Thanks to Bookoture and H.K Chrtistine for having me on this tour of Val Costa Series.


At the beginning of the series, we meet Val, who is on leave at the hospital to visit her mom and rest. She comes across a mysterious stranger nicknamed the Bear who leaves the letter "S" on her skin. Meanwhile, in her hometown, a young girl named Scarlett goes missing. Against the rules, Val decides to help the local police department find the missing girl. The story unfolds, featuring multiple points of view, a quick pace, and plenty of suspense. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. I loved the police procedural aspects and the different points of view, which added extra depth to the story. Trying to figure out who was behind everything kept me guessing, and the ending completely shocked me. I nearly dropped my Kindle!


Dive into the captivating Val Costa Series with its intricate plot twists and engaging storytelling! #Bookoture #HKChristine #ValCostaSeries #MysteryNovel #SuspensefulRead #PoliceProcedural #PageTurner #ShockingEnding #BookLoversUnite

5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Gone Before Dawn.

This book follows an FBI agent named Val who is recovering from being kidnapped and held hostage by a serial killer she was trying to catch named the bear. While she is trying to recover physically and emotionally from what she endured she takes refuge in her hometown with her mother and teenaged son. She resents the fact that she has been placed on leave from work when all she wants to do is catch the monster that abducted her. She reconnects with her old friend Brady who is now a deputy and she is shocked to find out a teenager in her hometown has gone missing. She teams up with Brady as a volunteer to help find the girl. As the investigation carries on Val senses there is more going on. Has the bear tracked her down? Is her family in danger? Can she find the missing girl?

This book had me hooked from the first page. This is the first book in the Val Costa series. I am new to this author but love the writing style. There was truly never a dull moment in this book and I could not put it down. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series has in store for Val.

Love, love, love this book. If the rest of the books in this new series are even half as good I’ll be waiting for each new book to be released just as I wait for this authors other series books. The story was engaging and the characters wowed me. It was hard to put down but I didn’t want it to be concluded. A great problem to have!

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

What an explosive start to a new series by H.K Christie.

Gone by Dawn is book 1 in the FBI Agent Val Costa series. After surviving being captured by the serial killer she was hunting down known as the Bear, Val finds herself back in her hometown of Red Rose County to recover and spend time with her son and mother when she is drawn into a local case of a missing teen.

Feeling that this case is bigger and more complex than first thought, Val offers her assistance on a volunteer basis as a loophole to being on forced leave to recover both physically and mentally.

You will be introduced to a great cast of characters, learning their backgrounds and drawn into this mystery, wanting that next installment.

This is the first book in a series which I honestly hope continues. Recuperating after being attacked by a serial killer, Val can't sit it out when a girl disappears near her mother's house where she's staying. Soon this leads to organ trafficking and it's easy to see where the other missing kids might've vanished too. I won't tell you who survived the plot with both organ trafficking and the serial killer on the loose as that would spoil the book. I recommend reading it to see for yourself

Featuring Val Costa of the FBI, this is a fast paced twisty thriller with good characters and an excellent storyline.

My, what a scary little tale! H.K. Christie writes in a way that really scratches my brain just right. I definitely was hooked right from the start, and I think it's safe to say that I want more from this author!

A great start to a new series introduces FBI agent Val Costa. After being kidnapped by the serial killer she was tracking, she is placed on mandatory leave to recover from the physical and psychological trauma. Val, a single mom with a son about to start college, returns to her hometown to stay with her mother, who is the retired sheriff. Her son plans to stay with them until he leaves for a trip with friends before college. While there, Val reconnects with Brady, a close friend from high school, now a deputy sheriff in their hometown.

Frustrated by being on leave and unable to work on the serial killer case, Val volunteers to assist Brady and the local Sheriff’s department when a local teenager goes missing. What unfolds is a fantastic, engaging story that is hard to put down.

