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.

An exciting and fresh new series about FBI agent Val,
Val’s life is being sidelined with her narrow escape from a killer and her only child launching into the world.
Having been forever marred and marked by the Bear, Val is sucked into a new case close to home.
I sucked in my breath with shock over the diabolical twist of the plot and what was occurring.
Val had to put in for her early retirement but she’s still very needed by local law enforcement.
I’m eager to see what’s next in line for Val!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this arc. This is a multi pov from Scarlett’s mom and FBI agent Valerie told in first person. From the prologue, the girl Scarlett disappears and we then follow Val, who was recent captured by a serial killer with the name “The Bear” and she has gotten rescued by her team. This happens right away in chapter one. She really wants to get back on the case of tracking Bear down and getting revenge before he can hurt anyone else and since Val’s encounter with Bear she’s been having nightmares and PTSD from the event and has to deal with it daily as she goes about trying to do everything she can to help Scarlett and find her as quick as possible. This is really good but I didn't find it to be much of a thriller more less just murder mystery/crime but I fully enjoyed it and some plot twists I was shocked by. I really loved the character Valerie the most and I highly recommend to anyone who likes mystery, there’s not much else to say about this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

having read book 2 before this one... a mistake...i knew what to expect from this author and man did they run me a merry dance through their book

when scarlett was first reported missing everyone in the community looked for her.... but things werent adding up and it was vals idea to bring in the cadaver dogs.....

it wasnt long before they had a body.... question was...was it scarlett and if so why...

the answers when they came didnt make sense and the parents werent being helpful....

things were going to get stranger.....

man what a ride this book gives.... who knew where next you going to end up and what else was going to happen... well written and the characters were very life like and likeable... i cant wait to see what book 3 brings....

I was gifted this ARC. This is my second read by Christie and it was as good as the first! I found the pacing to be perfect. There are a lot of chapters, but they are the perfect length. I find when there are less chapters but they are long, the story feels drawn out.

The story follows Val (FBI Agent) who we find out was hunting a serial killer and she was captured and held, but was able to escape. She goes home to visit family and stumbles into a search for 5 missing people. She rekindles an old friendship and solves the case, all while she’s supposed to be recovering. I can appreciate this though because I also have a habit of pushing myself to avoid thinking about any past traumas. While she solved one case, we are left wondering about her own capture. I can’t wait to get into the second book! 5⭐️read for me!

Very good start to a new series. Valerie Costa FBI agent has gone to visit her mom and gets caught up in a missing persons case. She teams up with lifelong friend Brady Tanner to work on the case. You will really get caught up in the turn of events.

Gone by Dawn is book one in the Val Costa series by H.K. Christie.
A brand new addictive crime thriller with pulse-pounding suspense that never lets up.
I was so eager to jump right into book two and be back with FBI Agent Val Costa.
The book's pacing was excellent, keeping me engaged and very entertained.
Christie‘s writing is compelling and I was immediately hooked.

Book one in a new series and a great introduction to the character of FBI Agent Val Costa, after escaping the clutches of a serial killer Val is sent home on enforced leave to recuperate but finds herself thrown into assisting in the disappearance of a local girl and soon finds herself unravelling something far more sinister.

An intense engaging read look forward to seeing how this series develops.

A brand new police procedural series which stars Val Costa. Val has been given time off after being kidnapped by a criminal who they have named Bear. While relaxing with her family she gets involved in the disappearance of a young girl named Scarlett. This is where things get interesting and the fast pace building begins. The different cases are easy to follow and seem to flow together breathlessly. I enjoyed trying to figure out the culprit and the cliffhanger ending has left me with many questions. I am hoping to have answered in the next book. This book is a very good start and I already feel like I personally know the characters especially Val.

Gone By Dawn is the first book in the Val Costa Series. It has a good plot, it's full of action and mystery, and as the story grew I started to think about the actions I would take to protect my child. It's heartbreaking to learn how so many people get entangled in the organ trafficking business and how ugly things may get. Val is an interesting and promissing character as is Jake. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I thank Ms. Christie, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Fast-paced thriller. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Fantastic first book in the Val Costa series. There was intrigue and suspense. The characters interacted well, each with their own strengths combined to solve a complex and quite moving situation. Looking forward to the next instalment.

Well once again H. K. Christie has done it! Val is amazing. This is going to be an amazing series, just like Martina Monroe and Selena Bailey. This book kept my attention the whole time and I just wanted to keep reading to see what happened. I can’t wait to start the second one to see what adventures Val takes us on….kind of hoping for her and Brady to become a couple…. Only time will tell. On to the next one!

A new mystery around every corner! The Val Costa series is kicking off with a bang as danger lurks with one mystery after another rearing it's head to peak our interest. I feel like the main story was developed well and held my attention page after page as twists kept heating things up, but Val's personal storyline lacked development and left us hanging a good bit. I wanted more from her and her case and a connection to secure her deeply into my mind to carry forward into more books. I'm hoping she will fill out some in the next book with a lock in of what is going on with her to make her more satisfying.