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Savannah #4
The Third Grave
A thrilling new 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 detective husband are working a cold case, and hot on the trail of a killer who’s 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�
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�
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 29, 2021
3,179 people are currently reading
17k people want to read
About the author
Lisa Jackson
265books9,119followersLisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 854 reviews
May 18, 2021
3.5 stars
In the aftermath of a hurricane, Bronco Cravens enters the old, dilapidated and empty Beaumont house to try to find a secret stash his grandad, who has worked at the estate, said was hidden years ago. He finds the hidey hole but instead of treasure he hopes to find instead there are two bodies with space for a third. Thus opens a twenty year cold case for Detective Pierce Reed.
The setting is good in and around the left to rot mansion and this creates a good atmosphere as does the post hurricane scene. I really enjoy the cold case that unfolds which is very intriguing with a lot of emotional elements to it including sadness, despair, unhappiness and regrets. There are some very creepy characters, the mystery deepens with lies, withheld evidence and some odd balls muddying the field. The pace is fast and there are plenty of twists though it’s not particularly suspenseful. So far so good.
My biggest reservation of the book lies in and around Pierce Reed’s wife, journalist Nikki Gillette. She is so selfish, bull headed and so annoying. Her persistence in invading her detective husband’s space costs them dear personally as well as for the police force and you’d think that would make her stop, but no. I can’t say I like the perpetrator’s voice which intersperses the narrative, it feels contrived and inauthentic. Despite the above I enjoy the book until the final hurdle. The ending seems melodramatic and instead of feeling the excitement it’s seems too neat and predictable.
Overall, it is a good read, I like the premise and despite the irritation of Nikki as a character it’s a compelling novel.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the arc in return for an honest review.
In the aftermath of a hurricane, Bronco Cravens enters the old, dilapidated and empty Beaumont house to try to find a secret stash his grandad, who has worked at the estate, said was hidden years ago. He finds the hidey hole but instead of treasure he hopes to find instead there are two bodies with space for a third. Thus opens a twenty year cold case for Detective Pierce Reed.
The setting is good in and around the left to rot mansion and this creates a good atmosphere as does the post hurricane scene. I really enjoy the cold case that unfolds which is very intriguing with a lot of emotional elements to it including sadness, despair, unhappiness and regrets. There are some very creepy characters, the mystery deepens with lies, withheld evidence and some odd balls muddying the field. The pace is fast and there are plenty of twists though it’s not particularly suspenseful. So far so good.
My biggest reservation of the book lies in and around Pierce Reed’s wife, journalist Nikki Gillette. She is so selfish, bull headed and so annoying. Her persistence in invading her detective husband’s space costs them dear personally as well as for the police force and you’d think that would make her stop, but no. I can’t say I like the perpetrator’s voice which intersperses the narrative, it feels contrived and inauthentic. Despite the above I enjoy the book until the final hurdle. The ending seems melodramatic and instead of feeling the excitement it’s seems too neat and predictable.
Overall, it is a good read, I like the premise and despite the irritation of Nikki as a character it’s a compelling novel.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the arc in return for an honest review.
June 26, 2021
The old Beaumont mansion was a shell of the beauty it had been many years prior and after a wild hurricane, small time crim, Bruno Cravens, made his way inside, determined to find the cache of jewellery his grandfather had spoken of before he died. But Bruno wasn’t prepared for what he found instead � three graves, two filled with skeletons and one empty. After his panicked anonymous call to 911, the site was soon crawling with police. Detective Pierce Reed and his partner, along with forensics and the like, did what they did best. But without their knowledge, Nikki Reed, wife of the detective, a local reporter and true crime writer, was also on site. Nikki wanted to know if the recovery was the Duval sisters�
The two elder sisters had been identified from DNA but of the youngest, five years old twenty years ago, there was no sign. The mystery deepened, the case reopened and those who were investigated and interviewed, went through it all again. But Nikki was frustrated when Reed shut her out of the case, so was determined to do it alone. The killer had thought he was safe � now he could be in trouble. Or would it be Nikki who was in trouble?
The Third Grave is the 4th in the Savannah series by Lisa Jackson and although I haven’t read the first three, this one can standalone successfully. I found it to have a slow beginning, but once the action ramped up, I jumped right in with the characters. I found Nikki to be a little annoying, putting herself in danger constantly, not caring about much else. I have read a few others by Lisa Jackson and enjoyed them, and easily recommend this one.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton UK for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
The two elder sisters had been identified from DNA but of the youngest, five years old twenty years ago, there was no sign. The mystery deepened, the case reopened and those who were investigated and interviewed, went through it all again. But Nikki was frustrated when Reed shut her out of the case, so was determined to do it alone. The killer had thought he was safe � now he could be in trouble. Or would it be Nikki who was in trouble?
The Third Grave is the 4th in the Savannah series by Lisa Jackson and although I haven’t read the first three, this one can standalone successfully. I found it to have a slow beginning, but once the action ramped up, I jumped right in with the characters. I found Nikki to be a little annoying, putting herself in danger constantly, not caring about much else. I have read a few others by Lisa Jackson and enjoyed them, and easily recommend this one.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton UK for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2021
The Third Grave is book #4 in the Savannah series by Lisa Jackson which can be perfectly read as a stand-alone. Detective Reed with his partner Detective Sylvie is called to an old dilapidated Beaumont mansion after an anonymous phone call alerts them to the discovery of dead bodies in a crypt of the basement in the house. The rotting corpses are identified as the Duval girls who have been missing for the past 20 years. However, 3 girls had gone missing but only two are found so what happened to the 5-year-old Rose Duvall, the youngest of the three sisters. It is a question that fires up reporter Nikki Gillette to countermand her husband Reed’s order to stay away from the case.
