Member Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is the third book in the Stillhouse Lake series, and each of the books has been full of suspense and very entertaining. There are mysteries, romance, and thrills in every chapter, and these books are unputdownable, for lack of a better term. I hope the author continues this series for a long time. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book early; I loved it!
This is a truly amazing series. I have a bad heart and at times during these first three books, I was a bit worried that I might end up in the hospital due to excitement and anxiety! Granted with the first book you really need to understand that the author takes a lot of artistic licenses and makes the literally impossible into the fictionally possible. But I have no problem with using my imagination! That's what fiction is for -to make us imagine ourselves in these situations and how we would react, to get us away from our everyday lives and problems, to entertain, amuse or horrify -and this series does it in spades.
In the last book, Gwen and her family and lover have finally gotten rid of her serial killer husband Melvin and thank goodness for that! But due to something that Sam has done, in this book, Gwen and crew decide to go help someone who calls out for help and ends up in dire straights. Sam has to confess that he has done something horrible and from there we have this next installment.
This book does end up on a different note and I find it a good one as it sets up a different sort of story for the upcoming book/s. I don't believe that Gwen and her kids have gotten rid of the trolls and stalkers, but the author is giving us something fresh.
If I had one complaint about this book is that it does too much re-hashing, but that does allow for someone to start in on this series anywhere and get caught up -tho I do not recommend that you do so.
*ARC supplied by the publisher though I did pre-order my own copy!
I liked reading more on how these characters were affected by the past and the horrific events that they experienced. I loved their family dynamic and was cheering for wounds to be healed. It was interesting to realize how the media and public can twist criminal cases and be as damaging as the criminals themselves.
When I found Wolfhunter River, book 3 in the series, available for review I was super excited!
I throughly enjoyed Stillhouse Lake and Killman Creek so I jumped right in on book 3 as soon as I got it downloaded.
Book 3 didn’t disappoint at all.
Picking up where book 2 left off we find Sam, Gwen and her family off to help a family in dire straits. Trouble from Sams past comes back to haunt him.
Gwen, Lanny and Connor have to decide if they are going to take Sam back or cut him loose so he no longer hurts their family.
This is a great mystery that seems to tie up the series.
I really like the writing style of this author. She is very descriptive and chooses her word wisely. There isn’t an abundance of foul language.
This book will answer many of your questions.
Happy reading!
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.
Wolfhunter River is the third in Rachel Caine’s series about Gwen Proctor and her family, and it possesses the same quiet storytelling strength & engaging action as the previous two novels in the series. Gwen is still reeling from the death of her serial killer ex-husband Melvin, and as she and her two children, along with lover Sam, are trying to move past their traumas, those who believe they were Melvin’s partners continue to hunt them, desiring revenge. As Gwen navigates the fight to earn a measure of peace, a call from a stranger takes her to Wolfhunter, where a combination of a town hiding secrets, an abducted child, and missing women all spell imminent danger for Gwen and her family.
Once again, Caine not only succeeds at weaving a mesmerizing thriller, she also brings to the table an adept and insightful psychological look at Gwen, her family, those around her, and the emotional repercussions of what they endure are masterfully presented.
I hadn't expected a third book but I'm so glad the author followed her muse and returned to these characters. This book just like the first two is fast paced, dark and absolutely gripping. I personally would recommend reading this series in order as the progression and background of these characters adds so much.
Gwen is a survivor and she's had to toughen up and become a person that her younger self wouldn't recognise. Her two children ( her babies always) have suffered too but always trust in Gwen and now Sam to protect them.
This series brings home how scary it must be to be stalked, obsessed over and pursued by those who don't always have any connection to Gwen so yes I guess you could say"the crazies" . This book develops that theme as the past really does catch up but it's also about greed, collusion and good old fashioned nasty people. Gwen lived with a monster and never quite saw what was in front of her and now she learns that it's easy to be taken in by them because there are more out there than we realise.
