Cover Image: Wolfhunter River

Wolfhunter River

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My initial thoughts when getting this book: I am so obsessed with this series. And I am so beyond excited to read this book! This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2019!

I really enjoyed Stillhouse Lake and Killman's Creek. I have been anxiously awaiting Wolfhunter River since I first heard that there was going to be another book.

Wolfhunter River is the third book in the Stillhouse Lake series. I would highly recommend reading the first two books before this one.

The main narrator in this book is Gwen (1st person POV). Although we do get some chapters from Sam's POV and a few from Lanny and Connor's POVs.

Killhouse Creek was so crazy. So I was so very excited to read this new book. Killman's Creek wrapped up that story. But Gwen and her family have more adventures in this new book.

This book picks up months after the last book ended. The beginning was really somber and chilling to me. I felt so anxious reading about Gwen's predicament. And it was making me crazy.

Starting at halfway the story got more interesting and less upsetting. There is a mystery in Wolfhunter River. And it was really fascinating and unpredictable. I was shocked by many things. There were so many twists that I did not see coming. The last chapter was actually a bit more gruesome than I was expecting. But overall this was a good sequel/final book.

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Wolfhunter River was one of my most anticipated reads of the year so when I got my hands on it last week, I dropped everything and started it immediately. I love this series and I’m happy to report, the third book was just as fast paced and chilling as the other two!
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Gwen Proctor is still on edge and alert in an attempt to keep her kids safe. She’s trying to give her kids a normal life but Melvin’s followers are still out there. She gets calls all the time from people who need her help. Usually she doesn’t get involved but this call from Marlene is different. She can’t get her out of her mind so when Marlene’s daughter calls and says her mama is dead, Gwen knows she needs to act. There’s something about this story that pulls her in and she needs to help. The family heads to Wolfhunter, a corrupt and dark town that grips its hold on Gwen and her family. The stalkers are closing in, waiting for her to slip. This town won’t let her escape but Gwen will stop at nothing to protect her kids.
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The first third of the book is updating the reader on the family, which is fantastic because I’m already invested in them so I loved it. The rest is a heart pounding, on the edge of your seat ride that I’ve come to appreciate and expect from Rachel Caine. I love the action and suspense in this series and I’m ecstatic that Wolfhunter River lived up to my anticipation. The ending was fabulous, open to leaving this series as a trilogy or possibly open to more books in the future. As a huge fan of these books, my vote goes towards continuing Gwen Proctors story! For me, Wolfhunter River was a solid 4.5/5 stars. Thank you @amazonpublishing for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review. Look for this third installment April 23rd!

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Gwen has decided she is no longer running from the people that hate her for having been married to serial killer Melvin Royal. Trying to tell her story, unfortunately Gwen chooses the wrong outlet. The woman who hates her the most is out to destroy Gwen and her family. She will stop at nothing to make Gwen pay for what Melvin did to her daughter.



Over the years Gwen has gotten calls from people seeking her help. When someone calls from Wolfhunter Gwen has no interest in going there, but things are heating up in Stillhouse and it is best that she gets away for awhile. Women are disappearing in Wolfhunter and Gwen has no choice but to help the woman who calls.



There is something wrong in Wolfhunter. Gwen is determined to help a young woman when law-enforcement seem to be railroading her to the death penalty. Gwen and boyfriend Sam want to get out of Wolfhunter as fast as possible, but it seems that someone wants them dead instead. Is Gwen's past catching up with her again? Are the locals hiding something? Who can Gwen and Sam trust?



Oh. My. Word! This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I read it in two days! I didn't want to put it down! It was fast-paced, it was scary, it had twists and turns that kept me wondering what in the world was going on. It was dark! I honestly don't know if someone like Gwen, Sam and Gwen's kids could go through as much as they do if they were real-life people! The stress on them would be too great I imagine. Melvin's evilness is still touching their lives and it is horrifying. What comes next for Gwen and Sam? There were some pretty intense secrets that were let out of the bag in this installment. If you like darkly intense thrillers then I would say that author Rachel Caine hit the nose on this one.