The mystery is excellently plotted and keeps the reader engaged. A case that has gone cold and been lying dormant is suddenly revived but Reed and Nikki are battling personal losses along with the inquiries that someone is hell-bent on keeping quiet. As the body count increases, their jobs take a very dangerous turn.
It was interesting to see the twists and turns in the book as past lies tumble out of the closet but the storyline is quite predictable which kind of spoiled the fun for me. There is also Nikki’s character that I absolutely disliked, not sure if it was because I was going in without any background info, probably covered in the previous books of the series, but to have someone recklessly and carelessly endangering herself after repeated warnings felt too infuriating. Her hell-bent nature is acceptable only to a certain extent but I am not sure a woman who has suffered multiple miscarriages would take such unnecessary risks and jeopardize her high-risk pregnancy. It is the come what may to anyone, I would do whatever it takes that gives a very negative vibe for Nikki, at least for me.
Fans of the author would surely love this fast-paced thriller.
Expected a thunderstorm but got a drizzle💦 💦 💦
Many thanks to Net Galley, Hodder & Stoughton, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog , ŷ, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
The mystery is excellently plotted and keeps the reader engaged. A case that has gone cold and been lying dormant is suddenly revived but Reed and Nikki are battling personal losses along with the inquiries that someone is hell-bent on keeping quiet. As the body count increases, their jobs take a very dangerous turn.
It was interesting to see the twists and turns in the book as past lies tumble out of the closet but the storyline is quite predictable which kind of spoiled the fun for me. There is also Nikki’s character that I absolutely disliked, not sure if it was because I was going in without any background info, probably covered in the previous books of the series, but to have someone recklessly and carelessly endangering herself after repeated warnings felt too infuriating. Her hell-bent nature is acceptable only to a certain extent but I am not sure a woman who has suffered multiple miscarriages would take such unnecessary risks and jeopardize her high-risk pregnancy. It is the come what may to anyone, I would do whatever it takes that gives a very negative vibe for Nikki, at least for me.
Fans of the author would surely love this fast-paced thriller.
Expected a thunderstorm but got a drizzle💦 💦 💦
Many thanks to Net Galley, Hodder & Stoughton, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog , ŷ, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
December 6, 2022
If you want to understand what privilege means without being bogged down by political topics - pick up this book.
It's literally the only positive about this book that I can give: it's an excellent case study for how different people in this country are awarded passes for things they absolutely should atone for. If you read it and still don't understand, read this review again and think about what would've happened if the reporter had been anyone other than a yt woman married to a cop.
One of the main characters, Nikki, is a white woman whos a reporter for her local newspaper, and is also married to a cop. She literally gets a police officer killed because she trespasses onto a crime scene while trying to get a story.. and isn't charged with obstruction of justice or anything? And you KNOW if it had been anyone else - they would've been slapped with at least some kind of misdemeanor? Not to mention would have been harassed by the police?
- Not to mention, she did something incredibly dangerous while pregnant and then has a miscarriage.. (not something she had to do like so many women who are forced to work hard jobs to support their families, etc... no she willingly chose to get break the law for a news article)
- And ignores her husband's requests to be respectful of his professional boundaries etc.
I finished this book only in hopes that Nikki's character would be killed off. I can't stand people who don't take personal responsibility for their actions and completely disregards the safety/feelings of others. It's like Nesta from ACOTAR all over again. *Insert eye-roll*
Nothing quotable. Anticlimactic ending. TWs: miscarriage, child kidnapping, cheating spouses
Have you ever read a book hoping the main characters would be killed off because you morally object to their personality type?
It's literally the only positive about this book that I can give: it's an excellent case study for how different people in this country are awarded passes for things they absolutely should atone for. If you read it and still don't understand, read this review again and think about what would've happened if the reporter had been anyone other than a yt woman married to a cop.
One of the main characters, Nikki, is a white woman whos a reporter for her local newspaper, and is also married to a cop. She literally gets a police officer killed because she trespasses onto a crime scene while trying to get a story.. and isn't charged with obstruction of justice or anything? And you KNOW if it had been anyone else - they would've been slapped with at least some kind of misdemeanor? Not to mention would have been harassed by the police?
- Not to mention, she did something incredibly dangerous while pregnant and then has a miscarriage.. (not something she had to do like so many women who are forced to work hard jobs to support their families, etc... no she willingly chose to get break the law for a news article)
- And ignores her husband's requests to be respectful of his professional boundaries etc.
I finished this book only in hopes that Nikki's character would be killed off. I can't stand people who don't take personal responsibility for their actions and completely disregards the safety/feelings of others. It's like Nesta from ACOTAR all over again. *Insert eye-roll*
Nothing quotable. Anticlimactic ending. TWs: miscarriage, child kidnapping, cheating spouses
Have you ever read a book hoping the main characters would be killed off because you morally object to their personality type?
June 29, 2021
After an eight years gap, The Third Grave by Lisa Jackson sees the return of the fourth adventure in the Gillette/Reed series. Nikki Gillette is a journalist who along with her husband, Detective Pierce Reed solve crimes in Savannah, Georgia. This time a twenty-year-old case, the subject for Nikki’s latest book, causes increasing tension over her involvement in police business. Two dead bodies, a prime suspect with no alibi and a killer who wants the truth to stay buried, unleashes new tensions. Promoted as Southern Gothic and romantic, fans of the series will probably enjoy it but as a first-time standalone novel, it is disappointing. One of the characters is mostly unlikable, the romance thread bland and warning of a graphic medical description that may disturb some readers (especially pregnant women) was an unnecessary detailed incident. So only a one-star rating, with thanks to Kensington Books and the author for a poof copy for review purposes.
