This was a great crime mystery. I enjoyed the relationship between Rowan and Evan. There were lots of twists in this one and that keeps you guessing up until the reveal. i enjoyed this one.

Lots of excitement

Detective Evan is called out due to a disturbing smell. Upon opening a trunk of a car, he finds his old partner Rod, a retired detective
When Evan goes to break the news to Rod's daughter Sophia, he discovers she is missing
Someone has a score to settle with the detective
Evan has some evidence of theirs, and they won't stop killing everyone in their path until they have killed Evan, too

qotd: are you into your thrillers, if so what's your favourite type?

It's been a while since I've read a police procedural/ crime thriller, so I was excited to he approved for Next Grave. Thanks to Netgalley for gifting me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Upon starting this, I realised this is number 7 in a book series. So if you are interested in reading the whole lot, I would recommend starting from number 1. However, this can be read as a standalone, and I didn't feel disadvantaged not having read her previous titles.

Next Grave focuses on Detective Evan Bolton and his girlfriend, Rowan, who is the owner and trainer for search and rescue dog, Thor.

It all starts when the body of retired Detective Rod McLeod is discovered in a car boot in the middle of a junkyard. Nobody realised he was missing, and concerns rise after Evan remembers the unanswered voicemail he received from Rod's daughter, Sophia, who it turns out is missing. Upon this discovery, they find blood smears throughout Sophia's house, and the worst is assumed. Thus begins the clock to find Sophia and discover who killed Rod and why.

This was such a good book. The main protagonist, Evan, was your usual well rounded Detective, loves his work, but Rod was his mentor, and so this case becomes a bit more personal. This book is full of murder, mystery, betrayal, and torture, so it is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

The pacing was perfect, and there was never a dull moment, which meant i ended up speeding through this book as i had to know what happened next.

There were also plenty of twists and red herrings along the way to keep you guessing, which i loved as it kept you on the edge of your seat to the end.

Next Grave is full of action, tension, suspense, and chaos. Having read number 7, i would certainly be interested in reading the other 6 in the series now.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 - a fast-paced, whirlwind of a read that keeps you guessing as to who and why until the end. Recommended for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Patricia Cornwell.

The Next Grave by Kendra Elliot continues with the Columbia River series and it does it well. I like the banter and relationship between Detective Evan Bolton and Rowan Wolff. This book starts off with the murder of a close friend and mentor Rod McLeod. Then upon attempting to notify Rod's daughter Sophia the police detective found that she is missing as well. After that it becomes of wild ride of who is where and did what. The book is fast paced and kept my interest throughout.
I would like to thank the publisher Montlake and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.

While this is the sixth book in the series, I was able to jump right in and catch up pretty quickly!

This book was hard to put down. Once I picked it up, I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next. I thought the case was interesting and kept trying to guess the end.

While the book was hard to put down, I struggled with parts of it. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two main characters. It could be because I haven't read the first books in the series but the characters didn't feel real. I also felt there was a lot going on that didn't add much to the story. I can suspend reality when reading a book but this book had a lot of unrealistic situations.

Overall, I did enjoy this book for the most part. I think I would have liked it better if it were more realistic and the characters were more fleshed out.

I’ve been reading through the Mercy Kilpatrick series by Kendra Elliot and loving it so I figured I’d check out another book by her. The Next Grave is book six in the Columbia River series. I did read books 3 and 5 in the series which were great reads. The books can be read as standalone but the series brings together characters (including Mercy Kilpatrick) from Kendra’s other series.

This book did not disappoint! It held my attention from beginning to end. I enjoyed Detective Evan Bolton and canine specialist Rowan Wolff’s characters along with the romantic aspect of their relationship. Kendra does an excellent job with suspense, depth, and character building. At this point, I will read whatever she is releasing.

Thank you to Montlake & NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Kendra Elliot's suspense crime stories are among my favourites and this addition to the Columbia River series was another enjoyable one to read or listen to. Detective Evan Bolton finds the body of his friend and mentor, retired detective Rod McLeod, in the trunk of a car at the junkyard. He goes to tell his daughter and finds that she is missing, and it looks like there was a fight. The police call in Search and rescue canine specialist Rowan Wolff and her dog, Thor, to track the missing woman. Fortunately, her son was with a friend and is safe. It looks like Rod was investigating old cases, ones that were solved, and something triggered this attack. When Zack also goes missing, the police race against time to find him and his mother before one of both of them end up like Rod.

This was an interesting story as there were no apparent clues. The fly in the ointment was that someone was trying to frame Evan, so he was pulled off the case. He continued to work on the solved cases to make a connection, but came to one dead end after another. The Next Grave wasn't as action packed as previous books in the series, but I liked that it took a lot of investigative skill and reasoning to figure this one out. The relationship between Evan and Rowan is a great addition. They are partners in life and often at work, which adds that element of tension when one of them is in danger. I enjoy this series a lot and hope there are more coming.

