Detective Evan Bolton is called to a junkyard when the owner suspects something or someone could be in the trunk of an old car. The man is correct. When the trunk is opened there is the body of a dead man inside. The body is that of retired police detective Rod McLeod who was Evan's mentor and friend. And from the looks of the body Rod was tortured for quite awhile before being killed. Evan must notify Rod's daughter Sophia, but when he arrives at her home his partner Noelle is there and states Sophia is not and her house is a bloody crime scene. Now one case becomes two. But it doesn't stop there. There is evidence that Rod was looking into one or possibly more old solved cases and that he suspects there is corruption within the police department. Before Rod's murder is solved, Sophia's son Zak is also taken as is Evan after he is suspended from the department as evidence implicates him. It will be up to Noelle, Evan's girlfriend Rowan and her search and rescue dog Thor to sort it all out and find all the missing people and stop the real criminals.

Another absorbing police procedural in Deschutes, County. Detective Evan Bolton is called to the scene of a dead man in the trunk of a car. He is shocked when he realizes that the man is his retired former partner, Rod. At the same time, a bloody crime scene is found at the home of Rod’s daughter, and she is missing. Evan and his partner, Detective Noelle Marshall, begin the search for the killer and the missing daughter. Rowan Wolff, the love of Evan’s life, is called in along with her search and rescue dog, Thor. She has worked closely with law enforcement, but barely survives when her home is attacked. When a shot is taken at a suspect, was the shooter aiming for the suspect or Evan? Files are missing from Rod’s home; was he researching old cases, and if so, why? When Evan is accused of improper searches, he knows he is being targeted and his career is now in jeopardy. Before he can continue the investigation, Evan is nowhere to be found. Where is he and will Rowan, along with Thor and Noelle find him before it is too late? An amazing, twisted mystery that kept me guessing until the thrilling end! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

The Next Grave is book 6 in the Columbia River series by Kendra Elliot. This is the second book in the series featuring Detective Evan Bolton and Search and Rescue canine specialist Rowan Wolff with her dog Thor. I love these characters and couldn't wait for them to be featured more after reading The First Death. Evan is devastated when the body of his mentor, Rod McLeod is found in the trunk of a car. He had been shot in the forehead and tortured before that. Rod was retired, but he and Evan were still close. Rod has a daughter, Sophie and Evan dreads having to tell her the news about her Dad. Luckily, Sophie has a son, Zach, so she won't be alone.

Things take a turn for the worse when Sophie cannot be located and her house is a disaster. Someone fought hard and there's a lot of blood throughout the house. Who does the blood belong to? Is it Sophie's? Is it Zach's? Is it Rod's? It will take time for the lab to figure that out. Rowan uses clothing with Thor for him to get the tracking scent. It's a deadend when Thor loses the scent at a dirt road. They were taken to the road and driven away. When Evan goes to Rod's house he finds out that he had been investigating old cases that were already solved. Why would he be looking at cases that were solved? Why are some of the case files missing? Is this why Rod was murdered? Was he getting close to discovering something important? Something that someone didn't want getting out? As the investigation progresses it seems more and more likely that someone in law enforcement is helping the killer with inside information!

Evan and his partner aren't sure who to trust. This investigation gets very personal as one of our beloved characters gets taken and tortured by the killer. Will they be able to figure out the killer's motive and locate them before it's too late? This book will have your heart racing and flipping pages at record pace. I read The Next Grave in 1 day and can't wait for the next book in the series. If you love a good thriller, engaging characters, and a tough mystery to solve this is the book for you! I rate The Next Grave 5 stars with my highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for an advanced copy of The Next Grave in exchange for a fair review. #TheNextGrave

The Next Grave by Kendra Elliot is an engaging and emotional thriller that weaves together murder, kidnapping, and a web of hidden secrets. Detective Evan Bolton faces the devastating murder of his mentor, retired detective Rod McLeod, and the sudden disappearance of McLeod’s daughter and grandson. Teaming up with Rowan Wolff, a skilled K9 search specialist, and her dog, Thor, Evan dives into a dangerous investigation filled with twists and personal stakes.
The book skillfully balances suspense with heartfelt moments. Evan’s determination, Rowan’s courage, and their growing bond keep the story grounded amidst the chaos. The plot twists kept me guessing, and the pace never slowed, keeping me hooked until the end.
Elliot’s portrayal of the characters and their struggles felt authentic, and the emotional depth added layers to the story. Fans of the series will appreciate the ties to earlier books.
Highly recommended!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

Never a dull moment for these detectives. Evan is an intelligent detective, we’ve met him in another book. His girlfriend, Rowan and her dog Thor, are a search and rescue team but Thor has many talents. A murdered body is found, others are missing and integrity is questioned. The puzzle pieces keep appearing randomly and none fit, the case never slows down and cops are stretched thin. The characters work diligently at their own expense to solve cases. The friendships and love are strong between partners and coworkers. I just enjoy reading these books, the cases are intense and the characters are realistic. Each book is independent of the others but the characters have personal stories that continue. Every one is an intriguing read and a great escape. My copy came through NetGalley and wrote my review voluntarily.

