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Jack Ryder #7

Don't Tell

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This novel is based on an actual unsolved murder case.

One close-knit family. Too many secrets.

When detective Jack Ryder is going skiing with his family in the mountains of North Carolina, he hopes for a week of fun in the snow with the ones he loves.

But then the body of a teenage boy turns up in the cold waters of the creek behind the cabin they have rented.

Don’t tell or you might be next.

The find shocks the rural community of Maggie Valley and rattles local law enforcement. What happened to the boy is more than strange.

Soon more bodies are found, and Jack Ryder digs into the case that seems to be anything but ordinary. What happened on the night that Benjamin Rutherford disappeared from the porch of his childhood home? Is his father — the local pastor — telling the truth? Is his sister?

As Jack digs deeper into this seemingly perfect family, he begins to wonder if any of them are what they pretend to be and what secrets they are hiding beneath the surface.

DON’T TELL is the seventh book in Willow Rose's bestselling and addictive Jack Ryder series but can be read as a standalone.

Scroll up and grab a copy today.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 10, 2019

2775 people are currently reading
527 people want to read

About the author

Willow Rose

228 books2,693 followers
Willow Rose is a multi-million-copy best-selling Author and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 70 novels.

Several of her books have reached the top 10 of ALL books on Amazon in the US, UK, and Canada. She has sold more than three million books all over the world.

She writes Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy.

Willow's books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won't see coming. That's why her fans call her The Queen of Scream.

Willow lives on Florida's Space Coast. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

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5 stars
1,566 (64%)
4 stars
637 (26%)
3 stars
167 (6%)
2 stars
34 (1%)
1 star
16 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
12.5k reviews188 followers
May 18, 2019
Another amazing story. All Jack Ryder wants is a vacation with his family. Then the body of a teenage boy is found. Back to work for him. It’s a definite breath holding story.
Profile Image for Vivian.
798 reviews10 followers
July 10, 2019
Willow Rose knows how to tell a story. What a gift!

Jack, his wife, Shannon and five of their kids decide it’s time for a proper vacation. They head to the mountains for some skiing and relaxation. What they didn’t expect to find was a series of murders. One happening right in front of their young son, Austin. He’s scared to admit what he really saw; the murderer threatening to kill him and his entire family if he told. Jack puts on his detective hat, not just to find the killer but to save his young boy. Would he be able to get Austin to talk before it’s too late?
Profile Image for Courtney.
12 reviews
May 22, 2019
Good read

Another great book written by a great author. I always look forward to the new books that Willow Rose writes.
Profile Image for Bettyboop.
375 reviews5 followers
August 4, 2019
‘Don’t Tell’ is the best Jack Ryder story and at #7, that makes author, Willow Rose a best goodread. Shannon plays a big part in this storyline where Ms Rose makes Jack a helpless target for a sharpshooter sniper. Their family ski vacation turned out to be a fearful suspense with a twisted ending, like Ms. Rose is so good at creating.
302 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2019
Jack Ryder and his family go on vacation to the mountains in North Carolina. Jack and his wife, Shannon, want their children to learn to ski and snowboard. Of course, Jack gets involved in a case while there.

First the Ryder family is witness to a car crash, then Austin is in the room when a murder happens, and then Shannon finds the body of a missing 17 yr old in the creek behind the cabin. Can we possible push Jack into working this case any more than this?
The murder mystery part of the story was good. There were a few surprises and twist. You kind of had an idea who murdered the boy and how the other crimes tied in (even though many suspects were given), but why Ben was killed was unexpected.
The family aspect of this series has always bothered me. Jack and Shannon seem smart and loving. Yet somehow they are clueless with the kids. Austin is pressured by Jack to do things Jack likes and the boy hates. Shannon sees it but won't speak up on behalf of the boy. Abigail is a wild child that Jack won't control, and Shannon is afraid to because it may upset Jack. They have had 3 children kidnapped, yet they are always leaving them alone. Which leads to Austin going through some terrible things in this book.
If Miss Rose would just stick to the mystery part of her books and cancel out the family aspect, I would appreciate this series more. LIke book 6 with only Jack and Emily. I missed Emily in this book.
Profile Image for Denise.
1,771 reviews24 followers
May 18, 2019
'Don't Tell' completely blew me away from the start. The story line was really intense. Full of suspense, intense characters and the premise of a true story behind the words. Once again Jack is in the middle of a case that spins out of his control. I loved how Willow Rose brought this story to life and as with most of her stories, they are based on facts. Tragic facts, but facts that are compelling to read. I look forward to reading more of the 'Jack Ryder Series'. A must add to your tbr list. Recommended read.
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
May 19, 2019
"An Intense Murder Mystery"

