This was a pager turner of a psychological thriller, great for a quick engaging read. It is part of a series, but can still be jumped into without getting lost.

This is book 2 in a series. A police officer in Montana teams up with a forensic psychologist to catch a killer. This was a fast, suspenseful read and I look forward to the next book

This was a great psychological thriller that I couldn't put down. Can't wait to read more from this author.

Near You is another great romantic suspense by Mary Burton. The story was fast paced and kept you wanting to read on. I wasn't sold on the relationship between Ann and Bryce, it was a bit insta-love to me but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. It's interesting being inside Ann's head as she tries to untangle the thinking and motives of the killer. Plus having to deal with her own secrets and the psychopath Elijah being around. I hope there's more to this series! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy to read and voluntarily review.

Near You was a fast-paced read with an intriguing plot following the search for a killer targeting women connected to one of the character's past.

Montana Highway Patrol officer Bryce McCabe knows he's out of his league with the latest murder of a woman who was then set on fire, a crime identical to one he still hasn't solved. Needing help to identify the killer, Bryce calls in forensic psychologist Ann Bailey to assist him. After the murdered women are connected to Elijah Weston, the man convicted of arson for the fire that nearly cost Ann her life ten years ago, Ann fears these killings are somehow connected to her. When it becomes clear the killer knows a secret from Ann's past, Ann and Bryce are in a race to find the killer before Ann becomes their next victim.

The murders proved to be an interesting plot line and when the connection to Elijah came out, I was even more curious to find out who was behind everything. At first I suspected Elijah as the characters did, but it quickly became apparent that may not be the case. Elijah is a strange person and his obsession with Ann was quite creepy to read about. Bryce and Ann worked well together and I liked that they both respected when the other had more expertise about certain aspects of the investigation. The author throws in a few twists throughout the investigation and I ended up being surprised by the identity of the killer. The ending of the book was suspenseful with a fair amount of action and I enjoyed it. Overall the plot was solid and I liked that the author took things in an unexpected direction.

Ann was a great character and I liked her immediately. She's smart and hasn't let her recent problems destroy the life she's trying to build. After the events of Burn You Twice, Ann's life was somewhat thrown into chaos and I thought she handled everything well. Bryce was an interesting character and I ended up really enjoying him. The relationship that develops between Ann and Bryce was very well done and the chemistry between them was fantastic. One thing this author is great at is writing heroes who don't simply take over everything and Bryce was no exception. He respected Ann and that her choices were hers to make, not his. This book is slightly more romance focused than Burn You Twice, but overall is still heavier on the suspense than the romance.

Overall Near You was an excellent read and I highly recommend this series if you're looking for some great romantic suspense to pick up.

While this could be read as a standalone, it's better if you have read the first book where we met Ann and Elijah. This book is full of suspense and tension. I really enjoyed Bryce as well. This series is full of complex and intriguing characters. I think this one might even be better than the first. I was completely sucked into the story. I have become so invested in these characters lives. This is another fantastic romantic suspense from a master!

I have never read a book by Mary Burton and am so glad that I did. Near You is a thriller that opens with a murder that soon has Dr. Ann Bailey and Officer Bryce McCabe working together. A series of seemingly connected events has Ann and Bryce increasingly worried about a murderer in their midst. While I did figure out the end early on, that did not detract from this book. Burton keeps the pace going and the story super intriguing. I liked both Ann and Bryce and they way they came together. It wasn't insta-love and they both seemed very real characters. The suspense was good and believable and the psychological element was well-done. While this is the second book in the series it can definitely be read as a standalone. That being said, I'm definitely interested in reading the first one as I found the book hard to put down. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast read and a good thriller.

Imagine being stalked by someone who seems to know everything about you. Ann Bailey is a single mother who teaches forensic psychology at the local college. She is recruited by officer Bryce McCabe to help solve a disturbing murder case where women are set on fire. Ann immediately thinks of Elijah Weston who was released from prison after ten years for a crime he didn't commit. Elijah is obsessed with her and she knows it. Is there a link between the two events? Throw in the fact that Ann has a secret that could upend her life and you have the recipe for a real engaging mystery. You are left wondering who is next and who will survive.

