Bree gets classier with every book. She’s an outstanding Sheriff, loving aunt/mom to her niece and nephew, and most of the community love her. But of course, there’s always someone who’s not happy. Bree is a woman and that can threaten some people, mostly men. So she’s dealing with threats while solving a double homicide. This homicide is unique with too many questions and too much scrutiny from outside entities. As usual Bree is doing it all and forgetting to rely on her family, Matt and other deputies. I love when she says, “I’m a working sheriff.” Sort of puts those lazy law enforcement guys in their place. Another outstanding mystery! I received my early copy through Netgalley, review given freely.

Not realizing this was part of a series, I was still able to enjoy this book. Knowing Bree’s backstory would probably have enhanced my understanding of her character, but I definitely enjoyed her strength in this read. Each of the characters added a new dimension to the plot. The twists and turns held my interest throughout, but the ending was somewhat of a disappointment, except the importance of Bree’s tattoos. The fact that a woman’s reputation can be so impacted by deep fakes is very maddening. I like the way Melinda Leigh covered that topic within the pages of this book.
My very favorite character was hero Brody! Sounds like Todd and Cady will be together in the next book in the series. I am planning on reading the first four in the series to fill in the blanks regarding Bree.
Three and a half stars. Many thanks to Melinda Leigh, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this soon to be published book.

Thanks to Melinda and NetGalley for allowing me to read Dead Against Her before the publication date.
This is the first book in the series which I have read.

Following a call from Homer Johnson, a concerned neighbour, Sheriff Bree Taggert takes a welfare call to a remote farm. She finds 2 people strapped to chairs and shot dead. Camilla Brown is a 70 year old widow who owns the property.
The second victim is Eugene Oscar, a corrupt former deputy who blames Bree for forcing him out of his job.

Bree needs help to work this case and employs criminal investigator Matt Flynn, a former K9 officer who, along with his dog Brody, was medically retired.
The investigation uncovers aspects of Oscar’s life which highlight a number of people who would have motive to kill him. But why kill Camilla?

Bree has already been receiving anonymous hate mail and now faked photos have been circulated which stir up more hate in the community. Reporter Paris Vickers is quick to fan the flames, distracting from the murders with her demands that Bree resign. The self-important Country supervisor sees her opportunity to get involved.

Reluctantly, Bree accepts that her history with Oscar could be seen as a conflict of interest and hands over the investigation. It doesn’t take long before she finds herself in the sights of the new investigator, Philip Ash.

When her chief deputy, Todd Harvey disappears, Bree is determined to find him.
With the animosity which she encountered from the deputies who supported the previous chief, can she rely on their support to save Todd?

The numerous characters keep the reader engaged but none more so than Brody, who is ever present throughout the story. Melinda has managed to personify him with lines which communicate his thoughts and feelings and dog lovers will be on tenterhooks for the aging K9.
This is a story of politics, misogyny, corrupt police, media interference and conspiracy theorists with a little hint of romance for good measure. As you would expect from a thriller, there are plenty of twists, turns and red herrings in the tale.

I love the Bree Taggert series. These stories are fast paced hold your breath suspense that once you start you have to keep reading. Melinda Leigh add twists and turns that readers don’t see coming. Over the series it has been fun to watch Bree grow in her relationships and her role as guardian of her niece and nephew. As a longtime fan of Leigh, I Ioved how she brought some characters from another series into this highly engaging installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Montclair for the opportunity to read an advance copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A very enjoyable book to read. Good characters and a storyline that you can get into easily enough with a few twists and turns to keep you intrigued. Good book for a night on the sofa with a glass or wine or sitting by the pool in the summer.

I was thrown off-guard by the book.
I've never heard of Melinda Leigh before, so I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading it and right from the first page, I was hooked.
Damn - this was one hell of a ride.
I now need to read the other books in the series.

Book 5 in the Bree Taggert Series.

Sheriff Bree Taggert is called to the scene of a double homicide only to discover the victims are none other than than former deputy Eugene Oscar. and his mother.

Bree, along with investigator Matt and the rest of the crew are tasked with solving these crimes.

An in depth police procedural I've come to expect from this author.

