Their Silent Graves is an intense, twisted mystery that leaves you guessing at every turn. Just when you think you have a clue to put all the details together, another piece of information proves you wrong.

The book travels between characters and goes back and forth in time. Each chapter provides a piece to the puzzle that takes shape as you read. I would make a guess about what I thought was happening or a character I thought was involved, only to be surprised at the next revelation. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and couldn't put it down until I figured out what was really going on.

I recommend this to anyone who likes psychological thrillers that are anything but predictable.

Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was the seventh book in the DI Gina Harte series, but a first read in the series for me. I didn't have any trouble keeping up with the story reading this as a stand alone, although I was intrigued enough by the hints DI Harte's past to want to go back and read more from the series. Having a good protagonist is important for me to like a story and DI Harte delivers, being strong, smart, and complicated.

The story begins when two Halloween revelers come across a bell hanging on a bush in the woods. An attached string leads to a shallow grave where a person has been buried alive in a coffin and died a frightening death. This starts a tense case for DI Harte and her team who race against time to solve the crime as the deaths begin to mount. There are plenty of suspects but I did not guess the actual killer who was revealed in the end. I can't talk about the plot without giving away spoilers, but suffice it to say this book kept me reading much later into the night than I had planned. For those who are interested in such things, there was no bad language which I can recall, and while the subject matter of the murders is gruesome it was not too graphic. I will be reading more from author Carla Kovach.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I'm afraid that I found this book rather a chore to read than a pleasurable experience. The characters were one-dimensional, the dialogue was stilted and the plot stretched the boundaries of my sense of disbelief to breaking point. I found the book to be formulaic and cliche-ridden. Every trope was present - the lead detective with a shadowy past, every character a suspect etc etc. Perhaps it would have been more enjoyable if I was familiar with the fourteen books that preceded it.

Title: THEIR SILENT GRAVES
Publication day: Sept 17th 2020
Author: CARLA KOVACH

Description:

Dressed in garish Halloween costumes, two teenage girls run through a patch of dense woodland towards the outskirts of town. But before they can reach the safety of the streets beyond, they make a shocking discovery.

Following a piece of old rope, the girls find a large mound of freshly laid earth, undisturbed in the darkness of the trees. Clawing at the ground beneath them, they make contact with something solid. When they realise what they’ve discovered, the silence is broken by their piercing screams as they stare down at the shallow grave.

Without looking back, they run as fast as they can, failing to spot the person nearby watching their every move…

And when another grave is found just days later, it’s clear a serial killer is praying on the small town. But who is the killer watching now? And when will another grave be filled?

If you like Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh, you’ll love this heart-racing thriller from bestselling author, Carla Kovach. With gripping suspense and a twist you won’t see coming, Their Silent Graves will have you hooked from page one.



BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Their Silent Graves' by Carla Kovach

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 17th September 2020

This is the first book that I have read by this author. It is also the seventh book in the 'Detective Gina Harte' series. This book can be read as a standalone as any previous information needed is given in just the right amounts. However, I'm looking forward to reading the others in the series.

I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and interesting sounding blurb. The write up also stated that if you like Angela Marsons (along with others) will love this. I'm a huge fan of Angela Marsons so I wanted to see if it lived up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 74 chapters which are short to medium in length so ideal to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Detective Gina Harte. I enjoy books written in third person as it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters.

This book is based in the UK. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times.

This book is very well written with the majority of it based in the present and several chapters based in the past. I enjoyed that I got to read about what previously happened as it gave a bigger picture and showed that there was a reason the killer was doing what they were. It also gave the history of a few of the characters. The author put the past chapters on just the right places to give just enough but not too much information. The descriptions were excellent and I really felt as if I was in the storyline.

The storyline was quite unique, very fast paced and filled with suspense, tension, secrets, action and a few red herrings to throw you off the scent. I was completely shocked by who the killer turned out to be and never expected them in the slightest. I always love it when I'm shocked as there's nothing worse than working out the killer and your not even half way through the book yet.

I loved Gina and the fact that she is a strong female role model who has got a history herself makes it even better. I was very pleasantly surprised that she actually felt for the killer towards the end and it made her seem more genuine for me. I enjoyed reading about the other characters who all had their own personalities and were strong characters. I am looking forward to meeting them all again when I read more of the fabulous Carla's books. She has definitely found a new fan in me.

