An intense, fast-paced thriller that keeps readers on edge with its dark secrets and unexpected twists. The eerie atmosphere and high-stakes mystery are captivating, though some parts of the plot feel rushed. Overall, it’s a gripping read for fans of suspenseful mysteries.

Oh wow, this was a really twisty thriller which I just couldn't put down. So addictive that I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I adored this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat and concluded the series perfectly. I would highly recommend it.

This brilliantly plotted book has twists that will leave you with whiplash and the atmosphere is so incredibly electric.

When local a local female detective sets out to solve a murder and find a missing person, she gets more than she could have imagined. An attraction develops between her and the man she first thought was the main suspect; an older relative and his caretaker prove to be worthy adversaries and she finds her own life and that of her love interest in danger. The island is remote, the intrigue is set in a former sanitorium turned exclusive resort and there is mystery behind every person and every wall. Read this to find out how the mystery is solved and the story behind the secrets of the island mansion. Thanks to #netGalley#The Buried for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a good book. Lots of suspense and the secrets are kept until the end. I'm not sure if this book is a part of a series, if it was I would recommend reading in order. It was a little hard to remember the characters and they're relevance at times.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

#NetGalleyARC It happened again, I read a book that’s part of a series. Ugh, I wish this better labeled in Netgalley. A decent Child’s book, not my fave but not the rosy. Thrilling and exciting, an overall decent read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

When I put in for this ARC, I didn't realize it was book four of a series! I think this had a lot to do with my limited connection to the storyline and the characters and a general feeling that I was missing something. There is mystery, murder, and romance all happening in what once was a sanitarium. A very intriguing premise. There was nothing wrong with the writing, but as I said, this is book 4 of a series...I highly recommend starting at the beginning to get a full appreciation of the book.

3 stars

Having no idea that this was an installment in a series I was hooked by the description and dove in headfirst. But then I hit a rock, knocked myself out, put the book down and waited a bit to pick it up again. So this is all on me because maybe if I had read any of the previous installments I might have been able to ease myself into Childs’ style and what was going on. Instead I just got annoyed and more annoyed at the neediness and wrong-footed goings on. There were so many staggering wrong assumptions - did I mention how annoyed I got?! “This time I’m armed” - really ? People go missing, weird noises are all around, people accusing and threatening bodily harm, and now you decide to carry your gun?! To be fair I am going to shoulder it all and just say that the story had great potential but it didn’t work for me and unfortunately it didn’t encourage me to go back and start at the beginning of the series.

Thanks to Zebra Books / Kensington Publishers and NetGalley for a copy.

If at first, or second or third, you don't succeed try it a fourth time. I really want to like this series, it has so many elements that should make it awesome. But I do like to finish what I start and Bodie has been such a tragic character, I really want him to get an HEA and I really want to know what the heck is really going on at Bainsworth Manor. I really like the characters all of whom have been damaged by what has happened at Bainsworth Manor. The secrets can't stay buried and it's time for a little final justice.

Elijia Cooke and Bode James have transformed the shuttered asylum, Bainsworth Manor, into an upscale wellness retreat, Halcyon Hall. But something sinister lurks the grounds and some say that it's the spirits of those who came to Bainsworth Manor and never left.

Mae Montgomery knows that a murderer stalks the grounds of Halcyon Hall, and she is sure she knows who it is, she just has to prove it. Stymied by the authorities who like neat packages with pretty bows, Trooper Montgomery is on her own to prove what she is positive is murder by Bode James. So, she assumes the identity of her dead sister, takes vacation time and infiltrates the Hall as a paying guest. It didn't take long before her real identity and motive are discovered.

Bode James grew up on Bane Island and is determined that Halcyon Hall is a success to wipe away the bad memory of Bainsworth Manor and what took place there. But he knows that a murderer is at large, even if the authorities don't believe so. When Mae appears in the guise of someone he knew and lost, he knows she only wants to find the killer, even if she thinks it's him. He can work with that. Finding the killer is what matters. The pesky attraction needs to take a backseat to that.

The plot and the characters. It is all about the plot and characters for me with this series. The writing was abysmal, but I kept coming back for the plot and the characters. I have got to hand it to Lisa Childs I figured out some of it, but the baddies eluded me completely. Lots of plot twists and misdirection, just how I like my mysteries.

My thanks to the Publisher and the author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

A luxurious wellness center off the coast of Maine can’t outrun its dark past.

