Venganza de hielo

Bree Taggert #2

by Melinda Leigh, Ana Alcaina (Translator)

Testigo de una escena que no debería haber presenciado, ahora su vida corre peligro… ¿o es todo mentira?

La nueva sheriff Bree Taggert acude a una llamada de Emergencias tras un tiroteo en un camping. Al llegar al lugar de los hechos, se encuentra con una escena desconcertante: no hay asesino ni víctima… ni siquiera hay sangre. Nadie salvo Bree da credibilidad a la única persona que ha presenciado lo ocurrido, Alyssa, una adolescente sin hogar que insiste en que vio cómo un hombre disparaba a su amiga.

Bree llama al exayudante del sheriff Matt Flynn y a su perro policía para que rastreen al asesino y busquen a la amiga de Alyssa. Bajo el hielo del lago Grey Lake, descubren el cadáver de un universitario desaparecido, con el rostro completamente desfigurado, pero no es la persona que buscan.

Cuando desaparecen otros dos estudiantes y la policía encuentra más cadáveres, Bree debe descubrir cuál es el vínculo que une a las víctimas. Solo tiene una certeza: los asesinatos están motivados por la rabia. Cuando Alyssa desaparece, Bree tendrá que luchar contra reloj para encontrarla antes de que su testigo se convierta en una nueva víctima.

Genres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense, Crime, Fiction

383 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2020

About the author

#1 Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker who learned that writing books is way more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda’s debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. Since then, she has garnered numerous writing accolades, including two RITA® Award nominations and an induction into the NJ Romance Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have sold more than 15 million copies across the world. Melinda loves martial arts, rescue dogs, and sea turtles.

WEBSITE: https://www.melindaleigh.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/melindaleighauthorpage/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MelindaLeigh1

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second story in the “Bree Taggert” series with Sheriff Taggert investigating multiple murders and stolen jewelry. Good story with an interesting cast of characters. I especially liked Matt Flynn, who was also in the previous book, and his K9 partner Brody. I was curious to find out who the killer was.

Another great read by Melinda Leigh.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

SEE HER DIE by Melinda Leigh is the second book in the Bree Taggert romantic suspense/police procedural series and the second book that I have read by this author. This is largely a police procedural / crime thriller with the hint of a romance to come. This book takes place a couple of months after the end of the first book in the series and three weeks after Bree becomes the sheriff of Randolph County in upstate New York. In book two she is called to a shooting at Grey Lake campground. However, there is no victim, no blood and no shooter to confirm the allegations of the sole witness. Once again, Bree calls former investigator Matt Flynn and his K-9 for help. What is going on? Was there really a shooting or is the witness lying?

Bree and Matt are both sympathetic characters that you can root for. They definitely have flaws and virtues and their goals are clear and influence the plot. Their motivations seem believable. The secondary characters add some growth and dimension in book two and the relationships between the characters were believable and not contrived. The storyline is engaging, suspenseful, and includes some very tense scenes. Themes include balancing work, family and other relationships, homelessness, murder, ridiculing others, PTSD, dealing with grief and much more.

Overall, this is an excellent book that has twists, tension, red herrings, relatable characters and a winter setting in a largely rural and small town county. If you are expecting a lot of romance or instant love in this novel, it is not there. If you are expecting a solid series that will have mysteries, suspense, crime, action, and eventually some romance, then this is a series that I can recommend. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. This was a solid 4 star read for me.

I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads and Amazon Publishing and Melinda Leigh for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
Bree Taggert has accepted the position of sheriff in Randolph County since she’s moved to Grey’s Hollow to raise her niece and nephew. She’s called to a campground where a shooting was reported, only to find no evidence of a victim, shooter or the witness. Soon after, however, they locate the witness, homeless teenager Alyssa Vincent, hiding in one of the cabins where she’d been staying illegally with her friend Harper Scott who she claims was the victim. Bree and her team search the campground and call in former deputy Matt Flynn and his K-9 for help. They discover a body but it’s clearly not Harper and it’s evident that the person was brutally beaten long before that evening. Unfortunately, this isn’t the last of the body count.

