I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A couple moves to Boney Creek population 217 after a series of unexplained deaths. The young couple have their own secrets as well.

Thrilling, scary, wow what a read! I loved the small-town atmosphere and the feeling of dread and risk at every turn. There were so many twists and turns with a surprise ending. Well done!

Who doesn’t love a good mystery in a small town where the townspeople are hiding something and there is an air of uneasiness. The author did a very good job describing the scene to feel isolated and in ruins - just like you would picture a ghost town in the middle of nowhere. It’s the perfect location for murder.

The main character is unfortunately the biggest drawback of the story - she is hard to connect with, annoying, aggressive and self centered. Her internal monologue is whiny and I wish she would just stop talking. She is not someone I would ever want to be friends with.

While the pacing in the middle of the book seemed slow/ dragged along and the main character is unrelatable and forced, the story itself was a solid mystery - intriguing with an unpredictable ending. The author did a great job connecting all the dots and bringing the mystery to a conclusion.

*this ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Boney Creek is an enjoyable thriller with enough suspense and intrigue to keep readers turning the pages. The story is well-paced, with short chapters that make it easy to read in small doses or devour in one sitting. Clancy’s character is a standout, bringing much-needed energy and wit to the story. Her confidence and humor provide a refreshing contrast to Addie’s more introspective nature, and I found myself eagerly anticipating her scenes. The plot itself is solid and wraps up with a twist that, while unexpected, ties everything together nicely.

However, I did find the story lacked a bit of depth overall. The narrative felt slightly predictable, with a straightforward storyline that left me wanting a bit more complexity. Addie and Toby occasionally felt like background characters, which, combined with minimal character development, made it hard to feel fully invested in them. The big reveal at the end, while interesting, was presented a bit too quickly, leaving little time for it to fully sink in before the story wrapped up.

If you’re a fan of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, you’ll find Boney Creek to be a simpler, easy to digest page-turner version that’s worth the quick read.

Great sense of setting. There were a lot of references to mysterious past actions that kept the pace quick but didn't seem to pay off completely. Journalist main character was a pretty bad journalist.

Great story about a couple that move to an isolated small town where unexpected deaths have been happening. Addie and Toby buy the local store and Addie works to discover the truth of the recent string of deaths, as well as deaths from a serial killer may years ago. I enjoyed the read. It was a page turner. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book for my opinion.

Very enjoyable read with a good mystery to it as to what is going in Boney Creek. I didn't love the main female character as I found her to be pretty selfish, but both her and her husband had some lessons to learn in keeping secrets. All in all, I'd definitely recommend this one.

3.5 ⭐️ This book had me hooked from the start and while I found the characters charming, I found this fatal flaw too obvious in many thrillers of an unlikeable main character from the big city who moves to a small town that reeked of “they would have gotten away with it if it hadn’t been for that bored, nosy, white lady”. The mystery was interesting but those were a lot of pieces. The landing stuck, though, and I appreciated the dialogue that put the FMC in her place. A solid, cozy thriller.

This book was quite enjoyable, but an easier read than I expected. I was anticipating more grit, and perhaps something darker. It has the usual small town vibes, with a list of characters who all seem to have secrets. I did occasionally find it a little frustrating that the protagonist kept referring to her hidden secret, but not explaining it. Once I know there’s something we’re not being told, I don’t need reminding so often.
The book is worth a look, for a small town mystery that isn’t too harrowing.

Boney Creek by new to me author P. Gleeson, published by Thomas & Mercer is a small town mystery/ thriller.
Addie and Toby are new residents of Boney Creek. They moved here to start over, but trouble follows them.
A story full of unexpected twists and turns that had me guessing till the last page.

Addie and Toby move to Boney Creek- a small town with big secrets to escape their own troubles. Following a series of mysterious deaths that Addie is dedicated to solving. This was an interesting book with many characters and an interesting storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

I really enjoyed this one! Boney Creek by Paula Gleeson is an engaging novel that brings small-town charm to life with a cast of relatable, well-developed characters. The main character, who is not a qualified investigative journalist, feels refreshingly human, which adds a nice layer of realism to the story. Watching her navigate the intricacies of small-town life and stumble through her investigation is both endearing and entertaining, making her someone you root for throughout the book.

The setting of the small town is another highlight, with Gleeson capturing the essence of a close-knit community where everyone knows each other, and secrets are hard to keep. It pulls you into the atmosphere, making you feel like you’re right there in the midst of it all.

While I enjoyed the novel, it did feel a bit slow in places. The pacing lagged at times, making it more of a leisurely read than a page-turner. Because of this, I probably wouldn’t revisit Boney Creek again, but it was certainly enjoyable the first time through.

Overall, Boney Creek is a solid mystery with a relatable protagonist and an authentic small-town vibe. Though not the fastest-paced, it’s a satisfying read, and I look forward to more from Paula Gleeson in the future.

I liked this one.

I did think it would be darker – more small town noir. It’s…light. But the mystery is good and I liked our characters.

