The second novel from Australian writer Paula Gleeson, BONEY CREEK is set in the dying town of the same name, a hot, dusty, dry place that the world forgot about when the highway bypassed it.

After a traumatic experience in the city, Abbie and Toby move there, the new owners of the town general store, service station and post office - the sort of combination one stop shop that's very familiar to country residents. Groceries, fuel, the mail, odds and ends, and in more modern times, a place to get a coffee and sometimes some hot food and baked goods made by the store owner.

Only this is a town with secrets, Toby has a secret reason for them ending up there, while Abbie is keeping secrets about their experience in the city. Which makes for a lot of uncomfortable discoveries, and conversations. Especially as it quickly becomes apparent that there are seven questionable deaths in this community.

Turning from her previous role of journalism to that of an amateur detective / blogger, Abbie finds herself drawn into the town's story. Toby already had an in to events, but it's Abbie who really find herself deep in trying to understand what's happening in this strange little place.

And strange is the word that I keep coming back to as I sit down to write this review. BONEY CREEK is written by an Australian writer, who has the cadence and style of an Australian - you can pick it immediately. But the spelling and some (but not all) of the terminology is American. Every occurrence of "Mom" stood out, as did a severe shortage of u's. The story is very careful to not mention where Boney Creek is, yet it felt Australian rural, which made the inconsistent American-English usage jar. Whilst there was a sense of a small dying town in the heat, dry and dust, that inability to firmly locate it somewhere gave the novel a floaty feeling. Obviously this won't be an issue for US readers, and quite possibly that's the intended audience.

But the feeling did feed through to some of the plot points, in particular, Toby's revelations about his reason for choosing Boney Creek floated into view very early on in the plot, only to float away again until the last chapters of the book - which was strange. It seemed an integral part of the central premise, which overall had huge potential, but wasn't best served as well by the floaty, almost flighty nature of the two main characters, both of whom never quite managed to maintain a consistent believability. Overly dramatic when things were low key and almost blasé around the big stuff, for the longest time this reader was wondering about unreliable narrators. And I'm still not sure why, but the final chapters seemed to allow them both to let some very big stuff go straight through to the keeper.

Readers may also find an interesting juxtaposition of violent intent and reaction - you can't have seven suspect deaths without expecting that it's not all tea and scones after all, yet the style is lighter, veering towards cosy in places. The language of the blog that Abbie uses as her way of getting the story out, without going full on journalist, isn't quite what this reader had had expected of someone with her background, although her ability with the coffee machine, as somebody who had worked their way through Uni as a barista was.

Couldn't help but think I'd be very pleased to come across an espresso or a mocha the way Abbie makes them in a small service station in a dead town off the main highway. But that wouldn't come as too much of a surprise in Australia nowadays. All in all BONEY CREEK is going to very much be a YMMV.

❀𝗕𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗞❀
𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔯/𝔰𝔲𝔰𝔭𝔢𝔫𝔰𝔢
🗓️𝙿𝚞𝚋 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝙹𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝟹, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟻
🤩𝕄𝕪 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 𝟜 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤! ★★★★

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝...”a gripping small town mystery where secrets lurk everywhere & everyone has something to hide….

☀️𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢...I absolutely loved Gleeson’s debut, Original Twin so I was so pumped to be a part of The Pulse on this one. 🥳I mean talk about a tiny town! Love settings like these. So eerie, desolate & atmospheric. 🫣The main character I connected with well & kept wanting to know her secret as well as exposing what all these mysterious deaths were about. The mysteries kept on coming which I fully enjoyed. 😊 In the meantime(while we wait for publishing date)…read Original Twin is you haven’t already! 👏

Addie finds herself in this eerie, desolate town of Boney Creek where there are secrets that lurk and a series of deaths that goes unsolved. Coincidence?

From the very beginning, we are made aware that Addie and Toby HAD to leave the city and star a new life, to get away from what happened. So they moved to this small middle-of-nowhere town, taking over a general store, where its previous owner had recently died. This caused Addie to feel unsettled.

Made aware that there have been 7 deaths in a short amount of time, Addie's journalistic instincts kick and and she knows there's more to these deaths than just "accidents". The deeper she digs, the more she uncovers Boney Creek's deepest, darkest secrets and possibly her own.

This fast pace thriller will keep you guessing at every turn. The moment you think you have it figured out, you dont! It was quite an enjoyable read and I am glad I had the opportunity to read it before it releases in June!


*Thank you netgalley & Paula Gleeson this E-ARC*

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Boney Creek By Paula Gleeson
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you so much to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, Thomas and Mercer, NetGalley, and Paula Gleeson for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

After reading Gleeson's debut, Original Twin, last year, I could not WAIT to get my hands on her next book! So when I found out that The Pulse was getting a chance to be a part of Gleeson's tour for Boney Creek, I was IN!

