Gina Harte is back again in a story that hits too close to home for the lonely and overworked detective. Still living with the guilt and shame of her marriage to an abuser and how he met his demise, Gina is faced with a murderer who buries victims alive without hope of survival. With very little evidence or leads, she and her team chase down information and too many false leads. Whoever the murderer is, they seem to know Gina and about the torture she endured at the hands of her husband. They want to get her attention and go about doing so by sending letters to her and the press, and ultimately by giving Gina a taste of what the killer's victims experienced by being buried alive. The puzzle pieces begin to fall into place, but will they do so in time to save lives? How will having her dirty secrets unveiled impact Gina's life? It is a race to the last page.

The book is well-written and I’m very impressed by how this book turned out. I loved all the twists and turns that made this book a captivating read. The ending was interesting and it was shocking which proves that this book is a must read thriller.

Wow...this one had a creepy vibe that just did give up. Buried alive... with three matches. Incredible DCI Gina Harte has an admirer, one that knows what she went through with her ex Terri. This is a Halloween DCI that you won’t want to miss.

What did I like? So this author writes a great DCI murder mystery that once I start I just can not put down. As usual her boss Briggs is close by as DCI Harte gets letters from the murderer about her past secret ex husband who was abusive. This is a cat and mouse game since it seems like all the players have very little time left before the past catches up to them.

Would I buy or recommend? Love these DCI mysteries, they are a favorite. They are best read in order, I may have missed one or two so they can be stand alone. Briggs and Harte have had a casual affair going but now they seem to just be close friends. I wish we could get more on that. It’s weird seeing them dance around each other now since he is her boss. Still this is a great series!

I received a complimentary copy to read. Five stars....just loved it!

Detective Gina Harte is in a good place, work is fine, her on/off relationship with Briggs is bubbling along but she is still tortured by the ghosts of her past.
When two young girls discover a body a chain of events will bring up painful memories for Gina. Gina needs her team to help her bring a killer to justice before they strike again.
As always this was another fantastic book in the series. Gina remains one of my favourite characters and I can’t wait for the next one. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book in the series and I totally relished reading it.

Two teenage girls not wishing to be late for a Halloween party, rush through some thick woodlands to the outskirts of the city. But before they can reach safety, they make a shocking discovery ......a newly dug shallow grave.

The police and forensics later discover that someone was buried alive !! A few days later another grave is discovered, Agent Gina and her team discover that they are dealing with a serial killer who is preying on their small town.

The bewildering question on everyone's mind is who is going to be the next victim? Will another grave be filled?

The book is full of twists and turns in the plot which totally captivated my attention. Making me hungry to know the end and find out who the killer really was.

Summary :
A well-written story, that keeps u guessing who the killer really is. Characters are well described, so they are easy to relate to. An easy, enjoyable read.

A shallow grave found by two teenage girls on their way to a halloween party is only the start of a race to find a killer terrorizing the small town of which Di Gina Harte manages her yeam of vigilant officers

A book that hooks you from the start

This is the seventh book in the DI Gina Harte series and it is one of the best. I picked up the series at Book 3 and am never disappointed with any of the novels, but this book is excellent - just the right mix of tension and terror!

This one really isn't ideal for the claustrophobic - a killer is on the loose in Cleevesford who is burying people alive in coffins. The victims are left with three matches and a string attached to a bell with no clapper so the victim will never be heard while thinking they have a lifeline - fiendish! It's a terrifying idea and one that DI Gina Harte is personally horrified by as it reminds her of being incarcerated during her abusive marriage to Terry, mentioned in previous books. When a second body is found, Harte and her team have to race against time to identify the links between the victims; this will, ultimately, lead to more potential victims that need protecting, as well as the killer themselves.

What makes this book stand out for me is the way that Cleevesford is starting to feel like a familiar and developed community - Harte's team, the various locations and the geography of the town are all coming together in my head and becoming much more real. This is especially true in this book as the settings are perhaps more varied than previously - we whisk between the police station, the graveyard, woods and plenty of other places (no spoilers!) with real pace and purpose.

The other strength to this novel is the tension that Kovach creates as we experience the terror of the serial killer's victims (and Harte herself). This isn't new to the series, but seems ramped up here as victims have time to realise their fate before their death. This is truly sinister and creepy and the stuff of nightmares - perfect for a novel written about Halloween and during our shared confinement of lockdown.

