WATER’S EDGE by Gregg Olsen is the second book in a series featuring Detective Megan Carpenter and largely set in and around Port Townsend, Washington. The novel is a police procedural with a lot of suspense.
The story begins with another interesting hook and never lets up. When Leann Truitt’s body is found in Mystery Bay, Detective Megan Carpenter is sent to the scene. While she normally works alone, this time she is instructed to take rookie Deputy Ronnie Marsh with her. When connections are found to cases in nearby counties, Megan and Ronnie work to identify and catch the killer. But more is going on that meets the initial eye. Additionally, Megan is still coping with secrets from her childhood when she had a different name. Can she cope with her memories and still solve a murder? Who is sending her disturbing messages about her past?

The characters are compelling as well as memorable and Megan is definitely someone you can cheer for. Her character feels real and three-dimensional. She is likeable and relatable, but seriously flawed. She shows character growth in this book in both her relations with Ronnie and with Dan. The secondary characters are well-rounded and the relationships are believable.

This book is fast paced and I did not want to stop reading it even when it was very late and I needed to sleep. The author does a great job of worldbuilding and gives the reader a vivid sense of the place and people. The main plot as well as many of the auxiliary story lines are wrapped up with some twists and shocks. However, there are a few open items that will likely play into future books in the series. The story flows well and kept me guessing. Danger and tension built rapidly. Overall, this was compelling, suspenseful, fast-paced and twisty.

This is the second book that I have read by this author and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The series is fresh and it just keeps getting better and better. I believe those readers that enjoy crime fiction and police procedurals with a little something extra will enjoy this book.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Gregg Olsen for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

Detective Megan Carpenter is back on another complicated case but this time she has help although she is reluctant to take it at first. Megan is a very likeable flawed character with a very difficult traumatic past. The plot is interesting with parts of Megan’s past coming into play and a cliffhanger of an ending leaving me excited for book three.

Fantastic read! I’m really liking Megan, more than the first novel. She has many secrets and slowly start finding more about what makes her tick. This novel has thrills and chills beginning to end! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

This is the second in the Megan Carpenter series and not at all a disappointment after the first one. Megan is dealing with a dead body and is soon to realise that she may be dealing with a sadistic serial killer. It hit her hard and flash backs to her childhood haunt her as the betrayal of her biological father. who was also a serial killer.
To be honest I found the back history a little distracting from the current story.
This book has Megan reluctantly taking on an assistant, at trainee cop who is her polar opposite. She also finds herself having to work with two other jurisdictions which strains her limited social skills. Megan is a lone operator with little faith in others.
There were several times when I thought I knew who the culprit was only for the story to take a twist and move in another direction.
The story has definitely left me wanting to read book 3. Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

There's nothing I love more than a sassy, imperfect, strong female investigator! Detective Megan Carpenter is a dark and twisty woman with a terrible past. Like, her dad was a serial killer that kidnapped and raped her mother, terrible past. Picking up this series at book 2 did not make the story line difficult to follow. I love that you're only given bits and pieces of Megan's past and you don't really find out what happened for her brother to feel as though she betrayed him.....well played Gregg, I'll be chomping at the bit until I get my hands on book 3.

The serial killer that Megan is currently trying to catch is targeting willowy red heads that have had children. He tortures them, rapes them, snaps their necks, and leaves them in a remote area. This mystery was interesting, but I'm all about finding out what makes Megan tick.

I'd recommend this book to anyone that loves a dark tale from a strong female lead, that reminded me a bit of Dexter.

Hurry up and write the third installment, pretty please!!!

A special thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Gregg Olsen for providing me with an ARC.

I've read several books by Gregg Olsen and really enjoyed them. Is this case I was a little lost. However that's totally my fault because this is book 2 in a series. Once I kinda figured out what was going on I really enjoyed this book.