July 5, 2021
This fourth book in the series with Pierce and Nikki is the first one I read. It was an ok but not very special book; I found the characters, the story and the setting not very interesting or special. An old house that once belonged to a rich family; another rich family; a journalist who writes true crime books married to a detective and a missing (?) body. Not very original and therefore very predictable.
What I especially don’t like in a book as this is that almost at the end two people are meeting up and they start a very scripted dialogue about all that’s happened and who killed who and why. People do not talk like that, especially not when they’re mad at each other.
Since this is a Lisa Jackson book, I hoped for more. Maybe it’s the series, maybe it’s me, but I cannot say I enjoyed this one as much as I’ve enjoyed some of her other books.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
What I especially don’t like in a book as this is that almost at the end two people are meeting up and they start a very scripted dialogue about all that’s happened and who killed who and why. People do not talk like that, especially not when they’re mad at each other.
Since this is a Lisa Jackson book, I hoped for more. Maybe it’s the series, maybe it’s me, but I cannot say I enjoyed this one as much as I’ve enjoyed some of her other books.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
March 29, 2022
This is a crime novel set in Savannah, Georgia that follows the main characters, a detective (Pierce) and a journalist (Nikki, Pierce's wife), solving a mystery behind two skeletons found in an old mansion belonging to a rich family who has their own non-literal skeletons. This is the fourth book in the series by Lisa Jackson although I read it as a stand-alone novel.
I almost DNF'd this book because of the Nikki character that I found ridiculously annoying and unnecessarily argumentative. She has no care in the world about her safety and others' for the sake of chasing a story. My reading experience rarely gets bothered by a character, yet I had to skip reading parts with Nikki just so that I could finish the book. It is unfortunate because I thought the pace and setting were quite good.
Many thanks to the publisher for the copy I received through ŷ giveaway.
I almost DNF'd this book because of the Nikki character that I found ridiculously annoying and unnecessarily argumentative. She has no care in the world about her safety and others' for the sake of chasing a story. My reading experience rarely gets bothered by a character, yet I had to skip reading parts with Nikki just so that I could finish the book. It is unfortunate because I thought the pace and setting were quite good.
Many thanks to the publisher for the copy I received through ŷ giveaway.
June 4, 2021
Having been a fan of Lisa Jackson's for years, I was eager to see she had a new release. Sadly, I think I couldn't enjoy this novel because of how much I disliked one of the main characters, Nikki. Yes, I understand that she's a reporter after a story. However, when your health and safety of yourself and others is repeatedly in jeopardy, and not to mention your own marriage, maybe you need to rethink your ways. How many times did her husband, the lead detective on the case, have to rescue her or stop her from interfering with police business? So while I still like Lisa Jackson as a writer, I don't think I will pick up any more books featuring Nikki!
September 11, 2021
Bruno Craven’s grandfather had always talked of a treasure hidden in the old Beaumont mansion. Bruno sets out to try and find it but instead of the expected jewellery, he finds so much more. He finds three graves. Two have skeletons in them, the third is empty. He calls 911. Detective Pierce Reed and his partner Sylvie Morisette arrive to investigate. What Pierce does not know initially is that his wife Nikki Gillette is also nosing around in her role as reporter for the Savannah Sentinel. She is also the author of three true crime books. Could these bodies be The Duval sisters who went missing twenty years ago and if so, what happened to the youngest, five year old Rose? Both Piece and Nikki are determined to find out. Who else will be at risk or lose their lives before the truth is uncovered?
Initially I wasn’t convinced I was going to keep reading. Something about the opening wasn’t grabbing me and the f word was in liberal use. But I persisted and it did get better as the language abated a bit and the pace was ramped up pulling this reader easily along with it.
Characters : I felt sorry for Pierce. His wife Nikki had no regard for anyone but herself. Could Nikki end up causing more trouble for herself and endangering her own life as well as that of others?
This is book 4 in the Savannah series, but the first one I had read. It works fine as a standalone. Quite a good read and enjoyed the mystery though got a bit tired with the interaction between Pierce and Nikki. And I did think the disclosure of what happen with Rise was rather predictable. Even so, this is recommended read for those who like a good paced murder mystery.
Initially I wasn’t convinced I was going to keep reading. Something about the opening wasn’t grabbing me and the f word was in liberal use. But I persisted and it did get better as the language abated a bit and the pace was ramped up pulling this reader easily along with it.
Characters : I felt sorry for Pierce. His wife Nikki had no regard for anyone but herself. Could Nikki end up causing more trouble for herself and endangering her own life as well as that of others?
This is book 4 in the Savannah series, but the first one I had read. It works fine as a standalone. Quite a good read and enjoyed the mystery though got a bit tired with the interaction between Pierce and Nikki. And I did think the disclosure of what happen with Rise was rather predictable. Even so, this is recommended read for those who like a good paced murder mystery.
December 31, 2021
2.5 stars
A hurricane off the Georgia coast has responders busy so Bronco Cravens sneaks away to the crumbling Beaumont mansion in search of hidden treasure his grandpa told him about as a kid. Instead, he discovers the skeletons of what were once two young girls - and an empty space beside them.
