Wow what a start to a new series of books and a new author discovery for me. We meet up with Val an FBI agent who has just escaped from a serial killer called The Bear and is back in her home town to recover from her ordeal and spend some quality time with her mom and her son. Val is struggling at not being at work and a chance meeting with an old friend finds her helping to look for a missing girl. This book is full of not only strong female characters but also a family you care about and a town that sounds like a lovely place to grow up. As Val tries to rebuild her life after what happened is The Bear finished with her and are her family in danger. I love this book it’s dark and exciting and just a great read.

Today I’m part of the Bookouture Blog Tour for GONE BY DAWN by H.K. Christie, the first in the Val Costa mystery series. I love a good mystery with a plucky female protagonist. This one takes place in Northern California, too (my hometown area). I liked the pacing in this story and the characters, though I’m happy it’s part of a series as I want to know more about what happens to Val and her family afterwards!

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Gone By Dawn' by H.K Christie.

This may be the first book I have read by this author but it most certainly wont be my last! It is also the first book in 'Val Costa' series.

What did I just read and where have you been all of my life HK Christie?!?! I cannot What an absolutely page turning, heart racing read!!

I cannot believe I have never read any of this amazing authors previous books before!! Well I am just glad I have now rectified that and I most certainly will be reading more in the future in both this series as well as her previous!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. This book is the first book in Christie's fantastic new 'Val Costa' series and what an absolutely explosive introduction to what promises to be an absolutely epic series it is!!! FBI Agent Val Costa is only the second woman to survive the serial killer known as 'Bear's capture but has been left with the letter S scarred into her skin from where he branded her. She is determined to capture him before he takes another life. Filled with tension, mystery, murder, drama, suspense, twists, turns and absolutely everything that you can ask for and much, much more!! I absolutely devoured this fantastic and explosive page turner in one sitting of a few hours and cannot wait to get stuck straight into the second book which is called 'Don't Make A Sound' which I am pleased to say is available to purchase now!! This book really is one of those amazing books that will keep you glued to the pages. Each and every time I said I would just finish the chapter I was on and get on with some work just to discover it ended in a way that I just HAD to read the next one which happened again and again until in the end I just read it in one so make sure you clear your schedules before you open s single page of this book! It is filled with action and multiple storylines including Ava and Val's investigations which Christie manages to weave together perfectly ensuring there is always something going on but that the storyline isn't too complex that the reader gets confused. If you are looking to start a new addictive, gripping and heart racing series then THIS ladies and gentleman is absolutely PERFECT for you so grab your copy now!! I promise you that you will NOT regret it!! Christie's absolutely fantastic evocative writing skills ensures the reader sees and feels absolutely everything the characters see and feel ensuring their hearts are racing along with them.

CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES BEFORE TURNING A SINGLE PAGE OF THIS ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVE BOOK AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!

I absolutely loved meeting and getting to know FBI Agent Val Costa who I became completely invested in. She very quickly came to feel like a friend rather than a fictional character. She is realistic, headstrong, determined and a strongly defined character! i am a huge fan of female protagonists being female myself and Val is definitely one of my favourites when it comes to crime books. She refuses to back down even when it means disobeying orders. Not only is she a FBI agent being female in a world mainly dominated by men but she is also a mother plus a daughter to an aging mother and she is juggling it all at once. I really liked meeting her Mother as well who I really liked. I was not a massive fan of Brady but I didn't dislike him either I'm just a little unsure of him at the moment so I am intrigued to see if my feelings towards him will change in the next book. Keep your eyes out for my review to find out!! I also really liked Ava who runs the Grace Centre which helps the homeless. In fact there were several characters that I liked or disliked but I am not going to go into any further details as I don't want to spoil it for future readers so grab your copy now to find out more about them for yourselves!! The characters were all realistic and it was lovely to watch all the different relationships and friendships between different characters develop and grow.

Congratulations H.K Christie on what promises to be a huge success!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and I would like to welcome you to my favourite author list!!! Here is to your next success 🥂 I'm now off to add every one of your books to my wishlist!

Overall an absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night

#GoneByDawn #ValCosta #HKChristie #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous

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The protagonist, Valerie Costa, an FBI agent, is on mandatory medical leave to regroup and recharge after an incident with a serial killer. Deciding to go back home and stay with her mother and son, she unexpectedly weaves into a missing woman case. Ms Christie shares her brilliant writing talent in creating a plot that grabs the reader in quickly, and from a variety of viewpoints, she weaves in drama and intrigue. She once again created a well-developed strong female protagonist, who is dealing with real life changes occurring in her family. I could easily grasp the character’s personality, back history, and challenges facing her that I readily was engaged in her welfare. It’s wonderful to know starting a new series, Ms Christie did not lose her fantastic style of suspense, dramatic plot building, and her ability to keep the reader drawn in with tidbits of information, but still leaving you hang a little. I enjoy crime thrillers because they keep me gripping my tablet wanting more clues, and expecting the other shoe to drop. And the best of course, is when I never guess the villain. That’s H.R. Christie. I received a complimentary ARC, but I am voluntarily offering my personal opinion.

