Right Behind Her (Bree Taggert, #4) By Melinda Leigh

The discovery of human remains unearths another nightmare from Sheriff Bree Taggert’s past in a bone-chilling thriller by #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.

Twenty-seven years ago, Sheriff Bree Taggert’s father killed her mother, then himself. Now Bree and her younger brother, Adam, find human bones on the grounds of their abandoned family farm. The remains are those of a man and a woman, both murdered in the same horrible way.

When the investigation determines the murders occurred thirty years ago, Bree’s dead father becomes a suspect, forcing Bree to revisit the brutal night she’s spent most of her life trying to forget. The only other suspect is an unlikely squatter on the Taggert farm who claims to know secrets about Bree’s past. When he mysteriously disappears and Bree’s niece is kidnapped, the cold case heats up.

Bree has stoked the rage of a murderer who’ll do anything to keep his identity—and motives—a secret. To protect everyone she loves, Bree must confront a killer. Right Behind Her (Bree Taggert, #4)

Right Behind Her was another excellent addition to the Bree Taggert series with an intriguing case connected to Bree's family.

Twenty-seven years ago, Sheriff Bree Taggert's father killed her mother and then himself. In the years since, Bree has avoided the old farm the family called home. When her younger brother Adam requests her assistance at the property, Bree goes to help only for the pair to find human bones on the property. As the investigation reveals the victims were murdered thirty years ago, Bree is forced to confront her past with her deceased father now a suspect. But the more Bree digs into the case, the more clear it becomes that someone else was involved and they'll stop at nothing to prevent Bree from uncovering their identity.

Right Behind Her opens with Bree and Adam on the farm where Bree reveals details from their life back then as Adam was too young to remember. While on the property, the two discover a trespasser who then flees causing Bree to chase him which ultimately leads to the discovery of the bones. From there, the investigation picks up speed and several prominent families in town are connected to the case. This causes Bree some issues as she isn't willing to sweep things under the rug the way the previous sheriff did. During the investigation, Bree gets a lead that sends her to Sharp Investigations and we get to see a character from the Morgan Dane series. I really enjoyed that series so I liked getting to see an old favorite character. Ultimately the case goes in a few different directions and I was ended up being surprised by the killer's identity as I had someone else pegged as the killer.

Bree continues to be an excellent main character and I've enjoyed watching her adapt to her role as sheriff. This time around we got to see a bit of the administrative side to her job which was a nice change of pace. Bree is doing better at managing her time between her job and being home with her niece and nephew that she cares for. I liked seeing her relax with her family and Dana, her old partner who lives with her and helps care for the kids. Her relationship with Matt has developed quite a bit and I love the little moments they get together outside of the case. The pair work well together but I think my favorite moments are when they're off the job. And while there is a romance in this series, it's not a huge part of the book so readers looking for more of the suspense element should enjoy the series.

Overall I really enjoyed Right Behind Her and I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Dead Against Her, when it releases next year. I highly recommend this series if you're looking for some great romantic suspense.

**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.** Mystery, Thriller, Romance ****YAY!! I'm happy to report this is not the end of the series. There are at least 2 more books coming (next year).


Not sure if this is the end of the Bree Taggert series. Hoping not, but if so, it was the beginning of a great HEA for Bree/Matt on the romance front (hands clapping ). From a suspense standpoint, it was a page turner centered around 2 bodies discovered on the Taggert family property with haunting revelations for Bree involving her father. Great read. Mystery, Thriller, Romance I honestly can't wait to see what the next two books in this series bring. There's a lot of closure in this one. I liked how we ended things with the history of Bree's family and I loved where Bree and Matt are in their relationship. 

Right Behind Her has Bree investigating two 20 year old murders. When Bree goes to visit her family's farm with her brother Adam, they not only find someone squatting there with drugs. They end up finding skeletal remains to boot. Bree is afraid that the murders will end up being the result of her father. Bree remembers all to well how mean he was and what he used to do to her mother and her. However, when Bree and Matt start digging, it appears the two remains may have some ties to some of the richest families in the area.

