Kendra Elliot is a must read for me. I love immersing myself in the stories she creates. I look forward to new books in her series because it’s like catching up with old friends. The Next Grave is the sixth installment in the Columbia River series. What I love about her series is that someone can pick up a book and begin reading it even if they did not know it was part of a series. Although I recommend reading every book, Elliot is able to write a new story while weaving in information from past books to help the reader understand what or why something is happening.

Evan and Rowan take center stage in this installment as they investigate a murder and search for a missing woman. Thor, Rowan’s search dog, is right there in the story as well and is one of my favorite characters. Through the search and twist and turns in the plot, you can feel the desperation to find the missing woman and solve the murder. Evan and Rowan’s relationship is on full display and shows their professionalism and dedication to each other. I am always hooked from the first page of Elliott’s books. I find it best to go in blind and just enjoy as the story unfolds.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC an exchange for my honest review.

I didn't realise this was part of a series before starting it. I really enjoyed this and now can't wait to start the first 5 books.

Even though I hadn't read the others in this series, the book worked well as a standalone story.
I really liked the viewpoints of the different chracters, especially Rowan and her Search and Rescue dog Thor.
Because she works with law enforcement, but isn't directly part of the team, she gave a unique perspective of how the police operate. Everything felt very real and detailed to me.
The characters were absolutely believable, the story had me hooked, and I read the last few chapters instead of going to sleep.
The only slightly weird thing is how many families in the book had at one stage had someone abducted. That was too much of a coincidence and didn't ring true.

4.5* Another solid procedural, although Evan's not quite Mercy Thomson.

I think when you've read a prolific series like the Mercy Thompson books, impatiently waiting for the next to come out, and the series ends, so you're reduced to relying on glimpses of her - or collab novels like the excellent Echo Road with Melinda Leigh, 07/24 - everything else pales a little in comparison. So, although this book is in the same universe, and is a solid tale, as competent as he is, Evan isn't quite Mercy. He lacks her decisiveness and gut feelings, and perhaps, too, as a female reader, I'm more excited about a strong female lead, which is my bad. But, this is still a very good tale with unexpected danger, certainly more than the blurb lets on. This series will continue to be an autobuy for me, and I have the next on preorder already.

There's good suspense, as the killer has to be someone in law enforcement, but the surprisingly mundane person whose actions started what snowballed into corruption and deaths, will surprise you, and there are enough red herrings and subtle passing mentions that you'll miss the bad guy/s. There are several twists, and it's nice to see more of Nicole, who I'm pretty sure will end up as a lead in a future tale, inserted organically, not just plonked in as a hint. It's another great addition to this Mercy Thompson spinoff series.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Montlake for my reading pleasure.

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The Next Grave (Columbia River, Book 6) by Kendra Elliot is such a good addition to the series. The story grabbed me from page one and didn't let up until the satisfying end.

Kendra Elliot is a great storyteller. The characters come to life off the page. It's nice to see the relationship between Rowan and Evan develop.

In this installment, 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. 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.

I would recommend this book and this author. I am looking forward to more in this series. The book has relatable characters who are developed well, mystery and intrigue that keep you reading, and solid storytelling by the author.

#TheNextGraveColumbiaRiverBand6 #NetGalley

This is the first time I have read something by this author but it certainly won't be the last as I absolutely loved this book!

The main characters have appeared in a previous book but this doesn't stop you from reading this as a standalone. Gripping right from the start. Great story.

Highly recommend.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

Well written and kept me guessing right to the end. Lots of twists and turns and well crafted characters. I would thoroughly recommend.

This latest book in the Columbia River series was quite possibly the most intense so far. It was absolutely unputdownable. I’ve loved Evan since he came in the science way back when, and was so glad he paired up with Rowan. His latest case is a very personal one, and becomes dangerous and twisty right from the beginning. Absolutely incredible.

