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Doctors of Darkness #6
Long Buried
The past always rises.
In 1997, the seniors of Sweetbriar High School buried a time capsule at their graduation ceremony. That same night, one of their own—Homecoming Queen Blair Lennox—disappeared without a trace.
Twenty years later, Juniper Pickett returns to Sweetbriar on a mission, driving all night from San Francisco with a world of trouble in her rearview. There’s no going back. Not after what she’s done. Tomorrow, they’ll exhume the time capsule and expose her darkest secret.
When Juniper accidentally unearths the body of her missing classmate, she finds herself with a target on her back in a race to clear her name. Because it’s not true what they say about small towns…
There are strangers.
There are secrets.
And you can go home again. But they’ll never let you leave.
About the Series...Straight from the mind of a forensic psychologist comes an addictive new series of betrayal, lust, revenge, and murder. These doctors earned their degrees from the dark side. And once you start reading, you won't be able to stop. Other books in the Doctors of Darkness series include Daddy Darkest, The Hanging Tree, The First Cut, Shadows Among Us, and Lucky Girl.
In 1997, the seniors of Sweetbriar High School buried a time capsule at their graduation ceremony. That same night, one of their own—Homecoming Queen Blair Lennox—disappeared without a trace.
Twenty years later, Juniper Pickett returns to Sweetbriar on a mission, driving all night from San Francisco with a world of trouble in her rearview. There’s no going back. Not after what she’s done. Tomorrow, they’ll exhume the time capsule and expose her darkest secret.
When Juniper accidentally unearths the body of her missing classmate, she finds herself with a target on her back in a race to clear her name. Because it’s not true what they say about small towns…
There are strangers.
There are secrets.
And you can go home again. But they’ll never let you leave.
About the Series...Straight from the mind of a forensic psychologist comes an addictive new series of betrayal, lust, revenge, and murder. These doctors earned their degrees from the dark side. And once you start reading, you won't be able to stop. Other books in the Doctors of Darkness series include Daddy Darkest, The Hanging Tree, The First Cut, Shadows Among Us, and Lucky Girl.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2026
About the author
Ellery A. Kane
19 books467 followersForensic psychologist by day, novelist by night, Ellery Kane has been writing--professionally and creatively--for as long as she can remember. Just like many of her main characters, Ellery loves to ask why, which is the reason she became a psychologist in the first place. Real life really is stranger than fiction, and Ellery's writing is often inspired by her day job. Evaluating violent criminals and treating trauma victims, she has gained a unique perspective on the past and its indelible influence on the individual. And she's heard her fair share of real life thrillers.
Ellery lives in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, a picturesque setting that provides the backdrop for many of her novels. If you don't find Ellery interviewing murderers behind prison walls or pecking away at her latest novel, she is probably at the gym landing a solid jab-cross to a punching bag; riding bicycles with her special someone; or enjoying a movie the old-fashioned way--at the theater with popcorn and Milk Duds.
Ellery was previously selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition and is the author of the Doctors of Darkness, Rockwell and Decker, and Legacy Series, with four standalone thrillers from Bookouture.
If you'd like to receive a notification when new books are released, please sign up for Ellery's newsletter at ellerykane.com. Ellery also signs e-books on authorgraph.com.
Ellery lives in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, a picturesque setting that provides the backdrop for many of her novels. If you don't find Ellery interviewing murderers behind prison walls or pecking away at her latest novel, she is probably at the gym landing a solid jab-cross to a punching bag; riding bicycles with her special someone; or enjoying a movie the old-fashioned way--at the theater with popcorn and Milk Duds.
Ellery was previously selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition and is the author of the Doctors of Darkness, Rockwell and Decker, and Legacy Series, with four standalone thrillers from Bookouture.
If you'd like to receive a notification when new books are released, please sign up for Ellery's newsletter at ellerykane.com. Ellery also signs e-books on authorgraph.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
July 16, 2026
4,5/5
Este libro me recuerda muchísimo a la serie The Glory, y es lo poco que hablaré de la trama porque siento que es una experiencia inigualable. Mi recomendación: léelo a ciegas, como hice yo. Me llamaron la atención la portada y la sinopsis (que, por cierto, no hace ningún spoiler), pero todo lo que vino después fue brutal.
Si bien no es un thriller perfecto, es uno muy bueno y, sobre todo, una propuesta sólida. De hecho, tiene un comienzo tan visual y potente que lo recuerdo perfectamente, aunque lo haya leído hace ya unas semanas.
Lo que realmente eleva a Long Buried por encima de otros thrillers es su ejecución narrativa. Está contado a través de un narrador en primera persona limitado que resulta fascinante: una protagonista completamente sesgada por el acoso sistemático, el miedo, los celos y esa idealización obsesiva de su entorno.
Esto hace que el misterio sea mucho más envolvente, ya que no recibimos una verdad absoluta, sino fragmentos filtrados por la mente de Juniper. Es precisamente esta limitación lo que hace que la historia brille; nos encierra en su mente y nos obliga a cuestionar no solo quién fue el asesino, sino qué partes de la verdad nos está ocultando (o negando) ella misma. Es un nivel de profundidad que un narrador omnisciente nunca lograría, convirtiendo al lector en cómplice de sus silencios y sus dudas. Sin duda, una ejecución brillante que hace que la experiencia sea mucho más intensa.
Aunque el uso de la primera persona es casi un estándar en el thriller, la autora aquí eleva el recurso a otro nivel. Logra una voz tan compleja que, para mí, se posiciona como una de las mejores narraciones que he leído en el género; no se limita a contarte lo que pasó, sino que te hace habitar la mente y las contradicciones de Juniper.
Lo increíble es que se nota que la autora no dejó nada al azar. Cada personaje, visto a través de los ojos de Juniper, se siente real, tridimensional y con una función clara. Se nota que escribió esta historia con un mapa: sabía exactamente hacia dónde nos llevaba y cómo quería que llegáramos allí. Es una narración que te hace sentir que no estás solo leyendo un libro, sino recorriendo un rompecabezas donde cada pieza estaba destinada a encajar desde la primera página.
Más allá de la técnica, lo que realmente se me quedó grabado fue la sensación física de leerlo; ese vacío en el pecho que me acompañó durante toda la historia, tanto en las escenas del presente como en los saltos al pasado. Es una lectura que te hace sentir mucho.
Me resultó fascinante, y doloroso, el manejo de los personajes. Blair, por ejemplo, tiene una esencia que inevitablemente me trajo a la mente a Yeon-jin de The Glory fusionada con Regina George. Genuinamente, ¿Saben qué es lo más jodidamente triste? A pesar de todo, ella es la protagonista de la historia porque es la protagonista de la vida de Juniper.
Por otro lado, la dinámica con Wyatt me mantuvo en un conflicto constante. Sentí ese anhelo y el amor incondicional de Juniper con tanta fuerza que, a veces, me dejaba un vacío en el corazón. Aunque Wyatt es un personaje que me cae mal, la forma en que ella lo percibe te hace sentir tanta añoranza. Mención especial al capítulo 30: me dolió en el alma y fue el momento definitivo en el que terminé de conectar por completo con el dolor que carga Juniper.
Long Buried es un thriller excepcional del cual no esperaba nada, pero que me dio todo. Además, mantiene un ritmo increíblemente adictivo gracias a sus constantes saltos entre el presente y el pasado. De pana, Ellery Kane tiene un talento increíble y no dudaría en leer más de su trabajo.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Este libro me recuerda muchísimo a la serie The Glory, y es lo poco que hablaré de la trama porque siento que es una experiencia inigualable. Mi recomendación: léelo a ciegas, como hice yo. Me llamaron la atención la portada y la sinopsis (que, por cierto, no hace ningún spoiler), pero todo lo que vino después fue brutal.
Si bien no es un thriller perfecto, es uno muy bueno y, sobre todo, una propuesta sólida. De hecho, tiene un comienzo tan visual y potente que lo recuerdo perfectamente, aunque lo haya leído hace ya unas semanas.
Lo que realmente eleva a Long Buried por encima de otros thrillers es su ejecución narrativa. Está contado a través de un narrador en primera persona limitado que resulta fascinante: una protagonista completamente sesgada por el acoso sistemático, el miedo, los celos y esa idealización obsesiva de su entorno.
Esto hace que el misterio sea mucho más envolvente, ya que no recibimos una verdad absoluta, sino fragmentos filtrados por la mente de Juniper. Es precisamente esta limitación lo que hace que la historia brille; nos encierra en su mente y nos obliga a cuestionar no solo quién fue el asesino, sino qué partes de la verdad nos está ocultando (o negando) ella misma. Es un nivel de profundidad que un narrador omnisciente nunca lograría, convirtiendo al lector en cómplice de sus silencios y sus dudas. Sin duda, una ejecución brillante que hace que la experiencia sea mucho más intensa.
Aunque el uso de la primera persona es casi un estándar en el thriller, la autora aquí eleva el recurso a otro nivel. Logra una voz tan compleja que, para mí, se posiciona como una de las mejores narraciones que he leído en el género; no se limita a contarte lo que pasó, sino que te hace habitar la mente y las contradicciones de Juniper.
Lo increíble es que se nota que la autora no dejó nada al azar. Cada personaje, visto a través de los ojos de Juniper, se siente real, tridimensional y con una función clara. Se nota que escribió esta historia con un mapa: sabía exactamente hacia dónde nos llevaba y cómo quería que llegáramos allí. Es una narración que te hace sentir que no estás solo leyendo un libro, sino recorriendo un rompecabezas donde cada pieza estaba destinada a encajar desde la primera página.
