Hidden Bones

Detective Ellie Reeves, Book 6

By: Rita Herron

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

The girl trips over branches, losing her footing. The darkness swallows her, and she grabs thin air as she falls, her scream piercing the night. When she slams into the bottom of the pit, her heart hammers. She can’t believe what she’s seeing—a pile of perfect white bones....

In the small town of Crooked Creek, where the Appalachian Mountains climb into the clouds, 19-year-old Mandy’s Spring Break takes a sinister turn. Detective Ellie Reeves races straight to the scene, driving through the winding roads to the abandoned orphanage.

Ellie saves the teenage girl but discovers human remains that have been there for 30 years, ever since the home for children closed down. Her heart shatters at the thought that they might belong to the helpless orphans.

Working day and night on the case, Ellie searches for the orphanage’s files, but they have been stolen—somebody is clearly trying to cover their tracks. As she interviews the residents of the mountain community, Ellie finds out that almost everyone connected to the children’s home has disappeared.

Then a woman is found dead, her body marked with a strange symbol. When Ellie learns that the victim used to work at the orphanage, it’s clear that a twisted killer is trying to stop the truth coming out.

Ellie vows to solve this case that spans decades, and, when her research into the meaning of the symbol leads her to a local business at the heart of recent controversy, she’s on the right track. Can she bring the secrets to light before another innocent person is murdered? And when she gets too close to uncovering the truth, will she survive?

A totally gripping and pulse-pounding crime-thriller that will have you holding your breath! Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot, and Melinda Leigh.

©2022 Rita Herron (P)2022 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Great Author/ Bad Performance

I love Ms. Herron's stories but the performance is SO stilted that I almost completely passed on this book. So much of the story is performed in a monotone and sounds like an automaton is doing the reading.

Great story

Never disappointed in Ellie Reeves and the series. I can't wait until the next episode.

loved it

there were so many twists and turns in this book I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. the narration was excellent and I just love this series!

wish she would fi d a different narrorator

I absolutely love this series but it had been awhile since I listened to the last one and I forgot how hard it is to push through the narrator! she speaks so perfunctory and like she is reading a script. it takes me over half the book to tolerate it and it still grates at me to the end. But Luke I said I LOVE this series. buti may have to actually read the next one instead of listen.

A pretty good listen

I was so relieved that this book attempts to treat sex workers as human and the violence is not as gruesome and exploitive as so many books. It’s told in little snippets of information that are so clipped it only barely moves the plot forward. The result is a story with very little depth but an interesting premise. I felt cheated in the end when the perp turns out to be a character that was only barely mentioned. Still, for it’s attempt at a more modern take on violence against women I’m giving it 4 stars.

Love this series!

Detective Ellie Reeves is hunting a serial killer…the victims are all connected to a defunct orphanage, where human bones have been found. Can Ellie and team catch the killer before he hits close to home? Another brilliant story! Love the chemistry between Ellie and FBI agent Derrick…but feeling bad for Cord. Need next story soon!!!

Suspense oh my

Cannot get get enough of the suspense and unpredictable twists and turns. Love to se the Elle and Derick romance grow with intrigue.

Not better than the previous

Book 6 was okay. I wasn't driven as i was with the books before. And the narrator voice is annoying. I am enduring though.

Okay Story

Good Enough that I wasn't bored and listened through. This series is a fall-back for me when I can't decide on an unknown author. Yes, with that said, I can recommend the series.

Yeah, ok.

I've been listening to this series from the beginning and at this point I'm questioning why I'm still listening other than the fact I go through a lot of audio books and needed something to listen to. In my previous review I lamented Ellie being struck in the head and captured by the killer in every book up until the last one. I’m thrilled to report she wasn’t bashed in the head this time either! My main complaint is still with police procedure, though. Anyone with actual police training would know what I mean. I just think the author needs to run these stories by someone in the know first. That’s all. Also, spoiler alert: how the heck did evidence get placed in the Judge’s home without his knowledge? That was never really explained. Yeah, he was set up, but HOW was he set up? There were several plot holes such as this throughout the story. Another problem I have is with Ellie’s relationship with her family. Her real mother wasn’t mentioned once in this book. The relationship with her adoptive parents seems to flip flop from her being the one hurt and feeling betrayed to her adoptive mother being the one feeling hurt and betrayed. I’m so frustrated with the character development – it seems as though no one is the same as they were except for Cord – the unrequited love interest who will never stand a chance with Ellie (until next book, maybe? Who knows). So, I will repeat my previous request: don't let Ellie get bashed in the head, and don't let her get captured by the killer in the next book either. I will add a request to read up on police procedure, actually put some thought into the relationships between the characters you’ve invented and keep their emotions in mind in order to make it easier for the reader to remember them and engage I the story you’re creating instead of trying to figure out why someone is acting in a way that seems alien to them!