Bree is great. Honestly I loved the resolution between her and her brother in this one. Adam did bug me a bit in the earlier books acting as if Bree had secrets to tell she wasn't sharing. She had to deal with a very traumatic experience and it drove me up the wall that he acted like their family history wasn't a mess. As someone that comes from a somewhat messy family, it also drives me nuts when the siblings want to gloss over stuff. I am definitely my father's daughter with the whole I don't forget anything and after you have shown me who you are, I don't trust you. 

Matt was also great. Him being patient with Bree and not rushing her was great. I also love how well they do together in interviews. 

The cases were really interesting and I have to say, I didn't see the ending coming in this one. I have to wonder what this means for Bree as sheriff though. She keeps making enemies.  Mystery, Thriller, Romance I have to be truthful. I want to read the 5th and 6th stories in the Bree Taggert series now.

Bree's childhood horror story comes to a head with Right Behind Her. This is not a standalone book so if you are new to the series, start at the beginning with Cross Her Heart. And please bear with me with all my tags; sometimes I get carried away.

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Her fairly new job as sheriff had highs and lows. Oscar was still around performing a second rate job. Politics were her enemy. And 2 murders dislodged her early years as a child.

Evil was on the cusp of her current family and her long-ago past. I understood her hesitancy; thankfully, she had Matt Flynn by her side to support her. I was even happy to read how dedicated her deputies were to her.

She navigated her role as new mother to her niece, Kayla, and nephew, Luke. She found strength in numbers with Matt, Dana, Nolan and, yes, even Brody.

I found the story was fast-paced and I finished it within 2 days. Now, I just need to wait. :(( Mystery, Thriller, Romance In this 4th installment in the series, Sheriff Bree Taggart is forced to relive events from her past when human bones are found on the property she grew up on. This investigation hits too close to home.

In case you've never read this series, let me give you an overview: Bree Taggart is a former homicide detective who moved to Grey's Hollow to become sheriff when her sister Erin died and left two children, 8 year old Kayla and 16 year old Luke. Bree receives assistance with the kids and household from her former partner Dana who retired and moved there to help out. She can also rely on her brother Adam, a famous artist. Bree and Adam's father killed their mother and then himself over 25 years ago. Perhaps her father was involved in worse criminal activities.

Matt Flynn is a civilian criminal investigator who assists the sheriff's department when needed. He trains K-9 dogs and his sister runs a dog rescue. He is also Bree's love interest.

I have always liked stories with a strong female sheriff. If you like Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series or J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady series, you might try this one. I am glad I won a Kindle copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

Mystery, Thriller, Romance

the setup…
It’s been almost thirty years since that nightmare evening when Sheriff Bree Taggert’s family was ripped apart. Her abusive father murdered her mother and then killed himself while eight-year old Bree protected her little sister Erin and infant brother Adam. He’s now a renowned but reclusive artist and bought the property years ago but it remained abandoned. At Adam’s request, he and Bree visit the property, the first time for her since that awful night. They find a squatter and after the chase, they discover something much worse…the remains of two bodies that were apparently buried there before the death of their parents.

the heart of the story…
I understood why Bree never wanted to see that house again but also got why Adam needed to be there, see the life he never remembered through Bree’s eyes. It shouldn’t have surprised me that they’d find something else awful there given Jake Taggert’s history. But I felt bad for Bree that she not only had to revisit the worst night of her life but now had to fully immerse herself in the past to identify the victims and solve this crime, potentially implicating her father as the murderer. There were a few potential suspects that she narrowed down, but the motive was elusive. Meanwhile, I liked that opening these wounds brought her closer to Matt Flynn, the man she’s currently seeing and who’s her consultant. Bree’s great at her job but more aloof when it comes to meaningful relationships. His impact and that of her family have changed her in a good way.

the narration…
I’m enjoying Traister’s voice for this series and she’s become synonymous in my mind with the stories and characters. I will only listen to the books going forward.

the bottom line…
This was the story I was waiting for, the one that would provide some insight into Bree’s father Jake, maybe provide some answers as to why he did what he did. While most of those questions were resolved, there are new ones cropping up. The mystery surrounding what happened to those two victims was twisty and head scratching but I felt I always knew who was behind it, even if the motive escaped me. There was a surprise in the end that needs further exploration, too. I had a good time following the clues and seeing Bree shed some heavy mental baggage and weight. This continues to be a compelling series.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.) Mystery, Thriller, Romance Let my tagged bookshelf speak for itself. This book was a letdown. I have, yet again, given a highly ranked book a negative rating. The author did herself no favours by trying to do everything and not borrowing from better books in the genre.

