Wow! I could not rest until I finished this book! This is another great book in the Detective Ellie Reeves' series. Ellie is getting read to enjoy the nuptials of her friend, Mia. She is so excited, but soon the wedding turns into a nightmare instead of a happy day. The bride and her bridesmaid are both missing. Ellie finds Mia's young daughter cowering in the bathroom. If you know Ellie, you know that she is mad now! An immediate search begins and they soon find a dead body floating facedown with a veil on her head. As Ellie and her crew work to race the clock trying to find the missing bride, they learn that Mia had a lot of secrets. Secrets that she never even shared with her groom, Mark. Mia has a past that she has been hiding from. Ellie is determined to find out why. Ellie and Derrick begin their search, at which point the suspense picked up a full head of steam, which does not dwindle until the end. The suspense and mystery is the kind that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This was a very complex mystery with many layers that you had to peel back a section at time to fully understand the vileness of the people involved. There are plenty of shocking twists in this story that you will leave you wanting more. There was one twist near that the end that I NEVER saw coming! I admire the character of Ellie Reeves. She is fearless and tenacious. If I was missing, she is the one I would want to be searching for me. She is highly intelligent and fears nothing when someone's life is at stake. This is another winner for this series and for Rita Herron.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This suspense novel is absolutely riveting. With multiple layers and numerous possible scenarios, the short chapters in this book kept me totally engaged and enjoying every minute I spent with Detective Ellie Reeves. Her quest to find her friend Mia who disappeared at her own wedding is one that seems to be fruitless at first and then a frantic search for the truth when Mia’s young daughter Pixie becomes a target. Beginning with the wedding that never happened because of Mia’s disappearance, this book held me totally enthralled and guessing what was going on that she would leave her groom and her daughter behind. When the maid of honor turns up floating in the river, dead from a gunshot wound, I suspected that Mia was going to follow her in her terrible death. I just had to keep reading to find out if Mia and Pixie would be reunited and have a happily ever after. The whodunit plot element was puzzling and kept me guessing as more and more possible villains were added to the scenario. The prologue was very important although I didn’t know it until later in the book and I loved when I started figuring out how everything tied together. With red herrings galore, this book was unputdownable and a definite invitation to me to go back and read the other books in the series. This book can be read as a standalone, but the enjoyment I got from it deserves to continue by reading the previous books in the series.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

It’s spring time in Crooked Creek. A season of marriage and murder. Ellie spends an inordinate amount of time in the water in this newest release.
A bride is missing and Ellie has to figure this twisted case out. It’s insidious, horrific, and dark.
There are many strands that make up the story. It takes awhile for them to converge, but it’s an incredibly intricate story.
Ellie takes a licking and keeps on ticking, as usual.
The e ding gave me hope that the man I want Ellie to end up with will happen. However, Herron does like to toy with me and tease this out for the long haul.

Gripping suspense: full marks✔✔✔✔✔

This was one of those rare stories where I sat down to start reading and could not drag myself away! (And, believe me, I tried!) Loved poor little Pixie and Detective Ellie Reeves' single-minded pursuit of the return of Pixie's mom Mia who disappears in ominous circumstances just before her wedding. It's by no means a straight or simple chase for the answer and the crimes, both current and from the past, pile up.

This series is a favorite of mine. Strong female protagonist, compelling plots and haunting descriptions of the rural countryside that conceals dastardly doings so well.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This has a very interesting plot, but in my opinion it is spoiled by the multiple narrators. It would have had much more ‘punch’ if a woman had disappeared from her wedding with the reader being unsure. The ‘river monster’ is also unnecessary in my opinion. This is good, but would have been improved by just taking the narrative from the detectives and seeing where the story led. Over-complication has made this a three star instead of a four star.

(4.5) Auto-buy. Arc or no arc - auto buy! I love this series. Each book has its own intense mystery fraught with suspense and underlined with relationships. Relationships that have their own mystery:)This can be read as a stand alone but you miss all the layers, the growth, the set backs. I have to say the blurb here shares a lot of information. I am glad I did not read that, it meant some of what transpired was a surprise to me. WIN. As the story unfold we travel several paths that lead to one twisty heart wrenching conclusion. It also made me wonder if some of this is happening in the United States. I imagine it is. I was misled in the beginning and that always intrigues me. I love watching Elle (detective)grow and believe in herself. I am a little anxious to her love life and I think she is too! Derrick(FBI)is dealing with the continuous fall out of his partner. I am not thrilled with Derrick, I understand but I am not 100% on board. What about Cord our search and rescue. Lord what that man has gone through. We still don't have the complete story on what transpired, the darkness. I want so much for him. We also have secondary character Lola who finally opened her own eyes ( at the ending she tells Elle to wise up and open her eyes) and is on her way to a happy ending so she can continue to be a strong secondary character. Another great book that calls for a comfy chair and your cuppa. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #Thegirlintheriver #ritaherron #bookouture #netgalley

Detective Ellie Reeves is back excited to attend her friend Mia's wedding. Until the worst happens....

