Oh Madison welcome back, you have been missed! Here we are with book 8 of what has become one of my favourite series. I love how Wendy Dranfield weaves multiple storylines, whilst building characters throughout and also leaving us with our hearts in our mouths.

Some difficult subjects were covered in this book but dealt with delicately, Madison ends up tied up in multiple cases whilst trying to balance her personal life, does this woman ever sleep? As usual we have all our regular characters too. I would love to have a novella of a crime and dine episode of the podcast with Vince. Once again the town of Lost Creek is upside down with murders, abduction and questionable newbies.

Many thanks for the chance to read this as an eARC to NetGalley, author and publisher.

I'm so sorry, but its not for me. Don't get me wrong, the story is greatly written and I like Madison as a person, but to be honest, I felt weirdly triggered by the storyline which barely happens. Also, I understand that "the crying girls" is not the first book of the whole series, but I would've wished for a little bit more context about the characters histories because if you read it as a standalone, its a little bit vague.

Oh wow. Detective Maddison Harper book 8 and it's the best so far! My heart was breaking before I was even halfway through. The plot is dark and sometimes harrowing. There's plenty of twists to keep you hooked. I read this in one day as I was enjoying it so much. Easy 5⭐from me and I won't hesitate to recommend it.

Dawn breaks over the mountains. Not a single part of the girl’s once-beautiful body is free from pain. She prays she’ll slip into a blissful unconsciousness, but the sound of an engine rouses her. Her swollen eyes struggle to focus as she raises a bruised arm and waves from the long grass. A decision that will cost her much more than her innocent little life…

With her partner missing, Detective Madison Harper has her work cut out for her juggling the discovery of a body in the murky shallows of Lost Creek and a distraught mother searching for her missing baby boy. She barely has time to eat or sleep. But someone in this small town has lost a loved one, and a child’s life could be in danger. Madison’s sense of duty drives her on, poring over cold case files and interviewing inhabitants of the trailer park near where the headless body was found.

Without a face to identify, or teeth to match to dental records, the decapitated victim is almost impossible to name. Then the postmortem reveals a single red rose stem forced down his throat. What monster would do such a thing? What message were they trying to send? It feels like a dead end until Madison returns home to find the photo of a distressed-looking girl on her windshield. Written on the back is a message that grips her with ice-cold fear: Sofia. Day 1.

Now hunting for a missing child, a murderer and a missing girl, Madison is pushed to her limit. As terror chokes the close-knit community, she vows that no more innocent lives will be lost on her watch. But as these cases connect, and she comes face to face with the twisted individual at the heart of it all, will there be anyone left to save?

Wow! What an emotional roller coaster this one was! From start to finish this will keep readers guessing. The detail that goes into this story sent me through more emotions than I knew a book could! Can’t wait for the next!

This is book 8 of the Madison Harper series and they just keep getting better with each book. This was a great read with so many twists, I loved it. It is a great series, can’t wait till the next book. Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for this arc.

The Crying Girls (Detective Madison Harper # 8) by Wendy Dranfield
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: October 7, 2024

The Crying Girls is the eighth book in the Detective Madison Harper series by Wendy Dranfield. This book can easily be ready as a standalone book or as part of the series. I have loved each book a little more than the previous book!

I absolutely loved this book! The story was incredible and the mystery was intense (my head is still spinning)! I have grown so attached to the characters. This book had me in tears.

I highly recommend reading Grave Mountain if you enjoy crime dramas! 5 Stars! I can't wait for the next book to be released because I am hooked (& I feel like there's more to be unraveled from this one)!!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Mind-blowingly good! Absolutely looove this book! I can honestly say it is one of my favourite reads of the year. I love following Madison's life, and that is one my favourite things about this book and the series in general; these books are so personal and honest. Usually series have a book or two that are very personal history related, and then the rest have small bits and pieces here and there, but the Madison Harper series is all about Madison and Nate, as well as their pasts, and with a reason.

In this book the one thing that is not allowed to happen, happens. Nate skedaddles. That is the worst thing he can do to himself, Madison, Owen, and Brody. Never underestimate a dog!

I simply could not let go of this book, not even for a second, so there I was, reading it from cover to cover. Pure love!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of The Crying Girls by Wendy Dranfield
This is a great addition to the Detective Madison Harper Series.
Madison is worried about her fiance Nate, he's been through a lot and has now left town to sort himself out.
But there is a body in the creek, and a missing baby so Madison throws herself into the task and tries to forget her personal problems.
The story is told through her eyes and the eyes of a young girl who we don;t know at the moment, the further into the book you get it becomes clear there is something seriously wrong in Lost Creek.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Crying Girls’, book 8 in the Detective Madison Harper series written by Wendy Dranfield, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Detective Madison Harper’s boyfriend Nate Monroe has gone missing leaving behind his phone and his K9 Brody. She has little time to worry about his whereabouts as a body with no head or hands has been found in a creek near to a trailer park, and as the report of a missing teenage girl comes in she also has a cold case of a missing baby boy to resolve.

‘The Crying Girls’ is a gripping continuation of the series featuring Detective Madison Harper and although it can be read as a standalone it’s better if read in sequence. This well-written addictive thriller is packed full of action with twists on every page and has grabbed my attention from the beginning. I love the characters especially Brody who continues to search for Nate but still helps Madison during what must be some of the toughest cases she’s had to solve.

