The Fragile Ones

Detective Katie Scott #5

by Jennifer Chase, Lisa Rost-Welling (Narrator)

Listening Length 6 hours and 49 minutes

When the bodies of eleven and twelve-year-old sisters, Tessa and Megan, are found at the bottom of a ravine—dressed in matching pastel summer outfits, their small bodies broken from the fall—Detective Katie Scott is called to one of the most shocking and heartbreaking crime scenes of her career.

Carefully picking through the fragile remains, Katie makes the first of many disturbing discoveries: the girls were not biological sisters. The youngest, Megan, is a DNA match to a kidnapping case years before. The tiny number burnt into her skin the mark of a terrifying killer intent on keeping count of his collection.

Her PTSD from the army triggered, Katie is left reeling as she maps other missing children in the local area. Has this twisted soul found a way to stay nearby his victims? Could he be watching now as Katie hits one dead end after another?

A wild storm building, matching a fiber found during the autopsy to a nearby boatyard is the break Katie needs. But when another girl goes missing, just as lightning strikes and the power goes out, Katie only has her instincts, her team and her service dog to rely on. As time runs out for Katie to finds the stolen child alive, who will become the next number on this monster’s deadly list?

Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh, you better buckle-up for the ride of your life! BEWARE – this gripping crime thriller is guaranteed to keep you up all night!

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense

7 pages, Audible Audio

First published March 8, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today Best Selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. She has written the popular Detective Katie Scott Series and the Emily Stone Thriller Series.

Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.

She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers. www.authorjenniferchase.com

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

Jennifer Chase is back with the fifth instalment of her Detective Katie Scott series. This time Detective Scott is investigating the murder of sisters Tessa and Megan who went missing two years previously, whose bodies she discovered whilst showing a documentary film crew around rural woodland where there have been sinkholes.

Given that the girls have been missing for two years, Katie wants her and her partner McGaven, who run the cold cases department of Pine Valley Police Department, California, to be the lead detectives. They are in for a tough and mysterious time though with DNA showing something they didn’t expect, a tattoo with the number 372 found on one of the girl’s scalps, and someone seems to be trying to stop them from progressing in the case.

Can the pair discover what happened to the girls, and is the case far bigger than just the two of them?

Having read the previous four books in the series, I was eager to see where author Jennifer Chase would take her new book. The Fragile Ones didn’t disappoint, in fact, I think this is the best from the series with Detective Scott not only having to work the murder case of two young children, she is also trying to work out who is trying to stop her from getting too close, as well as someone seems to also be helping her. Alongside her investigation, you have her relationship with Chad and also her PTSD which rears its ugly head at the wrong times and Katie fights to keep it under control.

The plot was gripping and mysterious. Why would someone brand a child with a number and how come it kept on cropping up in strange places? Plus, why did their mother call them ‘The Fragile Ones’, what did that even mean?

I rushed through the story eager to find all the answers. It is a fast-paced book and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster as well as being twisty. You can feel the story intensify as the investigation proceeds and Katie starts putting some of the pieces together. You can certainly tell it has been written by someone who knows the field that she writes expertly as everything felt so raw and real.

[Mick Dubois · Rating 5 out of 5]

When cold-case detective Katie Scott shows a tv documentary crew around Sequoia County, she almost stumbles on the remains of 2 little sisters that disappeared from Rock Creek 2 years earlier. As she is the one who discovered the bodies and Rock, Creek has only 2 police officers, Katie and Sean Mc Gaven are given the case. Although the mother swears that she gave birth to both girls and has their birth certificates, the youngest girl, Tessa, was abducted from a park in Texas 9 ½ years earlier when she was 6 months old. Behind her ear, the number 372 is branded and has been put there before she was 2. Before they can interview the mother further, she commits suicide. Or it’s made to look as if she did. Katie has a strong gut feeling that there’s something off, not only with the mother and the home but with the whole village. The locals are anything but welcoming and remain tight-lipped.



This is the 5th book in this series but can be read on its own. Where necessary the relevant information from earlier books is repeated.

Katie Scott used to be an army explosive dog handler and completed 2 tours in Afghanistan. When she was discharged from the army, she was able to bring her K9 Cisco home with her. Something that’s highly unusual and unlikely but I’m sure there must be reasons for that. Anyway, he may be a reason for my attraction to the series. After her parents died, she was raised by her uncle, the local sheriff and now works for his cold case department, well she and McGaven are the department. She worked hard and is doing well with overcoming her PTSD. She still has nightmares and occasionally suffers panic attacks and anxiety but she learned how to handle those. Having to rappel into a ravine doesn’t really help, though. She’s in a happy relationship with her life-long best friend Chad even though there’s also some chemistry between her and the forensic supervisor. We also meet some of Katie’s army friends that come to her surprise birthday party.

The consistent dating and timing of each chapter brings on a feeling of urgency and givers an up to the minute update of the findings and goings-on. The whole story is concluded in less than a week.

The story starts out a little slow to get reacquainted with the characters but very soon the suspense rises to almost unbearable levels near the end. You have been given a lot of clues by then but there’s still something that evades us. It’s a real thriller this time and more than deserves a 5*. When it becomes clear that the killer is someone in plain view, I started to suspect even people in her own office like John.

I have one issue and that I don’t get the reason why the man in the grey truck acts the way he does. I can’t say much more about that or I give too much away.

Pine Valley and its surroundings seem to be plagued by unusual bad tempests and storms that make you run for cover and shelter. The foul weather results in fallen trees and worse flooding that can cut towns off from the outside world for indefinite periods of time. It’s not only human nature that must be watched and kept in check here but extreme weather conditions just as well.

I thank Boo Kouture and Netgalley for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading)]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Fragile Ones was my introduction into the world of Jennifer Chase. Despite it being the fifth book in the Detective Katie Scott series, I had no difficulty following the story. Each book follows a different case. The author provides sufficient background information, making it easy for readers to follow, no matter where in the series they decide to start. The synopsis influenced my decision to read this book, as I am always up for a good mystery.