This story builds and builds right up until the very end. You can feel the danger and I found my gut twisting at the sadistic behavior of the killer. Each chapter builds on the other. Clue by clue you are drawn in. I did have a hunch on who it might be and that proved correct but even I wasn't prepared for some of the things that transpired. Mary Burton has done it again. She knows how to write an obsessive tale. The description and detail were so vivid, particularly as we enter the mind of a true psychopath.

The connection between Ann and Bryce brought a lighter element to the tale that was so needed. I loved the progression of their working relationship and Ann's interactions with her son. Elijah's character was also intriguing. I didn't realize this was a series but I was able to read this as a standalone.
Thank you, #Netgalley and #Montlake for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ann Bailey has a secret that ties her to Elijah Weston, a murderous arsonist who has recently been released from prison. A forensic psychologist, she's working with St. Bryce McCabe on an investigation of the killings of women who were Weston groupies known as the Fireflies. There's a connection as well to podcast journalist Paul Thompson. This is romantic suspense combined with the serial killer thing. Weston is stalking Ann who is falling for Bryce (and he for her) and you know there's going to be an ugly confrontation. If it's a little implausible in spots, well, the characters are good and it's entertaining. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A page turner.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

two murdered women set on fire with gasoline and their faces taken making identification more difficult but not impossible

a convicted felon elijah weston is pardoned for a crime he was convicted of and now tries to get along with his life

but does he hold the key to the identity of the murderer

ann bailey and her son are trying to sort their lives out but with elijah living in the same town and the gossip that surrounds him, it just makes it more difficult

plenty of red herrings with this one....but will keep you guessing right to the end... pleasant read

An engaging psychological crime thriller…

This is the second book in the Montana series that can be read as a stand-alone though having read the first book will enhance this reading.

For the first time in her career forensic psychologist, Dr. Ann Bailey is getting to use her skills in the field instead of behind the scenes when she is asked to assist Officer Bryce McCabe in solving the murders of two women. That these women were doused with gasoline and set aflame hits close to home for Ann, brutal reminders of a past she’d much rather forget but cannot with the presence of Elijah Weston in town. He was a man Ann personally knew in college, accused of arson, and recently exonerated after spending a decade in prison. It’s hard to fathom that Elijah’s release is a coincidence, his possible connection to the murders cannot be ignored, but can it be proven?

Though working with Bryce on the investigation Ann is keeping a secret from him that could be relevant, she hasn’t been fortunate in her prior relationships with men and doesn’t trust easily yet there’s more than an investigation between them, there is the attraction of a man and woman to be navigated, a romance that necessarily burns slow and steady. The closer this team comes to the killer the more danger they find themselves in and Ann’s secret is hard to keep, the physical evidence tells a tale.

This book has an interesting suspenseful complex plot with multiple points of view, the story being told to the reader by the two main protagonists, the villain, and the writings of a crime blogger in town doing a story on the exonerated arsonist. The way the backstory is portrayed effectively builds the momentum which spirals increasingly toward its ultimate conclusion. The reader cannot help but be drawn into the lives of the multi-faceted characters who are likable and relatable. The heroine at times appears to be working against the case as she strives to protect a secret that not just the hero can surmise. That the prime suspect is obsessed with the heroine is understandable, he has good reason but you have to wonder the veracity of his motivations and if he is the villain being sought or not.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

Forensic Psychologist Ann Bailey and Highway Patrol Officer Bryce McCabe are working on a case together. Women have been killed and their bodies burned. Elijah Watson has just been released after spending 10 years in prison after being wrongly convicted. Ann is keeping a secret that could affect her and her young son. The story is told from the viewpoint of the investigators and the killer. There is plenty of suspense that held my interest but I did figure out the killers identity. This is the 2nd book in a series but could be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This book is an edge-of-your-seat read. A serial killer is murdering women and setting their bodies on fire. The crime scenes are quite gruesome. The two main characters, forensic psychologist and profiler Ann Baily and Montana Highway Patrol Officer Bryce McCabe work well together in the investigation. I liked the slow roll to their romantic relationship in this story. It seemed quite realistic and that's makes the storyline more believable. This is another excellent story from author Mary Burton.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While this book is gripping from the first chapter, I had trouble getting past some of the more intense descriptions. I was expecting the book to veer more toward the thriller side of things (which I blame on my interpretation of the summary). However, if you're looking for a chilling, twisty mystery and you're braver than me, this could be a great fit for you.

