Beyond Her Reach

Intriguing and fast-paced, the tenth book in the Bree Taggert series by Melinda Leigh, Beyond Her Reach, is another fantastic read. This police procedural is combined once again with a strong mystery, family evolution, and a little romance. Bree is called to the scene of a death in a quiet neighborhood. Keely Gibson appears to be the victim of a rage killing.

As Bree and investigator Matt Flynn (and Bree’s significant other) work leads with the deputies, there are three immediate suspects. However, when a second woman is murdered, the answers are even more difficult to find. If that isn’t enough, there are more attacks. Can Bree, Matt, and the team solve the case before more deaths occur?

Bree is the Randolf County, New York sheriff and is based out of Gray’s Hollow. She’s smart, skilled, confident, honorable, and determined. She has earned the respect of her deputies, has high standards and ethics, and puts the community first. She joined law enforcement to help people and that is what she intends to do. Her good leadership and compassion have gained her the support of the community and her deputies. She is learning to navigate the politics, media, and paperwork associated with being a sheriff in a county with a limited budget. Matt is a former sheriff’s deputy injured in the line of duty. He was going to start a K-9 training program, but his sister Cady is using the kennels for rescued dogs. Matt is a great investigator and is a master at interviewing suspects. He loves dogs, including his retired K-9, Brody and a canine that he wants to train, Turbo. He adores Bree’s nephew and niece and has found a new purpose in life since meeting Bree.

The novel starts with a mystery that pulls readers into the police investigation. Who could have done this? The plot has twists and turns that were unexpected and clever. I loved how Turbo and the department’s K-9 Greta had roles in this story. As always, the world-building is well-done and the characterization is excellent. By this time in the series, it feels like I’m visiting old friends. The relationships with friends, family, co-workers, and the community add another dimension to the story. The author does a great job of adding personal information into the plot without detracting and slowing down the police investigation into the deaths. Additional threads in the storyline include memories, family connections, support systems, deceptions, lies, and much more.

Overall, this book has twists, tension, suspense, violence, and was hard to put down. If you are expecting a solid series that will have mysteries, suspense, crime, action, a little romance, and a strong female protagonist, then this is a series that I recommend. I am looking forward to finding out what is next for Bree, Matt, and the deputies.

Montlake and Melinda Leigh provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for September 16, 2025.