Another new-to-me author and series - and after finishing this one, I'm wishing I'd started earlier. In part, that comes amid the sad knowledge that the author passed away from a particularly aggressive form of cancer in November 2020 so this, the fifth, is her last.

There are two "stars" of this show: Gwen Proctor, a private investigator and the ex-wife of a now-dead serial killer, and Kezia Claremont, a local detective and Gwen's good friend who knows Gwen (not her original name) had nothing to do with her ex-husband's penchant for murder. Both women must deal with adversity - Gwen because many people still believe she helped her ex do his dirty work, and Kezia because she's relatively young and Black in a small Southern community near Knoxville, Tennessee, that isn't exactly welcoming to people of color.

As this one opens, Gwen gets a call from Kezia, who's at the scene of a crime near Stillhouse Lake (where Gwen and her ex once lived). A car has been found half-buried in the lake, with two young girls secured in the back seat. It's a grizzly sight, to be sure, and questions arise immediately as to the whereabouts of the girls' mother, who's apparently on the lam.

Around the same time, though, Gwen's past begins to haunt her - or perhaps more accurately, taunt her. She's never felt free from the "hold" her ex-husband had on her while they were together - even though he's quite dead. Now, his presence once again begins to loom large in her family's life, frightening and threatening her partner, Sam, a flight instructor who has adopted both of Gwen's now mostly-grown children, as well as Gwen and the kids.

Told through alternating viewpoints of Gwen, Kezia and Sam, events - which include more murders, more threats and life-threatening situations - lead to an exciting end that yes, kept me on the edge of my seat. And for the record, I had no trouble following this one even though I had not read any of the previous four books in the series.

In short, well done - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. R.I.P., Ms. Caine.

I am very sad that this will be our last book featuring Gewn Proctor. However, I was also disappointed, when after she became a PI, that the formula didn’t shift. I was ready for something new, her family not being in danger fir once, cases that weren’t personal. I also feel li,e most of this book was a recap of the first four with a lot of filler. Still sad the series is over though.

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series and have since the beginning wished that it would get the kind of success others do, some less deservedly slow. Great characters - especially the strong female characters, Gwen obviously, but Lanny and Vee have really grown on me as they too have grown. Always engaging from start to finish, the ride never stops, the storyline consistently engaging, the kind that makes for a one sitting read. The latest and final installment didn't let me down and I'm saddened that it's the final book in the series, especially because of the why. Like female driven mysteries & thrillers, give it a try.

After I finished the fourth book in this series, Bitter Falls, I commented that the author seemed to be stretching credibility, which made that book suffer in comparison with the first three. It is even more true with this final book.

Yes, I know the author passed away before the book's publication and it seems mean-spirited not to gush, but I'm thinking of the potential readers out there who may have a limited book budget. My advice is, spend your money wisely and buy the first three installments in this series. They are fresher and more plausible, if that matters to you. My Inner Editor was griping at me all the way through.

Was glad to see the characters settled in their new lives, after all they have been through in the series: Gwen, Lanny and Connor with Sam; Kezia and her baby-to-be with Javier. I really like conspiracy fiction, but I guess the law of diminishing returns applies here, too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance readers copy.

It is been a long time since I've been so excited about a series. I've been meaning to read Rachel Caine for some time as I saw nothing but excellent reviews for the beginning of this series, Stillhouse Lake. So I jumped at the chance to read this one which is fifth in that series. I will now definitely be reading the other four books and I was so excited to discover such great new reads. Then I got to the authors notes at the end of the book, where Rachel Caine reveals she was dealing with a deadly cancer, outcome uncertain. With dread, I googled her name and found she passed away on November 1st from the cancer. RIP, Rachel Caine, you are such a talented author and died much too soon.

But now for the book. If you haven't started this series, then do what I didn't do, start at the beginning and make your way towards Heartbreak Bay. These books were like jumping on a freight train and you don't want to blink because you might miss something. It has compelling characters you care about, non-stop action, convoluted but believable plots, and a very evil bad guy. I don't want to get into the particulars of the story line, but as a lover of suspense thrillers, I was blown away by this story and tore through it. I now look forward to going back to read the rest of the series.

Thank you NetGalley, and the publisher for giving me this opportunity. I highly recommend this book.

