A wind chime sways a sweet melody above several pairs of shoes neatly laid out on the welcome the mat: two large pairs, and three small. On the door frame, a perfect crimson handprint, the color of blood…
Title: Count Their Graves
Author: Jennifer Chase
Publication Date: November 4 - December 27
Pages: 362
Genre: Crime Thriller
A wind chime sways a sweet melody above several pairs of shoes neatly laid out on the welcome the mat: two large pairs, and three small. On the door frame, a perfect crimson handprint, the color of blood…
Out on her morning run, Detective Katie Scott is stopped in her tracks when her service dog, Cisco, alerts her to something. Weaving through the towering pine trees, Katie is horrified to find a little girl alone in the woods, dressed in a white nightgown. The child sobs into Katie’s arms. She’s unharmed, but clearly traumatized. Scooping her up, Katie follows the trail to a large farmhouse. But what she finds there rips the air from her lungs: one, two, three, four bodies laid out side by side, all in matching pajamas.
The Banks family were attacked in their sleep, but how had the little girl trembling in Katie’s arms escape with her life? What twisted monster would do such a thing, and why leave no trace but a single bloody handprint on the doorframe? Katie vows to find answers for this sweet child who has lost everything and everyone.
Working night and day to piece together why this innocent family were targeted, Katie thinks she has her first lead when she discovers the family were under witness protection. Had they seen something they shouldn’t? Was the aim to silence them forever? Questions are still spinning in Katie’s mind when another family is discovered dead in their beds on the other side of Pine Valley.
With the entire department stretched to breaking point with an unprecedented body count and trace evidence stacking up, it’s going to take everything Katie has to track this twisted killer down. But as she closes in on her target, it’s clear someone close to Katie is keeping a deadly secret. How many more innocent lives will be lost before she can bring them to justice?
PRAISE:
5.0 out of 5 stars: A definite must read book and series!
“One of the things that I love about this author’s books is that she doesn’t shy away from the hard or difficult topics. Another is how she creates a realistic quality for the characters and their lives. There are no “perfect” characters or “make believe/fantasy” lives in these books. (That is one of the best things~in my opinion!) Because of these things, as well as many more, her stories are unique, passionate, creative, and intriguing. I have loved all of the stories that I’ve read, and can’t wait to read more.
I would definitely recommend this book, series, and exceptional author.”
“Another great book in the series starring Katie and her dog Cisco. When one family are found all dead in their house apart from one of their little girls who they believed her mummy had helped her escape Katie and her team soon get to work. Someone is hiding who they really are and until Katie finds out who it is no one is safe not even her.
I really enjoyed this book like all of the others in the series that I have read. Looking forward to the next book.” NetGalley
Release Date: October 30, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture
Soft Cover: 978-1835256367; 362 pages; $11.99; eBook $3.99; Free with Kindle Unlimited; also available in audiobook .99
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Count-Their-Graves-completely-unputdownable/dp/1835256368
Book Excerpt
“Good boy, Cisco,” she said, petting the dog, concerned by their discovery.
Turning her full attention to the little girl, she said, “What are you doing all the way out here, sweetheart?” She looked around to see if there was someone else, but it was deserted. There was nothing to indicate why the girl was outside. No footprints. No toys or pieces of clothing. It was as if she had been dropped here.
The sleepy-eyed girl appeared to be about four years old. “I’m cold,” she barely whispered as she shivered.
“Are you hurt?” said Katie as she looked for any injuries. The girl’s skin was icy, as if she had been out in the elements for a while—possibly a few hours. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Em… Emily,” she said.
“How did you get here?”
“Mommy brought me…”
A chill ran down Katie’s spine.
“Okay, Emily. Stay here with Cisco and I’ll be right back. Can you do that for me?” Katie wanted to pick the girl up, hug her, and take her to safety, but she needed to assess the area first. Security was her priority and then getting the little girl to safety.
The little girl nodded. Her blue eyes stared at Katie as she pet the dog. It was a look that Katie wouldn’t soon forget. The pure innocence struck her soul.
