Detective Morgan Brookes book 10.

A great book that kept me guessing right to the end. I hope in future books we see more of Amy. I think she's a great character that can be used more. Look forward to reading the next book.

The girl’s body is lying still and the crown of rare darling roses is perfectly positioned in her beautiful auburn hair. Morgan thinks she looks picture-perfect. Until she notices the blood dripping down one side of the boulder beneath her…

Following her colleague Ben up to Castlerigg Stone Circle, Detective Morgan Brookes is shocked at what she finds. A young woman has been killed, left on display at the top of the hill with a crown of roses on her head. As the team race to get the popular tourist spot cordoned off, Morgan hears the heartbroken sobs of the woman who found the body, as she identifies the victim as her best friend Cora Dalton.

Morgan can already see that Cora didn’t struggle when her throat was cut. There’s no blood on the beautiful white gown she was wearing, which means that Cora knew her killer. But everyone, including her boyfriend Jay, has an alibi. As a local shopkeeper, Cora was a huge part of the community, and her neighbours are devastated to lose such a sweet soul.

Then Morgan’s team discover that a local photographer had arranged to meet Cora, and it’s clear from his messages that he chose her elegant white dress. Could their photoshoot have taken a sinister turn?

But when another body is found at another stone circle, wearing an identical flower crown, while the photographer is in custody, Morgan loses the only lead she has. Tracking down the florist who made the crown, Morgan pores over their records and realises the killer purchased three circles of roses…

Certain another innocent life is at risk and with the killer already steps ahead, can Morgan find the connection between these girls before another life is stolen?

On I go to book 10 in this series. Having read this series in quick succession I am getting a little annoyed with Morgan being the hero every time and although this wasn't the worst culprit for this it still leaves some of the other team members in the shadows.

So for those that haven't read any books in this series, Morgan is a young rookie copper who is now part of the murder team. Her Boss Ben also happens to be her partner, and alongside Cain and Amy they are investigating the death of a young woman named Cora. The storyline was as ever reasonably engaging and the writing is decent. I think my middle of the road feelings is maybe due to having read them in the series so close together.

As much as Morgan always ending up the hero irritates me, I cannot seem to stop myself from reading the next books, so clearly Phifer is a skilled author that has the ability to leave the reader wanting more!

This is the tenth book in the series featuring Detective Morgan Brookes. This is a brilliant series and this book certainly did not disappear. It is set in the Lake District which is one of my favourite walking spots. It is dawn at the Castlerigg Stone Circle when a group of women meet for their yoga practice. But that is forgotten when one of the women in the group is found murdered. Morgan and her boss Ben are called out to the case. The woman is identified as Cora, her body has been left, placed on display on a stone, with a crown of roses on her head. She was a local shop owner and a popular member of the community so who would want to kill her? Morgan discovers that the local florist had made three identical crowns for a customer paying cash. So Morgan and her team realise that there maybe at least two more victims out there. When another young woman’s body is discovered they realise that they have witch connections and and Morgan begins to fear for the well-being of her aunt. This was a fast paced and gripping read that I could not put down. I eagerly anticipate book number eleven.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

As always, this series did not disappoint! The only problem I have is not being able to put it down!!!

This book is number 10 in the series. Great characters are what makes this book and it series. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen.

A brilliant read
Tenth in the Detective Morgan Brooke’s series
And another great storyline
If your looking for a new series this is a great one
Thanks NetGalley

Book 10 and the series just gets better with each successive book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Morgan Brookes & Ben Matthews are back in our lives again and i couldn't be happier! A young woman is found murdered with a crown of roses inside a stone circle! Another fantastic read by the amazing Helen Phifer! I devoured the book in one sitting! I cannot wait for more!

This continues to be one of my favorite series. The posing of the first body on a tourist spot, immediately caught my attention and had me suspecting that Lake District had serial killer. However, there are other clues that point to a different suspect. With no signs of a struggle, might the victim have known the killer?

Like other cases in this series, its not all straight forward. I was scratching my head alongside the detectives when the suspects list became thinner. However, a second attack and a connection between the cases amped the tension as the search for the killer intensified.

This was yet another great addition to the series. This was a great, enthralling narrative with a complex yet intriguing plot. As usual, Morgan and her team are a thrill to read about.

Stolen Darlings was the page turner I needed. Granted, I'm still super tired from fifth grade, but I'm also tired from having to stay up because I just HAD to finish my novel!

Morgan, Ben, and the team are back, having recently found a body in a stone circle, dressed in a long white dress, a flower crown, and having been brutally murdered. The location of the murder, combined with the flower crown, an unusual date, and the profession of the victim, leave the team wondering about what kind of killer they are up against along with his motive. As they race to solve the case, they realize they have ideas for potential victims they must protect.

Needless to say, it's a novel that you just can't put down. The mystery is on point, and the crime scene leaves the reader with more questions as each chapter passes. Phifer has done an amazing job on this series, keeping the interest as more books pass. There's always a new case for Morgan and company, and it's necessary for the team to put their skills together in order to break it.

