When several small-town locals die under mysterious circumstances, an aspiring journalist is determined to prove the connection between them, only to discover the dangerous secrets they left behind.

Boney Creek is a dying town where not a lot happens. The perfect solution for married couple Addie and Toby who are escaping their own personal tragedy. But a quiet and simple life is not exactly possible with so many recent, strange deaths.

Seven locals, all gone too soon. That’s the nature of tragic accidents. And in a town this small, there’s no room for too many questions.

But Addie isn’t so sure. Although she never followed through on her dreams of becoming a journalist, she still has a reporter’s instincts. And her gut—not to mention all the small-town gossip—is telling her that whatever’s happening in Boney Creek is not as random as it seems.

There’s no such thing as coincidence, especially when it comes to seven bodies. And while burying her own secrets, Addie digs up far greater ones that will have her asking if she will be the town’s next so-called accident.

Loved it. Will recommend to others

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this book I had a hard time jumping into it. I would rate this a 3/5 I think it was good but something I wouldn’t pick up again.

Having once been the hunting ground for a highway serial killer, the residents of Boney Creek are used to death and brush off a recent spate of seven deaths as bad luck. Newcomers Addie and Toby find the deaths suspicious, however, and as Addie was once a journalist, she starts digging into the deaths, hoping to uncover a connection between them and the town’s serial killer past.

Instead, she discovers long-held secrets and small-town loyalties that could make her the next victim. This second book by author Paula Gleeson is just as twisty as her first, and I recommend it for fans of outback thrillers where everyone is a suspect.

When several small-town locals die under mysterious circumstances, an aspiring journalist is determined to prove the connection between them, only to discover the dangerous secrets they left behind.

Boney Creek is a dying town where not a lot happens. The perfect solution for married couple Addie and Toby who are escaping their own personal tragedy. But a quiet and simple life is not exactly possible with so many recent, strange deaths.

Seven locals, all gone too soon. That’s the nature of tragic accidents. And in a town this small, there’s no room for too many questions.
It is a very slow burn story.

Boney Creek by Paula Gleason ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Thomas & Mercer
Pub Date: 6-3-25

Thank you @netgalley, @amazonpublishing, and @paulagleesonauthor for this eARC.

“You have to understand something about a small town . . .”

Escaping their lives in the city, a recent traumatic event - and each keeping a secret from the other - Addie and Toby move to Boney Creek to own and operate the local general store / post office / gas station.

The small town of Boney Creek and its many characters are keeping secrets big and small amidst seven recent mysterious deaths. Are these deaths related to a series of murders and disappearances decades ago?

This is a mild mystery/thriller. No violence or gore on the page - surprising for a town with so much death! As in many small towns, there are secrets and connections among longtime townspeople which only begin to reveal themselves by the end of the story. More to tell in future books in a series? I hope so! I'm ready to learn more about these characters and their secrets.

#boneycreek #paulagleeson #amazonpublishing #netgalley

I am in two minds about this one. It is a complex mystery story and unwinding the threads was an enjoyable pastime but I found Addie to be annoyingly naive and shallow, actually make that clueless. The setting is neutral - I kept wondering if it was oz but there was no definite geographical marker. Could have been America or anywhere else and I liked that neutrality of location. I received this as an advance copy and this review is entirely my own opinions.

Parts of this book I really loved - the description of the town, the premise, and the characters...in a way. The story has plenty of mystery but lacks a build up of suspense, in my opinion. I think that with more practice Gleeson will be an author who is quite successful. The story is a really cool premise, but felt a bit predictable. The ending was also more open ended than I like - if there is a second I will read it, but I am not sure if that is the plan or not.

Overall, the read was okay. Gleeson has a fair amount of potential, and I will be trying her again.

The novel lacked clarity. When you are finished with a thriller , it needs to clear up all the hints and clues and resolve the issues. This book fails to do that. The premise is weak… a man gives up his life to move to a tiny village to find a killer? Then, he proceeds to do just the opposite. Not the best reason to build a story around. I cannot recommend anyone to seek this book out to cozy up and read.

Tom and Addie lived a good like in the city. Good jobs, recently wed, considering children. They were victims of a break-in and assault. The physical and emotional effects were so severe that they up and left their city life for a backwater town far in the country. Boney Creek.

They purchase a little general store/post office and set up a new life. Boney Creek, like many small towns, are wary of outsiders. Tom tries to get the store, homestead, and the basics of a life reborn. Addie had an entry job at a big city newspaper and yearned to become an investigative reporter. Someone with her curiosity and general nosiness might not be well received.

