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Detective Parker Bell #1
A Secret to the Grave
He needs to save her, but she doesn't want to be saved.
Detective Parker Bell has just returned to work after a shooting when he and his partner land the case of a young woman abducted by a man who has left a list of clues pointing to nine other women he plans to kill.
Throughout the course of the investigation Parker meets Tessa Micah, a potential victim and the most interesting, stubborn, infuriating woman he has ever met. When Tessa refuses to shed any light on why she is in the sights of a serial killer it's up to Parker to find the madman before he can bring his plan to fruition, leaving ten dead women in his wake.
↝ Trigger warning - themes of sexual assault ↜
Detective Parker Bell has just returned to work after a shooting when he and his partner land the case of a young woman abducted by a man who has left a list of clues pointing to nine other women he plans to kill.
Throughout the course of the investigation Parker meets Tessa Micah, a potential victim and the most interesting, stubborn, infuriating woman he has ever met. When Tessa refuses to shed any light on why she is in the sights of a serial killer it's up to Parker to find the madman before he can bring his plan to fruition, leaving ten dead women in his wake.
↝ Trigger warning - themes of sexual assault ↜
ebook
First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Jane Blythe
117 books1,362 followers
USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane's most popular series includes Prey Security, part of Susan Stoker's OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker's world. When Jane isn't binge-reading she's counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
November 26, 2017
A Secret to the Grave by Jane Blythe is a 2014 by Bear Spots Publications release.
This book has been languishing in my KU library for a long time. I’m trying to get more use from my subscription, starting with the books I already have checked out.
The novel’s plot was promising, and was a unique twist on the usual romantic suspense/ serial killer type story. However, I had some big issues with the book- the characterizations, plot, pacing, plausibility and with the flow of the novel.
The pacing was too brisk, which left threads hanging and the characters underdeveloped.
Unfortunately, the suspense and urgency faltered, and the romance fell flat.
Having said that, this is a valiant effort for this author, and it is obvious she has raw talent.
This looks like, based on publication dates, this book is a debut novel, and I see Ms. Blythe now has four subsequent installments in this series, as well as one or two other series under her belt, all of them very well received.
I’m sure this first book, which I’m guessing is self or independently published, is just a bit rocky and experience has most likely paved the way for more quality publications in the future. Although this one didn’t work so well for me, I’m a willing to see how well this author has developed and am willing to read other books in the series in the future.
2 stars
This book has been languishing in my KU library for a long time. I’m trying to get more use from my subscription, starting with the books I already have checked out.
The novel’s plot was promising, and was a unique twist on the usual romantic suspense/ serial killer type story. However, I had some big issues with the book- the characterizations, plot, pacing, plausibility and with the flow of the novel.
The pacing was too brisk, which left threads hanging and the characters underdeveloped.
Unfortunately, the suspense and urgency faltered, and the romance fell flat.
Having said that, this is a valiant effort for this author, and it is obvious she has raw talent.
This looks like, based on publication dates, this book is a debut novel, and I see Ms. Blythe now has four subsequent installments in this series, as well as one or two other series under her belt, all of them very well received.
I’m sure this first book, which I’m guessing is self or independently published, is just a bit rocky and experience has most likely paved the way for more quality publications in the future. Although this one didn’t work so well for me, I’m a willing to see how well this author has developed and am willing to read other books in the series in the future.
2 stars
January 5, 2017
They made a pact, no one would ever breathe a word of what happened that night. None of them realized that the day would come when they would need to decide talk or not, either way, someone will die. One by one they will be captured and killed, unless Detectives Bell and Wyatt can decipher the clues the killer leaves.
Jane Blythe’s A SECRET TO THE GRAVE is a dark sinister tale that will chill you to your bones, as the past comes back to destroy the present for an already tormented and tortured young woman, Tessa Micah. With the IQ of a genius, Tessa doesn’t need to be smart to know that if she finally reveals the secrets she knows, it will never erase the sins of her past.
Parker Bell is under the gun to find this crazed killer and the refusal to talk by Tessa has him both angry, terrified and intrigued by this damaged soul. Is it his need to be a knight in shining armor or is it more? Meanwhile, time is running out and with or without her help, Parker must stop this madman before he kills again, especially if Tessa could be that victim.
