A tense, action packed mystery with plenty of twists to keep you reading until an explosive ending.

This is the second book in a series - some characters would have been easier to understand if I had read the first book.

The cliff hanger ending sets you up to want book three to be available now.

What Lies Beneath
By JG Hetherton

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read this book for an honest review

I didn’t realize this was book 2- until after I finished reading- reading book 1 might have explained a few statements and character interactions but I felt the author did such an excellent job at writing that it didn’t feel like I missed anything important.

I was drawn directly into the story and couldn’t read fast enough to watch the mystery unravel.

I was a little thrown off at the end, it was a sudden “kaboom” of story lines out of nowhere…. A little foreshadowing for a few of the bombshells but some came from left field and left me stunned…

Overall- fantastic writing and definitely an enjoyable read!

Although this is the second book in a series, it’s possible to read it as a stand-alone like I did without feeling you’re missing too much. Having said that, reading the first book might have given more context to the characters.

Laura Chambers is working as a journalist, covering the upcoming execution of a man who murdered the Merritt couple in the small town of Hillsborough, North Carolina, leaving their young daughter Emily as an orphan. Emily and Laura were neighbours and childhood friends.

Now Laura is summoned by the police to the scene of an accident. A young woman was struck and killed by a truck, mutilated so badly that identification is difficult. She tried to call Laura four times before she died. The police want to know why, but Laura has no idea.

As she digs into the mystery of the woman’s identity and death, Laura discovers that she was running from a deadly pursuer who now has Laura in his sights. Soon she begins to uncover long buried secrets from the past involving her own family and the reason why the father she loved left her in the year before he died.

I enjoyed the fact that Laura is a strong female protagonist. Despite her distinct flaws, I was drawn along with her on her journey.

There’s plenty of action in the book to keep the adrenaline pumping, but I felt the author tried to pack too much into the last 10%. Also it ends with a cliffhanger that will no doubt lead into the third book, but left me feeling a bit dissatisfied.

The highlight is the author’s use of language. There is some beautiful writing in the book and that’s what made me want to keep reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for my early copy of the thriller What Lies Beneath by J.G. Hetherton in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first book of his that I have read and just learned this is the second in this series. I wish I had known that so I could get a better look at the characters before reading this. I found that the characters lacked depth and reading the first book might have helped. As a stand alone, it did not disappoint though. I still enjoyed reading it from start to finish.
I must say I am extremely disappointed in the ending. The last paragraph ends with a cliffhanger. It made me go on a search to see if some pages of the book were missing.
JG Hetherington is a good writer and I look forward to reading more of his books but I would like to see more substance in the character profiles and less filler description words of things that don’t really matter.

I would like to thank @netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me an advance copy of “What Lies Beneath” by J. G. Heatherton. This is the second in a series with the reporter Laura Chambers as protagonist. I have not read the first book in the series, but this book builds on the hostility Laura suffers from the sheriff’s office in the wake of her apparent responsibility for the death of a well-liked police officer. The book opens with the death of a fleeing girl who called Laura just minutes before the girl was killed. Laura failed to take the call—and she fails to recognize the girl, whose face is too mutilated for recognition. It is only when Laura finds a photograph of her father, herself, and a little girl that she had thought was a false memory that Laura begins to remember some of the shadows in her family’s past.
A tense investigation into half-forgotten memories, full of unexpected revelations, forms the centerpiece of the book. The plot is well-paced, as well as full of surprises. And this inventiveness is a good reason to read another book by J.G. Hetherton. Mystery is clearly his/her genre; and the Laura Chambers series looks promising. But the book had an oddly incoherent feel to it, without the elements of setting and characterization that help the reader feel that s/he is immersed in a fictional world. Despite the emphasis on Laura’s past, Laura never became a fully-realized character to me. None of the people are memorable. But the family secrets and the twists in the plot were enough to keep me reading. Sometimes you just want to find out what happened, not necessarily to be transported to a specific place to meet real people.

Laura Chambers gets caught up in finding the identity of a mystery woman killed by a truck on a highway. Her father died when she was eight but this mystery woman had called Laura just before she died and had in her possession a photograph of Laura, her father, and a childhood friend. Who is this woman and why does she have this photo? This is an intriguing read that keeps the reader wondering as Laura delves into her past to uncover family secrets.

I jumped into this book without reading the first in the series. I was hooked from the beginning, but then about a third of the book stalled and I found it hard to stay in the story. Luckily, the pace picked up again and there was plenty of action at the end. I had a hard time connecting with the main character, but perhaps that was intentional on the part of the author. There were sections with lovely word choice and language that made me stop and re-read just to enjoy the sentence again. Some bits were far fetched, but that's not so uncommon in thrillers and murder mysteries. I will say, though, that the cliffhanger at the end was unsatisfying. Overall, I'd rate this book in between 3.5 and 4, but rounding up for the purpose of this review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest review.

First of all, when I requested this galley I didn’t realize it was the second in a series. My review should therefore be taken with a grain of salt, because I imagine I would’ve liked it better with some background and more information on the characters. That being said, the lack of background didn’t actually detract from my understanding of the plot.

The book starts off with a bang as a Jane Doe is killed in a hit and run, and the main character, a gutsy journalist, is hellbent on getting to the bottom of the mystery that has ties to a brutal massacre from her childhood. The plot had merit, and the description of the original murders was really intriguing, but overall the book fell short. The ending was great, but the middle of the book dragged to the point where then ding couldn’t fully redeem it. Also, there was absolutely no hint as to what the ending was going to be, which while shocking, isn’t my preference because I like to be simultaneously surprised but feel like oh yeah that made sense. I also didn’t love the main character, so I think I would’ve felt more positively about the book if I had stronger ties to the character.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5/5 rounded down to 3.

Another great book by J.G. Hetherton. This one was a little slower to start than the first, I thought it dragged a bit at first. Honestly picked up and captivated me after first few chapters. Enjoyed the characters, and plot.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start by saying I was so torn of how to rate this and what to write! So here goes a very messy review of what is going on in my head right now after finishing it last night.
I loved reading this book so much, but the last 10% was .. how shall I say? Different? Weird!
The writing throughout the book was nice and flowed well, the descriptions were vivid and enjoyable.
After finishing the book and giving myself a night to think over what to write, I must admit, some characters felt a little rushed to be finished? I do not know how to describe it, but it left me wanting for a bit more.
The ending, the last 10% - I was disappointed. Not too disappointed, not as disappointed as the last sentence - you CANNOT end a book with an open ending/cliffhanger, it is not a movie, you just cannot, please.. It felt like that time I was watching Lord Of the Rings on TV for like 3 + hours as a child (more like 4hrs with ads) and it just ended up being a part/installation of a story, not a complete standalone story. I was disappointed then and I am disappointed now.
Not like a major SPOILER, but still; after finishing it kept on nagging at me: I do not understand why the prisoner couldn't just tell her the names of the people who did it. He saw the article, he SAID himself he read it, so he saw the photo and the names, so surely with so much free time he had being on death row, he could put two and two together?! I just didn't get it, how he threw some bits at the reporter, but not the full story with the culprits' names? I felt like it was meant for her to crack the case, like Jessica Fletcher, but there was not much left to crack after that conversation?
Also, who leaves a head-on-the-table-banging-until-bleeding death row inmate with nothing to lose unsupervised with a reporter? Was it just me who did not buy it? Anyone?
Anyhow, it was a nice book until the ending came. It's not as bad as I probably make it sound, but the ending did not satisfy me and reward me after reading the book.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

You can find this review and all my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com

Actual rating of 3.75f

When Laura is contacted by the local Sheriff about a body involved in a car accident, she has no idea what they could possibly want her for. She's a pariah, a journalist and no one in this town really likes her all that much. When it comes to light that the dead woman's last phone call was to Laura, she fears that it's someone she knows, but with the face unrecognizable from the accident, she has no clue. She has no idea who this person is or why they would have wanted to contact her. When an old picture from Laura's past surfaces, one of her, her father and their old neighbours, Laura has even more questions than answers. Racing against the local police office to find out the truth will dig up things that are more horrific than Laura thought possible. What did this strange person have to do with her and her father? What was she trying to tell Laura in her last moments?