Más allá de la técnica, lo que realmente se me quedó grabado fue la sensación física de leerlo; ese vacío en el pecho que me acompañó durante toda la historia, tanto en las escenas del presente como en los saltos al pasado. Es una lectura que te hace sentir mucho.
Me resultó fascinante, y doloroso, el manejo de los personajes. Blair, por ejemplo, tiene una esencia que inevitablemente me trajo a la mente a Yeon-jin de The Glory fusionada con Regina George. Genuinamente, ¿Saben qué es lo más jodidamente triste? A pesar de todo, ella es la protagonista de la historia porque es la protagonista de la vida de Juniper.
Por otro lado, la dinámica con Wyatt me mantuvo en un conflicto constante. Sentí ese anhelo y el amor incondicional de Juniper con tanta fuerza que, a veces, me dejaba un vacío en el corazón. Aunque Wyatt es un personaje que me cae mal, la forma en que ella lo percibe te hace sentir tanta añoranza. Mención especial al capítulo 30: me dolió en el alma y fue el momento definitivo en el que terminé de conectar por completo con el dolor que carga Juniper.
Long Buried es un thriller excepcional del cual no esperaba nada, pero que me dio todo. Además, mantiene un ritmo increíblemente adictivo gracias a sus constantes saltos entre el presente y el pasado. De pana, Ellery Kane tiene un talento increíble y no dudaría en leer más de su trabajo.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I came into this psychological thriller series late and had no problem enjoying the story. This is the 6th installment in the Doctors of Darkness series by Ellery Kane. It’s one of those types of books where once you discover that something sinister has happened, you need to keep reading. So my advice is to set aside time for this great psychological thriller!
Author Ellery Kane has built her story around the question: Can you ever go home again?
Twenty years ago, something terrible happened in Sweetbriar, Texas, and Juniper Pickett fled town. Now, she’s back and trying to clear her name and keep buried secrets from being exposed.
First of all, THOSE TWISTS! I didn’t see them coming.
Secondly, THOSE CHARACTERS! I really disliked Blair and almost took the bullying personally. I misjudged two male characters early on, and I loved the reveal later!
I liked the reminders that a life consumed by guilt is no life at all, and that ego and ambition can be costly if not bridled. I’ll remember this book for the revenge plot and the warning not to underestimate anyone.
If you like twisty plots and a race to unearth what really happened, this one’s for you! I highly recommend it.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Author Ellery Kane has built her story around the question: Can you ever go home again?
Twenty years ago, something terrible happened in Sweetbriar, Texas, and Juniper Pickett fled town. Now, she’s back and trying to clear her name and keep buried secrets from being exposed.
First of all, THOSE TWISTS! I didn’t see them coming.
Secondly, THOSE CHARACTERS! I really disliked Blair and almost took the bullying personally. I misjudged two male characters early on, and I loved the reveal later!
I liked the reminders that a life consumed by guilt is no life at all, and that ego and ambition can be costly if not bridled. I’ll remember this book for the revenge plot and the warning not to underestimate anyone.
If you like twisty plots and a race to unearth what really happened, this one’s for you! I highly recommend it.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 21, 2026
#CampNetgalleyReads
Back in 1997 the Sweetbriar prom queen disappeared. The same night the seniors graduated and a time capsule was buried.
Years later, Juniper Prickett is returning to Sweetbriar. Leaving behind San Franisco, her psychologist career, and shit storm of mess, shes heading right back to the town she was labeled a loser, a nobody and a murderer. The Sweetbriar High School time capsule is about to be opened, and Juniper must make sure her highschool secrets remain buried.
This was a fun, quick read! I cant remember the last time I was so in enthralled in a book that I read it all in one sitting. First book by this author and I definitely think I'll be looking into the other books in this series.
Full of mystery/suspense.
Lovable and equally loathable characters.
Well written.
All the stars!
Back in 1997 the Sweetbriar prom queen disappeared. The same night the seniors graduated and a time capsule was buried.
Years later, Juniper Prickett is returning to Sweetbriar. Leaving behind San Franisco, her psychologist career, and shit storm of mess, shes heading right back to the town she was labeled a loser, a nobody and a murderer. The Sweetbriar High School time capsule is about to be opened, and Juniper must make sure her highschool secrets remain buried.
This was a fun, quick read! I cant remember the last time I was so in enthralled in a book that I read it all in one sitting. First book by this author and I definitely think I'll be looking into the other books in this series.
Full of mystery/suspense.
Lovable and equally loathable characters.
Well written.
All the stars!
August 1, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
This is the kind of mystery where the emotional scars of the past run deeper than the crime itself.
When Blair returns to her small town for a high school reunion, a decades-old tragedy begins to resurface, forcing her and her former classmates to confront long-buried secrets—and the lasting damage of the bullying that shaped who they all became.
The premise hooked me, and I was eager to see how the past would collide with the present.
That said, the pacing was a bit too slow for me, and I never fully connected with Blair, so some of the emotional moments didn’t land.
Ultimately, this is more than just a mystery. It’s about how the emotional scars of our teens can follow us well into adulthood. A thoughtful slow-burn for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries.
This is the kind of mystery where the emotional scars of the past run deeper than the crime itself.
When Blair returns to her small town for a high school reunion, a decades-old tragedy begins to resurface, forcing her and her former classmates to confront long-buried secrets—and the lasting damage of the bullying that shaped who they all became.
The premise hooked me, and I was eager to see how the past would collide with the present.
That said, the pacing was a bit too slow for me, and I never fully connected with Blair, so some of the emotional moments didn’t land.
Ultimately, this is more than just a mystery. It’s about how the emotional scars of our teens can follow us well into adulthood. A thoughtful slow-burn for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries.
July 18, 2026
This was an entertaining quick read. I picked this up because of the NetGalley summer challenge and this one stood out to me. There really wasn't a dull moment throughout this whole book. It starts off pretty strong and interesting and actually managed to maintain that steady pace throughout the rest of the story.
Although I had the ebook from NetGalley, I also ended up getting the audiobook through Libby and I thought that really added to the experience. The narration was great and I loved all of the conflict within this book. It's a high school reunion, so there is always bound to be some juicy drama. Books like these always remind me how it's never a good idea to attend an event like this.
This was worth the read, and I would recommend the audio book if you have it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
Although I had the ebook from NetGalley, I also ended up getting the audiobook through Libby and I thought that really added to the experience. The narration was great and I loved all of the conflict within this book. It's a high school reunion, so there is always bound to be some juicy drama. Books like these always remind me how it's never a good idea to attend an event like this.
This was worth the read, and I would recommend the audio book if you have it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
July 17, 2026
I love when a, new to me, author surprises the heck out of me with just how much I enjoy their writing. The stories they weave. How captivated I can get with a new voice, a whole new set of characters and stories.
This really did capture my attention from chapter one and I sailed right through, because, I just couldn't get enough.
I had so much fun with this, and even better, I didn't expect it to bring on so much emotions. So many feels, in so many different ways. This truly was a delight, Fast paced, easy to read, weirdly easy to relate to on so many levels, and the mystery kept me guessing and re-guessing, the whole way through.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This really did capture my attention from chapter one and I sailed right through, because, I just couldn't get enough.
I had so much fun with this, and even better, I didn't expect it to bring on so much emotions. So many feels, in so many different ways. This truly was a delight, Fast paced, easy to read, weirdly easy to relate to on so many levels, and the mystery kept me guessing and re-guessing, the whole way through.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
April 17, 2026
Grabbed by the cover… only to realize I had jumped straight into Book 6 which wasn’t exactly the plan.
This was a complimentary eARC from the author via NetGalley, and thankfully, this series functions as interconnected standalones—so while I wasn’t completely lost, there was a slight disconnect at times from not having the full backstory.
That said, this was a well-written and engaging read. I really enjoyed the dual timeline and how everything gradually wove together. Even when I started to piece things together, it never felt overly predictable, and there moments that will catch folks off guard in the best way.
I found myself more drawn to the “Before” chapters than the “Now” timeline, something about the past just had a stronger pull for me, but I did appreciate how seamlessly the two timelines ultimately connected. The structure was thoughtfully done, and the payoff worked.
Overall, this is a well-plotted small-town psychological thriller that I’d definitely recommend. And next time, I might just start at Book 1… but I’m absolutely interested in exploring more from this series.
This was a complimentary eARC from the author via NetGalley, and thankfully, this series functions as interconnected standalones—so while I wasn’t completely lost, there was a slight disconnect at times from not having the full backstory.
That said, this was a well-written and engaging read. I really enjoyed the dual timeline and how everything gradually wove together. Even when I started to piece things together, it never felt overly predictable, and there moments that will catch folks off guard in the best way.
I found myself more drawn to the “Before” chapters than the “Now” timeline, something about the past just had a stronger pull for me, but I did appreciate how seamlessly the two timelines ultimately connected. The structure was thoughtfully done, and the payoff worked.
Overall, this is a well-plotted small-town psychological thriller that I’d definitely recommend. And next time, I might just start at Book 1… but I’m absolutely interested in exploring more from this series.
July 22, 2026
3.75 Stars ⭐️ #CampNetGalley
I chose this book as part of the NetGalley Camp Challenge. It was another "new to me" author. It was also the 6th book in a series (I didn't look close enough to realize that when I chose it) but to be fair, the book is touted as an inter-connected stand-alone - so I never felt like I was missing something or was lost on what was going on.
