This was the most stunning, thrilling, amazing book in the series. Rachel Caine has gotten better and better. This was emotionally compelling; I’ve always loved Gwen and her family. But the badass women working together in this story—Kenz and Gwen—make this one special

I received an advance copy of, Heartbreak Bay by, Rachel Caine. This is book 5 of 5 in the Stillhouse Lake Book series. This is a riveting book. I read it in one sitting, I could not wait to see how the book ends. Gwen and Kezia are trying to solve murder cases in Tennessee, but this one is different, will they catch the killer?

Heartbreak Bay is the latest in the Stillhouse Lake series starring former serial killer's wife/private eye Gwen Proctor. In the most thrilling book in the series yet, Gwen's good friend and police detective, Kezia Claremont pursues a case where children were strapped into the back seat of a car and driven into a lake. Haunted and wanting answers quickly, Kezia reaches out to Gwen for help tracking down the missing mother. The case takes dark turns and someone does not appreciate Gwen and Kezia's dogged determination to find a killer. Gwen's past is once again spotlighted and Gwen's hackles rise as once again she's on the defensive to protect her family from danger on all sides. Gwen and Kezia are awe inspiring characters. Gwen's inherent goodness in the face of her past and the endless persecution she faces will break your heart over and over again while you admire the stubbornness and toughness she embodies. Kezia plays a larger part in this overall story and I really enjoy her character. The story draws you in from the beginning and the pages fly by with pulse pounding suspense and action. The bad guys always embody evil and the heroines are always tough as nails for a reading good time. Rachel Caine's books are always a pleasure to read! My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

I was so happy to be able to read this book. Thank you to Netgalley for the pleasure and opportunity. I have read all the previous books in the series. Heartbreak Bay is book #5 of Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine. It is the continuation of Gwen Proctor, formally known as Gina Royal, unwittingly wife of Melvin Royal serial killer. While very few people believe she didn't know or help her husband, it is always easier to believe the worst when we don't want to believe in others, she uses her well developed skills as a PI to help protect her children from the very people that don't believe her. Once again Gwen is doing her best to protect her family while another non-believer and hunter is trying to destroy her. This story pulls us in as we see how far she has come, Sam her partner, has adopted her children and they are working at being a family. Kezia, her friend and a detective calls asking for help in a recent discovery of car in a lake with two bodies in the back seat. As they try to unravel the mystery, it becomes clear there is more to this and it is clearly about Gwen and a game of "would you rather" with a killer. I can honestly say I will never think of this as a game ever again. This was a great sequel to the previous books. It was so easy to get pulled into the story. There is enough information about the previous books to make this a stand alone, however each one really builds from the previous. I encourage you to start at the beginning. I was saddened to read the author's note at the end. I wish her well and am thankful she shared her writing and her life with us.

I love these Stillhouse books. The latest one Heartbreak Bay is to me the saddest because of the type of crime. After the first few pages I almost didn’t. This book brings Kezia’s character to the forefront. Gwen and her family are looking for some peace and normalcy but it’s always something. Don’t miss this one it’s really good. I hope there will be more.

I've been a huge fan of the Stillhouse Lake series since the first book, so of course I've been eagerly anticipating this latest installment. In Heartbreak Bay, Sam and Rachel have moved to a new town and Sam has adopted Lanny and Connor. Life is good, or it would be if the Melvin trolls would just leave Gwen alone. Rachel Caine brings together Gwen, Sam and police detective Kezia Claremont in alternating POV's to solve a gruesome and unthinkable double murder. At the same time, Gwen becomes the target of a vicious campaign of harassment different from anything she's previously experienced.

This one kept me turning the pages as fast as possible to get to the end. The plot unfolded brilliantly; it was really one of the best books in the series.

On a more personal note, the author disclosed at the end that she is currently fighting an aggressive form of cancer. I hope with all my heart that she wins this battle.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Heartbreak Bay is the fifth book in Rachel Caine’s Stillhouse Lake series, and it packs an emotional wallop. Gwen Proctor, now a PI, again is the victim of internet trolls, who refuse to believe she was unaware of her serial killer ex-husband’s deeds. Gwen is enlisted to help her friend Kezia, a detective, who is investigating a murder case. that hits close to home. This book really focuses on Gwen, who finally appears to free herself of her ex’s ghost, and centers around decisions that we make, and how they influence and guide our lives. The action starts right away, and doesn’t let go until the thrilling climax, and the reader rides along with Gwen on her emotional roller coaster. This was an absolutely great story that really packs a punch, and I’m glad to see Gwen and her family and friends come together as one unit. Easily a five star read, highly recommended. And in light of the author’s health issues, my thoughts and prayers are with her in her battle.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks verbally for allowing me to read This book. Two young girls were found dead in a car submerged under water . Who would do such a thing? This book was well written and had me interested from the beginning.

Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine is the fifth in the Stillhouse Lake series about Gwen, Lanny, Connor, and now Sam and is extremely captivating! Heartbreak Bay is non-stop suspense after Gwen receives a call from her friend, Detective Kezia Claremont. A car has been found submerged in a stagnant pond and of all horrors, two toddlers are strapped into their car seats! Where is the mother and what happened? It does not take long for Gwen and Kez to suspicion the mother left the kids in the car and made her escape.
Kez is on a mission to discover who and why could a person do this to innocent babies. We read more about Kez in this book. She has just found out she is pregnant with her first child and as I read the scenes I was so worried for her and the baby. Kez is one tough woman and not to be taken lightly as she works to solve this crime.
Gwen is relentless as she continues to protect her family amidst the haters and deal with the fallout from secretive characters from online forums who believe she was an accomplice in the serial murders by her late husband, Melvin. Soon she and her whole family are targeted by a man from one of the forums who will stop at nothing to achieve his end goal, which is to extract justice for the women killed by Melvin.
It is a nail-biting game of choices, death, and terror as Gwen and Kez try to discover the identity and location of two different killers!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Pub Date: 09 Mar 2021

A story that breaks your heart with the drowning of 2 small children. The story has many twists and turns with red herring to keep your guessing. I love the characters and hate the situation they are in. Like the previous books in this series I could not put it down.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Once again this author has written another thriller, great read, great characters and highly recommended.

#HeartbreakBay #NetGalley
Thanks NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Rachel Caine for an early copy to review.
The fifth book in Stillhouse Lake series.. Gwen, Sam and the kids are settling into their new home and their relatively new peaceful life after getting rid of Melvin's ghost. Starting with a horrific crime where two little girls found drowned in a car with no trace of the mother, Gwen finds herself in the center of chaos once more.
We follow the plot narrated by Sam. Kezia and Gwen pursuing the sick troll who is threatening their life leaving dead bodies after him. I believe you can follow this book easily even if you haven't read the previous books.
Fast paced, action packed and sometimes frustrating you just won't be able to put it down till the end.
I pray it wouldn't be the last we hear from this talented author.

This series is one of my favorites of all time! I love Gwen and Sam! This sounds like the finale in the series and I actually hope it is because Rachel Caine ended it perfectly. To write another would make this series start being monotonous and better to end on a high note. Gwen is helping Kezia with another case. Two little girls deceased found in a car in a lake and the mother is missing. Did the girls' mother kill her own kids or is there something more sinister going on? Plenty of suspense and mystery! Great book actually great series. Read today you won't be disappointed !

Rachel Caine is a must read author that never leaves anything to be desired. The Stillhouse Lake series is a must read for lovers of thrillers. Heartbreak Bay tells the story of a missing mother and two dead children. This fast paced thriller leads the protagonists on a hot case that can drag up even the worst of memories. This is a quick, great read that comes highly recommended and does not disappoint.

After reading all the other books in the series, I was super excited to get this ARC. I am extremely happy to report this book did not disappoint. Great characters ( including a awesome and strong heroine), get story, and a great continuation of the series. If you have not read the series yet, I would highly recommend checking it out.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC. #NetGalley #HeartbreakBay

Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine is the 5th in the Stillhouse Lake series. Ketzia Claremont is called out to investigate the drowning of two children found in a lake, still strapped in their car seats. The mother is nowhere to be found. Ketzia calls in Gwen Proctor, a friend and private investigator who has assisted her in past cases. Gwen is also being confronted with her past when messages are being sent to her and her partner threatening to destroy the life they’ve built with their kids. (For those of you who don’t know about Gwen, she was known as Gina Proctor who was married to a serial killer many years ago – you’ll need to go back and read some of Ms. Caine’s previous books.

Suddenly, Ketzia’s case and Gwen’s past collide with many twists and turns and having to confront evil in its worst form. The book is intense and not for the weak. You’ll find yourself holding your breath, shaking from frustration, and terror. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an advanced copy of this book.

My heart is heavy after reading the author’s message at the end. Words escape me and I felt like crying after that. She shared that she has soft tissue sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. And, she’s going to fight for all it’s worth! My prayers are with her that she’s given the strength to continue and conquer the battle!
(To NetGalley: I'm not sure if I should have included this last paragraph. Please let me know and I will edit it.

I love Rachel Caine's Stillhouse Lake series!! When I saw it was a “read now” book on NetGalley, I couldn’t believe it!! I’ve read all the books in the series and was very excited about the fifth book coming out in March. Even though I have a lot of other books on my TBR stack, I put them all aside for this one!!! I started the book and stayed up all night to finish it!

Each book in the Stillhouse Lake series are stand-alones, but you really get to know the characters if you start from the beginning. They are all good books so it's a win for the reader.

If you haven’t read any of the books, the storyline is about a women that is married to a serial killer, yet says she knows nothing of his actions. Caine takes you through the life of this wife and mother and how they are all coping with this knowledge. This is a crime novel at it’s best. It is full of suspense, mystery, twist and turns and is a real page turner!! I recommend the whole series!!

