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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Finally got around to the third book in the series. This was a little hard to get into cuz it seemed to be all over the place. But once all the pieces came together I literally could not put the book down. So excited for the start of what I think is going to be my favorite pi/detective series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really adore this series and these characters, but this book wasn’t up to snuff with the previous two.
My main issue was the way Gwen was pulled into a new mystery. She gets a random phone call from a stranger asking for help, then one from her daughter, then next thing you know, she’s taking her entire family to a strange town, putting them all squarely in danger. Gwen’s always steadfastly protecting her children, so her getting involved in a crazy police cover-up makes zero sense. She voluntarily put her whole family at risk, which just isn’t what our “survivor” would do.
I’m really craving a more low key book for these characters, because they’ve all been through an unbelievable amount of trauma at this point (emphasis on the unbelievable).
Will definitely see this series through, though.
My main issue was the way Gwen was pulled into a new mystery. She gets a random phone call from a stranger asking for help, then one from her daughter, then next thing you know, she’s taking her entire family to a strange town, putting them all squarely in danger. Gwen’s always steadfastly protecting her children, so her getting involved in a crazy police cover-up makes zero sense. She voluntarily put her whole family at risk, which just isn’t what our “survivor” would do.
I’m really craving a more low key book for these characters, because they’ve all been through an unbelievable amount of trauma at this point (emphasis on the unbelievable).
Will definitely see this series through, though.
Still really like this series. Can only start a book when I have time to finish it. Recommended.
I really enjoyed this one, but it was a little all over the place compared to the others. Also Miranda was the villain which is unfair to me!! lol but anyway...still, I was riveted and read it in one sitting.
CW: mentions/descriptions of abuse/murder/torture of women, predatory men, gun use, kidnapping, cults
CW: mentions/descriptions of abuse/murder/torture of women, predatory men, gun use, kidnapping, cults
Unfortunately, I think this is the weakest book in the series so far.
I still find the initial set-up for the series quite interesting.
***spoilers for the previous books ahead***
Gwen Proctor, the ex-wife of serial killer Melvin Royal, gets stalked by internet trolls who are convinced she’s been his partner in crime and that she got away with it unpunished. The constant harassmant is not limited to the online world though and Gwen has to protect her two children from some very real threats. She changes her identity and moves to Stillhouse Lake. But trouble is following her. And Melvin, who’s on death row, is also not so happy with how things turned out and he has his own plans for his former wife.
***end of spoilers***
[b: Stillhouse Lake|33128934|Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake, #1)|Rachel Caine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495714483l/33128934._SY75_.jpg|53802245] worked really well as the setting for a suspenseful and sometimes creepy first book, before in [b: Killman Creek|35329101|Killman Creek (Stillhouse Lake, #2)|Rachel Caine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503518302l/35329101._SY75_.jpg|56695052] it got dark and sick and disturbing. I enjoyed both books. Though I think the whole story had been told and came to a satisfying conclusion with the second book.
Clearly the author thought differently. And in all fairness, I picked up the book, so ... yeah.
***I'll outline the story here. So if you don't want to know in which direction this is going, than skip the next three paragraphs.***
We are thrown back into the life of Gwen Proctor, who still has trouble with all sorts of people. And things get worse when the mother of one of Melvin’s victims shows up and wants to film a documentary about the whole case and in the process prove that Gwen isn’t innocent at all.
Gwen meanwhile has taken to some sort of help hotline role. People that are in detrimental relationships call her and ask for advice. One day a woman calls who seems to be seriously concerned about her safety. She doesn’t disclose why exactly that is and asks Gwen to come to Wolfhunter River to talk to her. Because of the vague nature of that phone call Gwen suspects a potential ploy by one of her stalkers. A little bit of spoilery stuff happens and Gwen receives another call, this time from the daughter of that woman. While that call makes it pretty clear that the situation has worsened, the daughter too remains wishy-washy about what the actual threat is. Nevertheless Gwen, in a move that’s somewhat out of character, decides to go after it. Maybe she just thinks she doesn’t have enough trouble in her own life already? Knowing Gwen, I had to suspend disbelief a little here.
In Wolfhunter River all sorts of things are wrong and sure enough the whole town seems to turn against Gwen and her family. The almost universal hate towards the main character, her two kids and her boyfriend Sam feels a little forced at this point in the series.
There are enough other things that make Wolfhunter River a shady place. But we only get a few glimpses of that, as the book for most of the time is focused on Gwen’s frail relationship with Sam and the latter coming to terms with him being an ersatz father for the kids.
It doesn’t work very well. Because neither Gwen nor Sam - as characters - have progressed that much since the first book. Gwen still can’t seem to decide if she’s a scared and vulnerable mother or a hardened by life kick ass heroine. And she also spends way too much time contemplating this herself. I’m afraid, it’s gotten quite tedious by now.
