Widow Lake

Detective Ellie Reeves #8

by Rita Herron

“Help,” a tiny voice cried out into the darkness. Little Betsy trembled, praying someone would hear her, save her. “Please,” she whimpered. “I’m scared.”

On the hottest day of the year, as a heatwave takes hold of the Appalachian Mountains, a five-year-old girl goes missing. Just as the sun is setting, a family vacation becomes a worst nightmare—Betsy, with her green eyes, ponytail and rainbow t-shirt—disappears in the woods by Widow Lake. Detective Ellie Reeves is straight on the scene, promising Betsy’s heartbroken parents that she will stop at nothing to find their precious daughter.

Hours later, Ellie is called back to the lake. One of her team have discovered some remains near where Betsy disappeared. The bones belong to a local girl, Amy Dean, who vanished ten years ago to the day, along with her two-year-old baby girl Paisley. But why was Paisley never reported missing? And could she still be alive?

Ellie is suddenly up against the toughest case of her career. Her instincts tell her that the two cases are somehow connected, and she works day and night to uncover the link. When she comes across some little graves beside the water’s edge, she knows she needs to stop the evil lurking around this tranquil lake.

When Ellie discovers a notebook scrawled with the handwriting of a little girl, it could be the breakthrough she needs. Can she unravel a decades-old mystery, and stop the monster claiming innocent lives?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense, Procedural

407 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2023

About the author

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.
For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on www.Facebook/ritaherron.com and Twitter.com/ritaherron.

Reviews

[Kimberly R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

Ellie Reeves and team investigates the case of a missing child and finds bones of a missing college student who disappeared ten years ago along with her two year old daughter.
This book was an edge of your seat read and had many twists and turns!

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and happy ending it seems when a little girl was lost but quickly discovered. Detective Ellie Reeves, in Rita Herron's eighth book in an excellent series, had gathered whoever she could to find the little girl. However, despite this success, Ellie and her team will be quite busy. It stars with a car found in the water with the body of a man inside. But, that wasn't it, there were also some bones that were of a woman, and this goes back to a cold case of a decade ago.

In addition to the recent discovery, an imprisoned serial killer has Special Agent Derrick Fox perplexed. He is determined to find out about other murders the prisoner might be responsible for. This interaction with the prisoner, Dominique Radcliffe, truly tests Derrick's patience.

As always with these excellent crime thriller series, everything has a connection and this includes Ranger Cord McClain. Ellie, Derrick and Cord work both independently and together as they are trying to solve the mystery at hand. Their progress is interrupted at times with a group of crime fans who have their own ideas.

As a reader of this series, it was easy to see that Ellie was often torn between Derrick and Cord. I will say that the shocking conclusion knocked me back and has me more than eager to see where things go with Ellie and the choices she makes.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Jazz Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW TO FOLLOW

My favourite book in the series thus far

[Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I’m going to start off…I really enjoyed the complicated plot of this story. I knew certain things but it didn’t detract from the story. It was a fast read.

Now I’m going to do something I never do. This is book 8. And for me (this is my honest opinion) the drama with Cord and Ellie is just over done. It’s obvious to us all. And yet…

And I thought finally…then the end it gets blown up again.

I don’t do spoilers. So I won’t go into details but I gotta say I was annoyed at the end. Because after this many books it’s time. And now…

I read a lot. And it just seems the series could be just as strong with a definitive path. One that also allows her to understand him and help him. (I’m team Cord) Ok…I’ll stop.

It’s just I’m not looking for a soap opera when I read crime thrillers. Not this late in the series. I like a bit of romance but strong characters can create great reads too. All this angst is just not for me.

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m enjoying this series so much more now the subject is changing in each book - it’s like Rita Herron has found her swing!

My only complaint is will Ellie just make a decision on the relationship front? I feel like we aren’t getting to really know either of the men because of this and although it’s hinted at within each book there is no profession of the storyline or their personal stories and it is beginning to get a bit annoying! I’m about to start book 9, we should know by now!

