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Nikki Hunt #2
One Perfect Grave
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.
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.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2021
2548 people are currently reading
2068 people want to read
About the author
Stacy Green
48Ìýbooks1,119ÌýfollowersStacy 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. She lives in Iowa with her husband and daughter and their three spoiled fur babies.
She is currently working on a new crime fiction series and is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo, Helin and Fountain Literary Management for literary and dramatic rights.
Website: stacygreenauthor.com
Facebook
Twitter: @StacyGreen26
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. She lives in Iowa with her husband and daughter and their three spoiled fur babies.
She is currently working on a new crime fiction series and is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo, Helin and Fountain Literary Management for literary and dramatic rights.
Website: stacygreenauthor.com
Twitter: @StacyGreen26
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 311 reviews
February 16, 2021
Nikki Hunt is back and is investigating the case of two frozen bodies found along a desolate highway in Stillwater, Minnesota. The bodies belong to Kellan Rhodes and his mother Dana. Kellen had been reported missing and his mother Dana was suspected of kidnapping him. At first glance, it appears as if Dana killed her son and then herself, but the wounds suggest that Dana was murdered. If Dana is not the killer, then who is responsible for their deaths? Who would want to kill a mother and her child?
While investigating, Dana and Kellan's murder, Nikki receives a call from Caitlin Newport, a local journalist who believes that another missing child may be linked in some way to Nikki's investigation. Caitlin is desperate for Nikki to investigate this case as well.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave! Two investigations that may or may not be linked! What is the connection? One thing is clear, finding the killer will not be easy. During the investigation, Nikki learns more about Dana, her relationship with her sister, and her attempts to win back custody of her son. Green really knows how to make you feel for the victims.
This was a great follow up to and continues Nikki's storyline from when she learned the truth about her parent's murders. It was refreshing to see the character development in this book and if you have not read the first book in this promising new series, I highly recommend it. I also appreciated how Green had Nikki balancing her job as an FBI agent while spending time with her daughter. Not only do we see Nikki and her daughter, but we also see Nikki interacting with her ex-husband, her boyfriend and her coworkers and other investigators to solve the cases. We also see her be tough as nails as an agent and be more vulnerable in her private life.
This book has some twists and turns and several revelations. This book had the right amount of tension and suspense. There are many layers to this story and with two cases to solve, Nikki is exhausted yet determined. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded as we learn some truths and the big reveal. Although the reveal might not give you whiplash because it does not come out of left field, it does have shock value and gives a nice aha moment. I found this to be a captivating book with a well-executed plot.
Tense, suspenseful and captivating! I look forward to the next book in this series.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
While investigating, Dana and Kellan's murder, Nikki receives a call from Caitlin Newport, a local journalist who believes that another missing child may be linked in some way to Nikki's investigation. Caitlin is desperate for Nikki to investigate this case as well.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave! Two investigations that may or may not be linked! What is the connection? One thing is clear, finding the killer will not be easy. During the investigation, Nikki learns more about Dana, her relationship with her sister, and her attempts to win back custody of her son. Green really knows how to make you feel for the victims.
This was a great follow up to and continues Nikki's storyline from when she learned the truth about her parent's murders. It was refreshing to see the character development in this book and if you have not read the first book in this promising new series, I highly recommend it. I also appreciated how Green had Nikki balancing her job as an FBI agent while spending time with her daughter. Not only do we see Nikki and her daughter, but we also see Nikki interacting with her ex-husband, her boyfriend and her coworkers and other investigators to solve the cases. We also see her be tough as nails as an agent and be more vulnerable in her private life.
This book has some twists and turns and several revelations. This book had the right amount of tension and suspense. There are many layers to this story and with two cases to solve, Nikki is exhausted yet determined. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded as we learn some truths and the big reveal. Although the reveal might not give you whiplash because it does not come out of left field, it does have shock value and gives a nice aha moment. I found this to be a captivating book with a well-executed plot.
Tense, suspenseful and captivating! I look forward to the next book in this series.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
February 8, 2021
A woman returning home late one Sunday night hits a patch of black ice and slides off the road and down an embankment. Luckily she is not badly injured, but as she tries to make her way back to the road she sees two pairs of feet and a pool of blood thereby discovering two semi frozen corpses - eeek!
Acting Sheriff Miller from Washington County calls FBI agent Nikki Hunt to the scene as he thinks he knows who they are and Nikki has been on the search team over the weekend. The victims are confirmed as Dana Rhodes and her son Kellan. Kellan was reported missing on the Friday night. It is now suspected that Dana grabbed him after school on Friday and, after he died either accidentally or on purpose, killed herself by slashing her wrists. Dana was a recovering meth addict who had lost custody of her son three years ago to her much older sister Maggie and husband Joe Anderson.
But Dana had been clean for a year, passing all her drug tests until the last one just before the latest custody hearing. She wanted her son back but Maggie was against it. Failing the drug test was an automatic disqualification for Dana. However, things are never as they seem and the autopsies showed that Dana was actually murdered and that Kellan had died on the Friday - two days before his mother. Nikki learns that Dana swore adamantly that she was still clean and that her sister had somehow arranged for the drug test to fail. Who believes a drug addict anyway? But Nikki is hearing disturbing things about the relationship between the two sisters, Maggie and Dana. How bad could it be?
Meanwhile a reporter that has been bugging Nikki for an interview relating to a previous case, Caitlin Newport, asks Nikki to investigate the disappearance of another boy, 12 year old Zach, from a neighbouring county. There is absolutely no evidence of foul play but Caitlin persists. It turns out she is known to the boy and later she produces credible evidence that the two cases might be linked.
Well we know that Nikki Hunt is a relentless investigator and that she leaves no stone unturned. What eventually crawls out from under those stones is very disturbing indeed. Jealousy and toxic hatred drive this rather sad story. Keep your children close! My thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Stacy Green for providing a copy for review. My opinions are my own.
Acting Sheriff Miller from Washington County calls FBI agent Nikki Hunt to the scene as he thinks he knows who they are and Nikki has been on the search team over the weekend. The victims are confirmed as Dana Rhodes and her son Kellan. Kellan was reported missing on the Friday night. It is now suspected that Dana grabbed him after school on Friday and, after he died either accidentally or on purpose, killed herself by slashing her wrists. Dana was a recovering meth addict who had lost custody of her son three years ago to her much older sister Maggie and husband Joe Anderson.
But Dana had been clean for a year, passing all her drug tests until the last one just before the latest custody hearing. She wanted her son back but Maggie was against it. Failing the drug test was an automatic disqualification for Dana. However, things are never as they seem and the autopsies showed that Dana was actually murdered and that Kellan had died on the Friday - two days before his mother. Nikki learns that Dana swore adamantly that she was still clean and that her sister had somehow arranged for the drug test to fail. Who believes a drug addict anyway? But Nikki is hearing disturbing things about the relationship between the two sisters, Maggie and Dana. How bad could it be?
Meanwhile a reporter that has been bugging Nikki for an interview relating to a previous case, Caitlin Newport, asks Nikki to investigate the disappearance of another boy, 12 year old Zach, from a neighbouring county. There is absolutely no evidence of foul play but Caitlin persists. It turns out she is known to the boy and later she produces credible evidence that the two cases might be linked.
Well we know that Nikki Hunt is a relentless investigator and that she leaves no stone unturned. What eventually crawls out from under those stones is very disturbing indeed. Jealousy and toxic hatred drive this rather sad story. Keep your children close! My thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Stacy Green for providing a copy for review. My opinions are my own.
