All the Beautiful Brides (Graveyard Falls Book 1)

The entire story wraps with everything working out just a little too well for ALL of the characters. It's like reading a bad TV soap. Way too many continent connections were made in the story last minute. I honestly have no idea how a second book could be written after this never mind a third.

All the Beautiful Brides is the first book in the Graveyard Falls series and my first book from author Rita Herron. Ultimately it's left me with some rather mixed feelings, though on the whole I liked more about it than I didn't.

I enjoyed the suspense of the book--it's rather well done. We see glimpses into the mind of the killer, which are satisfactorily creepy. Watching Cal and Mona as they try to get to the bottom of what is going on in the present of the novel as well as the 30-year-old mystery was engrossing, though there were a few too many red herrings thrown in there (I know it's rural Tennessee, but really--how many guys are there with "Will" as a part of their name who are also into taxidermy? It seemed a bit extreme) and at times there was way too much stuff going on. A grieving widow with a new radio show who's also searching for her birth mother...a young mother with a secret axe to grind...a federal agent with a case to solve, and old flame to alternately ignore and pine over, and secrets weighing him down...an aging lawman with a brain tumor who may or may not have knowingly bent the law more than a little in the past...a brother bent on revenge...not one, not two, but three grown children whose paternity is in question...the list goes on and on.

Mona also went from "I lost the love of my life and my baby" to "I'm pretty sure I really loved Cal all long" a little too fast for my taste. She's only been a widow for a few months--and yes, we went the vilify the former spouse route here. (Pet. Peeve. I know it's all me, but gah.)

Mona and Cal spent more time angsting over each other--and in Mona's case, being angry with him--than they did romancing. It felt like most of their heavy-duty romance was in the past, and since one of them went on to marry someone else afterwards, it kind of missed the mark! His take-me-back speech at the end was lovely, though.

I did figure out some things ahead of time (who Mona's birth mother was) but didn't know who had done the original Thorn Ripper murders. Ms. Herron did a nice job bringing that storyline together.

All the Beautiful Brides had a good amount of suspense and a decent mystery, but it could have used a bit more romance and a bit less muddying of the waters. Still, it kept me reading and ultimately had a satisfying ending.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / C+

If you are a fan of Harlequin romances, undeveloped characters, unbelievable story lines, and poorly written dialogue, this book is for you! I'll admit, I had it in for this book from the first grammatical error. Aside from that, the 'heroin' of the book is a weak, whiney, not-too-intelligent woman who is never described (short, tall, fat, thin, brown hair, blonde?) except as 'beautiful'. That is clearly enough for the hero, an FBI agent who enters homes without warrants or probable cause, arrests people for no discernible reason, and whose appearance and background are also a mystery, to love her deeply. The author doesn't seem to believe in the concept of research or in explaining events. In one scene, the FBI agent needs to access a locked vehicle so he "pulled a tool from the Jeep and used it to open the door." Was it a screw driver? A hammer? Some secret FBI tool we can't know about? Most of this book is devoted to dialogue that is excruciating to read and innermost thoughts that could be attributed to a 12 year-old, not the adults in question. I couldn't finish this book but skimmed enough to know that the culprit conveniently wrote everything down and took pictures of every event along the way to conveniently wrap things up. That's fortunate because the characters in this book could never have figured things out otherwise. I would like to get back the day I wasted reading this book.

All the Beautiful Brides: Graveyard Falls Book 1 is by Rita Herron. It is a murder mystery with a serial killer. It is quite interesting and definitely well-written. It is very realistic in the plot as well as the characters.
Special Agent Cal Coulter was being sent to Graveyard Falls to investigate a murder. It seems the town was named after a waterfall in the mountains. Three young girls were murdered and pushed off the falls to their deaths thirty years ago. Rose thorns were in the girls’ mouths where they had bitten down on rose stems. Thus, the murderer was called the “Thorn Ripper”. Johnny Pike was convicted of the crimes but was up for parole. The town was up in arms about his being released. Since the deaths, the town had held a memorial service for the girls every year and it was the next day. They didn’t want any trouble to break over this new murder which had the same footprints as those of thirty years ago. Cal was torn over going to Graveyard Falls because his best friend’s widow lived there. Cal had been in love with Mona before she and Brent got together. He owed Brent so he had stepped aside and let Brent marry Mona; but he had a secret he was keeping from Mona.
Mona had moved to Graveyard Falls to find her birth mother. She had learned she was adopted and knew her mother came from Graveyard Falls but that was all. Could she actually hope to find her Mother? Would she be welcomed with open arms or closed ones?

Thirty years ago, 3 teenage girls were found dead at the foot of a waterfall ..
all were wearing a white wedding gown, all had a red rose, thorns and all,
stuffed down their throat and then strangled. A young man was accused, tried,
convicted and is now up for release.

