What do you think?
Rate this book
The Gardener: A Riley Finn Novel
Detective Riley Finn is the youngest female cop to ever join Chicago’s Special Crimes Unit (SCU). She has a rare gift that gives her an edge over other she can see the aura of anyone she meets, in particular the auras of those with evil intentions. But her gift comes with a stiff it opens up the minds of evil allowing her to hear the vilest of thoughts. Being able to hear evil is a secret Finn holds close to the vest, one she doesn’t dare share with anyone, not even her mentor Captain Paul Williams.“Hello Detective Finn, how does your garden grow?”When a serial killer nicknamed the Gardener takes a special interest in Detective Riley Finn, she quickly finds herself pulled into a twisted guessing game where facts and fantasy become blurred. As the Gardener slowly infiltrates every aspect of Detective Finn’s life, dropping hints about her past, Finn falls deeper and deeper into his rabbit hole of riddles and half-truths. Each time she gets closer to the Gardener, he gifts her with another dead body.The Gardener is always one step ahead, and he has a final surprise for Finn that will shatter her world. Determined to learn what secrets he holds, Detective Finn ventures inside a mind made of pure evil where she stumbles upon the disturbing truth hidden among his evil thoughts.What began with a phone call and a nursery rhyme might end with more than Detective Finn can handle. Can she stop the Gardener before he completes his dark nursery rhyme rendition? Or will she become the next flower in his garden of death? Find out in this novel by mystery thriller author Anne Ferretti.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2020
9 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Anne Ferretti
10 books36 followersAnne has been writing for over a decade. Her debut series, The Harvest, is a thrilling psychological tale that draws readers in from page one. If you enjoy the unpredictable then The Harvest series won’t disappoint.
In addition to science fiction, Anne has a murder-mystery series underway that follows a gifted detective named Riley Finn as she pursues serial killers. The fourth installment Sacrifice Your Knight is now available on Amazon.
You can find Anne at the following:
anneferretti91@gmail.com
https://www.goodreads.com/anneferretti
In addition to science fiction, Anne has a murder-mystery series underway that follows a gifted detective named Riley Finn as she pursues serial killers. The fourth installment Sacrifice Your Knight is now available on Amazon.
You can find Anne at the following:
anneferretti91@gmail.com
https://www.goodreads.com/anneferretti
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 22, 2021
Chicago PD Detective Riley Finn has a unique gift ... due to a childhood trauma, she sees auras .. and can determine good or evil. Very few people kow of her gift, but it's this very gift that gives her the opportunity to find the bad guys and clean up the streets.
There's a new serial killer loose on the streets. He's a particularly vile killer and extremely violent. He taunts Riley with each crime he commits, he calls her, he hints at secrets about her past. He has killed multiple children and beheaded them. Riley finds the heads .. planted in a garden, much like heads of lettuce. Thus they're calling him The Gardener.
Who is this killer? How does he know Riley? Partnering with a rookie, she will stop at nothing to stop this killing streak.
Trigger warnings: murder, child abuse, child trafficking, graphic violence
Crime fiction, with a touch of paranormal moves at a fast pace while maintaining the suspense from start to finish. Characters are deftly drawn .. especially enjoyed Riley's gift. Although second in the series, this is easily read as a stand-alone. However, I do recommend reading in order.
Many thanks to the author / BooksGoSocial / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
There's a new serial killer loose on the streets. He's a particularly vile killer and extremely violent. He taunts Riley with each crime he commits, he calls her, he hints at secrets about her past. He has killed multiple children and beheaded them. Riley finds the heads .. planted in a garden, much like heads of lettuce. Thus they're calling him The Gardener.
Who is this killer? How does he know Riley? Partnering with a rookie, she will stop at nothing to stop this killing streak.
Trigger warnings: murder, child abuse, child trafficking, graphic violence
Crime fiction, with a touch of paranormal moves at a fast pace while maintaining the suspense from start to finish. Characters are deftly drawn .. especially enjoyed Riley's gift. Although second in the series, this is easily read as a stand-alone. However, I do recommend reading in order.