The characters are true to form and I enjoy them just as much as I did in the first book in the series I felt the fear along with them when one of their own is at risk.

I was delighted to see an appearance of characters from another series by Leigh.

Thanks to netgalley and Montlake for the arc.

During a welfare check, Sheriff Bree Taggert finds the bodies of two people who have been murdered, an elderly woman and her son. She knows the son as he once worked for her department. Bree is a former detective from Philadelphia and along with her civilian crime investigator, Matt Flynn, they begin the investigation. When fake pornographic pictures are posted online with Bree’s face on the women’s bodies, she knows that she has become a target, again. She can prove they are fake, but how will this affect her family, her investigation, and her job? To protect her legal rights, she calls on attorney Morgan Dane (another amazing series by Ms. Leigh that I highly recommend). How will her team deal with the danger that escalates when one of their own is attacked by members of a local conspiracy group? A wonderful complex murder mystery! This can be read as a standalone as there is enough back story, but you really should read the entire series as well as anything written by this author. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

This was the first Bree Taggart story I have read and this was still an okay read as a stand-alone story. A police procedural which is centred around the brutal murder of an elderly farmer and her troubled son, it has plenty of intrigue and plot twists to keep the reader engaged. As well as leading the investigation, Bree also finds herself challenging unpleasant misogynistic attacks on herself and coming up against influential individuals who are fighting to maintain control in this small close-knit community.

Interesting enough to make me want to seek out the other books in the series. A solid 3.5.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Fifth in the Bree Taggart series. Bree is called to a double murder in a remote farm and finds her ex deputy, Eugene Oscar and his mother brutally murdered.
Bree herself is under suspicion as she fired him because of corruption but she soon discovers there were lots of others who had problems with him.
She teams up with investigator/boyfriend Matt Flynn to find the murderer and the person who is posting false porn images of her.
Pacy story with enough twists to keep you hooked.
Another good thriller from Melinda Leigh.
4 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

I adore this author and this book was another 5 star, hit it out of the park home run. The character feel like family, as soon as I open the book it’s like coming home. But to a terrifying, suspenseful rollercoaster of a home. Murder, revenge, horror and so much more in Sheriff Bree’s story. So well written, this series is one of my all time favourites. The suspense in this will keep you reading at breakneck speed. Five stars!

sheriff Bree Taggert is investigating the death of a former officer who was forced into retirement. He and his mother are found dead by Bree. She knows shes the one that wanted him out so has to handle this carefully. On top of that she's dealing with some fake images circulating of her. Could they be connected and can she figure out the truth in time when someone goes missing.

This is not the first in the series but it was pretty easy to follow the storyline of the characters. I am going to go back and read the earlier ones as I really liked this one. The plot is quite fast paced with lots of drama going on. I found myself turning the pages fast to find out what happened next. The ending was perfect and I loved Bree showing the world who she really is. Bree is a good lead character and I really liked her. in fact everyone contributes just right to the story which i havent read in a while. The writing is descriptive and a little dark but I enjoyed it. This deals with some difficult but relatable subjects and handled it well. A brilliant crime, thriller.

Dead Against her is the fifth book in the Bree Taggert series.

Sheriff Bree Taggert, the primary character, is looking into the double murder of the former sheriff, who retired in disgrace, and his mother.

Bree is a well-developed and multi-faceted heroine who is supported by a strong cast of secondary characters.

Bree is a tough woman who, in addition to raising her sister's children, has to cope with false charges that are incredibly destructive to her, all while investigating the murder of her predecessor.

Oscar, the victim, was hardly a good man and a disgraced police officer; therefore, the list of those who wished him harm is endless. There are various theories, but discovering the culprit is complicated by the fact that the
majority of the suspects are lying or concealing something.

The story moves quickly and includes some surprising turns. Unjust charges and a conspiracy to destroy Bree's image boost the stakes and create a new, intriguing subplot. They also make it simpler to connect with the protagonist, who is dealing with a terrible predicament.

