The tagline for this said ‘it was addictive and twist-packed crime thriller’ and it didn’t lie. I was absorbed into the investigation from the first page and needed to know how the two threads of Sofia’s captivity and the John Doe murder investigation through Detective Madison Harper’s eyes were linked. Slower paced than I was expecting, it didn’t lose its grip but the timing meant it could delve deeper into the investigation team’s complex lives and I became more invested in the outcome. Some crime thrillers skip through investigation and crime with adrenaline pumping speed action to reveal the culprit, and I love them. They are impossible to put down but sometimes you need more depth and more connection to the main characters. The Crying Girls fulfilled that desire. I felt I knew the characters personally, whether it was the abduction victim or investigator, adding to the enjoyment and thrill of reading. It didn’t matter that this was the eighth book in the series, the recaps sprinkled in explained history between characters so I easily caught up. The complicated history of spectacular wrongful convictions, sibling feuds and work dynamics hooked me into wanting to read the back catalogue to see how Madison Harper has evolved and how she initially met her fiancé, Nate, and Brody.

Tackling three investigations, Madison Harper and her team were under pressure to solve them but their plentiful challenges in their personal lives complicated matters. Nate, Madison’s fiancé had left her in distress and his dog, Brody’s reaction to his abandonment grabbed the emotions. The horror of the missing girl’s captivity and her determination to survive were also heartbreaking. The pain humans can commit against others is shocking. Societal themes and consequences of actions entwined in the plot were dealt with expertly. It was a book that is hard to forget and I’m sure if I reread I’d see more into it.

The Crying Girls is a captivating, twisty crime thriller with complex flawed characters with inner strength to admire. It’s perfect for fans of Helen Phifer. Thank goodness I’ve got Kindle Unlimited for three months so I can catch up with the previous books.

Another one of the great series I love to read. The story is once again great but I’ll admit to feeling a little sad since Nate played such a small role in this one. I understand why he was absent for much of the book, but that doesn’t make me sad for his absence. But even with Madison’s son Owen being away at school, I’ll forgive the author for finding a way to bring him into the plot.

I love the unique premise of this series. Both Madison and Nate were wrongfully imprisoned, exonerated and working to set their life back on the right track with all the extra backage that brings. Madison being a detective and Nate a private eye. And I shouldn’t forget my favorite character, Brody, Nate’s dog. Who also mourns Nate not being around in this one. I just love when an animal serves a purpose in a book.

Madison has her work cut out for her. A body missing its head and hands is hard to identify and a women claiming her child went missing. All while she is wondering where Nate is and how is his mental status.

The story, while dark, was gripping and kept me glued to the book. The mix of both Madison’s personal life with her work life is always well balanced. And that ending. WOW. I’m always afraid of spoiling something with too many details, but trust me when I say the multiple POVs, cases and Madison’s focus had me reading this as quickly as I could.

Is it too soon to wonder what will happen next?

This has got to be in my top three favourite series, such an engaging series, that's intense, fast paced it's just superb.

Book eight and another well deserved five stars from me, the character development and their personalities are just a work of art, Madison is a complex character whose tenacious and determined but we also experiance her vulnerable side which makes her all the more human.

Alot of emotion and thought provoking moments in this edition an engrossing read.

Thanks to netgalley for providing this advanced copy for the purpose of review.
I have read all the books in this series and knew this would be just as good as the ones before. I love the complex characters and the unfold9ng mystery in each book. This is a compelling series and I always look forward to more.

The Crying Girls is book 8 in the Detective Madison Harper by Wendy Dranfield.
I’ve been such a fan of this addictive crime mystery that is packed with twists and unexpected turns throughout.
I was hooked from that intriguing prologue until the very last page. With a fast paced plot and twists you don't see coming this series just gets better and better.
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline.
Wendy Dranfield manages to keep the writing compelling and full of suspense.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is another very good, well written read in the Madison Harper series. This latest episode finds Madison reeling from the departure of her fiance, Nate. The characters are complex in this gripping thriller and the plotting deals with a difficult subject, handled with sensitivity. There are some twists along the way and the ending left me wishing there was just another chapter for me to read. I hope we don't have too long to wait for the next book in the series, which I highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is a great crime thriller that certainly has plenty going on!
Madison is called when a body is found but without his head or hands, she knows it’s going to be hard case to solve with no other ID on him.
Then a woman asks for her help as her baby was taken from her. It happened a while ago but Madison agrees to help her.
She is also trying to cope on her own as Nate has decided he needs some space, and has disappeared without his phone or Brody.
We also have chapters from a woman who has been abducted and whilst she adapts to her situation, it’s an awful situation to be in. It gets worse when her captor brings another young girl for the purpose of giving them a baby as Gina can’t seem to fall pregnant.
There’s other stuff going on in the medical examiner’s office as well, so this really is an action packed book.
I think this is one of my favourite books in this series, and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