Boney Creek exudes a creepy atmospheric vibe, with its desolate small town just teeming with secrets. Bring in the stories about a serial killer in the 1980s and then more recently, the rumors about a handful of mysterious deaths that are spurring fear and speculation in the townspeople, and you've got the makings for a great read. The book's main characters, married couple Addie and Toby, who've just bought the town's only general store after its owner's untimely death on-site, start dripping hints pretty quickly that they've got plenty of secrets of their own. And Boney Creek is more than merely their escape from the big city.

This book pulled me in immediately with all its creepy goodness. I had the feeling that something was a little off about these folks, and it gave me the heeby-jeeby backwoods vibes that you know aren't going to end well for anybody. This book has a lot of characters and there were times I had to think for a minute about who someone was. There were also a lot of different plotlines going on with all the townspeople, as well as with Toby and Addie. However, I especially loved Addie, who was an incredibly complex character with a lot of emotion to process; and Clancy, the energetic teenager who brought so much moxie into this story. And, Addie's decision to write a blog about the creepy deaths in the town was completely in my true crime loving wheelhouse.

Though I never suspected everything would go down the way it did, I felt like I struggled a little bit to connect the dots at the end, even after everything was explained. It didn't change how much I enjoyed this atmospherically-vibing read though. If you're a fan of desolate small town thrillers that give off those creepy "what in the dagnabbit hell is going on in this place" vibes, be sure you check out Boney Creek from Paula Gleeson -- coming in June 2025!

#BoneyCreek #PaulaGleeson #ThomasandMercer #amazonpublishing #thrillerbookloversthepulse #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARCs #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

Boney Creek
Paula Gleeson
06/03/2025
Thomas & Mercer

After reading Paula Gleeson’s Original Twin, I knew from then on that whatever she writes I would read. As soon as Boney Creek became available I knew I had to have it. This will make the perfect summer thriller read!
Right from the first page, I was completely hooked as Addie drives into the eerie, almost nonexistent town of Boney Creek. Boney Creek is shrouded in mystery, plagued by a series of unsolved deaths. And as we all know, there’s no such thing as coincidence, right?
The town itself is more than just a backdrop—it’s almost like a character in its own right. There’s an unsettling, almost tangible sense of dread that lingers as you navigate its eerie streets. And then there are the townspeople, quirky and fascinating in their own peculiar ways. As I read, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was... off, like a sense of tension that constantly builds, never quite letting you relax.
This story is fast-paced and completely immersive, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Secrets unfold at every corner, and just when you think you have things figured out, the narrative takes a turn that leaves you reeling.

I was hooked right from the start as Addie is driving through this VERY small town…if you can even call it a town. Boney Creek has had a series of mysterious deaths. There is no such thing as a coincidence…right?

This story is fast paced and so easy to get lost in. There are some good twists and turns and secrets to be uncovered.

The town itself is almost a character…I kept getting this eerie feeling. There are also some quirky and rather interesting town folk…as I read this I had this sense of tension that something was just…off.

I loved how Addie started a blog and she tries to uncover the truth…and that’s all I can tell you! I think this will make the perfect summer thriller read!!

✨What To Expect:
🏡Small Town…Like Really Small
🕵️‍♀️Arm Chair Detective Story
📰She’s Always Wanted to be a Journalist
⚡️Thriller
⁉️Suspense
🔍Mystery
🐈Gravy

I selected Boney Creek largely because of the setting...I've enjoyed Australian mysteries by Jane Harper and Patricia Wolf, among others, and so am always on the lookout for a new Australian writer. Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy Boney Creek. The tropes were there, but I felt the character development was lacking and the plot development seemed scattershot. Overall a disappointment, although I appreciate the opportunity to read this title.

Another upcoming thriller that everyone over at @thrillerbookloversthepulse cannot stop raving about!

A gripping small-town mystery where secrets lurk everywhere and everyone has something to hide! The whole town just feels creepy and makes you feel tense.

When aspiring journalist Addie moves to the quiet town of Boney Creek with her husband, she hopes for a fresh start. Some events happening at their home led them to seek a place to start over. But a string of mysterious deaths pulls her into an investigation that threatens to uncover more than just the town's darkest truths. It may expose her own.

With an eerie setting, sharp twists, and Addie whose determination borders on dangerous, this novel builds tension and kept me guessing all the way until the end!

I really enjoyed this novel! The setting was great, characters believable. Can highly recommend it :)

"𝑶𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔. 𝑺𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆."

Special thanks to @thrillerbookloversthepulse @paulagleesonauthor @amazonpublishing and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 [4.25]

I loved this sophomore novel by Paula! This one was definitely fast-paced and had me saying through the pages.
This one has such an eerie setting, that the description puts you directly in this desolate desert town.
It's full of very distinct characters who are all full of ulterior motives, including someone very close to Addie.

Besides all yhe deaths, this one actually gave me a "cozy mystery" vibe that worked so well with the story line.

