Still Burning by Lauren Street
Stil County Thrillers #3

~ Tension filled thrill ride filled with twists and turns from beginning to end ~ Couldn’t put it down ~

What I liked:
* That even though the book started where book two ~ Still Buried ~ must have ended, I quickly caught up and became immersed in this story
* Rita Jones: mid-thirties, left Wyoming fifteen years previously for NY, left NYPD to return as sheriff, complex, competent, bright, strong, father in a coma
* Cash Gabriel: Rita’s first love, mechanic, attractive, caring, someone hope to see more of in the future
* Rita’s team:
- Mary Lou: mans the front desk, multi-tasks, worth her weight in gold, mother-figure to Rita in the past, Jill of all trades
- Walter: looked forward to retiring and a bit of a slacker in the first book, protective of his son who was shot (probably in book two)
- Jason: most recent hire, bright, professional, sensitive, responsible, taking on more responsibilities in this book, hope to see more of him
* The women that needed help and the help they received from Rita
* The complex twisted plot with red herrings, the setting of Wyoming, the pacing, that I was surprised by more than one plot twist even though I had read the end of the book early on
* Rita’s ability to compartmentalize, follow trails, find people, solve puzzles, rally support, and get the job done
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The callousness of some and the ease with which a death could be ordered and then carried out by henchmen
* The pain of losses felt by more than one in this book
* Having to wait for the next book and having missed book two

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I found this story confusing and hard to follow at times because there are so many moving parts and players to keep track. There is plenty of action and underneath a layer of deceit and revenge. Sheriff Rita Jonas and her capable team finally put all the pieces together!

I could not stop reading this book. I had to find out what happens. Even though it’s told in only one point of view. Lots of errors. No steam. And I was confused over half the time. If you don’t read the ones before this, you won’t know what’s going on. There is a cliffhanger. I really don’t know what to say. But I will read the next one to see what happens next.

Sheriff Rita Jonas is hunting for the person that decapitated a man, shot at a teenager and killed another one, plus her father is in a coma and doesn’t believe he is going to make it. Rita and her deputy, Jason, are trying to figure out if it’s all connected.

* VOLUNTARILY READ AND REVIEWED FOR NETGALLEY *

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #StillBurning. This is the third book that I have read in this series, and unfortunately my least favorite. I really enjoyed the other two books but I had a really hard time staying invested in this book at some points. It felt like there were too many characters with too many plot lines and I felt confused at times on the story. However, I will certainly read more books in this series bc I need to find out what happens with Otto.

Sheriff Rita Jonas seems to always have too many irons in the fire. Still reeling from the murder of a teenager and the wounding of her colleague Walter's son, a dead body is found in a home. It's a gruesome murder scene, and Rita is bound and determined to find answers. While Walter is spending time with his son, Jason and Rita find themselves overwhelmed with murders and arson, so she asks for a temporary officer to help with the load. A string of bizarre incidents keeps Rita and her team searching for clues. Meanwhile, Rita's father is hospitalized after a stroke with little hope of waking up, and her on-again/off-again relationship with Cash is impacted by the return of his ex-wife and the connections between his dad and the crime spree. As Rita considers end-of-life issues for her dad, she manages to answer some important questions but more remain. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

This is the 3rd book in The Still County Thrillers series. While I found the book and characters interesting, I felt like I came into a conversation half way through with people talking over each other. There is no recap and no lead up. You don’t have to wait for the action.

The FMC, Rita, is a kid who left home, was a cop in NYC and then came home to be the Sheriff of her hometown, a position previously held by her father.

There are a whole lot of small town dynamics going on, some good, some bad and yet when it matters, no one seems to have the answers she and her team need.

The story felt disjointed, possibly to convey that in a murder investigation, you never know where the next answer to a question is going to take you. Trigger warning for domestic violence.

If you are a fan of the author and have read the previous two books you will probably enjoy this one. Fair warning, it does end on a cliffhanger, but the fourth book is due the end of July. I would like to thank the author, the publisher Sterling & Stone and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!

Great detective mystery series, or should I say small town female sheriff, where everyone knows everybody else and their business, and has been in each other's business. Corruption, betrayals, and big money lead to murder and secrets everywhere. A solid series that ends on a cliff to continue on ...

This book kept me on my toes from the first page. I could not put it down and I want more! The characters felt so real and it was such a crazy, engaging story that kept me wanting more. I can’t wait to read more.

In Still County, some things won’t stay buried. Others won’t stop burning. When a mild mannered accountant is found gruesomely murdered in his modest home, Sheriff Rita Jonas knows it’s no random crime. The victim had political ties to powerful men that could unravel what’s left of Still County’s fragile peace. Clues lead back to Tom Gabriel, the town’s imprisoned former kingmaker who still wields influence from behind bars. Now, Rita must walk a razor’s edge: digging into Gabriel’s past while trying not to destroy her future with his son, Cash. Sparks fly in Rita’s personal life, as a string of suspicious fires spread across the county. Each blaze is more dangerous than the last. Someone’s sending a message! Good book! This book had thrilling suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, and a few shocking twists! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this one! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!