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.

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.

The Fragile Ones by Jennifer Chase is a crime novel. Though the book is fifth in the series of " Detective Katie Scott", can be read as stand alone.

🌸 Setting: Set on  Rock Creek, a small town in Sequoia County, California, USA.

🌸Protagonist: Female Detective.

🌸Perspective: Third person point of view.

🌸Plot: Detective Katie Scott is asked by his under who is also her boss, to accompany a group of TV documentary crew to historical sites in the rural surroundings. For Katie this is challenging as it reminds her of previous cases that still haunts her and she is trying to deal with them. While accompanying the crew in turn of events Katie discovers two dead bodies of little girls. Katie and her deputy Sean are appointed to the case. For now on as the case unfolds readers are taken on an thrilling ride.
 
🌸Insights:

• Absolutely loved Katie's character. Strong female protagonist!

• Language is easy and the book is definitely a page turner.

• If you are faint hearted then stay away from this book as it contains some graphic description. Otherwise if you are okay with them then the book provides an
 fantastic experience.

🌸Rating 4/5

This is an ARC copy from netgalley and I heartily thank both NetGalley and Bookouture. Thanks again for this amazing read.

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,

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.

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.

Two little girls didn’t return home. Will they be Detective Katie Scott’s next cold case? While hiking with her K9 Cisco, Katie finds the bodies of two young girls. Working with her cold case partner, Deputy Sean McGavin, the case takes a strange turn when the girls are identified. The one girl has a number burned into her neck; was she a victim of trafficking? As Katie and Sean are targeted, someone wants them to stop investigating and doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process. When evidence shows that other girls with similar markings have been killed, Katie must solve this complex mystery before more lives are lost. Though still dealing with her PTSD from her time in the Army, Katie is strong and determined to take down this killer. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Fragile Ones’, the fifth in the Detective Katie Scott series written by Jennifer Chase, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Detective Katie Scott has been asked to act as guide to a film production company who are looking for areas of interest to film a documentary. As they drive to Silo to look at the sink holes they’re caught in a heavy storm and while waiting for the team to complete their filming Katie sees two small bodies wedged in a crevice. The two bodies are identified as sisters Tessa and Megan but what Katie finds disturbing is that the numbers 372 have been branded on Tessa’s head. She then discovers that Tessa’s DNA matches that of a two-year-old girl who was kidnapped nearly ten years ago.

‘The Fragile Ones’ is another excellent nail-biting thriller with a plot that’s had me enthralled from page one. It embodies everything that’s necessary for it to be an exceptional thriller, exactly what I’ve come to expect from Ms Chase who has the knack of writing scary, unpredictable and extremely entertaining thrillers. I’ve been gripped through each twist and turn, trying to guess the identity of the person responsible but unable to, until I’ve reached the climax that’s jaw-dropping and totally unexpected. It’s been a pleasure to catch up with Katie and her deputy Sean McGaven and the news of Katie and her boyfriend Chad has left me with a huge grin on my face, a perfect ending to a brilliant novel. I’m so looking forward to book number six.

🔍👭Plenty of action but lacked something🤔

I read more than my fair share of police procedurals and murder mysteries. The Fragile Ones had plenty of action and kept me guessing for a long time. But there was something that just never engaged me.

Two factors that dampened my enjoyment -- I never really got to know much about the poor victims and I could not connect with Detective Katie Scott. And I did not get any aha moment about why the murders happened or why Rock Creek is such a stone silent place. But the main reason I could not love this book remains elusive. Don't know why😕, just did not find it memorable.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

4/5 Stars!

This is the third book I’ve read in the Detective Katie Scott series, so it’s safe to say that I’m a fan! And this book is probably my favorite so far. It’s got a very complex plot that weaves in several angles and layers to create a thriller that takes you through several twist and turns until the ultimate conclusion.

There are indeed several twists and turns which left me guessing until the very end, I did not guess the ending and was pretty surprised with how everything turned out! There’s a lot of moving parts, but they all come together in the end pretty neatly to create a good picture of what was going on.

What I love is that with each new book, we see Katie continue to grow and deal with her issues - she’s not a static character at all and I love that about her. I hate when characters aren’t given the chance to evolve throughout a series and the fact that we see Katie really blossom more and more as this series goes on really is a great part of it for me.

The rest of her friends and family are also really awesome character that I’ve come to love and appreciate over the course of the books, and there’s a nice new development in this one which gives the readers something to look forward to! (Hint hint!)

Of course, I’m obviously continuing to hang in there to see more of Katie and the gang in the future!

This latest installment ups the suspense. Katie and McGaven are drawn into a difficult and heartbreaking case. Full of twists and tension, you will be left guessing until the very end.
Katie has grown so much from book one and really comes into her own in this one. I love her partnership with Gav and the relationship with Chad. This one left me wondering about John a bit. I think something is going to come to a head soon with him.
This series just keeps getting better. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I am really enjoying this series of books and Detective Katie Scott is one fearless woman. I love the California setting and the intricate, unique plot, Cisco the dog and the fact that it kept my attention throughout and I never guessed the killer. This book can be read as a stand alone and I would recommend it to lovers of crime thrillers. and mysteries. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

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 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/3866111666, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3866112033, Amazon.com and https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-fragile-ones-by-jennifer-chase-4.html.

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.

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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.

The Fragile Ones is the fifth book in the Detective Katie Scott series, but it's the first one I've read and I had no trouble following along with these characters although I did find it slow to begin with. But it certainly was an engaging and suspenseful tale that involves an investigation into a cold case crime which I found truly intriguing.

However, the ending did leave me feeling a little unfulfilled and although the killer of the two girls was revealed no real explanation was given for the other cases linked or the deaths that occurred after the investigation started. Yet, it did have me guessing, and I am fascinated enough by these characters, particularly PTSD suffering Katie Scott, and her K9 sidekick Cisco to want to read more. And I would recommend The Fragile Ones to others, especially if you enjoy police procedural's.

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!

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 gives 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 Bookouture and Netgalley for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it

Katie Scott is drawn into a cold case when she accidentally stumbles upon the corpses of two girls while accompanying a documentary film crew. This is another intense thriller with more action and suspense amidst a thunderstorm. The psychological aspect takes a backseat and some of the explanations are unsatisfactory. 4.5 stars

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.