the heart of the story…
Bree has to determine whether Alyssa is a credible witness or part of the crime as they continue to search for Harper and investigate the new murder. She’s also dealing with being a new manager evaluating her deputies who were part of a department led by a former corrupt sheriff. Matt also has an agenda as he’s searching for a friend’s grandson, a university student who’s also missing. The case is a head scratcher as motives are elusive and the crime scenes weren’t where the bodies were found, which they also need to find. Bree’s also adjusting to being in a household with people and pets having left single life literally overnight. Her relationship with her niece and nephew is heartwarming as they look to her for their emotional well being. Even her loner brother is learning to become part of this family.

the narration…
I like Traister’s storytelling style and her voice for Matt, which is only a slightly lower tone and sounds distinctive and real. Her performance was solid and I’m pleased that she’s narrating the rest of the series.

the bottom line…
There were so many facets to this story beyond the case, which made it a page turner and hard to put aside. The number of suspects just kept growing but motives were still elusive. I came close but still missed the mark, even though there were subtle clues I somehow overlooked. Bree and Matt are also growing closer with the possibility of a romantic relationship on the horizon. Her new life, personal and professional presents realistic challenges as well as rewards, making this an engaging series. I’m looking forward to continuing, definitely on audio.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A homeless girl sees her friend shot, but when the police show up there’s no sign of a body or evidence of a shooting. A woman reports her grandson missing to the police. More teenagers begin disappearing only to reappear dead. Who is the killer? And are Bree and Matt in danger as they attempt to solve multiple murders?

Bree Taggert, who was a homicide detective in Philadelphia, has just moved to Grey’s Hollow in upstate New York to become sheriff and raise her recently orphaned niece and nephew. She begins to clean up the department that had, until recently, been run by a corrupt sheriff. Understaffed and thin on deputies that Bree knows she can trust, she reaches out to the one individual she knows she can rely on, former Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Flynn and his K-9, Brody.

But when Bree gets an early morning call from a campground on the banks of Grey Lake, she is faced with solving a strange case. Alyssa Vincent, a homeless teenager who had been squatting in one of the cabins, claims that she saw a man shoot her friend Harper Scott. When Bree arrives on site, however, she finds no sign of a body or evidence of a shooting, just a scared girl hiding in a cabin holding an ax. Could Alyssa have made the incident up for attention or is she guilty of the shooting herself? Bree isn’t sure what occurred, but despite feeling that Alyssa is hiding something, she doubts that the teenager could be responsible for murder.

In order to search for an injured or dying Harper, Bree enlists the help of Matt Flynn and his retired K-9 who has been busy looking for missing college student, Eli Whitney. Before long, Brody has alerted to a crack in the ice where they discover a human hand. Expecting it to be Harper, both are surprised to realize that it belongs instead to an unknown young man who is no longer identifiable due to the extreme damage done to his face. Is this Eli? Is he the shooter? If so, what happened to Harper?

The second novel in the Bree Taggert series, See Her Die is a thrilling police procedural/romantic suspense book (though it focused more on the murder mystery rather than the romance which was just fine with me) that provides more than one twist that I never saw coming. With two strong protagonists that are round and dynamic, this story focuses on themes of grieving and loyalty that were interwoven with vengeance and the thrills of chasing a murderer. Melinda Leigh does a magnificent job crafting two apparently separate storylines and slowly weaving them together into an even stronger plot. Despite following both the Scarlet Falls and Morgan Dane series, they can be read in any order, although I would definitely follow the sequence of books for each individual series or you’ll miss important character development and get minor spoilers. Additionally, as a fervent dog lover, one is my favorite aspects to this series is the close relationships between Matt and his dogs. I strongly recommend Leigh’s books and can’t wait to read the next one, Drown Her Sorrows! Rating of 4 stars.

[Brooke (B for Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
It's Thriller Season. The setting is Philadelphia area in winter, and resilient Bree Taggert recently earned a promotion to Sheriff. Story includes a satisfyingly slow burn romance, crime, action, and even a jewel-theif. This was so much better than I expected, and I find myself pretty addicted to Bree's cases.

Bree has a history of family trauma. Her father killed her mother when she and her sister were children and they became stigmatized throughout adolescence. She also has PTSD from a dog attack and is working this case with a skilled canine detective so she has a lot of fears to sort out. Her fears and traumatic responses are represented so well and I felt the inner tension as much as the outer. She freezes, her hands shake, and her heart rate goes up; but she is so determined to remain steadfast and neutral in her work, and not get emotionally involved. It's hard when she can relate to victims who also have PTSD. She even risks being manipulated by criminals who would exploit her soft spot. In the previous book, her sister was murdered and we were introduced to her lonely artist brother. Her relationship with her brother is strained, but it is growing. She is learning that he is handling PTSD differently than her, and that is not to be judged. There are several story threads going on along with each episodic mystery; ptsd and recovery, fear of dogs, slow burn romance, and family tensions. I really liked the scene on the ice, and overall I love the accurate Philadelphia representation.

