Brilliant! a wet and windy day with nothing to do except read number 14 in the Morgan Brookes series. The books start out straightaway with a gory murder on Morgan and Ben's road. They're immediately roped into the investigation despite it being their rest day and we're off! I love reading any book written by Helen Phifer but the Morgan Brookes series has to be one of my favourites . It is so easy to slot back into the character's lives, picking up where they left off in the last book as though they had been waiting in the corner for you to come back. Helen has the gift of turning her hand to numerous genre and has demonstrated this over and over again. I will continue to be a fan of them all! Keep writing Helen please.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

A killer is too close to home for Morgan and Ben and the race is on to find out who carried out the gruesome murders. As always a heart racing read from start to finish. Morgan and Ben are such great characters and the little touches with Helen’s own gothic inspirations are really fantastic and the nods to her own favourite authors and places. Thank you to @bookouture and Helen for this arc in exchange for my honest review. .

Thanks net galley for the ARC.
Yet another fantastic book by Helen Phifer! I've read every single one of her books and they do not disappoint. Phenomenal twists & turns. Highly recommend

Morgan Brookes finds herself embroiled in another murder mystery. This time on her own street. Who killed her neighbors and why?
I finished this book in one day. It was that good.

Another banger! Love this series to bits.

The 14th book in this series starts off with Morgan and Ben having a rare day off. This quickly changes their plans as 2 doors down there is a double murder.

Morgan is real and easy to connect with some of her fears and reluctancy after almost succumbing to her own injuries in a previous book. This has made her less impulsive but more relatable as well.

Ben and Morgan's friends and team are great. All the characters bring different levels of connection to the reader yet they are all enjoyable!

These are very much police procedurals and have enough twists and suspense to keep you going. They are hard books to put down and I highly recommend the entire series, not only this book!

I recommend that you get your self a cozy nook, warm drink and enjoy this book to the fullest.

Thank you to Bookouture, Helen Phifer and NetGalley for the ARC of this great book.

This was a good police procedural. I enjoyed going through the investigation with the team and learning about each member’s quirks. I thought the ending was perfect. I never guessed who the culprits were!!!

Their Dying Embrace is fast paced, hold your breath and hope for the best for Morgan after returning to work from a severe head injury.

This time the murder is too close to home: its on Ben and Morgans's street and they have met the victims.

Its a gruesome murder with a more than a few suspects.

Secrets, lies, deceit and the bodies are piling up.

Ben and Morgan and the team are racing the clock with little to go on.

Helen Phifer does a masterful job of keeping the reader guessig and holding their breath.

My only complaint is I did not want the book to end.

Superb series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the privilege of reading and reviewing Their Dying Embrace.

Wonderful instalment in this series.
Helen Phifer is a very talented author.
Great writing and brilliantly written characters.
I read this far to quickly.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Helen Phifer has fast become one of my go to authors, one that I get excited about as soon as I see her name appear on any ARC's and one that I know I don't have to even glance at the synopsis for as I 100% know I'll be all in!

Unbooked #14 of the Detective Morgan Brookes series, Morgan is still recovering from her injuries (book #13) and isn't yet back on full duty, until, on her day off, herself and her partner and boos Ben recieve a call. Their neighbours, Rosie and Matt, have been found brutally murdered. Whilst not on duty, they can't just walk away and step in to help.

On searching the scene and with hints from Rosie's friend Gina, who found the couple, that Rosie had been hearing noises coming from the attic, Morgan searches the attic and is confronted with a note that sends shivers down her spine... "If you've found this, you're next to die." Is the killer actually after her? When their good friend Theo is attacked at his church, this makes it feel like the note is definitely more of a personal threat.

Morgan starts digging, and as the case unfolds, clues are few and far between, but Morgans dogged determination sets in. Something is niggling at the back of her brain, she just has to try and fit all the pieces together.

Not everything or everyone is truly as it seems!

I can't go into too much detail without spoiling the plot, so *NO SPOILERS*

This is one hell of a rollercoaster ride that had me hooked and captivated every twist and turn. I can honestly say that I am just as enthralled in this series as I was at the very beginning.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Helen Phifer’s Their Dying Embrace delivers another gripping, fast-paced entry in the Detective Morgan Brookes series. It’s good to be back with familiar characters. With a chilling premise and plenty of twists, the novel perfectly blends mystery, suspense, and dark psychology, exploring how a killer will strike fear into a community.

