Cover Image: Wildflower Graves

Wildflower Graves

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Member Reviews

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

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This is a super fun read. I really enjoyed this one!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Although you don’t need to have read Silent Dolls to enjoy Wildflower Graves, reading it would help to understand the context of this case, especially the fact that Ellie Reeves’ father has been under the scanner. Ellie is struggling to with her parents’ silence about her own adoption and the young boy who was given up by them and turned into a monster.

Now, three weeks later, Ellie is once again trying to solve the series of grisly murders of young women. They are found at various spot on the Appalachian Trail, laid out on a bed of wildflowers and with their throats slit! The killer keeps taunting Ellie with text messages. And then it gets really personal when Ellie’s fellow detective and friend, Shondra Eastwood disappears. Will Ellie be able to save Shondra?

The book is highly suspenseful and cleverly written. Just when you think that you know who the killer is, the story takes another twist!

FBI Special Agent Derrick Fox and Cord make appearances again and there’s the underlying romantic draw between Ellie and both these men.

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There's a great idea behind this story, matching murdered people with poems, and I loved it.
It's a gripping and entertaining story that kept me on the edge.
Excellent plot development, interesting characters and a mystery that kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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You just can't go wrong buying this book. This is an edge of your seat, fast-paced thriller. The writing and the storyline are superb, the characters flawed but likable. This book had so many twists and turns that I really had no idea who the murderer was. This book grabbed hold on Chapter 1 and kept me entranced until the end.

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The premise of this book was very intriguing, someone is killing women and matching them up to characters in a poem. I found the concept fascinating, particularly as the killer matches up the victims' personality traits to the poem. Overall, Wildflower Graves was an incredible read and I am looking forward to the release of the next book in the series, The Burning Girls.

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This one takes place only three weeks after The Silent Dolls, and as with that book, the author jumps right into the action and doesn’t let up. There is just a way that Ms. Herron tells a story that grabs me and doesn’t let go. Once again, the author has crafted a sinuous plot that twists its way through, winding the reader into the story. You’re missing out if you don’t get in on this series now, because if book two is any indication, there’s a lot more to come! For a detailed, no-spoiler review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book.

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2nd book for Detective Ellie Reeves series. This one she tracks down the Weekday killer.
Well written storyline. Complex Characters. Great plot and lots of twist and turns.
Don't pass this one up!
Thanks NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!

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Creepy, atmospheric, and well written all combine into a novel I couldn't put down even if I made hubby stay up late while I finished.

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After leading the investigation in finding the killer of little girls on the Appalachian Trail, Ellie Reeves is trying to cope. Cope with her parents lying to her, finding her half-brother a murder, and losing the respect of the townspeople Ellie is looking for a way to escape. Heading to the trail for a getaway of hiking Ellie's retreat is cut short when she finds a murdered woman on the path.

Could this be another serial killer? Can Ellie find the murder in time that no other victims are taken?

I love this series and find myself finishing it in a day.

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Detective Ellie Reeves has had a lot going on recently and is on leave.
While hiking in the Appalachians Ellie comes upon a dead woman’s body.
Ellie then receives text messages the first says Monday’s child is fair of face.
And there will be one each day to go with the rhyme unless Ellie stops him.
One of the women missing is Shondra she is Ellie’s friend will they find the killer before her friend is killed.
Can’t wait for the 3rd book to see what happens to Ellie
Thanks NetGalley

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We are back with Detective Tracy Reeves as she is hiking through the Appalachian Mountains and discovers a body that is resting atop a bed of daffodils, with a note sewn in to her mouth saying 'Monday's child is full of grace'.
The murderer in this chilling tale is called The Weekday Killer as each murder follows a children's poem. When Reeves is sent a picture of her work colleague, she knows she has to work fast in order to save her colleague from the same fate.
The characters throughout this story are well constructed and have a lot to add to this brilliant thriller.
The plot is so perfectly paced, it certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat and has you unable to put the book down. With twists and turns and an ever growing level of suspense, this is a fantastic read.

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This book was sent to me as an ARC from NetGalley. However, all opinions are of my own.
Before I start, I think it’s worth mentioning that I should have read ‘The Silent Dolls’ first as this is the second book in the series. Although it is connected it was okay to read on its own. The plot from before was easy enough to pick up on. Ellie, the detective, was in the limelight. Reviewing direct contact from the killer. The killer was murdered girls every day for a week using a rhyme. By Wednesday, a detective had been taken and the search really ramped up. The leads were always suspecting one person or another - two being detectives, who had secrets. But they weren’t the killer. Many reasons kept coming up for who or why the killer was doing what he was doing, it wasn’t until Ellie was taken herself that she clicked who it was behaving the killings - a cold calculated man who was weak and used women to torture them just so he could feel powerful.

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I loved The Silent Dolls so was delighted to reacquaint myself with Detective Ellie Reeves in this new thriller. Pretty much loathed by most of the residents of her small town after events in the first book and with family problems of her own Ellie is desperate to get away and heads off into the Appalachian mountains for a few days. However her getaway is cut short when she discovers the posed, obviously murdered body of a woman. And from the texts she starts receiving from the perpetrator it's clear that she may well be a target.

Wildflower Graves works great as a standalone but there are a lot of references and mentions of events in The Silent Dolls. These are explained in enough detail for the new reader but, as ever with a series, you will probably get a richer reading experience by starting at the beginning. And The Silent Dolls is fab anyway so well worth the read.

I love Ellie - she's strong, resilient and doesn't give up. She's not afraid to put herself in the way of danger, to the point of being reckless sometimes in her determination to catch the perpetrator. But we see her vulnerable side too with her confused feelings about her parents, and Special Agent Derrick Fox after previous events, her guilt over Shondra and her sadness at how she is being treated by many in the town.

Derrick Fox comes across as a brooding ball of pent up anger, but in a good way! His anger is the righteous kind, or it's his anxiety that comes out as aggression. He has a very strong sense of right and wrong and is as just as focused on finding the perpetrator as Ellie. But occasionally, just occasionally, we see a more tender side to Derrick. The characterisation in the book is brilliant - it allowed me to picture each character in my mind, fully formed. And let me tell you, I do not like Sheriff Bryce Waters. At all! I should also mention the Appalachian Mountains as they are such an integral part of this story, this series actually, and so richly described. Somewhere I'd love to visit, but only with a guide!

The story is packed with tension as Ellie seems to face danger at every turn. There are few dead ends and definitely some surprises along the way. Herron doesn't shy away from portraying violence, or its effects which might be a little off putting for some. There are a few heart stopping moments and more than once I found myself holding my breath.

Wildflower Graves is a well written, tense and exciting thriller, with an engaging, determined protagonist and a satisfyingly twisty storyline. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by Herron.

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Really enjoying this series. Ellie’s character has definitely grown with this book and I love the chemistry/awkwardness between her and Derrick. Her complicated family also really adds to the story. This is a great read full of suspense and I spent the whole book suspicious of many characters but constantly switching who I thought the bad guy was. The ending was full of drama and I definitely hadn’t predicted any of it. Shona's abduction really adds to the tension making it impossible to put down. I hope we have more of this series to look forward to.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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It took me a while to get into and read this book, I think it freaked me out a bit but I was ok with that, once I got into it it kept me guessing till the killer was revealed, I really enjoyed it and would love to read more by the author

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This is book 2 in Rita Herron’s new series starring Detective Ellie Reeves. Ellie decides to go hiking and get lost on the Appalachian Trail to get a break from the judgement of the townspeople who think she has something to do with her brother and family’s involvement in the killings from book one. She comes across a body perched on a bed of wildflower petals and a note listing the first verse of a childhood rhyme. When she gets back to an area of reception to call in the body, she receives a message that her friend and fellow officer, Shondra, is missing.

This is a great second story from this series. I couldn’t put the book down and finished it quickly! There were such great ideas planted in your head while reading that made you think you knew who was behind the killings and then it would change as more information and clues were explained. I’m really enjoying this new series from Rita Herron and can’t wait until the next book in the story comes out.


** I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review **

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This is the second book in the detective Ellie Reeves series, I loved the first book so much I was excited to see a sequel available on Netgalley!
This book is set after the events of the last book, although not essential to read the first book I would recommend it for some backstory and also because it was such a great read.
When women’s bodies are found in the mountains laid on graves of wildflowers, it becomes apparent that a serial killer is at large and is killing women one by one using the days of the week rhyme...Monday’s child is....
A colleague & friend of Detective Ellie Reeves is missing and Ellie faces a race against time to save her and herself!
I did enjoy this book, it had plenty of mystery and suspense and I look forward to reading the next instalment in the detective Reeves saga whenever that comes out!

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A fantastic read, it had me gripped throughout the story through it many twists.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Rita

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Detective Ellie Reeves is back! Wildflower Graves is the second installment in the Detective Ellie Reeves series. Once again, the Appalachian Mountains are the site for horrific murders. Women are found dead and posed in a sea of wildflower seemingly dressed for burial. The case hits close home for Ellie when the killer begins taunting her and goes a step further by abducting her colleague and friend.

I really like the character development in this story. I had quite a number of issues with Ellie in the first book. Her romantic entanglements and tendency to run the show solo put me off. However, I enjoyed following her as she worked this case. I like her partnership with Derrick and also liked how she worked and related with Cord. I also enjoyed how the author fleshed out the other support characters such as Bryce and Ellie’s family. I found myself drawn to more characters this time around as compared to the first book.

This was a dark, twisty case with an abundance of suspects. The evidence pointed to different people and had me changing my mind from one suspect to the other. Towards the end, I was frantic in my search for answers and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The reveal was unpredictable and the ending perfect for this roller-coaster of a crime thriller.

This was yet another captivating, fast-paced, twisty cop procedural. I loved everything about it and can’t wait for the third book already.

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