Melinda Leigh

After reading the first Bree Taggert book, 'Cross Her Heart', I bought the next seven books in the series. That's not something I would normally do but I recognised that Melinda Leigh had created a mystery series that I could use as a comfort read. The second book, 'See Her Die', was, like the first, a four-star read, 'Drown Her Sorrows' didn't have as much going for it but it was still a solid three-star read that moved the series along.

It was an easy read that I immersed myself in from the show more first page. It had an engaging puzzle around what happened to the young woman whose body was found in the opening pages. The slow reveal of information to solve the puzzle was skillfully done, letting me feel as if I was being given a chance to put the pieces together before Bree did.

Telling the story from two points of view, Bree's and Matt's, made exposition easier and more varied. It also allowed me to see each character through the eyes of the other. My interest in the story was sustained by the quality of the character sketches that Melinda Leigh drew of suspects, victims and witnesses. The people felt real and the descriptions had an impact.

Part of what makes this a comfort read rather than a puzzle-solving exercise or a thrill ride is that the story is seasoned with a light touch of romance, a dash of family drama, a little optimism and dogs who wag their tails when they see their people.

I found reading this as soothing as good coffee on a cold morning. show less

Melinda Leigh is a new author for me and I don't know why I haven't found her before now. This book was a roller coaster ride that I couldn't put down until the end. I'm happy to see that this is book 1 of a new series because Bree Taggrt is a character that I want to read about again. She's a kickass homicide investigator who has a lot of empathy for everyone around her.

Bree Taggert is a Philadelphia homicide detective working on a case when she receives a text from her sister asking for show more help. Bree, her sister Erin and her brother Adam all had a violent upbringing because they knew that their Dad beat their mother until it all ended with a murder suicide that changed their lives forever. As Bree drives 5 hours to her sister - which is also the town she grew up that is full of bad memories . When she arrives, she finds out that her sister is dead. The police are convinced that the murderer is Erin's husband Justin and Bree agrees until she meets Matt, Justin's best friend, a former police officer, who is convinced that Justin is innocent. The problem is that Justin has disappeared and they need to find him to solve this crime.
Bree and Matt decide to wok together to try to find Justin but they soon become aware that there is someone out there who wants to keep Bree from finding out the answers and his secrets put Bree into great danger.

I loved the characters in Cross her Heart especially Bree. The plot slowly unravels and will keep you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out who killed Erin. I am thrilled that this is the first book in a new series and look forward to spending more time with these characters. show less

The title intrigued me to read the description and I was drawn to read a novel featuring a female veteran Philadelphia homicide detective. I read the 1st sentence with the action continuing to escalate and I was immediately hooked. That was then.

Detective Bree Taggert misses a call from her younger sister Erin. Erin is not answering her cell phone after leaving a voicemail for help. Erin sounded scared and the unusual behavior induces Erin to pack a bag and drive to upstate New York. Why did show more Erin call? Now Erin isn’t answering her phone or Bree’s voicemail. Why?

Melinda Leigh has written a compelling story. What an introduction to this author’s writing! The novel is a page-turning combination of thriller, mystery, and romantic suspense. The action never stops racing against time with cliffhangers and twists as the impact of the past affects the present. The dialogue is realistic. The emotions of the characters are relatable without being sappy. With a retired K-9 dog that hasn’t forgotten any of his training, rescue dogs, humor, and romantic sparks at just the right places I couldn't stop reading.

I must continue reading this series! show less

‘See Her Die' follows straight on from the events in the first Bree Tagget book, ‘Cross Her Heart‘, which saw Bree, a Philadelphia PD Detective with a notoriously traumatic childhood, called back to the small upstate New York town she was raised in by the news of her sister’s murder.

By the end of 'Cross Her Heart', Bree had abandoned her relatively solitary Philadelphia life which she shared mainly with her cat, had moved back to her home town and where she is sharing a house with show more her cat, a dog she inherited, her recently orphaned niece and nephew and her former (now retired) PPD partner who has taken on the role of surrogate grandmother, cook and childminder. To make her new life even more complicated, Bree has become the local Sheriff, a job she has no experience in.

I thought that was a good set-up for an entertaining series that was more grounded than the typical loner-cop-with-a-traumatic-past-and-a-drink-problem.

.‘See Her Die’ was my first chance to see Bree in action as a Sheriff and assess whether this would blossom into a solid series.

I was engaged and entertained from the start.

The story arc for the ensemble cast of characters in Bree’s new life moved forward smoothly, grounding the series.

The case Bree was working on was twisty enough to keep my interest without becoming a dry puzzle-solving exercise. The killer, the main suspects and witnesses felt plausible. The action was tense and the pace was well-judged except at the very end, where it meandered a little.

One of the things that makes the story work is Bree's developing relationship with former Deputy Matt and his retired K9 Brody. This isn't an insta-love thing. It moves slowly and credibly. It is complicated by Bree being mortally afraid of dogs, and Matt not feeling competent to use a gun since he was shot in the hand. There is a slow-burn romance here, but the part of the relationship that develops most is the rhythm they fall into in an investigation. Their different strengths and styles complement each other and make the book more interesting.

The only part of the book that didn't work so well for me where the bits from the point of view of the unnamed killer. I thought they were a little clichéd and went on for too long.

‘See Her Die’ convinced me that I want to read the rest of the series in the expectation of watching Bree solve a set of solid mysteries and seeing what her life becomes. I've already bought the next five books, so I hope I'm right about that. show less