This novel was developed by the author based on an actual murder case back in 1901. Jack Ryder is in the mountains with his family to enjoy a week of skiing. But then a teenage boy is found dead in a creek behind the cabin they had rented. Then more bodies are found and the town of Maggie Valley is stunned. This is a harrowing story which will totally captivate you and cause you to call out loud. It's another tense, scary, murder story only Willow Rose can create. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Tl duke.
6 reviews
May 11, 2019
Just read

Amazing book a must read!! I loved it when characters from the other series make an appearance! It was great getting an update on Rebekka! Even though this book is in a series it can definitely be read as a stand alone book! I would recommend the whole series though ! This book has lots of twists and turns just when you think you've figured it out nope you didnt! Highly recommend this book and any book written by Willow Rose she is truly an amazing writter!
769 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2019
Suspense, Family, Twisted Relationships

This is a fascinating suspense novel with a complicated plot. Interestingly, there are several characters the reader cannot like and, thus, when the culprit(s) are revealed, the reader feels great satisfaction when the guilty are caught and imprisoned. My gripe is when the main character, Jack Ryder, and/or his family end up hurt or in danger, it grows old as a plot device.
57 reviews
August 14, 2019
Jack Ryder

Sad to have finished this series. I will miss reading about Jack and his family. So, I guess it's on to the next series of more interesting people!
Profile Image for Julie Howard.
Author 2 books30 followers
July 15, 2020
Oh wow. The twist that make up this book has put this book as my new favourite book in the series. I enjoyed the first six books in the series and a highly recommend that you give them a listen but this book has set up a whole new level for the author. Like normal the story jumps in time and with story teller (I don't think it had quite as many time jumps as the other books, which made it easier to follow) but this time it worked really well and added to the understanding of the story. There was so many twist and even though it was a family holiday and I love listening about the family the story did not get bogged down with the family drama. I can't wait for the next book.
Jack and wife Shannon have taken five of there six children on holiday, to learn to ski and spend quality time together. Those plans go horrible wrong before they even get there, as they are nearly involved in a car accident. They make it safely only to find the family next door to there rented cabin are in mourning over the disappearance of there son. The disappearance isn't the only tragedy to hit the small town in the last few days there has been a murder and a suicide. Only the suicide happened right in front of Jack's son and now he isn't talking. Are the deaths and disappearance connected? With the family so close to his own family and them all acting weird Jack feels he has no choice but to ask questions. Then Shannon finds the missing boys body and she to gets dragged into the investigation. Is there any truth to the families allegations that his girlfriend killed him. The town and sheriff think so but Jack isn't so sure and what about the girl in the car crash? Was she the killer the sheriff believes her to be or a reporter working on a story so big that someone made sure she wouldn't tell?
I liked the narrator and think he has got his timing right this time, in previous books he was to drawn out and I needed to speed up the listening speed, I didn't have to this time and with the good narration really enjoyed the book.
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,558 reviews1,680 followers
May 16, 2024
Jack Ryder #7

This story is based on an actual unsolved murder case.

One close-knit family. Too many secrets.

When detective Jack Ryder goes skiing with his family in the mountains of South Carolina, he hopes for a week of fun in the snow with the ones he loves. But then the body of a teenage boy turns up in the cold waters of the creek behind the cabin they have rented.


Don't tell or you might be next.

The find shocks the community of Maggie Valley and rattles the local law enforcement. What happened to the boy is more than strange. Soon more bodies are found, and Jack Ryder digs into the case that seems to be anything but ordinary. What happened on the night that Benjamin Rutherford disappeared from the porch of his childhood home?

When Jack takes his family on a skiing trip, he doesn't know that it will end up a busman's holiday. He wasn't expecting to find himself in the middle of a murder investigation. One of the murders was witnessed by Jack's young son, Austin.

