This book starts out with a somewhat graphic description of a murder. Harriet ‘Rita’ Fogarty is murdered in her own car as she leaves work one evening. Was she the intended victim or is it a case of mistaken identity with her co-worker Bobbi?

I found that there were too many strands to the story to properly get into it. There’s Bobbi’s story past and present, there’s the Investigating Officer and Case Manager’s stories, their investigation and ‘romance’ and then there are a whole host of suspects and motives.

I think that the author’s reason for these is perhaps to throw the reader off course and keep them guessing until the end but I just didn’t feel that it worked. It had the premise of being good but as I said was a little ‘too busy’ for me. That being said it wouldn’t deter me from reading other books by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

WOW what a cracking opening scene this book contained!!!! Harriett a social worker was on her way home and after getting into her car she is brutally murdered. Bobbi who was supposed to be working that night looks very like Harriet and drives the same car ....was it a case of mistaken identity or does someone have a grudge against the social service workers? It is up to Mike and Lena to find out.

This book kept me hooked the whole way through an absolutely fantastic police procedural !!!


Thank you very much to Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read and review Next To Die in return for an honest and unbiased review.

The opening of this book is great, Harriet, a social worker, is attacked and murdered as she gets in her car after a day at work. Was this a case of mistaken identity as she had been covering for her colleague, Bobbi, who was sick and drives a similar car. This is the first murder in Lake Haven for 18 years and everyone is scared. Mile Nelson and Lena Overton, are the detectives in charge of solving the case before any more murders are committed. The story has plenty of twists and turns and will leave you guessing right until the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wow! This really is a fabulous gripping serial-killer thriller.
I adore this authors descriptive writing and was hooked from the first page to the last.
It's wonderful to read an exciting thriller without the need for gruesome images or over the top descriptions to tell the tale.
The story begins with a murder and takes us on a journey that involves the lead police characters of Mike and Lena, as well as some potential victims, all of which are so well drawn, I was intrigued by the Mike and Lena relationship as well as the other characters.
I was gripped throughout with these well rounded characters that pull you in and the fascinating whodunnit that kept me guessing until the end. I thought I'd solved it....then changed my mind...then changed it again!
Did I mention how much I enjoyed it?! Wonderful.
One of those reads that I honestly struggled with...should I stay up all night, or, savour each page day by day.
I'm gutted to have finished it and looking forward to the next read from this excellent author.

Thanks so much to netgalley, bookouture and TJ Brearton for the opportunity to preview this fabulous read in exchange for my honest review.

From the bloody scene in the beginning of the book to the explosive ending, this book will not disappoint fans of T.J. Brearton. Harriet is found bloodied with multiple stab wounds and now Bobbi, her co-worker is fearful for her life since she is convinced that the killer may have actually been trying to kill her instead. Mike and Lena, the detectives on the case, are racing against the clock of a killer without a conscience, one who has a plan that they have to discover before more die. This is a taut and spine-tingling murder mystery that is hard to put down and horrifying at the same time. The detectives are portrayed as normal people who have their own problems in life but who decide that putting their lives on the line is worth it if they can save another social caseworker from a horrible death. The story of Bobbi is interesting but fades into the background against the ticking clock of the killer versus the detectives. This is a must read for fans of detective thrilllers and should be read with the knowledge that the killer is smarter than the average perpetrator and is absolutely dedicated to fulfilling his mission.

This book had it all, it was dark and dangerous, kept you guessing all the way through and had plenty of twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyed it, there was not one thing about this book that I didn't like, the story line was great and kept me interested and engaged throughout the book. this author is fast becoming one of my favourites. This book was really well written and deserves a big fat 4 stars.

It took me some time to get into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed the plot and how the story turned out.

4☆ A Fab race against time Crime Thriller!

Next to Die is enthralling, Gripping, cat and mouse chase to find the killer.

I have to say this is one of the best openings to a book I've read in ages!.
A brutal murder.
The victim slashed all over, blood splurting everywhere as she sat in her car. No chance of escaping!
Does she know the killer?
How did they get in the car?
Is there a connection?

We meet Detective Lena Overton and
Detective Inspector Mike Nelson.
They are investigating Harriet's murder.
Harriet worked for the DSS as a social worker.
There are several suspects.
Bobbi also works at the DSS with Harriet. There is one connection they both have similar cars and similar appearance. The only difference is Harriet was due to retire and Bobbi is much younger.
Mistaken identity? A possibility!

Mike was a great detective. Not only was he firm but he also had a softer side. He was passionate about his job and it showed the way he viewed evidence and suspects.
He was quick thinking. Once Mike gets an inkling he chomps at the bit to get stuck in.

