I was pleasantly surprised. I was very hesitant of this book since it is put of the usual for me.

My biggest complaint was the chapter length. I hate having to stop in the middle of a chapter that could have easily been broke up (I know I am spoiled).While I felt that it was lacking in a few aspects, just as far as keeping my interest. This book overall was exactly what a mystery should have been. It kept you guessing. It kept you off the scent...and left you on others. I would definitely recommend this to a mystery lover. I can't wait to read the next one.

Loved it! Twist and turns with a creepy feel to keep you on your toes!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
The book started out very interesting and kept me reading at one sitting but then about 1/2 way through, it was a little bit tedious for me to read- too many details about the dead girls' bodies and the poor use of language Would have given it at least 3 stars, but I didn't like the ending!

This book was one of the best books of the year!! I was a little hesitant to read it because of some of the reviews, but I am so glad that I did!! This book was everything and more than I expected, but I ended wanting more, more, more. I couldn't help but want to make the book last as long as I could because it was just that good. I wanted to finish so that I could know what happened but I kept wanting it to end.

I loved how you were always kept in the loop with what was happening but always left guessing, and who you think it is, isn't who it is. I ABSOLUTELY loved every minute of it!! I CANNOT wait for the second book!!!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I’ve always been very interested in mystery. All kinds, but later in life true crime. When a crime happens locally, I can find myself reading article after article about the story. Little do I think of the other people involved in the life of the suspect. This story gave an interesting prospective into the family of a serial killer. It made me think a lot about how people behave with the feeling of anonymity of the internet, and how people’s lives can change, simply from knowing someone who does something heinous.

I found myself lost in this book. You know you are reading something good when you can almost exactly picture the surroundings.

I can’t wait until the second book in this series!

This one truly grabs your attention from the very first page - and refuses to let go until you make it to the end.

I loved this book!!! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I can't wait to read the next book in the series! Is it December yet? Thank you so very much to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC in return for an honest review.

After discovering in a dramatic and public way that her seemingly perfect husband was a serial killer, then Gina Royal now, Gwen Proctor and her two children are constantly moving and trying to escape the hate mail and threats from all the people who falsely believe that Gwen assisted him. After so many years, Gwen finally believes that she has left her old self behind and is safe and has finally found a home by Stillhouse Lake. Until the bodies of young women, her ex-husbands preferred victims, start appearing. But, it can’t be her ex-husband, he’s in prison, could he have orchestrated this from behind bars? And how does he know where she is? Or is it all just coincidence?

Despite Rachel Caine’s popularity with her vampire and weather warden series, both of which are probably on my TBR shelf, this book is my first read of her. Stillhouse Lake is a drastic genre change from the PNR/UF series she has written before, instead what we have is a tense thriller. But despite having never read anything from her previously it has definitely made me more eager to try out her other books. I really enjoyed this book, it was nail biting stuff.

There were a number of things I really liked about this book and that got me hooked early on. One of those things is that Caine builds up the tension really well. Gwen is fairly,and justifiably, paranoid after her experiences so at first you don’t know if this is her hyper vigilance or if something really is happening. This build of tension has you stuck to the pages, trying to find out what is going on. I also really liked the familial relationships that Caine builds between Gwen and her two young teenage kids. They have all been through a horrible experience, first finding out about their father and then their treatment by the press and police and now this life on the run. As well as a thriller you get a story about a family trying to hold themselves together.

As someone fascinated by true crime, I loved this book, I liked that it showed this from the point of view of the “collateral damage”, which is the family the killer leaves behind. A family that had nothing to do with his heinous actions, but seem to be punished as much as he is. This was an emotional and tense thriller and the way Caine leaves it…I will be grabbing the next book as soon as I can.After discovering in a dramatic and public way that her seemingly perfect husband was a serial killer, then Gina Royal now, Gwen Proctor and her two children are constantly moving and trying to escape the hate mail and threats from all the people who falsely believe that Gwen assisted him. After so many years, Gwen finally believes that she has left her old self behind and is safe and has finally found a home by Stillhouse Lake. Until the bodies of young women, her ex-husbands preferred victims, start appearing. But, it can’t be her ex-husband, he’s in prison, could he have orchestrated this from behind bars? And how does he know where she is? Or is it all just coincidence?

Despite Rachel Caine’s popularity with her vampire and weather warden series, both of which are probably on my TBR shelf, this book is my first read of her. Stillhouse Lake is a drastic genre change from the PNR/UF series she has written before, instead what we have is a tense thriller. But despite having never read anything from her previously it has definitely made me more eager to try out her other books. I really enjoyed this book, it was nail biting stuff.

There were a number of things I really liked about this book and that got me hooked early on. One of those things is that Caine builds up the tension really well. Gwen is fairly,and justifiably, paranoid after her experiences so at first you don’t know if this is her hyper vigilance or if something really is happening. This build of tension has you stuck to the pages, trying to find out what is going on. I also really liked the familial relationships that Caine builds between Gwen and her two young teenage kids. They have all been through a horrible experience, first finding out about their father and then their treatment by the press and police and now this life on the run. As well as a thriller you get a story about a family trying to hold themselves together.