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WOW! Just as great as the first two books. I was really curious as to where Rachel Caine was going to go with this after all the loose ends seemed to be wrapped up after the second book. But having been a fan of her books for a while now, I should have known she would have an equally suspenseful story up her sleeve. It was great to revisit Gwen and the family and see where Caine was going to take them. I am hoping there will be more books in the future.

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Killman Creek was fantastic closure to Stillhouse Lake - such fantastic closure that I worried any further followup would struggle to live up to the beginning of the series. Lucky me, that I was so wrong!

Wolfhunter River picks up just months after the events of Killman Creek, with Gwen and family still picking up the pieces. The focus, which widened out in the second book, includes the whole family once again (Lanny remains an absolute delight), is still set on the family and it makes for a much stronger book.

There's a lot going on in a relatively short space - how these books don't end up feeling rushed is a testament to the writing Rachel Caine can do. It all begins with a phone call asking for help, and because Gwen never could let someone in need down (no matter the risk to herself), we're shortly off to Wolfhunter River, home to backwoods and a very unhealthy backwoods mentality in its residents.

If you've already read some in this series, then rest assured that this is another great book. And if you haven't yet read any of the Stillhouse Lake books, as much as they all *can* stand alone, you'll be missing out not to begin at the beginning. It's a great series, and clearly it's only getting better.

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Omg!!! A nail-biting continuation of Gwen's story and we get the long awaited reveal of Sam's past which was exciting but lacked the wow factor that I was hoping for. I liked the new characters and loved the development of our beloved characters. Lanny and Conner are becoming more matured with each installment and I'm happy that Gwen and Sam are trying to work things out between themselves which is the direction that I'm happy the story is taking rather than insta-love which would have been a huge disappointment.
The portrayal of Gwen as tough but not invincible made her join my favourite characters of all time list along with Erika Foster (Erika Foster Crime Series by Robert Bryndza).
The action scenes were well thought out and not cheesy which was a bonus. The slow revelation of the mystery kept me engaged in the plot till the end.
Hope we get to see more of Gwen, Sam and the Kids in the near future.

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I'd just finished a book and was in the mood for another so I took a look at the current most popular offerings on Netgalley and thought this was worth a go. It's described as the third in the Stillhouse Lake series of books by Rachel Caine. Not having read the first two I wasn't sure how easily I'd get up to speed. I needn't have worried.

Gina Royal was the woman next door, mum to two children, wife to average Joe, until average Joe turns out to have been a serial killer. Now Gwen Proctor, she struggles to protect her children from the notoriety of her husband and the vigilantes who do all in their power to avenge his crimes in the mistaken belief Gina/Gwen had to have known what her husband was doing.

"Third in the series" made me wonder if there would be more to come and how you would transition from a particular story to a series of new ones. I suspect this book is the transition and, as such, may not be quite as strong as the previous two nor any that follow as it ties up loose ends and sets the scene.

These are characters I could care about, though the story seemed a bit far fetched (even if the component parts could have been lifted from recent news coverage) and the body count was seriously high. I think a fourth in the series would have readers coming back for more.

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Although it’s terrible that Gwen and her kids must face yet another round of perilous circumstances, the suspense in this book had me on the edge of my seat. When book 2 rolled around, I didn’t love the turn of events that happened. After reading book 3, though, I think I need to take another look at Killman Creek. The storyline needed time to grow on me.

In Wolfhunter River, Gwen takes on a whole new set of problems. It was frustrating at first, because she has her own overwhelming issues to deal with, but I admired her integrity and drive to do the right thing. Believe me, you’ve never seen a Mama Bear until you’ve met Gwen Proctor! Her character is fiercely realistic in my mind. I loved how she refused to back down even when the situation seemed impossible.

I’m not a huge fan of battle scenes and action sequences, so there were a few parts I skimmed. The book’s themes of deep love and commitment really spoke to my heart. Lanny really comes into her own in Wolfhunter River, and it was lovely to see.