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great crime thriller.
With a little girl missing Ellie gets everyone together to search for her.
She is found by her neighbour but a discovery is soon made of a car in the water, with a man’s body inside and the bones of a woman who went missing ten years ago.
We also have a serial killer who is in prison and Derrick is trying to find out if he killed two more women.
In the town a reunion is about to take place and it seems there was a group at the time who had an unhealthy interest in true crime and murder.
All the strands come together for a nail biting conclusion, which I loved.
I really like this series and can’t wait to read the next book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another addition to one of favourite series. An intense ,gripping and dark read. A real page Turner that definitely raised my heart rate and had me Sat on the edge of my seat. A chilling and emotional read and highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Rita Herron returns with her newest release in the Detective Ellie Reeves series, Widow Lake. Read on and learn the reason this series would be perfect for readers of crime fiction and police procedurals.

Widow Lake by Rita Herron is book 8 in the Detective Ellie Reeves series. Each book works well on its own, as a different case is featured in each. Although this is the second book in the series I have read, I encountered no issues in catching up with the character’s personal lives.

When the story began, Ellie and her team, along with search and rescue, were searching for a child who went missing from a campground. From that moment, the story pulled me in and kept me on tenterhooks until the end. The search for the missing girl led to a gruesome discovery. A discovery which led to the reopening of a ten-year-old missing person case. As Ellie and her team investigates, they made several more chilling discoveries. The discoveries have them puzzled as the modus operandi mimics that of a serial killer currently on death row. The question on everyone’s mind is there a copycat and what’s the connection to the serial killer in prison?

Widow Lake took me on a chilling journey filled with suspense and action. Now Ellie faces the complicated task of unravelling all the evidence, and the things uncovered during this process were shocking. The perps are many and not knowing their identity presented a challenge. However, Ellie is not one to give up and she will not stop until the truth reveals itself.

As mentioned before, the story had me on the edge of my seat. The story, with its chilling details, moved quickly and delivered several twists and turns, with a jaw dropping conclusion.

With such a conclusion, I am curious to learn what’s next in store for the characters. Readers who enjoy police procedurals will get a kick out of this series. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Widow Lake is the 8th book in the Ellie Reeves series and although it it only the second one I have read, I highly recommend this series. The book opens with a missing child in a campground and Ellie, her team and the SAR team led by Cord McClain all head out to look for her. She is found by the little girl in the cabin next door and all seems to be fine, but they see a man all in back skulking around in the woods. While on the search, they find a submerged car with a body in it and that opens up a cold case. Ten years earlier, a young woman and her child disappeared and it was her car they found. The body was a male, not her. Where was Amy Dean and her daughter Paisley? As Ellie investigates, she finds other co-eds have been murdered in the same way. Is there a serial killer out there that has been hunting for ten years? There is a serial killer behind bars waiting for execution and the signature of these other kills is similar. Are they communicating and how are they doing it? This case will have Ellie and her team running circles around each other.

Wow, this was one action packed crime thriller. As the reader, we can see some of what is going on, but this was a complicated case. There is more than one killer, but who are they? Lorna Bea, the twelve year old girl who was in the middle of everything is a sweetheart. My heart broke for that little girl who was kept so isolated. I knew who she was from the start, but her full story is heartbreaking. Ellie's team works so well together and I really enjoy seeing them anticipate each other's moves and what to do next. Ellie was in danger a few times in this one and my heart was in my throat more than once. I don't want to give anything away, so will say no more about this story. This is a fast moving, gripping, chilling and twisty crime thriller. The conclusion was shocking and jaw dropping and left me wanting more. I know I have said it before, but I NEED to go back and read the books in this series that I have missed, it was that good.

[Stephanie Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Widow Lake has been by far one of my favorite of the series thus far, and it just keeps getting better and better! I have loved this series from the get go, and this one was just explosive!