Jane Blythe knows how to set the stage for a dark and twisted tale as she prepares to mess with your mind. From the atmosphere of page one, I could feel the hair rise on my arms. Likable or not, Tessa has her reasons for being the way she is, her past is full of darkness and pain, and she has learned to never trust, never share and never get close to anyone, it saves on more heartache. Parker has his own issues and raw nightmares, and together they make an unlikely pair, yet together they may find light beyond the dark tunnel they both live in. Powerful, dark and gritty, this edge of your seat tale is a suspense lover’s dream.
I received this copy from Jane Blythe in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Detective Parker Bell - Book 1
Publication Date: July 26, 2014
Publisher: Jane Blythe
Genre: Mystery | Thriller
Print Length: 261 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Jane Blythe’s A SECRET TO THE GRAVE is a dark sinister tale that will chill you to your bones, as the past comes back to destroy the present for an already tormented and tortured young woman, Tessa Micah. With the IQ of a genius, Tessa doesn’t need to be smart to know that if she finally reveals the secrets she knows, it will never erase the sins of her past.
Parker Bell is under the gun to find this crazed killer and the refusal to talk by Tessa has him both angry, terrified and intrigued by this damaged soul. Is it his need to be a knight in shining armor or is it more? Meanwhile, time is running out and with or without her help, Parker must stop this madman before he kills again, especially if Tessa could be that victim.
Jane Blythe knows how to set the stage for a dark and twisted tale as she prepares to mess with your mind. From the atmosphere of page one, I could feel the hair rise on my arms. Likable or not, Tessa has her reasons for being the way she is, her past is full of darkness and pain, and she has learned to never trust, never share and never get close to anyone, it saves on more heartache. Parker has his own issues and raw nightmares, and together they make an unlikely pair, yet together they may find light beyond the dark tunnel they both live in. Powerful, dark and gritty, this edge of your seat tale is a suspense lover’s dream.
I received this copy from Jane Blythe in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Detective Parker Bell - Book 1
Publication Date: July 26, 2014
Publisher: Jane Blythe
Genre: Mystery | Thriller
Print Length: 261 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
July 8, 2016
Detective Parker Bell and his partner get put on a case of a serial killer. The killer has kidnapped a woman but left a list of clues to several other potential victims telling the police that if they save the ones from the list he will kill the missing woman but if they fail he will set her free.
After failing to save a few women from the killer's list the investigation leads the detectives to Tessa Micah who may be a potential victim but Tessa refuses to talk to the police. Tessa and her friends have made a pact to keep a secret from their past even if it means their own deaths.
A Secret to the Grave starts off with a really intriguing idea that I thought that I would absolutely love but unfortunately from there the book just seemed to go downhill for me. At the end I still think the general idea for the story was a great one but I wasn't a huge fan of a lot of the wrap up to the story and the secret that had been kept.
The characters in this story really didn't feel very real for me with some of the actions going on. If the group in question that was keeping the secret were still fairly young it might make a bit more sense but as adults I didn't get why they would rather die than tell what had happened. Plus in the middle of trying to chase down a serial killer our lead detective gets a crush on the potential victim and we have a rushed romance type of situation written into the story which just felt off even as much of a fan of romance that I am.
On top of all everything else I think at one point I was just rolling my eyes thinking OK, that's a bit too much to be tossed onto one particular character in this story. Flawed characters from horrible backgrounds can be extremely compelling to read about but in this case I just felt the author piled on a bit too much to be anywhere near believable to me.
Overall, not my cup of tea I'm afraid although it seems a lot of others have enjoyed this one.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
After failing to save a few women from the killer's list the investigation leads the detectives to Tessa Micah who may be a potential victim but Tessa refuses to talk to the police. Tessa and her friends have made a pact to keep a secret from their past even if it means their own deaths.
A Secret to the Grave starts off with a really intriguing idea that I thought that I would absolutely love but unfortunately from there the book just seemed to go downhill for me. At the end I still think the general idea for the story was a great one but I wasn't a huge fan of a lot of the wrap up to the story and the secret that had been kept.
