Twisted Bones is the fifteenth book in the DI Morgan Brookes series and one of my absolute favourite detective series . Right from the prologue I was hooked on the story and I knew this was going to be another page turning read in this series and I most certainly wasn’t wrong. I was frantically turning the pages on my kindle to find out who was behind these heinous crimes . I did have my suspicions of who the culprit was but as usual with Helen Phifer she has a knack of leading you down the wrong path . Another unputdownable and page turning read with a superb set of characters which make for a really great story. I can’t wait for book 16.

Twisted Bones is another fantastic entry to the Detective Morgan Brookes series by Helen Phifer. Aunt Ettie is out in the woods looking for pine to add to her candles. As she gets closer to the river where the good pine trees are, she sees something in the water. It's a body of a woman! She is horrified and shaken as she calls the police and her niece, Morgan. As Morgan and her team arrive at the scene, the woman in the water looks dressed for hiking. They assume she must've fallen into the river. until they notice bruises on her neck. This looks like a murder. Thanks to a tattoo, they are able to identify the young woman. Martha is the dead woman found in the river and she has been missing for 7 years!

As Morgan goes through cold cases from that same time she discovers another young woman was reported missing and never found. Her name is Aria Burns. When the autopsy report comes back on Martha it's discovered that she was only recently killed. Morgan has hope that Aria might still be alive if they can find her! When Morgan goes to comfort Theo who is recovering from injuries suffered in an attack, he has company. John is visiting from Theo's previous church. There's something about John and the way he looks at Morgan that makes her blood run cold and the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Why is Theo friends with a man like this? He's from the same town as the missing girls. Could he be involved?

As the investigation progresses, another body is found in almost the same spot. Aunt Ettie is the person to find the body again. Who is killing these women and putting them in the river? When one of the team vanishes the stakes are raised and the race is on to find her before it's too late. Twisted Bones is a fantastic book that you will race through to find the truth. I read the book in a day and a half and rate it 4 stars. If you love a good thriller, get this book now! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Twisted Bones in exchange for a fair review. #TwistedBones

My Review
💀☠️💀☠️💀

Another who done it, but you won't figure it out. Until the end. The twisted bones story, will have you on the edge of your seat.

The women that go missing, where they end up, how they got there, wow.

The killer is unbelievable. You would never guess whom the killer is. Or why he does what he does. Sick sadistic, person.

Detective morgan it's awesome.

Have you never read a book by this author.
well, you should her books are simply phenomenal, phenomenal phenomenal.

I simply love reading books by Helen Phifer
Thank you for another awesome story.

Twisted Bones is book 15 in the Detective Morgan Brookes series by Helen Phifer.
This was yet another great addition to the series.
I love that this book brought more spine tingling twists than the books before.
This was an entertaining, enthralling narrative with a complex yet intriguing plot.
I love the characters in this series. They are very well written and keep me so engaged.
The characters' depth and the immersive writing style create a palpable atmosphere with a relentless pace.

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

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. Another phenomenal story featuring one of my favorite characters, Detective Morgan Brookes. Helen Phifer never fails to deliver clever twists and turns that you don’t see coming with an intriguing storyline included as well. This is a series that you will want to follow and keep anticipating more, with your expectations more than reached. Bravo for another great novel!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book in an great series

being back in morgans world is amazing you just dont know what to expect or where its going to lead plus we catch up with the gang

this time its morgans aunt that calls out for help when she finds a body in the stream by her cottage and the mystery begins

poor theo is still recovering from his ordeal and isnt quite ready to face being back at work, but its a face from the past that comes calling for theo that gets morgans antenna twitching

so when another body appears again in the same place as the first body and again found by morgans aunt she has to go and see this blast from the past of theos... there just isnt something adding up....

what a ride this book was.... so many twists and turns and red herrings galore....this gang of friends are becoming family in the best possible way but do they really need to have danger at every turn.....yes they do poor morgan though she always attracts the nasty

4.5⭐

Detective Morgan Brookes is enjoying a well-deserved afternoon off at a local spa with her friend and colleague, Wendy. However, their relaxation is interrupted when Wendy receives a call for assistance at a crime scene near Morgan's Aunt Ettie's cottage in Covel Woods. Concerned for her aunt's safety and eager to be involved in the investigation, Morgan rushes to the scene.

And what she discovers is shocking.

As a body has been found in the water and the team believe it belongs to a hiker who lost their footing and fell in. However, bruises on the body suggest a far more sinister story. Especially when Morgan identifies the victim as Martha, a homeless woman who had disappeared seven years ago.

Which raises numerous questions and provides very few answers. But the last known sighting of Martha was when she was stealing nappies and baby formula, which leads Morgan to wonder if Martha had a child—and, if so, where that child might be now.

And as Morgan sifts through cold case files, she uncovers another missing woman, Aria, who vanished from the same area as Martha and Morgan believes there's a connection; and when the team receives the autopsy results, they realise that Aria might still be alive, suggesting that the killer is playing a disturbing game with them.

One Morgan is determined to stop but is he already two steps ahead?

And with red herrings, excellent pacing, and a killer I didn't see coming, Twisted Bones is another fantastic addition to the series.

I would wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone!

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. This is the fifteenth book in the Morgan Brookes series. This book picks up not long after the previous one but could be read as a standalone.

Morgan Brookes never gets a break. The poor girl picks up case after case. She begins this book at a spa day that soon gets disturbed. This latest case is just as gruesome and gritty as the rest of the series. Morgan as usual is determined and will not rest until the killer is found.

This story was gripping, from the beginning to the end. I was on the edge of my seat in suspense. Helen kept me engaged and desperate to get to the end. Another great addition to this series.

I almost feel its an injustice to an author who's taken lots of time to write their novel when I read it in one day. But when the books are as riveting as this series is its hard to put them down.
Morgan, Ben and the team are only just catching their breath from the last bout of murders in Rydal Falls when Morgans Aunt Ettie finds a body in the river beside her remote cottage. Theo is slowly recovering from his injury but is called upon to identify the body and give information about her life.
I absolutely love this series, all the characters work well together, and their softer sides are slowly brought out.
I love the banter between them all there are a few lighthearted moments in this novel which are welcome as the case and tension heighten. Another cracker from Helen Phifer
I have left my review on Goodreads, Bookmory, Storygraph, Fable, my Facebook group Fiction Addicts Book Club and my Instagram page Mrs Readalot68. I have also published my review on Amazon on publication day

First, Aunt Ella needs to cease walking by the river because bodies keep turning up.
Second, Morgan almost got a relaxing afternoon off.
Third, I love the banter among the team even if it’s a bit chilly at times….ice cold even.
Fourth, Phifer completely bamboozled me about who the sicko actually was.
Fifth, I love the vacation destination for our main couple!
Lastly, I wonder what’s going to happen with Amy and Cain….snoopy readers must know!

Hard to believe we’ve reached book 15 in this series! I’ve been hooked since the very first installment, and I’m happy to say the excitement hasn’t faded—this latest entry is just as gripping as ever. Detective Morgan dives into old cold cases, trying to connect the dots with a puzzling new investigation that keeps you guessing until the end. The plot is tense and cleverly layered, full of intrigue and unexpected turns. A must-read for long-time fans and a great reminder of why this series continues to deliver.

This is the fifteenth book in the series, but the first I've read, and what a read it was. Even though I haven't read any previous books in the serious it was easy to get into the main characters and understand the plot. I will absolutely go back to the beginning and make my way through the series after this exciting start.

The story is well plotted and pacey, keeping you guessing throughout. Morgan as the main character is smart, likeable and strong, with a good team around her. I really enjoyed the odd bit of dark humour that is interspersed through the story as a lighthearted moment to the serious subjects.

If you like a police procedural then this is for you. Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Detective Morgan Brookes Book 15

When Detective Morgan Brookes is urgently called out to her Aunt Ettie's cottage, hidden in Covel Woods, she rushes to the scene. Panicked Ettie is shaken having discovered the chilling remains of a woman in the river, one skeletal hand reaching out from the deep water. The unknown woman was dressed to walk the rugged trails of the Lake District, so Morgan's team assumed she fell into the water and was taken by the current. But thin diagonal bruises on her neck suggest something more sinister. A faded red rose tattoo helps Morgan identify her as a homeless woman named Martha who went missing seven years ago. Is this a sick individual stalking Rydal Falls or was Martha's death a pore accident.