As someone fascinated by true crime, I loved this book, I liked that it showed this from the point of view of the “collateral damage”, which is the family the killer leaves behind. A family that had nothing to do with his heinous actions, but seem to be punished as much as he is. This was an emotional and tense thriller and the way Caine leaves it…I will be grabbing the next book as soon as I can.

I loved the idea of this book but felt like it took forever to get to the main point! The writing was wonderful and story line was great, just too much dragging on for the most part. The ending was incredible and action packed though!!

Oh I didn't see that coming on this book. What an amazing psychological suspense novel I've read so far. Really addicted !!!

Your ex-husband turns out, to be a serial killer, went to jail to death row but...still without knowledge his past crimes and defending herself and her kids innocence, decided to change IDs, run from everyone to get some safety. After awhile all the chaos and dark secrets who was buried for some time has been submerged again as crime has occurred in Stillhouse Lake, the site where she decides to settle with her kids....

5 ⭐️ and I recommend it ! Thank You Netgalley, Rachel Caine and the publisher Thomas & Mercer for accepting me to read this book.

One of the best mystery thrillers I’ve read this year! I’m a fan of Caine’s work on The Great Library series and it was a pleasant surprise to read something so far from the fantasy world!

Gina Royal had it all: the house, the husband and her two children, completely unaware of the deadly secrets hidden behind a perfect family picture. When a car accident brings to light that her husband is a serial killer, Gina becomes Gwen Proctor, a woman on the run from accusations and internet stalkers that find her guilty of helping her husband. In desperate need to settle down, Gwen moves to the remote house of Stillhouse Lake where she thinks her children and herself will finally have some peace. That is until the body of a woman is found floating in the lake, killed with the same method Gwen’s husband used.

It’s a horrific, thrilling and suspenseful novel that had me glued to its pages, right from the first chapter. The style of writing and the very well thought plot made this novel very addictive and compelling. The feeling of paranoia is always present and the characters will share that feeling with the reader. The atmosphere builds up perfectly and every event just adds to a great climax. The novel works perfectly on the dangers of the internet and how “internet is forever”. The author describes very well the social dilemma of how the family of a criminal is easily put in the same bag even though they had nothing to do with the acts committed by that individual. People tend to forget that there is a chance they might be victims too. Also, beware: if your husband doesn’t show you his garage, maybe it’s not just his workshop after all…

The characters are well developed and very well described. Gwen is a great main character and a warrior; I was proud to read about her deeds and the demonstration of her courage. Her first priority is always her children and if she has to break the rules and moral codes to do it, so be it. It takes a lot of courage and a strong spirit to be able to do what she does in the novel. Overall, the relationships in the novel are solid, especially between Gwen and her children and Gwen and her neighbour.

A great psychological thriller that I recommend to all the fans of these genres.

An exciting and tense story told well and leaving me longing for more. I was impressed with the issues that the book made me think about regarding families of criminals as well as those of the victims not to mention the way the internet gives us such anonymity. . There didn't seem to be any resolution that would be satisfactory but Rachel Caine is obviously much cleverer than I am at plots!

I love the premise of this one, the idea that a woman is married to a sadistic serial killer and has no idea. Yes, it does seem a little far fetched that she never once went into the garage where he tortured and killed young women, but just go with me here, it’s worth it. Why is it worth it? Because Caine sure knows how to write one hell of a thrilling roller coaster ride, this was highly entertaining and super intense!

Gwen and her kids have been on the run for years but they’ve finally settled in Stillhouse Lake and are actually starting to get comfortable. I loved this setting, it was a creepy little small lakeside town and the perfect backdrop for the story. The isolation added to the mounting tension and sense of uneasiness, I feared for the Royal families safety the entire time. Gwen doesn’t trust anyone and I found myself questioning everyone as well, the residents of Stillhouse Lake are a tight knit community that are wary of outsiders, so there was a mutual feeling of distrust and paranoia.

This is steadily paced until the last ten percent or so when everything comes to a head in an exhilarating conclusion. There was a killer twist in the end that sets things up perfectly for the next book in the series and I can’t wait to read it!

Wow!!!

It is an extremely well-written book. From the first chapter to last, the story never bored me.
It is a perfect thriller.As I was reading through the book, I was guessing which character could be shady or which character want to do harm.But all my guesses turned futile at the end.

Gina Royal/Gwen Proctor, the protagonist of the book is a well-written character. She struggles to identify her friends and her enemy.She is a cautious and strong woman.Her past, her present and the things she does to protect her children is very engaging.

I like the character of Lanny, she is one of Gwen's children.She is a smart girl.The other child, Connor is a nerdy guy.

The story is well written.The emotions of each character, their life, and the trauma they have gone through and their indifference with each other are written nicely.

This is one of the best thriller books I have read this year.

