This was a fine book. The characters were a bit one-dimensional. Some of the violence was unneeded and didn't add to the plot. Plus, it just wasn't memorable, as I'm looking back on it to write this review.

Peter really sets the scene in this novel. His words pull you in such a way you can’t stop at a few pages. I think the character development was very thought out and it flowed seamlessly

Granite Harbor was a fun thriller set in Maine! It takes place in the small town of Granite Harbor, where a local teenager’s body has been found under very interesting circumstances.

One of my favorite things about this book were the flashbacks to the life of the killer. These provided a lot of good context and helped add to the mystery - you got some of the “why” while still trying to figure out the “who.”

Overall, this book kept my attention throughout (though it might have been a smidgen predictable) and had enough characters to keep things interesting, but not too many to make it confusing, which I feel like can happen with thrillers quite easily.

I audiobooked this one as well thanks to MacMillan Audio via Netgalley , and I really liked the narration! Each POV had a slightly different tone - not necessarily a different voice effect, but you could tell the difference in narration between POVs, which I thought was very well done.

I just finished reading Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols, and I’m so excited to share my thoughts with you!

This book is a gripping thriller set in a small coastal town in Maine, and it’s packed with suspense, mystery, and rich character development. Nichols’ writing is both evocative and intense, making it a truly immersive read.

One of the standout moments for me is when Detective Alex Brangwen, the protagonist, discovers a chilling clue at the scene of a brutal murder. The scene is described with such vivid detail that you can almost feel the cold, eerie atmosphere of the town’s historic archaeological site. Alex’s determination to solve the case, despite his own personal struggles, is both inspiring and heart-wrenching. This moment really highlights Nichols’ ability to blend the personal with the procedural, creating a story that’s as much about the characters as it is about the crime.

What I love most about Granite Harbor is how it explores the tight-knit community and the secrets that lie beneath the surface. The characters are well-developed, each with their own motivations and backstories that add depth to the narrative. The twists and turns keep you guessing, and the emotional stakes make you care deeply about what happens next.

If you’re a fan of thrilling mysteries with strong character arcs and a captivating setting, Granite Harbor is a must-read. Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down!

Granite Habor, by Peter Nichols

A coastal landscape, small town, and a dead body.

Granite Harbor is a thriller with horror elements and is teeming with atmosphere. Readers should note that there are some graphic details used including harm to animals and their death.

This book will have readers turning pages well into the night as they race to find the killer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon for my advanced digital copy to read and review.

I felt that this book was well written and provided a decent mystery, however the characterization and the relationships in this book needed work. It seemed like the characters were not involved in each other's life and were just thrown together for plot points as opposed to this feeling like a natural, organic process. Alex was the worst character for me. He had a writing career at one point, however is reluctantly a detective. Each of the parents just feel like they are thrown in there with no understanding of what kids' relationship with their parents is like at different ages. The children are mentioned in passing in regards to being a part of their lives. The parents almost seemed like they could not be bothered to know where their kids are except for Morgana, however I felt that this was for plot only. I think this book might make a decent TV series though if these issues are ironed out. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Granite Harbor is a gritty and atmospheric mystery set in a small, tight-knit town that is rocked by the brutal murder of a local teenager. Alex Brangwen, the town’s sole detective and a single father, is thrust into his first murder investigation. As the case unfolds, Alex’s personal life and the town’s dark secrets become increasingly entangled, creating a tense and suspenseful narrative. The discovery of a second body sends shockwaves through the community, and with the safety of their own children at risk, Alex and Isabel, a single mother connected to the case, race against time to uncover the killer.

The novel’s dark tone and intricate mystery make it a compelling read, and the small-town setting adds to the feeling of isolation and fear. The investigation is filled with clues that keep the reader engaged, while the deeper, cult-like undertones and the exploration of the town’s secrets add complexity to the story. With its tension-filled narrative and eerie atmosphere, I think it would translate well in a cable TV adaptation. rating 3.5 stars

Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols is a gripping and atmospheric novel that delves into the dark underbelly of a small coastal town. The story follows Detective Jack Cutter as he investigates a series of mysterious deaths that seem to be connected to a long-buried secret.

Nichols' writing is evocative and atmospheric, transporting readers to the bleak and windswept landscape of Granite Harbor. The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations. The plot is intricate and suspenseful, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing.

Granite Harbor is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and suspenseful thrillers. With its dark and atmospheric setting, complex characters, and gripping plot, this novel is sure to keep readers hooked until the very end.

Granite Harbor Maine, is a peaceful town. Nothing happens here, some say it would be boring. Until a young man is brutally murdered in the settlement, the towns archeologist site. Alex Brangwen, is single father, failed novelist and the towns only detective, is now tasked with finding out who and why this murder happened. Alex, knows everyone in town and can’t begin to imagine who committed this crime. How can he calm this town he knows and loves? Isabel is a single mom, trying to make ends meet and heal from her own demons. She is connected to the case because her son was best friends with the victim. When another body is found she fears for her son’s life and the other children in town, including Alex’s daughter Sophie. Alex and Isabel race to find the killer. They find themselves entwined in this case and up against a town that has secrets and that deter them. Can they find out who did it before the town unravels? This was a fast paced thriller. The characters and story were interesting. It kept me guessing and the ending didn’t disappoint. Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols was a four star read for me. I want to thank Netgalley, the author & Celadon Books for my copy for an honest review. I am glad I go the chance to read and review this book.