I don’t even know how to sum up the plot because just so much was happening, and it all tied together in a crazy ending. While I suppose you could read this as a stand-alone, I highly suggest reading the books in order to get full character development and back stories. Still waiting for more resolution on the love square that’s been happening throughout, and can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment!

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Rita Herron for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story that had me confused in the first few chapters. I wasn’t sure where the author was going with it. As I read on, things started to make sense to me.
Talk about a complicated plot full of situations that will have you both surprised and shocked.
I’m not sure about Detectives Ellie Reeves love life….where is the author taking it???? We need the next book in the series to find out.
Overall, Widow Lake is an intense, gripping read. The twists and turns in the story will have you unable to put the book down.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Read All About It · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your killing me with these Cliff hangers.

This story was seriously disturbing. Ellie Reeves and her crew are investigating a 10 year old murder but the more they dig the more crazy things become. There is a sense of urgency that won’t let you go.

That evil was everywhere, like a fire-breathing dragon, as real as the unbearable heat killing off nature at that very moment.

The bad guys are so evil that it gives you shivers just thinking about it.

Shadows and ghosts of the past were hiding deep in the dark forest of the AT.

Just when you think finally it’s happening she throws a curve ball that has me almost throwing my kindle across the room. Everyone who loves this series will know exactly what I’m talking about.

[Marleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

These last years, I have been searching and hoping to find more higher quality murder mystery writers. Writers like Sue Grafton, Linda Barnes, Michael Connelly, Jonathan Kellerman or John Grisham and to this day, I have not found one. At least not a more recent author. Of course, there are others out there that are top notch in this genre, Lisa Gardner, Robert B. Parker, etc. etc., but I think I’ve read them all (except maybe much older ones). For now, there's nothing new on the horizon.
Coming across a book receiving a rating of 4,48 stars you’d expect a guaranteed superior story. Unfortunately, Widow Lake, by Rita Herron doesn’t respond to any high standard one can or could expect. As a matter of fact, I feel like this book was written for people who are not in the habit of reading. The narrative feels so puerile; like the reader can’t make the necessary intelligent connections. Also the storyline is so weak, it’s simply laughable. No reasonable person could believe a story like this.
Also note to myself I didn’t like Tanya Eby’s narration in the audio version. For some reason, her serious tone made the book even more ridiculous.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my author. I didn’t connect with anything. Writing, characters, or story. 😕

[Robbin Blow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible narration. Possible terrible writing. I can’t get past the robotic voice to find out.

[Jessica Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Widow Lake is another gripping Detective Ellie Reeves mystery set near the Appalachian Trail. While searching for a missing child Ranger Cord finds a submerged car with skeletal remains. The car belongs to a missing college student from ten years ago and the body to a member of a strange group of young men known for their obsession with murder. Ellie’s case twists and turns with the escape of a serial killer and the disappearance of new women as the ten year reunion for the college class is in full swing. Just like past books, the story throws you for a loop with unexpected twists as Ellie and Cord dive headfirst into danger to save the missing victims. Even though some of the past is hit upon, it is not an overwhelming part of the story and the book could easily be read as a standalone but Ellie and Cord’s personal story ends on a little bit of a cliffhanger. As always, the story is a compelling, page turning thriller in a series that just keeps getting better. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

oh my goodness me what have i just read.

when a young girl goes missing its all hands on deck for detective ellie reeves and her colleagues. and when skeletal remains are found where the young girl is found safe and sound

the bones are over 10 years old
then another body is found in a car that had been underwater for 10 years as well

could these two cases be connected...

wow this book gripped me right to the very last page and i was on tenterhooks and i cried real tears over this book, it grips in a way that doesnt let you go

cant wait to see what is next for ellie and her colleagues in the next book from this amazing series

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hot and sultry in Ellie’s home turf. But events are about to become stone cold as a serial killer appears to be on the loose. Ellie, Cord, and Derrick race to figure out who is committing these heinous crimes as bodies keep popping up in and around Widow Lake.
The focus wasn’t so much on Ellie’s personal life but on the characters involved in the case.
I processed the clues as the team did. The story kept me on my toes and I was happy for the ending that involved a child who just wanted to be loved.
However, I’m in agony at the cross roads Herron left with Derrick, Cord, and Ellie!!!!!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.

