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Saint View Murder Squad #3

Reaper and Ruin: Alternate Cover

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An explosion shatters the night. The three men I love are thrown from the bluff into the raging sea below.

And one of them can’t swim.

But the fall isn’t the only thing trying to kill us.

Every step we take, danger stalks closer.
Every breath we steal, the killer waits in the shadows.

When he rips someone I love away from me, the fragile family I’ve fought to build begins to unravel.

The killer has to be unmasked.
The ruin has to end.

Because this time, losing means more than death.

It means giving up the only people I can’t live without.

Reaper and Ruin is the final book in the Saint View Murder Squad trilogy. It cannot be read as a standalone. Start the series with book 1, X's and O's. Please note, Reaper and Ruin contains dark themes that may trigger some readers.

470 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2025

1912 people are currently reading
1877 people want to read

About the author

Elle Thorpe

51 books4,964 followers
USA Today Bestselling author Elle Thorpe is the author of over thirty romance titles, including Amazon top ten books, Start a War and Locked Up Liars. She is best known for her dark reverse harems, and sexy small town romances.

When she's not writing, she's probably out on her family's alpaca farm in rural Australia.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellethorpebooks
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ellethorpebooks
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellethorpebooks

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5 stars
4,331 (54%)
4 stars
2,439 (30%)
3 stars
986 (12%)
2 stars
167 (2%)
1 star
33 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 679 reviews
Profile Image for Emms-hiatus(ish).
1,233 reviews67 followers
October 23, 2025
X might be the love of my life. I was seriously laughing out LOUD at work.

Also, I knew who the 'bad guy' was the very moment they were introduced. The rest of the characters and the story - meh. X - all the stars.
Profile Image for Jillian.
98 reviews10 followers
October 18, 2025
What an epic end to one of my all time favorite series.

All i do is laugh when im reading a Saint View book & this was no different.

“I’m Rose, not Jack! Let me on the door!” 🤣💀

X for president.

Their found family never fails to give me the warm & fuzzies. They’re all so good together, hyping each other up & always having each others backs. 😭❤️

For as batshit crazy as X is, he really has the biggest heart. I mean, i mild case of food poisoning just to keep someone home? Lmfaooo. His heart is definitely in the right place with this one.

Ive laughed out loud, I’ve cried, I’ve kicked & screamed. Violet & Nyah’s friendship has been one of my favorite parts about this series.

Seeing Willa again 😭 it’s like visiting old friends.

Just when i thought i had it all figured out, i realized i actually knew nothing.

Listen, i have devoured every single one of the Saint View series, but Saint View Murder Squad has been my absolute favorite of the bunch. Elle makes magic when she writes. ❤️

Come on 2026! I’m ready for more Saint View!!
Profile Image for Janie.
164 reviews12 followers
October 25, 2025
This was my first time having to wait for one of Elle’s books, and my god that cliffhanger at the end of book two nearly killed me. I was feral. But about two-thirds of the way through this one, I thought to myself, “She’s done it again.”

Elle really knows how to deliver not just the spice (and there was plenty of that, bless her heart) but also a bloody good plot. And boy, was the plot plotting. I was so sure I knew where things were heading… and then she flipped it on me completely. I was shocked, delighted, and mildly concerned in the best way.

Another absolute hit in the Saint View universe. The comedy in this one had me cackling, it was genuinely fantastic. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Also, X has officially joined the ranks of my unhinged book boyfriends. No notes. Perfection.

Fave Quotes

“Plot twist!” X piped up. “We’re the good guys.” Trig pulled a pack from his back pocket and lit a cigarette, dragging deep. “God help us.”

“You’re about as straight as an arrow, but who am I to tell you you can’t explore?” My butt cheeks were so clenched they could have snapped a pencil in two. “I explored. Lost my map. Maybe got eaten by a lion. Which, by the way, would be preferable to either of you ever touching my ass again.” Levi had tears of laughter watering his eyes. “Noted. But fuck, that was funny.”