Book #6 in the excellent Columbia River series. Kendra Elliot is a prolific writer with several series to her credit. I've read many of them, enjoyed them, and recommended them to family and friends.
The murder at the beginning of THE NEXT GRAVE is a long time friend of Detective Evan Bolton, one of the series' central characters. This time the investigation is personal. When a missing persons case is attached to his murder investigation, Evan is joined by Rowan Wolff, a rescue canine handler. Together they will follow clues, old and new, to find a killer's motive before he kills again.
This is yet again another 5 star read in this excellent series.

The Next Grave is book 6 in the Columbia River series by Kendra Elliot. This is the second book in the series featuring Detective Evan Bolton and Search and Rescue canine specialist Rowan Wolff with her dog Thor. I love these characters and couldn't wait for them to be featured more after reading The First Death. Evan is devastated when the body of his mentor, Rod McLeod is found in the trunk of a car. He had been shot in the forehead and tortured before that. Rod was retired, but he and Evan were still close. Rod has a daughter, Sophie and Evan dreads having to tell her the news about her Dad. Luckily, Sophie has a son, Zach, so she won't be alone.

Things take a turn for the worse when Sophie cannot be located and her house is a disaster. Someone fought hard and there's a lot of blood throughout the house. Who does the blood belong to? Is it Sophie's? Is it Zach's? Is it Rod's? It will take time for the lab to figure that out. Rowan uses clothing with Thor for him to get the tracking scent. It's a deadend when Thor loses the scent at a dirt road. They were taken to the road and driven away. When Evan goes to Rod's house he finds out that he had been investigating old cases that were already solved. Why would he be looking at cases that were solved? Why are some of the case files missing? Is this why Rod was murdered? Was he getting close to discovering something important? Something that someone didn't want getting out? As the investigation progresses it seems more and more likely that someone in law enforcement is helping the killer with inside information!

Evan and his partner aren't sure who to trust. This investigation gets very personal as one of our beloved characters gets taken and tortured by the killer. Will they be able to figure out the killer's motive and locate them before it's too late? This book will have your heart racing and flipping pages at record pace. I read The Next Grave in 1 day and can't wait for the next book in the series. If you love a good thriller, engaging characters, and a tough mystery to solve this is the book for you!

I love Kendra Elliot's books! Have read every single one at least once.
The Next Grave is book #6 and didn't disappoint. It has it all, mystery, suspense, love, family and throw in all the interactions with the community, you feel like your there. Evan & Rowan are perfect together, which balances out all the drama and suspense. Love Thor and glad Malcomb was active in this book. Highly recommend reading this book but would suggest starting with #1 due to the buildup of all the characters.
Keep it up Kendra... anxiously waiting for book #7.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Next Grave.

A retired detective is tortured and murdered and his daughter has disappeared. Detective Evan Bolton catches the case and discovers he was investigating closed cases. As he investigates. he realises that the killer may have turned his attention to him.

Kendra Elliot writes edge of your seat crime fiction. I fell in love with her stories with the Mercy Kilpatrick series and the Columbia River series delivers more of the same. And with characters who have been on the periphery scheduled to take centre stage, it looks like I will be enjoying the series for a few years to come.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down .

A suspenseful and gripping installment in the Columbia River series.
We follow search and rescue canine specialist Rowan Wolff and Detective Evan Bolton as they begin an investigation into an airplane crash. They have been told the airplane had been hijacked.
Fast-paced mystery suspense with no many twists and turns!
A must-read for fans of a heart pounding thriller.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

When Evans friend and old boss is murdered, he and the rest of the force are in a race against time to find his missing daughter and grandson. It all seems to be connected but he cant seem to figure out how. Danger hits closer to home when the killer targets Evan, and possibly even the woman he loves. Its exciting, dangerous, action pact and has a satisfying conclusion. I loved catching up with Evan, Rowan, her brother and family, (Thor too!) and getting just a little more time with them. I am looking forward to Noelle getting her book!

Amazing book again Ms. Elliot kept me going from the beginning to the end. The case Detective Evan Bolton is working is a sensitive and personal one at that, and with the help of Rowan it helps. But something else is going on with the case which turns to him. It doesn’t look good.
Later Rowan can’t find Evan, any she’s getting nervous.
He finally tells her what’s bothering him, and she wants to help him of course he closes up.

I hope there’s more to come with these two.

Columbia River book 6

This is the 3rd book I've read in this series and it's the one I've enjoyed the most. I was totally hooked from start to finish. Loved it and looking forward to catching up with some of the earlier books.


