A homicide detective’s violent family history repeats itself in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, secrets, and retribution.For more than twenty-five years, Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert has tucked away the nightmarish childhood memories of her parents’ murder-suicide…Until her younger sister, Erin, is killed in a crime that … is killed in a crime that echoes that tragic night: innocent witnesses and a stormy marriage that ended in gunfire. There’s just one chilling difference. Erin’s husband, Justin, has vanished.
Bree knows how explosive the line between love and hate can be, yet the evidence against her troubled brother-in-law isn’t adding up. Teaming up with Justin’s old friend, former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn, Bree vows to uncover the secrets of her sister’s life and death, as she promised Erin’s children. But as her investigation unfolds, the danger hits close to home. Once again, Bree’s family is caught in a death grip. And this time, it could be fatal for her.
more
A gripping thriller, Cross Her Heart is fast paced and riveting, with the complex and compelling lead homicide detective, Bree Taggert. The first in a destined to be a hit series.
A great romantic suspense novel. The mixing of genres is tough to pull off, since the suspense leads the way. But these great characters bring to life both parts. Recommended.
I enjoyed this. It’s a good detective story with emotion, horror and intrigue. The emotion is believable, and scenes of the small country town are well described. There’s enough in it to keep being interesting, although certain elements of the final scenes are not quite believable. Nevertheless, lots of intrigue and a good read.
CROSS HER HEART (Bree Taggert Book #1) by Melinda Leigh is the first book in a new romantic suspense/thriller series that has everything I look for in this genre. A strong, intelligent female protagonist, an engaging cast of secondary characters and a thrilling, intense plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat which all come together in this exceptional debut.
Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggart receives a call for help from her younger sister, Erin. She drops everything and returns to her hometown. When she arrives, it is to a nightmare which is eerily reminiscent of her traumatizing childhood. Erin is dead and the main suspect is her estranged husband, Justin who is missing. Bree vows to get justice for Erin and her children.
Bree is not alone in her search for Justin. His best friend, former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn knows Justin has problems, but he loved Bree and he does not believe he is capable of murder. Bree and Matt work together to uncover Erin’s secrets and to find Justin.
Bree and Matt do not realize how closely the killer is watching. Once again, Bree’s family is in danger and she may be the next Taggart in the line of fire.
This book is Melinda Leigh at her best! Bree and Matt are realistic, multifaceted characters that work very well together and complement each other. Bree and all the characters in this story come to life immediately. I found Bree’s compassionate handling of Erin’s children to be a great example of her internal character. The plot has a myriad of twists and turns that had me continually surprised and turning the pages.
I highly recommend this first book in the Bree Taggert series and I am anxiously waiting for the next in the series!
I haven’t had the pleasure of reading such an enjoyable mystery in a long time. I’m a fan of family trauma mixed with mystery series and strong female leads, so this was a perfect fit for me. I enjoyed watching Bree’s life transform after her sisters death (becoming a mom and caretaker) and the slow development with Matt (I’m betting there’s going to be more in future books). I loved the way the mystery played out and through the ending was more of a surprise than I’d bargained for, all the pieces fell into place. A great read that made my plane ride travel melt away.
I expected a better book. Not sure why maybe because of all the advertising I seen for it. The story just didn’t hold my interest and I found myself just leaving it on as background noise.
Masterful! Melinda Leigh knows just how to blend poignant family drama with edge-of-your-seat suspense. As the heroine of this thrilling new series, Bree Taggert will capture your heart.
A powerful new start to this series by Ms. Leigh. Bree Taggert, homicide detective in Philadelphia, had an abusive childhood. She feared her father and her parents fought constantly leading to her father killing her mother then taking his own life. She was the protector for her younger sister and brother and is stunned to learn that her sister, Erin, has been murdered. Is this history repeating itself? Bree returns to Grey Hollow, N.Y. and with the help of former sheriff’s deputy Matthew Flynn will search for her sister’s killer. Even though the town holds such painful memories for Bree, can she remain there for the sake of Erin’s two children? What will she do when the children’s absentee father returns to seek custody? I look forward to the next book in this exciting series! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
PAST AND PRESENT COLLIDE!
When homicide detective Bree Taggert receives a distressing phone call from her sister, she rushes back to a hometown filled with nightmarish memories, only to find her sister was murdered.
Bree is overcome by grief, and guilt that she hadn’t been there when Erin needed her- especially when she learns the main suspect is Erin’s husband.
Was the past repeating itself?
Several years ago, Bree witnessed her father’s murderous rage against her mother. She grabbed her younger brother and sister, and hid until the police came. By then, both of her parents were dead in an apparent murder-suicide. It changed the sibling’s lives forever.
When the evidence doesn’t seem to add up, Bree teams up with her brother-in-law’s best friend, former officer and K-9 handler Matt Flynn.
As facts come to light, danger awaits and a murderer stalks the detective.
