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The Scarecrow Murders #1
Killer in the Heartland
A cyberstalker and a grisly murder
…only draw them closer.
Clinging to memories, widower Lucas Maddox hires Mary Curtis as a live-in housekeeper and nanny for his daughter. Mary fits into their household perfectly, but inexplicable attacks soon plague her. The danger to her life forces Lucas to consider just what Mary means to him, but can he keep her safe while protecting his heart?
…only draw them closer.
Clinging to memories, widower Lucas Maddox hires Mary Curtis as a live-in housekeeper and nanny for his daughter. Mary fits into their household perfectly, but inexplicable attacks soon plague her. The danger to her life forces Lucas to consider just what Mary means to him, but can he keep her safe while protecting his heart?
- GenresRomantic Suspense
280 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2022
11 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 26, 2022
Another HQN RS where the pacing feels way off--the (rather implausible) antaognist is captured long before the hero and heroine FINALLY get together, with very little satisfying relationship development during that time period to show for it. The way Mary is able to quickly jump from job to job requires a significant suspension of belief (she leaves a job with a few days' notice, but somehow gets that job back in an afternoon--an afternoon she spent in the hospital?) and OMG Lucas's wishy-washy inability to commit to anyone but his dead wife is beyond frustrating. How the antagonist's efforts managed to solidify his determination to stay a lonely widower forever is beyond me. His child is 100% a plot moppet--no three-year-old sleeps so conveniently or manages to play quietly by themself to the extent that this one does. (Don't get me started on the way she talks, either...ugh.) And I can't be the only one getting Goosebumps vibes (and not in a good way) from the serial killer here, right? [insert eye roll emoji here]
Somehow even though the ARC contained a teaser for the next book in its 280-ish pages, this one *still* took forever to finish.
Rating: 2 stars / D+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Somehow even though the ARC contained a teaser for the next book in its 280-ish pages, this one *still* took forever to finish.
Rating: 2 stars / D+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
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October 1, 2022Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Western Romance
Miniseries
The Scarecrow Murders (Book #1)
Miniseries
The Scarecrow Murders (Book #1)
January 25, 2023
Good book. Widower Lucas needs a live-in housekeeper/nanny. His former mother-in-law has been filling in since his wife's death, but it is becoming too much for her. He's surprised when local grocery store clerk Mary comes to him to apply, but something about her seems just right for the job. It isn't long before she is an integral part of their household. His daughter Annabelle loves her, and Lucas feels the light she brings to a home buried in grief for a long time. But unexplained attacks on Mary make him wonder what danger has come to his house and why the thought of something happening to her fills him with fear.
The development of the relationship between Lucas and Mary felt a bit uneven. Lucas has been mired in grief over Diana's death for two and a half years. He feels he has had the love of his life and has no interest in marrying again, despite the best efforts of the single women in town. So, he's shocked when he's attracted to Mary. As the weeks go on, he looks forward to going home, having adult conversations, and spending time with her. Aghast at his growing feelings, he constantly reminds himself of his devotion to his wife's memory, aided by his mother-in-law's constant comments about their love.
On the other hand, Mary crushes on Lucas from the get-go. He's kind and handsome and treats her well. Mary is on her own after her cold parents kicked her out when she turned eighteen. The feeling of family she gets from taking care of Lucas and Annabelle is a balm to her heart. It doesn't take long for her crush to grow into love, even though she knows he has no interest in a relationship. When their attraction gets out of hand, Mary dreams of more, while Lucas panics and pulls away. I wanted to shake him for being an idiot, and I was proud of Mary for standing up for her needs. I liked the ending, and the scene in the diner was sweet.
The suspense of the story was good. Mary settles in quickly, happy to have found such a great job. She's still dealing with creepy emails from an online dating attempt that went wrong but hopes those will end soon. One day when she and Lucas take Annabelle for a walk along the edges of the cornfields, they come across a horrifying sight. A young woman has been killed and set up as a scarecrow in one of Lucas's fields. Not long after, Mary receives a note telling her to leave Lucas's house or suffer the consequences. Are the two linked, and if so, who would do such a thing?
The tension ramps up when someone rams her car, sending her car flipping off the road. Who wants Mary dead? Is it her cyberstalker or one of the single women who resent Mary's place in Lucas's life? When Mary goes missing, Lucas fears the worst. By this time, I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for Lucas and the sheriff to figure it out. The final confrontation was intense and successfully concluded. But one thread was left hanging with a teaser leading into the next book.
The development of the relationship between Lucas and Mary felt a bit uneven. Lucas has been mired in grief over Diana's death for two and a half years. He feels he has had the love of his life and has no interest in marrying again, despite the best efforts of the single women in town. So, he's shocked when he's attracted to Mary. As the weeks go on, he looks forward to going home, having adult conversations, and spending time with her. Aghast at his growing feelings, he constantly reminds himself of his devotion to his wife's memory, aided by his mother-in-law's constant comments about their love.
On the other hand, Mary crushes on Lucas from the get-go. He's kind and handsome and treats her well. Mary is on her own after her cold parents kicked her out when she turned eighteen. The feeling of family she gets from taking care of Lucas and Annabelle is a balm to her heart. It doesn't take long for her crush to grow into love, even though she knows he has no interest in a relationship. When their attraction gets out of hand, Mary dreams of more, while Lucas panics and pulls away. I wanted to shake him for being an idiot, and I was proud of Mary for standing up for her needs. I liked the ending, and the scene in the diner was sweet.
The suspense of the story was good. Mary settles in quickly, happy to have found such a great job. She's still dealing with creepy emails from an online dating attempt that went wrong but hopes those will end soon. One day when she and Lucas take Annabelle for a walk along the edges of the cornfields, they come across a horrifying sight. A young woman has been killed and set up as a scarecrow in one of Lucas's fields. Not long after, Mary receives a note telling her to leave Lucas's house or suffer the consequences. Are the two linked, and if so, who would do such a thing?
The tension ramps up when someone rams her car, sending her car flipping off the road. Who wants Mary dead? Is it her cyberstalker or one of the single women who resent Mary's place in Lucas's life? When Mary goes missing, Lucas fears the worst. By this time, I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for Lucas and the sheriff to figure it out. The final confrontation was intense and successfully concluded. But one thread was left hanging with a teaser leading into the next book.
June 27, 2023
Mary gets hired by Lucas to be a nanny to little Annabelle. Has the trope of falling for the nanny and was a cute love story. The suspense part had 2 different antagonists which made the story flow very well. Looking forward to reading more and to see who is making human scarecrows
April 9, 2024
Loved this book! Couldn’t put it down!! Gonna have to get the next one to see if they solve the murder!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2025
a great quick read. read it in 2 days at the beach.
November 28, 2025
Ship Lucas and Dallas 🏳️🌈
Insane book. Insufferable child. Literal Mary Sue.
Loved it! It was awful :)
Insane book. Insufferable child. Literal Mary Sue.
Loved it! It was awful :)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews