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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Wolfhunter River is the third book in the Gwen Proctor saga - her ex-husband is finally dead, and she can focus on dealing with the Sicko Patrol, rather than the danger from all sides lifestyle she's had since Stillhouse Lake. But she's blindsided in a TV interview by one of the mother's of the victims of her ex-husband, she's bankrolling a documentary - a thinly veiled excuse for harassing Gwen. Then, she receives a call from a woman, saying that she is afraid, but failing to give any details other than the town she lives in.
This book is a departure from the other two books in the series, as the mystery is one Gwen is pulled into rather than an unfortunate side effect of being Melvin Royal's ex.
This book recaps the previous two novels constantly, but fails to connect to Melvin's horrific acts outside of the tenuous thread of women in danger contacting Gwen to help them out of their predicaments. I have every confidence that being married to a murderer is a singular experience that one's social circle wouldn't immediately relate to, but Gwen doesn't need to act as a Wailing Wall to these randoms - she needs to have an uneventful second to herself to deal with her past trauma.
This was a serviceable mystery, with the same fast pace as the other two, but is somehow divorced from the opening books in the series - readers could easily pick this up and follow the story without having read the first two. However, many of the reveals will lack the emotional punch that way.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a departure from the other two books in the series, as the mystery is one Gwen is pulled into rather than an unfortunate side effect of being Melvin Royal's ex.
This book recaps the previous two novels constantly, but fails to connect to Melvin's horrific acts outside of the tenuous thread of women in danger contacting Gwen to help them out of their predicaments. I have every confidence that being married to a murderer is a singular experience that one's social circle wouldn't immediately relate to, but Gwen doesn't need to act as a Wailing Wall to these randoms - she needs to have an uneventful second to herself to deal with her past trauma.
This was a serviceable mystery, with the same fast pace as the other two, but is somehow divorced from the opening books in the series - readers could easily pick this up and follow the story without having read the first two. However, many of the reveals will lack the emotional punch that way.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is a solid addition to a thriller series which I already love. This time, Gwen and her family are called to help a woman in need in the small Tennessee town of Wolfhunter. Needing to escape from an angry internet harasser, Gwen agrees to help. Little does she know that she is entering a town of corruption and dark secrets.
I can't recommend this series enough, especially if you love dark and twisty thrillers with a conspiratorial side. Rachel Caine does a great job of giving each character a strong voice and their own way of dealing with the trauma left behind by Marvin Royal. I especially loved the chapters from the perspectives of Sam and Connor.
I can't recommend this series enough, especially if you love dark and twisty thrillers with a conspiratorial side. Rachel Caine does a great job of giving each character a strong voice and their own way of dealing with the trauma left behind by Marvin Royal. I especially loved the chapters from the perspectives of Sam and Connor.
Rachel girrrrrrl what else do you have in store? On to the 4th one. These books are really good.
Mini-Review:
4 Stars for Narration by Team of Narrators (Mostly Good)
3 Stars for Plot
4 Stars for Characters
2 Stars for Ending
The mood for most of the book was well done. I definitely felt a wide range of emotions while I listened to the story. I don't feel that the main point of this book was well executed or brought to a decent conclusion. There were several scenes that felt like forced drama vs a natural progression. The sloppy ending made me rather disgruntled. A good story about family and dealing with the stress & trauma caused by malicious strangers who arm themselves as "good people".
4 Stars for Narration by Team of Narrators (Mostly Good)
3 Stars for Plot
4 Stars for Characters
2 Stars for Ending
The mood for most of the book was well done. I definitely felt a wide range of emotions while I listened to the story. I don't feel that the main point of this book was well executed or brought to a decent conclusion. There were several scenes that felt like forced drama vs a natural progression. The sloppy ending made me rather disgruntled. A good story about family and dealing with the stress & trauma caused by malicious strangers who arm themselves as "good people".