THIS IS A RIVETING STORY OF BETRAYAL, MYSTERY, SUSPENSE AND A BUDDING ATTRACTION.
I give Cross Her Heart 4.5 lovely kisses- A Must-read!
“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”
Ms. Leigh had me flipping the pages in this book. I have read many of her books, and was hooked by Bree Taggert. I have already bought a few others in this series.
Very good book! Melinda Leigh is a wonderful writer!
Bree Taggert is a Philadelphia homicide detective who has worked hard to overcome her tragic past. When she was eight years old, she witnessed her parents murder-suicide and was separated from her two younger siblings, Erin and Adam. They still live in their hometown of Grey’s Hollow, New York and though she’s not especially close to them, Bree still maintains a strong bond with them. After receiving a troubling message from Erin, Bree rushes back home only to find that her sister has been murdered and her husband has vanished, becoming the prime suspect. With the help of local law enforcement and Matt Flynn, a former Sheriff’s deputy and K-9 handler who is also her brother-in-law’s friend, Bree proceeds to search answers and the identity of the killer.
I was hooked from the onset as the horrific events from Bree’s childhood is recounted. Her return to Grey’s Hollow is tough for her as all those memories from that time resurface. Erin also has two children that Bree’s now responsible for as well. The case was puzzling and Bree has her hands full as she deals with her own grief and that of her niece and nephew. She and Matt work well together and both of them cooperate with the chief deputy sheriff who is also the acting sheriff.
There are loose connections to the Morgan Dane and Scarlet Falls series and though it’s not necessary to have read those stories, I liked experiencing that familiarity with the town and some of the characters. I also liked Bree who is a complex woman and is definitely shaped by what happened in her childhood. She’s strong willed, smart and talented. It’s also clear that Matt Flynn will be an important person in her life beyond their investigative teamwork. I listened to the story and enjoyed the narrator. She’s a good storyteller and gave distinction to the primary characters. The ending was exciting and I liked the direction Bree’s life is now taking. I will definitely continue this series.
Not sure what happened – this book had such a good premise but I couldn’t really get into it.
You can check out my booktube video review at https://youtu.be/CRdtxfsSmj8
or read my review on my blog at https://lisasiefert.com/book-review-cross-her-heart-by-melinda-leigh-bree-taggert-book-1/
A Lot of Things Going On … and well woven together into a thoroughly enjoyable read. Great characters … described in a way making them very, very real. Interesting, intense … a spot on good murder mystery. Can’t wait to read more.
Though not technically a romance, I loved these characters and the way the story builds on a tentative friendship between a retired and hunky ex-cop and a big city cop who must come to the country to solve her sister’s murder.
A clever combination of police procedural and romantic suspense, Cross Her Heart is a thriller with heart. Skilfully exploring the line between love and hate, the story follows Bree, a kickass homicide detective with a tragic past of her own. Bree has tucked away that tragic past until the night her sister Erin is violently murdered, her husband, Justin, suspiciously vanishing into thin air.
Filled with twists and turns that will keep you captivated until the end, this is a quick thriller that’s tense and irresistible throughout.
THIS REVIEW IS FOR BOTH THE AUDIOBOOK AND EBOOK VERSIONS
Really enjoyed this story, suspenseful and intriguing. Full of action and emotion. Great characters and the narrator done a wonderful job.
Bree and her sister, Erin, and brother Adam has a tragic past.
Heartbreaking when Bree learns of her sister being murdered.
I enjoyed this book! It’s a good whodunit with an unpredictable twist! Characters you’ll like trying to overcome tragedies.
CROSS HER HEART by Melinda Leigh is the first book in the Bree Taggert romantic suspense/crime series and is largely set in upstate New York. In this book, the reader is introduced to Homicide Detective Bree Taggert who is with the Philadelphia police department. When she receives a voice mail from her sister saying she is in trouble, Bree drives to her sister’s house where she finds deputies searching the house and her sister is dead. Where is her husband? Who killed Erin? What is going to happen to Erin’s children?
This book is setting up the series and therefore contains a lot of background information on Bree and her family. Additionally, we meet Matt Flynn, a former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler. Together, they (and others) work to solve the mystery. Bree and Matt are both sympathetic characters that you can root for. They definitely have flaws and virtues and their goals were clear and influenced the plot. Their motivations seemed believable. The secondary characters are not as well-rounded, but the relationships between the characters were believable and not contrived. The storyline is engaging with some suspense and one very tense action scene. The point of view throughout the book moves back and forth between Bree, Matt, and the unknown killer. Themes include family drama, family needs, drug abuse, murder, values, phobias, grief and much more.
Overall, this is book has a few unexpected twists and a solid, if predictable, ending that has set the foundation for a great series. If you are expecting a lot of romance or instant love in this novel, it is not there. If you are expecting a solid start to a new series that will have mysteries, suspense, crime, and eventually some romance, then this is a series that I can recommend. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.