New Girl in the Falls

A Sweetwater Falls Mystery, Book 1

By: Elle Gray

Narrated by: Emily Norman

Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Searching for a fresh start and a serene place to heal from both mental and physical wounds, Agent Spenser Song found herself answering the job posting for the quaint town of Sweetwater Falls.

After a series of tragedies turned her world upside down, FBI Agent Spenser Song felt like a woman adrift in a sea of chaos. Her brush with death and the tragic murder of her husband left her questioning everything in her life. And when it became clear that Bureau politics will trump justice, Spenser realized she needed a fresh start.

Looking for a slower pace and needing to heal, Spenser is hired on to be the sheriff in the idyllic town of Sweetwater Falls. The town is everything her best friend said it would be, and all in the Falls was seemingly perfect.

With the exception of her cantankerous landlord, Ryker Makawi, a former Navy SEAL with issues and a past of his own.

When a local woman is murdered, the case proves to be far from simple, and Spenser finds herself forced to work with the ill-tempered Ryker.

With her past trying to reach into the present to pull Spenser into a cold dark grave, Spenser soon realized that the chaos she fled from had found its way back into her life.

Spenser Song came west to find peace. But the new girl in the Falls soon finds herself in the fight of her life.

©2023 Elle Gray (P)2023 Elle Gray

Kinda boring

I keep getting distracted. I will try with her next one maybe it was a fluke.

The Narrator With Only One Voice

The narrator knew how to narrate the women but there was little to no difference between the women’s voice and men’s. The story was ok but she’s just not Blake Wilder. I’ll listen to the next one to see if it gets better. But the narrator? I don’t know.

I just love Elle Gray’s books

She has a wonderful easy way about writing her mystery murder books. Keeps me always wanting more.

Small town sheriff kicks ass

I enjoyed the story with the dog and a strong kick ass woman trying to fight to the surface of her past to a new life.

Read the book, heard the audio

Loved both!! Book was exciting and suspenseful!! Just enough romance to keep it interesting.
Audio was read distinctly and with emphasis where needed.. loved her voice for the killer! It was perfect!!

Never disappoints

I’m all caught up on the Blake Wilder series (of what I can get on audible). Now I have a wonderful series to fill my need.

Action packed!

FBI agent, Spenser Song, and her husband are attacked in NYC…her husband is killed and she almost dies. When she disagrees with the FBI on handling her corrupt partner, Spenser decides she needs a reset and moves across the country to Sweetwater Falls. New Sheriff Song is trying to ease into her new position when a woman is brutally murdered. Is this murder simple to the long ago murder of her landlord’s fiancee’ or is it related to her old job? Good start to the series.

Consider first

If you are a fan of Melinda Leigh or her equal, this is not for you. The storyline is good, but there are too many discrepancies. You can't be a former FBI and now sheriff and run away crying.

Too Unbelievable

I enjoyed the beginning of this book. It was suspenseful and mysterious, and I initially enjoyed the characters. But for two supposedly, very intelligent people, meaning Spencer and Riker, how could they not take the threats against Spencer’s life seriously?!?!??? She continued to live in her remote cabin without any protection. And she goes to meet the serial killer without letting anybody know, without any secret back up. Oh, come on, this is so unbelievable to me! She’s a police Chief! And there were also plot lines that came up that were not concluded or advanced or even mentioned in the last half of the book. Maybe this is because it’s a series of books. I know I will not be listening to any more in the series. There wasn’t closure or even any advancement of some of the stories. I enjoyed hearing about the different deputies and how Spencer made changes in the department, but then we didn’t hear any more about those deputies for much of the last half of the book. For me, this book had a promising start, but turned into a scattered mess. I did enjoy the performance.

Lacks Research

Bad book due to lack of research. How could the author not do research? Any seasoned police officer would NEVER keep their weapon out of reach in a bag! They are trained to notice their surroundings under all circumstances. They’re not superhuman but like soldiers not noticing your surroundings could mean life or death so you pay attention. Walking into a dark park, with no one else around in NEW YORK! Even a civilian won’t do that.

Also the inner dialogue while having a conversation is so annoying. Have a thought not an entire daydream. She gets threats but don’t take them seriously? Your husband was murdered. Your partner was on the take from the mob. A woman was brutally killed and you don’t think you at least need a security camera in the isolated cabin you live in, really? Reminds me of those Lifetime movies when the heroines get tired of being protected and need to go shopping to feel human and the stalker kidnaps them. Dumbass!

Going to meet the serial killer alone, no back-up, not even your former Navy Seal boyfriend. Yeah ok that makes sense, NOT! How can the deputies be that green. Granted small towns don’t usually have big crimes to keep their skills sharp but they do have to perform investigations and take assessment every year so they can’t be that clueless.

This book was just juvenile. The stories premise was good, but the follow-through was just missing. If the author didn’t want to do actual research them he’ll watch Criminal Minds, FBI, Law and Order, the list goes on and on of shows that will show you how FBI Agents and even Navy Seals might behave.

Plus the disconnects in the story, like how did the FMC’s best friend know about the MC’s teammates deaths and his fiancée death when he clearly said during group that he hadn’t told anyone about either of these things. That group is supposed to be like AA. What’s said in AA stays in AA.

This book was 2-stars at best and I have no desire to read the rest of the series. I listened to the Audible and the narrator was ok but doesn’t know how to do a male voice so it should’ve a male and female voicing the story or a female narrator who does a really good male voice.