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Skeleton Tides: Audri Ashe Private Investigator–A Psychological Thriller
Readers are giving it five stars and calling it “unputdownable!”
If you love a psychological thriller packed with mystery and suspense, laced with a touch of dark romance, Skeleton Tides will pull you under and won’t let go.
When a private investigator’s addiction to danger becomes as deadly as the cases she solves, the line between hunter and hunted disappears.
Audri Ashe solves crimes from the deck of her vintage yacht in the fog-drenched San Juan Islands. Her investigations twist through political secrets, military corruption, and victims no one else will fight for. But the real danger isn’t in the crimes she investigates, it’s her ex-lover, a former NHL star turned coach, who’s weaponized her darkest secrets. His psychological warfare threatens her relationship with attorney Henry Ellis and could expose everything she’s buried.
As a relentless investigator, Audri doesn’t get the luxury of solving one case before the next body drops. Crime doesn’t queue politely, and neither does she. She chases truth like an addict chasing adrenaline.
In the Pacific Northwest’s pristine waters, the most treacherous currents run beneath the surface. And someone’s watching the watcher.
Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Tana French, and James Patterson, Skeleton Tides is a noir psychological thriller that blends mystery, suspense, dark romance, and gripping intrigue into a haunting story about damaged people, dangerous secrets, and the fine line between hunting predators and becoming prey.
Book One in the Audri Ashe Private Investigator Series, it follows a fearless female private investigator as she navigates treacherous cases and hidden dangers in the foggy waters of the Pacific Northwest.
If you love a psychological thriller packed with mystery and suspense, laced with a touch of dark romance, Skeleton Tides will pull you under and won’t let go.
When a private investigator’s addiction to danger becomes as deadly as the cases she solves, the line between hunter and hunted disappears.
Audri Ashe solves crimes from the deck of her vintage yacht in the fog-drenched San Juan Islands. Her investigations twist through political secrets, military corruption, and victims no one else will fight for. But the real danger isn’t in the crimes she investigates, it’s her ex-lover, a former NHL star turned coach, who’s weaponized her darkest secrets. His psychological warfare threatens her relationship with attorney Henry Ellis and could expose everything she’s buried.
As a relentless investigator, Audri doesn’t get the luxury of solving one case before the next body drops. Crime doesn’t queue politely, and neither does she. She chases truth like an addict chasing adrenaline.
In the Pacific Northwest’s pristine waters, the most treacherous currents run beneath the surface. And someone’s watching the watcher.
Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Tana French, and James Patterson, Skeleton Tides is a noir psychological thriller that blends mystery, suspense, dark romance, and gripping intrigue into a haunting story about damaged people, dangerous secrets, and the fine line between hunting predators and becoming prey.
Book One in the Audri Ashe Private Investigator Series, it follows a fearless female private investigator as she navigates treacherous cases and hidden dangers in the foggy waters of the Pacific Northwest.
584 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2025
16 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
JJ Ellen
3 books2 followers JJ Ellen weaves years of real-world criminal and legal investigative expertise into the rich tapestry of her fiction. She creates stories that effortlessly combine suspense and creativity from the misty shores of Seattle and the hidden coves of the San Juan Islands that have become both sanctuary and muse. These emerald landscapes, where water meets wilderness, breathe life into the pages of her Pacific Northwest mysteries.
Her intimate knowledge of terrain extends across a lifetime of wandering: from Colorado’s high country where mountain peaks scrape the sky, to New Mexico’s red-earth expanses where ancient spirits whisper through desert winds, to California’s restless coastline where cliffs surrender to the eternal conversation between land and sea. Each landscape has carved itself into her writer’s soul, informing the authenticity that grounds her characters in settings that pulse with their own heartbeat.
The American West flows through her veins like a geographic bloodline, its varied moods and hidden corners becoming the emotional geography of her fiction. Whether navigating Boulder’s Front Range shadows, tracing the Rio Grande’s silver thread through high desert, or following the Pacific’s mercurial moods along rocky shores, she writes with the authority of someone who has walked these places under every sky.