Overall a page turning, psychological thriller that will leave you shocked and wanting to read more of this very promising looking series.

Genres covered include Crime Thriller, Murder, police procedural and Mystery,

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Angela Marsons, C.L TAYLOR, Karin Slaughter, Carol Wyer and anyone looking for a fantastic new crime series!

380 pages.

This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I loved it!!! ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Author Bio:

Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines,' and holiday comedy, 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screenplays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area. Her feature film 'Penny for the Guy' is being made and is set for release in 2019.

Her latest book, Her Last Mistake is the sixth book in the DI Gina Harte crime series.

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaKovachAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CKovachAuthor

Website: https://griffbuck.wordpress.com/


Buy Links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08B1LJ5YSSocial

Apple: http://ow.ly/YMmO50A5OCV

Kobo: http://ow.ly/gd7350A5Ozx

Google: http://ow.ly/Xe5850A5OFC

Carla Kovach does it again with her seventh instalment in the DI Gina Harte series. This dark, suffocatingly suspenseful thriller is another slice of detective fiction gold.

When a body is discovered having being buried alive in the local woods, DI Gina Harte and her team are on the case. Things take a personal turn for Harte though when she receives a letter from the killer. It seems that they know a lot about her troubled past and her relationship with her deceased husband. In fact, as impossible as it sounds, could the killer be Terry? Another letter is sent to the press and Harte becomes the focus of their attention. Her and the team will need to use all of their wits and ingenuity to discover the identity of the “coffin killer” and stop them before they strike again...

I am a big fan of the Gina Harte crime fiction series and I find that each new book gets better and better. With that, my love for Harte as a character increases too. I’ve really enjoy Kovach’s development of her central character over the series and love that Harte is an equal blend of strength and vulnerability. She’s a fantastic detective, but I find her humanity and the affect of her terrifying past what makes her such an accessible and interesting character. In “Their Silent Graves” the gravity of the past abuse Harte suffered at the hands of her husband Terry is explored in further detail. The depravity of Terry’s actions has certainly made Harte who she is today, but it also brings her to the attention of the killer. Seeing that her past is something that Harte has kept closely guarded, the immediate intrigue and suspicion that this generates makes the plot really gripping. Throughout the book the reader is left guessing whether the perpetrator is someone from Harte’s past, someone who has found out about it or even the only person she has ever divulged the atrocities to (her senior and former lover, Briggs). The suspicion cast on Briggs heightens the tension between him and Harte, which is already high from their perpetual ‘will they/won’t they’ romantic relationship. It also adds to the sense of paranoia in the plot, which is something felt by others, as well as Harte. The Halloween setting is perfectly used in the narrative and as a reader I found myself on edge as much as the characters. The constant presence of ghouls and ghosts (albeit primarily only children in costumes) added to the atmosphere, which was so taut at times it could be cut with a knife!

I found the format used to be really effective too, where the reader is taken between a traumatic event in the past, the present day investigation and the first person narrative from the killer’s perspective. This style allowed for the dark and disturbing events of the past to be gradually revealed, as the depth of their influence on the present is also understood. Kovach’s real skill in “Their Silent Graves” is her ability to create a truly harrowing and affecting crime that plays on most people’s worst fears, but still construct a perpetrator who readers can sympathise with and victims who readers may question whether they should. It’s a powerful story that Kovach tells - touching on bullying, revenge, urban legend and heinous abuse - but it’s also very plausible. Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but Kovach serves it up frozen and razor sharp! As the narrative unfolds, events build to a thrilling climax. Whilst I had managed to solve some of the reasons why along with Harte and her team, the final revelation of the killer took me totally by surprise and was all the more gripping for it. Kovach has an excellent ability to steer her readers in certain directions, only to throw a curveball in and reveal she’s been playing is all along. This is exactly what I want from a crime thriller writer!

“There Silent Graves” is a must-read for fans of both police procedurals and good old fashioned murder mysteries. Highly recommend.

This book leaves you with several points of view and different time periods which made for a mysterious, but interesting read. A murderer kills their victims by burying them alive in a coffin. They have a very slim chance, but it seems to never work out. Dark, mysterious, horrific. Being buried alive is the ultimate way to die. Not knowing when you will take your last breath but knowing it is coming.

