I know, I know… it’s supposed to be Two for Tuesday but since I’m so behind I have to keep going with these reviews and I definitely didn’t want to forget this one by one of my favorite authors: the final installment in the Collector Series by Dot Hutchison.
We were first introduced to this series with The Butterfly Garden, a book that horrified and traumatized many readers several years ago. It continued with The Roses of May and last years bestseller, The Summer Children. (You can read my review of that book HERE) Each book has built on the development of the team members who originally found girls in the Butterfly Garden and their work within a special unit of the FBI. Now a child has been abducted, their specialty, but the case is eerily similar to kidnapping of Eddison’s sister years earlier. As the team members deal with their own haunting demons from past cases, they also must search through clues to see how and why this case may be linked to the cold cases from old before it is too late to save the missing child.
Let me state up front that absolutely is not a “stand alone” book. I read The Summer Children last year and only slightly fell through the cracks a few times. After that, I promptly went back and read the first two books in the series. All of these books are top notch, horrifyingly marvelous thrillers. This one, however, is the end of the story. For those of us invested in these characters it is a book that ties up all of the loose ends, answers questions from the past and allows us and the author to move on to new topics. It is a must -read for followers of Hutchison’s work, but I don’t recommend starting here. I do, however, recommend reading every single one of the books in the series. They are absolutely fantastic! Hutchison is a masterful storyteller whose tales you will not want to miss.
Thanks for your warning/ advice. I’m always unsure whether I should go back and start from the beginning of the series or it’s ok to read the latest one straightaway. My latest read was The Shameless. I somehow managed to miss the bit in the description which stated it clearly that it was the ninth book in the series😁
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I always try to include that if it is part of a series. I just finished another book that is part of a series, and you can tell that there is back story there, but it read perfectly as a stand-alone. I just hate to be lost in a book and have no clue what is going on or what people are talking about. I feel the same way in real life at parties with people who have been friends forever. It’s uncomfortable. However, this is a terrific series. I liked all of the books quite a bit – the first and third being my favorite two of the four.
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I LOVE this series and can’t wait to read this one. I am sad it is the end, but I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! I know several people who didn’t like book 2 and 3, but I loved every book. I think the series was just excellent and agree that they need to be read in order. Great review, Mackey!
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Ah I haven’t read this author, though I saw the book on amazon. I will have to think about getting book 1
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Great review darling
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I definitely need to read this series, Mackey, and will start at the beginning! Terrific review!
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This series is on my TBR but still haven’t picked it up. In fact thinking about it I think I own the first 2 books on Kindle 🤔 will have to check. Fab review!!
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Woah, I’m not familiar with this series at all, but it sounds intense. Looks like I need to track down the first one. Awesome review!
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This sounds like a fabulous series! Thank you so much!
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Nice review Macky. I read reviews of this series when it first came out and was not sure it it was for me or not. This is a great review and it tempts me to look at the library to see if they have the series. I also appreciate knowing that it is best to read books in the proper order. Thanks for that.
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