I requested this book because I've been on a crime/mystery sort of kick this year, and I was not disappointed. I didn't realise at first that this was the second book in the series, I haven't read the first one and I feel like it didn't hugely impact my ability to understand what was going on in this instalment, but I do feel that I had missed some crucial events that transpired in book one which I think would have helped me have a deeper understanding of things alluded to in this book. I do believe this can be read as a standalone, but I'd probably suggest picking up book 1 first. I was actually going to do that myself but just wasn't able to at the time.

Laura is a journalist and she moved back home in book 1 I'm presuming, she tangled with a serial killer and has stayed on, though it seems the townsfolk aren't her biggest fan. She has a missed call from an unknown number and it soon comes to light that a Jane Doe found on the highway after being hit by a truck was the one who tried to call her. She has no idea why or what this person could have wanted with her as the Jane Doe has been badly disfigured from the accident, which leaves her with no clue as to who the person is. Chasing down the clues to get to the bottom of things and what this person had to do with her deceased father, Laura uncovers secrets and history that she probably would have preferred remained buried, but it's all in a days work for a journalist.

I did enjoy this mystery, it kept me guessing at every turn and I honestly had no idea where it would head next. The mystery of the strange woman calling Laura, I did have a strong idea of who it was basically from the get go, but the reason behind the contact, I couldn't have guessed at. It's not just one mystery that Laura is chasing down in this story, the Jane Doe opens up a chasm of history that Laura needs answers to and I feel like the story was written brilliantly. It kept me guessing the whole time, while I had worked out on of the reveals, the rest were all surprises to me and I absolutely loved that. I had no idea that this story would end up where it did and I did not guess the main culprit at all, the red herring in this story was done brilliantly.

The characters themselves were interesting enough, Laura does come across a little cold in her personality, but I'm wondering if this was done intentionally as she's essentially living in a town that does not like her. Her friends are few and far between. I really enjoyed the character of her retired cop friend (I want to say his name was Don? But I feel like I've remembered that incorrectly), and I absolutely adored his dog. The relationship dynamic between Laura and her mother was multilayered and even though I felt for Laura with what she was put through as a child and even now as an adult, the interactions with her mother were some of the best. We really got a glimpse into what made her Laura as an adult and the development here was fantastic. As said above, having not read the first book, I feel like I did miss out on some vital information that would have added to the character depth in this story, as well as the relationship dynamic between some of them, I do plan to go back and read book 1 though so we'll see how things turn out after that.

Hetherton has a way with words and I feel like the author is incredibly adept at their craft. The way that Hetherton is able to pick you up and drop you straight into the dusty cornfield surrounding Laura's childhood home, the descriptions of the forest nearby so involved that I felt like I could feel the chill from under the canopy. This is an author who is able to really create a world that you become immersed in without going over the top with the descriptions which is a great trait to have as some authors get bogged down in the descriptions which makes for a tedious read at times. Hetherton's ability to write an action scene is also one of the best that I've seen, I could feel Laura's panic and the sense of urgency running through the corn was real.

All in all, this was a fantastic mystery and I'm looking forward to going back and reading book 1 so that I can get a real sense for what happened before this instalment. While writing this review, I actually pushed my rating up because I realised that there was a lot more I liked about this book than not. I do feel that I would have enjoyed it more it I had read book 1, purely for the character development aspect. At times, it did feel like the book's pacing dropped a teeny bit, but overall this was a page turner that kept me guessing.

A page-turner that picked up quite a bit about a third of the way through. I especially liked Tim, and Cooper made the story so much more 'real' for me. Glad he was safe, brave boy, although... (no spoilers, you'll have to read it yourself).

