This new installment from Jennifer Graeser Dornbush does not disappoint. It was gripping and full of suspense and mystery. I was a huge fan of the first book and was so excited when I was able to pre read and review the second!! And I loved it even more than the first. This is a bestseller for sure with the best plot twists and turns to keep you reading well into the night.

Fast paced mystery thriller.

"Societies get the criminals they deserve"

Dr Emily Hartford is devastated when her father dies of a heart attack. They have just started bonding again. On the same day as his funeral, bones are discovered when excavation starts for a new housing development and she is called in to help. Together with her childhood friend Nick Larson, who is the county sheriff, they have to figure out who was buried here and what happened to this person. What secrets are buried in this little town and who can you trust in the end?

It was 1 of those books I loved but also felt irritated with at times. It was a very fast read and I couldn't put it down but certain things felt rushed. She finds out Nick was involved with what was called a pack and immediately after her best friend phones her to tell her she found out her husband was part of the pact. She also meets up several times with Dr Payton, who was called in to help identify the body, and even invites him to meet her half sister but she always refers to him as Dr Payton. That just didn't make sense.

All in all it was a very good read and I'm maybe over critical.
You can also see that the author is very knowledgeable when it comes to forensics.
A definite 3.5 ⭐ rounded to a 4.

Thank you to #netgalley and #crookedlanebooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Easily one of my favorite books of the year! I was a huge fan after reading Jennifer Graeser Dornbush's first installment, The Coroner... so when I saw "Secret Remains" was available, I could not wait to read it. This novel picks up where the last one left off with Dr. Emily Hartford. Returning home and trying to sort out her personal and professional choices, as well as solve a mystery along the way. She's a strong, loyal, and true character... and the supporting cast from Nick to the fabulous Delia are well utilized and help maintain the strong story. By the way Ms. Dornbush ended this story, she opened the door for more Emily mysteries -- and I cannot wait to see where she takes her next!

A well thought and gripping thriller that kept me on the edge till the end.
I liked the well crafted plot, the fleshed cast of characters and the solid mystery.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

3 1/2 ⭐️‘s
Secret Remains, the second book in the Coroner’s Daughters Series, picks up the storyline right where The Coroner left off. It is definitely more of a police procedural than a mystery. While fairly predictable, I liked the journey Dornbush took the reader on to solve the case. What a breath of fresh air to read an enjoyable story that wasn’t filled with unnecessary language! There were no big twists or surprises just a rather straight forward cozy mystery that many will enjoy.

Great book. Can't wait to what Nick and Emily get into next. First Emily loses her father, and finds out she has a half sister she never knew. Next the body of a young women is found during a groundbraking at a constructio site, as the story unfolds you het a glimpse of what Nick was like in high school and how that shaped him. Emily struggles with what she should do- be a surgeon, a coroner or professor? In the end we finally learn what happened to this young women and what the next step is for these characters. When Nick brought Emily the little palm with the lights on it I knew that they should be together. would like to know if the murderer made it, or died? Can't wait for the next book in this series. I would recomend this book, you should start with the first one for a little background. I received this ebook from netgally for an honest review. I give it five stars.

When I requested this, I didn't realize it was part of the series. (Perhaps I missed that in the description) I haven't read the first book, so I found this one a bit confusing. Some plot points were quite predictable. Not a huge fan of the romance angle. It felt a bit forced and unrealistic. Just okay for me.

An interesting read, I had not read the first book in the series so I was a little lost but caught up quickly. I was a good story.

This book was just OK for me. It centers around Emily, whose father suddenly passes away, and she takes a break from her medical residency in Chicago to pick up her dad's coroner role in Michigan while she figures out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. I did not realize this was the 2nd book in a series, but though there were many references to the prior case, it read find as a standalone novel.

I found this story to be extremely predictable- the book doesn't tell you that it's Sandi's bones that have been found until you are a while in, but the synopsis spells that out from the get-go so I don't know what the point was around adding mystery there. I kept waiting for the big surprise but it never really came, and even when the story seemed to veer off in another direction, it felt like a diversion rather than an actual surprise. None of those diversions pulled me away from what it seemed like was happening, and what ended up to be true in the end.

The primary characters were somewhat likable when the author wanted them to be, but felt like she went out of her way to make sure the reader knew who they should empathize with and who they should not.

Overall, this was an OK book but will not surprise the standard mystery reader.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Dr. Emily Hartford returns home to take care of her father after his recent heart attack. Her father has served as a doctor and coroner for Freeport County for many years. Emily plans to return to Chicago to complete her surgical residency, but when bones are unearthed during an excavation, she steps in to assist County Sheriff Nick Larson. Nick believes he knows who the bones may belong to which will lead to a homicide investigation. Since Nick was a school friend of the victim and may have been the last person to see her alive, will he be considered a suspect in her disappearance and death? As the investigation continues, Emily will have to face unsettling news in her personal life from an event that happened years ago. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

A good and enjoyable suspense story. Very well written ina lovely setting. The book really keeps you on the edge of your seat.

