I absolutely love the story of Detective Ellie and the Hawk House. Perfect amount of mystery and I loved that the characters meshed so well together. I love the back-and-forth writings between past and present. I was very happy with the outcome Of the storyline. Oh and short chapters made my day!! Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for allowing me an Earc to review! I plan to read the rest in this series!

SUPERB police procedural with great characterization as Ellie investigates the discovery of many bones on the property of a closed home for children. RECOMMEND the whole series, with terrific plotting & lots of suspense throughout. Thanks to #NetGalley & #Bookouture for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Wow wow wow.Another spell binding read from this incredible author. Just loved this one. Could not put it down. Brilliant.

Although this is book 6 in The Ellie Reeves series it really didn't matter. that I had no read the previous ones, I was drawn in immediately and boy did the characters just jump off the page. Ellie in particular is a character with many sides. She is a strong woman and doesn't back out of her duties ever! She wants justice at almost any cost and almost her own life.
Hidden Bones has an epic plotline that had me intrigued from the first word. Although I did figure out who was who and they did what did (no spoilers) I only figured it out at the same time as Ellie, which I love as it makes the reader feel involved in the case, more concerned for the victims, an increased need to see justice done just as Ellie does.
I have not read Rita Herron before but I will absolutely be searching her out from now on. Her writing style is brilliant and she definitely knows how to write believable characters, flaws and all. Her plot flowed at a great pace and I even found myself telling Ellie not to go in there! but typical Ellie, she went anyway. I was rooting for her every step of the way. This case was complicated and went back over 30 years. It really pulls you in and I loved it. 5 big stars.

What an amazing story. If you enjoy a mystery, with crime solving and unexpected results you will love this story. This takes place in an mountainous area where a 30 yr old orphanages becomes the focus as bones are discovered on the property. As murders start to mount will they be able to unravel the past in order to prevent more deaths in the present?
Thank you to netgalley for complementary copy.

Oh my goodness, what a thrilling read! For some reason, I have read two of the books in this series, but not the one immediately prior to this one. I do think you can read this particular book as a standalone but I wish that I had read all of the books in this series, in order, just to get a better understanding of what makes Ellie tick.

Clearly, Crooked Creek is a bit of a scary place to live, but as far as places to set books like these, there is something very special about it. This author is very good at setting the scene and I can clearly picture Crooked Creek in all its menacing glory.

An abandoned orphanage with pits containing bones - what could possibly go wrong with this scenario? Ellie and her team have their work cut out for them, and it isn't long before people associated with the orphanage die under mysterious circumstances.

An excellent book in the thriller/suspense genre, and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

A brilliant addition to a brilliant series.
The first few chapters could have been penned by Stephen King.
The crimes, characters and setting are a perfect mix.
This can be read as a standalone but I would strongly recommend the rest of the books in the series

Another fast-paced, thrilling instalment to the Detective Ellie Reeves series. Lots of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming!

A horrendous history....
A place filled with death, misery and mystery....
With secrets to be discovered...
If the truth is to be uncovered....

Four teen friends out camping where they didn't ought
Signs of ghosts are what they sought
Instead they run, scared by what?
One trips into a pit and discovers bones - a lot!

Detective Ellie Reeves comes to the rescue
But now she's a new case where the bones are the first clue.
The place was a children's home thirty years ago
When the owner left, to go where we don't know.

Thirty years ago rumours about abuse and more
That occurred in the home were very much to the fore.
Detectives then looked into the case
But then surmised there was nothing out of place.

Did they hide the truth - and if so, why?
What would be a motive to lie?
Why have the files from the case been stolen now?
Would they reveal the what, when and how?

What an intriguing read this proved to be!
With a serial killer marking new victims for all to see.
Why should they be killing folks with links in the past?
Can Ellie uncover the truth at last?

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

Teens doing what teens do, what could go wrong? We pick up this series as 4 teenagers are messing around in the forest, chasing ghosts, testing their bravery. It's all fun until one of the girls falls into a pit with bones and secrets were never supposed to see the light of day.

I picked up this book, number 6 in the series on Netgalley. I really enjoyed this particular story and of course the continued character development. There is clearly a back story that threads through the series and as a result I will be going back and starting from the beginning. I cannot wait to dive in.

This book was just the right amount of scary, thrilling and tender as the characters learn about each other. high 4 stars for me!

This is a fast-paced thriller with short chapters that go back and forth between different people and times. It will keep you hooked from the beginning! Ellie plays a determined female character, insistent on bringing justice to these crimes. Her and her team work together to get ahead of an emerging killer, seemingly locked in on keeping the origin of the bones from Hawk House undercover. The ending is not one you see coming, as red herrings lead you to believe something else. A second (and third!) twist adds extra suspense to the ending, too. The writing addicting and Multiple POVs was well executed. Overall, this was a fun thriller and I am excited for more in the series.

In this harrowing read by Rita Herron, the book starts off when a game involving teenagers, a young woman named Mandy stumbles into a pit and is terrified beyond belief when she lands in a pile of bones. Detective Ellie Reeves, and her team, including FBI agent Derrick Fox, discover evidence of an orphanage of over three decades ago, called Hawk House, where sadly, some of the bones belonged to young children. Why were these children killed, what actually went on at that orphanage? Furthermore, Ellie must determine what a rash series of current murders has to do with that literal house of horrors.

This case becomes personal for Ellie, because Mandy is her niece, so at least a part of the story is focused on the effect it has on the teenager. Meanwhile, it appears that the discovery of these bones has triggered a killer into gruesome activity. Ellie is forced to try to put the pieces of this puzzle together as quickly as possible, trying to stop this evil killer as body after body falls.