Wow wow wow what a total rollercoaster this latest installment in the Madison Harper series was! We were just sucked in from the start with the note from Nate on the pillow, then the whole detective work for Madison and the the obsessive question as to will these two find their way back to each other? I really loved it and absolutely can't wait for the next one. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this amazing book!

Detective Madison Harper is faced with a complicated set of cases that may be related. She is seeking answers to the murdered headless body discovered near a trailer park and trying to help a woman find her missing child. Something about the mother seems a bit off. Then Madison learns that there is a history of missing girls. What is happening? It's an exciting read with a surprising conclusion to the case.

I really like this series by Wendy Dranfield, I have read every one and they just get better and better!

This starts out with Madison finding a note from Nate that he needed to get away. He has left his phone and Brody, his K-9 buddy. Then there is a headless body, then a missing baby then a picture of a girl that looks to be restrained, then Owen comes home from college with a change of plans and the Medical Examiner has left town suddenly!

Given Nate's background I sort of understand his reason for needing to leave and work out the fact he had taken a life, book #7, but I was not happy that he did it that way.
I like Madison and Nate and really looking forward to them together in the future.

I strongly recommend this book and all the books in this series.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advance copy

Fabulous next instalment in this series, #8. You don’t have to read them all or in order but they give Madison and Nate’s back stories. In this book Madison and her team need to identify a headless and handless corpse. Madison is also trying to find an abducted baby. Do yourself a favour and read this book if not the whole series. I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Brilliant read from Wendy. The story carry’s on from the previous book where Nate had shot dead a villain. He has disappeared to try and get his head together and Maddison realises he is not in a good place as he has left their dog Briody behind. Maddison has a few dead bodies and missing people to deal with. Gripping read.

The Crying Girls is the 8th book in the Detective Madison Harper series by Wendy Dranfield. I had not read any of the previous books in the series, but I did not have any problem following along with the story line. Madison and Nate are now engaged, but Nate is having a lot of issues having to deal with the fact the had to kill someone. This book was fast paced, and filled with twists and turns. At times I found it to be a little far fetched, but still enjoyed the book. I would recommend it to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture, and I and leaving my review voluntarily.

I recommend reading this series in order just because the characters go through so much. You would miss out on so much history between different characters and their growth. The actual case is a standalone but Nate & Madison's personal life plays a big part in this story. I felt for both of them and what they were going through. I was rooting for them the whole time because they are so cute together and they both deserve some happiness.

The whole book was a rollercoaster. The flashback chapters were heartbreaking. It's a fast paced read that had me hooked the whole time. There is a lot going on with a headless body, a missing child, an abduction, and a whole lot of drama in Madison's personal life. I didn't want to put it down. A fantastic read packed full of suspense. The end was such a surprise

Wendy Dranfield is back with Madison Harper and the Lost Creek police team in this, the eighth book of the series. As always, this is a multi-stranded story, a gruesome murder and a missing child being two of the challenges facing Madison. There are also problems in her personal life, not only with her sister newly released from jail but also with fiancé Nate Monroe. At first the various crimes appear to have no connection, but as the story progresses and clues are discovered, everything begins to fall into place. Once again, Wendy has delivered another cleverly written and gripping read, with an explosive ending.

I would like to thank Bookouture, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Crying Girls in exchange for an honest review.

Part of a series featuring Detective Madison Harper. A tough case to solve plus problems in her personal life,a good read.

Book name: The Crying Girls (Madison Harper Book 8)
Author name: Wendy Dranfield
Pub date : October 07 /2024
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Thank you, @netgalley and Wendy Dranfield, for the ARC copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

My thoughts: Wow! The Crying Girls is a gripping, unputdownable page-turner that had my heart racing from start to finish! I’m so lucky to have come across this book because I love crime thrillers, especially detective stories, and this one hit every mark. It's packed full of twists and suspense that will leave your head spinning—just when you think you know what's going on, Wendy Dranfield pulls the rug out from under you.The storyline is intense and brilliantly executed. It's the perfect blend of gripping murders, heartbreaking kidnappings, and shocking twists, all told simultaneously with such finesse. Madison Harper is a fantastic lead character, strong and driven, and I especially loved Brody—he was my personal favorite. The backstories of Nate and Steve were gut-wrenching, adding a deep emotional layer to the high-stakes drama.

Wendy Dranfield's writing is fast-paced, thrilling, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. This is the kind of book where you hold your breath, eagerly waiting to see what happens next, and then—bam!—you’re hit with an emotional family drama that shifts the tone momentarily. While those shifts can be a bit jarring when you’re caught in a suspenseful moment, the overall pacing is still brilliant, and the ending is extremely satisfying.

I loved the twists and turns, the suspense, and how masterfully the author connected all the plotlines. Now that I’ve discovered this is part of a series, I’m excited to read more, but it works perfectly as a standalone as well.If you’re a fan of crime thrillers, mysteries, or detective novels with plenty of suspense and unforgettable characters, you have to read The Crying Girls. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves a heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat story. This book is an absolute 5-star read!

Bugger me!

Hooked from the opening scene to the very last page. The story perfectly intertwines the current cases with flashbacks being told from the victim and strong storylines for the main characters and developments in their lives.

A headless body, a rapist, an abduction, a missing child, fallout from the previous case of the Grave Mountain Killer, Nate missing, are just a few of the things that are on Detective Maddison Harpers plate in the latest release in this series.

The pace and richness of the stories running through the book had me anxious, curious, and trying to fit all the puzzle pieces together, and even brought me to tears.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! 5 Stars!