She wasn’t. Stuck her nose into too many people’s business.

Even for a small town, seven unexplained deaths seem unusual. Not to mention that Boney Creek has a reputation based on a series of killings decades ago. Rumor was it was a serial killer. Or a drifter on a spree. But no one was ever caught, and the town suffered a slow demise as a result.

Addie is sure the town needs to know the truth so it can heal. The locals think just let bygones be bygones. She digs deeper, championing herself as some nose to the grindstone reporter who’s sniffed out a major story. All she does is offend most of the town.

Then she learns that Boney Creek wasn’t just picked at random. Tom had a reason for steering Addie to move when they decided to leave the city.

This was kind of interesting. Normally the hell-bent reporter has lots of street cred and contacts in law enforcement and sometimes the underworld. Not Addie. Her only experience was in writing fluff pieces and never got her shot anywhere close to the big time. Gleeson lets us peek over Addie’s shoulder while she trips up (repeatedly) in her obsession to score the ‘big story’.
Give this one shot. As a story about the press, it’s nowhere near the level of the likes of RG Belsky. But it’s still worth a shot.

Thanks to the good folks at NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

Available June 3, 2025

Addie and Toby move to a small town to escape the city. Not only are they both being deceptive about why they want this move, but upon getting to Boney Creek, they find this new small town has plenty of its own secrets. I don’t think the author ever gives a location for the Boney Creek / The Big City they left behind, but I’m guessing somewhere out west where it’s hot and dry based on the descriptions. I might have missed it or maybe it’s not meant to be known but I do prefer knowing a more specific locale.

Anyway, it’s not relevant to the plot which is mainly Addie digging into the recent deaths in the town. Seven, to be exact, in only a few months. As a former journalist (‘aspiring’ journalist as her horrible ex-boss would say) she can’t help but be consumed by this mystery – there’s no way these are just coincidental accidents. The more she questions the circumstances, the more the locals deny anything untoward is happening. It’s typical small-town behavior – ignoring her questions, refusing to speak to her, leaving threatening notes telling her to ‘leave it be.’ Then she discovers why Toby really wanted to come to Boney Creek, leading to more questions, including how strong their marriage truly is.

I do hope there’s a sequel, as several questions are left unanswered. Or maybe it’s the start of a new series? The characters are great, particularly many of the locals who are definitely colorful. Gun-toting hermits, gossipy ladies, the wise priest, they’re not cliches considering it’s just how many of these towns are. I mean what else are they going to do but be the craziest versions of themselves! The answers that did come were satisfying and surprising and it’s one of those books I couldn’t put down. Then I reached the end and was like, that’s it? I really hope there’s more to come and I can’t wait to see what it is!

*Boney Creek* by Paula Gleeson is a very good read that kept me hooked from the start to finish. The small-town setting is vividly described - it feels like an additional character, soaked in secrets and a strong sense of uh, oh, what's about to happen? Gleeson’s writing is gentle and atmospheric and captures the slightly sinister quiet of a dying town. The pacing is spot-on, a slow burn that builds suspense before delivering several shocking revelations. The characters feel authentic, particularly Addie, whose determination and vulnerability make her a protagonist I can easily cheer on. The story weaves Addie's and her husband Toby's personal tragedies with a larger, chilling mystery, creating a layered and emotional story. I found myself intrigued by the web of connections between the town’s 'accidents' and was as eager as Addie to get to the bottom of it all. I especially wanted to know what happened to Kip. Gleeson’s ability to blend character-driven storytelling with a strong, compelling plot is impressive. If you enjoy a good thriller with a real sense of place and authentic-feeling characters, *Boney Creek* is your next read.

This is written by a true talent! To combine all these elements into one story is very nicely done. The rural setting is perfect for creating a creepy atmosphere. The characters are explained in a nice way and I can see the character development which is done very nicely. I have a new author on my must read list - Paula Gleeson.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is spooky enough to leave you wanting more.

Addie and Toby are moving to a small town where 7 deaths have occurred in the past 4 months. The town itself has the feel of a forgotten place and hiden secrets in every corner.

The premise is pretty good. Soon enough, Toby, the husband, introduces a new subplot, as does Addie, the wife, who is trying to face the consequences of a previous mistake.

The past is doled out in small doses that compel you to continue reading, and the murder cases are meaningful enough to make you care about what happened.

