ stars.
The first book is The Ones I Left to Die by Jamie Jo Wright. Noa had escaped a serial killer in her past and wanted to put it all behind her. When the serial killer comes back will she help them find the serial killer? Will she be willing to remember her past? I think Noa was such a strong person to go through what she did and overcome it. Some of my favorite Christian romantic suspense books involved serial killers in the storyline so I really enjoyed this one.
The second book is Survival Mode by Taylor S. Newport. Tyler gets offered a mission to rescue a woman and her son from a crime boss. Will he accept it and go rescue them? The mission gets more dangerous and Tyler is having to work with a team he barely knows. Will he learn to trust his team? I was on the edge of my seat while reading this book. I truly enjoyed it.
The third book is All That Lies Beneath by D.L. Wood. Sophie thought the Perfect Princess serial killer case was closed. When a body shows up the same way the others were what will they do? Did they convict the right man? Is it a copycat? Will they catch the killer in time? This book was so good. I was constantly guessing who was behind it all.
The last book is The Girl Between Us by Julia Blythe. Scarlet inherits a lodge but wants to sell it. When she realizes an old friend lives close by she decides to investigate. When they were younger her friend’s sister drowned. Will she find the truth? When investigating will she find more than she originally thought? I liked this book. This book was by an author I had never heard of before so I was excited to read it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ones I left Behind- Jaime Jo Wright 4 stars
Noa has survived a frightening event that happened years ago involving a person dubbed the Serpent. When Noa is called upon to help with a case of a killer and snakes that are left behind at each of the victims’ homes, will she be able to help catch him or be sucked into his clutches once again? I enjoyed this story, but was surprised that it ends with unanswered questions. I am hoping that there will be a book to follow this story.

Survival Mode- Taylor S. Newport 4 stars
Heart-pounding from the beginning to the end of the story as Elara Atkinson and her son are running from her husband, the leader of the Black Hand mob. Tyler Reid has been called to extract Elara. With lives at risk, the tension is high as the team must work together to bring them and themselves to safety.

All that Lies Beneath D.L. Wood 4 stars
Sophie Walsh has been after a serial killer for years and has finally caught the killer and seen him brought to justice. But, when another lady’s been found and the timeline of her murder raises questions, Sophie must investigate further to see if she indeed caught the right person. There was a twist that I didn’t see coming and made this story the best for me of all the anthology.

The Girl Between Us Julia Blythe 4 stars
Secrets from the past have a way of catching up with us. Scarlett had been invited to a lodge each summer by the headmaster of a school for the deaf. But, when there is a tragic death of one of the local girls, Scarlett is never invited to return. Fast forward fifteen years to Scarlett inheriting the lodge where the truth is quite shocking. I enjoyed the twists in the story and the danger of the unknown.

The stories seem to be the beginning of a new series for each of the authors. I look forward to reading this that will follow.

I received a copy of the book with no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

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

All That Lies Beneath by D. L. Wood is book 3 in this anthology and was a chilling story of a serial killer who preyed on young women. The killer who was dubbed the Perfect Princess killer, due to his signature on the body, has been found guilty. Now they are awaiting sentencing.

Sophie Walsh is a private investigator who works with the local sheriff's office as a consultant. She is proud of the conviction, but that pride is short-lived when another body is found. She knows that they got the right guy, but that itch of finding out for sure is working overtime for her.

This mystery got deep and interesting very early on. The name of the book was very appropriate. There are secrets, and then there are deep secrets that lie beneath the surface. I had some idea of what might happen, but I was completely floored by the final twist.

I hope to see more from P.I. Sophie Walsh in the future. She was a very likable character with both mental and physical skills that make her a wonderful investigator and not a woman you want to trifle with. Just ask the guy who approached her in the courthouse parking lot. That scene was gold.

This was book 3 in this anthology, and was a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joy Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read books from three of the authors in this collection and already knew that it would be good. Now I have a fourth author to look forward to reading more books from. Each story will draw you in and make you wonder just who to trust and who is telling the truth. The first story is about Noa trying to live and keep ahead of her past until it comes knocking at her door. Has The Serpent Killer come back to finish Noa off along with the new victims? "The world around me was spinning. I could smell it-the dirt-I could taste it- and the scent of the lake on the air exacerbated it all." I was so happy to read the second story and get an inside look on how Tyler Reid becomes the man that he is. Trust me you will want to know his story for when you read the other books from this author. I was completely drawn into the third story with so many twists and turns. Just how many murders and murderers can you have in one story? You will have to read it to find out. Then the final story by the author who is new to me. The main character is deaf which gives the story more intrigue to the plot. To me the whole theme of each story is, Do you truly know the people around you? Grab your copy today and be ready to have your whole weekend booked.

[Tammy Tappan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: this review is just for the story by D.L. Wood, All That Lies Beneath.

All That Lies Beneath is the first book in a news series by D.L. Wood featuring private investigator Sophie Walsh. And I, for one, can't wait for the next installment! I really enjoyed many things about this book. The style - first person, Sophie 'narrating' it to us. Gave it a personal feel, like I was going through the same thoughts and emotions as she was. The way her personal life was woven in - felt natural as she navigated people and emotions while also solving a crime. And realistic - the focus wasn't just on this case, but her other work was attended to, making it feel realistic. And, of course, the story itself! Wow - just, wow! She found the guy. He was brought to justice. But then the wrinkles started...another murder? Had to be him, right? Or was it? And the plot, as the saying goes, thickened. I won't say more because I can't without giving away details, but this is such a good, intricate story you won't be able to put it down! Which could be why I read it in day... Another great read by D.L. Wood. Get it. Read it. You will be glad you did!