I absolutely love this series and cannot praise the author highly enough for her imaginative storylines and complex twisting plots. In this book you never quite know who Gwen can really trust and the edginess and pace just kept the tension ramped up. There are chapters told from different points of view to add to the readers journey but even then the shocks kept right on coming. A satisfying ending but there is scope yet for more and I for one sincerely hope that we get another glimpse into the lives of this family.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
For action alone, Wolfhunter River deserves five stars. Gwen is a survivor as she's proven over and over. First her serial killer husband, then his victims families, and pretty much the rest of the world wants Gwen's head on a pike. Tough as nails and one fierce mother, Gwen will not let anything happen to her kids. She hates injustice and when people call her for help she does what she can but she never expected the results of phone call out of Wolfhunter. Like a train wreck you cannot look away from, Gwen and lover Sam's journey to help a teenager in Wolfhunter jets from one disaster to the next. The story quickly becomes one of survival when monsters appear everywhere and Gwen's cannot tell who to trust. Each page flip brings more fly by the seat of your pants action until your head is spinning with the probabilities that Gwen's family is either the luckiest or the unluckiest of survivors. Gwen kicks butt and takes names and Sam definitely isn't too shabby either. Wolfhunter River is an action-packed thriller that grabs you by the throat for pulse pounding excitement. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
I discovered this series a few months ago and felt like I won the jackpot when I learned there was a third book in the series about to be published. I won all over again when I got to read an advance copy. Rachel Caine's Wolfhunter River, the third book in the Stillhouse Lake series, is due for publication in April 2019. I've become pretty much obsessed with the characters she's created, but the first two books were so good, I feared that the third book might somehow fall short. Well my concerns were unwarranted. This book was just as fabulous as the first two.
I don't want to get into a discussion of plot to avoid spoilers for anyone who hasn't read the first two books. I do think it's necessary to read them before reading this one. Ms. Caine is an excellent writer and you could read Wolfhunter River as a standalone and get the gist of what is happening, but you'd be missing out on so much. Plus Stillhouse River and Killman Creek are so fantastic, why would you want to miss out on reading them!
In Wolfunter River, Gwen is back, still facing down her detractors, the "Sicko Patrol," and a whole new group of crazies, with Sam, Lanny and Connor right by her side. They are evolving into more of a family and it's a joy to see it happening, although some secrets still remain to be revealed. The plot moves lightening fast, with the same level of bone chilling tension as the previous two books. I don't know how Ms. Caine does it but she doesn't lose her edge at all in this one. The ending gives some closure so if the author wants to end the series here, she can, but there's enough left open that she can bring it back for another installment. My vote is for more books in the series. I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to these characters yet.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC of #WolfhunterRiver
This is the third book in the Stillhouse Lake series. The story weaves a complex plot of lies, manipulation, and murder. It is recommended to read the series in order as it is linear.
It’s been said before but cannot possibly be reiterated enough; this series is phenomenal. From book one to this book @rachelcaine takes the reader on a thrilling psychological roller coaster. She has created something brilliantly deceptive and alluring. While Caine brings back familiar characters in Wolfhunter River, she does so with an edge. She allows room for transitional growth in their psyches based on the horrific events that have impacted their lives thus far. The reader gains perspective from both the intrinsic and extrinsic battle each of them is facing as the narrative provides dialog from alternating points of view. The reader is also afforded a glimpse at new and exciting tertiary characters who support the dark, malevolent underpinning of this novel. And just when you think you have it all figured out, Caine pulls the rug right out from under you. Great Read. Highly recommended.
Gwen Proctor already defeated one monster in her quest to protect her children. But what happens when other children need protection from similar monsters? I loved Stillhouse Lake, liked Killman Creek, and couldn't wait to get my hands on Wolfhunter River to find out how the story ends (or does it?).
I really liked the approach that this book took of alternating chapters from the perspectives of Gwen, Lanny, Connor and Sam. Stillhouse Creek was entirely from Gwen's perspective and it was interesting to hear what the other characters have been feeling about the whole situation and to get an opportunity to learn a little more about them and get in their heads. Killman Creek alternated perspectives, but I felt that the story was a bit slower and not as interesting. When Wolfhunter River begins, we find that some people still believe that
Gwen was an accomplice to her husband's heinous crimes and it's hard for her to keep these threats away from her family. Meanwhile, a woman, then her daughter, in a nearby town desperately need help and Gwen feels she can't refuse. Once she arrives, she finds that something really stinks in Wolfhunter River, more than the dead body washing up on the river bank. Thrown into the mix is a little girl who has been kidnapped from her seemingly wealthy father. Can Gwen and Sam survive this trip to Wolfhunter River with their lives and
family intact?
I enjoyed this more than the last addition and thought it was a lot more fast-paced and action-packed. I'd be very interested to see if Gwen's story continues even further.
This is the third book of this series and if you haven't read the other two then stop reading this book and go back to the first one.
