I'm sorry, I couldn't read this one. Though it sounded like a book I would enjoy the subject matter was too traumatic for me.

I am a hard no on graphic animal violence. Wish I had been warned and could have not read this. It's cheap and unnecessary.

Dark & mysterious. I really enjoyed this one by Peter Nichols and felt like it gave me some gritty Dennis Lehane or Long Bright River vibes. I always appreciate the good quality writing by Nichols!

I had seen mixed reviews about Granite Harbor, but I found it to be a wonderful page-turner. I thought the characters were well-developed and the plot was strong. I loved that it was set on the coast of Maine too, as a New Englander. The story definitely had a slow burn, but the story didn't feel like it moved slow.

I thought it was a great book.
Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars

Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols is a thriller about the gruesome murders of teenage boys.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Celadon Books for sending me a widget, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions):
Granite Harbor Maine is a coastal town with a Historical Settlement on the edge.  That is where the body of Shane Carter is found, hanging by his outstretched arms, in the middle of a roughly hewn doorway.  A slit down the middle of his torso, and something wriggling inside him.

Detective Alex Brangwen, suddenly feels out of his league.  Alex is divorced from Morgana, with alternating custody of their teenaged daughter Sophie.    Sophie hung out with Shane, Ethan, and Jared.  The boys had been tight since childhood.  None of the kids are handling the death well, and to be honest, neither are any of the parents.  

The whole town is anxious, and they are all demanding answers.  So is Alex.


My Opinions:
This was definitely a slow-burner, and had a lot of extra details which I didn't feel were necessary.  The plot was interesting, but the history of each character was boring.  And there were a fair number of characters!

I did guess the identity of the killer almost from the start, but that was actually okay, because he wasn't mentioned that often.  His back-story, however, took up a fair amount of the book.

As well, be warned that there is a gruesome (and lengthy) killing of an animal.  If the overall plot had not been good, I probably would have stopped reading at that point.  Instead, I skimmed over most of it.  I understood the reason for it, but it dragged on far too long.  This does have me questioning whether this is an author I will read again.  As well, the killing of the teenagers was also drawn out, but that was actually not as harsh as that of the animal.

Overall, the plot was okay and everything got wrapped up nicely in the end.

he reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

I enjoyed the premise of this book, but sadly it fell flat. There were just too many characters to keep track of and I figured out the ending very early on. There was too much jumping round in the timeline and I sometimes lost track. Overall, a quick read, but didn’t land with me.

This was an utterly chilling read and had a little bit of disturbing twists! I loved this setting of a small coastal town of Maine! I really enjoyed the guessing game and how this all came together. Fast paced and well plotted, well intended read. This definitely sucked up my attention and kept me looped in!

‼️ TW: animal abuse - specifically chapter 34‼️

I was drawn to this book because of how gorgeous the cover is! This book is primarily from the perspective of our lead detective/author Alex, but there are scattered chapters from other perspectives. I had a hard time keeping track of these characters -even up until the end. It wasn’t that there were even too many, but some were too similar (ie typical teenagers- I kept getting Ethan and Shane confused!! ) or those I had zero connection to (Morgana). I wasn’t really too invested in this book until about 40% in where we really start to dive into the killer’s MO. This was a slow burn for sure, which typically are not my favorite. It was an interesting enough plot , but also didn’t blow me away.

I would say this book is comparable to the likes of SA Cosby for the atmospheric small town murder setting. However, I felt more connected to SA’s writing style, but it might just have been the setting. I’m from New England, so I don’t always love books that are set there because I have my own preconceived notions or connections to places such as Maine (where this book takes place).

As mentioned above, this does depict animal abuse. I didn’t find it so bad that I had to stop reading, but I have seen a lot of reviews where people said it was too much for them. Many have mentioned skipping chapter 34. Now I understand why, but it is entirely the reason and development of the killer’s killing mindset and I think it would make the book less enjoyable/harder to grasp the plot without having read this chapter.

This will take the right reader to really enjoy. Most likely the best audience would be someone who doesn’t read a lot of thrillers and appreciates a slow atmospheric burn AND can tolerate some level of animal abuse.

📖 Huge thank you to @Celadonbooks and @Netgalley for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review 📖

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

A local teenager is found dead..he has been killed in a specific way. Granite Harbor, a small town in Maine, has a serial killer. We are told in flashbacks, how this serial killer came to be. Great writing with edge of your seat thrills.
Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon publishers for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

Granite Harbor is an eerie and suspenseful read. It is fast paced and keeps you guessing. I was truly surprised by the twist at the end.
I enjoyed the way the story has a dual pov/timeline because it makes it harder to see the twists ahead of time but keeps the tension and intrigue high. With the killer’s pov, the red herrings abound as you try to figure out who the killer could be.
I never really connected with any characters (or even really liked them) but the storyline still managed to keep me engaged.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6459700299

And Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/share/BALBr4Wc2I

After seeing that Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols was reminiscent of Mare of Easttown with a villain reminiscent of Thomas Harris’s Silence of the Lambs, I knew it was one I needed to check out. While it didn't quite hit all of those notes for me, I will look forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

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.