February 16, 2021
When the two bodies were discovered in the snow and ice, one with arms wrapped around the other, Special Agent Nikki Hunt was shocked and saddened. Nikki and other law enforcement had been searching the area surrounding Stillwater, Minnesota for young Kellan Rhodes for some time. Now in the arms of his mother, Dana, Nikki wondered if it was a murder suicide. But evidence would prove the two were murdered. Dana had been getting her life on track to regain custody of her son. Nikki wondered what had gone wrong � but she was determined to find out.
The same day Kellan disappeared, another young boy vanished � did the disappearance of Zach Reeves have anything to do with Kellan? As Nikki’s team and other teams across the county set the logistics in motion, the investigation was anything but simple. The deeper they dug, the more horrors they uncovered. Who killed Kellan and his mother? And was Zach still alive?
One Perfect Grave is the 2nd in the Nikki Hunt series by Stacy Green and it was riveting! Fast paced, clues, tips, twists � my suspicions changed back and forth. Nikki is a strong character whose past has a lot of bearing on who she is today � her determination to find answers no matter the cost stems from that. I’m already looking forward to #3 in the series � bring it on! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
The same day Kellan disappeared, another young boy vanished � did the disappearance of Zach Reeves have anything to do with Kellan? As Nikki’s team and other teams across the county set the logistics in motion, the investigation was anything but simple. The deeper they dug, the more horrors they uncovered. Who killed Kellan and his mother? And was Zach still alive?
One Perfect Grave is the 2nd in the Nikki Hunt series by Stacy Green and it was riveting! Fast paced, clues, tips, twists � my suspicions changed back and forth. Nikki is a strong character whose past has a lot of bearing on who she is today � her determination to find answers no matter the cost stems from that. I’m already looking forward to #3 in the series � bring it on! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2021
ONE PERFECT GRAVE is the second book in the Nikki Hunt series, a gripping crime thriller set in Stillwater, Minnesota by best-selling author Stacy Green.
The books in the Nikki Hunt Series include:
The Girls in The Snow (Book 1)
One Perfect Grave (Book 2)
This second instalment takes place a few weeks after the end of the first book. While this book can be read as a standalone, as the author does a great job in supplying background information, I would recommend you read the series in order to get a better appreciation of the growth of the characters. It is such a great series, so sit back and enjoy!
FBI Special Agent and criminal profiler Nikki Hunt has been chosen to head up a new Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) that deals with crimes in the jurisdictions of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
When a car skids off the road the driver discovers two dead bodies of a woman and child.
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.
An amber alert had announced that Kellan had been abducted by his biological mother, Dana Rhodes, who had lost custody of Kellan, three years ago because of drug use. Six-year-old Kellan had gone to live with his aunt and uncle, Maggie and Joe Anderson, who fought to adopt him.
The wounds on Dana’s body suggest she murdered her son and took her own life, but Nikki finds evidence that suggests she was a victim too…boot prints at the scene that belong to someone else.
Caitlin Newport, a local reporter, comes to Nikki to tell her about another twelve-year-old child that is reported missing, and claims the cases are linked: Zach Reeves was taken away from his own mother in a custody battle, just like Kellan was. But can Nikki trust Caitlin?
One Perfect Grave is a fast-paced crime thriller with a strong protagonist and engaging characters. Lots of twists and turns with a shocking conclusion. Great series that will appeal to a wide audience. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley, for my digital copy.
The books in the Nikki Hunt Series include:
The Girls in The Snow (Book 1)
One Perfect Grave (Book 2)
This second instalment takes place a few weeks after the end of the first book. While this book can be read as a standalone, as the author does a great job in supplying background information, I would recommend you read the series in order to get a better appreciation of the growth of the characters. It is such a great series, so sit back and enjoy!
FBI Special Agent and criminal profiler Nikki Hunt has been chosen to head up a new Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) that deals with crimes in the jurisdictions of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
When a car skids off the road the driver discovers two dead bodies of a woman and child.
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.
An amber alert had announced that Kellan had been abducted by his biological mother, Dana Rhodes, who had lost custody of Kellan, three years ago because of drug use. Six-year-old Kellan had gone to live with his aunt and uncle, Maggie and Joe Anderson, who fought to adopt him.
The wounds on Dana’s body suggest she murdered her son and took her own life, but Nikki finds evidence that suggests she was a victim too…boot prints at the scene that belong to someone else.
Caitlin Newport, a local reporter, comes to Nikki to tell her about another twelve-year-old child that is reported missing, and claims the cases are linked: Zach Reeves was taken away from his own mother in a custody battle, just like Kellan was. But can Nikki trust Caitlin?
One Perfect Grave is a fast-paced crime thriller with a strong protagonist and engaging characters. Lots of twists and turns with a shocking conclusion. Great series that will appeal to a wide audience. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley, for my digital copy.
March 22, 2021
Stacy Green seems to love Minnesota’s cold and snow! She’s followed up her series debut, in with another stellar Nikki Hunt chiller, . I’d strongly recommend reading them in order to understand the characters and their complex pasts.
When a young driver skids off an icy road into a deep gully on a dark night, she makes a shocking discovery. Just before she passes out, she tells the 911 dispatcher that there are two dead bodies at the bottom of the old bridge.
The county sheriff’s deputy calls Special Agent Nikki Hunt to come to the scene; Nikki fears the worst because a nine-year-old boy, Kellen Rhodes, had been missing for two days, and Nikki was assisting with the case. Could this be the child and his mother?
With her worst fears quickly realized, Nikki and her team of Special Agent Liam and forensics expert Courtney get down to business. The first people they talk to are Kellen’s guardians, his aunt Maggie and her husband Joe. They had custody of Kellen while his mother Dana was in treatment for substance abuse. Throughout the course of the investigation, we learn that Maggie has had life-long resentments toward her younger sister. After it becomes apparent that Dana’s death was not suicide, Maggie just might be a suspect. Would she really harm Kellen, or even cause emotional distress to him by harming his mom?
Other suspects materialize as the investigation progresses, and as new information emerges, the situation becomes more complicated. So does Nikki’s personal life! As a divorcee with a young, precocious daughter, dating a new special someone opens up new possibilities � and challenges. Nikki finds herself juggling all kinds of emotions and doubts. As an FBI agent in charge of life-and-death cases, however, her job most often comes first.
She is human, however. She doesn’t always live up to expectations, personally or professionally. For an experienced agent, sometimes her instincts miss the mark. In her personal relationships, though, she shuffles along as best she can, and to her credit, in both areas she owns up to her shortcomings and makes amends.
This was a fast moving plot. The pieces all fall into place nicely by the end, and even though I wasn’t surprised by the outcome, it didn’t feel too pat. I also love that the author uses real local landmarks in this story. It gives a sense of authenticity to the work. There is a third book in the works, and I look forward to continuing this series!
5 stars
When a young driver skids off an icy road into a deep gully on a dark night, she makes a shocking discovery. Just before she passes out, she tells the 911 dispatcher that there are two dead bodies at the bottom of the old bridge.
The county sheriff’s deputy calls Special Agent Nikki Hunt to come to the scene; Nikki fears the worst because a nine-year-old boy, Kellen Rhodes, had been missing for two days, and Nikki was assisting with the case. Could this be the child and his mother?
With her worst fears quickly realized, Nikki and her team of Special Agent Liam and forensics expert Courtney get down to business. The first people they talk to are Kellen’s guardians, his aunt Maggie and her husband Joe. They had custody of Kellen while his mother Dana was in treatment for substance abuse. Throughout the course of the investigation, we learn that Maggie has had life-long resentments toward her younger sister. After it becomes apparent that Dana’s death was not suicide, Maggie just might be a suspect. Would she really harm Kellen, or even cause emotional distress to him by harming his mom?
