For fans of Julia Keller and Sheena Kamal, All We Buried disturbs the long-sleeping secrets of a small Washington State mountain town.Interim sheriff Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers has always had one repeat nightmare: a shadowy figure throwing a suspicious object into her hometown lake in Collier, Washington. For the longest time, she chalked it up to an overactive imagination as a kid. Then the report … a kid. Then the report arrives. In the woods of the Cascade mountain range, right in her jurisdiction, a body floats to the surface of Lake Collier. When the body is extricated and revealed, no one can identify Jane Doe. But someone must know the woman, so why aren’t they coming forward?
Bet has been sitting as the interim sheriff of this tiny town in the ill-fitting shoes of her late father and predecessor. With the nightmare on her heels, Bet decided to build a life for herself in Los Angeles, but now it’s time to confront the tragic history of Collier. The more she learns, the more Bet realizes she doesn’t know the townspeople of Collier as well as she thought, and nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.
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Small towns always have the greatest secrets. When Bet takes over the sheriffs position from her dad, she thinks it’s only temporary. But then her father died and she is facing not only solving a murder, but also the attempts to get her off the sheriffs chair. Liked the story and was especially happy with the ending!
All We Buried by Elena Taylor
Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery #1
Excellent introduction to a new series by a new-to-me author that I will definitely want to follow in this series and perhaps any book she might write. This book had me guessing and caring and hoping all would work out as Sheriff Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers as she worked to uncover the mystery of who murdered Jane Doe.
What I liked:
* The writing and how it gradually allowed me to know the characters and eventually solve the case (although I did read ahead to find out because – that’s what I di)
* Bet: intelligent, capable, wise, considering options for her future, has an interesting backstory that comes out over the course of the book, strong, resilient, and likable
* Schweitzer: Anatolian Shepherd, originally belonged to Bet’s father but becoming hers more and more – great dog!
* The history of the small town and how it impacted the community and the specific murder investigation
* The potential murderers and how they were presented and eventually exonerated…or not.
* Alma: a bit crusty but perfect at the front desk at the sheriff’s office
* Clayton: part-time deputy that may become full-time in the future has wicked mad skills that would be useful as a policeman.
* The undercurrents related to the upcoming election for sheriff
* That there was more than a murder involved
* That most of the characters were more than what I expected them to be
* The potential for romance for bet hinted at in the book.
* The flashbacks Bet had and how they played into the mystery
* That all the threads were tied up at the end of the story
* Reading the last page and feeling satisfied while wanting to read more.
What I didn’t like:
* The baddie…wow…just WOW
* Having to say goodbye and now wait for book two to be published.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Sheriff Bet Rivers is endearing, devoted, clever, and complicated, and I’m her new biggest fan. With ALL WE BURIED, Elena Taylor conjures up an ingenious mystery in a haunting locale. I can’t wait to see what else she brings to this wonderful series.
Loved this book, especially the main character, Sheriff Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers. Read it in two days and can’t wait for a sequel. Here’s why:
1. Atmospheric setting which includes a small town with deep roots, a creepy old collapsed mine, and a cold, dead lake with a history of hiding the town’s dirty secrets.
2. An intriguing, quirky cast of characters. Even Schweitzer, the dog, has personality!
3. An intricate plot replete with multiple generations of sin – theft, adultery, suicide, murder – all woven into a climatic and satisfying finale. It had several twists I didn’t see coming, which is hard to do and much appreciated in a murder mystery. Highly recommend!
ALL WE BURIED: A Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery (A Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery Book #1) by Elena Taylor is a well written and paced, atmospheric small town Sheriff/police procedural mystery debut.
Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers has returned home to Collier from L.A. to her small hometown in the mountains of Washington state to follow in her father’s footsteps as Sheriff. Currently the interim Sheriff, she is not certain she wants to stay even as she runs for election against her father’s deputy.
A Washington State professor is studying the dead glacial lake by the abandoned coal mine outside of Collier when he discovers a canvas wrapped body floating in the lake. Bet has never handled a murder investigation, but she is determined to solve this one to prove her worth to the people of her town and herself. This murder is eerily reminiscent of a terrifying dream Bet has had for nearly nineteen years. Was it a dream or a memory she would rather forget?
As Bet digs deeper into the disturbing history around her hometown, two hometown sons have returned at the same time the body turns up. The more Bet digs, the more she learns that she does not know the town people of Collier as well as she believed and she may be the next victim of the dead lake and the ghosts of the old mine.
This is a wonderful mystery read that kept me guessing and turning the pages. I would never have expected a debut to be able to pull me in to not only the mystery and characters, but also the landscape and ecology of the small Cascade mountain town and lake. Bet is a wonderful new lead character that I am looking forward to following into the future. She is realistic and relatable as are the secondary characters. The mysteries from the past and the present are intertwined and paced perfectly in my opinion.
