#bookreview
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You probably already know that Stillhouse Lake is one of my favorite series. The 4th installment, Bitter Falls, came out on January 21st and I was lucky enough to get an ARC from netgalley. It can definitely be read as a stand-alone, but don’t. The main reason why I love this series is the badass main character that is Gwen. I looove her and will continue to read about her and her family until Rachel Caine is finished writing about them. Love a good cult story, too! These are action-packed and suspenseful. For readers who like an unputdownable and dark thriller. Number 5, Heartbreak Bay, out next year?!
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So good! I've loved this series so far! Glad I checked them out. I think if I hadn't read the first 3 books I would've been a little lost reading this one. Highly recommend this series and author.

Gwen is a great lead character

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Stillhouse Lake #4..... I could keep going to #44 if Rachel Caine kept going. As always, Gwen Proctor finds herself in a battle with shady, dangerous people. Sometimes it gets a bit unbelievable, but it is always fun and fast paced. Another great mystery.

Bitter Falls once again finds Gwen Proctor in the trouble with her neighbors and a psycho cult. Stillhouse Lake is less friendly by the minute as the local criminal element wants Gwen and the media attention that surrounds her gone. Under threat from the local crime family, Gwen leaves town to investigate the disappearance of a young man. In a fast paced thriller, Gwen must solve a case and rescue those she loves, proving once again that she is a woman not to be trifled with. Action packed and full of suspense, Bitter Falls leaves you gasping once again as Gwen Proctor is the epitome of the ultimate survivor and mother. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Absolutely loved this book. Gwen Proctor is the heroine everyone needs in their life. She's no nonsense and not afraid to kick some tail when it needs to be done.

This is the fourth installment of the "Stillhouse Lake" series and every single one has been captivating and hard to put down. Bitter Falls is the same, gripping and a definite page-turner!

Gwen is ready to focus on someone else's drama and is digging into a few cases in her new job as a P.I. After wrapping one up another lands on her lap, finding a missing college student named Remy. Did he leave on his own? Was he kidnapped? Did something happen to him?

Gwen follows the cold case and is eager to get out of dodge after an incident with her daughter gets the local drug lords banging on her door again. Just when all seems to be going ok all hell breaks loose and Gwen will stop at nothing to protect Sam and her kids.

This book flips from viewpoint to viewpoint through the book and keeps the suspense racked from the first page to the last page. Some suspended belief is needed since it's hard to believe one person could find themselves in THIS MANY ordeals but it's still an engaging read. I love Gwen and how fierce she is but I also love the kids and Sam too.

Overall it's a solid addition to the series and one that fans of the prior novels will enjoy. Reading the earlier segments I don't think is quite necessary but it is helpful for the backstory that really isn't gone into detail.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This a great addition to the series. Gwen is now a PI investigating other cases and she typically has a good sense of people and situations, yet she is not infallible. I love her boss and the characters in this series in general.

This story takes Gwen and her family into danger once again. Which leads me to the only issue I have with the series... how many times will her family be in danger? How many times will we get the 'Gwen go save your family' scenario. I'm hoping the next book in the series skips this bit and just gives us a good Gwen investigation separate from anything in her history.

If you are able to put everything Gwen's family has been through in the past out of your mind, this is a great story on its own. There is an interesting storyline and growth of some characters and relationships. It is a very enjoyable read.

This is a series I would definitely recommend to others, however I would not suggest reading them immediately one following the other. A slight gap between books is better to the repetition of some themes.

Bitter Falls owes a lot to the previous books in the series. While it has a compelling story at its heart, and I continue to love Gwen Proctor as character, I wouldn't have rated it so highly if I hadn't loved Stillhouse Lake, Killman Creek and Wolfhunter River so much.

The premise is intriguing. Young men disappearing. A secretive cult that no one can find. Connections to Wolfhunter River. Through her new job with the private investigation firm, Gwen is tasked with the case of a man who vanished after a night out at a club. There's been no trace of him since that night, and his family are fracturing under the weight of grief. His anguished mother lives in his old apartment, and his father just wants to move on.

Gwen follows the clues and finds the young woman last seen with him that evening. As things get crazier and crazier in Stillhouse Lake (and her children continue to annoy the hell out of me), events transpire, and Gwen hits the road to save the asses of those she loves. As you can tell, I'm trying to avoid spoilers here!!!

