Shatter The Night – Emily Littlejohn

Monsters…witches…it’s Halloween night in Cedar Valley, Colorado, and since becoming a cop, Detective Gemma Monroe has always dreaded the season. But this year is different, as she and her fiancé Brody are trick or treating with their toddler Grace for the first time. With the evening winding down, Gemma wants to make one more stop – a quick visit to retired Judge Caleb Montgomery. A close friend of her grandfathers, Caleb has long been a friend of Gemma’s family, and has asked to see her.

When Gemma arrives, Caleb hands her a package of letters – death threats that he has received every few weeks, beginning after he stepped down from the bench six months ago. He describes a familiarity to the writing, but he is unable to place why. So, he has turned to Gemma for assistance. His fear, although he hides it well, makes Gemma uneasy. Shortly after Gemma and Brody leave for home, an explosion lights up the night, coming from the direction of Caleb’s office.

Gemma immediately returns to the scene to investigate the incident, her worst fears realized. Now more determined than ever to avenge Caleb, the investigation flies into high gear and Gemma, her partner Finn and the rest of the team begin to research individuals that might have wanted Caleb dead. But after a long and illustrious career on the bench, the list is long…too long.

As Gemma & Finn dig deeper into the past, a local bank is robbed. Inexplicably, an unarmed guard is shot to death by the thief as he is leaving the scene. Watching the camera replays of the incident, Gemma sees the shooter lean down and whisper something to the wounded guard, but he dies before ever regaining consciousness. Even more puzzling, the gun recovered from the scene is a Japanese, and a collector’s item. A visit to a military historical expert yields an unexpected clue – and a sad story of a soldier who returned from war a changed man. Gemma realizes she has a copycat killer on her hands, and that the killing has just started….

This novel was another delightful & unexpected find via the Netgalley site. I was sure I had the killer pegged early on (I was wrong) and I thought the book was following a rather predictable course (it wasn’t) and still I culdn’t put it down. I love the characters of Gemma & Finn, and there are some great peripheral characters as well that I hope continue to make appearances in future novels. Best part of all – this is too part of a series! If you’ve read any of my reviews, you know how much I LOVE to see my favorite characters return in future books! Easily read as a stand-alone, but I have some back reading to catch up on now! A fabulous read!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

This book starts with a a bang - literally - and just sucks you into the mystery right away.

First things first, this is book 4 in a series, but I read it as a standalone without any issues. In fact, now that I’ve read it, I want to check out the rest of the series!

It’s Halloween, and Gemma, her fiancé and their 1-year-old visit an old family friend, Caleb Montgomery, who reveals that he’s been on the receiving end of some nasty threats. Soon after Gemma and her family leave, an explosion kills Montgomery and sends Gemma reeling. As she looks further into the crime, more strange occurrences begin, and Gemma is forced to work out what’s happening in this small town before things get worse.

This was a really intense read, as there’s a lot of things happening, and like Gemma, the reader is feverishly trying to work things out. And the answer is really eery and satisfying - perfect for a novel about Halloween and killers, set against the backdrop of a picturesque Colorado town.

Gemma was also a great character, with a lot of complexity and range. She not only deals with hunting down killers, but balancing her work and home lives, as well as working out what she even wants those lives to look like. She’s not the type of character that fits into a mold easily.

As I said, the solution wrapped things up really nicely, and I thought it was brilliant. I did not see it coming, but it made a lot of sense.

I’ll definitely be checking more of this series!

Minotaur Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Shatter the Night. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Detective Gemma Monroe takes it personally when a family friend, retired Judge Caleb Montgomery, is killed shortly after he confides to her that he has been receiving anonymous threats. When the investigation leads down an unexpected path, Gemma be able to sort out the killer before anyone else gets hurt?

As this book is part of a series, it is helpful to have read the previous novels. The author spends a lot of time on Gemma's personal life in Shatter the Night, so readers unfamiliar with her history might have a hard time following along. I was not blown away by this book, as there really was no character development and the plot was weak in my opinion. I do like the character, so I would be willing to read more about Gemma Monroe, but Shatter the Night was hardly worth my time to read.

I was hooked from the beginning of the prologue! It did get to be a little slow but still good enough to make me want to read the rest of the series.