4.5 Stars, rounding up for the excellent representation of PTSD in a crime thriller, and for making me addicted to the series.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

See Her Die was a great follow up to Cross Her Heart with an intriguing plot and some fun crossover with two of the author's other series.

One of the first big cases in her job as the new sheriff sees Bree Taggert called out to a shooting in a closed campground. But when she arrives there's no shooter, no victim, and no evidence someone was shot outside of a lone witness. So Bree calls in former deputy Matt Flynn and his K-9 Brody to track the killer, but the trail the pair follows leads them to the body a different victim, a missing university student. And when more students go missing only to turn up dead, Bree must find the link between the cases and catch a killer before her witness becomes his next victim.

The plot in See Her Die was really interesting, particularly the shooting at the start where there's no evidence it happened outside of the witness. When bodies of unrelated victims start turning up, things only got more interesting from there. It's clear there's something far more sinister going on than anyone expected. The book has chapters from the killer's point of view which allows us insight into the crimes that Bree doesn't have. I enjoyed watching Bree work to link the crimes and it was nice to see Matt and the deputies following different leads than Bree's. The ending of the book is suspenseful with just the right amount of action and I was happy with the way everything wrapped up.

Bree continues to be an excellent main character. Taking over as sheriff has definitely been more challenging than Bree expected and I'm looking forward to seeing how she adapts to the position. Matt continues to be an interesting character and I like that Bree brought him on as an investigator. The two work really well together and I'm interested to see how their relationship develops, both personally and professionally. This book once again only has the barest hint of romance in it, so readers looking for a more suspense/mystery type book should be happy with this one.

Some of the side characters in this book are ones from the author's other series, Stella Dane from the Scarlet Falls series and Morgan Dane from the Morgan Dane series. While Morgan only has a brief appearance in the book, Stella appears frequently as a case she's investigating is mixed up with Bree's case. It was great getting to see some familiar characters and I hope to see them pop up again in future books.

Overall See Her Die was an amazing read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Drown Her Sorrows, when it releases early next year.

**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bree Taggert's first case as the new sheriff is very perplexing. Homeless teen Alyssa Vincent claims that she saw her friend, Harper Scott, shot by a man in the woods. But Bree and her team find no body, no shooter, and no blood. Bree asks former deputy Matt Flynn to bring his K-9 to see if they can pick up a trace of the victim or the shooter. After a quick search, they find a body in the frozen lake. But this is not the friend Alyssa claims was shot. This body is a badly beaten male who has been dead for more than a few hours. Is this a separate incident or do these two cases tie together?

The second book in the Bree Taggert series is just as interesting as the first. Bree is still learning her deputies' strengths and weaknesses. Some of them were loyal to the former corrupt sheriff and she doesn't know who she can trust. Her crew is stretched thin as more bodies are discovered. A family friend has asked Matt to look into the disappearance of her grandson, Eli Whitney, a university student who hasn't been seen for two days ago. When the body is found in the lake, Matt hopes and prays that this is not Eli.

I very much enjoyed this story. There were a handful of suspects to sort through. I had my picks narrowed down to two, but chose the wrong one. My rating: 5 Stars.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is described as a "blood-freezing thriller of murder, rage, and revenge". Yes...it does cover those categories.... some much more than others. Sheriff Bree Taggert is called to a shooting in a campground that is shut down for the winter. When she arrives, she finds that the crime is not as simple as it should have been. Actually, there is no evidence of any crime being carried out at all...no shooter, no victim, and no blood. No one believes the witness, Alyssa, no one but Bree that is. What would this young woman gain by lying about what happened to her friend? Alyssa is a homeless teen who continually insists that she saw her friend shot. Bree asks the help of former deputy Matt Flynn and his dog to track the killer and search for the victim, who may have just been injured in spite of Alyssa insistence that she saw the shooting happen. They discover the beaten corpse of a missing university student under the ice in Grey Lake, but even though it is a body, and it is indeed dead, it's not the victim they're looking for. Then two more students go missing and additional bodies are found, and Bree knows that she must find what ties these victims together. The one thing that is obvious is that these murders were fueled by intense rage. Her first witness Alyssa, then disappears. The question now is now will the witness herself become a victim? I liked the characters...especially the dog. The only "down" thing I can say about it was that it was a tad slow. It could have used a bit more in the action department.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid read by Melinda Leigh.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B+ at AAR, so 4.5 stars

