Book Review: The Ones They Buried
Posted: December 10, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Review, Thriller | Tags: Book Review, Crime Thriller, Jennifer Ruff, The Ones They Buried, Writing to be Read 4 Comments
About the Book
Phoebe Watson was a rising star in the fitness world. Then she disappeared.
The mystery captivates the nation, and the investigation takes a dark turn when her body is discovered a year later, buried deep in a remote, wooded area.
Only one person seems to know something about those remains—multi-millionaire Catherine Bower, one of Phoebe’s former clients. Soon after Phoebe disappeared, Catherine suffered a life-altering accident.
FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin believes there’s a connection between Phoebe’s murder and Catherine’s accident. As Victoria digs deeper, she uncovers a thick web of secrets and lies, and every thread she untangles points toward a shocking truth.
Bestselling author Jenifer Ruff’s latest chilling crime fiction novel will have you on the edge of your seat as you unravel the clues. The Ones They Buried is book 8 in the award-winning Agent Victoria Heslin crime fiction mystery series. Each of the books features a unique investigation and can ABSOLUTELY be read as a STANDALONE.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Ones-Buried-Agent-Victoria-Heslin-ebook/dp/B0CD8VGFVK/
My Review
I was already a fan of Jennifer Ruff’s Agent Victoria Hesling Thrillers, having reviewed several. It seems I’ve missed a couple, since The Ones They Buried in number eight, but that is okay, because the books in this series are all good as stand alones.
You can see my other reviews of Jenifer Ruff’s books here:
- The Numbers Killer: https://writingtoberead.com/2019/07/12/the-numbers-killer-a-crime-thriller-that-keeps-readers-guessing/
- Pretty Little Girls & When They Find Us: https://writingtoberead.com/2023/10/13/book-reviews-pretty-little-girls-when-they-find-us/
In The Ones They Buried, Jennifer Ruff has outdone herself. This book has enough twists and turns, and red herrings to make the killer reveal a true surprise. Skillfully crafted to keep readers guessing.
A dead body is found in the woods, and identified as a woman who disappeared a year ago, starting an investigation into the prestigeous family of the woman who employed her at the time of her death. But who is the killer? George the gardener, who was the last person to see her? His shady brother-in-law with a criminal record? Katherine’s adulterous husband? Or someone else? Katherine knows, but she can’t communicate the truth if she wanted to due to an unfortunate swimming accident which deprived her of oxygen for too long. But was it an accident, or was someone tring to silence her because she knew too much? It’s up to Agent Victoria Hessling to find out, but someone is trying to stop her. No spoilers. You’ll have to read the book to find out who and why.
Ruff is the master of crime thriller fiction. I give The Ones They Buried five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
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Book Reviews: Pretty Little Girls & When They Find Us
Posted: October 13, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Fiction, Review, Thriller | Tags: Book Review, Crime Fiction, Jennifer Ruff, Pretty Little Girls, Thriller, When They Find Us, Writing to be Read 7 Comments
The Agent Victoria Hesling series
Pretty Little Girls is Book 2 & When They Find Us is Book 3 of the Agent Victoria Hesling thriller series, by U.S.A. Today bestselling author, Jennifer Ruff. I reviewed book 1 of this series, The Numbers Killer, by Jennifer Ruff back in 2019. (You can read my review of The Numbers Killer here.) All of the Victoria Heslin series can be Read as stand alones, and I also reviewed book 4, Vanished on Vacation recently. (You can read my review of Vanished on Vacation here.) So, when I had the opportunity to pick up books 2 & 3 of this series, I couldn’t resist. Each book in this series can be read as a standalone, the common thread being FBI agent Victoria Heslin.
About Pretty Little Girls
Winner of the 2020 Reader’s Favorite International Book Award in Thriller Fiction
FBI Agent Victoria Heslin is called to Charlotte, NC to investigate alongside local police, but the mysteries only get deeper. Why are the girl’s parents so uncooperative? And why are the local authorities resisting Victoria’s help?
When her efforts uncover a sex trafficking operation, Heslin enlists friend and fellow Agent Dante Rivera to go rogue and try to save the girls, before it’s too late.
Pretty Little Girls is the second book in the popular Agent Victoria Heslin Thriller Series by USA Today Bestselling Author Jenifer Ruff.