The story opens with the horrifying discovery of a young couple, Rosie Waite and her boyfriend Matt, found dead in their home. Detective Morgan Brookes, who lives just down the street, is immediately shaken by the brutal crime, not just by its brutality but by the fact that she heard nothing that night—no screams, no commotion—leaving her to wonder if she is somehow being watched.

As Morgan digs deeper into the case, she uncovers more than she bargained for. A letter left at the crime scene warns, “If you’ve found this, you’re next to die.” What follows is a dark, obsessive search for a killer who seems to know everything about his victims—and everything about Morgan herself.

The author does a good job of building tension and creating a chilling atmosphere that permeates every page. Themes of trust, betrayal, and the complexity of human relationships are explored, especially as Morgan delves into the secrets of Rosie and Matt’s seemingly innocent life.

Morgan’s sense of duty and determination is another key theme. As a seasoned detective, she’s used to danger, but the personal stakes in this case are higher than ever. Her refusal to back down, even when her own life is at risk, showcases her strength and resilience while also revealing the emotional toll such a dangerous career can take. The multiple twists and turns keep you guessing, and while the book offers enough clues to allow for a satisfying reveal, the true identity of the killer remains elusive until the final moments.

Morgan Brookes remains a compelling and likable protagonist, with a mix of intelligence, intuition, and vulnerability that makes her stand out in the crowded world of fictional detectives. She’s relatable, grounded, and human, even in the face of the most harrowing situations. As the series progresses, we see her grow and evolve, making each new installment feel like a continuation of her journey rather than a standalone adventure.

Their Dying Embrace is an emotional rollercoaster of a crime thriller. With its crafted suspense, well-developed characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing at every turn, it’s a great read for fans of the genre.

D Morgan Brookes 14
With Morgan Ben and the rest of the team.
Rosie Waite is hearing noises in her attic again leaving Matt in bed snoring she heads downstairs from watching to many scary movies she see's a shadow but doesn't notice the narrow metal ice axe.
With Morgan and Ben living a few doors away this turns into a double murder for Rydel Falls police.
It's a story that is so twisted, fantastic, leaving you with plenty of goosebumps.
I love reading this series and all the characters that blends in perfectly together.
A big 5 stars as always goes to this author's work.

Detective Morgan Brookes has an immediate change of plans when she is called to the scene of a double murder. Just two doors down from her home, an absolutely heinous crime has been committed, along with a gruesome signature. The couple that were killed are Rosie and Matt, and as the opening scene proved, Rosie’s feeling of being terrified was absolutely justified.

Morgan is determined to find the killer, but is chilled to the bone when she discovers a threatening note: if you’ve found this, you’re next to die. Morgan is filled with a feeling of dread since that threatening note fell into her hands. The killer is not finished.

As the case unfolds, the clues are scarce, and Morgan can’t shake her uncertainty. But, as usual, even if she’s a target herself, she presses on, following any leads she can find. Disturbingly, another attack close to home intensifies the urgency.

Fourteen books in, and this book is just as captivating as when the series first began. We witness Morgan’s blossoming relationship with fellow detective Ben, showcasing their mutual hard work and dedication.

One aspect I admire about this series and Helen Phifer’s writing style is the assurance that you’re in for a treat. So, settle in with a warm beverage, relax, and indulge, as you won’t want to put this book down.

I must mention a delightful touch that brought a smile to my face amidst the seriousness of the crimes. It’s the reference to the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan. I love it when a mention like this enhances an already enjoyable read.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Another brilliant installment of this series! It was fast paced and easy to read. My only gripe with these books is the amount of times the officers get hurt etc.

Wow !!! Literally amazing!! How do these just keep getting better
Helen Phifer by far my favourite author
I absolutely adore Morgan Ben and the team
I get so excited when I see another book and even more when I get to read it early
This was blew my mind. I couldn’t put it down it gripped me from the first page and kept me so engrossed.
Fantastic thriller a great set of characters and crime which is shocking,

First of all, thank you for letting me advance read this.