Book two in Melinda Leigh’s new series of mystery/suspense novels featuring Bree Taggert, See Her Die, opens just three weeks after the events of Cross Her Heart. A former Philadelphia detective, Bree’s life underwent a major upheaval when she returned home to the small upstate New York town of Grey’s Hollow - somewhere that holds few pleasant memories for her – in order to investigate the murder of her sister Erin.  By the end of the book, Bree has decided to remain in Grey’s Hollow to become the guardian to Erin’s two children, Luke (sixteen) and Kayla (eight) and to take the position of Sheriff, following the departure of the previous holder of the office, whose blatant corruption had been public knowledge but whom nobody had been able to dislodge.

When See Her Die begins, Bree is still struggling to adapt to her new life and responsibilities.  She’s not sleeping well (Kayla sometimes has nightmares and has taken to creeping into bed with her at night), she’s worried about Luke, who has become very quiet and incommunicative, she’s not completely sure which of her deputies she can trust, her department is underfunded and understaffed… it’s a long list of problems to sort out all the while she’s working to ensure the safety of everyone in the local community.

A call in the early hours of the morning sees Bree heading out to a local campground that is – supposedly – closed for the winter, following a 911 call from a young woman who says she saw her friend get shot.  When Bree and her deputies arrive, there’s no sign of a body or evidence of a shooting – and no sign of the person who made the call, until Bree and one of her deputies enter one of the cabins, where they find a terrified young woman who says her name is Alyssa Vaughan and that her friend Harper was shot out in the woods.  With no body or evidence, Bree has to consider the possibility that Alyssa may have made it all up, or have committed the murder herself… but something tells her that while Alyssa is definitely hiding something, that something isn’t murder.

Meanwhile, Bree’s friend, former K-9 handler Matt Flynn, has been asked by his sister Cady to look into the disappearance of Eli Whitney, a student at the university and the grandson of an elderly lady who fosters senior dogs for Cady’s rescue centre.  Matt took medical retirement from the Sheriff’s department after he was shot in the hand in the line of duty some three years earlier, and he’s setting up a K-9 training facility – or he would, if his sister didn’t keep filling up his kennels with her rescue dogs!   He agrees to ask around to see if he can find out what might have happened to Eli.

Later that day, Bree and her team are back out at the campground, still searching for evidence of a shooting and not finding much – until they turn up a set of footprints and tracks in the snow.  At this point, Bree decides to see if they can borrow a K-9 unit from the state police – but it’s nothing doing; all their available K-9s are searching for a missing student.  With the light fading and snow threatening, her chief deputy suggests she call in Matt Flynn and Brody (his service dog) – and Bree is just a little conflicted.  On the one hand, Matt’s connection to the department is not an easy one (he was shot by a fellow deputy and still suspects it may have been deliberate), but on the other she trusts him, and it would feel great to know someone has her back.

Matt agrees to help, and before long Brody is hot on the trail and leads Bree and Matt to the cracked ice around a boat ramp where, bobbing between long, jagged sheets of ice, is a human hand.  The hand belongs to the body of a young man who is unidentifiable due to the damage done to his face, which looks as though it’s been pulverised in an act of brutal rage.  Is this the shooter?  If it is, they have yet to find the victim.  And if it isn’t the shooter, could it be the missing student?

I love watching the way Melinda Leigh sets out what are seemingly different storylines and then slowly pulls them together until they coalesce and we can see how the pieces all fit as part of the larger whole.  The plot in See Her Die is complex, clever and well-executed and Bree is a tough, likeable and relatable heroine, a woman who is juggling so many balls in the air that she has no time for a life outside of work and her newly acquired family.  I also appreciated the peek into what it takes to run a sheriff’s department in a large but sparsely populated rural area, and felt for Bree as she wondered who among her staff she could really trust.

