New to this author I was excited to get stuck into this book especially knowing it’s going to be a series!

I loved how you got to know the characters especially through the short chapters and chapters from different characters views.
The plot unfolds easily with a few twists just keeping you wanting to read more to get the answers. I am not sure if we have heard the last of the Bear as it seemed to have been left unresolved and therefore I genuinely cannot wait to see what’s next for Val Costa!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy and throughly would recommend to anyone wanting an easy thriller that doesn’t disappoint!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!

I must admit, when I saw H.K Christie had a new series, I was a little unsure whether I would warm to another character, without drawing parallels with Martina and Selena, having read all of those books.

Enter Val Costa, an FBI agent reeling from a traumatic event and forced into taking time off to recover. She can't help but get caught up in an intriguing case, despite her awful ordeal, and her tenacity is evident from the start of the book.

I needn't have worried, as I soon became really invested in her story and I am really looking forward to the series progressing and hopefully learning more about her backstory as time goes on.

I always find H.K Christie's novels easy to lose myself in and a pleasure to read. I read a huge amount, and look forward to these releases every time.

It was a pleasant surprise to get the opportunity to read the second book so soon, and I am just about to start that now. I have high hopes for Val Costa !

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of Gone by Dawn by H K Christie

FBI agent Val Costa is on sick leave after bring captured by a serial killer. Staying with her Mum, herself a retired sheriff and with her son home for the holidays Val is supposed to be recuperating. But then a girl goes missing. The story splits into two parts that come together near the end. It is a fabulous read, quite harrowing in parts and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
The only thing I didn’t like was Val’s total disregard for any authority. Would this really be allowed and is it really necessary?

Gone By Dawn written by H.K. Christie will have you glued to the pages. The character development is amazing and makes you feel like you’re really getting to know them. The shock value was definitely there as the story progressed. This book isn’t your average thriller and i definitely recommend reading it.

5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great end-of-summer thriller that will keep you turning pages and glued to the story. GO get THIS book!

I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of this gripping crime thriller and thoroughly enjoyed the read! My deadly true reviews will give you the legit down low on whether a book is worth the read -- Gone by Dawn is 💯 worth it!

The author does a great job of keeping mystery and thrill while captivating you with character development and twists. An exciting read that shifts between character points of view flawlessly and joins storylines together cohesively. You will feel like you know the characters by the end, and I look forward to more in this series!

Although I was never really overly surprised, I definitely enjoyed the story and mysteries that unravel. Not too gritty, but just a good amount of shock value for the average thriller reader. (I generally prefer more shock/horror, but still enjoyed!)

There are several twists and you'll be on your toes wondering if you have figured out potential victims and what's really going on, making it tough to put down.

Well written, great chapter lengths, heartfelt characters, excellent plot. A smooth and easy read but one with a rich plot that keeps you entertained and engrossed.

💯 Good read 😎🙌

4 stars. This is the first book in the Valerie Costa series. This author is new to me and I really liked the writing and character description. Valerie is an FBI agent who is on leave after being held captive by The Bear, a serial killer. Luckily, she escaped but is relentless on finding him. While on leave and recovering, she goes and stays with her mom. While there, a strange case comes to her attention and she gets involved as an advisor. I'm excited to see what book 2 brings as I have a lot of unanswered questions. This will definitely be a good series. Very easy to read and I was immersed.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it and recommend this book.

Agent Va l Costa’s life changed dramatically after being rescued from a serial killer called the Bear. While taking a leave to recover from the traumatic abduction by the Bear, Val Costa moves in with her mom in California. A young teenage girl from the neighborhood goes missing. Agent Costa gets drawn into the search for this girl while she is recovering. The events that happen during this search take the agent in daring directions. This book leads you on a chase to find this girl, the Bear, and eventually other missing teenagers. Danger is lurking at every corner. It is a wild adventure that will keep you guessing throughout the story. It has a shocking turn of events that will leave you stunned. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has all the elements pf a good thriller mystery. I am looking forward to reading more adventures with Agen Val Costa.

Excellent start of a new series...FBI Agent Val Costa is at her childhood home in northern California recovering from injuries she received after being taken by the serial killer the FBI was chasing and who ultimately got away. While recovering, Val volunteers to assist the local police search for a teenage girl who has been reported missing by her parents. While finding the girl dead, it leads to the discovery of what looks to be a human trafficking ring dealing in organ transplants operating out of Los Angeles, and the cases of several missing teenagers who live on the streets and may be used as the organ donors, and not voluntarily.

Excellent start to a brand new series!! Val is a FBI agent on leave from being captured by a serial killer named Bear. While she is recuperating she gets involved in a local girl's missing person case and what she uncovers is far more than just a missing girl. SO many layers to this mystery ! I really liked this book. Liked Val and look forward to reading more about her. Definitely recommend! This was a perfect mystery!!

An incredible start to a strong series. Usually, when you start a brand new series with brand new characters, it takes a while to understand them and get in theirs head. But I never felt lost or disconnected for a second while reading this. Strong and engaging plot that kept me guessing until the end!

