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Coldren County #2
Where There's Smoke
Following the USA Today bestselling series debut, No Rest for the Wicked, Rachel Louise Adams returns with Where There’s Smoke.
A lot has happened in Dolores Hawthorne’s life since the events of last Halloween. She’s divorced, traded being a forensic pathologist for a job as a medical examiner, and now lives in small-town Wisconsin, close—but not too close—to her family.
Dolores doesn’t have much in the way of work, but that all changes when a body is found at the local slaughterhouse. Benedict Marcy owned Marcy’s Meats, and is affectionately called Mr. Mercy across the region. This high-profile case quickly catches the attention of Dolores’s friends at the FBI.
From the very beginning, this case is full of contradictions and surprises, and the team quickly learns someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to stop them from finding out the truth behind Benedict Marcy’s murder.
A lot has happened in Dolores Hawthorne’s life since the events of last Halloween. She’s divorced, traded being a forensic pathologist for a job as a medical examiner, and now lives in small-town Wisconsin, close—but not too close—to her family.
Dolores doesn’t have much in the way of work, but that all changes when a body is found at the local slaughterhouse. Benedict Marcy owned Marcy’s Meats, and is affectionately called Mr. Mercy across the region. This high-profile case quickly catches the attention of Dolores’s friends at the FBI.
From the very beginning, this case is full of contradictions and surprises, and the team quickly learns someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to stop them from finding out the truth behind Benedict Marcy’s murder.
Audible Audio
First published October 6, 2026
About the author
Rachel Louise Adams
6 books280 followers5 Things You Should Know About Me:
1) I don’t believe in rating books, so all the reviews I leave on Goodreads will be 5 stars. Happy birthday to all authors, I guess.
2) I’m the proud creature of two wonderful cats.
3) I don’t believe in choosing between a great plot and great characters. Readers deserve both. But if I had to choose, I’d choose characters.
4) Don’t open a book of mine until you’ve checked the content warnings on The Story Graph.
5) Storytelling is magical. I sincerely believe that creating makes us better humans. Part of that process is connecting with readers, so reach out to me. I’ll answer you, and I’ll be glad to hear from you.
Finally, as to the sort of books that I like--let's just say that if a talented author rips out my heart, stabs it, and hands it back, my response will be: ‘Thanks. I’m your number one fan’.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachellouis...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
1) I don’t believe in rating books, so all the reviews I leave on Goodreads will be 5 stars. Happy birthday to all authors, I guess.
2) I’m the proud creature of two wonderful cats.
3) I don’t believe in choosing between a great plot and great characters. Readers deserve both. But if I had to choose, I’d choose characters.
4) Don’t open a book of mine until you’ve checked the content warnings on The Story Graph.
5) Storytelling is magical. I sincerely believe that creating makes us better humans. Part of that process is connecting with readers, so reach out to me. I’ll answer you, and I’ll be glad to hear from you.
Finally, as to the sort of books that I like--let's just say that if a talented author rips out my heart, stabs it, and hands it back, my response will be: ‘Thanks. I’m your number one fan’.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachellouis...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
October 17, 2026
Gripping, dark, dripping with dread, and mysterious. Where There's Smoke is the second book in the Coldren County series. While this book will work as a stand-alone, I do recommend reading No Rest for the Wicked, the first book in the series prior to reading this book. That book will give you some background on Dolores and is also a riveting book! Plus, there is character development for the characters in this book as more is known about them and as they continue in their chosen fields. In Where There's Smoke, Dolores Hawthorne has moved to Wisconsin where she works as a medical examiner. When a body is found at a local slaughterhouse, she is drawn into the investigation along with FBI agents, FBI agents Paul Turner and Kate Butcher.
I enjoyed the mystery in this book and the mounting dread, tension, suspense, and unraveling secrets. The pacing was fantastic and there was never a dull moment in this book. There are a nice number of twists and a shocking reveal as well. As more bodies pile up, the agents assigned this case, have their hands full investigating suspects, those who work at the slaughterhouse and working with Delores. Delores besides helping with the case, has her own trauma to deal with in this captivating book. I enjoyed how the case unraveled and how this book had many layers of it.
This book does take place at times in a slaughterhouse. That makes the book both dark and gruesome as are the deaths in this book. Nothing is too graphic, but I wanted to put that warning out there for those that may find this to be triggering. Having said that, this is a gripping and hard to put down book which has me excited to read what comes next in this wonderful series.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the mystery in this book and the mounting dread, tension, suspense, and unraveling secrets. The pacing was fantastic and there was never a dull moment in this book. There are a nice number of twists and a shocking reveal as well. As more bodies pile up, the agents assigned this case, have their hands full investigating suspects, those who work at the slaughterhouse and working with Delores. Delores besides helping with the case, has her own trauma to deal with in this captivating book. I enjoyed how the case unraveled and how this book had many layers of it.
This book does take place at times in a slaughterhouse. That makes the book both dark and gruesome as are the deaths in this book. Nothing is too graphic, but I wanted to put that warning out there for those that may find this to be triggering. Having said that, this is a gripping and hard to put down book which has me excited to read what comes next in this wonderful series.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 8, 2026
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: Following the USA Today bestselling series debut, No Rest for the Wicked, Rachel Louise Adams returns with Where There’s Smoke.
A lot has happened in Dolores Hawthorne’s life since the events of last Halloween. She’s divorced, traded being a forensic pathologist for a job as a medical examiner, and now lives in small-town Wisconsin, close—but not too close—to her family.
Dolores doesn’t have much in the way of work, but that all changes when a body is found at the local slaughterhouse. Benedict Marcy owned Marcy’s Meats, and is affectionately called Mr. Mercy across the region. This high-profile case quickly catches the attention of Dolores’s friends at the FBI.
From the very beginning, this case is full of contradictions and surprises, and the team quickly learns someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to stop them from finding out the truth behind Benedict Marcy’s murder.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: In common with her debut mystery, No Rest for the Wicked , which I mildly enjoyed and reviewed in January, this sequel is a pleasant reward for saying "yes" to the publicist in spite of thinking "...mmmaaayyybe." I wasn't excited by the small-Midwest-town-return aspect or the obsessed-by-Halloween town bit, but the story was compelling: where's my dad the US Senator, who took him and why,and after the childhood he gave me do I even care?
Now she's moved back to Circe, Wisconsin, to be the medical examiner and work on those pesky sibling relationships she was denied, the intense emotional damage her abandoned forensic science career at the heights she'd reached, and the husband...well, let's draw a veil over that.
New beginnings in old familiar places. And this murder? What a way to (re)start her law-enforcement career. We're not in cozy anymore...the victim owned a meat-packing business, where he was discovered in his slaughterhouse, and we are off to the procedural races. I was not so sure I'd last as we get a Moby-Dick level of detail very quickly in the said slaughterhouse. No one could possibly enjoy working in a slaughterhouse. Or being in one on...other business. Or even knowing what goes on in one. Or anything in it being made public.
Or, it turns out for Mr. Marcy the dead guy, being involved with the local PTB. Like anyone else whose murder garners law-enforcement attention, the life of the victim and all the lives of those around him are opened up to intense scrutiny by the most motivated nosy people on the planet. It is astonishing how many ugly secrets there are under the rug with barely a lump to give their existence away. A bit less troubling meanness and the rug would never've been moved to expose you, Mr. Marcy....
The story runs in parallel tracks because while all the investigation by Dolores' scoobygroup of Kate (a newbie in the FBI, welcome to the team hope you're a veggie or you will be soon) and Paul, whom we have met before is going on there's also Dolores' processing of her revelations from the first book. That's gonna hurt a long, long time.
Here, then, is the root of the series-appeal of this story: we-the-reader are involved in the larger life of Dolores, the colleague/friends she's lucky enough to have found, as well as in the puzzles she's required to solve as a result of the avoidant career she chose under the stress of her unprocessed trauma. It is the same for series mysteries across all modern time. If series X doesn't appeal it's the world-building that you're not resonating with. Keep shopping, someone's doing exactly, or almost exactly, what you want to read.
I've got this series in my "almost exactly" pile now. Excellent work, Author Adams, and thank you.
The Publisher Says: Following the USA Today bestselling series debut, No Rest for the Wicked, Rachel Louise Adams returns with Where There’s Smoke.
A lot has happened in Dolores Hawthorne’s life since the events of last Halloween. She’s divorced, traded being a forensic pathologist for a job as a medical examiner, and now lives in small-town Wisconsin, close—but not too close—to her family.
Dolores doesn’t have much in the way of work, but that all changes when a body is found at the local slaughterhouse. Benedict Marcy owned Marcy’s Meats, and is affectionately called Mr. Mercy across the region. This high-profile case quickly catches the attention of Dolores’s friends at the FBI.
From the very beginning, this case is full of contradictions and surprises, and the team quickly learns someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to stop them from finding out the truth behind Benedict Marcy’s murder.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: In common with her debut mystery, No Rest for the Wicked , which I mildly enjoyed and reviewed in January, this sequel is a pleasant reward for saying "yes" to the publicist in spite of thinking "...mmmaaayyybe." I wasn't excited by the small-Midwest-town-return aspect or the obsessed-by-Halloween town bit, but the story was compelling: where's my dad the US Senator, who took him and why,and after the childhood he gave me do I even care?
Now she's moved back to Circe, Wisconsin, to be the medical examiner and work on those pesky sibling relationships she was denied, the intense emotional damage her abandoned forensic science career at the heights she'd reached, and the husband...well, let's draw a veil over that.