In the middle, the pacing slows down, as is often the case with this kind of story, but it is interesting nonetheless, and I truly enjoyed it.
However, there are some resolutions I was not happy with, as Toby’s story is not resolved in a tangible way, and Addie’s secret is dealt with too quickly–for all the pain she has suffered because of it, it felt unfulfilling.

As someone who is not a big fan of spooky towns and scary stories, I liked it much more than I thought I would. It was fun and a great experience.

I LOVED this book's premise and the chemistry between the characters! Set in a dying desert town, the book's eerie, ever-shifting relationships simply grab you by the throat and never let go – I raced through the book in one night! I especially love the story's blended vibes (a bit like that lovely tea they keep drinking!) – it's a gorgeous mix of cozy, twisty mystery, cleverly funny and downright creepy. Can't wait to read more by this brilliant author!

ARC review through Netgalley (Kia ora rawa atu)

Boney Creek is a bit of a strange one to review – because its has a lot of vibes, strong and fun vibes in fact. But the book is also somewhat eclectic. For example the setting itself, Boney Creek, is a tiny dusty town, bordering on being a ghost town with a population of barely over 200 – and it presents as quite a sinister place, given the isolation, the murders, and the small town reception that our MC receives. Yet there is a fair amount of humour dancing through this narrative too.

So I’d say this book is actually somewhat cozy, although errs on the heavy side at times. It’s not an action heavy thriller, the mysteries in this book are largely personal and there are a LOT of conversations with secrets spiling over from both participants. Probably my only beef, or rather specific recommendation is that this book is most likely to be enjoyed by mystery fans who can keep up with lots of different characters and backstories, I found myself at times getting confused between who hated who and why (that may be a me problem).

I also just wanted a bit MORE Boney Creek, this strange, bare town with next to no population. The story is really a more person-centered narrative, and my boring-head was wanting more lonely highways and dusty fields!

Okay Paula Gleeson can officially do no wrong. This was so good! Where has she been hiding? BONEY CREEK took off at break neck speed and didn’t let up for the entire book. The small town and unsolved murders gave this book a creepy vibe that I loved. It has a well-developed plot, multidimensional characters, and twists I didn’t see coming.

“Dead trees are not hard to come by around here, just depends on whose property they’re found on.”

Boney Creek is a location with one good store, sadly the book felt the same.

Taking place in a tiny town called Boney Creek, population 217, a husband and wife, Addie and Toby, move here to flee their past trauma. Unfortunately they may be heading into another all too soon. Seven “accidental” deaths have accrued in the past several months. Pretty soon Addie’s past journalistic tendencies rear there head and she goes on a wild hunt to uncover the truth. But is there more to uncover than both her and Toby realize?

This is a very intriguing premise for a story but there are a lot of things that I took issue with. I found the characters of Addie and Toby to be unrealistic in action and in speech for about three quarters of the book. The way they would respond to situations did not seem at all believable. Often times they seemed over dramatic in light situations and under dramatic in heavy situations. This had me questioning the main character at all times and I don’t think that was intended. Also, at the start of the story Toby brings up the reason he is in Boney Creek seemingly setting up a subplot. But that subplot seems to be forgotten until the last several chapters of the book. At the conclusion of the book is a prime example of a heavy situation not taken to the height of its severity. The final twist of the story causes so many issues for the characters but they seem fine with the unspoken repercussions.

I wanted to like this book because of the mysteries it held. But I just couldn’t get past the naivety of the characters. If the entire book was written like the last tenth of the story it would be a solid thriller but unfortunately the creek was just too dry to sustain life.

Boney Creek is a dusty, dying small town where not a lot happens – if you don’t count the recent, strange deaths of seven locals and a past serial killer. On the back of their own personal trauma, Toby and Addie escape to Boney Creek to run the general store. Soon though, Addie’s repressed journalistic instincts and Toby’s own agenda see them questioning the recent deaths – is there something hinky going on? do those deaths link with what happened in the past? – and not everybody is happy with them sticking their noses in.
Though ostensibly set in the US, I picked the author’s voice as Australian, and I would have preferred this story be set in our outback for authenticity. However, I still found Boney Creek to be a well-paced enjoyable rural noir or small-town mystery novel. Recommended.

This was such a good book. I absolutely enjoyed it and look forward to reading other books by this author in the future. Great writing and wonderful storyline.

I absolutely loved Paula's last book and needed to request this one but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The characters just didn't work for me and truly annoyed me. They kept lying to eachother. I was also expecting the big mystery to be darker so that left me very underwhelmed. I just would've liked a little more.