Many thanks to the author / BooksGoSocial / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 10, 2023
Really enjoyed it!
The abilities that Riley Finn has made it such an interesting read and spin on your usual serial killer story. The characters have so much personality that you grow fond of them all (with the exception of the Gardener and mother, of course)
The abilities that Riley Finn has made it such an interesting read and spin on your usual serial killer story. The characters have so much personality that you grow fond of them all (with the exception of the Gardener and mother, of course)
September 24, 2021
Read Full and Detailed review: https://cynthology.blogspot.com/2021/...
Riley lost her parents in a car accident when she was just 10. Her father saved her but died trying to save her mother. Her mother’s body was never found. The experience gave her supernatural powers. She can see coloured auras around people that help her know their emotions. She has also come to know of people called Voids, pure evil, who have a white aura.
In the present day, Riley is a detective, using her unnatural abilities for good. Her new partner, Liam Silverman, is brash and young, and she is just figuring him out when they come to know of a five-year-old girl, Sarah, bloodied and missing a fingertip, but otherwise unhurt wandering the street. Her observations of her days in captivity lead the police to the horror of finding the body parts of seven young children in an abandoned dockyard, with the seven severed heads in the garden of an unused house.
The body count keeps piling up, and Riley comes to know of a serial killer, whose kills seem to be inspired by the nursery rhyme, Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow? The serial killer, named the Gardener by the media, keeps committing more heinous killings, using medieval torture devices, matching his kills with each line of the rhyme.
The leads converge around Robert Pearson, a hedge fund tycoon with a strange relationship with his adoptive mother. Why is the Gardener killing people who have an association with Pearson?
The description of the accident was heartrending. The powerful writing made me feel the child’s pain.
The book has been written in the 3rd person past tense limited point of view of Riley and Robert. The descriptions of the killings didn’t make me feel squeamish in the least, and I appreciated not losing my dinner.
I liked all the characters, especially Riley. Her ability set her apart from other detectives of this genre. It was nice to see the slowly growing bond between Riley and Liam. Even Mary didn’t come across as evil, but as someone with a compelling backstory that we would learn about in time.
Another change was the cooperative working relationship between the Chicago Police Department and the FBI. In most books and films, the two are constantly sniping at each other.
I also liked the fact that Riley didn’t have a boyfriend. It’s very annoying when the love interest takes up too much room in a police procedural, especially one involving a serial killer and numerous bodies. Even later when Riley did get into a relationship, the focus remained on the job.
Another good thing was the manner in which Riley and Jason, the FBI agent, revealed bits of their past to each other. Slow and steady, while they are driving to a location, not interrupting the action. The banter between Riley, Liam and Jason, and even Paul, the captain, was good.
This was a ARC, so I hope the few errors get corrected. In one chapter, the bodies are found in various stages of ‘composition.’ That should be changed to decomposition.
The last few chapters of the book, soon after the police figure out the identity of the Gardener, seemed to be rushed. Despite the rushed pace and the frenzied action, there are no answers. Much of how he did what he did was not explained, and the book ended on a cliffhanger so closure will only come in the next book in the series.
Towards the end of the book, it’s all Riley. Liam, Jason and Paul don’t figure at all. And it is odd that the guards should be so lax in a high security facility, despite being warned about the deviousness of the convict.
I’d like to read the next in the series.
Riley lost her parents in a car accident when she was just 10. Her father saved her but died trying to save her mother. Her mother’s body was never found. The experience gave her supernatural powers. She can see coloured auras around people that help her know their emotions. She has also come to know of people called Voids, pure evil, who have a white aura.
In the present day, Riley is a detective, using her unnatural abilities for good. Her new partner, Liam Silverman, is brash and young, and she is just figuring him out when they come to know of a five-year-old girl, Sarah, bloodied and missing a fingertip, but otherwise unhurt wandering the street. Her observations of her days in captivity lead the police to the horror of finding the body parts of seven young children in an abandoned dockyard, with the seven severed heads in the garden of an unused house.
