Busy with a LOT going on, but I still can't get enough of Delaney Pace!

Her Hidden Grave, Pamela Fagan Hutchins

Bookouture, January 16, 2024 (ARC), 386 pages

Well, Ms. Hutchins has done it again! I'm still obsessed with this Wyoming-based thriller (thank GOD there is a third...) and am loving all the secrecy with literally everyone. This novel gave us more viewpoints, especially from the bad guy who is scarier this time around, than the first installment in this series, Her Silent Bones (click here for the review!). With all the new characters, and the stacking up of dead bodies, it does become rather confusing. Hutchins, through everyone's favorite sidekick Leo Palmer, does give us some helpful synopses via organizational templates which Leo uses to keep all the facts straight.

I am lucky enough to be a member of NetGalley which gives me access to Advance Reader Copies in exchange for honest, productive feedback for upcoming titles, and this series was just what I have been waiting for. I quickly devoured Book 1, consuming via audiobook which I actually preferred over reading traditionally, my method with Book 2. At the book's outset, we still have yet to discover Liam Pace's fate, we witness Delaney get a little more, but not quite, comfortable with parenthood with her new guardianship of niece Kateena, and thankfully, Skeeter is still on hand helping Delaney. This time around, though, hot and steamy Leo isn't on Delaney's good side. Making matters worse, poor Delaney's new boss is a creeper, and likely a crooked cop, who is hellbent on irking our beloved detective and force-feeding her a high-profile new case: local football star with an arrogant, stuffy, get-my-own-way dad ends up dead in the locker room from an apparent drug overdose. Work and life are tough on her nowadays, in addition to the hijinks that surround the small, usually-quiet Kearny, Wyoming.

There are LOTS of unknowns and red herrings in this bridge to Book 3. Truthfully I was a little lost with all of the different details and characters (there’s a new family we are introduced to as part of these plot twists), so I was quite thankful for Leo's penchant for organizing cases to sort out all of the details - there are four deaths to track and I needed the recap!

My favorite part of this book is the introduction of Carrie who seems very interesting and tough - think Beth Dutton in the making - as well as the beautiful descriptions of the Wyoming background which is becoming as much of the story as the main characters. This has been so impactful to me that it inspired me to take on a book challenge for 2024: read a book from every U.S. state - track my progress and follow me on Instagram @sequillreviews!

On to Book 3 which I'm hoping will tie up loose ends. I try to avoid spoilers, but I do know it ends with a cliffhanger. I. Can't. Wait!

Add this series to your 2024 TBR. It's a quick three to add to your book count for the year!

#bookstack #thriller #bookstagram #sequillreviews #series #triology #pamelafaganhutchins