The characters in this story really didn't feel very real for me with some of the actions going on. If the group in question that was keeping the secret were still fairly young it might make a bit more sense but as adults I didn't get why they would rather die than tell what had happened. Plus in the middle of trying to chase down a serial killer our lead detective gets a crush on the potential victim and we have a rushed romance type of situation written into the story which just felt off even as much of a fan of romance that I am.
On top of all everything else I think at one point I was just rolling my eyes thinking OK, that's a bit too much to be tossed onto one particular character in this story. Flawed characters from horrible backgrounds can be extremely compelling to read about but in this case I just felt the author piled on a bit too much to be anywhere near believable to me.
Overall, not my cup of tea I'm afraid although it seems a lot of others have enjoyed this one.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
September 25, 2016
This is a well-written and thoroughly researched murder mystery suspense thriller. The dreary weather at the beginning of the book added to the suspense of the story. I got chills reading certain parts. More than once my heart was racing and I thought I would scream myself. He's a serial killer, so there's more than one gruesome murder detailed in the story. There's also the horribly traumatic past suffered by one of the main characters. I was angry for her and want to see her happy. I also want to see one of the lead detectives on the case happy, as he endured an abusive childhood. This story is the first book in a series, so there is hope for both of these characters to find happiness.
June 8, 2018
Beware! Once I started, I couldn’t stop and I recommend locking your doors and turning off your phone before beginning.
Just looking at the cover for A Secret to the Grave has chills running up and down my spine, as I rub by hands together with glee, eager to dive into another series by Jane Blythe.
Detective Parker Bell and his friend and partner, Detective Skylar Wyatt are on the case and it will not be easy to unravel the who, what and why. The kidnapper has taken his first victim and left rules to the game he wants to play. Follow the clues and save some faceless women and Jane will die. Do nothing, let the women die, and Jane will live. What do you think?
The first brutal, savage, grotesque murder creates a sense of urgency for all of them…and me.
Parker struggles with his past, nightmares making sleep something to be avoided, but nine women’s lives are at stake and they are counting on him and his cohorts to save them. So, buck up. The clock is ticking…
I can hardly wait to see where Jane Blythe will take me to next. I want dark, gritty, truly terrifying suspense and death and there is no short supply of it here.
Jane Blythe kept me guessing the why of it. I love that. The women are geniuses that have their own nightmares and I keep wondering why they don’t fight back. No matter what the maniac does to them, the women keep the secret he so desperately wants to know. Why are they willing to go peacefully (?) into that good night? They are damaged goods and I wonder, how far will they let this go before someone decides enough is enough. I love the twists and turns Jane has created. I am curious…so very curious about the secret, the real mystery.
I sure do hope curiosity doesn’t get this cat. LOL
Romance? Oh yeah…and she fights it every step of the way. Both Parker and Tessa had a hard life and remain aloof in the love department, though they have cherished friends.
The fire alarm went off at the police station, my heart began to beat faster.
A shot rings out…Oh, please, please, please, don’t let it be her.
The slow, agonizing suspense in this riveting, action packed thriller made ME want to go after HIM myself. I wanted to scream at Parker, HURRY, HURRY!!!!!
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Secret to the Grave by Jane Blythe.
See more at fundinmental
Just looking at the cover for A Secret to the Grave has chills running up and down my spine, as I rub by hands together with glee, eager to dive into another series by Jane Blythe.
Detective Parker Bell and his friend and partner, Detective Skylar Wyatt are on the case and it will not be easy to unravel the who, what and why. The kidnapper has taken his first victim and left rules to the game he wants to play. Follow the clues and save some faceless women and Jane will die. Do nothing, let the women die, and Jane will live. What do you think?
The first brutal, savage, grotesque murder creates a sense of urgency for all of them…and me.
Parker struggles with his past, nightmares making sleep something to be avoided, but nine women’s lives are at stake and they are counting on him and his cohorts to save them. So, buck up. The clock is ticking…
I can hardly wait to see where Jane Blythe will take me to next. I want dark, gritty, truly terrifying suspense and death and there is no short supply of it here.
Jane Blythe kept me guessing the why of it. I love that. The women are geniuses that have their own nightmares and I keep wondering why they don’t fight back. No matter what the maniac does to them, the women keep the secret he so desperately wants to know. Why are they willing to go peacefully (?) into that good night? They are damaged goods and I wonder, how far will they let this go before someone decides enough is enough. I love the twists and turns Jane has created. I am curious…so very curious about the secret, the real mystery.
