When homicide detective Alex Abrams returns to her Ozark hometown after the death of a childhood friend, what should be a brief visit spirals into something far more unsettling. As whispers of “accidents” grow louder and the past refuses to stay buried, Alex must navigate grief, suspicion, and the quiet menace of a town that guards its secrets closely.

C.D. Sharpe brings extraordinary depth to this story. Alex is a beautifully layered protagonist—an Iraq War veteran whose sharp instincts and emotional scars make her both vulnerable and formidable. Her voice feels authentic, and her determination rings true.

The setting—brooding and evocative—adds its own tension. You can feel the weight of history in every scene, as if the landscape itself is watching. Sharpe’s prose is clear and quietly lyrical, allowing emotion to rise naturally between the twists.

This isn’t just a page-turner. It’s a thoughtful exploration of loyalty, loss, and what happens when the past finally demands to be reckoned with.

📚 Thank you to NetGalley, Hasty House Publishing, and C.D. Sharpe for the opportunity to read this unforgettable debut. I’ll be following Alex Abrams wherever she goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and C.D. Sharpe for giving me the chance to read this book! I enjoyed this one. It was an easy read and I liked the main characters. I also loved that the main character is a veteran, which was such an interesting part of the book!! Definitely will read more in this series when I get a chance to.

Thanks to hasty house publishing and NetGalley for this arc.

This was a fast paced thriller with a very strong female main character. The storyline was well written and the characters were well developed.

The only thing I didn’t like was that it ended on a bit cliff hanger but that’s only my personal preference. But thankfully I didn’t wait long as I have the second book to read too.

Alex, a troubled veteran, returns home when one of her best friends dies. But things are not what they seem like and she starts digging. I have to admit that I really enjoyed this book with a good storyline, well developed characters and suspense. I couldn't/wouldn't put it down. Up to book two in this series.
I received a review via Netgalley/Hasty House Publishing and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.

I’d like to thank C D Sharp, Netgalley, and Hasty House Publishing for this e-copy of Bryan’s Bluff. This is the 1st book in the Alex Abrams series. It’s a series I will definitely continue to follow.
The main character is Alex Abrams, a New Orleans homicide detective and combat veteran. Alex is tough, intelligent, and kind, but she is wary of getting close to anyone.
She returns home to Arkansas because one of her best friends from childhood dies under mysterious circumstances. In her investigation, alongside the sheriff's department, Alex discovers more suspicious deaths over the last year in her hometown.
This was a fast read because the plot was compelling and the writing was clear and concise. The story became more suspenseful and macabre as it progressed, just what you want in a thriller. I appreciated the bread crumb misdirects in the plot.
C D Sharp wove details about veterans’ hidden wounds through the story in a way that fit and were informative. It’s a topic that is worth highlighting.
I enjoy stories with strong female lead characters. This book has a lot to recommend it. If you like good detective thrillers this is a worthwhile read.

This was a quick and entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

An excellent thriller. This is a fast paced read with a strong female leading character. The book is only short but the writing is direct and it feels like there's a lot packed into the plot. I liked the way this story leads into the second book with the exciting cliffhanger ending.
Very entertaining.

When an old friend is found dead at the foot of Bryan's Bluff in Arkansas, Alex Abrams returns home to investigate. The New Orleans homicide detective and army vet is tough and tenacious - and she knows something just doesn't sit right about Shawn's death. Then she finds several more accidental deaths in the small town, a spate of fatalities that seems suspicious.

The novel is a short and quick read, with a strong protagonist and plenty of interesting characters. Alex finds herself re-establishing old relationships as she seeks the truth, some easy and some complex. And the ending leaves plenty of milage for future novels. A good start to a new series.

This is a quick, well written and easy read, the first in a new series featuring Alex Abrams who has a complex past as an Iraq War veteran. There is plenty of suspense, as we find out more about Alex and her twin brother and the book flowed well. The small town setting in the Ozark Mountains worked as Alex hunts down a killer and the cliffhanger ending surprised me. A very good debut novel which left me looking forward to the next in the series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Bryan’s Bluff by C.D. Sharpe is a mystery set in the shadowy Ozark Mountains. As the first book in the Alex Abrams Mystery Thriller series, it introduces a tough, no-nonsense protagonist with a complex past and a sharp investigative mind. I received a copy from Victory Editing NGC via Netgalley.

Alex Abrams, a New Orleans homicide detective and Iraq War veteran, returns to her hometown expecting a short visit—but quickly finds herself pulled into a series of suspicious deaths that hint at something far more sinister. The plot is fast-paced and filled with tension, and the small-town setting is vividly drawn, full of secrets and unease.

Alex is a standout character—resilient, haunted, and deeply human. Her personal struggles are just as compelling as the threats she faces.

That said, some secondary characters could have been fleshed out more. A few plot turns felt slightly rushed, but the overall arc remains engaging and satisfying. The start and ending were brilliant and that's why I also requested book 2 in the series.

3,75/5 ⭐️