In this installment cold case detective Katie Scott is investigating the murder of two pre-teen sisters, Tessa and Megan Mayfield. The girls went missing two years ago, and Kate discovered their bodies while taking a documentary film crew on a tour of the rural area of the county. Katie wanted her and her partner to work the case as the timeline from the girls went missing to the discovery of their bodies would make this a cold case. Katie struggles with PTSD and because of the nature of the case, she encounters some difficult. However, the loving support of her uncle/boss, her work partner, her faithful German shepherd and her loving boyfriend aids in bringing a measure of calm to her life.

Despite the challenges, Katie will not stop until she finds justice for these precious victims. The further she and her partner dig, the more unsettling the case becomes. Evidence uncovered revealed that there was more to the case that they initially thought, but someone is determined to stop them from uncovering the truth.

For the first twenty percent, the story moved at a slow pace. The author familiarized/re-familiarized readers with the characters. Shortly thereafter, the story picked up the pace, making for an intense read. Danger and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. As the danger escalated, I feared for Katie and her partner. Despite the many clues provided, I could not unravel the mystery. The large suspect pool did not make it any easier.

I enjoyed my introduction to the characters. I loved the relationship Katie shared with her uncle, her work partner, and her dog. She had few interactions with her significant other, Chad, therefore I am not in a position to speak on the authenticity of their relationship. However. there was a moment in the story where I got some insight into his feelings for her.

The Fragile Ones delivered a well-paced mystery that kept me engaged from start to finish. Overall, a solid read and one I would recommend to mystery fans.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um... I'm so baffled by all the five star reviews of this book, not to mention baffled by the supposed villain and his motives. Oh my goodness. What on earth?? This author has supposedly got degrees in criminal profiling? How can anybody be satisfied with this ending and the supposed reasoning? I am baffled by all of it.

First off, I do appreciate the premise of the main character. She is a veteran with PTSD who has her service dog from the war accompany her as a cold case detective. I'm always a fan of strong female characters but more so when they are allowed to have flaws, be relatable, and be likeable. A few other reviewers have mentioned that we don't really get much for why we're supposed to like Katie. We're just shown that every man in her universe worships her and admires her, and she does things like falls through two stories of an old house into a basement and then is banged up again and gets back up (note: this is not really how old houses or human bodies work). This premise is why I gave the book two stars instead of one, along with the fact that I appreciate the short chapters, quick storytelling and some good writing. Some writing was good, while other parts were incredibly amateur though and just sloppy. Little things kept jarring me, like there's an incredibly detailed description of how Katie rappels down the side of a cliff to get to something (obviously a well googled section for very specific details on how to use the equipment) and then it says "a large predatory bird circled overhead." This woman can rappel down a cliff and lives in a rural area, but she doesn't know the difference between a hawk or a vulture? Can we at least call it a raptor?

Or the chief of police in the small town she was sent to (Rock Creek) kept being referred to as the sheriff, when the sheriff was her uncle who she worked for in her own town. A sheriff is in charge of the whole county, while the police are in charge of one town and each town has its own police chief. Then she went to Rock Creek to check out leads and nobody in the (real) sheriff's department had been to the town or knew much about it. That's not how sheriff's offices work. You work your whole county, and police will often assist neighboring towns even for things like fire calls or drug busts even if they're not even in the same county. There's no way a deputy in a sheriff's office wouldn't know all the towns in her/his county because they're all in your territory. But then they'd go back to calling the Rock Creek police chief the sheriff again. In one section they called Rock Creek's chief sheriff so-and-so twice in a row before going back to referring to him as a chief.

And then there were like 20 absolutely ridiculous and/or unexplained plot elements. To name a few....

1. The killer branded 372 on the scalp of one of the little girls they found, and the number keeps turning up carved on the wall of a basement, carved into a tree, etc. Katie finds a bible passage she thinks it might be and she quotes it to his supposed lackey/friend, and the guy freaks out. But it turns out it had nothing to do with the bible, and it's the number of days he had to wait to kill his little sister, so then he supposedly kills another little girl every 372 days... as an anniversary???
2. They find out about other dead little girls who were kept out of the databases, one of whom has another number branded onto her that's like 144 or something, which makes it seem like it's a numbering system and he's killed almost 400 little girls. This was never resolved. Which is it?
3. He supposedly just snatched a baby in Texas from some nice normal couple because she looked pretty and then took her home to his wife who raised her with their own daughter for 10 damn years before he just randomly killed both of his daughters, one of whom he branded on her scalp when he snatched her 10 years ago? But first he kept her as his daughter for ten years?
4. His wife didn't tell anybody any of this when her children went missing?
5. The killer supposedly had some sort of magical hold over everyone in his life where they were afraid of him and would do anything for him, and he was a chameleon who could hide in plain sight. How? What made him this way? We don't see him in any way acting at all charismatic or terrifying or anything. People just tell us after the fact.
6. The film crew is introduced in the first chapter and each guy is barely described. We don't deal with them again until the very end of the book, when (what a shock) one of them is the killer. I couldn't even remember which one he was.
7. Another cop supposedly kidnaps the girl from the killer and has her tied up and is shouting at her to trust him in an old house. What???? I still have no idea what that scene was all about and it was absolutely ridiculous.
8. The killer supposedly killed all these little girls because his parents spoiled his pretty little sister. That's it? Can we know more about it? Was this why he was adopted by the chief? Like he killed his sister so his parents put him up for adoption, or did the chief and his wife adopt both of them and then he killed her, or was this just sometime before he was adopted? Which parents spoiled his sister over him, the biological ones or the adoptive ones? I'm so confused, and this is not why people kill 400 children (or like 6, depending on how you read the book).
9. The killer worked on a film crew that I guess made up an excuse to film in the area even though the guy lived in the area, and then sort of led Katie to the area where she might notice the bodies in a canyon if the sun hit a barrette in one girl's hair just right, which of course she did. Why? Why would he want the police to find two of his victims, when he went to a lot of trouble to hide all the others? And then he does stuff like block the road with trees so she can't get to the town, when supposedly he led her to find the bodies in the first place, which nobody was really even looking for.
10. Why did he kill other little girls for years and then both of his daughters way later? And why two at once? He didn't brand his biological daughter and just sort of disposed of her as an... extra?
11. The girls were supposedly locked in a sort of hug halfway down a canyon. Katie wonders whether they were killed in that position, clung to each other as they were tossed, or landed in that position. We find out later that they were killed separately -- one by strangulation and one with a head wound. So how were they tossed into a canyon to land together in a hole on the side of a mountain so they'd be forever locked in a hug??? And has the author ever tried to toss the weight of two preteen girls together into a canyon? I think it would be more of a roll than a toss. It's not like shot put.