Detective Gemma Monroe works on the murder case of a family friend in Cedar Valley with her partner as the lead. As the investigation proceeds the murders seem to be copycat pursers from the past. Is it for revenge of a past case or a copycat? Although this book is number 4 in a series I didn’t feel like I needed to read the others to enjoy this one.
Goodreads

This is book 4 in the Detective Gemma Monroe series and I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I had read the previous books. I'll be looking for them and reread this one. Gemma is a police officer in Cedar Valley, Colorado and an explosion at a judges office has the whole town wondering who could do such a thing. Someone has a vendetta to settle and the bomb at the judge's office is just the first step. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I want to first off by saying I was completely intrigued by this book. Emily Littlejohn did a fantastic job at capturing your attention right away and wanting you to read more and more. The character was fabulous and raw. A must read!

This one wasn’t really for me. I found it to be a bit slow and it wasn’t really keeping my attention. It’s de indirect for some mystery to it though, so I would still read it if mystery is more of your liking!

Excellent series, I am really looking forward to more books in this series. Gemma is a very like able heroine. .

On Halloween night, a retired judge and friend of Detective Gemma Monroe is murdered. In the small town she lives in, secrets about the judge start to emerge and Gemma is determined to solve this before anyone else is hurt. This was such a good mystery and I had no idea it’s a series of books! I loved the array of characters and the red herrings around everyone. But I mostly loved Gemma. She seems real and relatable. But for now, this book was a great thriller and left me with some unanswered questions so I can’t wait to see where her story goes next!

It's Halloween in Cedar Valley CO, and Gemma Monroe is visiting a friend, who has called to ask for her assistance in tracking down someone who is sending him threatening letters. After she leaves, Caleb Montgomery's car is blown up with a huge amount of dynamite. As she and her team begin to investigate, Gemma discovers other, similar murders have happened before. Years ago, a man was convicted of several murders that a copycat is re-creating. Can Gemma uncover the truth before too many lives have been lost. Entertaining atmospheric read with a twisty plot.

This was the first book in this series I have read. I wish I knew going in it was part of a series. I enjoyed it after reading so many Christmas books.

This is the fourth book in the series featuring Detective Gemma Monroe. It was a solid police procedural. Gemma is on the hunt for a serial killer who they are calling Ghost Boy due to his calling comic book that are left at the scenes. As expected, they are in a desperate race to figure out the killer before the body count gets any higher. I enjoyed the mystery portion, but what makes the novel stand out from the sea of other small town police procedurals is Gemma. She is a working mom who knows that she made the right decision for her to go back to work, but still struggles to be the best mom. She is a very human character which makes her an enjoyable one to read about.

EXCERPT: 'Time's up, old friend. I will take your eyes and then your tongue, leaving you unable to see or speak. Only then will your lies end. I'm one nightmare you'll never wake up from.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: It’s Halloween night in Cedar Valley. During the town’s annual festival, Detective Gemma Monroe takes a break from trick or treating with her family to visit an old family friend, retired Judge Caleb Montgomery, at his law office. To Gemma’s surprise, Caleb seems worried—haunted, even—and confides in her that he’s been receiving anonymous threats. Shortly after, as Gemma strolls back to her car, an explosion at Caleb’s office shatters the night.

Reeling from the shock, Gemma and her team begin eliminating suspects and motives, but more keep appearing in their place, and soon another man is killed. Her investigation takes her from a chilling encounter with a convicted murderer at the Belle Vista Penitentiary, to the gilded rooms of the renovated Shotgun Playhouse, where Shakespeare’s cursed play Macbeth is set to open in a few weeks.

Yet most disturbing of all is when Gemma realizes that similar murders have happened before. There is a copycat killer at play, and if Gemma can’t stop him, he’ll carry out his final, deadly act.

MY THOUGHTS: This is the second book of four in this series that I have read. This is an exciting read with just the right balance between Gemma's professional and private lives.

As the countdown to her wedding begins, there is an explosion that rocks the town in more ways than one. Set at Halloween, it involves injustices and revenge.

Just like Gemma, I kept coming up with suspects, but I was wrong every time. I enjoyed this fairly fast paced read and it was almost a five star read for me except for two things...one would be a spoiler so I'm not going there, and the second is that I found the ending, although exciting, a little jumbled and untidy.

This is a series that I intend to continue to follow. I like the characters and the setting of Cedar Valley. I do recommend that, should you want to read this book, you start at the beginning of the series. While Shatter the Night could work as a stand alone, references are made to incidents in the previous books, and there are things in the characters histories that you will not understand. This series would make an ideal holiday binge read.

Highly recommended.