The fifth in a series about the ex-wife of a now dead serial killer who finds herself tangled up in a new hard-to-believe number of mysterious deaths that suggest, yes, another serial killer. I am very keen on the publisher of this book and so I try to read authors that I haven’t read before, in this case, Rachel Caine. HEARTBREAK BAY sounded as though it might be a fascinating thriller but the repetition of serial killers for key characters is a plot point I have trouble with. There just aren’t that many serial killers in the U.S. And why should they all flock to these two women? So, this book would be better suited to readers who are devoted to this series. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

“...Life is so terribly fragile, and tragedy so unspeakably final.”*

HEARTBREAK BAY is a heartbreaking book not only because of crime that is its focus, which involves the drowning deaths of two small children. The author passed away earlier this year after a battle with a rare cancer. Caine left behind a legacy of amazing books and heartbroken fans. I’m a huge fan of her Weather Warden urban fantasy series that released right around my birthday, like a special gift. Caine’s other story worlds and characters are no less amazing. This particular series follows the family of a serial killer, and shows how they pay over and over for his sins even though they themselves are victims.

HEARTBREAK BAY is the fifth book in this series. Each installment can easily be read out of order. Caine nicely slips in all the necessary details to bring the reader up to speed. Each book in the series explores different character’s points of view, yet the focal character is always Gwen Proctor aka Gina Royal, the ex-wife of serial killer Melvin Royal. In this installment, as well as Gwen, her partner Sam’s and dear friend Kezia’s POVs are provided. The prologue includes the point of view of an unknown female who is key to the case Kezia investigates.

Throughout the series, Gwen must protect herself and her children from vigilante groups who harass them due to their connection to her serial killer ex. These groups have become the stereotypical villagers with torches who hunt Frankenstein’s monster instead of its creator. Often the members are manipulated by true predators who hide in plain sight and feed off the righteous anger of the mob. Her partner Sam used to belong to one of the groups, because his sister was murdered by Melvin. This is an excellent example of Caine’s creative mastery. She builds in tension through relationships. This is also evident in how Gwen is vilified because of her marriage to Melvin. She constantly must fight the stigma and convince people she did not know of Melvin’s murders, did not assist him, and was herself a victim.

Gwen has become a private investigator who Kezia asks to assist her in finding the murderer of the drowned children. Kezia is a fascinating character, a strong woman, and a brilliant detective. My favorite thing about this installment is getting to know her better, having her take a bigger role in the story, and getting her point of view. Kezia deserves her own series. That’s how amazing Caine is at characterization.

There’s plenty of action in this installment as Gwen and Kezia attack the case from different angles, and a new troll breaks from the vigilante group to threaten Gwen and her family.

I’m so sad that HEARTBREAK BAY is Caine’s last book, but I am so grateful for the works she’s written and the amazing stories and characters she created. Caine’s message at the end of the book, “choose kindness,” speaks volumes about her as a person. Rest In Peace, Rachel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an Advance Reader Copy.

*Please note that my review is based on uncorrected text.

Gwen and her partner Sam have moved with her two boys, she's become a PI and it looks like life is good. Then her friend Kezia, a detective, pulls her into a tragic case involving the death of two kids whose mother may have killed them. It's told from the alternating POVs of Gwen, Sam, and Kezia, which works well in this case, especially as they all try to cope with what is an increasingly crazy case. Someone is threatening Gwen and her family - this is nothing new given her history (which is explained only in brief ) but she's had enough. The plot gets a little over the top but the characters are good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'll miss Caine's storytelling.

Heartbreak Bay is the final book in the Stillman Lake series by Rachel Caine. Heartbreak Bay is a stand alone story. True to form Ms Caine keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and turning pages. Ms Caine brings the reader to the scenes in her stories as if they were a fly on the wall watching the action. I'm really sad to see the end of this series and sadder still because of the reason. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an early copy to review.

Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine is the 5th book of a series about Gwen Proctor, ex-wife of a serial killer, and her family trying to rebuild a normal life after.

To be honest, when I saw this book, my first thought was, “Another one?” I thought the the third book was the last of the series but then the fourth book came out and I thought that was the last one. Anyways, after reading the fourth book of the series I was getting tired of the repetition of Gwen constantly stumbling into trouble and her family on the run. The plot, while different, was getting a bit repetitive in a way. The fourth book was probably my least favorite of the series. So I wasn’t as thrilled as I’d wanted to be when I started the fifth book and I didn’t go in with much expectation.

But wow, I have to say Caine really put her all into this fifth (and last) book. It gave me the same chills I had when I read the very first book that started this series, Stillhouse Lake. It reminded me of why I keep reading these books — action packed, fast paced, thrilling, and intense.