New beginnings in old familiar places. And this murder? What a way to (re)start her law-enforcement career. We're not in cozy anymore...the victim owned a meat-packing business, where he was discovered in his slaughterhouse, and we are off to the procedural races. I was not so sure I'd last as we get a Moby-Dick level of detail very quickly in the said slaughterhouse. No one could possibly enjoy working in a slaughterhouse. Or being in one on...other business. Or even knowing what goes on in one. Or anything in it being made public.
Or, it turns out for Mr. Marcy the dead guy, being involved with the local PTB. Like anyone else whose murder garners law-enforcement attention, the life of the victim and all the lives of those around him are opened up to intense scrutiny by the most motivated nosy people on the planet. It is astonishing how many ugly secrets there are under the rug with barely a lump to give their existence away. A bit less troubling meanness and the rug would never've been moved to expose you, Mr. Marcy....
The story runs in parallel tracks because while all the investigation by Dolores' scoobygroup of Kate (a newbie in the FBI, welcome to the team hope you're a veggie or you will be soon) and Paul, whom we have met before is going on there's also Dolores' processing of her revelations from the first book. That's gonna hurt a long, long time.
Here, then, is the root of the series-appeal of this story: we-the-reader are involved in the larger life of Dolores, the colleague/friends she's lucky enough to have found, as well as in the puzzles she's required to solve as a result of the avoidant career she chose under the stress of her unprocessed trauma. It is the same for series mysteries across all modern time. If series X doesn't appeal it's the world-building that you're not resonating with. Keep shopping, someone's doing exactly, or almost exactly, what you want to read.
I've got this series in my "almost exactly" pile now. Excellent work, Author Adams, and thank you.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
FIVE STAR ALERT!
"She couldn't help but wonder if they were looking at the smoke, or if they were seeing the true face behind the magic trick." *
Starting off with a cringe-inducing incident of a body found at the local slaughterhouse, this atmospheric mystery hooked me completely; I read it in one day! In this installment, Dolores is now a medical examiner in a town close to her family. The circumstances surrounding the murder at Marcy's Meats bring in two FBI agents with whom Dolores has past history: Kate and Paul.
RACHEL LOUISE ADAMS'S artful word choices within her lyrical, vivid writing are captivating and immerse readers in Dolores's world. The investigation and forensics are intriguing enough, but the people elevate this layered story even more. From the main characters to the secondary ones—including the insufferable and suspicious—they all radiate realism and magnetism. In particular, Dolores and Kate are women to root for, and I'd love to see more interactions between them. I figured a few things out, but it took time and I was surprised by how certain events played out—right down to a breathtaking conclusion that had me on the edge of my seat!
Book Two stands on its own, but there will be spoilers for Book One. I'd recommend reading "No Rest For The Wicked" first so you don't miss any crucial backstory and to fully appreciate character growth as well as the continuing story arc that plays an important role in interpersonal history. Besides, it's another fabulous five-star read you don't want to miss.
Armchair detectives who love small-town dynamics, messy family relations, and a whodunit with complex moving parts, need to read WHERE THERE'S SMOKE!
____
*Quote subject to change upon final publication
Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
"She couldn't help but wonder if they were looking at the smoke, or if they were seeing the true face behind the magic trick." *
Starting off with a cringe-inducing incident of a body found at the local slaughterhouse, this atmospheric mystery hooked me completely; I read it in one day! In this installment, Dolores is now a medical examiner in a town close to her family. The circumstances surrounding the murder at Marcy's Meats bring in two FBI agents with whom Dolores has past history: Kate and Paul.
RACHEL LOUISE ADAMS'S artful word choices within her lyrical, vivid writing are captivating and immerse readers in Dolores's world. The investigation and forensics are intriguing enough, but the people elevate this layered story even more. From the main characters to the secondary ones—including the insufferable and suspicious—they all radiate realism and magnetism. In particular, Dolores and Kate are women to root for, and I'd love to see more interactions between them. I figured a few things out, but it took time and I was surprised by how certain events played out—right down to a breathtaking conclusion that had me on the edge of my seat!
Book Two stands on its own, but there will be spoilers for Book One. I'd recommend reading "No Rest For The Wicked" first so you don't miss any crucial backstory and to fully appreciate character growth as well as the continuing story arc that plays an important role in interpersonal history. Besides, it's another fabulous five-star read you don't want to miss.
Armchair detectives who love small-town dynamics, messy family relations, and a whodunit with complex moving parts, need to read WHERE THERE'S SMOKE!
____
*Quote subject to change upon final publication
Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
October 19, 2026
I’ve been excited about catching up with Dolores and her family in Horton, WI, a small town infamous for its obsession with Halloween. Officer Kate is also back, but now she’s an FBI agent partnered with agent Paul. I do feel compelled to say that the publisher has done it again by putting animals on the cover. On the first installment, there were a kitties on the cover and initially, I thought I was looking at familiars for coven of witches. NOT!!! However, I will say that in spite of the tragic fate of the pigs, there is an absolutely adorable and endearing scene at the very end of the story. Get out the hanky for that one.
The story picks up a year later, with Dolores now living in Circe, which is as close as she wants to be to her family in Horton. She is still on the outs with stepmother, Charlotte, but is excited but uncertain about improving her relationships with her half siblings, Josie and Asher. Dolores left home 18yrs ago (and never came back until last year) when Josie and Asher were kids. The book summary introduces the primary storyline of the death at the slaughterhouse. However, there is also a secondary storyline that revolves around what happened to Dolores in Horton 18yrs ago and why she left and didn’t return for a long time. Ever since then, Dolores gets creepy cards around Halloween time.
Most of the story revolves around the murder(s) at the slaughterhouse; after Mercy’s death, it’s not long before more deaths and near deaths start piling up. Something is going on at the slaughterhouse that someone is willing to kill for to make sure the secret never gets out. It’s deep in the second half, during a fierce snowstorm, that things get pretty scary and intense for Dolores, Kate, and Paul and a few others.
The continuing character development for Dolores, Kate and Paul was well done, and I enjoyed seeing Dolores begin to develop her big sister relationship with Josie and Asher. I’m sure we’ll see more of them in future installments. The pacing was steady to fast, especially the second half. The storyline was quirky, which I love, even if the writing was a little gross with the slaughterhouse operations. Adams definitely has a flair for creating creepy vibes. The story has been labeled Horror, which always has me a little concerned because I’ve become a bit squeamish over the years for the hardcore horror stuff. On the Donne scale of 1-5, five being horror filled, I would rate the horror in this one 2.5-3, which is just perfect for me. Overall, I’m going to rate this one 4.25. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #WhereTheresSmoke
The story picks up a year later, with Dolores now living in Circe, which is as close as she wants to be to her family in Horton. She is still on the outs with stepmother, Charlotte, but is excited but uncertain about improving her relationships with her half siblings, Josie and Asher. Dolores left home 18yrs ago (and never came back until last year) when Josie and Asher were kids. The book summary introduces the primary storyline of the death at the slaughterhouse. However, there is also a secondary storyline that revolves around what happened to Dolores in Horton 18yrs ago and why she left and didn’t return for a long time. Ever since then, Dolores gets creepy cards around Halloween time.
Most of the story revolves around the murder(s) at the slaughterhouse; after Mercy’s death, it’s not long before more deaths and near deaths start piling up. Something is going on at the slaughterhouse that someone is willing to kill for to make sure the secret never gets out. It’s deep in the second half, during a fierce snowstorm, that things get pretty scary and intense for Dolores, Kate, and Paul and a few others.
The continuing character development for Dolores, Kate and Paul was well done, and I enjoyed seeing Dolores begin to develop her big sister relationship with Josie and Asher. I’m sure we’ll see more of them in future installments. The pacing was steady to fast, especially the second half. The storyline was quirky, which I love, even if the writing was a little gross with the slaughterhouse operations. Adams definitely has a flair for creating creepy vibes. The story has been labeled Horror, which always has me a little concerned because I’ve become a bit squeamish over the years for the hardcore horror stuff. On the Donne scale of 1-5, five being horror filled, I would rate the horror in this one 2.5-3, which is just perfect for me. Overall, I’m going to rate this one 4.25. I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #WhereTheresSmoke
October 18, 2026
I may not have read the first book in this series (No Rest for the Wicked), but consider me a Dolores fan. Divorced and starting over in Wisconsin, the forensic pathologist is getting used to how things operate in a small-town crime lab. Still wary of the charms of the local people, Dolores is drawn into the recent death of a local businessman at his family-owned slaughterhouse. When the FBI arrive to help out, the case takes some interesting twists and turns.
The book cover is horrifying. The crime scene location is seared into my brain. Rachel Louise Adams paints a vivid portrait. My brain may never forget some of those details. But Dolores was worth getting to know. I also liked the two FBI agents- one a potential love interest and the other a high school foe/now a friend.
When everything was revealed about the killer and the motive, I was satisfied.
Publication Date 06/10/26
Goodreads Review 18/10/26
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
The book cover is horrifying. The crime scene location is seared into my brain. Rachel Louise Adams paints a vivid portrait. My brain may never forget some of those details. But Dolores was worth getting to know. I also liked the two FBI agents- one a potential love interest and the other a high school foe/now a friend.
When everything was revealed about the killer and the motive, I was satisfied.