Things I liked:

1) Gwen. She's a great character, with a lot of grit and intelligence.
2) The overall mystery. It's interesting.

Things I was meh about:

1) The similarities with Wolfhunter River. Bitter Falls almost seemed like a bit of a continuation of the book, but in many ways, it was almost a copy. The cult was similar, etc.
2) Gwen's kids. BLECH.
3) Sam. Not in love.

Things I hated:

1) Vee. I cannot tell you how much I'm not a fan. And her becoming a main character would be a dealbreaker for me in the series.

I'm giving Bitter Falls four stars because Rachel Caine is a great writer, and the mystery itself is fascinating. The overall story arc here is a powerful one (the woman recovering from her serial killer husband), and I think there's so much potential. Generally, I think Bitter Falls is the weakest of the series, but I'm looking forward to seeing what Caine does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The 4th book, BitterFalls, in the Stillhouse Lake series did not disappoint, if possible, it had more drama and action than Wolfhunter (book 3). While these books could be read independently, they really are best when read as a series.
This book picks up with Gwen Proctor, Sam Cade and Gwen’s 2 teenage children still living at Stillhouse Lake. Gwen is now working as a Private Investigator and her work is the center of this book. Gwen is hired to investigate the disappearance of a young collage boy. In doing so she unknowingly opens a much larger case and causes her family to be in harms way.
There is plenty of action with twist and turns throughout this book. Rachel Caine brought just enough of book 3 in without it feeling overtold. I would recommend this binge worthy series!

So good! I'm loving this series. I'm so glad I checked it out over the past few months. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars
The Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine has been one of my favorites! I have recommended the first book to so many people who have also enjoyed it.
I was excited to read this 4th book and it did not disappoint. Trouble seems to follow Gwen, Sam and the kids. First few chapters were slow but then it picked up and I was on the edge of my seat wanting to find out what happens next! As always, the last 2 chapters make me hold my breathe :-p
I am a big fan of the way Rachel Caine tells a story and will definitely read more of her novels in the future!

Yet again another riveting tale in the saga of Gwen Proctor. She truly is one of my fictional heroes and reminds me a lot of another fictional character in a crime series by Ann Frasier, Elise Sandberg. Gwen has been through a lot over the past couple years and just when you think she’ll catch a break one more thing is hurdled at her. I absolutely love Gwen and her two kids, Connor and Atlanta, as well as the hunk Sam. These are characters that are extremely likable, relatable and very easy to get attached to. It was a fast paced book as always, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page! As usual, I couldn’t put it down and am left with an ache for the next book of the series. I just don’t know how Rachel Caine does it, but I don’t ever want her to stop. If you haven’t read this series yet then I highly recommend!!

Gwen Proctor is working as a private investigator. She, her lover Sam Cade and her teenage kids Lanny and Connor are still living in Stillhouse Lake, trying to lead the most normal life they possibly can, after living under the most unusual circumstances.
Unfortunately, they have a powerful enemy, the Belldene family, or "hillbilly mafia", a drug dealing paramilitary brood. They are feuding with Gwen, trying to get her to move out of their territory, she brings the heat on them with all the attention she garners.
Previously married to serial killer Melvin, she was unaware of his crimes but many people still believe she was involved and should be punished.
While battling the local faction, Gwen is investigating the cold case disappearance of Remy Landry, a student who went missing in the Knoxville area three years ago.
The case unwittingly leads back to a cult that ties to Wolfhunter River, that she had previous dealings with.
This action packed thriller ratchets up the suspense level and just never stops. A fast, furious and fun read!
I don't recommend this as a stand alone, too much back story and too many spoilers that way. Do yourself a favor and start this series from the beginning!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Loved this 4th book in Rachel Caine's "Stillhouse Lake" series!
The drama and suspense in this book was every bit as captivating and intense as it was in the first three books.
Gwen Proctor struggles to keep her family safe while escaping her past (an ex-husband who was a serial killer). Now a private investigator Gwen is on the case of a missing college student. This quickly has her and her family involved with a cult of religious fanatics.
Fast paced and action packed this novel is an excellent addition to the "Stillhouse Lake" series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded up for great characters and writing.

