Fans of Rachel Caine will be delighted with this book number four in the series of psychological thrillers about the Proctor family.
In this instalment Gwen Proctor is dealing with another cold case, disappearance of a young man called Remy Landry three years ago. The narrative is split between four points of view- Gwen, Lanny, Connor and Sam, which gives the story more depth. The family faces outright hostility from the neighbours, while the case Gwen is investigating is putting her loved ones in the path of a dangerous criminal.
As usual Rachel Caine's characterization is outstanding, while the story will keep you on the edge of your seat with never-ending twists and turns and its spellbinding ending.
Dark and intense, Bitter Falls won't disappoint the readers who have been following the Stillhouse Lake series as it is as well-written as the previous instalments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas&Mercer for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Wow, how much can one family take and still stay strong? After years of torment as a serial killer's wife, Gwen Proctor , her partner Sam, and her children Connor and Lanny are trying to put the past behind them. Gwen is working as a private investigator, and an interesting case has just arrived. A young man just disappeared into the night, without a trace, three years ago, and Gwen wants to find closure for his parents.

As Gwen gets closer to the truth, things start to get really dangerous, plus her past is catching up to her, and she's getting angst from internet trolls and locals alike. This book races to a spectacular finale, and I dare you to put it down.

This series is a wonderful, enjoyable read, with fantastic characters and well thought out plots. Recommended for all lovers of crime and mystery novels.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The fourth book in the Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine. Gwen Proctor and her family are back, and they are finding it harder and harder to fit into their local community. Gwen's trying to keep her family safe and also keep herself busy. She takes on the cold case of a missing young man. Gwen's investigation leads to her discovering other victims, and wanting to discover who is behind the disappearances.

This is an action-packed and exciting series. Gwen and her kids are not well-liked, and it is extremely difficult on the kids. Things are becoming more serious in their community, and the entire family is uncertain of their futures. I like the different viewpoints, and that each family member's take on what is happening is represented. The characters in this book are likable and easy to root for. Gwen is still a badass, and she's raising her kids to be strong, smart, and independent.

A fast-paced thriller that kept me wanting to read more. Interesting mystery with plenty of bad guys, in both Gwen's personal and professional lives. Intriguing, dark, and intense.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bitter Falls
Stillhouse Lake #4


Gwen Proctor is a smart, strong and dynamic character who will go anywhere and do anything to protect her family.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
BITTER FALLS is the fourth book in the Stillhouse Lake series. Gwen Proctor has had a difficult life since she found out her husband was a serial killer. That was years ago and she desperately trying to put the past behind her, have a normal life and protect her two children, Connor and Lanny, from the internet monsters that haunt them. It’s not easy, and now the closed-minded town of Norton and her powerful drug dealing neighbors are also closing ranks against them.

Gwen is working as a private investigator for an out-of-town detective agency and is assigned a case of a missing twenty-one year old male college student who disappeared while out with friends at a bar on a Friday night. Remy Landry has been missing for three years. The police gave up on the case long ago, the file is thin and the case is cold. But Gwen knows what it’s like to worry about your children.

A church-related nonprofit hired the agency to look into the case, which is somewhat strange. But regardless of who is putting up the money, finding out what happened to the handsome Remy Landry has to be a good thing for his parents. Right? But it just might not be a good thing for Gwen Proctor, her partner, Sam or her two children.


REVIEW
Author RACHEL CAINE had me with her description of the waterfall that rambled and roared over the rocks above and broke into the white spray that floated weightless in the air. Her writing is vivid, riveting and evocative.

BITTER FALLS is a fast moving, and gripping thriller of a woman’s fight to protect her family. All the characters in the book are so well-developed, you can’t help but care about them and you’ll easily be caught up in the story. Gwen, Connor, Lanny and Sam each narrate various chapters in the book which add diverse perspectives to a tight plot. This is a perfect book for a quick weekend read!


Gwen Proctor is one of my favorite female characters. She is amazingly strong both physically and emotionally. She has had to be, at times she seems to be fighting monsters on various fronts. Her perseverance is phenomenal. She will go anywhere and do anything to protect those she loves.

Author Rachel Caine grabs her reader at the start and leaves them hanging from the edge of that waterfall the entire book. Caine is the bestselling author of more than 50 novels novels including Stillhouse Lake, Wolfhunter River and Killman Creek in the Stillhouse Lake series. Bitter Falls, the fourth book in the series is so well written you could read it as a stand-alone. But why would you want to?