I highly recommend this debut and first in a series mystery!
All We Buried by Elena Taylor is a page-turner of a mystery that is sure to keep you guessing!
Oh my gosh. Sign me up for all of the Sheriff Bet Rivers books! I just love her! This was such a captivating mystery with wonderful characters. I CANNOT wait to see where this series goes next!
If you’re looking for an action packed mystery with just a sprinkle of romance, then I highly recommend snagging this one.
There’s a new sheriff in town and her name is Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers. Born and raised in Collier, Bet left the cozy, close-knit Washington community to pursue a career in law enforcement in the big city—the City of Angels—Los Angeles, California. Bet’s plan is to move up the LAPD ranks to Chief and come back to Collier in twenty years, but family means everything to Bet. When her father, Sheriff Earle Rivers, calls her home to act as interim sheriff while he recovers from his illness, she puts her life in sunny Southern California on hold and returns to the chilly Northwest. Like her father always says, “Competition. Family. Responsibility. Loyalty. Collier.” Once back in Collier, it doesn’t take an LAPD detective to figure out that Earle wasn’t completely honest about his chances of surviving the cancer. When Earle passes, Bet is torn—return to Los Angeles to pick up where she left off with LAPD or remain in Collier to compete with Earle’s deputy to become the next elected sheriff? When a canvas-wrapped dead woman surfaces from the icy cold waters of the lake, Bet has no choice but to stay. Her first homicide. In a town unaccustomed to murder, but not unaccustomed to secrets. Some of which are Bet’s own. Secrets she’s kept buried since childhood. With her instincts, her LAPD training, and the ghost of her father’s wisdom to guide her, Bet sets a course for herself that will not only be life-changing, but life-threatening. Filled with interesting characters and intriguing plot twists, “All We Buried” is the first book in a much-anticipated series by Elena Taylor.
I love books with strong settings, and All We Buried is one of those books! Lake Collier is haunting, as are the mysteries weaved throughout the novel. In this small town, the past is never really the past. Although Bet Rivers, the interim sheriff, questions her decision to move back, readers won’t question her ability to solve multiple murders. She’s a woman we can root for as she unearths the past one clue at a time. I’m really looking forward to spending time with this new series.
Author Elena Taylor introduces interim sheriff Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers in All We Buried, the first in a new series set in a rural Washington town with secrets that lie beneath the surface of its glacial lake. Taylor weaves an intriguing tale populated by a cast of interesting characters. Brava!
Wow! This book is utterly captivating from its beautifully haunting cover design to the atmospheric story enveloped within the pages. The author captures the setting of this small Washington state mountain town in such amazing detail and interweaves its tragic existence into the narrative in such a gripping way that it essentially becomes a character of its own. The chilling nature of the glacial lake and breathtaking background of the mountains that surround this community provide fascinating and breathtaking imagery, bringing so much life to the story.
Spanning the course of a week, this is a slow-burning and well-crafted mystery that provides a compelling view into the work of a rural Sheriff’s office. Not simply just a police procedural that follows the investigation of a possible murder, but also an exploration into the tangled history of prominent residents that converges in answering so many painful questions from the past. Although Bet calls Collier home, she did pursue a career in law enforcement with the LAPD before returning home to assume the role of Sheriff following her father’s death. She has a lot to confront upon coming home, and her strong internal dialogue as well as her conversations with her dead father provide so much intriguing information into her personal conflicts, the powerful nature of father-daughter relationships, and grief. The author’s deft storytelling created not just an unsettling and suspenseful read, but was a masterful character study on family dysfunction and the lasting pain of secrecy.
Bet is an incredibly competent and confident woman although we spend a great deal of time with her as she works through her own insecurities and misgivings. Her father may have been the Sheriff for as long as anyone can remember, but that doesn’t convince her that the townspeople will accept his daughter enough to vote her into office in the upcoming election. Friends from her childhood are also suspiciously returning, each with their own torments, heightening the sense of distrust. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and maintaining their connections with each other did at times become overwhelming, especially as the climax drew near. The pacing does pick up quite nicely once the investigation gets going and clues are gradually revealed. Everything wraps up in a dramatically skillfully crafted conclusion that left me desperately swooning for more!
Many thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, the publisher, and especially the author for providing me with a free copy of the book. This is my honest and thoughtful opinion.
