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Detective Katie Scott #3
Flowers on Her Grave
On the floor, amongst the piles of freshly pressed laundry, lay the woman’s lifeless body, her pale yellow nightdress soaked in blood. “I didn’t do it…” came a whisper from the corner of the room.
Detective Katie Scott has never seen two people more in love than her aunt and uncle as they danced together on the night of their wedding anniversary party. But the next morning, when Katie finds her aunt’s body sprawled across the floor, that perfect image is shattered forever.
All fingers point to Katie’s uncle, Pine Valley’s beloved sheriff and protector – after all, his prints are all over the antique knife found at the scene. Grieving, but certain of her uncle’s innocence, Katie is consigned to the cold case division after she’s discovered searching the house for clues.
Does someone want to keep her as far away from this investigation as possible?
Ignoring warnings from her team, Katie digs into her uncle’s old case files and discovers photographs of the body of a young girl found tied to a tree after a hike in search of a rare flower. Her body is covered with the same unusual lacerations her aunt suffered. Katie knows it can’t be a coincidence, but every lead she follows takes her to a dead end.
Moments before the sheriff is arrested, Katie realizes that a single piece of thread she found at the crime scene could be the missing link that will stitch old crimes to new.
But how can she prove her uncle’s innocence without throwing herself directly into the line of fire? She doesn’t have a choice, he’s the only family she has left…
Detective Katie Scott has never seen two people more in love than her aunt and uncle as they danced together on the night of their wedding anniversary party. But the next morning, when Katie finds her aunt’s body sprawled across the floor, that perfect image is shattered forever.
All fingers point to Katie’s uncle, Pine Valley’s beloved sheriff and protector – after all, his prints are all over the antique knife found at the scene. Grieving, but certain of her uncle’s innocence, Katie is consigned to the cold case division after she’s discovered searching the house for clues.
Does someone want to keep her as far away from this investigation as possible?
Ignoring warnings from her team, Katie digs into her uncle’s old case files and discovers photographs of the body of a young girl found tied to a tree after a hike in search of a rare flower. Her body is covered with the same unusual lacerations her aunt suffered. Katie knows it can’t be a coincidence, but every lead she follows takes her to a dead end.
Moments before the sheriff is arrested, Katie realizes that a single piece of thread she found at the crime scene could be the missing link that will stitch old crimes to new.
But how can she prove her uncle’s innocence without throwing herself directly into the line of fire? She doesn’t have a choice, he’s the only family she has left…
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2020
3663 people are currently reading
1004 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Chase
32 books585 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today Best Selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. She has written the popular Detective Katie Scott Series and the Emily Stone Thriller Series.
Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.
She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers. www.authorjenniferchase.com
Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today Best Selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. She has written the popular Detective Katie Scott Series and the Emily Stone Thriller Series.
Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.
She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers. www.authorjenniferchase.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
February 24, 2020
All it takes is for me to see there’s a police procedural with a dog in it, and I’m all over it. But maybe because I committed the cardinal sin of starting a series with the latest, rather than the first book, I didn’t totally connect with this book. I didn’t get a real feel for the characters. Or maybe the book suffered in comparison to another police procedural I just finished. I’m not saying it’s bad, just that it didn't come across as anything special. In fact, the comparison made me realize what a talent it is to actually create a whole group of characters that feel real.
Detective Katie Scott handles cold case investigations for Pine Valley. She’s an army vet, suffering from PTSD and has her army dog, Cisco. Her uncle is the sheriff. But the morning after her aunt and uncle’s 10th anniversary party, she arrives at their house to find her uncle covered in blood and her aunt dead.
This is a straightforward police procedural with the obligatory new boss who has it in for Katie, looking to abolish her department and send her back to patrol. Flip side, she is often seen flouting the department rules to the consternation of her partner. She’s also one of those MCs that takes stupid risks.
The story flows quickly with lots of moving parts. Katie starts to investigate a twelve year old cold case that her uncle initially investigated with a similar MO to her aunt’s murder. The author does rely on some heavy coincidences to keep the story moving. There are quite a few suspects to choose from.
If you choose this because of the dog aspect, be aware that Cisco plays a very small role.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
May 1, 2020
I seem to have a knack of stumbling upon new series of mystery/crime thrillers (new for me atleast) by mostly beginning with the 3rd book in the series. The Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase is yet another example of it and I am glad to have found yet another solid crime thriller series.
There really isn't much to fault in the book. It's fast paced with solid characters and even though Katie suffers from anxiety and PSTD after returning from her two tours in Afghanistan, she doesn't let that overshadow her brilliant capability of leading the cold cases department in the Pine Valley police department and solving difficult cold cases against all odds.
My thanks to Netgally, the publisher Bookouture, and the author for an e-Arc of the book.
There really isn't much to fault in the book. It's fast paced with solid characters and even though Katie suffers from anxiety and PSTD after returning from her two tours in Afghanistan, she doesn't let that overshadow her brilliant capability of leading the cold cases department in the Pine Valley police department and solving difficult cold cases against all odds.
My thanks to Netgally, the publisher Bookouture, and the author for an e-Arc of the book.
March 25, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Detective Katie Scott is back in the third book in her series. This time the case is personal.
Katie is still working in the cold case department of the Pine Valley police force but her partner McGaven has now moved to part-time. After attending her Aunt and Uncle’s wedding anniversary party, Katie calls the next day to go for a run with her uncle, a family tradition.
After initially getting no answer at their house her uncle eventually opens the door covered in blood. A quick sweep of the house reveals that her aunt is dead in the laundry room. Her uncle swears he didn’t kill his wife. However, all the evidence points in his direction. Katie has been told to stay away from the case but as her uncle is the only family she has left she is not going to let him go down for something he didn’t do, especially when her aunt’s death has very similar circumstances to a cold case.
I had read the first two books in the Detective Katie Scott series and enjoyed them both so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. I find Katie to be a great character. Yes, she has some PTSD that she is working through having just come out of the army in the first book and she can be a bit hot-headed at times and reckless but this is what I like about her, she makes for good reading.
I thought the book was a little slow to get going this time and I was waiting for the murder to occur to get the plot surging ahead and showing Katie at her best. Once she is on the trail of a killer there is no stopping Katie and with this being personal bring the real killer to justice was all she had in her mind, as well as trying to connect the dots to an old case.
The book was fast-paced, thrilling and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was glad to see that Cisco, Katie’s ex-army dog is still involved in her detective work. If you haven’t read the first two in the series I would suggest doing so before reading this one. It can be read as a stand-alone but you won’t get the full atmosphere of the book given that we get to know her aunt and uncle in previous books.
Overall, Flowers on Her Grave is a fab read and I can’t wait for the next in the series.
Detective Katie Scott is back in the third book in her series. This time the case is personal.
Katie is still working in the cold case department of the Pine Valley police force but her partner McGaven has now moved to part-time. After attending her Aunt and Uncle’s wedding anniversary party, Katie calls the next day to go for a run with her uncle, a family tradition.
After initially getting no answer at their house her uncle eventually opens the door covered in blood. A quick sweep of the house reveals that her aunt is dead in the laundry room. Her uncle swears he didn’t kill his wife. However, all the evidence points in his direction. Katie has been told to stay away from the case but as her uncle is the only family she has left she is not going to let him go down for something he didn’t do, especially when her aunt’s death has very similar circumstances to a cold case.
I had read the first two books in the Detective Katie Scott series and enjoyed them both so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. I find Katie to be a great character. Yes, she has some PTSD that she is working through having just come out of the army in the first book and she can be a bit hot-headed at times and reckless but this is what I like about her, she makes for good reading.
I thought the book was a little slow to get going this time and I was waiting for the murder to occur to get the plot surging ahead and showing Katie at her best. Once she is on the trail of a killer there is no stopping Katie and with this being personal bring the real killer to justice was all she had in her mind, as well as trying to connect the dots to an old case.