Katie stood up and unzipped her hoodie and then wrapped it around the little girl. The cool morning air hit her as she was now dressed in just a tank top. She pulled her weapon, still scanning the area. There was a farmhouse and barn down below the ridge and she assumed that was where Emily lived. There weren’t any other homes within view and most were likely several acres away.
Had the little girl ventured out without anyone knowing? Did the mother really leave her here? Or was there something terribly wrong?
Katie didn’t want to move Emily yet until she knew for sure that everything was safe on the property.
“Cisco, you stay.”
The dog instinctively downed next to the little girl. Emily’s small arms wrapped around the dog’s neck as she snuggled up against him for warmth.
Katie looked around and felt that, secluded in between trees, they would be safe until she could quickly search the area. Reaching into her pocket, she made sure her cell phone had a strong signal—which it did.
“Good boy, Cisco. Bleib… Wache…” She told Cisco to stay and guard the little girl. Her dog’s training words were in German, meaning stay and watch. Katie didn’t need to repeat herself because the dog knew what to do, but somehow it made her feel better. She hated leaving them alone, but it was the best way to proceed under the circumstances. By the time help arrived, it might be too late. She needed to report to dispatch exactly what was going on so that backup wasn’t blindly going into a potentially dangerous situation.
After taking one last look at Emily huddled with Cisco, Katie moved to the edge of the trail and began slowly making her way toward the backside of the house. She wondered how Emily got up the hill; there wasn’t dirt or mud on her gown.
Watching for any movement, Katie carefully stepped down the incline until she was on a walkway leading to the front of a modern farmhouse. There were unusual scrolled architectural details along the rooflines and windows that made it seem to be a custom build. Katie stopped and listened. The wind had died down and she felt the temperature had risen a few degrees from when she first began her run. Even though it was still cool, her skin was warm and clammy. Adrenalin was pumping, making her arms and legs strangely prickly and a bit shaky. She maintained her focus and continued to press forward. With her gun directed out in front of her, she kept moving, expecting anything.
There was a pickup truck and a minivan parked in the semicircle driveway, giving the impression that someone was home. The front of the farmhouse had a large porch with white wicker chairs and colorful pillows. There was a porch swing on one end and potted plants lined up side by side at the other. A cheerful welcome mat said, “Home Sweet Home.” A wind chime hung on the left side of the door and gently swayed a melody. There were several pairs of shoes carefully placed to the right side of the mat. By Katie’s quick assessment, there were two adults and three children that resided in the home.
The front door was wide open. Droplets of red spattered the porch and the entrance inside. Concentrated smudges were around the doorframe as if someone had tried to steady themselves.
“Hello?” she called out, watching her surroundings.
Nothing moved. No sound came from indoors. Katie’s senses were on hyper-alert. Everything seemed more vivid and louder than usual.
She cautiously stepped over the threshold and peered inside. The large open plan made it easy to see the living room, dining room, and kitchen in a quick scan. There were several photographs of the family—and she saw tiny Emily with an older boy and girl. Everything looked neat and orderly. That’s what made the bloody hammer lying in the middle of the floor so horrifying.
Katie stood surveying the room for a moment, taking a deep breath. It seemed that the bloody hammer had been dropped there. There were droplets of blood marking a path to the front door. There were no obvious signs of a struggle—no broken items, chairs overturned, or shelves spilled.
Katie turned and could see that the two main doors of the barn just across the open area were standing wide open. She wasn’t sure if it was instinct or fear that drove her, but she backed out of the house, careful not to disturb anything, and watchfully headed for the barn. Everything remained still and eerily quiet.
Katie kept to the sides of the barn and inched her way slowly to the opening. Her ears pounded. Her breathing shrank to shallow gasps. Staying low, she entered the building. It wasn’t a livestock barn, but rather a type of workshop and storage facility. Katie scanned the interior, taking everything in. Slowly lowering her weapon, she dropped to her knees in misery, only inches from the stagnant pools of blood on the ground in front of her. Barely registering what she saw, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the four bodies of a man, a woman, and a young boy and girl neatly lined up next to each other, still dressed in their pajamas.
