Another Gerri Hill classic. Good plot - supernatural edge that kept me guessing along the way. The love story wasnt quite as strong; I didn't warm to the lead characters as much as her other books but still...enjoyable. Too many bird descriptions for my taste

So a small mountain town has a serial killer who every year will kill anywhere from 2-5 children on a known schedule; over fifty children have been killed in a twenty-three year period and the local sheriff's office, police, and FBI have no answers. This is the initial premise of the book and the first of several story leaps one has to accept in order to enjoy this book. Thankfully, one of the characters brings up this somewhat ludicrous idea that 3 children could be killed every year in town and yet 1) people continue to live there 2) people with small children continue to live there and 3) it's on an actual schedule! The other pretty big leap is that rather than a serial killer/procedural story, this actually involves ghosts and supernatural occurrences with the ghosts given the role of revealing major plot points, moving the story action, and impacting the flesh and blood characters. This felt very lazy and much too easy for me. However, despite these bumpy patches, I found that I was actually enjoying the story much more than I thought due to the really great main characters of Mason and Grace. They felt "real" and the relationship they develop is believable. I wish the author had allowed them their relationship without bringing in mystical "soul mate" visions and prophecies by wholly unnecessary ancillary characters to force them together rather than relying on the genuine chemistry she developed between them.
But there IS an interesting story here, with just a bit too much of the supernatural to fully sell me on it. Read this for the characters, though.

This has been a very good paranormal thriller story, this not being my favorite subject I have really enjoyed it.

The story unfolds little by little, revealing the events of the past that are causing the current events. There is a serial killer in a small city, who kidnaps and murders small children and this has been repeating over and over year after year on the same dates for more than twenty years. And the two protagonists are great, powerful and brave.

Mason is a town police officer, she went to LA for a season and returned due to personal circumstances. Now she is faced with the fact that she has lived since childhood, since the first girl killed was a schoolmate. Grace is a psychic who collaborates with the FBI and who arrives to town not very convinced, but somehow pulled by a foreboding about the drama that happens there. And since Grace arrives in town, she also has to carry the apprehension of the people, since years ago another psychic did not leave a very good memory there. Even Mason has her qualms, but she has no choice but to become Grace's escort in her search for answers. And these responses come to her very soon. And Mason starts to believe.

As I have said, Grace and Mason make a wonderful couple, although it does not seem that they are going to be more than just companions in the task they have to face: But there are so many threads from the past and invisible forces that unite them more and more. They are meant to be.

It has been a really exciting read in some places, it may not have been completely resolved, but I think the end result is more than good. Highly recommend.

I've been looking forward to reading this all year and it absolutely did not disappoint. It was thrilling and engaging on all fronts: romance, mystery, characterisation, interactions. Usually when I read romance novels that have some element of a mystery/thriller I would skin through those parts to focus on the romance; but with this boo for the very first time I was equally engaged with the romance and the paranormal mystery. In fact halfway through the book there were moments where I was even more interested in the mystery. However, don't consider this a knock on the romance, I absolutely enjoyed that aspect as well. Mason and Grace's chemistry was believable because it was so gradually and you could see it developing in every interaction. And they interacted a lot! Mason and Grace were just great engaging characters, especially Grace. This might seem silly to but this book was able to present the paranormal in a realistic way. This was mostly done through Grace's psychic 'gift' and how that impacted her life and relationships. In conclusion you absolutely won't regret reading this.

When it comes to all things spooky, Gerri Hill is the queen of lesfic storytellers. She writes about the paranormal with such vision and clarity that it’s virtually impossible not to fall into her stories. She embraces this realm of writing, making the impossible seem possible, and the unbelievable seem believable. Even if you are skeptical of the idea of “spirits” and “talking to the dead,” Hill presents these concepts in such a way that your doubt is quickly forgotten and you are burning through the pages, buying into her story hook, line and sinker.

Every time I pick up a Gerri Hill book, I know this: I am going to be engaged by her main characters. She knows how to develop them; she attends to the finer details, giving her characters dimension and shape. Furthermore, she uses history and backstory to give us characters that are relatable. Something in their pasts always connects us to them. This simple connection makes us care about the people in her stories.

Dr. Grace Jennings, one of the main characters in this story, is a psychic called to the town of Gillette Park to assist the local police with a serial killer. She is a “seer” and a psychic, and she is met with a lot of skepticism and impatience from many of the locals. However, as readers, we are able to push aside our doubt and disbelief because Hill paints her in such a compassionate and caring light. Grace is fascinatingly complex. She possess a tenderness and humanness that is nothing short of endearing.