After the initial shock of the gruesome murder. The story slows down somewhat.
It's not to say it loses momentum or intrigue it just allows the reader to process information. I felt like I was privalaged to information.

One thing we do learn is that on top of the list of suspects, a former DSS employee went missing a while ago and was never found. Is this a coincidence or are the cases linked?
What we do know is none of the evidence links.
Is the killer getting braver?
A race against time to stop the killer before he strikes again!!

Throughout the book you get a chance to delve into the killers mind.
The more information was leaked the more I looked for clues. The more I didn't have a clue.

Next to Die has plenty of lil twists to keep you guessing. It's not the fastest paced book but I did enjoy that as I got to process information.
I really liked the characters. Each one was perfectly placed

I think Brearton done a Fab job at making the police procedures real. You could see there was alot of research and thought put into the detective side.

Overall a Fab crime thriller that kept me on my toes, engaged and enthralled.
Definitely recommend this book.

This was a good story about two detectives who are investigating the murder of a Social Sevices worker. With very little to work with they must figure out if this victim was picked out purposely for either work or personal reasons or could this be a case of mistaken identity. I found this story to move a little slower than I would have liked but it was a good read.

I hadn’t realized that this was part of a series until I read another review. Don’t worry. It doesn’t make an iota of difference. It works fine as a stand alone.

This is a decent police procedural, although nothing special. It’s got a good premise. A social worker, who’s filling in for someone else, dies. Was she the intended target or the woman who should have been on call? And there’s another social worker that went missing ten months ago. Are the cases connected? Brearton does well keeping the reader confused. There are several suspects but none of them work for all the different scenarios the two detectives are considering.

I didn’t get a real sense of the two detectives. Yes, we get their backstories and there’s definitely interaction and sparks between them. But I just didn’t get the sense of them as three dimensional, full bodied individuals. I had a much better sense of Bobbi, a caseworker and someone involved in the case.

Unfortunately, there are also important parts of the narrative that just didn’t work for me. Things that required big leaps of faith.

So, final judgement, just ok. I can’t say I would seek out the prior books or any to follow.

My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of. this book.

this is the first book i’ve read by this author and i’ve discovered it is the 6th book in the series. i don’t usually read american based police procedural books but have to say this was a nice change.

harriet fogarty, a case worker/social worker for child protection services, is viciously attacked and murdered in her car after working a late shift covering for her sick colleague, bobbi noelle. both women drive similar cars and look similar in appearance. was this a case of mistaken identity and if so, is bobby’s life still at risk?

the story grips you immediately and i have to say gives no clue as to the culprit until right at the end keeping the reader guessing as to how and why the crime was committed.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Next to Die by T.J. Brearton Was the first book from this author, and it won't be my last. I found this book can be read as a stand alone story. Every woman’s nightmare, getting into a car on her own and there's someone in the back. Harriet a social worker is brutally attacked and murdered whilst getting ready to drive off after a long day at work. WoW what an opening to a book. Next to die is gritty and so hard to put down. I was hooked from the beginning. When you read more was this murder a case of mistaken identity. But, What a great opening!
It’s Lake Haven’s first murder in eighteen years, and the community is terrified. Detectives Mike Nelson and Lena Overton were put on the case.
But who killed Harriet? there's a long list of potential suspects,
Can they work out who’s next before the killer strikes again? Loved the ending........

Big thank you to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 5 star review.

Did not enjoy this book. I read a lot of thrillers and enjoy lots of them. But this was over long, and quite boring.

A dead woman, target or case of mistaken identity? Who can you trust? Dectectives Mike & Lena must get to the truth before there are more deaths or is it already too late?
#nextToDie#Netgalley

The book opens with the death of a social worker, a case of mistaken identity. What a great opening! The book then slows down in pace but kept me engrossed throughout. Although this book is part of a series, it is a good stand alone. Giving an insight into the work of social services as well as a police procedural. An excellent plot and super ending. I would recommend this book. Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Amazon, Goodreads and Facebook.

I am a fan of this author and have read quite a few of his books now and I have to say that they have all been really enjoyable reads - so as soon as I saw that this book, his latest was being released I knew it was one that I would want to read!

I thought that Mike Nelson and Lena Overton were great characters and I loved the relationship that they had, it really helped carry the plot forward. I enjoyed the pace, plot and writing style and I thought that they all worked really well together to make the book one I would defiantly be recommending.

Four stars from me - it is another great book from this author!

The opening to this story will definitely grab your attention and leave you wondering what will happen next and of course who is next to die. The plot isn't necessarily the most fast paced however I enjoyed how T.J. Brearton built up the characters. This way of writing the story made them more realistic and gave the reader an added connection to them. Next To Die had a good balance showing the investigation carried out by Mike and Lena but also the social services side with Bobbi. Seeing how all three go about their lives during the case and showing all the twists and turns unfold.

The story moves steadily and pulled me into the characters lives as the tension mounts towards a really thrilling conclusion. There is a little bit of romance which was interesting to see play out. As usual I tried playing detective but failed miserably! Even though it's fun to try and figure things out it's also just as worthwhile sitting back and enjoying the story come together. T.J. Brearton did a great job of keeping me on my toes as I was never too sure as to what would happen next.

Four stars from me!

With thanks to Noelle at Bookouture for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

When a social worker is found brutally murdered in her car, investigators have a long list of suspects and questions. Why would anyone want Harriet dead? Does it have to do with her job? Is there another reason someone wanted her out of the way? Or was it a case of mistaken identity and did the wrong person die? The murder has left the small town of Lake Haven reeling as nothing like this has happened in almost two decades.

Well now, if you’re looking for something that will have you guessing until the end, then this is it. I had no idea where this tale was going at all. Dead ends, twists, red herrings … I mean, never mind investigators having a long list of suspects. I had NO suspects whatsoever! Not even the tiniest clue! If I’d been a detective, they would have asked for my badge and probably wondered how I made it through the detective exams in the first place. Luckily Detectives Nelson and Overton are on the case, on the hunt for a killer before get a chance to strike again.

I can’t say I warmed all too much to the various characters but the plot was so utterly gripping that I didn’t care. Not having a particular character to root for didn’t ruin my enjoyment of this thrilling story at all. Just goes to show that your dislike of characters isn’t always the be all and end all of a book. When a plot is as compelling as this one, you’ll keep reading regardless. Lesson learned.

Not only is this a murder investigation but Next To Die also highlights a topic I never really gave much thought. How much danger do social workers put themselves in on a daily basis to keep children safe? Thought-provoking for sure and I always love it when a story makes me learn something new or makes me think.

This is another fantastic, thrilling and suspenseful book by T.J. Brearton. Personally, I feel it’s his best one yet and I look forward to whatever is next.

A very persuasive novel dealing with child protective services in the USA. I was impressed with the dept that the author went into and how well the characters gelled together.

This story really showed me what a gifted storyteller can do. A story that seems to be used a lot but can be done in a way that makes you think it is a brand new idea that hasn't been done before.

Mike the lead to the police on this case was fun to see and just interesting all around. He has a strong work ethic and he didn't expect things to come easily either.

I enjoyed the ending tremendously and am very happy to have read the book. Can't wait to see what comes next.

TJ. Brearton has written another phenomenal book in the North Country Series, number six titled Next To Die, I’ve read a couple of Brearton’s books but not a full series, I’m certainly going to look into more. Next To Die can easily be read as a standalone, there is plenty of back story to pick up and understand the inner workings of Detective Mike Nelson and his cohort Lena Overton.

Imagine a career that you settle into that no matter what you accomplish an enemy is made of you, that’s what Bobbi encounters in daily life as a social worker. A counterpart of Bobbi’s is brutally murdered and the police have the unenviable task of trawling through the past cases, trying to piece together the scenario which lead to Harriet’s death. Is it a case of mistaken identity as Bobbi was off sick and Harriet was covering for her, or is there more to it and is Bobbi next.

I quite liked Bobbi as a character I warmed to her easily, she is a bit apprehensive but also an open book when it comes to her mannerism, the anxiety she exudes is due to a past relationship but she has tried to put it behind her and carry on with her life. This has given her the strength to look to initiate a new relationship, but is her past catching up with her, is she being stalked.

Oh for the love of god Nelson needs a shake, hahaha…….. he can’t see what’s in front of his eyes, maybe he is blinded by his indecisions. I’m not going to say any more about it!

The characters even though there are quite a few are all portrayed in a way that you can easily digest which ones you will take a shine to and who you think deserves to receive the reception that befouls them. I certainly had my favourites.

Brearton opens a wormhole to a sequence of events which surrounds the social services in real life and in the narrative of Next To Die. The research pertaining to Next To Die is obvious in the way he perceives the situations a social worker can find themselves embroiled in, a lot of red tape and hoops to jump.

Next To Die is one story inside another, I tried as hard as I might to uncover the perpetuator in this police procedural, I failed, but I’m not the best detective out there, so Brearton lead me a merry dance that I was happy to participate in.

Thanks to TJ. Brearton for an amazing and unmissable police procedural in Next To Die, where I was given the chance to read an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks also to Bookouture and Noelle Holten for putting up with the mad ramblings of a book blogger.