Other suspects materialize as the investigation progresses, and as new information emerges, the situation becomes more complicated. So does Nikki’s personal life! As a divorcee with a young, precocious daughter, dating a new special someone opens up new possibilities � and challenges. Nikki finds herself juggling all kinds of emotions and doubts. As an FBI agent in charge of life-and-death cases, however, her job most often comes first.
She is human, however. She doesn’t always live up to expectations, personally or professionally. For an experienced agent, sometimes her instincts miss the mark. In her personal relationships, though, she shuffles along as best she can, and to her credit, in both areas she owns up to her shortcomings and makes amends.
This was a fast moving plot. The pieces all fall into place nicely by the end, and even though I wasn’t surprised by the outcome, it didn’t feel too pat. I also love that the author uses real local landmarks in this story. It gives a sense of authenticity to the work. There is a third book in the works, and I look forward to continuing this series!
5 stars
May 4, 2021
This is the second book in the Nikki Hunt series and they keep getting more intense and exciting.
When the missing boy that Special Agent Nikki Hunt has been trying to find shows up dead along side his mother, it seems like a case of murder suicide. Then another child is reported missing in the area and the local journalist claims that the two cases are connected. Can Nikki find the second child before it is too late?
This is a fast paced page turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
When the missing boy that Special Agent Nikki Hunt has been trying to find shows up dead along side his mother, it seems like a case of murder suicide. Then another child is reported missing in the area and the local journalist claims that the two cases are connected. Can Nikki find the second child before it is too late?
This is a fast paced page turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
February 10, 2021
Once again, Green has delivered a masterful, clever, and addictive thriller filled with twists and turns you won't see coming. Agent Nikki Hunt is quickly becoming my new favorite fictional detective with her tough-as-nails, smart approach to crime but her sensitive and vulnerable personal side. In this new installment, a mother and her son are found killed. It looks like the mother killed herself after her son was accidentally killed but as Hunt peels away the layers of the mother's life, she finds that nothing is what it seems. I couldn't put this down. The plot developments were unexpected and brilliant. I can't wait for the next Agent Nikki Hunt book. More, I need more!
March 1, 2021
One Perfect Grave is the second book in the police procedural series featuring Agent Nikki Hunt. Set in Stillwater, Minnesota, FBI Profiler/ Special Agent Nikki makes a very likeable agent. Nikki came back to Stillwater after twenty years of working away, and I first met her in book one, The Girls in the Snow.
In this instalment, Michelle is driving home one wintry, freezing night after spending the evening with her boyfriend when her car hits a patch of black ice and she spins off the road. As her vehicle nosedives into a snowdrift in a deep gully, she spots a young boy, partially frozen in the ice, and dials emergency services.
Nikki has been given the case of missing youngster Kellan Rhodes. She is woken very early by deputy Ron Reynolds. Acting Sheriff Miller from Washington County is calling her to the crime scene to investigate as it's in an area she knows well and he believes she may know the identity of the victim. When she arrives there are two bodies, confirmed as Kellan and his mother, Dana. Nikki, her new boyfriend, Ryan and many of the townspeople have been searching for them for two days. Then another child is reported missing and Nikki feels that the cases are connected.
This compelling and engaging story hotted up with alacrity. The characters were very well portrayed and protagonist Nikki has been created and developed wonderfully. Nikki is resourceful, intelligent and complex and there is a lot going on in her personal life.
One Perfect Grave was an extremely compulsive read with plenty of action, mystery, crazy plot twists, and a family and community that were not as they appeared. Stacy Green's writing was a good fit for me and I believe she excels when it comes to character development. I was glued to the pages and I didn't want to put this book down as I was desperate to know the outcome of the story. As the tension snowballed in this edge-of-your-seat read, the story bounded towards the resolution, the suspense culminating in a surprising finale. Going forward, I’m very keen to read more in this exciting series. A very highly recommended crime-thriller.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
In this instalment, Michelle is driving home one wintry, freezing night after spending the evening with her boyfriend when her car hits a patch of black ice and she spins off the road. As her vehicle nosedives into a snowdrift in a deep gully, she spots a young boy, partially frozen in the ice, and dials emergency services.
Nikki has been given the case of missing youngster Kellan Rhodes. She is woken very early by deputy Ron Reynolds. Acting Sheriff Miller from Washington County is calling her to the crime scene to investigate as it's in an area she knows well and he believes she may know the identity of the victim. When she arrives there are two bodies, confirmed as Kellan and his mother, Dana. Nikki, her new boyfriend, Ryan and many of the townspeople have been searching for them for two days. Then another child is reported missing and Nikki feels that the cases are connected.
This compelling and engaging story hotted up with alacrity. The characters were very well portrayed and protagonist Nikki has been created and developed wonderfully. Nikki is resourceful, intelligent and complex and there is a lot going on in her personal life.
One Perfect Grave was an extremely compulsive read with plenty of action, mystery, crazy plot twists, and a family and community that were not as they appeared. Stacy Green's writing was a good fit for me and I believe she excels when it comes to character development. I was glued to the pages and I didn't want to put this book down as I was desperate to know the outcome of the story. As the tension snowballed in this edge-of-your-seat read, the story bounded towards the resolution, the suspense culminating in a surprising finale. Going forward, I’m very keen to read more in this exciting series. A very highly recommended crime-thriller.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 26, 2021
One Perfect Grave by Stacy Green is the second in the FBI Agent Nikki Hunt series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Ìý
Series Background:Ìý Ìý(Warning â€� May contain spoilers from previous books)
Nikki Hunt is an FBI Agent whose parents were murdered when she was young.Ìý She helped put away Mark Todd for their murder, but 20 years later, discovered he was innocent, and fought for his release.Ìý She is now dating Rory, Mark's younger brother.Ìý Family dynamics are awkward.Ìý She has a young daughter, and an ex-husband who still loves her.Ìý Nikki heads the BAU unit based out of St. Paul Minnesota.Ìý Her team consists of Crime Scene Analyst Courtney Hart and Agent Liam Wilson.
Ìý
My Synopsis: Ìý (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When the bodies of Dana Rhodes and her 9 year old son Kellan are found at the bottom of a ravine, Nikki has to re-think the case.Ìý It was originally thought that Dana had kidnapped her sonÌý because she couldn't get custody becauseÌý of a failed drug test.Ìý But would she kill herself and her son?Ìý And why, after being clean for so long, would she sabotage her chances of getting custody of Kellan?Ìý Everyone, other than her sister, believes the drug test was wrong.
When journalist Caitlin Newport tries to get Nikki to looking into another missing boy, Nikki isn't sure. Caitlin always has her own agenda, and Nikki almost lost her life when working with her in the past. As well, the Department looking after that case does not want Nikki's involvement.Ìý But Caitlin is pushy.
OnÌý personal level, Nikki considers her relationship with Rory to be private, but her ex-husband is suspicious, and Rory wants things to progress further.Ìý However, his family wants nothing to do with the woman who put their older son in jail for 20 years.Ìý
Nikki has her hands full.
Ìý
My Opinions:ÌýÌýÌý
The second book in this series was just as good as the first.Ìý I love Nikki and her team.Ìý I'm even starting to like Caitlin.Ìý ÌýI love the fact that Nikki drops everything when her daughter needs her.
The plot was entertaining, and although I had guessed the perpetrator early on, the motive eluded me (my thoughts went to paternity).Ìý I liked the twist with Caitlin, though I saw that one coming too.Ìý The fact that I had guessed a number of the outcomes did not detract from the story.Ìý
The book was a fast and easy read, which kept me interested from start to finish.
Oh, and I love the cover.
Can't wait for the next one!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including my reason for choosing to read this and author information), please visit my blog:
February 18, 2021
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.
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.
March 4, 2021
2021 seems to be the year from crime thrillers!!! Another amazing book completed!