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Thomas & Mercer
Published January 21, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

This book is well written and with great characters, but the stupidity of the main characters is not always believable. And don't take a break in the middle of a chapter, because you might not remember who the first person is, and get confused. Changing first person POV is just a bad idea.

This was an incredible installment of the Stillhouse Lake series. It was creepy, riveting, compelling and scary as hell. As someone obsessed by the idea of "religious" cults, I really latched onto this storyline. My only criticism is that Lanny acted stupidly, and I found it unrealistic given her years of training with her mom. And the new use of "dad" for Sam was heavy-handed.

I’m saying goodbye to this series. While Caine’s writing is good and engaging, the plot of Bitter Falls followed along the same lines of the previous novel and didn’t provide enough character or series development for me to fully enjoy things. The tight arc that existed in the first two novels is gone. This just feels like the characters aimlessly making reckless decisions that put them in danger for the sake of another book.

Personally, I don’t think there was a point to this. I was hesitant towards Wolfhunter River because I didn’t know where the story would go after the Melvin arc concluded and, one book later, I’m not ever sure Caine knows what’s going to happen. This seems like writing for the sake of writing and putting books out instead of having a clear outline.

So, the direction the series is going is not for me. The first two novels were wonderful and I love them, but the series is clearly not enjoyable for me anymore. I’m sure other readers will have a good time reading about Gwen’s journey and the mysteries she faces. I’m just not one of them.

Rachel Caine has done it again. This is the 4th book in the Stillhouse Lake series and it stands very strong with the others. I’m so glad the author is not just focusing on the personal story of Gina but incorporates the cases she takes on for work. This one will keep you going until the end. I highly recommend this series and I can’t wait for the next book.

Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy of the book.

This is the 4th book in the series and whilst it can be read as a standalone I recommend that the previous books be read first .
This final ( I think it is final) book is absolutely gripping , fast paced and full of action from beginning to end .

Gwen Proctor and her children were the survivor's of her serial murderer husband's wrath , with many of the Public and Law Enforcement totally convinced of her guilt in his crimes .
They had settled on Stillhouse Lake , along with her partner Sam , hoping to make a permanent home , but there are those who want them out and gone for good .
Gwen is now working as a PI and is given a case of the disappearance of a young man , Remy, missing for 3 years . Who wants to find him and why ? Is it really Remy they are looking for ?
Gwen's investigation opens a can of worms leading to kidnappings ,cults , torture , multiple deaths and finally the answers to many questions .
It is only with the help of those who believe in both her and Sam that they manage to survive and resolve those many questions left unanswered in the previous books .

This is an absolutely outstanding read and I look forward to what the writer comes up with next

I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Gwen Proctor is 1 woman you definitely don't want to mess with! Especially if it involves her children or the man she loves.

This is the fourth installment in the Stillhouse Lake series and in my opinion it definitely is a series you have to read in order. I loved the 1st book and it was 1 of my favourite books of last year. The others were also good and this was also a fast read that I enjoyed but like the previous book it left me a bit disappointed in the end. The ending felt a bit rushed. Some things also seemed a bit too far fetched but maybe that's just me.

Glen is now a PI and is asked to look into the disappearance of a young man who has been missing for 3 years. Sam had to take on work away from home because the people of Norton have closed ranks against them. She opens up a can of worms with her investigation and again her families lives are in danger. Who hired her firm to look into the disappearance of Remy and why?

Thank you to #netgalley and #thomas&Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Love, love, love Rachel Caine’s series and I was escited to dive into this installment. It did not disappoint. I will be recommending the series as often as I can!!!

I have been lucky enough to score the entire series on netgalley, and boy am i happy for that! I can;t stop reading and always want more of this storyline!

I’ve been a fan of this series since day one, there is something about Caine’s writing that draws me in and keeps me engaged. This isn’t a series where you can just start wherever, you really need to start with the first book in order to appreciate everything that Gwen and her family have been through. The good news is that even though this is the fourth book they’re fairly quick reads and are easy to binge.

High points of this installment for me were Gwen as a private investigator and the fact that her case involves a cult. I have a morbid fascination and curiosity with cults and I never tire of reading about them. The chapters are pretty brief and you hear from Gwen, Sam, Lanny and Connor giving you a bird’s eye overview of all that’s going on, and with this crew, there’s always a ton going on.