The story revolves around FMC Juniper Pickett and when we meet her, she has just driven back to her hometown after being away for 20 years. We are only told that she had FLED her hometown of Sweetbriar, Texas after some major event occurred on her graduation night. She is only coming back to try to get back a letter that she placed in the graduation class time capsule - and that is pretty much all we know at the beginning.
The story is told in alternating timelines. There is the "now" or the "present", and then there is the past, which goes back and forth during her childhood at various ages, as we try to understand what her life was like as she was growing up in this small town.
The story itself is a very easy read and pulls you in very quickly. The book consists of MANY short (and I do mean short) chapters that make it easy to think, "Just one more chapter" as you are in the middle of trying to figure things out.
Immediately though, I found myself becoming annoyed with Juniper's actions. This woman did so many things that made no sense. Starting from the moment she drove into town (in the middle of the night), her actions were unexpectedly crazy. The whole shovel situation at the school....just really odd and something that goes against any form of common sense (I mean....going back again? WHY??)
Another example of odd behavior is when she has finally gotten to her childhood home, and she hasn't even walked into the actual house yet, but she starts getting Google alerts for whatever disaster she left back in San Franscisco (that we are not given any details on but that she is also running from) and as she desperately tries to open the Google links to see what has been written about her (her phones battery is almost dead and the service is awful) she gets so frustrated that she throws her cell phone into the field surrounding the home. A field with a ton of acreage that is in the middle of nowhere. It is 3 o'clock in the morning and dark and once she throws it away, she realizes what she did and tries to find it and she can't. Who does that? These odd behaviors happen in the first hours of driving into Sweetbriar - and they continue to occur non-stop on a daily basis as she keeps incriminating herself over and over. With the town, with the police.....
Other than that, the story itself was interesting. The MMC is her childhood friend Wyatt Landry. It takes time to understand their relationship because I was VERY confused at the beginning. Wyatt is definitely a nice guy, and he is EXTREMELY patient with Juniper. Much more patient than I could ever be - seriously.
One thing that becomes immediately clear is that Juniper is a mess. Most of it is self-inflicted, but not all of it. As we go back in time, it is easier to understand some of her inner thoughts because she was bullied terribly growing up. And when I say bullied, I mean BULLIED. Some of that was difficult to read. At times I kept thinking, "Please stand up for yourself" but having never been exactly in that situation, I honestly do not know how I would have reacted.
Putting aside Juniper's crazy behavior, as we FINALLY start getting to the heart of what is going on, it is full of unexpected twists and turns. The actual reveal (well, there are a couple of them) actually surprised me and I love being surprised. Some of the characters were a bit over the top and more like caricatures, but somehow it just worked.
If you have a couple of hours and want and easy to read thriller, this might just be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ellery Kane Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. It was out for publication on March 30, 2026.
#CampNetGalley
I chose this book as part of the NetGalley Camp Challenge. It was another "new to me" author. It was also the 6th book in a series (I didn't look close enough to realize that when I chose it) but to be fair, the book is touted as an inter-connected stand-alone - so I never felt like I was missing something or was lost on what was going on.
The story revolves around FMC Juniper Pickett and when we meet her, she has just driven back to her hometown after being away for 20 years. We are only told that she had FLED her hometown of Sweetbriar, Texas after some major event occurred on her graduation night. She is only coming back to try to get back a letter that she placed in the graduation class time capsule - and that is pretty much all we know at the beginning.
The story is told in alternating timelines. There is the "now" or the "present", and then there is the past, which goes back and forth during her childhood at various ages, as we try to understand what her life was like as she was growing up in this small town.
The story itself is a very easy read and pulls you in very quickly. The book consists of MANY short (and I do mean short) chapters that make it easy to think, "Just one more chapter" as you are in the middle of trying to figure things out.
Immediately though, I found myself becoming annoyed with Juniper's actions. This woman did so many things that made no sense. Starting from the moment she drove into town (in the middle of the night), her actions were unexpectedly crazy. The whole shovel situation at the school....just really odd and something that goes against any form of common sense (I mean....going back again? WHY??)
Another example of odd behavior is when she has finally gotten to her childhood home, and she hasn't even walked into the actual house yet, but she starts getting Google alerts for whatever disaster she left back in San Franscisco (that we are not given any details on but that she is also running from) and as she desperately tries to open the Google links to see what has been written about her (her phones battery is almost dead and the service is awful) she gets so frustrated that she throws her cell phone into the field surrounding the home. A field with a ton of acreage that is in the middle of nowhere. It is 3 o'clock in the morning and dark and once she throws it away, she realizes what she did and tries to find it and she can't. Who does that? These odd behaviors happen in the first hours of driving into Sweetbriar - and they continue to occur non-stop on a daily basis as she keeps incriminating herself over and over. With the town, with the police.....
Other than that, the story itself was interesting. The MMC is her childhood friend Wyatt Landry. It takes time to understand their relationship because I was VERY confused at the beginning. Wyatt is definitely a nice guy, and he is EXTREMELY patient with Juniper. Much more patient than I could ever be - seriously.
One thing that becomes immediately clear is that Juniper is a mess. Most of it is self-inflicted, but not all of it. As we go back in time, it is easier to understand some of her inner thoughts because she was bullied terribly growing up. And when I say bullied, I mean BULLIED. Some of that was difficult to read. At times I kept thinking, "Please stand up for yourself" but having never been exactly in that situation, I honestly do not know how I would have reacted.
Putting aside Juniper's crazy behavior, as we FINALLY start getting to the heart of what is going on, it is full of unexpected twists and turns. The actual reveal (well, there are a couple of them) actually surprised me and I love being surprised. Some of the characters were a bit over the top and more like caricatures, but somehow it just worked.
If you have a couple of hours and want and easy to read thriller, this might just be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ellery Kane Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. It was out for publication on March 30, 2026.
#CampNetGalley
July 27, 2026
★★★★
”I saw you. I know what you did.”
Juniper "June" Pickett has had a rough few weeks. Her father has passed away, and she's just lost her job, or at least she might as well have. The worst part is the very public spectacle surrounding the events that ended her career, making it unlikely she'll find another position anytime soon in her chosen home, the Bay Area.
What's a girl to do?
Head back to Texas, of course, and finally deal with her father's estate now that she has plenty of unexpected free time. Oh, and there's also her 20-year high school reunion on the horizon. The long-awaited opening of the class time capsule is about to reveal something far darker than anyone ever imagined. Maybe June can stop one more disaster before it's too late…?
”I’m not the meek, helpless girl who goes gently into that good night. I want to rage. I want the last word. I want you all to pay. Twenty years from now, you will all still remember me. If you survive tonight.”
This was my first book by Ellery Kane, and I loved the small-town setting she created. It never felt overly romanticized. Instead, it captured the realities of a farming community, from its struggles and outcasts to the big dreams of life after graduation, college, football, and making it out.
The characters felt authentic and wonderfully layered. The dual timelines came together seamlessly, gradually revealing what shaped each character and the history that bound them together.
The mystery was cleverly plotted, and I changed my mind about the culprit with almost every shift in timeline as new details emerged and more secrets came to light. Bonus points for the second-chance romance, which never competed with the mystery but instead added another layer to the story. And really, who can resist a cowboy?
Thank you NetGalley and Ellery Kane for a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
”I saw you. I know what you did.”
Juniper "June" Pickett has had a rough few weeks. Her father has passed away, and she's just lost her job, or at least she might as well have. The worst part is the very public spectacle surrounding the events that ended her career, making it unlikely she'll find another position anytime soon in her chosen home, the Bay Area.
What's a girl to do?
Head back to Texas, of course, and finally deal with her father's estate now that she has plenty of unexpected free time. Oh, and there's also her 20-year high school reunion on the horizon. The long-awaited opening of the class time capsule is about to reveal something far darker than anyone ever imagined. Maybe June can stop one more disaster before it's too late…?
”I’m not the meek, helpless girl who goes gently into that good night. I want to rage. I want the last word. I want you all to pay. Twenty years from now, you will all still remember me. If you survive tonight.”
This was my first book by Ellery Kane, and I loved the small-town setting she created. It never felt overly romanticized. Instead, it captured the realities of a farming community, from its struggles and outcasts to the big dreams of life after graduation, college, football, and making it out.
The characters felt authentic and wonderfully layered. The dual timelines came together seamlessly, gradually revealing what shaped each character and the history that bound them together.
The mystery was cleverly plotted, and I changed my mind about the culprit with almost every shift in timeline as new details emerged and more secrets came to light. Bonus points for the second-chance romance, which never competed with the mystery but instead added another layer to the story. And really, who can resist a cowboy?
Thank you NetGalley and Ellery Kane for a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
July 24, 2026
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I had such a good time reading reading this book! I'm always a sucker for a small-town mystery where everyone seems to be hiding something, and this one absolutely scratched that itch.
The whole idea of a time capsule being dug up twenty years later, only for a body to be discovered instead, had me hooked straight away. I kept telling myself I had it all figured out but then something else would happen that made me question everything again.
I really liked Juniper. She wasn't perfect, and I found myself constantly wondering what she was hiding and if she actually did it, while also rooting for her to make it through everything that was being thrown at her.
What I enjoyed most was the atmosphere. Small-town thrillers just hit differently when everyone's lives are tangled together, old secrets refuse to stay buried, and the past keeps creeping back into the present. It kept me guessing right up until the end.