One perfect grave is second is the special agent Nikki Hunt series. I ironically brought the first one last week based on recommendations amongst the psychological thriller groups I'm in online but I hadn't connected the two, I will straight after writing this start on book one. Nikki is called to the scene after the body of missing mother and son is discovered in an icy lake after a woman skids on black ice. The crime scene looks staged and foul play is suspected. Nikki and her team work alongside local law enforcement to solve the case. There are so many twists and turns the more she investigates. Meanwhile Caitlin local journalist is convinced that a separate missing boy case is related and won't give up until Nikki hears her out.
Now I must say Nikki is a machine! With everything she encounters during this investigation I have no idea who she powers through. She is a great lead protagonist as even though she appears super human she has many flaws that she's not ashamed to admit. She is able to see the bigger picture whilst investigating and that leaves no one off limits as a suspect.
There is links to Nikki's personal life and I found this useful to break the intensity of the plot up. It's easy for some authors to over power a narrative with a romantic element but Stacey Green has a great balance. Nikki's relationship with Rory is still early and on a rocky ground due to their history (which I believe the first book covers so won't spoil here) and ifs very interesting reading how they navigate that.
She is also a mother and I found that her love for her daughter was written so well, espically in regards to one chapter and hsr ex husband. The author manages to demonstrate real world problems around being a working parent and the emotive pulls one feels.
The plot itself I found very intriguing. I often read these crime books and decide I should be a FBI agent myself because I always tend to guess correctly quite early on. Although I had worked out the main player or players.... I found it such a great read when the layers to the conclusion were being built. You literally find yourself suspecting everyone of everything. It was great how multi layered it was.
The author is very good at descriptive writing. There is the odd thing that gets said often like Nikki showing her credentials, but I appreciated that. So many crime writers ignore the basics when it comes to how an actual investigation works but Stacey Green doesn't miss a beat. The descriptions of the scenes and even the victims is intense and graphic but done so well. I honestly felt if I closed my eyes I could be there myself investigating along side the team.
Would I recommend one perfect grave?
Heck yeah I would!!! It will keep you hooked until the very end and if you are like me you will be anticipating book number three! The crime was interesting as the motive seems thin with everyone until you find it out that is! It's well written and a page turner. I couldn't put it down wanting to find out whose involved and whether or not I had predicted correctly in the end (which I had). Rating 4 stars and honestly only rating 4 because it was a little bit slow in the middle for a few chapters.
Thank you to Netgalley, Stacey Green and Bookouture publishers for the advanced digital copy of one perfect grave in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. I am officially a fan of this series!
One perfect grave is second is the special agent Nikki Hunt series. I ironically brought the first one last week based on recommendations amongst the psychological thriller groups I'm in online but I hadn't connected the two, I will straight after writing this start on book one. Nikki is called to the scene after the body of missing mother and son is discovered in an icy lake after a woman skids on black ice. The crime scene looks staged and foul play is suspected. Nikki and her team work alongside local law enforcement to solve the case. There are so many twists and turns the more she investigates. Meanwhile Caitlin local journalist is convinced that a separate missing boy case is related and won't give up until Nikki hears her out.
Now I must say Nikki is a machine! With everything she encounters during this investigation I have no idea who she powers through. She is a great lead protagonist as even though she appears super human she has many flaws that she's not ashamed to admit. She is able to see the bigger picture whilst investigating and that leaves no one off limits as a suspect.
There is links to Nikki's personal life and I found this useful to break the intensity of the plot up. It's easy for some authors to over power a narrative with a romantic element but Stacey Green has a great balance. Nikki's relationship with Rory is still early and on a rocky ground due to their history (which I believe the first book covers so won't spoil here) and ifs very interesting reading how they navigate that.
She is also a mother and I found that her love for her daughter was written so well, espically in regards to one chapter and hsr ex husband. The author manages to demonstrate real world problems around being a working parent and the emotive pulls one feels.
The plot itself I found very intriguing. I often read these crime books and decide I should be a FBI agent myself because I always tend to guess correctly quite early on. Although I had worked out the main player or players.... I found it such a great read when the layers to the conclusion were being built. You literally find yourself suspecting everyone of everything. It was great how multi layered it was.
The author is very good at descriptive writing. There is the odd thing that gets said often like Nikki showing her credentials, but I appreciated that. So many crime writers ignore the basics when it comes to how an actual investigation works but Stacey Green doesn't miss a beat. The descriptions of the scenes and even the victims is intense and graphic but done so well. I honestly felt if I closed my eyes I could be there myself investigating along side the team.
Would I recommend one perfect grave?
Heck yeah I would!!! It will keep you hooked until the very end and if you are like me you will be anticipating book number three! The crime was interesting as the motive seems thin with everyone until you find it out that is! It's well written and a page turner. I couldn't put it down wanting to find out whose involved and whether or not I had predicted correctly in the end (which I had). Rating 4 stars and honestly only rating 4 because it was a little bit slow in the middle for a few chapters.
Thank you to Netgalley, Stacey Green and Bookouture publishers for the advanced digital copy of one perfect grave in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. I am officially a fan of this series!
February 11, 2021
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.
Now, Nikki must decide if she can trust Caitlin again, before time runs out to find the killer and bring Zach home alive�
I loved the first book in this series and so when I saw this, I knew I had to read this!
The plot was so exciting and fast paced that I just couldn’t put it down. Nikki Hunt’s investigation along with all her team members is excellent and meticulous. The perpetrator is obviously a sick individual who targets little children, I did have doubts quite early into the book as to who it could possibly be. And I was glad to have guessed it right.
Agent Nikki Hunt’s work ethic, camaraderie with her colleagues as well as her ability to keep her emotions at check are some of the amazing qualities which definitely makes her one of my favorite FBI agents. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Overall, an excellent fast paced, edge of the seat thriller! Highly Recommended!
Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!
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.
Now, Nikki must decide if she can trust Caitlin again, before time runs out to find the killer and bring Zach home alive�
I loved the first book in this series and so when I saw this, I knew I had to read this!
The plot was so exciting and fast paced that I just couldn’t put it down. Nikki Hunt’s investigation along with all her team members is excellent and meticulous. The perpetrator is obviously a sick individual who targets little children, I did have doubts quite early into the book as to who it could possibly be. And I was glad to have guessed it right.
Agent Nikki Hunt’s work ethic, camaraderie with her colleagues as well as her ability to keep her emotions at check are some of the amazing qualities which definitely makes her one of my favorite FBI agents. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Overall, an excellent fast paced, edge of the seat thriller! Highly Recommended!
Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!
March 3, 2021
Dana Rhodes is a woman who has gone through the fire. As a recovering methamphetamine addict, she has faced an uphill custody battle with her older sister Maggie. Understandably, because of her past it is hard for the family to trust her. When she and her son Kellan go missing everyone assumes the worst. Has Dana relapsed? Did she kidnap her son? Would she harm him?
When their bodies are found in a frozen grave what first appears to be an isolated murder-suicide starts to read like a totally different crime. FBI agent Nikki Hunt has an eye for detail and she quickly discovers that there is more to this crime than first meets the eye. Then, another boy around Kellan's age goes missing. He too was the subject of a custody battle. Two boys missing within the same timeframe. Could there be a connection? Nikki Hunt is not so sure but reporter Caitlin Newport is adamant that the cases are linked. Despite their past differences, Nikki keeps an open ear and goes where the evidence leads her.
As a character Nikki is smart and sensitive. She is a devoted mom who will drop everything at the drop of a hat to comfort her daughter. She shows compassion and empathy for the victims while doggedly pursuing her cases. Although I did not have the chance to read The Girls in the Snow before One Perfect Grave I felt that I knew Nikki. One Perfect Grave was a fast paced thriller that kept me hooked. I actually read this one in a day. I most certainly will be continuing with this series and recommend that you do too. Special thanks to Noelle Holten and Bookouture for granting me access to this book.
