This was a pretty good book and I enjoyed reading it. It certainly kept me guessing throughout. This is a book that I would recommend to others.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this book. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


This book is a little dark but it luckily has a happy ending. Natalee is a former journalist turned private investigator who is contacted by Carol whose daughter Amanda is setting in a hospital in a coma while pregnant from a suicide attempt (at least that’s what the police believe). Natalee calls former informants and people she knew in the police department and FBI. Natalee finds out about this gentleman’s club and one of them got Amanda pregnant and killed another woman years earlier. Amanda was going to contact Natalee before she was attacked and her wrists cut all to keep a family’s name intact and to be able to adopt a baby. There were some unanswered questions but there were theories in the book but I did enjoy, it just isn’t my favorite.

Actual rating is 3.5 stars.

Usually, KT's books are 4-star reads for me, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as her other books. It was fast-paced and intriguing. It hooked me right from the start that I read it in two sittings only.

I also liked the FMC and her quest for the truth for the girls. I was rooting for her and was worried for her safety.

Some things conveniently happened in the climax. But the ending was satisfying.

This book kind of reminds me of the Epstein and Weinstein cases. If that might be a trigger, proceed with caution.

I look forward to reading this author's backlist and new releases!

***Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for providing an e-arc of this book via NetGalley (no obligation to post a review).***

A dark and twisty thriller!

Lee is superstar protagonist! Her agency is captivating, and I wish I had half of this gal's guts. Despite being blacklisted as a reporter for a botched interview five years ago during an investigative piece for a missing/murdered girl, Lee is now working as a private investigator. When the mother of girl in a coma asks for her help, she isn't expecting the new case to link with the one that ended her career in journalism, and yet... the connections exist. Determined to solve her current case, and the one that haunts her, Lee is relentless in her pursuit of the truth.

Thomas deftly handles many dark subjects and swiftly manipulates the plot and twists and turns that are at once natural but also surprising. Unfortunately, the genius of this story is muddled by the sheer number of characters the reader needs to keep straight. I needed character log to know who belonged to who and which murder the person was adjacent with. It was cumbersome and pulled so much tension out of the story, it just wasn't as enjoyable as it should have been.

This book also needs to come with a plethora of content warnings. Some of those warnings include: mentions of drug, alcohol, suicide (while pregnant), abortion, miscarriage, infertility, statutory rape, assault, and death of young women.

This book was eerily similar to Courtney Summers I'M THE GIRL, so if that was your jam, try this one out!

Kara Thomas does it again! I would love to see a series with these characters. This book was what I wish the Veronica Mars Hulu show had been!

Oh Kara Thomas, How I love thee. The prose and pacing were masterfully executed and I could not put the book down. My biggest issue was that there was too much going on sometimes, and it was a bit difficult to keep track of who was who.

I really loved the cover of this one and was drawn in by the premise, but wasn’t sold on it after 75 pages. Unfortunately the plot felt thin.

2.5

I didn't feel the way the two cases were intertwined. It felt forced and like Jenna's story did not get the focus it could have. It seemed like an after thought to make the story longer and a way to add a distraction from who they killer may be.
The Amanda flashbacks did add to the story.
The twist at the very end was also a nice addition.

An old mystery to solve, a thriller to survive and a tiny bit of romance might be my favourite genre, and Kara Thomas delivered just that.

Unfortunately, I got pretty good at it; I’ve seen what was about to happen from a mile and, even with an open-ish ending, I sense that not all of them will have the justice they deserve.
But I liked it anyway because there's nothing like a fast-paced thriller, with hundreds between names and facts, to keep your mind busy and put you out of a reading slump.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Lost to Dune Road by Kara Thomas is a gripping, atmospheric young adult thriller that weaves a tense and haunting tale of secrets, loss, and the haunting echoes of the past. Set in a small coastal town, the story centers on a group of friends whose lives are irrevocably changed after a tragic event on the mysterious Dune Road, a place shrouded in rumors and dark history.

