Gah I just love Rowan, Evan and THOR! Elliott's interweaving SAR dogs into her plot always delights me. The Next Grave gives us a brief visit from Mercy - yayyyy- while an investigation of a friend and fellow police officer being murdered and his daughter missing has Evan digging. When it's realized that Evan is being directly targeted, the investigation moves to possibly someone inside the force. What a wild ride, Kendra is a master at weaving a perfect, edge of your seat tale. Can't wait for Noelle's story! Thank you Kendra for the ARC!

This is book 6 of the ‘Columbia River’ series and we are back with Detective Evan Bolton and his search and rescue canine specialist girlfriend Rowan Wolff. This time around Detective Bolton is tasked with investigating the murder of his mentor, a retired police detective who has been looking at old, closed cases in his spare time. Rowan and her canine companion Thor are called in to help the investigation when people start to go missing.
As Evan and Rowan dig deeper into the cold cases, things become more complex and dangerous for them both personally and professionally.
‘The Next Grave’ hit all the right notes for me. I thought this was a great read that had an interesting and compelling plot that kept me guessing till the end. Kendra Elliott is always good and this book didn’t disappoint. 4 stars.

Police Procedural about an Oregon detective and his SAR canine specialist girlfriend as they team up to solve a retired detective's murder and search for his missing family.

5/5 stars: This is the sixth entry in Elliot's Columbia River series which is a Police Procedural Mystery set in Oregon which features a sheriff's department detective who's newest case, the murder of his friend and mentor, a retired detective, gets complicated when the victim's daughter and grandson vanish. He teams up with his girlfriend, a search and rescue canine specialist and her dog, to track the missing family and after discovering his friend had been reinvestigating old crimes—solved but not forgotten. He soon has a a disturbing suspicion someone in law enforcement has something to hide and will do anything to keep those secrets buried. With time slipping away, the two have to find the killer before anyone else dies. With plenty of twists and turns, Elliot writes a gripping fast-paced police procedural investigative tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final reveal. I really like how Elliot's plot unfolds and the deft way the old cases weave together with the current day's events so effortlessly. The investigation is intriguing and the reveals are masterful. Additionally, Elliot's writing and character work is stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Evan and Rowan, their colleagues and friends and family and I love seeing how they're building their relationship. Plus I loved Rowan's interactions with her dog, Thor, and their SAR work. There are some very tough topics tackled, so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, The Last Sister. Oh and if you want more of Mercy's story grab the first book in the Mercy Kilpatrick series, A Merciful Death. Elliot's a long-time favorite author, highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to Montlake in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This began with quite a blow to who would turn out to be one of the main characters. I was immediately invested in the story due to the emotions that each consequent character dealt with as well. Despite being a strong procedural law enforcement story, this really dug into my heart and had me reading at moments when I should have set it aside and got busy with life.

I enjoyed all the steps these characters took to work out who, what, where and why. There were some great twists along the way. Some I suspected were coming and others blindsided me completely. I love when a story can tangle me up in such a way.

While the romance is not in the forefront of the story, it is never forgotten. This author had it interwoven throughout the drama and danger in such a way it added to the intensity of the climax of the story and I loved every moment.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Evan has his hands full with his new case. He believes a murder and another case have alot in common. He needs to find the individual before someone else is killed. A good read.

If you’re looking for a book with suspense, mystery, twists, romance and great characters, The Next Grave is your next read. If you’ve read previous Elliot books you’ll enjoy meeting up with characters from her series of books, but this book easily is a standalone. Then again when you finish reading The Next Grave, you might decide you want to go check out some of those earlier novels. You’ll enjoy them. Detective Evan Bolton and his girlfriend Rowan Wolff are the main characters shocked by the murder of Evan’s mentor and friend, retired detective Rod McLeod. When his daughter and grandson disappear there is real concern. Evan investigates the murder while the missing family members are sought by Rowan, a search and rescue specialist. Lives are in danger, threats are thrown, suspicions of who is the guilty party are rampant with a lot of emotional chaos threatening the story's characters. Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC.

A gut-wrenching investigation into the murder of his now retired mentor has Detective Evan Bolton working overtime. We follow along as he has to put personal feelings aside to work the case. Clues are few and confusing. I couldn’t put this one down.

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.

I found this an enjoyable read. Although it’s part of a series, it works well as a standalone novel. It’s got great characters, a good strong storyline and well paced. There are plenty of twists along the way too.

Of the stories I've read in this series so far, and I admit I read out of order, this one is my favorite. I first met both Evan and Rowan in The First Death, but I know they've both individually popped up in other books, which I need to research so I can go back and start at the beginning.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I tried hard to pick up on any clues that would help me figure out who was doing all these things, but I was stumped. When it finally revealed who the killer was, and why no one could have figured out who it was, I was impressed! That was a nice twist.

Admittedly, there are some hard parts to read, the killer was particularly nasty and evil. But Evan and his team, including Rowan, never gave up on trying to figure it out.

My heart was in my throat for the last 10% of the story, and even after reading the final sentence, it was still beating rapidly. Bravo, Ms. Elliot! What a great story!

