Fast paced exciting thriller. We learn more about the main characters in this series at the same time as they race to catch another killer. Great read.

Title: Wildflower Graves

Author: Rita Herron

Description:

The darkness closed around her. She tried to clear her vision, but there was no light, no noise, nothing. Only the emptiness, the echoing sound of being alone. Fear pulsed through her. The man had come out of nowhere. Who was he? Blinking away tears of frustration, in the pitch black she felt the floor and walls surrounding her. Cold. Steel. Bars.

Detective Ellie Reeves heads into the wilds of the Appalachian Mountains when she wants to get lost––to forget the whispers chasing her and the past that keeps her up at night. She’s sick of having to prove herself to her small town.

But hiking in the endless miles of woods isn’t the escape she was hoping for. One night, as dusk falls, a gust of wind blows some petals on to Ellie’s path. Following the trail, she finds a golden-haired young woman dead on a bed of daffodils, with a note: Monday’s child is fair of face.

When Ellie emerges from the forest, there is a message on her phone. Someone has sent her a picture of her colleague, Officer Shondra Eastwood, with the words: Can you find her, Detective Reeves? Ellie is racked with guilt––while she was busy hiding from life a killer was on the loose, and he has taken her beloved friend.

The wilderness, and its shadows, are the perfect hunting ground for a criminal––but what does the sinister nursery rhyme mean? It soon becomes clear when another dead woman, Tuesday’s Child, is found.

Ellie is up against a serial killer who will claim a victim for every day of the week, and in the next twenty-four hours there will be another body. As this ruthless murderer closes in on her, can she save more innocent women––and Shondra––from his clutches? Or will he get to Ellie first?

An utterly gripping and completely breathless crime thriller for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh. You’ll have trouble falling asleep after this heart-pounding page-turner!


BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Wildflower Graves' by Rita Herron.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 3rd December 2020

This is the first book that I have read by this author. It is also the second book in the 'Detective Ellie Reeves' series. However, each book in the series can be read as a standalone.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover its intriguing synopsis. It also states that this books is for fans of Melinda Leigh in the blurb. I am a MASSIVE fan of Melinda Leigh so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 150 chapters. The chapters are short in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in North America, USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Detective Ellie Reeves, Special Agent Derrick Fox, victims and unsubs. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out on anything.

OMG!!!!! What did I just read!!?!?!? Right, OK, hold on a minute let's start at the beginning!! First impressions after what attracted me to the book. 150 chapters!!! 441 pages!!! OK yep this is going to take me ages!! Ummmmm.... Nope!!! I need more!!! Absolutely flew by!!! The chapters range from one page to about four pages so please don't let the amount if chapters put you off, you will miss out on one of the best books I've read in a while. I could not out this book down. I would read one chapter, tell myself one more, just to find the next one ended in a cliff hanger and there was no chance I was leaving it there!! Several chapters and hours later its 1am and I have finished the book without even noticing the time!!

The book is extremely smooth and well written so you just glide through the pages turning one after another and getting completely lost in them. The descriptions are vivid so I really did become lost in the woods with our characters. The storyline itself was realistic which made it even easier to imagine everything going on. The cover and the synopsis all work perfectly well with the plot.

The storyline itself was extremely compelling and gripping. Get ready for one heck of a roller-coaster ride. Absolutely rammed full of suspense, secrets, shocks, plots, murder, tension and everything else that you love in a psychological thriller. This is not just one storyline, you are getting so many plots in this book that it will keep you guessing all the way. I have read sooo many crime novels now it is very hard for me to be surprised and shocked but that I was and very wrong on many occasions. Just as I thought I was a smart Alec and worked it all out thwack... Here comes another explosion. Honestly, just Wow!! I would have never guessed who was doing what and then it wasn't just one shocker there were several twists thrown in. You will take this book wherever you go because once your hooked that's it!! I don't think I've actually read a larger book so quickly in months!!

I absolutely loved the range of different characters, their personalities and all the different relationships they had... The hate, the secrets, friendships and most definitely a spark of hidden love. Ellie Reeves you are a hero!!! Absolute wonderwoman!! I LOVE books that have such strong female leads and you cannot get much stronger than Ellie, that girl is a fighter!!! She goes through so many emotions and traumas yet isn't wrapped up in an institution but kicking butt!!! It wasn't just Ellie that whooped butt though but definitely Shondra, even better than one female lead is definitely two!!! Shondra also went through hell and looked the devil in the eye!! Derrick and Cord played their parts perfectly and I cannot wait to look back at the first book and more ahead to see the history and future of what certainly seems to be some sort of love triangle. Who is this mysterious Eula?? Am I right in what came from the seed that was planted towards the end?? I cannot wait to find out.

I have raved about this book long enough but I will tell you a few things to end. You WILL miss out of what is definitely one of the best psychological thrillers if you do not pick up this book. This book NEEDS to be turned into a movie. I CANNOT wait to read more books by this extremely talented woman. To end Rita Herron I'd like to welcome you to my best authors club!!!

Overall a mind blowing, page turning, explosive psychological thriller that will keep you up at night.

Genres covered in this novel include Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Hardboiled, Noir Fiction, Police Procedural and Crime Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Melinda Leigh, Angela Marsons, Carol Wyer, Tess Gerritsen, everyone and YOU!!! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?!

441 pages.

This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Author Bio:


USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn't think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn't have to get a real job.

With over ninety books to her credit, she's penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.


Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorritaherron/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritaherron

Website: www.ritaherron.com

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08DJCY4D7Social

Apple: http://ow.ly/YQED50AOUvs

Kobo: http://ow.ly/SVgL50AOUuJ

Googleplay: http://ow.ly/WH5C50AOUy3

4.5 Stars

Wildflower Graves was a fantastic follow-up to The Silent Dolls with an intriguing plot that ties directly into Ellie's past.

Detective Ellie Reeves' life has been spinning out of control since the revelation that her parents covered for a serial killer. To escape the whispers and stares, Ellie heads into the Appalachian Mountains for a break. But while hiking the trail, Ellie discovers the body of a woman laid out with a note suggesting she won't be the last. After emerging from the forest, Ellie is sent a photo of her friend, Officer Shondra Eastwood, making it clear the killer has taken her. With a killer on the loose and new bodies showing up each day, Ellie is in a race against the clock to find her friend before it's too late.

The premise of this book was very intriguing, someone is killing women and matching them up to characters in a poem. I found the concept fascinating particularly as the killer matches up the victims' personality traits to the poem. The fact the killer was able to uncover that much information about their victims in order to be able to do that was downright creepy. There were a few people presented throughout the book as suspects and I have to say I did not guess who the killer ended up being. I was so sure it was someone else until the final reveal came. Overall I thought the plot was suspenseful and the pacing was well done. The ending of the book had its share of surprises and I was happy with the way everything played out.

Ellie continues to be very affected by the reveals at the end of The Silent Dolls which definitely influence her actions throughout this book. She is still dedicated to her job but she has a lot of doubts about her ability to do that job when so much of the community has turned on her. I was glad the author included the difficulties Ellie was facing as to me it would have been very unrealistic for her to go on as if nothing happened.

FBI agent Derrick Fox returns and his relationship with Ellie has drastically changed after the last book. The pair are no longer open with each other and their working relationship is strained to say the least. The possibility of a romance between these two does seem to still be there, but the author will certainly have some difficulties getting past all of their issues. Ranger Cord McClain, who I was very intrigued by in The Silent Dolls, returns and I was happy to see we learned more about him as he is a very compelling character.

Overall Wildflower Graves was an amazing read and I am looking forward to the release of the next book in the series, The Burning Girls, later this year.

Wildflower Graves by Rita Herron is the second book in the Detective Ellie Reeves series and what a brilliant book this was. I was hooked within the first few pages just like the book in this series called The Silent Dolls. In this book
Detective Ellie Reeves is in therapy to deal with the lies and deceit of her parents from the book before. Whilst Ellie is dealing with her personal life, there is a murderer. This killer has been called "The Weekday Killer" They've got this name because they have chosen their women victims based on a children's rhyme.

"The Weekday Killer"

Monday's child is fair of face

Tuesday's child is full of grace

Wednesday's child is full of woe

Thursday's child has far to go

Friday's child is loving and giving

Saturday's child works hard for a living

And the child that is born on the Sabbath day - Sunday is bonny and blithe, and good and gay"

Whilst, on a hike to the mountains Ellie stumbles across a young woman who is posed on a bed of daffodils. This soon comes known to Ellie, that her colleague Shondra is missing.

Time is running out! will they catch them before she is named a child from this children's rhyme.

This is a book that will keep you on your toes and will keep you reading until the end. WoW what a brilliant book this is

I would recommend you read the first book in this series so you can understand the whole story However, you can get by reading Wildflower Graves as a standalone.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided me with; this is my honest and unbiased review of it.

Monday's child is fair of face. But the woman that has been murdered no longer looks so fair. Tuesday's child is discovered next. Will Detective Ellie Reeves be able to stop the killer before the rhyme is complete and seven women are dead...?
OMG what a book! Wildflower Graves is a wonderfully gruesome thriller. It is the second in the Ellie Reeves sereis from Rita Herron but I have not read the first. I suggest that you read the first, not just because I assume the writing style and plot are as good as this one, but due to the multiple references to plots twists and the conclusion of the last book.
Ellie Reeves is struggling both personally and professionally due to the outcome of the previous case. Relationships have been left in tatters and she is being hounded by the media. Now a serial killer is contacting her, taunting her with the dead women she could not save. I liked Ellie's character and could understand her troubled emotions in relation to her family and colleagues.
The majority of the book shows us the police perspective but there are some chapters that give us insight into the victims and killer. We then share Ellie's desperation to find her friend Shondra who is being tormented by the killer but is still alive.
My own personal preference is for short chapters and this book has those. My eyes gobbled up the plot as it races along. The use of the weekdays for the killings meant that events occur quickly and you can feel the tension as the police attempt to find clues.
Overall, I loved Wildflower Graves and will now track down the first book in the series even though I know the outcome!

