“It could always be worse.”

Sawyer Brooks has been reeling ever since the death of her parents and the discovery of her best friend’s body in the crawl space of her familial home less than a month ago. Still dealing with the trauma of these events, she does what she always does, and throws herself into her work as an investigative reporter. When the bones of an 11-year-old girl are unearthed and 12-year-old Riley Addison is kidnapped, Sawyer can’t shake the feeling that these two crimes are connected. Along with her sister, Aria, Sawyer dives headfirst into the devastating world of missing children and makes a ghastly discovery--there have been four kidnappings of girls so similar in appearance that they could be sisters in the past five years. All Sawyer and Aria have to go on is the almost kidnapping of Paige Owens. Time is against them, but Sawyer is determined to find Riley before it’s too late.

Meanwhile, the vigilante group, referred to as The Black Wigs in the press, is in trouble. They made a deal to take care of their attackers, but how long can they keep this up before something goes wrong and one of them gets caught--or worse, killed?

This is the second book in the Sawyer Brooks series, and honestly, I can’t wait for more. While this was similar in formula to the first book, I didn’t mind it. Sometimes I just want a good thriller that feels comfortable, and Out of Her Mind definitely fits that description. I love how the book explores trauma in a realistic way. Each of the Brooks sisters expresses their trauma in distinct ways, as opposed to making it seem cookie-cutter. I loved seeing Sawyer come to terms with her trauma and admit that she may need more help than she originally thought. I also think the Black Wigs situation is really, really interesting. I think vigilante justice is a really interesting theme to explore in thrillers, and hard to do realistically (we can’t all be Batman, after all). I personally think Regan does an awesome job showing how vigilante justice can get out of hand, while still being understandable. I can’t WAIT to read the next book in this series!

I’m loving this new series starring Sawyer Brooks a crime reporter with a horrific family background we discovered in Don’t Make a Sound, the first in the series. Good news, The Black Wig Crew, , a group of vigilante women intent on getting payback from the men who wronged them is still on the go. Now there is a missing girl, kidnapped on Sacremento, and Sawyer is determined to find her before time runs out. Sawyer is a character we can all root for, a strong survivor battling her own demons while saving others from the same fate. A dark, twisty novel, just as good as the first. Where is number 3?

Sawyer is on the search for missing girls. Her and her two sisters will always suffer the consequences of what their parents put them through. Sawyer doesn’t want another girl to suffer.
Her sister Harper is up to mysterious stuff and Sawyer can’t work it out.
Along wither her boss at the newspaper, Sawyer stops at nothing to find missing Riley. She only hopes she isn’t too late.

Amazing book. I really got hooked and can’t wait for more in the Sawyer storyline.

Sawyer Brooks, an investigative journalist, suspects a link between bones of a young girl discovered in a local park and another young girl missing from the same neighborhood. Her boss allows her to look into it further when it seems several young girl around the same age have gone missing in the last 5 years. When she starts to get to closer to solving the crimes, the suspect decides to fight back and taunt Sawyer. Can she figure it out before someone she loves is involved?

Out of Her Mind, an exciting, action packed thriller, is the second book in a series and it stands alone, so you don’t need to read the first one, but I’m not sure why you wouldn’t want to! I enjoyed this one just as much as the first, if not more.

Sawyer’s sisters are also back in this installment, and she begins growing closer to one sister, Aria, while the other sister, Harper seems to be pulling away from them both. All three are still healing from the dark secrets revealed in Don’t Make a Sound, but Sawyer seems to be dealing with her issues better.

Full of suspense and twists, this is a page turner that I highly recommend.

The Second book in the Sawyer Brooks series brought me what I wanted when I finished the first. I wanted to know more about the Black Wigs. I wanted Sawyer to grow after the events of the first book. I wanted a good mystery with a good ending. I got all of that.

Taking place just a month after the first book, Sawyer's life hasn't changed much. Her story has gotten out due to the events of the first book, but I think you could read and enjoy this book without having read the first book. Sawyer is overzealous. She doesn't let things go. When a girl gets abducted she cannot stop thinking about what may have happened, what could still be happening, to Riley. An understanding of her past explains her dogged pursuit of the kidnapper. At about the same time, the remains of another girl are found in a park. They've been there for years, but the similarities in the girls convinces Sawyer there is a link between the two.