I am never disappointed with a Kendra Elliot book. "The Next Grave" has a plot that presented a real conundrum to work through. No strong suspects, no viable motive and no clues to work with. A real head scratcher and a wonderful mystery/suspense plot. The pulse pounding ending is just a bonus.

When his mentor and friend, Rod McLeod, is found dead in the trunk of a car in a junkyard, Detective Evan Bolton is devastated. There are few clues at the junk-yard. Evan is called to the home of Rod's daughter Sophia where he discovers her and her son, Zack, missing and the home a blood bath. What is going on? Evan's biggest concern and fear is that they have been taken by the person who killed Rod.

Evan's girlfriend, Rowan Wolff uses her search and rescue dog, Thor to track Sophia, but that is a dead-end. Evan fears that Sophia may have met the same fate as her father, but, why? When Evan gets to Rod's home, he discovers everything in order, just like Rod's desk in the department. Closer inspection leads him to discover that small things are out of order and when he looks closer, it appears that retired detective Rod McLeod is digging around in old, closed cases. But with no pattern to work with, Evan is at a loss as to what direction to go. His only real clue are gaps in Rod's filing system.

Why Rod was looking into closed, solved cases is all Evan has to go on and that path has put him in a killer's crosshairs.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone.

Evan’s mentor is found murdered and this sets off a full scale investigation which becomes more complicated when Rob’s daughter is missing.

Things become more complex when evidence sends the investigation in lots of different directions and puts Evan’s professional life in jeopardy.

There is a lot happening in this story and both Rowan and Evan are put in precarious situations.

It was nice seeing Mercy Kilpatrick making a guest appearance.

The killer in this story was particularly cruel and his reasoning didn’t make a lot of sense to me, but made the mystery harder to unravel.

I loved the connection between Rowan and Evan and Thor made me want to hug my dog.

OMG!!! I could not put this book down! I love Rowan and Evan together and Kendra Elliot does a phenomenal job telling their personal story as they deal with the shocking and suspenseful events of “The Next Grave”, the sixth book in the Columbia River series.

The story is written in first person from the point of view of the heroine, search and rescue canine specialist Rowan Wolff and the hero, Detective Evan Bolton. These view points helped to slowly build the suspense throughout the story and as well as help establish a strong emotional connections with the character.

When the tortured dead body of his friend and mentor, retired detective Rod McLeod is discovered, Detective Evan Bolton is devastated but determined to uncover his killer. Rowan and her dog Thor are brought in to search for McLeod’s daughter and grandson when they are discovered to be missing. Will they be the next bodies found? Evidence points to the involvement of law enforcement and mishandled cases. Will Evan and Rowan be able to stop the killer before someone else disappears? Read it and find out!

This is a voluntary review of an advanced readers copy received from Netgalley.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.
When the body of a former detective is found in an abandoned car, it’s clear that someone with an axe to grind has taken action. The detective’s daughter is missing and it seems that it could be linked to a former case.
Before long those investigating the case seem to be being targeted. Prints are found at a crime scene, and shots are fired during the course of the investigation. Someone is keen for them not to find answers.
Though there was the basis of a good plot here, there was a bit too much going on. We were given little information to explain some of the events and it seems that some of the acts described would have been picked up. Entertaining, if somewhat far-fetched.

The Next Grave is the 6th book in the Columbia River series by Kendra Elliot. This was a very entertaining read, wow it kept me on pins and needles what would happen next. I would recommend this book to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and Montlake Publishing, I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Feel free to jump in with The Next Grave, you will not be lost! The Next Grave delivers mystery, police work, K9 search, family lost and found, relationships in progress and heart wrenching lost. All of the characters, the good, the bad are relatable or understandable. I felt like I was with Evan trying to understand and dig through clues. I was with Rowan on her search or when she was with her family. You are encompassed within the pages. Mercy appearing was the cherry on top. I do recommend reading books 1-5 , not because you will be lost with out, but it makes everything deeper and richer. Thank you for the advanced copy. I freely volunteer my honest thoughts and opinions. #TheNextGrave #ColumbiaRiver6 #KendraElliot #Montlake #NetGalley