The body count keeps piling up, and Riley comes to know of a serial killer, whose kills seem to be inspired by the nursery rhyme, Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow? The serial killer, named the Gardener by the media, keeps committing more heinous killings, using medieval torture devices, matching his kills with each line of the rhyme.
The leads converge around Robert Pearson, a hedge fund tycoon with a strange relationship with his adoptive mother. Why is the Gardener killing people who have an association with Pearson?
The description of the accident was heartrending. The powerful writing made me feel the child’s pain.
The book has been written in the 3rd person past tense limited point of view of Riley and Robert. The descriptions of the killings didn’t make me feel squeamish in the least, and I appreciated not losing my dinner.
I liked all the characters, especially Riley. Her ability set her apart from other detectives of this genre. It was nice to see the slowly growing bond between Riley and Liam. Even Mary didn’t come across as evil, but as someone with a compelling backstory that we would learn about in time.
Another change was the cooperative working relationship between the Chicago Police Department and the FBI. In most books and films, the two are constantly sniping at each other.
I also liked the fact that Riley didn’t have a boyfriend. It’s very annoying when the love interest takes up too much room in a police procedural, especially one involving a serial killer and numerous bodies. Even later when Riley did get into a relationship, the focus remained on the job.
Another good thing was the manner in which Riley and Jason, the FBI agent, revealed bits of their past to each other. Slow and steady, while they are driving to a location, not interrupting the action. The banter between Riley, Liam and Jason, and even Paul, the captain, was good.
This was a ARC, so I hope the few errors get corrected. In one chapter, the bodies are found in various stages of ‘composition.’ That should be changed to decomposition.
The last few chapters of the book, soon after the police figure out the identity of the Gardener, seemed to be rushed. Despite the rushed pace and the frenzied action, there are no answers. Much of how he did what he did was not explained, and the book ended on a cliffhanger so closure will only come in the next book in the series.
Towards the end of the book, it’s all Riley. Liam, Jason and Paul don’t figure at all. And it is odd that the guards should be so lax in a high security facility, despite being warned about the deviousness of the convict.
I’d like to read the next in the series.
December 31, 2020
This is the first book in which we meet Riley Finn. Once you meet her, she gets under your skin, and you'll never be the same again! It's her way of knowing, being able to truly see you, and cutting through whatever shield of B.S. you think you've securely hidden behind. She's not evil, she's not a saint, but she's not normal either. She'll unnerve you, in all the right ways, and you'll simply be unable to look away. Now that you've been introduced, you'll want to stay, "The Piper" comes next and despite all the warnings you'll want to hear him play. I predict we won't be able to turn away!
Despite the context, trigger warnings galore, this book was fascinating, well-written, cutting-edge, outside the box, and yet not so far-fetching as to be unbelievable. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers then this book should be topping your "to be read" list as a "must-read"! Although I put it down from time-to-time, giving myself a respite, there are also breaks within the text that take you from the heart-pounding, running on adrenaline, almost out of breath panic to arenas of time and space that afford you the opportunity to sit back, rest, and gear up for what comes next.
Well-paced, never a dull moment, every line, every character, every memory revealed is important and intricately woven into the book at hand.
You need to follow Anne Ferretti and read her books! She deserves to be seated among the greats. Seated among the who's who of the greatest thriller writers of our time! An unsung gem whose time has come to emerge out of the shadows and into the light shining brightly for the world to see.
The front cover? Lack-luster. Edits? There are a dozen or so typos. However, even when noticing these things, once you crack the spine of this book you will undoubtedly recognize its brilliance! All is forgiven. Nothing detracts from the genius at work as you put the pieces of the puzzle together alongside Detective Riley Finn.
