So well written drew me right in characters that come alive. An author I will be following a book that kept me guessing,#netgalley #st.martins

Detective Gemma Monroe is one of the best characters to hit this genre in many years. I look forward to so many more in this series.

When Gemma visits an old family friend, what he confides has her searching for answers.   Before she has a chance to even begin, an explosion makes him her next case.   And it isn't long before there's another body.  Gemma and her team have their work cut out for them in a race against time . . . and the next victim.

This is Littlejohn's fourth entry in the Gemma Monroe case files, but reads just as well as a stand alone.   She builds intriguing, endearing characters that you readily become invested in.   It's hard to put down the book till you've followed it to its conclusion.  This slightly chilling whodunit is a great read that I highly recommend.  I'm going to pick up the others in the series as I know I'm going to want to continue following Gemma's adventures.

[I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via NetGalley, and am leaving an honest review of the book.   The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]

Shatter the Night is an entertaining detective mystery. Well crafted plot and characters. I enjoyed the author’s writing and look forward to reading more of her books. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

"People would be killed. Lives would be changed. And Cedar Valley would never be the same again."

Evil had crept into Cedar Valley and Detective Gemma Monroe and her colleagues are soon involved in a very complicated case that had it roots in events from long ago. The death of her grandfather's friend, Judge Caleb Montgomery, in a car bombing is just the first incident in what will prove to be a demanding investigation that requires the talents and skills of many different people to bring this killer they've dubbed "Ghost Boy" to justice. NO SPOILERS.

This is the 4th in the series and, although I've only read #3, I had no difficulty jumping right into this well-written crime thriller. It was great to reconnect with familiar characters and meet some new ones. I was most pleased, however, by further development in Gemma's character and I like her quite a lot. She's not a mess like many in this genre and, though she has her scars and some sad things in her past, she's a good detective, plays nicely with her fellow team members, and uses her head to manage the procedural aspects of this escalating situation. I am excited about the developments in her personal life as well, and I hope she can settle in with Brody and baby Grace and combine being a mother and a detective with a happy home life. The plot is quite convoluted and there's a lot going on until it all finally comes together in a satisfying conclusion. It was easy to read in a single sitting and I enjoyed the setting as well as the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I look forward to the next installment in this series.

The plot is involved so finding the connections were challenging. A few red herrings and the conclusion seems to come out of nowhere in that by the time they think they know who they're looking for its almost the end

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.



Disclaimer this is the 4th book in the series. You could read it as a standalone, however to reach a deeper understanding of the characters and back story you should start with book 1.



Gemma is back, while out trick or treating with her daughter she stops by to visit old family friend Caleb Montgomery, but he is worried and admits that someone has been sending threats. Minutes after she leaves an explosion shatters the night and it came from Caleb Montgomery's car. Gemma knows something deeper is going on, especially when the body counts starts to rise. And it appears they are copycatting and old crime.



Gemma is on the hunt to figure out who is behind this all, and before it devastates the small town she lives in. Will she be able to put all the pieces together and figure it out? Or will the body count keep rising?


I still love Gemma, and this is pretty standard mystery, but there is just something about Gemma and the town that keeps me coming back for more. I really can't wait to see where the series is going. With each book Gemma is growing more and more. She is always open minded and willing to believe that anyone could be behind something even if she thinks she knows them well.

When the car of Gemma's friend retired judge Caleb Montgomery explodes with him inside, she has no idea what the town of Cedar Valley is in for in the coming days. Gemma's got a lot on her plate- not only is she a detective, she's also a mom, a bride to be, and the daughter of a woman with dementia. She juggles it all as she along with her partner Finn and their new friend fire inspector Liv Ramirez. Caleb had been receiving threatening letters, the new community theater has been repeatedly vandalized, and then a security guard is killed in a bank robbery. Pulling the disparate threads leads to an old old case and secrets and grudges that have been handed down through generations. I didn't guess the identity of the villain- Littlejohn threw out enough red herrings to keep me on my toes. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's well told. the characters are good and its perfectly fine as a standalone.

The 4th book in the Gemma Monroe series is an atmospheric, chilling thriller. ⁣
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Minutes after leaving a visit with a family friend, an explosion rips into Halloween night. Gemma races back to the retired judges home but it’s too late...her dear friend is lost to the explosion. The police investigation reveals this was an intentional act and Detective Gemma will stop at nothing to find her friends killer.⁣
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𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 was another dark and twisty mystery in this series! The case is perplexing and intricate, with enough suspects to throw the reader for a loop. The dark mystery is broken up with personal details about Gemma and her cute little family. Fans of Louise Penny or Sue Grafton will enjoy this cozy series featuring a strong female detective. 4⭐️⁣
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Thank you @stmartinspress for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review!

My thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minataur books and Netgalley.
I enjoyed this book, but I think it's one of those where I should have started at the beginning.
This was still a fully contained whodunit. Alas! I read enough of these type of books that there wasn't anything new or exciting about it. This may also be a case of its not you, it's me. I don't much care for books that take place in the U.S.A. Unless it's in a snowbound or very cold environment! Also, I'm almost always a wee bit disappointed when I figure out the who.

Justice, revenge, a fearless killer on the loose in this small town. A retired judge, the first victim. Enter Gemma and Finn, partners on the force, but not in life. In fact Gemma is soon to marry the father of her baby Grace, the rehabilitated Brody. Plenty of course, I had a guess for the who done it, but I was wrong. I usually am, so good thing my role in life is not that of detective.

Enjoy the characters the mix between the personal and professional, and a fairly quick pace. Small Town life, where everyone knows everyone and usually quite of bit of their lives as well. So, how is it possible for this killer to hide so well? Plus, the theater, is putting on their first show, Macbeth, the play that holds many superstitions, could this be the problem?