3 1/2 Stars

If you can get past the unbelievable aspects and sink into the fiction, this book will grab you and keep your interest until the VERY unsatisfactory ending! It wasn't hard to figure out the killer early on, but the red herrings will keep some guessing. My biggest complaint is the fact that this is NOT a stand alone novel. It ends abruptly and the story continues in book 2. I always feel duped when that happens. Just know that you need to read both books to finish the story.

Gina Royal had an average, but a happy life. A mother to two children and a happy marriage, until the illusion of her life comes crumbling around her when a car plows into her garage and reveals her husband as a serial killer.

Now Gina Royal is Gwen Proctor, a warrior mom who will go the distance to protect her innocent children from the savage world of stalkers and internet trolls that hold her somehow responsible for her husband’s activities.

This book you guys. It was my first Rachel Caine read (I know what, right?) but I have to say it will not be my last.

Stillhouse Lake was everything I ever wanted in a thriller. A great storyline that keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat that is equally captivating and even a bit realistic. Character growth and development. Gwen/Gina was especially fascinating as I loved watching her transform from a helpless housewife into a strong and independent woman through a series of some really unfortunate events.

As Gwen was originally accused of being an accomplice, she has been the victim of being wrongfully accused and what the horror of such a public case can do to her and her family. The amount of hate she received due to that was unfathomable. Mel also has a ton of fans, people who are fixated on his works and who approve of it. The whole thing where they end up attacking Gwen and her children online though, that was really dark and twisted. It really makes your blood run cold thinking that something like this could happen to someone.

When a copycat killer shows up in her little town, Gwen is afraid that somehow she had been found and that her husband has a lot more influence than she had ever prepared herself for.

This was quite a ride. Well written, fleshed out characters that are totally believable. A quiet town with its own dark secrets and trouble that follows Gwen no matter how much she is trying to escape.

The ending thought you guys.. Oh my god. Is the next book out soon?

Thrilled to have a wish granted with this novel. Really thrilling plot, fast paced and characters that leap off the page. Fantastic!!

I am a big fan of Rachel Caine. Her young adult series, Morganville Vampires, is fantastic and I loved it. Stillhouse Lake is a much more adult story, being extremely gruesome at times, but it still shows the authors wonderful ability to tell and maintain a thrilling and engrossing story.

A woman, Gwen, is trying to make a new life with her two children after her husband turns out to be, well, not the man she thought he was. However, the new beginning she hoped for is proving to be impossible to find due to her inability to trust anyone and the determination of some downright disgusting internet trolls who would like nothing more than to see Gwen and her children die, horribly.

A very entertaining read from the shocking and very gruesome first chapter to the heart stopping stonker of a cliffhanger at the end. I don't know if my fingernails will survive the wait for the sequel.

Stillhouse Lake is a psychological thriller that will keep you up at night, doubting the characters and their motives, particularly the protagonist. This is a book that makes one thing clear: don’t trust anyone. Ever.

Gina Royal seems to have it all: a lovely house, two perfect kids, and a doting husband. But the dream of idyllic suburbia gets abruptly shattered when a drunk driver crashes into Gina’s garage revealing her husband’s little horror shop. As it turns out, Melvin is a serial killer who flays young women alive before dumping their bodies in a lake. But the trial and imprisonment of her husband are not the end of the nightmare; they’re just the beginning of an online witch hunt. Many do not believe that Gina is innocent. Calling her Melvin’s Little Helper, online trolls threaten her and her children. Therefore, Gina is on the run from the past and from those who might want to harm her and take away the only thing she’s got left.

Fast forward to her new life. After having been on the move for five years, Gina and her kids are new people. They have new names and along with those new identities. They have settled down at Stillhouse Lake, Tennessee, a wildly romantic but remote place. Gwen Proctor is no longer naive and weak Gina, but a woman who is ready to defend her family, even kill those in her way if necessary. Gwen is also quite paranoid about her kids’ safety and hardly trusts anyone. However, there are people she slowly lets into her life, for example, Javier, who owns the local shooting range; and Sam, who just happened to rent the cabin next door. Apart from the paranoia and the trauma, things finally start looking up for Gwen and her family. When suddenly a body turns up in the lake – a young woman flayed alive. It seems that after all the efforts she has taken Gwen can’t run from the past forever…

Stillhouse Lake, a nerve-wracking whodunit, is a real page-turner you are likely to finish in one sitting. The action-packed plot full of suspense and twists is pure entertainment. Alright, going from incredibly naive housewife to badass action heroine is not that believable, but overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who looks for a top-notch thriller. I also liked that stalking via the internet is a theme. I have never been the victim of stalkers or trolls, but when I look at social media and online forums these days, it does seem that people are just willing to write anything and everything under the protection of cyberspace anonymity. I concede that most of these people are harmless and would never put their sick ideas into action. But who knows? Thus, the paranoia created by Gwen’s scrutiny of online forums is entirely credible. As is a mother’s fierce will to protect her children.

All in all, an almost perfect thriller that offers digging-your-nails-into-the sofa suspense that ends with a ginormous cliffhanger.
(I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer.)