I enjoyed the story, but it would be remiss of me not to point out that for a book categorised as romantic suspense, the romance here is peripheral at best.  Matt is a lovely guy and he and Bree have great chemistry, so the lack of romantic development was a bit of a disappointment – BUT what we do get here is them working together again and I loved watching the professional side of their partnership develop.  Matt is such a wonderful support for Bree when she needs it, he’s a cool head in a crisis and, as Bree admits to herself, he’s smart and often sees connections she’s overlooked; they’re a great team, and it definitely seems that things are progressing on the romantic front by the time the book comes to a close.

In spite of the little bit of disappointment I experienced over the lack of romantic progression, I enjoyed See Her Die very much.  The principals are likeable, the secondary cast is nicely drawn, the mystery is compelling, and it all adds up to a thoroughly entertaining read.  I’ll definitely be back for book three when it’s released in Spring 2021.

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Contemporary
Series: Bree Taggert, book #2
Publication date : ‎ ‎ September 15, 2020

In this story Bree Taggert has to solve the murders that are fueled by rage. Can she discover the murderer before he kills his next victim? Bree is also struggling with her new position as the guardian to her orphaned niece and nephew who are mourning the loss of their mother two months prior.

This story was good but sometimes it dragged a bit, then seemed to rush.
Bree Taggert was interesting heroine. She could kick ass if needed but she had vulnerable side that made her more human and relatable. I liked that as a new sheriff she was considerate (think of her treatment of Alyssa, a homeless teenager) but when needed, she was very demanding and she interfered when she saw unnecessary and excessive police force used.
I really liked the cats and dogs in this story. They provided some entertainment among some gruesome murder scenes. I really did not enjoy villain's chapters. It was disgusting to read his sick thoughts and feel his stupid rage. Also some of the tension got lost thanks to his POVs. Also I hate when book synopsis can be considered as spoiler because it give away so many things that will happen in this story. Less is more.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

See Her Die is book two in the Bree Taggert Series by Melinda Leigh. One morning Sheriff Bree Taggert caught a phone call about a shooting at a campground closed for the winter. However, on arrival, there was no body or shooter, only a young homeless teenager. Sheriff Bree Taggert asked Matt Flynn for help, and his K-9 dog tracked the killer. Matt Flynn and his dog Brody found a body that started Sherif Bree Taggert on the hunt for the killer before any more teenagers died, including the main witness. The readers of See Her Die will follow Sheriff Bree Taggert to find out what happens.

Wow, See Her Die is another fantastic book by Melinda Leigh. I have not read a bad book by Melinda Leigh, and See Her Die kept up the tradition. I love Melinda Leigh's portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. See Her Die is well-written and researched by Melinda Leigh. I like Melinda Leigh's description of the settings of See Her Die, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

The readers of See Her Die will learn about the importance of K-9 for the law enforcement community. The readers of See Her Die will understand the importance of stopping cruelty to animals.

I recommend this book.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really like Melina Leigh's writing and this book was no exception. Fairly fast paced, some really nasty characters and some questionable loyalties at stake! Can't wait for the next installment in this series! Took a bit for me to figure out who the killer was - lots of red herrings tossed in the way!

4.5 stars and 2 thumbs up!

From the blurb: New sheriff Bree Taggert is called to a shooting in a campground shuttered for the winter. But she arrives to find a perplexing crime. There is no shooter, no victim, and no blood. No one but Bree believes the sole witness, Alyssa, a homeless teenager who insists she saw her friend shot.

Bree calls in former deputy Matt Flynn and his K-9 to track the killer and search for Alyssa’s friend. They discover the battered corpse of a missing university student under the ice in Grey Lake—but it’s not the victim they were looking for.

When two more students go missing and additional bodies turn up, Bree must find the link between the victims. She knows only one thing for certain: the murders are fueled by rage. When Alyssa disappears, Bree must race against time to find her before her witness becomes another victim.

[CD {Boulder Blvd} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #2 in the Bree Taggert series - I found I enjoyed it more than the first book (which can happen). The blended family dynamics of Bree's life are different and woven throughout the book but not focused on. Having her retired ex-police partner and an artist brother help to manage the household and watch over her niece and nephew gives her the freedom to work whatever hours are needed for the job. A bizarrely ideal situation.

As this is a romantic suspense, there is a love interest with an ex-police canine officer, but the romance takes a back seat to solving multiple murders. Some people would prefer more romance, but I myself prefer when the murder mystery takes center stage.

The murder mystery starts with an unreliable witness who sees a friend murdered but no body is found, to finding another murdered victim and a missing person. Bree and her "friend", Matt, acting as consultant on the case are trying to determine if the cases are related and find the perp. It's a good solid mystery and a satisfying conclusion.