The book was fast-paced, thrilling and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was glad to see that Cisco, Katie’s ex-army dog is still involved in her detective work. If you haven’t read the first two in the series I would suggest doing so before reading this one. It can be read as a stand-alone but you won’t get the full atmosphere of the book given that we get to know her aunt and uncle in previous books.
Overall, Flowers on Her Grave is a fab read and I can’t wait for the next in the series.
February 9, 2020
Flowers on Her Grave is the third book in the Detective Katie Scott series by author Jennifer Chase. It’s a solid police procedural.
Since the events of the second book, Detective Katie Scott of the Pine Valley’s Sheriff Department, and a former two-tour army veteran, has reluctantly decided to give a try to therapy to get rid of her PTSD related troubles. One session, for now.
She heads the cold case department and, in this capacity, decides to work a case alluded to in the previous book, the unsolved disappearance of a mechanic five years earlier. This, on the request of the victim’s dying mother. In spite of budget constraints, she gets to keep the assistance of Deputy McGaven on a part time basis. She’s also allowed to keep her K9 army partner, Cisco, as a tagalong in an official civilian consulting capability (a canine Patrick Jane, working for scratches behind the ears).
Life is very unfair to Katie Scott, who has already lived her share of tragedies. Not long after she starts her new investigation, her uncle’s wife is found murdered in their house, and evidence seems to point to him as the killer. Her uncle being Pine Valley’s sheriff, this puts Katie Scott in a very difficult position. She won’t get help from the undersheriff taking charge as, faithful to a trope lived by many cops in many series, he’s not a fan of the new cold case department, nor of Katie Scott’s habit to disregard rules when she feels it required.
Drowned in grief, she has to juggle pursuing her cold case with secretly shadowing the investigation in her aunt’s death. Another race against time begins again for Katie Scott and her partner. A double one, this time around.
This book can be read as a standalone, but picks up where the previous one ended in terms of characters and their development. However, the author takes good care of informing potential new readers of what has happened before.
Katie Scott is far from being perfect, still trying to take on her trauma alone. And, the pressure she’s exposed to during this very personal case, combined with her habit of keeping things close to the chest, lead her to jeopardize the investigation, to jeopardize herself, and to make some connections later than she should have. This character trait can become frustrating at times to the reader I am, and I hope she’ll seek the help she obviously needs, even more so now.
The secret real protagonist of this series is army K9 veteran, and Katie Scott’s partner, Cisco. Cisco has it better this time around. He gets a giant new playground to train in, wins the lottery, gets personal A/C in his car, gets to track and dig out stuff, and to show off opening doors by himself. He also confirms his status as an all around good boy.
I thought I had guessed who the killer was two thirds into the book. However, I was mistaken. Not misled as, in hindsight, all the clues were there. But, there were extra ones. Indeed, as the story closes, some questions remain unanswered. If it’s not an oversight on the part of the author, this might be a bad omen looming over Katie Scott were she to return for a fourth book. A return I would welcome.
Cherry on the cake, Jack Reacher’s fans will be pleased to see Katie Scott lives by one of his rules.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
Review of book one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of book two : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Since the events of the second book, Detective Katie Scott of the Pine Valley’s Sheriff Department, and a former two-tour army veteran, has reluctantly decided to give a try to therapy to get rid of her PTSD related troubles. One session, for now.
She heads the cold case department and, in this capacity, decides to work a case alluded to in the previous book, the unsolved disappearance of a mechanic five years earlier. This, on the request of the victim’s dying mother. In spite of budget constraints, she gets to keep the assistance of Deputy McGaven on a part time basis. She’s also allowed to keep her K9 army partner, Cisco, as a tagalong in an official civilian consulting capability (a canine Patrick Jane, working for scratches behind the ears).
Life is very unfair to Katie Scott, who has already lived her share of tragedies. Not long after she starts her new investigation, her uncle’s wife is found murdered in their house, and evidence seems to point to him as the killer. Her uncle being Pine Valley’s sheriff, this puts Katie Scott in a very difficult position. She won’t get help from the undersheriff taking charge as, faithful to a trope lived by many cops in many series, he’s not a fan of the new cold case department, nor of Katie Scott’s habit to disregard rules when she feels it required.
Drowned in grief, she has to juggle pursuing her cold case with secretly shadowing the investigation in her aunt’s death. Another race against time begins again for Katie Scott and her partner. A double one, this time around.
This book can be read as a standalone, but picks up where the previous one ended in terms of characters and their development. However, the author takes good care of informing potential new readers of what has happened before.
Katie Scott is far from being perfect, still trying to take on her trauma alone. And, the pressure she’s exposed to during this very personal case, combined with her habit of keeping things close to the chest, lead her to jeopardize the investigation, to jeopardize herself, and to make some connections later than she should have. This character trait can become frustrating at times to the reader I am, and I hope she’ll seek the help she obviously needs, even more so now.
The secret real protagonist of this series is army K9 veteran, and Katie Scott’s partner, Cisco. Cisco has it better this time around. He gets a giant new playground to train in, wins the lottery, gets personal A/C in his car, gets to track and dig out stuff, and to show off opening doors by himself. He also confirms his status as an all around good boy.
I thought I had guessed who the killer was two thirds into the book. However, I was mistaken. Not misled as, in hindsight, all the clues were there. But, there were extra ones. Indeed, as the story closes, some questions remain unanswered. If it’s not an oversight on the part of the author, this might be a bad omen looming over Katie Scott were she to return for a fourth book. A return I would welcome.
Cherry on the cake, Jack Reacher’s fans will be pleased to see Katie Scott lives by one of his rules.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.
Review of book one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of book two : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 22, 2020
Flowers on Her Grave is the third novel in the Detective Katie Scott series where she investigates cold cases as part of Pine Valley, California’s Sheriff’s Department. It's certainly not essential to have read the preceding books in the series as Ms Chase provides sufficient backstory for new readers to get caught up. It's the morning after a huge soiree celebrating Sheriff Wayne Scott and his wife Claire's tenth wedding anniversary and Katie drives over to their house for a pre-planned meet-up. What she sees shocks her to the core; her uncle Wayne is covered head to toe in blood and aunt Claire’s lacerated body lies in the laundry room having suffered at the hands of a cruel and merciless attacker. Despite Wayne protesting his innocence, he is swiftly arrested for murder. Katie is hellbent on proving Wayne did not commit the crime despite Undersheriff Martinez warning her to stay away from the investigation. She continues to look at cold cases and happens upon a twelve-year-old cold case that shares many similarities with her aunt’s slaying, including the same type of distinctive mutilation.
This is a well-crafted, pacey mystery with some exciting and tense moments throughout as Katie homes in on a killer who nearly got away with murder the first time. As it is told entirely from Katie's perspective it allows you to easily and quickly immerse yourself in the plot making everything a lot more enjoyable as there is no switching between characters which can often complicate things. There's plenty of action and suspense and the fact that this case is personal makes the stakes even higher for Katie and her family. They know Wayne would not have murdered his wife as he worshipped the ground she walked on but they want everyone else to know too. That's one of the reasons his exoneration is so important. There is plenty of action and drama and in the last quarter, I was racing through the pages as Katie entices the real killer out of hiding. There are plenty of twists and turns and all in all, this is a highly entertaining and absorbing series. I look forward to the next instalment. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
This is a well-crafted, pacey mystery with some exciting and tense moments throughout as Katie homes in on a killer who nearly got away with murder the first time. As it is told entirely from Katie's perspective it allows you to easily and quickly immerse yourself in the plot making everything a lot more enjoyable as there is no switching between characters which can often complicate things. There's plenty of action and suspense and the fact that this case is personal makes the stakes even higher for Katie and her family. They know Wayne would not have murdered his wife as he worshipped the ground she walked on but they want everyone else to know too. That's one of the reasons his exoneration is so important. There is plenty of action and drama and in the last quarter, I was racing through the pages as Katie entices the real killer out of hiding. There are plenty of twists and turns and all in all, this is a highly entertaining and absorbing series. I look forward to the next instalment. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
June 17, 2020
Flowers On Her Grave is book three in the Detective Katie Scott series, but can be read as a standalone. However, since Jennifer Chase is a force to be reckoned with in the mystery/suspense genre, now I need to go back and read more from her. Her writing style is addictive, pulling you into the novel. It never let’s go until the very end. I’m blown away, honestly. This book and author just shot straight into my favorite list.
The mystery and suspense is so well written, I’m having trouble explaining it. Expertly paced to keep you on the edge of your seat from the first to the last page. I’m feeling the need to tell you to stop reading this review and go buy this (and the other books in the series)!!
I’m also thoroughly impressed with Katie Scott, our main character. Sometimes, by book 3, authors forget to continue the character growth. However, Jennifer Chase forgot nothing. Without reading the first two books, I was still able to get an in depth look into the character of Katie Scott and see her grow.
I loved everything about Flowers On Her Grave and I cannot wait to dive into more books from Jennifer Chase. All the stars. Highly recommended.
*I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
The mystery and suspense is so well written, I’m having trouble explaining it. Expertly paced to keep you on the edge of your seat from the first to the last page. I’m feeling the need to tell you to stop reading this review and go buy this (and the other books in the series)!!
I’m also thoroughly impressed with Katie Scott, our main character. Sometimes, by book 3, authors forget to continue the character growth. However, Jennifer Chase forgot nothing. Without reading the first two books, I was still able to get an in depth look into the character of Katie Scott and see her grow.
I loved everything about Flowers On Her Grave and I cannot wait to dive into more books from Jennifer Chase. All the stars. Highly recommended.
*I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
November 2, 2020
#FlowersonHerGrave #NetGalley
I quite liked this book. It may have started out on the slow side but it really picked up midway through and ended with a bang! The main character Detective Katie Scott was very likeable and well described. I especially liked the family dynamics as well as Katie's relationships with co-workers. The murder was especially gruesome and it was very interesting to learn of the police procedures and forensics involved in solving the case, as well as Katie's gut instincts in solving the case. In the course of Katie's investigation she identified several suspects but I never figured out the killer until it was revealed in the end.
I would recommend to family and friends and anyone who loves a good police procedural.
Special thanks go NetGalley and Bookouture for and ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I quite liked this book. It may have started out on the slow side but it really picked up midway through and ended with a bang! The main character Detective Katie Scott was very likeable and well described. I especially liked the family dynamics as well as Katie's relationships with co-workers. The murder was especially gruesome and it was very interesting to learn of the police procedures and forensics involved in solving the case, as well as Katie's gut instincts in solving the case. In the course of Katie's investigation she identified several suspects but I never figured out the killer until it was revealed in the end.
I would recommend to family and friends and anyone who loves a good police procedural.
Special thanks go NetGalley and Bookouture for and ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
February 11, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Flowers on Her Grave, the third novel to feature cold case detective Katie Scott of the Pine Valley, California Sheriff’s Department.
The morning after her uncle Sheriff Wayne Scott and aunt Claire’s 10th anniversary party she finds her aunt murdered and her blood covered uncle claiming he didn’t do it. Believing her uncle is being framed and barred from investigating she finds a twelve year old cold case whose victim had similar wounds to Claire.
I enjoyed Flowers on Her Grave which has a good mystery and likeable characters. It isn’t a particularly profound novel but it has an eventful plot that keeps the reader turning the pages and gets quite exciting in parts when Katie gets into tight situations.
The novel is told entirely from Katie’s point of view so the only jumping about is from one plot scene to the next. It means the reader can get fully immersed in Katie’s story and identify with her. As I said it isn’t a deep novel so there is always something that conveniently falls into her hands to push the case forward. In some novels this might be an issue but here it is such a plot driven narrative that it doesn’t have much impact.
Katie Scott is a veteran who served in Afghanistan as an IED tracker with her dog Cisco. They are both retired from active duty although Katie is the only one with PTSD. I liked the way her history was introduced early on in a therapy session. It introduces her to new readers naturally and presents her troubles in a fresh way to series readers. She is a maverick, constantly on thin ice with the brass for ignoring procedure. It’s not entirely credible but makes for good reading.
Flowers on Her Grave is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
The morning after her uncle Sheriff Wayne Scott and aunt Claire’s 10th anniversary party she finds her aunt murdered and her blood covered uncle claiming he didn’t do it. Believing her uncle is being framed and barred from investigating she finds a twelve year old cold case whose victim had similar wounds to Claire.
I enjoyed Flowers on Her Grave which has a good mystery and likeable characters. It isn’t a particularly profound novel but it has an eventful plot that keeps the reader turning the pages and gets quite exciting in parts when Katie gets into tight situations.
The novel is told entirely from Katie’s point of view so the only jumping about is from one plot scene to the next. It means the reader can get fully immersed in Katie’s story and identify with her. As I said it isn’t a deep novel so there is always something that conveniently falls into her hands to push the case forward. In some novels this might be an issue but here it is such a plot driven narrative that it doesn’t have much impact.
Katie Scott is a veteran who served in Afghanistan as an IED tracker with her dog Cisco. They are both retired from active duty although Katie is the only one with PTSD. I liked the way her history was introduced early on in a therapy session. It introduces her to new readers naturally and presents her troubles in a fresh way to series readers. She is a maverick, constantly on thin ice with the brass for ignoring procedure. It’s not entirely credible but makes for good reading.
Flowers on Her Grave is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 2, 2020
Flowers on Her Grave is the third book in the Dt. Katie Scott series and a super addition to the brilliant series. The book starts with a chilling prologue that hooks you right in. I like this series so much that I went in, without reading the description. That decision probably saved me some much-needed suspense about what & who this case involves. This book is a part of a solid police procedural series that is simply too good!
Katie's Uncle and Aunt just celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary! She couldn't know anyone more in love with each other, so when Katie goes to their house the morning after their anniversary party, the scene that greets her shocks her to the core. Losing a close family member is have a serious emotional setback. Heartbroken Katie realizes she now has only her Uncle to call for family and must do everything in her power to set the record straight and clear his name that is being tarnished - seemingly on purpose. Did someone target the Scotts to hurt the Sherriff? Katie must find the ruthless murderer and bring her family justice, even if it's her own life at stake!
Detective Katie Scott with Cisco makes for an unbeatable and unshakable team. I've been a fan of this series ever since the first book, Little Girls Sleeping. Katie with her history already makes for interesting reading, throws in some cold cases and chilling murder scenes, you get this book! I really like the way Katie and McGaven go through the motions of a cold case. It's interesting to see how her logic takes her to places from certain dead ends and ultimately to solve the uncertainty. I like the other characters in this series. This book essentially had Katie solve two cold cases. I am holding back on one star because I still have questions about one of the cases. It was not clear why the first case's second person was murdered so late. I would have also liked to have seen Katie see the first case closed to her satisfaction (despite it being taken from her), notified the mother, etc. I am still a fan of this budding series and am looking forward to the next explosive read!
Thank You NetGalley, Bookouture & Jennifer Chase for an arc!
Katie's Uncle and Aunt just celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary! She couldn't know anyone more in love with each other, so when Katie goes to their house the morning after their anniversary party, the scene that greets her shocks her to the core. Losing a close family member is have a serious emotional setback. Heartbroken Katie realizes she now has only her Uncle to call for family and must do everything in her power to set the record straight and clear his name that is being tarnished - seemingly on purpose. Did someone target the Scotts to hurt the Sherriff? Katie must find the ruthless murderer and bring her family justice, even if it's her own life at stake!