Then there's the fiance, Chad. who randomly appears in the book halfway through to show how much he loves her but otherwise has nothing at all to do with her life, the plot, or anything in the book most of the time. And the creepy or hunky (depending on the section) guy John from forensics who does things like takes secret admiring pictures of her as she's rapeling down to a crime scene next to her. Why??? We'll never know. But those are minor compared to the ridiculous comic book villain and his ludicrous crimes.



The author does write about doing things in the rain well. That's kind of the strong suit of the book and I'm not joking. It's pouring down rain pretty much the entire book and she does a very good job of describing driving in the rain, chainsawing downed trees in the rain, fighting with bad guys in the rain and so on. The rest of it just has me continually shaking my head and rolling my eyes.

I read a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Katie Scott series is one of my top favorite series. Every installment of the series is gripping & highly tense. The Fragile Ones too is a compelling new addition to the series. No one makes solving cold cases sound interesting as Katie & I have Jennifer Chase to thank for that! While the characters in the book were great as usual the plot was somewhere between good & great. Crimes involving children are hard to read & the fact that it affects Katie too shows that the characters in the book are so believable & realistic. There were a good number of moments that had me on the edge of my seat! And the twists were also so well laid & executed! In the book, there may have been another possible cold case that may have reached Katie's table but we never learn any more of it. I was hoping that the case would have been addressed in the end, if not solved. But that's just a small & my only gripe! Otherwise I loved this book. Over the course of the series I've come to love Katie but I absolutely adore Cisco! I hope Katie & team solve more cases!

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Jennifer Chase for an arc!

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Bookoutre, Jennifer Chase and Netgalley. I adore Katie Scott! She would seem to be fearless. Yet, those who know her realize her P.T.S.D., and still in the face of all her fears, she straps on her iodized coat of armour and plows right in. I love her! This should be a series on t.v. I probably wouldn't watch it, because I don't watch the tele..much! But, Katie and McGaven would be great! My favorite thing though about these books are the settings. I spent 5 years in Lone Pine, California. The Alabama Hills were my playground. Mt. Whitney was just a drive that my parents forced us kids to take! We gigged frogs in the Owens river! Fell asleep to dried out cowpatties on our camp outs! So, when Ms. Chase describes the smell of the pine trees and forest.....I do tend to get lost. I've lived and been through mountains all over the Pacific northwest, and over to Northern, Idaho and Montana. The smells! I know, it's a bit crazy, but nothing has ever beaten the smell of a Northern California forest. My only reserve about this author is that the 2 books I've read had child murders. Please move on! Kill a few white supremacists, or wife beaters!

[Julie Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book in this great series.
Katie is asked to show some documentary makers around and they all get more than they bargained for.
During the hike Katie spots something and realises it’s the bodies of two young girls.
One of the girls has been strangled and also has the numbers 372 branded on her head.
They trace the girls to Rock Creek but when they go to speak to their mother, it’s clear someone doesn’t want them there.
New information comes to light and Katie and Gav end up stranded in a hotel in Rock Creek as a bad storm hits them.
The killer is on the move and is tying up loose ends, and soon Katie and Gav are in serious trouble.
This book had a nail biting conclusion and I admit Gi being worried about Cisco too.
Another great book in this brilliant series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Owl._. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is Book 5 in the Detective Katie Scott series. I have read them all and usually with a series, I don’t recommend reading them as a stand alone. However, this one could be read as a stand alone. It read as if it was a stand alone. With only a very few minor references to past events, you wouldn’t really know this was part of a series.

As far as this installment, I would have to say I found it disappointing. I kept waiting for something, anything to be that wow moment. It just never came. There was something missing that was in the prior books. This one fell flat. There was no emotional connection to the characters or the story. The plot felt incomplete. The conclusion was a let down.

This was my absolute least favorite if the series and if this was the first book by this author, I don’t know that I would give her another try. With that being said, since I really enjoyed the first 4 books, I look forward to reading the next one in the series. You can’t win them all.

2.5 out of 5

Thank you #bookouture and #netgalleybfor eARC.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Katie Scott certainly has her hands full when it comes to finding out who murdered two pre-teen sisters, Tessa and Megan. As things unfold, this case proves especially difficult for Katie, and the deeper she digs into the case, the more unsettling facts she discovers. For one thing, DNA proves that the youngest girl was indeed a kidnapping victim from years before. Then there is the killer's signature, another disturbing fact Katie learns.

All while Katie has been working difficult cases such as these, she is coping with the often crippling affects of PTSD. Although in treatment for this, sometimes the triggers are still quite overwhelming. Katie is not alone during this case, or in life. While Katie toured in Afghanistan as a K9 handler, her German shepherd Cisco was her partner. Blessedly, she was able to bring Cisco home with her and he remains at her side. Also, Katie lost her parents years before and was raised by her uncle, who is her boss as the town's Sheriff. Then there is her trusted partner McGaven. Lastly, and most blessedly, is her long-time friend and now loving boyfriend Chad. Considering the trauma Katie still experiences as a result of the war, having all of this support is a true blessing.