*5 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was definitely a good mystery thriller. I was trying to work out who the police were looking for, and why they were doing the cruel things they were doing. Some characters ended up with big decisions to make moving forward.

I found the characters to be interesting and the story was a really good mystery that had you trying to work out who dunnit.

Would recommend.

Wow! what a story ,I hadn't read the first Book `The Silent Dolls' which feature the strong willed & determined to succeed in a Man's world Detective Ellie Reeves ! the wilderness of the Appalachian Mountains & it's rugged tough walking Trails, also along with all the Plant & Folk tales connected to it are the perfect setting in which to put another very sick , twisted serial Killer , who also wants personal revenge against Ellie. It was very hard to pause while reading this Book for Bathroom breaks , & even meals it had me totally gripped , but like so many films & TV series it's ended on a cliff hanger which means I now need to know what happens to Ellie going forward ........................................................... so we have to watch out for the next instalment ! # NetGalley , #GoodReads ,#Instagram, #FB, # Amazon.co.uk , <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/11bc11d0026952991f96874534f30a6fb6dbed74" width="80" height="80" alt="25 Book Reviews" title="25 Book Reviews"/>, <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

4.5 stars

This is the second book in the Detective Ellie Reeves series by Rita Herron.

I remember Rita Herron from a long time ago when she wrote for Harlequin. Definitely one of my favorite authors from that time. I was so glad to see her go out on her own and put out bigger books.

This was a fascinating read. The whole connection between the killer and Ellie not to mention the name they have given the killer: the Weekday killer. I had a few questions that were probably answered in book one but that didn’t keep me from enjoying the read. I look forward to more books in this series. I am now hooked.

Ellie gets pulled into the story when one of colleagues is captured by the killer and Ellie feels guilty since the madman is doing this to eventually get to her. The plot keeps you interested and the characters are so well crafted it feels like you are watching this on television and not just reading it.

New favorite series, for sure! Putting Herron on my must read list.

If you love a good mystery, police procedural, definitely check this one out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I knew I’d love the second instalment as soon as I read the blurb. The first book in the Ellie Reeves series was an excellent start to a new series and was straight away a lover of it and knew I’d be impatient for additional books.

This book was just as good as the first. With a gripping storyline and the same characters from book one I fell straight into another web of suspicious characters and with the familiarity of Ellie Reeves background I emerged myself in the follow up.

It was an ambitious storyline with a serial killer that is out of control. What I loved was the killers MO. It was grim and gave a sadistic element to the story.

The storyline in general was very good. With a great premise that was followed up at the end and all lines of suspicions confirmed.

A great book two and can’t wait for book three in June after reading the blurb!

Detective Ellie Reeves, while hiking in the Appalachian Mountains, literally stumbles across the body of a young woman. She's laying on a bed of daffodils, a branch wrapped around her neck, wearing clothes that do not belong to her. Her lips have been sewn shut and a note is found inside her mouth....

Monday’s child is fair of face

And then she finds another body of a young woman ... left in the same condition as the first. Only the message is different....

Tuesday’s child is full of grace

So begins the hunt for a serial killer with an agenda ... a killing everyday for a week. One of Ellie's team members is taken ... and Ellie, herself, is a target.

Mesmerizing, exciting, gripping, riveting .... this one is chock full of action, with frequent changes of direction. There are varied suspects ... some rather closer than the detectives are aware. All the characters are solidly drawn. Ellie's backstory continues in this 2nd of the series, although it is easily read as a stand alone. But I highly recommend reading this series is order. No major cliffhanger .. but there is certainly room for another adventure for Ellie.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

So many twists & turns. Looking forward to see what’s in store for Detective Ellie Reeves next. There so many things I need to know. I can’t wait for the next book.

Page turner that keeps on going! Not your average "female detective with baggage and issues with male subterfuge" which is a common plot out there, and done to the extreme by some.. the author takes that theme and does a good job creating complex characters and real-world situations. Yes, it's not common that detectives have serial killers in their family, but let's face it - this is a book! That given, the whole "family serial killer" is framed well and creates and ominous threat, that I will be interested in following. Strong and interesting cast of characters, good plot, some good surprises - definitely recommended and I will read more from this author.