The bride goes missing.

And she hasn't got cold feet.

But where is she? And who was the man Mia's daughter Pixie heard before she disappeared?

That's what Ellie needs to find out and fast. Especially when the maid of honour Tori turns up dead in the river someplace Mia would always avoid.

And when Ellie and FBI Agent Derek Fox go to search Mia's house the next day. They find it ransacked and pictures of the happy couple burned.

Then Ellie is given a lead. But it's one that creates more questions than answers and when Cord calls with shocking news the case becomes even more complicated.

And with big twists, lots of shocks and surprises and a confrontation you won't expect. This was another fantastic addition to a series that has genuinely got better and better.

And with the Cord, Ellie and Derek dynamic getting more and more complicated. I truly can't wait to find out what happens next.

I would highly recommend The Girl in the River and the series itself to crime fiction fans everywhere!

The Girl in the River by Rita Herron is a highly recommended detective thriller and the seventh book in the series featuring Ellie Reeve.

Detective Ellie Reeves is at the wedding of her friend Mia Norman when the bride mysteriously disappears, leaving her four-year-old daughter Pixie behind. It soon becomes clear that Mia along with Tori, her bridesmaid, were abducted. Tori's body is found in the river, but Mia is gone. As the investigation continues, it is discovered that Mia is actually Jesse Habersham, a woman who went missing five years ago right after her wedding. This complicates the case and the investigation considerably.

In this complicated case, the chapters are short, action packed, and move quickly, so the pace is like lightening and pages will fly by. As more information is uncovered, the mystery and the questions grow, as do injuries. Everything feels like a race against time to discover what happened and why, before someone else is killed or injured. Ellie must use all her wits and determination to discover the information she needs to figure out what is going on and why it is happening in order to solve the case. There are numerous twists throughout the narrative and several times I had to set disbelief aside.

There are a lot of characters in this intricate novel and I did have to pause a couple time to figure out who was who. This is my first Ellie Reeve novel and I felt like it can be a stand alone, but there were times when I wished I had more background information on the characters and their relationships. The plethora of characters also means the development of each character was limited and it is assumed previous novels provided more character development. Of course, the appeal of the novel is the perplexing case and the adrenaline rush experienced while trying to get to the resolution.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

Detective Ellie Reeves should be enjoying the wedding of her dear friend Mia Norman. But instead of celebrating, she is frantically searching for the missing bride. Bursting through the dressing room, Ellie finds it in disarray chairs overturned, a perfume bottle shattered. Hiding in the bathroom is Mia’s six-year-old daughter Pixie, curled in a ball and sobbing her heart out. The little girl says she was locked inside when she heard a man’s voice, and her mother crying. Turning the venue upside down, Ellie’s blood turns to ice when she reaches the riverbank. Someone is dead in the rippling water, floating beside a white veil. Ellie holds her breath as she turns the body over. It belongs to Tori, Mia’s bridesmaid, a gunshot wound in her back. Near the murder scene, Ellie discovers a button from a man’s shirt, and her friend’s engagement ring. When forensics come back, the investigation takes a dark turn. DNA proves that Mia was actually Jesse Habersham, a woman who went missing five years ago.
The seventh outing for Ellie & it could easily be read on its own. Another fast paced engrossing read, I found myself drawn in at the beginning & a few breath taking hours later I’d finished it. The characters have depth & were believable & the pace is fast. There are twists & turns, revelations & drama. I was on the edge of my seat & the pages flew by. It also looks like the relatioship between Ellie, Cord & Derrick is coming to a head. Roll on the next book
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Girl in the River, the seventh novel to feature Detective Ellie Reeves of the Crooked Creek PD, in the Appalachians.

Ellie is at a wedding when the bride, Mia Norman, disappears just before the ceremony. She suspects foul play when she finds Pixie, Mia’s four year old daughter, locked in the bathroom and knows it when she finds the bridesmaid, Tori, dead in the water from a gunshot wound. Mia has been keeping secrets, she’s really Jesse Habersham, who disappeared five years ago. Why?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl in the River, which is a tight, tense and action packed read with plenty of twists and turns. It is told from multiple points of view in short chapters, which normally I find disruptive to my concentration and immersive experience, but in this case it works really well, probably because there is so much going on that the reader craves this wider perspective to keep abreast of developments. Needless to say, it also creates mystery as the reader tries to work out where all the characters fit in and what they are up to. Overall it is an addictive, page turning read.

The plot is fairly wide ranging as it expands from a missing bride into all sorts of criminal behaviour, both past and present. It might not be overly realistic, but it’s entertaining and had me turning the pages quickly, desperate to know more. I would never have guessed what lies behind it all and it’s not at all what I expected, so credit to the author for an unusual twist.

As ever it is Ellie Reeves and her determination that drives the novel. I’m beginning to think of her as a Terminator, shrugging off damage, in this case a beating, and carrying on relentlessly. Of course, she is much more human with complicated feelings that may get more complicated in future novels and an unshakable loyalty to her friends.

The Girl in the River is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I love this series! When bride Mia disappears on her wedding day,Ellie starts looking for her. This takes her to the town Red River Rock and it's secrets. Really good book. I look forward to more in this series. I thank Netgalley for the advanced copy.

This is a brilliant crime series and this is one of the best so far.
Ellie is at her friends wedding but when she doesn’t show up to say her vows, Ellie knows something is wrong.
She finds Mia’s daughter, Pixie, terrified in the bathroom but she didn’t see who took her Mum.
Ellie and Derrick begin the search for Mia and come across a nasty family who seem to be running a nearby town.
Ellie is determined to find out what’s happening in this town as all the locals seem terrified to speak to her.
With Mia missing and bodies being found, time is running out fast.
This is a brilliant crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
If you’ve not read this series then pick up book one now - you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A lively story told in very short chapters that seem to encourage you to keep reading. So ended up a quick read for me and I liked a lot of the characters especially Ellie the lead detective.

I love reading this series, it gets better with every new book. It has a great story line with fantastic characters. Once I started reading I couldn't stop

This book if my favorite in the Detective Ellie Reeves series. It focuses less on Ellie's past and instead delves deeply into the case of a missing bride. While attending her friend Mia's wedding, Ellie is stunned to discover that the wedding venue has become a crime scene. After discovering Mia's young daughter Pixie locked in the bathroom, Ellie realizes that Mia is missing. It's not long after that the body of Mia's Maid of Honor Tori is discovered. It doesn't take long for Ellie to realize that Mia's past is the key to her abduction. Will Ellie and her team be able to unravel the mystery before Mia's time runs out? Fun read that will keep you engaged!

We are pretty far into this series and the author continues to give us fresh mysteries. This one kept me gripped and the tension was high! I always read these books in one sitting, I just cannot put one down. Things are also progressing with the rest of the cast of characters and I was intrigued with Bryce this time. Very interesting things there. And that ending! It had me squealing with hope as that's where I have always wanted to see things resolve with Ellie's romantic life. Ellie has grown a lot and this book showed her doing some contemplating about the future that was really great to read as a fan.

Detective Ellie Reeves Book 7. And I think it's the best one so far.

Ellie is very excited to be attending her friend Mia's wedding. Everyone is waiting patiently for the bride to appear. But as time goes on Ellie starts to worry. Has Mia got cold feet? Setting off to the bridal suite to locate Mia and her Maid of Honour instead she finds the room in disarray and Mia's 4 year old daughter locked in the bathroom. Fearing the worst a search of the grounds are carried out. And then the devastating news a body has been found in the river.

I was gripped from page one of this book and devoured it in one day. Full of drama and emotion with a fast paced plot this book will have you hooked.

Will happily recommend to all crime genre fans.

Another great story in this series. No serial killer this time so an interesting change of storyline and much closer to Ellie. A good read.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the chance to read an advance copy of The girl in the river by Rita Herron. This is the 7th book in the Detective Ellie Reeves series, and was non stop action right from the beginning!
Ellie finds herself in the middle of a missing person case, while attending a friend's wedding, when the bride and maid of honor go missing. Ellie stumbles on to more than just a missing bride, as the clues start to unravel a huge pile of secrets; secrets that people are willing to kill over. Helping Ellie are FBI agent Derrick Fox and Ranger Cord McClain both who have feelings for her; I thought Ellie had made her decision, but the ending of this book was certainly an eye opener!

Another great instalment from the Detective Ellie Reeves series! I’m fully invested in these characters, and am hoping the ‘will they, won’t they’ side storyline for two of the characters will progress positively in the next book!