I sure do hope curiosity doesn’t get this cat. LOL
Romance? Oh yeah…and she fights it every step of the way. Both Parker and Tessa had a hard life and remain aloof in the love department, though they have cherished friends.
The fire alarm went off at the police station, my heart began to beat faster.
A shot rings out…Oh, please, please, please, don’t let it be her.
The slow, agonizing suspense in this riveting, action packed thriller made ME want to go after HIM myself. I wanted to scream at Parker, HURRY, HURRY!!!!!
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Secret to the Grave by Jane Blythe.
See more at fundinmental
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August 8, 2023💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/28/2017)! 💝
December 5, 2019
I recieved a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
First things first. The cover is amazing. It literally kept me glued to it. The gunshot holes against the grey cover makes me have chills.
The story is thrilling and suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
First things first. The cover is amazing. It literally kept me glued to it. The gunshot holes against the grey cover makes me have chills.
The story is thrilling and suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
April 9, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I knew this book sounded interesting from the description but I did not expect it to be as good as it was. I thoroughly enjoyed this whole book, it was a suspenseful thriller that has you guessing along with the police detectives! I highly recommend this great book!
November 20, 2019
I thought this book had a lot of promise but I also don't think it reached its full potential. The story is suspenseful but I felt at times it dragged and then at others it cruised along and ignored things that should have been addressed. I did think the characters were interesting but I myself, found them hard to connect with, especially Tessa. She really seemed to rub me the wrong way because A. I didn't think she was half as smart as she thought she was and B. I honestly thought she was a terrible friend. The book offers plenty of drama, tension and creepiness though alongside a slowly evolving romance.
December 8, 2016
A Secret to the Grave
Outstanding fiction. Brilliant detective mystery story. Horror and terror that will haunt your dreams. This is a great story that needs to be read. Get your copy today. Simply a masterpiece!
Outstanding fiction. Brilliant detective mystery story. Horror and terror that will haunt your dreams. This is a great story that needs to be read. Get your copy today. Simply a masterpiece!
September 3, 2018
Predictable
I’m not going to say that the whole book was predictable, but I will say that the so-called secret that everyone was willing to die for was predicted and disappointing.
I’m not going to say that the whole book was predictable, but I will say that the so-called secret that everyone was willing to die for was predicted and disappointing.
May 28, 2019
See, I have mixed feelings about this one. As much as I enjoyed it, I thought that a lot of things didn’t add up, that it could have been done better.
First of all I’d like to mention that I thought the book had a great premise. All of the characters’ backgrounds were really intriguing.
I did, however, have a lot of problems with this book. The first of which being the way Tessa’s character didn’t really seem to match her actions. He was supposedly a genius and yet, a lot of the things she did contradicted that. Though it can be understood to some extent due to her trauma, it just didn’t seem realistic to me. For example, I think that she could have easily prevented the deaths of her friends. She claimed to be really protective of them and yet, they still ended up dead. I understand it from when she was threatened as a child, however, she was shown to be really paranoid as an adult and I think because of that, she would have been able to protect all her friends. Especially considering how she knew about Dylan’s real identity the whole time.
I also thought that the woman W didn’t really work. It was even mentioned in the book that Parker knew that they had only known each other for a few days and he was already in love. This idea was once again, really unbelievable. I can understand to some extent that they were able to find some similarities in their trauma and used that to bond, however, I didn’t really see any bonding apart from that small amount in the police station. They didn’t really know each other as people, they only saw the damage that each of them had. I’m okay with there being a romance, but I think it would have been better if they had time to get to know each other and had space to recover at the end before they actually got together.
There were a few other things but those were the most important. It was an interesting premise and as much as I did enjoy the book, I had a hard time looking past those discrepancies. I really doubt that I’ll read any of the other books in the series but, I don’t regret reading this one.
First of all I’d like to mention that I thought the book had a great premise. All of the characters’ backgrounds were really intriguing.