This is an interesting intense mystery thriller about finding the murderer of his beloved mentor. The story keeps us on our toes throughout the whole book and the love between Evan and Rowan is soothing the roughness of the story.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgalley

I’ve read a lot of Kendra Elliott’s work and enjoyed it all. Some plus or minus, but always worth my time. The Next Grave was no exception! In fact, it revealed, again, one of the hallmarks and my favorite attributes of Elliott’s books. She has the distinct, and I believe, unique ability to incorporate lesser known characters from previous books and turn them into the main characters of current work. That is one of the things that keeps her work fresh and interesting to me. In this case, Evan Bolton and Rowan Woulf from preceding stories paired up and starred in this one. K. E. did this with ease and a smooth touch. It was as if Evan and Rowan moved into my neighborhood, starting working locally and became a vital part of the community. So much so that I cared about what happened to them more than I did to my own real-life neighbors.

Evan quickly became embroiled in a murder investigation that hit close to home. Rowan, along with her tracking dog, Thor, played her own part in the investigation. This is one of the places where sticklers to police procedure might find fault. (I’m not sure any law enforcement agency would permit a civilian to be so closely involved in their work.) For me, not a problem. I found her role to add to the reality, rather than detract.

As with several other of Elliott’s books, she took me down a dead end road while I was trying to figure out the behind the scenes co-conspirator. I was sure I had the culprit identified. I was wrong! Definitely, made it worth the read and the four stars I rated this book. I am looking forward to other adventures! Maybe some other characters will make the jump from previous books. Thank you NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for offering this ARC.

First, I’m so thankful I got to read this ARC. I love Kendra Elliot & The Columbus River Series. (Well, all of her series really.) The Next Grave did not disappoint! Kendra Elliot blends mystery / thriller / romantic suspense so well! It kept me on my toes the whole time. I also really loved getting a deeper peak into Rowan & Evan’s relationship / their families. This book was just so great all around. I will never not recommend this author & her books!

The Next Grave is the sixth installment of the Columbia River series by Kendra Elliot. I read the rest of the series earlier this year and was so excited to get a copy of this before it’s published! The series follows recurring characters from Elliot’s other series who are all law enforcement in the Pacific Northwest. In this book, the focus has turned to Evan Bolton, a detective in a small Oregon town, and his girlfriend Rowan Wolff, a search and rescue canine specialist.
This book fit in perfectly with the rest of its series, with an expertly balanced storyline full of drama, police procedure, and well-known characters. This is the fourth book of the series that Evan has been a part of, but his first time being the main character. I really enjoyed the pacing of the plot, which was quick and intense. Every chapter opened new questions Evan had to answer, and it felt like I was racing against a clock to get to the end and make sure everything was okay.
The Columbia River series is classified as romantic suspense, and The Next Grave is the perfect example. We get to know Evan and Rowan and see their character development through a plot-heavy storyline. They’re interesting individually and as a couple, and their chemistry helps drive the already accelerated plot. Elliot’s talents as a writer shine in her couples. Each couple’s dynamics are unique and realistic, and stay true to the characters’ personalities. Her attention to detail is what makes it easy to remember everything in a 3-part integrated series of 21 books. But it’s her skill at showing the variety of emotions and thoughts of several characters at once that continue to capture my interest.
Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Next Grave is another suspenseful book in the Columbia River series.
Detective Evan Bolton is devastated when his old friend and retired mentor Rod McLeod is found murdered after also being brutally tortured. Rod’s daughter and grandson are also missing. With his girlfriend Rowqn and her tracker dog helping to track them down it becomes apparent that Rod was investigating an old case which has caused these events.
When Evan is shot at whilst talking to a possible suspect all manner of things happen as he also finds himself being targeted at work.
Fast paced and exciting there are many twists and turns and the final scenes are jaw dropping. With a great cast of characters that add much depth to this thriller which flows well, a real page turner.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

This is my first ever Kendra Elliot book. I've been wanting to read her books for a very long time. And believe me when I say that the wait was worth it. Yes, I started with the 6th book in the series, but it didn't hinder me from understanding who everyone was and their relationship to one another. From the beginning, it opens up with a slam bang of action. A body found; a mystery uncovered. Where does Evan go from there?

