Book Review: ‘Secret Remains’ Is A Good Second Book In The Coroner Series From Jennifer Graeser Dornbush

Dr. Emily Hartford is getting ready to leave to town to return to Chicago. She stops by to say goodbye to her dad and finds him on the floor suffering from another heart attack. This one is worse than the last one and it’s not looking good. On the way to the hospital he tries to confess something about her late mother and another woman but never finishes the story. He later dies.

Now Emily wonders what he was trying to tell her and has to deal with his death. On the day of his funeral bones are found at a construction site and Sheriff Nick (Emily’s ex from high school) is called and Emily assists as medical examiner. They think the bones might belong to a young girl named Sandi Parkman, who went missing 12 years ago. It’s soon confirmed that it is Sandi and it opens up a can of worms. Nick was the last one seen with her and is now under suspicion as is others from his former ‘pack’ in high school.

Emily helps investigate and soon things point to Nick, who is arrested for her death. But Emily doesn’t believe he did it and with the help of ex FBI agent Delia Andrews, new clues and evidence emerge and Emily has to race against time to find the real killer before that person is killed.

The story takes place right after the previous book and Emily also has do deal with her finance and Nick’s feelings for her. As well she gets multiple job offers and also needs to make a decision about her medical future.

A good follow up to the first novel in the series. More character development, more backstory about her mother and what really happened and a possible new romance highlight this second novel. Author Jennifer Graeser Dornbush has a winning series going. Here’s hoping to more of Emily and Nick and the town of Freeport.

You can pick up Secret Remains in stores now from Crooked Lane.