Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews...xxx: Heartbreak Bay Review

Author: Rachel Caine

Series: Stillhouse Lake #5

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: March 9, 2021

Purchase Link: Amazon Barnes & Noble

My Rating: 4 Heartbreaking Hearts

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

Review:

Heartbreak Bay is the fifth book in the Stillhouse Lake series and another superb addition to the series. I'll say upfront that while each of these books will standalone, you're missing a great reading experience and a lot of character development if you skip any of the books. My advice: Read in order!

This story opens with Gwen, Sam, Lanny and Connor living an almost normal life in their new home a little distance away from Stillhouse Lake. It appears the vigilantes have finally focused their attentions elsewhere and life is good again . . . until its not. A phone call in the wee hours from Det. Kezia Claremont pulls now P.I. Gwen out of the warm bed she shares with Sam into the ominous dark night. She meets Kez on a seldom traveled road beside a murky pond near Stillhouse where a submerged vehicle is pulled out of the water. Two young sisters are in the backseat still strapped in their child seats. No one else is around. Both Kez and Gwen are horrified and heartbroken at the unspeakable crime. Where is their mother? Was she kidnapped? The answers to these questions lead Kez and Gwen into a deadly investigation that goes from bad to worse, stirring a hornet's nest that draws the crazies back out of the woodwork. Gwen's life is in chaos yet again. An invisible killer is playing a game of "Would you rather . . . " with them and the endgame is their lives.

Heartbreak Bay is a character driven story that unravels at a deadly pace. As events spiral out of control, it becomes clear that Kez and Gwen are being played by a cruel killer. Caine excels at setting a tone of malice that carries throughout with imminent danger always lurking around the next corner. I swear I could hear my heart bound as this story played out. I especially loved learning more about Kez in this one as readers get a look at what makes her tick. She and Gwen put their lives on the line to protect loved ones and their heart, grit, and drive is a force to be reckoned with. This story is action-packed from cover to cover with an explosive block-buster ending that might be a bit unbelievable IF it was anyone else. But in this case, the author has clearly done her research and also previously established these characters as super heroes with a strong sense of right and wrong. Heartbreak Bay is a raw, emotional, high octane suspense thriller that I highly recommend to everyone. Especially fans of this highly addictive series!

*On a Personal Note: Hugs and prayers go out to author Rachel Caine during her battle against cancer. Just like the strong women she writes about, Rachel's heart, will, and endless determination is an inspiration to us all. We love you, Rachel!

Synopsis:

They’re hunting a killer so silent, so invisible, that his unspeakable crimes are the only proof he exists.

A car submerged in a remote pond. The bodies of two girls strapped into their seats. The mystery of their mother, vanished without a trace, leads Gwen Proctor and Kezia Claremont into dangerous territory.

On the surface, Gwen’s life is good—two children approaching adulthood, a committed partner, and a harrowing past dead and gone. But that past is attracting the attention of someone invisible…and unstoppable. Trouble’s just beginning. So is the body count in this backwoods Tennessee town.

As threats mount and Gwen’s hunted by an enemy who pulls all the strings, Kezia has her back. But working to solve these vicious and unreasonable crimes will expose them both to a killer they can’t for the life of them see coming.

Website

http://www.rachelcaine.com/

Twitter

rachelcaine

Genre

Thriller, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

Member Since

June 2013

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/rachelcaine

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