Detective Katie Scott with Cisco makes for an unbeatable and unshakable team. I've been a fan of this series ever since the first book, Little Girls Sleeping. Katie with her history already makes for interesting reading, throws in some cold cases and chilling murder scenes, you get this book! I really like the way Katie and McGaven go through the motions of a cold case. It's interesting to see how her logic takes her to places from certain dead ends and ultimately to solve the uncertainty. I like the other characters in this series. This book essentially had Katie solve two cold cases. I am holding back on one star because I still have questions about one of the cases. It was not clear why the first case's second person was murdered so late. I would have also liked to have seen Katie see the first case closed to her satisfaction (despite it being taken from her), notified the mother, etc. I am still a fan of this budding series and am looking forward to the next explosive read!
Thank You NetGalley, Bookouture & Jennifer Chase for an arc!
March 28, 2020
A fast-paced police procedural/crime thriller --the third installment in a series featuring Detective Katie Scott of the Pine Valley Sheriff's Department.
Katie has been promoted to head the cold case division by her uncle who happens to be the Sheriff. She has a part-time partner, Deputy McGaven, who also works patrol on alternate days. Katie is a vet with history of two tours as a K-9 operative in Afghanistan. She suffers from anxiety and PTSD and has finally sought some therapy. She has a new man, Chad, in her life and things are going well for her.
Katie and Chad attend an anniversary party at the home of Katie's uncle and aunt. The next morning, as is their tradition, she shows up to the house to find her uncle dazed and bloody and her aunt dead in the laundry room. Immediately, the Sheriff is arrested and Katie -- though officially barred from the case -- begins her own shadow investigation with the help of her mentor, Nick. Meanwhile, Katie and McGaven are looking into a cold case murder that occurred many years ago as well as a missing persons case. Katie is determine to prove that her uncle did not kill her aunt and to solve the other old cases as well. NO SPOILERS.
Katie Scott is the typical female detective of this genre. Headstrong, rebellious, doesn't follow rules or procedures, and somehow manages to get all kinds of support and backup to follow her down into danger. After 3 books, I find her irritating. Everyone is always asking how she is and despite her PTSD and anxiety, she manages to get the job done taking huge risks herself and endangering other people as she goes off on her own without telling anyone her plans. And does back-up show up in time when she needs it? I can't figure how she keeps her job -- oh wait, she's the Sheriff's niece. Anyway, the story is decent though convoluted. I didn't guess the identity of the killer and there were plenty of red herrings and suspects though the motive was ever so very teeny tiny slim. Lots of convenient coincidences for sure. It was a quick, easy read over a couple of hours. I will most likely want to read the future books in this series as I'm invested.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Katie has been promoted to head the cold case division by her uncle who happens to be the Sheriff. She has a part-time partner, Deputy McGaven, who also works patrol on alternate days. Katie is a vet with history of two tours as a K-9 operative in Afghanistan. She suffers from anxiety and PTSD and has finally sought some therapy. She has a new man, Chad, in her life and things are going well for her.
Katie and Chad attend an anniversary party at the home of Katie's uncle and aunt. The next morning, as is their tradition, she shows up to the house to find her uncle dazed and bloody and her aunt dead in the laundry room. Immediately, the Sheriff is arrested and Katie -- though officially barred from the case -- begins her own shadow investigation with the help of her mentor, Nick. Meanwhile, Katie and McGaven are looking into a cold case murder that occurred many years ago as well as a missing persons case. Katie is determine to prove that her uncle did not kill her aunt and to solve the other old cases as well. NO SPOILERS.
Katie Scott is the typical female detective of this genre. Headstrong, rebellious, doesn't follow rules or procedures, and somehow manages to get all kinds of support and backup to follow her down into danger. After 3 books, I find her irritating. Everyone is always asking how she is and despite her PTSD and anxiety, she manages to get the job done taking huge risks herself and endangering other people as she goes off on her own without telling anyone her plans. And does back-up show up in time when she needs it? I can't figure how she keeps her job -- oh wait, she's the Sheriff's niece. Anyway, the story is decent though convoluted. I didn't guess the identity of the killer and there were plenty of red herrings and suspects though the motive was ever so very teeny tiny slim. Lots of convenient coincidences for sure. It was a quick, easy read over a couple of hours. I will most likely want to read the future books in this series as I'm invested.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
February 1, 2021
Detective Katie Scott finds her aunt stabbed to death in her home. Her uncle, the Sheriff, says that he didn't do it ...although it's one of his knives at the crime scene. Being the prime suspect, he is arrested, much to Katie's dismay.
Katie is assigned to work cold cases and is warned to stay away from investigating her aunt's murder. But Katie finds a way to work around that .... she finds a cold case that her uncle had investigated years ago. She's a smart enough detective that she can look into two cases at once ... right?
With her partner and a few friends from her military days, and a link to a murder committed 12 years earlier, it becomes a hunt for a serial killer. What's their connection? The closer to the truth Katie gets, the more danger she is in. There are eyes watching her every move.
Katie suffers PTSD following her two tours in Afghanistan as a member of the K9 team . She is secretly seeing a therapist to help with the flashbacks, panic and anxiety she suffers daily. My favorite 'person' is Cisco, her partner K9 while in the military. She managed to bring him home with her and they work together almost as one.
This is a well written action-filled page turner. There are twists and turns with multiple suspects to follow. Characters are solidly defined and I enjoyed how they all relate to each other .. sometimes with sarcasm, sometimes with humor. The mystery suspense starts with the very first page and hold steady until the final unexpected conclusion.
Although 3rd in this series, this is easily read as a stand alone, however, I do recommend reading them in order.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Katie is assigned to work cold cases and is warned to stay away from investigating her aunt's murder. But Katie finds a way to work around that .... she finds a cold case that her uncle had investigated years ago. She's a smart enough detective that she can look into two cases at once ... right?
With her partner and a few friends from her military days, and a link to a murder committed 12 years earlier, it becomes a hunt for a serial killer. What's their connection? The closer to the truth Katie gets, the more danger she is in. There are eyes watching her every move.
Katie suffers PTSD following her two tours in Afghanistan as a member of the K9 team . She is secretly seeing a therapist to help with the flashbacks, panic and anxiety she suffers daily. My favorite 'person' is Cisco, her partner K9 while in the military. She managed to bring him home with her and they work together almost as one.
This is a well written action-filled page turner. There are twists and turns with multiple suspects to follow. Characters are solidly defined and I enjoyed how they all relate to each other .. sometimes with sarcasm, sometimes with humor. The mystery suspense starts with the very first page and hold steady until the final unexpected conclusion.
Although 3rd in this series, this is easily read as a stand alone, however, I do recommend reading them in order.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 16, 2020
Katie Scott is still having spells of anxiety and dark feelings, that commenced during her previous case and may well be symptoms from PTSD from 2 tours in Afganistan, and she seeks out the help of a therapist. She feels comfortable in her new job as head of the cold case department, certainly now deputy Sean Mc Gaven can officially be her part-time partner (the other days he's still assigned to Patrol). Her other full-time partner is her K9 called Cisco who she could take home from the army (not very likely, but it adds a nice touch to the story!). New is that she now has to make copies of all her reports to departments of Patrol and Internal Affairs.
As a mother phones on the birthday of her son who disappeared 5 years earlier, she reopens the Sam Stiles case. The 35-year-old man went home early from his job at a car repair shop and was never heard or seen again. Katie suspects foul play as the scene of his home appears to be staged. The now-retired detective who did the original investigation tells her that he suspects that the colleagues of the man didn't tell everything they knew, but he couldn't put a finger on something specific. Katie has a feeling that he's holding back something himself. The same day he has a fight with her uncle, the sheriff, on his 10th wedding anniversary.
When Katie arrives at her uncle's the next morning, she finds him full of blood and in complete shock. Her aunt is butchered in the laundry room. All evidence seems to point at her uncle but Katie is determined to prove his innocence. Undersheriff Martinez warns her very sternly not to meddle in the investigation and strictly stick to her cold cases, in the same time as he lets her know that he would be more than happy to demote her and send her back to patrol.