The author has a note at the end of the book regarding her current health battles. I was shocked to read this as I’m sure all Caine fans were. It amazes me that she is still giving to her readers as she goes through these hard times. My thoughts and prayers are with you Rachel Caine and I hope you beat your health battles!! I look forward to your sixth book!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my review.
#NetGalley #HeartbreakBay #Thomas&Mercer #RachelCaine

I had read this book when it first came out but decided to read it again as I had not read the second book in this series. I really enjoyed the first two books and am now looking for the third in this series. In this book the wife finds out her husband is a serial killer and has been for years and he had been using the family garage which he had turned into his work shop. How would anyone deal with the horrors that would follow this revelation

Serial killer vigilante

“It’s so easy at a distance to pass judgment, to feel satisfaction when someone else receives pain you think they deserve.”

Heartbreak Bay protagonists Gwen Porter and Kezia Claremont are on a hunt of the person who's gone on a killing spree in small town Norton, Tennessee. Gwen is a missing persons private investigator. She has two teenage children–Lanny and Connor. Kezia, aka Kez, is a detective at the Norton Police Department. Gwen was called at a crime scene location by Kez, her bestfriend, to help in the investigation of the drowning of two girls strapped in the back seat of the car that was pushed to the lake. The location is close to where Gwen once lived in Stillhouse Lake with her late husband, Melvin Royal, a serial killer. Though Melvin is dead. He still haunts Gwen. He is there in here thoughts. He still has control over her. It brought back so much horrible memories from her old house and when Gwen got to the crime scene she didn't know why she was needed there in the first place.

The story is told in three points of view: Gwen, Kez, and Sam. Sam Cade is Gwen's partner who have adopted her two kids. He works as a flight instructor. There are a lot going on in the book besides the drowning of the two girls and the missing mother. There is also the harrassment that Gwen and her family received which also affected Kez. This is not a coincidence.

What I liked most is the police procedural used as well as private investigation know how I've learned and appreciated from the book. It is well-written. The thought process has a good flow. The pace is just right. The climax towards the last five chapters were the unputdownable scenes for me. The mystery & thriller element I am looking for in a book is definitely there. This is the main reason why I gave the book a rating of 4 stars.

This is the fifth book in the Stillhouse Lake series. I wanted to note that this book can be read even without reading the previous novels. The story from the book is the result of what happened from the previous books, however, the author explained well the history and the whys so the reader will be able to understand even without having read the previous works. One of the elements I liked is Caine's ability to insert flashbacks without losing the flow of the story. Another element I like in a mystery & thriller novel.

The characters were able to develop their own story throughout the book. Caine was able to give them each a story of their own without putting too much emphasis to the main three. They are drawn together through the horrid past they experienced in life. It brought them together and now they are all keeping their family safe. This includes Vee—a friend of Gwen's daughter, Lanny. Vee and Lanny are of the same age. Gwen took Vee under her wing and she's now part of the family. I'm miffed that everywhere they go, everything they do, they are being harassed—especially Gwen because she's the ex-wife of a serial killer. The harrassment has become the "normal" for them and it's a rarity that a family like Gwen's, is handling it so well. They have complete trust in each other.

The story is set in rural Tennessee in the small town of Norton and its surrounding areas like Valerie. I learned a lot of the Southern culture in the story such as racism: how the truck driver who pulled the car out of the lake treated Kez, how it is being a black woman cop in that area, their food and way of living, how it is to be in a small town having an influential family with money and who operates an illegal distribution of drugs, and how fast news can travel. Apart from culture, I learned a lot of new vocabularies and idioms from the book.

Now the big question–why not five stars? I cannot tell the writer what to write. I know this by now from years of reviewing. However, Caine's mysterious person was revealed in the end and the antagonist's story was not given enough spotlight. The antagonist deserves more. Heck the antagonist should have been given its own voice in my opinion. Caine wrote it in a way that it should have been given more in the story. Most story revolved around Gwen, Kez, Sam and their circle. I am looking at it all in their points of view. Now I am left with a lot of questions about the motives, intentions, all the hows, and whys. I've read so much mystery & thriller novels, some authors have done this without giving a lot away early in the book. I want to know what's on the antagonist's mind. Now I will never know.

This is for someone who likes police procedural, private investigation, missing persons, strong women characters, how to rise from aggravation, what do people being harrassed experience, gun safety and responsibility, serial killer, and mystery & thriller genre. No profanity. Not too graphic, in my opinion, comparing to other stories in the same genre. Just right for the story. I was able to sleep at night even after finishing the book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, author Rachel Caine, and publisher Thomas & Mercer, for providing an advance reader's digital copy of the book, which allows me to write an honest and unbiased review.

I should have known better to start reading this after midnight because it was 3 am before I had to force myself to put this down and actually sleep.

Gwen Procter, Sam Cade, and their family are once again in the crosshairs of a killer, and only their choices can help set them free.

This book, like the rest of the Stillhouse Lake series is absolutely thrilling until the very end. I can’t thank Thomas & Mercer, and netgalley.com enough for access to this book.