🐸 BOOK / REVIEW 🐸

Gonna come in a bit hot right out of the gate. #graniteharbor was...

SO ODD.

I probably should have DNF this one 2 weeks ago (yes, it took me 16 days to read this, which is unheard of). But, I stuck through it 😮‍💨.

When I was reading the synopsis to my husband, I realized it's quite different from the book, and it gives away some crucial information that the reader doesn't find out until 75% in. It was so slow - and while the "crimes" were interesting, I just felt there was a lack of build-up.

Also, dont get me started on how much I hate animal cruelty in books 😭 ugh - chapter 34 was so hard to read. I wish this had come with a trigger warning - it was foul.

Overall, if you like atmospheric thrillers, this may work. This was not the book for me - thank you, @celadonbooks, for my #gifted book.

I enjoyed the serial killer mystery. The history behind the killer was filled out well, as well as the character development of the victims and their families. I would read books by this author again.

The setting of the premise of this mystery had great promise. Three teenagers, all bet friends and two of them now murdered and the bodies displayed in a macabre manner. The investigating officer, an author who needed a day job, doesnt make too much progress. Claivoyance is an issue with one of the characters.

Granite Harbor is about a small costal town in Maine and how the town get's shaken to its core by a serial killer after a local teenager is found brutally murdered. The book was a dark read that was a bit on the slower side but the pacing did pick up after the halfway mark. First time reading this author and I am looking forward to reading more by this author. Granite Harbor is a book that I highly enjoyed reading and one that I would recommend to other readers who love a good mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review of Granite Harbor.

Thank you Netgalley, Caleadon Books, and Peter Nichols for this ARC.

Synopsis: A small town in coastal Maine is shaken to its core by a serial killer.

My thoughts: I was so excited for this ARC because (not sure what this says about me🫢) there’s just something about a serial killer thriller that sucks me right in! Granite Harbor was especially interesting because it dove into the killer’s background which made a lot of the disturbing and unsettling things make more sense. If you can handle creepy and sometimes gory, this might be for you!
My biggest complaint about this book was how unclear the shifting timelines and perspectives were. Sometimes the POV would switch mid chapter, making the story hard to follow at times.
Overall, I would recommend this to those who like a darker, atmospheric thriller focused on police procedural and serial killer tropes!

Thank you Netgalley and Celadon Books for providing the advance copy of Peter Nichols’ new novel. This was an exciting thriller, pitting a well-hidden serial killer against a novelist turned police detective in small town Maine. I thought the setting was interesting, including the inclusion of the settler reenactment. I was a little put off by the psychic part of the plot, as I didn’t think that fit well, but overall I would recommend it for thriller fans.

Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols is a thriller following the investigation of a serial killer that has landed in a small Maine town. Alex, one of the main point of view characters is investigating the murder of a local boy, one who was friends with his own daughter who is devastated by the loss. There is a particularly distinct signature that the serial killer uses that raises a lot of questions in the investigation and ties back to another case from 16 years ago that has Alex wondering if it is the same killer returned after a long hiatus.

I was immediately intrigued by this book because of the storyline involving a serial killer which had me wanting to pick it up. The fact that the case is potentially tied to one from so long ago only added to my interest as it raised so many questions - why the long break, if it was the same killer or a copycat, etc. - and I found myself wanting these answers and trying piece together the tidbits of information for myself. The chase for the killer and delving deeper into the case was definitely interesting and had me wanting to see the end result.

This one was… OK. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. It wasn’t the most shall we say, “thrilling” book I’ve read and at times dragged, but it had me interested enough to want to see it through to the end. At times it felt like a bit of a slog to get through, particularly in the beginning of the book in getting to know characters with scenes that felt at times unnecessary. This also brings me to the fact that I felt little connection for the characters as I had no real interest in learning about them or reading gratuitous scenes that held little other purpose than delving into their lives a bit more. For the most part they were a bit bland for me and I felt little investment in them as a result.

All together, it’s an interesting premise, though for me it fell a bit flat. I do think enjoyers of thrillers, particularly those that like the opportunity to get into the head of the killer, will enjoy this read. There is quite a bit of background on the killer from their perspective throughout the course of the novel, which for me was a bit of a slog, as well as difficult to read at times (trigger warning for animal cruelty and death if you are like me and don’t like this). However, that’s not to say it’s a bad book, it just wasn’t my favourite read of the year.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC of Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols.

Granite Harbor is your standard coastal town that’s full of complacent residents and the expectation that nothing bad ever happens. The town is shocked when a teen is found murdered in a gruesome way and put on display. It’s up to the town’s Detective to solve the case before anyone else turns up dead.

This book started out strong but just kind of ended. The story line was good however there were a lot of sub story lines that didn’t come to fruition. The ending albeit expected was also kind of a dud. Overall this was a decent read but left me wanting more.

Pub Date: April 30, 2024
🌟🌟.5

Thank you NetGalley for the early release of Granite Harbor. When I read the synopsis that this book took place in a small town and there was a serial killer on the loose I said sign me up! Crime, thrillers, and police procedural reads are usually my go to but I was rather confused throughout this book.

It hooked me in the beginning to keep me reading but as time went on I was confused about what was happening. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters which is crucial for me when reading. Some things just didn’t make sense to me. I asked myself “what is happening ?” Or “who is that character” a lot while reading.

Personally this wasn’t a great fit for me for someone who usually loves this genre. If you want to give it a try maybe you will have a different experience than I did but you don’t need to run and get this book.

In smalltown Granite Harbor in Maine, a teenage boy turns up murdered at the town archeological site known as the Settlement. It's up to the town's one detective Alex Brangwen to find the killer. Alex is a single father, and this is his first murder case. Isabel, single mom, and employee at the Settlement finds herself entangled with the case because her son Ethan and Alex's daughter Sophie were best friends with the murder victim. When another teenager is murdered in the same fashion as the first, Alex and Isabel become worried their children may become the next victim. It's now a race against time to find the killer before he can strike again.


Granite Harbor is a slow-burn, character driven thriller about a smalltown and the murder of two of its teenage residents. This story weaves together through the multiple viewpoints of characters. I enjoyed Alex's chapters as he investigated the murders and Isabel's chapters because she was such a relatable character. Then there were the chapters from the pov of the killer, which were very creepy. His chapters are very gruesome and very descriptive with details of his murders. This story definitely builds a lot of background in the beginning, but if you stick with it, there's a huge payoff at the end.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

Granite Harbor
By Peter Nichols
Publication Date: April 30, 2024

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚THE SYNOPSIS:

In scenic Granite Harbor, life has continued on―quiet and serene―for decades. That is until a local teenager is found brutally murdered in the Settlement, the town’s historic archaeological site. Alex Brangwen, adjusting to life as a single father with a failed career as a novelist, is the town’s sole detective. This is his first murder case and, as both a parent and detective, Alex knows the people of Granite Harbor are looking to him to catch the killer and temper the fear that has descended over the town.

At once a page-turning thriller and captivating portrait of the social fabric of a small town, Granite Harbor evokes the atmosphere of HBO’s Mare of Easttown with a villain reminiscent of Thomas Harris’s Silence of the Lambs.

📚MY REVIEW:

Are you looking for a creepy book? The kind of creepy book you don't want to KEEP reading because it's so vile -- but you also can't STOP reading because it's so vile?! Well, I present Granite Harbor!

THIS. BOOK. Y'ALL. The creepy factor is off the charts in this one! Chapters were told from multiple POVs of the book's characters, including the anonymous killer who shares unpleasant stories from their past so you can develop a better understanding of just why this person is so f*cked up.

Some of these memories from the killer nearly turned my stomach. The way Nichols shared the killer's mindset was absolutely chilling and so well done! The depravity in this story-telling was top notch and the suspense was breathtakingly brutal.

This is a MUST-READ if you are a thriller addict like me -- especially if you enjoy intense, jarring, and creepy books you can binge in one sitting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! I had been so excited to be approved for this one because I'd been wanting to read it... And it did not disappoint!

[I intentionally shortened the synopsis so you didn't get any spoilers here!]

#NetGalley #GraniteHarbor #fivestarreads #thrillerreads #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookstagrammers #arc

First off, I think this cover is gorgeous. It certainly attracted me to the book, as the did the Maine coastal setting. Unfortunately, those were the highlights for me. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. I think there were some plot holes that just weren't clear and didn't make sense. On the other hand, it was pretty well-written, and had some interesting ideas for the genre. I can see many folks really enjoying this -- I just wasn't one of them.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

If you’re into atmospheric, gritty thrillers, this one is for you. Peter Nichols’ GRANITE HARBOR takes place in a small town in Maine that is shaken to its core after a gruesome, unthinkable murder of a local teen. The reader follows Alex, a novelist-turned-detective from England as he tries to solve this horrific crime.

These characters are good. With the exception of a few minor characters, they have the kind of complexity and relatability that makes small town mysteries so engaging. Nichols is particularly skilled with the main character, Alex, whose outsider-ness is somehow both an asset and an obstacle. Alex is the kind of character who can carry an entire series. The town itself is a character that feels very real.

But the thing is, this book is dark. It’s too dark, at least for the kind of reader I am. It reads like HBO’s “True Detective” - sinister, graphic, and horrifying. There are ritualistic depictions of violence. Much of the novel is told through a serial killer’s perspective which is very much not for me. There is also animal cruelty depicted in this book that made my stomach turn. I think the question is what this darkness achieves. Does it contribute to the mystery - or take from it? Is it necessary? I’m not sure.