4.5 stars
All We Buried is the best mystery I’ve read so far this year – richly atmospheric from start to finish, layered, and a bit haunting. The characters are multi-dimensional and engaging, and there was more than one moment when I wasn’t sure who to trust other than Bet herself. And Schweitzer the dog, too, of course, who wins the honor of being one of my favorite dogs in fiction. I’m looking forward to seeing him in future books of the series nearly as much as I am Bet and all the ‘good guy’ characters (including some of the initially iffy ones) in this first installment.
The mystery in All We Buried is also very multi-dimensional, and Taylor reveals it a layer or two at a time. Never too hurried. Never too slow. Just the right amount of pacing to keep us turning the pages and completely locked into the story. And I have to confess that the plot took me by surprise more than once, and not many books do that. Absolutely stellar writing that left me sitting in stunned silence for a moment near the end.
Bottom Line: All We Buried has more of a traditional mystery feel than cozy, though there are elements of the latter as well, and I loved it! The town of Collier – particularly the lake – is as much a secondary character as the actual residents, and the rich details put readers right in the middle of it. Taylor skillfully sets the pace to allow us to become acquainted with the town, the people, and the deep-rooted mysteries coming to the surface. A fabulous read from start to finish!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
When Elizabeth (Bet) Rivers returns to a small town in Washington, it is because her father has passed away. He had been the sheriff there for many years and his last wish was she come home and fill in for him. She gave up her job as a law enforcement officer in Los Angeles, but now has second thoughts about staying in Washington, as she is up for election soon.
She feels a lot of pressure, knowing the townspeople are comparing her to her father ..and her deputy is resentful since he thought the job would go to him. And just to rub it in, he’s running for sheriff against her.
When a body is found floating in Lake Collier, she investigates only to find that no one seems to know who the victim is. Determined to prove herself worthy, however, Bet must confront the warped history of Collier. The more she learns, the more she realizes she doesn’t know the townspeople of Collier as well as she thought, and nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.
This well written crime fiction is filled with suspense from the very first page. Bet is a terrific character…. she has her issues, but she’s feisty and determined to show what she’s made of. There are twists and turns that lead to an unexpected conclusion. Hopefully, this will not be the last we see of Bet.
Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of ALL WE BURIED. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
I loved this small town mystery! Bet Rivers has returned to Collier and is currently the interim sheriff following her fathers death, and in a small town where nothing really happens finding a body floating on the lake really puts the sheriff and her team to the test. The body is a Jane Doe and finding out who the woman is proves to be difficult, she has no fingerprints,no ID and she wasn’t from the town but I loved how the process of elimination was done, following Bet’s process of deduction. The body brings up mysteries from the past, and with Bet’s recurring dreams she begins to wonder if they all tie in.
The story was well thought out, executed and gripping, I loved the small town setting and the characters and can’t wait to read from this series and author
5 stars
All We Buried by Elena Taylor was an exciting tale of mystery, crime, and carrying a family legacy.
Will Bet solve this case before it gets leaked to the press?
Bet Rivers
Bet Rivers came back to help her dad out while he recovers from cancer. It turns out it was a ruse to bring his daughter back to take his place as Sheriff for their small town. A significant difference between LA to a small town. Elizabeth has been doing an excellent job with the first part of it. Well, until a dead body comes up in the local lake and that is oddly like a body she has seen in her nightmares. She now has to solve that case and figure out not only why she was killed but who she was. Bet is a proper police officer and a great sheriff.
What I like about her is that she doesn’t let what happened in the past reflects on how she treats a suspect. I also like how she doesn’t make the other guy running for Sheriff, that is a deputy scare her either.
The Mystery
A young lady shows up in their lake, where nothing has survived and brings up a lot of questions for this small town’s deputies. Bet and her team have to try to find out who the girl is while not scaring away the rest of the tourists and not to alarm anyone either. It takes a lot of digging up of evidence for Bet and her team to figure out who did it. I admit I fell for some herrings.
Four Stars
All We Buried by Elena Taylor is an exciting tale for a cop procedural. I loved seeing how crime works from the angle of the story focusing on the cops instead of the sleuth. Ms. Taylor has a great way of doing that in this work. For that, I am giving it four stars and recommending it to anyone that wants to give Ms. Taylor’s novel a try.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of All We Buried by Elena Taylor.
Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
This is one of those books that I forced myself to read slower because I didn’t want to leave the story. I was instantly hooked with the characters and the gorgeous setting. The author does an amazing job of painting the scenery – I felt like I could see the lake and smell the trees. The mystery was awesome – I love that there were past secrets coming to light as the current investigation unfolded. Bet is an easy-to-like character and I am looking forward to more in this series.
I downloaded this book from NetGalley from the publisher. I am voluntarily sharing my honest review.