Mason Cooper, the other main character, is wonderfully depicted as a Gillette Park Sheriff Deputy. She initially presents as quite the nonbeliever of “seers” and psychics. She doesn’t have much faith in Grace, or her abilities. However, she goes along with the FBI and local’s plan to utilize Dr. Jennings, thinking that there is nothing left to lose, as they’ve had no luck in stopping the serial killer for the past 23 years. Why not enlist the help of a psychic? Within just a week’s time, her opinion of Dr. Grace Jennings changes, as do her feelings for her. Grace “sees” Mason and understands her in ways no one else has before her. Grace, though brought to Gillette Park to seek justice for the dead, unwittingly breathes life back into Mason and stirs a deep and powerful love for her.

The story itself is so wonderfully developed and plotted, it most likely will land on 2020’s top lesfic lists. Yeah, it’s that good! The story is rich with layers and subplots, surprises and twists, it is truly and remarkably well written. There are very few writers that are as adept and skilled as Hill when it comes to this genre. She has developed a loyal fan based for a reason: she produces fresh, solid and entertaining reads every time.

I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of this book. It is definitely one of Hill’s most imaginative and engaging novels to date. It is a great combination of supernatural mystery and romance thriller, and it is absolutely phenomenal.

Y’all. It’s day 1 of work from home, and I just got the ok to do BOTH jobs from home. I am over the moon. I mean, depressed and worried about the global pandemic, but so glad to not have to leave this apartment for the forseeable future. I have been slowly catching up on the ARC backlog, and I think working from home will help me get caught up faster. That commute is a beast some days.

Anywho, Gillette Park by Gerri Hill. Hill is one of my favorite authors. I usually prefer my consumption of her work via audio, preferably narrated by Abby Craden, but it was a nice change of pace to sit with this one in print. It took a lot longer to get through, as I don’t have as much time for reading in print, but I kind of liked that about it. It helped the story to unfold over a longer period of time, and considering the years over which the serial killer works, helped with tension building.

For twenty-three years, a serial killer has been wreaking havoc on Gillette Park. Mason Cooper left for college but found herself back years later and gets embroiled in solving the murders. It’s tough when there’s never any evidence and everyone knows about them but doesn’t, and they never talk about them. Not really. Dr. Grace Jennings has a gift. She talks to the dead, and despite skepticism from everyone in the town, she’s brought in as a last resort to try and track down the killer. Years ago, they tried hiring a psychic and it was a disaster. Mason will have to get over her skepticism and work with Grace before the killer strikes again, and if she’s not careful, she’ll fall in love in the process.

This one felt a tad long, but overall, the story developed well. There was enough mystery to keep me interested in the primary storyline. I’m not always a huge fan of thriller/mysteries, but this one also had enough character exploration to keep me with it. The whodunnit isn’t usually enough to make me enjoy a story. Both Mason and Grace have complicated family histories, and neither has the best track record with women. That and Mason’s inability to grasp Grace’s gift (and sometimes to believe it) makes for an interesting match of wits and interests.

The romance builds well and often takes a back seat to character development and plot, which I do enjoy here and there. Like, sometimes I just want sappy, unbelievable, steamy stories, but sometimes I like a little bit of plot and side characters with my main dish of romance. This one balanced them pretty well. I was a bit anxious for the story to wrap up by the end, but for the most part, its paced well. It’s definitely a good pick for the beach this summer, or you know, this spring while you’re locked up in your house with nowhere to go, too. It’s out now, so if you’re a Gerri Hill fan, don’t sleep on this one.

Solitary lifestyle, empty heart, caring, good person, and secrets are just some of the words describing Deputy Mason Cooper and Dr. Grace Jennings. I am a Gerri Hill fan. Although I enjoy a good mystery, I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to being scared or frightened. As this story unfolds, I am pulled into finding out who the heck is committing these horrendous crimes. The town is desperate to get rid of this yearly crime spree and decides to hire Dr. Jennings, psychic. Grace carries this gift which she struggles with professionally and personally. Mason returns to her home town after an embarrassing break-up with her girlfriend and is determined to help end these murders. What makes this such a good read is the back story of the characters, the self-talk, secondary characters (seen and unseen) and the description of the surroundings. Well done. I was scared some but not enough to hide under the covers.