Detective Pierce Reed is called to the scene to lead the investigation in the twenty year old cold case of three sisters - Holly, Poppy, and Rose - who went missing from the local movie theater. Autopsies confirm the identities of two of the sisters � but where is Rose? Why was her remains not found next to Holly and Poppy?
Reporter/crime writer Nikki Gillette just so happens to be married to Pierce Reed and she doesn’t care to step on his toes in order to get the story she needs. No matter how many times Reed tells her to back off, she ignores him and shows zero respect for him as her partner and as a police officer. She continuously finds herself in risky situations while ignoring repeated requests not to interfere and those risks lead to tragedy for others involved.
I don’t really know what to say about this book - for me, it was kind of a mess. Nikki and Reed don’t have real chemistry, Nikki is annoying and I felt like the repeated emphasis on her refusal to follow orders and the obsessive need to break the story really ruined the suspense; like, I get it already, she doesn’t care and it’s all about her story. We don’t have to constantly have that same argument between Nikki and Reed, it’s getting tiring. Her actions felt ridiculously contrived.
The mystery itself held my interest when Nikki and Reed’s personal stuff wasn’t getting in the way. There had to be a ton of secrets to lead to the disappearance of three sisters two decades before and some connection to the Beaumont estate where remains were found. I was very curious to learn what happened to the youngest sister, Rose. All this unfolds at a slow pace and the mystery felt almost secondary to the reporter/detective relationship.
That said, the climax had some great action but the who/how/why was � flimsy? Lame? The big twist was obvious from a mile away and required more suspension of disbelief than I was willing to give.
Sorry if this is spoiler-y but it is an important trigger warning: There is a scene with a brief description of miscarriage. I know this is a highly sensitive topic so I wanted readers to be aware and prepared.
This is the first book in this series that I’ve read, it can be read as a standalone, and I doubt I’ll return to it.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Third Grave is scheduled for release on June 29, 2021.
For more reviews, visit
A hurricane off the Georgia coast has responders busy so Bronco Cravens sneaks away to the crumbling Beaumont mansion in search of hidden treasure his grandpa told him about as a kid. Instead, he discovers the skeletons of what were once two young girls - and an empty space beside them.
Detective Pierce Reed is called to the scene to lead the investigation in the twenty year old cold case of three sisters - Holly, Poppy, and Rose - who went missing from the local movie theater. Autopsies confirm the identities of two of the sisters � but where is Rose? Why was her remains not found next to Holly and Poppy?
Reporter/crime writer Nikki Gillette just so happens to be married to Pierce Reed and she doesn’t care to step on his toes in order to get the story she needs. No matter how many times Reed tells her to back off, she ignores him and shows zero respect for him as her partner and as a police officer. She continuously finds herself in risky situations while ignoring repeated requests not to interfere and those risks lead to tragedy for others involved.
I don’t really know what to say about this book - for me, it was kind of a mess. Nikki and Reed don’t have real chemistry, Nikki is annoying and I felt like the repeated emphasis on her refusal to follow orders and the obsessive need to break the story really ruined the suspense; like, I get it already, she doesn’t care and it’s all about her story. We don’t have to constantly have that same argument between Nikki and Reed, it’s getting tiring. Her actions felt ridiculously contrived.
The mystery itself held my interest when Nikki and Reed’s personal stuff wasn’t getting in the way. There had to be a ton of secrets to lead to the disappearance of three sisters two decades before and some connection to the Beaumont estate where remains were found. I was very curious to learn what happened to the youngest sister, Rose. All this unfolds at a slow pace and the mystery felt almost secondary to the reporter/detective relationship.
That said, the climax had some great action but the who/how/why was � flimsy? Lame? The big twist was obvious from a mile away and required more suspension of disbelief than I was willing to give.
Sorry if this is spoiler-y but it is an important trigger warning: There is a scene with a brief description of miscarriage. I know this is a highly sensitive topic so I wanted readers to be aware and prepared.
This is the first book in this series that I’ve read, it can be read as a standalone, and I doubt I’ll return to it.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Third Grave is scheduled for release on June 29, 2021.
For more reviews, visit
June 28, 2021
The Third Grave is the fourth instalment in the Pierce Reed and Nikki Gillette Savannah series in which bestselling author Lisa Jackson at last brings her unique brand of Southern Gothic back to the beautiful, haunted city of Savannah, Georgia in this forebodingly atmospheric novel of suspense. In the wake of a violent hurricane, the city’s left doused and windswept. But as the floodwaters recede, long-buried secrets rise to the surface. Literally. In a secret crypt inside the rotting root cellar of an abandoned pre-Civil War mansion that sits crumbling on the banks of a river, three graves are discovered but only two skeletons. For crime writer Nikki Gillette, who is also a reporter for the Savannah Sentinel newspaper, the discovery is both a muse and a gift � the perfect subject for her next book. Her husband, Detective Pierce Reed, has made her promise not to get involved with the case, but she can’t stay away, even when her investigations put her pregnancy at risk. She simply cannot seem to refrain from asking him a barrage of questions as she believes this could be exactly the break she needs to make a big splash in the publishing world.
Twenty years ago, three sisters, who were part of the Duval family, went to the movies with their older brother, Owen, and seemingly disappeared. Forensics confirms the remains found in two of the graves belonged to the older girls twelve-year-old Holly and ten-year-old Poppy but if the third is empty, what happened to the youngest sister, four-year-old Rose? As Nikki dredges deeper into the mystery, one thing becomes dangerously clear. There is more to the sisters� disappearance than anyone ever guessed. And far from an isolated act, those deaths were just the beginning. Despite starting quite slowly and it taking a little longer than I'm usually used to for to become immersed and gripped enough to propel me through the pages, I soon was engrossed in the mystery. There is quite a lot of action, some of it unnecessary and inconsequential to the plot, but I still found it compelling and a well-crafted yarn, and although I'm not a fan of Nikki as she's very self-centred and stupidly impulsive, the mystery kept me invested in wanting to know what happened to the Duval girls two decades ago. An entertaining and twisty-turny read.