If you’re like me and getting tired of this series, I highly recommend giving this latest book a try first — it does not disappoint.

Thank you to Netgalley, author Rachel Caine, and publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Note: Rachel Caine passed away in late 2020 before the release of this book. This is probably the last book of the series. Thank you Rachel for gifting us readers such a great series.

A fast paced locomotive that gave me the chills and had me looking over my shoulder. A true psychological thriller with creepiness abound. Through it all there is strength and hope as Gwen and Sam live their lives and deal with the chaos of their past as well as day to day. Detective Keiza and her tenacity is like the energizer bunny that keeps on going and going. I have not read the previous books in this series and I was not lost. I will say I pretty much figured out who it was only because of the out of the blue. There are still more surprises, twists and mind blowing scenes. How about that obituary? Can you imagine that happening to you? A well crafted full throttle suspense. It is fitting that Heartbreak Bay series ends here with the passing of the this talented author and from all accounts a beautiful human being. Thank you for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the fifth book in the Stillhouse Lake series and I had not read any of the previous books. Do I wish I had? Yes, because I felt like I was missing a lot of things when it came to Gwen’s past, as well as Sam’s. I don’t think it really took away from my overall enjoyment of the story, but I do think it would have been beneficial to have read the other stories first.

I enjoy a good mystery and suspense book, and this fits the bill. It kept me guessing about who was involved in not only threatening Gwen and her family, but who was responsible for the murder of the two little girls. It’s a fast-paced story that drew me in from the beginning and kept my attention to the end. I enjoyed that the book is not only told from Gwen’s point of view, but from Sam’s and Kezia’s as well, so readers get to see the story unfold from different perspectives.

I will definitely be going back to read the other books in the series. I was sad to hear of the author’s passing, as the world has lost a true talent.

The Stillwater series newest addition is extremely gripping & has all the elements you'd find in a great psychological thriller. I found it very hard to put down this book & just loved the reading it. Looking back, every book in the series has been so fantastic! Heartbreak Bay too felt like an incredible read! Its full of chills & twists that left me furiously turning those pages. I love each character in this series & book. The plot was compelling & oh-so twisted!

Heartbreak Bay was one of the first books I've read this year. Knowing the standard of books that Rachel has always delivered, I wanted to start my year with one of her books. It was extremely saddening late last year to learn about the passing away of the incredibly talented Rachel. I've always been a big fan of the Stillwater series & found every single book surpassing each in being the absolute best. Over the years & months following Gwen's story, Ive come to love her & her family. Her struggles seemed real & the plot always full of thrill. I would check back on the website to see news about the new addition & when it would be out. I remember the excitement of having found it available on NetGalley & hitting the request button without worrying about my tbr pile. I'm not sure what the future looks like for Gwen but this was great while this lasted!

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer & Rachel Caine for this arc!
RIP dear Rachel!

I think this one ended up being my favorite of the series. I loved that Kezia got a starring role in this one. I always liked her and missed her when she wasn’t involved in some of the other books. Plus this story was so intriguing, and the killer wasn’t like anything I had come across before. Quite the page turner and really left me breathless at times!

Gwen has gone through so much in her life. It always seems to be that just when things start to settle down, some one is out to get her and her family once again. You just feel so sorry for them all. I loved that she has shown so much growth through out the books too. In this one she is just starting to trust that her kids will be okay without her as well. Plus she knows that if something should happen to her that Sam will be there for them.

Kezia’s voice was such a nice addition to the narration. She is a detective in the town where Gwen and her family settled in the first book, and for most of the series she was always in the background, providing support when needed and police protection too. But I always knew there was way more to her than we were getting. She is just as fierce and protective of the ones she loves. She is also a very good and dedicated detective. She does like to take chances and risks though, just like Gwen. They actually made a very good team.

The plot of this story was fantastic. The killer they were after was amazingly brilliant, and some of the things he did and his justification of it was so evil, but you could get the process of how he got there. The fast pacing and the twists and turns of the story are nicely done, and it really is a hard book to stop reading. The ending did feel a little bit rushed, and I think I would have liked a better epilogue, but that is really my only complaint.