When she solves the case she's working on, she finds another cold case that shows several similarities with her aunt's murder.
This is the 3rth book in this series about Katie Scott and the cold cases and it's a great discovery I must say. There are other books as well from this author and they're well worth checking out I think. It's a straight forward detective story without any pretences to being something else. It's well-written and -constructed and despite a slowish start, the tension is kept high throughout the book. It's just that the solution of the crime only made half-sense in my opinion. It was well thought up though.
I received a free ARC through Netgalley and this review is my honest opinion about it.
As a mother phones on the birthday of her son who disappeared 5 years earlier, she reopens the Sam Stiles case. The 35-year-old man went home early from his job at a car repair shop and was never heard or seen again. Katie suspects foul play as the scene of his home appears to be staged. The now-retired detective who did the original investigation tells her that he suspects that the colleagues of the man didn't tell everything they knew, but he couldn't put a finger on something specific. Katie has a feeling that he's holding back something himself. The same day he has a fight with her uncle, the sheriff, on his 10th wedding anniversary.
When Katie arrives at her uncle's the next morning, she finds him full of blood and in complete shock. Her aunt is butchered in the laundry room. All evidence seems to point at her uncle but Katie is determined to prove his innocence. Undersheriff Martinez warns her very sternly not to meddle in the investigation and strictly stick to her cold cases, in the same time as he lets her know that he would be more than happy to demote her and send her back to patrol.
When she solves the case she's working on, she finds another cold case that shows several similarities with her aunt's murder.
This is the 3rth book in this series about Katie Scott and the cold cases and it's a great discovery I must say. There are other books as well from this author and they're well worth checking out I think. It's a straight forward detective story without any pretences to being something else. It's well-written and -constructed and despite a slowish start, the tension is kept high throughout the book. It's just that the solution of the crime only made half-sense in my opinion. It was well thought up though.
I received a free ARC through Netgalley and this review is my honest opinion about it.
February 26, 2020
The morning after her aunt and uncle's 10th wedding anniversary party - a huge soiree - Detective Katie Scott arrives at their home for a planned meet-up.Her uncle is a bloody mess and her aunt is dead. Her uncle is the prime suspect and recused of his duties as Sheriff. Katie is warned, of course, to stay away from the case but she can't leave this wholly to another detective. Katie continues her work in the cold case unit, while quietly following the investigation of her Aunt Claire's murder and sleuthing herself. Digging into her uncle's cold case files she finds a case where the victim suffered injuries consistent with Claire's. Following this trail may exonerate her uncle, if she can find the killer before the killer finds her.
I liked Katie, an army veteran dealing with PTSD, and her dog Cisco, who was her K9 partner in the service. She's smart, persistent, strong, and cares deeply for her friends and family, including friends from the army and current co-workers. The plot is interesting and complex. In addition to the plot regarding Claire's death and the possible related cold case, Katie and her partner investigate an unrelated missing persons case, which is also interesting and well-paced. Although this is the third book in the series, I had no trouble beginning with this novel.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #policeprocedural
I liked Katie, an army veteran dealing with PTSD, and her dog Cisco, who was her K9 partner in the service. She's smart, persistent, strong, and cares deeply for her friends and family, including friends from the army and current co-workers. The plot is interesting and complex. In addition to the plot regarding Claire's death and the possible related cold case, Katie and her partner investigate an unrelated missing persons case, which is also interesting and well-paced. Although this is the third book in the series, I had no trouble beginning with this novel.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #policeprocedural
March 24, 2020
What’s not to love about this series?
The author has created a third amazing story in a row. Her characters are wonderful too.
There is Katie who is great in solving cases, assisted by her faithful dog Cisko. She is determined, stubborn and does not like to ask for help. She rather faces the music alone and protect her loved ones then accepting their help, but you can’t do everything on your own. Cisko maybe had a smaller role this time, but he remains irreplaceable.
She works closely with John, the forensic specialist and deputy McGaven. McGaven tries to keep her in line sometimes, but she does not really listen and John is John. I don’t know what his story is, but he sometimes gives me the creeps.
Katie, who normally takes care of cold cases, finds herself in the middle of a very hot one this time that hits very close to home.
The chapters are short and when the pace picks up, the author adds to it by writing even shorter ones. It feels like being caught in a whirlwind. Love it!
Totally, utterly amazingly good book. 5 stars
Thank you, Jennifer Chase and Bookouture
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
The author has created a third amazing story in a row. Her characters are wonderful too.
There is Katie who is great in solving cases, assisted by her faithful dog Cisko. She is determined, stubborn and does not like to ask for help. She rather faces the music alone and protect her loved ones then accepting their help, but you can’t do everything on your own. Cisko maybe had a smaller role this time, but he remains irreplaceable.
She works closely with John, the forensic specialist and deputy McGaven. McGaven tries to keep her in line sometimes, but she does not really listen and John is John. I don’t know what his story is, but he sometimes gives me the creeps.
Katie, who normally takes care of cold cases, finds herself in the middle of a very hot one this time that hits very close to home.
The chapters are short and when the pace picks up, the author adds to it by writing even shorter ones. It feels like being caught in a whirlwind. Love it!
Totally, utterly amazingly good book. 5 stars
Thank you, Jennifer Chase and Bookouture
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
October 10, 2024
Another interesting mystery - even though it's book 3 in a series, it stands well on its own.
Katie's in the midst of celebrating when she finds her aunt murdered and her uncle clearly the one they plan to blame. Even though she knows it looks damning, she can't imagine he'd do what they think he did.
I found the mystery interesting - heartbreaking, I can't even imagine going through what Katie did. But I was disappointed with how much Katie did even though people warned her off and didn't want her involved. I was frustrated, in the end, that she didn't even put her faith in her partner.
I found the final wrap up a little flimsy but it still worked. I do love that she works with her dog. All in all, interesting police procedural.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Katie's in the midst of celebrating when she finds her aunt murdered and her uncle clearly the one they plan to blame. Even though she knows it looks damning, she can't imagine he'd do what they think he did.
I found the mystery interesting - heartbreaking, I can't even imagine going through what Katie did. But I was disappointed with how much Katie did even though people warned her off and didn't want her involved. I was frustrated, in the end, that she didn't even put her faith in her partner.
I found the final wrap up a little flimsy but it still worked. I do love that she works with her dog. All in all, interesting police procedural.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
February 15, 2020
Absolutely fun series by author Jennifer Chase. In spite of being a police procedural, the story is so easy to read. I could finish it in a couple of hours.
Katie was back with the toughest case of her life. Her uncle, the Sheriff was accused of murder of his beloved wife. And Katie found a similar cold case with a link to the incisions made on abdomen. She then had to race against time to get to the truth about the cold case as that would indirectly help her uncle.
My third book by this author, I liked the pace with which the book flew. Having read the earlier two books, I knew how close Katie was to her uncle and I knew she would give it her all to help him. I liked her strength and determination.
Katie, to me, was one fascinating character. Her instincts were spot on. She was a veteran of war who had PTSD, and her K9 Cisco helped her in life and at work. Heading the cold case department, she was quite apt in sieving out the important clues.
Emotions were well felt, clues were written in at the right place, a tinge of romance kept it sweet, mystery was kept alive in the fast pace. But it was the race against time to prove her uncle's innocence that kept me gripped to the story,
Overall, an interesting read.
Katie was back with the toughest case of her life. Her uncle, the Sheriff was accused of murder of his beloved wife. And Katie found a similar cold case with a link to the incisions made on abdomen. She then had to race against time to get to the truth about the cold case as that would indirectly help her uncle.
My third book by this author, I liked the pace with which the book flew. Having read the earlier two books, I knew how close Katie was to her uncle and I knew she would give it her all to help him. I liked her strength and determination.
Katie, to me, was one fascinating character. Her instincts were spot on. She was a veteran of war who had PTSD, and her K9 Cisco helped her in life and at work. Heading the cold case department, she was quite apt in sieving out the important clues.
