Rita Herron

Silent tears trickle down her cheeks as she curls inside the tiny cave-like space. She lies on her side, darkness all around her, rubbing her fingers over the little wooden doll he’d carved. He told her to be quiet, not to cry or scream. Not to be a baby. Her throat was raw, her eyes swollen shut. She wanted her mommy and daddy. She wanted to go home. When Penny Matthews, a seven-year-old girl with blonde curls and a gap-toothed smile, goes missing in the Appalachian mountains, Detective Ellie Reeves is called straight to the scene. All that’s left behind is a pink friendship bracelet etched with “Penny”. Thanks to her own childhood––which keeps her up at night, tossing and turning––Ellie knows all too well that the endless miles of dark forest and winding rivers are the perfect place for a criminal to hide, and a little girl doesn’t stand a chance. Racing against a brutal winter storm on the horizon, she searches desperately for Penny. But when she discovers the remains of a small body, hidden by fallen leaves and wildflowers, the breath is knocked out of her. The old bones, and the carved wooden doll they’re buried with, have clearly been there for years. Ellie fears she’s up against a serial killer who has been stalking the mountains for decades, preying on children. When Ellie spots tiny footprints near the unearthed grave, she’s certain they belong to Penny. As she begins to untangle the truth, she realizes the monster they’re looking for is connected to her own dark past. To save the little girl she needs to confront her own demons. Can she face her greatest fear before the twisted killer claims another helpless victim?

The Silent Dolls (Ellie Reeves #1)

Tess Gerritsen

Chasing the truth can be deadly Keeper of the Bride by New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen If Nina Cormier’s wedding had taken place, she would be dead. After the bride was left at the altar, a bomb exploded in the empty church. And when a stranger tried to run her off the road, Nina realized someone wanted to kill her. But who? Now Detective Sam Navarro and Nina must try to stop a brilliant madman, one who is playing for keeps… FREE BONUS STORY INCLUDED IN THIS VOLUME! Undercover Avenger by USA TODAY bestselling author Rita Herron After surviving a near-fatal accident, undercover agent Eric Caldwell wanted revenge. Falling for his beautiful physical therapist wasn’t part of his plan. Melissa Fagan was investigating the same mysterious medical research complex that he was. But now someone wants her dead—before she can discover the truth about her birth parents. How can Eric protect her without blowing his cover and risking both their lives? Previously published as Keeper of the Bride and Undercover Avenger

On the Edge

A young woman lies dead at the bottom of a waterfall, dressed in a wedding gown with a rose stem jammed down her throat. And in the small town of Graveyard Falls, the horrifying vision stirs a long-ago nightmare back to life... FBI Special Agent Cal Coulter gets called in to investigate the murder, which bears a terrifying resemblance to a series of killings committed thirty years ago: three teenage girls were found dead at the waterfall's base, all bearing rose stems in their throats. But the high school football star was convicted and imprisoned for those murders, leading Cal to suspect that the killer is still out there. Now, the body count is rising again. The monster's sights are set on counselor Mona Monroe, Cal's best friend's widow...and the woman he's always loved. Can Cal stop the killer before Mona becomes the next victim?

All the Beautiful Brides

Fear becomes a woman's greatest weapon in a heart-pounding novel of suspense from the USA Today bestselling author of Pretty Little Killers. Tinsley Jensen survived the torturous clutches of an elusive masked killer dubbed the Skull, only to be held hostage by her nightmares. She's terrified of leaving her cottage on Seahawk Island, knowing that the madman is still out there. FBI special agent Wyatt Camden knows it too. He may have rescued Tinsley, but her captor got away. Now he's driven by guilt, the need for vengeance, and the desire to protect--at any cost--the woman he's come to love. Too paranoid to deal with the police, the media, and her sister, Tinsley finds solace in an online support group. She's too broken to let even Wyatt into her life. But when the threats against Tinsley escalate and her friend disappears, Tinsley is forced out of her self-imposed seclusion to finally face her fears. Wyatt is the only man she can trust to help her, and to save a killer's latest catch. Now, Wyatt just wants to finish the job he started. But that's all the Skull wants too.