I did figure out a couple of things before they were revealed, but it honestly didn't take away from my enjoyment. I was still completely invested in seeing how everything would come together.
If you love twisty mysteries with plenty of secrets, suspicious characters, and that "everyone knows everyone" small-town vibe, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go.
I had such a good time reading reading this book! I'm always a sucker for a small-town mystery where everyone seems to be hiding something, and this one absolutely scratched that itch.
The whole idea of a time capsule being dug up twenty years later, only for a body to be discovered instead, had me hooked straight away. I kept telling myself I had it all figured out but then something else would happen that made me question everything again.
I really liked Juniper. She wasn't perfect, and I found myself constantly wondering what she was hiding and if she actually did it, while also rooting for her to make it through everything that was being thrown at her.
What I enjoyed most was the atmosphere. Small-town thrillers just hit differently when everyone's lives are tangled together, old secrets refuse to stay buried, and the past keeps creeping back into the present. It kept me guessing right up until the end.
I did figure out a couple of things before they were revealed, but it honestly didn't take away from my enjoyment. I was still completely invested in seeing how everything would come together.
If you love twisty mysteries with plenty of secrets, suspicious characters, and that "everyone knows everyone" small-town vibe, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go.
August 1, 2026
4.5 stars
Juniper “June” Pickett returns home for her 20th high school reunion after leaving for college with no intentions of ever returning. But June is fleeing a troubling situation with her current employer. Upon her return she gets caught up in the mystery of her classmate, Blair Lennox, who disappeared the night of graduation. Returning home also means facing memories of terrible bullying that she experienced in high school led by Blair.
An interesting mystery with a really surprising resolution. I really enjoyed this book and the writing style drew me in. I plan to read more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.
Juniper “June” Pickett returns home for her 20th high school reunion after leaving for college with no intentions of ever returning. But June is fleeing a troubling situation with her current employer. Upon her return she gets caught up in the mystery of her classmate, Blair Lennox, who disappeared the night of graduation. Returning home also means facing memories of terrible bullying that she experienced in high school led by Blair.
An interesting mystery with a really surprising resolution. I really enjoyed this book and the writing style drew me in. I plan to read more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
By 20% into this novel, I knew I was in for a ride. The Doctors of Darkness series is comprised of standalones linked by theme. The novels in this series are dark and visceral; they remain under my skin long after reading. The fourth book, Shadows Among Us, remains one of my favorite novels.
Needless to say (though I'm going to say it anyway) I am so happy to see another edition of the Doctors of Darkness series in publication. And, to add a heap of "even better" to my excitement, I received an ARC so I don't have to wait for 3/30/26!
Long Buried is about a woman, Juniper, who grew up in a small town. High school was challenging for her. Her mother passed away in an awful tractor accident and she was picked on relentlessly at school. June worked very hard to get away from the small town life. She went to college and secured a position as a school psychologist in the City of San Francisco.
June was living the dream until her troubled past comes back to bite her in more ways than one. One of her student/patients commits a terrible act which causes June to lose her job. Yet, she cannot worry about that right now, because folks back in her hometown are going to unearth her high school time capsule. June needs to act fast and get to the time capsule before the ceremony or secrets long buried will come back to haunt her.
What I loved:
June - she is a well-developed character with thoughts and feelings that make her relatable and real. Her life now, even away from mean girls, helping children, living in a city with a good paying job, still comes with its share of problems. I think that may be partly because her experiences heavily shaped her life and goals.
Wyatt - he was the one person in high school that cared for her. Sadly, he also fell for one of the girls who made June's life difficult. He stuck up for June against many people, but he was blind to Blaire's cruelness.
Blair - Surprise, I know. Some mean girls don't have a nice bone in their body. I think Blair did, but she was acting out to disguise her own pain. Unfortunately, she was killed before getting a chance to make things right.
The plot - If you think June is going to run home, dig up whatever she's looking for and get out of dodge, HA! Things start going wrong for June the night she returns. Between local law enforcement throwing a wrench into her plans, unknown folks who don't want her home (why?), Wyatt, and a surprise guest halfway through, there is a lot going on in this mystery and I could not turn pages fast enough.
No gripes here.
I will note that the author, Ellery Kane, is also a forensic psychologist. She has written main stream books published through a publisher and she has gone the self publish route. I've read both (yep, I've read 9 of her books). I love unfiltered, self published Ellery best!
You can pre-order the ebook of this novel for .99 and many ebooks in this series are under $5. They are also currently available through Kindle Unlimited. And for those who love physical books, you can order those too.
Needless to say (though I'm going to say it anyway) I am so happy to see another edition of the Doctors of Darkness series in publication. And, to add a heap of "even better" to my excitement, I received an ARC so I don't have to wait for 3/30/26!
Long Buried is about a woman, Juniper, who grew up in a small town. High school was challenging for her. Her mother passed away in an awful tractor accident and she was picked on relentlessly at school. June worked very hard to get away from the small town life. She went to college and secured a position as a school psychologist in the City of San Francisco.
June was living the dream until her troubled past comes back to bite her in more ways than one. One of her student/patients commits a terrible act which causes June to lose her job. Yet, she cannot worry about that right now, because folks back in her hometown are going to unearth her high school time capsule. June needs to act fast and get to the time capsule before the ceremony or secrets long buried will come back to haunt her.
What I loved:
June - she is a well-developed character with thoughts and feelings that make her relatable and real. Her life now, even away from mean girls, helping children, living in a city with a good paying job, still comes with its share of problems. I think that may be partly because her experiences heavily shaped her life and goals.
Wyatt - he was the one person in high school that cared for her. Sadly, he also fell for one of the girls who made June's life difficult. He stuck up for June against many people, but he was blind to Blaire's cruelness.
Blair - Surprise, I know. Some mean girls don't have a nice bone in their body. I think Blair did, but she was acting out to disguise her own pain. Unfortunately, she was killed before getting a chance to make things right.
The plot - If you think June is going to run home, dig up whatever she's looking for and get out of dodge, HA! Things start going wrong for June the night she returns. Between local law enforcement throwing a wrench into her plans, unknown folks who don't want her home (why?), Wyatt, and a surprise guest halfway through, there is a lot going on in this mystery and I could not turn pages fast enough.
No gripes here.
I will note that the author, Ellery Kane, is also a forensic psychologist. She has written main stream books published through a publisher and she has gone the self publish route. I've read both (yep, I've read 9 of her books). I love unfiltered, self published Ellery best!
You can pre-order the ebook of this novel for .99 and many ebooks in this series are under $5. They are also currently available through Kindle Unlimited. And for those who love physical books, you can order those too.
April 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Long Buried.
Long Buried follows Juniper Pickett, a former outcast and misfit, who returns to her hometown of Sweetbriar, Texas, after twenty years away. She carries a heavy load of secrets; from the mysterious events surrounding her graduation to the complications of her current role as a psychologist at a private school in San Francisco.
This novel is packed with twists and unexpected turns, and Ellery Kane does a great job of maintaining suspense. I was hooked from the very beginning and found myself flying through the pages, eager to uncover what really happened to Blair Lennox, the former “Queen Bee” who disappeared on graduation night. The dual timelines and gradual reveal of past events added to the tension and kept me fully engaged.
That said, a few elements didn’t fully land for me. Some plot points felt underdeveloped or insufficiently explained by the end. For example, the storyline involving Juniper’s father, the so-called “mad scientist”, raises questions that are never fully answered. I also would have liked more depth when it came to Juniper’s parents and their backstory.
Juniper’s relationship with Wyatt was another point of hesitation. While their present-day bond is portrayed as strong, their past dynamic, especially his relationship with her former bully and his lack of support during high school, creates a disconnect that isn’t fully addressed. Because of this, their closeness in the present feels a bit unearned.
Overall, though, this was a compelling and fast-paced read. With themes of trauma, small-town secrets, and revenge, it gave me slight Grady Hendrix vibes (without the satire).
LOVED the wink to My Favorite Murder podcast!
Rating: 4⭐
Long Buried follows Juniper Pickett, a former outcast and misfit, who returns to her hometown of Sweetbriar, Texas, after twenty years away. She carries a heavy load of secrets; from the mysterious events surrounding her graduation to the complications of her current role as a psychologist at a private school in San Francisco.
This novel is packed with twists and unexpected turns, and Ellery Kane does a great job of maintaining suspense. I was hooked from the very beginning and found myself flying through the pages, eager to uncover what really happened to Blair Lennox, the former “Queen Bee” who disappeared on graduation night. The dual timelines and gradual reveal of past events added to the tension and kept me fully engaged.
That said, a few elements didn’t fully land for me. Some plot points felt underdeveloped or insufficiently explained by the end. For example, the storyline involving Juniper’s father, the so-called “mad scientist”, raises questions that are never fully answered. I also would have liked more depth when it came to Juniper’s parents and their backstory.
Juniper’s relationship with Wyatt was another point of hesitation. While their present-day bond is portrayed as strong, their past dynamic, especially his relationship with her former bully and his lack of support during high school, creates a disconnect that isn’t fully addressed. Because of this, their closeness in the present feels a bit unearned.
Overall, though, this was a compelling and fast-paced read. With themes of trauma, small-town secrets, and revenge, it gave me slight Grady Hendrix vibes (without the satire).
LOVED the wink to My Favorite Murder podcast!
Rating: 4⭐
July 19, 2026
First, I want to thank Ellery Kane and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this book.