Emotions were well felt, clues were written in at the right place, a tinge of romance kept it sweet, mystery was kept alive in the fast pace. But it was the race against time to prove her uncle's innocence that kept me gripped to the story,
Overall, an interesting read.
November 11, 2021
I seem to have a knack for discovering new mystery/crime series when the characters have already established themselves. This is the third book in The Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Chase and the author succeeds in letting me know enough about the main character to jump in and read this as a standalone novel.
There really isn't much to fault in the book. It's fast paced with solid characters and even though Katie suffers from anxiety and PSTD after returning from her two tours in Afghanistan, she doesn't let that overshadow her ability to lead the cold cases department in the Pine Valley police department and solve difficult cases.
When her uncle, the local sheriff, is accused of murdering his wife, Katie is forced to step away from the investigation by the acting sheriff. Convinced her uncle is innocent, she starts going through cold cases looking for similarities to the current case. Against all odds and with the help of her military dog, Katie soon discovers connections others have overlooked. Reinterviewing people of interest in previous cases leads to a number of suspects. I enjoyed trying to sort through the means and motives of the suspects along with Katie, knowing time was limited with her uncle facing a murder charge.
A pleasure to read. Looking forward to catching up with the rest of the series.
A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
There really isn't much to fault in the book. It's fast paced with solid characters and even though Katie suffers from anxiety and PSTD after returning from her two tours in Afghanistan, she doesn't let that overshadow her ability to lead the cold cases department in the Pine Valley police department and solve difficult cases.
When her uncle, the local sheriff, is accused of murdering his wife, Katie is forced to step away from the investigation by the acting sheriff. Convinced her uncle is innocent, she starts going through cold cases looking for similarities to the current case. Against all odds and with the help of her military dog, Katie soon discovers connections others have overlooked. Reinterviewing people of interest in previous cases leads to a number of suspects. I enjoyed trying to sort through the means and motives of the suspects along with Katie, knowing time was limited with her uncle facing a murder charge.
A pleasure to read. Looking forward to catching up with the rest of the series.
A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
June 9, 2020
Detective Katie Scott returns in this third installment as the newly appointed head of the cold case unit within the Pine Valley Sheriff's Office and she definitely has her work cut out for her! Following the murder of her aunt and with all fingers pointing to her uncle, Katie begins to piece together the clues that may not only vindicate him, but might also finally close the unsolved murder of a young woman.
Suffering from anxiety, PTSD, and panic attacks, this book brought fresh perspectives to Katie's life as it built and added to her story as a veteran working in a high stress law enforcement position. She is still reeling from her time as a soldier and learning to adapt in a post-war environment. I greatly appreciated the insight into how Katie is working through her triggers with the use of professional therapy and seeking help from trusted friends. She is beginning to understand how important it is to ask for assistance, and that in doing so, she is not weak or a burden. Unlike the previous books, this one did not fill in the blanks as well for readers just entering the series, so I would definitely recommend starting with the first book to completely understand everything that is going on.
While I have consistently felt that Katie is an incredibly well developed character throughout this series, I will say that this book showcased just how detrimental her headstrong nature can be. She has never made apologies for how impetuous she is, but now she often came across as more of a rogue agent, blinded to anything other than finding her aunt's true killer and saving her uncle's reputation. Looking at the entire series as a whole though, she continues to be likeable and just vulnerable enough to make her more relatable to readers. Having served in the military myself as well as dealing with my own diagnoses of anxiety and PTSD, I greatly appreciated the level of authenticity presented throughout the story. There was never a moment when I didn't believe or empathize with Katie's struggles to cope with her previous experiences. Her emotions are so honestly expressed that readers regardless of their own experiences and emotions surrounding trauma can't help but empathize with her circumstances and condition.
I cannot stress enough in my reviews that Katie's character is a testament to the author's level of research and the advisers she consulted in creating an authentic work of fiction that could be enjoyed by laymen. You don't have to have a background in criminology to recognize how well written these stories are. Additionally, Katie's character provides the strong representation that service members and law enforcement officials greatly appreciate seeing reflected across all media formats.
Fast-paced chapters keep the tension and suspense mounting until the very unexpected end. This series continues to be a great example of what a compelling police procedural should be! The plot grabs your attention, but the author's deft storytelling keeps the pages flying! I will say however that this time around when the dialogue and interactions between characters moved into friendly banter within scenes far removed from any criminal activity, it felt contrived and awkward.
Katie's work in the Army as an explosives detection dog handler allowed her to bring her retired dog, Cisco, to the department as her canine partner. I felt the previous books displayed their bond better, but this one provided more understanding into the work that he now does for the Sheriff's office and more information on his continued training. Regardless, their connection is undeniably beautiful to read about and highlights the exceptional and important work dogs provide to humans.
I continue to be such a fan of how the author uses her experience with criminal behavior to craft such compelling cases and characters from aspects of both the investigative and criminal sides of law enforcement. She masterfully captures the realism that only someone with so much insight in the field would be able to express. The use of forensics and profiling make this a riveting read that will satisfy any fan of true crime or crime thrillers. Her books are completely underrated and an absolute steal for the quality of writing she delivers every time!
Detective Scott is a force to be reckoned with that's for sure, and I certainly hope we haven't seen the final chapter.
Many thanks to Pump Up Your Blog Tours and the author for providing me with a copy of the book. This is my honest and thoughtful opinion.
Suffering from anxiety, PTSD, and panic attacks, this book brought fresh perspectives to Katie's life as it built and added to her story as a veteran working in a high stress law enforcement position. She is still reeling from her time as a soldier and learning to adapt in a post-war environment. I greatly appreciated the insight into how Katie is working through her triggers with the use of professional therapy and seeking help from trusted friends. She is beginning to understand how important it is to ask for assistance, and that in doing so, she is not weak or a burden. Unlike the previous books, this one did not fill in the blanks as well for readers just entering the series, so I would definitely recommend starting with the first book to completely understand everything that is going on.
While I have consistently felt that Katie is an incredibly well developed character throughout this series, I will say that this book showcased just how detrimental her headstrong nature can be. She has never made apologies for how impetuous she is, but now she often came across as more of a rogue agent, blinded to anything other than finding her aunt's true killer and saving her uncle's reputation. Looking at the entire series as a whole though, she continues to be likeable and just vulnerable enough to make her more relatable to readers. Having served in the military myself as well as dealing with my own diagnoses of anxiety and PTSD, I greatly appreciated the level of authenticity presented throughout the story. There was never a moment when I didn't believe or empathize with Katie's struggles to cope with her previous experiences. Her emotions are so honestly expressed that readers regardless of their own experiences and emotions surrounding trauma can't help but empathize with her circumstances and condition.
I cannot stress enough in my reviews that Katie's character is a testament to the author's level of research and the advisers she consulted in creating an authentic work of fiction that could be enjoyed by laymen. You don't have to have a background in criminology to recognize how well written these stories are. Additionally, Katie's character provides the strong representation that service members and law enforcement officials greatly appreciate seeing reflected across all media formats.
Fast-paced chapters keep the tension and suspense mounting until the very unexpected end. This series continues to be a great example of what a compelling police procedural should be! The plot grabs your attention, but the author's deft storytelling keeps the pages flying! I will say however that this time around when the dialogue and interactions between characters moved into friendly banter within scenes far removed from any criminal activity, it felt contrived and awkward.
Katie's work in the Army as an explosives detection dog handler allowed her to bring her retired dog, Cisco, to the department as her canine partner. I felt the previous books displayed their bond better, but this one provided more understanding into the work that he now does for the Sheriff's office and more information on his continued training. Regardless, their connection is undeniably beautiful to read about and highlights the exceptional and important work dogs provide to humans.