Beyond her writing, JJ finds creative expression through the lens of her camera and in the artistry of her cooking. Her connection to nature serves as both compass and anchor, guiding her along forest trails and across shimmering waters, always returning her to the stories that demand to be told.
Her intimate knowledge of terrain extends across a lifetime of wandering: from Colorado’s high country where mountain peaks scrape the sky, to New Mexico’s red-earth expanses where ancient spirits whisper through desert winds, to California’s restless coastline where cliffs surrender to the eternal conversation between land and sea. Each landscape has carved itself into her writer’s soul, informing the authenticity that grounds her characters in settings that pulse with their own heartbeat.
The American West flows through her veins like a geographic bloodline, its varied moods and hidden corners becoming the emotional geography of her fiction. Whether navigating Boulder’s Front Range shadows, tracing the Rio Grande’s silver thread through high desert, or following the Pacific’s mercurial moods along rocky shores, she writes with the authority of someone who has walked these places under every sky.
Beyond her writing, JJ finds creative expression through the lens of her camera and in the artistry of her cooking. Her connection to nature serves as both compass and anchor, guiding her along forest trails and across shimmering waters, always returning her to the stories that demand to be told.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 17, 2025
A Gripping Thriller with Unforgettable Twists. JJ Ellen delivers a knockout debut with "Skeleton Tides"—this is thriller writing at its finest. From the explosive opening with a cargo plane landing at a silent ranch to the chilling revelation in a murder room, Ellen knows exactly how to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
What impressed me most was the layered mystery. Just when you think you understand what's happening, Ellen pulls the rug out from under you. The connection between exotic car smuggling, gambling rings, and a congresswoman's daughter's murder creates a web of intrigue that's both complex and completely believable. The psychological report on Tito Finch—with his terrifying visions of "manikins"—added a disturbing dimension I never saw coming.
Ellen's prose is sharp and evocative without being overwrought. The action sequences are pulse-pounding (that car chase scene!), and the quieter investigative moments are equally compelling. I loved the authentic details—from surveillance techniques to legal procedures—that ground the story in reality.
The supporting cast is equally strong. Agent Kaplan's conflicted surveillance of Audri adds another layer of tension, and Congresswoman Marilyn Addison is a truly chilling antagonist. That scene where she defaces her dead daughter's photograph? Absolutely haunting.
The Pacific Northwest islands provide the perfect moody backdrop for this dark tale. Ellen captures the isolation and beauty of the San Juans while making them feel genuinely menacing.
If you love smart, twisty thrillers with morally complex characters and high stakes, grab this book immediately. "Skeleton Tides" announces JJ Ellen as a major new voice in crime fiction.
What impressed me most was the layered mystery. Just when you think you understand what's happening, Ellen pulls the rug out from under you. The connection between exotic car smuggling, gambling rings, and a congresswoman's daughter's murder creates a web of intrigue that's both complex and completely believable. The psychological report on Tito Finch—with his terrifying visions of "manikins"—added a disturbing dimension I never saw coming.
Ellen's prose is sharp and evocative without being overwrought. The action sequences are pulse-pounding (that car chase scene!), and the quieter investigative moments are equally compelling. I loved the authentic details—from surveillance techniques to legal procedures—that ground the story in reality.
The supporting cast is equally strong. Agent Kaplan's conflicted surveillance of Audri adds another layer of tension, and Congresswoman Marilyn Addison is a truly chilling antagonist. That scene where she defaces her dead daughter's photograph? Absolutely haunting.
The Pacific Northwest islands provide the perfect moody backdrop for this dark tale. Ellen captures the isolation and beauty of the San Juans while making them feel genuinely menacing.
If you love smart, twisty thrillers with morally complex characters and high stakes, grab this book immediately. "Skeleton Tides" announces JJ Ellen as a major new voice in crime fiction.
November 15, 2025
I was handed this book in the Seattle airport by a man who insisted I had to read it—he’d just finished it on his long flight, and with my own eight-hour haul to Iceland ahead of me, he said he wanted to lighten his bag before the next leg of his journey. The book was worn at the edges, lived-in, like it had already kept someone company through a long night. I gladly took it.
