I enjoyed this dark twisty mystery. Bet Rivers has returned home as interim sheriff. When a body is pulled from the local lake she sets out to identify the body and solve the murder. I really enjoyed the setting and the characters. The mystery was good with lots of twists. I look for word to reading more in this series

All We Buried
A Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery
by Elena Taylor
Pub Date 07 Apr 2020
Crooked Lane Books
Mystery & Thrillers



Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of All We Buried for review:



In this dark, twisting mystery for fans of Julia Keller and Sheena Kamal, an amateur sheriff confronts the long-sleeping secrets of her small Washington State mountain town

The interim sheriff Elizabeth "Bet" Rivers has always had one repeat nightmare: a shadowy figure throwing a suspicious object into her hometown lake in Collier, Washington. In the past, she attributed it to an overactive imagination as a child. Then the report is received. There is a body floating on the surface of Lake Collier in the woods of the Cascade mountain range, within her jurisdiction. Jane Doe cannot be identified when the body is extricated and revealed. Yet someone must know the woman, so why isn't she coming forward?



Bet has filled the ill-fitting shoes of her late father and predecessor as the interim sheriff of this tiny town. Having fled the nightmare, Bet has built a life for herself in Los Angeles, but now it is time to face the tragic history of Collier. Her knowledge of the town of Collier grows as she learns more, and nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.


I give All We Buried five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I really enjoyed this start to a new series. I loved that all of the characters were so developed and interesting. My favorite character has to be the lake, though. The lake was just so eerie and spooky. Bet Rivers was a great character, too. The ending of this book took me completely by surprise. I had no idea what was coming and I loved that! So good! I can't wait to see what comes next!

After the death of her father, Bet Rivers assumes his role as interim sheriff. While she had made up her mind to move to L.A. , she’s compelled to stay in Collier after her strange recurring nightmare comes true. A woman’s body is found in the local lake, no one has been reported missing and she can’t be identified, but she must have mattered to someone. As Bet launches an investigation into the woman’s murder, she realizes that her small town is hiding some big, ugly secrets. Taylor shows us that big cities don’t have the corner on murder and mayhem

The first in a mystery series where a young woman has returned to a small town in Washington state as her dad, the small town sheriff, has recently died and she has taken his place and returned home. A professor who is in the area to research a lake in the small town finds a dead body wrapped in canvas and Bet is thrust into a murder investigation with a body that has been purposely altered to disallow identification. With a small town, there are a lot of possible culprits and there is also history with Bet and each of them!

I am a sucker for a small town mystery as I grew up in a small town and I love the dynamics that happen in a small town. With pent up history and feelings, I love that Bet as she investigates has these feelings impacting her investigation and her ability to see some of the clues. While she is also trying to still deal with the recent death of her father and her mother who passed away a long time ago in a tragic way.

The mystery in this book was self contained as they are typically in a mystery series. I appreciated that the mystery in this book had some great ups and downs and tied into Bet's feelings from the past. I am trying not to spoil, so I am vague to say that I loved what unfolded after the body was found in the lake and the road it sent Bet down.

It was hard in this book to keep the three main families straight and I wished at the beginning of reading it that I had done a post it note to keep the families and their interminglings straight.

For me part of my push to continue reading a series is a draw to the main character and I enjoyed Bet in this story and would love to know more about her. I am excited to continue this series and follow Bet as she gets her feet grounded as the sheriff and has more cases come her way to solve.

I have seen a lot of cover pages which tout that a particular book will be useful for fans of specific other authors and more often than not, I usually struggle to see the relationship. In this case, although I haven’t seen a comparison, I would say it will appeal to fans of Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh.

There is a strong but uncertain woman at the helm. She was cornered into a role she did not consider would be hers for decades. She is now the next Sheriff Rivers, one in a long line and she has a weighty mantle to bear. In the course of the narrative, she finds her footing and grows as a more mature person. Interrupted in her ruminations about her future, Bet is informed of a body. She hurries over and starts to piece things together. It is a painstaking process, and she does it diligently. We are given complete access to her thought process, and we can identify the criminal only when Bet decides to reveal the information. There is also an older story in the background which is equally gripping. Finally, it is well-told throughout the book, and it was a quick read which I can highly recommend to readers of the romantic sub-genre of thrillers. The people who formed the supporting cast are all distinct and play different roles each.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based only on my own reading experience of this book and others of its ilk.

A fun police procedural where the main character Bet was the sheriff of a small town where a wrapped body in the river was found. With absolutely no leads, it took the determination of Bet to get to the killer.