I’d let go of the girl who’d been abandoned, overlooked, unloved. And I was finally walking in the shoes of the woman I was always meant to be. Out of ruin and into the sun, surrounded not by the family I’d been born into, but by the one I’d created for myself.
Profile Image for Julia.
538 reviews9 followers
October 30, 2025
i remember liking all the other series that came before this one much more than this one. every single book in this series has one of my least favorite things, which is a character that stomps around and goes “i don’t need you, i can take care of myself” and the promptly nearly gets herself and everyone else around her killed. and it’s worse cause it’s the same character every single time who has clearly learned exactly nothing.

it does not make her seem brave and determined. it makes her seem stupid and selfish.

violet is the worst part of this series. everyone else is fun.
Profile Image for Kirsten Jönsson.
78 reviews3 followers
December 15, 2025
This book was difficult to get through. I thought about dnf´ing it multiple times but after reading the first two books I had to finish the story. It was predictable and cringeworthy to say the least. The plot was all over the place and the smut scenes were so awkward and inapropriately placed in the story. I´m glad it´s over...
Profile Image for Toni.
542 reviews9 followers
February 23, 2026
Loved every page!

KU Read
464 Pages
#3 Saint View Murder Squad
Dark MC Romance
MFMM Why Choose?
Curvy FMC
Found Family
Triggers

Well that trilogy was certainly a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I loved it. The entire series was a fantastic read and the characters were all so good. It was dark, spicy, engaging and definitely funny. The banter between the guys was top shelf and X stole the show every time. That doesn't mean the other MC's weren't amazing and funny too, they certainly were, everyone brought something to the story that kept me hooked. I will definitely recommend to anyone who like a dark romance book.
Profile Image for Cat H.
2,008 reviews220 followers
March 14, 2026
4.4 stars.
It was a pretty alright ending. Especially if I count the bonus scene at the end. I just wanted more, and I’ve never been a huge fan of the epilogue being a teaser for the next book thing.🤷🏻‍♀️
Profile Image for Stefalia.
99 reviews
October 25, 2025
If I hadn't liked X, Whip, and Levi so much, and if it hadn't been so funny overall, I would not have finished this book...
it pissed me off that every fucking time something happens to her, or someone near her, the first thought she has is to have sex.... wtf... I know everyone goes through their trauma in a different way... but this girl just flat out ignores everything ...
the only good thing was the banter and the MMCs... and Harold... 🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
171 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2025
A spectacular end to this new look into Saint View. It took until Chapter 31 of book three to get an inkling of who the bad guy was ... but even then, I couldn't see the connections (so basically just a lucky shot in the dark).

There are lines from this book (the whole trilogy) that I will quote from now on. The conversations were often hysterically funny, yet these "killers" were some of the sweetest, most loving characters I've ever read.

Whether you're familiar with Saint View or just entering for the first time, this story will surely bring you back again.
2,317 reviews92 followers
October 19, 2025

I wrote this review for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner.
The third part of this amazing Saint View Murder Squad trilogy
continues straight on from where book two finished, phew, as that was a cliffhanger and a half!

Whip, Levi, X, and Violet all bring something different to this trilogy, something uniquely special. I love how far Violet has grown emotionally, embracing her curves with the support of her men. These four special characters have created a place in my heart along with the other throuples and couples. This author builds such amazing character profiles that are so real and fascinating that I could read about them every day. Their romance is spellbinding, and at times, with X at the helm, the scenes are absolutely hilarious.

Just like all of the other Saint View books, the humour in this story is sensational. I laughed out so loud my husband wanted to know what was funny—of course, I obliged and read these scenes to him. The fun banter between the characters, as well as the shenanigans they get up to—mainly X 🤣, brings a lightness that balances the darker elements of the book.