The intensity if the current case builds rapidly, especially when another girl goes missing. Katie is determined to find the missing girl, no matter the cost. As always with this thrilling series, the book is told from Katie's perspective, allowing readers to see how thoroughly invested she is when solving cases, especially heart-wrenching cases where children are the unfortunate victims.

As this book reached a thrilling crescendo my heart was in my throat as Katie faced a critical danger point. The action was quite intense and kept me tapping my Kindle screen at a rapid pace. Readers could enjoy this book as a standalone as it focuses mainly on the case Katie is working on, as well as touching on her backstory. However, I highly recommend all the previous books in this series, Little Girls Sleeping, Her Last Whisper, Flowers on Her Grave and Last Girls Alive. These are all exciting books that any lover of crime fiction would be sure to enjoy. The Fragile Ones is a very well-written book that kept my attention from beginning to end, making me more than eager to see how Katie fares in her next endeavor.

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

[Chen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cold case Detective Katie Scott is called to investigate when the bodies of two young sisters are found in a ravine. Their mother has their birth certificates, but a DNA test proves they were not biologically related. Who do the girls belong to, and why has one had numbers branded on her skin?

The premise of the story was good, and it did have some interesting elements, but it was just missing something for me. The narrative seemed to have a few holes, which made it jar a little, especially the actions of one character, whose suspicious behaviour is never really clarified. I thought some bits were waffly and over explained, yet other parts had crucial elements missing.

I did enjoy the working friendship of Katie and her police partner McGaven and I thought it was interesting to show a character with PTSD. You also can’t go wrong by adding in a loveable dog either!

I know we were supposed to like the main protagonist Katie, but I struggled to actually warm to her; I wasn’t sure if it was because we were constantly told by other characters how amazing she was. I also think it probably reads better in a series rather than a standalone, because I feel like we miss out relationship development, such as Katie and her partner Chad.

I’m did find too much description that didn’t forward or enhance the story in anyway and I thought the author over explained things at time; I was hoping for more “show, don’t tell” especially in this genre of novel. There didn’t feel as if there were any real risks either, which made it quite bland.

Just not for me sadly.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy in return for an honest review.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fragile Ones by Jennifer Chase
Detective Katie Scott #5

Two young girls – sisters – go missing as this book begins. Knowing what happened to them is what this book deals with. Cold case detective Katie Scott ends up on the case with her work partner Gav. Though a cold case, the scent heats up as the book progresses.

What I liked:
* The pace of the book: not too fast and not too slow
* The location: descriptions made me feel I was there
* The relationship between Katie and her work partner
* That the killer was not easily determined early in the story
* Team dynamics of those that Katie worked with
* Chad: not much seen of him but he seems to be a good match for Katie
* Cisco: a wonderful dog, K-9 partner, friend
* Katie’s uncle, the sheriff
* That Katie, though strong, had issues she had to deal with – PTSD being a major one
* The red herrings…some of them
* That the killer was unearthed, eventually

What I did not like:
* The killer…I guess killers don’t have to have rational reasons for what they do and this one’s reasoning definitely eluded me.
* A few other characters after I found out more about them

What I would like to see in future books:
* More of Katie’s personal life, time with Chad, time at home, a hiking adventure with Cisco and Chad, etc
* John Blackburn is intriguing…wondering if he will end up starring in a future book and who he might end up with Katie’s friend, Lizzy.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? I believe I would

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fragile Ones is the fifth instalment in the Detective Katie Scott series, set in and around California. The prologue begins with 10-year-old Tessa Mayfield begging her mother to let her go with her sister, 11-year-old Megan to the swing by the creek in the small, rural town of Rock Creek. Eventually, her mother gives in but tells them to be back by no later than 4:30. Both girls were in denim shorts and pastel T-shirts with their favourite matching blue sneakers. 4:45 arrives and their mother, Robin Mayfield, is concerned and when they don't arrive as time goes on she walks to the creek to look for them. They're not there but she discovers a single blue canvas sneaker hidden under a bush. It was Tessa’s. She then calls to report them both missing. Fast forward two years and Detective Scott is thriving and once again enjoying life having got her extreme PTSD under control with the help of Dr Carver, found herself a boyfriend, Chad, who she is in love with and her job at the cold case division is going swimmingly. Everything is settling into place nicely. But when she and partner Deputy Sean McGaven are asked by her uncle, Chief Scott, and Mayor Brown to act as chaperones to Matt Gardner and Emir Patel from the award-winning film production company Wild Oat Productions who are visiting the area to film footage of local historical sites to be used in a documentary, they are less than impressed. The production company has requested a guide to give them a tour of some of the more rural areas, especially those surrounding the sinkholes and near the ghost town of Silo.

While showing them the ruins of an old settlement she spots something out of place. At the bottom of a ravine lay two adolescent bodies. Katie looked through the binoculars again to check it hadn’t been a figment of her imagination. A small gold hairslide holding a handful of blonde hair, which had flashed in the sunlight, was what had caught her eye. She could see two small bodies wedged in a crevice. Katie and Sean are given the case as it's clear the bodies had been there for years. They look into the girls’ family and using DNA discover that Tessa is not Robin’s daughter; she was abducted as a baby from her biological mum. Tessa had also has been branded as on her scalp the number 372 was tattooed. Can they get to the bottom of both Tessa’s historical kidnapping and the murder of the two ”sisters”? This is a riveting and utterly compulsive addition to a great series. Twists, turns and red herrings abound and there is plenty of drama, thrills, mystery and suspense throughout. The fact that it is told solely from Katie’s perspective allows you to immerse yourself more easily in the story and see the clues and developments at the same time as she does. It's plotted with complete precision and due to this I couldn't work out any of what was going on; Chase is adept at well and truly pulling the wool over your eyes, and I loved every second of it. I was pretty gobsmacked when the perpetrator’s identity was finally revealed and appreciated that Chase had successfully fooled me. The writing is no-nonsense and straight to the point and the atmosphere, tension and heart-pounding moments leave you satisfied, engrossed and entertained. Highly recommended.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Fragile Ones, the fifth novel to feature cold case detective Katie Scott of the Pine Valley, California Sheriff’s Office.