Well written mystery from a veteran lesfic writer kept me on the edge of my seat. The mystery is revealed layer by painstaking layer with help from FBI contracted psychic Grace. If you can’t suspend disbelief about psychics then turn around and go back. Moving forward, I absolutely got sucked in to this story that ties fate and the paranormal to solving one of the most gruesome and puzzling serial killers. Grace and Mason don’t know just how much they are tied to the fate of catching the serial killer but with some help from unusual friends and allies they find peace for the small mountain town and each other. Great story I won’t soon forget

If you like Ms Hill’s books knowing she can and does mix some rather spooky twists to her stories, you will love this one.
Dr. Grace Jennings has no close ties. Her mother and step-father were gleeful when it was time for Grace to leave for college, all the while thinking that not only was it good for them but for Grace's three younger brothers and sister. She scared them with her special gift. It’s not her fault that she can communicate with the dead, she just does, which used to scare her but seeing as she couldn’t change she learned how to accept her gift and try to make the best of it. She tries teaching, something she thought she would enjoy but that turns into a way to support herself. She offered her talents to the FBI and other police forces but even they treated her like a freak, especially when she couldn’t help them find the answers to why and how someone died. And she often did find the answers but not in their estimation fast enough. Over time she self isolates herself to try and protect herself. But even though they didn’t really believe her, sometimes she was the only one to turn to when they themselves didn’t have a clue.
Mason Cooper grew up in Gillette Park raised mainly by her uncle and aunt. Her mother blamed Mason because her husband, Mason’s father left them when Mason was still quite young. So her mother decides she can find the answers in the bottom of a bottle leaving Mason to look after not only herself but as happens in many cases Mason was left to look after her mother also. When she finally graduates she leaves, thinking she would never return but something keeps pulling her back to her childhood home. Only this time she returns as a trained police officer. Her uncle, Chief of Police Cooper hires her, so here she is, waiting for something she can’t even identify.
For twenty plus years someone has been killing three or as many as five children a year and they have never been caught. The killings aways started in May, April and ended in November, each and every year. The people of Gillette Park, while not really accepting what was happening, didn't have a clue as to how they were going to stop the killer. So when the FBI offered to bring in a psychic, someone they had used in the past themselves, it was still a tough sell for the local law enforcement to accept the help. But Dr. Grace Jennings could be what they need. Of course Mason is the one chosen to be her guide, bringing the two women together seems to be their destiny.
Excellent read. Now I’m not much for the spooky but Ms Hill has a way of writing that makes it seem almost normal. Great romantic story with many twists and turns as Mason and Grace try to stop the killings and bring the killer to justice. Very, very good read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella Books

I was warned that this might be a difficult book to read, because I have 0 tolerance for kids getting hurt. I was warned not to read this at night.
But holy carp cakes, once I started, it was really hard to put it down! I read while I made the dog's food. I read in the bathroom. I read walking down the hall. You get the idea...
I read this book in two sittings.

It is a PHENOMENAL book! I wish I could give this more than five stars.

I've read a few of Gerri Hill's books by now, so I feel completely qualified in saying this is her best book. Ever.

Yes, there is a paranormal element, and a love story, and conflict, and danger.
And it's all worth it.

I am so lucky to be granted an ARC by the publisher, and NetGalley.
Thank you Gerri Hill for writing a brilliant masterpiece!

Every year, for the past 23 years, several children have gone missing and end up dead. The small town of Gillette Park holds their breath May through October each year, wondering who will be next. They've never gotten close to catching the invisible threat. This year, they've decided to hire psychic Grace Jennings in a desperate last chance to catch the killer. Mason returned several years earlier to the town where she grew up to work with the small police force. Now, she's put in charge of working with Grace, who she believes can only be a phoney. But the closer Grace gets to uncovering the truth, the more Mason is witness to inexplicable truths. Can Grace free the town from the evil within?

You just can't go wrong with Gerri Hill! I like her basic romances, but I find the mysteries always have something special going for them and this was another excellent mystery! I don't know how she weaves in all the details, it's amazing. I was as skeptical as the people of Gillette Park about reading about a psychic, but holy moly did it ever work! I loved all the characters in this book, and there were a lot, but Gerri Hill always has a purpose for every person and they add to a wonderfully woven story. The setting was beautiful, I could feel the cold water and practically smell the fresh, clean air. the romance side of things was a little more in the background, and definitely a slow burn. I think the story was beautifully balanced between mystery and romance, this earthly plane and another world. I highly recommend this very unique and wonderfully written story.

