Dressed in pyjamas covered with stars, the little girl’s body is perfectly still, her arms folded neatly over her chest. The wildflowers decorating her hair scatter across the grass in the sharp breeze. Her lips are parted slightly, as if to whisper goodnight for the very last time…

When twelve-year-old Holly Mitchell’s fragile little body is found on the steps of a mountainside church in the small town of Denton, a doll made from pine cones clasped tightly to her chest, Detective Josie Quinn rushes to attend the scene. She knows this little girl’s angelic face; her mother had offered Josie help when she’d needed it most.

Searching the girl’s house, Josie is devastated to find that Holly’s mother is dead too, and her little sister is missing. But why has this family home been stripped of all sharp objects? Re-tracing her steps, Josie finally finds a secret hiding place with Holly’s sister inside, terrified, but alive. Moments later, another doll made of twigs turns up.

Certain the killer is close by, Josie holds the little girl tight and tries to coax answers from her, but it’s clear the pile of burnt photographs and letters found in the greenhouse is her only lead. No one is safe until Josie can figure out the dangerous secret that has escaped this remote family home.

Just when Josie is finally closing in on the killer, the unthinkable happens, a tragedy that shakes her to her very core. And on the windshield of her car: a third wooden doll. Could stopping this twisted monster from taking more innocent lives come at the ultimate price for Josie?

I’ve been so oblivious about life that I completely missed the fact that this book had come out!! Who would have thought two years ago that this series would become so loved and appreciated to me.

WARNING: This book is heavy on emotion, crying is possible.

I can’t believe we made it to book 11 in the series. Josie Quinn has become such a powerful character over the course of the series and the book opens on such a happy time for the character. It’s rare to find a group of characters that become so integrated into your life. I know the characters are fictional, but they’ve been with me so long that they’ve become semi sentient in my mind.

Gone are the book plots revolving around individual team members – thought I’m holding out on books where Mett and Amber take the lead. At this point, we know almost as much about the supporting characters as the main characters.

In terms of character development, Josie Quin has overcome hurdles and grown in ways that would be rare in real life, let alone fictional. As a character, her resolve and determination are always surprising. She definitely leaves her mark and I find her very inspiring, both as a woman and as a character.

It was almost expected that something would happen to spoil the happiness at the beginning of this book, however, I didn’t expect the plot to be so emotional. For the first time while reading this series, I actually cried!

It’s a talent to be able to write a long series that stays interesting and continues to give to the reader. Book 12 is out later this year, so I am looking forward to the continuing adventure.

There is also a focus on OCD in this book and as someone who suffers from OCD, I found the descriptions and overall portrayal of it refreshing. Regan notes in her acknowledgements that she also has personal experience dealing with OCD and that is very obvious from the way it is portrayed. The stigma and the stereotype of OCD being something related to excessive hygiene needs to be stopped, and Regan did an excellent job here of showing different aspects of the disorder.

I don’t think there is anything bad I can say about this book. I think the plot of this book served the characters very well.

I give this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