The bodies of 12 year old Megan and 11 year old Tessa Mayfield are found at the bottom of a ravine. The girls disappeared from the small town of Rock Creek two years earlier so Katie and her partner in the cold case unit, McGavigan, are asked to investigate. The case throws up more questions when they find a number branded on Tessa’s head and DNA reveals that she is not Megan’s biological sister.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Fragile Ones which is an engrossing read with some good twists. It is told entirely from Katie’s point of view so the reader can get involved in solving the case alongside her. Well, that’s the theory, but in reality I didn’t have a clue and simply rode her coattails as she gradually worked it out. I was surprised by the perpetrator’s identity, bamboozled by the misdirection and slightly disappointed by the lack of detail in the explanation of the motive. Still, the plot held my interest from start to finish.

This is not a long novel so there’s no room for padding. Everything is to the point from the creepy atmosphere in Rock Creek to the action scenes and the sense of tension, that pull the reader in and give those heart in the mouth moments. It’s well done.

Katie is still suffering from PTSD after her two tours of duty, but somehow she always manages to steady herself when an attack happens. This doesn’t ring true to me, but this is only an impression as I don’t know enough about it to make an informed judgment.

The Fragile Ones is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What starts as an unwilling task to accompany a film crew documenting her local area turns into another cold case for Detective Katie Scott to sink her teeth into.

Sisters Megan and Tessa were reported missing by their mother two years prior. Now, their remains are discovered at the bottom of a mountain canyon. Whilst their death is deemed as murder, the question of why Tessa was branded on the skull remains. With no evidence to go on, Katie and partner Gav travel to Rock Creek, the township where the girls vanished from.

Despite local police asking for their expertise, they are reluctant to assist. With the sense that they're not welcome, our detectives push on following any leads that they can get. When the girls mother is also murdered, the case turns sinister. Someone is out there hindering the investigation and Katie is a sitting duck....

I have been enjoying this series so far. Katie is an interesting character given her past service in the Army. Sadly, this particular investigation triggers some harsh memories for Katie and her mental state takes a battering. It's not all doom and gloom though as Katie and her boyfriend Chad take a major step forward in their relationship.

Another action packed and intriguing whodunit from Jennifer Chase.

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5

[Monica Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying the Katie Scott series very much, I have to say. I like the fact that Katie is a real person, with her own flaws and strengths. She works very well with McGaven and her relationship with Chad gives me a bit of a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Katie finds herself working a rather complicated case. The discovery of two little girls bodies is tough for everyone, but how on earth did that tattoo get on one of them, and why? Of course, nothing is exactly what it seems and when Katie and McGaven get sleuthing, they find themselves treated with mistrust and put their lives on the line.

Really solid, thrilling police procedural. Looking forward to the next one already.

4.5 stars for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

[Barbara Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK read. Enjoyed the book but not great, just OK.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is something very strange going on here in Rock Creek-and I don't think we can trust the law enforcement." Detective Katie Scott
Oh, my goodness! The Fragile Ones by Jennifer Chase is the best one yet! The action is non-stop, the suspense is believable, and Katie Scott is a warrior woman for justice. Detective Katie Scott goes beyond her comfort zone in this fifth book in the series. As Katie drives a documentary film crew around Rock Creek, she discovers the bodies of two young girls wedged in the crevice of a boulder. Soon she finds herself facing her fear and rappelling down the side of a huge rock wall to investigate the crime scene.
There is something very creepy about Rock Creek! Katie and McGaven are required to go back to Rock Creek and stay until the investigation is completed. Someone does not want them there. The unreported body count in Rock Creek for missing girls is increasing with no explanations. The search for answers is threatened when storms with torrential rain hit the area.
Publication Date: March 8, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley. the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Fragile Ones' by Jennifer Chase.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 8th March 2021.

This is the second book I have read by this author. It is also the fifth book in the 'Detective Katie Scott' series. I have read the fourth book in this series 'Last Girls Alive' which I highly recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching and beautiful cover and its intriguing synopsis. The synopsis stated 'Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh, you better buckle-up for the ride of your life!'. I am a fan of Melinda's books so am interested to see if it will live up to this statement. I have also previously read 'Last Girls Alive' by Jennifer which I loved so am hoping this will be just as good. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 43 chapters. The chapters are short to medium to long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Calofornia, USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Detective Katie Scott. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Wow!!! What can I say about this page turning, nail biting crime thriller!! It was absolutely fantastically written and had me completely hooked from the first page until the last. Fantastic descriptions that really painted the picture throughout and put me in the book.

The storyline itself was unique, fast paced and filled with nail biting suspension. It was packed with action and very importantly the storyline was believable. Unfortunately, I thought I worked out the killer at approx 15%, I was wrong in who it was but not far off and then worked it out correctly by about 50% However, I have read so many crime thrillers it is getting harder and harder to shock me, it may surprise you so please don't let this put you off. There were many red herrings throughout which did make me doubt myself at time. It kept me hooked throughout and I cannot wait to read more in this series, not only the ones after but the ones I have yet to read.

I really enjoyed meeting all the characters again especially Katie and Gav but also getting to know Chad a bit more. The characters were well defined and realistic. I loved the fact that there was a strong female role model, being female myself. Katie is definitely a very likeable character who is suffering ptsd and is a force to be reckoned with. I loved her relationship with her partner Gav who is also another great character. I cannot wait to read more about the them all and follow their relationships!!

Overall a nail biting, suspense packed action crammed thriller that keeps you on edge.

Genres covered in this novel include
l, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Hardboiled, Noir Fiction, Psychological Fiction and Police Procedural amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Melinda Leigh, C. L Taylor, Angela Marsons, Carol Wyer and anyone who has read any of Jennifer's previous books.

299 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

I wasn't entirely sure what to rate this as normally if I work out the perp I automatically rate the book 4/5. However my 4/5 means 'I enjoyed the book' whereas I loved it!! I decided to rate it 4.5, losing half a mark for me working out the killer. I am unable to give half ratings so will bump up to 5 as it deserves more than 4.

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

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[Yvonne G · Rating 4 out of 5]

“But the front door never opens…”

This is another of those detective series I kinda wish I had followed from the beginning, even though this story worked more than adequately as a stand alone. Author Jennifer Chase, did an amazing job at filling in the backstory as we went along and I never really felt short-changed on that front, however Katie Scott is such a complicated, emotional and damaged character, that I would have liked to have got to hear her story in her own words.

This ‘read alone’ case opened with a prologue which I knew in my heart of hearts, was setting a scene which was going to end badly. The investigation moved along at a fair old pace, although there were a couple of ‘What? – Really?’ moments. The ending as it was presented, was quite neatly tied up, although I was left with more than a few questions about the efficacy of this particular policing district. Oh! and the fourth thing you need for a good series thriller to succeed, is that the main protagonist lives long enough to fight another day, which thankfully Katie does, although this time it was quite a close call.

There were quite a few red herrings carefully placed to snare the not so wary reader and I admit that I got caught out by a couple of them, before I managed to work out roughly what was going on, although I have to come clean and say my suspect list was down to two names and I picked the wrong one!

As with any story which has the plight of children as its central theme, this gripping and very disturbing, multi-layered story, is rich in atmosphere, has an air which is constantly crackling with tension and sense of urgency which has everyone pulling out all the stops to solve. The chapters are just the right length to create natural deep breath breaks, in what is otherwise a fluid, fast moving, intense and confidently written storyline. The descriptive and observational narrative and dialogue, offered both a good sense of time, and a clear commentary about the locations the action took me to. There are no wasted words in this matter of life and death race against the clock.

The characters, although on the whole well developed and drawn, were definitely divided into two distinct camps. Those I was rooting for from the very start and those I loved to hate right from the get-go and the author did a great job at evoking those emotions, with her descriptive and highly visual narrative and dialogue. They were mostly quite open, relatable and fairly easy to engage with and invest in, with some good interaction and synergy between each other and also with me, the reader. However, there were one or two which were really multi-faceted and not altogether genuinely believable, so they were well and truly in my sights as potential ‘baddies’ right from the first time I met them, although I did trip myself up once or twice. Katie was clearly the character with the most emotional baggage, as it would seem, are so many other fictional detectives. Clearly her time in the armed forces and events she had witnessed during her various overseas tours of action, had taken their toll on her emotionally. It seems as though each of her police cases to date, has manged to push one of those warning buttons which have triggered some quite intense and potentially damaging responses. She is fighting her own personal battle to make the transition to civvy street a success and she has some very special people in her life who really want to help her succeed. Most of them are of the two-legged variety, however Katie’s four-legged friend, Cisco, deserves a special mention as the star who stole the show. As double acts go, they don’t get any better than this and I would really like to see Katie flourish and meet her full potential in her new career.

For more 'teaser' extracts and to view the full post..
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good police procedural in most parts with Katie Scott in the lead. Missing people were her forté and I loved how she worked the case with determination and good instincts. The plotline was gripping but then it meandered leading to a finish.

A good read.

[Jazz Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooooo good

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Fragile Ones' by Jennifer Chase.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 8th March 2021.

This is the second book I have read by this author. It is also the fifth book in the 'Detective Katie Scott' series. I have read the fourth book in this series 'Last Girls Alive' which I highly recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching and beautiful cover and its intriguing synopsis. The synopsis stated 'Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh, you better buckle-up for the ride of your life!'. I am a fan of Melinda's books so am interested to see if it will live up to this statement. I have also previously read 'Last Girls Alive' by Jennifer which I loved so am hoping this will be just as good. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 43 chapters. The chapters are short to medium to long in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in California , USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Detective Katie Scott. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Wow!!! What can I say about this page turning, nail biting crime thriller!! It was absolutely fantastically written and had me completely hooked from the first page until the last. Fantastic descriptions that really painted the picture throughout and put me in the book.

The storyline itself was unique, fast paced and filled with nail biting suspension. It was packed with action and very importantly the storyline was believable. Unfortunately, I thought I worked out the killer at approx 15%, I was wrong in who it was but not far off and then worked it out correctly by about 50% However, I have read so many crime thrillers it is getting harder and harder to shock me, it may surprise you so please don't let this put you off. There were many red herrings throughout which did make me doubt myself at time. It kept me hooked throughout and I cannot wait to read more in this series, not only the ones after but the ones I have yet to read.

I really enjoyed meeting all the characters again especially Katie and Gav but also getting to know Chad a bit more. The characters were well defined and realistic. I loved the fact that there was a strong female role model, being female myself. Katie is definitely a very likeable character who is suffering ptsd and is a force to be reckoned with. I loved her relationship with her partner Gav who is also another great character. I cannot wait to read more about the them all and follow their relationships!!

Overall a nail biting, suspense packed action crammed thriller that keeps you on edge.

Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Hardboiled, Noir Fiction, Psychological Fiction and Police Procedural amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Melinda Leigh, C. L Taylor, Angela Marsons, Carol Wyer and anyone who has read any of Jennifer's previous books.

299 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

I wasn't entirely sure what to rate this as normally if I work out the perp I automatically rate the book 4/5. However my 4/5 means 'I enjoyed the book' whereas I loved it!! I decided to rate it 4.5, losing half a mark for me working out the killer. I am unable to give half ratings so will bump up to 5 as it deserves more than 4.

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

#TheFragileOnes #Bookouture #JenniferChase #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@JenniferChase @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86

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[Caitlin Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally found this a little far fetched, the killer has no background and just seems a little random? However these books are fast paced and keep me interested which is my biggest ask from a book.

Can we PLEASE get rid of Chad? An awful character that has zero connection to anything other than being a childhood sweetheart. There's absolutely zero passion between him and Katie and frankly every time he's mentioned I roll my eyes. Why are we constantly reminded about her chemistry with John but she's still with this wet wipe? Also on this note, next time she walks by the forensics office, could she actually go in? You know, have a conversation with John instead of noticing he's busy, smiling to herself and walking by? It's mentioned in every single book and I'm wondering whether there's a point to this happening over and over or just poor writing to fill out the book.

[KANCHAN RAJEEV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note - I received this digital arc for free as a courtesy of Net Galley and Bookouture publishers in return for an honest feedback.

Rating - 4/5

The unique title and the story description was what that attracted me towards picking up 'The Fragile Ones (Detective Katie Scott Book 5)' for reading. But before I review, I would like to express my gratitude to the author Jennifer Chase, Bookouture publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to get my hands on this book. Although the story blurb clearly mentioned that this was book 5 in the series, I simply had to pick it up as the description was quite attractive and mysterious. And I wasn't wrong as the storyline was simply fabulous and I just loved it.

In this story, the protagonist Detective Katie Scott finds herself working a rather complicated case - a double homicide of two little girls whose bodies were discovered rotting over a period of 2 years in a ravine and one of them was even branded. Along with her sleuthing partner McGaven and her canine partner Cisco, the trio encounter more homicides in the quest to find the culprit. They learn that nothing can be taken at the face value for everyone they encounter end up being a potential culprit or killed. And how Katie solves this case forms the rest of the story.

The characterization was quite realistic and the narrative was at a smooth pace - neither too dragging or too fast. The entire cast seemed real and relatable which made the reading quite fun. The prologue itself set the tone for the story post which the storyline followed a casual and moderate pace after which the story peaked and it went to a point that I simply didn't want to keep the book down. I just had to find out the culprit. There was a series of twists and turns that it was simply hard to figure out the culprit beforehand - this totally made the day. The culprit was someone totally unpredictable. Further kudos to the author for the amazing accuracy with which the technical details, terms and description were portrayed within the story - the accuracy so good that it almost looked as if the author herself had a background in the same. I also loved how a canine character characterization was also given equal importance in the story.

Now on to the technicalities - the book can be read as a standalone but it looks advisable if the previous books in the series were read first. The story definitely functions as a standalone with minimal references from the previous books but I will definitely pick up the the previous books to read soon as I so loved this one !!

The story does include descriptions that may seem mildly graphic and psychological for some readers especially since the story deals with child murders. Profane language usage is borderline to moderate. The language is quite simple to read and understand which is why this book is perfect for all readers aged 17+. The only reason I chose to rate this book as 4 stars is because the arc I received did have a few over - usage of commas ; even where semi - colon was required and a couple of spell and grammatical errors. Most were negligible but some of them were totally not as they kind of disrupted the story and made the editing look quite unprofessional.

But otherwise the book is overall a great read !!

The book releases on March 8, 2021. @netgalley, @bookouture,

[Ameya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy, small-town crime.

The Fragile Ones is set in Rock Creek, a small town in Sequoia County, California, USA. It is told in the third-person perspective of senior cold-case detective, Katie Scott. Fifth in the series, The Fragile Ones can be read on its own. This and the other book in the series I've read, "Flowers on Her Grave", cover child murders, which makes for a chilling read.

The prologue is confronting. Two small girls go missing. Into the story, Katie Scott's uncle, Chief Scott, asks her to accompany – read babysit – a TV documentary crew to the historic sites in the rural surrounds. This is challenging for Katie as it reminds her of previous recent cases that still haunt her.

Katie finds herself in the middle of a thunderstorm in swampy, muddy terrain. Even their tough 4-wheel drive vehicles are struggling for traction. When you think the scene is going on for too long, Katie makes the gruesome discovery of two little girls' bodies. As the bodies have been there for over 2 years, Katie and her deputy, Sean McGaven are given the case. Her Alsatian, Cisco, accompanies them but is always left in her car.

Scott's and McGaven's investigation into the girl's family, mother, the town of Rock Creek—all feels unsettling to them. Despite their misgivings, Katie and McGaven put themselves in dicey situations time and again, leaving them vulnerable to attack. Yet they continue into suspicious circumstances without requesting proper police back-up. Despite their injuries, they get up and keep going.

The body count accumulates. Twists and turns abound. During the story, we also travel in Katie's PTSD experiences, including her nightmares, hyperventilating and dizziness. She is an Afghanistan veteran of a year, a canine handler/ explosives expert.

There is some light relief in Katie's old army friends, her woman friend, Lizzie, and her romantic relationship with her childhood friend, Chad. John, the forensic supervisor, behaves oddly around Katie, which isn't explored. I wasn't sure if it was a crush or something devious. It is maybe a taster for further books in the series.

After all the suspense and thrills, the ending felt a tad rushed. We learnt who the murderer was. However, the why and the what were a little left to the imagination. I understand others of the remaining 3 books are also about child murders. I'd ask Jennifer Chase to select other victims for her next book – please. Overall a good police procedural.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC of the book for an honest review.

This review also appears in https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..., Netgalley, Amazon.com and https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/....

[M.K. Daure · Rating 4 out of 5]

{Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.}

Detective Katie Scott is escorting a group of documentary filmmakers to the ruins an old settlement when she discovers the bodies of two little girls abandoned in a ravine. The bodies are identified as those of sisters Tessa and Megan who disappeared two years earlier. They soon discover that the youngest of the two was actually abducted as a baby from her biological mother, and has the number 372 branded into her scalp. Katie is worried they may be chasing an active or potential serial killer.

The beginning of the book felt a little slow, with the trek with the film crew described in much detail, then the investigation going nowhere while the detectives feel like everyone is lying to them. Then, on their second visit to Rock Creek, the town where the little girls lived before their abduction, the pace ramps up. The number 372 appears at several locations, they find about other missing children, and a suspect suggests that the killer is someone they know. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect, which makes every interaction detective Scott has with someone really stressful. The final chase and confrontation with the killer occurs in a massive storm, with lightning taking out the electricity and messing with the cell phone signals, trees blocking the roads, and risks of flooding everywhere. It is all very dramatic.

I enjoyed the relationship between Katie and her partners, deputy McGaven and her former K9 army partner Cisco. A dog always makes things better. Because this is the first book I read in a series of five, the romantic relationship between Katie and her boyfriend felt a bit thin, but I assume the real development was done in previous books. The mystery is satisfying but I admit I didn’t fully understand the killer’s motivation. Maybe it would have been unrealistic to have them explain in detail their backstory in the middle of that storm, but the bit they do explain is a little thin. Then again, I generally have little interest in the motivations of serial killers (they are usually misogynistic and simplistic) so maybe it is my bias speaking.

“The Fragile Ones” is a good mystery with a very exciting set piece as a conclusion.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fragile Ones is the 5th instalment in the police procedural series featuring Detective Katie Scott. Having followed this compelling series from the start I was keen to jump straight in and read this next superb instalment. The book starts with a chilling prologue that immediately had me hooked, then jumps to a time period two years later.

In Sequoia County, California, Katie and partner Deputy Sean McGaven are asked by her uncle to act as chaperones to production company Wild Oat Productions who are visiting the area to film footage of local historical sites to be used in a documentary. The production company has requested a guide to give them a tour of some of the more rural areas. In the grounds of an old settlement Katie spies the bodies of two girls at the bottom of a ravine. Katie and McGaven are assigned the case as it becomes apparent that the corpses are those of eleven and twelve-year-old sisters, Tessa and Megan Mayfield who went missing two years ago. One of the girls has the number 372 branded onto her.

Once again, Katie brings her warming and personable attributes to this thrilling story, and she has made inroads into conquering her anxiety and nightmares with the help of Dr Carver. This novel is a fantastic, solid and well-balanced police procedural that had me glued to the pages and I didn't want to put it down as I was desperate to know the outcome of the story. The exciting plot is clever, gripping, and wonderfully paced, as Katie and McGaven embark on an exhilarating mission to solve the case. I continue to be impressed by Jennifer Chase’s stylish writing and masterful prose that elevates the novel above that of traditional police procedurals. A spellbinding, highly recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.

In The Fragile Ones, we follow Detective Katie Scott, a cold case expert, as she works to uncover the mystery of two little girls, whose bodies are found at the bottom of a ravine. The girls were reported missing a couple of years earlier, but the case was never solved.

This is the 5th instalment in the Detective Katie Scott series, but the first I have read. The Fragile Ones has prompted me to want to go back and read the series from the beginning, to get more of an idea of Katie Scott's back story, and her relationship with her partner Chad.

This novel was fairly slow to start with whilst the author built the background to the mystery. I don't mind this with crime/ thriller books, as it helps to set the scene for the mystery to unravel later on, and I felt engaged throughout. Despite the fairly slow start, I found this to be a quick read at less than 300 pages, and I finished it in a couple of days!

I liked the interaction between the characters and I especially loved Katie's dog - although I'm always super nervous when animals are involved that they're going to get hurt in some way (please don't do that to us!!).

My only slight criticism is that I felt that sometimes the author would over-explain/ over-state things, rather than leaving the reader to join the dots about what has happened. That made the book feel a little forced in places. I would also like to know more about the personal relationships, for example with Katie and her partner, but I am guessing these relationships are developed throughout the series.

Overall I enjoyed the read and I will be recommending the series to other crime fiction lovers!

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Katie Scott is enjoying life, finally, her PTSD is under control, boyfriend,  Chad, is the love of her life and work in the cold case division is going well. So, when she is instructed by the sheriff to accompany a film crew looking for local historical sites she isn’t impressed.

When the bodies of two young girls are discovered, having been reported missing two years earlier, Katie and partner, Deputy Scott McGaven, are handed the case. After disturbing facts are discovered both on the bodies and in the small town they lived in Katie realises there is far more to this tragic case than meets the eye.

Determined these two girls won't become another statistic, even with all her experience, Katie shocked by what she discovers. Faced with a town not willing to give up its secrets, and the weather deteriorating rapidly things are running out of control. When Katie and Scott finally identify their killer they realise their chances of escaping are slight.

This is the fifth in the Katie Scott series and I have enjoyed them all. This one, for me, however, didn’t have quite the jeopardy of previous books. The culprit was a surprise, their reasoning well thought out, and I never considered they were guilty which is always good. Katie was once again great to read, I just never felt she wouldn't live to fight another day.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a good read and an enjoyable addition to the series.

[Connie P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read the entire series so far. I've enjoyed it a lot, but this one had me rather confused. Why is Katie picked to do the weird jobs like babysitting an obscure film crew, and why are these guys giving her strange looks and sarcastic comments when they are the ones who actually asked for a guide? And why is she treated like she's some kind of amateur who needs to be coddled by everyone she works with? She did keep her uncle from going to prison, and yet he still acts like she is a Barbie doll. And a town with absolutely zero kids? Then why were those 2 little girls living there in the first place? How did Katie fall through 2 floors and pretty much just tore her shirt? How did this killer guy end up being adopted when he actually already had parents? Why is Katie still looking at John like he's the last piece of pizza, and she's still hungry if Chad is her one true love? Why is Katie still with Chad? Why does Katie keep locking Cisco in the car just before she gets beat up, blown up, shoved down a hole, shot, and/or strangled? This book seemed to be written by several different people. It was confusing and convoluted. And it really didn't feature the dog nearly enough. He seemed to be just a gimmick in this book, like, "Oh, right...what about mentioning the dog here?". He's a big part of this series for me, yet he's underutilized much of the time. I will continue on to the next book, but I hope it's a bit more cohesive. And the dog...can we have more of the dog?