I know when I pick up a new book from the Bree Taggert series I will not be disappointed. I loved the continuing character development and relationships throughout. This was another interesting mystery with lots of suspects, twists and turns. Such a good read! A solid 5 star recommendation.

In this 8th installment we find Sheriff Bree Taggert and Investigator Matt Flynn working several cases of murdered, missing young women all while her department- as well as her area - is down on manpower due to the flu. It doesn't take long before Bree and Matt realize they might have a serial killer on their hands.

** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher**
#NetGalley #OnHerWatch

“When it rains, it pours” is still a popular aphorism for a reason. In the case of the latest installment in the Bree Taggart series, this also happens to be literal. It rains all through this book and figuratively rains down a great deal for Bree to deal with from the flu in the family to a serial killer stalking the county. Eight books in and I remain riveted to each installment I read and gasping for the next one.



On Her Watch, finds Bree and Matt dealing with sick kids with the flu making its rounds. Their relationship has grown so much since meeting in the first book and Matt is there to support the family in the home and work for Bree’s department on the job.



And, the job, yick! Bree is called to the scene in the woods of a body found by hikers and this leads to other bodies also dumped there. Local politics gets into the mix and the town council tries to tell her this is NOT a serial killer when she has bodies with gruesome things done wrapped up and left in the same spot. Bree has to walk a tight rope of half her staff being out with the flu and city hall trying to dip into her investigation. And, that is on top of the killer themselves sitting up and taking notice of Bree and this endangers her and those she cares for.



Bree is one of my favorite fictional characters the way she grew from her own dark childhood and those fears, went into law enforcement, took on her orphaned nephew and nieces, and now runs a good sheriff’s office. She is a strong, independent figure, competent and caring and handles the balance of work, family, and a relationship incredibly well. But, for all that, Melinda Leigh writes her so she feels relatable and human with her vulnerabilities and struggles.



All in all, this one had a few hair-raising moments with a dangerous serial killer preying on the area and it was tense time as Bree and her team had to figure out what tied all those dead women in the killer’s mind. Those who like smart small town police procedural thrillers should not hesitate to give this series a go.

I read On Her Watch (the 8th book in the Bree Taggert series) in an evening. It had been six or more months since I've read the 7th book and I had no problems remembering little details on the character's lives. The author gives subtle reminders. Do you need to have read the first seven? I don't think so, but you get more out of the story if you do.
This is a pretty standard police procedural with a female main character trying to catch a serial killer.

I always enjoy the next installment in the Bree Taggert series, and this was no exception. I like Bree and Matt working together, and their personalities make for a good story. The pacing is quick, and I find it to be a really easy and enjoyable read. There is a predictable element, and it follows a similar structure of many detective police procedurals, but sometimes that's exactly what I'm looking for in a read. I think reading this series in order would be helpful to get some necessary context for all the characters state of mind and the interplay between them all. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Melinda Leigh has done it again. She has written another engaging crime fiction novel. This is the 8th book in the Bree Taggert series. The series keeps getting better with each release. In this book, Sheriff Taggert investigates the serial murders of young women after discovering three bodies in the woods. She struggles to balance family and work responsibilities as she hunts for a killer.

Leigh’s mystery/thrillers are always enjoyable to read. Her characters are well-developed and very likable. Watching relationships evolve throughout the series is satisfying. Bree is a strong main character to whom it is easy to relate and empathize. The plot is paced well and builds suspense and tension effectively while exploring topics such as domestic violence and family dynamics.

I highly recommend this series to fans of crime fiction, specifically with female protagonists. I look forward to more by Melinda Leigh.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing me an advance reader copy of this book.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the eighth book in this series, and I have enjoyed them all. Bree is such an amazing survivor of her past and such an inspiration in her determination to right wrongs for her new family as well as for the community she lives in. Matt, her partner both in life and investigations, is once again also a key figure. I love that he respects her and her decisions.

Rain, dullness, and the sadness of a town in the grips of a serial killer do not put out the light that is provided by the ever vigilant and successful Sheriff Bree Taggert. Her newly made team of work colleagues is determined to ensure that life can be lived safely under their watch. It is very clever how the author continues to use the crimes of the past to lead to the troubles of today. Her newly made family draws closer as they face danger, and Matt's parents step up and again show Bree how it is okay to rely on and trust in others.

If you enjoy clever plotting, interesting individuals, and plenty of tension, then this book will give you a great read. If you are also invested in Bree and Matt and their family, then you will have plenty of heartwarming moments, as things get serious. I am already looking forward to the next installment!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Kidnapping and murder.