Good Little Girls

The predators become prey in a breathless novel of revenge from a USA Today bestselling author. Still haunted by his wife's murder--and stained by the blood of avenging it--FBI special agent Hatcher McGee can't believe he's being teamed up with rookie agent Korine Davenport. She is his most guilty secret--the one-night stand who almost cost him everything. Korine has her own demons. As a child, she witnessed her father's murder, and she's spent her life waiting for the killer's return. She and Hatcher are both looking for closure, but the disturbing case that draws them together could be their last. When the mutilated body of a corrupt Savannah judge surfaces, Hatcher and Korine find themselves on the trail of a vigilante who is showing no mercy. Not for the predators who've gone free. And not for anyone who gets in the way. As the body count rises, and as Hatcher's and Korine's own pasts unfold, they must risk their lives tracking a killer they've come to understand all too well. After all, the ends justify the means.

Pretty Little Killers

After being dumped by her fiancâe on a talk show, Maddie Summers decides to take charge of her own life despite the protests of her ex-fiancâe, her two overprotective brothers, and her brothers' bad-boy friend, Chase Holloway.

Marry Me, Maddie

“I was so hooked!!… Gripping… It had me on the edge of the seat and I read it in one go!… Will keep you awake at night… Completely worth five stars!” Tropical Girl Reads Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The darkness closed around her. She tried to clear her vision, but there was no light, no noise, nothing. Only the emptiness, the echoing sound of being alone. Fear pulsed through her. The man had come out of nowhere. Who was he? Blinking away tears of frustration, in the pitch black she felt the floor and walls surrounding her. Cold. Steel. Bars. Detective Ellie Reeves is hiking in the Appalachian Mountains when she discovers a body. As dusk falls, a gust of wind blows some petals on to Ellie’s path. Following the trail, she finds a golden-haired young woman dead on a bed of daffodils, with a note: Monday’s child is fair of face. Thanks to her own past, the childhood she tries her hardest to forget, Ellie knows that the wilderness––and its shadows––is the perfect hunting ground for a criminal. She’s certain that the sinister nursery rhyme, written with an old-fashioned typewriter, means something. It soon becomes clear when another body is found. Under the light of the moon, Ellie spots wildflower petals floating in a river. On the bank lies Tuesday’s child, another young woman who lost her life, far too soon, at the hands of a monster. Ellie is up against a serial killer who will claim a victim for every day of the week. In the next twenty-four hours there will be another death, and when her own house is broken into, daffodil petals strewn across the floor, it’s clear the ruthless murderer has Ellie in his sights. Can she save more innocent women from his clutches? Or will he get to her first? An utterly gripping and completely breathless crime thriller for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh. You’ll have trouble falling asleep after this heart-pounding page-turner! Readers absolutely love Wildflower Graves: “Unputdownable!!! Exquisitely written! I highly recommend this amazing book!... A brilliantly disturbing thriller with many twists and turns!” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I just flew through the book… This book was so complete in every aspect and I couldn’t ask for more!... This book was a mystery topped with another mystery over another mystery and another mystery and then boom! Plot twist. This book will taunt with your braincells in EVERY plot twist. It's not just one but MANY plot twists!… I hadn't read a killer like this before. All in all, I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars! I can’t find a single flaw in this… Pick this book up! You will not regret your time on this one!” Ink Drinker Hana, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “GREAT!… This one kept me guessing the whole time… Did not disappoint… Keeps you hooked with all the twists and turns! Definitely recommend.” Rachel Owl Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “My heart was in my mouth… I felt scared to read some parts but I couldn't tear myself away, it was so, so good!” NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A non-stop, heart-pounding experience… It keeps you guessing until the end. I can't wait for the next book!” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Loved it… Book 1 in the series The Silent Dolls is one of my favourite books of the year, and Wildflower Graves raises the bar to another level. This is now one of my favourite crime series… A great story that gets the full 5 stars… I love this series.” Nigela Dams Bookworm, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Even better than book one, this one will draw you in and won't let go. I love Ellie. She's complex, determined, and the kind of heroine you want to root for… That ending left me on pins and needles. I can't wait for the next one!” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This book sent my stomach in knots… I was hooked.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Jam-packed with action. I loved the suspense… This series has me hooked.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Makes the hairs on the back of your neck action as only Ms. Herron can do… There are so many twists in this story it will make you crazy trying to figure it out… A thrilling series that just gets better every time.” Read All About It Book “I’m quickly becoming addicted to this series… Wildflower Graves is sinister, chilling, perverse, and macabre. Herron throws out so many facets it’s like a treasure hunt. You think you're getting close to the truth, but then another bend in the road appears… I can't wait for the next one.” Books Read by Prairie Girl, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “You are going to be pulled in from the 1st page… A roller coaster ride, will have you on the edge of your seat.” Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A totally gripping mystery thriller

Wildflower Graves

Saving His Son by Rita Herron released on Jan 25, 2001 is available now for purchase.

Saving His Son

Three men sworn to bachelor hood meet their matches in this trilogy about friendships, family and love! Marry Me, Maddie -- When Maddie is dumped on television, her brothers' best friend is enlisted to babysit her - but will they fall in love? Sleepless in Savannah -- a dating game show goes awry and forces Sophie to take a weekend date with a stranger instead of Maddie's brother -- the man she wants to be with. Love Me, Lucy -- all Lucy wants for the holidays is to be with her family and the man she loves -- instead she's hiding out from a stalker in a sixties & up community!

The Bachelor Pact

The young girl looked so innocent, like a sleeping angel. Kelsey lay on a bed of white sheets, golden hair fanned across the pillow, eyes closed, pale lips pressed together. A white teddy bear was tucked under her slender arm… “My baby, she’s dead” her distraught mother choked out.

When the call comes in that fifteen-year-old Kelsey Tiller has gone missing from her bedroom in the middle of the night, Detective Ellie Reeves rushes to talk to her distraught parents. They tell her that Kelsey, a slender blond with green eyes and a timid smile, had plans to go shopping for her homecoming dress the next day, insisting she would have no reason to run away. But when neighbors report seeing Kelsey with a secret boyfriend, Ellie wonders how much Kelsey really told her parents.

Ellie is determined to find Kelsey’s boyfriend and interviews her friends and teachers at school. But just as she is making headway with the case, she receives some devastating news. Kelsey’s parents have received a photo of their daughter lying on a bed with white sheets over her body, skin ghostly pale under the freckles dotting her nose, her precious life snuffed out.

Desperate to find answers for those who loved Kelsey, Ellie studies the picture and realizes that her body has been posed in the same way as a teenage girl murdered ten years earlier. And when she learns Darnell, the killer in that case, has just been released from prison, fear crawls through her. Could Darnell have stolen another innocent life?

But just as Ellie thinks she has cracked the case, Kelsey’s best friend Ruby is snatched from her home, and Darnell has an unbreakable alibi. Haunted by Kelsey’s ashen face, Ellie knows she must race against time to find Ruby alive. And when she discovers one of her team is hiding critical information, she realizes she needs to act alone. But is she dealing with a twisted copycat killer or is the danger far closer to home?

A totally gripping and pulse-pounding crime thriller that will have you holding your breath as you race through the pages! Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh.

Detective Ellie Reeves 9

The Sleeping Girls

"Help," a tiny voice cried out into the darkness. Little Betsy trembled, praying someone would hear her, save her. "Please," she whimpered. "I'm scared." On the hottest day of the year, as a heatwave takes hold of the Appalachian Mountains, a five-year-old girl goes missing. Just as the sun is setting, a family vacation becomes a worst nightmare-Betsy, with her green eyes, ponytail and rainbow t-shirt-disappears in the woods by Widow Lake. Detective Ellie Reeves is straight on the scene, promising Betsy's heartbroken parents that she will stop at nothing to find their precious daughter. Hours later, Ellie is called back to the lake. One of her team have discovered some remains near where Betsy disappeared. The bones belong to a local girl, Amy Dean, who vanished ten years ago to the day, along with her two-year-old baby girl Paisley. But why was Paisley never reported missing? And could she still be alive? Ellie is suddenly up against the toughest case of her career. Her instincts tell her that the two cases are somehow connected, and she works day and night to uncover the link. When she comes across some little graves beside the water's edge, she knows she needs to stop the evil lurking around this tranquil lake. When Ellie discovers a notebook scrawled with the handwriting of a little girl, it could be the breakthrough she needs. Can she unravel a decades-old mystery, and stop the monster claiming innocent lives? This totally addictive and jaw-dropping crime thriller will have your heart racing as you fly through the pages! Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Lisa Regan and Kendra Elliot. What everyone is saying about Widow Lake: 'Had me completely immersed in the storyline from the first chapter. This book's gripping plotline, intense dark mysteries and heart-pounding suspense had me eagerly turning pages to see what would happen next. Simply put it's unputdownable!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Wow wow wow! Omg my heart! What a book! So many different emotions! This book had it all! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, multiple serial killers, great police work and so many crazy twists and turns! It was really sad at times and some great heart-felt moments! I can't wait to see what happens next! The storyline was so very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book and series! They're well worth reading! I would give this book ten stars if I could!' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Thrilling and utterly compulsive! An incredible read, impossible to put down. Incredible storytelling! Recommend you read this book! A captivating story that I was drawn into from the first page, a propulsive read that never let me go from start to finish!' Goodreads reviewer 'Another heart stopping, action filled thriller. Once again, the characters were extremely well developed and the plot flowed seamlessly from scene to scene. This thriller was a bit more sinister than some, with lots of twists and turns and surprises. There were many characters and the way they were all connected at the end was shocking. Could not put this book down, had to know how everything was going to end. Highly recommend.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Totally Pulse-pounding Crime Thriller Filled with Jaw-dropping Twists

Widow Lake

Last Kiss Goodbye

Marriage counselor Abigail Jensen, the author of a best-selling guide to incredible sex for married couples, is forced to hire an actor to pose as her husband when her public demands that she demonstrates her highly effective techniques. Original.

Under the Covers

Kimberly Turner vowed never to let her twin sister Marci get her in trouble again…but when Marci offers her a deal to play phony fiancé to a friend in need, she can't resist the money. After all, it's going to help underprivileged children. And it's just a weekend…what will it hurt?Except the handsome architect Austin McDane is nothing like the men Marci usually tangles with. And when Kimberly meets his family and the charade snowballs out of control, she can't help but wish the engagement – and impromptu wedding she gets ropes into – were for real!

Here Comes the Bride

I Love Lucy

Bed of Roses

Manhunt

SINGLE AND SEARCHING... A woman looking for love... A reporter looking for a story... A mad rush to find a criminal... When the truth comes out and danger strikes, will they succumb to the passion burning between them?

Single & Searching

Josie DuKane is on shaky ground. Having narrowly escaped the notorious Bride Killer, she penned a tell-all memoir that dug up a town's dark past. Now the book is being made into a movie, and Josie must visit the very place that will trigger an avalanche of unwanted memories--Graveyard Falls. On the heels of her arrival, she receives a gruesome photograph of a dead woman with talon marks carved into her face. And worse, Josie just might be the next victim. Torn between guilt, justice, and revenge, Special Agent Dane Hamrick will do anything to find the man who brutally murdered his sister. When he realizes the recent tragedies in Graveyard Falls bear an uncanny resemblance to her death, he volunteers to spearhead the investigation. But doing so means teaming up with Josie. Nothing prepares him for the feelings the beautiful, tough woman evokes. As the body count rises and the suspect pool widens, Josie and Dane must put aside their growing attraction to run down the killer who devastated both their lives. A killer who seems determined to destroy all the pretty faces....

All the Pretty Faces

One man wants to kill her…the other will die to protect her.… Just when the residents of Slaughter Creek think they're safe, a sadistic serial killer strikes. Someone they're calling “The Dissector.” Someone who keeps his victims' body parts as gruesome trophies.… Special Agent Liz Lucas has been on leave, recovering from the trauma of her last case. But returning to find the Dissector will demand extra caution—especially with her former lover Special Agent Rafe Hood leading the investigation. The last time the two worked together, passions ran high and Liz nearly lost her life. Now, even though their attraction is more magnetic than ever, Liz and Rafe must resist getting involved again and focus on stopping this crazed killer. But as the body count rises and the Dissector's kills become more personal, Rafe soon realizes that Liz may be his next victim.…

Rita Herron

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