I am sad that this is the last book, not only of this series but from this author. For those of you who may not know, Rachel Caine lost her fight with cancer last fall. She and the books she never got to write will be missed.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant captivating book

where to start....

a callout in the early hours of the morning, gwen joins her friend at a crime scene, a bad one...a car is submerged in water and there are bodies...two of them...twin baby girls...

where is the mother? is she a victim or is she the perp?

and right from the start this book just hits you left right and centre...

the characters are easy to follow...
gwen and her two children who are trying to survive their history
and then theres gwens partner who was once gunning for gwen as an accomplice to her husbands murderous way

this book is fast paced and has action all the way right to the very end....

but its also bittersweet as the author died last year before this book has been published but she left a forwarding note at the end which will bring a tear to your eye...

but what a legacy this author has left for her family and her many faithful readers...now i have a backload of reading to catch up with all that this author wrote..

Rachel Caine has done it again! Heartbreak Bay is a solid, well-written thriller from start to finish. If you haven't yet started this series, do yourself a favor and go read Stillhouse Lake immediately. And if you're already a fan, this is an excellent addition/ending to the series. Truly cannot recommend this series enough!

“Choose Kindness”

Heartbreak Bay is a suspenseful thriller about a deranged serial killer who is playing a sick and twisted game.

Book #5 in the Stillhouse Lake series finds Gwen and Sam trying to create a “normal” life for Lanny and Connor. But of course, their lives don't stay normal for long, as they soon become the targets of a serial killer.

Narrated by Kezia, Sam, and Gwen, I appreciated the lack of Lanny and Conner’s voices. I enjoyed Kezia playing a larger role and learning more about her character. Gwen has come pretty far since book one, but she is still haunted by her former serial killer husband’s voice; however, Melvin’s pull seems to be diminishing its hold.

While this is a suspenseful and tense read, it doesn’t feel that way in the beginning. I was a little bored until smaller pieces of the plot came together, and I finally saw the bigger picture of what was going on. There were times when I had to suspend my disbelief, especially in the last 20%. However, these moments did not diminish my enjoyment of this book.

Ultimately, this is a book about choices. It ends on a strong note and sets the stage for Sam, Gwen, Lanny, and Connor to move on from Melvin’s legacy.

I am not sure if we will see these characters again, as Rachel Caine passed away in early November. Her author's note broke my heart, but her final words will stay with me.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like I have been on an incredible journey with Gwen, her kids, Sam, Kezia and Javier. This has been a fantastic series from the start with Heartbreak Bay being my favorite. Gwen is a hard character but it really works well for her. The author really gave life to each and every person in her books. This series is definitely one of my all-time favorites.

Life for Gwen Proctor hasn't been easy for a while.
Since her former husband was found to be a serial killer, most people tend to believe she was involved, and haven't given her a moment's rest. As I've said in previous reviews of this series, I do not know how she hasn't had a complete mental breakdown. But Gwen is a fighter, and she also is intent on making up for the wrongs her husband committed. So while it likely would be best for Gwen and her family to lay low, she is brought into another case after two young girls are found in a lake.

This story echoes several of the other books in the series, as Gwen's involvement put her in the crosshairs of the perpetrator. Like I said, lying low would have been safer. However, as Gwen gets involved with her friend, Detective Kezia Claremont, it becomes clear that the crimes are larger than the tragic death of two girls. And the killer sets off a series of mind games to manipulate Gwen into putting herself at risk to save those she loves.

While this book had some of the annoying secrets between the Proctor family, which always seemed to backfire in a big way, this book showed true growth for the whole family. Gwen put more trust in her kids, and as a result, they wanted to do more to help her. Despite everything this family has been through, it is clear they all love one another.

As for catching the killer, as elaborate as his plans were, Gwen and Kezia handled it better than I would have expected. Maybe all those years dealing with psychopaths sharpened their skills. Although I felt the end was a bit rushed and anti-climactic, it was nice to see things come to a conclusion instead of a cliffhanger.

Given the tragic death of the author before this book was released, reading this story was a bit emotional. Saying goodbye for more than one reason. I've enjoyed this series and watching this family fight for their survival time and time again. True warriors to the end!

I recently stumbled across The Stillhouse Lake series and I am so thankful to Thomas and Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read Heartbreak Bay for my honest review! I really loved this series and this final installment. I am so saddened to hear about the passing of this author. She had immense talent and the world will miss her greatly. Gwen is a strong protagonist and I am always rooting for her, She is fiercely protecting her children and will stop at nothing to keep them safe. Gwen has grown so much since her first debut as Gina. She knows her worth and knows how to take care of herself. I was glad to see that Kenzia had a larger role and I enjoyed learning more about her character. I think this book was a very well written, character driven plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. I appreciate the ride.