Twenty years ago, three sisters, who were part of the Duval family, went to the movies with their older brother, Owen, and seemingly disappeared. Forensics confirms the remains found in two of the graves belonged to the older girls twelve-year-old Holly and ten-year-old Poppy but if the third is empty, what happened to the youngest sister, four-year-old Rose? As Nikki dredges deeper into the mystery, one thing becomes dangerously clear. There is more to the sisters� disappearance than anyone ever guessed. And far from an isolated act, those deaths were just the beginning. Despite starting quite slowly and it taking a little longer than I'm usually used to for to become immersed and gripped enough to propel me through the pages, I soon was engrossed in the mystery. There is quite a lot of action, some of it unnecessary and inconsequential to the plot, but I still found it compelling and a well-crafted yarn, and although I'm not a fan of Nikki as she's very self-centred and stupidly impulsive, the mystery kept me invested in wanting to know what happened to the Duval girls two decades ago. An entertaining and twisty-turny read.
June 17, 2021
Savannah #4
The old Beaumont mansion is a rotting of it's 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.
I did not realise that this book was part of a series when i requested it. A hurricane uncovers three graves. The skeletons belong to two sisters who disappeared with their younger sister twenty years ago. Nikki is an author/reporter who is married to the detective investigating this case. Nikki keeps getting in the way and putting her life in danger.
Holly, Poppy and Rose went to the movies with Owen twenty years ago. Owen came back but the girls never did. Holly and Poppy's skeletons have been found in the graves. But where is Rose? Owen is still the prime suspect in his sisters' disappearance. Detective Pierce Reed is investigating the case. His wife Nikki is an author/reporter. She thinks this would make a goo storyline for her next book. There's a lot going on in this book. Although she was annoying, Nikki was my favourite character. There's plenty of twists to keep you guessing. It took a couple of chapters to get into the story. but once I did, I was hooked.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #LisaJackson for my ARC of #TheThirdGrave in exchange for an honest review.
The old Beaumont mansion is a rotting of it's 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.
I did not realise that this book was part of a series when i requested it. A hurricane uncovers three graves. The skeletons belong to two sisters who disappeared with their younger sister twenty years ago. Nikki is an author/reporter who is married to the detective investigating this case. Nikki keeps getting in the way and putting her life in danger.
Holly, Poppy and Rose went to the movies with Owen twenty years ago. Owen came back but the girls never did. Holly and Poppy's skeletons have been found in the graves. But where is Rose? Owen is still the prime suspect in his sisters' disappearance. Detective Pierce Reed is investigating the case. His wife Nikki is an author/reporter. She thinks this would make a goo storyline for her next book. There's a lot going on in this book. Although she was annoying, Nikki was my favourite character. There's plenty of twists to keep you guessing. It took a couple of chapters to get into the story. but once I did, I was hooked.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #LisaJackson for my ARC of #TheThirdGrave in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2021
The publishers invited me to read this ‘new gripping thriller� � but I don’t think they’ll be sending me another invitation! Described as ‘A cold case. A recent discovery. A very real threat �.�, it sounded just up my street. This is the first novel I have read by this author, and it will be the last. I’m sorry, but this is the most badly written (to the point of being childish) and ridiculous book I’ve read in a very long time, in fact I became angry when I was reading it. It felt like a want-to-be-author’s first attempt at writing. How many times can the same thing be repeated within a few pages? “All she knew was that they’d been ID’d as the older two of the long-missing Duval sisters, Holly and Poppy.� One page later: “� the two bodies had been identified, as many had speculated, to be the two older Duval sisters, Holly and Poppy.� The plot was implausible, the characters were ridiculous, the ending was preposterous, and if I hadn’t promised to review it I would have stopped reading after the first chapter. Many reviewers seem to have loved this � it’s a good job we’re not all the same isn’t it?
November 26, 2022
Pre-reading comments: ... Ack! I'm so annoyed that this is #4 in a series!! There was no indication on the cover that I noticed. I rarely pay full price for books, but I want to support a cute little bookstore that just opened in my town. I keep going there because they have an adorable cat that wanders around and is super friendly. (A friendly cat mascot should be mandatory for all cute little stores, and surely boosts sales, as in this example.)
Post-reading comments: This was a solid mystery that stood on its own, there was no time that I felt I was missing something because I didn't read the previous three books. I liked the Savannah setting and the abandoned, crumbling plantation house where a lot of the main action takes place. The bodies of two young sisters, who went missing 20 years ago, are found in a makeshift tomb in the basement of this house, and space for a third grave suggest that the other sister somehow escaped. Who put them there, and why? What happened to the other sister?
I would read more by this author, but I don't think I'd seek out any others in this series because I didn't like Nikki, the main character at all.
Post-reading comments: This was a solid mystery that stood on its own, there was no time that I felt I was missing something because I didn't read the previous three books. I liked the Savannah setting and the abandoned, crumbling plantation house where a lot of the main action takes place. The bodies of two young sisters, who went missing 20 years ago, are found in a makeshift tomb in the basement of this house, and space for a third grave suggest that the other sister somehow escaped. Who put them there, and why? What happened to the other sister?