I think this book could easily be read as a standalone, although I'd really recommend that you start at the beginning to fully understand Harte's situation with her abusive husband and tentative relationship with her colleague Briggs. However, this is one book in the series where the personal lives of the police team are more in the background than some of the previous books so it's not essential.

Overall, this is a strong police procedural with real menace. I'd recommend this to fans of crime writers such as Cara Hunter, Rachel Lynch and MJ Arlidge. It will keep you turning the pages and isn't one you will forget for quite a while!

It's Halloween time...

DI Gina Harte and DCI Chris Briggs are having coffee as a tattered and rude man walks in to the cafe and is very rude. Eventually, Gina tells the man to be more respectful. That day, Gina spots this man a number of times. Is he following her?

Two teen girls taking a shortcut through the woods come upon something odd...

And the story just gets better! I loved all of the Gina Harte series! Carla Kovach keeps the reader in suspense throughout the entire book

RECOMMEND!!!

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a fine read !!!

I found this book confusing to start with. so many characters. I have not read any of this author's books, maybe if I had at least the police personnel would have been familiar. The story was creepy people being buried alive. I did not find any of the characters very likeable. DI Gina Harte was facing her own demons as secrets from her own past history which she thought were known only to one person she trusted, had been leaked to the Press.

This is already the 7th book in the DI Gina Harte series, and I just can not get enough. The book and story line are so gripping, you are flying through the pages! I can't wait for the next book, pretty please!
Highly recommended.
TB

thank you for the opportunity to read this latest book. i started this series at the beginning of lockdown and was so pleased to be awarded the latest one, and wow even though it is number seven in the series it is as gripping, tense and edgy as if it were the first i never get tired or bored of this series, bravo 10 out or 10

Ding ding ding! Another winner in the DI Gina Harte series. This is book 7 and I'm not tired of this series yet. The characters are so well-developed, as is the storyline. Once you start reading, you don't want to put it down. I hate when these books end as I always want more! I would LOVE to see this entire series made into a TV series!!!!

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

Another great read from Carla Kovach and this one has my greatest fear in it of being buried alive and especially one part where I thought oh no this can't be the end of the series so thankfully we will have a few more to come. I got this as an arc to review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own views and are completely unbiased.

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.
I really enjoyed this book and was hooked on right from the first page. It was well written, the characters were nice and the story captivating. I truly recommend it.

Another gripping instalment in this well established series. The "complicated" relationship between Gina and Briggs and Gina's past continues as a sub plot throughout what is a complex case with plenty of unexpected twists.

Desperate to reach the party on time, two teenage girls dressed in garish Halloween costumes 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 find a shallow grave.

Once the police and forensic team arrive they discover that someone was buried alive. When another grave is found just days later, DI Gina Harte and her team realise that a serial killer is preying on their small town. But who is the killer watching now? And when will another grave be filled?

This is my first book in this series and I totally enjoyed it. I was hooked on right from the first page.

It was well written with a very captivating plot. All the characters were good especially DI Gina who goes all out to catch the killer. It had all the twists and thrills right till the end. I had a hard time guessing who was the killer and even then I couldn't get it right.

Overall, a brilliant book filled with twists and an obsession for revenge. Highly Recommended!

Thank You to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

This is a creepy romantic suspense that contains a ghost story, Halloween, being buried a,ive, revenge and a large host of characters. There are lots of twists and turns and it is hard to figure out who is to blame

When two teenagers find a shallow grave, it is discovered that someone was buried alive. When another victim is found just days later, DI Gina Harte and her team realise they are looking for a serial killer. The team race against time to find the killer and to discover any further buried victims...

This was the first in the DI Gina Harte series I've read and I really enjoyed it. A creepy, thrilling and captivating tale with a fantastic plot and shocking ending. The characters were all great and I look forward to reading more of the series to get to know Gina and her team more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

This is the first book I have read by Carla Kovach and I will definitely be seeking out the others! I couldn’t put this down as was desperate to find out who the killer was! As someone who dislikes Halloween this certainly played on my fears

Loved this creepy crazy book!! So many dark twists and turns! I could not put it down. Intricately woven tale that is full of secrets, revenge and obsession. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.