I'm not sure why the blurb says that Laura had an imaginary friend, she was quite real, but the story, at its heart, shines a light on an important and shocking side to society, two actually. I must add that although a number of reviews I read state that you don't need to read the first book, I found myself wishing I had on a number of occasions.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for my ARC.

What Lies Beneath – J.G. Hetherton

Many years ago, in Hillsborough, North Carolina, a neighboring family was inexplicably murdered in their home, with their young daughter the only survivor. Now, the case has been brought back to the forefront of the news as the state has decided to re-enact capital punishment for the killer, dubbed the shotgun Slayer, with investigative reporter Laura Chambers’ write up making front page news. Laura only has vague memories of the family that lived nearby, but her mother is not pleased about her dredging up the past.

Leaving her mother’s home, Laura pulls her phone out of her pocket, and sees she’s missed 4 calls from a number she doesn’t recognize. As she contemplates that, the phone rings yet again. She answers only to find herself talking to a local sheriff’s deputy who asks her to come to a scene. Puzzled, she heads to an accident scene on the interstate, where a young woman has been struck and killed by a truck, mutilated so badly, she is unidentifiable. The cop, Whitley, demands to know who the victim is & Laura is perplexed as she has no idea – even when Whitley tells her the missed calls to her cell came from the phone the victim was carrying.

Knowing she won’t be privy to the details of the investigation – Laura uses her sources – and those of her editor - to work her own search into the identity of the dead woman. A trip to the coroner’s office yields some interesting information, and she enlists and old friend to help her track the woman’s last movements – why was she here and who was she was running from? As Laura digs deeper, she finds more questions than answers – then a discovery brings old memories into question, leaving Laura determined to find answers…

This is the second novel featuring Laura Chambers, following her debut in Last Girl Gone (2018) and it is a stunner!! Told with intricate detail, bold characters and plenty of action and intrigue, I found this book impossible to put down. Laura is a strong, assertive force to be reckoned with and I can’t wait to see what she finds herself up against next. I know writing a book takes time, but I am sincerely hoping I don’t have to wait long for the next in this (hopefully) series!! Excellent read!!

Available from your favorite bookseller on July 12th!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

The opening scenes in this book are what hooked me. I just had to keep reading to see what led up to it. Overall, it was just short of a page-turner. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Full of suspense along with twists that once expects today. The book centers around Laura, a reporter dragged into a case where she becomes the suspect and subsequently attempts to clear her name. I think it may be better enjoyed if you read the first book in the series.

This is book two in the Laura Chambers series, and as I have not read the first, I can honestly say you can read this just fine as a standalone.

It was fast-paced, lots of action and sleuthing, and I was captivated. I love a story that keeps me guessing, and this certainly did. I will definitely be going back to read the first book!

In this one, Laura is called in to identify the body of a woman whose last call was to her. Drawing a blank as to who this woman could be, Laura sets out to find out as much as she can about the Jane Doe and why she was trying to reach out to her.

Intriguing, emotional, and full of surprises. Fabulous read!

What Lies Beneath is a gripping novel. I could not put it down! Laura Chambers is finding out her small hometown has more secrets than she thought and some of those secrets are hitting closer to home than she imagined. A story of secrets, murder, webs of deceit and corruption. J.G. Hetherton gives the reader just enough to draw them in and wanting more. Excellent.

What Lies Beneath, is the second book in the series by J.G. Hetherton. Most of the time you can jump into the second or third book in a series and be able to understand what is going on. However, this one really can not be read as a stand alone. I would highly recommend reading the first book just to have a better understanding of what is actually transpiring as there is a lot of history. The first book in the series is called Last Girl Gone.

So, I put What Lies Beneath, down and purchased Last Girl Gone. Last Girl Gone was absolutely incredible, well written, easy flow, character development was excellent and the story was just out of this world.

Now, I continue on with What Lies Beneath.

A Jane Doe is murdered during a Hit and Run.. Was it intentional or an accident? Does this have anything to do with the Shutgun Slayer?

This book has action but I would rather show appreciation for the writing style. J.G Hetheron is a beautiful writer who draws you right in. You can not help but internally question yourself as to what is going on. The way he is able to flashback and give you a clear picture of the characters history is very well done.