I would read more by this author, but I don't think I'd seek out any others in this series because I didn't like Nikki, the main character at all.
June 22, 2021
This is the fourth book in a series; it is the first one I have read and it did not inspire me to go back and read the prior ones. The story itself was OK, but the telling of it tedious and I found myself frequently skimming. I also found the character of Nikki annoying. It was difficult to believe that she was so concerned about her pregnancy after two miscarriages, yet she put herself in danger by actions like traipsing around a slippery river bank right after a hurricane.
July 10, 2021
3.5 stars. In an exciting start to the book, two skeletons are discovered in the cellar of a crumbling old mansion by a wannabe thief. Detective Pierce Reed catches the case along with his partner Sylvie Morrisette. Reed is the husband of crime writer Nikki Gillette who is employed by the Savannah Sentinel and determined to use inside information to write her story. The skeletons turn out to be sisters aged 12 and 10 who disappeared 20 years ago along with a still missing younger sister Rose.
Author Lisa Jackson has taken quite a long break in this series. The last book was written 7 years ago. Here's what I didn't like about this book: I did not like how the situation turned out with Det. Morrisette. Also, I had negative feelings about Nikki in this story. She's totally self absorbed and her cavalier attitude turned me off. I read book # 2 in this book previously and I don't remember feeling this way about her but it has been several years. One redeeming factor is that she loves her dog and cat.
Here's what I liked: The story was fast moving and my favorite type of book where a murder occurs and the hunt is on to figure out whodunnit. I liked how the author's style is to post thoughts from an anonymous killer throughout her books. I figured out who I thought Rose was early on in the story. This book is in typical Lisa Jackson style.
Author Lisa Jackson has taken quite a long break in this series. The last book was written 7 years ago. Here's what I didn't like about this book: I did not like how the situation turned out with Det. Morrisette. Also, I had negative feelings about Nikki in this story. She's totally self absorbed and her cavalier attitude turned me off. I read book # 2 in this book previously and I don't remember feeling this way about her but it has been several years. One redeeming factor is that she loves her dog and cat.
Here's what I liked: The story was fast moving and my favorite type of book where a murder occurs and the hunt is on to figure out whodunnit. I liked how the author's style is to post thoughts from an anonymous killer throughout her books. I figured out who I thought Rose was early on in the story. This book is in typical Lisa Jackson style.
June 29, 2021
Three graves are found ... though only two skeletal remains are found within. The Duval sisters .... Holly, 12, and Poppy, 10, disappeared 20 years ago along with their 4-year-old sister who has never been found. The three girls went to the movies with older brother, Owen, and never returned. To this day, Owen is still the prime suspect.
Crime writer / journalist Nikki Gillette and her Detective husband Pierce Reed are looking into this cold case. Nikki believes this will be the story that jump-starts her career. Reed just wants the killer ,, and the third victim ... found.
What the couple find are many more questions than answers. 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�
This story has been a long time coming. This series started in 2003, the last story was published in 2013. Any fans of this author will be thrilled to see this one in print. Although 4th in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone, although i would recommend reading them in order.
There's plenty of action, especially with Nikki putting herself in constant danger, much to her husband's annoyance. The reader is taken from the streets of today's Savannah to the old mansions still standing to the swamps filled with alligators.
The plot is exciting, the suspense starts from the very first page and holds steady until the final unexpected conclusion. The characters are richly drawn and I really enjoyed the blend of professional with the personal. It's a real page turner and there were times I just couldn't put it down.
Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 30, 2021
Lisa Jackson always delivers and this book is no exception. Having said that, let me back up and say that I absolutely HATED the protagonist, Nikki Gillette. She was totally self absorbed and had no concern about anyone except herself. She was willing to derail her husband’s career in order to boost her own career. And not just her husband who was lead detective in the murder. She undermined all rules of decency in her determination to let nothing get in her way of “getting the story.� And quite frankly, her husband was a total sap where she was involved.
The story of the missing girls who turned up in a grave 20 years after they went missing was good. It was definitely a page turner.
I’ll look forward to the next by Lisa Jackson, but don’t think I’ll read any more featuring Nikki.
I’m grateful to NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Books, for this ARC from one of my favorite authors. The opinions expressed are mine alone.
The story of the missing girls who turned up in a grave 20 years after they went missing was good. It was definitely a page turner.
I’ll look forward to the next by Lisa Jackson, but don’t think I’ll read any more featuring Nikki.
I’m grateful to NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Books, for this ARC from one of my favorite authors. The opinions expressed are mine alone.
August 12, 2021
Main character was so irritating I just skipped to the end.
July 20, 2021
Disappointing mystery by Lisa Jackson, who has written so much better years ago. This is a stand alone book in this Pierce Reed/Nikki Gillette series and I won't be reading the first three or any of the following unless Nikki is not in them! She's the most disliked character ever read in my many, many years of reading. Yes, she was that annoying for the reader to tolerate; I actually had to skim parts of the book to avoid that character's self-absorbed antics.
Sadly, her husband, the law enforcement character in the book is professional, dedicated and continues to warn her to "stay away from the case" in the event he is close to loosing his job due to Nikki's disregard for anyone else. Yet, he remains googly-eyed for her, which doesn't make sense to a pragmatic reader.
If the character hadn't been so dysfunctional, the story line would have been very, very good. It was a meaty mystery and would have held my interest. Unfortunately Lisa Jackson ruined this novel with the crazy wife (Nikki) who wouldn't be a professional journalist.