I will definitely be getting my hands on a paperback copy soon.


I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

And another top rate story from Ms. Hill. This book is in the same genre as Keepers of the Cave and Weeping Walls (both I highly recommend as well). It has real murderers but with a paranormal twist, which I wasn't sure I liked this kind of story but turns out I do if it is coming from Ms Hill!

Gillette Park takes us out to West where we meet come to a town that has 3 murders per year, all around the same time for over 20 years. The town Sheriff's office and Police Department, as well as the FBI have been trying to solve for so long that they have gotten desperate. That is where Dr. Grace Jennings comes in, a psychic the FBI has used in the past. Grace is paired with the town deputy Mason Cooper, but Mason doesn't believe in any of Grace's 'gifts', that is until she starts to see things for her self while with Grace.

The story is so well written, I feel like I am right there with Grace and Mason as Grace starts to hear and see things, at times I even got a few goosebumps myself! The story is believable in the sense you have to believe in the after world, good and evil, and Ms. Hill's ability to spin a tail just makes you want to keep on reading. I read the whole book in one sitting.

I fell in love with both Grace and Mason, and Ms Hill gives such great detail of their backstories you can fully understand why they are they way they are.

As I said from the start if you like the 2 books I mentioned above, you are going to love this one as well. I cannot wait for Ms. Hill's next story.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-Loved it, was chilled by it

This book was awesome! Lots of action, drama and paranormal activity. Great characters and descriptive scenery really brought this book to life. I guarantee I'll never look at birds the same way again. This author is new to me so I'll be catching up on her books at break neck speed. This is a highly recommend! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the story.

I love Geri Hill's writing and this latest book doesn't disappoint.

This is a fast paced, tense mystery that keeps you guessing until the last chapter.

The story is action packed and seems to span weeks not days.

Mason Cooper is a small town deputy coasting through life until a serial killer resurfaces. Mason us willing to do anything to stop the murder spree - even if it means bringing in a psychic.

Grace has a gift, she talks with dead people and has visions. She is willing to go to any length to stop a serial killer - even if it means acting as bait to free the souls of the victims.

I highly recommend this book and appreciate Netgalley and Bells Books allowing me to read it.

Whoa!! Damn that was such a good read! If you know me by now I’m a person that writes reviews the second I’m done with the book because I always write how I feel about the book vs giving a review on the story itself ..
This read was BRILLIANT! I did however have to read it in the mornings never at night because I’m scared of my shadow and this has some paranormal/ghosts/thriller and mystery elements that freaked me out but so nicely :)
Gerri Hill in my humble opinion rarely goes wrong, but I have to say on this one specifically she outdid herself! Her writing is soooo good.. the way she describes the settings was unbelievable.. scary and freaky but yet so nicely done..
I loved the mystery and I was so entertained and and loved the characters.. Grace the psychic and Mason the deputy were very interesting characters.. I mean this book just ticked all the right boxes, entertained me from beginning to end.. The romance was very slow burn though..

I highly recommend this book to everyone and my rating is a solid 5!
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”

Gerri Hill is one of the more prolific writers in lesfic. She rarely dips her toes into the paranormal romance/ urban fantasy genre, but when she does, it is pretty much always a treat. This is a paranormal romance that has a heavy dose of horror, and I enjoy it. There's some great balance between the creepier aspects of the plot, and the more traditional romantic suspense side of it.

We're taken to the town of Gillette Park, Colorado, where a mysterious serial killer has plagued the townsfolk for the past twenty years. Mason was born and raised in the area, and got out of town right after one of her schoolmates was captured. She's now a sheriff's deputy on a task force with Dr. Grace Jennings, a psychic hired by the town to hopefully solve the case. As the two learn to trust each other, they begin to understand that the force behind the murders may not even be a human, and it wants Grace gone.

There's a lot of really good stuff here, especially since there's little to no clues for the reader to follow with the leads as they slowly uncover the clues to the murders in the town. It brings a lot of tension that is amplified by the more horror based stuff that pops up more and more frequently as the plot moves along. It also helps that Mason and Grace are extremely compatible people. Grace's abilities frighten Mason a little bit at the beginning, but they are ultimately loners who keep everyone at arm's length. Because of that they can understand each other, and are able to work together even as stuff gets weird.