The first half was slow as the author laid down the foundation of the story, then it picked up pace as investigation started in earnest. A few twists, some secrets, and old history of the town raised the suspense of the story. Overall, a fun read.

I've been greatly enjoying the Eddie Shoes series written by Elena Taylor under the name Elena Hartwell , so I couldn't resist the chance for another mystery series set in Washington state and written by someone I already knew could put together a good story. The gorgeous cover didn't hurt, either.

Elena Taylor didn't disappoint. A little more of a police procedural and less of a lark than the Eddie Shoes stories, All We Buried is a great addition to what I think of as "small town sheriff" books: Craig Johnson, Steven F. Havill, etc. I particularly appreciated that it's the story of a young, female sheriff, one who has the usual store of personal issues to work through but as a young woman, not an aging male. Maybe she's more like Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon, but without the dark twist and the baggage, which honestly makes her more appealing to me.

The mystery is well put together, and while I dallied a bit over the opening chapters, that was because I wasn't really in the mood for murder, not because they weren't good. I let the character seep into my mind, and then I reached the tipping point... and lost a few hours of sleep. I did at one point guess the right killer, but I was ready to believe in any of several others, and the twists and turns of the story were satisfying. I'll be watching for more from Sheriff Bet Rivers.

A plus for me: the story is set in a part of the Cascade Mountains I have hiked and can easily visualize. The town is fictional, but the towns and roads that surround it are not, and I recognized them all.

My Recommendation:
A great semi-cozy mystery (I think it has more cozy elements than procedural, but it's not quite so fluffy and light as most cozies) for social distancing. Come to think of it, maybe murder mysteries are what's needed right now: read enough about normal-seeming people who've just killed someone and you'll WANT to avoid your neighbors!

I loved this small town mystery! Bet Rivers has returned to Collier and is currently the interim sheriff following her fathers death, and in a small town where nothing really happens finding a body floating on the lake really puts the sheriff and her team to the test. The body is a Jane Doe and finding out who the woman is proves to be difficult, she has no fingerprints,no ID and she wasn't from the town but I loved how the process of elimination was done, following Bet's process of deduction. The body brings up mysteries from the past, and with Bet's recurring dreams she begins to wonder if they all tie in.

The story was well thought out, executed and gripping, I loved the small town setting and the characters and can't wait to read from this series and author

This mystery was very well written. In the first part of the book we become very comfortable with the town of Collier and the people there. Then the pace picks up as the mystery unfolds. I was unable to put the book down. I hope to read more about Bet in the future.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow! This book is utterly captivating from its beautifully haunting cover design to the atmospheric story enveloped within the pages. The author captures the setting of this small Washington state mountain town in such amazing detail and interweaves its tragic existence into the narrative in such a gripping way that it essentially becomes a character of its own. The chilling nature of the glacial lake and breathtaking background of the mountains that surround this community provide fascinating and breathtaking imagery, bringing so much life to the story.

Spanning the course of a week, this is a slow-burning and well-crafted mystery that provides a compelling view into the work of a rural Sheriff's office. Not simply just a police procedural that follows the investigation of a possible murder, but also an exploration into the tangled history of prominent residents that converges in answering so many painful questions from the past. Although Bet calls Collier home, she did pursue a career in law enforcement with the LAPD before returning home to assume the role of Sheriff following her father's death. She has a lot to confront upon coming home, and her strong internal dialogue as well as her conversations with her dead father provide so much intriguing information into her personal conflicts, the powerful nature of father-daughter relationships, and grief. The author's deft storytelling created not just an unsettling and suspenseful read, but was a masterful character study on family dysfunction and the lasting pain of secrecy.

Bet is an incredibly competent and confident woman although we spend a great deal of time with her as she works through her own insecurities and misgivings. Her father may have been the Sheriff for as long as anyone can remember, but that doesn't convince her that the townspeople will accept his daughter enough to vote her into office in the upcoming election. Friends from her childhood are also suspiciously returning, each with their own torments, heightening the sense of distrust. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and maintaining their connections with each other did at times become overwhelming, especially as the climax drew near. The pacing does pick up quite nicely once the investigation gets going and clues are gradually revealed. Everything wraps up in a dramatically skillfully crafted conclusion that left me desperately swooning for more!

4.5 stars

All We Buried is the best mystery I’ve read so far this year – richly atmospheric from start to finish, layered, and a bit haunting. The characters are multi-dimensional and engaging, and there was more than one moment when I wasn’t sure who to trust other than Bet herself. And Schweitzer the dog, too, of course, who wins the honor of being one of my favorite dogs in fiction. I’m looking forward to seeing him in future books of the series nearly as much as I am Bet and all the ‘good guy’ characters (including some of the initially iffy ones) in this first installment.