I did, however, have a lot of problems with this book. The first of which being the way Tessa’s character didn’t really seem to match her actions. He was supposedly a genius and yet, a lot of the things she did contradicted that. Though it can be understood to some extent due to her trauma, it just didn’t seem realistic to me. For example, I think that she could have easily prevented the deaths of her friends. She claimed to be really protective of them and yet, they still ended up dead. I understand it from when she was threatened as a child, however, she was shown to be really paranoid as an adult and I think because of that, she would have been able to protect all her friends. Especially considering how she knew about Dylan’s real identity the whole time.
I also thought that the woman W didn’t really work. It was even mentioned in the book that Parker knew that they had only known each other for a few days and he was already in love. This idea was once again, really unbelievable. I can understand to some extent that they were able to find some similarities in their trauma and used that to bond, however, I didn’t really see any bonding apart from that small amount in the police station. They didn’t really know each other as people, they only saw the damage that each of them had. I’m okay with there being a romance, but I think it would have been better if they had time to get to know each other and had space to recover at the end before they actually got together.
There were a few other things but those were the most important. It was an interesting premise and as much as I did enjoy the book, I had a hard time looking past those discrepancies. I really doubt that I’ll read any of the other books in the series but, I don’t regret reading this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2024
A Killer kidnaps a girl and leaves a note saying he will kill another woman every two days unless the police find him and if they save the girls he will kill his hostage. This starts a strange and complicated case that detective Parker Bell and his Partner Wyatt try to solve while bodies keep pilling up.
What I strongly disliked about this book:First, the complete inability for anyone involved to try to help themselves is completely baffling to me. Then when you find out why they are keeping the secret it makes even less sense. You want to like Tessa but you just can’t. If there was ever a TSTL character, it would be Tessa. What makes matters worse is that Parker isn’t much better. He at least attempted to get some help for himself but he walks around with so much guilt it bleeds into everything he does and every choice he makes. I don’t think I have ever cared less about two people than I do Parker and Tessa. The part of this love story that works is the fact that two epically damaged people find each other.
Now that I have complained about the main characters let’s talk about what I liked about this book.
Likes: The premise of the story is interesting. It took longer than I would have liked for the mystery to be revealed to the reader but that probably kept me reading when the love story wasn’t pulling me in. I will say there is a lot of death. It’s written in several POVs which I really liked and it makes you feel more emotional about the victims and drawn more into the story. My favorite parts of this book were around the mystery and the Jane Blythe weaves a story that makes you understand the characters despite not liking some of them. It's written in a way that makes you want the detectives to stop the killer even when the victims are content to die to keep their secret. The writing saved the book.
What I strongly disliked about this book:First, the complete inability for anyone involved to try to help themselves is completely baffling to me. Then when you find out why they are keeping the secret it makes even less sense. You want to like Tessa but you just can’t. If there was ever a TSTL character, it would be Tessa. What makes matters worse is that Parker isn’t much better. He at least attempted to get some help for himself but he walks around with so much guilt it bleeds into everything he does and every choice he makes. I don’t think I have ever cared less about two people than I do Parker and Tessa. The part of this love story that works is the fact that two epically damaged people find each other.
Now that I have complained about the main characters let’s talk about what I liked about this book.
Likes: The premise of the story is interesting. It took longer than I would have liked for the mystery to be revealed to the reader but that probably kept me reading when the love story wasn’t pulling me in. I will say there is a lot of death. It’s written in several POVs which I really liked and it makes you feel more emotional about the victims and drawn more into the story. My favorite parts of this book were around the mystery and the Jane Blythe weaves a story that makes you understand the characters despite not liking some of them. It's written in a way that makes you want the detectives to stop the killer even when the victims are content to die to keep their secret. The writing saved the book.
June 18, 2023
suspend belief for suspense
I couldn’t stop reading but I’m not carrying on with the series. Why? You are initially caught up in a thrilling suspense story which has the requisite tormented detective and mysterious bogeyman. So the first part of the book tracks well. However it’s in the unraveling of the tale that we are expected to believe that 11 teenagers were raped on a monthly basis by a teacher who has no qualifications at a school for extremely wealthy people over a period of two years, and no one says a thing! Okay so maybe that’s possible. But then skip ahead ten years and the same teacher returns to kidnap one of the girls now a woman, they know who he is but don’t do anything to inform the police (cue tortured detective) then all 10 girls happily sit back and watch whilst they each get murdered gruesomely. And this is in done, we anti-climactically find out, so that a little boy won’t be subjected to his raping father!! Who could have been dealt with by reporting him to the police! At least the boy’s mother only waits to see 3 of her close friends murdered before coming forward. Oh and on top of this our tortured detective falls in love with thhe person who happily lets all this happen by orchestrating their vow of silence. 🤷🏼♀️ not keen to subject myself to more and don’t really want anyone else to plow through it.