The ending was done perfectly. The book was well written and left you without any doubts. Likable characters. Locations made you feel like you was there. In all areas. Even the graves.

This was my first Carla Kovach book and hopefully won't be my last.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Bookouture, #CarlaKovach for this ARC. This is my own true review.

5/5 stars and a huge recommendation.

It may be your worst nightmare come true -- being buried alive! After a couple of gruesome discoveries, it's up to DI Gina Harte to find the perpetrator of these horrific murders.

In The Silent Graves, you are presented with several points of view and different time periods which made for a mysterious, but interesting read. As you read through the novel, you will discover that not all things are what they seem and that your "aha" moment will not happen until the end. So continue to read and good things come to those who wait.

The Silent Graves was my first novel from Carla Kovach; and although I'm not usually fond of detective novels set in the UK, I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from this author. If you are a reader that enjoys murder mysteries, you will find that The Silent Graves fits the bill.

4.5 stars, rounded up. I really liked it.

I received a digital ARC from Bookoutour through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

A murderer who kills their victims by burying them alive in a coffin complete with a bell but without a clapper, so there’s hope for the victim but to no avail! How twisted and messed up is that?! Sooo right up my alley, and I loved it. The funny part is that this book is the seventh in the DI Harte series, and my dumass did not notice it, mostly because I could not (read: did not want to) see past the blurb. Lol. But oml, I loved it, so glad I decided to give it a read. It said on the cover ‘for the fans of Cara Hunter’ and it lived very much up to the expectation.

Very gripping and fast-paced, never a dull moment there. And even though it’s part of a series, it’s a perfect standalone too, I did not feel left out at all. Creepy from the get-go, set at the time of Halloween, the first two chapters gave off kinda Nordic noir vibes, complex and dark, and were good enough to hook me completely. I legit did not want to put it down. I do not usually enjoy reading inner monologues but the emotions were described so well in this one, it was very interesting to read. I really appreciate how enjoyable and it was, without any graphic descriptions despite the nature of the kills and the background story of the DI.

The ending is so satisfying and perfect, and I was not able to guess it at all. Loved it. And like any other series it left me wanting for more. I’ll be waiting for the next book in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, author, and publishers for the eARC.

Detective Gina Harte is back! Oh, how I love this series!

This case explores one of my worst fears, being trapped in small spaces. The victims in this story are found buried alive, yikes! The killer is sadistic as they let the victims think that they have a shot at being saved. It takes time before the victims realize that nobody is coming!

As with the other cases, I couldn’t guess the identity of the perpetrator. The reveal was shocking and for the first time, heartbreaking. This case was personal for Gina as the unsub seemed to know about her abusive dead husband. This added more questions as I found myself wondering whether Terry was truly dead.

Silent Graves is another heart-pounding, captivating addition to the Detective Harte series. To better enjoy the series, you should read all the books in order. This series is one not to be missed!

Hang on tight! Carla Kovach has once again created a fast-paced, action packed thriller. Readers are instantly drawn in with the dark, creepy undercurrent and easily swept away by Kovach’s storytelling. While this is the seventh book in the Gina Harte series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Those familiar with the series will absolutely love the character arc for DI Harte and those close to her. Highly recommended.

Thank you to #NetGalley and @bookouture for the ARC of #TheirSilent Graves which was read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#dontfreakout #jeeperscreepers #whodunnit #imnotscaredyourscared #bookstagram #bookblog #booktweets #kindlegoals #readreviewrepeat #ginaharteseries #policeprocedurals @CKovachAuthor @carla_kovach

Their Silent Graves is the seventh instalment in the Detective Inspector (D.I.) Gina Harte series of gripping police procedurals, set in the fictional Midlands town of Cleevesford. Two sixteen-year-old girls are in high spirits as they make their way to a school Hallowe'en party and to save time decide to take a shortcut through a thicket of woodland. This is where they stumble upon a most disturbing scene; a coffin buried in a shallow grave is opened to reveal a decaying corpse. Tied to the burial chamber is a strange length of rope and a bell without its clapper, making it impossible to ring, at the end. It comes across as a sick joke but then they recall local scare stories about an incident which apparently happened 12 years ago; a young woman was buried alive by her so-called friends. The police are called and DI Harte and her team descend upon the location. They discover deeply dug nail marks on the inside of the coffin leaving absolutely no doubt that the woman was very much alive when she was placed into it. The investigation kicks into high gear to properly identify the victim. And then... another grave is found...