The mystery in All We Buried is also very multi-dimensional, and Taylor reveals it a layer or two at a time. Never too hurried. Never too slow. Just the right amount of pacing to keep us turning the pages and completely locked into the story. And I have to confess that the plot took me by surprise more than once, and not many books do that. Absolutely stellar writing that left me sitting in stunned silence for a moment near the end.

Bottom Line: All We Buried has more of a traditional mystery feel than cozy, though there are elements of the latter as well, and I loved it! The town of Collier – particularly the lake – is as much a secondary character as the actual residents, and the rich details put readers right in the middle of it. Taylor skillfully sets the pace to allow us to become acquainted with the town, the people, and the deep-rooted mysteries coming to the surface. A fabulous read from start to finish!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

When Elizabeth (Bet) Rivers returns to a small town in Washington, it is because her father has passed away. He had been the sheriff there for many years and his last wish was she come home and fill in for him. She gave up her job as a law enforcement officer in Los Angeles, but now has second thoughts about staying in Washington, as she is up for election soon.

She feels a lot of pressure, knowing the townspeople are comparing her to her father ..and her deputy is resentful since he thought the job would go to him. And just to rub it in, he's running for sheriff against her.

When a body is found floating in Lake Collier, she investigates only to find that no one seems to know who the victim is. Determined to prove herself worthy, however, Bet must confront the warped history of Collier. The more she learns, the more she realizes she doesn't know the townspeople of Collier as well as she thought, and nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.

This well written crime fiction is filled with suspense from the very first page. Bet is a terrific character.... she has her issues, but she's feisty and determined to show what she's made of. There are twists and turns that lead to an unexpected conclusion. Hopefully, this will not be the last we see of Bet.

Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of ALL WE BURIED. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

All We Buried by Elena Taylor was an exciting tale of mystery, crime, and carrying a family legacy.

Will Bet solve this case before it gets leaked to the press?

Bet Rivers
Bet Rivers came back to help her dad out while he recovers from cancer. It turns out it was a ruse to bring his daughter back to take his place as Sheriff for their small town. A significant difference between LA to a small town. Elizabeth has been doing an excellent job with the first part of it. Well, until a dead body comes up in the local lake and that is oddly like a body she has seen in her nightmares. She now has to solve that case and figure out not only why she was killed but who she was. Bet is a proper police officer and a great sheriff.

What I like about her is that she doesn't let what happened in the past reflects on how she treats a suspect. I also like how she doesn't make the other guy running for Sheriff, that is a deputy scare her either.

The Mystery
A young lady shows up in their lake, where nothing has survived and brings up a lot of questions for this small town's deputies. Bet and her team have to try to find out who the girl is while not scaring away the rest of the tourists and not to alarm anyone either. It takes a lot of digging up of evidence for Bet and her team to figure out who did it. I admit I fell for some herrings.

Four Stars
All We Buried by Elena Taylor is an exciting tale for a cop procedural. I loved seeing how crime works from the angle of the story focusing on the cops instead of the sleuth. Ms. Taylor has a great way of doing that in this work. For that, I am giving it four stars and recommending it to anyone that wants to give Ms. Taylor's novel a try.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of All We Buried by Elena Taylor.

Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

All We Buried by Elena Taylor is about Interim sheriff Elizabeth "Bet" Rivers who has always had one repeat nightmare: a shadowy figure throwing a suspicious object into her hometown lake in Collier, Washington. For the longest time, she chalked it up to an overactive imagination as a kid. Then the report arrives. In the woods of the Cascade mountain range, right in her jurisdiction, a body floats to the surface of Lake Collier. When the body is extricated and revealed, no one can identify Jane Doe. But someone must know the woman, so why aren't they coming forward?

Bet has been sitting as the interim sheriff of this tiny town in the ill-fitting shoes of her late father and predecessor. With the nightmare on her heels, Bet decided to build a life for herself in Los Angeles, but now it's time to confront the tragic history of Collier. There are many secrets buried in this lake. A very suspenseful mystery. This book was well-written. The author keeps you in suspense until the last chapter of the book. I can’t wait to read her next book. Excellent read!! Thank you to Net Galley for send an ARC for review.

