The Next Grave

Columbia River, Book 6

De: Kendra Elliot

Narrado por: Teri Schnaubelt

A Wall Street Journal bestselling series.

Following a murder and a woman’s sudden disappearance, investigations into old crimes and new collide in an alarming novel of suspense by a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author.

Detective Evan Bolton is gutted by his latest investigation. His friend and mentor, retired detective Rod McLeod, has been murdered, his body left in the trunk of a junkyard car. When McLeod’s daughter and grandson abruptly vanish, Evan knows it’s not a coincidence. Search and rescue canine specialist Rowan Wolff agrees as she and her dog, Thor, track the missing family.

The two cases converge in a puzzling twist. Evan discovers that McLeod has been reinvestigating old crimes—solved but not forgotten. Evan takes them on, one by one, and a disturbing suspicion forms that someone in law enforcement has something to hide and would do anything to keep those secrets buried.

But Evan and Rowan’s time is slipping away. They have to find the killer now. Before someone else disappears. Before someone else dies.

©2024 by Oceanfront Press LLC. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Enjoyable…Lands on a satisfying resolution. Elliot’s fans have fun.”—Publishers Weekly

Crazy serial killer

Gritty. Complicated plot. Loved how everyone worked together and the family pulled together. Wish we saw more of Mercy than the one teaser.

Great writing skills

the mix of love and danger will keep you listening to this series kinda like keep the pages turning, just easier

Storyline

Characters were great. Really enjoyed the storyline and always love Mercy! You will not be disappointed

the next grave

interesting storyline which kept me listening for more. I like when I'm not able to predict how this will turn out

Teri Schnaubelt is a wonderful voice.

You don't appreciate a really good author until you read a book like 'The Next Grave' by Kendra Elliot. I read a lot. I enjoyed a variety of genres. I have read enough not to have high expectations with some stories. I've read several books by Kendra Elliot. This is one of her best. I also recommend the audible book performed by Teri Schnaubelt, a wonderful voice talent. -Bill

5 Stars – Dark, Riveting, and Completely Unforgettable

Kendra Elliott delivers another knockout with The Next Grave—a taut, emotionally rich thriller that pulls you in from the first chapter and refuses to let go. This book is the perfect balance of chilling suspense, complex characters, and tightly woven plotting, all wrapped in Elliott’s signature atmospheric style.

The story opens with a haunting discovery, and from that moment on, the tension never lets up. Elliott expertly builds a sense of creeping dread, layering the mystery with red herrings, buried secrets, and shocking revelations that genuinely caught me off guard. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the narrative twisted in a new and unexpected direction. The pacing is pitch-perfect, with short, compelling chapters that make it incredibly easy to say “just one more”—and suddenly find you’ve read half the book in a sitting.

As always, Elliott’s characters are a standout. The lead investigator is sharp, intuitive, and deeply human, shaped by both her professional experiences and her personal scars. Her connection with her partner adds a grounded emotional thread to the story—there’s a quiet chemistry between them that feels authentic and earned. I appreciated how Elliott allows her characters to be both tough and vulnerable, making them feel relatable and real.

The setting, too, plays a vital role. The sense of place—misty woods, remote cemeteries, and quiet rural roads—is vivid and immersive, lending an eerie, almost gothic tone to the story. Elliott’s prose captures the chill of the air and the weight of old grief in a way that deepens the mood without ever slowing the pace.

But what really sets The Next Grave apart is its emotional depth. Yes, it’s a twisty mystery with all the hallmarks of great suspense, but it also explores themes of loss, guilt, and redemption in a meaningful way. The ending, while shocking, felt earned and deeply satisfying—tying everything together while still leaving just enough open to keep you thinking about it long after the final page.

This is Kendra Elliott at her best: bold, thoughtful, and razor-sharp. If you’re a fan of smart, character-driven thrillers that deliver both heart-pounding suspense and emotional resonance, The Next Grave is a must-read. I absolutely loved it.

Is editing a lost art?

This was a good enough tale, but I found myself distracted by numerous narration errors. Examples: At about 2:36, the story introduces Bridget's 2-year old SON, Molly, who squeals when SHE is picked up by Evan. At about 2:50, EVAN wonders "why hasn't this Ian contacted us?, IAN muttered for the third time." I looked at the Kindle version of the book and found that these (and other) errors were not in the actual text of the book. The narrator did an otherwise good job, but she needed someone to catch these errors . Sloppy!

Always Worth My Time

Kendra Elliot is a "go-to" for me, any time I'm looking for a suspense novel with great characters and a touch of romance. As this series has progressed, the cast of characters has grown larger, but the original favorites pop in and out depending on the case.

This is a great series that can be read as individual novels in any order, but for people like me, it's best enjoyed when read from the beginning. Either way, they're great stories with strong characters and storylines that are well-done, twisty, and full of suspense yet not over-the-top in terms of graphic violence. If you're a fan of Melinda Leigh, these will be completely to your liking.

Wonderfully written and performed!

I’ve enjoyed each of the books in this series. Kendra Elliot is my favorite mystery author and I’m devouring every book she has written. Fantastic voice actor!!

Thrilling Mystery

Evan’s mentor has been found murdered. Then his mentor’s daughter Sophia is missing. A lot strange things start to occur. Next, Evan goes missing. Can his colleagues and girlfriend find him before it’s too late? This book was narrated quite wonderfully by Teri Schnaubelt. I highly recommend listening to this fabulous audiobook.