Now it looks like the killing spree has started again. Once more, a young woman
is found dead by the waterfalls, almost identical to the earlier killings.

And thus starts the race to find the murderer before another life is lost.

I've liked all of this author's Romantic Suspense books. Yes, there's some
romance, but the majority of the book deals with the FBI looking for a killer, a
woman who is searching for her birth mother, a journalist looking to make a name
for herself covering this case, a sheriff dying from a brain tumor who may have
railroaded a man into jail so many years ago.

This book pretty much has it all ... half-truths, all out lies, and lots and
lots of old secrets.

Many thanks to NetGalley / the store Publishing for furnishing this uncorrected
proof in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

I thought that most of the book was well written, but the main storyline seemed very unlikely to happen to me. In a town that small, it is highly unlikely that they would be two bits about the same age, who were both named William or Billy, who were both taxidermists, who both had mothers who were very sick and dying, who were both trying to find a wife that could take care of them and give their mothers grandchildren before they died, and who both fit almost the exact same criteria of the killer. It detracted from what could have been a good book by trying to throw in that twist in the story, because it was so unlikely that anything like that would ever happen. It might have been better if the author could have made both the suspects have only a few different things each that met the profile of the killer so that the reader's could think that it was possible that either one could have been the killer instead of making both exactly fit the killers profile. Profiles are not always exact and giving two different d suspects who each meet some but not all of the killers profile would have been a lot more believable and could have still kept the reader's in suspense over who was actually the killer. Still, the book had a few other twists such as who Johnny Pike and Anna's daughter was and a good ending to redeem it.

I got the audio of the book. Suspense thriller mystery bridal serial killer sounds fantastic right. Wrong!? when I first started to listen I enjoyed the narrator's voice, but the words he was reading just weren't adding up for me. I stopped an looked at the description to see if maybe I got a different book. The concept was good. I am not sure what I didn't like, the narrator's take on the book or just the way the story was unfolding but I turned it off on chapter 14. I went right to the other reviews to see if it was just me that didn't enjoy it an the first review I saw let me know it's not just me. This is the worst review i have ever given an i truly feel bad, everyone has an opinion though.

A gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Wth it's unique storyline, interesting characters, mystery, secrets revealed, suspense, betrayal, and intriguing twists, this story pulls you in, and won't let go till the end. A great beginning to this fantastic series! 

Cal and Mona have a history together, involving her late husband and his late bf, and both have always had strong feelings for the other, but never voiced them. Seeing each other again has brought upthose feelings, but in the middle of a horrific murder investigation, they once again put their personal lives aside. Can they catch the killer before he strikes again? Or worse, goes after Mona? Or is there someone else looking to cause her harm other than the killer they're looking for? 

I love this series! I started it by reading book #2 first, but decided to go back and read book #1, and I'm glad I did. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I did get a few questions answered about the characters by going back to read the first one. I suggest reading the series from the beginning. Not only will you get great stories, but learn more about the characters, and the history of Graveyard Falls. 

I recommend this book, series, and author.

Rita Herron is a new author to me. This romantic murder mystery suspense book was sent to me for a review and I accepted not knowing what exactly to expect. I am so very thankful that I read All the Beautiful Brides. I started it, kept reading and reading and reading late into the night picking it right back up in the morning and finished it before the day was over. I did not get much accomplished around the house.

All the Beautiful Brides has everything. There are secrets, lies, partial lies, murder, and romance. The family dynamics are extremely interesting. Each character has their own history and that is shared so that the reader can understand why the character acts the way they do. Cal’s history tells why he has the pull to Mona safe. Mona’s history is finding her birth parents after losing her husband unexpectedly in a car accident. Those are the main characters but the secondary characters are just as interesting. I loved Anna and her father’s relationship; while it was not healthy it was by far the one that interested me the most. I knew there had to be more to it.

I highly recommend checking out this series. I know that I have added the rest of this series to my MUST READ list. I cannot wait for more from Graveyard Falls.

All the Beautiful Brides was perfectly paced giving us insight into Mona, Agent Cal and those of the present day killer. We also revisit the earlier case and meet those directly affected. Herron adds twists, turns and red herrings as we tried to stop the killer. While there is a second chance romance, it stays in the background allowing the murder mystery to take center stage. The story was suspenseful and at times dark. We witness the women’s abductions and events leading up to their deaths. Mona and Cal find themselves in danger, as do other characters. Herron does an excellent job of introducing characters from the past murders and suspects for the current murders. Everyone had plausible motive even the old sheriff. I really enjoyed the suspense and quickly became caught up in the story consuming this in just two sittings. At times, the tale story was intense and a little gritty, but Herron used suspense and her vividly descriptive writing to give the reader a sense of the scene without unnecessary gore. Copy provided by publisher, full review at caffeinated book reviewer.

