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pecmomof2's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
davisek223's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. More cults? This series has done what it came to do -- time to send Gwen and Sam off into the sunset.
jessiecoad's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series so much! I feel like it doesn't get enough recognition, if you love fast paced psychological thrillers read these books!
thereadrose's review against another edition
4.0
Spoiler
So far, these are my feelings towards this series. Books one and two should've been a duology and book three was a similar and less interesting version of book four (this one). I didn't think the previous book in this series was very necessary to the overall plot. Plus, when it comes to books that center around cults or organized religion, which can feel like the same thing sometimes, I preferred this story over the plot to book three.I'm glad that it seems like there's an ending in sight and that there could be a happy ending, but I miss the family-member-of-a-serial-killer POV that was heavily present in the first two books. The plotline that the first two books started with could've easily been overdone, so I'm glad that it wasn't, but a part of me wants more psychopath behavior and POVs. I went into this series because of the familial connection to a serial killer and I feel like these books have been losing so much of that identity as the books continue.
rachhenderson's review against another edition
4.0
Returning to Stillhouse Lake is like seeing old friends. In this fourth story about Gwen Proctor and her children, Gwen is working as a private investigator and starts investigating a case of a missing young man that leads her to a murderous cult. Meanwhile, the folks in Stillhouse Lake aren't getting any friendlier.
These books aren't without their faults. The writing lacks a bit of sophistication (for want of a better word). I also found too many references to what happened in the previous book without actually reminding the reader - and, with a gap of maybe eight or nine months since I read the third book, I would have liked a little more reminder.
Despite these faults, it's high action and full of suspense so a highly entertaining read.
These books aren't without their faults. The writing lacks a bit of sophistication (for want of a better word). I also found too many references to what happened in the previous book without actually reminding the reader - and, with a gap of maybe eight or nine months since I read the third book, I would have liked a little more reminder.
Despite these faults, it's high action and full of suspense so a highly entertaining read.
atsellerswhnp's review against another edition
4.0
Drama so intense
That I can’t find more words. Each new edition ratchets up the intensity. I need to process it a little more before I write a better review.
That I can’t find more words. Each new edition ratchets up the intensity. I need to process it a little more before I write a better review.
michellewords's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a fan of the Stillhouse Lake series. Gwen Proctor/Gina Royal, Atlanta, and Connor are like my friends.
Bitter Falls didn't quite reach the level of the first and second book.
Caine does characters so well. I love reading the people she creates in her books. She describes them in such a way that I can picture them and understand their choices easily. It's so nice to see that continue across the series. Each character remains pretty much the same from the other books.
Some of the scenes in Bitter Falls are really good. Scenes with Gwen doing her private investigation or the beginning prologue scene at Bitter Falls.
There's a lot of bouncing around it the book takes a lot of time to settle into the plot. Bouncing from trailer trash drug kingpins in the woods, to Connor's PTSD with his bio dad, to a murdering cult, to Gwen's case of missing young man, to Sam for reasons? Each thread/point of view character is good, but the book lacks something that pulls it together.
The cult near the end of the book seems a very weak connection and doesn't feel real to me. It feels like a weak plot connection to do something. I needed more regarding the cult. The people within the cult don't make sense and don't follow Caine's usual great character creation.
I liked the book okay, but it really fell short for me in the plot area. Too many little things that don't unite together in a very cohesive narrative. Everything packed away a little too neat and everything seemed to end a little too conveniently.
Bitter Falls didn't quite reach the level of the first and second book.
Caine does characters so well. I love reading the people she creates in her books. She describes them in such a way that I can picture them and understand their choices easily. It's so nice to see that continue across the series. Each character remains pretty much the same from the other books.
Some of the scenes in Bitter Falls are really good. Scenes with Gwen doing her private investigation or the beginning prologue scene at Bitter Falls.
There's a lot of bouncing around it the book takes a lot of time to settle into the plot. Bouncing from trailer trash drug kingpins in the woods, to Connor's PTSD with his bio dad, to a murdering cult, to Gwen's case of missing young man, to Sam for reasons? Each thread/point of view character is good, but the book lacks something that pulls it together.
The cult near the end of the book seems a very weak connection and doesn't feel real to me. It feels like a weak plot connection to do something. I needed more regarding the cult. The people within the cult don't make sense and don't follow Caine's usual great character creation.
I liked the book okay, but it really fell short for me in the plot area. Too many little things that don't unite together in a very cohesive narrative. Everything packed away a little too neat and everything seemed to end a little too conveniently.
michellewords's review against another edition
3.0
The Stillhouse Falls series is one of my favorites. Rachel Caine has such a way with words.
I'm a fan of the Stillhouse Lake series. Gwen Proctor/Gina Royal, Atlanta, and Connor are like my friends.
Bitter Falls didn't quite reach the level of the first and second book.
Caine does characters so well. I love reading the people she creates in her books. She describes them in such a way that I can picture them and understand their choices easily. It's so nice to see that continue across the series. Each character remains pretty much the same from the other books.
Some of the scenes in Bitter Falls are really good. Scenes with Gwen doing her private investigation or the beginning prologue scene at Bitter Falls.
There's a lot of bouncing around it the book takes a lot of time to settle into the plot. Bouncing from trailer trash drug kingpins in the woods, to Connor's PTSD with his bio dad, to a murdering cult, to Gwen's case of missing young man, to Sam for reasons? Each thread/point of view character is good, but the book lacks something that pulls it together.
The cult near the end of the book seems a very weak connection and doesn't feel real to me. It feels like a weak plot connection to do something. I needed more regarding the cult. The people within the cult don't make sense and don't follow Caine's usual great character creation.
I liked the book okay, but it really fell short for me in the plot area. Too many little things that don't unite together in a very cohesive narrative. Everything packed away a little too neat and everything seemed to end a little too conveniently.
Shout out to Net Galley, Rachel Caine, and publisher for a copy of Bitter Falls in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a fan of the Stillhouse Lake series. Gwen Proctor/Gina Royal, Atlanta, and Connor are like my friends.
Bitter Falls didn't quite reach the level of the first and second book.
Caine does characters so well. I love reading the people she creates in her books. She describes them in such a way that I can picture them and understand their choices easily. It's so nice to see that continue across the series. Each character remains pretty much the same from the other books.
Some of the scenes in Bitter Falls are really good. Scenes with Gwen doing her private investigation or the beginning prologue scene at Bitter Falls.
There's a lot of bouncing around it the book takes a lot of time to settle into the plot. Bouncing from trailer trash drug kingpins in the woods, to Connor's PTSD with his bio dad, to a murdering cult, to Gwen's case of missing young man, to Sam for reasons? Each thread/point of view character is good, but the book lacks something that pulls it together.
The cult near the end of the book seems a very weak connection and doesn't feel real to me. It feels like a weak plot connection to do something. I needed more regarding the cult. The people within the cult don't make sense and don't follow Caine's usual great character creation.
I liked the book okay, but it really fell short for me in the plot area. Too many little things that don't unite together in a very cohesive narrative. Everything packed away a little too neat and everything seemed to end a little too conveniently.
Shout out to Net Galley, Rachel Caine, and publisher for a copy of Bitter Falls in exchange for an honest review.
monibro's review against another edition
4.0
After the last one was just all right for me, the 4th book made me remember why I loved the the series initially.