I want to know more, I can't wait to behold what the next book uncovers! The timing of this author's reveal is appreciated as we won't have long to wait until "The Piper" can be ordered and placed in our hands. I'll be the first in line for now my life is intertwined with that of Detective Riley Finn's and I can't help but give in to living life through her once again.
*I received an advance review copy, via Reedsy Discovery, in exchange for my honest review.
Despite the context, trigger warnings galore, this book was fascinating, well-written, cutting-edge, outside the box, and yet not so far-fetching as to be unbelievable. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers then this book should be topping your "to be read" list as a "must-read"! Although I put it down from time-to-time, giving myself a respite, there are also breaks within the text that take you from the heart-pounding, running on adrenaline, almost out of breath panic to arenas of time and space that afford you the opportunity to sit back, rest, and gear up for what comes next.
Well-paced, never a dull moment, every line, every character, every memory revealed is important and intricately woven into the book at hand.
You need to follow Anne Ferretti and read her books! She deserves to be seated among the greats. Seated among the who's who of the greatest thriller writers of our time! An unsung gem whose time has come to emerge out of the shadows and into the light shining brightly for the world to see.
The front cover? Lack-luster. Edits? There are a dozen or so typos. However, even when noticing these things, once you crack the spine of this book you will undoubtedly recognize its brilliance! All is forgiven. Nothing detracts from the genius at work as you put the pieces of the puzzle together alongside Detective Riley Finn.
I want to know more, I can't wait to behold what the next book uncovers! The timing of this author's reveal is appreciated as we won't have long to wait until "The Piper" can be ordered and placed in our hands. I'll be the first in line for now my life is intertwined with that of Detective Riley Finn's and I can't help but give in to living life through her once again.
*I received an advance review copy, via Reedsy Discovery, in exchange for my honest review.
March 8, 2021
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Riley Finn is a special detective with the Chicago Police Department. A serial killer, who is as dangerous as he is meticulous, has taken a special interest in her. With each violent crime he commits, he calls Finn, taunts her, and hints at secrets about her past. The Gardner is always two steps ahead of Finn and knows more about her, past or present, than anyone else. But Riley Finn isn't an ordinary detective: she has a unique gift. Her secret ability to see auras allows her to weed out Good from Evil. Finn will stop at nothing to discover what secrets the Gardner holds and put an end to his killing streak.
I really enjoyed this story. Finn was an interesting character and her gift adds to the already enticing thrill of catching a highly intelligent psychopath. The surrounding characters were fun, I enjoyed the humor and dialogue exchanged between them. It helped lighten the mood after reading about brutal violence. My favorite character, aside from Finn, would have to be Jason. He is adorable, loyal, funny, and an alpha male with a soft side. Who doesn't love that? The plot itself was well written and interesting. It was fast-paced at the beginning and slowed down about halfway through, but sped up again towards the end. I was racking my brain trying to figure out who the killer was throughout the story and Ferretti's hints helped guide the way. I don't think the identity of the killer was predictable, but its a good hunch!
Overall, this was a great story and an easy, quick read. I rate this a 4.5/5. If you like the show "Criminal Minds," you'll love this story. I would recommend this to young adult and adult readers who enjoy crime solving, thrillers, and a little bit of romance. I myself typically don't enjoy romance novels, but found the small bits of it in this story to be perfect. I do hope this will be a series because there was a good amount of questions left unanswered. There was a good amount of detail provided for everything, but some places things could be unclear without rereading the last sentence (for me at least).
Trigger warnings: violence, murder, child trafficking, sexual abuse, child abuse.
Detective Riley Finn is a special detective with the Chicago Police Department. A serial killer, who is as dangerous as he is meticulous, has taken a special interest in her. With each violent crime he commits, he calls Finn, taunts her, and hints at secrets about her past. The Gardner is always two steps ahead of Finn and knows more about her, past or present, than anyone else. But Riley Finn isn't an ordinary detective: she has a unique gift. Her secret ability to see auras allows her to weed out Good from Evil. Finn will stop at nothing to discover what secrets the Gardner holds and put an end to his killing streak.