I couldn’t stop reading but I’m not carrying on with the series. Why? You are initially caught up in a thrilling suspense story which has the requisite tormented detective and mysterious bogeyman. So the first part of the book tracks well. However it’s in the unraveling of the tale that we are expected to believe that 11 teenagers were raped on a monthly basis by a teacher who has no qualifications at a school for extremely wealthy people over a period of two years, and no one says a thing! Okay so maybe that’s possible. But then skip ahead ten years and the same teacher returns to kidnap one of the girls now a woman, they know who he is but don’t do anything to inform the police (cue tortured detective) then all 10 girls happily sit back and watch whilst they each get murdered gruesomely. And this is in done, we anti-climactically find out, so that a little boy won’t be subjected to his raping father!! Who could have been dealt with by reporting him to the police! At least the boy’s mother only waits to see 3 of her close friends murdered before coming forward. Oh and on top of this our tortured detective falls in love with thhe person who happily lets all this happen by orchestrating their vow of silence. 🤷🏼♀️ not keen to subject myself to more and don’t really want anyone else to plow through it.
December 21, 2020
This story builds the suspense quite well... until the final third of the book. It's as if the writer didn't know where to take it. The typos and grammatical errors also increased a lot here.
There was quite a bit of repetition, something that could have been avoided with better editing. There was no need for two different people to say the same thing at different times. I also had an issue with the names of the characters: Mark, Marley, Marty, Maisy, Mattie, Melanie, Michelle... and the big Triple M that appears at the end. Did the writer stay in just one section of the baby book?
As for the mystery, I felt there was a missed opportunity with the first letter with the riddle. But maybe it was just too difficult for the writer to come up with a narrative built around that.
I looked at the reviews on Goodreads for the other books in the series, and noticed the same reviewers (practically in the same order) for every book and giving them high ratings. Now that seems mysterious to me.
December 22, 2019
Detective Parker Bell and Detective Skylar Wyatt are investigating the murder of Janice Peters. But this investigation is not going to be so easy to solve. It is going to be complicated with twists, turns suspense and emotions. Janice was a quiet girl who kept to herself but she held secrets. As the Detectives investigate and more murders occur they find that there are a group of girls that are friends that are hiding a whole heck of a lot of secrets. This storyline pulls you in, hooks you and has you gripped until the very end. You try to figure out who is doing what and what the secrets are but there is no way to figure them out. Jane writes an excellent book of mystery and suspense. I absolutely loved reading this one. Loved every single character and how the storyline plays out. I cant wait to read the rest of the books in this series. I highly recommend starting this series and reading about the wonderful mystery and suspense that you find in each page that you turn with this book.
February 22, 2020
OK I'm again on the fence with a book and the review as I'm composing it. On the one hand I really enjoyed the book even with the punctuation and grammar issues. But that's just the beginning. The story does hook you in from the beginning and you already know it's going to be a doozey as the author plays it out. The characters are good but he doesn't seem stable enough to be released to return to work much less stable enough to do the job and friend or no it's hard to believe his partner would believe he could have his back. This is only one thing I had issues with but it was enough to make things that happened just a little less believable. The thing is I love this author's recent work and I love the suspense she brings to the read which makes the romance more bearable (I still don't understand how they can go to immediate love and just bypass the hi can we get to know each other but that's just me).
December 25, 2022
I thought this book had good suspense but was lacking a bit in the romance department. It kept me interested in the storyline until the last few chapters, then those last two or three I was just wanting it to be wrapped up because it was starting to get repetitive. There were some spelling issues throughout and some of the characters had names that were way too similar - two characters were named Gina and it got confusing at one point trying to decipher which one the characters were talking about. Some of the choices the characters made were silly and I don't really understand the motivation behind keeping the big secret the group of girls had. Also kind of spoilerish but did their school not find it the least bit suspicious that a male teacher was taking a group of young girls on mysterious "study" camp trips each month? That seemed a bit out there for me. But overall it was a decent read.
