A fantastic, thrilling start to a new detective series - I could not put this book down! I was completely gripped by the twists and turns right until the end

I enjoyed getting to know the main protagonist, Detective Ellie Reeves, and exploring the details about her past. I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see how her character develops.

I would definitely recommend this book, and give it 4 stars.

Let me start by thanking NetGalley for providing an ARC e-book version in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
In a small town near the Appalachian Trail, I missing girl case starts a cascade that the police department will investigate unveiling years old secrets that will shake the town. It's Detective Ellie Reeves's job to find out what is happening in her home and put an end to it.

Thoughts:
This is the very first Rita Herron book I've read and I must say I really enjoyed it. Having a female lead is always a great thing to see for me. I loved Ellie's character development and I'm looking forward to reading her next outing.

The best thing about this book is the final twist's reveal! I didn't see it coming.

That said, it felt like it took a long time to get there. Although, the book starts with a very pressing matter, as all missing girl cases are, the book felt slow until the tension started boiling up at the end.

When the book ended, I felt a few things were left unaddressed. So look out for small plot holes.

Still I enjoyed the story!

An Instagram post on @FionaTheReader with this review will be published closer to the publication date of this title.

A new series with a female lead detective hunting down a serial killer. The story starts with a good momentum and keeps going in a systematic way. About two thirds of the way it loses the plot and is going around without direction. If the sheriff has everything worked out then why has he not acted on it? Ellie character could have been developed better. The conclusion feels drawn out. Overall not a bad one but with a few plot holes. 3.5 stars. Why do most of the female detective stories bring in men to save the lady?

This book was so damn good! I just couldn't put it down until I finished it!

When Penny Matthews, a seven-year-old girl goes missing in the Appalachian mountains, Detective Ellie Reeves is called straight to the scene. According to Penny’s parents, their daughter vanished after a picnic by the creek. All that’s left behind is a pink friendship bracelet etched with “Penny”.

Special Agent Derrick Fox is determined to join the hunt. His younger sister, Kim, disappeared in the same area twenty-five years ago––on the day he was meant to be watching her. He’s certain the cases are linked and that over a dozen girls have vanished in the last decade. Ellie refuses to believe that their tight-knit mountain community could be home to a deadly criminal, but even she can’t deny the similarities in the cases. And when they discover the remains of a small body buried with a carved wooden doll, it’s clear they’re up against a deadly serial killer preying on innocent little girls.

This book had me hooked on right from the start. All the characters were well written and the twists and turns were really good. I kept guessing but I couldn't get it right at all. The ending was just bang on.

It was an amazing start to a new series, I can't wait for more books in this series. Highly recommended!!

Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!!

Thank you, Bookouture, Netgalley, and the Author for allowing me to read this ARC. I liked how early on she threw in doubt about three of the characters. This was a good solid read. It was not as scary as some serial killer books I have read. The main problem for me was that I couldn't connect to Ellie. Rita Herron is a good writer, and I look forward to reading more of her books, but this book was good, not great for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc of The Silent Dolls by Rita Herron.

This follows a young 5 year old girl called Penny, Lead investigator of the case is Ellie Reeves, this brings back memories of a dark childhood. a special agent from the FBI gets called in called Derrick, and his sister disappeared like Penny did in suspicious and similar circumstances. Over the last few years he has got 10 cases together in which are similar, as they are little girls and some from the same city as well. Derrick thinks that Penny may have been a victim of a serial killer within the city and whom has been active for many years but hasn't been caught yet... He takes his concerns to Ellie and points out serious points in which has been left out in the investigation into his sister’s disappearance. The lead investigator on that case was none other than was Ellie’s dad, the current Sheriff. Ellie is torn and broken but has some questions for her dad.

Another supposed abduction of a young girl, Ellie is determined to find the girls and she, along with Derrick and the SAR teams continue searching in the most horrific conditions. When Ellie makes some disturbing and dark discoveries out searching and it becomes clear that dark family secrets could threaten to make her world upside down.

