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.

This is a fast paced read. Everyone is racing against the clock to solve.the murders and abductions. This book s full of twists and turns. The anxiety ramps up for everyone. I held my breath and was frantically turning pages to find out what happens next. The writing is phenomenal and takes you on a wild ride. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I love Kendra Elliot’s books and eagerly devour them all. I find the police procedural aspects are really well explained, without sounding too obvious and robotic, and the relationships between the characters always helps to soften this too.

Another really good book in the series, although not my favourite of the bunch; nevertheless, still very enjoyable.

I liked the plot and there were certain aspects of it that kept me guessing until the big reveal. There was lots of details and parts to the story that kept moving and didn’t feel rushed (I was excited that so much was happening and I wasn’t that far through the book so felt eager to read on!) However, there were a couple of things I found niggled me overall: I felt the ending didn’t satisfy some questions (on the people injured and their recoveries), and probably the biggest issue for me was that there was just something a bit lacking for me in terms of Rowan and Evan… I didn’t get the sense of the relationship that I usually really like from Elliot’s books.

Saying that, I cannot wait to read the next in the series where we will finally get to know Noelle and her story!

I started reading her books in 2012, and they are ones I still look forward to.reading. They have a good flowing plot, characters, and you want to read straight thru to see how tge story ends. Well done, and I recommend.
Given arc by Net Galley and Montlake for my voluntary review

Yes! Another strong Columbia River book by Kendra Elliot. Fast paced with a great story! I couldn't put this one down. From the very beginning, you are completely hooked by the story and the characters. Can't wait for the next one!!

Thank you #netgalley and #montlake #apub for the eARC.

I loved the characters and the mystery. This book grips you from the start. I can’t wait for the next book. Hoping it will be Noelle’s story. I would highly recommend this book and this series.

We’re following Detective Evan Bolton as he’s unknowingly gotten caught up in web murders and lies. Something stinks inside his department that has cost the life of a friend and retired detective McLeod. Now Evan is working non stop to try and piece the puzzle together with what little evidence there is.
But the closer he gets to the answers, trouble comes for him.
Rowan and k-9 Thor are also hot on the trail as members of detective McLeod’s family go missing.
This story is non stop thrills and chills with curves thrown in at every corner.

Kendra Elliot never disappoints and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Thank you #netgalley #thenextgrave #montlake #columbiariverseries for this ARC

Kendra Elliot's The Next Grave is a fast pace, murder mystery that takes the readers on one emotional roller coaster after another. The tone set in this book is for the most a grave, somber setting, with just enough lightheartedness tossed in to make the story more realistic given the situation, and the way Ms. Elliot describes the characters you feel everything that is going on. The Next Grave is the fourth book I've read by Ms. Elliot, each one I read only seems to get better. If you haven't read one Ms. Elliot's books, I highly recommend that you pick one up, it'll be a little treat for your mind!

This book was amazing. It was fast paced and something new at every turn. I thought I knew who it was until I was proven wrong at the end. It doesn't give just one view point and it keeps it interesting. Definitely recommend this book.

I was super excited this was a read now. I love Kendra's books and this one did not disappoint. It was extremely twisted and kept me guessing the whole way! Don't miss it!

The next grave is #6 in Kendra's series, and it did not disappoint. The Next Grave can read this as a standalone (you'll get the gist if you haven't read the other books). However, I do recommend reading the entire series, as there is an overlapping plot and characters. And you really get a feel for all of the characters in and outside of their own stories. I love any story with a K9 dog I am always interested in reading, so The Next Grave was no different. A really captivating murder mystery with a lot of suspense. I will definitely continue the series!

The murder of a revered retired cop.
The kidnapping of his daughter.
Both events are being investigated by Detective Evan Bolton, and he’s got a personal stake in finding the killer – the murdered cop was his mentor.

With his live-in-live, canine specialist, Rowan Wolff, and Evan’s partner, the case takes various twists and turns. Evan is accused of tampering with evidence and thrown off the case. The house he shares with Rowan is firebombed. Then, Evan is kidnapped along with the murdered cop’s grandson.

Rowan and Evan’s partner race against the clock to find Evan and the boy, but will they be too late?

This book had so many twists I felt like a pretzel at the end! But it was sosos good, just like all Elliot's books.
Thanks, NetGalley and Montlake for a sneak. peek 4.5 well-deserved stars!

I just love this series and especially this book. I love Rowan and Evan, but I think I might love the relationship between Rowan and her dog Thor even more! I'm more of a cat person myself, but every time I read about Rowan and Thor, it makes me want a dog of my own.

This story was the kind of story that had me tense and full of anxiety almost the whole time. A lot of suspense and build up and it was made worse when Evan went missing during an investigation. The story starts with Evan investigating the murder of his mentor, retired police officer Rod. As if that weren't bad enough, when another officer went to notify his daughter, it was discovered that she was missing. The only bright spot in all of this for Evan was Rowan. As the investigation continued, there were more questions than answers, but one thing was clear, someone within the department couldn't be trusted.

This was a complicated story that felt personal. I hate what happened to Evan but loved seeing how much he and Rowan were there for each other. I mostly read romance, so I'm a sucker for a good romance in a mystery/suspense book. I hope we get more of their story soon.

I really, really liked this "mystery/suspense with just enough romance" novel by a new-to-me author. I'm a little surprised hire much I liked it, actually, because I wasn't fully sold at first. Evan and Rowan are not new characters, it seems, both having appeared in previous novels by this author. In fact, they're together already here, and any drama comes from external forces. The romance in this story comes from the enduring love they already have for each other.

So there's the mystery of Evan's mentor's murder, and the whodunit soon turns suspenseful. The plot keeps you guessing though most of the reveal ends up being a little anticlimactic. I kept thinking/hoping there was another culprit. That said, I never guessed who, and that's rare for me.

But can we talk about the dog? Thor rather steals the show, as any good canine character will do. I do feel like his character went missing a little towards the end though.

Another vague question mark for me was how Rowan—not a cop—was privy to so much about the case. An effort is made to explain it by suggesting everyone knows it's irregular, but it did seem a little convenient.

Anyway, a good plot that isn't either rushed or draggy and great characters make this book a winner. I'll definitely read more by this author.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks.

Thank You for the opportunity to read this amazing book. As always from Kendra Elliot a gripping read full of twists that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It was brilliant to have Evan and Rowan in a storyline together. Definitely a must read for everyone.

* Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. *

The Next Grave is the 6th installment in the Columbia River series, and it delivers the same quick, interesting mysteries the other's did. Following Evan and Rowan as they work to solve the murder of a close friend and the disappearance of his daughter, the two will stop at nothing to get answers. They'll even risk their own lives.

I like Evan and Rowan and I was happy to get another book about them and Thor. You get a cameo from Bridget and Mercy which was really fun to see, as well. I'll be even more excited when we finally get Noelle's story, but this is a satisfying wrap-up for now.