When their bodies are found in a frozen grave what first appears to be an isolated murder-suicide starts to read like a totally different crime. FBI agent Nikki Hunt has an eye for detail and she quickly discovers that there is more to this crime than first meets the eye. Then, another boy around Kellan's age goes missing. He too was the subject of a custody battle. Two boys missing within the same timeframe. Could there be a connection? Nikki Hunt is not so sure but reporter Caitlin Newport is adamant that the cases are linked. Despite their past differences, Nikki keeps an open ear and goes where the evidence leads her.
As a character Nikki is smart and sensitive. She is a devoted mom who will drop everything at the drop of a hat to comfort her daughter. She shows compassion and empathy for the victims while doggedly pursuing her cases. Although I did not have the chance to read The Girls in the Snow before One Perfect Grave I felt that I knew Nikki. One Perfect Grave was a fast paced thriller that kept me hooked. I actually read this one in a day. I most certainly will be continuing with this series and recommend that you do too. Special thanks to Noelle Holten and Bookouture for granting me access to this book.
February 24, 2021
One Perfect Grave is the second instalment in the FBI Special Agent Nikki Hunt series, set in Stillwater, Minnesota. It's a treacherous Sunday evening on the roads around Stillwater and Michelle is driving home from spending time with her boyfriend. The ice is coming down in sheets leaving black ice everywhere and making it a tricky task to see the lane ahead clearly. She reaches Valley Creek Bridge and passes it with ease. Only a couple miles now from home she unwittingly accelerates against a spot of black ice and ends up careening dangerously off the road before landing in a deep gully. She calls 911 and the dispatcher informs her they are sending both a sheriff's deputy and paramedics to her spot on old Stagecoach Road, but before she can finish the call Michelle passes out after discovering two dead bodies sitting in a lake of blood at the bottom of the old bridge. One a young boy, partially frozen in the ice. It isn't long before Acting Sheriff Miller from Washington County calls Nikki in to the crime scene to investigate as it's a neck of the woods she knows well and he believes he already knows the identities of the victims. They are soon confirmed as nine-year-old Kellan Rhodes and his mother, Dana, who Nikki, her new beau, Ryan, and many of the townspeople had been scouring the local area for over the weekend.
Kellan was reported missing on Friday evening and because Dana, a recovering methamphetamine addict, had lost custody of him three years ago it is suspected that she effectively took him at the end of school. It is speculated that he could've died as the result of an accident or at his own mother’s hand before she slashed her wrists. Dana's older sister, Maggie, and her husband were eventually given custody of Kellan embroiling the whole family in a hostile and deeply strained relationship. But when another custody embittered child vanishes from a neighbouring county, can Nikki and co get to the bottom of happened? This is a compulsive and captivating read with plenty of action, mystery, crazy plot twists and a family and community that is not what it seems. The fact that it involved mass toxicity, betrayal and animosity was sad to see and it is clear the impact custody battles have on the parents, the child and the wider family unit. I enjoyed learning more about Nikki who is a complex personality with plenty going on in her personal life to keep you engaged. The way the multilayered plot unravels and the two crimes become intertwined is well thought out and kept me riveted throughout. It's a propulsive and absorbing addition to a gritty series that is swiftly becoming unmissable. Highly recommended.
Kellan was reported missing on Friday evening and because Dana, a recovering methamphetamine addict, had lost custody of him three years ago it is suspected that she effectively took him at the end of school. It is speculated that he could've died as the result of an accident or at his own mother’s hand before she slashed her wrists. Dana's older sister, Maggie, and her husband were eventually given custody of Kellan embroiling the whole family in a hostile and deeply strained relationship. But when another custody embittered child vanishes from a neighbouring county, can Nikki and co get to the bottom of happened? This is a compulsive and captivating read with plenty of action, mystery, crazy plot twists and a family and community that is not what it seems. The fact that it involved mass toxicity, betrayal and animosity was sad to see and it is clear the impact custody battles have on the parents, the child and the wider family unit. I enjoyed learning more about Nikki who is a complex personality with plenty going on in her personal life to keep you engaged. The way the multilayered plot unravels and the two crimes become intertwined is well thought out and kept me riveted throughout. It's a propulsive and absorbing addition to a gritty series that is swiftly becoming unmissable. Highly recommended.
June 15, 2021
This series just got started & its already so damn good. The plot was simple but so very tense. Generally I love reading complex twisted plots. In comparison this was low on both but the pages just kept turning. The story of Dana & Kellan was interesting to say the very least. I felt very compelled to reach the end & unravel the brutal double murder. And the end was very satisfying! Nikki Hunt is amazing as a main character. The supporting characters i.e. her team is great too. I could do with learning more about them eventually. Its interesting to see Nikki's personal life unfold. There's a lot of palpable tension in there for me. I would definitely sign up to read the next book in the series.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Stacy Green for an arc!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture & Stacy Green for an arc!
March 3, 2021
“A gripping and heart-pounding crime thriller�
All the other fictional detectives need to move aside a little and make space for another first class investigator to take her place amongst them. I have to say that I just couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, in my eagerness to get to the end of the book and discover who the murderer was, after I had been tripped up by enough red herrings to cause severe injury to my pride!
This one had it all. It opened straight up into the action; the storyline never let up for one second; and the ending, whilst I didn’t get to accuse the right suspect, kept me on the edge of my seat. Oh! and just for good measure, although only by the skin of her teeth, Nikki manged not to get herself killed. She lives to fight another day � Book #3 please Stacy, anytime you’re ready!
I am still in two minds about going back to read book #1, but only for the case itself, as Stacy did such a great job of filling in the backstory without making it too overpowering for any existing reader who is already following the series, that I really felt like I already knew Nikki personally and could tell what she was thinking and how she was feeling. It goes without saying that she has enough emotional baggage to more than fill the average family suitcase and she sure doesn’t like to make her private life easy for herself. However she never takes her eye off the ball when it comes to work, even if the lines become a little blurred around the edges sometimes!
This compelling and multi-layered storyline is wonderfully textured, rich in atmosphere and constantly has the tension ratcheted up a notch at a time, as the well constructed and intense investigation draws to a climax. Particularly important to the team, as this investigation involves children and especially as Nikki is a mother herself, is their determination to achieve closure for the families with as much compassion, tact, diplomacy and thoughtful consideration as possible. Although this is made all the more difficult given the eventual and dramatic final turn of events, and the fact that other law enforcement teams in the area seem so hellbent on causing as much internal division and distrust as possible. When the chips are down Nikki and her small FBI criminal profiling team, manage to work alongside the local County Sheriff’s office, without any rancour or ill feeling. However, cross that County line into the next jurisdiction and you do so at your own peril, as Nikki is all too aware from previous personal experience, and some things simply never change!
The gripping and often slightly disturbing, narrative and dialogue was intelligent, crisp and fluid, with not so much as a wasted word. However the whole investigation managed to retain a skilfully written, visually observational and descriptive awareness that was spot-on and detailed enough that I could almost picture myself shadowing the team as they went about their business. I would quite like to have a leader like Nikki Hunt, who handles her team well, who after asking for input and opinions from them, never then jumps in with her own personal thoughts first, in case it clouds their judgement and influences them too much, as she really values everyone’s opinions and relies on collaborative thinking and ideas to solve a case. Although she is also never afraid to override one of them if necessary, so long as she has good reason to do so, and is always ultimately willing to hold her hands up and shoulder the blame if mistakes are made on her watch.
Author, Stacy Green, has done an amazing job of creating a completely diverse range of characters, who all elicited different responses from me. Some I could relate to and invest in all the way down the line, others I just loved to hate, and then there were those I could have cheerfully punched in the nose (or worse)! I guess my point is that they were all so well defined and developed, that I could get inside their heads and see what they were thinking. The synergy between them was raw and passionate, complex and emotional, powerful and vulnerable, but always genuine and believable.
My complete review post, including additional extracts and excerpts, is here...
All the other fictional detectives need to move aside a little and make space for another first class investigator to take her place amongst them. I have to say that I just couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, in my eagerness to get to the end of the book and discover who the murderer was, after I had been tripped up by enough red herrings to cause severe injury to my pride!
This one had it all. It opened straight up into the action; the storyline never let up for one second; and the ending, whilst I didn’t get to accuse the right suspect, kept me on the edge of my seat. Oh! and just for good measure, although only by the skin of her teeth, Nikki manged not to get herself killed. She lives to fight another day � Book #3 please Stacy, anytime you’re ready!
I am still in two minds about going back to read book #1, but only for the case itself, as Stacy did such a great job of filling in the backstory without making it too overpowering for any existing reader who is already following the series, that I really felt like I already knew Nikki personally and could tell what she was thinking and how she was feeling. It goes without saying that she has enough emotional baggage to more than fill the average family suitcase and she sure doesn’t like to make her private life easy for herself. However she never takes her eye off the ball when it comes to work, even if the lines become a little blurred around the edges sometimes!
This compelling and multi-layered storyline is wonderfully textured, rich in atmosphere and constantly has the tension ratcheted up a notch at a time, as the well constructed and intense investigation draws to a climax. Particularly important to the team, as this investigation involves children and especially as Nikki is a mother herself, is their determination to achieve closure for the families with as much compassion, tact, diplomacy and thoughtful consideration as possible. Although this is made all the more difficult given the eventual and dramatic final turn of events, and the fact that other law enforcement teams in the area seem so hellbent on causing as much internal division and distrust as possible. When the chips are down Nikki and her small FBI criminal profiling team, manage to work alongside the local County Sheriff’s office, without any rancour or ill feeling. However, cross that County line into the next jurisdiction and you do so at your own peril, as Nikki is all too aware from previous personal experience, and some things simply never change!
The gripping and often slightly disturbing, narrative and dialogue was intelligent, crisp and fluid, with not so much as a wasted word. However the whole investigation managed to retain a skilfully written, visually observational and descriptive awareness that was spot-on and detailed enough that I could almost picture myself shadowing the team as they went about their business. I would quite like to have a leader like Nikki Hunt, who handles her team well, who after asking for input and opinions from them, never then jumps in with her own personal thoughts first, in case it clouds their judgement and influences them too much, as she really values everyone’s opinions and relies on collaborative thinking and ideas to solve a case. Although she is also never afraid to override one of them if necessary, so long as she has good reason to do so, and is always ultimately willing to hold her hands up and shoulder the blame if mistakes are made on her watch.
Author, Stacy Green, has done an amazing job of creating a completely diverse range of characters, who all elicited different responses from me. Some I could relate to and invest in all the way down the line, others I just loved to hate, and then there were those I could have cheerfully punched in the nose (or worse)! I guess my point is that they were all so well defined and developed, that I could get inside their heads and see what they were thinking. The synergy between them was raw and passionate, complex and emotional, powerful and vulnerable, but always genuine and believable.
My complete review post, including additional extracts and excerpts, is here...
February 14, 2021
This story takes place a few weeks after the previous book, but if you missed that, this is a good point to step in. The main facts of that book are shortly explained, which was good for me as well as it’s a while since I read that.
When a young woman skids off the bridge on a patch of black ice, she discovers the bodies of Dana Rhodes and her 10-year-old son, Kellan. He disappeared from his uncle’s house 2 days earlier and it was assumed that his birth mother had taken him. Nobody could imagine that she would harm him though. It appears that the boy is dead for a couple of days but his mother’s death is more recent? Her wrists are slashed in a manner she could not have done self. Special Agent Nikki Hunt, who’s staying in town with her boyfriend, is asked to help with the case. The same day that Kellan disappeared, another boy that was also involved in a custody case did vanish from the neighbouring county. The local sheriff is imminent that he must have gone through the ice and drowned but a local journalist and the boy’s grandparents beg Nikki to help them.
It’s a bit odd, but I read this book and ‘The Winter Girls� in the same week. Both books are similar in their setting and characters, even the names Hunt and Hunter are almost identical. Both are female FBI agents who’re involved with a local man. But luckily that’s where the coincidences stop. The stories are completely different. Anyway, it was a perfect read for a snowy, cold week.
Similar to the first book in the series, there are 2 different investigations that may well or not be connected.
Nikki feels still guilty about her early testimony that put Rory’s brother in jail for a very long time, even though she got him out as well by discovering the real killer. Mark and his brother forgave her but there are still a lot of people that hold it against her.
Nikki is trying to juggle her daughter, her ex-husband, and her new relationship but is a bit wary about informing her daughter Lacey and her ex. She’s also still insecure about her own and Rory’s feelings. It’s a delicate balance when both men are worried when she gives too much time or attention to the other;
Dana’s story is really tragic and sad. I felt really sorry for her. She worked so hard to get off the drugs and be a good mother and then her own sister fights that in court to keep custody of Kellan. So, she’s a good suspect for Dana’s death but surely she would not kill the boy?
This is a story of unconditional motherly love and perseverance. Where this love is a beautiful, positive sentiment, it can also lead to wrong and dangerous choices with unforeseeable consequences. This love is not only visible in the parents of the missing children but also in Nikki’s own life.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for their free ARC and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
When a young woman skids off the bridge on a patch of black ice, she discovers the bodies of Dana Rhodes and her 10-year-old son, Kellan. He disappeared from his uncle’s house 2 days earlier and it was assumed that his birth mother had taken him. Nobody could imagine that she would harm him though. It appears that the boy is dead for a couple of days but his mother’s death is more recent? Her wrists are slashed in a manner she could not have done self. Special Agent Nikki Hunt, who’s staying in town with her boyfriend, is asked to help with the case. The same day that Kellan disappeared, another boy that was also involved in a custody case did vanish from the neighbouring county. The local sheriff is imminent that he must have gone through the ice and drowned but a local journalist and the boy’s grandparents beg Nikki to help them.
It’s a bit odd, but I read this book and ‘The Winter Girls� in the same week. Both books are similar in their setting and characters, even the names Hunt and Hunter are almost identical. Both are female FBI agents who’re involved with a local man. But luckily that’s where the coincidences stop. The stories are completely different. Anyway, it was a perfect read for a snowy, cold week.
Similar to the first book in the series, there are 2 different investigations that may well or not be connected.
Nikki feels still guilty about her early testimony that put Rory’s brother in jail for a very long time, even though she got him out as well by discovering the real killer. Mark and his brother forgave her but there are still a lot of people that hold it against her.
Nikki is trying to juggle her daughter, her ex-husband, and her new relationship but is a bit wary about informing her daughter Lacey and her ex. She’s also still insecure about her own and Rory’s feelings. It’s a delicate balance when both men are worried when she gives too much time or attention to the other;
Dana’s story is really tragic and sad. I felt really sorry for her. She worked so hard to get off the drugs and be a good mother and then her own sister fights that in court to keep custody of Kellan. So, she’s a good suspect for Dana’s death but surely she would not kill the boy?
This is a story of unconditional motherly love and perseverance. Where this love is a beautiful, positive sentiment, it can also lead to wrong and dangerous choices with unforeseeable consequences. This love is not only visible in the parents of the missing children but also in Nikki’s own life.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for their free ARC and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
January 26, 2021
Another winner by Stacy Green! Book 2 in the Nikki Hunt series did not disappoint and I can't wait to see what she takes on in the next book.