Publication Date 06/10/26
Goodreads Review 18/10/26
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 7, 2026
Unsettling, twisted, and delightfully gruesome, Where There’s Smoke was an intense, wild ride that I couldn’t put down. The second book in the Coldren County series, this was quite the dark and twisted follow-up to No Rest for the Wicked. Starting off with a bang when a body is found on a slaughterhouse killing floor, the increasingly grim secrets and ominous atmosphere raised the stakes more and more with each additional page. But don’t get me wrong, the cat-and-mouse games, shifty-looking suspects, and small-town drama were all still present just like in the first book in the series. This time around, though, the story took a much darker turn in both theme and behavior. Exploring abuse of power, animal-slash-human rights, and the aftermath of trauma, it was a shockingly thought-provoking read underneath all of the propulsive, page-turning action and gritty, atmospheric vibes.
What was my absolute favorite piece of this stellar read, though? Well, just like in the first book, that had to be Dolores. A tough, resilient, and relatable character, I didn’t stop rooting for her the entire time. I mean, not only was she complex and multifaceted, but the way she guarded her emotions made her feel deeply human. Paired with a mystery that was as layered and twisty as it was addictive, and it was no surprise at all that this was a true showstopper of a one-sitting read. After all, with a pace that never let up and a plot that was constantly shifting, Adams managed to blow me away yet again and even delivered a last-minute twist that took me out at the knees. So if you’re looking for a small-town murder mystery with a M.W. Craven-like feel, give this book a try. Just please start with No Rest for the Wicked. You need to spend as much time with Dolores as you can. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Mystery/thrillers
- Police procedural vibes
- Short chapters
- Dual POVs
- Side-eye-worthy suspects
- Small-town settings
- Gory scenes
- Complex characters
- Twisty plotting
- Memorable deaths
- Cat-and-mouse games
- Binge-able reads
- A propulsive pace
SYNOPSIS:
A lot has happened in Dolores Hawthorne’s life since the events of last Halloween. She’s divorced, traded being a forensic pathologist for a job as a medical examiner, and now lives in small-town Wisconsin, close―but not too close―to her family.
Dolores doesn’t have much in the way of work, but that all changes when a body is found at the local slaughterhouse. Benedict Marcy owned Marcy’s Meats, and is affectionately called Mr. Mercy across the region. This high-profile case quickly catches the attention of Dolores’s friends at the FBI.
From the very beginning, this case is full of contradictions and surprises, and the team quickly learns someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to stop them from finding out the truth behind Benedict Marcy’s murder.
Thank you Rachel Louise Adams and Minotaur Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 6, 2026
Content warning: divorce, PTSD, sexual assault, grief, murder, stalking, medical trauma, cursing, violence, drug overdose, mention of: death of a parent, infidelity
What was my absolute favorite piece of this stellar read, though? Well, just like in the first book, that had to be Dolores. A tough, resilient, and relatable character, I didn’t stop rooting for her the entire time. I mean, not only was she complex and multifaceted, but the way she guarded her emotions made her feel deeply human. Paired with a mystery that was as layered and twisty as it was addictive, and it was no surprise at all that this was a true showstopper of a one-sitting read. After all, with a pace that never let up and a plot that was constantly shifting, Adams managed to blow me away yet again and even delivered a last-minute twist that took me out at the knees. So if you’re looking for a small-town murder mystery with a M.W. Craven-like feel, give this book a try. Just please start with No Rest for the Wicked. You need to spend as much time with Dolores as you can. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Mystery/thrillers
- Police procedural vibes
- Short chapters
- Dual POVs
- Side-eye-worthy suspects
- Small-town settings
- Gory scenes
- Complex characters
- Twisty plotting
- Memorable deaths
- Cat-and-mouse games
- Binge-able reads
- A propulsive pace
SYNOPSIS:
A lot has happened in Dolores Hawthorne’s life since the events of last Halloween. She’s divorced, traded being a forensic pathologist for a job as a medical examiner, and now lives in small-town Wisconsin, close―but not too close―to her family.
Dolores doesn’t have much in the way of work, but that all changes when a body is found at the local slaughterhouse. Benedict Marcy owned Marcy’s Meats, and is affectionately called Mr. Mercy across the region. This high-profile case quickly catches the attention of Dolores’s friends at the FBI.
From the very beginning, this case is full of contradictions and surprises, and the team quickly learns someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to stop them from finding out the truth behind Benedict Marcy’s murder.
Thank you Rachel Louise Adams and Minotaur Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 6, 2026
Content warning: divorce, PTSD, sexual assault, grief, murder, stalking, medical trauma, cursing, violence, drug overdose, mention of: death of a parent, infidelity
June 20, 2026
Damn man, this book hit the ground RUNNING and didn’t stop for NOTHIN’. I loved No Rest for the Wicked, but Where There’s Smoke? Holy CRAP!
No Rest for the Wicked was definitely more character driven and gave us some very good background on everyone’s lives, while also having an amazing story! This book however, was a lot more fast paced and I loved every damn minute. This one was DARK and had my stomach turning during some points of the story. I loved the premise of this one even more than the first, which I didn’t think was possible. I mean come on, a murder in a slaughterhouse? It doesn’t get much better than that! And that last little twist at the end!? This was the first time in a LONG time where I can actually say I did NOT see that coming! If you’re looking for a book that’s sick, twisted, and full of questions, then yall better get this pretty baby on your list!
No Rest for the Wicked was definitely more character driven and gave us some very good background on everyone’s lives, while also having an amazing story! This book however, was a lot more fast paced and I loved every damn minute. This one was DARK and had my stomach turning during some points of the story. I loved the premise of this one even more than the first, which I didn’t think was possible. I mean come on, a murder in a slaughterhouse? It doesn’t get much better than that! And that last little twist at the end!? This was the first time in a LONG time where I can actually say I did NOT see that coming! If you’re looking for a book that’s sick, twisted, and full of questions, then yall better get this pretty baby on your list!
October 13, 2026
I was not a fan of the first book. But. like a train wreck, I just couldn't look away or stop reading in this case. I found this one more compelling and the narrative had a much better flow. The author's style still is not my cuppa, but it held my attention and I really got invested in the edgy, gripping plot. The mystery was compelling, but I found myself more invested in the character development—Dolores reconnecting with her siblings, navigating her volatile dynamic with her stepmother, and cautiously building a friendship with FBI Agent Paul Turner, who was keeping a secret of his own. The only reason I would continue this series is to see how that relationship plays out, I'm just not the edgy, gripping mystery reader.
After surviving a horrific ordeal during Halloween in Little Horton. Dolores Diaz has signed her divorce papers and returned to Coldern County to be the new medical examiner. She turned down an offer from the FBI, and settled in the small town of Circe, close to her siblings, yet far enough away to escape her stepmother Charlotte's watchful eye. Still, the shadows of her past follow her wherever she goes and confronting that past isn't bringing her the closure she seeks.
When a body is found at the local slaughterhouse—a major employer in the area—FBI agents Paul Turner and Kate Butcher are called in. Dolores quickly identifies the victim as Benedict Marcy, whose family has owned run the slaughterhouse for generations. The towns hero-worship of the Marcys clashes starkly with the brutal way he was killed.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
3 1/2-Stars
After surviving a horrific ordeal during Halloween in Little Horton. Dolores Diaz has signed her divorce papers and returned to Coldern County to be the new medical examiner. She turned down an offer from the FBI, and settled in the small town of Circe, close to her siblings, yet far enough away to escape her stepmother Charlotte's watchful eye. Still, the shadows of her past follow her wherever she goes and confronting that past isn't bringing her the closure she seeks.
When a body is found at the local slaughterhouse—a major employer in the area—FBI agents Paul Turner and Kate Butcher are called in. Dolores quickly identifies the victim as Benedict Marcy, whose family has owned run the slaughterhouse for generations. The towns hero-worship of the Marcys clashes starkly with the brutal way he was killed.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
3 1/2-Stars
April 26, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
This book picks up a few months after the ending of the first novel, and is just as fast paced. The case is just as bizarre and complex as the first novel’s, and we see a return of a few old faces. I really enjoyed this one, however I do wish we would seen more character development for persons who aren’t Dolores. Perhaps we will be getting that in book three? Fingers crossed!
This book picks up a few months after the ending of the first novel, and is just as fast paced. The case is just as bizarre and complex as the first novel’s, and we see a return of a few old faces. I really enjoyed this one, however I do wish we would seen more character development for persons who aren’t Dolores. Perhaps we will be getting that in book three? Fingers crossed!
Read
September 16, 2026Newly divorced, Dolores Hawthorne has returned to Wisconsin from California, becoming a local medical examiner. She's living closer to what's left of her family and adjusting to her new life. She's called to the scene of the local slaughterhouse, Marcy's Meats, when a worker finds a body (yuck). Soon, the case has gotten big and FBI Agent Paul Turner is back, along with newly recruited Kate Butcher.
This is an excellent follow-up to what was an excellent first book in the Coldren County series. Dolores is a wonderful, complex, and nuanced character, still struggling with getting to know her brother and teenage sister. Once a forensic pathologist, she's pretty bored as a medical examiner in a small town--until someone's dropped in with the pigs.
Sound gruesome? These books aren't for the faint of heart. They are grim and gross and full of plenty of details about the slaughterhouse, autopsies, death, and so much more.
But they are so worth it. Adams weaves a dark and horrifying story, linking together the slaughterhouse and the local prison along with local secrets and a whole lotta small town lies. As she does, she delves into the ties that bind siblings and family, along with the power of men--and exactly how much they can get away with.