I absolutely loved All We Buried: A Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery! If you love a good suspenseful mystery, you’ll love it too! Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers has been acting sheriff since her dad died though she’s not sure her heart is in it. She was ready to take the fast track to detective in Los Angeles, but she couldn’t abandon her dad when he asked her to come home. He passed away shortly after Bet’s return, so she felt she had no choice but to stay and honor his wishes. She’s still unsure about the future when a man comes into the sheriff’s office claiming he found a body in the lake.
Bet follows the man to the lake and the body, and from that point on, you’ll be hooked. I couldn’t stop reading this thrilling mystery! The atmosphere in the small town of Collier, Washington in All We Buried: A Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery feels dark and shadowy. It fits this book perfectly. You never know who is watching (maybe ghosts!), and things feel just out of reach. Bet isn’t sure who she can trust; however, she follows her instincts and begins to discern who she can count on in the case.
I did not want this book to end! Of course, all books have to end at some point, and I loved the ending, but it’s just so exciting! The pacing is perfect; the characters are well developed; and the mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat. I am totally invested in these characters, and I can’t wait to read another Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery!
Collier, Washington is a small former mining town of about a thousand souls. Now it caters to tourists and Bet (Elizabeth) Rivers is the acting sheriff. Her dad had been the sheriff until his death six months previous. Bet had no intention to return home but her dad knew his time was running out and he knew how to lure her back from LAPD and her plans to become a detective. Now, at the end of Summer, facing an election with her deputy as her opposition, she is at a cross roads. The Rivers family had always been the sheriff and now she was the end of the line, not yet 30 with some very big shoes to fill. The days go by until an out of towner shows up at her office to report that he had found a body in Collier Lake while he was canoeing. It was wrapped in canvas and he towed it to shore only to discover it was the body of a woman. A woman nobody claims to know. Who was she and how did she end up in the lake? Collier and its citizens have lots of secrets and they won’t be revealed easily. Bet faces her first solo homicide – will she be able to find the truth? One thing becomes clear, she may have grown up in this town, where everyone knows everyone else but how much does she really know and will not knowing be dangerous?
I enjoyed the writing style, the way the words flowed was very smooth and descriptive, making me feel as though I was right there with Bet all the way through the book. The pace was slow to begin with but it gradually gathered speed leading to the second half of the mystery and its conclusion. As for the various characters of the town, there were lots of them and, at first I thought I wouldn’t be able to keep them straight but I was wrong. It was just taking the time to get to know them. And their firmly hidden secrets. I enjoyed my reading time spent with Bet and I’m looking forward to more time spent with her in Collier.
My thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
In Elena Taylor’s ALL WE BURIED, Sheriff Elizabeth ‘Bet’ Rivers jumps to life with the familiarity of an old friend, a small-town girl who can ride, shoot, and tell a room full of dangerous men who’s in charge with just a look. When her stint as a police officer in Los Angeles is cut short by her father’s death, Bet returns home to the Pacific Northwest to walk in his shoes as sheriff of Collier, Washington, a move that doesn’t sit well for some in the tight-knit community. Loyalties are tested and family histories collide in the former mining community when Bet’s tasked with the area’s first homicide in years, but the new Sheriff Rivers meets the challenge head-on, even if it means finally dealing with the recurring nightmare she’s questioned her whole life. Written with crisp, evocative prose, Taylor sets the reader deep enough in the woods of cedar and Douglas fir that you can smell the damp leaves or imagine the chill of the dead lake that holds the key to the past. Besides providing a twist-filled mystery with a cast of vivid characters, Taylor dares to break the still waters of memory to take an honest look at the parents who make us, mistakes, secrets, and all. With the country flavor of Craig Johnson’s Longmire and the no-nonsense drive of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone, Sheriff Bet Rivers may have just arrived, but she’ll be in charge for a long time.
*I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Elizabeth “Bet” Rivers had her law enforcement career planned, take the detective exam at LAPD and gradually move up the ladder. When she received a call from her father, Lake Collier Sheriff Earle Rivers, her plans changed. He needed her help while he underwent chemo treatments…but then suddenly he was gone and she was the interim sheriff. When a scientist discovers a body in the lake, her childhood nightmare of seeing someone dump something in the lake returns. Bet is a strong and capable lead character and she relies on the investigative techniques she learned from her father. The suspicious return of the land owner as well as her former lover make Bet’s investigation even more complicated. As a past mystery seems connected, will there be another murder to solve? A captivating story and I look forward to the next Sheriff Bet Rivers mystery. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
All We Buried was a well written book, my first by this author. I throughly enjoyed the book and the main character Bet. Taking over as Sheriff after her father’s death we enjoy getting to know Elizabeth better. I would certainly recommend this book to others.