Sam in general doesn’t work well for me as a character. He constantly shifts between insecure/damaged boyfriend and merciless ex-soldier. Not being convincing in either of those roles.
And frankly, after all they’ve gone through together I think by now they should have made up their mind whether they trust each other or not and if they want to stay together or go their separate ways. I think this part of the story, by the end of the second book, had run its course. But I'm wrong. Obviously. The struggle very much continues.
The actual plot about child-abduction, murder, and only gathers some momentum in the last 20% of the novel and felt cramped in a much too small space and also a little far-fetched here and there.
The epilogue sets up the series for some much needed change. But I’m not sure if I’m still on board now. I should have probably stopped after the second book. Maybe the author should have done the same? Only time will tell.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
I still find the initial set-up for the series quite interesting.
***spoilers for the previous books ahead***
Gwen Proctor, the ex-wife of serial killer Melvin Royal, gets stalked by internet trolls who are convinced she’s been his partner in crime and that she got away with it unpunished. The constant harassmant is not limited to the online world though and Gwen has to protect her two children from some very real threats. She changes her identity and moves to Stillhouse Lake. But trouble is following her. And Melvin, who’s on death row, is also not so happy with how things turned out and he has his own plans for his former wife.
***end of spoilers***
[b: Stillhouse Lake|33128934|Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake, #1)|Rachel Caine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495714483l/33128934._SY75_.jpg|53802245] worked really well as the setting for a suspenseful and sometimes creepy first book, before in [b: Killman Creek|35329101|Killman Creek (Stillhouse Lake, #2)|Rachel Caine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503518302l/35329101._SY75_.jpg|56695052] it got dark and sick and disturbing. I enjoyed both books. Though I think the whole story had been told and came to a satisfying conclusion with the second book.
Clearly the author thought differently. And in all fairness, I picked up the book, so ... yeah.
***I'll outline the story here. So if you don't want to know in which direction this is going, than skip the next three paragraphs.***
We are thrown back into the life of Gwen Proctor, who still has trouble with all sorts of people. And things get worse when the mother of one of Melvin’s victims shows up and wants to film a documentary about the whole case and in the process prove that Gwen isn’t innocent at all.
Gwen meanwhile has taken to some sort of help hotline role. People that are in detrimental relationships call her and ask for advice. One day a woman calls who seems to be seriously concerned about her safety. She doesn’t disclose why exactly that is and asks Gwen to come to Wolfhunter River to talk to her. Because of the vague nature of that phone call Gwen suspects a potential ploy by one of her stalkers. A little bit of spoilery stuff happens and Gwen receives another call, this time from the daughter of that woman. While that call makes it pretty clear that the situation has worsened, the daughter too remains wishy-washy about what the actual threat is. Nevertheless Gwen, in a move that’s somewhat out of character, decides to go after it. Maybe she just thinks she doesn’t have enough trouble in her own life already? Knowing Gwen, I had to suspend disbelief a little here.
In Wolfhunter River all sorts of things are wrong and sure enough the whole town seems to turn against Gwen and her family. The almost universal hate towards the main character, her two kids and her boyfriend Sam feels a little forced at this point in the series.
There are enough other things that make Wolfhunter River a shady place. But we only get a few glimpses of that, as the book for most of the time is focused on Gwen’s frail relationship with Sam and the latter coming to terms with him being an ersatz father for the kids.
It doesn’t work very well. Because neither Gwen nor Sam - as characters - have progressed that much since the first book. Gwen still can’t seem to decide if she’s a scared and vulnerable mother or a hardened by life kick ass heroine. And she also spends way too much time contemplating this herself. I’m afraid, it’s gotten quite tedious by now.
Sam in general doesn’t work well for me as a character. He constantly shifts between insecure/damaged boyfriend and merciless ex-soldier. Not being convincing in either of those roles.
And frankly, after all they’ve gone through together I think by now they should have made up their mind whether they trust each other or not and if they want to stay together or go their separate ways. I think this part of the story, by the end of the second book, had run its course. But I'm wrong. Obviously. The struggle very much continues.
The actual plot about child-abduction, murder,
Spoiler
corruptionSpoiler
some sort of cultThe epilogue sets up the series for some much needed change. But I’m not sure if I’m still on board now. I should have probably stopped after the second book. Maybe the author should have done the same? Only time will tell.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Something between a 2 and a 3. It was ok, but this book is clearly a filler to stretch the series, I’d say unnecessarily. Also, it seems that the (ludicrous?) ending ensures the continuity of Gwen’s adventures. This was my last one though.
Enjoying this series so much! The character's are so well fleshed out and written that you feel so incredible attached to them. The plot point in this book didn't really come into play until the latter half of the book but I feel like the amount of character development in this book really made up for that. It was so lovely to see Sam becoming a more permanent member in Gwen's family.