[Mags · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Ellie Reeves is back with a cracker of a story.

As the summer sun heats up the Appalachian Mountains and dries out the surrounding lakes. Secrets come rushing to the surface. Especially when a ten-year reunion at Widow Lake College is taking place.

And when five-year-old Betsy wonders off. A can of worms is opened. And when Betsy is found, she has a story to tell. One that has Detective Ellie Reeves worried. Particularly when Cord reports a body has been found in a car once submerged in the lake. A car that holds a child's seat.

But with no child's body found or reported missing. What could have happened to them?

And what is so important about this particular reunion at Widow Lake?

And with huge revelations and major twists and turns. This was a story that had me hooked and honestly, I could not stop reading! Which is why I would happily recommend Widow Lake and the Detective Ellie Reeves series to all.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Widow Lake. 😊

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the Detective Ellie Reeves series! Cord, Derrick and Ellie are back and on the hunt to find who is murdering and kidnapping women. How is a serial killer in prison tied to the new killings? There are so many twists and turns in this book. Every time you think you have it figured out, the author throws in another person to add to the mystery of who is the serial killer. Ellie uncovers so much more than just a simple serial killer. I would recommend if you're looking for a great series with suspense to start reading.Book #8 was another great installment in this series. Definitely would recommend 100%. Loved!

[Blender · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat! So many twists and turns while Ellie is working with the team to solve a series of horrible crimes. The ending will literally make you scream out loud! I sincerely hope Ellie gets the love she deserves… soon.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." eARC provided NetGalley and Bookouture.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finale col botto: mi viene voglia di leggere subito il libro successivo... A parte questo, complimenti all'autrice: è stato ben presto chiaro che eravamo di fronte a più colpevoli, ma capire chi fossero tutti era davvero difficile e io non ci sono riuscita.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous plot, great characters and a can't put down until you've read it all story.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy

5/5

[jane reding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow beginning, I have enjoyed other books in this series, however...

It really seems a different author wrote this book. Character development and even sentence structure were somehow lacking. I worked hard to finish this one but did read to the end.

[Samadhee Ismail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Ellie Reeves is back again with a pang in Book 8!!!

One of my favorite tropes in a thriller book is abt serial killers and this was one of them.

The book was fast paced, twists and turns in nearly every chapter and the author did a good job of making the reader feel like they are at the edge of the seat. The chapters were short which made it easier for the reader to read and I was literally hooked into the story from the beginning till the end! Overall this is a five star read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the Arc. The review is based on my honest opinion only

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story with two plot lines. Would read more in this series.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the Ellie Reeves series, I love how in each book we get to know a little more about these wonderful characters. This book was full of so many twists and turns, and that ending, can’t wait for the next book. Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for my arc.

[Barbara Lack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good read. Lots of twists and turns. It’s a large cast of characters. I really liked that it’s not your typical serial killer book. The writing is wonderful.

[Sharon Honeycutt · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at about 20%.

I hadn’t read the other books in this series, but I’m flabbergasted by the glowing reviews. It’s hard to keep track of everyone. LOTS of characters.

I couldn’t get hooked and decided to give up and move on to something else.

Also, I was listening to the Audible version. The narration was absolutely HORRIBLE. I sped it up to 1.25, hoping it would help. It didn’t. She sounds like a robot. I might give this book another chance as print/Kindle version. Or maybe I’ll try the first one in the series because of all the good reviews.

At any rate, I cannot recommend this book at all. I’m an outlier, I know. I’m just glad I bought it on sale.

[Libby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ridiculous and melodramatic. Story appears to have been written by someone who knows nothing about forensic science. None of the characters seem realistic or normal.