I am going to avoid this author's books from now on. Book 3 was very good. But now I cannot side myself along with the fans. To add insult to the injury of reading this book - a quick read - I felt so numb that I did not even try to solve the mystery. It was there for the taking.

The worse thing you can do in a murder mystery is to appoint a character as witness to the crime and let that character alive and well and under the noses of the investigators all this time. Also I usually embrace dialogues of everyone in the book having the same tone and syntax. After all, I grew up as a cozy mystery reader foremost. But here I thought the book was far from being sharp and realistic.

There were better things here, though. The problem with that is the good things are all in the same one chapter. The carnival, Kayla being cute and carefree, her little scare (trying not to give spoilers here), the flirting between sidelined and minor characters, everything good here was in one chapter.

I wonder how many fans of the series felt the scales falling from their eyes. They must number in significant digits. I would have continued with this series if I had more time and if there were competent lending e-book libraries where I live. But now I conclude with the wry feeling that this cute setting is not worth reading purely for engaging in it. I have not had enough, but I am doing the sensible thing. Mystery, Thriller, Romance In this title Bree Taggert returns to her own family’s past because of a crime she has to solve. Once again I’d have loved this title to be a little longer, but it is enjoyable the way it is. It was not one of the most difficult cases to solve I think, but the plot is pretty well done and well written.
5 out of 5 stars. Mystery, Thriller, Romance Right Behind Her (Bree Taggert #4)
By Melinda Leigh
If you’ve read any of the first three Bree Taggert books, you know that she has struggled since her parents died in a murder/suicide twenty-seven years ago when she was eight. Her father’s evil ways have helped form her into the woman she is today, strong, loving, honest, but hesitant to trust enough to form a relationship with a man.

When her sister died, she returned to her hometown to raise her sister’s children and is now the county sheriff. Her brother, Adam, who was an infant when his parents died, has always craved a family connection. When he buys their old, abandoned family home in a bid to find that connection, it is no wonder that Bree is concerned.

She goes with him to face her fears and see the house she hasn’t seen in twenty-seven years. Of course, things go south from there. They find an intruder hiding in the barn who attacks Bree and is ultimately arrested. Then they find old bones on the property belonging to a man and woman who were murdered in a gruesome way thirty years ago, perhaps by her father.

This is a fast-moving story with many suspects, but I had no trouble keeping up. This is an exciting story that had me suspecting just about everyone. There is a little bit of romance here as Bree learns to trust the ever-dependable Matt, but the true story is the crazy, heart-pounding race to find the killer or killers.

My thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the chance to read this exciting book in exchange for my honest opinion. I gave it four stars!

Publication Date: 9/14/21
Mystery, Thriller, Romance Sheriff Bree Taggert's younger brother Adam convinces her to visit their family's abandoned home which he has purchased. This is the first time Bree has stepped foot onto the property since her father murdered her mother and then killed himself nearly thirty years ago. When they find someone hiding in the barn, they give chase only to stumble across the remains of two long ago buried bodies. Bree and her investigator Matt Flynn are quickly pulled into investigating a double murder that took place while her father was alive. Bree doesn't know if her father was behind this murder or if someone else killed two people and buried the bodies on her family's former property.

The fourth book in the Bree Taggert series takes us into Bree's past. She never wanted to return to her family home and only did at her brother's request. After finding the bodies on the property, locals are once again talking about her family. I enjoyed the mystery and the identity of the murderer had me stumped. I also liked seeing Bree grow closer to Matt. My rating: 4.5 Stars. Mystery, Thriller, Romance

Melinda Leigh Ó 9 read