One thing is made clear. Not only was the past filled with secrets, there is someone now that has a cruel vendetta. Looking for the man who ran that orphanage creates a race against time in this book that is truly sad considering most of the victims were children. And then considering the newer victims, young women who are being brutally murdered, there has to have some connection to that orphanage. Ellie must make that connection, all while trying to stay out of danger herself.

There is a side drama beyond the murders of old and the present murders. This drama involves Ellie and her confusing love life. The question of whether or not it will be resolved enters into the picture. This thrilling, fast-paced book definitely has surprising twists and turns, and never misses a beat. What an excellent addition to a thoroughly compelling series. The conclusion leaves readers with a question that begs to be answered regarding Ellie’s personal life. Or does it? It is with bated breath that this reviewer is more than eager to continue on with this gripping series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/arYYiw3u3Hg

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the chance to read an advanced copy of Hidden bones by Rita Herron. This is the 6th book in the Detective Ellie Reeves series and the twists and turns of the plot made this one the best one so far! Ellie gets called out when teenagers playing around at an abandoned orphanage reputed to be haunted. Bones are discovered in a pit that teenager, Mandy falls in and this leads Ellie to start an investigation 30 years old. When several women are murdered, she begins to suspect the two cases are connected. Once again, she works with both Ranger Cord McClain and FBI agent Derrick Fox, and once again we see that tension between them as both men are looking for a relationship with Ellie. I definitely believe you should read the series in order as the characters grow as the series continues. Can't wait for the next book!!!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is another great installment in the Detective Ellie Reeves' series. Old bones, secrets that someone wants to keep buried and a brutal and sadistic killer make this a thriller that will hook you from the first pages. When a group of teenagers inadvertently fall into a pile of bones at an old abandoned orphanage, Detective Ellie Reeves is called to the scene. As if she does not have enough on her plate already, a woman's body is found with a very strange marking on her. This book had me in knots as I raced through the pages. The twists and turns were enough to give you whiplash. Just when I would think I had it figured out, another shocking twist would throw me for a loop! Chilling scenes and a deranged killer will make you want to sleep with the lights on. Bravo to Rita Herron! We should call her the queen of misdirection as she is a master at making you believe one thing while you later understand she clearly meant the other! Fans of mystery and suspense will enjoy this one.

Hawk House, former abandoned orphanage, has been whispered about for years, and the draw of teenagers to see “ghosts”. 4 teens head out for a spooky experience, and Mandy, Detective Ellie Reeves niece, falls into a pit and is surrounded by bones. This sets off an investigation and more bones, are found. What happen here so many years ago, why did nobody say anything? A series of brutal murder of women being discovered, disposed in garbage bags. Is there a link between Hawk House and these murder?
Another great installment of Detective Ellie Reeves and her team.
Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced readers copy.

This was a fast paced and engaging read. Ellie and her team's investigation into the discovery of old bones at a home for children that closed decades ago after rumours of abuse, is hampered by a sloppy initial investigation, missing files and no one willing to talk about what happened there years ago. Meanwhile there is another killer to hunt when women are found brutally murdered. Are these murders somehow related to the past? Is there more than one killer running around?
Told from alternating timelines provides the reader with some gruesome details about what happened 30 years ago at Hawk House. This was a complex and suspenseful story that I really enjoyed. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

There is so much going on in this story - bones found at a closed orphanage, women being murdered and then disposed of in garbage bags, the ME's uncharacteristic reaction at some crime scenes, and Ellie being pulled in multiple directions. But even with all of that, the story progressed along and kept you guessing as to who was behind not only the murders from 30 years ago but the current murders. There were plenty of twists and turns and the story was well-paced. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat trying to solve the mysteries along with Ellie.

4.5 Stars
In the small town of Crooked Creek, where the Appalachian Mountains climb into the clouds, nineteen-year-old Mandy’s Spring Break takes a sinister turn. Detective Ellie Reeves races straight to the scene, driving through the winding roads to the abandoned orphanage. Ellie saves the teenage girl but discovers human remains that have been there for thirty years, ever since the home for children closed down. Working day and night on the case, Ellie searches for the orphanage’s files, but they have been stolen—somebody is clearly trying to cover their tracks. As she interviews the residents of the mountain community, Ellie finds out that almost everyone connected to the children’s home has disappeared. Then a woman is found dead, her body marked with a strange symbol. When Ellie learns that the victim used to work at the orphanage, it’s clear that a twisted killer is trying to stop the truth coming out.
This is the sixth outing for Ellie & another well written engrossing read whilst it could easily be read on its own I always like to read a series from the start. The pace is good & I found myself taken on a gamut of emotions & at times it wasn’t a comfortable read but once started I needed to read it until I’d finished & burned the midnight oil as I could go to sleep until things were resolved. There were twists & turns & edge of the seat moments until the conclusion. I think this is my favourite of the series so far
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This is book 6 in the Ellie Reeves series and I have to say it wasn't my favourite. It's a bit long and there was a lot going on. I feel like the Derek and Cord love triangle has been dragged out too long and Cord's pining just gets creepier with every book. The murder did keep me guessing although I still don't fully understand the bones thing. I would still recommend checking out the series though.

I recieved a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

When Mandy, 19 year-old, when her spring break takes a dramatic turn - tripping over branches, she looses her footing and slams at the bottom of a pit containing a pile of white bones, Ellie is called to investigate.
This thriller mystery is book 6 of the Detective Ellie Reeves series, but the first one I read, and now that I have read this one, I will definitely go back to read the rest of the series to get more back story, but you can read this as a standalone. It's full of twists and fast-paced, unputdownable!
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.