Without question, Megan Carpenter (aka Rylee) is a fascinating protagonist. Her father was a cop and a serial killer, and now she has become a cop with a taste for vengeance. But Olsen creates an inner dialogue for Carpenter that is just annoying and detracts from the story. WATER'S EDGE has a good plot, plenty of false leads, and good supporting characters. So readers not bothered by Carpenter's inner dialogue will really enjoy this book. Personally, as much as I enjoy the rest of Olsen's books, I think I'll steer clear of those involving Carpenter.

The body of a young woman is found at the base of a cliff. All signs point to a case of kidnap and murder. She was a redhead, like the others.

Detective Megan Carper has a difficult past which she can’t seem to leave behind. She is the first at the scene and sees a clue left behind by the murderer -an unusual symbol scratched into a rock.

As more bodies of redheads start to appear, Megan must do everything she can to find the serial killer. Megan is a lone wolf, so when she is paired with Rookie Deputy Ronnie Marsh things start to unravel. As helpful as he is, he also seems rich and spoiled, clearly someone who’s had everything handed to him on a silver plate all his life.

One day, Megan starts to receive disturbing messages. She is being watched but won’t let that stop her from catching the killer. Her investigation is on track, but will she be able to keep her own secret safe?

Sometimes you read a book which will leave you thinking wow without being able to put down in words how you feel about it. This book is one of those, it was so well-written that as I finished the last page all I could think about the ending was wow.

The story is fast-paced and straight-forward: a detective investigates a series of murders with the help of a rookie deputy she is mentoring. The mystery is good, the clues are all there and when you think you know who did it, a new clue appears that turns your world around.

The character development is absolutely sublime. The book is the second one of a series about Detective Megan Carpenter. You don’t need to read the first one to get Megan, although I really recommend it. She has a turbulent past which she can’t seem to run away from. She can be snarky sometimes yet she is extremely likeable. The novel is full of clues about why she is the way she is, and when the secret is revealed you go, wow.

Water’s Edge is a fast-paced, brilliant book with lots of secrets, mystery, and enough scary moments to leave you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait for the next installment of Detective Mega Carpenter.

Disclosure: I would like to thank Bookouture for an advanced copy of Water’s Edge by Gregg Olsen. This is my honest review.

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First let me say that this is my second book by Gregg Olsen and I can not wait for the next one in this series. I was set to give this a 4 star rating because I truly thought I had the killer all figured out. Boy was I ever wrong. Dead wrong.

Megan Carpenter is a detective who has a history of her own. She is the product of a serial killer/rapist. She has become a cop to see justice is done for others no matter what. She will go to the extreme to see that the killer in this story is brought to justice. She has gone through a lot to get where she is and has no intention of letting anyone stand in her way. She’s tough, strong, unstoppable yet human too. She puts up a very strong front but deep down inside she just wants to have a good peaceful and happy life. She wants to hear from her baby brother, who was in Afghanistan, also. He holds a lot against her from their past.

When the body of a young woman is found Megan and Ronnie, a young cop, go to the end to find the killer. They uncover more bodies that have been found before and find the link to them all. It’s a pretty gruesome account of what happened to each young woman and what they had to endure before dying. Each had had a child, one pregnant, and given them up for adoption. Each was a red head and they all looked so similar they could have been related.

This is a great mystery/thriller and the thing I really liked about it was I did not figure out who the killer was. I usually do and was very surprised that it was not who I thought. It’s a story told by Megan and takes you on a ride you won’t soon forget. It spans several counties in the state of Washington and threw several different cops. Each has their own theory. But Megan does not give up until her and the young woman, Ronnie, working the case with her are finished finding all the evidence and putting away the bad guys. They sure go through a lot and are almost killed themselves. While all of this is going on you get a clear picture of what Megan’s life was growing up through the tapes she has and listens to in this story. All she endured trying to keep herself and her young brother safe. To top it off someone is stalking her from her past.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series. The first, SNOW CREEK, was great and this one even better. I think the next will be even better than this if possible. Keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way through. The main character, Megan, is a very likable person and you will root for her to survive this. You will root for her to find this killer and bring them to their knees. I liked most of the characters in this book yet there were a few that you just will not like at all. They are just not likable.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #GreggOlsen, #Bookouture for this ARC. I was in no way compensated for this review. It’s my own true feelings.