This is one of those books that I forced myself to read slower because I didn't want to leave the story. I was instantly hooked with the characters and the gorgeous setting. The author does an amazing job of painting the scenery - I felt like I could see the lake and smell the trees. The mystery was awesome - I love that there were past secrets coming to light as the current investigation unfolded. Bet is an easy-to-like character and I am looking forward to more in this series.

I downloaded this book from NetGalley from the publisher. I am voluntarily sharing my honest review.

I absolutely loved All We Buried: A Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery! If you love a good suspenseful mystery, you’ll love it too! Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers has been acting sheriff since her dad died though she’s not sure her heart is in it. She was ready to take the fast track to detective in Los Angeles, but she couldn’t abandon her dad when he asked her to come home. He passed away shortly after Bet’s return, so she felt she had no choice but to stay and honor his wishes. She’s still unsure about the future when a man comes into the sheriff’s office claiming he found a body in the lake.

Bet follows the man to the lake and the body, and from that point on, you’ll be hooked. I couldn’t stop reading this thrilling mystery! The atmosphere in the small town of Collier, Washington in All We Buried: A Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery feels dark and shadowy. It fits this book perfectly. You never know who is watching (maybe ghosts!), and things feel just out of reach. Bet isn’t sure who she can trust; however, she follows her instincts and begins to discern who she can count on in the case.

I did not want this book to end! Of course, all books have to end at some point, and I loved the ending, but it’s just so exciting! The pacing is perfect; the characters are well developed; and the mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat. I am totally invested in these characters, and I can’t wait to read another Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery!

Collier, Washington is a small former mining town of about a thousand souls. Now it caters to tourists and Bet (Elizabeth) Rivers is the acting sheriff. Her dad had been the sheriff until his death six months previous. Bet had no intention to return home but her dad knew his time was running out and he knew how to lure her back from LAPD and her plans to become a detective. Now, at the end of Summer, facing an election with her deputy as her opposition, she is at a cross roads. The Rivers family had always been the sheriff and now she was the end of the line, not yet 30 with some very big shoes to fill. The days go by until an out of towner shows up at her office to report that he had found a body in Collier Lake while he was canoeing. It was wrapped in canvas and he towed it to shore only to discover it was the body of a woman. A woman nobody claims to know. Who was she and how did she end up in the lake? Collier and its citizens have lots of secrets and they won't be revealed easily. Bet faces her first solo homicide - will she be able to find the truth? One thing becomes clear, she may have grown up in this town, where everyone knows everyone else but how much does she really know and will not knowing be dangerous?
I enjoyed the writing style, the way the words flowed was very smooth and descriptive, making me feel as though I was right there with Bet all the way through the book. The pace was slow to begin with but it gradually gathered speed leading to the second half of the mystery and its conclusion. As for the various characters of the town, there were lots of them and, at first I thought I wouldn't be able to keep them straight but I was wrong. It was just taking the time to get to know them. And their firmly hidden secrets. I enjoyed my reading time spent with Bet and I'm looking forward to more time spent with her in Collier.
My thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

It's common knowledge that everyone knows everybody and everything that happens in small town. There are no secrets. But interim Sherrif Elizabeth 'Bet' Rivers discovers that the cliché isn't true. Bet has returned to her home town of Collier, Washington to fill in for her late father. Feeling undecided about staying or returning to the LAPD, her immediate plans are determined when an unidentified body appears in the bottomless lake near town.

The first half of the book is a slow burn. Well-rounded characters are introduced. Solid-sounding police procedures are followed. Questions are raised. Town history and mysteries are hinted at. A break in the case finally pushes the plot into motion. Yet the mystery of the murder victim will not reveal its secrets easily. The plot and twists are well crafted and keep the reader guessing right up to the end.

In All We Buried, Bet has a lot on her mind. Leaving her small Washington town of Lake Collier, she works as a patrolman in Los Angeles. When her father needs chemotherapy, she returns home to run the town’s sheriff’s office as Interim Sheriff. After all, her long-term goal was always to follow in the footsteps of all her ancestors and become the Sheriff when her father retires. When a freak accident kills him, Bet decides to run for Sheriff against her only full-time deputy, Dale.

A twisty little thriller set in the dark environs of Washington state with a lake that is so dead that fish can’t even live there. When an unnamed body appears bound and floating in the lake, Sheriff Bet must discover who the victim is and who killed her. To do so, she must unravel several mysteries in multiple timelines. The atmospheric setting bumps up the creepiness factor by ten. Mixing the distant past with the equally murky present, All We Buried ties up most of the plot threads but leaves a pretty big cliffhanger at the end. I can’t wait to find the solution by reading the next Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery. 4 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.