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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
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!
"As we leave Stillhouse Lake, I feel a tiny, guilty bit of relief. Like I'm running away from my problems, dumping them and escaping into the unknown, the way I had before. But it's false, that feeling. Escaping was always temporary. Problems always caught up to me. But, I remind myself, I'm not doing this for myself. Not this time."
Honestly, if you're not reading Rachel Caine's Stillhouse Lake series, then what are you doing with your life? I'll admit, I was skeptical when I saw the first book in the series praised so thoroughly that I assumed it had been hyped to high heavens, so I didn't start the series until after the first two novels had been published. I finally gave into the pressure after seeing so many glowing reviews from trusted friends, and boy am I glad that I did. There's a quiet power to these books, and although the reader is dropped in after the serial killer has been unveiled, I think the fact that the tension doesn't lie in the whodunnit is precisely what makes these books unable to be ignored. The multiple POVs, the constant sense of those hunting down Gwen Proctor's family closing in, and the complex weaving of multiple storylines are all reasons that I keep coming back to this series.
Can this book be read as a standalone? I mean, I think you could read it and follow along well enough, as the author does a fabulous job of recapping events from the prior two novels, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice at best. The fact that there is so much backstory provided for these characters in the previous stories is only part of the reason; Caine has done such a fabulous job of requiring an investment in her characters that my jaw was literally on the floor during some of the plot twists and reveals in Wolfhunter River. The vein of intimacy I now feel with these characters makes some of the conflicts only that much more painful; the emotion runs deep here folks, much more deep than in its prequels.
I really don't want to get into plot specifics, (And please, do yourself the favor of starting from the beginning. If you're a fan of audiobooks, these are EXCELLENT to listen to as well.
*Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy!
Honestly, if you're not reading Rachel Caine's Stillhouse Lake series, then what are you doing with your life? I'll admit, I was skeptical when I saw the first book in the series praised so thoroughly that I assumed it had been hyped to high heavens, so I didn't start the series until after the first two novels had been published. I finally gave into the pressure after seeing so many glowing reviews from trusted friends, and boy am I glad that I did. There's a quiet power to these books, and although the reader is dropped in after the serial killer has been unveiled, I think the fact that the tension doesn't lie in the whodunnit is precisely what makes these books unable to be ignored. The multiple POVs, the constant sense of those hunting down Gwen Proctor's family closing in, and the complex weaving of multiple storylines are all reasons that I keep coming back to this series.
Can this book be read as a standalone? I mean, I think you could read it and follow along well enough, as the author does a fabulous job of recapping events from the prior two novels, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice at best. The fact that there is so much backstory provided for these characters in the previous stories is only part of the reason; Caine has done such a fabulous job of requiring an investment in her characters that my jaw was literally on the floor during some of the plot twists and reveals in Wolfhunter River. The vein of intimacy I now feel with these characters makes some of the conflicts only that much more painful; the emotion runs deep here folks, much more deep than in its prequels.
I really don't want to get into plot specifics, (And please, do yourself the favor of starting from the beginning. If you're a fan of audiobooks, these are EXCELLENT to listen to as well.
*Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy!
4.5 Stars
This is the best crime series I've read in a long time.
This is the best crime series I've read in a long time.
I have really enjoyed reading along with this series. I remember when I found the first book on Kindle Unlimited, I absolutely loved it. This book was not as strong as the previous two but I still really enjoyed it. Each book is very fast paced and it keeps me hooked the entire time. In this book, Gwen is still facing off against people that believe that she was in on the killings her husband committed and even helped him. As she is simply trying to get through each day with her family, she receives a phone call from a woman that needs her help. When she turns up dead Gwen and her family head to Wolfhunter River to speak to her daughter. Even though I didn't love this book as much as the other two I still really enjoyed it. I was very content with the ending and I look forward to the next book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loving this series and how vivid all the details are you can picture being right there with the characters. Each book takes place in a different place but still comes back to stillhouse lake. I also love watching the relationships build between the characters.
I didn't like the last two as much as the first one, but I can't wait until the next one because it seems to be leading up to where I want to be.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
These books keep getting more bonkers, but in the best way.
I absolutely loved book 1 and 2 of this series but this one..... I really feel like the author is stretching to keep a story alive that should have been put to sleep for real at the end of book 2. I still enjoyed it, but it’s starting to stretch out and get repetitive. I would like to know more about Gwen and Sam in their relationship. That keeps getting pushed to the back burner, which is annoying . Hopefully book 4 will deliver! Solid 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After the rather thrilling conclusion to [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], and the very definitive end to the two novel storyline, I was interested to see where this could go in terms of continuing the series. I admit, I was a bit disappointed. Nothing happens for a good two thirds of the novel, with a lot of unnecessary subplots and a very slow pace. It was a struggle to plow through this at times. The new characters introduced also seem lacklustre and underdeveloped compared to the powerhouse that was Melvin Royal. There’s none of the tension that was present when Gwen is hiding from her ex husband, and because of that the atmosphere throughout just feels flat and dull.
That said, the writing is still really good and flows well, and I enjoy Gwen as a character. She’s grown significantly from the frightened woman of [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] into a confident, intelligent woman intent on protecting her children at all costs. This hasn’t changed here - I just wish there was more drama and danger for her to sink her teeth into. I also like this rather modern concept of an internet threat, that is hinted at previously, turning into something more sinister. It elevates the story somewhat into something a little different compared to typical thrillers.
I understand that this is probably more of a ‘filler’ book between two main overall arcs, and there are a few glimmers of hope scattered throughout that promises more to come, but this definitely didn’t live up to the previous novels.
After the rather thrilling conclusion to [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], and the very definitive end to the two novel storyline, I was interested to see where this could go in terms of continuing the series. I admit, I was a bit disappointed. Nothing happens for a good two thirds of the novel, with a lot of unnecessary subplots and a very slow pace. It was a struggle to plow through this at times. The new characters introduced also seem lacklustre and underdeveloped compared to the powerhouse that was Melvin Royal. There’s none of the tension that was present when Gwen is hiding from her ex husband, and because of that the atmosphere throughout just feels flat and dull.
That said, the writing is still really good and flows well, and I enjoy Gwen as a character. She’s grown significantly from the frightened woman of [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] into a confident, intelligent woman intent on protecting her children at all costs. This hasn’t changed here - I just wish there was more drama and danger for her to sink her teeth into. I also like this rather modern concept of an internet threat, that is hinted at previously, turning into something more sinister. It elevates the story somewhat into something a little different compared to typical thrillers.
I understand that this is probably more of a ‘filler’ book between two main overall arcs, and there are a few glimmers of hope scattered throughout that promises more to come, but this definitely didn’t live up to the previous novels.