I will say that the ending was just WOW! Ok, I did not see that coming but it was definitely impactful.

Before I spoil the book for you, do yourself a favor and pre-order this stand out! Due to release May 17, 2022.

J G Hetherton is a new author to me and I love the way he writes. His imagery took my breath at times. This was a very original and intriguing story which kept me guessing right to the very end. As a standalone it was fine, but I wish I’d known this was the second in a series. I struggled a little at times with Laura’s relationship with some of the characters, and reading the previous book would have helped I think. There were a few sections that I had to read more than once as I was confused (and still am). For example, Laura is searching for two photograph albums. She finds one in a motel room, and finds the other in a memory chest in her mother’s attic. As she is closing the chest she notices something beige in the dark interior. She pulls it out: “In her hands was the second photo album”. Surely this should read “… a third album.”? The ending was a real shock, but I was left with a few unanswered questions which was disappointing. I hope that in the next of the series we find out what was in the letter! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before publication.

Full disclosure: I did not read the first book in this series. I've jumped in mid-series in different series (how many times can I use this word in two sentences???) and didn't feel like I was missing much, but in this case, reading the first book definitely would've helped. There's clearly some recurring characters with little context, and mention of past events, again without much context. However, you can definitely read it as a standalone, but expect to be a little confused in some regards.

I would rate this a 3.75 if we're being precise. It's not a 3/5, but I can't say it's a 4/5. The writing alone is a 5/5, but that ending is a 2/5. In the spirit of fairness and mathematics, I've rounded up to a 4.

THE PLOT

Investigative journalist, Laura, is back playing Nancy Drew after she receives frantic final phone calls from a mystery woman killed in a hit and run. Who was she? And why was she calling? And what, if anything, does this have to do with the upcoming execution of the Shotgun Slayer, a Hillsboro local legend?

MY OPINION

J.G Hetherton deserves ALLLL the flowers for his beautiful writing. WOW. He is a true writer; an artist with words. He could take the mundane and describe it in ways I've never considered. I can't say enough good things about the writing quality of this novel. Hetherton is truly talented.

Now, if your preference is a book crammed with action and twist after twist after twist, I can't say this book is for you. Yes, there is action, and yes there are twists (packed in at the end). But really, it's the beautiful writing that keeps you turning the pages. The author spends a lot of time with the character's inner thoughts. I loved the flashbacks to Laura's childhood, although there's no way in hell 8-year-olds were THAT self-aware. He painted a picture of small-town, southern, stricken poverty without spelling it out for you. You could feel the heat in your bones. The pace of the novel was great as well, but like I said, it's not a CRAZY thriller. This is the indie movie of books—a thoughtfully constructed police procedural with more layers than an onion.

Now, onto my famous gripes :) 1) I found Laura to be unlikeable. She seemed incapable of accepting responsibility and had an almost sociopathic-like tendency to manipulate those around her. As someone who was a journalist for a hot minute, she's not doing the public's perspective of the industry any good with her lack of boundaries, regular obstructions of justice, and just general abuse of trust.

2) The ending was doing way too much. It was a leisurely walk to the last 10% of the book and then the author just threw in every rando storyline possible. It kinda reminded me of Oprah's infamous: You get a car! You get a car! You get a car! but more like You get a prostitution ring! You get a deeply corrupted police force! You get a surprise paternity reveal! Just slow your roll. Pick something actually feasible. And this is all in the context that Hillsboro has 6,000 residents, but more crime syndicate activity than Miami. My disbelief was chucked off the side of Mount Everest.

If Hetherton had stayed the course until the very end, I would've felt more confident in my 4-star rating. But since I put a high price tag on GOOD writing, 4 stars it is. I think the ending was just extra disappointing to me because I really enjoyed the journey. I will check out his other book and continue reading the series, should there be more books to come.

PROS AND CONS:

Pros: INCREDIBLE writing, good pace
Cons: Ending was overwhelming in a bad way