A big 5 stars from me and a very high recommendation for anyone who loves a great edge of your seat thriller/mystery.

3.5 stars
A young woman’s body is found at the bottom of some cliffs and Megan is asked to investigate.
She’s also asked to take Ronnie with her as the new deputy.
Soon they identify the victim, but who killed her?
Having read Snow Creek, I knew Megan had a dark past and in this book you hear her listen to tapes and realise there’s more unfolding.
This is an action packed crime thriller that kept me hooked and guessing right to the end.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for issuing an advance release copy to review.

Firstly it’s worth admitting here that I didn’t realise this was part 2 of a series and therefore my views may have been slightly different had a read the first.

Waters Edge is a crime drama novel - following the story of Detective Megan Carpenter who is investigating the murder of a young redhead found at the waters edge. The victim had been laid out and posed, her long red hair spread out behind her and a strange symbol had been carved out on a rock close by.

Battling her own personal demons that threaten to bring up memories of her past she’d prefer to stay buried, Megan has to team up with rookie deputy Ronnie to help her solve what appears to be a Serial killer, with links to other unsolved murders in neighbouring towns.

As Megan works with Ronnie she pieces together the similarities between the murders and uses whatever means possible to find their killer, memories of her past rise to the surface and we learn of these via old tape recordings with her therapist.

For me, whilst the ending was good and I didn’t see it coming, I overall found the pace of this a little on the slow side, and it wasn’t quite the fast paced drama I was hoping for.

Overall an ok read, but not really for me.

Water’s Edge is the second book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series. It is a fast paced suspenseful story that kept me engaged. I enjoyed it.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

A great second installment in the Megan Carpenter series.

I'm just not sure what to think about the main character of this book. I want to like her; I feel like I should like the main character of a book. However, the reader gets to know all Megan's thoughts and some of them are not very nice. She's had a very rough childhood and her thoughts reflect the fact that her childhood was not stable or supportive. I generally enjoy this author's works, but I'm just really on the fence about this series. I like the minor characters, the plots are solid mysteries (if not a little predictable, which I don't mind), but I just struggle to get over the whole unlikeable main character thing. I did enjoy this book much more than the first in the series and overall thought it was a good book.

Gregg Olsen knocked it out of the ball park with Waters Edge.
I absolutely loved this book, I couldn’t put my kindle down.
Mr. Olsen keeps you on the edge of your seat with many twist and turns.
You will relive the chilling past of Detective Megan Carpenter and meet the New Reserve Deputy Ronnie Marsh.
Just when you think you’re about to figure out who the killer is you are totally blown away by the next turn of the page.
I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

Water's Edge (Detective Megan Carpenter #2) by Gregg Olsen is another suspense thriller which finds Detective Megan Carpenter trying to bring justice for three murdered women. I won't post spoilers, but the story is fast-paced and held my interest. I want to like Megan Carpenter, but she is a tough character with her own style of finding justice for victims. She does not adhere to the rules, but she does get answers by manipulation of others. Do the ends justify the means? Megan is a survivor! She has learned the hard way how to live alone and trust no one.
In this book, she is given a reserve deputy to train and Megan does not plan to like Ronnie Marsh. As the case progresses, Megan is impressed with the ease in which Ronnie is able to acquire information on the go each day. Megan is also receiving emails from a stalker which have a threatening tone. It must be someone from her past.
I enjoyed the book which is written with a gritty and strong female character who also has a vulnerability which is heartbreaking.
Publication Date: May 28, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Water’s Edge by Gregg Olsen is the second in the Detective Megan Carpenter Tapes series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)

Megan Carpenter is a detective in Port Townsend, Washington.  Her childhood was a nightmare, with a mother who did little but lie.   Her brother Hayden, who she tried to protect,  is in Afghanistan.  He holds her responsible for leaving him without any family.  She feels bad for Hayden, but not for the things she had to do so that they both would survive.  She is re-living her childhood by listening to tapes made by a therapist, who is the only one who knows her full story.