Bree is at it again. With women disappearing around them, it's up to Bree, her family, and her town to find those responsible.

This book contains family life, twists and turns you'll never see coming, and suspense that keeps you wanting to turn the pages.

I love this series and can't wait for more. The characters are complex without being overdone and the story is catching and engaging.

I really enjoy Leigh's ability to write twisted characters right alongside compassionate ones. It's a gift Leigh has, and you won't be disappointed!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is one series that I can't put down. I re-read the entire series before I started this book and fell in love with characters all over again.

Sheriff Bree Taggert didn't ask to be sheriff, thankless job that it is, however, she knows staying in town and helping to raise her sister's children is the best thing for her family. Mending fences, strengthening bonds, and falling in love makes Grey's Hollow more like home than it ever had been.

Since becoming sheriff, Bree and her boyfriend/investigator, Matt Flynn, have seen way more active investigations than she thought possible in this small town in New York. And today brings one more investigation that seemingly puts her and her family in a killer's path once again.

Determined to find those who have been murdering women, Bree and Matt start following the leads that seems to lead back to her family’s old home. When a body is found there, Bree can't help but wonder what exactly happened the night her father died.

Bree's determined to face the past and the truths it held in secret for so long. Will the past continue to haunt the future or will the serial killer succeed in stopping Bree's investigation for good?

Only time will tell...


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
From the moment three bodies were discovered by hikers in the woods, I was hooked. The story is perfectly paced, and I enthusiastically followed along as Bree and Matt investigated, eager for the next clue. The author did a great job of keeping me in the moment and stopping my mind from running ahead to solve the mystery. This meant I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns as they happened.

Among the action and the mystery we get glimpses of Bree and Matt’s romance and their home life as Bree raises her sister’s children. I really enjoyed this small amount of happiness in the middle of a frantic and dangerous murder investigation.

ON HER WATCH was an engaging mystery with a heart stopping climax. This is the eighth book in the Bree Taggert series, and I haven’t read all eight books, but you won’t need to have to enjoy this latest addition to the series. If you are a fan of romantic suspense, I’d definitely recommend ON HER WATCH and the whole series.

Book Review: On Her Watch, Bree Taggert #8 by Melinda Leigh
Published by Montlake, May 14, 2024

★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars!)

I was first introduced to "Sheriff Bree Taggert" when author Melinda Leigh's novella, "Her Second Death" (2021), was featured in an "Amazon Original Stories" collection, alongside "single sitting" contributions from thriller giants Dean Koontz, N. K. Jemisin and Alice Hoffman. "Bree Taggert" was then presented in her prior job as a homicide detective with the Philly PD, in a city where her best male friend was a tabby cat.

A compelling character.
Leigh's upstate New York Sheriff Bree Taggert brand is that of a strong female in a position of authority, tough, no nonsense, in an even keeled sort of way, with oodles of compassion and realism. She's no "Lara Croft, Tomb Raider" action hero, but rather a prescient, sensible woman who acknowledges her natural limitations. Her home is a place of refuge for the orphaned children of her tragically deceased sister, along with their many rescue pets, with her sense of empathy heightened perhaps by her own desire to save herself from her own traumatizing childhood....

// "On Her Watch", Bree Taggert #8 by Melinda Leigh (2024) //

Randolph County (fictional),
Upstate New York

County Sheriff Bree Taggert, a former Philadelphia homicide detective, finds her quiet rural bailiwick rendered into the dumping grounds of a possible serial killer(s) as the bodies of brutally slain young women are found strewn randomly.

Tensions rise as the sheriff and her team feverishly scour for clues through twists and turns, even as the normally open community find themselves keeping children indoors at dusk, turning deadbolts on doors, latching windows and securing gates, and peering at anyone within the setback of the abode with suspicion.

It becomes especially personal and harrowing for the sheriff and her household when, on that quiet morning, a cadaver strung on an overhanging tree limb falls out of the sky and smashes in the sheriff's face, onto hood of her car and as she rolls her it out of the garage.

And yet, it is this very event, along with the sheer brutality of all those senseless slayings which task readers to somewhat suspend disbelief as the thriller culminates in its final reveal and ensuing less than impressive offering of motive, means and opportunity.

Nonetheless, any weakness in the story is entirely redeemed by the author's fine writing and further development of depth and breadth of her compelling protagonist, as the series glides along.

Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Montlake, Amazon Publishing and NetGalley.

Thank you Net Galley, for this advanced reader copy of On Her Watch by Melinda Leigh!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Bree Taggert series by Melinda Leigh has been one of my favorites since I read book 1! I was beyond excited that I was approved for an ARC, and boy oh boy this one was GOOD!
I could not put it down! This is definitely my favorite in the series so far! I only reluctantly put it down to sleep and drive.
If you haven’t read this series yet, DO IT! They are all action packed with some romance and puzzles/crimes that need solving!
This one definitely had me guessing till the answers were right in front of my face 😝

A new book in the Bree Taggert series brings you a solid mystery and suspense. It reads well as a standalone but highly recommended the whole series.

The whole department is stretched thin due to flu season and two hikers finding a body couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Problem is that wasn’t the only one, two others are found close by. All died at different times so trying to identify them is important to build some leads.

When a DV victim goes missing, and the friend of one of the victims is missing leaving blood and signs of a struggle the case gets intense.

This took a turn I wasn’t expecting, and some of the puzzle pieces came together at the end perfectly. I love seeing the personal side of her life behind the cases. We get to see some side characters and even a cameo by Morgan Dane from her other series.

I’ll pretty much read anything Melinda Leigh writes but this was a great read! Coming out May 14th.

This is a great addition to the Bree Taggert series. It could be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend all the books in the series. Full of suspense, with great characters. A mystery that will keep you guessing. This book has it all. Thank you to network galley for an advanced readers copy.

I just can't get enough of the Bree Taggert series, and On Her Watch will whet my reading appetite until the next book comes out. As in all her novels, this one starts with a great hook, then some bodies are discovered, and the suspense never lets up. Bree's cat, Vader has a bit of a fun recurring role in Matt and Bree's homelife, and the dogs and horses make appearances, too.

My favorite part of the Bree Taggert books is the relationship between Bree and Matt. I enjoy seeing their love story develop and evolve, and the role of family in their lives. I especially like that the romance is very closed door, and that they take care to keep things professional when working. Melinda Leigh has allowed their friendships and families to develop into a close-knit and supportive community that works together, and in this book those relationships prove valuable.

I am eagerly anticipating book #9, can't wait to see what happens next. Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the digital ARC of On Her Watch by Melinda Leigh. The opinions in this review are my own.

What a suspenseful read that pushes so many buttons! Relationships, homelessness, strife within the families, emotions, loss and oh the strength, safety net of what a family can provide, be it blood or not. There is a serial killer and half the department is out with the flu. While this is going on Bree is feeling guilty, like most parents, not being there for Luke (her nephew) and Kayla (her niece). Matt (investigator and her significant other) has moved in with them. I love that in the midst of the killing there is still the continuing growth between Bree and Matt and the kids. Not so much growth with Vadar (cat) haha. I cheerfully followed the red herring so I was surprised with the perp. Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read another Melinda Leigh book! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #OnHerWatch #BreeTaggert #Montlake #NetGalley

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Several riveting cases for Sheriff Bree Taggert, her department and her significant other, civilian investigator Matt Flynn. She and Matt are living together along with her deceased sister’s children Luke and Kayla. Her sister Erin was murdered and if anyone understands the impacts of such tragedy, it is Bree who was there when her father murdered her mother then took his own life. When hikers find a body in the woods, the investigation will lead them to two other bodies. Do they have a serial killer in the area? Called to the scene of a possible domestic abuse situation, Bree counsels a young mother who believes that she has no other choice, but to remain in the home. When another woman is murdered, a woman very similar to the other women, Bree finally gets a connection to what may be happening and by who. Will she be able to save the latest missing woman before it is too late? Even Bree will not be prepared for the evil that has invaded her town. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Reading Bree’s series is like getting the inside scoop into law enforcement, and a bit like spying on a friend. After eight books Bree and Matt are like old friends. They have that ideal relationship, a true partnership. Personal stuff aside the murder mystery story is full of intricate details and puzzle pieces that somehow fit just perfect at the end. A hidden graveyard, missing women, and tons of rain to make things even more intense. Anyone can read this series from any book, but to truly understand Bree and her small town office it should be read from the beginning. I enjoyed an early copy from NetGalley and wrote my review voluntarily.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Montlake Publishers, and Melinda Leigh for the opportunity to read an advance copy of On Her Watch, to be published May 14, 2024. This police procedural is a Bree Taggart, Book 8, but it was fine as standalone. A serial killer is discovered when bodies begin showing up in a deserted field. As Bree investigates, she finds more clues and suddenly becomes embroiled in the serial killer’s plans. Really good read as all of Melinda Leigh’s books are. 5/5 Stars. #NetGalley #MontlakePublishers #MelindaLeigh

I did not know that this book was a book 8 in the series, however i still thoroughly enjoyed it and would go back and read the first 7 books. Sheriff Bree Taggert series By Melinda Leigh. This book starts out when 2 hikers find a dead body in the middle of the woods. Sheriff Taggert and Investigator Flynn begin the long process of finding out who the victims are and what happened to them. The body is well hidden and not visible to the naked eye, it is the killers hunting ground and wasnt meant to be disrupted. However, Taggert and Flynn are working with a lack of staff due to the flu. They must work together to get this crime solved and catch a killer before they strike again. Will they find out who it is and will they do it in time or will the killer strike again before they solve the case.

On Her Watch
by Melinda Leigh
Pub Date: May 14 2024

"On Her Watch" is a fast paced mystery with lots of action and suspense. With each twist and turn, "On Her Watch" keeps you guessing and wanting more. This is the 8th book in a series but can be read as a standalone book. I've not read the other 7 books but after reading this book I definitely plan on reading them.

Synopsis: Sheriff Bree Taggert becomes a target when she follows the twisting trail of a serial killer in a bone-chilling novel of suspense. A pair of hikers find a tarp-wrapped body in a clearing in the woods. When a search in the surrounding area yields two more, Sheriff Bree Taggert knows they’ve stumbled onto a serial killer’s dumping ground.

Many thanks to #OnHerWatch #NetGalley and #Montlake for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

As with the other Bree Taggert novels I've read I liked this one!

Would recommend this if you love a good police procedural and serial killer stories. Not sure if I've read way too many mysteries but I knew who the Big Baddie would be as soon as they were introduced to the storyline. However the red herring was a good one too and had me doubting myself.

This is fast paced and has some tense moments. We have the same crew from previous books. I love these characters and what they bring to the team: Greta, Collins, Juarez, Todd, etc they all bring their own contributions to the force and make the story work so well. AND the kids, Dana, Matt's parents, Cady, also make appearances here :)

The mystery unfolds at a good pace and we go along with Bree and her frustrations at not getting answers faster. I do love a good police procedural so this series is a winner for me.

On Her Watch is book 8 in the Sheriff Bree Taggert series by Melinda Leigh. The book starts out with 2 hikers finding a dead body in the woods. Sheriff Taggert and Investigator Matt Flynn arrive and have the hikers show them where the body is. The body isn't in a place you'd find it easily as the hikers found it when looking for a place to urinate. The body is in a camouflage wrap and it's been here for awhile. While waiting for the medical examiner to arrive Bree notices something off in the distance. She lets the dog lead her to the spot and it's a piece of camouflage wrap. They've found another body, but this one is in worse shape, and has been here longer. They have found a killer's dumping site. As they let the dog look around they find one more body that was dumped a long time ago. It's just a skeleton now and was the first body dumped.

Bree and Matt don't have their entire team available as the flu is going around their office. They will have to stay most of the night until the medical examiner finishes up and the bodies are removed. Bree and Matt now live together and care for Bree's niece and nephew. Their mother, Bree's sister, died a few years ago and Bree became their guardian. Dana helps a lot as the housekeeper, baby sitter, and cook while Bree and Matt are out working. Dana and Bree were partners back in Philadelphia. Dana was ready to retire and moved with Bree to help out. She also lives at the farmhouse.

As Bree and Matt investigate the murders, more young women go missing. The clock is ticking and they need to find these women before they're killed and dumped. Who would be taking young women and killing them? Why? It seems like the killer's timeline is shortening as he's taking women at a more rapid pace. When things get too dangerous for Bree and her family she has to move the kids. The kids both have the flu and have to be home, so they must find a safe place for them. Bree's fine with threats against her with her job, but she's not taking any chances with the kids. Will Bree's team find the killer before he can dump more bodies? Will Bree and Matt be safe? This is a fantastic entry into the Bree Taggert series and I rate it 5 stars with my highest recommendation. If you've never read a book in the series this could easily be read as a standalone book as Melinda Leigh gives background info for new readers. Don't miss this fantastic book! It's available on May 14, 2024. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced copy of On Her Watch in exchange for a fair review. #OnHerWatch

Love the Bree Taggert series. Plenty of thrills and a quick and easy read. Great characters. Enjoy the style of writing. Plenty to keep you enthralled. Look forward to the next instalment. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for chance to review it.