I really enjoyed this latest by Mary Burton. Not classified as a series, this book follows Burn You Twice and can be read as a stand-alone. Great characters. Smooth story flow. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of crime thrillers.

Thank you #netgalley and #montlake for the earc.

This was a chilling, compelling thriller! This was my first in the series and it worked as a standalone, as it gives enough backstory to fill in the reader. The case was disturbing and I was hooked from the beginning. There were a few plot holes and the ending was not a surprise to me but overall, I enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading more from the author! My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

This book is the perfect combination of drama, mystery, and suspense. I was drawn in from the first page. The story held my interest throughout. Mary Burton has done it again.

Montana Highway Police Officer Bryce McCabe is enjoying a rare day off at his ranch when he's called to the scene of a barbaric and violent crime. Someone is brutally battering women and then torching their bodies, disfiguring them to the point of making identification near impossible. Forensic Psychologist Ann Bailey, an expert in maneuvering a serial killer's depraved mind, is called in to help navigate the case. As she and Bryce examine the evidence, Ann comes to the realization that a monster from her past may be involved in the murders, and yet she keeps the information to herself fearing the secret she's kept all these years could be revealed in the fallout. Elijah Weston served ten years in prison for an arson that nearly cost Ann and her roommate their lives. Free now, he's living in the area and apparently still obsessed with fire and stalking Ann. Aided by some of his prison groupies known as The Fireflies, Elijah begins taunting Ann by dropping clues while hinting he knows her secret and will come to claim what's his soon. As Bryce and Ann continue to work the case, they grow closer and Bryce realizes he'll do whatever it takes to protect Ann and her son Nate. But he doesn't have a clue about the secret Ann hides, how high the stakes are or how far she'll go to keep the secret from surfacing. Only one thing has become abundantly clear to Bryce . . . Ann's now become the hunted.

Near You flows at a steadily rising pace with the story unfolding and the suspense growing via the killer's thoughts and Crime Reporter Paul Thompson's crime notes. The results are highly effective in building and maintaining momentum and ominous vibes throughout. Readers are challenged with finding their way through the many twists and turns, red herrings and hidden secrets to uncover the identity of the killer before it's too late. Burton is a master of disguise - of switch and bait - daring readers to join Ann in navigating the dark recesses of a serial killer's warped mind. The resulting story is chilling, emotional and shocking.

With every Mary Burton book I read, my respect for her writing ability grows. I'm especially drawn to her expertise in muddying the water with two or more seemingly separate plot lines before eventually interlacing them together in surprising and often shocking ways. Near You, Montana Series book two, is another fantastic illustration of her mad writing skills as is the highly acclaimed book one Burn You Twice in which Ann and Elijah's history occurs. While I always recommend reading series in order, the author's expertise in weaving backstory in as needed is remarkably effective. I highly recommend Near You to fans of dark, blood chilling psychological thrillers with just a touch of romance.

Oh man oh man.

This book was wonderful! The writing is so good, I was sucked in from page 3. I read this in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed myself. This is a fast paced book you won’t be able to put down.

I would suggest reading the first book in the series before starting this one. It could be a standalone but you might feel like your missing something if you haven’t read the first.

Mary Burton is brilliant and I am hopeful there will be a third in the series.

Near You by Mary Burton a thrilling five-star read. This is number two in the Montana series and I would definitely recommend you read them in order, its not necessary as the author does a good job of filling you in, but it’s the tiny details that you pick up on that make this a thrilling five-star read, if you didn’t pick those bits and bobs from the first story then you may not enjoy this as much as you could. The way the story unfolds with the romance, the notes and the killer all making their voices heard, really makes this a gripping story that you won’t want to put down, now all I need to decide is what else by this author to sink my teeth into.