The novel’s protagonist, Emma, returns to her hometown after years of being away, only to find herself tangled in the web of a tragedy that took place during her absence. As she reconnects with old friends, she uncovers disturbing truths about the people she thought she knew—and the events leading up to a night that shattered their lives forever. The central mystery revolves around a missing girl, and Emma’s search for answers pulls her into a chilling investigation that blurs the lines between memory, guilt, and reality.

Kara Thomas’s writing is sharp and evocative, capturing the eerie atmosphere of a small town with a sinister undercurrent. The author excels at building tension, using the coastal setting and the ominous Dune Road to create a sense of isolation and impending danger. The characters are richly developed, each with their own motivations and emotional baggage, making the mystery all the more compelling.

What sets Lost to Dune Road apart is its exploration of friendship, trauma, and how the past can haunt the present. The twists and revelations come at a steady pace, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, while the emotional depth of the characters adds weight to the suspenseful plot.

Overall, Lost to Dune Road is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy atmospheric thrillers with complex characters and a slow-burn mystery. Kara Thomas crafts a haunting and emotionally resonant story that will keep you guessing until the final page.

📚✨ Review of Lost to Dune Road by Kara Thomas ✨📚

Prepare for a rollercoaster of suspense with Lost to Dune Road! Kara Thomas has woven a masterful thriller that dives deep into the complexities of guilt, redemption, and dangerous secrets.

Our protagonist, Lee Ellerin, is haunted by a career-ending mistake—one that led to a suspect’s death and pushed her away from the life she knew. When she’s pulled back into the investigation of Amanda Hartley, a pregnant college student in a coma under mysterious circumstances, Lee sees a chance to confront her past and redeem herself. But with every answer she uncovers, more chilling questions arise.

Set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Hamptons, where secrets are as plentiful as the sand, Lost to Dune Road gripped me from the start. Kara Thomas doesn’t just give us a murder mystery; she unpacks the darker sides of human ambition, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to bury the truth. Lee’s journey is as haunting as it is captivating, and the dual timelines between her past and present investigations add a layer of intensity that kept me turning pages late into the night.

If you’re a fan of thrillers with complex characters and an eerie seaside setting, this book is a must-read. Just don’t plan on sleeping until you’ve reached the last page. 🌊🔎🕵️‍♀️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing company for this Digital Advanced Readers Copy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

*4 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

An interesting read and great characters. Natalee was so determined to find out what happened to Jenna and Amanda. There were a few twists and turns to who she was looking for, putting her own life in danger to find the truth. Surprise ending. I wasn't a huge fan of the language in the book but thats my personal thing.

Lost to Dune Road is a great new mystery/thriller. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will read others now. I love a mystery that addresses difficult topics and yet still manages to create suspense and keep me guessing until the end. The only part of this read that I was not a fan of was the romance. It was a storyline that felt out of place and did not really add anything to the overall plot.

I've been a fan of Kara Thomas' YA books for a while now, so I was keen to explore her adult work. This one didn't disappoint. It felt like a good mystery to sink my teeth into and try and put all the pieces together for; it's compelling, which keeps you turning the page, with an interesting and raw detective protagonist that feels like you're following the trajectory of the story along with her. Plenty of suspense, and I really hope Kara Thomas continues in the adult category!

Kara Thomas never misses. Anything she writes is pure gold. I've been really enjoying her adult works recently, and I hope she continues writing more!

3.5 stars
I have read and enjoyed quite a few books by Kara Thomas. This one started out a little bit slow for me but it picked up and I became invested in the story and the characters. It was an interesting plot and the ending was unexpected.

This was a good detective based thriller! There was a lot of suspense. The large amount of characters was at times hard to keep track of, but this was an enjoyable read!

I absolutely loved this book. It was almost a five star book for me. It was just missing a few things.
I loved the amateur detective style of this book. It really kept me guessing. The whole time.
Lee as a main character was awesome