Definitely original, I enjoyed the whole aspect with the toads. Dark, twisty, and full of horror!
At the beginning, I was really kind of confused by the first few chapters but once it all started going I really liked it.
Granite Harbor is a normal town but is shattered by a brutal murder at a historic Settlement Site. Detective Alex, a single father and also a struggling writer, is the one who is over the case. This case hits close to home for him because his daughter is a classmate at school with the boy who was killed.
Isobel is a single mother who tries hard for her son and she even lets her son do unschooling so he can make his ships and things like that and he makes money instead of making him go to school. Then another murder of a classmate occurs and it happens in some of the same situations that made the whole deal weird, especially with the toad aspect.
Now some of the chapters are pretty wordy and aren't technically needed for the story but also they don't add anything to the story it's like additional information. I did like the third-person POV at times. Thank you Celadon Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this one!

I'll start this out with a Trigger Warning: there is animal abuse, domestic abuse, and sexual abuse in this story. The animal abuse is the most prevalent and is only in a few chapters but it is in there, and it's on page.

This story starts with three friends, out on a foggy afternoon. Two of the three go home for the evening but the last boy stays out later. A few days later, his body is found in a gruesome display at a tourist and historical attraction in town.

The author does a really great job of bringing the environment to life. It was easy for me to see Granite Harbor and its citizens in my mind and the scenes jumped off the page. Detective Alex Brangwen is the only detective in town, and he was a likable character for me. Then you have Isabel, who is the mother of Ethan, who was close friends with the murder victim.

This story ultimately didn't work for me. I think it had too much going on, and it felt like every aspect was competing with each other. There's also a lot of characters and we're introduced to all in some depth. I think the author was intending to help cast a deeper net of suspicion on them, but it ended up feeling more distracting and it didn't really make me think one person was more suspicious than another.

This book also bounces a bit in the timeline. You're essentially seeing the present day but also some flashbacks for the killer and his life experiences. This was fine, but in the copy I read (which was an advanced copy), there was nothing to denote you were going back in time, so it felt confusing. I also think that as soon as certain things about the killer's younger days were revealed, it felt really easy to figure out who the killer was.

If you enjoy small towns in New England, along with atmospheric tension, and murder, then this book may be one you should check out.

This book was such an extreme struggle to get through. I found none of the characters enjoyable, half the time I felt lost and I just truly felt like this was dragging on until I decided to DNF. very slow read and could not get into it.

I enjoyed the mystery portion of this story. Trying to figure out who was committing these murders kept me interested. But I was not very interested in the characters themselves. There wasn't enough characters development for me to be invested in each characters life.
I did also enjoy the setting of New England, as I am from New England as well. But I did have to push myself to finish this book.

A gripping and atmospheric read. Nichols’ masterful storytelling weaves a tale of suspense and emotional depth, set against the rugged backdrop of a remote harbor town. The plot is engaging, with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing
Many thanks to Celadon and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m not quite sure this book was for me. I followed the general plot line okay, but down to the details, I got a bit confused. I think this had to do with multiple POVs and it being in third person. I wasn’t really sure who the main character was until I fixated on that it was Alex, as it bounces around a lot.
Because of the small town, everyone has a connection to each other which made the multiple POVs even more confusing at times when I didn’t have the names locked down yet.
However, around halfway through it started to make more sense, especially as we got the killers POV. Though I didn’t realize it was his POV at first because of the 3rd person and it just felt out of left field at first.
So if you’re someone who enjoys character driven thrillers and are able to follow many POVs, you may like this one! It just wasn’t a hit for me and that’s okay! I think the writing of it was good.

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the arc!

Granite Harbor is a dark, gritty, immersive read. Please note, there are a few trigger warnings so please be sure to research them before reading.If you enjoy books about serial killers and don't mind the slow build, this is for you. This is one to add to your Spooky TBR!

This one was gruesome to me in the descriptions of the murders. i found myself skipping over some parts. i usually don't do horror anyway. the story was about a small town and 4 friends being hunted by a serial killer.

An interesting mystery that kept my attention, enjoyed it overall! Quick paced and compelling writing, and definitely infused some dread as well as a good amount of character backstory without being TOO much!

That said, two notes:

1) This thing is DARK and it is graphic. I can be a little bit squeamish on this front to be fair, but it is definitely on the gross side. Just be prepared!

2) The ending did feel just a smidge out of nowhere to me. The snowball of happenings didn’t, but the people did.

Granite Harbor is a beautiful small town on the coast of Maine; a perfect place for tourists to get away or for locals to live in peace. However, the residents of Granite Harbor are suddenly plunged into a state of horror as a serial killer takes root and starts killing the teenagers that live there. As it becomes apparent that the serial killer has their sight set on a particular group of kids, including the daughter of a police officer, detectives have to work to find who is terrorizing their town before more lives are lost.

The pace starts off very slow, and I found myself losing interest a few times and setting down and picking the book back up on different days. I’m glad I stuck with it though because the story picks up quite a bit in the second half and had me committed to the mystery, which became more interesting, albeit predictable. The story is gritty, dark, and more gruesome than expected. Although I ended up enjoying the end of the book, I would have liked to see more attention to the plot development and pacing of the story!

Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols is a thriller set in Maine. The story starts when one boy is found killed but it quickly evolves into a serial killer situation. I read a lot of mysteries but I found this one a bit too much for me. Some parts were too much to handle, while other parts were pretty slow. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.