My first read by H.K. Christie and she became a new favorite! Her easy to read writing style will lure you into the story until you read the last word. I am looking forward to the next books of this series and in the interim I will be seeking out her previous books.

Thank you to NetGalley, author HK Christie and Bookoture publishing for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.

This was my first book by this author and I was very excited to read it. I had seen many of her books being promoted on TikTok and can report that as an author she lives up to all the reviews.

This was an excellent book. I would have rated it 5 stars, but I don’t like when a very big part of the book is left with no answers. I am guessing this part of the storyline will continue into further books with this main character but it feels a bit of a letdown in my opinion.

The rest of the book was phenomenal. The character development was well done as was the writing. It was a fast paced page turner that I couldn’t put down.

I love finding new authors to read. While I don’t typically read books in a series, I must prefer the stand alone ones, I will be reading more books from this author. She provides a suspenseful read that will keep you reading.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First time I've read anything by this book and after reading this one I can't wait to read more by her , it was eventhing I was hoping it would be , characters that was believable, suspenseful plot, loved the Interaction between the main character and her family, as well as the creepiness you felt when they talked about Bear. And how the author used the plot in such a way that it brought to life that what was happening in H.K.Christie book actually does happening today in real life and that's scary to think about .

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Wow, this book had me reeled in since the very beginning! H. K. Christie has done it yet again with an amazing start to what I can tell is going to be a phenomenal series. Valerie Costa is a force to be reckoned with.

This story has it all… suspense, plot twists, murder, human trafficking, you name it! You find out soooo much in this book, but it all flows so well together. Starting with a teenage girl who has kidney failure gone missing, finding out her “missing” turned into her buried right in her back yard and it was all a hoax, to now our girl Val discovering a human organ trafficking business!

H. K. Christie has such wonderful writing… it’s an easy read but such a GOOD read. Detailed, great strong characters, a suspenseful plot… I just love her so much. You definitely want to pick up one of her books.

FBI Agent Val Costa has gone home to recover from being kidnapped by a serial killer. A teenage girl, Scarlett Douglas is missing, and Val assists in the search for her. Val interviews Scarlett's parents, but feels they are hiding something.
Scarlett's body is found, in a shallow grave, and it is discovered that she has been deceased for longer than she was reported missing.

Val, with the help of the FBI, find something that goes much deeper than missing persons.

What a fabulous novel! Easy to read, suspenseful, a great plot with sub plots, just fantastic! It was riveting and, while I did figure out who was behind the missing people, and why, I enjoyed the book thoroughly.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

Special Agent Val Costa is home recovering after being taken by a serial killer. Val does not want to recovery she wants to work. After being asked to assist local police she stumbles on a case more complicated than she thought. People are disappearing. Thrilling read full of tension.

This is a new author for me and she had me hooked because of her storytelling and her writing style.

The main protagonist is Val Costa, an FBI agent and she is a wonderful person. She is determined and a bit head strong not wanting to waste time and thus venturing out on her own, with terrible consequences. What I also like about her is that she tends to color outside the lines, but all for the greater good.

Val is doing her uttermost to keep all the plates spinning: trying to find a serial killer she has been eye to eye with, spending much needed time with her family and helping the police team in her home town with a missing persons case. The last one leading us down a road filled with disgusting characters.

This was an extremely thrilling book and a perfect first book in a new series. 5 stars

Thank you

What a thrilling start to the new series. If I could give it 6 stars I would. We meet Val, a FBI agent who returns to her hometown to recover from a case with her mom and son. While there she finds herself jumping into a case with a missing local teenager. The twists and turns of the story were so good. I love the in depth nature you get with Val and her family, along with the cases that intertwined. I can’t wait to continue on with the series!

gone by dawn is yet ANOTHER five star read from h k christie that had me hooked from the very start! as someone who loved the martina monroe series, val costa had a slightly different pace that worked REALLY well for the plot- and despite thinking i knew exactly who did it at 30%, was kept guessing until the very last second. as with her other books, the three ‘separate’ threads of cases wound together to create a very satisfying whole, and the cliffhanger of an ending has me wondering when the next book is coming (and please can it be soon)!

(oh, and i loved val and brady. their dynamic is perfect and i really hope we get to see more of them being partners.)

Gone by Dawn is a gripping crime thriller by H.K. Christie.

In the story, FBI Agent Val Costa came face to face with a serial killer known as the Bear. One of only two women ever to survive, she’s forever branded with his signature: a curling “S” carved into her skin. Val knows it’s only a matter of time before he takes another victim.

Forced home to recover, Val returns to Red Rose County, California, to be with her son. But the very next day, she finds the close-knit community panic-stricken over the disappearance of blonde-haired, freckled-faced local teen Scarlett Douglas.

Gone by Dawn is a good start to a new series. There were times I felt it was a bit tedious to get through some chapters; there was a lot of info to wade through and not needed to move the story forward. But, overall, the story held my interest and was enjoyable.

I liked Val as a character as she is a strong female protagonist. She has a difficult time balancing her career, a child who is about to launch on his own, and her aging mother. The storyline with her mother was touching and sad.

I will check out more books by this author as it is a new author for me and I did enjoy the story and the ending.

#GonebyDawn #NetGalley @bookouture