Gwen Procter is trying live a normal life after she found out about her husband was a serial killer. His sick, twisted and haunting ways caught up with Gwen even after his death. His loyal followers and his victim's families all believe that Gwen is not innocent of her ex-husband's crimes. So many people have been tormenting her and her kids. She tries to do her best and living a normal life, but even from the grave her ex and his perverse mind still haunt her.
Some women have reached out to Gwen for her help on how to deal with the aftermath of someone's crimes and she tries to help. But one woman, Marlene , has called her so terrified and she can't even explain why. As time passes Gwen feels it's her duty to help and travels to Marlene's small town, but as she gets there, it isn't what it seems.
Imagine what it must be like to discover the man you married was a horrible serial killer, and that he was torturing and killing women right underneath your nose. For Gwen Proctor, that nightmare was her reality. But after fearing him for years and trying to keep her kids out of danger, she has finally been able to pull their lives together into some semblance of normalcy.
But peace of mind and security don't last long. Her ex-husband Melvin had acolytes all across the country, people willing to do his bidding and inflict emotional torture on Gwen and her kids. People make threats against them on a daily basis, some of them bordering on true danger. And even worse, the families of Melvin's victims continue to believe that Gwen was a part of his crimes and are determined to make her pay, even developing a documentary which they hope will finally expose what they believe to be her guilt—no matter who gets hurt in the crossfire.
One day Gwen gets a call from Marlene, a woman in a remote Tennessee town called Wolfhunter. Marlene is among those strangers who call on Gwen, asking for advice or assistance in overcoming challenges like she did. Marlene is afraid of someone, but isn't willing to divulge the reasons for her fears. Marlene asks Gwen to come to Wolfhunter but she fears it's some sort of trap. Yet when the next call from Wolfhunter comes in it's not from Marlene, it's from her teenage daughter, Vee. Marlene is dead and the primary suspect is Vee herself, even though Gwen knows it's not her daughter Marlene was afraid of.
Gwen makes the decision to help Vee out, so she heads to Wolfhunter, along with her boyfriend Sam and her children. While she knows she may be stepping into something dangerous, she has no idea of the viper's nest they'll encounter, and the ripple effects that will be felt by Marlene's murder, Vee's alleged guilt, and the simple fact of Gwen's presence in Wolfhunter. Small, rundown towns are the perfect breeding ground for evil, and as the danger intensifies, so do the crises in her own life.
Wolfhunter River is Rachel Caine's third book in her Stillhouse Lake series (after Stillhouse Lake and Killman Creek). Gwen Proctor is an amazing character—flawed, brave, vulnerable, fierce, and utterly protective of her children. I found the first two books in this series absolutely spectacular, tautly plotted and full of action and suspense, and they provided a disturbing view into the heart of evil and how it can spread.
I found that this book took a little longer to build up steam, and once it did, there was so much going on and so many things were tangled together that the plot even got a little muddled. It felt like in trying to build on the intensity of the first two books, Caine thought she had to triple the suspense. Fortunately, there is still a lot of character development, and we learn more about Sam's life before he and Gwen met.
This book might be more of a standalone than the first two books were, but I'd still recommend you start reading the series from the beginning. Caine sure does love to keep you guessing about how the plot will unfold! I'm not sure if she intends to keep writing about Gwen, but I hope she does, because she's definitely one of my favorite female characters of late.
If you're a fan of creepy, well-written, suspenseful thrillers, I'd encourage you to pick up this series, starting with Stillhouse Lake. You may find yourself wondering just how you'd react if faced with the same situations Gwen was, and whether you'd be a total badass like she is.
NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
This book will be published April 23, 2019.
It was a long wait for the third and probably last book in the Still Lake series and it was certainly worth the wait.
This volume starts when Gwen is confronted unexpectedly with her old nemesis Miranda Tidewell, bereaved mother, lunatic fanatical lunatic and head of the "lost angels".
Miranda makes the lives of Gwen, her kids and Sam so miserable with the documentary she is making in which she paints Gwen as the evil helper of her dead ex-serial killer husband that Gwen is almost glad when she is called to Wolfhunter river to "assist the police in their inquiry's" after she has heard a felony committed while she is on the telephone.
But this turns out a big mistake, as they discover that this little community is decidedly hostile and strange things are going on.
Rachel Caine continues the story telling line where the narrative changes every chapter or so which she introduced in the second book. This adds to the suspense and gives insight in the different ways the different characters (Gwen, Lanny, Connor and Sam) react to stressful and dangerous situations.