Overall this is a hit and you better add it to your list ASAP!

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
June 3, 2025


ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻 ❓️⁉️❓️ Would you move to the desert 🏜 or prefer to live in the city 🌇?

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #upcomingthriller #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #pulsepoint #boneycreek #paulagleeson
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Amazed by Paula Gleeson's ability to write twisty, layered thrillers!! I loved the blog posts as Addie unfolded the mystery in Boney Creek. It's atmospheric, twisty, and tightly plotted with rich family drama and secrets--just like you'd expect from a Paula Gleeson book!

This is a suspenseful.read. Mystery is thrilling for students. This is a five star book. I highly recommend it.

Welcome to Boney Creek, population 217. Addie and Toby are just moving to this tiny town in the middle of nowhere, escaping the big city after enduring a traumatic event and hoping to put down roots somewhere smaller and safer. But Boney Creek has an unusually high death rate for such a small town – seven in a very short time – and a dark history too. Addie’s journalistic instincts are telling her there’s something sinister going on, and she’s determined to discover what it is.

The vibes of this atmospheric mystery are spot on. The setting is perfectly described, you can practically feel the smothering heat of midsummer in Boney Creek, and its isolated remoteness makes the town feel creepily empty. The supporting cast of characters is very well-drawn, from sassy teenage employee Clancy to cantankerous old Mildred, plus a variety of suspicious locals trying to thwart Addie from digging up their dirt. It sounds like the author isn’t done with Boney Creek yet, so I can’t wait to see what happens in this dusty little town in the future! Fans of the reporter-turned-amateur-sleuth trope will enjoy this one.

“Wherever there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

Well wasn’t this just a jam packed mystery full of the unexpected? Every page held a piece of the puzzle, you just have to pay attention. Reading this is like peeling back layers of an onion. I kept thinking I knew what the big twist was…wow was I wrong! This “sophomore” novel by Paula did not disappoint!

This was a twisty, small town full of drama and all the secrets!! And just how I like my thrillers, it totally kept me guessing and never would have figured it all out!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

Boney Creek is a great mystery that packs layers and layers of intrigue, local town history, and family secrets. Addie was a complex character and strong protagonist. She is trying so hard to fit into a new town, fuel her passion and ambition, and feel like she's succeeding. At times, I felt frustrated with her impatience -- things seemed to move pretty fast for unearthing a complex and multi-generational mystery! But overall, it was fun solving the mystery with her and gaining insight into the town's history and lore.

I really liked that I couldn't quite pinpoint if the deaths in Boney Creek were connected or purely accidental and coincidental. I had a hard time trusting anyone in the town and seemed to suspect everyone at one point or another.

Boney Creek evolved into a two-for-one mystery which I'm always here for. I liked that the past and present converged and that there was more to Boney Creek than met the eye.

This is a quick read and I had fun being an amateur sleuth alongside Addie. The Pulse has been thoroughly enjoying being armchair detectives and if that's your speed, I highly recommend!

Married couple Toby & Addie have moved from the city to a very small town of 217 people and purchased the town general store. Seven people have recently died and being an inquisitive journalist, stopping at nothing for a story, Addie starts a blog about the deaths. She uncovers that years before there were also a series of never-solved murders and makes it her mission to find out if the two are connected.

This book read as a true crime/murder mystery and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed. The opening prelude draws you in and the story kicks right off with snappy chapters. Although I found the main character, Addie, slightly unlikeable and the beginning a little static, once I got into the story I was hooked and wanted to solve the crimes.

I found myself reading this book in a day and thought the blog posts sprinkled throughout were a great touch. I also love that I didn’t totally guess what was going to happen. For my first arc, I’m really happy to have had a positive reading experience - there’s just something about a small town vibe that always sucks me in!

Paula Gleeson has done it again! Boney Creek was twisty and full of small town drama and secrets, a winning combination! I loved Addie and her determination to get to the bottom of all of the murders and mysterious deaths that were plaguing Boney Creek. Overall the book had an interesting cast of characters and I kept turning those pages in anticipation of what Addie might uncover next!

A big-city aspiring reporter moves to a tiny town with her husband in this fish out of water redemption thriller. Boney Creek feels dry and lifeless, with the tiny gas station/coffee shop/convenience store that Abbie and Toby buy to get away from the tragedy they faced in New York, and for Addie to escape the secrets she is keeping and help assuage her guilt. The previous owner had died, along with many other people in this tiny town. Many years ago there had been a serial killer who haunted the area, and people are starting to wonder, has the mysterious murderer returned? Addie can't help but start investigating, and once she finds out Toby has secrets of his own she just can't let things go. A quick read with a strong sense of place.

I tend to enjoy mysteries and thrillers, I will say. This one just didn’t click. Maybe I don’t enjoy amateur detective stories after all? The writing was good, though, even if the book ultimately ended up not being for me.