Read more at RockyMountainReads.com

Helen Phifer can always be relied on to bring a really good book, especially when it's in the Morgan Brookes series. Here the young detective is up against a particularly vicious killer. The fact that the victims are all women who embrace alternative therapies such as herbal teas, crystals and the reading of the tarot cards just like Morgan's beloved great aunt Ettie makes finding the killer all the more urgent. As always this is a tense, exciting read that I finished in one sitting and has left me keenly awaiting the author's next book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

Stolen Darlings by Helen Phifer is the tenth book in the Detective Morgan Brookes series and what an excellent series this has been. From the very first book which was called "One left Alive" I have been hooked and I can't recommend this series enough. Once you open you kindle/book you will be hooked. It's full of twists and turns through that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Helen the author has a great way of bringing you into her books and you will be come addicted to them............Her latest book was no different and another 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ book

I highly recommend this series - Just excellent.

Big thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Stolen Darlings is another great Detective Morgan Brookes story and one that I couldn't put down. This outing has Morgan and the rest of the team after a killer. Finding the body of a woman who reads tarot cards and sells crystals in her job, displayed on a flat stone at a stone circle with her neck slashed, they are stumped. When a second victim is found at another circle in a similar way, they are lucky that she was found by a woman walking her dog and able to keep her alive until paramedics arrive. It appears that modern day witches are being targeted. That means that Morgan's aunt, Ettie could also be in danger making it personal. Can they figure out the puzzled and catch the killer before another woman ends up dead?

This was a fast-paced, gripping read that was a great addition to this series. I love the characters in this series, their relationships to one another, their banter, and caring nature. They work together well to solve the crimes and it is almost like they can intuit what the others are thinking or will do. Morgan is a great lead in these books. She almost has a sixth sense when it comes to sussing out clues and putting puzzles together. She has excellent powers of observation and not much gets by her. There were several suspects, twists and red herrings that kept me guessing, but I did figure this one out a bit before the final reveal. Not only do we follow the criminal case, but we also see Morgan and Ben together as their relationship has developed from the first books. Although each book in the series could be read as a standalone, I recommend you read them all to see the relationships develop and to enjoy some excellent crime thrillers. This was another one that I could not put down!

Love to read about Morgan Brookes and her team. In this instalment Morgan is on the case after a young woman is found murdered in a stone circle. Soon after another young woman is almost murdered in the same fashion. Will Morgan be able to find the killer before he takes another woman.

A great story, well plotted and gripping. I loved the witchy side and the fast paced story kept me on the edge and guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I love Helen’s books and I’m a huge fan of Morgan Brookes so this was instantly going to be a winner.

Phifer has delivered on every level with this book. This is one that I devoured in just one sitting. My only regret, I wish there was more.

I love the witchy vibes in this book. It’s added a whole dimension that I hadn’t expected. Returning to Morgan and the team was definitely a welcome factor.

I can’t believe this is book ten, Morgan is a brilliant character and one I have adored throughout. Her determination and approach to cases is wonderful.

Phifer writes gripping and addictive books. This is completely unpredictable and in all the best ways this is a gem.

There is nothing negative to be said about this book. It is truly worthy of all the praise.

This is a must read and one I highly recommend to other readers.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This series I can’t get enough of . I love everything about it from the characters to the storylines . It has me laughing out loud sometimes at some of the antics within the squad . The story lines are also on your edge of the seat and fast paced

Another great episode in this series about policing in the Lake district. This time a young woman is found dead and posed at Castlerigg stone circle. She had a shop in Keswick and did fortune readings there and sold stuff connected with that. The investigation very quickly seems to run cold as suspects and evidence are discounted . When another young woman is found, near to death in similar circumstances, it looks like the link is to do with witchcraft.
I like the characters in this series, though this time their interactions were work related rather than the more relaxed atmosphere outside of work. The investgation was OK, though there did seem to be a lot of chasing around for very little result up until the last few chapters. The book did keep me interested all the way through, but I thought the ending was a little too quick. All in all, not bad, but other books in this series have been better.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Reading Between the Wines book review #121/115(met goal in Sept!) for 2023:
Rating: 3 🍷🍷🍷
Book: Stolen Darlings
Author: Helen Phifer
Available Now!!

Sipping thoughts: This one really started off strong but I did not like how it ended. One thing I like about this series is that you hear from the killer’s POV, and it really gets into their head and thinking. I was confused reading this book on the killer’s motives, so I didn’t like the ending. I will still read the future installments and can’t wait to continue reading about Morgan Brookes.

Cheers and thank you to @Bookouture and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @StolenDarling.

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I adore this author but this was not my personal favourite. I can’t exactly put my finger on why but there were perhaps too many suspects that were brought into the limelight. I found it moved a little bit slower than most of her books as well and it jumped around a bit . However the story line was great, the main character was great. It was told well. I feel like maybe I just was not the perfect audience for this one. I am still pleased that I was given the chance to read it as it was absolutely worth the read it was just a bit less crisp and fast than I usually prefer. But I still recommend giving this a chance.