The ending became a little crowded, but exciting all the same. A fairly new series, that definitely holds my interest. Good, solid police procedural.

ARC from Netgalley.

Well written detective novel with believable characters and good plots.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

I don’t know why but I love stories that take place on Halloween, maybe because then it makes it more imaginable (don’t mind my babble) and I love Halloween!
Our main character Detective Gemma Monroe tries to solve the murder of a copycat killer. It’s fast paced and grabs the reader attention, but there were moments I was wanting a little more.

Shatter the Night is the fourth in this series and it is the first I have read. The characters are interesting and the storyline is entertaining.Well written.

Detective Gemma Monroe is back in the fourth installment of this series. This time it's Halloween in Cedar Valley and not everyone is giving out treats!

When Gemma stops in to say hello to a retired judge, Caleb Montgomery, in his offices, she finds him upset and tells her about threatening letters he has been receiving. Gemma is still thinking about his odd behavior when his car explodes with him in it. Who in the world would have wanted Caleb dead?

Suspects abound and just as quickly as Gemma and her team clear one, another pops on the scene. As her investigation takes her into the judge's old cases, there is one that sticks out. Making the trek to Belle Vista Penitentiary, Gemma doesn't know what to think about the supposed stone-cold killer and the way he takes the news of Caleb's death.

Soon enough another body is added to the pile and a major clue. This isn't the first murder like this. Gemma and her team have themselves what looks like a copycat killer. 

And if history repeats itself, there will soon be a lot more bodies! With the new playhouse in town, the opening night would be the perfect time for the last send-off. 

Will Gemma and her team uncover the killer as it uncovers a lot of secrets and corruption right here in the police department?

You'll have to read it! And then wait for the next one.

NetGalley/ December 10th, 2019 by Minotaur Books

I have enjoyed all the books in the Gemma James detective series set in the fictional town of Cedar Valley, CO. I like that Gemma is independent and dedicated to her job and that she has deep love for her family. I can really see this series developing further now that Gemma and her long-time beau (and father to their daughter, Grace) finally married and look forward to getting to know these characters better as the series continues. I received an ARC edition of this ebook from Netgalley.

Vengeful Murder And More Visit Cedar Creek

Halloween is setting the atmosphere in Cedar Creek, a small town in Colorado. The heroine, Detective Gemma Monroe is out trick-or-treating with her daughter and fiancé. They stop by the law offices of retired Judge Caleb Montgomery. He was a close and longtime friend to Gemma’s grandfather and lifetime friend to her. While they talk, Caleb informs Gemma that he has been receiving disturbing letters. Gemma felt that Caleb was holding back something. Gemma and her family left and were walking down the street. Suddenly, there was an explosion behind them. Upon looking, she saw Caleb’s car engulfed in flames. Soon all the main characters arrive on the scene, her partner, the police chief, the fire chief and a new Fire Investigator.

From this start the main storyline proceeds with the all of the twists, turns and misdirections that quickly captured my interest all the way to the end of novel and definitely kept me reading. I quickly became involved in the storyline. I would say to myself, how about that person as the murderer. Next, or a little later, the storyline focused on that person. I got my hopes up as more aspects matched the murderer, but then it would fall apart. I just enjoyed reading this novel.

The B-storyline is quite rich, so much so that I actually thought that it was the first novel of a series. Obviously, most of the B-storyline centers on Gemma and her family and Gemma with her grandfather and other characters in the novel. The new fire inspector has an interesting background. It would be nice if this character stays around. Even the police intern who was only identified by his first name, Jimmy, was backed with an interesting B-storyline. These threads really contributed to my enjoyment in reading this novel.

There is very little I believe that readers will find objectionable in this novel. Swearing and vulgar language were minimal. There were not any sex scenes. Obviously, the explosion and immediate aftermath were described as it happened. The content was adult but not over emphasized. Most of the other violence was described after the fact and so does not have the same edge.

This is the fourth book in the series. It is the first that I have read of the series. I did not experience any issues with references or information from the first three novels obviously missing. If you have not read any novels in this series, you can start with this one. The read was easy and kept me engaged. The author kept the tension building throughout the novel. The characters were interesting, and even though this was not the first novel in the series, the characters were fully developed within this novel. I enjoyed reading this novel. I rate this novel with five stars.

I have received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from St. Martin’s Press with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

3.75 out of 5 stars

I want to thank Netgalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

When I asked to review this book I didn't realize it was the fourth novel in a series but it is very easy to follow along. As Gemma narrates her story she drops enough info about her town, the people that live there and all the relationships in her life that she makes it very easy to follow along..

This definitely feels like a cozy mystery as it is set in a small town full of interesting characters. I view reading in the way I view food and this book was a great form of comfort food.

An exciting and absorbing fourth mystery in the Detective Gemma Monroe series. While Gemma is enjoying motherhood, she is also involved in planning a wedding to her fiancé, Brody Sutherland. Retired Judge Caleb Montgomery, long-time family friend, alerts Gemma to threats he has been receiving. When those threats are realized, Gemma and her team begin to investigate who would want to kill the judge. As another murder occurs, the investigation spins off in various directions. The team researches various cases in which the judge was involved and suspects are eliminated. As Gemma successfully deals with personal issues, she plunges ahead to the amazing and explosive conclusion. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

A decent read where old grudges in a small town resurface after many years. Detective Gemma Monroe and her small team are dealing with an unscrupulous killer who has a background in explosives , firearms and is cunning and deceiving. Events and individuals from the past have a connection to the present day killings. Gemma who is a new mother is often torn between her home and work family . Both are supportive and with their help the who and why of these killings are solved.