A wind chime sways a sweet melody above several pairs of shoes neatly laid out on the welcome the mat: two large pairs, and three small. On the door frame, a perfect crimson handprint, the color of blood…
Out on her morning run, Detective Katie Scott is stopped in her tracks when her service dog, Cisco, alerts her to something. Weaving through the towering pine trees, Katie is horrified to find a little girl alone in the woods, dressed in a white nightgown. The child sobs into Katie’s arms. She’s unharmed, but clearly traumatized. Scooping her up, Katie follows the trail to a large farmhouse. But what she finds there rips the air from her lungs: one, two, three, four bodies laid out side by side, all in matching pajamas.
The Banks family were attacked in their sleep, but how had the little girl trembling in Katie’s arms escape with her life? What twisted monster would do such a thing, and why leave no trace but a single bloody handprint on the doorframe? Katie vows to find answers for this sweet child who has lost everything and everyone.
Working night and day to piece together why this innocent family were targeted, Katie thinks she has her first lead when she discovers the family were under witness protection. Had they seen something they shouldn’t? Was the aim to silence them forever? Questions are still spinning in Katie’s mind when another family is discovered dead in their beds on the other side of Pine Valley.
With the entire department stretched to breaking point with an unprecedented body count and trace evidence stacking up, it’s going to take everything Katie has to track this twisted killer down. But as she closes in on her target, it’s clear someone close to Katie is keeping a deadly secret. How many more innocent lives will be lost before she can bring them to justice?
PRAISE:
5.0 out of 5 stars: A definite must read book and series!
“One
of the things that I love about this author’s books is that she doesn’t
shy away from the hard or difficult topics. Another is how she creates a
realistic quality for the characters and their lives. There are no
“perfect” characters or “make believe/fantasy” lives in these books.
(That is one of the best things~in my opinion!) Because of these things,
as well as many more, her stories are unique, passionate, creative, and
intriguing. I have loved all of the stories that I’ve read, and can’t
wait to read more.
I would definitely recommend this book, series, and exceptional author.”
“Another
great book in the series starring Katie and her dog Cisco. When one
family are found all dead in their house apart from one of their little
girls who they believed her mummy had helped her escape Katie and her
team soon get to work. Someone is hiding who they really are and until
Katie finds out who it is no one is safe not even her.
I really enjoyed this book like all of the others in the series that I have read. Looking forward to the next book.” NetGalley
Release Date: October 30, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture
Soft Cover: 978-1835256367; 362 pages; $11.99; eBook $3.99; Free with Kindle Unlimited; also available in audiobook .99
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Count-Their-Graves-completely-unputdownable/dp/1835256368
Book Cover:
I am very familiar with Jennifer Chase's covers and what I love about them are that all of them in this series show a piece of jewelry - namely lockets or bracelets. This cover is superb; kudos to Bookouture - love their covers! I love it that all the books in this series has the same font and other distinguishable characteristics. It ties all the series into one theme - love it.
Favorite Quote:
"Katie kept to the sides of the barn and inched her way slowly to the opening. Her ears pounded. Her breathing shrank to shallow gasps. Staying low, she entered the building. It wasn’t a livestock barn, but rather a type of workshop and storage facility. Katie scanned the interior, taking everything in. Slowly lowering her weapon, she dropped to her knees in misery, only inches from the stagnant pools of blood on the ground in front of her. Barely registering what she saw, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the four bodies of a man, a woman, and a young boy and girl neatly lined up next to each other, still dressed in their pajamas."
First Chapter Review:
In this first chapter, Katie Scott and her German shepherd sidekick, Cisco. Cisco picks up on a scent and leads Katie to a little blonde-haired girl standing in the middle of the woods. Katie of course has no idea why this little girl is standing by herself in the woods. She tells Cisco to watch the girl while she takes off to assess the area. That's when she comes upon a farmhouse where murder has taken place.
This first chapter was certainly thrilling! Chase does an excellent job creating a story that makes you lose your breath. Captivating, mind-blowing, suspenseful. Even though this is the 12th book in the series and I hadn't read the previous 11 books, I didn't feel like I was missing something so I feel it could be read as a stand-alone. I do have a question - how did the little girl end up in the woods while the rest of her family got murdered? Guess I'll have to read the book to find out!
Keep Reading?
This first chapter was certainly thrilling! I can't wait to find out how this family was murdered. Yes, I'd definitely keep reading and am going to start right now!
I give this first chapter a 5 star rating!
Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today Best Selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. 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.
Her latest book is Count Their Graves.
Website & Social Media:
Website – https://authorjenniferchase.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/jchasenovelist
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferChase
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jenchaseauthor/
Goodreads- www.goodreads.com/author/show/2780337.Jennifer_Chase
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