A very good third episode in the series, only little critical note is that I think that 3 different story's in one book is maybe a bit too much and detracts from credibility.
So a big 4 stars for this episode.
I thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
This series gets better and better with each new installment. Gwen is such a strong and intelligent character and you cannot help but form a close connection with her and share her concerns about her children and Sam. We also get small opportunities to see through other character's points of view, but it never distracts from our relationship with Gwen. The plotline deviates from the previous two novels in the series -- but it a good way that is fresh and equally complex and exciting. Loved the ending, but am sad to say goodbye to their story. Looking forward to reading other novels by Rachel Caine.
I would highly recommend reading the first two books in the Stillhouse Lake series before reading this one. Although you certainly could read it as a standalone, the first two books give a lot of context and are excellent. I love this series and have been eagerly anticipating the third installment.
Rachel Caine's Stillhouse Lake series is the story of Gwen Proctor, formerly Gina Royal, the wife of a prolific serial killer who brutalized many women before being caught after a driver plowed into the garage of the family home to find a dead girl strung up in the garage. Gwen was put on trial as an accomplice to her husband's crimes but was acquitted - but her troubles don't end there. From that moment forward, she and her children are stalked, doxxed, and harassed endlessly. They move around regularly and change their names. Eventually they settle in Stillhouse Lake and make the conscious decision to stop running away.
In Wolfhunter River, Gwen Proctor, Sam Cade, Lanny, and Connor are trying to move forward with their lives. Gwen receives a strange call from a woman named Marlene - she is scared, hesitant to talk, says there is something wrong going on in Wolfhunter River and wants Gwen to come and help her. Gwen refuses to go - her ex-husband, the deceased Melvin Royal has been harassing her and Sam from beyond the grave - sending unwanted letters and packages; the people who harassed her and the Absalom members who were not caught also concern Gwen - she has reason to be paranoid and doesn't want to walk right into a trap. Gwen soon receives another call - from a young woman named Vee (Vera), who is Marlene's daughter. She tells Gwen that her mother is dead on the floor, that "they" killed her - and that they are coming after Vee next. Gwen talks Vee through surrendering to the police, then decides that she needs to go to Wolfhunter River to try to help Vee. Gwen, Sam, and the kids all travel to Wolfhunter River and Gwen gives her statement - but something strange is going on in the tiny town. Now Gwen and her family have gotten onto the wrong peoples' radars - they don't know who in the town they can trust or even if they will be able to get out.
Wolfhunter River is a brilliant thriller - fraught with tension and threats approaching Gwen, Sam, and the kids from every direction. The storyline was fast paced and well-written, I highly recommend this book for fans of the Stillhouse Lake series - and the entire series for fans of suspense/thrillers.
I finished Wolfhunter River last night. After Killman Creek, I wasn’t sure how there’d be a third book in the series, but I was excited for it! I have a feeling these would make great audiobooks (I read the ebooks), and I’d be first in line for the movies. This one was a little different and I I liked the two twisted storylines coming together. The action and suspense is unreal, terrifying, and consuming. No one talk to me while I’m reading.
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This can be read as a stand-alone because Caine does a nice job recapping the previous novels, but don’t do that to yourself. Start at the beginning with Stillhouse Lake & fall in love with Gwen, Sam, Lanny, and Connor. I looove the badass characters and I’ll miss them! This book definitely felt like it had closure too, but I’d be on board for a continuation of Gwen’s story.
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I preordered this book forever ago, but read it early thanks to Netgalley. All thoughts are my own. Wolfhunter River comes out April 23rd. Plenty of time for you to catch up in the series, if you haven’t already!
I have been patiently waiting for this book to be released! The third (and hopefully not the last) in this series was SO GOOD.
A fun fast paced addition to this series. I like Gwen and Sam and the other characters and this had a good mystery. The only negative was a LOT was left to tie up in the last tiny bit of the book. I would have liked this to be bot so rushed and compacted. But good as always. I do suggest reading the series in order, but the mystery portion stands well alone. You will just not fully get the other bits.
This is the third installment in the Stillhouse Lake series. The series follows Gwen Proctor as she tries to put her life back together when most of the world still thinks she helped her serial killer husband perpetuate his crimes. All she wants to do is protect her kids from the crazies that follow them and have a normal life. Of course, this never happens and you get to see how strong her will to survive is and the lengths she’ll go protecting those she loves. I can honestly say I would probably read anything Rachel Caine would write. Every one of her books I will sit down and devour in less than a day. They always have great pacing and make me wish there was more.