There were a few questions that lingered after I finished reading. I’m torn between wanting the next book NOW, and wanting Gwen’s family to have a happily-ever-after. Bravo to Rachel Caine for making book 3 just as powerful as the first one in the series!

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"As we leave Stillhouse Lake, I feel a tiny, guilty bit of relief. Like I'm running away from my problems, dumping them and escaping into the unknown, the way I had before. But it's false, that feeling. Escaping was always temporary. Problems always caught up to me. But, I remind myself, I'm not doing this for myself. Not this time."

Honestly, if you're not reading Rachel Caine's Stillhouse Lake series, then what are you doing with your life? I'll admit, I was skeptical when I saw the first book in the series praised so thoroughly that I assumed it had been hyped to high heavens, so I didn't start the series until after the first two novels had been published. I finally gave into the pressure after seeing so many glowing reviews from trusted friends, and boy am I glad that I did. There's a quiet power to these books, and although the reader is dropped in after the serial killer has been unveiled, I think the fact that the tension doesn't lie in the whodunnit is precisely what makes these books unable to be ignored. The multiple POVs, the constant sense of those hunting down Gwen Proctor's family closing in, and the complex weaving of multiple storylines are all reasons that I keep coming back to this series.

Can this book be read as a standalone? I mean, I think you could read it and follow along well enough, as the author does a fabulous job of recapping events from the prior two novels, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice at best. The fact that there is so much backstory provided for these characters in the previous stories is only part of the reason; Caine has done such a fabulous job of requiring an investment in her characters that my jaw was literally on the floor during some of the plot twists and reveals in Wolfhunter River. The vein of intimacy I now feel with these characters makes some of the conflicts only that much more painful; the emotion runs deep here folks, much more deep than in its prequels.

I really don't want to get into plot specifics, (<--- Honestly, why do I keep saying this in reviews? Is it trademarked yet?) but I have to admit that this one had more hustle and bustle going on that the reader needs to keep straight. I loved this, because it provided me with an enjoyable challenge, and to see how certain things tied together by the end, and how some things didn't, was extremely satisfying. Gwen's personal conclusion was wonderful as well; I feel the author could choose to leave this as the final book but could just as easily see her continuing on with a new set of ideas. Highly recommended! And please, do yourself the favor of starting from the beginning. If you're a fan of audiobooks, these are EXCELLENT to listen to as well.

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Gwen Proctor escaped her serial-killer husband and saved her family. What she can’t seem to outrun is his notoriety. Or the sick internet vigilantes still seeking to avenge his crimes. For Gwen, hiding isn’t an option. Not when her only mission is to create a normal life for her kids.


Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a great experience first time reading anything from this author

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The Stillhouse Lake series is one of the most entertaining series of suspense thrillers that I've ever come across. The series picks up after the outcome of Killman Creek, where Gwen Proctor's ex husband Melvin Royal's timely demise gave her the freedom to breathe without fear of retaliation from him. Gwen, her children Lanny and Connor, and her boyfriend Sam are now back at their home in Stilllhouse Lake, but the notoriety of Melvin's actions are still causing harm to the family. After finding out that the mother of one of her ex-husband's victim's has funded the production of a documentary that will try and defame and outcast Gwen, she is on high alert.

At the same time, Gwen has allowed for the police to link her with families going through similar situations—allowing her to provide insight and guidance for those who need it most. Gwen receives a call from a woman fearing for her life, and Gwen initially shrugs it off. However, this family is linked to Gwen's struggle somehow and she now needs to get involved. Gwen decides to find the woman's daughter and try to find out what is burdening this family, but will the price be worth it?

After finishing Killman Creek, I was curious to see how Rachel Caine would continue this series. Wolfhunter River is vastly different from its predecessors, and I think it'll be a good transitional book for a new arc in the series. I struggled with the amount of exposition in the first half of this novel, but once we got to the central plot, I really gathered interest until the end of the story. I love how relatable this family is, even with the storyline being as intense as it can be at times. Go into Wolfhunter River with an open mind, and you'll enjoy how the story takes place. The less you know about what will play out in Wolfhunter River , the better. Let the story unfold and surprise you until the very last page.