– Excerpted from Count Their Graves by Jennifer Chase, Bookouture, 2024. Reprinted with permission.
Review
ABSORBING FROM
START TO FINISH
– CHASE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT!
I’ll start by saying that I am a YUGE fan of Jennifer Chase, author of the Detective Katie Scott Mysteries. It’s why I was thrilled to get my hot little hands on Book 12, the latest in the series that serves up murder on a plate. While I tried not to be greedy and stretch out this story to make it last, I binge read it like a mongoose diving into a pile of crickets in a cave because … because I just couldn’t stop! The upshot? That COUNT THEIR GRAVES doesn’t disappoint, but then living up to expectations is something Ms. Chase excels at, and why I’m an ardent admirer of her work. The consistency she produces assures those seeking entertainment of the larcenous kind that she never misses, and that you’re in for an evening … or two … or more … of pure nail-biting enjoyment. And to entice all you mystery lovers a little further … the story goes something like … ba-da bing ba-da boom … this!
During an early morning jog with her ever-faithful German Shepherd, Cisco, Katie discovers a young girl lost and crying in the woods. Katie silently wonders how she got there, and who left a child alone in the wilderness, but wastes no time trying to get help. With her cell devoid of a connection, she walks to the nearest residence, hoping it’s the child’s home. She scouts the place, stumbling over a markedly unpleasant surprise. Bodies. Four of them. All dead. All laid side by side and wearing identical pajamas. But what she can’t see is that there’s an abhorrent surprise hidden in those bodies … a surprise that the coroner will soon discover. The discovery will add an even creepier vibe to the murders, and force Katie to face ugly truths that are key to unlocking this mystery … a mystery that will only deepen when the second set of murders appears and matches the first to a tee.
This is the premise of the newest offering, and if you think it sounds good, wait until you start reading it! When you do, I predict that the inevitability of the condition known as “unputdownable” will kick in and trigger a handlock on the remaining pages. The caliber of writing secures this prognostication is true. With Ms. Chase at the helm, characters are well-developed and the narrative enough to set the mood while not restraining the story. This allows the plot to unfold and follow unexpected twists and turns that can best be described as intriguing. But she doesn’t stop there. She peppers the intensity with slower moments used to blast up the tension. It’s an artful maneuver that culminates in a pace best described as frenetic. Scant clues add to the mélange, making things more complicated and wielding danger at every turn.
In terms of the storyline of the series, I can assure you that the whole gang is found within the pages, and that includes my favorite: Cisco! I just love that dog, and would be so majorly disappointed by a non-appearance, but I have a feeling that Ms. Chase feels the same way! She brings him to life in a winning way—extolling his devotion and skill used in the tasks he’s called upon to perform. There’d never be anyone you’d trust more to watch your back, and the author doubles down on that sentiment in a big way. In this outing, our furriest angel is given a big, humongous starring role! No spoilers here, but let me just say that he’s put in a position that gives him the opportunity to demonstrate his doggie-driven devotion. And speaking of ‘devotion,’ there’s someone in the cast of characters that pops to mind. Someone with the four-letter first name spelled “C-h-a-d.” Now in Book 11 entitled THE FIRST GIRL, there was some distancing going on between hunk-a-doodle Chad and the ever-wonderful Katie. Now I love both of them, and have been pushing for them to get married from the beginning … so all I’ll say is that some decisions have been made that I hope are ‘unmade’. I will also add that if the issues can’t be remedied, and Chad needs a girlfriend, that I am available anytime … any place.
Thus ends my wrap-up! So if you’re
a mystery fan, or just enjoy great, well-written stories, add this to your TBR
list! It’s easy to get lost in the pages, and with an ending that will have
your heart racing, you won’t regret downloading your copy of COUNT THEIR GRAVES!
FIVE STARS to this book … this series … and to the author who knows how to keep
us entertained! And to Cisco … WOOF WOOF, buddy! WOOF WOOF!
She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.
Her latest book is Count Their Graves.
Website & Social Media:
Website – https://authorjenniferchase.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/jchasenovelist
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Goodreads- www.goodreads.com/author/show/2780337.Jennifer_Chase