I continue to be such a fan of how the author uses her experience with criminal behavior to craft such compelling cases and characters from aspects of both the investigative and criminal sides of law enforcement. She masterfully captures the realism that only someone with so much insight in the field would be able to express. The use of forensics and profiling make this a riveting read that will satisfy any fan of true crime or crime thrillers. Her books are completely underrated and an absolute steal for the quality of writing she delivers every time!
Detective Scott is a force to be reckoned with that's for sure, and I certainly hope we haven't seen the final chapter.
Many thanks to Pump Up Your Blog Tours and the author for providing me with a copy of the book. This is my honest and thoughtful opinion.
April 2, 2020
WoW........Is this the third book in the fantastic Detective Katie Scott series?
Flowers on Her Grave by Jennifer Chase was another fantastic read, Just like the other two books in this series.
When I saw this new book by Jennifer, everything stopped and I had to read the next installment of this series. Before I knew it the birds were sing outside my window. I found this book gripping and very personal to Detective Katie Scott.
This book involves her beloved Uncle, Sergeant Scott, who is the Pine Valley’s trusted and respected sheriff and his wife, who she loves so much, It was her Uncles and Aunts wedding anniversary party at their house, everyone was happy, drinks were flowing, everything was perfect! Everyone could see they adored each other and they were so in love. The party finished and everyone went home. Katie wakes up the next morning and walks into something that will never leave her! She sees her aunts dead body. Kate is in shock, she can not believe her eyes on what she is seeing in front of her! No way could her beloved uncle kill her aunt! but he was the only one who saw his wife, her aunt alive last night. Things could not get worse when her uncle is arrested for the murder. His prints are found all over the antique knife found at the scene. Everything in front of Police and Katie is pointing to her uncle! the evidence seems conclusive.
Something doesn't feel right and Katie needs to look deeper into her murder of her aunt.
Can she prove her uncle is innocent?
Or does Katie need to face facts and admit that her uncle murdered his wife and she needs to face the facts that are in front of her that he did Kill her!!!
WoW!!!! what a fantastic book! I loved it.
I am so looking forward to Jennifer's next installment in this brilliant Detective Katie Scott series.
Big Thank You to Bookouture, Jennifer Chase the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Flowers on Her Grave by Jennifer Chase was another fantastic read, Just like the other two books in this series.
When I saw this new book by Jennifer, everything stopped and I had to read the next installment of this series. Before I knew it the birds were sing outside my window. I found this book gripping and very personal to Detective Katie Scott.
This book involves her beloved Uncle, Sergeant Scott, who is the Pine Valley’s trusted and respected sheriff and his wife, who she loves so much, It was her Uncles and Aunts wedding anniversary party at their house, everyone was happy, drinks were flowing, everything was perfect! Everyone could see they adored each other and they were so in love. The party finished and everyone went home. Katie wakes up the next morning and walks into something that will never leave her! She sees her aunts dead body. Kate is in shock, she can not believe her eyes on what she is seeing in front of her! No way could her beloved uncle kill her aunt! but he was the only one who saw his wife, her aunt alive last night. Things could not get worse when her uncle is arrested for the murder. His prints are found all over the antique knife found at the scene. Everything in front of Police and Katie is pointing to her uncle! the evidence seems conclusive.
Something doesn't feel right and Katie needs to look deeper into her murder of her aunt.
Can she prove her uncle is innocent?
Or does Katie need to face facts and admit that her uncle murdered his wife and she needs to face the facts that are in front of her that he did Kill her!!!
WoW!!!! what a fantastic book! I loved it.
I am so looking forward to Jennifer's next installment in this brilliant Detective Katie Scott series.
Big Thank You to Bookouture, Jennifer Chase the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 27, 2022
As a detective, Katie Scott is used to jumping into a case and giving it all until it's solved. But this is going to be one that is going to be impossible NOT to get involved in.
The morning after her uncle and aunt's anniversary party, the body of Claire Scott is found brutally attacked. All fingers point to Wayne Scott, Katie's uncle and sheriff. Soon, he is arrested for his wife's murder.
Katie has no shadow of a doubt that her uncle is innocent, proven by the sheer love and adoration he had for his life. Unfortunately, she also has been ordered to stay away from the case. But, Katie being strong willed and determined as she is, of course she's going to find a way to prove her uncle's innocence.
Two other cold cases that are currently active provide vital clues, especially when one shares similaties to her aunt's murder. With a potential serial killer on the loose, every move will have to be calculated, and there's some seriously risky moves here!
In terms with character development, I'm impressed that Katie has made the decision to see a therapist regarding her PTSD. She's even more ballsy as ever in this outing, given the circumstances! Her partner McGaven really shines this time around- he's not too afraid to call Katie out, yet is protective and supportive of his superior. He literally puts his life (and career) on the line for Katie this time around!
However, I have a gut feeling that someone who often works with Katie is not whom he seems. I'm getting some seriously suss vibes of them. Let's wait and see if my hunch is right!
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
The morning after her uncle and aunt's anniversary party, the body of Claire Scott is found brutally attacked. All fingers point to Wayne Scott, Katie's uncle and sheriff. Soon, he is arrested for his wife's murder.
Katie has no shadow of a doubt that her uncle is innocent, proven by the sheer love and adoration he had for his life. Unfortunately, she also has been ordered to stay away from the case. But, Katie being strong willed and determined as she is, of course she's going to find a way to prove her uncle's innocence.
Two other cold cases that are currently active provide vital clues, especially when one shares similaties to her aunt's murder. With a potential serial killer on the loose, every move will have to be calculated, and there's some seriously risky moves here!
In terms with character development, I'm impressed that Katie has made the decision to see a therapist regarding her PTSD. She's even more ballsy as ever in this outing, given the circumstances! Her partner McGaven really shines this time around- he's not too afraid to call Katie out, yet is protective and supportive of his superior. He literally puts his life (and career) on the line for Katie this time around!
However, I have a gut feeling that someone who often works with Katie is not whom he seems. I'm getting some seriously suss vibes of them. Let's wait and see if my hunch is right!
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
March 16, 2020
4.5 Stars
This is the third book in the Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Scott.
This series just keeps getting better and better. Katie heads up the cold case unit in the same precinct where her uncle is chief. She already gets a fair bit of flack due to her family connection but when her uncle is accused of the murder of her aunt, things begin to get particularly sticky.
This just felt so real. I could resonate with Katie and her uncle as they look for the killer while trying to stay out of the investigation. The man taking over for her uncle as interim chief is particularly nasty and seems to quash Katie’s on personal investigation at every turn. To get her mind off her uncle, she turns to her cold case files and discovers one that is eerily similar to her aunt’s murder. That soon becomes her priority number one.
Really loving this series and can’t wait for a book to really delve into her attraction for John the coroner and her current firefighter boyfriend. I am totally Team John on this one. Rooting for my favorite guy.
Can’t wait for the next book in the series! I am on the edge of my seat. Totally digging these characters!
If you love a good police procedural/detective fiction, definitely check this one out!
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the third book in the Detective Katie Scott series by Jennifer Scott.
This series just keeps getting better and better. Katie heads up the cold case unit in the same precinct where her uncle is chief. She already gets a fair bit of flack due to her family connection but when her uncle is accused of the murder of her aunt, things begin to get particularly sticky.
This just felt so real. I could resonate with Katie and her uncle as they look for the killer while trying to stay out of the investigation. The man taking over for her uncle as interim chief is particularly nasty and seems to quash Katie’s on personal investigation at every turn. To get her mind off her uncle, she turns to her cold case files and discovers one that is eerily similar to her aunt’s murder. That soon becomes her priority number one.
Really loving this series and can’t wait for a book to really delve into her attraction for John the coroner and her current firefighter boyfriend. I am totally Team John on this one. Rooting for my favorite guy.
Can’t wait for the next book in the series! I am on the edge of my seat. Totally digging these characters!
If you love a good police procedural/detective fiction, definitely check this one out!
