The Third Grave

Pierce Reed/Nikki Gillette, Book 4

By: Lisa Jackson

Narrated by: Natalie Naudus

Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

A thrilling crime novel from the bestselling author of You Betrayed Me, perfect for fans of Sandra Brown and Iris Johansen! Return to the dark side of Savannah, Georgia where a crime writer and her police detective husband are working a cold case, and hot on the trail of a killer whose work isn’t done.

The old Beaumont mansion is a rotting shell of its once-grand self, especially after a disastrous hurricane sweeps through Georgia. The storm does more than dislodge shutters and shingles. It leads to a grisly find in the cellar. Three graves. But only two skeletons…

For Nikki, the discovery is a gift, the perfect subject for her next crime book—though Reed has made her promise not to keep involving herself in dangerous police business. But despite the increasing tension between them, Nikki can’t stay away from this story. Rumors are widespread that the burial site is the resting place of the Duval sisters—three young girls who went to the movies with their older brother, Owen, twenty years ago, and never returned. Forensics confirms that the remains belong to Holly and Poppy Duval. But where is the youngest sister, Rose?

Owen Duval was, and remains, the prime suspect, alibi or no. But as Nikki and Reed delve deep into the mystery, fractures in the case begin to show. There is more to the sisters’ disappearance than anyone ever guessed. Far from an isolated act, those deaths were just the beginning. And there will be no rest, and no relenting, until the killer has buried the twisted truth along with his victims…

©2021 by Lisa Jackson, LLC. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Narrator Natalie Naudus takes listeners through the twists and turns of a classic Southern mystery.… Naudus handles a cast of battling reporters, police officers with dark secrets, and a family with literal skeletons in their basement. She is careful to give each one a genuinely independent feel. Her narration perfectly matches the pacing and drama of the mystery, which leads to her performance outshining the sometimes predictable story.” (AudioFile Magazine)

“When the skeletal remains of two bodies and what appears to be an empty grave are found in a secret crypt in the cellar of a decaying Savannah, Ga., mansion in best seller Jackson’s workmanlike fourth Pierce Reed/Nikki Gillette novel, police detective Pierce investigates.... Enjoy catching up with Pierce and Nikki.” (Publishers Weekly)

Great

Loved this book the author is one of my new favorites. I think the reader did great really enjoyed it.

A-NNOY-ING

Performance was ok, but the main character is so selfish and annoying, I found myself hoping the husband would divorce her. Had to finish the series, but I hope Lisa never writes another one with Nikki in it - terrible narcissist.

Speed read

This was one of those books that just seemed to drag on and on. I ended up reading the first few chapters and then the last few chapters to see how it wound up. Pretty sure I missed some drawn out angst but not much of the plot.

I enjoyed the story

It was an intriguing listen. I skimmed through the comments and surprised to see so much hate directed at Nikki who commenter say is the main character. I would assert that Nikki, Reed & Jade are all main characters and ALL are terribly flawed as people and as book characters. If you enjoy the "people" aspects of books, you will be disappointed with this read.

All of the main characters have a major flaw that they live in (which makes them bad humans) and because each living in that flaw furthers the plot, as book characters they come across as both flat and static (they are not complex and none experience growth through the course of the book).

That aside, the plot was an action-packed "whodunit & why" that was very enjoyable.

***SPOILERS***

NIKKI: a reporter who is selfish & impulsive to an absurd level (fight me all day on this but I maintain she killed no one in opposition to the many commenters who dogpiled this character while refusing to see the flaws in other characters, or worse, holding them up as paragons of virtue).

REED: a detective who is the epitome of toxic masculinity. He is married to a reporter he orders around, belittles, and refuses to give an inch (why on earth did he marry her? because she is pretty ofc); he insists she quit her job to be safe/ become a mom, checks out other women, and at one point thinks about a female reporter who is not his wife, "now there is a reporter I like."

JADE: a detective who is single-mindedly focused on a goal of revenge with no regard for who gets caught in the crossfire of her actions. She is arguably the more complex character, but still rather flat or just not part of a majority of the book.

TLDR: all the main characters are deplorable. If that's not your jam, skip this one. (Think Wuthering Heights-- everyone sucks but the story is still good.)

Loved it

Loved the series this was book for every single 1 kept you on the edge of your seats and you didn't know who the killer was into the very end these are the kind of books that I love

No Remorse

I think no remorse should be the title for this book. I have tried to like the main character in this series but she has become less likable with each book. She is always getting herself or people around her in danger when “she wants a story” even to the point of getting a main character killed. She then displays little remorse and can’t understand why people get angry with her. I like Lisa Jackson books but not the Nikki Gillette character

decent

worth the listen.... not overly exciting but not bad either. There were def some surprises

outstanding narrator Natalie Naudus

You made Lisa Jackson Third Grave come alive and really different voices for the characters.

MUST LISTEN!

Loved this book! One I wish wouldn't end! Kept you on your toes!! I enjoyed 😉

Good story!

I enjoyed this series. "The Third Grave" may have been my favorite book in the series. You do need to read them in order. Enjoy.
I have other books by Lisa to read.