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Friday, January 3, 2020

Bitter Falls Review

Title:  Bitter Falls
Series:  Stillhouse Lake #4
Author:  Rachel Caine
Publisher:  Thomas & Mercer
Release Date:  Jan. 21, 2020
Purchase Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  5 Thriller Hearts

*With special thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book via Netgalley.

Synopsis:
She’s investigating a cold case no one else could—by going places no else would dare.

In spite of a harrowing past still haunting her, Gwen Proctor is trying to move forward. Until a new assignment gives her purpose: the cold-case disappearance of a young man in Tennessee. Three years missing, no clues. Just Ruth Landry, a tortured mother in limbo. Gwen understands what it’s like to worry about your children.

Gwen’s investigation unearths new suspects…and victims. As she follows each sinister lead, the implications of the mystery grow more disturbing. Because the closer Gwen gets, the closer she is to a threat that looms back home.

In a town that’s closed its ranks against Gwen; her partner, Sam; and her kids, there’s no bolder enemy than the Belldene family—paramilitary, criminal, powerful, and vengeful. As personal vendettas collide with Gwen’s investigation, she’s prepared to fight both battles. But is she prepared for the toll it could take on everyone she loves?

Review:
Back home after the life-changing revelations revealed in the town of Wolfhunter, Gwen and her partner Sam Cade are moving forward together with her children sixteen year old Lanny and thirteen year old Connor in their home on Stillhouse Lake.  Unfortunately, it's no longer the sanctuary it once was as the locals have turned against them and old enemies are knocking on their door with threats.  With their lives in turmoil once again, Gwen is more determined than ever to build a brighter, safer future for her family while working as a private investigator.  She's accepted a three year old cold case involving the disappearance of college student Remy Landry whose grieving mother she identifies with. As she delves deeper into Remy's disappearance, she uncovers information that ties back to events revealed in Wolfhunter River, and she suddenly realizes that she's unknowingly put loved ones on another maniac's radar.  Will Gwen solve this case - the who, why, where - in time to save her loved ones?

Bitter Falls is a chilling suspense thriller with strong protagonists and crazed villains that alternates between the first person point of view of Gwen, Sam, Lanny, and Connor.  And never has it been more important to get the pov of each of these characters as their world threatens to implode. The story unfolds at neck-break speed in a setting that stimulates all the senses, taking on a life of its own as another influential player in the fate of these characters.  Caine's uncanny ability to spin multiple, often shocking, twisted plot lines that continuously build in intensity from the gravely disturbing prologue all the way through to the explosive end is nothing short of brilliant.  Backstory is seamlessly woven into Bitter Falls so that a new reader can follow this story without reading the previous three books but oh what a mistake that would be!  Although each book completes a story, characters introduced in the first book play prominent roles in each book.  Caine
 excels at writing characterizations that are intricately detailed, and just so authentic that readers have little choice but to fear for each character's safety.  I swear my heart pounded nonstop throughout Bitter Falls as the stakes are high, the danger inescapable, and the terror certifiable.  I was thrilled by the critical role played by a previous character appearing in this one and yes, I'm being intentionally vague.  You simply must avoid all spoilers, carve out some uninterrupted time, and commit to reading this one in mostly one sitting.  

Bitter Falls is riveting, dark, fast-paced, high intensive story telling at its best!  I could nitpick and say it's a bit over the top with all the non-stop, life-threatening danger to characters, but let's face it...I could not put this book down.  My heart raced and my emotions soared out of control as I held on for dear life to complete this wild, run-away ride until I could finally let out the breath I'd been holding and give thanks I survived to read The End.  I just can't criticize an author or drop the rating on a book that grips me that hard.  Bitter Falls is a fantastic addition to the Stillwater Lake series and a must for fans of suspense thrillers!  Highly recommended!

My Rating:  5 Thriller Hearts
Cross My Heart . . . xxx
Sandra

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