This is such a gripping and thrilling book it was amazing and had me hooked from start to finish and i read within a few hours definitely recommend

5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow what a brilliant book great start to a series. Rollercoaster of emotions. Sad, happy and very scary would definitely recommend it but i found it very jumpy in places as i was so engrossed. Dont read when on your own

Hooked from the beginning. A great story with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. The end leaves you wanting more. Can’t wait until book 2 in this new series by Rita Herron.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

The book opens with the disappearance of young Penny Matthews, aged 5, from a small town on the Appalachian Trail (AT). Detective Ellie Reeves is the lead investigator. But something about this case brings back dark and confusing memories of her own childhood. Enter Special Agent Derrick Fox from the FBI. His young sister went missing years ago in similar circumstances. But in the last few years he has put together a list of at least 10 similar cases, all disappearances of little girls and all missing on some part of the AT. He thinks Penny might just be the latest victim of a serial killer who has been active for many years. He takes his concerns to Ellie and points out serious omissions in the investigation into his sister’s disappearance. Oh my, the lead investigator on that was Ellie’s father, the current Sheriff. Ellie is torn but has some questions for her father.

Throw another apparent abduction of a young girl into the mix, add an approaching, deadly winter storm and stir. Suddenly it is all very tense. Ellie is manically determined to find the girls and she, along with Derrick and the SAR teams continue searching in the deteriorating conditions. When Ellie makes some disturbing discoveries out on the trail it becomes clear that dark family secrets could threaten to turn her world upside down. It’s a thrilling race to the finish and the outcome is never clear. This was a great story, enjoyable and suspenseful. Ellie was a strong character who would not be dictated to. Although it reaches a conclusion of sorts, there are some unresolved issues indicating a follow-up book is likely. I’ll be keen to read that one when it is available.

Detective Ellie Reeves receives a call for a young girl who seems to have gotten lost in the Appalachian mountains during a family picnic. With a severe snow storm heading into the area, they have a small window to try and find the young girl, but Ellie is determined to find her.

When an FBI agent sees the abduction on the news, he comes straight to Ellie and shares his own investigation into a dozen young girls who have gone missing over the past 25 years. The case is personal for Special Agent Derick Fox as one of the young girls was his little sister. But worse, if Derrick is correct, Ellie and the team have a serial murderer who preys on young children living amongst them.

The killer becomes emboldened and begins leaving messages for Ellie on her doorstep. He follows up with the abduction of a second young girl from town and now Ellie is giving it her all as she fights her own personal demons while she tries to find the young girls before it’s too late.

It’s been awhile since I have read a book that held me captive the way this one has. As the whodunit is revealed, and you settle in for the end of the story, out of no where you are blind sided with more. It’s hard to put this one dow until you reach that last period in the story. FABULOUS!

A great thriller. This book has lots of twists and turns and left you guessing who did it and how it was going to end. I will definitely watch for the next book in this series as I want to see how Ellie deals with her past

Detective Elle Reeves is called to the scene after a young girl disappears from a picnic in the woods. The forest is no place for a young girl and there is a storm coming. This book had so many twists and turns it was hard to keep up. I loved the story line and I have to admit I suspected some of the twists but a couple completely surprised me. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

What a fabulous start to a new series! This book was great, full of tension, darkness and lies it leads the reader into the gripping story to catch a serial killer whilst unravelling the tightly wound story of Ellie and her family. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s my first by this author and it didn’t disappoint. Although I enjoyed the whole book, I particularly liked the second half of the book where it delved into the family secrets and lies. This book was a really good read that I found hard to put down, I really wanted to keep reading late into the night. I highly recommend this book and don’t hesitate in giving it 4 stars.

Breathtaking! This book was a wild ride from the first word to the very last. Just when you think you've read the last secret...boom! Another jaw dropping revelation!