Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Review - One Perfect Grave

Title
:   One Perfect Grave
Author:  Stacy Green
Series:  Nikki Hunt #2
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   250
Date of Publication:   February 25, 2021
My Rating:   5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:

She didn’t see the patch of black ice until it was too late. The car started to spin, and as it veered off into the deep ditch and the mounds of snow beside the road, she saw him. The little boy frozen in the ice.

When the remains of two bodies are found in an open grave along a desolate highway in Stillwater, Minnesota, Special Agent Nikki Hunt knows exactly who they are. The bright blue jacket lying on the frozen earth belongs to Kellan Rhodes, the missing boy she’s desperately been trying to find for the last two days. The other body is his mother Dana, who had been Nikki’s lead suspect.

Although the wounds on Dana’s body suggest she murdered her son and took her own life, Nikki finds evidence that suggests she was a victim too. Dana was desperately trying to regain custody of Kellan, and Nikki finds boot prints at the scene that belong to someone else.

When another child is reported missing, local journalist Caitlin Newport claims the cases are linked: Zach Reeves was taken away from his own mother in a custody battle, just like Kellan was.

Caitlin once helped Nikki find out the truth about her own parents’ murders, but her desire for a story nearly cost Nikki her life. Now, Nikki must decide if she can trust Caitlin again, before time runs out to find the killer and bring Zach home alive…

A unputdownable thriller that will make your heart pound until its final, shocking conclusion. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner and readers who want to binge read into the night. 


MY THOUGHTS:

Special Agent Nikki Hunt is back in Stillwater, Minnesota. This time she is trying to discover why two bodies were found frozen in an open grave. One of the victims was a young boy, and the other victim is his mother. Nikki has her suspicions, but she finds some evidence that dispels her original theory. Then another child is reported missing. Nikki most definitely feels the cases are connected. 

When a reporter contacts Nikki and begs her to look deeper into the murders and to the disappearance of the other child, the pressure is immense. Child custody seems to be a factor as to both cases. As the mother of a young child, a child who spends quite a bit of time with Nikki's ex due to the level of Nikki's work, makes this even more sensitive to her. Meanwhile, Nikki is drawing closer to her new boyfriend, all while worrying about how his family would feel about their relationship.  

Because I had just read the first book in the series, The Girls in the Snow, just prior to reading this book, I had started to get to know Nikki. I love her personality, her work ethic, and how she feels about her daughter. I also love watching her develop a relationship, despite the challenges that would entail. Even so, this book, One Perfect Grave, could do well as a standalone. Stacy Green is an excellent writer, and excels when it comes to character development. 

In addition to that, the cases, although quite sensitive in nature, are handled well, and the story has enough twists and turns that kept me turning pages late into the night. In fact, I could not stop reading this book until I finished it, pretty much in one sitting. The story has excellent pacing and led to an exciting conclusion. I can't wait to see how Nikki handles her next case, as well as to where her relationship goes.

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stacy Green is the author of the Lucy Kendall thriller series and the Delta Crossroads mystery trilogy. ALL GOOD DEEDS (Lucy Kendall #1) won a bronze medal for mystery and thriller at the 2015 IPPY Awards. TIN GOD (Delta Crossroads #1) was runner-up for best mystery/thriller at the 2013 Kindle Book Awards. Stacy has a love of thrillers and crime fiction, and she is always looking for the next dark and twisted novel to enjoy. She started her career in journalism before becoming a stay at home mother and rediscovering her love of writing.

Stacy is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo, Helin and Fountain Literary Management for literary and dramatic rights.

She lives in Iowa with her husband and daughter and their three spoiled fur babies.


8 comments:

  1. One Perfect Grave sounds like a great read. Special Agent Nikki Hunt seems like a strong character. Another one for my tbr.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Don't you just love it when you can read a book in one sitting? This sounds like a great story.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just finished this one and loved it. Stacy Green is great at what she does..
    Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my.. I am tempted yet again.. loved the review

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've never read her work but it sounds like something I would enjoy. Great review.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I can feel the tension of this book in your review! Glad you liked it!

    ReplyDelete