I highly recommend this series!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in return for an unbiased review.
This is an excellent follow-up to what was an excellent first book in the Coldren County series. Dolores is a wonderful, complex, and nuanced character, still struggling with getting to know her brother and teenage sister. Once a forensic pathologist, she's pretty bored as a medical examiner in a small town--until someone's dropped in with the pigs.
Sound gruesome? These books aren't for the faint of heart. They are grim and gross and full of plenty of details about the slaughterhouse, autopsies, death, and so much more.
But they are so worth it. Adams weaves a dark and horrifying story, linking together the slaughterhouse and the local prison along with local secrets and a whole lotta small town lies. As she does, she delves into the ties that bind siblings and family, along with the power of men--and exactly how much they can get away with.
I highly recommend this series!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in return for an unbiased review.
October 9, 2026
When Where There’s Smoke came onto my radar, I realized it was the second book in the series, so I listened to No Rest for the Wicked first and loved it! Learning about Dolores’s past and what drove her to leave Coldren County made me eager to continue her story! I highly recommend reading this series in order.
Now settled in Wisconsin as the medical examiner for the small town of Circe, Dolores is building relationships with her half-siblings, Josie and Asher. But she’s also dealing with anonymous threatening letters, fallout from the events of the previous book.
When Benedict Marcy, the well-respected owner of Marcy’s Meats, is found murdered in the slaughterhouse, Dolores is assigned to the case.
FYI, I love animals, so I was a little worried when I saw a slaughterhouse was featured. Thankfully, no animals are killed "on page".
FBI Agent Paul Turner and her childhood friend Kate return, and I enjoyed seeing the three of them work together again. Paul’s a great character, but I’d love to see him kick his smoking habit.
Where There’s Smoke was riveting! I had a feeling about one reveal, but I was surprised by others. The ending was intense and exciting. I’ve found a new mystery/thriller series to love and can’t wait for the next one!
Jeremy Carlisle Parker once again delivers an excellent narration. She seamlessly performed all characters in a range of ages, giving each a distinct personality and bringing the story to life.
I voluntarily read/listened to a copy courtesy of the publishers. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Now settled in Wisconsin as the medical examiner for the small town of Circe, Dolores is building relationships with her half-siblings, Josie and Asher. But she’s also dealing with anonymous threatening letters, fallout from the events of the previous book.
When Benedict Marcy, the well-respected owner of Marcy’s Meats, is found murdered in the slaughterhouse, Dolores is assigned to the case.
FYI, I love animals, so I was a little worried when I saw a slaughterhouse was featured. Thankfully, no animals are killed "on page".
FBI Agent Paul Turner and her childhood friend Kate return, and I enjoyed seeing the three of them work together again. Paul’s a great character, but I’d love to see him kick his smoking habit.
Where There’s Smoke was riveting! I had a feeling about one reveal, but I was surprised by others. The ending was intense and exciting. I’ve found a new mystery/thriller series to love and can’t wait for the next one!
Jeremy Carlisle Parker once again delivers an excellent narration. She seamlessly performed all characters in a range of ages, giving each a distinct personality and bringing the story to life.
I voluntarily read/listened to a copy courtesy of the publishers. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a dark, twisted read!
I really enjoyed this one. The story grabbed my attention right away, and the murder at the slaughterhouse made for such an unsettling setup. There was a lot happening throughout the story, and I liked how the tension kept building as more details came to light. Some of the scenes were seriously disturbing, and there were plenty of secrets and surprises along the way.
I didn't realize this was the second book in a series until after I started reading it. Thankfully, I never felt lost or like I was missing something. I definitely want to go back and read the first book though.
I really enjoyed this one. The story grabbed my attention right away, and the murder at the slaughterhouse made for such an unsettling setup. There was a lot happening throughout the story, and I liked how the tension kept building as more details came to light. Some of the scenes were seriously disturbing, and there were plenty of secrets and surprises along the way.
I didn't realize this was the second book in a series until after I started reading it. Thankfully, I never felt lost or like I was missing something. I definitely want to go back and read the first book though.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed this author's debut thriller, No Rest for the Wicked, so it was a no-brainer that I was going to jump right into the follow up, WHERE THERE'S SMOKE. I am very apprehensive with procedural series, but you do not need to read Wicked to follow along with this one (although that one is great too so why not pick it up first?!). This book dives into a murder involving a local slaughterhouse and it's totally gross, intense, and dark. The story moves fast and I enjoyed this one equally as much as Book 1. I'm not entirely sure if I will continue with this series if the author continues to move forward, but I love her storytelling. If you are looking for a dark mystery-thriller with a light procedural aspect (I can't do big procedurals), this is your book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The second book in the Coldren County series, and it's another fantastic read! This one is darker than the first one and tense from the start. Fast-paced, exceptionally well-plotted, and bingeable, it’s one of my favorite mystery reads of the year!
Dolores Diaz left her stressful job as a forensic pathologist in California to become a local medical examiner in Circe, Wisconsin, near her family. When a body is found at a slaughterhouse under gruesome and suspicious circumstances, she faces a case with little to go on. Dolores and local law enforcement are assisted by FBI agents who appeared in the first book, and they get more screen time here. The result is a compelling ensemble cast.
I love Adams' writing style. The lyrical quality contrasts strikingly with the gritty plot. The forensic examinations and crime scenes are depicted vividly, and some scenes are gruesome, so be ready for that. The mystery is twisty and suspenseful, filled with small-town drama and secrets, and so good!
This story delves deeper into Dolores's family dynamics and personal trauma, while still maintaining the central investigative plot. I really like Dolores, and we also get to know Kate better in this installment, which was great. I would recommend reading the first one to get the backstory, and some readers will want to check trigger warnings.
Jeremy Carlisle Parker narrates the audiobook and does a stellar job! It's a good thing her voice is easy to listen to, because I binged this in a day. She nails Dolores and Kate, and makes all of the other characters sound unique. Her narration keeps the momentum going
and adds to the atmospheric spooky season vibes, bringing the story to life. Highly recommend this on audiobook!
Dolores Diaz left her stressful job as a forensic pathologist in California to become a local medical examiner in Circe, Wisconsin, near her family. When a body is found at a slaughterhouse under gruesome and suspicious circumstances, she faces a case with little to go on. Dolores and local law enforcement are assisted by FBI agents who appeared in the first book, and they get more screen time here. The result is a compelling ensemble cast.
I love Adams' writing style. The lyrical quality contrasts strikingly with the gritty plot. The forensic examinations and crime scenes are depicted vividly, and some scenes are gruesome, so be ready for that. The mystery is twisty and suspenseful, filled with small-town drama and secrets, and so good!
This story delves deeper into Dolores's family dynamics and personal trauma, while still maintaining the central investigative plot. I really like Dolores, and we also get to know Kate better in this installment, which was great. I would recommend reading the first one to get the backstory, and some readers will want to check trigger warnings.
Jeremy Carlisle Parker narrates the audiobook and does a stellar job! It's a good thing her voice is easy to listen to, because I binged this in a day. She nails Dolores and Kate, and makes all of the other characters sound unique. Her narration keeps the momentum going
and adds to the atmospheric spooky season vibes, bringing the story to life. Highly recommend this on audiobook!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In Coldren County, even the quietest corners conceal danger. Set a few months after No Rest for the Wicked, Rachel Louise Adams’s Where There’s Smoke quickly pulls readers back into the community’s uneasy undercurrents. The deliberately uncozy small-town setting heightens the suspense as secrets and contradictions emerge. Dolores remains a compelling medical examiner—tough, intelligent, and capable—while FBI agents Kate and Paul bring contrasting perspectives to the investigation. Ash and Josie show promise, and a little more development would make them even more engaging.
Adams balances vivid prose and grim investigative detail with a fast-moving, unpredictable plot. Themes of trauma, justice, family, and human and animal rights add weight without slowing the story. Some readers may wish to be aware of the novel’s detailed forensic and slaughterhouse scenes. Dark, layered, and suspenseful, Where There’s Smoke proves that Coldren County’s most dangerous secrets are still smoldering beneath the surface.
Adams balances vivid prose and grim investigative detail with a fast-moving, unpredictable plot. Themes of trauma, justice, family, and human and animal rights add weight without slowing the story. Some readers may wish to be aware of the novel’s detailed forensic and slaughterhouse scenes. Dark, layered, and suspenseful, Where There’s Smoke proves that Coldren County’s most dangerous secrets are still smoldering beneath the surface.
September 12, 2026
ARC review
4.5 stars a real page turner. Every chapter gives you a wisp of information, just enough to bait you into wanting more, and pretty soon you’re up all night flying through this book
This is book 1 in the Coldron County series, and I have not read book 1 yet, but felt zero confusion of being left out of any info the first book may have given me. I merely want to go back and read it because it is so good.
The characters are fantastic, all of them slightly broken in their own ways, very real and not at all “perfect” where you either don’t care or don’t believe. These people are all believable and very likable.
A real edge of your seat thriller with a few triggers—it is set in a slaughterhouse with many instances of graphic explanations which are done to animals there, as well as a trigger of rape. The act is not explained but it is talked about throughout the majority of the book. So these could be two things that might put a person off. Otherwise really really great thriller with FBI and forensic pathology as an undertone.
4.5 stars a real page turner. Every chapter gives you a wisp of information, just enough to bait you into wanting more, and pretty soon you’re up all night flying through this book
This is book 1 in the Coldron County series, and I have not read book 1 yet, but felt zero confusion of being left out of any info the first book may have given me. I merely want to go back and read it because it is so good.
The characters are fantastic, all of them slightly broken in their own ways, very real and not at all “perfect” where you either don’t care or don’t believe. These people are all believable and very likable.
A real edge of your seat thriller with a few triggers—it is set in a slaughterhouse with many instances of graphic explanations which are done to animals there, as well as a trigger of rape. The act is not explained but it is talked about throughout the majority of the book. So these could be two things that might put a person off. Otherwise really really great thriller with FBI and forensic pathology as an undertone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A delicious murder mystery that dips (at first, just the toes, then up to the ankles ...) and then slips (hips to shoulders to drowning) deeply into dark shadows. The characters are so well written and immensely intriguing and complex. This is easily a stand-alone novel, though it is the second installment in a series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dolores Hawthorne moved to a quiet Wisconsin town to heal and someone immediately put a beloved local businessman through his own slaughterhouse. I think the universe has been very clear about how it feels about her wellness journey.
After everything Dolores survived in No Rest for the Wicked, this woman has made changes. She’s divorced. She left Los Angeles. She traded forensic pathology for a medical examiner job in Circe, Wisconsin. She moved closer to her siblings because apparently we’re attempting emotional growth now. She is rebuilding her life. She is confronting her past. She is probably one sensible cardigan away from convincing herself she has become a person who buys seasonal candles and remembers to call her family.
Then Benedict Marcy gets murdered at Marcy’s Meats. And when I say murdered at the slaughterhouse, I do not mean somebody politely killed this man in the parking lot. Dolores gets called into the actual processing operation, and within approximately six pages I had learned enough about industrial meat production to reconsider several personal choices.
Benedict Marcy is the beloved owner, local philanthropist, everybody calls him Mr. Mercy, nobody can imagine who would want him dead. Which, at this point in my thriller-reading career, is basically someone walking into the room wearing a T-shirt that says, "Please investigate my entire life."
Then Paul Turner shows up because apparently Dolores can summon the FBI through corpse proximity. And he has Kate Butcher with him, except Kate is FBI now, fresh from Quantico and partnered with Paul, which feels like giving someone their learner’s permit and immediately directing them onto an icy interstate during a police chase. Her first big investigation involves a slaughterhouse, prison labor, extremely powerful local people, multiple secrets, and Dolores Hawthorne. Kate, babe, HR should have prepared a packet.
I was so happy to be back with these people because Dolores continues to be one of my favorite varieties of woman: terrifyingly competent about literally everyone except herself. Give her a body and she will calmly determine exactly what happened to it. Ask her how she’s feeling and suddenly we’ve lost all access to modern science. She has spent years treating her own trauma like an unsolved cold case nobody has the budget to reopen, except now she’s actually trying. She wants relationships with her siblings. She wants to stay. She wants something resembling a life. Unfortunately she lives in Coldren County, where “personal growth” apparently means processing your feelings while someone tries to kill you.
And the Marcy situation just keeps getting worse. Every time somebody says Benedict was a wonderful man, another deeply alarming piece of information wanders into the room. Dolores finds something weird. Kate and Paul find something worse. Somebody lies. Somebody else knows more than they’re saying. The investigation starts pulling at things powerful people very much do not want pulled at, and pretty soon I’m sitting there like, you know what, maybe we stop calling this man Mr. Mercy until everyone has finished checking the basement.
Also, Where There’s Smoke is dark. No Rest for the Wicked gave us jack-o’-lanterns, family trauma, dead bodies, feral cats, and Dolores mentally listing skull bones to keep herself from unraveling. This book looked at that and apparently said, cute, what if we put everybody in a slaughterhouse? There are moments in here where I genuinely reconsidered my decision to snack while reading. Nobody needs crackers while Dolores is examining what came out of industrial processing equipment. That was between God, Rachel Louise Adams, and my increasingly unhappy stomach.
But underneath all the blood and secrets and deeply questionable Wisconsin civic behavior, Dolores got me again. Because she’s finally starting to understand that being functional is not the same thing as being okay. She left home because something terrible happened to her.
She built an entire life around never needing anybody. Now she’s back near the people she left behind, trying to repair relationships that survived without her, while also finally refusing to keep quiet about what happened to her. There’s no big inspirational speech about it. She just starts choosing herself. That landed.
Meanwhile I spent the last chunk of this book conducting an investigation with the confidence of a woman who had solved absolutely nothing. I accused people. I cleared them. I accused them again. I developed motives on their behalf that the book had never suggested. At one point I basically had half of Wisconsin involved in an elaborate conspiracy. Then the actual pieces started clicking together and I had to quietly withdraw several imaginary warrants.
And then the ending reminded me that while this particular nightmare gets answers, Dolores still has unfinished business. Ma’am. You have now survived two books in Coldren County and your personal life remains one ominous musical sting away from another catastrophe. I need book three immediately because apparently I have accepted an unpaid position monitoring Dolores Hawthorne’s emotional stability, and the benefits are terrible.
Where There’s Smoke gets 4 stars from me. Dolores remains my beloved emotionally constipated forensic chaos goblin, Kate and Paul have officially earned permanent seats at the murder table, and Coldren County continues to make a compelling argument for moving literally anywhere else. I had a great time. I also know significantly more about slaughterhouses than I did before, and I would like to return that information.
Whodunity Award: For making me say “Wait, there’s something worse happening at the slaughterhouse?” far more times than any person should have to
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. You handed me Dolores Hawthorne, two FBI agents, one extremely upsetting slaughterhouse, several metric tons of Wisconsin secrets, and enough questionable meat-related information to make me stare suspiciously at my refrigerator. Consider the assignment completed. Consider my appetite collateral damage.
After everything Dolores survived in No Rest for the Wicked, this woman has made changes. She’s divorced. She left Los Angeles. She traded forensic pathology for a medical examiner job in Circe, Wisconsin. She moved closer to her siblings because apparently we’re attempting emotional growth now. She is rebuilding her life. She is confronting her past. She is probably one sensible cardigan away from convincing herself she has become a person who buys seasonal candles and remembers to call her family.
Then Benedict Marcy gets murdered at Marcy’s Meats. And when I say murdered at the slaughterhouse, I do not mean somebody politely killed this man in the parking lot. Dolores gets called into the actual processing operation, and within approximately six pages I had learned enough about industrial meat production to reconsider several personal choices.
Benedict Marcy is the beloved owner, local philanthropist, everybody calls him Mr. Mercy, nobody can imagine who would want him dead. Which, at this point in my thriller-reading career, is basically someone walking into the room wearing a T-shirt that says, "Please investigate my entire life."
Then Paul Turner shows up because apparently Dolores can summon the FBI through corpse proximity. And he has Kate Butcher with him, except Kate is FBI now, fresh from Quantico and partnered with Paul, which feels like giving someone their learner’s permit and immediately directing them onto an icy interstate during a police chase. Her first big investigation involves a slaughterhouse, prison labor, extremely powerful local people, multiple secrets, and Dolores Hawthorne. Kate, babe, HR should have prepared a packet.
I was so happy to be back with these people because Dolores continues to be one of my favorite varieties of woman: terrifyingly competent about literally everyone except herself. Give her a body and she will calmly determine exactly what happened to it. Ask her how she’s feeling and suddenly we’ve lost all access to modern science. She has spent years treating her own trauma like an unsolved cold case nobody has the budget to reopen, except now she’s actually trying. She wants relationships with her siblings. She wants to stay. She wants something resembling a life. Unfortunately she lives in Coldren County, where “personal growth” apparently means processing your feelings while someone tries to kill you.
And the Marcy situation just keeps getting worse. Every time somebody says Benedict was a wonderful man, another deeply alarming piece of information wanders into the room. Dolores finds something weird. Kate and Paul find something worse. Somebody lies. Somebody else knows more than they’re saying. The investigation starts pulling at things powerful people very much do not want pulled at, and pretty soon I’m sitting there like, you know what, maybe we stop calling this man Mr. Mercy until everyone has finished checking the basement.
Also, Where There’s Smoke is dark. No Rest for the Wicked gave us jack-o’-lanterns, family trauma, dead bodies, feral cats, and Dolores mentally listing skull bones to keep herself from unraveling. This book looked at that and apparently said, cute, what if we put everybody in a slaughterhouse? There are moments in here where I genuinely reconsidered my decision to snack while reading. Nobody needs crackers while Dolores is examining what came out of industrial processing equipment. That was between God, Rachel Louise Adams, and my increasingly unhappy stomach.
But underneath all the blood and secrets and deeply questionable Wisconsin civic behavior, Dolores got me again. Because she’s finally starting to understand that being functional is not the same thing as being okay. She left home because something terrible happened to her.
She built an entire life around never needing anybody. Now she’s back near the people she left behind, trying to repair relationships that survived without her, while also finally refusing to keep quiet about what happened to her. There’s no big inspirational speech about it. She just starts choosing herself. That landed.
Meanwhile I spent the last chunk of this book conducting an investigation with the confidence of a woman who had solved absolutely nothing. I accused people. I cleared them. I accused them again. I developed motives on their behalf that the book had never suggested. At one point I basically had half of Wisconsin involved in an elaborate conspiracy. Then the actual pieces started clicking together and I had to quietly withdraw several imaginary warrants.
And then the ending reminded me that while this particular nightmare gets answers, Dolores still has unfinished business. Ma’am. You have now survived two books in Coldren County and your personal life remains one ominous musical sting away from another catastrophe. I need book three immediately because apparently I have accepted an unpaid position monitoring Dolores Hawthorne’s emotional stability, and the benefits are terrible.
Where There’s Smoke gets 4 stars from me. Dolores remains my beloved emotionally constipated forensic chaos goblin, Kate and Paul have officially earned permanent seats at the murder table, and Coldren County continues to make a compelling argument for moving literally anywhere else. I had a great time. I also know significantly more about slaughterhouses than I did before, and I would like to return that information.
Whodunity Award: For making me say “Wait, there’s something worse happening at the slaughterhouse?” far more times than any person should have to
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. You handed me Dolores Hawthorne, two FBI agents, one extremely upsetting slaughterhouse, several metric tons of Wisconsin secrets, and enough questionable meat-related information to make me stare suspiciously at my refrigerator. Consider the assignment completed. Consider my appetite collateral damage.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Second book in the Coldren County mystery series, this can be read as a stand alone but as with all series, I still recommend starting with the first book.
Dolores Hawthorne returns to Coldren County, Wisconsin, divorced. She’s back home - but not too close to - working as a medical examiner rather than a forensic pathologist. No sooner is she back she’s called to the scene of a grizzly murder at Marcy’s Meats, the owner known as Mr. Mercy, is the victim - slaughtered like an animal. Soon the FBI are engaged in the investigation which twists and turns to a surprisingly good ending.
As a former Wisconsinite, I was kind of intrigued by the book’s setting - a rural county in Wisconsin (lot of those) but as I kept seeing Little Horton I harkened back to Hortonville, a real town in Wisconsin near where I grew up. That kind of distracted me but this probably would only do that to anyone who grew up outside Appleton. This is all by way of saying the author did a good job with her setting. I liked that.
This is kind of dark humor mystery. Plot is more important than character - which is why if you are more interested in character (and Dolores is a great character) it’s best to read that first book - in this book. Pacing is solid and writing is a plus.
My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for granting me access to this ARC.
Dolores Hawthorne returns to Coldren County, Wisconsin, divorced. She’s back home - but not too close to - working as a medical examiner rather than a forensic pathologist. No sooner is she back she’s called to the scene of a grizzly murder at Marcy’s Meats, the owner known as Mr. Mercy, is the victim - slaughtered like an animal. Soon the FBI are engaged in the investigation which twists and turns to a surprisingly good ending.
As a former Wisconsinite, I was kind of intrigued by the book’s setting - a rural county in Wisconsin (lot of those) but as I kept seeing Little Horton I harkened back to Hortonville, a real town in Wisconsin near where I grew up. That kind of distracted me but this probably would only do that to anyone who grew up outside Appleton. This is all by way of saying the author did a good job with her setting. I liked that.
This is kind of dark humor mystery. Plot is more important than character - which is why if you are more interested in character (and Dolores is a great character) it’s best to read that first book - in this book. Pacing is solid and writing is a plus.
My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for granting me access to this ARC.
October 8, 2026
“Where There’s Smoke” by Rachel Louise Adams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.25/5
“Where There’s Smoke” by Rachel Louise Adams immediately caught my attention. That cover alone is a showstopper. It’s bold, gorgeous, and unforgettable; hands-down one of my top picks this year!
Thank you to Rachel Louise Adams and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing this gifted ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and shared voluntarily.
This is the second book in the Coldren County series, following “No Rest for the Wicked.” I dove right in without reading the first and never felt lost. Now I’m itching to go back and see how it all began in the first book!
Dolores, a sharp and likable medical examiner, relocates to rural Wisconsin after her divorce, hoping to reconnect with family. She throws herself into her work, and when a murder rocks the local slaughterhouse, she’s pulled into a case as grisly and disturbing as they come. If this story played out on screen, I might swear off meat for good!
Warning: the slaughterhouse setting means plenty of blood and guts, and Adams doesn't shy away from the details. It ramps up the dark, creepy vibe. Sensitive readers beware. Check the trigger warnings!
The multilayered mystery kept me curious, and the fascinating cast of characters is well-developed. Dolores’s siblings are loyal and lively, instantly winning me over, while her frosty stepmother brings a delicious tension to the family. Paul, the smug FBI agent, seriously tested my patience, but his partner Kate’s intense spirit and steadfast loyalty made her stand out.
The pacing slowed in a few places, and I would have preferred a little more urgency during the investigation. Still, this was an intriguing, atmospheric police procedural with an engaging lead, complicated relationships, and plenty of dark small-town secrets. I’m definitely interested in seeing where the Coldren County series goes next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.25/5
“Where There’s Smoke” by Rachel Louise Adams immediately caught my attention. That cover alone is a showstopper. It’s bold, gorgeous, and unforgettable; hands-down one of my top picks this year!
Thank you to Rachel Louise Adams and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing this gifted ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and shared voluntarily.
This is the second book in the Coldren County series, following “No Rest for the Wicked.” I dove right in without reading the first and never felt lost. Now I’m itching to go back and see how it all began in the first book!
Dolores, a sharp and likable medical examiner, relocates to rural Wisconsin after her divorce, hoping to reconnect with family. She throws herself into her work, and when a murder rocks the local slaughterhouse, she’s pulled into a case as grisly and disturbing as they come. If this story played out on screen, I might swear off meat for good!
Warning: the slaughterhouse setting means plenty of blood and guts, and Adams doesn't shy away from the details. It ramps up the dark, creepy vibe. Sensitive readers beware. Check the trigger warnings!
The multilayered mystery kept me curious, and the fascinating cast of characters is well-developed. Dolores’s siblings are loyal and lively, instantly winning me over, while her frosty stepmother brings a delicious tension to the family. Paul, the smug FBI agent, seriously tested my patience, but his partner Kate’s intense spirit and steadfast loyalty made her stand out.
The pacing slowed in a few places, and I would have preferred a little more urgency during the investigation. Still, this was an intriguing, atmospheric police procedural with an engaging lead, complicated relationships, and plenty of dark small-town secrets. I’m definitely interested in seeing where the Coldren County series goes next!
October 14, 2026
This was a fantastic follow-up from book one, “No Rest for the Wicked” I loved the familiar characters and eerie setting. Trust NO ONE while trying to figure out this whodunnit. The book starts off with a bang, and trying to unravel everything that happened was so fun! I would definitely recommend reading book one, prior to this one. This series is a spooky season must read!
October 9, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the second book in the Coldren County series by Rachel Louise Adams. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!
Dolores is recently divorced and relocates to rural Wisconsin to work as a medical examiner and to be closer to family. She's quickly pulled into a case when a body is found at the local slaughterhouse, and the case brings her FBI friends to town. Someone is willing to go to extremes to stop them from finding the truth about the slaughterhouse murder.
I loved the first book in this series, No Rest for the Wicked, and this one was just as fabulous. While I'd highly recommend starting with that one, you don't need to have read it to enjoy the follow-up. The story is definitely gross and dark, but the characters shine brightly. Both Dolores and Kate, a new FBI agent, are strong women who also have issues they are dealing with. It's a tense and gripping police procedural, full of small town secrets and family drama. Can't wait to see what's next for these characters!
Dolores is recently divorced and relocates to rural Wisconsin to work as a medical examiner and to be closer to family. She's quickly pulled into a case when a body is found at the local slaughterhouse, and the case brings her FBI friends to town. Someone is willing to go to extremes to stop them from finding the truth about the slaughterhouse murder.
I loved the first book in this series, No Rest for the Wicked, and this one was just as fabulous. While I'd highly recommend starting with that one, you don't need to have read it to enjoy the follow-up. The story is definitely gross and dark, but the characters shine brightly. Both Dolores and Kate, a new FBI agent, are strong women who also have issues they are dealing with. It's a tense and gripping police procedural, full of small town secrets and family drama. Can't wait to see what's next for these characters!
October 17, 2026
I was thrilled to get an arc that wasn't a cozy mystery for a change. I get asked to read a lot of those and it was a relief to read a forensic/police procedural sort of book. CW - gore, off page past sexual assault, abortion
This is book two set in a rural Wisconsin town (fun fact I used to live in a rural Wisconsin town). picking up where book 1 ended (so much so that there is no need for me to go back and read that because it was a long shadow in this book) Dolores Hawthorne has recently divorced and moved home to WI to be near her step mother and half siblings she barely knows. She is called into Marcy's Meats after someone is found possibly boiled alive in the tanks and she is now the town's medical examiner.
Into this mess comes also two FBI members, Kate and Paul. He's the irreverent flirt type and Kate actually knows Dolores from high school and pretty much hates the area in general because of bullying (though apparently she and Dolores are sort of okay with each other now). They're there to help and Dolores and Sheriff Kreme will need it because it's the company owner who is dead, a man in theory is beloved by the town and is considered a great man (we all know what that's code for).
The mystery itself is really good. It's gruesome. The investigation of it is solid. Where I knocked off a piece of the four star rating is slightly down to the fact that Dolores is yet another detective type who has a flat affect/anxiety/probably on the spectrum which seems to be mandatory for every detective any more and that's a little disappointing. But the real reason for dinging it is the sub plot (this is a spoiler so decide if you want to stop reading now). But before the spoiler here is a bit of something else. I liked Dolores' half siblings. Her step mom a lot less.
Okay spoiler
The subplot of Dolores' rape by local 'important family' member's son when she was a teen and her subsequent decision to go public all these years later takes up almost a third of the this book and overshadows the main plot often. I do wonder if it will be the main plot of book three. If not, it should be if for no other reason than to put it to rest one way or the other (I'm not saying get over the rape. that doesn't happen. I'm saying everything else that goes with the court case including her step mom's texts/calls about it.
This is book two set in a rural Wisconsin town (fun fact I used to live in a rural Wisconsin town). picking up where book 1 ended (so much so that there is no need for me to go back and read that because it was a long shadow in this book) Dolores Hawthorne has recently divorced and moved home to WI to be near her step mother and half siblings she barely knows. She is called into Marcy's Meats after someone is found possibly boiled alive in the tanks and she is now the town's medical examiner.
Into this mess comes also two FBI members, Kate and Paul. He's the irreverent flirt type and Kate actually knows Dolores from high school and pretty much hates the area in general because of bullying (though apparently she and Dolores are sort of okay with each other now). They're there to help and Dolores and Sheriff Kreme will need it because it's the company owner who is dead, a man in theory is beloved by the town and is considered a great man (we all know what that's code for).
The mystery itself is really good. It's gruesome. The investigation of it is solid. Where I knocked off a piece of the four star rating is slightly down to the fact that Dolores is yet another detective type who has a flat affect/anxiety/probably on the spectrum which seems to be mandatory for every detective any more and that's a little disappointing. But the real reason for dinging it is the sub plot (this is a spoiler so decide if you want to stop reading now). But before the spoiler here is a bit of something else. I liked Dolores' half siblings. Her step mom a lot less.
Okay spoiler
The subplot of Dolores' rape by local 'important family' member's son when she was a teen and her subsequent decision to go public all these years later takes up almost a third of the this book and overshadows the main plot often. I do wonder if it will be the main plot of book three. If not, it should be if for no other reason than to put it to rest one way or the other (I'm not saying get over the rape. that doesn't happen. I'm saying everything else that goes with the court case including her step mom's texts/calls about it.
October 9, 2026
Getting divorced was far from the worst part of her week
After a quick trip to LA to finalize her divorce, Dolores Diaz returns to the small Wisconsin town of Circe where she has taken the job of medical examiner in Coldren County. Now she can put behind her both the volatile relationship she had with her ex and the high volume job she used to have as a big city forensic pathologist, and live a quiet life near (but not too near) the family from which she has long been estranged. She certainly didn't expect to return to a gruesome death, a body found at a local slaughterhouse which looks like it is that of the wealthy owner of the business. Who would want to kill the beloved head of a business which prides itself on doing well by its employees and the community? When the police officer transporting the collected evidence turns up dead soon thereafter, it is clear that there is something very dark going on at Marcy's Meats. Dolores knows only too well that this area has lots of secrets to keep and people will go to great lengths to keep them buried. The case attracts the attention of the FBI, including the same agent who investigated the disappearance of Dolores' father the previous year....and it may be connected to other area deaths as well. The investigators might be the next on the killer's (or killer's) list.
Where There's Smoke is the second thriller by author Rachel Louise Adams featuring the smart, resilient but damaged Dolores, following No Rest for the Wicked. Other characters first introduced in the earlier book also figure prominently in this installment, including newly minted FBI agent Kate Butcher and her more experienced partner Paul Turner, Dolores' stepmother Charlotte and stepsister Josie, all of whom are fleshed out more completely and figure more prominently in this outing, The setting of the first murder at a gruesome location (slaughterhouses aren't for the faint of heart nor the weak of stomach) is intentional, a metaphoric stroke of the pen to conjure up a very dark place where bad things happen, Weaving themes of power, small town secrets and past sins seeping into the present in with the search for who killed Benedict Marcy and, perhaps more importantly, why, the author builds a steady pace to the tale's conclusion. Expect plenty of twists and action as the narrative spools out, just don't expect this grim tale set in a small rural town to be in any way a cozy, While the book can be read as a standalone, those who have read the earlier installment will have a leg up on understanding Dolores' past and how and why she ended up back in Coldren County. I found it an atmospheric work of suspense, definitely on the dark side but a solid read. Fans of the first book in the series as well as readers of Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs and Tess Gerritsen will likely enjoy this story. My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
After a quick trip to LA to finalize her divorce, Dolores Diaz returns to the small Wisconsin town of Circe where she has taken the job of medical examiner in Coldren County. Now she can put behind her both the volatile relationship she had with her ex and the high volume job she used to have as a big city forensic pathologist, and live a quiet life near (but not too near) the family from which she has long been estranged. She certainly didn't expect to return to a gruesome death, a body found at a local slaughterhouse which looks like it is that of the wealthy owner of the business. Who would want to kill the beloved head of a business which prides itself on doing well by its employees and the community? When the police officer transporting the collected evidence turns up dead soon thereafter, it is clear that there is something very dark going on at Marcy's Meats. Dolores knows only too well that this area has lots of secrets to keep and people will go to great lengths to keep them buried. The case attracts the attention of the FBI, including the same agent who investigated the disappearance of Dolores' father the previous year....and it may be connected to other area deaths as well. The investigators might be the next on the killer's (or killer's) list.
Where There's Smoke is the second thriller by author Rachel Louise Adams featuring the smart, resilient but damaged Dolores, following No Rest for the Wicked. Other characters first introduced in the earlier book also figure prominently in this installment, including newly minted FBI agent Kate Butcher and her more experienced partner Paul Turner, Dolores' stepmother Charlotte and stepsister Josie, all of whom are fleshed out more completely and figure more prominently in this outing, The setting of the first murder at a gruesome location (slaughterhouses aren't for the faint of heart nor the weak of stomach) is intentional, a metaphoric stroke of the pen to conjure up a very dark place where bad things happen, Weaving themes of power, small town secrets and past sins seeping into the present in with the search for who killed Benedict Marcy and, perhaps more importantly, why, the author builds a steady pace to the tale's conclusion. Expect plenty of twists and action as the narrative spools out, just don't expect this grim tale set in a small rural town to be in any way a cozy, While the book can be read as a standalone, those who have read the earlier installment will have a leg up on understanding Dolores' past and how and why she ended up back in Coldren County. I found it an atmospheric work of suspense, definitely on the dark side but a solid read. Fans of the first book in the series as well as readers of Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs and Tess Gerritsen will likely enjoy this story. My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
November 13, 2026
Where There’s Smoke is a gripping crime thriller with a murder mystery wrapped in.
There is a first book called No Rest For The Wicked, however, I was unaware of that when reading this and if my observation is correct, they may be interconnected but do not necessarily need to be read in order. I read it as a stand-alone.
-MURDER MYSTERY
-CRIME THRILLER
-MEDICAL EXAMINER
-SMALL TOWN SUSPENSE
In this story we follow Dolores as she navigates a divorce and change of life in a rural town as the medical examiner. When situations from her past haunt her and a very serious FBI case opens up in her area which requires her expertise.
The story also showcases plenty of other characters and side stories, including FBI Agents Turner and Butcher.
Where There’s Smoke is written in third person and very well done in my personal opinion. I found the details of the scenes, characters and situations were well researched and described. The writing style captivated my mind and held my attention while reading at a medium to fast pace.
The end of the story really amped up with action scenes and revealed the mysterious components of “who done it”.
I really enjoyed this book and I’m grateful to Minotaur Books for this ARC.
There is a first book called No Rest For The Wicked, however, I was unaware of that when reading this and if my observation is correct, they may be interconnected but do not necessarily need to be read in order. I read it as a stand-alone.
-MURDER MYSTERY
-CRIME THRILLER
-MEDICAL EXAMINER
-SMALL TOWN SUSPENSE
In this story we follow Dolores as she navigates a divorce and change of life in a rural town as the medical examiner. When situations from her past haunt her and a very serious FBI case opens up in her area which requires her expertise.
The story also showcases plenty of other characters and side stories, including FBI Agents Turner and Butcher.
Where There’s Smoke is written in third person and very well done in my personal opinion. I found the details of the scenes, characters and situations were well researched and described. The writing style captivated my mind and held my attention while reading at a medium to fast pace.
The end of the story really amped up with action scenes and revealed the mysterious components of “who done it”.
I really enjoyed this book and I’m grateful to Minotaur Books for this ARC.
October 8, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy of this mystery/thriller.
This is the second book in the Coldren County series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone. That said, after finishing this one, I’m definitely tempted to go back and read the first, No Rest for the Wicked, especially now that I know there’s more to Dolores Hawthorne’s story.
The discovery of a very human body at a Wisconsin slaughterhouse brings Dolores, now working as the local medical examiner, into a murder investigation that quickly becomes much bigger than expected, eventually drawing in the FBI.
There’s a lot happening here, with a few storylines weaving together. Alongside the murder investigation, we learn more about why Dolores left her hometown, the fallout from what happened back then, and the complicated family dynamics that continue to shape her life.
I enjoyed the layers to the story and the way the personal history and investigation gradually came together. There are still some threads left open by the end, which has me hoping this won't be the last we see of Coldren County and Dolores as I’m looking forward to seeing where this series goes next.
This is the second book in the Coldren County series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone. That said, after finishing this one, I’m definitely tempted to go back and read the first, No Rest for the Wicked, especially now that I know there’s more to Dolores Hawthorne’s story.
The discovery of a very human body at a Wisconsin slaughterhouse brings Dolores, now working as the local medical examiner, into a murder investigation that quickly becomes much bigger than expected, eventually drawing in the FBI.
There’s a lot happening here, with a few storylines weaving together. Alongside the murder investigation, we learn more about why Dolores left her hometown, the fallout from what happened back then, and the complicated family dynamics that continue to shape her life.
I enjoyed the layers to the story and the way the personal history and investigation gradually came together. There are still some threads left open by the end, which has me hoping this won't be the last we see of Coldren County and Dolores as I’m looking forward to seeing where this series goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a gifted copy of WHERE THERE'S SMOKE by Rachel Louise Adams from Macmillan Audio!
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE is the sequel novel in the Coldren County series, following last year's NO REST FOR THE WICKED. We are once again following Dolores, a forensic pathologist who has returned to her hometown after the events of the first book. She's reforming relationships with her family and has taken on a new job working locally. We are also following the FBI agents working her latest case, a dead body in a slaughterhouse with a lot of hidden secrets.
I had a good time with NO REST FOR THE WICKED, so was happy to get back into Dolores' head for a second installment. This book definitely dumps you head first into a new and gory case and the slaughterhouse setting (one located right next door to a prison as well) made for a complicated case in terms of the forensics and the investigation!
I think the author did well at balancing the personal story of our characters, particularly that of Dolores and her family following the events of the previous book, with the new case and investigation. The case itself definitely brought some interesting twists that I really appreciated. I do think if you picked this one up without reading the first book, there is enough of a recap that you wouldn't feel lost, but you likely would notice that you skipped ahead in the story a bit.
I had a good time binging through this book. WHERE THERE'S SMOKE is out today!
I couldn't resist pairing this piggie cover with a Piglet costume... but we'll keep Piglet far from the slaughterhouse!
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE is the sequel novel in the Coldren County series, following last year's NO REST FOR THE WICKED. We are once again following Dolores, a forensic pathologist who has returned to her hometown after the events of the first book. She's reforming relationships with her family and has taken on a new job working locally. We are also following the FBI agents working her latest case, a dead body in a slaughterhouse with a lot of hidden secrets.
I had a good time with NO REST FOR THE WICKED, so was happy to get back into Dolores' head for a second installment. This book definitely dumps you head first into a new and gory case and the slaughterhouse setting (one located right next door to a prison as well) made for a complicated case in terms of the forensics and the investigation!
I think the author did well at balancing the personal story of our characters, particularly that of Dolores and her family following the events of the previous book, with the new case and investigation. The case itself definitely brought some interesting twists that I really appreciated. I do think if you picked this one up without reading the first book, there is enough of a recap that you wouldn't feel lost, but you likely would notice that you skipped ahead in the story a bit.
I had a good time binging through this book. WHERE THERE'S SMOKE is out today!
I couldn't resist pairing this piggie cover with a Piglet costume... but we'll keep Piglet far from the slaughterhouse!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Where There's Smoke by Rachel Louise Adams is a highly recommended investigative thriller and is the second novel in the Coldren County series following No Rest for the Wicked (2025).
Dr. Dolores Diaz (Hawthorne) has divorced Max and moved to Circe, Wisconsin in Coldren County where she is working as a medical examiner. It is near Little Horton where her surviving family lives. Immediately upon her return from California, Sheriff Kreme calls her. A body has been found by the night time cleaning crew at Mercy's, which is what the locals call the local slaughterhouse, Marcy's Meats. The body is identified as owner Benedict Marcy II and it was murder, not accidental, based on the ligature marks on his wrists.
FBI agents Paul Turner and his new partner Kate Butcher are assigned the case. Magnus Peterson, manager of Marcy's blames the protesting animal rights activists who made a performative slaughter video. The case is clearly more complicated than that simple when a local cop who was transporting evidence samples is killed and most of the evidence is missing. It will take the intelligence of Dolores, Paul, and Kate to collect enough evidence and follow the clues to discover what is really going on.
At the same time, Dolores is still receiving threatening Halloween cards based on an incident that happened when she was a teen in the area. She has brought the case to the attention of law enforcement which is why she is being threatened. This was likely started in the first book of the series, which I missed, but the general information is here. Her stepmother, Charlotte, is still scheming and threatening. Josie, her half sister does come to stay at Dolores's house to escape her mom.
There are plenty of plot twists and, along with several very intuitive actions, the clues are logically followed up on in the investigation. At the opening of the novel is a long list of content warnings for things that could trigger readers. (Personally, just looking at the cover of the book should be warning enough.) After things get moving, the pace moves quickly, along with the twists and revelations. The ending is explosive, action-packed, and the plot twists unpredictable.
Dolores is an interesting character who is clearly dealing with damage from her past while still doing exceptional work at her job. She is very intelligent and intuitive. Kate is a clever character and apparently had a backstory with Dolores that they are setting aside as adults. Paul is also intelligent and capable. It seems that these three characters will likely be back together working on another case.
Where There's Smoke is a great choice for everyone who read No Rest for the Wicked and can also be enjoyed by those who enjoy twisty investigative thrillers. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Dr. Dolores Diaz (Hawthorne) has divorced Max and moved to Circe, Wisconsin in Coldren County where she is working as a medical examiner. It is near Little Horton where her surviving family lives. Immediately upon her return from California, Sheriff Kreme calls her. A body has been found by the night time cleaning crew at Mercy's, which is what the locals call the local slaughterhouse, Marcy's Meats. The body is identified as owner Benedict Marcy II and it was murder, not accidental, based on the ligature marks on his wrists.
FBI agents Paul Turner and his new partner Kate Butcher are assigned the case. Magnus Peterson, manager of Marcy's blames the protesting animal rights activists who made a performative slaughter video. The case is clearly more complicated than that simple when a local cop who was transporting evidence samples is killed and most of the evidence is missing. It will take the intelligence of Dolores, Paul, and Kate to collect enough evidence and follow the clues to discover what is really going on.
At the same time, Dolores is still receiving threatening Halloween cards based on an incident that happened when she was a teen in the area. She has brought the case to the attention of law enforcement which is why she is being threatened. This was likely started in the first book of the series, which I missed, but the general information is here. Her stepmother, Charlotte, is still scheming and threatening. Josie, her half sister does come to stay at Dolores's house to escape her mom.
There are plenty of plot twists and, along with several very intuitive actions, the clues are logically followed up on in the investigation. At the opening of the novel is a long list of content warnings for things that could trigger readers. (Personally, just looking at the cover of the book should be warning enough.) After things get moving, the pace moves quickly, along with the twists and revelations. The ending is explosive, action-packed, and the plot twists unpredictable.
Dolores is an interesting character who is clearly dealing with damage from her past while still doing exceptional work at her job. She is very intelligent and intuitive. Kate is a clever character and apparently had a backstory with Dolores that they are setting aside as adults. Paul is also intelligent and capable. It seems that these three characters will likely be back together working on another case.
Where There's Smoke is a great choice for everyone who read No Rest for the Wicked and can also be enjoyed by those who enjoy twisty investigative thrillers. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I loved No Rest For The Wicked so when I found out there was a second book in the series—Where There’s Smoke—I was SO excited! Technically, you can read Where There’s Smoke as a standalone but it is part of the Coldren County series and follows Medical examiner Dolores Hawthorne.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕?
Medical examiner Dolores Hawthorne investigates a murder at a small-town Wisconsin slaughterhouse, uncovering contradictions as someone tries to stop her from finding the truth.
This book was SO DAMN GOOD!! Another banger from Rachel Louise Adams. I love the way she does small-town mysteries and I love her character development. This was a book I had a hard time putting down and couldn’t wait to pick it up again and continue reading.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕?
Medical examiner Dolores Hawthorne investigates a murder at a small-town Wisconsin slaughterhouse, uncovering contradictions as someone tries to stop her from finding the truth.
This book was SO DAMN GOOD!! Another banger from Rachel Louise Adams. I love the way she does small-town mysteries and I love her character development. This was a book I had a hard time putting down and couldn’t wait to pick it up again and continue reading.
October 22, 2026
I read No Rest for the Wicked earlier this month and loved it, so I wasn’t quite ready to leave Coldren County behind. I was keen to get stuck into Where There’s Smoke and see what else this rather troubled county had in store!
This second instalment is darker, grittier and I loved it even more for that! Between the slaughterhouse and prison settings, some seriously gruesome discoveries and a small community with plenty of secrets, this one certainly isn’t for the squeamish.
I really enjoyed being back with Dolores, and the stronger forensic and police procedural elements were right up my alley. I loved how the different threads of the investigation came together, and while this had a completely different feel to the Halloween atmosphere of the first book, I was just as immersed in it.
Two books in and I’m thoroughly enjoying this series! I’m also stoked that book three has just been announced for release in 2028, because I already can’t wait to read it!
This second instalment is darker, grittier and I loved it even more for that! Between the slaughterhouse and prison settings, some seriously gruesome discoveries and a small community with plenty of secrets, this one certainly isn’t for the squeamish.
I really enjoyed being back with Dolores, and the stronger forensic and police procedural elements were right up my alley. I loved how the different threads of the investigation came together, and while this had a completely different feel to the Halloween atmosphere of the first book, I was just as immersed in it.
Two books in and I’m thoroughly enjoying this series! I’m also stoked that book three has just been announced for release in 2028, because I already can’t wait to read it!
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