It's all happening in this book. First of all, Jack and his family witness a car crash, Austin is traumatised by a shooting, he was the only witness, and Shannon pulls a body out of the creek. Not exactly what to expect to find on a family skiing holiday. There were some good twists, the characters were well-developed, but not all of them are likeable. This book can be read as a standalone.

#KindleBook
Profile Image for Rosemary.
3,785 reviews65 followers
September 13, 2019
DON'T TELL (Jack Ryder Book 7) - a review by Rosemary Kenny

Willow Rose - such a sweet, innocent-sounding name - but what comes out of her alter-ego, Queen of Scream's mind and from the author's pen - is anything but, proving once again the truth of the Bard's words, 'the pen is mightier than the sword'!

A 'standalone' story, DON'T TELL, luckily does not (anywhere near) stand alone, either in Willow Rose's excellent Jack Ryder series, (there are 6 previous novels available and highly recommended for your reading pleasure), nor in her many other wonderful books.
The MC Jack Ryder is on what should have been a fun-filled family holiday where they could spend time in a luxury cabin in the North Carolina Mountains, learning to ski etc. However these aspirations are completely dashed, when the body of local pastor's son Benjamin Rutherford, is found in the river behind said 'paradise (now) lost' residence.
Based on a true story from the turn of the 20th century, DON'T TELL has more twists and turns than a Chubby Checker dance-athon, before the idyllic facade of the Rutherford family and the 'Happy Valley' residents is shattered as the truth is finally revealed.
It's rumoured this may be the last Jack Ryder story, so don't delay get Willow Rose's entire set of 7 and turn your phone off for a week - they're that outstanding!
404 reviews6 followers
September 10, 2020
This latest Book in the Jack Ryder Series is based on a real unsolved murder. Jack takes his Family on a Ski Trip in the Mountains of North Carolina. It's very small town and the author really understands Small town Politics, Childhood Trauma, Religious Hypocrisy and how appearances can be deceiving. A mother and her daughter have suffered a Double Tragedy and she moves to the small Southern town for a fresh start, she buys a Trailer Park and enrolls her daughter in School. There are many sub plots, including unsolved murders and Jack realizing that he was repeating the behavior of his father. The Ending was awesome but the Real Life Mystery is still unsolved
Profile Image for Nathalie.
516 reviews
December 23, 2020
First time reading this author and series and yes I realize I’m starting at 7, oh well. Now if I’m being completely honest this book isn’t that great and yet it is. Very many conflicting feelings. This is why; the dialogue is really simple bordering stiff and almost unnaturally so and it drove me nuts. The dialogue between Jack and Shannon just isn’t smooth and it’s very distracting. However, this book is hella entertaining. The plot twist is good. Genuinely well thought out and clever. It could and probably should be made into a blockbuster. That’s how entertaining it actually is. That for me was this book’s saving grace.
Profile Image for Tracy Crawford.
695 reviews10 followers
June 19, 2021
Geez. What a dud. First, the dialogue and the narrative are so unnatural. It drove me bonkers. Who talks or even thinks like that? This is the 7th book in Rose’s Detective Jack Ryder series, and I’m just guessing, but does this guy show up and bodies start piling up? The local police of Maggie Valley are portrayed as inept, and then there’s a the lovey dovey with Ryder’s country music star wife. Really? And that one poor kid. He’ll need therapy for the rest of his life. But these two act like, bummer. Poor guy. Let’s talk about it a lot. Read at beach, which didn’t help inane plot but made me plow through to see it to its predictable end.
6,726 reviews5 followers
October 23, 2022
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

Another will written murder mystery family relationships adventure thriller novel by Willow Rose 🌹 (Jack Ryder book 7). Jack and the family go on vacation in the North Carolina mountains and end up ☝ in a local family murder mystery. Jack and his son Austin are both hurt ending up in the hospital and recover. The mystery is solved with the bad 👎 guys being arrested. Jack and the family go back to Florida. I would highly recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mysteries, Willow Rose 🌹 is one of my favorite authors. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to Alexa. 2022 😄👒🏡
22 reviews
May 19, 2019
Great plot. Badly written.

