This is the first book I've read of Rachel Caine and I was not disappointed! I enjoyed it as a standalone even though it's #5 in a series.

What a story full of twists and turns! I loved Gwen's friend, Kezia.

So sad this was her last book. Her fans’ love for her writing prompted me to read it. If you love thrillers, you'll love this!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions in this review are my own.

This is the 5th and final book of this series. If I’m being honest I think it’s my favorite. You see Gwen grow, the kids and Sam. I feel like in the end of this series I lost a piece of me. Like a part of my family is gone.

This book was fast paced and twisty turny from the beginning. I didn’t figure out the bad guy until it was spelled out for me. Such an incredible ending to a fantastic series.

This one is worth reading all 4 previous books just to read the finale. Well done as always.

This was not my favorite of the series, however it was still a good thriller. Will miss reading Rachel's work in the future.

Oh my goodness, this book was seriously amazing!!! You will 100% love every last word.. with that in mind, you must be patient and allow the story to come together, then soon enough, all the tension and thrill your use to creeps in and your reading as quickly as you can to see what happens next

5 stars
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an ARC!

As always Ms Caine does NOT disappoint!

Heartbreak Bay is the 5th book in the Stillhouse Lake series. And I have to say I think this is my favorite series of all time!

We find Gwen and family finally settling into a new, almost normal life, when the threats start. How far is Gwen willing to go to save her family?

I won't lie, this book is a little brutal but well worth the read. If you haven't read the complete series you are missing out.

Heartbreak Bay is the fifth, and final, novel in Rachel Caine's Stillhouse Lake series. This is a novel that I was admittedly a little hesitant to pick up, because I wasn't ready to say goodbye. Not to the series, and not to the author. Thank you netgalley for my complimentary copy of this book.

When I first picked up the Stillhouse Lake series, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was familiar with Rachel Caine's previous work, and what I had read was always adult fantasy, not thriller. Thrillers are a different breed in the publishing world. In my opinion, they're not as easy to write as, say, a vampire story, where just about everything is up to the author's imagination. You can make the rules, because in real life, vampires don't exist. In a thriller, things need to make sense. 1 + 1 must equal 2, and there must be enough red herrings for the reader to be pleasantly surprised by the twist ending. That's what makes them so difficult. Too often are we disappointed in thrillers because we see the ending coming from page one. Thankfully, Caine is able to craft a truly unputdownable story. Heartbreak Bay is a fitting title for the conclusion, as this is rather bittersweet. The author managed to tell a great whodunit mystery, while also giving each character a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this series, but start with book one, Stillhouse Lake.

Great thriller which kept me turning the pages well into the night. Great characters and plot. Highly recommend to others!!

I apologize in saying that I did not realize this was part of a series. I thought I would pick up this series and would be able to give this the review it deserves. However, as 2022 starts, I realize that would not be happening. My apologies to both Netgalley and the publisher for this.

3.5 ⭐

✏️ “…everything is a choice. And everything we do will have consequences.”
~ Rachel Caine, Heartbreak Bay
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Synopsis (Goodreads):
They’re hunting a killer so silent, so invisible, that his unspeakable crimes are the only proof he exists.

A car submerged in a remote pond. The bodies of two girls strapped into their seats. The mystery of their mother, vanished without a trace, leads Gwen Proctor and Kezia Claremont into dangerous territory.

On the surface, Gwen’s life is good—two children approaching adulthood, a committed partner, and a harrowing past dead and gone. But that past is attracting the attention of someone invisible…and unstoppable. Trouble’s just beginning. So is the body count in this backwoods Tennessee town.