I really enjoyed this story. Finn was an interesting character and her gift adds to the already enticing thrill of catching a highly intelligent psychopath. The surrounding characters were fun, I enjoyed the humor and dialogue exchanged between them. It helped lighten the mood after reading about brutal violence. My favorite character, aside from Finn, would have to be Jason. He is adorable, loyal, funny, and an alpha male with a soft side. Who doesn't love that? The plot itself was well written and interesting. It was fast-paced at the beginning and slowed down about halfway through, but sped up again towards the end. I was racking my brain trying to figure out who the killer was throughout the story and Ferretti's hints helped guide the way. I don't think the identity of the killer was predictable, but its a good hunch!
Overall, this was a great story and an easy, quick read. I rate this a 4.5/5. If you like the show "Criminal Minds," you'll love this story. I would recommend this to young adult and adult readers who enjoy crime solving, thrillers, and a little bit of romance. I myself typically don't enjoy romance novels, but found the small bits of it in this story to be perfect. I do hope this will be a series because there was a good amount of questions left unanswered. There was a good amount of detail provided for everything, but some places things could be unclear without rereading the last sentence (for me at least).
Trigger warnings: violence, murder, child trafficking, sexual abuse, child abuse.
April 18, 2021
Anne Ferretti did such a wonderful job writing this unnerving and twisted story. The Gardener is a fast-paced and well written book and I'm happy that I was given the opportunity to read the ARC!
She adds an creep factor to the book by including the nursery rhyme "Mary Mary Quite Contrary” to each murder scene. The MC tries to maintain a distance from people because she can read their auras, which is her own secret, to tell whether someone is bad or not. There's also a bit of romance, however the amount wasn't the main focal point and was just enough to keep me interested in the story.
If you enjoy Rizzoli & Isles, Temperance Brennan and other police procedural books then I highly highly recommend this one! If I could give this book more than 5 stars I definitely would and I look forward to the rest of the series!
TW:
Violence, murder, child trafficking, sexual abuse, child abuse.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Gardener in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
She adds an creep factor to the book by including the nursery rhyme "Mary Mary Quite Contrary” to each murder scene. The MC tries to maintain a distance from people because she can read their auras, which is her own secret, to tell whether someone is bad or not. There's also a bit of romance, however the amount wasn't the main focal point and was just enough to keep me interested in the story.
If you enjoy Rizzoli & Isles, Temperance Brennan and other police procedural books then I highly highly recommend this one! If I could give this book more than 5 stars I definitely would and I look forward to the rest of the series!
TW:
Violence, murder, child trafficking, sexual abuse, child abuse.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Gardener in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 31, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The author writes a well paced page turner that kept me interested from page one. The killer in the book is interesting and kept me curious about motives and next moves. I did find some of the tech a little unbelievable as even remotely accessible to a standard city police department, and I felt that some of the details were overshared repeatedly, but that information about the auras the main character can see was not shared in enough detail and were not repeated. Especially considering there is a lot of information to take in in the book.
My only criticism is that the ending felt a little anti-climatic after the hight pace and intensity of the rest of the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes fast paced thrillers.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
My only criticism is that the ending felt a little anti-climatic after the hight pace and intensity of the rest of the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes fast paced thrillers.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
April 20, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of The Gardener from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Cliff hanger! I cannot wait for the second installment. This was a very original novel—interesting and plausible. Riley, a Chicago police detective, has an unusual gift that helps her sniff out the bad guys, but it isn’t as helpful with the Gardner, who is a twisted, mind-game playing serial killer with a keen interest in her personal life. Kept me on the edge of my seat!
Cliff hanger! I cannot wait for the second installment. This was a very original novel—interesting and plausible. Riley, a Chicago police detective, has an unusual gift that helps her sniff out the bad guys, but it isn’t as helpful with the Gardner, who is a twisted, mind-game playing serial killer with a keen interest in her personal life. Kept me on the edge of my seat!