In this book, I was really intrigued by Ellie's disappearance and I wanted to know the significance of Gwen and her family. The intensity of Gwen's struggles and her need to escape the documentary crew of "Melvin's Helper" was strong. To get out of town and away from the constant beratement, she accepts the task of going to Wolfhunter and investigating a dramatic experience she witnesses over the phone. Vee, a fifteen-year-old, calls in a desperate moment. Gwen travels to help her. I was also engrossed in Sam Cade's history. In the series, although I liked him, I had a feeling something was lying beneath the surface. I was right. I knew there was darkness in him, but I was surprised to know how deep it ran. Betrayal so deep it shatters a relationship with Gwen that had once held strong.
I enjoyed Caine's ability to propel the story forward, give us enough information to keep us guessing, and the pov changes added to the suspense and thrill fo the story. The imagery and ability to change our emotions is such a skill Caine possesses. I feel like all my emotions take a front seat when I read her book.
I kind of like that although, Ellie is found and Vee is rescued from certain death, the end of the story wasn't completely resolved. Sam and Gwen have so much to work through and figure out, and I think it is a reality. Caine doesn't give us an unrealistic expectation of what could happen. Instead, she leaves us with an ambiguous ending to what happens with Conner, Lanny, Sam, and Vee. It's so realistic to know that traumatic experiences take a long time to work through. I've become so attached to all these characters. The social worker in me wants them to seek therapy and be okay.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series and it's given me a lasting impression in the case of trauma, fighting for what you believe in, having hope, and knowing that the future may hold pain or happiness. Though it all, family stays together and love binds them forever.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed Caine's ability to propel the story forward, give us enough information to keep us guessing, and the pov changes added to the suspense and thrill fo the story. The imagery and ability to change our emotions is such a skill Caine possesses. I feel like all my emotions take a front seat when I read her book.
I kind of like that although, Ellie is found and Vee is rescued from certain death, the end of the story wasn't completely resolved. Sam and Gwen have so much to work through and figure out, and I think it is a reality. Caine doesn't give us an unrealistic expectation of what could happen. Instead, she leaves us with an ambiguous ending to what happens with Conner, Lanny, Sam, and Vee. It's so realistic to know that traumatic experiences take a long time to work through. I've become so attached to all these characters. The social worker in me wants them to seek therapy and be okay.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series and it's given me a lasting impression in the case of trauma, fighting for what you believe in, having hope, and knowing that the future may hold pain or happiness. Though it all, family stays together and love binds them forever.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's been awhile since I read the 2nd book, but the story mostly came back to me and I enjoyed this new installment.
Gwen Proctor and her family have been through more than any average family has ever experienced. Despite the turmoil they have gone through and still battle with every day, Gwen can’t ignore those who need her help. Gwen has managed to escape her serial killer husband and save her family repeatedly. Now she must help another innocent victim. Marlene Crockett has reached out to Gwen. Something has gone horribly wrong in her small hometown of Wolfhunter and now Marlene believes her own life and that of her daughter’s may be in jeopardy.
Gwen finally decides that she and her family are strong enough to work to help others in need, but before they can arrive in Wolfhunter, Marlene is dead and her daughter has been blamed for the murder. Gwen doesn’t believe this accusation and isn’t willing to leave town until the real killer has been found. Stopping her at every corner are the residents of this tiny, isolated town. They seem to be hiding the truth about what happened to Marlene, as well as potentially a much larger secret. Gwen’s life and those of her family are in danger, but none of them are willing to walk away.
WOLFHUNTER RIVER is the third installment in Rachel Caine’s Stillhouse Lake series. Each of the previous installments focused on Gwen and her children working though the discovery and impact that their husband/father was a serial killer. This time around the family is working to help others faced with their own terrible situations. I was so curious what direction Caine would take this series after the ending she gave book two, KILLMAN CREEK. This book did not disappoint at all!