Gerri Hill fans will enjoy this, but I do think that horror fans or paranormal romance fans will also enjoy this outing as well. There are some pretty tough scenes, and all the victims in the book are under 19 years old, so it might be uncomfortable for some. But I enjoyed getting creeped out and watching the skeptic and psychic fall for each other.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow this book! It was a lot for sure. I’m still reeling from the rush if it all. Gerri Hill has written another action packed thriller. I could not put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. This book is not for everyone as it touches on some hard to read topics, and for me it was a lot, but I needed to finish it. The writing is excellent and the characters engaging. I found Grace and Faith to be amazing as well as Mason and Lucy. Wow!

Stellar book!

I haven't read a ton of Gerri Hill books, but this is the best one that I have read.

Mason is a deputy in a small mountain town in Colorado, Gillette Park. The town has a 20+ history of 3-5 children per year going missing and then later showing up dead. Her uncle is the Sheriff. She convinces him, as a last ditch effort, to hire a psychic to help solve this long time mystery that continues to plague it's residents.

Grace has been burdened with psychic gifts. She has lived a mostly solitary life because nobody can understand her abilities. She is called to Gillette to help find the serial killer that has evaded detection for over two decades.

First of all, I never wanted to stop reading this. It was written so well that there was some new event or clue that would keep me intrigued and consuming. Second, I loved the main characters. Both Mason and Grace were realistic characters with fractured pasts. Their histories play a part in who they are and grow to become throughout the book. Third, it had a supernatural spin that felt believable to me because of the story behind it.

I'm not sure why I decided to number things in that previous paragraph. I suppose it is my attempt at carefully organizing thoughts to match the carefully crafted sequence of events that made up this story.

The abductions and deaths were creepy and sometimes difficult to read about. But that is to be expected in a book about a serial killer. I had a lot of different emotions while reading this. I was intrigued and tried to solve the crimes along with Mason and Grace. Disturbed and sad as details of the abductions were revealed. Giddy for them to develop an attraction and slowly witness them develop feelings for one another. Spooked out by several encounters they have with things outside their current realm. And scared for the climatic ending that you know we were building toward.

I could have read this book forever.

I recommend this to people who like to read slow burn romance, crime solving, mystery, suspense, supernatural, psychics, small towns, nature, and birds.

With Gilette Park, Gerri Hill is taking the dark route for sure. With themes as ghosts, an evil presence lurking, and the kidnapping and killing of children, there is plenty to sink your teeth into. But even though the subject matter is pretty menacing, Hill kept it from tipping over the edge.

Both main characters come with their baggage. Mason Cooper left Gilette Park right after school to live, love, and work in LA but was inexplicably drawn back. Now she’s just coasting through life, not really living it. Like she is waiting for something or someone to change it all around.

Dr. Grace Jennings has a gift of seeing (and hearing) the dead that results in her failing to form connections with the living. They all think her a freak. As an FBI liaison she comes to Gilette Park to assist in putting a stop to the serial killing that has been going on for over twenty-three years. It’s a last ditch offer really. The people of this little town don’t put their trust in psychics and the local cops she has to work with are no different. It’s like they have come to accept the inevitable. Mason gets the reluctant task in assisting Grace.

The mystery was engrossing, with plenty of ghostly interactions and creepy goings on.
I felt the sting was taken out of the final confrontation because the reader is in the know of certain prophetic dreams and visions both Grace and Mason have during the story. I would have preferred to know less. I was hoping for a bit more spark between the soul mates. The slow burn (with Mason having to do a 180 in her assessment of Grace) did not work in their favor I guess.

f/f slow burn, somewhat explicit towards the end.

Themes: Rocky Mountains, FBI liaison, I see dead people, I’m a freak, serial killer, something dark lurks in the woods, I hated that bird, daddy issues, mommy issues, many ghost convos, had expected a bit more drama with the villain.

4.4 Stars

* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

There is truly no other writer like Gerri Hill. A handful of authors have written across genres, but none as masterfully. I didn't bother reading the blurb so when I started reading I realized Gillette Park would have some paranormal touches. I'm not normally a fan of paranormal, but leave it to Gerri Hill to change my mind. She made every aspect of the story seem plausible, and it was a joy to follow Mason's journey as she became a believer.

This is a long book, but it never dragged and there were no parts that could have been cut. There's a lot going on, from family drama to Gillette Park history, and every single storyline was wrapped up perfectly. Gillette Park is a masterpiece.