Now, there’s a lot of time and attention paid to a secret that ends up really dull, but the murder mystery of it all is good and the reveal was satisfying.

Needed a little edge, but overall enjoyable and I’d read the author again.

• ARC via Publisher

Boney Creek
By: Paula Gleeson
Pub Date: June 3, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
After her debut “Original Twin”, I could not wait to get my hands-on Gleeson’s next novel.
Boney Creek is a small town where people are dying.
Addie and Toby have come to town after buying a store. They needed a fresh start after they left the city after their own tragedy.
They soon discover that not everything is as it seems and there are too many accidents and deaths. Addie has always wanted to be a journalist and when she starts a blog, things get crazy.
Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for this gifted e-ARC. Gleeson is one to watch out for and I look forward to what is next.

My 6P review: Premise, Plot, People, Place, Prose/Pace, Praise

Boney Creek is a dying town, literally and figuratively. Aspiring journalist Addie and her husband Toby have moved there for the quiet life but as these strange deaths occur, Addie feels compelled to investigate.

I wasn’t particularly taken by either of these characters. They came across as selfish and self-obsessed. Addie had no care for others when she began to investigate, and Toby was a wet dish cloth.

I thought the use of Addie’s blogs was very childish considering she was supposed to be a journalist.

The setting, however, was wonderful. I wasn’t too sure exactly where I was in Australia, but it didn’t really matter as it could have been any country town.

Unfortunately, the people who live in this town aren’t’ given the same consideration.
They appear to be deceiving, and conniving and I didn’t take to any of them either.

Thank you to Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from the first page and had me guessing from the first page until the end. I wanted to figure out what was killing these people and thought the overall story being told worked. I thought the characters were written well and worked in this world. Paula Gleeson has a strong writing style and can’t wait for more.

🎀 DID NOT FINISH 🎀
This book is realistically a 2.5 star — I just got a little bored and decided to move onto another book. I might come back to this later!!

Overall, the creepy vibes were definitely established, but the pacing was a bit too slow in the first 20%. The writing was quite nice, however and I feel like I would have enjoyed the characters if I had finished the book!

After a break in, Addie and Clark decide to start a new life in Boney Creek. Addie, who is a journalist by trade, stubbles on a mystery in town. People are dying at an alarming rate Only there seems to be more to the story. Toby is connected to the people killed and is now asking Abbie to help him solve the cold cases. There has been a rash of mysterious deaths at Boney Creek and nothing seems to add up. Toby and Abbey decide to find out who is responsible for the deaths of numerous Boney Creek residents. Could it be a serial killer? Or just plain coincidence?

Some times small towns should have their own secrets….

I rate this book 3/5. Nice quick read for a road trip, plane trip or a day by the pool. Pros: easy read liable characters. Cons: I felt the story like was a bit undeveloped.
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The atmosphere of Boney Creek is spine-tingling! This story immediately had me hooked and kept up the pace.

Married couple Addie and Toby each have their secrets that slowly unravel as they attempt to start anew in an almost-ghost town.

Addie is a journalist at heart, constantly questioning and seeking out the truth. Toby would really prefer she didn't try to turn everything into a news story especially when it comes to his own past.

Along the way, they meet some intriguing folks who may not really be who they seem to be. Clancy is the spunky teenager not afraid to bring the townsfolk to heel. Walter is the god-fearing man who aids Addie in filling in some details. Mildred is the crotchety old lady with secrets of her own. Gale is the grieving sister of one of the seemingly straight-forward deaths in their town. But who actually knows more than they are saying?

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Boney Creek releases June 3, 2025

<i>“She’s only ever gone after other people’s truths so she wouldn’t have to face up to her own.”</I>

Addie and Toby are a married couple and the town’s newcomers. They’ve just purchased the general store and are looking for a fresh start in Boney Creek after leaving behind a traumatic night of events in the city.

It’s not long before Addie’s journalistic roots start tingling and she becomes inspired to seek out the truth about what’s happening in Boney Creek, the town with seven deaths in just three months. Are all of these deaths truly just freak accidents, or is something more sinister going on in this town?

To say I was hooked from the start would be an understatement. The dying, desert-like town in the middle of bumfuck nowhere with an eerie history tied to it was super captivating, and every single character was unique in their own way.
To have such a strong opening scene where the entire community banded together to pull a welcoming prank on Addie and Toby by convening at the store in its opening hours before they had a chance to get their bearings was a <I>very</I> smart and memorable move. Not only did it aid in crafting the setting, but it was equally chaotic, comedic, and provided character depth through various avenues by showing how Addie and Toby adapted to their environment, the loyalty and different personalities of the townsfolk, and the tenacity of Clancy.

I really didn’t know what direction this was going to go in, if there was a potential serial killer, or something else entirely.
Through blog posts and general town gossip, secrets come to light, and several small details that seem insignificant at first, end up connecting to form a satisfying reveal.

Gleeson is a new-to-me author, but has definitely caught my attention with such a standout sophomore novel.

cw: mentions of miscarriage and suicide