An excellent read! This is a well crafted psychological thriller about a rural, mountain town that having recovered from the trauma of series of murders of young girls, the residents are pulled back in time when it appears a new copycat serial killer is killing young women. This begins just before the possible parole of the man who was accused of the murders 30 years earlier. FBI agent Cal comes to Graveyard Falls to find the killer and is reunited with the woman that he has loved but never claimed. The story follows the investigation, the growing relationship between Cal and his former best friend's, now widowed wife and her search for her biological mother. Sounds confusing but the storylines are artfully presented and this unlikely, gruesome story hangs together well. You will have to be cleaver to figure out this 'who-done-it. A surprising and satisfying ending.

All the Beautiful Brides is the first installment in Rita Herron’s Graveyard Falls series. She has the right combination of suspense and mystery; however, I wished there would have been a little more romance.

Cal is an FBI agent pulled in to work a case that has an eerie connection to a serial killer that struck the town years ago. Cal’s personal and professional life is quickly becoming twined together and it forces him to reevaluate what he considers precious in life. His best friends widow, Mona, is also the only girl he’s ever loved and now she’s unknowingly put herself in the crosshairs of a serial killer.

Mona is on a quest to find answers, she has buried both her parents and her husband; could locating her birth mother help heal the hurt, or will it lead it more disappointment and pain. As a counselor, Mona knows the power of healing and moving forward; hosting a radio show for callers allows Mona to reach out to many. When she starts receiving calls from a potentially harmful person, she reaches out ad gets tangled in his web.

Cal and Mona have a very tense relationship, she knows Cal is holding back and has secrets but she is unsure of how to approach him about them. However, with the killer on the loose, the relationship is pushed aside. The romance could have been easily lost in the mystery aspect of the novel.

All the Beautiful Brides was a good novel, however I felt it could have had more potential. I loved the mystery twist on the novel; Ms. Herron did a good job of giving us glimpses into the killers mind while not giving anything away. The romance was lacking, there was broken hearts and ill feelings, but Cal and Mona’s relationship could have been more of a focus point. Without giving much away I felt very torn at a certain point in this novel. I felt very sorry for Mona and what she has went through, and anger at Cal, he could have prevented so much heartbreak. Best friend or not, Cal crossed a moral line in keeping Brent’s secret and ultimately it could cost him everything. Each character added depth and complexity to the story but I didn’t feel like I knew or could relate to the characters. It did hold my interest well enough to finish the novel but I would recommend to readers that this is more of a suspense novel than a romance novel. If you like heavy on suspense and light on romance this would be the novel for you.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

Boy this book is full of surprises ! Mona Monroe came to Graveyard Falls to find her real mother after finding out through a letter from her adopted parents after their death. She had recently lost her husband and baby. The town had lost three young girls at the falls thirty years ago. The town had convicted a young man with the crimes. The crime had started up again. With the help of a friend of her deceased husband, Mona and Cal worked together to solve the murders. Did the wrong man go to jail? Will Mona and Cal finally found real love. Definitely I did not want to put the book down.

The book begins at the scene of a brutal, sexualized murder of a young girl. During the course of the story there are three more murders, obviously by the same serial killer. We find out early on that there were three similar murders thirty years ago.
All kinds of entanglements ensue, while through it all romance smolders in the pattern of most romance novels.
This book was a fairly well written example of its type. It drew me in and kept me in suspense so if you like a mixture of sex and violence, you'll like this book.

Another brilliant novel by Rita Herron. Only someone as clever as this author can make a romance and thriller somehow work. This book is full of suspense and mystery as well. I read it in one day. The ending itself will leave you speechless. I love how creative this author is with her dialogue, her storylines, her description of everything taking place as well as the scenery. I am glad this is a series.

Boy this book is full of surprises ! Mona Monroe came to Graveyard Falls to find her real mother after finding out through a letter from her adopted parents after their death. She had recently lost her husband and baby. The town had lost three young girls at the falls thirty years ago. The town had convicted a young man with the crimes. The crime had started up again. With the help of a friend of her deceased husband, Mona and Cal worked together to solve the murders. Did the wrong man go to jail? Will Mona and Cal finally found real love. Definitely I did not want to put the book down.

The book begins at the scene of a brutal, sexualized murder of a young girl. During the course of the story there are three more murders, obviously by the same serial killer. We find out early on that there were three similar murders thirty years ago.
All kinds of entanglements ensue, while through it all romance smolders in the pattern of most romance novels.
This book was a fairly well written example of its type. It drew me in and kept me in suspense so if you like a mixture of sex and violence, you'll like this book.

Amazing!! It had me guessing the whole time as to who the killer was. For a while I suspected it really could have been the old sheriff.