This is a compulsive, addictive and fast-paced police procedural with a well-crafted plot and an interesting and engaging cast of characters. It's well written with a plethora of twists, turns and red herrings to throw you off the scent and right from the beginning I was hooked. I feel it is probably better to have read the rest of the series beforehand as Gina’s past and personal life plays such a substantial role in these books that gaining a better understanding would be preferable to just simply jumping in feet first, however, this isn't a strict necessity. The fact that it is primarily told from protagonist Gina’s perspective makes it easy to follow with no unnecessary filler or padding, and the identity of the perpetrator is kept hidden until the big reveal where the tension is ratcheted up ready to uncover the mystery behind the brutal killings. A highly entertaining and absorbing police procedural, which I would certainly recommend. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

Another brilliant book from Carla Kovach.
The book begins with the discovery of a shallow grave in the woods. Whilst the body has been buried in a coffin, it looks like the person has been buried alive.
Gina and the team know they’re up against a twisted killer but when another body is found, they have to find the link between the victims.
At the same time, Gina is receiving cryptic letters that refer to her relationship with Terry and is concerned as she thought no-one else knew what he did to her.
The Press soon get hold of the link to Gina and she tries her best not to let it get to her.
Following a near death experience for Gina she discovers a vital clue to the identity of the killer but it’s not an easy arrest to make.
Other people’s true colours are shown and I was pleased to see that this didn’t go unnoticed by Gina and she ensures action is taken.
This is a gripping crime thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a heart racing ,thrilling read. The first chapter draws you in and makes you feel as claustrophobic as the victim. Gina Harte is again the lead protagonist and her own story is deeply entrenched with these murders making it all the more vivid for the reader. A clever and pulse quickening read.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Their Silent Graves’, the seventh in the Detective Gina Harte series written by Carla Kovach, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

It’s Halloween and as two teenage girls take a short cut through a wood they find a bell on a length of rope leading to a mound of earth under which is buried a coffin. Detective Inspector Gina Harte is called out to investigate but when she starts receiving anonymous letters it becomes clear the killer is taunting her by making the crime personal to her. How can the killer know things about Gina’s past that nobody else knows except herself and DCI Chris Briggs?

‘Their Silent Graves’ is a fast-moving and exciting thriller with lots of action, interesting characters, a number of possible suspects, and twists and turns from the first page to the last. The story has plenty of suspense, drama and tension and kept me guessing right up to the end. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading more about Gina Harte, her loyal and hard-working team, and her relationship with Chris Briggs. I always look forward to reading a Carla Kovach thriller and - no rush, Carla - but I can’t wait for the next one.

#TheirSilentGraves #NetGalley This is the seventh book in this excellent series. As always, they are perfectly capable of being read as a standalone but it does give you a broader perspective if you understand the background to Gina's character. Easy to read, with short chapters and plenty of action, keeping you turning the pages way into the night. An ending I didn't see coming which is always a bonus! A brilliant 5 stars, cant wait for the next in the series.

Their Silent Graves by Carla Kovach
This book 7 in the series, and my usual disclaimer, I have only read book 6 previously. This book works brilliantly as a standalone, with plenty of references to Gina's back story, but I enjoyed this book so much, I want to go back and read from the start.
I love Gina, a brilliant, although flawed detective. The storyline was brilliant, and I loved that its set around Halloween. This book starts with a bang, two teenagers finding a shallow grave, and they are being watched from a stranger in the shadows.
I suspected everyone! Then another grave was found. I flew through this book, just needing to find out who did it.
Well written, brilliant plot, and likeable main characters.
Loved it, 5 stars for me.

I went into this knowing that it was book seven in a series, but all my research lead me to believe this could be read as a stand-alone book. My research was right, and it is a book I really did enjoy!

It starts with two horrific scenes from the past:

A coffin maker sees his friend lock his wife in the shed after one of his regular wife beatings.

A teenage girl, new to town, is buried alive in a coffin after attending a party.

We then cut to two teenagers on their way to a Halloween party who decide to cut through a wooded field as a shortcut. They come across a bell stuck in a tree branch. Attached to it is a piece of rope and they decide to follow it. They come across a freshly dug grave and after digging hit the top of a coffin...

Detective Gina Harte is on the investigation of the victim who was buried alive in a coffin. She soon realizes she had an encounter with the victim just a day or two before. The idea that the victim was buried alive also brings up anxiety about her own past.

We also meet Cherie. Cherie is a mess. She is back to her drinking ways, trying to navigate marriage and motherhood while secretly becoming an alcoholic again. The Halloween holiday is not helping her mental chaos, as it seems to be the trigger of her downward spiral. To top it all off, her childhood friend has gone missing, and her old high school crew are being vague yet weirdly worried about what could have happened to their missing friend.

This book alternates perspectives and it really kept me on my toes. Though I did have hard time keeping track of characters at the beginning, it didn't take me long to keep everyone straight. The author did a wonderful job setting scenes and building on the characters.

This book is full of mysterious twists and suspenseful turns. I kept trying to figure out what exactly all the characters had that connected them to this grizzly murder and it wasn't until the end that I finally put it all together.

I am so glad I read "Their Silent Graves" by Carla Kovach because I truly enjoyed every word and I plan on reading books 1-6! I cannot wait to dive into this series!

"Their Silent Graves" is being released September 17, 2020 here in the U.S. and I suggest ordering it now! A 5-star read for me!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me an eARC to read and give my honest review!

Happy Reading!

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Their Silent Graves’ by Carla Kovach in exchange for an honest review.

This is the seventh in her D.I. Gina Harte series of police procedurals set in the fictional Midlands town of Cleevesford. I have read all but one of the previous books in the series and rated them all highly. However, Kovach provides enough background on her characters so that readers new to the series won’t feel lost.

The title containing ‘graves’ gives a strong indication of the theme of this outing for Gina and her team. On their way to a Halloween party, two teenage girls take a shortcut through a patch of dense woodland on the outskirts of town. Coming across a bell attached to a length of rope they follow it and find a mound of freshly laid earth. Recalling local legends of a woman buried alive, they claw at the ground and find a shallow grave. They run screaming unaware that a figure is watching from the nearby shadows.

As the police investigate this grisly find, another grave is found. The national press descend with claims of a serial killer in the Cotswolds adding to Gina’s troubles, especially as details of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her late husband are revealed by an ambitious reporter. How did she learn this closely guarded detail about Gina’s earlier life?

Poor Gina. She is naturally protective of her private life so this was especially hard for her.

Again, Kovach has delivered a solid police procedural that proved very engaging and kept me guessing as to whodunnit and why. Overall, a highly recommended novel and overall series.

Halloween is the perfect time for ghost stories and creepy tales. In Cleevesford there is an urban legend of a girl being buried alive in the woods, and her ghost haunting the woods after her death.
As urban legend comes to life, dectectives race to find their elusive "Coffin Killer" before the body count rises.

This book has all the makings of a great scary crime book. I am a sucker for ghost stories and urban legends told in the dark on Halloween, a setting for a classic scare. Victims clawing their way to the surface from a splintered wooden coffin are like a cherry on top of the terrifying sundae.
I wanted to like the main detective, Gina, but her character fell flat for me. Nothing screamed edgy with a need for justice with her. Her past horrors are sprinkled into the story, but they're too sparse to flicker interest. Her coworkers were just as uninteresting.
I did like the choice for the killer. Not one i would have chosen, and definitely wasn't expected. I did feel they could have been darker to fit the image of a coffin killer. Her letters were cryptic but not really threatening. The whole bridge scene was unnecessary. Keeping it at the burial site would have been creepier. But I did appreciate how the whole story tied together with her, and her father.
I loved the idea of the story and wish it were less crime thriller and more psychology thriller. It was slow to get moving and didn't really hold my attention until chapter 68. I did not realize it was part of a series, maybe if I had and read the other books I would have felt something more for the main character.
The last few chapters were the most gripping part of the book. I wish the build up to get there was just as great.

Creepy ,police thriller set around Halloween. Lots of twists and turns before the case is solved. Great characters