The first book in a series is always the most crucial. As a reader, starting something new—with unfamiliar characters and a fresh world—can sometimes feel daunting, especially when you’re coming from a series you already love. That said, this series is actually a spin-off of Denise’s Rose Gardner Investigation series, where we’re first introduced to Carly.

Carly is on the run after overhearing a life-altering conversation between her father and her fiancé. In the Rose Gardner series, Rose and her friends take Carly in and become her chosen family. Although she grows attached to them, Carly ultimately leaves Arkansas to put more distance between herself and her father. Her journey lands her in Tennessee—with a broken-down car and a fresh start ahead of her.

Side note: You don’t need to read the Rose Gardner Investigation series before starting this one. Denise does an excellent job filling in any necessary backstory. That said, it’s a fantastic series and definitely worth adding to your TBR.

A Cry in the Dark is an amazing and compelling start to this new series. I’m already fully invested in Carly’s story and excited to see where Denise takes it. Carly is a strong, independent female lead who isn’t afraid to take care of herself. The story is packed with edge-of-your-seat moments and plenty of twists that kept me second-guessing everything. The ending was completely unpredictable—and I loved that.

I’m eager to see more of Carly and her new friends, and I think this series has incredible potential. If you’ve read the Rose Gardner Mystery or Investigation series, you’ll absolutely love Carly’s story as well.

If you know me, you know that Denise Grover Swank is my absolute favorite author. I’ve read every single one of her books and have yet to be disappointed. She’s the author who truly hooked me on reading and encouraged me to explore genres I never would have picked up otherwise. For that, I’m incredibly grateful—not just to her, but to authors like her who create immersive worlds we can escape into when we need a break from reality… or when we’re simply book obsessed.

Incredible. Captivating. Binge-worthy. I genuinely believe each book Denise writes gets better and better. I loved seeing how far Carly has come and how she’s grown into the strong, independent, and self-sufficient woman she is today.

When Lula suddenly disappears shortly after returning, Carly is determined to find out what happened. Everything points to someone taking her, but the questions remain—who, and why? Carly and Marco work together to uncover the truth, though Carly can’t help but wonder if Marco has motives of his own. As she starts asking the right questions and turning to the right people, another shocking disappearance occurs when Lula’s friend, Greta, goes missing as well. Now Carly is racing against time to find two missing women while trying to figure out who she can truly trust.

Secrets begin to surface, and Carly is forced to decide how much she’s willing to reveal in order to get the answers she needs. The story is filled with surprising twists and unexpected turns that keep you glued to the pages.

One Foot in the Grave is phenomenal. The story is filled with intense, edge-of-your-seat moments, and Denise kept me guessing right up until the very end. I loved being back in Carly’s world and seeing her surrounded by people who genuinely love and care for her.

The relationships Carly has built with the people in town—especially Hank, Ruth, Max, and Marco—are one of my favorite parts of this series. From book one, they’ve been fiercely protective of her, and watching them treat her like family makes my heart so happy. After everything Carly has endured, she truly deserves a support system like this.

Carly continues to shine as a strong, independent female lead. She deeply cares for her friends and is always willing to step in and help, even when it puts her in difficult situations—Wyatt included. While her feelings for him have changed, she doesn’t hesitate to help clear his name when he needs it.

I’m incredibly invested in where Denise takes this series next, especially when it comes to the relationship between Marco and Carly. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for them.

This book left me completely speechless. It’s packed with suspense, mystery, happiness, heartache, and so many secrets. Be prepared to finish it in one sitting—because once you start, you won’t want to put it down. Once again, Denise grabs your attention from the very first page and leaves you desperate for more. One of the things I love most about her writing is how deeply she pulls readers into the emotions of her characters. I felt everything as if I were Carly myself, living through every moment. The book hangover afterward was intense.

Carly struggles to wrap her head around the revelation that Pam—a sweet, quiet older woman—is the real killer. There’s no denying Pam’s involvement in Jim Palmer’s murder, especially with eyewitnesses present at the insurance office. Still, Carly can’t let go of the feeling that there’s more to the story. As she continues digging into Bart’s past, secret after secret is uncovered, ultimately revealing the shocking truth behind the murder.

The relationships Carly builds with her friends—especially Hank, Marco, Max, and Jerry—are incredibly meaningful. These men genuinely love and care for her and want nothing but the best for her. Over time, Carly creates her own version of a family out of people who were once strangers. As the secrets unravel, Carly is also forced to confront her growing feelings for Marco. There’s something real between them, but she questions whether it’s worth the risk. When she finally allows herself to give in, she realizes she’s truly happy—something she’s never fully allowed herself to feel before.

When threats are made against the people she loves, Carly must decide if her relationship with Marco is worth the danger. Marco makes it clear he would do anything to protect her, and that’s when Carly realizes he’s worth every risk and every threat.

The Lies She Told by Denise Grover Swank is an incredible, edge-of-your-seat, “wait… did that really just happen?” kind of story. Like her other books, this one is packed with twists and turns that keep you guessing.

Carly has come such a long way since we first met her. She’s no longer the quiet, timid girl who hides in the background. She’s actively searching for answers and isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get them. A lot of important information is uncovered in this installment, so I highly recommend reading the first four books before diving in.

Carly learns more about Hank’s past and helps him recover the fortune that was taken from him. None of what she discovers changes how she feels about him—if anything, it only strengthens their bond. Hank has become more of a father figure to Carly than her own ever was. Max also learns the truth about who Carly really is when she finally reveals her deepest secret. He doesn’t hesitate to stand by her, offering support and help in any way he can. Marco continues to be a steady presence as well, even going out of his way to connect Carly with someone who may hold the answers she’s been searching for.

While the story started a bit slow for me, it didn’t take long before things picked up—and once they did, I couldn’t put the book down. This is a fantastic mystery series with just the right touch of romance. If you’re looking to step outside your usual comfort zone, this is a great series to dive into.