I love Morgan Brookes, she's no scared to go above and beyond in her line of duty. She does all the things other members of her team hold back on, she's not afraid to put her life in danger. I also like her Aunt Ettie who features a bit more in this book. This is one fast-paced, twisted and gripping read. All the regular characters are back investigating, Theo, the local vicar, is still recovering from his injury, but Morgan needs him to identify a body. I can't wait to read what Morgan gets up to in the nest book.

Published 21st May 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #HelenPhifer for my ARC of #TwistedBones in exchange for an honest review.

Another great addition to the series who doesnt love Morgan Brookes. She is still as fiesty and deternined as she always was and great banter between all the characters. Looking forward to next. Thank you for advanced copy.

4.5 ⭐️
Helen is one of my favourite crime authors and I always know I am going to love her new books!
Twisted Bones did not disappoint. I just devoured this in 2 days because I didn't want to put it down.
The twists and turns in this book had me gasping and reading so fast, i just had to know how it was all going to unfold. The characters are so well written and I especially love Cain and Amy, their friendship and banter is 10/10. Morgan is so amazing though! I don't know how many times that girl can play with death... she is just incredible. Thank you Helen and Bookouture for the ARC 🫶🏼

Absolutely brilliant, couldn’t stop reading ! Lots of twists and turns. Will definitely read more books in this series. Brilliant dynamics between the characters.

Another great case for Morgan Brookes and Ben. Love this series and to see what she gets up to next. Plenty of twists and turns and suspense to keep me hooked. Well rounded characters. Great writing style. Didn’t guess the culprit which was a big plus for me. Eagerly awaiting the next adventure. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This book was highly addictive. If you need sleep I do not recommend you start this book at night because you read just one more chapter until you finish it.

This killer is beyond depraved. The entire story was chilling and horrifying, but this is what you get when you are reading about a serial killer. This killer's only downfall is that now Detective Morgan Brookes has his scent. She is like a dog with a bone once she gets started on a case.

Detective Morgan Brookes is one of my favorite fictional characters because she is highly intelligent, fearless and sassy. She has had more than her share of brushes with death, but she still looks out for the underdog and believes in justice. This one hits a little close to home for Morgan.

If you enjoy an addictive mystery with a little chill to it, you will enjoy this one.

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

“Twisted Bones” - Helen Phifer

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️

What caught my attention was the titlr of the book, “Twisted Bones.” I’m intrigued in anthropology and forensic science, so I just knew this book was the perfect fit for me. Unfortunately, while the book was a good read, it didn’t hold up to my expectations. “Twisted Bones” follows a criminal case in which a woman who is frozen shows up in a local river and the local police are trying to find out who this missing/dead woman is, which leads to finding out about another missing woman. While this is happening, there are possible suspects who are brought throughout the storyline until all of a sudden there’s a turn of events; which of course we’re all waiting to happen for anyways. I think at this point, it was just too drawn out as far as who the possible suspect was and by then, I was starting to think it was someone who was completely innocent. Since this is a series based on Detective Morgan Brookes, there was other topics brought up in the book in which I wasn’t familiar with and it left me slightly confused. This definitely had no impact on my rating, but I’d be interested in reading the series from the beginning, to learn more about Detective Morgan Brookes. Her character in “Twisted Bones” showed bravery, dedication, hard worker, and much more.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC of Helen Phifer “Twisted Bones.”

I just can't get enough of this series. As I write this review, I'm thinking, "When is the next book going to be released?" Am I addicted to Morgan Brookes? Maybe! I blame it on Helen Phifer. I enjoy all of the characters in this book. The descriptions that come out of Helen's mind are great. I can picture the fells and the path to Aunt Ettie's cottage because of the description that Helen paints. The workplace banter is great, especially given the stress that the characters are all put through. Another awesome book from the mind of Helen Phifer. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC of Twisted Bones.