As threats mount and Gwen’s hunted by an enemy who pulls all the strings, Kezia has her back. But working to solve these vicious and unreasonable crimes will expose them both to a killer they can’t for the life of them see coming.
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A solid read. This is the fifth instalment of the Stillhouse Lake series, yet it can be read as a stand-alone. It makes references to events in the previous books but not to the point where it detracts from the enjoyment of the story if you haven’t read them. However, to truly understand the development of the characters and their relationship, reading the earlier novels would be advisable. The story is told from multiple points of view – Gwen, Kezia and Sam (Gwen’s common-law spouse) as they hunt a serial killer. Both Gwen and Kezia are two strong female protagonists who must make some difficult decisions throughout while simultaneously trying to keep their loved ones safe. Although for me there were no major jaw-dropping twists, the story kept me engaged and because of this it was a quick read. The pacing was good, and this is definitely a story to curl up and enjoy with a mystery feel. If you like twisted psychological thrillers, check this out.
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Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

This was a bittersweet conclusion to the series, as Rachel Caine passed away at the end of 2020.

Plot wise, I liked that this had a bit more whodunnit mystery compared to its predecessor. Gwen was of course still very protective of her kids (to the point of nauseating, not gonna lie), and the additional point of view from Kezia made an interesting one.

Rachel Caine’s Author’s Note at the end of the book made me a bit teary
“I don’t know if this is my last book.
I don’t know if I’ll make it to the light.
But like Gwen, I am on the path. I am walking.
Like Gwen, I have enough love because of people like you, who’ve made it possible for me to be here to tell this story.
If this is the last of Gwen’s story, then I hope you feel it was worthwhile. I do. I wish you well with all my heart. Choose kindness.”

#weloverachelcaine

Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine is the 5th and final book to the Stillhouse Lake series. Gwen is finally able to set roots down and is building a great life with a man she loves and her two children. Kezia calls her in to help on a strong case where they pulled a car from a lake to find that two little girls are still strapped into their car seats. The two women work together to find out what happened. This catches the eye of someone with a high body count. Will Gwen be able to survive this monster?

I have read all of the Stillhouse Lake books and have enjoyed Rachel Caine’s writing as well as character development. I liked that we saw a few more perspectives in this book. It was a great way to switch things up as well as see how the impact of the story has grown. If you have not read the series, I highly recommend doing so.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

#HeartbreakBay #NetGalley

Firstly, I'd like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC of this book for an honest review.

Starting and finishing this book was emotional for me. Knowing this was Rachel Caine's last book made it all the more special. The author note at the end of the book was heartbreaking and made me cry. The crime Gwen was investigating in this book was brutal. I feel like Caine upped the crime and violence in this book and I loved it! In the most normal way possible. I will miss beginning a new adventure with Gwen and her family. I enjoyed that Kezia got a POV role in this book and it was nice to be able to get to know her more.

The 'bad guy' for want of a better word, was written well and a complete psycho. This series are some of the best thrillers I have ever read. If you listen to any of my recommendations then this is the one to listen to! Rachel Caine is such a great writer and I will definitely be looking at the other books she has written. Every chapter seems to have action and there is no time to rest when reading these books. A magnificent writer that will be truly missed.

I savored this book because I didn’t want it to be over. Everything is over and it makes me so sad! This series is one of my faves and I’ll recommend it to everyone. RIP Rachel. Thank you for your words

This is part of a series based on Gwen but can also stand alone. This book hooks the reader from the first chapter and takes them on a rollercoaster ride as more the reader gets into the chapters the more confused the reader is trying to determine the root of the mystery and who is behind it. The book discusses Gwen who is the ex-wife of a serial killer who is trying to build a. new life with her children and Sam. She now is a PI who works primarily from home. She works closed with Kez a detective of a small town in the South. Ms Caine showed us, through this series, the development of a strong woman. Gwen Proctor has faced such adversity being once married to a serial killer and although he died, she still carries with her the stigma of that marriage. Many think she was his accomplice and that she knew of his crimes and they pursue her and her children. However, Gwen with the assistance of Kezia Claremont, another woman of strength, and her partner, Sam seemed to have come upon the perfect life. Unfortunately, they are once again thrown into a world of a sinister man who is out for Gwen and doesn't care what methods he uses to achieve his goal. It's a harrowing journey for the ladies and one that offers a horrible death as its end. Just when life seems to have settled and be good for Gwen, it erupts into a case of ultimate destruction. Recommended to those who love this series and to those who so enjoy the growth of a young woman into a paragon of strength, courage, and fortitude. The writing is engaging and keeps the reader hooked in exploring Gwen, Kez's as well as the killers life and the secrets we sometimes keep from those we love. The author develops the story at a good clip and writes up the story well, A Huge thank you to the author, Rachel Caine for writing such an incredible series and for continuing to bring it.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC for a review. R.I.P Rachel Caine your spirit will live on in your books.