I did not get a chance to read book one first but sure will after this.

This book was simply fantastic. From page one to the very last word you will be captivated.
It's full of thrills to keep you on edge and a mystery to solve too. Though it's my opinion you won't figure it out. There is a curve at the end you won't see coming.
This was my first book by Rita Herron but I own two others and will be reading them.
I look forward to many more.
I have found a new author to stalk.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Bookouture, #RitaHerron for this ARC.
5/5 stars and a very high recommendation.

This is a fantastic follow up book to the first in the Ellie Reeves series

I lived book one so much and it captivated me from the start. And this book was no different.

Ellie is faced with a haunting case very soon after the last and I loved seeing her and Derricks relationship blossom even more, and I cant wait to see what in store for the dynamic duo next time!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for a chance to read Wildflower Graves, book 2 of the Detective Ellie Reeves series by Rita Herron. After reading the first book, and loving it, I was looking forward to see what book 2 would have, and I was not disappointed.
Detective Ellie Reeves heads into the wilds of the Appalachian Mountains when she wants to get lost––to forget the whispers chasing her and the past that keeps her up at night. She’s sick of having to prove herself to her small town. While there she discovers a body of a woman, and a note...Monday’s child is fair of face. Then someone sends her a picture of her colleague, Officer Shondra Eastwood, with the words: Can you find her, Detective Reeves? This book ramped up the tension from the first book. Totally enjoyed it, and again, cant wait for the next one!

I am glad I saw that this was the second book. I went and downloaded the first book in the series and read it before I read this one. I believe it helped me understand some of the people in the book better. I have to say that Ellie is one tough chick!! The things the author buts this cop though, and that she still comes back for more! The FBI agent, Derrick Fox and Ellie work well together, I could not believe the twist and turns of this book! It ended in a way that I hope we will see more of Ellie, Derrick and Cord (Bryce can fall off the AT) I really enjoyed this and thank the author and NetGalley for the change to read it early

The book had me holding my breath, knowing the killer had already chosen the women based on a rhyme that gave me the horrors when I read it. Detective Ellie Reeves was back again with the Appalachian Mountains as yet the setting of this book. Author Rita Herron wrote another fast-paced thriller with a complete police investigation.

On a hike to the mountains, Ellie found a woman posed on a bed of daffodils and soon came to know that her colleague Shondra was missing. That led to the beginning of the investigation which rushed down the pages at breakneck speed. The book did continue, in some sections, from the previous one, but that didn’t matter to me as I didn’t remember much of the first book. Maybe Ellie’s introspection could be brought down a notch.

Ellie, as a cop, was etched well in this book as the killer went one step ahead and came too close to her as if mocking her, challenging her to find him. I had a few suspects, but none really came to light as the author enveloped the story in another twist and caused me to rethink. It was obvious the devious mind writing this had already thought of how the readers might surmise and so kept a step ahead. Now that I thought about it, much like the killer.

The motive for the kill was beyond me to understand and I stayed awake just to know the killer and reasons for the murders. And as most thrillers went, the end was a twist that twisted me around in an inverted twist. Go figure the alliteration.

Overall, it was quite an exciting read with a kickass cop and a killer who murdered by the days of the week every 24 hours. The race was on!!

Everything is the same for Ellie - she still is hurting from her parents betrayal and her brother being a murderer. When, once again, women begin to disappear, Ellie doesn't know how to handle the feelings of distrust and fear. Special Agent Fox gets assigned to her case and now Ellie has to deal with her feelings for him too. And if that's not enough, her friend and colleague Deputy Shonda Eastwood is also gone missing. I highly recommend this series and promise, you will not be able to put either one of the books down.

Wildflower graves by Rita Herron.
Book 2 of Detective Ellie Reeves.
Wow a brilliant read. Even though I haven't read book 1 I still enjoyed this book. I loved Ellies character. I had no clue who the killer was until I was told by Rita. When the killer was revealed everything started to make sense. I will be reading book 1. I am hoping there will be a book 3. 5*. Highly recommended.

BOOKWORMS REVIEW:
A book you wont be able to put down...nor even want to. Detective Ellie Reeves is back and has as treacherous a case as ever to crack. Theres a psycho on the loose,with a twisted agenda. Hes killing women by following a childhood rhyme. Donned the 'weekday killer'.. his victims are chosen,tortured & murdered going by 'Mondays child is fair of face...' etc. A new victim for each day.
On a walk one night Ellie receives a text asking if she can save her friend Shondra. Whilst Ellie was dealing with her own demons and hiding from life,The killer got her. The heat was already on for Ellie and her colleagues,with not all the citizens of the town forthcoming with information as she finds out. She must save these women,and find out who is picking these women off, one by one,day by day..and she must save her friend.
A gripping and nail biting story of dark and twisted proportions.