I have read all the books in the series so far and each has been great. I always worry when I go back into a series that I will have forgotten the general gist of things but with this one it’s impossible.

That’s not to say that this was completely smooth sailing for me. The author does a good job of clueing you into what’s happening in case you haven’t read prior installments but it’s almost too much. I think at this point if you haven’t read the priors you won’t be able to truly appreciate this story so the info dumps become repetitive and slightly tiring.

Anyway, the story was entertaining and I like how the characters have evolved. Is it a bit “more of the same”? Yes and no. There were some crazy moments and some painfully stupid decisions made but it made for such a fun rollercoaster of a ride.

I really enjoyed this one and am curious where it will go from here. I do recommend this but urge you to start from the beginning of the series if you haven’t read them. You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for a review.

Continuing where the last book in the series left off, Gwen, Sam, Lanny, and Connor are still in Stillwater Lake. Trying to move forward with their family and their future, the town won't let them forget their past nor does it seem will the rest of the world.
But young men are disappearing without a trace and Gwen has been hired to find answers. Are they connected, or is it just circumstantial? Gwen's learned never to discount anything.
The stakes are high at home and with her case and Gwen will stop at nothing to keep her family safe.
Bitter Falls is well written with high-stakes action and characters Ms. Caine has weaved beautifully from the first story to this one.

Rachel Caine once again does not disappoint!! I truly thought this series was over with book 3. I didn’t really see it going anywhere else seeing how her husband was killed and all three books revolved around that conflict. So when I saw a fourth book I was thrilled!

I did wonder if I would like a fourth book because again I wasn’t sure where it could go. But this book did not disappoint.

Gwen is hired as an a private investigator to track down this couples son. Little did she know the company tracking down the young man had an ulterior motive. And what she believes will be a relatively simple investigation is quite the opposite. It once again brings her, Sam and her children into the world of danger.

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. You don’t want to put it down you will finish this in one sitting.

I feel like by the time you get the fourth book, movie, etc. in a series, the suspense isn’t quite up to par, and it lacks new content. However, I have never been disappointed in the #stillhouselake series-and this book was no exception. I still found myself wanting to read each day and flipping pages quickly. In fact, I found it more enjoyable than book 3!!

Gwen becomes immersed in a cold case of a missing man. She is determined to find him and sets out to get answers. However, In true Gwen style, she is placed in dangerous situations while her enemies are literally knocking at her door. This plot was fast paced and kept my interest throughout the whole book. Although everything was resolved in the last few pages, it did feel rushed compared to the rest of the book.
Another highly recommended book by @rachelcainewriter !! Thank you to @netgalley , for providing me with a copy for an honest review. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
#bookstagram #books #fiction #suspense #readersofinstagram

Se penso a quanto mi ero goduta il primo e il secondo romanzo di questa serie, quanto li avevo trovati appassionanti, non riesco a credere che sia la stessa scrittrice: noioso, ripetitivo, pieno di infodump, con un interesse amoroso fra i più noiosi mai visti in letteratura e personaggi che fanno giulivi le scelte più assurde possibili.
E' stato il mio ultimo approccio con Gwen Proctor, poco ma sicuro.

Bitter Falls is the first Rachel Caine novel I’ve read. I went into it with no expectations and really enjoyed the book! ⁣
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A few highlights:⁣
* CULTS (if you’ve met me, you know this is my favourite thing to read about)⁣
* Strong women, kicking a$$ and saving the day ⁣
* Likeable characters (in a thriller!)⁣
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In spite of her traumatic past, Gwen Proctor is trying to move forward with her life. She’s continuing her work as a PI and helping her family feel safe and secure again.⁣
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She takes on the cold case of a disappearance of a young man. Seems simple at first. But as Gwen digs deeper into the case, she makes enemies of powerful people, discovers a sinister cult and draws her family into a dangerous web. ⁣
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This is book four in the Stillhouse Lake series, but I did not feel lost as a new reader. Caine gives you enough information to get invested in the story, but not so much that you don’t want to run out and read the rest of the books to get fully up-to-speed on what’s happened to the Proctors. ⁣
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I recommend this book for readers who like psychological thrillers and a series with character growth and likeable characters. And of course, CULTS. ⁣
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Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.⁣
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