This plot is great. However, the writing is really bad. The writer decided to try to keep the killer secret when it was always apparent who it was. This led to constructing the story going back and forth in time and really clumsy writing. She should have just told the story. Also, the idea of telling part of it in first person and part in third was uncomfortable, maybe because it isn't proper English, but certainly because it made for an artificial story structure. The plot saved it from disaster.
26 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2019
I enjoy the Jack Ryder series by Willow Rose. I have yet to connect the dots before the end of the book. I get close but I'm never 100% right. Jack Ryder is a family man with good values. I would never go on vacation with his family...there was no down time and lots of twists and turns. The biggest problem I had was keeping a few of the female characters straight as their names all began with S, Shannon, Savannah, Susan. Great story line.
Profile Image for Marcie.
180 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2020
A family's holiday turns sour when there son witnesses a murder. Now they must try to continue to enjoy the holiday but at the same time Ryder who is a detective starts to investigate the happens around town on his own because something just doesn't doesn't add up. This is a fast pace thriller that will keep you guessing till the end who the murder is! I enjoyed reading this story and will read more by this author! I received this free ebook for an honest review.
Profile Image for Justin.
582 reviews16 followers
January 28, 2022
It appears that the Jack Ryder saga has come to an end, and this is a fitting conclusion for the series. This one has an extremely complex plot, while also pushing Jack's personal and family development along. Surprisingly, I finally found myself not disliking Shannon. Dare I say I actually liked her in this one?!

All in all, this was a good series that kept my attention through all of them. The pacing was always spot on and the length was just right.
115 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2023
I like how Willow Rose writes fictional stories based on actual events, but sometimes her stories can get a little over the top or I just want to be done with them. I like that she has twists, but it's so twisty that you won't ever guess who the murderer is. I like to be able to at least deduce from the clues in the book who might be the killer. Overall, her books are good for a quick read and she keeps you hanging, so you read "just one more chapter".
Profile Image for Bookish Heidi.
1,741 reviews31 followers
May 11, 2019
Twist and turn

I can usually figure books out pretty easily. This one kept me going til the very end. I thought I had it figured out and then it twisted again. Loved this story! I feel bad that poor little Austin was traumatized again, but I hope that's building towards something epic.
Profile Image for Bev.
3,248 reviews97 followers
May 11, 2019
I was totally involved with this story! The characters, the situations, the twists, and turns that you don't see coming until it is too late! To think this actually happened to a real live family is sad. Even though this is part of the Jack Ryder series, it does perfectly as a stand-alone. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.
14 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2019
Family fist

Jack and Shannon take the kids to Maggie Valley, North Carolina for a ski vacation. Before they get to their rental cabin, they're sideswiped by a speeding car. The driver of the other car, an investigative reporter for Time magazine, ends up in a coma and arrested for murder by the local police. Jack becomes involved in the investigation.
Profile Image for Robin Langelier.
218 reviews
May 15, 2019
Jack and Shannon take the kids to Maggie Valley,North Carolina for a ski vacation. Their fun quickly turns into terror. There's so much action, suspense, twists and turns I didn't want to put the book down. When I think I have it figured out, it chages. This story has an ending I never expected!! I read this book through an arc program. 💖🐧💋
506 reviews3 followers
May 20, 2019
ANOTHER AWESOME READ by Willow Rose!!

DON'T TELL was a non-stop read!!
Jack, Shannon and kids have gone on a family skiing vacation. Little do they know, the havioc they will get involved with, all fueled by the strange family next door!
Will they all survive? Guess you'll have to read DON'T TELL....LOL
Profile Image for bibiana  Perdomo .
105 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2019
This was a great book I started it this morning and aside from having to put it down to go to the bathroom and to have dinner I couldn't put it down. From the beginning you get sucked in as does jack and his family through no fault of his own. Till the very end willow has us guessing who the real killer is total shocker at the end.
Profile Image for Louise Pledge.
1,292 reviews29 followers
September 27, 2019
After reading "Ten Little Girls", I knew I had to read more by Willow Rose. So this is my second one, but I've already started on the third. I hope there are some good sales, because I'm not ready to stop any time soon!

I'm used to figuring out the murderer by the time I'm half-way through the book, but I got this one wrong!
Profile Image for Cherie Melbourne.
1,319 reviews15 followers
January 16, 2021
Don't Tell

The usual fast pace that I have come to expect from Willow Rose. Jack and Shannon work so well together and I never get tired of reading about them. I had it worked out who the shooter was and wasn't surprised when it was confirmed, gosh it was tangled. I hope I get to read more about Jack, Shannon and their family. Hint, hint Willow!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews

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