Already the fourteenth book in the Morgan Brookes series and I have to say I'm impressed. Consistently is key and the amount of crime and twists in all of the Morgan books are of the scale.
Where many authors will lack intensity while a series progress into that many series, Helen stays consistent and I just have to keep reading.

Morgan and Ben are by far my favorite couple, where Morgan is the best in crime solving, Ben being the ultimate watchdog. Having Declan as pathologist but also as the gay best friend and Theo the vicar who also is gay it exceeds boundaries set by humans. Who says a vicar can't be gay? I love that it's written in here and written that good.

Now, the story.. I don't want to give to much away because the story is so good.

I will only say this, nothing is as it seems.

Read this if you've loved all the other Morgan and Ben books, if you haven't you should really start reading them.

Great book and I'm sad it's the last of the series. Didn't go the way I thought it would, at any point. Its a bonus when I can't guess the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Detectives Morgan and Ben are nearly off out on their day off, when they are interrupted by the news that their neighbours have been murdered. Creepily, it appears that someone was stalking them from their attic leaving Morgan a note ‘you’re next’. When priest, Theo, is attacked things are moving too close for comfort.

Loved this and struggled to put it down. The characters are really likeable and the team camaraderie is enjoyable to read. This had my head spinning with twists and was a complete page turner. Just the right amount of suspense and dead ends. This is a great series to read. Highly recommend.

When something horrific happens, I am of course touched by it, but at the same time I always am happy when it happened kilometers away from where I live. I would not be able to sleep one minute when something like that would go on in my street or even worse two doors down.

We know Morgan as a tough cookie but the horror of it all had an impact on her too and I cannot say I blame her. To get back her piece of mind, she does what she always does: he utter best to find the culprit and put them where they belong.

There are always some people you trust without a doubt, but we are so wrong to do that. You really never ever know someone, do we... That's because most people have a weakness and the baddies know how to play the game.

Morgan, Ben, Cain, Amy are all wonderful characters, but Marc still has not won me over. I wonder whether he ever will? He sure does add some extra spice to the stories...

Another excellent book in this series. 5 stars

Thank you

Love love love this series, the murders in Rydal Falls are never ending and this one in particular is very close to home for Morgan and Ben. On a very well deserved day off they're called to a house 2 doors away to the brutal murder of neighbours Rosie and Matt. Taking on the case they find themselves caught up in deceit and again tragedy.
In this novel, Morgan seems to have learnt a little bit and thinks about her actions rather than going all guns blazing as she often has, maybe she has her injury from the previous novel to thank for that. A few heart stopping, breathtaking moments too, please don't do this too me Helen.
Brilliant, fast paced, I couldn't put it down

Her Dying Embrace by H. Phifer, published by Bookouture is book 14 in her Detective Morgan Brookes Series.
I just wanted to take a peek at the story and now, hours later I read the last page and I'm spent. Drawn in the literally unputdownable, twisty story of Detective Morgan Brookes and her life partner Ben. An incredible read, one of my favs in 25 for sure, I recommend the book, 5 stars.
Blurb: When sweet-natured teaching assistant Rosie Waite, and her boyfriend Matt, are found dead in their quaint family home in the Lake District, Detective Morgan Brookes is horrified. Sleeping just two doors down, she heard nothing. Morgan vows to keep watch over every innocent family in Rydal Falls until this monster is brought to justice.
Climbing the narrow attic staircase as she searches every inch of the property, Morgan finds a mattress on the floor, empty food wrappers, and a letter that reads: if you’ve found this, you’re next to die. Fear washes over Morgan’s team; the killer was watching his victims, and now her life is at risk.
Ignoring pleas that she take a step back, Morgan throws herself harder at the case. And Matt had been asking questions at a local tattoo parlour. Everyone thought he and Rosie were a quiet, kind-hearted couple, but was Matt hiding a dangerous secret? Did he betray the woman he loved?
It’s the break Morgan desperately needs, until one of her closest friends is attacked. His lifeless body – an exact match to Matt and Rosie. The killer has been watching from the shadows again. Morgan’s used to putting her life on the line to protect the innocent, but what must she sacrifice to save the people she loves most? And how many lives will be lost before she can stop this killer?