My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

The body of a young red-headed woman is found at the base of a cliff in a secluded cove.  By the marks on her wrists, ankles and neck, it is apparent that she has been held captive.  The broken bones show she had been tortured.   The autopsy results show rape, and confirm murder.  

Then they realize that this is not the first woman to die by this killer's hands, and it probably won't be the last.

Detective Megan Carpenter has rookie Ronnie Marsh with her, and as much as Megan wants to work alone, it is hard to deny that Ronnie seems to be pretty helpful.

Meanwhile, someone is leaving Megan messages....someone that knows her past, and because of this case, memories from that past are rising to the surface.


My Opinions: 

A great addition to the new series by Gregg Olsen.  I love his books (okay, most of them).

Olsen has created a wonderful cast of characters, a number of them seriously flawed, but likable.  With each book we are learning more about Megan and her horrific past, and it is done in such a way that the reader really feels for her, while sometimes being a little shocked and horrified.

The plot was interesting and the suspense intense.  The suspects were many, and although there was a twist, I saw through it.

Can't wait for the next one....this ended in a bit of a cliff-hanger.

I am grateful to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC of Water’s Edge by Gregg Olsen – the second in the Detective Megan Carpenter thriller series.
Set in the picturesque Jefferson County, Washington, this story follows Megan as she investigates a murder that looks to be the work of a serial killer who tortures and kills young women of certain specifications. Megan is a strong protagonist – with a photographic memory, a dislike for rules, and a fearlessness born out of a horrific past. Her past, severely messed up as it is, threatens to unhinge her present every now and then. Additionally, someone with intimate knowledge of her otherwise well-hidden past is stalking her. A lone-wolf, she is annoyed at being paired with a trainee deputy, Ronnie Marsh, who looks rich and spoiled at the outset.
The plot is gripping, as Megan embarks on the race to catch the killer, using means both legal and illegal, parallelly fighting an inner battle with herself and an external one with male dominance. The author’s descriptions of the settings and the characters are vivid and play a vital role in escalating the tension. The character of Megan, and that of Ronnie, are very well etched, and the reader is compelled to care about what happens to them. The action is brisk and the pages keep turning by themselves.
In spite of all these good things, I felt somewhat dissatisfied with the book, mainly due to the lack of a convincing explanation for the killer’s motivation. Being part of a series, this book has several hanging ends that force the reader to get the next book know what happens – a feature I dislike immensely. The end of the book seemed rushed, and the underdeveloped descriptions of the victim’s perspective do not add value to the overall narration.
To sum up, Water’s Edge is a riveting thriller with great characterisation and a fast-paced narrative that failed to live up to the build-up, at least for me.

Detective Megan Carpenter is the daughter of a serial killer. She can't run away from this and copes best by reviewing her past discussions with a therapist. Now, though, not only is someone stalking her, she's also found evidence that there's a serial killer targeting red headed pregnant women. Ronnie, who has been assigned to work as Megan's partner talks a lot but sometimes, sometimes comes up with something of value. This is told from both Megan's perspective and that of one of the victims, which adds quite a bit to the story. It's well plotted and the characters- especially Megan0 well drawn. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I missed the first book in the series but that wasn't a problem and now I'm looking for the next one.

Megan Carpenter is a detective investigating a body found in a secluded cove. She wants to work alone but is teamed up with a rookie deputy. They work tirelessly to determine what happened and solve the case. It had me guessing until the end.

This is the second book in the series and there appears to be some back story mingled in the stand alone mystery. While I haven’t read the first book in the series, it might be helpful to read it first.