This book was received as an ARC from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a enticing who done it story that is focused on the drama's of high school and answers the questions of who is dating who? who is involved with who? Most importantly, who killed Sandi Parkman? Reading this book reminded me of how it was back in high school and how I am blessed that cases like this did not happen and never got to the extreme. Jealousy however, was the common factor in this story on the relationships between Sandi, Nick, Tiffany and James and with their jobs now, they are all informants of the case and in Nick's situation, he is now the Sheriff and because they found his Letterman's jacket and strands of his hair, he is suspect number one. But, like all murder mysteries I have read, just when you discovered the pattern and figured out who killed Sandi, the whole case takes a huge unexpected turn that no one saw coming. For this case, I think my heart completely stopped for a minute and then regained itself as I read on. I was left breathless when I finished the book and I know our readers will appreciate the intensity of this book as well.

We will consider adding this title to our Mystery collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Good read. I enjoy this series, but this go round I was getting really irritated with the main character, Emily. She was starting to turn into a selfish, thoughtless individual, but then she redeemed herself and all is well:) Love the small town setting of this series, and the depth that the writer gives all the players. This was an interesting mystery with a somewhat gruesome conclusion, but still a page turner.

Secret Remains by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush is the 2nd book in the Coroner's Daughter Mystery series, and my first book by this author. Wow, this book had me hooked from page one. I look forward to going back and reading book one, The Coroner. Dr. Emily Hartford returned to Freeport, Michigan when her father had a heart attack a few weeks ago. When a construction crew digs up a skeleton, Emily is asked to be the coroner on the case. Nick Larson, the sheriff of Freeport, and long time friend of Emily becomes a suspect. Nick drove the victim home after school the day she disappeared 12 years ago. Emily is determined to find the truth, while making hard decisions for her future. This book is a very good mystery. I enjoyed the plot, cast of characters and this author’s writing. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. This book is highly recommended
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Thank you.

Once I started this book I could not put it down. Every step of the way I was more intrigued and had to know what happened next. I recommend reading this book if you enjoy a mystery and a story that slowly puts the pieces together.
Dr. Emily Hartford, the daughter of Freeport’s medical examiner, returns to her home town after spending many years estranged from her father. But when he has a heart attack she comes home to take care of him. In the two weeks she has been home she has helped him recover and she has helped him with a murder case. This brought back a lot of great memories from her childhood. Emily left her home town after her mother died in a car accident. She went to live with her aunt, finished high school and then went to college to become a doctor. When her father has another heart attack, Emily is left wondering why she waited so long to come home. Emily is also troubled by the final words her father spoke to her in the ambulance. Did her mother have cancer? Who was the woman her father was going to see that day?
As Emily tries to deal with the death of her father, the small town uncovers a body that needs a medical examiner. Emily steps in to try to help the town out to find out if the body is a classmate that went missing 12 years ago. Emily’s investigative efforts are challenged when the Sherriff Nick Larson, Emily’s high school sweetheart, becomes the number one suspect. Can Emily be objective and find out what happen so many years ago? Will Nick trust Emily enough to tell her the truth?
Thanks to Netgalley for complimentary copy. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

I read book 1 in this series last year as an eARC. I rated it a 3 as I enjoyed it and thought the series had a lot of potential.

The author did not let me down (and I couldn't put the book down until I finished it)!!

Loved how the characters evolved from the first book ... loved the story line ... hooked from the beginning. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.

This is definitely a series I look forward to reading again and again.

Thank you #netgalley and #crookedlanebooks for the eARC.

Emily Hartford returned home to Freeport, Michigan to be with her estranged father when he became ill, now that he has died, Emily is free to rerun to her life in Chicago and finish her training to be a surgeon. But then human remains are found, the remains of a teenage girl that disappeared 12 years earlier and with the remains is evidence that connects the dead girl to Nick Larson, the current sheriff. Emily agrees to stay on and act as coroner on the case as her father’s death has left the position empty. Could Nick have had something to do with Sandi Parkman’s death? More a cosy than a straight up thriller, this series has a resident collection of characters to both love and hate

I am not sure what I was hoping for maybe a mix of the TV show Bones and something new? The story is predicable as well as the romance. Readers will pick up on the killer right away and feel as if they are being drag alone a mystery but the characters are still working on.

The author has the ability to bring readers into her locations as if the town its self is a characters in the book.

The romance works with the story but at times isn't convincing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the advance copy of Jennifer Graeser Dornbush Secret Remains

The book started where the other hat left. Like in the first book, the author has written a captivating mystery story. The twists and turns and the well written plot keep you always fascinated. I also liked that the characters feel so real and sympatic. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book, and recommend to read it.