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4 1/2 stars

I love a good thriller book and I devoured the two previous books in the 'Stillhouse Lake' series within a day or two of getting them. In case you aren't familiar with the series this story is about Gwen who is a mother to two children trying to start her life over after her serial killer husband is caught for his gruesome murders. Unfortunately his victim's families don't believe she didn't know or help him and have been after her since she was acquitted of the charges.

This is the third novel in the series and it starts off not long after the second book leaves off. While reeling from an interview that went terribly wrong Gwen receives a call from a woman looking for help or advice on what to do when she thinks she may have witnessed a crime. It's a call that isn't uncommon as Gwen finds herself being a bit of a hero to those women who are left after their family members do horrific things. However this case is different and she finds herself thrown in the middle of a case that she wishes she could find herself out of.

From the opening pages until the final word this book was really hard to put down. I ended up forgoing sleep and finishing it in the wee hours this morning and the lack of sleep was worth it. I really love how evolved not only the children have become over the course of the series but Gwyn as well as her relationship with Sam. I think this is the final in the series but I wouldn't be opposed to more in this series. I really have come to love the characters, especially Connor.

While I think this novel could absolutely stand on its own I think to get the full grasp of what lead to this point you should read the prior two novels in the series. Otherwise you may not quite understand just how much not only Gwen and her kids have gone through but the horrors of what her husband did.

I HIGHLY recommend this novel and am only dinging a 1/2 star because it's a smidge too.much.stuff that happens to all of them but I'm willing to suspend belief for a good book and that this is.

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I always enjoy reading any books by Rachel Caine! I loved reading this whole series! I can't wait for read her future books!

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4 Heart Stopping Stars!!

For Gwen Proctor, Lanny, Connor and Sam, there’s no such thing as Peace. Certainly not in Stillhouse Lake and let’s face it, not anywhere else either.

When a television show wants to interview Gwen about her story, she finally relents, after all she has to give in sometime, right? When confronted by Miranda Tidewell, the mother of one of the victims (and the head of “The Lost Angels”), who blames Gwen for the loss of her child, Gwen knows it's going to be bad. The only thing her family can do now is cut and run, something she’s quite familiar with. This time, Gwen, Lanny, Connor and Sam know that trusting in each other is all they have. Will it be enough?

When Gwen gets a couple of separate phone calls from Wolfhunter River, she feels that pull. Wolfhunter River is a town in Tennessee well known for being shady. The calls are from a woman and her daughter who sound desperate and who need help badly. As if Gwen, Sam, Lanny and Connor aren’t in enough trouble already.

What can I say except that Rachel Caine has done it again!! She has written a pulse pounding novel that I tore through in a matter of hours! I simply love The Stillhouse Lake series and “Wolfhunter River” is no exception. These characters gut me. I love how smart, independent and able-bodied Gwen is. Lanny and Connor are both so capable and given what they’ve gone through, so darn intuitive! Admittedly, there was something else about this book that grabbed me and felt like a knife to the heart.. did it cut me completely? Ack! I’m not allowed to say. Though this mystery/suspense wasn’t quite as good as either “Stillhouse Lake” or “Killman Creek” it was a worthy follow up for which I give it 4 Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Mercer and Rachel Caine for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 2.18.19.
Excerpt to be published on Instagram.

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Gwen's first instinct is always to protect her family, at any cost.
In this book, the third installment of the Stillhouse Lake series, things are a little different. Although still dodging those that wish to hurt her and her family, she is also making decisions and taking risks that are not just about survival, but humanity and empathy.
This book offers a lot of character growth for most of the main cast. It lacks some of the propulsive addiction of the first two books, but is still excellent in its own right.
I had very high expectations for this book. It was my most anticipated read of 2019 and it did not disappoint. Not my favourite of the series, but still worthy of great praise.

4.5 stars

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To clear her name once and for all, Gwen Proctor goes on live television to finally tell her side of the story. Make it known that she was no accomplice to her ex-husband, Melvin Royal, murdering women in their very own garage. But Gwen gets blindsided on stage by Miranda Tidewell, the mother of one of the victims, who believes Gwen is anything but innocent. And even worse, Miranda is working on a documentary to prove just how guilty Gwen is.