Thank you Camp NetGalley for reuniting me with one of my favorite authors Ellery Kane! It has been a while since I have read twisted tales and forgot how much I have missed them. This time around I got to read Long Buried as part of her Doctors of Darkness Series. This book was fast paced, suspenseful, mysterious, had its share of heartbreak and heartfelt moments, as well as deep hidden secrets with exploding endings. It is a book that keeps you on your toes wanting to know the outcome of how the storyline will end.
I loved how Ellery dedicated this book to her Dad. He taught her to live by the cowboy code.
The first page of Chapter One caught my eye and had me chuckling right away. They say you can’t go home again. What they mean is you shouldn’t. I shouldn’t. And from there on out Ellery hooked me. I needed to find out why Junipher shouldn’t have gone back home.
One of the many things I really enjoyed and found relatable was Juniper and I both graduated high school in the 90’s. That being said I loved all the references to the 90’s as to this day I am still a 90’s girl at heart. I smiled as they were about to have their high school reunion and wondered how everyone changed or stayed the same. Oh and my favorite is the time capsule and what Junipher really put in it and what she had to dig up before anyone saw. The secrets she was keeping from everyone that would shock everyone once they were exposed.
There were so many wicked twists that makes Long Buried a must read.
Thank you Camp NetGalley for reuniting me with one of my favorite authors Ellery Kane! It has been a while since I have read twisted tales and forgot how much I have missed them. This time around I got to read Long Buried as part of her Doctors of Darkness Series. This book was fast paced, suspenseful, mysterious, had its share of heartbreak and heartfelt moments, as well as deep hidden secrets with exploding endings. It is a book that keeps you on your toes wanting to know the outcome of how the storyline will end.
I loved how Ellery dedicated this book to her Dad. He taught her to live by the cowboy code.
The first page of Chapter One caught my eye and had me chuckling right away. They say you can’t go home again. What they mean is you shouldn’t. I shouldn’t. And from there on out Ellery hooked me. I needed to find out why Junipher shouldn’t have gone back home.
One of the many things I really enjoyed and found relatable was Juniper and I both graduated high school in the 90’s. That being said I loved all the references to the 90’s as to this day I am still a 90’s girl at heart. I smiled as they were about to have their high school reunion and wondered how everyone changed or stayed the same. Oh and my favorite is the time capsule and what Junipher really put in it and what she had to dig up before anyone saw. The secrets she was keeping from everyone that would shock everyone once they were exposed.
There were so many wicked twists that makes Long Buried a must read.
August 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Ellery Kane Publishing for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Juniper returns back to her hometown after escaping twenty years ago. What lures her back? A time capsule reveal for her twentieth high school reunion. Juniper doesn’t want people to see what she snuck in that capsule all those years ago and decided to destruct school property while attempting to remove the evidence that will ruin her. Instead of digging up the time capsule, she digs up a human bone. All eyes are on Juniper now. Who are her only allies? Wyatt, a convicted murderer who was recently released from prison and her deceased father who died while on the verge of solving this small town’s devastating secret.
3.5 ⭐️ This was okay to me. A lot of science talk and periodic table references. The story felt slow at times and didn’t always hold my full attention. It wasn’t a bad story just not my favorite one I have read.
Juniper returns back to her hometown after escaping twenty years ago. What lures her back? A time capsule reveal for her twentieth high school reunion. Juniper doesn’t want people to see what she snuck in that capsule all those years ago and decided to destruct school property while attempting to remove the evidence that will ruin her. Instead of digging up the time capsule, she digs up a human bone. All eyes are on Juniper now. Who are her only allies? Wyatt, a convicted murderer who was recently released from prison and her deceased father who died while on the verge of solving this small town’s devastating secret.
3.5 ⭐️ This was okay to me. A lot of science talk and periodic table references. The story felt slow at times and didn’t always hold my full attention. It wasn’t a bad story just not my favorite one I have read.
April 8, 2026
Not gonna lie. I mistakenly requested to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book believing it was by a different author. Well, if someone is nice enough to allow me a copy of their book, then I feel I should at least give it a chance. This book was SO cool and actually mostly right up my alley!! It is apparently Book 6 in a series. The Doctors of Darkness Series, to be exact. I didn't feel left out though while reading, so I think it can definitely be read as a standalone, but if you think I won't go back and read 1-5 then you're crazy! I was a teenager in the 80's and 90's and the story gave me a sort of 80's-90's horror movie kind of vibe, which I loved. In '97, Sweetbriar High School Seniors bury a time capsule on Graduation Night. That very night, Blair Lennox, the Homecoming Queen disappears, never to be heard from again. OOOOOHHHH! Creepy! 20 years later, Juniper Pickett returns to her old hometown that she fled and tomorrow they will unearth that old-time capsule. Juniper has a host of issues, some of which she fled from recently back to Sweetbriar and some in Sweetbriar. One of which will be brought to light with the unearthing. The story is told in both past and present and there are so many secrets and lies and drama afoot you will have a hard time putting this one down. Now, I read a LOT of thrillers, so I did see parts coming from a mile away, but it was so much fun getting there anyway, so who cares! This book was one happy accident!
Thank you to Ellery Kane, #NetGalley and Ellery Kane Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Ellery Kane, #NetGalley and Ellery Kane Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 2, 2026
I went into this one expecting a twisty small-town mystery, and it absolutely delivered. The premise alone hooked me: a twenty-year-old time capsule, a missing homecoming queen, and a woman returning home with secrets of her own.
The story is packed with buried secrets, old grudges, and the kind of tension that keeps you flipping pages late into the night. The discovery of Blair Lennox’s body turns an already intriguing mystery into a fast-paced race to uncover the truth before the past claims another victim.
If you love small-town thrillers where everyone seems suspicious and the past refuses to stay buried, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. Dark, atmospheric, and full of secrets, it kept me guessing until the end.
The story is packed with buried secrets, old grudges, and the kind of tension that keeps you flipping pages late into the night. The discovery of Blair Lennox’s body turns an already intriguing mystery into a fast-paced race to uncover the truth before the past claims another victim.
If you love small-town thrillers where everyone seems suspicious and the past refuses to stay buried, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. Dark, atmospheric, and full of secrets, it kept me guessing until the end.
July 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and sellers Kane Publishing for the ability to read and review Long Buried for the Camp Badge!
Long Buried takes us on a trip to the past with a dual timeline leading up to present day and the day of the murder that occurred 20 years prior. As the narrator, FMC Juniper, tells readers the events leading up to the day Blair disappears while also providing us with the present day 20 year reunion, where she is found holding the buried bones of Blair. The character build up and plot are so good and the twists will keep you guessing and turning page late into the night.
Long Buried takes us on a trip to the past with a dual timeline leading up to present day and the day of the murder that occurred 20 years prior. As the narrator, FMC Juniper, tells readers the events leading up to the day Blair disappears while also providing us with the present day 20 year reunion, where she is found holding the buried bones of Blair. The character build up and plot are so good and the twists will keep you guessing and turning page late into the night.
July 20, 2026
Chose this as my selection for Camp NetGalley and I wasn’t disappointed! Even though I hadn’t read any of the earlier books in the series, I felt this worked perfectly on its own. A high school reunion/queen bee revenge plot will always hook me and I loved how the storylines and timelines all interwove, with so many layered and fascinating (if disturbing) characters. I would definitely read this author again, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
May 5, 2026
I got an advance copy on NetGallery, which thank you so much Ellery Kane.
First off, I didn’t know I had to play catch up to this psychology thriller. Oh my lanta all the books were great. I couldn’t wait to read book #6. Plot twists from book 1-5 and now 6.
The Plot twist, I didn’t see anything like that coming at all. Even the characters, I definitely liked some and did like another but overall they made the story the most interesting.
I found myself enjoying the book from the beginning to end. There wasn’t a time I wanted to put it down at all. I truly like how it was a small town revenge, with plenty of plot twist and secretive drama comes. Coming from a smaller town, I totally can see this.
This book is told from past to present. You seem to be left hanging off cliffs wanting to read more about Junipers life as a now child psychologist.
First off, I didn’t know I had to play catch up to this psychology thriller. Oh my lanta all the books were great. I couldn’t wait to read book #6. Plot twists from book 1-5 and now 6.
The Plot twist, I didn’t see anything like that coming at all. Even the characters, I definitely liked some and did like another but overall they made the story the most interesting.
I found myself enjoying the book from the beginning to end. There wasn’t a time I wanted to put it down at all. I truly like how it was a small town revenge, with plenty of plot twist and secretive drama comes. Coming from a smaller town, I totally can see this.
This book is told from past to present. You seem to be left hanging off cliffs wanting to read more about Junipers life as a now child psychologist.
August 5, 2026
My emotions are all over the place. Going into a mystery and thriller novel, you usually expect the usual whodunit suspense and plot twists which this definitely has, but what caught me off guard was just how much heart and raw emotion are packed into this book. It made me mad, it made me smile, and it genuinely made me cry.
First off, I really enjoyed the dual timelines. Bouncing between the present and the past gave the story such a great rhythm, making it so smooth and addicting to read. But right from the start, it hits you in the feelings. Early on, as Juniper Pickett drives back to her childhood home and reminisces about her dad, I was already struggling to hold back tears. As someone who has longed for a father figure who hasn't been in my life for a long time, any story featuring a deep parent-child bond gets to me. There’s one flashback scene where June remembers hugging her dad so hard, smushing her face against his chest while trying not to cry, saying, "Sometimes, it hits like a Mack truck, what you've been missing." That hit way too close to home.