April 25, 2021
Let me start off by saying I think I’m in love with this author, she is one hell of a story writer!
Rarely do you find a book that can blend crime with the paranormal and have it not sound absolutely ridiculous. She sprinkled in just a tidbit of romance alongside murder and mayhem and created a beautifully depraved concoction I want to drink in over and over again!
This book is not something you bring to book club with the PTO moms.
Immaculate!!
Rarely do you find a book that can blend crime with the paranormal and have it not sound absolutely ridiculous. She sprinkled in just a tidbit of romance alongside murder and mayhem and created a beautifully depraved concoction I want to drink in over and over again!
This book is not something you bring to book club with the PTO moms.
Immaculate!!
November 4, 2020
Another wonderful book from Ann Ferretti. I could not put it down nor get it out of my head. Ann has the talent of getting you hooked from the beginning and engages you with all the characters she develops. I highly recommend this book along with her others. Cannot wait for the next installment in this series!
March 11, 2021
This was an intense book...a bit gruesome, intriguing, and a real page turner. I loved the characters and the story line and hope to read more of them soon!
December 2, 2021
This book is definitely a page turner and I found myself glued to it. The book is really well written and complex and gritty. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.
January 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of The Gardener in exchange for my honest review.
An extreme page-turner and one heck of a mystery! The intricate plot flows along at a steady pace from beginning to end and keeps you guessing the entire time. I love how Riley’s determination in doing the right thing and not giving up even at her own personal cost. Keeping her secret – she is able to see other people’s auras and can determine whether they are good or bad. It is not easy when those close to her constantly question her “intuition” and think of her as strange. Her abilities force her to keep a distance from others but as the book progresses we get to see Riley letting her guard down some and allowing herself to test the waters with a new love interest. The romance aspect was just enough – not over done but instead weaved through the book in bits. I truly like her love interest in Jason. He’s tough, funny, endearing and is willing to let the connection with Riley progress at her speed and terms.
The press has dubbed the killer as The Gardener after the first murder scene is found – a garden with heads on stakes. He is creepy and relentless and seems to have a fixation with Riley. Calling Riley after each murder he uses the nursery rhyme “Mary Mary Quite Contrary” in relation to his crime scenes. I loved how the author utilizes the items from this rhyme in relation to the kill scenes making them even creepier. The intrigue grows as the killer hints he has some connection to Riley’s past.
Fantastic first in this new series! I so enjoyed this book and would give it ten stars if possible. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series and would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves serial killer themed books. One great read!!!
#NetGalley #TheGardener
An extreme page-turner and one heck of a mystery! The intricate plot flows along at a steady pace from beginning to end and keeps you guessing the entire time. I love how Riley’s determination in doing the right thing and not giving up even at her own personal cost. Keeping her secret – she is able to see other people’s auras and can determine whether they are good or bad. It is not easy when those close to her constantly question her “intuition” and think of her as strange. Her abilities force her to keep a distance from others but as the book progresses we get to see Riley letting her guard down some and allowing herself to test the waters with a new love interest. The romance aspect was just enough – not over done but instead weaved through the book in bits. I truly like her love interest in Jason. He’s tough, funny, endearing and is willing to let the connection with Riley progress at her speed and terms.
The press has dubbed the killer as The Gardener after the first murder scene is found – a garden with heads on stakes. He is creepy and relentless and seems to have a fixation with Riley. Calling Riley after each murder he uses the nursery rhyme “Mary Mary Quite Contrary” in relation to his crime scenes. I loved how the author utilizes the items from this rhyme in relation to the kill scenes making them even creepier. The intrigue grows as the killer hints he has some connection to Riley’s past.
Fantastic first in this new series! I so enjoyed this book and would give it ten stars if possible. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series and would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves serial killer themed books. One great read!!!
#NetGalley #TheGardener
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews