Before Ellie can even try and wrap her head around the tragedy she had gone through and how much it has changed the way she looks at her family - she once again finds her in the middle of a sadistic serial killer’s game. When women’s bodies begin to be found staged along the trails, it is clear that this killer has one thing in mind. He wants to punish women for their mistakes, and he wants to make Ellie suffer in any way that he possibly can. As if all of that isn’t enough, Ellie is being hunted by another killer who has a personal axe to grind. 

It’s hard to tell what the future has in store for Ellie. But one thing is for sure, it’s not going to be easy.

I adore this author, the previous book blew me away so I was instantly excited to hear this one was coming. I adore the way this author writes- I instantly become pulled in and addicted to what is taking place.
The cover is instantly enough to grab my attention, the colours are beautiful and scream at me to pick this one up. I adore how stunning and aesthetically appealing this one is.
This is completely unique to anything i've read previously and a serial killer killing off victims based on a nursery rhyme is completely different to anything i've read before. I have absolutely loved how dark and gritty this one has been.
The author has really kept me guessing during this one. I love this book and the characters in this series are so likeable. I have loved revisiting them in this book and really need more after reading this wonderful book.
A definite five star read. I have loved this one.

"Wild Flower Graves" is a wonderful follow up to Rita Herron's last novel "The Silent Dolls" where the reader was introduced to Detective Ellie Reeves.  Trying to recover from the tragedies in the first book in the series, the main character Ellie decides to go off on her own camping for a couple of days to find some solace.  She is in a vulnerable emotional place.  During a hike, Ellie discovers the body of a young woman posed amongst flowers in such a way that the scene appeared ritualistic. From here, the reader is led on a mystery with many twists and turns which keep guessing until the very end of the novel which still leaves you with some questions that will definitely have you eager for the next installment.   I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved getting to revisit with the characters from the last book as they continue to develop.  If you enjoyed the first book in this series, you will definitely won't be disappointed in this new adventure.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Wildflower Graves by Rita Herron that I read and reviewed.
This was the second book in the Detective Ellie Reeves series series and it picked up right where the first one left off so I would highly recommend that you read the first book in the series so you are not lost and you have all the back information that you need.
Now for this book it was an excellent second book for the series. I enjoyed how it picked up from the first book and Ellie had to deal with the aftermath of the fallout of what happened to her and her family. In this book she had another case that she was related and she had to deal with the pain in her life and the anger the town was feeling for her and her family. This book kept you guessing who the killer was until the end and it also sets the reader up for what might be coming next. I can’t wait to see where Herron takes these characters and this series.
Wildflower Graves gets five out of five stars!

SUPER police procedural with interesting characters, great plot & lots of intrigue to keep you guessing  as to  the identity of the brutal murderer of all these women.  This is the 2nd in the series & I have already purchased the 1st.  (The Silent Dolls)  RECOMMEND totally.  Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank You Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC! This book review is based on my complete honest opinion. 

This is the continuation of the Detective Ellie Reeves' series. The first book, The Silent Dolls, was really good that it had me reading up till night--it was really good. So when this second book came along, I was excited too and couldn't wait to read it. And I must say, I was not disappointed.

A man is murdering women brutally each day, based on the infamous nursery rhyme. And he is specifically targeting Ellie as he tells them where the women's bodies are. Ellie must find out the "Weekday Killer" and then the search for the killer became more urgent when the killer kidnaps Deputy Shondra Eastwood and Ellie realized that time is running out before he kills Shondra.

I was so hooked into the story! It was intriguing, gripping as if I was riding in a roller coaster ride with Ellie Reeves. It had me at the edge of the seat and I read it in one go! A truly fast paced psychological thriller, that will keep you awake at night, scary and gruesome too some parts, and doing guessing games as to who would be the so called killer. I really enjoyed this book and I felt this book is better than the first book. Of course, while Ellie is investigating the serial killer case, she has to deal with how the town is coping with the fact that her parents had been almost helping Hiram, the killer in the first book and how she is dealing with her relationship with her adopted parents.

Overall, I had to say--I was not disappointed. It had me guessing at the end, which I really like, quiet a page turner with tons of twists and turns you will not expect and had you keep awake at all night wanting more--completely worth five stars in my opinion!

After the shocking revelations in the previous book, detective Ellie Reeves is in therapy to deal with the lies and deceit of her parents. Not only does the whole county looks down and condemns the behaviour of their former sheriff, many people see Ellie as just as guilty as her parents. There are many protests in town and Jess receives some very unpleasant mail. She decides to let go of all the negativity and sets out for a good long hike along the Appalachian Trail. She doesn’t get very far though, as she almost stumbles on the body of a young woman that’s left amidst a bed of wild daffodils. The victim has her mouth sewn shut; her throat slashed, wears odd make-up, and is dressed as if ready to attend a funeral. Later Jenny receives messages from the killer. He’s killing young woman according to an old nursery rhyme ‘Monday’s child’, which covers all days of the week. The next day, another victim is found. As if to up the stakes, Ellie gets a very distressing phone call from her friend and colleague Shondra Eastwood, saying that she’s been held by the ‘Weekday-killer’ as he’s been dubbed. Captain Hale asks assistance from Derrick Fox from the FBI who also helped them in their last case.

This is the second book in the series and although you can read it on its own, it does lean rather heavily on the events of the first story. So, I advise reading the books in order to have a full grasp of the importance of the first investigation and its implications.
The story is mainly told from Ellie’s POV, but some short ones are told by Shondra from the cage in which she’s held or by the killer. We get snippets from Cord and an unnamed woman as well.
There was already a lot of tension and all sorts of vibes between Cord, Ellie, and Derrick. Both men have protective feelings towards Ellie but there are other issues that complicate their relationship with each other and with Ellie as well. Then there is also the bad relationship with Ellie’s boss, the new sheriff. One of the things she resents is his misogynistic attitude as well as the fact that her father endorsed him as his successor instead of her.
All this tension and stress complicates not only the investigation but creates distrust and suspicions. The author puts a lot of effort into her clues that make everyone into a possible murderer. Cord was already chiefly suspected in the first book, is now made suspicious enough for an arrest, but in other parts, it’s clear that he can’t be the killer because he’s chasing him. Or isn’t he?
The story keeps twisting and turning until the very end. The tension and suspense are kept high all along. The end was well found, but somehow a bit of a disappointment. But there is more to come as not all questions and mysteries are resolved. I can’t wait to find out what the writer has still to say.
I found one stupid mistake in the book. When Wednesday’s Child is found, they smell something murky, like a dead animal and that leads them to the body. But the body is still warm enough for the killer to be close enough by, to be chased.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided me with; this is my honest and unbiased review of it.

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. The case is dark and full of action and suspense. We see more development of not only Ellie, but Derrick and Cord as well. I didn't care for either by the end of book one but now I don't know which one I like more. And I really love to hate Bryce. Then there is Hiram. One of the creepiest bad guys I've ever read. That ending left me on pins and needles. I can't wait for the next one!

I thoroughly enjoyed Wildflower Graves, the second book in the Detective Ellie Reeves series. I recommend that book one: The Silent Dolls, be read first as there are mentions in this book that will give parts of the first book away. 
Ellie is a real kick-ass, strong-willed, fearless character and I admire her strength both emotionally and physically. If you've read The Silent Dolls you will know how much Ellie has been through.
Ellie just wants to do her job and do it well - even in the face of danger! 
This story is skillfully plotted with well developed, believable characters - even the crazed - and is full of twists and turns. I was gripped and felt tense the whole way through. The author is clever and made me feel suspicious of even some of those who were working the case. I didn't know who to trust. My heart was in my mouth so many times and I had clues in front of me one minute, then the next there was more. With a continuously fast pace, I couldn't wait to find out who was behind these brutal crimes; I needed to know who the perpetrator was - and was it just the one or were there more evil creatures at work?! 
There are some gory scenes and some close escapes and I enjoyed it immensely. The team worked super hard trying to solve this latest case and although I think that Ellie and Derrick make a great team, I did have doubts as to whether they could  crack on and work together because of how things ended on their last case... 
I wondered if this was a revenge killing spree? And also why are these victims being chosen? 
Even the thought of being alone on the Apalachian Trail, let alone in the dark, or in treacherous weather, made me fearful; the atmosphere seeped into me and I felt scared to read some parts but I couldn't tear myself away, it was so, so good! 
My heart went out to Ellie a few times, this is so difficult for her, yet she puts her personal life aside so that she can do her job. Ellie is more determined than ever as she is not just doing her job on this case but has another reason why she wants the killer/s caught - will she make it in time?!!
I very highly recommend this book and, I cannot wait for the next book as there are some secrets to be revealed and my mind is whirring away already! 

My thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley, this is my honest and unbiased review.

A serial killer killing off his victims based on a nursery rhyme. Such an interesting premise, and even though it’s the second book in a series I jumped on it. There’s quite a bit of recap and follow up of what happened in the previous book, but it was like, all in fast forward and imo it lost the intensity of what happened.

I think it has so much potential and could have been better. The imagery, and the forensics part was great, but third-person narration which is used quite a bit in this book took all the feel from what was happening and made less of what could have been very intense and gritty, I found it so hard to connect with any of the characters. Also, some of the things that happened early on felt so out of the police character it put me off. I really, really wanted to like this one, and I did, but for the most part, it failed to grip my attention.

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley, author, and publishers. Pub Date 1st Dec, 20. All opinions are my own.

I have read the previous book in the series and having really enjoyed it I was looking forward to this. The story was compelling, edge of the seat stuff. I felt it was a little farfetched sometimes but overall I enjoyed it.

A brilliant disturbing and gruesome thriller with many twists and turns ! Unputdownable !!!  Exquisitely written ! I highly recommend this amazing book ! Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book ! #Netgalley #Bookouture #WildflowerGraves

I realised as soon as I was into the first chapter that I was reading the sequel of a previous book. The characters are already formed and interact well with one another, showing previous relationships and a backstory. And this is okay, there is enough spoken dialogue and internal dialogue that explains both the action and the denouement of the first book.

I liked the story, it is a good plot with an even pace, and enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. And I did like the author’s narrative writing style.

There were only a couple of things that disappointed me: the dialogue sometimes (and it is only sometimes) is written in a ‘telling style’, as though as an explanation to the reader. And, although the outdoor settings are evocative, occasionally there is unnecessary repetition. The initial descriptions are excellently written, but then there are extra clauses that aren’t needed and so slow down the action.

However, this doesn’t happen in the sections which describe the “Cold. Steel. Bars.” the last place the victims know. ( I try not to give spoilers in my reviews – it’s a little difficult here) Suffice it to say, these well written settings are both sinister and chilling to read.

I found the explanation of the symbolism of wild flowers and nature fascinating; it’s obvious the author has researched this extensively and has cleverly interwoven them with the story.

All in all, I enjoyed the read and have no reservations in recommending this book to readers of crime fiction.

This new Ellie Reeves mystery is a non-stop, heart-pounding experience. Still recovering from the previous case that caused Ellie to question everything about her childhood, a new serial killer has emerged. This time the killer is taking young women, torturing them, and leaving their dead bodies posed in ritual ways at spots along the Appalachian Trail. The killer has decided to taunt Ellie with text messages about the women. When Ellie realizes that the perp took her dear friend and colleague, Shondra, the pressure to find her intensifies the search. The case requires her to work with Special Agent Fox again, and the tension between them does not stop them from being a good team. As one suspect after another turns out to be a false lead, Ellie's life is put on the line. How will it all end? Who is behind this violence? It keeps you guessing until the end. I can't wait for the next book!

Some time ago I read a book by this author and I liked it so much that I promised myself that I would read another one. And I was definitely not disappointed with this one. This is a very well written story.

I hadn't read the first book in this series, but that wasn't a problem. The characters we should know from the first book are fully developed and multi-dimensional, and we don't need to know the events of the first book to appreciate this. Ellie works well as the main character. The other characters are also interesting and more complex than it might seem. I also like the relationship between Ellie and Derrick. And that it's not exactly a romance. I am glad that when dealing with such a difficult case, they focus on their work and not on their feelings. I can easily wait for their relationship to develop in the next books. So far, I like how they work together so well, and the tension between them.

The plot is great too. This is a fast-paced story, and the short chapters fit perfectly here. I really like that the suspicions are spread quite evenly between different people and I didn't quite suspect who the villain was. But that's also because this person wasn't among the prime suspects at first. This is probably the only thing I would change; I wish this person was considered a potential murderer from the beginning. But I really liked all the twists and turns and there are really a lot of them. I couldn't guess many of thins things, so they surprised me, like the twist around chapter 110. The modus operandi of the murderer is also quite interesting and well thought out.

Even though this case has been solved, at the end of the book there are some peeks of a very interesting plot in the next book. Enough to interest me and not leave me feeling unsatisfied. And while waiting for the next book in this series, I will probably check other books by this author that I have an eye on.

This is the second book in the author’s new Ellie Reeves series. It is not necessary to read book 1 first but it does help with understanding the backstory. Only three weeks after the events of book 1 the Crooked Creek Police Department in Bluff County, Georgia, is once again immersed in a series of grisly murders. This time it’s young women. They are being found at various sites on the Appalachian Trail, on a bed of daffodils, with their throats cut and other signs of abuse. The killer sends Ellie taunting text messages asking if she will find the next one in time. Of course that doesn’t happen as there is nothing to go on and the women have nothing in common. What is certain is that more women will die at the hands of a killer the press has dubbed the Weekday Killer because of the rhyme that accompanies each of the murders.

Ellie is still struggling to come to terms with the perceived betrayal by her adoptive parents in trying to hide Hiram’s activities (the subject of the previous book), but to solve this case she will need to put that aside. Her constant introspection on this topic, while understandable, was nevertheless annoying after a while. I get it! On a positive note, FBI Special Agent Derrick Fox makes a welcome appearance again and is helping Ellie to view this case objectively. When Ellie’s fellow detective and friend, Shondra Eastwood disappears, Ellie goes into overdrive but can she find her friend before it’s too late? The story was very suspenseful, aided by all the clever use of misdirection by the author. I just didn’t know who to trust! There were also some clever twists - icing on the cake. This book will appeal to thriller fans and those who enjoy a gripping police procedural. It got very tense at times. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Rita Herron for providing me a copy to review. My opinions are my own. 4.5 stars rounded down.

this author has become one of my favourites you know you going to be pulled in from the 1st page if you thought book 1 was good wait till you read this very tense and gripping .detective Ellie Reeves is still term s with her family secret and her brother she did not know about . but someone is taken women and taunting her with texts and a nursery rhyme .and FBI Derrick comes back in to her life to help her with the case but he takes her friend officer Shondra Eastwood what is the connection with the therapist and who is the killer i so can not wait for book 3 this book is like a roller coaster ride will have you on the edge of your seat

I'm quickly becoming addicted to this series just like I am of Linda Castillo's series. The two are very comparable: tough female cops, fast paced action, and towns terrorized by killers. 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 was perplexed about the perp until the very end. Some of Cord's secrets are cracked. I can't wait to see if Ellie gets with either him or Derrick. I am impatiently waiting for Bryce to get his comeuppance. Hiram continues to lurk in the background. I can't wait for the next one.

Darkness and Murder on the Appalachian Trail! 
Wildflower Graves by Rita Herron is the second book in the Detective Ellie Reeves series. You can read this as a stand-alone book, but it is best if you read the series in order. I enjoy reading books that include hiking trails and the AT is one of my favorites! 
Detective Ellie Reeves has taken some personal time from work and is drawn into danger and death as she hikes the AT. She goes back on duty to find the killer and is soon trying to capture a serial murderer. The killer in Wildflower Graves follows the theme of a childhood rhyme and plans to kidnap and murder seven victims. Deputy Shrondra Eastwood, Ellie's best friend goes missing and manages to call Ellie to ask for help. The killer sends a text to Ellie and taunts her each time he takes a victim. Ellie soon begins to suspect Cord and even Sheriff Bryce as she works to eliminate anyone who might be the suspect. As the case heats up Ellie is also dealing with the conflicts within her own family. 
This story is intense and filled with suspense as the reader tries to follow the clues to determine the identity of the killer. 
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Publication Date: December 3, 2020

Book #2 in Ellie Reeves series. 
This book deals with a serial killer. In the first book we learn some secrets about Ellie's family that hurt her a great deal. They affect the way she thinks and does everything.  People of the town blame her for things not her fault.
For Ellie it's a race against time to bring the killer to justice.
On the edge of your seat thriilee