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
April 10, 2020
I read book 2 in this series (missed book 1, for some reason) and I think this book could be read as a standalone. I didn't feel like I had much of an advantage by having read the previous one, in any case.
Katie Scott is a police officer whose uncle is the Sheriff. Of course, there are people who say she is only there because of him, but she works hard and likes working on cold cases with her partner, McGaven. She has a boyfriend who is a fireman, Chad, but we don't see a lot of him. She also has a dog, Cisco, who is her loyal companion from when she was in the Army. He is lovely, but we don't see much of him either.
There are a couple of cases that Katie gets stuck into, and she does a good job of figuring things out, although she takes some stupid risks! She is not allowed to investigate her uncle's case, but she does a bit of sleuthing anyway in an effort to clear his name.
All in all, this was a solid police procedural, but for some reason it didn't have the same amount of depth that the previous book did and thus was not quite as satisfying to read. There were lots of red herrings but I am still a little unsure as to the motivation behind the murders etc.
Anyway, 4 stars from me. I would still like to know what happens with Katie next :) Hoping her dog features a little more, but that is just me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Katie Scott is a police officer whose uncle is the Sheriff. Of course, there are people who say she is only there because of him, but she works hard and likes working on cold cases with her partner, McGaven. She has a boyfriend who is a fireman, Chad, but we don't see a lot of him. She also has a dog, Cisco, who is her loyal companion from when she was in the Army. He is lovely, but we don't see much of him either.
There are a couple of cases that Katie gets stuck into, and she does a good job of figuring things out, although she takes some stupid risks! She is not allowed to investigate her uncle's case, but she does a bit of sleuthing anyway in an effort to clear his name.
All in all, this was a solid police procedural, but for some reason it didn't have the same amount of depth that the previous book did and thus was not quite as satisfying to read. There were lots of red herrings but I am still a little unsure as to the motivation behind the murders etc.
Anyway, 4 stars from me. I would still like to know what happens with Katie next :) Hoping her dog features a little more, but that is just me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
February 19, 2020
Flowers on Her Grave (Detective Katie Scott Book 3) by Jennifer Chase is another non-stop thriller. I enjoy this series with Katie Scott and her K-9 partner Cisco very much! Katie is still having anxiety which is a result of her two tours in Afghanistan. Since coming home she has been serving as a detective for the cold case unit. After a beautiful celebratory night with her Uncle Wayne and Aunt Claire for their tenth anniversary, the unthinkable happens, her aunt is murdered! Her uncle can not remember what has happened and becomes the prime suspect. Katie is torn with grief and worry for her family as she continues to work a five year old missing person case. I won't post spoilers, but once Katie and McGaven dig into the cold case for Stiles, life gets hectic. It is impressive how the author weaves solving two cold cases and setting a trap to catch her aunts murderer into one story!
Publication Date: March 24, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Publication Date: March 24, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 9, 2020
I so love this series each book gets better and better .Katie is still fighting her own problems she loves her job on the cold cases . her uncle and aunt who are like parents to her are celebrating their wedding anniversary .that night her uncle acting so strange the next morning when Katie calls at house finds her aunt died .and all points to her uncle but Katie not belive it and starts digging in to a cold case that similar to her aunts death will say no more story so addictive I so recomend
February 15, 2020
What a read thank you for the chance to read this book. I had her other two on my TBR raced through them loved them and this third installment didnt dissapoint.
Katie Scott is a great character
roll on book 4
Katie Scott is a great character
roll on book 4
June 10, 2024
I love this series of books. Ready to start the next one.
August 24, 2020
Admittedly, I am writing this review six months after I read the book, as I was dreadfully behind in writing. However, I cannot forget a single aspect of this book, including the traumatic response Detective Katie Scott has when she discovers that her aunt has been brutally murdered. Her uncle is the town's sheriff and as the next of kin is usually the primary suspect, Katie is forced to look at her uncle. However, because they are related, Katie is transferred to the cold case division.
Is it because they are related, or could there be another reason that Katie is being pulled away from the case? Stubbornly, Katie begins to dig and dig, and the more she gets into her uncle's files, the more concerned she gets. Actually, she finds evidence of a case years ago that seems like it just might be a connection as to what happened to her aunt. Will Katie successfully prove her uncle's innocence? Or will he be arrested for the brutal murder.
This fast-paced story kept me guessing and more than riveted, page after page. Because I had read the first two books in the series, I was more than familiar with Katie's aunt and uncle, as well as how close she was to the both of them. I am one who is devoted to reading series from the beginning, and when the fourth book, Last Girls Alive, came up for review this upcoming October, I went ahead and read these first three books, including Little Girls Sleeping and Her Last Whisper.
Jennifer Chase is doing a fabulous job at making Katie someone that is very easy to relate to. I also love the supporting characters in each book. With excellent writing and engrossing storylines, I am more than eager to continue this thrilling series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Is it because they are related, or could there be another reason that Katie is being pulled away from the case? Stubbornly, Katie begins to dig and dig, and the more she gets into her uncle's files, the more concerned she gets. Actually, she finds evidence of a case years ago that seems like it just might be a connection as to what happened to her aunt. Will Katie successfully prove her uncle's innocence? Or will he be arrested for the brutal murder.
This fast-paced story kept me guessing and more than riveted, page after page. Because I had read the first two books in the series, I was more than familiar with Katie's aunt and uncle, as well as how close she was to the both of them. I am one who is devoted to reading series from the beginning, and when the fourth book, Last Girls Alive, came up for review this upcoming October, I went ahead and read these first three books, including Little Girls Sleeping and Her Last Whisper.
Jennifer Chase is doing a fabulous job at making Katie someone that is very easy to relate to. I also love the supporting characters in each book. With excellent writing and engrossing storylines, I am more than eager to continue this thrilling series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
August 11, 2020
Yet another novel about a female detective in small town America (yawn). I hadn't read the first two books in the series and there was no need, as this story stands alone. Its quite predictable in its story telling and the quality of the writing, is adequate but hardly outstanding. I found it difficult to get into the plot as its ponderously slow at times. Thankfully, when it comes, the denouement is dealt with swiftly.
The twist at the end, such as was, seemed overly contrived in order to shock. But in reality, my reaction was "... What?? Really? ..." . And there were several loose ends, which were not addressed e.g. what about the two retired detectives? And their collusion with the Aunt and Uncle?
Yeah, not great!
The twist at the end, such as was, seemed overly contrived in order to shock. But in reality, my reaction was "... What?? Really? ..." . And there were several loose ends, which were not addressed e.g. what about the two retired detectives? And their collusion with the Aunt and Uncle?
Yeah, not great!
January 22, 2022
an immature and emotionally stunted hero in a muddy implausible mystery
I think that Katie is one of the least appealing heroes in the current rank of formulaic female “detectives”. A survivor of war in the Middle East she and her intrepid K9 work together to right the wrongs, and solve the crimes that no else seems to be able to manage, in a small town in the wilds of California. She waffles between tearful anxiety attacks to Ramboesque shootouts. The resolution of the crimes is ludicrous, the unveiling of magically appearing clues, ONLY discoverable by Katie….and no one else. Just poor. I certainly won’t seek out book 4.
I think that Katie is one of the least appealing heroes in the current rank of formulaic female “detectives”. A survivor of war in the Middle East she and her intrepid K9 work together to right the wrongs, and solve the crimes that no else seems to be able to manage, in a small town in the wilds of California. She waffles between tearful anxiety attacks to Ramboesque shootouts. The resolution of the crimes is ludicrous, the unveiling of magically appearing clues, ONLY discoverable by Katie….and no one else. Just poor. I certainly won’t seek out book 4.
February 14, 2020
A quick and easy read. This is the first time I have read Jennifer Chase's work. "Flowers On Her Grave" is book 3 in a series but works as a standalone. Detective Katie Scott comes across as more of a Nancy Drew than a Jane Tennison. I felt the plot was a little flimsy and contrived so this book wasn't for me.
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