Definitely recommend to fans of Ms. Leigh and this genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for an ARC.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, solid mystery which is well worth the time. The focus of the plot is on the crime and how Bree is trying to integrate her new job as Sheriff and her new role as mother to her niece and nephew. Matt is the very patient maybe love interest, but Bree just doesn't have much time for making a maybe into a reality.

Alyssa is homeless, crashing in a cabin at a closed campground with her friend Harper. When she is awakened by a scream, she discovers that Harper is gone taking her wallet and car key. Alyssa starts searching and witnesses a man shooting Harper. Bree Taggert believes her even though there is absolutely no evidence that a shooting took place.

Matt Flynn and his K-9 dog tract the killer and discover a body under the ice in Grey Lake, but this is a male, not the female they are looking for. When more people turn up missing and bodies are found in the frozen lake, Bree knows that the murders are personal and fueled by rage. Bree also knows that Alyssa is probably on the killer's list because she is the only witness.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just as engaging as the previous book but with a little less emphasis on Bree’s family. While they didn’t consume the story, what was included was rich with emotion and I especially loved Bree’s interactions with her niece. She was just too precious. The issues with her nephew were a bit darker and more complicated and my heart hurt for her as she struggled to help him.





Matt was once again a great addition to the story. He’s such an incredible hero with his ability to understand when he needs to make Bree see something she’s ignoring, or standing between her and the thing that threatens her the most. I loved that he recognized her deepest fear and was there for her.





The mystery had me totally captivated. I was trying to beat Bree to figure out who did it and why exactly. I was wrong with every guess. There was so much drama along the way, some of it due to the case and a bit of it due to Bree’s personal issues. This was never boring and I absorbed every word of it along the way. So glad I tried this series!

Multi POV
Safe no ow/om drama; while this couple recognize their attraction to each other, neither have acted on it until the end when he goes to dinner with her and her family; no sex
Triggers bullying; this deals with young people posting cruel things about others online
Smexy Times none

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Book #2 in the Sheriff Bree Taggert series. This is my first novel by Melinda Leigh. I didn’t read [book; Cross Her Heart], however, Ms. Leigh did a good job in letting riders know what happened in Book #1.
Bree has been dealing with the nightmare that happened 25 years with the murder-suicide of her parents. In Book #1 her sister Erin is killed. Erin’s husband vanishes. Bree believe Justin isn’t responsible and teams up with Justin’s old friend former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn.

This story starts when Sheriff Taggert is called regarding a reported shooting at a camp ground that has been closed for the winter ~ when she gets there ~ no shooter ~ no victim ~ no blood. However, Bree believes Alyssa, a homeless teenage who saw it all!
Bree teams up again with former deputy Matt Flynn; Yep! Hoping for romance! I really enjoyed this story. Truly like Bree and her efforts to do a good job in raising her niece and nephew as well as do a good as sheriff. I am certainly looking forward to the next novel in this series.

BTW: “Drown Her Sorrows” Bree Taggert #3 as well as “Right Behind Her” Book #4, are scheduled for release in 2021

Want to thank NetGalley and Montlake Romance for this early release granted to me in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 15, 2020.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first discovered this author a couple of years ago. After that first book, I immediately jumped to procure every single one of her books and happily devoured them all, one after the other. I have read them all and, across-the-board, every single one of them is exceptional.

This second book in her Bree Taggert series is just as outstanding as all the others. It is another of those "I can't put this book down" experiences. I LOVE those! Her characters (like Bree here) are always complicated, life like, multi-layered people. They keep on forging ahead, despite seemingly impenetrable obstacles placed in their path. You always find yourself routing for them and are thrilled when they rise to the occasion and overcome those problems. The murder/mysteries are always puzzling and complex. The stories are just terrific with those wonderful characters which add significantly to the overall enjoyment of the book.

I loved seeing Stella Dane (from the "Scarlet Falls" series) having a nice part to play in this book. And, even though her appearance was brief, Morgan Dane (from the "Morgan Dane" series) also popped in. It is always a treat to find characters from that author's series book list crossover for a small contribution to another series. It is like visiting with old friends.

