Detective Katie Scott is back in the third book in her series. This time the case is personal.

Katie is still working in the cold case department of the Pine Valley police force but her partner McGaven has now moved to part-time. After attending her Aunt and Uncle’s wedding anniversary party, Katie calls the next day to go for a run with her uncle, a family tradition.

After initially getting no answer at their house her uncle eventually opens the door covered in blood. A quick sweep of the house reveals that her aunt is dead in the laundry room. Her uncle swears he didn’t kill his wife. However, all the evidence points in his direction. Katie has been told to stay away from the case but as her uncle is the only family she has left she is not going to let him go down for something he didn’t do, especially when her aunt’s death has very similar circumstances to a cold case.

I had read the first two books in the Detective Katie Scott series and enjoyed them both so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. I find Katie to be a great character. Yes, she has some PTSD that she is working through having just come out of the army in the first book and she can be a bit hot-headed at times and reckless but this is what I like about her, she makes for good reading.

I thought the book was a little slow to get going this time and I was waiting for the murder to occur to get the plot surging ahead and showing Katie at her best. Once she is on the trail of a killer there is no stopping Katie and with this being personal bring the real killer to justice was all she had in her mind, as well as trying to connect the dots to an old case.

The book was fast-paced, thrilling and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was glad to see that Cisco, Katie’s ex-army dog is still involved in her detective work. If you haven’t read the first two in the series I would suggest doing so before reading this one. It can be read as a stand-alone but you won’t get the full atmosphere of the book given that we get to know her aunt and uncle in previous books.

Overall, Flowers on Her Grave is a fab read and I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.

In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

Jennifer Chase was born and raised in California and still lives there with her husband, dogs and cats. In addition to writing and consulting, Jennifer enjoys spending time outdoors, both at the beach and hiking, and engaging in some amateur photography.