The whodunit reveal had a lot of breadcrumbs leading up to it but was still satisfying.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/05/12/dead-against-her-by-melinda-leigh/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

<strong>Dead Against Her</strong> is another great book to the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/266188-bree-taggert" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Bree Taggert</strong></em></a> series.     I think the author's skill in writing has advanced since her earlier series.  The layers of things happening make for a more interesting story.  Bree has a lot on her plate both professionally and personally.

There are murder investigations as expected in this police procedural series.  It's complicated by the fact one of the victims who was pushed into retirement by Bree, as he was one of the old corrupt regime.   Bree does an excellent job of gathering information and handling it appropriately.

The press is on Bree personally both with the case, and some "fake news" which casts her in a bad light. It also causes trouble for her family.  They also become aware of her relationship with Matt and try making that an issue.  Things get so outrageous Bree hires Morgan Dane to represent her legally.

Bree continues to navigate her personal relationship with Matt.  She also worries about her ability to parent as she goes through a rough patch with Luke.  Her instincts are good and she is doing the right things.  A brilliant solution comes out in the end because she has a great family unit.  Her found family with Matt, her old partner Dana,  her niece and nephew,  and her brother Adam continues to grow and develop.  I love how they are supporting each other.

I have also enjoyed the author's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/197193-morgan-dane" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>Morgan Dane</strong></em></a> and <em><strong>Scarlet Falls</strong></em> series which are very loosely related to this one.  They are earlier but do not need to be read first. I would read this series itself in order as they are excellent and both the world and relationships continue to develop.  I look forward to the two new additions to the Bree Taggert series in 2023, <strong>Lie to Her</strong> and <strong>Catch Her Death</strong>,  because I have loved every book in the series.

I hadn’t read any of this author’s work before this book, which I now understand is the 5th book in an ongoing series. I was at a disadvantage, not knowing any of the back story to this sheriff called Bree.
Even allowing for that, I could not warm to this book at all, the writing style is all over the place. It is overly descriptive, especially of the mundane trivialities that we all live through daily. The characteristics of Matt’s dogs, their intelligence levels and their little foibles is just one example.
I did not connect with the character Bree at all, or her love interest Matt. The storyline was slow and plodding, and seemed to be going nowhere.
Not for me sadly, this one was a DNF.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

I love how this series keeps getting better and better.

I'm a sucker for police procedurals and this particular series is really working for me.
Bree Taggert is such a strong, complex character; I think her transformation is quite visible, compared to the first book. She has so many things to deal with and it's nice to see how she slowly opens up and accepts help.

I love the writing and the pace, the plot is quite exquisite as well.
Well done!

These Bree Taggart novels just keep getting better and better.

As Sheriff of Grey's Hollow she is under constant scrutiny. As a female Sheriff, she is subjected to some heinous attacks to her safety, which she has to constantly defend, and still fulfill her role. Her professional integrity would stand for no less.

I've always been a lover of mysteries and the solving of them and with Melinda Leigh you can always be guaranteed that.

She has created characters that are so perfectly in sync with each other, they instinctively know what the other is thinking.

As a small town LEO she constantly fights against a barrage of stereotypical unpleasantness but knows how and who is best suited to finding the information needed, often taking a step back and letting others lead. Needless to say the mystery of 'Dead Against Her' is solved, proving her skill as a leader and investigator.

Another great read.

This was great and had my attention 100% from the first page. I read while I was eating, when I should have been sleeping, and when I was attempting to put covers on new library books.

A wonderful plot that got my mad going on Bree’s behalf. I love the way it turned out and Bree Taggert is still a favorite character/series of mine.

I just love the Bree Taggart series by Melinda Leigh and was delighted for the opportunity to read an ARC of this new offering! It was an amazing read and I look forward to more to come.

Sheriff Taggert ends up being the one to find her ex-officer and his mother murdered at their farm. With his contentious "retirement" and a disgusting online campaign against Bree in full swing, remaining impartial and finding the killer becomes a challenge. While all of the books in this series deal with the personal lives of Sheriff Taggert or one of her coworkers, this one was quite a bit darker and parts made me uncomfortable reading. I did appreciate how the author balanced these darker moments with caring scenes between characters and, of course, all the furry friends. As always, I look forward to the next book in the series.