Melinda Leigh has another series winner on her hands with the "Bree Taggert" series. I can't wait for the next one! ;)

[J.A. Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific page turner! See Her Die by Melinda Leigh is the 2nd book in the Bree Taggert mystery series, and it is fabulous. Bree is the new sheriff in a small upstate New York town. When a call comes in from a hysterical young woman who says her friend was shot in front of her, in a campground that’s been closed for the winter, Bree rushes to the scene and finds nothing - no body and no evidence of a shooting. Alyssa, the homeless teenager, insists that she saw her friend shot, but is she telling the truth?

Bree turns to former deputy Sheriff's investigator, Matt Flynn and his service dog, Brody, to find the killer, but the trail leads them to the body of a different victim, a missing university student. Then when other students vanish and more bodies are found, Bree must act quickly to find the link. This story is complex, with great characters, their backstories, clever and twisty plotting, and a terrific romance growing between Bree and Matt. See Her Die is a superb read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, titled Drown Her Sorrows. Well done, Melinda Leigh! Five stars!

[julia ☆ [owls reads] · Rating 3 out of 5]

#1 Cross Her Heart: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars

3 stars.

*

See Her Die was a pretty quick and entertaining read. I love Leigh's writing and how she weaves mysteries, but I guess I'm not connecting to Bree the way I did to her other series and main characters. There's something about Bree as a narrator that doesn't quite work for me. Even so, this was a solid mystery novel and I'm sure a bunch of people will enjoy it.

I did like the way the mystery developed here, more so than in the first installment. The tension surrounding all of the characters and the manner in which the clues came together were very well done. I also loved how we got a few cameos of characters from Leigh's other series--it was super super fun to read about them again.

The romance really wasn't a big part of the story this time around. I really appreciated how Leigh took a step back from that so the characters could have some room to breathe and assess their priorities. It felt more organic, aaand it gives me hope that the relationship between Bree and Matt will be a good one in the upcoming novels.

*

Series: #2 in the Bree Taggert series.
POV: Told from Bree and Matt’s POVs.
Content Warnings: Mentions of animal abuse.
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA: Not yet!
Up Next: Drown Her Sorrows.

[Sakshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great thriller by Melinda Leigh. See Her Die is the second installment of Bree Taggert series, and in continuation with the first book.

Detective Bree Taggert from PPD is now the Sheriff. Bree has to a lot of responsibilities now and it is challenging. After receiving a 911 call about a shooting, when the team reach to the crime scene- there is no body of victim, no blood and of course no shooter. The caller and only witness Alyssa insists about the shooting. While interviewing her, Bree feels empathy for her. Bree is such a sweet, brave heart! Coming back to the crime scene, Bree calls for help from Matt and Brody to find the victim. But instead, a different body is found. What then ensues then is worth reading, mate!

The plot of the thriller is great. The missing victim, blood and shooter, and then entirely unrelated body to be found - It kept me hooked the entire time. Bree, the main character, is brave, loyal, understanding and despite everything that is happening in her personal life and department - she does not lets it affect or hinder her ability to work. Matt, again, is winsome. He has got her back. Again, the author didn't let the romance between them thwart the plot in any manner. This book is largely a thriller, but if you somehow crave a HEA, you won't be disappointed!

Overall, a great read and I am looking forward to read the third installment Drown Her Sorrows!

[Mike Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

‘See Her Die' follows straight on from the events in the first Bree Tagget book, ‘Cross Her Heart‘, which saw Bree, a Philadelphia PD Detective with a notoriously traumatic childhood, called back to the small upstate New York town she was raised in by the news of her sister’s murder. 

By the end of 'Cross Her Heart', Bree had abandoned her relatively solitary Philadelphia life which she shared mainly with her cat, had moved back to her home town and where she is sharing a house with her cat, a dog she inherited, her recently orphaned niece and nephew and her former (now retired) PPD partner who has taken on the role of surrogate grandmother, cook and childminder. To make her new life even more complicated, Bree has become the local Sheriff, a job she has no experience in. 

I thought that was a good set-up for an entertaining series that was more grounded than the typical loner-cop-with-a-traumatic-past-and-a-drink-problem.

.‘See Her Die’ was my first chance to see Bree in action as a Sheriff and assess whether this would blossom into a solid series. 

I was engaged and entertained from the start. 

The story arc for the ensemble cast of characters in Bree’s new life moved forward smoothly, grounding the series. 

The case Bree was working on was twisty enough to keep my interest without becoming a dry puzzle-solving exercise. The killer, the main suspects and witnesses felt plausible. The action was tense and the pace was well-judged except at the very end, where it meandered a little.