Still reeling from his actions during the closing events of the last book, Grave Mountain, Madison’s fiancé, Nate, is nowhere to be found. A note telling her he needs time away sends her reeling and makes her determined to get used to life without him.
Three cases come to Madison’s attention, and she struggles to prioritise them efficiently. Aware that all eyes are on her and wanting to ensure she delivers on each of them, she sets about trying to get answers. The synopsis explains the three cases and I don’t want to rehash that, so I will focus on a spoiler-free review.
If this is your first book in this series, you will need to know that Madison’s place in the Lost Creek police department was hard won, and she continues to fight daily for the support that is naturally afforded to her colleagues. Her personal life has figured in the previous books and has been laid open to scrutiny. The one constant has been her relationship with Nate, and without him, she has lost her confidante and sanity checker.
Madison’s grit and determination drive her forward. Although some of her decisions seem questionable, she keeps getting the results that she strives for. I make no apologies for the fact that she’s one of my favourite detectives, and I admit that one of the attractions is the Lost Creek setting. For personal reasons, Colorado holds a special place in my heart.
The story is delivered with mastery, and this reader desperately turned the pages as the plot unfolded, revealing twists and turns that kept me off the scent. Wendy Dranfield has created a complex collection of characters. Each one is perfectly developed to the degree that I was shocked by a few of the events unfolding on the pages.
This thriller will remain in my thoughts for some time, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Holy smokes! What a wild read. This is horrifying from page one. Absolutely brilliantly terrifying. The stuff nightmares are made of come to life in these pages. This has me in a vice grip from the very start and kept me reading in abject terror all night. Twists and turns and suspense and fear mix with amazing characters and our beloved Madison! An unputdownable unforgettable thrill ride! A must read

This book knocked me all around!! I loved every page! There were so many twists and turns and nuances up until the last page. I didn’t even try to figure out the case because I was too busy gasping with each new revelation.
It’s diabolical and so sordid and twisted. I don’t know how Dranfeld comes up with the sickest scenarios!!
I spent most of the book mad at Nate. Yes, I understand it but I wanted to kick him. I wanted to hug Brody and laughed when he reunited with Nate and his reaction.
I yelled at Madison regarding Angie. Absolutely not!!
I shed a few tears with the final call scene, heartbreaking.
I need a day or two to recover but then I’m ready for the niner!!!

Oh Madison welcome back, you have been missed! Here we are with book 8 of what has become one of my favourite series. I love how Wendy Dranfield weaves multiple storylines, whilst building characters throughout and also leaving us with our hearts in our mouths.

Some difficult subjects were covered in this book but dealt with delicately, Madison ends up tied up in multiple cases whilst trying to balance her personal life, does this woman ever sleep? As usual we have all our regular characters too. I would love to have a novella of a crime and dine episode of the podcast with Vince. Once again the town of Lost Creek is upside down with murders, abduction and questionable newbies.

Many thanks for the chance to read this as an eARC to NetGalley, author and publisher.

I'm so sorry, but its not for me. Don't get me wrong, the story is greatly written and I like Madison as a person, but to be honest, I felt weirdly triggered by the storyline which barely happens. Also, I understand that "the crying girls" is not the first book of the whole series, but I would've wished for a little bit more context about the characters histories because if you read it as a standalone, its a little bit vague.

Oh wow. Detective Maddison Harper book 8 and it's the best so far! My heart was breaking before I was even halfway through. The plot is dark and sometimes harrowing. There's plenty of twists to keep you hooked. I read this in one day as I was enjoying it so much. Easy 5⭐from me and I won't hesitate to recommend it.