We see through the eyes of the kidnapper and the kidnapped, too. Riley is a smart and strong little girl. Bubbles is crazy. It's pretty clear that she has done this before and that this will not end well. It is hard to read at times. Unfortunately, the second Bubbles appeared in the book in front of Sawyer I said to myself, "I'll bet that's her." I still was invested in Sawyer finding the Riley before Bubbles lost it completely.

As for other characters, Sawyer's boss is a little more developed in this book than the last. I'd love for future books to explore the mentor/mentee relationship there. Derek, well he is non-existent. I'd have loved more development there but I see that it was necessary for Sawyer to grow on her own. To come into her own after the events just a month before.

The Black Wigs now....they seemed so separate in this book. There were small connections made between their story and Sawyer, but they were more of a side plot than part of the story. You want it to come together but you don't want them to be stopped. Not really. I can understand everything they are doing and part of me applauds it. Only part. I love that they make so many plans and then it becomes really obvious that these are not professionals here. It's like a slapstick, keystone cops comedy with really dark overtones.

I knew when I read the previous book that this could be a series I enjoyed. Out of Her Mind did not disappoint. Thanks to TR Ragan, Netgalley, and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC. Please read this review and others at https://readeotw.wordpress.com/2020/11/10/out-of-her-mind-by-tr-ragan/

Sawyer Brooks is a crime reporter ... and when a little girl's bones are found and another 12-year-old girl disappears, solving these cases become an obsession. And now, with the help of her sister, she has a list of missing girls ...all 10-12 years old, all blonde. A psychopath has been snatching little girls for years.

The more she investigates, the closer she gets to the memories of her own childhood. And while Sawyer will do anything to save the latest missing child ... the abductor will do whatever it takes to keep her.

This is second in a series, and can be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend reading these in order. In the first book you will meet The Crew ....There's Malice and then there's Lily, Bug. Cleo and Psycho. Years of abuse, mental, physical, sexual brought them together. Their only goal is reaching out and touching the people who are at the root of their nightmares. But not all plans turn out the way they wanted.

This author is in my top 10 favorite list ... and she never disappoints. Intricately woven plots... deftly drawn characters ... and she handles the hard issues with a delicate hand. This is a true page-turner with lots of action. Sawyer is a terrific character ...always striving to be 'normal' even with all the issues she has with her past.

Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Out of Her Mind by T.R. Ragan is the highly recommended second novel featuring crime reporter Sawyer Brooks.

When the bones of a young girl are found in Sacramento’s Land Park Sawyer is on the story for the Sacramento Independent and begins looking into all the missing girls from the area. Then twelve-year-old Riley Addison disappears and Sawyer is certain that there may be a serial kidnapper/killer of young girls working in the area. Sawyer obsessively pursues any and all leads, certain that she will uncover the psychopath responsible. Her sister Aria begins to help in the investigation. Sawyer has also been assigned the case of the Black Wigs, a group of vigilante women who have been operating in the area and taking revenge on the men who attacked them. They were The Crew in the first book and unknown to Sawyer, her sister Harper is a member of the group. The three sisters, Harper, Aria, and Sawyer, are survivors of a horrific childhood as covered in the first book, Don't Make a Sound.

Out of Her Mind follows two different story lines. We have Sawyer and her investigation and Harper and her group of vigilantes. The writing is good and the action moves quickly. You will definitely want to know what happens and see a resolution to both story lines. Alas, you will get your wish for one, but not the other, which is likely because book #3 is due out in 2021. I did enjoy reading it after I set aside a few of my feelings over the subject matter in both narrative threads. The dialogue is a little stilted and the investigation felt routine, even when new information is discovered. The characters are developed, but perhaps not as well as I would like to see, but that could be because I didn't read the first novel. It would be nice, perhaps, to have one or two main female characters who are not emotionally damaged.

This is a dark investigative thriller and the subject matter is disturbing in both story lines. That is not to imply that child abductions, abuse, rape, and violence don't happen, but perhaps this isn't a great year for such a bleak, disturbing drama. I didn't read the first novel in the series, and although some of the background information was recapped here, it still felt as if I was missing part of the story. However, this novel felt so ominous that I'm not sure if I want to peruse the first one, or at least not right now.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer.
After publication the review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Sawyer Brown is a crime reporter for the Sacramento Independent. Her and her sisters are getting over startling revelations about her parents and trying to figure out how to live a normal life. Sawyer is investigating whether a missing girl is related to other missing children cases.

