Member Reviews

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!

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*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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Enjoyable, engaging characters, mystery light.

Addie and Toby move to a small town - Boney Creek ostensibly to run the general store. Addie in her city life was a journalist and can’t resist digging into the recent deaths of 7 townsfolk, is it linked to the minders in the 1980s.

I was expecting more mystery but the characters are well constricted and it feels like a a small town.

A well written solid 4 star book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher Thomas and Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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*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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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