The three young sisters who vanished was an excellent thrilled, but only two of them were found in the old mansion. The author did redeem herself with the result of her whereabouts for 20 years and what had happened to all three of them at the movie theater (in spite of wasting so much time with Nikki's antics).
Consider yourself warned about this novel. I cannot recommend it in all honesty. If could have been so much better.
Sadly, her husband, the law enforcement character in the book is professional, dedicated and continues to warn her to "stay away from the case" in the event he is close to loosing his job due to Nikki's disregard for anyone else. Yet, he remains googly-eyed for her, which doesn't make sense to a pragmatic reader.
If the character hadn't been so dysfunctional, the story line would have been very, very good. It was a meaty mystery and would have held my interest. Unfortunately Lisa Jackson ruined this novel with the crazy wife (Nikki) who wouldn't be a professional journalist.
The three young sisters who vanished was an excellent thrilled, but only two of them were found in the old mansion. The author did redeem herself with the result of her whereabouts for 20 years and what had happened to all three of them at the movie theater (in spite of wasting so much time with Nikki's antics).
Consider yourself warned about this novel. I cannot recommend it in all honesty. If could have been so much better.
January 23, 2022
I really liked it-. interesting and different
I’ve read many of Lisa Jackson’s books and loved them.
Haven’t read any in a while but I saw this and grabbed it- looked new, different, and intriguing.
Well.. it was, it is. I really enjoyed this story once I got into it- which I remember from other Lisa Jackson’s mysteries.
Her characters are always very good in my opinion- and I’m no newcomer to mysteries, police procedurals or crime stories! I usually love the characters and miss them afterwards ( or hate them and want to see them get their comeuppance!) and this was no different-
in fact, I may have loved these characters and their milieu even more!
The eerieness and tarnished beauty of old or ruined splendor appeals to me in itself and as a metaphor for family and personal memories,secrets and ongoing decrepitude.
I really like Ms. Jackson’s sense of place and quite evocative descriptions of the particular area. Ms. Jackson had me feeling I was there in Georgia, the sultry heat with the lush “greeness� I remember. (Plus one of the most heartwarming and seductive of Southern pronunciations). ;-)
( one minor criticism- a Cat. 5 hurricane would have been a lot worse if it truly hit right there)
I do *not* care for how the story was not-so-very interesting for quite a bit..until we are well into the book.. but as usual, when it takes off, it really does. It really did for me� and I couldn’t put it down. Just finished it and am sorry it’s over.
I’ve read many of Lisa Jackson’s books and loved them.
Haven’t read any in a while but I saw this and grabbed it- looked new, different, and intriguing.
Well.. it was, it is. I really enjoyed this story once I got into it- which I remember from other Lisa Jackson’s mysteries.
Her characters are always very good in my opinion- and I’m no newcomer to mysteries, police procedurals or crime stories! I usually love the characters and miss them afterwards ( or hate them and want to see them get their comeuppance!) and this was no different-
in fact, I may have loved these characters and their milieu even more!
The eerieness and tarnished beauty of old or ruined splendor appeals to me in itself and as a metaphor for family and personal memories,secrets and ongoing decrepitude.
I really like Ms. Jackson’s sense of place and quite evocative descriptions of the particular area. Ms. Jackson had me feeling I was there in Georgia, the sultry heat with the lush “greeness� I remember. (Plus one of the most heartwarming and seductive of Southern pronunciations). ;-)
( one minor criticism- a Cat. 5 hurricane would have been a lot worse if it truly hit right there)
I do *not* care for how the story was not-so-very interesting for quite a bit..until we are well into the book.. but as usual, when it takes off, it really does. It really did for me� and I couldn’t put it down. Just finished it and am sorry it’s over.
July 19, 2021
Absolutely loved this book and will now read more from Lisa Jackson. This was a great story that held my attention all the way through. Terrific plot and very cleverly put together. I loved the character of Nikki, so strong and determined even though at times her actions caused grief to many, she was the star of the story. I read this book in a day as I couldn't wait to see how it would all turn out. Very satisfied with the ending that wrapped up the story beautifully. A five star read for me and I highly recommend this book to all. Thank you to Netgalley , the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book, mush appreciated.
July 4, 2021
I was very disappointed in The Third Grave. I don't remember if I read the previous books with Reed and Gillette, but I know I won't now. Nikki comes across as self-absorbed and manipulative. It seems obvious that she doesn't much care that her actions killed her husband's partner of 10 years. A woman with two teenage children. And she seems to have little or no respect for her husband and his career. As a feminist, I believe that marriages involve mutual respect. I don't see that here and it's hard to read a book when you dislike the main character. Lisa Jackson can do better and has done.
May 17, 2022
2 Stars
Nikki Gillette was so selfish, pig headed and irresponsible it ruined the story for me. Common sense, ethics, her husband's job, her pregnancy, the lives of those unfortunate enough to be in her orbit... none of it mattered in the pursuit of a story. When someone else payed the ultimate price for her narcissism, she just doubled down on her stupidity and made excuses. Ugh!
Nikki Gillette was so selfish, pig headed and irresponsible it ruined the story for me. Common sense, ethics, her husband's job, her pregnancy, the lives of those unfortunate enough to be in her orbit... none of it mattered in the pursuit of a story. When someone else payed the ultimate price for her narcissism, she just doubled down on her stupidity and made excuses. Ugh!
July 23, 2021
DNF! Not enough time in life to read about self-absorbed, impulsive and idiotic Nikki Reed
August 18, 2021
For someone who desperately wanted a baby, "the story" seemed more important than her pregnancy. She didn't seem to really learn from the incident as she basically went back to her old ways.