Instead of this being a crime novel about a detective looking to solve a case, it is a reporter hot on the trail of trying to find an abducted young girl. While this will be a trigger for some, the book doesn’t have an excessive amount of violence.

I liked the twist on the crime novel and liked Sawyer. This is the second in the series and I didn’t read the first book. There is a secondary story line about vigilante females avenging past crimes that I suspect started in the first novel. I was able to follow the story.

I really enjoyed the story

Out Of Her Mind – T.R. Ragan

This is the second installment of the Sawyer Brooks’ series, and it is every bit as good as the Jessie Cole series, which I discovered on Netgalley in 2018! I’ve read so many fabulous books via this site lately!!

Sawyer Brooks is a crime reporter for the ‘Sacramento Independent’ and is waiting for the AM editorial meeting to get started. New to the crime beat, she is mildly perturbed that her suggestions for stories are seemingly taken by other reporters, leaving her with little to write. At meetings end she’s assigned to follow up on the story of a vigilante group that appears to be meting out their own punishment to convicted rapists. At meetings end her boss, Sean Palmer, beckons her to follow him. He’s just learned that a skeleton belonging to a child has been found, and the two head off to the scene.

Once on scene, Sawyer is able to glean from bystanders that the skeleton was that of a little girl, with remnants of clothing suggesting pink shoes and a shirt with hearts on it. As she peruses the scene, she realizes that the killer had cared about her victim and wanted her to rest in a happy place. But who was the little girl? Sawyer is determined to find out…
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Sawyer, her sister Harper is the member of a renegade group of women who call themselves The Crew. A group of 5, these women had all suffered abuse at the hands of a man at some point in their lives and are determined to avenge the wrongs done to them. They gather and quickly kidnap the man who was once a HS Quarterback, and the rapist of one of the women…

As Sawyer researches the potential identity of the skeleton found, she finds three young children from the area that have gone missing over the last several years, and yet another incident - a near abduction where the child was able to escape her abductor, a woman. Meanwhile, the news announces the disappearance of a 12-year-old child, Riley Addison, who went missing yesterday. Palmer reluctantly gives her a week to research possible links to past and present abductions.

Nearby, ‘The Crew’ has imprisoned their latest victim, Myles Davenport, in an abandoned housing development, and have plans to make him beg for mercy before killing him and leaving him to the elements. He has profusely and tearfully apologized, but then a near escape shows his true colors, as he almost kills one of the women…

As Sawyer continues her investigation, the killer senses that they may be closing in, and plants evidence as a distraction, resulting in the arrest of another. But Sawyer knows they’ve got the wrong guy, and continues to dig…can she find the answers they need to find Riley before it’s too late?

I feel like I’ve been saying this in a lot of reviews lately, but I LOVED this book! Sawyer is a sassy, upbeat character, who in spite of her childhood nightmare, has grown into a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, her sister Harper, also a victim of that same nightmare, has become a self-styled vigilante, also a presence to be wary of, with a clear understanding of her misdeeds. While Harper is very aware of Sawyer’s work, Sawyer may just be getting an inkling of Harper’s situation, as she’s been given the vigilante story to follow as well. All of this sounds like an AMAZING set up for the next book of the series…and I cannot wait!!!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

An investigative reporter with obsessive/compulsive tendencies caused by severe abuse when she was a child is investigating the disappearance of several young girls when a set of bones is found and identified as one of the missing. With help from her sisters, she will follow clues that only an abused child would recognize. As the two crimes became one, the clues point in so many different directions, it's hard to figure out who is the killer.

The main character in this series is a survivor of severe abuse during her childhood. She, along with her sisters, have become members of a group of abuse survivors who are exacting revenge from their abusers. Their actions have drawn a lot of media attention. This story runs parallel to the two crime threads, making an interesting bridge between the series volumes. It's going to be very interesting to see how the group's actions accelerate as the series matures.

This is the second novel in the Sawyer Brooks series, the first one Don’t Make A Sound i read and enjoyed in July so i was pleased to be invited by NetGalley to review Out of Her Mind.
Sawyer Brooks is an investigative reporter on a Sacramento newspaper and this book follows on a couple of weeks after the first one finished. The female vigilante group, known as the Black Wigs, are continuing with their revenge on men that have abused them and Sawyer is asked to report on this but she is also working on a story about a local girl who has disappeared, which becomes more involved when she links it to at least 5 other missing girls. At the same time she is dealing with her ongoing personal demons, making this an action packed book. It is a gripping thriller and although easy to read deals with some difficult subjects. Really liking this series so far and look forward to the next one.

Oh. My. Goodness. I absolutely could not get enough of this book. I love T R Ragan’s books and was so glad that Sawyer was back for the 2nd instalment.

I feel like she’s in the wrong job though!! Her relationship with her sisters is understandably an unusual one after their childhood but they are always there for each other. I love the fact she never gives up.

This book is fast paced, exciting, frightening and everything a thriller should be.
Awesome read definitely
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on Nov 10, 2020

Out of Her Mind was the second book in the series, for me this was a really slow read and at times I really thought about not finishing the book. Having said that the last third of the book did pick up and got more interesting. This is one of my favorite genres, but this sadly wasn't one that could keep my interest from start to finish. I always suggest others read a book for themself and make their own opinion.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review, all opinions expressed here are my own.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

a vigilante group
and abducted girls

bones have been found and it turns out to be a missing young girl

riley addison has been abducted, missing after her music lesson

sawyer is a crime reporter and herself a survivor of childhood abuse and she starts looking into the disappearances of a number of girls, could rileys disappearance be the work of the same person

an addictive storyline which will keep you on the edge of your seat right till the end...cant wait for the next book in this series, i am a big fan of this authors work

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Out of Her Mind by T.R Ragan that I read and reviewed.
This was the second Sawyer Brooks book and it picked up where the first one left off. Sawyer is trying to save the world by writing about crime and the Black Wigs are trying to make the men that ruined their lives pay. It is very interesting how the so much is going on in these books and how these peoples lives are intertwined so deeply yet they don’t know it yet and it will be very fun to see how Ragan handles this part of the series because it could be devastating for Sawyer.
As for this story it was very well written and it had a lot to keep the reader engaged.
I am giving Out of Her Mind five out of five stars!

I love crime fiction books and this book was just what I was looking for. The story line was very original and held my attention for the most part. In my opinion the book started off a little slow. Overall this was a good read.

No one holds a candle to T.R.Ragan ! Characters that are like coming home and stories to send chills up your spine! Best ever!

Sawyer Brooks, now an investigative reporter, still bears the scars of her childhood. She sets off to find out what happened to a little girl whose bones have just been unearthed- and then another child is taken. Here's the thing though- she's also part of a group known as the Black Wigs, which kidnaps abusive men. Her editor is more interested in a story about the Black Wigs, who are having their own internal problems. I missed the first book but I don't think that was a problem-this was fine as a standalone. While the Black Wigs might seem implausible, it will make you wonder whether there are groups out there like it, doing the same thing. Sawyer is an interesting character, the plot is twisty, and it's a fast paced read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

By T R Raglan
5*

Sawyer Brooks is a crime reporter for the Sacramento Independent who doesn't know how to back off when she's working on a story. With older sisters Harper and Aria, Sawyer is no stranger to the horrors which can traumatise a child for life and deals with this by obsessively checking and double checking everything she finds in order to discover the tiny clues which will blow every story wide open.

So when twelve-year-old Riley Addison disappears off the street the same day a young child's bones are found in a local park Sawyer knows she needs to act fast if she's to have a chance of saving her. With help from Aria, she begins to realise their investigation is leading towards a criminal who has been a danger far longer than anyone imagined.

While her younger sisters are busy Harper is also working to help those whose lives are blighted by trauma years after they were targeted, but in her case by sexual predators. Keeping everything to herself and obsessively cleaning to keep going she's not aware of the damage she's doing until everything changes. Now she too could find herself in danger but no-one will know why.

Not having read the first of the two Sawyer Brooks books I was concerned about finding it confusing. I needn't have worried as there are details about what happened which clearly show how the Brooks sisters arrived at this point in their lives so if you don't like spoilers I would suggest reading these in order.

I didn't mind the spoilers and thoroughly enjoyed this book even though the subject matter is traumatic and the author pulls no punches. I like Sawyer and her sisters and will definitely be on the look out for a third in the series.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions are my own and I have also purchased this book for myself.

A fast-paced, addictive crime thriller. T.R. Ragan offers readers a dynamic plot in this second installment of the Sawyer Brooks series, which can be read as a stand alone. The narrative is written from multiple perspectives, including that of the story's quite deranged antagonist. The pages fly by as the storyline is nothing less than consuming, intriguing, and down right creepy. Absolutely loved it.

A big thanks to #NetGalley and #TRRagan for the ARC of #OutofHerMind which was read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.