Pretty Little Girls Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Little-Girls-Victoria-Heslin-ebook/dp/B07V6M12JS
My Review
Pretty Little Girls, by Jennifer Ruff is a crime thriller you won’t want to miss. A sex trafficking ring is on the prowl, peddling underaged girls from other countries – girls who won’t be missed – to rich Americans. But something more is going on when an affluent American girl who doesn’t fit the pattern at all is grabbed, and it’s up to FBI agent Victoria Heslin to fit the pieces together, before the bad guys break and run.
A fast moving tale with characters you want to care about. I give Pretty Little Girls five quills.
About When They Find Us
After breaking up a sex trafficking ring, FBI Agent Victoria Heslin wants nothing more than to visit the rescue shelter she sponsors, a trip that also offers a much-needed European vacation and a chance to figure out her new relationship with Ned. Comfortable in first class, she drifts off—only to be shocked awake when her plane crashes.
Lost in an empty, frozen wasteland, Victoria and a few other survivors battle extreme temperatures, as each day brings more tragedy. One by one, the desperate group is winnowed down. The remaining passengers must decide if they’ll stay with the wreck, waiting to be found, or brave the harsh elements and venture out in search of help.
When Agent Dante Rivera learns of Victoria’s fate, he puts all his energy and expertise into finding her plane, which seems to have vanished from existence. As he unravels a technological mystery and layers of scheming, he fears his worst nightmare will be realized: that he won’t find his coworker and friend alive.
When They Find Us is book 3 in the Agent Victoria Heslin thriller series. It can absolutely be read as a standalone novel.
When They Find Us Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/When-They-Agent-Victoria-Heslin-ebook/dp/B08BTMLCTT/
My Review
When They Find Us, by Jennifer Ruff is an outstanding nonstop thriller. When the plane goes down mysteriously, with FBI agent Victoria Heslin on board, no one knows why or where. It could be an equipment malfunction or an act of terrorism. Someone may have targeted Victoria or one of the other passengers.
While agents scramble on the ground to find the missing plane, Victoria and the other surviving passengers must figure out how to survive in the freezing cold on a very snowy mountain top. Strangers trapped in a struggle for life and death, and all motives are suspect, but they must depend on each other.
When They Find Us is a gripping thriller which grabs a hold and won’t let go. I give it five quills.
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Book Review: Vanished on Vacation
Posted: January 13, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Review, Suspense, Thriller | Tags: Book Review, Jennifer Ruff, Suspense/Thriller, Vanished on Vacation, Writing to be Read 3 Comments
What they’re saying on Amazon
- “Fantastic book with many twists and turns!” – Alese M. Brockman
- “Jennifer outdid herself. Vanished on Vacation needs to be3 made into a movie.” – Kindle Customer
- “Suspense at its best” – Reita Pendry
The Book
As a frantic search for missing student Avery Jennings begins, everyone is hiding something—Avery’s family and friends, the resort’s staff, and its wealthy guests. It’s up to FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin to dig deeper. Motivated by her own mother’s abduction years ago, she’s determined not to let Avery become another missing person statistic.
The Mexican authorities aren’t cooperating, and Victoria realizes she’s up against something more powerful than she imagined. Taking matters into her own hands, she plunges into a hellish ordeal that will test her strength and courage like never before.
“How much will you risk to find this girl?” the officer asked.
“Whatever it takes,” Victoria answered without hesitation.
Or is it already too late?
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Vanished-Vacation-Agent-Victoria-Heslin-ebook/dp/B09YJ79K6X/
My Review
Vanished on Vacation, by Jennifer Ruff, is a contemporary thriller that will keep readers on the edges of their seats. I didn’t want to put this book down. I was compelled to keep reading to the very last page.
Women disappear in Mexico all the time, but when a young American girl vanishes without a trace, folks tend to sit up and pay attention. Especially when she is the niece of one of the FBI’s top agents. That’s when agents Hiesling and Rivera are put on the case, and they will leave no stone in Mexico unturned to find young Avery, who disappeared on the last day of her vacation. But when the Mexican authorities suddenly turn cold and uncooperative, they get the feeling they’ve stumbled onto something bigger than just the kidnapping of one girl.
A thoroughly entertaining and suspenseful read. I give Vanished on Vacation five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