October 19, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Third Grave, the fourth novel in the Savannah series, featuring Detective Pierce Reed and his wife, reporter Nikki Gillette.
When two skeletons are discovered in the decaying Beaumont mansion they are quickly identified as Holly and Poppy Duval who disappeared over twenty years ago. The problem is there is an empty third grave beside them and no sign of their sister, Rose, who vanished at the same time. Detective Pierce Reed is on the case, as is his wife, Nikki. It soon becomes clear that the killer isn’t finished.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Third Grave which is an entertaining read with plenty of twists and turns. I haven’t read this series before and I liked what I saw, so I can see me backtracking to the earlier novels at some point. I thought it worked fine as a stand-alone as I didn’t feel the loss of not having read its predecessors.
The plot is absorbing once the reader accepts that realism isn’t a thing, but entertainment is. I liked the way the author builds her plot for the reader via the separate investigations, because, of course, Pierce and Nikki don’t share, I assume, for ethical reasons on his part and because he doesn’t want her investigating on her part. The two different points of view give the reader a wider perspective as each has their own approach. There is plenty of action in the novel with more death and a few tense scenes, culminating in the almost obligatory showdown and that is exciting. The author saves her best twists for this finale when all is explained. Some I guessed, some were a complete surprise but the journey was never less than engrossing.
I can’t say that I particularly took to any of the characters. I think Nikki and Pierce’s relationship is slightly dysfunctional as it seems to consist of him telling her what to do and her ignoring him. There is personal heartache for them, but he doesn’t seem overly supportive. Not that she’s much better as she seems to court danger. Weird and repetitive.
The Third Grave is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
When two skeletons are discovered in the decaying Beaumont mansion they are quickly identified as Holly and Poppy Duval who disappeared over twenty years ago. The problem is there is an empty third grave beside them and no sign of their sister, Rose, who vanished at the same time. Detective Pierce Reed is on the case, as is his wife, Nikki. It soon becomes clear that the killer isn’t finished.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Third Grave which is an entertaining read with plenty of twists and turns. I haven’t read this series before and I liked what I saw, so I can see me backtracking to the earlier novels at some point. I thought it worked fine as a stand-alone as I didn’t feel the loss of not having read its predecessors.
The plot is absorbing once the reader accepts that realism isn’t a thing, but entertainment is. I liked the way the author builds her plot for the reader via the separate investigations, because, of course, Pierce and Nikki don’t share, I assume, for ethical reasons on his part and because he doesn’t want her investigating on her part. The two different points of view give the reader a wider perspective as each has their own approach. There is plenty of action in the novel with more death and a few tense scenes, culminating in the almost obligatory showdown and that is exciting. The author saves her best twists for this finale when all is explained. Some I guessed, some were a complete surprise but the journey was never less than engrossing.
I can’t say that I particularly took to any of the characters. I think Nikki and Pierce’s relationship is slightly dysfunctional as it seems to consist of him telling her what to do and her ignoring him. There is personal heartache for them, but he doesn’t seem overly supportive. Not that she’s much better as she seems to court danger. Weird and repetitive.
The Third Grave is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
November 22, 2021
The story was interesting enough but our antagonist was a pain. A reporter who will do anything for her story, even if it screws up her policeman husband's cases, almost costs her her life and causes the death of another. She says she feel terrible about what she has done then tells her husband that he knew what she was like when he married her so he should just accept her behaviour. And he agrees. Later she causes another death and doesn't show much remorse about that and goes on her merry way. She acts more like a rebelious teenager than a grown woman. She doesn't seem too worried about her husband when he is shot rescueing her from another mess she gets into. She has no interest in how her actions screw up others lives and expects everyone to understand her need to GET THE STORY. And again, it is not even her beat at the paper-she just wants to be the crime reporter, usurping a co-workers job and justifying it by saying that he isn't very good anyway. Hope I never run into her again.
August 15, 2021
This book contains the single most unlikeable heroine I have ever read in any book I’ve ever picked up in the entirety of my life.
The fact that I actively disliked her from the first page and it just continually got worse as she put herself in danger, passively got a few people killed, mulishly drove a wedge in to put her husband’s job on the line, was an overprivileged brat to every single person she interacted with, and didn’t learn even one lesson through her entire time in this mess just made the entire story unenjoyable.
I finished it, and felt like the mystery fell flat, though I enjoyed the chapters that weren’t about Nikki a thousand times more than I enjoyed the chapters that were.
The fact that I actively disliked her from the first page and it just continually got worse as she put herself in danger, passively got a few people killed, mulishly drove a wedge in to put her husband’s job on the line, was an overprivileged brat to every single person she interacted with, and didn’t learn even one lesson through her entire time in this mess just made the entire story unenjoyable.
I finished it, and felt like the mystery fell flat, though I enjoyed the chapters that weren’t about Nikki a thousand times more than I enjoyed the chapters that were.
September 7, 2022
This might be one of the worst books I've ever read. If you want a terrible character with no redeeming qualities look no further than Nikki Gillette. I love strong female leads. Not ignorant female characters who are a danger to themselves and everyone around them, and do nothing but complicate every scenario. Zero respect for her husband, his job (and we're even told that she's jeopardized his job before with her antics so she's clearly learned nothing from her past mistakes,) their unborn child, or literally anyone else around them (to the extreme of almost getting her husband's partner killed immediately after her husband asks her not to get involved with the case...) She's awful and it made the whole book not enjoyable.
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