I won’t be visiting Granite Harbor again but I do think there are plenty of readers who would devour a series set in this small Maine town. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon for the advance readers copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

GRANITE HARBOR
Peter Nichols

I came across GRANITE HARBOR when I was looking for thrillers featuring fathers that fathers might like. I liked the idea of a small-town detective starting over and making a new name for himself.

Alex is a divorced detective who made his way to both out of necessity rather than choice. We meet up with Alex on his first case in the settlement of Granite Harbor. The death of a local teenager who died under suspicious circumstances.

The whole town agrees that Alex needs to find the killer and find them fast. We follow along as Alex sorts through the evidence, questions suspects, and zeros in on his target.

GRANITE HARBOR is due to be published on April 30, 2024.


GRANITE HARBOR is a little weird but in a good way. Adding richness in detail. Details I don’t usually pay attention to. There were quirky things about the case that required both humor and intellect and, in that way, it reminded me of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.

The audiobook requires a bit of stamina as the narrator’s voice stays level for the most part. I wouldn’t say monotone but more lacking contrast. I enjoyed my reading experience outside of that and I am including it in a thriller list coming in June.

Pick up your copy and already have one book checked off the list for yourself.

Thanks to Netgalley, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies!

GRANITE HARBOR…⭐⭐⭐

I enjoyed this one so much. It was unique and gruesome. After the body was discovered, I could not put this book down. The multiple POVs and the past timeline that gave us insight into the killer's upbringing were brilliant.

The only thing I wasn't a fan of was how "visions" were a part of the plot because it didn't explore this magical realism enough, making it feel thrown in. Using "mother intuition" would've worked just fine because it is a thing and would've made it more realistic.

Aside from that, I highly recommend it!

Thank you, Netgalley and Celadon, for the ARC.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for this ARC. After reading a lot of fantasy books in March, I was ready for a dark and gritty read, and "Granite Harbor" delivered. Diving into the perspectives of Alex, a police detective, and Isabel, a Granite Harbor resident, plus the POV of an unnamed killer, I was quickly immersed in the small-town dynamics and the brutal crimes that started to be unearthed.

Peter Nichols crafted a suspenseful tale against the backdrop of dark, small-town vibes. I was immediately addicted to the storyline and constantly tried to guess who the killer was among the Granite Harbor residents. This was a straightforward police procedural with graphic horror, and I immediately knew I wanted to know how this mystery would end by chapter 3.

The first few chapters are slower-paced, but then we encounter the first victim and the serial killer's POV, and things start barrelling forward at a healthy speed. The rest of the tale is extremely fast-paced and I binged this book in a day.

This is an extremely graphic book with gruesome descriptions of the murders and animal cruelty. However, these are not triggers for me, so I was able to heavily enjoy the story. My only criticism is that I wish Nichols would have given more depth to the serial killer as I kept wanting to know more.

If you are looking for a dark, moody thriller that will have you racing to the last page, this book is for you!

This high-energy murder mystery begins with a bang, the victim is literally strung up with his abdomen cut open and where a live frog has been placed. The mystery of the frogs is eventually explained -- I am not sure if that adds or subtracts from the plot line but it sure is interesting nonetheless. The action takes place in a small coastal Maine town where the lead detective is a novelist, his ex-wife is a force to be reckoned with, and various teens are part of the action as the police try to figure things out. I liked the characters and plot points, frogs notwithstanding, and the ragged beauty of the Maine coast is another character in the mystery of it all. Highly recommended.

I think part of my issue with this book is that they compare the book to Silence of the Lambs - Y'all, he wishes. I guessed the killer basically as soon as he was introduced.

I liked the elements of clairvoyance and some of the PoVs we got, but overall this thriller is thoroughly mid.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for sending this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book is wild. There are moments with a lot of ick, and moments where you’re just trying to put the pieces together. I have to be honest though, while at times I couldn’t put it down, at others I was bored. The beginning is super slow. There is a lot of the backstory that makes sense in the end, but it just didn’t keep me engaged like I was hoping. Definitely check the content warnings if you avoid certain things related to children or animals. A little bit of mystery, police procedural, small town, history, and graphic descriptions.

It took me a few days to process before I could write this review. I’m conflicted because the storytelling is just brilliant, but the inclusion of gratuitous scenes which were extremely and unnecessarily graphic really took away from my enjoyment of the book. The scenes of animal cruelty are, by far, the worst I’ve ever read. I was physically sick.

For this reason, I prefer not to give it a star rating; however, NG requires it. I landed at three stars.. See content warnings at the bottom of this review.

If you have a strong stomach and are not bothered this type of content, perhaps give this one a try for yourself. As I said, the storytelling itself was fantastic.

Content Warnings: Graphic scenes of animal cruelty and sexual abuse of a child (by an older child).

My thanks to @celadonbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.