State trooper Mae Montgomery knows that celebrity fitness trainer Bode James is a murderer, but can’t prove it. Bode and his brother, descendants of the founding family of Bane Island, are trying to wipe out the dark legacy of their family’s past by turning the manor that once
housed an asylum for wayward young women into a desirable retreat. Deaths keep occurring, and Mae firmly believes that Bode is behind them….she holds him responsible for her own sister’s death years ago as well. When her request for a search warrant to look for Heather, yet another missing young woman at Halcyon Hall, is denied, Mae decides to book a stay under an assumed name in order to look for Heather and find proof of Bode’s guilt. Her deception is discovered almost immediately, but to her surprise Bode agrees to let her stay and search. Not everyone is pleased with Mae’s presence, particularly those who feel that her animosity towards Bode is unfounded. What is clear is that a murderer is somewhere on the island, and he or she needs to be stopped before another victim is chosen….and Mae may be next on the killer’s list.
The Buried is the fourth in the Bane Island series of romantic thrillers, but it is not essential to have read the preceding three in order to enjoy this novel on its own. Mae is a strong, smart and driven woman looking to avenge her sister’s death as well as solve the murders happening in the current day. There are plenty of suspects from which to choose, and the gothic feel of a remote island in the throes of heavy winter storms adds to the air of menace. Add in a creepy grandfather whose own grandchildren consider to be evil, a stately old house that was the site of malevolent acts, and the tension between Rae and Bode, and the reader has a fast-paced, can’t-be-put-down mystery to enjoy. Readers of the previous books in the series, as well as fans of authors like Mary Burton, Julie Garwood and Kendra Elliot will want to give The Buried, and the rest of the Bane Island series, a try. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books/Zebra for granting me access to an advanced reader’s copy.

THE BURIED A Bane Island Novel Book 4 by Lisa Childs
This is the 4th book in the Bane Island series. I feel like this series is best enjoyed having read the books in order, as opposed to trying to understand all the details without the history. The Buried grabs you from the start and refuses to let you go throughout the whole story.
State Trooper Beverly Mae Montgomery goes to Halcyon Hall under an assumed name to investigate the disappearance of her sister. Fitness trainer Bode James is also a member of the original Bainsworth family who is on her short list of suspects.
This is a very captivating, suspenseful, psychological romantic, thriller with plenty of mystery, danger, and intrigue. It kept me reading through the late hours until I finished the book. This is 4 stars.

The Buried is the fourth book in Lisa Childs A Bane Island Series. This addition to the series was worth the wait!! This is a highly suspenseful story filled with many twist and turns. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This is an eerie story, just like the other three, filled with secrets….many dark secrets, violence and all the mystery this series deserves. There is also a lot of romantic suspense in this one that adds to all the fear and evil throughout!! Totally unputdownable!!!! I highly recommend this one and all the other books in this thrilling series. Lisa Childs does not disappoint.

Thank you NetGalley, Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing and Lisa Childs for another compelling book to read and review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#netgalley. #zebrabooks. #kensingtonpublishing
#lisachilds. #theburied. #abaneislandseries #arc

This is the 4th book in the Bane Island series. Each book features a different view of Bane Island and it's history but the characters change, so each is a stand alone story that has Bane Island as it's background.
Bane Island was once the home of to many troubled women whose families brought them to receive physcological treatment at the hospital there. The hospital closed many years prior to the buildings being remodeled and repurposed into a health and wellness center. But the history of mistreatment and unexplained deaths seems to have continued. When another young woman is reported missing, Maine State Trooper Mae Montgomery is assigned to investigate. Mae has history with the island, her sister died after checking into the center. Her investigation will include many twists that will leave you looking for the missed clues.
This is a romantic suspense, so you'll meet and learn to love/ distrust Bode along the way.
I've read the first three books and all four are very good reads.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for the chance to read an advance copy of The buried by Lisa Childs. This is the 4th book in the Bane Island suspense series; I did not realize this was a continuing series until I started reading, but had no problem following the story. Romantic suspense is one of my favourite genres to read, and I enjoyed it so much I plan to go back and read the previous stories. The buried has a gothic feel to it, taking place at a former insane asylum off the coast of Maine, and has plenty of twists to keep you reading.

I'm sorry but I have to DNF. There really is nothing to suggest in the cover or description or on Goodreads that this is part of a series, the third in the series I think it is. I wish I knew so I could have checked out earlier books. Apologise. I am giving 5 stars as it feels most fair where I didn't get far into this before realising I was missing something.