Wow. What a read. Heart pounding thriller. Will be picking up the other books in the series. Perfect for Law and Order fans.

Talk about incredible writing! This whole series has been fantastic and this new installment is no exception. There were many scenes that played out in my head like a movie, I could almost picture it happening in front of me. And I really didn't know what was going to happen until the end. I highly recommend this book!

🔎 The Next Grave by Kendra Elliot 🐾💔

Elliot delivers again with The Next Grave, a tense and twisty thriller that kept me on edge from the first page to the last! Detective Evan Bolton’s world is turned upside down when his friend and mentor, retired detective Rod McLeod, is found murdered under suspicious circumstances. Teaming up with search-and-rescue expert Rowan Wolff and her amazing canine partner, Thor, Evan dives into a chilling investigation that only deepens as he realizes McLeod had been revisiting old cases—cases with secrets someone is willing to kill to keep hidden.

The stakes rise as Evan and Rowan close in on the truth, only to find themselves up against both time and a dark conspiracy. Elliot does an incredible job weaving suspense with raw, emotional moments that make you feel the characters’ grief and determination. The partnership between Evan, Rowan, and Thor brings both heart and grit to the story, balancing out the darker, suspenseful moments with scenes of trust and resilience.

If you’re into thrillers with well-drawn characters and clever twists, The Next Grave is a fantastic choice. The story is fast-paced, the mystery keeps you guessing, and Thor absolutely steals the show!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

Have you read this one or any of Kendra Elliot’s other thrillers? Let’s chat in the comments! 🐕👮‍♂️

The sixth Columbia River book begins with Evan Bolton discovering the body of his friend and mentor Rob McLeod in the trunk of a car in a junkyard. He was tortured before his death. Then it is discovered that his daughter has disappeared. At first, it is assumed that his grandson was taken too but he returns from a couple of days with friends and is placed in a remote location with friends until his mother is located.

With the death of a someone in law enforcement, the pressure to find the killer is extreme. Many are going through Rob's old cases and the strange assortment of case files in his home office to try to identify who would want him dead.

Evan is facing additional pressure at work when fingerprints discovered at both Rob's house and his daughter's house indicate that he was on the scene. Rob knows the prints indicate someone probably in law enforcement is trying to frame him. However, he's relieved of duty and then kidnapped.

His live-in lover Rowan is certain that the same person who killed Rob has taken him. She and her search and rescue dog Thor have been involved since the beginning of the case when she was called in to see if she could track the missing daughter. And she's called in again later when the grandson goes missing from the supposedly safe location.

This story was fast paced, filled with action, and filled with tension as law enforcement tries to find answers before it is too late.

I loved the relationship between Evan and Rowan. I thought Rowan's emotions when Evan disappeared, harrowing though they were to read, were realistic. Fans of suspense will enjoy this story.

This series keeps getting better! Evan Bolton is trying to solve the murder of his mentor. The case is intense and the suspense built up quickly. And then there was an unbelievable twist that had me in the edge of my seat. This one had me holding my breath until the last chapter! Readers will enjoy getting to see more from characters we met in earlier installments, including Evan’s girlfriend Rowan and her family. Definitely recommend reading the series in order!

I have loved this series and was thrilled to get my hands on the newest installment. This was dark, twisty, and wholly engaging! I was hooked form the beginning. The case was disturbing and complex- I was thoroughly surprised by the twists. This was a great read and one I could not put down!

Love returning to this series! This book gives us Evan and Rowan’s story. Lots of heart pounding moments and uncertainty over who can be trusted as Evan works to solve the murder of a trusted friend and colleague.

Love this series! Love all of the characters and how they overlap in the author's books. The Next Grave is book six in the Columbia River series and focuses on Evan Bolton, Rowan Wolff and her search-and-rescue dog, Thor. This book can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading all of her series from the beginning. I enjoyed them all and love having the background on the characters. This was a well-written, intense page turner. I found it very hard to put down, as I do with all of her books. The mystery aspect was fascinating, and I especially loved that the author gave Thor a voice too. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller, these books are for you! I highly recommend!

Thank you to Montlake for granting me digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

When the body of retired detective Rod is found in the boot of a car, Evan is assigned the case. What follows is a series of missing people as he tries to piece together what Rod had discovered that led to his death.

I find it odd to read books where all the characters, both police and victims, know each other and this was one of those books. Although it was in the middle of a series, it worked as a stand alone story.

An OK crime thriller. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is another great addition to the Columbia river series. There are so many great characters that make appearances throughout Kendra's books. Although this is book 6 it can be read as a standalone. The character's backstories are explained enough to make sense and jog the memories of people who have read the whole series.

The tension in this book is next level and I swear I held my breath for the last half. I was stressed about so many different characters. Evan and Rowan are a cute couple and their families are so sweet. I also loved getting to know more of the team and see hints of their personal lives. Thor is such an adorable character.

The investigation is packed full of suspense and I had no idea how they were going to solve the case.

Thank you for the opportunity to read The Next Grave By Kendra Elliot.

I love that this was a development of Evan and Rowan's story.

Another great book for Kendra!