The suspense element goes off on a new tangent and I did not see that coming, great planning. The intensity of the situation the characters find themselves in is so exciting. The unpredictability of this story is outstanding and had me really trying to fit the puzzle pieces together for so long.

This fast-paced story is jam-packed with incredible drama and I can assure you there is definitely never a dull moment from beginning to end. I am so pleased to see we will be reading more Saint View stories next year, woohoo!
Profile Image for Chelsea.
163 reviews23 followers
December 1, 2025
There may or may not be spoilers, warning just in case.

This trilogy was my first from Elle.

I’ve held off on reading her for so long and it’s not because I didn’t want to read her. More like saving her until the right moment. So for the past 1 1/2 years I’ve been staring at cover after cover almost giving in but never taking the leap.. until now.

And let me tell you, it was everything I thought it would be. It was so good and now that the floodgates are open I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to stop reading them.

X was obviously my favorite. He had me laughing and just so in love with his character. Here are some things he’s said that I loved:

“Why are you throwing eggs at me,” X yelled at me. “We could make omelets with those!”

“You haven’t been calling me Omelet.” - Violet
“It’s hard to call you Omelet when I just want to call you mine.” - X

“I’m unhinged, not unhygienic.” - X

The fact that he caught a duck for Violet just because she loves them. I LOVED him. We need more characters like X. Or not, he’s unique in his own unhinged puppy way.

I bawled when Toby died and thought Elle wouldn’t be so evil to keep him dead but yup, I see you Elle out here breaking hearts.😭

I loved this trilogy, I thought it would be much more spicier but it wasn’t not spicy if you get what I mean. 3.5/5 in spice.

I just feel bad for Dax and wish we could have watched our Murder Squad harem be parents (more than what we seen with the twins). Ahhh I just seen there’s a bonus scene. Going to read that now 😍😍
Profile Image for Elle ✨ | Queen of Smut .
126 reviews7 followers
October 22, 2025
Elle Thorpe


🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Chilis
💔💔💔💔💔 + a thousand tissues

An explosion tore through the night, and so did my heart. Reaper and Ruin by Elle Thorpe isn’t just the final book in the Saint View Murder Squad — it’s the destruction of my sanity wrapped in ink and emotion.

Whip and Levi? Still ruinously perfect. Their love burns like gasoline on a wound.
Violet? My forever queen of resilience. Her strength is painful, beautiful, and utterly human.
And X… my chaotic, psychotic, beloved brother in darkness. He’s not a book boyfriend. He’s my spirit twin. The unhinged voice in my head whispering bad ideas and worse jokes.

Elle Thorpe didn’t just end a series. She detonated it.
I laughed. I sobbed. I clutched my chest and ugly cried into a pillow while whispering, “The Murder Squad lives on.”


Reaper and Ruin (Saint View Murder Squad #3) by Elle Thorpe
Profile Image for Booktokqutiepie.
227 reviews33 followers
January 7, 2026
oh what an ending

I tried to wait for this one to hit audible but I just couldn’t and I’m glad I didn’t what a fantastic ending! Love the villain (s) more on this review soon but definite read
Profile Image for Laurel Ullman-bockert.
495 reviews2 followers
March 11, 2026
X remains totally unhinged in the best possible way. The banter here remained top notch. Loved everyone finding their way into their own spots in the relationships. Is there going to be a series for Nyla??
Profile Image for Teleri Anoram.
425 reviews
February 12, 2026
This installment made up for all the smut missing from books 1 & 2. I found the apex a bit disappointing and the reuse of familiar tropes/themes from these series, e.g. surprise pregnancy because folks stopped paying attention to contraception to start being groan worthy. Like I get it you have a QUAD and great sex, but there is always a surprise pregnancy. Anyways. Time for me to take a vacation from St. View. Perhaps I’ll return in the future.
Profile Image for Amanda Abromovitz.
208 reviews4 followers
October 22, 2025
“You always say the nicest things to emotionally unstable psychopaths.”
“Only the cute ones.”

