Member Reviews

Wow! Just wow! I was patiently waiting for the Morgan Brooke series to come out soon and finally it came and boy, I was not disappointed at all!

Though I did not leave a favorable review on Book 3, I must say, Book 4 is so much better that I enjoyed it so much!

Detective Morgan Brooke was called to a school where her old friend from school, Britanny, after taking in the herbal tea and apparently muttering to herself jumps out of the window, dead. A few days later, Sienna, another friend of Morgan from school was found naked inside a cave in the woods, with no recollection of how she ended up naked in a cave although she too had taken the herbal tea as well. All these herbal teas are purchased from Morgan's aunt Ettie who becomes the viable suspect. But Morgan believes that these things are connected to an incident that happened many years which involved the death of a student...

From the first chapter to the end was intense and intriguing that I was literally hooked from the beginning to the end.. This was actually an unusual homicide case and I couldn't help wondering--is Ettie Morgan's aunt the killer? Or is someone else responsible? And for what??? This book is such a page turner filled with unexpected twists and turns and the ending was a OMG moment!!! There were some funny parts in the book which was laughable and Morgan Brookes has become a favorite female protagonist in my book.

So I'll summarize the whole book in one go

--intriguing, intense and a complete page turner
--fast paced, twisty with unexpected turns--a plus sign for a good thriller
--You'll soon learn to love Morgan Brooke and her partner Ben (not love partner, work partner)
--AND love the plot

Overall, I give this book five stars!

Note:- If you really want to read this book, do you have to read book 1. I think I'll recommend reading book 1 before jumping directly to book 4.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Was this review helpful?

I love and hate this series in equal measures. This book just like the others are fast paced with good storylines. But seriously!! How much bad luck can one detective have? It's starting to grate a little and detracts from the enjoyment.

Was this review helpful?

Right now I', wondering what is wrong with people who have not ready the Detective Morgan Brookes series, and why they are not stopping what they are doing to get their hands on the latest book in the series. Even if I'd try, I could not praise this book highly enough. It is "stop the press" good!

Morgan's old group of friends seems to be in trouble. One "commits suicide", another one is found going insane where an old friend, and crush of many, died years ago. However, turns out there is someone who is trying to murder them one by one.

Another excellent addition to this crazily addictive series. The writing is extraordinarily good, and the story is so enchanting that I had to read it in one sitting. Hail to the queen of detective stories! Utterly gripping! Made me wonder why I do anything else in life than read.

Was this review helpful?

This was brilliant, such a page turner - stayed up well later than my bed time to finish this. I really cant say much more than this as it was so good but if I say anything I am going to spoil it.

Do yourself a favour, discover this series and read the books.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and net galley but the review is entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

Morgan, Morgan, Morgan…. Trouble finds this girl without her even looking. In this 4th book, Morgan is called to a primary school where a teacher has locked herself in a staff room. Before Morgan and Ben are able to resolve the situation the teacher throws herself out the window. Morgan recognizes the woman as an old high school friend and so starts the latest adventure where Morgan’s best friend crew is dying under mysterious circumstances. This is a solid book in this series. The will, they won’t they or Morgan and Ben is becoming a bit much and will hopefully become clearer in the next book.
All in all a good solid read. Look forward to the next one. Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

Another fantastic book in the series. I was hooked from the first page, a fast paced read, full of twists and turns. Fantastic characters and a few laughs along the way. Perfect book

Was this review helpful?

Detective Morgan Brookes, despite her short time on the force, seems to be a magnet for murder and mayhem. When she and her boss are called to a local school to handle a teacher acting crazy, Morgan is surprised to find that she is an old school pal. The teacher throws herself out of a window and dies on impact, and the search for answers begins. When another of her high school mates is found wondering in the wilderness half-naked and a third dies while dancing in the middle of a road at night, Morgan believes that the cases are linked to the "accidental" death of a young man from years ago. All the current victims were part of a camp out in high school where the man died. Morgan would have been there had her father not grounded her. Can she solve the mystery before anyone else, including herself, dies? Complicating her life is the attraction between Morgan and her boss. Will Morgan ever have a social life?

Was this review helpful?

Great read. Loving the books. Fast paced. Great characters. Can't wait to see what happens in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

First off like always I want to say a huge thank you to the publisher Bookouture, the author Helen Phifer, and to NetGalley for the invite to join this blog tour as well as letting me read and review it. As soon as I saw this I knew that I was going to say yes because its part of a series that I'm 100 % loving and after reading book 3 I knew that I had to have more of it . I mean come on the publisher is Bookouture and thanks to them I've found a lot of new to me series, authors and have been able to continue with series that have since became some of my all time favorite books to read. And this book was just what I needed at this time since I've been in a some what reading slump and as you knew if your a reader those aren't fun at all. So picking up a book from an author that i liked and part of a series that I love , as well as by Bookouture I knew that I would be in the ride of my life, and I was right , because the story line a fast paced page turner that I couldn’t put down or even want to put down the entire time I was reading it, I kept telling myself when I started it that I would read to just 25% and then I would stop for the day but the next time I checked to see how far I was into the book I found out that I was already at 48% , that's how hooked I was. I loved how the author used the information about toxic herbs and how used in a shorting way they wasn't consider harmful but used in other ways they could be deadly . I was also happy to see more of Morgan, Ben and their team as well as more about Morgan's past before she became a cop, and I will have to say that my new all time favorite character is her Aunt. Because even though the topic was serious there was times her Aunt had me smiling and just laughing at what she said to Ben. With that said I can't wait to see what happens next.

Was this review helpful?

Another great wild ride. I really like Morgan, she is wicked smart. And if it’s ok I would like to kick Ben. lol

This was all about secrets from the past clashing with secrets from the present. I’m really I retested to see where this series is going.