This is the first instalment in the Val Costa series and couldn’t put this one down. I was hooked from the first couple of pages. Really intriguing storyline that just kept you wanting more. Loved the characters especially Val as I’m a sucker for a strong female character. It’s cleverly written that it builds the suspense and just gives you enough to keep you interested. You get a great insight into how the FBI work and the procedures they go through. Loved this one and even better I’ve found a new book series and have the next in the series ready to go…. If you are a fan of crime thrillers this is a read for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #GoneBeforeDawn

Oh my gosh! This thriller will leave you breathless. This is one crazy ride that you actually won’t see coming. Val Costa is an FBI agent who recently escaped a serial killer, “The Bear”. She is trying to heal when a local teenager goes missing. She works to find her but will “The Bear” find her first?
Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

First time author for me. I will definitely be following the series. The mystery with the missing child had some twists and thrills. Interweaving threads that bring a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed getting to know Val, her mom and her son as well as Brady a former high school class mate, I did figure out some of it when I got to Ava's part, but it was well done and did not disappoint. This is book 1 and there is a resolution to the missing child plot with a larger thread to carry over. Thank you so much for the opportunity to receive this book early. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #GonebyDawn #ValCosta #HKChristie #Bookouture #NetGalley

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I love this series! This was no exception! It was fast paced and chilling at times. Full of suspense and fear. This combines some great characters with some dark twisty plot and makes a great thrill ride. This was a hard to put down book. I highly recommend this read

Reading Between the Wines book review #84/130 for 2024:
Book Tour!!
Rating: 4 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Book: Gone By Dawn (Book 1 of Val Costa)
Author: H.K. Christie
Available now!! Released on August 27, 2024!

Sipping thoughts: This is another new series that I recently started, and I love this main character. Val is a tough gal who just narrowly escaped being killed by a serial killer. I appreciated how she is dealing with those toxic demons while still trying to fight crime. While Val was visiting her family and taking a rest, per her sergeant’s orders, she decided to try and help find a missing girl. The story behind the disappearance was one that I thought was very well done. It mirrored what we have seen in the news, somewhat. I liked how it ended and am excited about reading book 2, Don’t Make a Sound. If you are looking for a mystery with a little drama mixed in, try this series on for size.

Cheers and thank you to @Bookouture and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @GoneByDawn.

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I really enjoyed this first book in a new series! Very engaging like the other series of the same author. the storyline really keeps you engaged from the beginning and having the 2 books together was great. Looking forward to the next one!

Val is an exciting, strong, & likable new character with a thriller series. This case is a heartbreaking one with a twist partway through that I didn’t see coming. Gone By Dawn is a new crime thriller that left me diving into book 2 right away.

Thank you, HK Christie, Bookouture, & Netgalley for my early copy! All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to get my hands on this series. I’ve been so into police procedurals lately and I’m always looking for new authors to try out. H.K. Christie did not disappoint. I devoured both of these books. FBI Agent Val Costa is such a likable main character.

Even after her kidnapping by a serial killer, known as the Bear, she is still so dedicated to her job she doesn’t want to take time off for her injuries to heal. Going home to Red Rose County and spending time with her mom and son leads her to help in a missing girl case that ends up getting the organized crime task force involved.

I love her mom, as a former Sheriff, she understands Val’s drive to help people and she supports her volunteering to help find Scarlett.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

Gone by Dawn, by H. K. Christie

I do love a good murder mystery and this was quite the twisty one.

The blurb is misleading, because it’s only just a little bit about a girl disappearing overnight. It’s actually about a whole bunch of things that would spoil it if I said anything. Let’s just say that the initial disappearance is only the tip of the iceberg. And it’s a big iceberg.

Our main character Val Costa, an FBI agent akin to a Criminal Minds’ BAU agent, is staying with her mother the former sheriff in her home town while she recovers from an incident on her last case. She is “called in” to consult on the disappearance of a local girl. What she uncovers goes way deeper though. While she navigates recovery, struggling with bodily and mental harm, she escapes into this case.

If you like twisty, complex stories that cut deep you will enjoy this book. This is the first in a series (the second, Don’t make a sound - which I haven’t read yet - was also published today and the 3rd is forthcoming mid-December) and the sequels promise to continue the trend.

A new author and a new series!
Main character, Val, is a go getter that never wants to give up. The story starts out with Val being a profiler for the FBI. Her last case was a bit intense and she is put on leave as she recovers from her injuries.
Definitely a lot going on with in the story!
Lots of mystery, suspense and action…..heartbreaking moments for sure.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Quote: "The Bear was going to regret the day he messed with my family."

Gone By Dawn is book one in a new series by H.K. Christie called the Val Costa Series.

Val is an agent with the FBI and her team found her chained to a beam in a barn. She had the familiar "S" signature given to her by a serial killer with the nickname "Bear".

While Val is on leave, another girl goes missing. What happened to Scarlett Douglas? Is she another victim of "Bear"? Do Scarlett's parents know more than they are saying?

More young people start going missing and we spend most of the book trying to find out what happened and if they are still out there alive somewhere.

Gone By Dawn is a great first book in this new series by H.K. Christie.

Quote: "If it's the last thing I do."