Loved it!! I really enjoy this series and seeing characters from previous books. Loved seeing Rowan and Thor as the main characters, along with Detective Evan Bolton. My lazy corgi would never be able to find someone, unless the person was wrapped in bacon and standing right in front of him. Thor always seems to know what people need. Ivy and Iris are the best sisters. Rowan's whole family is wonderful. I was hooked from the start and couldn't imagine what happened to Rod and his daughter Sophia. Their disappearance had to be related. Mercy Kilpatrick makes an appearance when Zack mysteriously vanishes. They must have been targeted for a reason. Evan has a bullet fired at him and the terrible house fire. How can Rowan and Evan be related to what happened to Rod's family? There were so many twists and turns. I wasn't exactly sure who was involved. How could Evan's fingerprints get all over the place? The killer/kidnapper is crazy and one of the worst with all the violence to his/her victims. The torture that he/she put them through was awful.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller. Loved the characters, story and writing style. I love how the main characters change with each book. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Hopefully, Detective Noelle Marshall will finally tell her story.. This is the fourth book I read in the series, and can be read as a standalones. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Montlake through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Next Grave (Columbia River, #6) by Kendra Elliot
I enjoyed this book very much but only gave it 4* because of the violence and torture involved. Some of it was very hard to read. Evan and Rowan are great together and Thor is amazing. There is mystery, suspense, good friends and work partners enough to get us to a HEA.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed Great world building Haunting Happily Ever After Page-turner Romantic Scary Tear-jerker Tragic Wonderful characters.

After reading a lot of the reviews of this book I think you’re either a Kendra Elliot fan or you aren’t. I loved the start and was feeling pleased to have discovered a new to me author. However the delight didn’t last. The story is a good American cop procedural tale but the characters never developed much depth. Despite this I did find it easy to remember who was who so not confusing at all. This was one in a series but on the whole it is one that stands alone ok. The plot never rang true and neither did the relationship between Even and Rowan even with the addition of a search and rescue dog Thor who would have been the subject of major awards if he had been real.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a great romantic suspense thriller that left me guessing until the end. Evan and Rowan continue on their relationship journey but an old colleague comes up dead in a trunk and the case begins to find the murderer.

Lots of action, murder and investigation aspects in this book that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

4.5 stars rounded up.

I love when I can’t figure out a mystery early on in a book and I feel like I’m along for the ride as the characters themselves work things out. Kendra Elliot is so good at writing books like that, and this was another success for me.

I’ve always been a fan of Evan Bolton and I love that we continue to get to know him better with this Columbia River series. I also love Rowan (and Thor), so seeing their relationship blossom even more is lovely.

The case they have to solve here involves one their law enforcement own and his family, who Evan has close ties to, so the stakes are even higher. There are multiple leads to follow, and each one ratchets up the tension as they face even more challenges along the way. It keeps you on edge as the danger escalates and more characters find themselves in harms way. It reaches a harrowing conclusion that will have a lasting impact on everyone involved.

Kendra Elliot is a go-to author for suspense and mystery. She teased that a book for Noelle is in progress and I can’t wait to read that one. Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a propulsive murder mystery that kept me glued to the pages. I felt all the characters were well fleshed out although I did find it OTT that most of the characters had traumatic pasts. Being a dog person, I loved we got the dog’s POV and it did not feel strange. It melded well with the story. While there is a romantic connection between Rowan and Evan, it did not overwhelm the mystery part of the story. Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book. I love Evan and Rowan’s story and what a story it is. It’s full of mystery; suspense and wow what an ending. If I could give it more that 5 stars, I certainly would. It kept me on the edge of my seat tha whole book. Don’t miss this one.

The Next Grave is a easy to follow storyline that ebbs and flows effortlessly with a nice balance between the emotional pull of the characters and the action packed fast paced ever changing plot with unexpected twist and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
I received a advance reader's copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review

When Detective Evan Bolton arrives at the scene of a suspected dead body, he could never have imagined the horrors that would await. As he investigates the brutal murder of his mentor to uncover any leads, he is left wondering who in the department can be trusted. Elliot delivers a plot that starts with shocking news and continues to build to have you at the edge of your seat wondering how it will all end and who will be left standing.

This book brings us more of Evan and Rowan's story, now living together they are enjoying couple bliss until the latest investigation sends their lives into a spin they could not have imagined and hoping beyond everything that they will survive it.

We get to see a little more or Rowan's older brother Malcolm, Evan's sister and her family, FBI agent Mercy makes an appearance and Detective Noelle Marshall takes on a more prominent role, no spoiler but in the acknowledgements, looks like Noell's story is coming in Summer 2025!