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.

Wow, Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols is a real page-turner! If you’re into crime novels that dive deep into characters and community, this one’s for you.

Set in a charming coastal town in Maine, things take a dark turn when a local teenager is found murdered at the Settlement, a historic site. Alex Brangwen, the town’s only detective and a single dad, is on the case. It’s his first murder investigation, and the pressure is on—everyone is looking to him to solve this and restore some peace.

The pacing is spot-on! Just when you think you’ve figured things out, another twist comes along. When a second body turns up, it ramps up the tension even more. Nichols does a fantastic job of revealing the town’s secrets, making you wonder who you can trust.

If you're hooked on shows like Mare of Easttown or Unbelievable and crave a propulsive crime story layered with rich character drama, join the thrill ride of Granite Harbor.

Fair warning though - don't expect to get any sleep once you start reading!

The vivid setting, tantalizing mystery, and human dimension will keep you feverishly turning pages long into the night.

Really wanted to love this one but the first half was a bit slow and failed to fully hook me. The second half was more enjoyable but overall just ok for me 3.5⭐️

I loved the Maine setting - very atmospheric.

It was darker than expected, which is fine by me. I felt like some of the rationale and story behind the serial killer lost me, but it was okay overall.

I think it was also a timing issue / if I read this at a different time, I probably would’ve enjoyed this more.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols. I read The Rocks by him, which is what prompted me to request this book. This story begins with Alex who is a new detective, who has been somewhat down on his luck. Soon a teenager is found murdered and Alex is set to figure out who did it. Along with Alex, a woman named Isabel is introduced. Her son and Alex’s daughter were friends with the victim. Not too long after the first murder, a second body is found and Alex and Isabel start to fear and wonder who’s next. This was a pretty evenly paced read, but at times it felt a little flat. Overall I did enjoy reading it.

While I appreciate the premise of this book it just did not resonate with me. I really wanted to love it and I did enjoy the suspense throughout the story I just feel like the characters weren’t likable and the plot was a little loose.

Peter Nichols' "Granite Harbor" is a gripping thriller that captivates readers from the very first page. Nichols masterfully combines his literary prowess with the suspense of a murder mystery, delivering a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

The novel begins with an eerie scene that sets the tone for the rest of the book, as three teenage boys skateboard through the quiet streets of Granite Harbor, unaware of the lurking danger. The depiction of a serial killer's disturbing thoughts adds a chilling layer to the narrative, making it clear that this is not just a simple whodunit, but a deep dive into the psyche of a murderer.

At the heart of the story is Detective Alex Brangwen, a former novelist whose life has taken a dramatic turn. Nichols skillfully develops Brangwen's character, portraying his transition from a successful writer to a police detective in a small Maine town. The backstory of Alex's move to Maine, driven by his now-estranged wife, adds a personal dimension to the plot, making his character relatable and multifaceted. The local police chief, Belinda “Billie” Raintree, sees potential in Alex’s investigative skills, believing his literary background equips him with a unique perspective on crime-solving.

The novel's setting in Granite Harbor is richly described, with the small-town atmosphere playing a significant role in the story. The local archaeological site, the Settlement, serves as a haunting backdrop for the murder investigation, intertwining the town's history with its present-day horrors. As the plot unfolds, Nichols delves into the lives of the town's residents, creating a well-developed ensemble cast that adds depth to the narrative. The tension escalates as Alex's daughter, Sophie, and her friends become targets, intensifying the stakes and driving the story to its thrilling conclusion.

Granite Harbor is a well-written, character-driven novel that seamlessly blends the charm of small-town New England with the suspense of a psychological thriller, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

Tnis one was way too slow and I had to fight for it to hold my attention. I need a thriller/mystery to have some good pacing; if it can't hold my attention throughout, it's not going to work for me! Also, animal cruelty is a surefire way for me to hate a book!

It never ceases to amaze me how writers come up with different ways to kill people. This book is no exception. There were a few faces made (eewwww, gross) but that is what is expected. The story is good. It kept me connected from start to finish.