This captivating small town romantic suspense has a sunshiney true crime podcaster heroine, a grumpy sheriff hero, a loveable three-legged cat and all the delicious enemies-to-lovers vibes. While I don’t want to further rehash the blurb, I will say that the plot of this one is interesting, engaging and I fell for this story hook, line and sinker. As you might expect with a story involving a true crime podcast this one does deal with some sensitive topics and while they are handled with grace, please read with care. The characters in this one are real, relatable and people I’d love to know. Ridley is fierce, loyal and has a knack for making friends with everyone from a high school student to a chess playing “grandpa” to members of a motorcycle club. Colt is a natural born protector and has a such a soft, loving heart under the pain that he wears as a shield. I think that Ridley and Colt are linked in a deep, profound way and I really like them for each other. I am a huge fan of Catherine Cowles and her signature style but this one had a slightly different feel – not bad just a bit different. While I liked the mystery/suspense aspect a little more in this one (and still couldn’t suss out the bad guy even though I trusted no one), I felt like the romance was less palpable and took more of a backseat. Make no mistake though; love still abounds. Time spent in the pages of this enjoyable read will give you plenty of heart, heat, humor and an emotional happily ever after that will leave you pleasantly satisfied!

4 stars! I love just about everything Catherine Cowles writes so I was so excited for this one! I really liked both Ridley and Colt. I thought it was interesting to see how they both delt with their life situations. The family/found family was also quirky and fun. I did enjoy the mystery of this one and it definitely was not what I was expecting at all. The reason this is a 4 star instead of 5 is because there was some repetitiveness (especially with the use of certain words), also the chemistry/ relationship development between Ridley and Colt didn't feel super strong or deep. I wanted to feel their connection a little more. All that being said I still very much enjoyed this book. I can not wait to hopefully read another book in this series with Emerson and Trey. Honestly, Trey was one person who made this book so good so I hope we get to see more of him. While, this was not my favorite CC book, it is definitely still a must read.

Thank you Catherine Cowles, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

at this point consider me obsessed with anything Catherine writes. Right from the prologue I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down.

Ridley is a true crime podcaster who’s trying to figure out who’s behind multiple disappearances and decides to go back to what she believes is the first victim. When she arrives at the town she bumps into Colt the grumpy sheriff who doesn’t want her near the town.

Both Ridley and Colt suffer trauma they have to deal on the daily. They’re both ridden with guilt over everything that happened. Once Colt figures out what Ridley is trying to uncover decides they should work together.


The banter was chef kiss. Catherine truly knows her banter and honestly I was so obsessed.

Catherine’s mind always shocks me even when I semi discovered who the villain was she still managed to shock me.

I had such a good time reading this book 💜

Thank you thank you Catherine & Sourcebooks for the arc!!

True crime podcaster Ridley Sawyer seeks justice for cold cases while grappling with the unresolved disappearance of her twin sister. When her investigation collides with Sheriff Colter Brooks’ guarded small-town life, sparks fly, but danger looms as the case takes a deadly turn.

All The Missing Pieces is the first book in the Shady Cove series. This romantic suspense book contained grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity romance tropes. I appreciated the unique combination of a true crime podcaster heroine and a sheriff hero which got me invested in the story. Overall, it was an engaging read, but I found myself more interested by the suspense than the romance. The cold case plot was what truly hooked me and kept me turning the pages. There were moments where I thought I had figured out the culprit, only for the author to completely blindside me with unexpected twists which I loved. However, the romance between Ridley and Colt fell a bit flat for me. The dialogue felt too cliché and occasionally cringey. Ridley’s impulsive decisions sometimes annoyed me. Colt’s behavior while meant to be grumpy occasionally came across as outright rude which detracted from the charm of their dynamic. Given that Ridley is a true crime podcaster, I would have loved to see a few podcast episodes woven into the story to provide more depth and immersion. Overall, this was a solid start to the series and I’m excited to see which characters get their own stories next!

I love true crime and podcasts so once I could get my hands on this book, I was all in. Let me tell you, it was incredible from the first page. I do not even have the words to describe the emotions or thoughts while reading. Just when you have an inkling of what may happen next, boom you are sucked back in as nothing is as it seems. This author does not disappoint and this book is already one of my top reads of 2025. You are missing out if you do not grab this immediately.

Another Catherine Cowles banger!

Seriously I just love Catherine’s writing and stories and this was no exception!

Colt and Ridley were so good together. There was so much tension…until there wasn’t…and don’t even get me started on their cutesy nicknames for each other!

I enjoyed the crime podcast vibes and the investigation and it was just so perfectly well written.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks, NetGalley and Catherine for this amazing ARC opportunity!