June’s life story is heartbreaking. Without giving anything away, knowing how truly alone she feels as an orphan, navigating life without parents or siblings, and carrying the weight of what she went through as a kid,it just broke my heart. Oh, and the small memory about her late dog, Bert? Did the author really have to break my heart like that, too? 😭
That said, it isn't all heavy sorrow! The book gives you sweet, comforting moments that balance out the pain. There is a touch of romance that gave me instant butterflies. That line,"We lock eyes, and no time has passed. We're ten years old, sitting on his kitchen floor, and I'm stitching the gash the monster left on his forehead",was so sweet and full of history. Plus, as a cat owner, I absolutely loved the little realistic details, like Willie the cat silently judging June from his perfect loaf position. It brought such a genuine smile to my face.
On the flip side, get ready to feel some serious rage toward Blair Lennox. The way she bullied June was infuriating, born out of pure, ugly insecurity. When June confronts her and asks why she hates her so much, Blair responds with, "I do not hate you, I do not think of you at all, you are nobody to me." What a deeply evil thing to say to someone! Reading those parts, I just wanted to jump straight into the pages and give June a massive hug.
All in all, Long Buried was such a fun, engrossing, and emotional ride. One minute I was angry, the next I was laughing, and then I was completely soft and teary-eyed. It is way more than just a standard small-town thriller; it’s a story about memory, grief, and resilience.
If you love small-town secrets, time capsule mysteries, and stories with deep emotional roots, definitely give this one a shot. I am officially hooked, and I think I’ve found a new author whose entire backlist I'm going to be binging!
Cross-posted online:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/0nlyb00ks
First off, I really enjoyed the dual timelines. Bouncing between the present and the past gave the story such a great rhythm, making it so smooth and addicting to read. But right from the start, it hits you in the feelings. Early on, as Juniper Pickett drives back to her childhood home and reminisces about her dad, I was already struggling to hold back tears. As someone who has longed for a father figure who hasn't been in my life for a long time, any story featuring a deep parent-child bond gets to me. There’s one flashback scene where June remembers hugging her dad so hard, smushing her face against his chest while trying not to cry, saying, "Sometimes, it hits like a Mack truck, what you've been missing." That hit way too close to home.
June’s life story is heartbreaking. Without giving anything away, knowing how truly alone she feels as an orphan, navigating life without parents or siblings, and carrying the weight of what she went through as a kid,it just broke my heart. Oh, and the small memory about her late dog, Bert? Did the author really have to break my heart like that, too? 😭
That said, it isn't all heavy sorrow! The book gives you sweet, comforting moments that balance out the pain. There is a touch of romance that gave me instant butterflies. That line,"We lock eyes, and no time has passed. We're ten years old, sitting on his kitchen floor, and I'm stitching the gash the monster left on his forehead",was so sweet and full of history. Plus, as a cat owner, I absolutely loved the little realistic details, like Willie the cat silently judging June from his perfect loaf position. It brought such a genuine smile to my face.
On the flip side, get ready to feel some serious rage toward Blair Lennox. The way she bullied June was infuriating, born out of pure, ugly insecurity. When June confronts her and asks why she hates her so much, Blair responds with, "I do not hate you, I do not think of you at all, you are nobody to me." What a deeply evil thing to say to someone! Reading those parts, I just wanted to jump straight into the pages and give June a massive hug.
All in all, Long Buried was such a fun, engrossing, and emotional ride. One minute I was angry, the next I was laughing, and then I was completely soft and teary-eyed. It is way more than just a standard small-town thriller; it’s a story about memory, grief, and resilience.
If you love small-town secrets, time capsule mysteries, and stories with deep emotional roots, definitely give this one a shot. I am officially hooked, and I think I’ve found a new author whose entire backlist I'm going to be binging!
Cross-posted online:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/0nlyb00ks
July 22, 2026
I came for the mystery. I stayed for everything hiding underneath it.
I thought I knew exactly what I was getting into when I picked up Long Buried. The premise immediately hooked me, and I expected an entertaining, fast-paced thriller.
What I didn’t expect was the emotional depth waiting beneath the surface.
Yes, this is an incredibly engaging mystery with enough suspense to keep you promising yourself “just one more chapter” until suddenly you’ve finished half the book. But beyond the twists and tension, Long Buried quietly asks much bigger questions.
Can we ever really go home?
Can we outrun guilt?
What do grief, regret, and the choices we leave behind do to us over time?
Those questions linger just as much as the mystery itself.
Ellery Kane masterfully balances heart-pounding suspense with genuine emotional complexity, creating characters who feel less like fictional detectives and suspects and more like people you might actually know. Their flaws, hopes, and heartbreak make every revelation land that much harder.
One of my favorite surprises was how vividly everything came to life. The writing is so immersive that I could picture every setting and every scene unfolding like I was watching it on screen. This would make an incredible tv or movie, and honestly, I was mentally casting it while I read.
Although this is part of an established series, I never once felt lost. I was able to jump right in without missing a beat, which speaks to how seamlessly the story welcomes new readers while still making me excited to go back and read the earlier books.
The pacing is relentless in the best way. Every chapter offers another clue, another question, another reason to keep reading. Even when I had to put the book down, I found myself thinking about the characters, replaying theories, and wondering what I was going to uncover next.
This was my first Ellery Kane novel, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Fast-paced, emotionally layered, vividly written, and completely binge-worthy, Long Buried proves that the best thrillers don’t just keep you guessing… they make you care.
Now if you’ll excuse me… I have a backlist to catch up on.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity and ARC.
I thought I knew exactly what I was getting into when I picked up Long Buried. The premise immediately hooked me, and I expected an entertaining, fast-paced thriller.
What I didn’t expect was the emotional depth waiting beneath the surface.
Yes, this is an incredibly engaging mystery with enough suspense to keep you promising yourself “just one more chapter” until suddenly you’ve finished half the book. But beyond the twists and tension, Long Buried quietly asks much bigger questions.
Can we ever really go home?
Can we outrun guilt?
What do grief, regret, and the choices we leave behind do to us over time?
Those questions linger just as much as the mystery itself.
Ellery Kane masterfully balances heart-pounding suspense with genuine emotional complexity, creating characters who feel less like fictional detectives and suspects and more like people you might actually know. Their flaws, hopes, and heartbreak make every revelation land that much harder.
One of my favorite surprises was how vividly everything came to life. The writing is so immersive that I could picture every setting and every scene unfolding like I was watching it on screen. This would make an incredible tv or movie, and honestly, I was mentally casting it while I read.
Although this is part of an established series, I never once felt lost. I was able to jump right in without missing a beat, which speaks to how seamlessly the story welcomes new readers while still making me excited to go back and read the earlier books.
The pacing is relentless in the best way. Every chapter offers another clue, another question, another reason to keep reading. Even when I had to put the book down, I found myself thinking about the characters, replaying theories, and wondering what I was going to uncover next.
This was my first Ellery Kane novel, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Fast-paced, emotionally layered, vividly written, and completely binge-worthy, Long Buried proves that the best thrillers don’t just keep you guessing… they make you care.
Now if you’ll excuse me… I have a backlist to catch up on.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity and ARC.
August 5, 2026
I love a thriller. This is the genre that got me back into reading in the first place, so when I read the synopsis to Long Buried I knew I had to read it. I didn’t grab it immediately as it’s Book 6 in the Doctors of Darkness series, but, fortunately for me, I did a little tiny bit of research and each book is a standalone with different focal points and characters, so I smashed that Read Now button.
I ripped through this book quite quickly; I had a hard time putting it down, but it didn’t come with a couple of unwanted emotions. With no fault of its own, I was being extremely impatient at the beginning. The main character, Juniper Pickett, returns to her hometown because of some trouble with her job, and it felt like it took forever to find out what happened. I just wanted to know. I was fully invested in her current situation and not so much why she was running away from the big city. So, I was becoming increasingly irritated at the beginning. Just. Tell. Me, so I can carry on with the story. We do find out, and it’s revealed in a well thoughtout way, but my ability to be impatient for no reason just won.
Another part of the plot I need to mention, which is more important for readers to know going into it, is that there’s a heavy aspect of bullying. I do not like bullying in real life, and I do not enjoy it in books either. Obviously, it adds to the plot in some cases, and I completely understand, but this was a little too much for me, and I know here are a lot of readers who are not OK with bullying either, so this is a warning, as bullying is a large part of this story.
I know this doesn’t sound like a very positive review, but aside from those two things, and I was able to look past them (especially the first), it was a good thriller. I was on the edge of my seat and needed to know what was going to happen. It had a lot of mystery, and that was my favourite part.
I absolutely recommend this book, but again just be mindful there is a lot of bullying.
I ripped through this book quite quickly; I had a hard time putting it down, but it didn’t come with a couple of unwanted emotions. With no fault of its own, I was being extremely impatient at the beginning. The main character, Juniper Pickett, returns to her hometown because of some trouble with her job, and it felt like it took forever to find out what happened. I just wanted to know. I was fully invested in her current situation and not so much why she was running away from the big city. So, I was becoming increasingly irritated at the beginning. Just. Tell. Me, so I can carry on with the story. We do find out, and it’s revealed in a well thoughtout way, but my ability to be impatient for no reason just won.
Another part of the plot I need to mention, which is more important for readers to know going into it, is that there’s a heavy aspect of bullying. I do not like bullying in real life, and I do not enjoy it in books either. Obviously, it adds to the plot in some cases, and I completely understand, but this was a little too much for me, and I know here are a lot of readers who are not OK with bullying either, so this is a warning, as bullying is a large part of this story.
I know this doesn’t sound like a very positive review, but aside from those two things, and I was able to look past them (especially the first), it was a good thriller. I was on the edge of my seat and needed to know what was going to happen. It had a lot of mystery, and that was my favourite part.
I absolutely recommend this book, but again just be mindful there is a lot of bullying.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Long Buried is one of those thrillers that pulls you in with a simple premise — a time capsule, a missing girl, a long‑avoided hometown — and then steadily tightens its grip. From the moment Juniper Pickett rolls back into Sweetbriar after twenty years away, there’s a sense of inevitability hanging over her, like the past has simply been waiting for her to stop running.
The setup is wonderfully eerie: a class time capsule about to be unearthed, a secret Juniper has spent decades trying to outrun, and the sudden discovery of the body of Blair Lennox, the Homecoming Queen who vanished the night they all graduated. The collision of nostalgia and dread gives the story its pulse. Sweetbriar is the kind of small town that pretends to be familiar, but every corner feels just a little too shadowed, every face a little too knowing.
Juniper herself is a compelling centre — sharp, damaged, and carrying more weight than she lets on. Her return isn’t triumphant; it’s reluctant, messy, and tinged with the kind of guilt that never quite fades. As the town closes in around her and old classmates start looking at her with suspicion, the tension builds beautifully. There’s a sense that everyone is hiding something, and the novel leans into that unease with confidence.
What I loved is how the story blends emotional depth with a brisk, propulsive mystery. The secrets buried in Sweetbriar aren’t just plot devices; they’re tied to identity, memory, and the way a place can shape you long after you’ve left it behind. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere thick with small‑town menace, and the final reveals land with satisfying clarity.
Dark, twisty, and steeped in the kind of nostalgia that cuts both ways, Long Buried is a gripping psychological thriller about the past we bury — and what happens when it refuses to stay hidden.
With thanks to Ellery Kane, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The setup is wonderfully eerie: a class time capsule about to be unearthed, a secret Juniper has spent decades trying to outrun, and the sudden discovery of the body of Blair Lennox, the Homecoming Queen who vanished the night they all graduated. The collision of nostalgia and dread gives the story its pulse. Sweetbriar is the kind of small town that pretends to be familiar, but every corner feels just a little too shadowed, every face a little too knowing.
Juniper herself is a compelling centre — sharp, damaged, and carrying more weight than she lets on. Her return isn’t triumphant; it’s reluctant, messy, and tinged with the kind of guilt that never quite fades. As the town closes in around her and old classmates start looking at her with suspicion, the tension builds beautifully. There’s a sense that everyone is hiding something, and the novel leans into that unease with confidence.
What I loved is how the story blends emotional depth with a brisk, propulsive mystery. The secrets buried in Sweetbriar aren’t just plot devices; they’re tied to identity, memory, and the way a place can shape you long after you’ve left it behind. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere thick with small‑town menace, and the final reveals land with satisfying clarity.
Dark, twisty, and steeped in the kind of nostalgia that cuts both ways, Long Buried is a gripping psychological thriller about the past we bury — and what happens when it refuses to stay hidden.
With thanks to Ellery Kane, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
July 14, 2026
What a great five star read!!
I loved all the twists and turns. There are just so many things happening that I honestly didn't know what to expect or believe, which is a great thing about thrillers you just don't know what or who to suspect.
In 1997, the seniors of Sweetbriar High School buried a time capsule at their graduation ceremony. That same night, homecoming queen Blair Lennox disappeared without a trace, nobody knew what had happened.
Twenty years later, Juniper Pickett returns to Sweetbriar, driving all night from San Francisco. There’s no going back. Not after what she’s done. Tomorrow, they’ll dig up the time capsule and expose her darkest secret...
When Juniper accidentally unearths the body of her missing classmate, she finds herself with a target on her back in a race to clear her name.
At so many times throughout I had an inkling of who it might have been but as I kept reading, I started to see everything unfold and I went back and forth thinking about who it might have been and the number of crazy things I discovered ultimately changed my mind. I enjoyed the flashback snippets of the times leading up to graduation night and each time I read them I felt more and more heartbroken for Juniper because of everything she had endured at the hands of her high school classmates. Not to mention the ones that had her dad in them I just wanted to jump into the book and tell him what an idiot was for ignoring Juniper and making her feel less than a person and not his poor daughter that had gone through so much especially losing her mother.
Overall, the storyline and plot were spectacular, and I loved every aspect of it that I finished it all in one day! This is the third thriller/mystery book that I have read and it sure won't be my last! Ellery Kane is a new author to me since this is my first book by her and if I'm being honest, it will not be my last!!
I loved all the twists and turns. There are just so many things happening that I honestly didn't know what to expect or believe, which is a great thing about thrillers you just don't know what or who to suspect.
In 1997, the seniors of Sweetbriar High School buried a time capsule at their graduation ceremony. That same night, homecoming queen Blair Lennox disappeared without a trace, nobody knew what had happened.
Twenty years later, Juniper Pickett returns to Sweetbriar, driving all night from San Francisco. There’s no going back. Not after what she’s done. Tomorrow, they’ll dig up the time capsule and expose her darkest secret...
When Juniper accidentally unearths the body of her missing classmate, she finds herself with a target on her back in a race to clear her name.
At so many times throughout I had an inkling of who it might have been but as I kept reading, I started to see everything unfold and I went back and forth thinking about who it might have been and the number of crazy things I discovered ultimately changed my mind. I enjoyed the flashback snippets of the times leading up to graduation night and each time I read them I felt more and more heartbroken for Juniper because of everything she had endured at the hands of her high school classmates. Not to mention the ones that had her dad in them I just wanted to jump into the book and tell him what an idiot was for ignoring Juniper and making her feel less than a person and not his poor daughter that had gone through so much especially losing her mother.
Overall, the storyline and plot were spectacular, and I loved every aspect of it that I finished it all in one day! This is the third thriller/mystery book that I have read and it sure won't be my last! Ellery Kane is a new author to me since this is my first book by her and if I'm being honest, it will not be my last!!
July 29, 2026
In 1997, Sweetbriar High’s seniors buried a time capsule at graduation. That same night, their homecoming queen, Blair Lennox, vanished without a single trace.
Fast forward to now, and Juniper Pickett is driving all the way from San Francisco straight back to that tiny town. She left her career as a psychologist and a whole mess of trouble behind her. The time capsule is getting dug up tomorrow, and if that happens, her worst secret is out for everyone to see, and she can't let that happen.
I was hooked the second I read the premise: a time capsule reveal turns into unearthing a cold case; it sounded promising! I spent the whole book leaning forward like “what is she hiding? Did she actually do it??”
I love the small town vibe here. Thrillers hit different when everyone knows everyone’s business, and also everyone’s hiding something. Kane captures the essence of a close-knit community perfectly: lives are tangled together, old loyalties run deep, and nothing ever truly stays secret. There’s no polished version of small-town life here; instead, we get the true reality of the people.
I did guess some twists before they were dropped, but it didn’t ruin the fun at all. I was still totally invested in seeing how all the pieces fit together, and how all those old secrets would finally come out.
The storyline jumps between now and back when Juniper’s younger years, and the timelines fit together so smoothly. You get exactly why everyone acts the way they do, and how the past shaped every single one of them.
If you love twisty mysteries, suspecting every character like they’re definitely hiding something, and that “everyone knows your business” small-town vibe, you need to pick this up. It’s fast, gripping, and exactly the kind of book you’ll end up remembering long after you finish the last page.
Thank you to Ellery Kane and NetGalley for providing me with the review copy.
Fast forward to now, and Juniper Pickett is driving all the way from San Francisco straight back to that tiny town. She left her career as a psychologist and a whole mess of trouble behind her. The time capsule is getting dug up tomorrow, and if that happens, her worst secret is out for everyone to see, and she can't let that happen.
I was hooked the second I read the premise: a time capsule reveal turns into unearthing a cold case; it sounded promising! I spent the whole book leaning forward like “what is she hiding? Did she actually do it??”
I love the small town vibe here. Thrillers hit different when everyone knows everyone’s business, and also everyone’s hiding something. Kane captures the essence of a close-knit community perfectly: lives are tangled together, old loyalties run deep, and nothing ever truly stays secret. There’s no polished version of small-town life here; instead, we get the true reality of the people.
I did guess some twists before they were dropped, but it didn’t ruin the fun at all. I was still totally invested in seeing how all the pieces fit together, and how all those old secrets would finally come out.
The storyline jumps between now and back when Juniper’s younger years, and the timelines fit together so smoothly. You get exactly why everyone acts the way they do, and how the past shaped every single one of them.
If you love twisty mysteries, suspecting every character like they’re definitely hiding something, and that “everyone knows your business” small-town vibe, you need to pick this up. It’s fast, gripping, and exactly the kind of book you’ll end up remembering long after you finish the last page.
Thank you to Ellery Kane and NetGalley for providing me with the review copy.
August 3, 2026
The first chapter started out so strong, but it quickly lost me after that. Unfortunately, the execution just didn't work for me.
The setup is interesting - Juniper Pickett running away from San Francisco after she got fired from her job, and returns to Sweetbriar, Texas for her 20-year highschool reunion.
The same Sweetbriar she escaped two decades earlier. This time, she's determined to find the class time capsule before anyone else can see what's inside. Instead, she discovers the body of a classmate who disappeared years ago, and suddenly she's the number one suspect.
First of all Juniper never came across as a smart, 30-something PhD psychologist. Her decisions were often frustrating. The rest of the characters were pretty one sided, with everyone fitting neatly into either the good or bad category. The dragged-out highschool romance became annoying by the end, and the constant switching between the past and present slowed down the pacing.
Without spoiling anything, my favorite part of the story was the added complexity with Macy. She might be my favorite character in the book.
This is the sixth book in the Doctors of Darkness series and with a title I expected a lot more "darkness"regarding Juniper. Instead she comes accross of someone pretty dumb with a lot of childhood trauma and bagagge instead of being a complex dark character.
It's hard for me to recommend this one, but just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it doesn't have some good qualities. If you enjoy small town secrets, cold cases and highschool feud then this one might still be worth checking out.
Big thank you to NetGalley and Ellery Kane for the advance reader copy!
The setup is interesting - Juniper Pickett running away from San Francisco after she got fired from her job, and returns to Sweetbriar, Texas for her 20-year highschool reunion.
The same Sweetbriar she escaped two decades earlier. This time, she's determined to find the class time capsule before anyone else can see what's inside. Instead, she discovers the body of a classmate who disappeared years ago, and suddenly she's the number one suspect.
First of all Juniper never came across as a smart, 30-something PhD psychologist. Her decisions were often frustrating. The rest of the characters were pretty one sided, with everyone fitting neatly into either the good or bad category. The dragged-out highschool romance became annoying by the end, and the constant switching between the past and present slowed down the pacing.
Without spoiling anything, my favorite part of the story was the added complexity with Macy. She might be my favorite character in the book.
This is the sixth book in the Doctors of Darkness series and with a title I expected a lot more "darkness"regarding Juniper. Instead she comes accross of someone pretty dumb with a lot of childhood trauma and bagagge instead of being a complex dark character.
It's hard for me to recommend this one, but just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it doesn't have some good qualities. If you enjoy small town secrets, cold cases and highschool feud then this one might still be worth checking out.
Big thank you to NetGalley and Ellery Kane for the advance reader copy!
July 22, 2026
I selected this book as my NetGalley Summer Camp read. Long Buried is a dual-timeline thriller centered around Juniper, who has been out of high school for 20 years. As her class reunion approaches, she knows that everything she's worked so hard to keep hidden is about to come crashing down when the class time capsule is unearthed.
As the story shifts between the present day and Juniper's senior year, readers gradually discover what really happened. We witness the relentless bullying she endured from the mean girl, Blair, her emotionally distant father who was consumed by his work, and her complicated feelings for Wyatt—the popular senior who repeatedly returns to his relationship with Blair despite his connection with Juniper.
The book starts off strong, immediately pulling me in and making me eager to uncover the truth behind Juniper's past. While I found the subplot involving one of Juniper's students at the prestigious private school where she works as a psychologist a bit frustrating at times, it ultimately ties into the main story in a meaningful and surprisingly heartfelt way.
What stood out to me most was the exploration of what it feels like to be an outsider in a small town, especially for those who don't fit the expected mold. That emotional thread added depth to the mystery and made Juniper an easy character to root for.
I don't read a lot of thrillers, but I found Long Buried to be an entertaining, fast-paced read with enough twists to keep the pages turning. If you enjoy dual timelines, buried secrets, and stories about the lasting impact of high school relationships, this is one worth picking up.
As the story shifts between the present day and Juniper's senior year, readers gradually discover what really happened. We witness the relentless bullying she endured from the mean girl, Blair, her emotionally distant father who was consumed by his work, and her complicated feelings for Wyatt—the popular senior who repeatedly returns to his relationship with Blair despite his connection with Juniper.
The book starts off strong, immediately pulling me in and making me eager to uncover the truth behind Juniper's past. While I found the subplot involving one of Juniper's students at the prestigious private school where she works as a psychologist a bit frustrating at times, it ultimately ties into the main story in a meaningful and surprisingly heartfelt way.
What stood out to me most was the exploration of what it feels like to be an outsider in a small town, especially for those who don't fit the expected mold. That emotional thread added depth to the mystery and made Juniper an easy character to root for.
I don't read a lot of thrillers, but I found Long Buried to be an entertaining, fast-paced read with enough twists to keep the pages turning. If you enjoy dual timelines, buried secrets, and stories about the lasting impact of high school relationships, this is one worth picking up.
July 22, 2026
Absolutely ZOOMED through this. It wasn't perfect, but it was very engaging and hard to put down.
Juniper/June/"Junebug" was the butt of seemingly every joke when she was in high school. Her classmates were more than just mean, they were cruel. June fled immediately after she graduated and never looked back - she earned a PhD, lost weight, and found a prestigious job. 20 years later, the class of '97 is reuniting for the obligatory party and to dig up the time capsule they buried two decades prior. June rolls into town for the first time in years to dig it up first: there's something inside that timecapsule that will ruin her. But instead of finding what she was searching for, she finds what everyone else has been searching for: the body of her picture-perfect classmate, Blair (every bit the stereotypical blonde, thin, beautiful bully) who went missing 20 years earlier.
I love a simple thriller that's hard to put down - there's something so satisfying about decoding a mystery. The author, Kane, works as a forensic psychologist and her series of thrillers can all be read as standalones. I haven't read another book in the Doctors of Darkness series before this, so I went in blind.
Kane does a wonderful job building suspense and mystery, but there's something I find personally frustrating about thrillers that rely on simply keeping back information to further the plot. June as a character has so much more information than what she reveals to readers - the item in the time capsule, for example, takes half the book to even be identified, and ~75% before readers discover why it's so damning. June knows exactly what she is looking for, but readers will have to hobble through until she feels like reliving it. The strategy is effective, but comes off as lazy at times, especially at the beginning when characters are forced to tiptoe around each other lest they reveal too much to the reader. All that being said, I was captivated! I stayed up late to continue reading!
If you're looking for a simple, engaging, quick thriller, this doesn't disappoint.
Juniper/June/"Junebug" was the butt of seemingly every joke when she was in high school. Her classmates were more than just mean, they were cruel. June fled immediately after she graduated and never looked back - she earned a PhD, lost weight, and found a prestigious job. 20 years later, the class of '97 is reuniting for the obligatory party and to dig up the time capsule they buried two decades prior. June rolls into town for the first time in years to dig it up first: there's something inside that timecapsule that will ruin her. But instead of finding what she was searching for, she finds what everyone else has been searching for: the body of her picture-perfect classmate, Blair (every bit the stereotypical blonde, thin, beautiful bully) who went missing 20 years earlier.
I love a simple thriller that's hard to put down - there's something so satisfying about decoding a mystery. The author, Kane, works as a forensic psychologist and her series of thrillers can all be read as standalones. I haven't read another book in the Doctors of Darkness series before this, so I went in blind.
Kane does a wonderful job building suspense and mystery, but there's something I find personally frustrating about thrillers that rely on simply keeping back information to further the plot. June as a character has so much more information than what she reveals to readers - the item in the time capsule, for example, takes half the book to even be identified, and ~75% before readers discover why it's so damning. June knows exactly what she is looking for, but readers will have to hobble through until she feels like reliving it. The strategy is effective, but comes off as lazy at times, especially at the beginning when characters are forced to tiptoe around each other lest they reveal too much to the reader. All that being said, I was captivated! I stayed up late to continue reading!
If you're looking for a simple, engaging, quick thriller, this doesn't disappoint.
April 17, 2026
3.8 stars rounded up!
Juniper Pickett has returned to Sweetbriar, Texas, twenty years after graduation and the death of her archnemesis, Blair. Juniper, a school psychologist, has recently been suspended from the big school in California, where investigators believe she contributed to the criminal actions of one of her patients. Upon returning to Sweetbriar, Juniper discovers that Blair's body has been recovered and that she is suspected of murder, while corruption in the police department and her "mad scientist" father's personal life come to the surface.
This book had a lot of twists and turns, and I love stories set years after high school, with heavy small-town secrets being revealed. I wish that Juniper's father had been given a more thorough character arc, since many questions were left unanswered with him, and because his character would have benefited from better exposition. Wyatt and Juniper's relationship could have been better developed as well, and the story could have used some "tightening" during the editing process, since it dragged in the middle.
I loved the flashback scenes, and anyone who has been badly bullied in high school will feel for the FMC and everything she endures. The time capsule trope was a lot of fun, and it was satisfying to see how each character from the past (1997) ended up in the present-day chapters.
Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC!
Juniper Pickett has returned to Sweetbriar, Texas, twenty years after graduation and the death of her archnemesis, Blair. Juniper, a school psychologist, has recently been suspended from the big school in California, where investigators believe she contributed to the criminal actions of one of her patients. Upon returning to Sweetbriar, Juniper discovers that Blair's body has been recovered and that she is suspected of murder, while corruption in the police department and her "mad scientist" father's personal life come to the surface.
This book had a lot of twists and turns, and I love stories set years after high school, with heavy small-town secrets being revealed. I wish that Juniper's father had been given a more thorough character arc, since many questions were left unanswered with him, and because his character would have benefited from better exposition. Wyatt and Juniper's relationship could have been better developed as well, and the story could have used some "tightening" during the editing process, since it dragged in the middle.
I loved the flashback scenes, and anyone who has been badly bullied in high school will feel for the FMC and everything she endures. The time capsule trope was a lot of fun, and it was satisfying to see how each character from the past (1997) ended up in the present-day chapters.
Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC!
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