Great new series and I look forward to reading a lot more in the future. HIghly recommend for fans of crime thrillers.
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.
Great new series and I look forward to reading a lot more in the future. HIghly recommend for fans of crime thrillers.
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.
February 9, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of One Perfect Grave, the second novel to feature Minnesota based FBI Agent Nikki Hunt.
A car skids off the road and the driver discovers two dead bodies of a woman and child. They are quickly identified as Kellen Rhodes and his mother Dana. Nikki has been looking for Kellen for days and Dana had been her prime suspect. Initially it is suggested that it’s a murder-suicide after Dana lost custody of Kellen but Nikki’s not so sure, especially when another young boy goes missing.
I thoroughly enjoyed One Perfect Grave which is an engrossing read with plenty going on. It gets complicated at times with so many characters having what I would call side motives. Their behaviour isn’t legal and uncovering their motives for this behaviour adds to the picture but doesn’t bring Nikki closer to identifying a perpetrator. Much of the novel is taken up by this and while it gets a little messy at times it is exciting and compulsive. It is fitting that the solution comes in a throw away remark.
I like Nikki Hunt, who is a smart operator and is never afraid to get down and dirty - she is physically attacked twice in this novel. Does that make her careless or dedicated? Decide for yourself. She has a messy personal life as well with an ex-husband still carrying a torch, a child and a new boyfriend with links to her past. I would recommend reading this series in order as this novel makes many references to the events in the previous one, even explaining the outcome at one point. It would be hard to backtrack successfully.
One Perfect Grave is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
A car skids off the road and the driver discovers two dead bodies of a woman and child. They are quickly identified as Kellen Rhodes and his mother Dana. Nikki has been looking for Kellen for days and Dana had been her prime suspect. Initially it is suggested that it’s a murder-suicide after Dana lost custody of Kellen but Nikki’s not so sure, especially when another young boy goes missing.
I thoroughly enjoyed One Perfect Grave which is an engrossing read with plenty going on. It gets complicated at times with so many characters having what I would call side motives. Their behaviour isn’t legal and uncovering their motives for this behaviour adds to the picture but doesn’t bring Nikki closer to identifying a perpetrator. Much of the novel is taken up by this and while it gets a little messy at times it is exciting and compulsive. It is fitting that the solution comes in a throw away remark.
I like Nikki Hunt, who is a smart operator and is never afraid to get down and dirty - she is physically attacked twice in this novel. Does that make her careless or dedicated? Decide for yourself. She has a messy personal life as well with an ex-husband still carrying a torch, a child and a new boyfriend with links to her past. I would recommend reading this series in order as this novel makes many references to the events in the previous one, even explaining the outcome at one point. It would be hard to backtrack successfully.
One Perfect Grave is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 23, 2021
This is the second book in the Nikki Hunt series. Nikki is called to the crime scene with two victims:Kellan, a boy she was searching for the past few days, and his mother Dana. Initially everything suggests that Dana killed her son and then took her own life. But very early on Nikki and her team find evidence suggesting that Dana was actually murdered. To complicate matters, a reporter with whom Nikki has a complicated relationship, Caitlin, believes that another boy was taken on the same day as Kellan and that the two cases are somehow connected.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I expected to at least enjoy the second one. But I ended up loving it. This was such a good book. I will say though that the mystery itself wasn't very complicated and I figured out the whodunit quite early on. But it didn't matter because I loved the journey so much. I pitied Dana so much, her life was a struggle and I just wanted to reach into the book and give her a hug. Nikki is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. She is smart and caring, but also has a cool had on her shoulders and is able to think clearly even in dire situations.
The romance had some development and I want to see where it goes next.
All in all I really loved this and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I expected to at least enjoy the second one. But I ended up loving it. This was such a good book. I will say though that the mystery itself wasn't very complicated and I figured out the whodunit quite early on. But it didn't matter because I loved the journey so much. I pitied Dana so much, her life was a struggle and I just wanted to reach into the book and give her a hug. Nikki is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. She is smart and caring, but also has a cool had on her shoulders and is able to think clearly even in dire situations.
The romance had some development and I want to see where it goes next.
All in all I really loved this and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2021
Special Agent Nikki Hunt is on the case of a mother and her son found dead. While reporter Caitlin is begging her to take on another case. Another hard to put down installment in the Nikki Hunt series. You’ll be glued to the pages right to the nail biting end!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
January 23, 2021
A slow burn FBI thriller that as the story progresses unravels more shocking finds and a crazy conclusion.
Special Agent Nikki Hunt who has been helping the town of Stillwater, Minnesota try and locate a missing boy is shocked when not only his body is found frozen by a lake but also that of his mother who was the FBI's prime suspect in his abduction. The ME's report shows this leans more to homicide than suicide.
The deeper Nikki and her team dig into Dana's life more questions and suspects arise. While they are investigation that thorn in Nikki's side journalist Caitlin Newport come to her to report another child is missing and she thinks its tied to the double murder.
Now Nikki is not only in a race to find our who murder a mother and her child but also look into the other missing boy which end up blowing the whole case wide open.
I really enjoyed this second book in the series. Nikki is a fascinating character and I cant wait to see what's next.
Special Agent Nikki Hunt who has been helping the town of Stillwater, Minnesota try and locate a missing boy is shocked when not only his body is found frozen by a lake but also that of his mother who was the FBI's prime suspect in his abduction. The ME's report shows this leans more to homicide than suicide.
The deeper Nikki and her team dig into Dana's life more questions and suspects arise. While they are investigation that thorn in Nikki's side journalist Caitlin Newport come to her to report another child is missing and she thinks its tied to the double murder.
Now Nikki is not only in a race to find our who murder a mother and her child but also look into the other missing boy which end up blowing the whole case wide open.
I really enjoyed this second book in the series. Nikki is a fascinating character and I cant wait to see what's next.
February 24, 2021
Another great read in the Nikki Hunt series.
Nikki is called when a woman and child’s body is found in the snow after a car lost control on the ice.
It’s discovered that despite looking like suicide, the woman was murdered but it’s a mystery what happened to her son.
Nikki starts investigating and finds out that Dana had been fighting to get custody of her son from her sister Maggie.
She was about to get custody when she failed a drug test, but all is not what it seems.
Caitlin contacts Nikki about a missing boy and at first she can’t help as it’s not in her jurisdiction but later evidence comes to light that changes everything.
Things are going well with Nikki and Rory and she’s building up to the next step where he meets her daughter.
This is a gripping crime thriller that well and truly had me hooked.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Nikki is called when a woman and child’s body is found in the snow after a car lost control on the ice.
It’s discovered that despite looking like suicide, the woman was murdered but it’s a mystery what happened to her son.
Nikki starts investigating and finds out that Dana had been fighting to get custody of her son from her sister Maggie.
She was about to get custody when she failed a drug test, but all is not what it seems.
Caitlin contacts Nikki about a missing boy and at first she can’t help as it’s not in her jurisdiction but later evidence comes to light that changes everything.
Things are going well with Nikki and Rory and she’s building up to the next step where he meets her daughter.
This is a gripping crime thriller that well and truly had me hooked.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
August 27, 2024
I like murder mysteries and enjoyed this book. I liked the first book in this series a bit more than this one though. I’m not one to try to figure out who dunnit early in the book, but I like piecing it together just before the big reveal. This author is good at adding bits to the storyline. Not sure I want to go to Stillwater, Minnesota though given all the murders that happen in such a small town.
May 9, 2021
GIMME THE NEXT ONE NOWWWWW!
May 24, 2021
Another exciting twisty read in this series.
