The killer's history was interesting. The murders and the investigation of the murders was interesting. I liked Flynn the dog.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols
Pub date: April 30, 2024

This is a really clever and twisty thriller that uses an unknown narrator for a past POV while keeping the reader on their toes in the present.

The town of Granite Harbor is shocked by the death of a teen boy; a grisly murder and a bizarre clue left behind hints this is something the killer may have done before. This is the first murder that detective, Alex Brangwen, father and failed novelist, has faced in his career. Emotions are high in this small town and the pressure is on Alex to solve this murder before the killer strikes again.

Isabel, single mother to Ethan, is doing her best to keep a roof over their head. Ethan and the murder victim were best friends since birth and Ethan isn’t coping well with his death. When another friend is found murdered in the same gruesome fashion, Alex and Isabel work together to uncover who the killer is.

Small town intricacies and all its particulars play a big part in how this story plays out. Just how well do we know our neighbors and friends? Our co-workers? How many times do we say, ‘Yeah, they’re an odd duck but wouldn’t harm a fly”. It’s this sort of teasing out of the story that the author does so well. It plays on all the secondary characters oddities and personalities, making everyone a suspect. Very well done!

I like that the author brought in a little touch of the supernatural/paranormal – nothing over the top – just a bit to give an edge to the story. I think it really added to the suspense and brought one of the characters involvement to another level.

The use of an unknown narrator in the past gives a chilling insight into the very sick mind of a serial killer while working beautifully with the present time narrative.

This is my first book by Peter Nichols but I’ll be looking into his backlist!

My thanks to @CeladonBooks for this gifted DRC.

This book was different than what I expected. Why? Well, several reasons, but the main one being when you despise a secondary character (Alex’s ex-wife) almost as much as the serial killer (but definitely not in the same way), you know you’re reading a character driven tale.
Alex is a detective in Granite Harbor, Maine. After a shall we say not pleasant divorce, he has given up his writing career to have a steady paycheck and be part of his daughter's life. When one of her friends from school is murdered, in a gruesome manner, Alex must try to figure out who the killer is before they strike again. There were quite a few suspects, but I actually guessed whodunnit early in the story (yeah me). There are several characters that we get to know and the chapters by the unknown killer are sad (early life) and brutal (the way the victims die).
I could say that this was a slow burn, and I think many people would agree. But somehow the people who were featured, grabbed my interest early on, and combined with the killer’s story, I can say that, as the pages went by, I was hooked.
Like all books, this won’t appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy Nordic Noir, Granite Harbor might just suck you in too. I was actually kind of sad when it ended.

“There’s no such thing as a random, senseless crime.”

A former novelist from England who is now a detective and a single father in a small town in Maine. A single mother dealing with personal demons and financial struggles trying to care for her son. A brutal murder at the town’s historic archeological site with a unique detail that points to a possible serial killer. The past experiences of an unknown boy who grew to be a killer.

Granite Harbor was wonderfully dark and atmospheric weaving these narratives together along with an eclectic cast of local people. In this small town everyone knows one another and it’s unthinkable a murderer could be living amongst them.

I was drawn in to this town and the people very quickly. The narrative of the mysterious boy was fascinating from a psychological perspective, as was the signature of the crime. The killer’s evolution and development was the most intriguing aspect for me. I also enjoyed learning interesting facts about a few subjects (including Ethan’s hobby) which I won’t specify because of potential spoilers.

I found the relationships between Alex and his daughter Sophie and Isabel and her son Ethan both to be relatable. However, I wasn’t connected to any of them and some behaviors seemed implausible. Alex is concerned throughout that he is not capable of handling the investigation and I was a bit disappointed with the conclusion of his story arc.

There’s a particular element of one character that is introduced half way through the novel that many may find compelling. For me it felt like a plot device to move the story forward and provide results. Granite Harbor was more about people and relationships than it was a whodunit since there was really only one viable suspect. Overall this was a gritty and entertaining page turner. Perfect for those who like slow burn small town crime dramas!


Scroll down for potential spoiler trigger warnings.

Thank you Peter Nichols, Celadon Books and NetGalley for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.













⚠️Possible triggers: descriptive crimes, animal harm/cruelty, suicide, drug use, bullying

DNF - I really wanted to love this one. The plot was intriguing & the format could have been great but the writing style was very plain & that is not something that I particularly enjoy. Readers who do not mind this will find a wonderful read in this book.

I wasn’t terribly impressed by this book, the ploy was not all that interesting but the one thing going for it was the creepy, and I mean creepy killer. This person is enough to make one’s skin crawl. That alone should keep your interest.

Decent thriller although I never felt I really connected with our main protagonists well. Thanks for the arc, would maybe recommend

In Granite Harbor, a small quiet town a serial killer is on the loose. The first description of the body will stick with you long after you put this book down. You may have to go back and read it again just to make sure you got it right but it will freak you out. It made me wonder how did the author come up with this? Either way you need to read on to figure out who did it. This is a creepy, bizarre crime novel that is a stand alone book. I just want someone to read this soon so we can talk about it.

Alex is the detective trying to solve this case but since the first victim is a friend of his daughter's this may just hit to0 close to home.

In this gripping thriller by Peter Nichols, A Voyage for Madmen, Granite Harbor, Maine failed novelist turned police detective Alex Brangwen is on the trail of a serial killer striking the town’s children while involving the town’s historical settlement. His personal involvement in the case includes his teenage daughter and her friends as well as a former love interest who now works as a reenactor at the settlement. Can he stop the killer before they strike too close to home?

I found this an exciting page turner. Nichols elevates the story from standard serial killer fare with pitch perfect writing, three dimensional realistic characters, and a plot that moves along at a great pace. Having his main character, a once celebrated author now living life in a small town, added a unique perspective to the story. Granite Harbor is a place I would like to visit and I hope to see more of police detective Brangwen in the future.

The synopsis here was very promising so I was super excited to read it, but it ultimately fell flat for me. As a book with a serial killer, this took waaaay too long to pick up the pace. Also, have never seen a crime author become the town detective lol very original, but slightly weird. The characters and their drama weren’t that entertaining. Once the pace picked up it was a lot better and heart racing, but at that point it was too late for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I loved this book. Could not put it down at all. The atmosphere of the small town and the Settlement and the people who work there is very well constructed, and the characters are sympathetic and realistic. I highly recommend to all who love a good story.