I have been a fan of Catherine Cowles for several years now and somehow fall more in love with her books as a new one comes out. This novel focuses on Ridley, a podcast host who focuses on true crime, and Colter a small town sheriff. Both have secrets and have suffer significant trauma due to crimes that have happened within the area.

Ridley faces some opposition from Colt for reasons she’s doesn’t immediately understand however there is something about her that he cannot get past. This is an AMAZING novel for those who love true crime, suspense, romance, and a sweet HEA! I could not put this novel down and cannot wait to see where the rest of the series goes! This novel was so fun and I absolutely loved the characters.

(4.5) Guys, I did it. I actually guessed the bad guy. There was a little twist with the person. But still it happened.

I really enjoyed this one. The way the relationship between Ridley and Colt progressed. The way they each carried their past with them - how Ridley opened Colt up to a new method. They eventually supported each other and were a good fit. Even their banter when they were “enemies” was just so fun and satisfying.

I loved the small town of Shady Cove and the cast of characters that came with it. The way they were protective of Emerson but also opened to Ridley as she proved herself.

I think the only thing I wanted more of was resolution for Emerson. I would have loved to see more for her character, especially since this is a stand alone.

But all in all, a fantastic book. Def recommend.

🧩 ARC Review 🧩

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

I don’t typically gravitate toward suspense novels because of my anxiety, but Catherine Cowles’ writing is so captivating that I couldn’t resist.

The story centers around Ridley, a true crime podcaster who visits Shady Cove, convinced a serial killer may have claimed his first victim there. Enter Colt, the local sheriff, who isn’t thrilled about Ridley digging into the past and reopening painful memories for the people of his town. However, Ridley is determined to uncover the truth, and as she delves deeper into the case, Colt finds himself drawn into her investigation in unexpected ways.

The slow-burn hate-to-love chemistry between Ridley and Colt was absolutely magnetic! The suspense had me hooked from start to finish. The twist with the villain completely blindsided me. 😅

And the side characters? I adored them! They were some of my favorites. Overall, If you’re a fan of true crime, podcasts, and romantic suspense, this book is a must-read. Catherine seamlessly blends all these elements into one of my new favorite romance novels she’s written.

Thank you to @catherinecowlesauthor & @netgalley for my eARC of All the Missing Pieces 💜

🏷️: #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booksta #bookaesthetic #tbr #girlswhoread #bookcommunity #reading #bookdragon #bookobsessed #books #bookrecommendations #bookish #bookaddict #romance #kindle #kindleunlimited #spicybooks #bookreviewer #romancebooks #bookreview #booktok #arcread #advancereaderscopy #allthemissingpieces #catherinecowles #romanticsuspense

murder mystery is my jam, like i will legit fall asleep watching shows like that on tv, so i inmediatly applied for the arc and i got it—  thank godness i didn't whitdraw the request.

if you've ever read one of her books, then you know the fmc will spend her book getting threats, and finally she will probably have a major preblem as soon as you hit the 90% mark—  which we did, and i enjoyed like always. the characters are really well written, and i didn't feel like i was missing something whilst reading it.

however, even though i know catherine cowles' style, i'd hoped this one were a bit different. i loved the dinamic between the mc's, although the switch from 'enemies' to lovers felt a bit too insta for me. the main problem i had with the plot is that i found myself getting distracted from the mysterious aspect of the book with all the over the top cheesy dialogue i had to read.

if you don't mind all that, this is a book for you. i mean, the romance is there, the drama is there, and specially, the mystery is there, so i encourage everyone to grab this one and enjoy it!

also, credit where credit is due, the cover of this book is stunning, and one of the first thing which drew me to adding in to my tbr.

Thank you NG, Catherine Cowles and the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, for giving me the opportunity of reviewing this book.

Catherine Cowle is a master at weaving a romantic suspense.

All the missing pieces follows Ridley, a true crime podcaster chasing the demons from her twin sister’s unsolved case. During her investigation she meets Colt, a small town sheriff who is chasing his own demons. Together they find that there may be a link between them that neither could predict.


While I enjoyed the premise and plot of this novel, I just didn’t feel that spark between the characters. I was itching for something deeper. I really enjoyed the Sparrow Falls Easter eggs that were laid in here.

This is one of my favourite Catherine books to date. Ridley and Colter had so much tension and chemistry. I loved the podcast element of the story and the overall mystery plot line. I was enthralled the entire time.

Catherine Cowles is one of my tried & true authors and are you even kidding me with this book? I loved the unique twist as the FMC & MMC being the “investigators” initially as opposed to one of them starting as one of the victims which is typical of CC’s books.

This book was everything. No notes. All the vibes. 10/10 recommend.

Look if Catherine Cowles writes it I will read it. This one felt like the first time we really got a female heroine who was like actually I know what I'm getting into here and I will kick ass. Ridley is so strong and so determined. I loved her! and bless Colt's poor traumatized heart he just wants everyone to be okay and here comes the beautiful girl who just won't stop kicking the hornet's nest. This book is small town romantic suspense with twisty turns. It's got a great cast of small-town characters and enough mystery and romance to keep you up all night turning the page. I'm not a true crime girl, but I would tune in weekly for Ridley's podcast!

Let me preface by saying that Catherine Cowles is one of my favorite authors. This one, however, was not my favorite of her books. I'm struggling to really nail down what didn't quite work for me with "All the Missing Pieces", but I think it ultimately boils down to the fact that I was craving more? Everything felt sort of half-baked, like there wasn't a super clear direction for things, so it all felt a little incomplete. I think both Ridley & Colt's backstories were well done, but almost repetitive? Which then left me wanting more development plot-wise, instead of relying on the trauma. I don't know if I'm fully articulating this well, but I just wanted more. I will still read Catherine's books, and probably the rest of this series, this just was a bit of a miss for me.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I truly don’t know how I come on here and tell you this is my new Catherine Cowles book every time I finish one, but here we are. This is our classic CC but elevated in a way that I know this book will instantly blow up. The characters are people you instantly want to be best friends with. Strong, resilient FMC who has been dealt the worst hand in life but has truly never given up the meaning of living. And a closed off small town sheriff trying to keep everyone he loves safe but is only just existing. Two people who meet and learn from each other what it’s like to breathe again. While the stakes are higher this time with Ridley’s true crime broadcast has brought her to small town Shady Cove where a serial killer she suspects is here. With a race against the clock we watch Colt and Ridley try to track him down, while also battling how they feel for each other. And the webs that have weaved them together.

The writing was absolutely beautiful and captivating from the prologue to the hard earned epilogue. This book had the unique ability to move you and change your viewpoint and outlook on life afterwards.

My new favorite book of Catherine’s. Her writing in this book just hit different, I think it was some of her best yet. The mystery of it all had me guessing until the last few chapters. Colt & Ridley’s chemistry was some of the steamiest/best scenes I’ve read of CC’s. I didn’t want to put this one down!

Omg Catherine does it again!!

First, thank you so much for the arc!!

I have an amazing time reading Colt and Ridley’s story!!

What to expect:
✔️Small town romance
✔️grumpy/sunshine
✔️spice
✔️podcaster/sheriff
✔️suspense
✔️banter

Such a perfect mix of romance and twisted surprises. Amazing character build up with banter that had me giggling and smiling. Highly recommend adding this one to your 2025 TBR!

(4.5/5 stars) Catherine Cowles officially just got a new fan because this small town romance between a true crime podcaster and a town sheriff was such an addictive read!

All The Missing Pieces is my first book that I've read by Catherine Cowles, and I ate it up. This book follows Ridley, the host for a true crime podcast, who became a podcaster after the disappearance of her twin sister. Channeling the devastating loss into something positive, Ridley travels across the country in her van covering cold cases. Ridley ends up in Shady Cove where she meets Colt, the town sheriff, who doesn't like her poking around into a cold case that's personal to him.

What to expect:
🌸 Small town romance
⛰️ 1st person, dual POV
🚐 True crime podcaster x town sheriff
🌸 Mystery & romantic suspense
⛰️ Grumpy x sunshine
🚐 Standalone

I love the balance between romance, suspense, and mystery within this book. I tried my best to guess the ending and couldn't, so I love that this book wasn't predictable.

I'll definitely be reading more of Catherine's work in the future!

A sincere thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC ahead of its January 7, 2025 release date.

All the Missing Piecces
Catherine Cowles
Pub: 1/7/25
5☆

I have been counting down the days since the moment Cowles uttered the words “three-legged cat”.

All joking aside, this has been one of my most anticipated reads and Cowles did not disappoint! Ridley a.k.a. Taser of douchebags and tamer of or ornery brothers and Colter “lawman” Brooks’ story exceeded all of my expectations. The mystery, the humor, the romance, the cat! OMG THE CAT! Tater might just be my new favorite pet character.

I loved every single bingy moment of this book. Cowles brings out ALL the feels in this one. She has you literally crying one moment and laughing the next. And in usual CC fashion the true villain was not at all who I thought it was going to be.

What I loved;
💜 Romantic Suspense
💜 Grumpy x Sunshine
💜 Enemies To Lovers
💜 True crime Podcast
💜 Chaos/Lawman
💜 Princess Tater - Tooth Hugs
💜 Meeting New Friends & Seeing Old Friends

“Colt, you helped me find all the missing pieces. Even the ones I didn’t realize I needed.”

Thank you so much to Catherine Cowles, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for the gifted copies!