February 25, 2021
This was a great book. I feel like that needs to be said first because so many mystery books I have read lately have not held my attention like this one did. I’m not going to describe the plot, that is all laid out perfectly by the publisher.
Firstly, One Perfect Grave is the second book in the Nikki Hunt series. However, reading the first book is not a requirement to understand this one. Plot points are mentioned but there is still enough mystery that I plan on reading the first book in the series.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it really focused on the case. I enjoyed that it made reference to the previous book and relationships were developed between the two and throughout this book. These were mentioned, but not the main focus of the book. Each relationship played a part within the plot of this, or helped explain certain actions. Enough to humanize characters but not overwhelm the plot.
Nearly every interaction or plot point was worth reading. In many novels you can skip a paragraph or two but I paid attention during this book because the details were important. Whether it was from a previous case, the current overlapping cases or the history, these points helped drive the plot of this book.
Did I guess the culprit? Eventually. But it took me longer than most books to settle on one. Many twists, turns and possible suspects, each with a great motive and possibility. This book was fast paced but it was a perfect pace. You didn’t become lost because each revelation helps this come full circle.
This was a great mystery book and I look forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book to review. This review is my own opinion.
Merged review:
This was a great book. I feel like that needs to be said first because so many mystery books I have read lately have not held my attention like this one did. I’m not going to describe the plot, that is all laid out perfectly by the publisher.
Firstly, One Perfect Grave is the second book in the Nikki Hunt series. However, reading the first book is not a requirement to understand this one. Plot points are mentioned but there is still enough mystery that I plan on reading the first book in the series.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it really focused on the case. I enjoyed that it made reference to the previous book and relationships were developed between the two and throughout this book. These were mentioned, but not the main focus of the book. Each relationship played a part within the plot of this, or helped explain certain actions. Enough to humanize characters but not overwhelm the plot.
Nearly every interaction or plot point was worth reading. In many novels you can skip a paragraph or two but I paid attention during this book because the details were important. Whether it was from a previous case, the current overlapping cases or the history, these points helped drive the plot of this book.
Did I guess the culprit? Eventually. But it took me longer than most books to settle on one. Many twists, turns and possible suspects, each with a great motive and possibility. This book was fast paced but it was a perfect pace. You didn’t become lost because each revelation helps this come full circle.
This was a great mystery book and I look forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book to review. This review is my own opinion.
Firstly, One Perfect Grave is the second book in the Nikki Hunt series. However, reading the first book is not a requirement to understand this one. Plot points are mentioned but there is still enough mystery that I plan on reading the first book in the series.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it really focused on the case. I enjoyed that it made reference to the previous book and relationships were developed between the two and throughout this book. These were mentioned, but not the main focus of the book. Each relationship played a part within the plot of this, or helped explain certain actions. Enough to humanize characters but not overwhelm the plot.
Nearly every interaction or plot point was worth reading. In many novels you can skip a paragraph or two but I paid attention during this book because the details were important. Whether it was from a previous case, the current overlapping cases or the history, these points helped drive the plot of this book.
Did I guess the culprit? Eventually. But it took me longer than most books to settle on one. Many twists, turns and possible suspects, each with a great motive and possibility. This book was fast paced but it was a perfect pace. You didn’t become lost because each revelation helps this come full circle.
This was a great mystery book and I look forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book to review. This review is my own opinion.
Merged review:
This was a great book. I feel like that needs to be said first because so many mystery books I have read lately have not held my attention like this one did. I’m not going to describe the plot, that is all laid out perfectly by the publisher.
Firstly, One Perfect Grave is the second book in the Nikki Hunt series. However, reading the first book is not a requirement to understand this one. Plot points are mentioned but there is still enough mystery that I plan on reading the first book in the series.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it really focused on the case. I enjoyed that it made reference to the previous book and relationships were developed between the two and throughout this book. These were mentioned, but not the main focus of the book. Each relationship played a part within the plot of this, or helped explain certain actions. Enough to humanize characters but not overwhelm the plot.
Nearly every interaction or plot point was worth reading. In many novels you can skip a paragraph or two but I paid attention during this book because the details were important. Whether it was from a previous case, the current overlapping cases or the history, these points helped drive the plot of this book.
Did I guess the culprit? Eventually. But it took me longer than most books to settle on one. Many twists, turns and possible suspects, each with a great motive and possibility. This book was fast paced but it was a perfect pace. You didn’t become lost because each revelation helps this come full circle.
This was a great mystery book and I look forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book to review. This review is my own opinion.
January 29, 2021
Loved it! An FBI thriller which is book two in the Nikki
Hunt series. I so enjoy Nikki, she’s a mom, an agent, a woman, in a relationship and just an all around bad ass !
I loved the first book and couldn’t wait for this book and I can’t wait to follow Nikki wherever her future path may go.
I love her team, her boyfriend and I enjoyed that we got to see a more human side of journalist Caitlyn.
A murder, a disappearance and a 25 year old cold case ... they couldn’t possibly be related... could they ?
Hunt series. I so enjoy Nikki, she’s a mom, an agent, a woman, in a relationship and just an all around bad ass !
I loved the first book and couldn’t wait for this book and I can’t wait to follow Nikki wherever her future path may go.
I love her team, her boyfriend and I enjoyed that we got to see a more human side of journalist Caitlyn.
A murder, a disappearance and a 25 year old cold case ... they couldn’t possibly be related... could they ?
January 24, 2021
Such an anticipated read, and it did not disappoint! Nikki is trying to live a normal life in the town she grew up, lost her parents, the wrong man sat in prison for ages for the deaths of her parents, and she has started dating his brother. There is also a new case, and since it’s a small town everyone knows each other, and it always seems to make it worse. Astonishing read!
A mother and son are found dead. Murdered. The mother was a known drug abuser, and did not have custody of her son. Instead, her sister, whom she hated, and her brother-in-law have raised her son. A lot of secrets are revealed, some shocking, others surprising. Cleverly written, well-plotted, and I’ve fallen in love with the quirky town and it’s people. I’m afraid though that once Stacy tells the story of every single person in this town half of them will end up in prison.
I felt like it dragged on a bit too long after the beginning towards the middle, but luckily after that it really picked up and smoothly moved towards the last words. The book is both bewitching and charming, and the main characters are simply real and alluring. Stacy is an amazing author, and I can’t wait to read the third book in the series! I hope this series goes on forever.
A mother and son are found dead. Murdered. The mother was a known drug abuser, and did not have custody of her son. Instead, her sister, whom she hated, and her brother-in-law have raised her son. A lot of secrets are revealed, some shocking, others surprising. Cleverly written, well-plotted, and I’ve fallen in love with the quirky town and it’s people. I’m afraid though that once Stacy tells the story of every single person in this town half of them will end up in prison.
I felt like it dragged on a bit too long after the beginning towards the middle, but luckily after that it really picked up and smoothly moved towards the last words. The book is both bewitching and charming, and the main characters are simply real and alluring. Stacy is an amazing author, and I can’t wait to read the third book in the series! I hope this series goes on forever.
June 15, 2021
Nikki Hunt was a brilliant investigator and I need more of her books. While called for the deaths of a mother-son duo, a child went missing, thereby convoluting an already murky path with few leads or clues.
The book was fast paced and Nikki was etched carefully by the author making this a fast read. This packed a punch because Nikki was most apt for this role. I loved her determination and her instincts helped her right through.
Another cracker by the author. Read book 1 then this to enjoy the characters.
The book was fast paced and Nikki was etched carefully by the author making this a fast read. This packed a punch because Nikki was most apt for this role. I loved her determination and her instincts helped her right through.
Another cracker by the author. Read book 1 then this to enjoy the characters.
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