I always look forward to returning to Bane Island and visiting with the residents of Halcyon Hall, creepy though it may be. In the fourth book in the series, the focus is on Deputy Mae Montgomery and her quest to find out the truth about missing women as well as her determination to pin a crime on Bode James, one of the founders of the spa at Halcyon. Mae enters the hall in disguise since that’s the only way she can get in, so the part of the book introducing her entrance moves along a little slowly. Once Mae gets into the Hall, all kinds of dangerous things start happening all around her and she isn’t sure who, if anyone, she can trust. As the reader, I had no idea who to trust either because there are a lot of false clues and red herrings…a perfect addition to an eerie and atmospheric tale. The setting is on an island but the story itself is almost gothic, with underground passageways and characters who are supposedly there to rest but who also know a lot about the Hall that is weirdly prescient. The story moves along at a good pace and is hard to put down, with constantly changing action and some deliberate misdirection. The drama in the story is believable and suspenseful with all of the subplots tied up well together by the end. The characterization is nothing short of brilliant since the characters are all complex and many are disturbed and give an edginess to the storyline that could not exist without them. This book just reeks of the evil all around small and isolated Bane Island and the setting and characters make this romantic suspense thriller one of the best I have ever read. This book may be read as a standalone, but it is easier to understand the characters and story if you read all of the books in the series and in order.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley as well as an autographed copy from the author as part of her review team. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. It was a good mystery. This is the fourth book in the series but this is the first one I have read. Childs did an excellent job of telling the stories from the previous 3 novels. All in all, this was a quick and enjoyable read. This will keep you on the edge of your seat mystery and romance.

Halcyon hall has had a bad reputation attached to it, but although Bode James and his brother has taken it over and turned it into a spa it seems the murders are still happening. When state trooper May Montgomery checks in under her murdered sisters name Kimber Lee she’s hoping no one will notice she’s not the model but before Bode even sets eyes on the police woman he knows there is an imposter in their midst. She wouldn’t have to do this if it wouldn’t be for local DA and her ex Adam who seems to never want to get her the search warrant she needs because it isn’t just her sister Lee Lee who is missing and presumed dead the mother of Bodes daughter also hasn’t been seen in May thinks he is the one responsible. She also wants to prove The innocence for the woman accused. As I always say there’s so much more to this book than the brief summary I have done there’s a stranger who stays at the boarding house that has something to do with the case and what will happen if Adam finds out she’s illegally investigating anyway and will she even make it off the island at all? I really enjoyed The last book with the reporter who is now living at the spa and dating the older brother and I don’t know if it was just the space I was in at the time but I had to make myself finish this one but having said that I would still recommend this is a great Siri‘s and this is the first book I didn’t absolutely love from the collection. Lisa Childs is a great rider and The Bain Island Mysteries are a great series. I want to thank the publisher and Net galley for my free art copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Lisa Childs infuses The Buried with plenty of mystery, violence, and secrets. This is the fourth book in the Bane Island crime thriller and romantic suspense series. It features State Trooper Sergeant Beverly Mae Montgomery and Bode James, a fitness trainer and co-owner of Halcyon Hall. Halcyone Hall is a spa and wellness center built on the grounds of a former institution for those suffering from mental illness and those committed by their families. Located on Bane Island off the coast of Maine, the building and surrounding grounds seem to be another character in the novel.

Mae desperately wants to solve a disappearance and a death. She believes she knows who is responsible, but is she right? Bode grew up on Bane Island and worked to transform the former psychiatric hospital into a wellness resort. But no one is safe. Bode has already lost the mother of his child. Who will be next? Who can be trusted?

Mae is determined to find the truth, but she also has some pre-determined ideas that may or may not be right. She’s serious, driving, independent, fearless, and can be impatient. Bode is charming, smart, hardworking, wants to know the truth, and is a loving and protective father. Many characters from the previous books appear and some play significant roles in this one as well.

The author is an excellent storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat. The storyline is gripping and grabbed my attention immediately. As in previous books, readers get glimpses of the antagonist without seeing who it is. The plot is solid and has several twists. I was able to guess a couple of them, but I was surprised by one. There’s plenty of action and suspense along with some emotional scenes and a budding romance. The volatile scenes at the end kept me turning the pages. The book held my interest and kept me engaged. Themes include disappearances, relationships, family, romance, trust, secrets, and much more. There are some disturbing references to events that occurred at the psychiatric hospital years ago. Trying to understand the fallout from those actions kept secret added another layer of intrigue to the plot. Ms. Childs did a great job of bringing together the past and how it affected the present situation.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel which was suspenseful, atmospheric, full of action, and it had great characterization. If you enjoy engaging romantic suspense thrillers, then I recommend this series.

Kensington Books, Zebra and Lisa Childs provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for September 26, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.