Now onto the low points. You know how sometimes after the first few books a series can kind of feel meh? There was a little bit of that here for me if I’m being completely honest. You may be wondering why I spent the first part of this review trying to encourage you to read this series if this one was just ok for me, but stay with me for a minute. The momentum in the first few books was steady. I loved where these books seemed to be heading and was totally onboard. But something felt different with this one, almost like the exciting edge was missing? I’m not totally sure what it was but this definitely didn’t excite me as much as the other books. I have grown pretty attached to Gwen and her kids (and Sam) though so that’s why I’ll keep reading and recommending this one. I have faith in the author, especially since this one wasn’t bad by any means, it just felt lacking a little. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the hopes that the suspense and intrigue is heightened back up to the previous level and chalk this one up to a one off.

This is a part of the Stillhouse Lake series but can definitely be read on its own. I've gotten to know Gwen and her family through the series so it was nice to follow their lives along with the new situations that arise in this novel. You know peace and quiet doesn't last long for this family! Some scenes were unrealistic but it was an entertaining read nonetheless.

Told in the alternating voices of each member of the Proctor family, this latest installment in the series finds Gwen searching for a college student who disappeared into a cult three years ago. Unfortunately, the family is also coping with the problem Gwen has brought to Stillhouse Lake, where the Belldene family, a fairly vile group, rules. Her partner Sam and her kids Lanny and Connor have been through a lot already (her ex was a serial killer) but there's more bad stuff ahead. No spoilers but know that this does have some twisty parts. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It helps to have read at least one of the earlier books (I have only read the third one, where I felt very much at sea) even though Caine does provide some of the back story.

Just wow!!! I really enjoyed this book it just had a very nice flow to it.,









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With a lot of helpful reviews already posted, I'll just recommend this to mystery and Caine fans. This author is very experienced and know how to weave a good tale.

I really appreciate the review copy!!

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2020/01/14/bitter-falls-by-rachel-caine/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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This <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/201150-stillhouse-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Stillhouse Lake series</strong></em></a> is a terrifying blur of survival.  You need to read these in order.  I really am enjoying the high level of action and danger in these stories.  I feel horrible when people won't just leave them alone.

Let me just mention how much I love the cover. I don't usually pay attention but this one is a real favorite!

<strong>Bitter Falls</strong> starts a bit of a new story arc.   Gwen has a new career as a private investigator.  Sam is struggling a bit in construction work, when he would rather be a pilot.  Both of them are working more farther from home.

At the same time, the small town has turned against them. Not only that but the major crime family feels they are causing too much law enforcement attention to the area and wants them to get out of town.

Gwen ends up with a cold case of a young man going missing.  It's surprising how easily she finds new information. The violence of those who don't want her to pry into their business and those who want her out of town is off the charts.  Luckily, Gwen has some strength and skills. Nothing is easy but she is incredible.  The rest of her family is also experienced. The children, being teens, don't always make the best decisions though.

I enjoyed the ending and where this series seems to be heading. I was also happy that while Gwen may not have been at her new job long, her boss and co-workers really have her back.  I love how Gwen, even in dire circumstances, has compassion for others and moral integrity.  I can't wait to see more of this family.

The Stillhouse Lake series has quickly become one of my most anticipated series with each new release.

It is fast paces, exciting, filled with intrigue and danger, and just down right fun, not to mention at times, extremely emotional.

The things this family goes through, endures, and ultimately triumphs over is just amazing and you would have to have a heart of stone to not fill something for them as they struggle and try to overcome so much, most of which, is not their fault or even from their own actions but rather a stigma of those around them.

This family has already overcome so much and with each new installment, I would like to say has less to overcome but the truth is, these people will always have issues but they never let those around them that want to see them fail, ever win. Instead they grow stronger, as individuals and as a family unit and I love that about this series.

And if the strong family bond wasn't enough to lure you in, then the dark mysteries that somehow find this family surely will.

Filled with danger, a darker look into the sometimes messed up human mind, this series never ceases to keep me on the edge of my seat rapidly flipping the pages until the very satisfying end. And let me tell you this latest installment is intense.

So many emotions will reading this. I had to stop and collect myself numerous times along the way, in fact, this one may have taken me the longest to read because, it really was just that intense.

Cain stuns with her writing in every imaginable way and I couldn't of been happier reading it.

Truly her best yet in the series and I can't recommend it enough.

I love that this author has the ability to keep these stories fresh, interesting and suspenseful. This is the 4th book in the series and although you probably would not have to read the first 3 to be able to follow the story, there are references to things that happened in previous books that may leave a new reader asking questions, so as long as you have read the previous books in this series, you are going to love this book as much if not more than previous books.

In my opinion, the only thing I thought could’ve used a little work was the ending.. it seemed a little rushed, but other than that, from the first words on the page, I was hooked!