Dawn breaks over the mountains. Not a single part of the girl’s once-beautiful body is free from pain. She prays she’ll slip into a blissful unconsciousness, but the sound of an engine rouses her. Her swollen eyes struggle to focus as she raises a bruised arm and waves from the long grass. A decision that will cost her much more than her innocent little life…

With her partner missing, Detective Madison Harper has her work cut out for her juggling the discovery of a body in the murky shallows of Lost Creek and a distraught mother searching for her missing baby boy. She barely has time to eat or sleep. But someone in this small town has lost a loved one, and a child’s life could be in danger. Madison’s sense of duty drives her on, poring over cold case files and interviewing inhabitants of the trailer park near where the headless body was found.

Without a face to identify, or teeth to match to dental records, the decapitated victim is almost impossible to name. Then the postmortem reveals a single red rose stem forced down his throat. What monster would do such a thing? What message were they trying to send? It feels like a dead end until Madison returns home to find the photo of a distressed-looking girl on her windshield. Written on the back is a message that grips her with ice-cold fear: Sofia. Day 1.

Now hunting for a missing child, a murderer and a missing girl, Madison is pushed to her limit. As terror chokes the close-knit community, she vows that no more innocent lives will be lost on her watch. But as these cases connect, and she comes face to face with the twisted individual at the heart of it all, will there be anyone left to save?

Wow! What an emotional roller coaster this one was! From start to finish this will keep readers guessing. The detail that goes into this story sent me through more emotions than I knew a book could! Can’t wait for the next!

This is book 8 of the Madison Harper series and they just keep getting better with each book. This was a great read with so many twists, I loved it. It is a great series, can’t wait till the next book. Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for this arc.

The Crying Girls (Detective Madison Harper # 8) by Wendy Dranfield
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: October 7, 2024

The Crying Girls is the eighth book in the Detective Madison Harper series by Wendy Dranfield. This book can easily be ready as a standalone book or as part of the series. I have loved each book a little more than the previous book!

I absolutely loved this book! The story was incredible and the mystery was intense (my head is still spinning)! I have grown so attached to the characters. This book had me in tears.

I highly recommend reading Grave Mountain if you enjoy crime dramas! 5 Stars! I can't wait for the next book to be released because I am hooked (& I feel like there's more to be unraveled from this one)!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Mind-blowingly good! Absolutely looove this book! I can honestly say it is one of my favourite reads of the year. I love following Madison's life, and that is one my favourite things about this book and the series in general; these books are so personal and honest. Usually series have a book or two that are very personal history related, and then the rest have small bits and pieces here and there, but the Madison Harper series is all about Madison and Nate, as well as their pasts, and with a reason.

In this book the one thing that is not allowed to happen, happens. Nate skedaddles. That is the worst thing he can do to himself, Madison, Owen, and Brody. Never underestimate a dog!

I simply could not let go of this book, not even for a second, so there I was, reading it from cover to cover. Pure love!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of The Crying Girls by Wendy Dranfield
This is a great addition to the Detective Madison Harper Series.
Madison is worried about her fiance Nate, he's been through a lot and has now left town to sort himself out.
But there is a body in the creek, and a missing baby so Madison throws herself into the task and tries to forget her personal problems.
The story is told through her eyes and the eyes of a young girl who we don;t know at the moment, the further into the book you get it becomes clear there is something seriously wrong in Lost Creek.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Crying Girls’, book 8 in the Detective Madison Harper series written by Wendy Dranfield, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Detective Madison Harper’s boyfriend Nate Monroe has gone missing leaving behind his phone and his K9 Brody. She has little time to worry about his whereabouts as a body with no head or hands has been found in a creek near to a trailer park, and as the report of a missing teenage girl comes in she also has a cold case of a missing baby boy to resolve.

‘The Crying Girls’ is a gripping continuation of the series featuring Detective Madison Harper and although it can be read as a standalone it’s better if read in sequence. This well-written addictive thriller is packed full of action with twists on every page and has grabbed my attention from the beginning. I love the characters especially Brody who continues to search for Nate but still helps Madison during what must be some of the toughest cases she’s had to solve.

Wow wow wow what a total rollercoaster this latest installment in the Madison Harper series was! We were just sucked in from the start with the note from Nate on the pillow, then the whole detective work for Madison and the the obsessive question as to will these two find their way back to each other? I really loved it and absolutely can't wait for the next one. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this amazing book!