Okayyyyy we made it to the end of the saint view murder squad series and my goodness did we go out on a high note! We resolve the cliffhanger from whips and chains and are still on the journey to finding out who is behind all of the killings and chaos happening to Violet and her men.

“X! You have no clothes on!”
“Well, that’s their punishment, isn’t it?”

These characters are so funny, memorable, and vulnerable. This last book tugged my heart a number of times and had me near tears in parts. The group goes through a lot but as it all comes together and the pieces fall into place, the group is able to end on a happy note. While things are set up for what’s to come in the next series 👀

“You belong here. With us. In this madness. In a found-family soap opera of trauma bonding and inappropriate lust…”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Profile Image for Catherine.
484 reviews9 followers
November 10, 2025
This was the perfect end to an amazing trilogy. I fell in love with this series from chapter 1 of the first book. I had been in a reading slump, and the first book X's and O's made me excited to read again. With each brutal cliffhanger, I had something to look forward to reading.

Saint View Murder Squad had some dark themes but also a lot of ridiculous comedy. Especially from one of the MMCs, X. Even when these characters were in the worst kind of situation, X managed to provide comic relief. He has become one of my all-time favorite characters. Levi and Whip had their own romance growing, and their solo scenes were as brilliant as the group scenes, spicy or not.

I loved Violet's growth through the trilogy. She started off so shy and unsure of herself. By the end of book three, she was a fierce defender of everyone she loved and herself. She took her power back, and I find myself proud of a fictional character. These characters created the family they needed.

I am almost sad that this is the end of their story. However, the author still gives us something to look forward to at the end of the book- Nya's story. Because we can't have a book without some kind of cliffhanger in it 🤣.
Profile Image for Phylicia.
661 reviews11 followers
October 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
So listen. I swore I had the villain pegged in book one. Like, I was smug about it. Then by book three? Elle had me completely spun around. I was convinced I’d been wrong the whole time. When the plot twist hits; Straight-up villain energy. And I LOVED IT and hated it at the same time. That’s how you know the writing is next-level — when you’re so deep in the story that you ignore your own instincts because the author’s pulled a full emotional heist on you. Bravo, Elle. I was fooled, I was heartbroken, and I was obsessed every step of the way.

And can we talk about X for a second? My absolute favourite of Elle’s entire roster of men. He’s hilarious, charming, and has that golden retriever energy that makes your heart just melt. Protective, cheeky, and genuinely good — the kind of character you finish the book and immediately want a more short story spinoffs for. I adore him to bits.

Now, theory time 🔮

I’m calling it right now — the next trilogy better give us the twins, Dax and Lynx. Tell me they’re not destined to be part of Nyah’s crew! I can feel the chaos, the banter, and the beautiful destruction already. Give me all the mafia vibes, all the dark tension, and all the found-family angst.

This finale wrapped everything up perfectly while still leaving me hungry for more of this world. It was raw, twisty, emotional, and dark in all the right ways. Elle Thorpe just keeps raising the bar — I’ll read anything she writes at this point.

💀 Loved this read. Loved this world. Love Elle’s brain for creating it.

Profile Image for Allison Young.
Author 7 books19 followers
October 27, 2025
4.5⭐

I'm not going to go into plot or give away anything. I will only say this was bloody good. Great plot, great characters and great continuation of the Saint View world. I can't wait to see what's next.

Violet, Whip, Levi and X work so wonderfully together and the way the story weaves from book one through to this conclusion is a rollercoaster of emotions. I did spend more time laughing than anything else and would almost sell my soul for my own X - actually I would 100% sell my soul for him, honestly such a brilliant character from start to finish.

I loved Whip and Levi too - just if I had to rate them X is top tier.

I did like Violet, but like many females characters she wasn't my favourite - nothing to do with her personally, I just never really 'love' the females. It's very much a 'me' thing. She was one of the better ones though as she wasn't whiny or pathetic, so an absolutley winner.