Was this review helpful?

What an enjoyable police procedural that was. Well written characters and although it’s the 4th in the Detective Morgan Brookes series, I hadn’t read the others and, it read well as a stand-alone.

Briefly, when Morgan and her colleague Ben are called to the scene of a possible suicide attempt Morgan couldn’t know that an old school friend was about to jump out of a window. Before she jumped her erratic behaviour made it appear as though she had been taking drugs. But Morgan is convinced that this wasn’t suicide. Shortly afterwards she is called to another scene where another friend from school is close to death, she had also been exhibiting signs of erratic behaviour. When traces of poison are found in both victims Morgan starts to look back at her school days for clues as to why they were targeted. Why are her friends being poisoned? Can she prevent further murders ?

I love the relationships between the various police officers and the way Morgan and Ben are clearly skirting around their mutual attraction. Someone needs to bang their heads together. Enough twists and turns kept me guessing pretty much until the end. This was a great read and recommended 4.5⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for an ecopy arc in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

i so love this series , they always keep you gripped and wanting more .Detective constable Morgan is asked to go to a school as they cant get hold of ben to be a negotiator at Priory Grove School a teacher is threatening to jump out of a window ,Morgan gets a shock when she gets there as it is her old schoolfriend Brittany . Ben manages to get there to but hungover its would have been his wife s birthday , but its to late she jumps before they can talk to her the other teachers say she was acting so strange ,Morgan is so shocked as Brittany had said Brad s name who died tragically the night she was not allowed to go with them .is someone out for revenge what did happen that night will Morgan and Ben finally get together you will have to read to find out loads of twist and turns so dam good

Was this review helpful?

Book 4 in this terrific series.So well written so many twists turns and surprises.Helen Phifer never fails to draw me in ,involve me and keep me turning the pages late into the night.Looking forward to next in series#netgalley#bookouture

Was this review helpful?

Wow! First Girl To Die was a fast paced page turner that I couldn’t put down.

In this fourth instalment of the Detective Morgan Brookes series we see Morgan try to catch a killer who is targeting a group of friends from her past. As Morgan connects with people she hasn’t seen in years, and more people become targets, we are sent on a ride chasing a killer as Morgan is left wondering who will be next.

Just like all of the books of this series pieces of Morgan’s past are woven into the story as we learn more about her.

I love how this series has built on the characters in each novel. I also love how this series has moments of humour you don’t often find in these thrillers.

First Girl To Die is page turning read that keeps you guessing until the very end. Unlike the last instalment of this series, where I knew right away who the suspect was, this one kept me second guessing.

Can’t wait for the next one.

Thank you to Net Galley, Bookouture, and Helen Phifer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Working as a police officer close to where you grew up means there is always a chance you will meet friends or acquaintances in the course of your working day. Detective Morgan Brookes understands this but nothing could prepare her for finding the body of one of her closest school friends after an apparent suicide.

Brittany and Morgan had lost contact five years earlier after high school, but the detective knows her friend was acting out of character when she jumped to her death. With her team, and boss DI Ben Matthews, Morgan begins to investigate and when the post mortem flags up causes for concern which link the unexpected suicide to her aunt Morgan knows she has to dig deeper and find out why.

This is the fourth in the Morgan Brookes series and I still love them all. Helen Phifer writes characters who you want to succeed and be content with their lot but with pasts which colour everything they do. Morgan and Ben work so well together, even when they're at loggerheads that failure is never an option! The storyline, as in previous books, is well thought out with important parts for all the main protagonists, which rises to a satisfying crescendo with the hope of more to come.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a welcome addition to a very enjoyable series of books.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Bookouture, NetGalley and Author for this advance ebook copy in return for an honest review!

I have enjoyed the heck outta this Detective Morgan Brookes series! 💕
This had a great storyline and I liked getting to know a little more about each of the characters especially Morgan the main protagonis..... ​I freaking love her!
Every chapter pushes you to keep reading as you have well developed characters AND a skillfully scripted plot. 
This book (heck this entire series) is perfectly paced to keep readers on their toes and frantically turning pages to see what happens next. I was completely absorbed from the first page!
I thought it was gritty and eventful!
Another brilliant book from this very talented author. Fantastically written and such an addictive and compelling read. Excellent descriptions making it so easy to imagine what's going on. The book cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
Another great story add to a great set of books!!!

I have yet to read a book from Bookouture I haven't liked!

Thanks again NetGalley, Publisher and Author for the chance to read and review this amazing book!
I'll post to my Social media platforms closer to pub date!

Was this review helpful?

Read in 2 sittings, if sleep hadn't prevailed I would have devoured in one.
This chilling and utterly compelling story is one of those books which grabs your attention from the very beginning. The author has really got into her characters minds and explored the different emotions.
I love this genre and found this to be one of the best books I have read in a while. I was kept guessing throughout, never quite sure which way the story would go until the end. Absolutely brilliant read
Looking forward to reading more in this series ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

Congratulations Helen on another magnificent piece of work, cannot believe that Helen has done it AGAIN. I really enjoyed this and it had me hooked as usual from the first few lines and confused up until the guilty party was revealed practically at the end.. Love the characters and how they are developing and hopefully getting closer ;). I cannot wait for the next installment as there are just too many loose ends to be tied up. .

Was this review helpful?

Good book! This is my first book from this series, but it won't be my last! This book had suspense, intrigue and a great who done it that had me guessing right till the end!! I definitely enjoyed reading this book! I would recommend this book, definitely worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Helen Phifer for allowing me to read this Arc. I absolutely love all of Helen's books. You are always guaranteed a gripping from start to finish read!! Loads of twists and turns in this one and I can't wait for the next one. Definitely worth five stars.

Was this review helpful?