What I appreciated about this book, beyond the gripping plot, is that the main character is mature, dealing with relatable issues—worrying about her son and realizing she will need to be around more for her aging mother. I'm looking forward to reading future books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and author H.K. Christie for the opportunity to review the advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Title: Gone By Dawn
Author: H. K. Christie
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Story: Gone By Dawn by H. K. Christie is a gripping thriller that thrusts readers into the tense and dangerous world of FBI Agent Val Costa. Just two days ago, Val faced off against a notorious serial killer known as the Bear, a man who left her with a permanent reminder of their encounter: a curling “S” carved into her skin. Val is one of only two women to ever survive an attack by the Bear, and she knows that it’s only a matter of time before he strikes again.Forced to return home to Red Rose County, California, to recover from her ordeal, Val barely has time to catch her breath before the community is thrown into panic over the disappearance of Scarlett Douglas, a local teenager with blonde hair and freckles. Despite being ordered to rest, Val cannot ignore the call to action and begins investigating the case, quickly discovering that Scarlett’s life was far from perfect. The more she digs into the Douglas family’s secrets, the more disturbing the picture becomes.As Val and her team scour the nearby redwoods for clues, the case takes a terrifying turn when a pink teddy bear—a signature left by the Bear—is delivered to Val’s doorstep. It’s a chilling message that suggests the Bear may have followed her to Red Rose County, putting her own family at risk. Val is now in a race against time to find Scarlett before the Bear can claim another victim, all while unraveling the dark truths hidden within the seemingly close-knit community.
Likes and Dislikes :-
Likes :-
1 Val Costa: Val is a compelling protagonist, marked by both physical and emotional scars. Her resilience and determination drive the story, making her a character that readers can easily root for. Christie does a great job of delving into Val’s internal struggles as she grapples with the trauma of her encounter with the Bear while trying to protect her son and solve the case.
2 The Bear: As a villain, the Bear is terrifyingly effective. His presence looms large over the narrative, and Christie uses him to inject a constant sense of dread into the story. The psychological cat-and-mouse game between Val and the Bear adds an extra layer of suspense to the novel.
3 The novel’s pacing is excellent, with each chapter ratcheting up the tension. Christie’s portrayal of Val Costa as a strong yet vulnerable protagonist is a highlight, and the psychological depth of the story keeps the reader engaged. The setting of Red Rose County, with its towering redwoods and small-town secrets, adds a sense of isolation and danger that enhances the overall atmosphere.
Dislikes :- Some readers may find the intensity of the plot a bit overwhelming, particularly the darker themes and violent scenes. Additionally, the ending, while satisfying, may leave some questions unanswered for those who prefer a more conclusive resolution.
My rating 4.3/5

Excellent introduction to Val Costa!! I’m excited to continue this series

The characters are lovable

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy

I enjoyed this start to a new series. It was fast paced, twisted and left you wanting to know more. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Drop everything and grab a copy of Gone by Dawn ASAP. You can thank me later!

This thriller is absolutely gripping, riveting, and spine-chilling. Though I've read many books featuring collaborations between FBI agents and local law enforcement, this new series by H.K. Christie is on another level!

From the very first page, I was hooked, unable to put my Kindle down until I reached the end. This bone-chilling story kept me awake late into the night.

From the storytelling to the scene-setting to the character development, this book checks every box with the highest marks. Christie's storytelling is sharp and immersive, blending elements of psychological thriller and scandalous mystery. Val is a compelling character, haunting yet determined - the kind of protagonist you would root for till the end. Gone by Dawn is everything a thriller lover would look for - intense, gripping, and impossible to put down.

Gone by Dawn is the first H.K. Christie book I have read, but it definitely won’t be the last. I am diving straight into the next book in the series to keep this thrill ride going. What are you waiting for? Grab your copy today!

Fantastic start of a new series. Meet Val Costa, FBI profiler. She is on leave to recuperate after having been kidnapped by a serial killer. She and her son go to her mother’s house in California. While there, a local teen goes missing and Val volunteers to help. The author does a great job of presenting different threads of the story and bringing them together for the ending. All is not as it seems. Why did the girl go missing, or did she? Why are other youths disappearing off the streets? And has the serial killer that caught Val discovered where she is staying. Awesome story. You can’t go wrong with anything by HK Christie!

Solid detective mystery with believable characters, small town feel, good mix of action and human interactions to keep things moving.

I like this series. Val Costa is a very interesting character. She’s an FBI Profiler that knows her stuff. I really enjoyed the storyline it had my interest from beginning to end. Looking forward to 2nd book.

H.K. Christie's writing has topped the charts! This one has it all....once again I was drawn in from the very first chapter. Twist, turns, thrills and chills! Thank you Christie!

H.K. Christie has another hit series! With a fabulous lead character, Val Costa, readers will find many similarities between H.K. Christie's Martina Monroe. Both are strong, independent women, who speak with honesty, conviction, and are able to dig deep into cases. Val, an FBI special agent, is finding herself at home with her mother (who is the county's former sheriff)... she's recovering from being kidnapped by the serial killer she was tracking. Val managed to escape, but not before she was scarred both figuratively and mentally,. Sleeping is tough for Val. The current deputy sheriff, Brady, is a friend of Val's from high school. After Val learns that a young girl is missing, she goes to Brady to ask to help with the case - as a volunteer, as she's been told by her FBI superiors that she's on leave until she recovers and sees the psychologist. The case quickly develops with Val and Brady working closely together to help determine what happened to Scarlett. And also, a mysterious letter appears that has Val even more on edge. Absolutely fantastic!!! Told in different narratives to keep the story moving - this is a great series to get hooked on! Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 stars! Such a good start the series! I fell in love with her Martina Monroe series which is also thriller. I loved how there are many different aspects to uncover rather than just a main theme like most thrillers have. I cannot wait for the next in the series!

This was a new series for this author. I have read the majority of this authors books and have never been disappointed. A female agent is the main character. You'll immediately find yourself wanting to have her in your corner. She's a person who thinks of her family first even when her own life is ideal. I highly recommend reading this book and other books of this author.

Gone by Dawn was a thrilling, action packed ride. I loved it. It kept me guessing and turning pages until the very end.