Detective Morgan Brookes gets called to the scene of a horrid murder that will make your skin crawl. An entire family has been slaughtered. Their bodies are found tied to the chairs of the table, and there are some body parts missing. There is an undercurrent of a possible religious motive behind the slaughter. The lady of the house, Sally, had recently shared her thoughts with her friend that someone was watching her. Can you say creepy? This is one of those books that make you want to sleep with the lights on. It actually gave me the shivers. When someone can "feel" that someone is watching them and the hairs on the back of their neck stand to attention, it is just plain creepy and scary. This is a wonderfully written police procedural/mystery that will pull you into the story from the beginning pages. The race is on from the first investigation to find out who this mysterious killer may be and what their motive is as well. This book and this series are very addictive and gripping. If you are a fan of this series, you know that the team works well together, and the characters are easy to like and get to know. Once you have a read a book or two in this series, you will feel you know them on a personal level and feel their hurts and pains. The drama, suspense and intrigue are hair raising and will make you want to hide under the covers. There are several twists in this story that will lead you to believe you have it figured out. Then you will go down another pathway and realize you have it all wrong. Helen Phifer always provides plenty of suspects and red herrings. If you are into the "creep" factor, she hit this one out of the park as the whole premise of this story will give you chill bumps. You will not be able to close the book until you finish it because it is so engrossing.

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

Helén Phifer does it again - writes the perfect story! It was impossible to put down. I could not stop reading this book! It hooked me immediately with the horribly sad story set in the past, and I wanted to find out why the story had a great significance for the main plot.

Reading about Morgan Brookes feels like going home in a very, very good way, not because of the gruesome murders, but the warmth I feel from the characters, how live they feel to me, plus the superior writing that always makes me feel like a book like this is why people read.

The first few pages that I read I literally sucked in my breath. It’s a very graphic horrific scene. I plowed ahead, knowing this new case would be a doozy for Morgan and the gang.
Vengeance, sick in the head and unhappiness are major themes. The gang is also mourning the loss of Des, but Phifer insides some light hearted moments.
The author is also giving some of the other characters more attention like Caine.
Father Theo still gives me the creeps and I’m uncertain why Amy is so prickly.
It’s another busy case for these crime busters!

4.5 stars

Their Burning Graves by Helen Phifer is the 8th in the Detective Morgan Brookes series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – Contains spoilers from previous books)
Morgan Brookes is living her dream.  She is a Detective Constable for Rydal Falls.  She works with her boyfriend, DS Ben Matthews, whom she recently moved in with.  They've discovered he has some heart issues, but things are good.  Other cast members include Amy,  Wendy, Cain, Will, Cathy and Mads.  They recently lost DC Des Black.  Their new boss is DI Mark Howard, and the jury is still out.  Their go-to Forensic Pathologist (and friend) is Declan Donnelly.  After losing her mother,  Morgan finally got to know her alcoholic step-dad, who turned out to be a good guy, but Stan is now dead.  Her biological father, Gary Marks, was a rapist and a killer.  Morgan's aunt Ettie is considered a "witch".


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Morgan is still nursing a sprained ankle from her last case, the one where they lost Des.  The team are all dealing with his loss, and even though he may have not been a favorite around the station he is missed, and some feel guilty for his death.  But right now it is just Ben, Morgan and Amy on the main team.  

They get a case with three dead family members, found sitting at their kitchen table. The neighbour called in the fire, but that isn't what killed them.  Sally and David Lawson, as well as their son Timmy, were already dead.

Everyone seems to agree that the Lawsons were the perfect family, but Morgan thinks this was personal.  Why did Sally have a crucifix around her neck, when she wasn't religious?  Why did the killer murder her family, and wait for Sally to return home so that she could see what had been done, before having the same done to her?  Is someone playing God?  This sounds like revenge, and when Morgan retraces the last few days of her life, she finds that Sally may have been stalked.  Mind you, her son was into something strange as well.

Meanwhile there is another woman who is also feeling watched.


My Opinions:
I continue to like the series.  The plots are always good, with a fairly fast pace.

Morgan is a really good protagonist, if somewhat reckless.  Although the age difference between her and Ben is a bit much, neither of them is bothered by it, and their relationship is solid.  I actually like all the characters.

The story was told from Morgan's perspective, with an occasional chapter from the point of view of the unknown killer.

Everything worked really well.

I will continue to recommend this series.  These books move quickly, and are always good.

I jumped into this series at book 8 when I had the chance to read an advance copy thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I normally like to start a series from the beginning, but was quickly drawn in to this story, and was easily able to read it despite references to an earlier book. Detective Morgan Brookes is intelligent and has great people instincts, as well as very caring. When a family is murdered she uses all of these attributes to find the killer. I enjoyed the interactions between the team of detectives and those working with them, easy but professional.
I’ve already downloaded book one and look forward to following this series as it continues.

Book 8 in the Detective Morgan Brookes seres starts out with a bang!
Can this be read as a standalone? Yes, I think it can but I highly recommend reading the complete series.
Can Detective Morgan Brookes put all the pieces together in the puzzling murders that are happening???? The mystery behind the murders just gets more and more intriguing as the case goes forward. Morgan and her team have to work fast before more murders occur.
Once again, Helen Phifer keeps you in suspense right up until the end of the book.
Highly recommended series!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Helen Phifer, for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5⭐

Detective Morgan Brookes is back, transferred out of Rydel Falls and with the team still reeling from the shocking events in Silent Angel. It's fair to say she and everyone around her is struggling.

But when a call comes in to inform Morgans old boss and boyfriend Detective Sergeant Ben Matthews of a house fire. Morgan jumps at the chance to help out.

Only it turns out there is more to the case than a simple house fire. As three bodies have been found inside, each with a missing limb. One of them a friend of Bens. And the case is made all the more shocking when the limbs are finally discovered.

But who would want to kill this picture perfect family?

That is what Morgan, Ben and the team need to find out and quick. But with little evidence to go on how are they going to find a killer who seems hell bent on vengeance.

And with plenty of twists and a killer I didn't expect. This was a very enjoyable read. That was only really spoilt by the ending. Which semed a little abrupt. But I do love Morgan and can't wait to see what she gets up to next.

I would happily recommend Their Burning Graves to crime fiction fans everywhere.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this awesome book

morgan is back and on the case.....

at the scene she is called to where a fire is raging the family are found sitting around the kitchen table but unable to move...they have been murdered in the most gruesome way

its such a close family road where normally no trouble is found but it suddenly becomes a powder keg of emotions and with more kicking off morgan is afraid that someone else is going to be targeted by a killer out for revenge...

but what are the reasons and why

morgan at her best...

Thrilling & tragic🔥

Their Burning Graves was well put together, had lots of suspense and some really tragic elements. I really got drawn into the chase for a sadistic murderer who targets a family of three with no clear motive. Ben, Morgan's boss at the police station/partner at home, runs things by the book to protect his officers. Morgan, on the other hand, is liable to bend the rules and ignore proper procedure when she's hot on the trail of a clue that could nab the killer and prevent more violence. She runs, not walks, toward danger!

But I found Morgan a very sympathetic, caring character. Prime evidence is the way she interacts with Maggie, a lonely older widow who lives near the family who is brutally killed. Morgan goes above her professional duty to make Maggie feel respected and useful and to support her when trouble migrates through the neighborhood. And her dedication to the case is unquestionable.

A really good read with enough twists to keep me guessing the killer's identity through a good part of the book. And the suspense kept going right to the climax.

There were a few more references to past events in previous books in the series than I would prefer (this is only the second in the series that I've read), but, ultimately, that did not stop me from really enjoying the book.

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

Book 8 in the utterly brilliant Detective Morgan Brooke’s series. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again this is one of my absolute favourite detective series. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I would be so engrossed that nothing else around me mattered until I got to the final chapter. Their Burning Graves is a fast paced read full of suspense and plenty of omg moments. Helen Phifer writes this series so well that as I’m reading I can just imagine all the characters as they go about their police duties and their personal lives. Roll on Book number 9 ! 5⭐️

I adore Helen Phifer's books. I have no idea how she manages to write so quickly, without it sacrificing at all on the plot or characters.
This latest installment in the Morgan Brookes is a belter. The opening scenes are shocking and wince-inducing to read, and full of suspense. The title is so memorable, I instantly will remember what the story was about for months to come.
I raced through this book in just a few days. Helen writes stories with so much drama and intrigue that the whodunit radar in you just keeps going until the end.
Just brilliant.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Their Burning Graves, the eighth novel to feature DC Morgan Brookes, set in the fictional town of Rydal Falls, Cumbria.

The Lawson family, David, Sally and son, Tim, are found dead in their home when it goes on fire. Who would want to murder a seemingly happy family? Morgan is determined to find out.

I enjoyed Their Burning Graves, which is full of twists and turns, but perhaps not as fast moving, action packed or tense as some of its predecessors. It is more about the mystery with a well concealed perpetrator and only a vague hint in the prologue about the motive.

The novel is told from various points of view with Morgan’s narrative predominating. The unnamed killer has a few scenes, mainly to confirm what the reader has already gleaned rather than to give any hints about identity or motive. With so much hidden the majority of the novel follows the investigation as Morgan and the team try to get some leverage on a theory, any theory that will get them the right result. This throws up some unexpected twists and a lot of possibilities, until Morgan latches on to an anomaly and gets a breakthrough. As ever there is a tense, action packed showdown at the end, but in this case it’s so short there’s hardly time to get excited or involved.

In my opinion Their Burning Graves is not the best novel in the series as there are loose ends that don’t get explained and a couple of events that either don’t make sense or are highly improbable, but it’s still a good read.

Another great read from Helen Phifer. SEt in the Lake district, this is one of a series and although I have read others, it would also read fine as astand alone. This is a fairly complicated murder case without very many clues as to the perpetrator but it does all come together as the book progresses and the plot is well put together. As I get to know the detective team, I like them better . There is not always a great deal of information about them, so that might be a reason to read more of the series .
All in all a great suspenseful read with a believable plot and investigation .Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Morgan Brookes is still recovering from her injuries from her last case & frustrated at not being to drive & not being part of her old team. When she & Ben come across a house fire they go round the back to see if anyone can be rescued. The sight waiting for them is one of the worst- a family with plastic bags over their heads & missing their right hands. As Morgan is on the spot from the start she finds herself back where she belongs.

I have loved this series from the start & always look forward to the next one. They could be read as stand-alones but one of the things I have enjoyed is the development of the characters & their relationships as the series goes on. This is a worthy addition to the series with an interesting variety of characters & red herrings. I can't wait till the next one! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

What a hair raising induced read from start to finish!! I have loved this series from the beginning, and I think ‘Their Burning Graves’ may be my favorite one yet!

Detective Constable Morgan Brookes and her team are called to a house fire with casualties under suspicious circumstances, but what they find is an incredibly disturbing scene. The team races to find what happened to this poor family, and why. Sally (the deceased mother) had reportedly claimed shortly before her death that she felt like she was being watched, and then another character began to feel the same way. As puzzle pieces clicked into place in this story, each revelation shocked me. I had goosebumps several times from the creep factor, and was on the edge of my seat, racing to find out the end result of this story. My ONLY complaint was that one of the main themes of the story line was explained away at the end in a quick sentence, and I felt like I needed more explanation to that part of the story.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Helen Phifer for the chance to read the ARC of this spine tingling thriller! I can’t wait to read the next installment!

Helen Phifer has created a tale filled with an atmospheric plot and oozing with suspense. Although it is part of a series featuring Detective Morgan Brooke, it can be read as a stand alone. Morgan races to a house fire where three bodies are discovered sitting round the kitchen table. The characterisation is excellent and the book flows at a steady pace and is filled with plenty of drama. I really liked the believable characterisation and I was hooked until the last page. It's an easy 5* from me and a book I would highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

A house is on fire in an upscale neighborhood; inside it is the scene of the gruesome murder of three members of a family. Detective Constable Morgan Brooks and her team are on the case. While they investigate, the perpetrator has already picked out their next target.

The Morgan Brooks series was recommended to me by a fellow bookstagrammer; it is the first of the eight that I have read. It was a fast, engrossing read; the kind of mystery I typically like. While I enjoyed it, I don’t think it completely worked as a standalone. Regarding the members of the team and their past history, I felt as though I was coming in in the middle of a story and would have liked a brief summary to catch up. Some series authors are very careful to help new readers catch up; that did not occur in this book. I also felt that there were some questions left unanswered about the case. Despite these concerns, it was a decent read and I will certainly seek out number nine when it is available

Another great crime thriller in this brilliant series.
Morgan is staying at Bens when a call comes in about a house fire. When they get there they find three people who have been murdered in another room from the fire.
Morgan and Ben are shocked at the scene before them and are determined to find the killer.
As Morgan gets deeper into the investigation it’s clear one if the victims, Sally, was feeling scared before her death and soon there’s another woman that feels like she is being watched.
Morgan needs to find the connection between the two women and when she does it’s a race against time to stop the killer from striking again.
Her colleagues joke that Morgan seems to attract danger, and that certainly seems to be true.
This is a gripping crime thriller with some nail biting final chapters.
A great book in a brilliant crime series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Detective Morgan Brookes book 8.

Still reeling from the events of the previous book, the team must pull themselves together when reports come in of a fire at a family home. When it's revealed the family were brutally murdered before the fire was set they need to work quickly before the murderer strikes again. Who would want to target a family with no known enemies?

This is a fast paced thriller that had me hooked from the prologue. I raced through it in two sittings.

Three dead bodies. A small family of three. When Detective Morgan Brookes is called to the case it is actually a scene of a fire. It doesn’t take long for evidence to reveal that the fire was set to cover over the murders. No one had a chance of surviving. In fact, as this book begins, the wife Sally is driving home and enters her home and finds it too quiet. That is when she herself is immediately killed in the same manner as her husband and son.

Morgan jumps into this case. There is a particular clue left that gives Morgan just enough information to get started on her investigation. She thinks at the very beginning that she has a strong suspect because everything begins to fall into place rather quickly. However, when a similar event occurs, she realizes her chief suspect just might not be the killer.

While Morgan is working on this investigation, her team, including her boyfriend Ben, are still dealing with the loss of one of their own. Already sensitive to the loss of one of her colleagues, Morgan finds herself very emotional about these murders and wants them solved as quickly as possible. If this means placing herself in danger in order to solve this case, then that’s what she will do.

Having been drawn into this series from the very beginning, I have found Morgan to be quite a strong protagonist. Helen Phifer displays yet another facet of Morgan’s intense personality in this book. In this latest installment, I felt that Morgan was more sensitive than she has been on other cases. I was truly riveted to this book and any lover of intrigue and drama would be as hooked as I was. Factor in a few surprises that led to a powerful conclusion and this book easily earned five stars. In fact, I loved being truly surprised at the killer’s identity. As always, I am more than eager for the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.