One of the things that makes the story work is Bree's developing relationship with former Deputy Matt and his retired K9 Brody. This isn't an insta-love thing. It moves slowly and credibly. It is complicated by Bree being mortally afraid of dogs, and Matt not feeling competent to use a gun since he was shot in the hand. There is a slow-burn romance here, but the part of the relationship that develops most is the rhythm they fall into in an investigation. Their different strengths and styles complement each other and make the book more interesting.

The only part of the book that didn't work so well for me where the bits from the point of view of the unnamed killer. I thought they were a little clichéd and went on for too long.

‘See Her Die’ convinced me that I want to read the rest of the series in the expectation of watching Bree solve a set of solid mysteries and seeing what her life becomes. I've already bought the next five books, so I hope I'm right about that.

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente narração.

Há uns tempos li o primeiro livro desta série e gostei muito. Sempre tive intenção de ler os restantes livros; os audiobooks proporcionaram que essa oportunidade chegasse mais depressa🤭.

Gostei mesmo muito. A Bree é uma excelente protagonista e eu simpatizo muito com ela, admiro a sua empatia por, neste caso, uma jovem que começa por ser vítima mas que pode ser suspeita também.

Gostei muito das partes familiares da Bree, de ver como se tenta dedicar a proporcionar um bom ambiente familiar aos sobrinhos órfãos.

Os audiobooks tornaram-se um vício tão grande que já não gosto de passar um bocado sem ouvir🙉 , nem mesmo se passar momentos sem, na realidade, estar a ouvir com atenção o audio enquanto faço outra coisa. #guiltypleasure

[Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, at least at the end of the SECOND book, after many murders, 2 cases and 2 months, she finally let him kiss her! (Not that we got to read about it). AND she got to feel up his pecs a little.

Man, I need a murder book with hot sex STAT…

This one was… OK. I skimmed a lot and didn’t really pick up on the killer until he suddenly appeared toward the end of the book (in terms of identity). I don’t really like mysteries that show the killer suddenly later on. I like it when they appear early and you’re kept guessing.

Anyway, on to the next. Bc I love the dogs. Brody is my hero. Hope he and Ladybug have babies.

Scratch that… why would I read more of this series when there’s no sex and the mystery isn’t that riveting?

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

See Her Die by Melinda Leigh is the 2nd book in the Bree Taggert mystery series, and my first book by this author. I really enjoyed this book, so much that as soon as I finished it, I bought the 1st book in the series, Cross Her Heart. I suggest you read them the other way around, but now I'm ready for the next book. Bree Taggert is the new sheriff, and when she arrives at the crime site, they find nothing. I found this book to be fast-paced, and like a roller coaster ride with it's ups and downs. This book has a well developed plot and characters. I strongly recommend this book to all mystery book lovers, like me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Two homeless girls, Alyssa and Harper, are squatting in a cabin at a campground that is shut down for the winter. Alyssa calls 911 after seeing Harper shot and new sheriff Bree Taggert responds. Bree and her deputies can't find the victim or the shooter but they do find another body below the ice of the lake.

Bree hires Matt Flynn, formerly of the sheriff's department until he was shot while on duty three years ago, as a consultant. He is also investigating a woman's missing grandson.

This series provides a good, clean mystery in each book. I really like Bree. She's extremely competent, compassionate and brave. I can't get enough of this series and I've already started the next book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid installment. I enjoyed this story. Melinda Leigh’s mysteries aren’t quite as twisty as Sharon Bolton’s but they are easier and more relaxing reads. There is definitely a time and place for suspense/thrillers that don’t scare the heck out of you. Lol.

I like both MCs; Bree is a strong yet flawed character. Matt is the teddy bear you just want to hug. I hope the next book I where their relationship starts gaining more traction. Overall, I’d recommend this series to someone who wants a mystery without the smut. :)

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the complex mystery of See Her Die. As usual, the dogs were the stars of the book for me! Reading of Matt's love and understanding of dogs definitely gives me warm fuzzies. The killer's identity was kept close to the vest until almost the end and the author did a brilliant job of connecting that to the other crime threads in the story. Reading other reviews, I see where quite a few readers have felt the romance was too light in this book, but for me, it was a little too distracting to the story and too heavy! (Note to author: It's not you; it's me!!🙃)

[BrandyD · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4