Then you add on Rowan and her search and rescue dog Thor. What a great team they make together. You add Evan to that mix, and you have the perfect mix for fighting crime. This book was a conundrum inside of a conundrum inside of an enigma. I loved the fact that all of the mysterious elements were just like an onion, and you had to keep peeling back layers to get to the next part to understand anything.

You could feel the frustration, the wariness, the abject horror of what the detectives were dealing with and what they had found. To me, it made them human. And that just sucks me right into the story even more. Because it gives me a reason to become invested. Not only in their own lives but in what they're doing and the mysteries that they are trying to solve.

From the first word, I knew everything I needed to know about all of the characters, as if I had been with them since the beginning. As a reader, I appreciate that. And Kendra Elliot did it in such a way that it didn't feel like constantly regurgitated information like it does with some authors. She just gently let you find out as the story unfolded. I am really impressed with how well this story flowed and how well it was written.

And it hasn't left my mind since the book ended. That right there is another reason I love this book. I cannot wait to be able to read more from this series, or heck, any other of her series. I appreciate all of the details and being able to understand each person as they are. They really felt like they had come to life. I whole heartedly recommend this book. It was definitely worth the wait.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Kendra Elliot for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are honest and are completely my own.

Very enjoyable read, bur onthe whole, I do think that I prefer the Mercy K novels, though Rowan and Evan are interesting to read about for a change.

I don’t read many thrillers but this one sounded like something I would enjoy. I found myself encapsulated by the plot and it definitely kept me guessing. Highly recommend, even for those who might not usually read thrillers!

Bonus star alert! ⭐️ This one was phenomenal. A stay up all night thrill ride. Absolutely unputdownable, heart stopping, mind blowing wow wow wow. I adore this author and this one has to be one of my favourites now. It was fast paced and full of twists and turns. Oozes suspense. Nail biting to the very last page. The chapters are amazing. The plot and writing were perfect. Freaking awesome! Must must read.

The Next Grave (Columbia River #6) by Kendra Elliot
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance
Expected Publication Date: December 10, 2024

The Next Grave is the 6th book in the Columbia River series by Kendra Elliot. This book can be enjoyed as part of the series or as a standalone mystery.

I could not put this book down!!! The story was absolutely captivating and I was hooked!

I loved how fast paced this book is! I was captivated by the story and loved trying to solve the mystery. This was detailed and multidimensional with so much depth! The suspense was awesome!!!

I love how the author writes in a way that I feel like I am there in the story. I get lost in her books and my world disappears. I absolutely loved it!!!

I highly recommend this book to crime drama fans.

Love Kendra Elliot's mysteries. There is always a surprise ending and her writing keeps you mesmerized from the very beginning . If you love mysteries and suspense you must read her books. She has several series many with the same leading characters. Highly recommend this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Next Grave by Kendra Elliot

It was fantastic to dive back into the Columbia River Series with The Next Grave! Kendra Elliot’s books never disappoint, and this one is no exception. The suspense, the intricate plot, and the well-developed characters kept me hooked from start to finish.

Detective Evan Bolton is devastated when his friend and mentor, retired detective Rod McLeod, is found murdered, his body hidden in the trunk of a junkyard car. When McLeod’s daughter and grandson mysteriously disappear, Evan knows it’s all connected. He teams up with search and rescue canine specialist Rowan Wolff and her dog, Thor, to track down the missing family.

As the two cases intertwine in a startling twist, Evan uncovers that McLeod had been reexamining old, supposedly solved crimes. One by one, Evan delves into these cases, growing increasingly suspicious that someone in law enforcement is desperate to keep their secrets hidden. With time running out, Evan and Rowan must find the killer before anyone else vanishes or dies. The only thing that could have made this book better was if Mercy and Truman were along for the ride.

Kendra Elliot masterfully weaves a complex, thrilling narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end. Fans of the series and new readers alike will be enthralled by this latest installment. Highly recommended!

Thanks to Ms Elliot, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.