I would definitely recommend this book especially if you enjoy crime thrillers.

Thank you Net Galley and Bookoture for the opportunity to read and review Gone By Dawn by H.K. Christie.

3.5 stars

Gone by Dawn by H.K. Christie is the first in the FBI Agent Val Costa series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture 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.

Series Information:
FBI Agent Val Costa lives in DC and has an 18-year old son Harrison who is starting at MIT.  She is middle-aged, and divorced.  She has a sister Maxine, who is a major in the U.S. Army.  Their mom lives in Red Rose County, California, and is a retired sheriff.  Val's boss is Kieran.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
FBI Agent Val Costa is supposed to be on medical leave to recover from an attack by the serial killer known as the Bear.  She's only one of two women that have survived his brutality.  Val now has his signature "S" carved into her.  The Bear is still at large.  So she and her son are staying with Val's mom in California, looking forward to a little bonding time before Harrison starts at MIT.   They are all a little tense knowing that the Bear is still out there somewhere, and he may want to get Val back.  Her boss has instructed her to see a therapist. and stay low.

But when Scarlett Douglas, a local teenager goes missing, Val can't help but get involved.  Red Rose County is a close-knit community, so Val feels obligated to help.  She will work with Deputy Brady Tanner as a "consultant".  He is an old high school friend.

Against Kieran's orders, Val goes to see the Douglas family, and finds out that Scarlett was housebound due to a devastating diagnosis, and now she is missing.  Val is determined to bring her back to her family.   But she feels that May and Jack, Scarlett's parents, are keeping  something from the investigators.

In the back of her mind, the Bear is still causing her nightmares, and Val worries about the safety  of her family.  She has a lot on her plate.

Meanwhile, Ava, who runs the Grace Center to help the homeless, is missing some of her regular visitors.  Over the last few weeks, three teenagers have failed to appear, and although the police don't seem interested in three missing homeless people, Ava is determined to find them.


My Opinions:
This may turn out to be an interesting series, but the verdict is still out.

Although her heart is in the right place, I didn't always like Val, who doesn't seem to obey anyone's orders.  She's a little too headstrong.  However, she is a strong female protagonist who is trying to juggle motherhood, work, and an aging parent.  That was interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing that progress.   I loved her mom.  Brady seems a little too meek, and I don't particularly like the idea that they may hook up.  I think Val would just run right over him.

The plot was really good, but there were not really any major surprises.  It seemed very predictable.  However, I still enjoyed the process.  I didn't like the fact that there is this big "thing" hanging over Val's head which was not solved in this book, and therefore encourages the reader to buy book #2...  That always annoys me.

I did like how the author wove the different threads of Ava's story and Val's investigation together, although somewhat slowly.

So overall, this was quite good.  I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress in the next book.

This is the way to kick off a new series! Our main character is compelling and complicated. The mystery keeps your attention and it keeps you guessing. I was sucked into the story.

Gone by Dawn by H.K. Christie is the first book in the new FBI Agent Val Costa series and what an excellent start. I loved it and found it hard to pull myself away from my kindle. This book was full of twists and turns throughout and I loved the new character FBI Agent Val Costa and I can see some brilliant stories coming our way in the future.

When FBI Agent Val Costa came face to face with a serial killer, he is only known as the "Bear." She is only two women ever to survive his capture, but, she is now forever branded with his a curling “S” carved into her skin. Val knows it’s only a matter of time before he takes another victim. Now, Her team need to find him before this happens.

But, Val is forced to stay at home to recover her ordeal! The only place she feels safe, is in Red Rose County, California, and this is where her mum lives. She packs a few things and heads back to her family home with her son, to rest. Val has only been home for a few hours when she hears about the disappearance of blonde-haired, freckled-faced local teen, Scarlett Douglas.
Val can not sit there and do nothing, she needs help find Scarlett and helps interviews the Douglas family at their farmhouse. She uncovers a less-than-idyllic picture, Scarlett was housebound since a devastating diagnosis! and Scarlett’s world was crumbling all around her. Scarlett’s unworn prom dress is still hanging in her room, waiting to be worn for her Prom with all her friends, brings a tear to Val’s eye. She won’t sleep until this sweet girl is home and safe.

Things get scary, when she receives a little pink teddy bear at her door at her mum's

Has the Bear followed her home?

Is Scarletts disappearance something to do with The Bear?

Is everyone in danger?

Is Val and her family safe?

WoW.....This book was so good and I had to read the next book in this series straight after.........I am hooked especially as H.K. Christie is a new author to me.

I highly recommend this book/series.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Gone by dawn was a delight to read and review. I was gripped from the very first page and thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns the book took you on.
Wow! Seriously, I was tired after reading this. My adrenaline was pumping full force!
Highly recommended!

Unputdownable Thriller

Val escaped a serial killer, but did he follow her home? While recuperating in her hometown, a teenager disappeared. Val should be on leave, but she was compelled to investigate. Her tenacity would lead law enforcement to a web of lies, deception, and murder.

This page-turner kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who like suspenseful crime thrillers that keep you turning the pages. The mystery is puzzling, and the action is riveting. I look forward to what will come next in this series.