September 23, 2024
What? I mean it was such a good start to a murder mystery. The twists and turns...but then somehow we find out someone trapped these girls into a sex ring. If my kids told me they were going away one weekend a month to a camp with some man teacher I would be questioning. Then one gets pregnant and can just fake her death and run away with a guy and a baby? Where were these parents? This whole time I wanted to know what really happen to Ellie. Left hanging on that one. Poor Janice! The cop who falls in love with a girl with so many problems. I mean his life wasn't perfect either but for a moment there I really thought Tessa was just as crazy and responsible for something or someone's death. Psycho.vibes was all there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2018
Jane write stories that you just can not put down until you know everything that is going on. Her stories will have you guessing all the way through the mystery, the thrills and every twist and turn. Jane has fast become one of my favourite authors as she does what she does so well, which is dark serial killers, detective murder mysteries. The characters have a depth and emotions that draws you to them, good or bad. There is a lot of violence, but the story would not be so good without them. Detective's Parker and Wade make one hell of a team. If you like a read on the darker side then Jane is your girl!!
January 12, 2019
Not bad
I liked the storyline although I found that Parker was a bit quick to fall in love with Tessa. Under all those circumstances. I would not be surprised when it happened again in some next cases he will have. LOL. Story has a strong plot with a good twist and us written good to make is more thrilling to get an edge. I would have liked to know more about Ellie, how she died, that's somehow missing. You get all kind of information about her past, but not much what happened at this weekend where Tessa and Ellie went missing. But still a good read. I am not really a fan to read romance in a good crime, thriller. But thanks to the author, because it was a free book.
I liked the storyline although I found that Parker was a bit quick to fall in love with Tessa. Under all those circumstances. I would not be surprised when it happened again in some next cases he will have. LOL. Story has a strong plot with a good twist and us written good to make is more thrilling to get an edge. I would have liked to know more about Ellie, how she died, that's somehow missing. You get all kind of information about her past, but not much what happened at this weekend where Tessa and Ellie went missing. But still a good read. I am not really a fan to read romance in a good crime, thriller. But thanks to the author, because it was a free book.
December 3, 2019
Found this story to be quite a thriller, super creepy in some parts. The “bad guy” was written well and I found myself trying to figure out what his motive was and trying to solve the riddles, I failed miserably.
I did feel it was a little rushed so some of the character development was a little under cooked and I think I could’ve done without the romance between Parker and one of the other characters, it just didn’t feel believable or necessary.
I believe this is one of the authors first books, I may be wrong but having read a few of her other stories, she’s come a long way and I’ll definitely be continuing this series.
I did feel it was a little rushed so some of the character development was a little under cooked and I think I could’ve done without the romance between Parker and one of the other characters, it just didn’t feel believable or necessary.
I believe this is one of the authors first books, I may be wrong but having read a few of her other stories, she’s come a long way and I’ll definitely be continuing this series.
December 19, 2019
Detective Parker Bell and Detective Skylar Wyatt investigate the kidnapping of Janice Peters, a twenty-five year old woman, but this is just the start of a bizarre murder spree by this deviant and time is against these detectives as they try to solve the riddles.
I have to applaud the variety and creativity of the murders, very inventive. The tension that is built up in this story is immense and does have you on the edge of your seat in many scenes. Although you basically know who the murderer is, you don’t know him very well nor what the big secret is that has the now women staying quiet about everything. Slowly things are revealed and it makes for an exciting finale.
I have to applaud the variety and creativity of the murders, very inventive. The tension that is built up in this story is immense and does have you on the edge of your seat in many scenes. Although you basically know who the murderer is, you don’t know him very well nor what the big secret is that has the now women staying quiet about everything. Slowly things are revealed and it makes for an exciting finale.
November 7, 2023
A Secret to the Grave is a thrilling, mystery read.
Jane Blythe has a way of drawing you in grabbing your attention. I could not put this book down.