The twisty track of the plot was fun and sure to keep many enterained.
Profile Image for Bree.
178 reviews10 followers
October 21, 2025
4.5 stars 3 spice

This was a fantastic series, which I loved getting to know all the new characters and their dynamic. X is hilarious, Violet and Levi are sweet, Violet and X are adorable, Violet and Whip are hot and Whip and Levi are = HOT DAMN! That enemies to lovers was perfection for them!

I loved getting to see the other characters in this world that Elle has created. I was a little sad since it seemed like the ending and figuring out who the murder was felt rushed. Not sure if it was how the chapters were laid out or because there was so much set up for the next series it seemed to distract from this ending. I still overall really enjoyed this series.
Profile Image for DonElla .
27 reviews
November 4, 2025
X, Whip, and Levi for the win

Hilarious and sweet. Drama and love. Glad I have my own X at home or I'd find a way to make this one real and mine.
Profile Image for Lilly Randall Reviews.
32 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2026
WOW WOW WOW! The final installment of the Murder Squad trilogy by Elle Thorpe didn’t disappoint!
I was trying to hold out for the audiobook but with all the changes Everand has made, I couldn’t wait and took to the Kindle. I did miss hearing the quirkiness of X’s antics but reading the ebook definitely gave me the ability to visualize a lot more.

Reaper and Ruin wraps up the trilogy of the Murder Squad in such a great way and of course a HEA. I think I fell for Whip, X, and Levi just as much as Violet did. They each bring something special to the dynamic. I’m so glad that Levi and Whip finally figured out their relationship as well. I couldn’t pick a favorite if you paid me. Out of all the trilogies I’ve read by Elle Thorpe, I think this was my favorite overall.

This book picks up right where Whips and Chains ends, on the cliff with lots of chaos ensuing. Once the gang reconnects, they start their pursuit of solving the mystery that was the warehouse. They are hit with bumps and turns at every step in their journey. There’s love, lust, friendship, horror, and I felt just about every emotion while reading this grand finale.

SO. MUCH. SPICE. 🔥

CHECK THE TRIGGERS BEFORE READING
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Miss Elly.
18 reviews
February 26, 2026
Do you love a plus size girl boss?
And are you in your dark romcom era?

Did you giggled (even inappropriately) at Josh from lights out?

WELL, hold on to your knickers! Coz you are NOT ready for X and the murder squad!

Were there multiple instances where I had to cover my mouth while walking to and from the train because I was laughing so hard I looked like the psycho? Yep!

Were there times when it would be dead silent in the office and then I’d bark out a laugh and have to apologise. Also yes.

And the spice? It was so spicy, I thought I’d need Gaviscon to make it through the rest of my day. Ooohh yeah.

This entire series absolutely slaps, but honestly do yourself a favour and listen to the audio books! This is a 5 star performance, not just by the narrators. It will have you scrambling to listen to the rest of Elle’s books. The story has you sitting on the edge of your seat! I was raging at the cliff hanger of book 2 because I had to wait for the audio for book 3!

The series is free on hoopler if you have a library card.
So what are you waiting for?!

There is a murder squad with your name on it, just begging for you to come along for the ride.
Profile Image for Erika.
280 reviews29 followers
October 23, 2025
Ugh, Elle always knocks these out of the universe with these series. Murder Squad is no different, and while Scythe is forever my sweet like angel baby, X is in facet my favorite chaos gremlin. As always I loved this series and Saint View feels like a home away from home from how much I've been there. This book is the gut-wrenching conclusion of the Murder Squad and that freaking plot twist? Holy hell. Also the scene where Violet just goes full beast mode? You better clock it. I am obsessed. This ending was a little lower in spice than that of the first two books, it definitely had the spice. That fuck-it moment with Whip and Levi was so damn hot. Overall, if you know anything about me, know that Elle will remain one of my autobuy authors forever, do yourself a favor and grab one of her series.
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