Caine once again follows the format from the previous two books in this series of alternative POVs. She sticks most strongly with Gwen and Sam narrating the story, but also sporadically includes sections told by Lanny and Connor, Gwen’s children. I love how these additions to the two main narrators give the story a more well-rounded level of detail. Without them there are certain situations which would have Gwen or Sam guessing what had happened to other characters, whereas Lanny and Connor were intimately connected to those situations.
One of my favorite aspects of all of Caine’s books in the Stillhouse Lake series is her use of setting. The town of Wolfhunter is one of those backwoods, rural villages that make you fascinated by the scheming that takes place in them. Everyone knows everyone and you are either in on the secrets or a target. So much is swept under the carpet in Wolfhunter that every time you think you know the truth about this town, you don’t! I loved how Caine kept me guessing about who to trust and who to mentally scream at Gwen, Sam, Lanny, and Connor to get away from.
When I went to drop my rating on Goodreads after finishing up reading this book I saw that there are plans for a fourth book to hit shelves next year and I could not be more excited! I love this series and the direction Caine has chosen to take the story of Gwen and her family. If you’re looking to get started I highly recommend beginning with book one, STILLHOUSE LAKE, and making your way through. There are important links between each story that make this series being read in order essential.
Gwen finally decides that she and her family are strong enough to work to help others in need, but before they can arrive in Wolfhunter, Marlene is dead and her daughter has been blamed for the murder. Gwen doesn’t believe this accusation and isn’t willing to leave town until the real killer has been found. Stopping her at every corner are the residents of this tiny, isolated town. They seem to be hiding the truth about what happened to Marlene, as well as potentially a much larger secret. Gwen’s life and those of her family are in danger, but none of them are willing to walk away.
WOLFHUNTER RIVER is the third installment in Rachel Caine’s Stillhouse Lake series. Each of the previous installments focused on Gwen and her children working though the discovery and impact that their husband/father was a serial killer. This time around the family is working to help others faced with their own terrible situations. I was so curious what direction Caine would take this series after the ending she gave book two, KILLMAN CREEK. This book did not disappoint at all!
Caine once again follows the format from the previous two books in this series of alternative POVs. She sticks most strongly with Gwen and Sam narrating the story, but also sporadically includes sections told by Lanny and Connor, Gwen’s children. I love how these additions to the two main narrators give the story a more well-rounded level of detail. Without them there are certain situations which would have Gwen or Sam guessing what had happened to other characters, whereas Lanny and Connor were intimately connected to those situations.
One of my favorite aspects of all of Caine’s books in the Stillhouse Lake series is her use of setting. The town of Wolfhunter is one of those backwoods, rural villages that make you fascinated by the scheming that takes place in them. Everyone knows everyone and you are either in on the secrets or a target. So much is swept under the carpet in Wolfhunter that every time you think you know the truth about this town, you don’t! I loved how Caine kept me guessing about who to trust and who to mentally scream at Gwen, Sam, Lanny, and Connor to get away from.
When I went to drop my rating on Goodreads after finishing up reading this book I saw that there are plans for a fourth book to hit shelves next year and I could not be more excited! I love this series and the direction Caine has chosen to take the story of Gwen and her family. If you’re looking to get started I highly recommend beginning with book one, STILLHOUSE LAKE, and making your way through. There are important links between each story that make this series being read in order essential.
I read and quite enjoyed the first two books in this series, Stillhouse Lake and Killman Creek. I wonder if I enjoyed them more because I listened to both, at least in part, in audiobook format. Reading the physical book made me realize that I don't enjoy Rachel Caine's writing. Her sentences are short, sometimes choppy, and completely littered with metaphors.
Opening to a random page:
"One left. Nobody holding me back. I don't feel pain right now. I feel a deep, almost sickening joy that I'm laying these guys out. And he can see it."
"She's a frozen lake of a woman, with something dark swimming deep beneath the surface."
Literally everything feels like overkill. HOWEVER, the last hundred pages or so were just as engaging as the rest of the series and had me staying up late to finish. If it's a matter of plot vs. prose, the plot wins out here.
Opening to a random page:
"One left. Nobody holding me back. I don't feel pain right now. I feel a deep, almost sickening joy that I'm laying these guys out. And he can see it."
"She's a frozen lake of a woman, with something dark swimming deep beneath the surface."
Literally everything feels like overkill. HOWEVER, the last hundred pages or so were just as engaging as the rest of the series and had me staying up late to finish. If it's a matter of plot vs. prose, the plot wins out here.
I had my doubts because this series suffered from the second book slump. But, this one went right back to the twists and turns that I loved in the first book. The family decides to go and help out a girl who keeps calling and is very vague. They just didn’t realize all the issues they would come across and how deceptive a whole town could be. They all wanted to leave because a film crew is doing a documentary on her husband and they want blood because they feel that she got away with murder too. They will stop at nothing to prove it and it all starts with an interview on tv that she decides to do. But, as with this whole book there is something that is going on with this crew that everyone things. I loved this so much and I really hope there is a 4th.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Caine and Thomas & Mercer for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Gwen has finally escaped her serial killer husband and saved her kids, but she can’t outrun his notoriety. There are people all over the Internet sending her hate mail seeking to avenge the crimes that they believe she helped him commit. Hiding is no longer an answer because Gwen wants a normal life for her two children. Now all of a sudden a woman from Wolfhunter River has reached out to Gwen, scared to death about something that is happening in her town. But when Gwen gets to the town, the woman is dead and her daughter is being prosecuted for the crime. Marlene wasn’t afraid of her daughter, but it may be too late to save her. A trap has been laid and it may trap all those that Gwen loves.
I enjoy these Stillhouse Lake novels and seeing how Gwen and her family are coping after all that they have been through. Gwen is such a wrong and resilient woman and she is raising two strong children who deserve a normal life, but this novel isn’t of them settling down and becoming normal. I loved how this novel was just as much about this new town and their criminals than about people trying to get even with Gwen because they believe she is guilty. There are so many characters in this novel that I loved to hate and I wanted to see punished for their crimes. I adored Gwen, Sam and the kids in this novel and how strong their relationships with each other are. The kids are so smart and know what to do to survive in this tough new world. I liked how this novel wasn’t just through Gwen’s perspective and you could see how their pasts were affecting what was going on in this day. The last dozen chapters were so action packed that I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen to this family and if they were going to find this little girl! I would definitely recommend picking this up!
Out April 23rd!
Gwen has finally escaped her serial killer husband and saved her kids, but she can’t outrun his notoriety. There are people all over the Internet sending her hate mail seeking to avenge the crimes that they believe she helped him commit. Hiding is no longer an answer because Gwen wants a normal life for her two children. Now all of a sudden a woman from Wolfhunter River has reached out to Gwen, scared to death about something that is happening in her town. But when Gwen gets to the town, the woman is dead and her daughter is being prosecuted for the crime. Marlene wasn’t afraid of her daughter, but it may be too late to save her. A trap has been laid and it may trap all those that Gwen loves.
I enjoy these Stillhouse Lake novels and seeing how Gwen and her family are coping after all that they have been through. Gwen is such a wrong and resilient woman and she is raising two strong children who deserve a normal life, but this novel isn’t of them settling down and becoming normal. I loved how this novel was just as much about this new town and their criminals than about people trying to get even with Gwen because they believe she is guilty. There are so many characters in this novel that I loved to hate and I wanted to see punished for their crimes. I adored Gwen, Sam and the kids in this novel and how strong their relationships with each other are. The kids are so smart and know what to do to survive in this tough new world. I liked how this novel wasn’t just through Gwen’s perspective and you could see how their pasts were affecting what was going on in this day. The last dozen chapters were so action packed that I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen to this family and if they were going to find this little girl! I would definitely recommend picking this up!
Out April 23rd!