Detective Evan Bolton is gutted by his latest investigation. His friend and mentor, retired detective Rod McLeod, has been murdered, his body left in the trunk of a junkyard car. When McLeod’s daughter and grandson abruptly vanish, Evan knows it’s not a coincidence. Search and rescue canine specialist Rowan Wolff agrees as she and her dog, Thor, track the missing family.

The two cases converge in a puzzling twist. Evan discovers that McLeod has been reinvestigating old crimes—solved but not forgotten. Evan takes them on, one by one, and a disturbing suspicion forms that someone in law enforcement has something to hide and would do anything to keep those secrets buried.

But Evan and Rowan’s time is slipping away. They have to find the killer now. Before someone else disappears. Before someone else dies.

Kendra Elliott's books never disappoint and the plot of this one was a doozy!

Evan's mentor Rod is found in the trunk of a car in a junkyard. When he goes to inform his daughter, a lot of blood is found at her house, and she is missing.

So, straight away, Evan has his work cut out for him and there are many twists and turns to come, whilst he tries to figure things out. One dead body, one missing woman, one grieving teenager.

Rowan is brought in, with her dog Thor, to try and find Sophia. And then Rod's grandson goes missing as well......

Very strong plot and I liked all the characters as well. Looking forward to reading another instalment in this series, in the future.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake.

The Next Grave by K. Elliot, published by Montlake, is the highly, highly anticipated sixth book in the Columbia River Series.
I was patiently waiting for Rowan and Evan to get their book, and voila, here it is.
Detective Evan Bolton and dog handler Rowan Wolff with Thor are a couple for some time now. They had their first appearance in The First Death and I couldn't wait for their story.
Evan's latest case is his hardest to digest so far, it's the murder of his mentor and friend. When his daughter and grandson vanish too, everything gets more complicated, more complex, more confusing for the investigator and his team. By his side, Detective Noelle Marshall, also already known from the Mercy Kilpatrick Series.
Everything is connected, is a tangled web and soon they run out of time.
The author masterfully placed miniscule only hints and kept me in high suspense right from the start, breathlessly awaiting the next hint, til the very unexpected last turn. And I was breathlessly speeding along with story and characters. Victims begin to stack up just like alleged proof against one of their own. This book left me with a serious bookhangover. I'm tiptoeing around this review for a few days now after fiinishing this 2024 fav read of mine, struggling a bit to find the appropriate words. I highly recommend the book and the series.

4.25⭐

Kendra Elliot's latest mystery is both intense and gripping. As she returns readers to the Columbia River series and focuses back on Detective Evan Bolton, his girlfriend, SAR Rowan Wolff, and her dog, Thor.

Who find themselves embroiled in a puzzling case. That is close to Evan's heart. When he finds his mentor, friend and retired police detective, Rod McLeod, murdered and his body dumped in the boot of a car in a junkyard.

And while Evan is devastated by the discovery, he is also determined to catch the killer. But when Rod's daughter and grandson suddenly disappear, Evan knows something more is going on and asks his girlfriend Rowan and her dog Thor to track them down quickly.

However, Evan is unaware that the murder and disappearance are connected in the most perplexing of ways. And that Rod had been reinvestigating previously solved cases.

So, Evan decides to reexamine them too, and one by one, he discovers a disturbing pattern. Which leaves him with the uneasy feeling that someone in law enforcement has something to hide and will do anything to ensure their secret stays hidden.

But unfortunately for Rowan and Evan somebody is on their trail and now it's only a matter of time before someone else disappears or worse ends up dead.

My Kendra Elliot experience has been limited to her Columbia River series, which I've enjoyed, so I thought it would be good to read the next one. This is the sixth book in that series.

Description:
Detective Evan Bolton is gutted by his latest investigation. His friend and mentor, retired detective Rod McLeod, has been murdered, his body left in the trunk of a junkyard car. When McLeod’s daughter and grandson abruptly vanish, Evan knows it’s not a coincidence. Search and rescue canine specialist Rowan Wolff agrees as she and her dog, Thor, track the missing family.

The two cases converge in a puzzling twist. Evan discovers that McLeod has been reinvestigating old crimes—solved but not forgotten. Evan takes them on, one by one, and a disturbing suspicion forms that someone in law enforcement has something to hide and would do anything to keep those secrets buried.

But Evan and Rowan’s time is slipping away. They have to find the killer now. Before someone else disappears. Before someone else dies.

My Thoughts:
I love following the relationship between Rowan and Evan in this series. They work so well together. Rowan's skill with training and using dogs to seach is amazing and important to the investigation. This investigation was difficult in that it involved a dear friend of Evan's and there were so few clues to go on. There were a number of twists to the investigation that kept me guessing. Anyone who enjoys a good crime mystery will enjoy this book and the series.

Thanks to Montlake through Netgalley for an advance copy.