Author: Rachel Caine
Series: Stillhouse Lake Series (Book 2)
Publication: Thomas & Mercer (December 12, 2017)
Description: Every time Gwen closed her eyes, she saw him in her nightmares. Now her eyes are open, and he’s not going away.
Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text…
You’re not safe anywhere now.
Her refuge at Stillhouse Lake has become a trap. Gwen leaves her children in the protective custody of a fortified, well-armed neighbor. Now, with the help of Sam Cade, brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen is going hunting. She’s learned how from one of the sickest killers alive.
But what she’s up against is beyond anything she feared—a sophisticated and savage mind game calculated to destroy her. As trust beyond her small circle of friends begins to vanish, Gwen has only fury and vengeance to believe in as she closes in on her prey. And sure as the night, one of them will die.
My Thoughts: The story begun in STILLHOUSE LAKE comes to its heart-pounding conclusion in this book. Gwen has survived the trap set by her serial killer ex-husband but the safety that she found for herself and her children has been destroyed. She is no longer the meek, ignorant young wife who was unaware of her husband's crimes. But is she strong enough to finally take down the man who is haunting her life and threatening her children?
Gwen is going hunting for her ex-husband. Assisting her her is Sam Cade, who sister was her husband's final victim. He, too, has a strong motive to find and destroy Melvin Royal. Sam and Gwen are starting a romance but it isn't easy because Sam is just beginning to trust the woman he thought was her husband's accomplice.
The power of social media is a strong presence in this book. Gwen and her kids are targets of internet trolls and have been since her husband's crimes were discovered. Part of the story has Sam and Gwen trying to track down Absalom who first seemed to help Gwen when she was trying to start a new life but who was revealed as a minion of her ex-husband. Now Gwen and Sam learn that Absalom's internet harassment is only the tip of iceberg that hides child porn, blackmail, and snuff films in its depths.
This story is told from four points of view. Gwen, Sam, Lanny, and Connor all tell the story in their own chapters. Lanny and Connor both have interesting points of view. Lanny knows that her father is a murderer but she still remembers times when he was just "dad." Connor is even more conflicted. He was only seven when his father's crimes were revealed. He has even stronger memories of good times with his father. He now has a cellphone that he can use to contact his father which he has to keep secret from his mother and Lanny. He also knows that his father is a murderer but is still looking for a way to connect with his father.
This was an excellent thriller packed with action and dangerous situations. I was especially moved when videos surfaced that showed Gwen complicit in Melvin's crimes and which her children and Sam believed. Gwen was even more isolated after they were revealed and even more determined to kill Melvin and protect her children.
Read STILLHOUSE LAKE first and then read this excellent conclusion to the story.
Favorite Quote:
"Of course I want to go back," Gwen says, then takes a deep breath. "But I can't, can I? If I don't fight for my kids and protect them now, how can I ever look them in they eyes again? He's going to come for them. And I need to be in his way when he does."I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
I was tempted to pick this up at NG this past week. Glad to know it is good and that the first book should be read first. Thanks for sharing!
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