I’m still not sure whether to call it a psychological thriller or more of a mystery, thriller, suspense with a touch of naughty noir, but whatever you call it, it hooked me fast. The atmosphere had that shadow-soaked pull that makes you read “just one more chapter,” and before I knew it, I couldn’t stop. I ended up finishing the entire book the moment I got home.
I’m already looking forward to the second book in the series. Audri Ashe, the private investigator at the center of it all, knows how to get to the truth; professionally, personally, and everywhere the lines blur in between. If the next installment keeps the same grit, heat, and pulse-pounding tension, I’m all in.
I’m still not sure whether to call it a psychological thriller or more of a mystery, thriller, suspense with a touch of naughty noir, but whatever you call it, it hooked me fast. The atmosphere had that shadow-soaked pull that makes you read “just one more chapter,” and before I knew it, I couldn’t stop. I ended up finishing the entire book the moment I got home.
I’m already looking forward to the second book in the series. Audri Ashe, the private investigator at the center of it all, knows how to get to the truth; professionally, personally, and everywhere the lines blur in between. If the next installment keeps the same grit, heat, and pulse-pounding tension, I’m all in.
January 30, 2026
Skeleton Tides completely hooked me from the first chapter, and as someone who loves James Patterson, that’s saying a lot. This is the first book by a female author that I truly loved, largely because Audri Ashe is such a refreshing lead, smart, seasoned, semi-retired, and far more interesting than the typical 20-something investigator trope. I loved the mix of hockey and sports betting elements layered into a dark, psychological thriller that never slows down. Audri comes across as gorgeous, seductive, and extremely capable, with a depth that makes her feel real rather than stylized. The Pacific Northwest setting, the psychological warfare, and the relentless pacing make this book genuinely unputdownable. I’m absolutely in for the rest of the series, and just finished book 2, Wind-up Dolls. Couldn't put it down. The sneak-peek at the end of Wind-up Dolls say mid-year for the next one, Outlaw Hill.
October 15, 2025
From the very first page, Skeleton Tides pulled me into its mysterious, dark world and refused to let go. I couldn’t put it down – every twist hit perfectly. JJ Ellen’s writing is precise—elegant yet raw—and her private investigator sparks curiosity: sharp, compelling, and utterly human. It’s not just a great detective novel—it’s an exquisitely crafted story that lingers long after the final page. An absolute must-read.
November 11, 2025
“Skeleton Tides” pulled me in right from the start and kept me guessing the whole way through. JJ Ellen nailed it with this one. The writing is sharp, the pace moves fast, and the story feels real from start to finish.
Audri Ashe is a great lead—tough, smart, and still relatable. The mix of mystery, corruption, and just the right amount of romance keeps everything balanced and believable. And the Pacific Northwest setting ties it all together perfectly.
This one stands out from the usual thrillers. I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.
Audri Ashe is a great lead—tough, smart, and still relatable. The mix of mystery, corruption, and just the right amount of romance keeps everything balanced and believable. And the Pacific Northwest setting ties it all together perfectly.
This one stands out from the usual thrillers. I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.
October 27, 2025
This book was hard to put down as the suspense and intrigue kept me wanting to find out more. The romance that goes along with the adventures also kept me captive, along with the descriptions of the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I wanted to experience it all!
October 20, 2025
Skeleton Tides pulled me in from the first page and didn’t let go. Audri Ashe is one of the most fascinating investigators I’ve read — sharp, damaged, and completely compelling. The San Juan Islands setting is so vivid and makes me want to plan my next trip.
As a longtime Michael Connelly fan, I loved how authentic the investigative work felt here. Audri doesn’t get one case at a time and she has to juggle overlapping investigations, just like Connelly’s best work.
If you like the psychological depth of Gillian Flynn and the procedural authenticity of Michael Connelly, Skeleton Tides is for you.
As a longtime Michael Connelly fan, I loved how authentic the investigative work felt here. Audri doesn’t get one case at a time and she has to juggle overlapping investigations, just like Connelly’s best work.
If you like the psychological depth of Gillian Flynn and the procedural authenticity of Michael Connelly, Skeleton Tides is for you.
October 16, 2025
Interesting story by JJ Ellen as her first published book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews