Detective Ellie Reeves is called in when a teenage girl disappears from her room during the night. Kelsey had planned to go homecoming dress shopping the next day, no way that she would run away. Ellie is following all leads she can, friends, school … to be called by the parents that they received a picture of Kelsey posed on a bed.
While continuing the search for Kelsey, Ellie finds a similar case that happened 10 years ago, and the killer was just released from prison.
Quite the roller coaster ride.
Looking forward to reading more Ellie Reeves books.

The Sleeping Girls is book 9 in the Detective Ellie Reeves series by Rita Herron.
This is hands down one of my most favorite crime thriller series ever!
Ellie Reeves is phenomenal female lead. I just love her character and personality.
She is a great detective and stops at nothing to get it done.
I loved being back in the small town of Crooked Creek, Georgia.
This was yet another stunning installment to the series. Its fast-paced, well-written and quite twisty. The storyline itself was extremely compelling and gripping.
This addition to Ellie Reeves’ series kept me glued to my kindle til I could finish it.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is one of those series where you can count on a fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists and tugs at your emotions. At points throughout the story, we get the viewpoint of the killer which adds to the richness of the story and makes you want to find out who it is. This story had me turning the pages to learn what the connection is between recent events and a murder that happened 15 years earlier. In addition, there is the conflict Ellie is dealing with in her personal life regarding her feelings for both Agent Derrick Fox and Ranger Cord McClain.

Another brilliant crime thriller in this great series.
A teenage girl is reported missing and Ellie and the team try and track her down.
When a photo is sent to her parents, they fear the worst. They then find her body and the hunt for the killer begins.
The girl’s body was posed like a previous crime scene and with the person accused of that murder being released on parole, Ellie has some questions for him.
He says he’s innocent and did not kill his sister but will anyone believe him?
Soon two other teenagers are taken and Ellie faces a race against time to find them.
This is a gripping crime thriller that I’d highly recommend.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Kelsey Tiller is a 15 year old girl who disappeared overnight. Because of her age and the claims of neighbors who claim to have seen a young man around her window, the authorities first believe that she may have run away. Detective Ellie Reeves is the best person for the job. When Kelsey's mother receives a very disturbing picture in a text message in which it appears that Kelsey is dead, the race is on. Ellie hopes she is not dead, but she sure looks dead. This picture stirs up a memory of another dead girl (Anne Marie) posed the same way. Her brother, Darnell, was convicted of killing her. He has just been released from prison through the work of an innocence project that claims they believe he is innocent. Needless to say he is the first suspect. There is a killer hiding in the shadows.

Anne Marie's death was tragic not only due to the loss of her life, but this case destroyed a family. If Darnell is innocent, he has lost 15 years of his life for a crime he did not commit. You will ponder his innocence or guilt as this story progresses. You will be taken into the world of keyboard warriors with their vicious words and images who destroy lives in anonymity and cowardice. This will make your blood boil. When another girl disappears, Ellie and her team know they have to work fast to stop this vicious killer from taking another young life.

I love the character of Ellie Reeves. She is hard-nosed and tenacious as well as honest and professional. If I had a family member in trouble, i would want her on my side. This book had everything I crave in a terrific thriller including an addictive female lead, a dream team of investigators, a solid mystery with plenty of suspense and eeriness to give you chills and a puzzle of clues leading me through the story never believing where I was going to end up. Keep the Ellie Reeves' thrillers coming.

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

A new case has Detective Ellie Reeves remembering a similar past one, and then the plot twists begin. The author weaves the tension and flow in a way that will keep you up, reading ‘just one more chapter’. Ellie Reeves is a wonderful female lead in this police procedural. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

It took me awhile to get into the latest book in the Detective Ellie Reeves Series. I had a few situation in the story that made me wonder why the detectives didn’t pick up on clues faster.
Was I kept guessing to the end? Yes, I actually was. It was a big surprise to me.
I am hoping in the next book Ellie’s personal life gets a bit more of a positive twist. Even just a little improvement would be great :)
I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series. Which by the way, should be read in order. You really need to know the backstory to all the main characters.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Sleeping Girls by Rita Herron is a highly recommended police procedural and the ninth book in the Ellie Reeves series. Ellie is again working with FBI Agent Derrick Fox and SAR Cord McCain.

Detective Ellie Reeves from the small town of Crooked Creek in the Appalachian Mountains investigates the case of missing fifteen-year-old Kelsey Tiller in nearby Red Clay Mountain. It seems she disappeared from her bedroom, but evidence shows she went outside via her window. Neighbors say they saw her with a secret boyfriend even though she is not allowed to date. Even though Kelsey is well-liked, evidence is found of teenage cyber-bullying toward her and her two friends. Before Ellie finds Kelsey, a heartbreaking picture is sent to her mother and another girl is missing.

During this same time "Digger" Darnell Woodruff is released from prison due to the work of the Innocence Project and true crime podcaster Caitlin O'Connor. He was convicted of killing his sister ten years earlier while sleepwalking. There may be similarities between Kelsey's case and what happened years ago, but Darnell has an alibi. Could he still be the perpetrator or is something else going on in Red Clay Mountain?

The writing is very good and the drama will hold your attention throughout. Readers will know from the first chapter that someone who does not have good intentions is watching Kelsey and her two friends. The narrative switches between the perspective of different characters, including the unnamed killer, creating tension and suspense while propelling the action forward. Short chapters with the different points-of-view help keep the pace fast and interest high. The ending is very satisfying.

The ongoing attraction and the tension it creates between Ellie and Cord is a plot thread for those following the whole series. This is only my second book from the series so, to be honest, I didn't really care. I was reading for the procedural and mystery rather than any romance. Readers can jump into the series and, as I did, read The Sleeping Girls as a standalone novel for the procedural, however, if you want a more complete picture of the characters personalities and the ongoing interaction between them you might want to start at the beginning.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion. The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I've read some cracking stories already in 2024! But The Sleeping Girls has to be my favourite so far. 

As I was hooked from start to finish. So much so I read this story in just a few hours. As it was utterly compelling and I did not see the killer coming.

Add in everything else that is going on from the recently released prisoner, to the attack on a podcaster and the unresolved issues between Detective Ellie Reeves, FBI Agent Derrick Fox and SAR Cord McCain. 

This story just had it all!

And with danger around every corner, big twists and action that had me on the edge of my seat. The Sleeping Girls is a fantastic read. That I'd happily recommend to all even if you've not read the series before. As I do think it's easy enough to pick up without having to know all of the back story. But trust me when I say you'll want to catch up when you do!!

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Sleeping Girls. 😊

I honestly did not think their could be more ways to test Ellie, but here we are again. Another roller-coaster ride of emotions as her and the team chase down a killer who has target young girls. The killer may just be a young man who was recently released from jail as new facts have come to light on his cade, yet they seem very similar to the murder of his sister. This little corner of the world seems to be a hotbed for crimes against women, children, and who knows what else as we follow Ellie Reeves and her love triangle! I just have to say that I am beyond ready to see some Cord and Ellie heart to hearts happen! I've been tortured for way too many books, and the poor woman deserves more than just solving the next case. She deserves a life. Put me out of my misery! Loved it as always! Lots of thrills, action, deception, emotion, and some resolutions!

🏞Taut thriller and a love triangle: loved it!

The Sleeping Girls was everything I hoped for: a mystery killer; innocent victims; a relentless, strong female detective on the case and plenty of tense action as the police attempt to catch up to the mystery culprit who's abducting teenage girls and posing them in a manner that copies a young girl's death fifteen years before. And, as a bonus, Detective Ellie Reeves is in a romantic quandary, stuck between her feelings for two central men in her life with brief updates on their love drama surfacing throughout the story. The balance between the investigation and Ellie's personal life hit just right. The story also sheds a light on high school cyber bullying.

I love a thriller that keeps me guessing and fools me as this one did. I harbored suspicions about the same person almost until the book's climax and was proved totally off. And the author really provides an insight into the victims and their lives. I connected most with young Ruby whose family circumstances were so depressing. For me, getting to know the victim is an important element in a successful crime novel and Rita Herron did an awesome job bringing the stories of both the perpetrator and the girls he targeted to light.

Last but not least, this story features Digger, a recently released prisoner who The Innocence Project has been helping after his murder conviction over a decade earlier on questionable evidence. No sooner released than he's already under scrutiny for the recent crimes. I found his fears, frustrations and coincidental connection to Ellie's team added an interesting element to the book. And, in the action climax, thank goodness he lives up to his nickname!

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

Ellie is back and better than ever is this spine tingling novel that finds our heroine working the case of a missing teenager named Kelsey Tiller. Running parallel to Ellie's plight to crack the case is the story of Arnell, AKA Digger, Woodruff who was recently released from prison. Is Digger responsible for Kelsey's disappearance and the subsequent disappearance of Kelsey's classmates? There are some eery similatirites between the murder of Digger's sister and the disappearance of Kelsey. There's a lot for Ellie to unravel in this well plotted and shiver inspiring story! If you have been enjoying the Detective Ellie Reeves series of mysteries- this latest installment will not disappoint!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Excellent read and would recommend. Love the Ellie Reeves books, long may they continue

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Sleeping Girls, the ninth novel to feature Detective Ellie Reeves of the Crooked Creek, Georgia Police Department.

15 year old Kelsey Tiller has been abducted from her room. Ellie and FBI Agent Derrick Fox are investigating when her parents receive a photo of Kelsey that suggests she is dead. It is very similar to a 15 year old murder, where recently released Darnell Woodruff was convicted. Then another girl is abducted and their certainty about Darnell disappears.

I don’t think that I was in the mood for The Sleeping Girls as it didn’t hold my attention. I liked the plot, but I really didn’t like the execution, which has very short chapters and multiple points of view. It feels choppy and piecemeal and is not conducive to an immersive read. All the chopping and changing and bite sized chunks gave me ample opportunities to put it down.

The plot is imaginative with Darnell “Digger” Woodruff as prime suspect. The novel gives him plenty of exposure, but doesn’t really say much as he is woolly and confused in his thinking. Meanwhile Ellie and Derrick are getting frustrated at their lack of progress, but keep plugging away. There are quite a few action scenes and events before the final denouement. I don’t think that many readers will guess the whole or the why before this as it depends on late developing information. It all seems a bit fantastical to me, but so what when it’s clever and entertaining?

The saga of Ellie’s love life continues. She now knows who she wants, but there are obstacles. It is a big feature in the novel and another distraction from the investigation, so new developments on that front got a round of applause from me.

The Sleeping Girls will hold many readers captivated, but I found it hard going. 3.5*

Detective Ellie Reeves jumps right into her latest case when a teen girl goes missing. Before she even has enough clues to really search, yet another girl also disappears. Any time a case involves children, this has a a particularly strong effect on Ellie. Meanwhile, with her friend, and once hoped for love, Ranger Cord McClain, injured, Ellie finds herself rather torn. Ellie and Cord work quite well together, as she often finds herself looking for missing people, but the question as to whether or not the pair will ever get together remains uncertain. This is especially so with a very serious situation involving Cord that will no doubt impact his future. Then there is Special Agent Derrick Fox. and the undeniable bond he shares with Ellie.

There is another powerful aspect of this latest book in Rita Herron's series, and that is that readers get the killer's perspective woven into the pages of this already intense book. The way the killer gets the attention of the parents and Ellie is nothing short of chilling. Ellie is a remarkable detective and always shows a personal interest in her cases, even when things that affect her personally cause her to worry.

It is the mix of both professional and personal where Ellie is concerned that makes this book - this entire series, in fact - compelling. The girls that have gone missing are connected socially and this knowledge just might help Ellie, even though we know that the killer has murder in mind.

Although I have read and loved all of the previous books in this series, each book could work as a standalone novel. However, to know the back stories of Ellie, Cord and Derrick, reading them in order might be of great benefit. Rita Herron, bring on book 10. I can hardly wait to see what is next in store for Ellie.

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

Thanks for NetGalley and Bookouture to offer this ARC in exchange my opinion.

This book is a thrilling mystery novel that will keep me on the edge of my seats till the very end. Rita Herron does an excellent job of building suspense in this novel. The pacing is relentless, with every chapter ending on a cliffhanger, leaving me eager to turn the page and find out what happens next. She also does a fantastic job of creating a sense of fear and unease throughout the book, making it a truly gripping read. As the story progresses, there are several twists and turns that will keep me guessing until the very end. The climax is intense and action-packed, and the final reveal of the killer's identity is a shocker. In conclusion, it is a well-written and engaging thriller that will keep you hooked from the first page. Rita Herron has once again proven her prowess as a master storyteller, and this book is a must-read for fans of the mystery and thriller genre.

Having never read this author before or any of the other series books, I was afraid I’d been lost. I was happily surprised! There were a few character dynamics that I had to connect the dots on, but nothing major.
The story is set in a small town during the week leading up to Homecoming. When one girl disappears, the town quickly becomes concerned. When a second and third also disappear during a heavy rainstorm, everyone is encouraged to stay inside until the kidnapper and the girls are found.
There were some great twists in this book and I really like the story. It seemed to end abruptly but I really enjoyed the book as a whole.

This book was incredible! It held me spellbound from the beginning. I wish I'd discovered the series sooner. I will look forward to reading future instalments and strongly recommend this one. The pacing was excellent, and the characters all had depth. Bravo!

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced reading copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of The Sleeping Girls by Rita Herron. I’ve not read any of the previous books in this series. At first, I thought I was reading a Lisa Regan book. Everything is so similar. Overall the story is pretty good. I think if I had read the rest of the series first, I would have been more into it. I enjoyed the story and characters but wasn’t invested and that’s on me since I’m still new to them and haven’t seen their growth yet. If you’re a fan of Lisa Regan, you’ll definitely enjoy this series.

I love this series! So thankful for book 9! I really like Ellie and her team. I am even starting to like the sheriff a bit. I do not care for Lola much.
This had so many twist and turns and had a very exciting ending.
I hope book 10 is coming soon.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the advances copy.
I suggest you read this book!