It was kind of annoying that there were SOOOO many secrets, secret relationships, and just so much to unravel. Because there were so many different threads to figure out it seemed to drag some but it was a wonderful book. I rarely if ever can find a book that I don't have the plot pinned down in the first chapter or two. So it was very refreshing and a great read!

Searching for her biological mother, Mona moves to Graveyard Falls just in time for the yearly memorial service for three girls found murdered at the falls years easier. She runs into her deceased husband's friend who has taken over for retired police chief. More murders start taking place at the falls. Twists and turns finally leads to the original murder victims convicted man being exonerated and Mona finding parents and the true love of her life. Good story. Not happy for some language and descriptive scenes of sex. Book could have been just as good without that. Good mystery

Just an ok read...

There were too many middle-aged men living in a lonely cabin in the woods.
They all seemed to have an old sick mother hanging around.
They all had massive mental problems.
They all drag their victims to the falls like the murderer, yet they weren't the real killer.
All the gals got pregnant with an illegitimate child. Kids everywhere.
This book was odd.
Also, remind me to never set foot in Tennessee.

This is my first time reading anything by Rita Herron. I love the Mystery, Suspense & Thriller genre. This book definitely hit all three, and even had Romance. The premise was original, the characters were interesting and I did not see the end coming.

I am going to get the rest of the series. I enjoy series and it isn't always easy to find a really great one. I look forward to start reading the next one, right away.

I enjoyed reading this book until the end. For most of the book, it keeps you guessing about who the bad guy is and who Mona's biological mother is even throwing in a twist here and there. However, at the end when the bad guy is close to being arrested the suspense is not built up very well and he's caught easily. After that it gets sappy with Mona meeting and spending time with her long lost family. If you enjoyed the Slaughter Creek series, this book in my opinion is not of the same caliber.

There are too many elements to the tale. Serial killer and second chance love combined with Alzheimer's, bigamy, incest, miscarriage, adoption, teenage pregnancy, foster care, and a Psycho mommy make this book ridiculous. The writing itself is compelling but desperately needs simplification.

After completing the Slaughter Creek series and absolutely loving it I was really looking forward to starting the graveyard falls books. Unlike the Slaughter creek characters I did not find myself getting invested in any of them. I'll try the second in the series to give it another chance. Hopefully they get better.

Very good, dark gruesome book, with a little bit of romance. There are a couple of stories going on at the same time. Mona is looking for her birth parents, at the same time a murder investigation is going on. Mona gets caught right in the middle of both, while Cal is trying to protect her.

In my opinion this is a definite 5* worthy story. With a devious plot and more red herrings than a fish market this book was a first class who-dunnit. Well written the plot and sub plots flow smoothly along without any form of filling in and the endings were really cleverly pulled together. Exciting and thoroughly enjoyable I look forward to sampling more of this writers stories

I was really disappointed because I've enjoyed Rita Herron's romance novels, but clearly mystery is bit her forte. There are so many inconsistencies it was ridiculous. When she called a 40 year old man "young", I started questioning everything she presented to us. There were too many points of view, which made it feel cluttered. The main female character felt incredibly flat, her timeline nonsensical, and her contribution as a criminal psychologist did nothing but set back the advance of women as intelligent and logical people.

One person is looking for her mother. Several others are looking for a killer. The killer may be someone from the past since the crimes resemble past murders. And somehow, the reader gets to muse on a lot of suspense and potential clues with the final revelations being very near the end. Of course, there is a little romance (not of the VERY steamy kind.) It is an altogether entertaining book without being a marvel.

Rita Herron weaves the past and the present together in her tale of murder and revenge. She leads the reader in a search to solve present day murders and to figure out how 30 year old murders are connected to those happening now... A great read!

I am retired and disabled from arthritis so I read a lot. Mostly mysteries so you get a lot of similar plots but this book was so different from anything I've read. The twists keep coming until the very end. What a joy to read a completely different plot. This book contains everything; muder, justice,injustice, love and lust. A must read for all mystery and romance readers. Loved it!

I liked this book. The characters are well developed and the story flows well. Like many mystery stories, there are numerous coincidences that are hard to believe, but also enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.

This is a fantastic thriller. It is edgy and moody, dark and dangerous. It kept me glued to my Kindle until the very end. What didn't work as well was the romance. Whereas the mystery was three dimensional, rich from multiple angles, the relationship between the hero and heroine felt flat.

I can't believe I tortured myself by reading this book in its entirety. I just kept turning pages, hoping that the book would some how in the next page turn redemption would follow. Alas, it was not to be.

I love this series and the method of revealing the story line. It's not a fast read, but more like an old friend. In that I mean you want to savir your time together and not watch the clock. I highly reommend this book and the ithers in the series.