I should say to start, i think i should have read the previous books in the series before jumping in on this one. But it was a great read! I just feel like i may be missing some pieces because i didn’t start from the beginning. The baby part is a little tough as a mom as well. But what a hell of a mystery! This kept me on my toes and turning the pages! There’s so many twists and turns and while not totally believable, i still enjoyed it!

I really wanted to love this and maybe one day I will. I couldn't get past the first few chapters. I'm a new mom and reading about dead babies is just too much. I'm sure the story would be captivating and tolerable eventually, but I just couldn't at this point in my life. I did, however, purchase this for my library, so I will be able to check it out in the future, if I ever get past the point where I'm not triggered by infant death.

This has been one of my favorite mystery series and I hate to see it end, but at the same time it was good to have it end. I will be reading a lot of Rachel Caine's books!

The mystery continues with Gwen Proctor and Sam Cade and their children (he's made it official now) Lanny and Connor. Vera Crockett aka. Vee is also somewhat their child or at least a teen they've taken in. She's a big troublemaker for sure and she especially has a lot of influence on Lanny. But you have to love Vee, even if she never has obeyed anyone's rules and still really can't.

Kezia Claremont is Gwen's BFF and also a detective who is on a very disturbing case where two toddlers were found drowned in a car and their mother missing. The question is did the mother harm her own children or was she abducted or??? She plays a major role in this last book of the series.

Those who've read the other books in the series will recall that Gwen used to be Gina Royal, but she wanted nothing to do with that name anymore as it ties her to her ex-husband and serial killer, Melvin Royal. Well, Melvin still finds ways to haunt her and it's super eerie and creepy. The mystery and suspense in this one is really good and I definitely recommend it, but I would only recommend that someone reads all 5 of the books and in order or it won't make as much sense.

<i>I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.</i>

#HeartbreakBay #NetGalley

I've heard so much about this series and I had high expectations.
Whilst I haven't read the previous books, I sometimes find it helpful to new readers as to whether the series has to be read in order. With this series, I definitely feel like the other Stillhouse Lake books need reading first, as a lot of the backstories are not completely covered and this hampered my enjoyment a little. This book definitely made me want to read the others in the series though as the characters certainly intrigued me and I was impressed with Caine's handling of the plot and her writing style.

I fell in love with the Stillhouse Lake Series with the first book and that has not changed as I've gone throughout the series. This series was just a bit different than your regular mystery and I appreciated that about it!

So obviously I've come to love Gwen Proctor and her kids and keep rooting for her every step of the way. Each book has brought about a new set of challenges for them and it's always entertaining to see how she comes up with a way out of them!

I haven't read any of the other books written by Rachel Caine outside of the Stillhouse Lake Series but if the rest of her books are written like these, I have a feeling that I will absolutely love them! They are full of well-built characters with a thought-out plot. I think what I love the most is that each book in the series has it's own sense of mystery and intrigue and even though the story is different, every story is just as interesting. I just hate to hear that this is the last book, since Rachel Caine has passed.

Overall, Heartbreak Bay was a nice ending to the Stillhouse Lake Series however, I am so saddened to see it go. I will always think so very fondly of it and how the very first book absolutely captivated me!

I would like to offer a huge THANK YOU to Rachel Caine, Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Heartbreak Bay which allowed me to provide this honest and unbiased review.