😍😲😍😮

Two quotes from this book that I just loved:

'Halloween. What a joke. The ghouls are here now, they're always here. As if they'd only come out on one night to play.'

'Marriages are like leftovers in the fridge; you stop paying attention and pretty soon you've got mold on what was once a nice meal.'

#ShatterTheNight #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Emily Littlejohn writes the Detective Gemma Monroe mysteries, called "a series to watch" by Booklist.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to St Martin's Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Shatter the Night by Emily Littlejohn for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Great Thriller read!!! I really enjoy anything thriller related and this one was definitely one to be excited about! I really love the characters in this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat from page one!!

Thank you to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this title.

“It was Halloween, and the quaint mountain town of Cedar Valley, Colorado, held more than tricks and treats. There was a dark energy, a dark spirit, summoned from the past that moved through the roaming packs of shrieking children. People would be killed. Lives would be changed. And Cedar Valley would never be the same again.”—from Shatter the Night

Gemma’s Halloween starts out with a visit with a retired judge, Caleb. Caleb received nine anonymous and threatening letters in the past few weeks. He thinks it is nothing—just part of being a judge. Gemma agrees to investigate. On her way home with her fiancé and their one-year-old daughter, there is an explosion. Someone has made good on the threat and killed the judge in a bombing.

Shatter the Night is a fast-paced thriller with a slew of suspects. However, I think the characters are what keeps bringing me back to this series. Gemma has changed a great deal since the first book, Inherit the Bones. I believe that I liked this book, the fourth in the series, is more enjoyable when read after the other three, which I have done. Still, even as a standalone, this book rates 4 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am a sucker for Halloween novels, so needless to say, the description of this book had me immediately requesting it! On Halloween night, Detective Gemma Monroe visits and old friend and retired judge. Judge Montgomery seems cagey, a bit distracted by anonymous threats he's been receiving. Gemma doesn't think too much of it, but shortly after she leaves, an explosion rocks the judge's office. Gemma will do whatever it takes to solve the murder.

I am a fan of the Gemma Monroe series, and this book did not disappoint! I am hoping for more to come!

Detective Gemma Monroe is shocked when a friend is killed in an explosion moments after she last spoke with him. He was receiving anonymous threats, so Gemma immediately jumps on the case to catch a killer. The case turns out to be incredibly complex, with other similar killings tying in with it. Is this a case of revenge? Or is a serial killer on the loose?

Shatter the Night is the 4th book in the Gemma Monroe series. This is by far the best in the series so far, in my opinion. The plot was suspenseful and engaging. There were plenty of suspects, and the case evolved at just the right speed to keep me reading. I couldn't put this book down....I was reading until 3 am to find out the killer's identity. I had a guess for how this story would end -- and I was completely wrong! I love it when a suspense novel surprises me!

This book can be read as a stand alone story, but to completely understand the characters, their relationships, etc...it really is best to read this series from the beginning.

Great book! I can't wait for the next story in this series! I like Gemma Monroe as a main character....she struggles with being a working mom but loves her job. I like all the side characters and the plots are always engaging.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

When Gemma Monroe and her husband Brody take little Grace trick or treating on Halloween, an old friend of the family confides in Gemma that he's been receiving death threats the last few months. Before she has a chance to investigate, he is killed by a car bomb.

As she looks for answers with her partner Finn, Fire investigator Liv Ramirez and her dog Fuego, another body turns up, leaving the group with more questions than answers. With a new, much larger threat looming, can the Detectives find the culprit and keep the residents of Cedar Valley, Colorado safe?

This traditional mystery features a charming setting with a well built cast of characters. It was a fun mystery to read and features lots of clues that can steer you in the wrong direction. While this is book 4 in the series, it was pretty easy to read as a stand alone. There is a brief mention of a previous event that would have been nice to have a little more information on, though. Overall, a very enjoyable read!

My thanks to NetGalley, Emily Littlefield, Saint Martin's Press, and Minotaur books for gifting me an e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

What at first seems a closed room style mystery quickly evolves into a more traditional mystery, with lots of twists and red herrings. This one will keep you guessing, as more clues come in. This was the first Gemma Monroe book I've read, and I'll be going back to read the first three books in the series!Gemma is realistic-she's w woking mom, trying to figure it all out and make sure she gives equal time to her family and her job. It's a refreshing procdural that adds in some chick lit, for a very enjoyable, quick read. Put this one on your holiday reading list!!