Detective Parker Bell and his partner Skylar Wyatt are put on a serial killer case. And the killer has left them clues on his next victims but they do not make sense.
While investigating the murders they meet Tessa Micah, she is involved somehow and possibly a victim but she does not want anything to do with the investigation.
This book left me guessing until the end, and I was blown away with the secrets that were revealed. I can't wait to read Book 2!
Jane Blythe has a way of drawing you in grabbing your attention. I could not put this book down.
Detective Parker Bell and his partner Skylar Wyatt are put on a serial killer case. And the killer has left them clues on his next victims but they do not make sense.
While investigating the murders they meet Tessa Micah, she is involved somehow and possibly a victim but she does not want anything to do with the investigation.
This book left me guessing until the end, and I was blown away with the secrets that were revealed. I can't wait to read Book 2!
February 5, 2017
This is a great start to what I'm sure will be a great series. I've read several of Jane Blythe's novels and she always manages to pull me in the story right away and keep me there until the last page. Each character is always well developed and full of such emotion. I did find myself getting very frustrated with Tessa and her friends throughout the book. I wanted to shout at them just to trust Detective Bell, tell him everything!! And Tessa was stubborn (as were her friends). The title of this book was perfect for this storyline. I can't wait to start reading book 2!
December 22, 2019
Heart stopping Psychological Thriller
As I read each book from Jane Blythe, my reaction is the same – heart stopping and blinding tension, and, a temptation to let the family starve while I read this compelling psychological thriller. I swear to you, Ms Blythe loves the criminal mind and weaves together a plot more reminiscent of Taggart or Silent Witness than the more straight forward plots of the Criminal Minds TV program. All of these programs I love, and I love Ms Blythe’s books just as much. 5 Stars
As I read each book from Jane Blythe, my reaction is the same – heart stopping and blinding tension, and, a temptation to let the family starve while I read this compelling psychological thriller. I swear to you, Ms Blythe loves the criminal mind and weaves together a plot more reminiscent of Taggart or Silent Witness than the more straight forward plots of the Criminal Minds TV program. All of these programs I love, and I love Ms Blythe’s books just as much. 5 Stars
May 23, 2019
The worst book I have read this year but that's what you get if blow your book budget in a week and have to make do with freebies
The plot has more holes than a swiss cheese and for a bunch of geniuses all the 'girls' were pretty darn stupid.
As for the romance, heck Tessa, your best friend needs saving from the serial killer and you are more worried if the detective likes you. I honestly don't know why I bothered to finish this book.
The plot has more holes than a swiss cheese and for a bunch of geniuses all the 'girls' were pretty darn stupid.
As for the romance, heck Tessa, your best friend needs saving from the serial killer and you are more worried if the detective likes you. I honestly don't know why I bothered to finish this book.
December 10, 2019
Incredible book!!
I knew I was going to enjoy this book after the first few pages, I just wasn't sure how much. It was emotional and suspenseful, twisted and intense. Would you give your life to protect a secret? Tessa and her friends were. Tessa was willing to sacrifice herself to safe the lives of her friends. What she didn't count on was Parker coming in like her own personal knight in shining armor. This book kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the end.
I knew I was going to enjoy this book after the first few pages, I just wasn't sure how much. It was emotional and suspenseful, twisted and intense. Would you give your life to protect a secret? Tessa and her friends were. Tessa was willing to sacrifice herself to safe the lives of her friends. What she didn't count on was Parker coming in like her own personal knight in shining armor. This book kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the end.
January 16, 2019
I loved everything about this!
Wow! If your looking for a suspense read with a lot of twists and secrets, look no further! From the prologue I was hooked, so many twists and turns I didn't see coming and wasn't expecting! Phenomenal writing, engaging characters and an awesome start to a series!
Wow! If your looking for a suspense read with a lot of twists and secrets, look no further! From the prologue I was hooked, so many twists and turns I didn't see coming and wasn't expecting! Phenomenal writing, engaging characters and an awesome start to a series!
December 8, 2019
Holy molly was this a great story. You talk a rollercoaster ride to hell this definitely was one. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Parker and Tessa but all the characters were great. There was a lot of things that happened in this book that I did not expect, but that is what a good author does, keeps you on your toes. Great book and can't wait for the next book.
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