Gwen lives with Sam Cade and her two kids, Lanny and Connor, in Stillhouse Lake, the longest place she’s lived since going on the run after her ex-husband was arrested. Gwen and her family continue to be harassed by people who believe her to be guilty, even threatening to kill them. Sam, the brother of Melvin’s last victim, used to believe Gwen was guilty, but now knows otherwise and now they’re a romantic item. But Sam feels remorse for the things he said about Gwen when he believed her to be guilty and he regrets his involvement with Miranda Tidewell, which he fears will come back to bite him in the ass.

Even though Melvin Royal is dead, he is still haunting Gwen and Sam from the grave, sending them letters and memorabilia that is intended to do nothing but haunt them. They’re worried that these letters are only a prelude to something worse that Melvin setup before his death.

Gwen helps women who have been in similar shoes as Gwen. Women whose family members are going to prison for serious crimes, who are also accused of being accomplices. One evening, Gwen gets a suspicious phone call from a woman needed help, but she wouldn’t give Gwen the specifics. She only revealed that she lives in Wolfhunter, Tennessee and that she needs Gwen’s help. So when this woman turns up dead, Gwen feels she needs to investigate in order to uncover the secrets of Wolfhunter.

The story takes off from there in this action-packed suspense novel.

Wolfhunter River by Rachel Caine is the third installment in the Stillhouse Lake series. This series keeps getting better and better, each book even more fast-paced than the last. I enjoy the tortured romance between Sam and Gwen and I so desperately want them to workout, as their broken hearts are made for each other. I also like that Lanny is starting to get old enough to have a stronger voice in this story and she played a pivotal role in the plot line. Rachel Caine created a great continuation for this series—4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Rachel Caine for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Book three in the Stillhouse Lake series is as fast moving as the first two, if a bit over the top. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially since the end set itself up for more possible entries to the series.
Gwen Proctor is back, having recovered from her near death experience at the hands of her serial killer ex-husband. Gwen is still trying to protect herself and those around her from the past, and a phone call from nearby Wolfhunter River proves to bring danger to them once again.
Fast moving, full of all the action and mystery you have come to expect from Rachel Caine’s series. Hard to give too much detail without giving anything away, but rest assured the book lives up to the first two!

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The first two books in this series were great psychological thrillers with one sick killer. Gwen lived a nightmare in both books and finally prevailed over evil. Those things were the best parts of those books.

That being said those same things have now became a main reason I didn't enjoy this book. The second book was so stressful with what the author put Gwen through, but at least the ending of that book was satisfying.

For me, this book beat a dead horse for over 300 pages. To keep rehashing the past, never letting a particular subject that has already been fully discussed so many times in the two previous books was more than I could take. Move on. Let Gwen and her kids be able to live a quiet life. I was also not fond of the secret Sam had been keeping. This is something to me that should have been brought up in book 1 not in book 3 when Gwen is finally learning to trust a man again. I mean does the author hate Gwen??

It may not seem like it but I loved first two books. This one just didn't work for me and rubbed me the wrong way right from the start. I thought the last book was the end of the series and as I've stated I was comfortable with that ending but this book throws that completely out of whack so even though I didn't enjoy this one I hope there is one more that gives a HEA cause Gwen and the kids deserve it!!

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Another fantastic addition to an amazing series.

There is so much happening in this action packed thriller. There are plenty of unpredictable surprises, great well developed characters and a satisfying conclusion.

I highly recommend this book and the entire series.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a digital ARC, I voluntarily reviewed this novel.

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A heart pounding, blood pumping, action packed thrill ride! There is so much happening in this book you will be furiously flipping pages until the satisfying conclusion. Just when you think these characters can't possibly go through anything else think again. The author writes characters you will fall in love with, you will hate, and some you feel both for. This reader wants more Gwen, Sam, Lanny, and Connor! Highly recommend this book and series.

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