I read this authors debut book and absolutely loved it and this book is just as brilliant if not more so for me specifically because I love animals and this book features them as the main character is a Vet. It has the right amount of suspense, mystery, romance and heartbreak to keep you turning the pages. It also includes some tough issues like debilitating illness and sex change which is talked about with understanding and respect. I am so excited about this Australian author as I think she might be my favourite.

A well written book by an established author that kept me turning the pages. Would recommend to others as it was captivating, and intriguing.

I really enjoyed this authors debut novel last year and was exited for her new book. The book started off really well but unfortunately there was no mystery to this book. A big part was given away quite early on in the book and you needed to wait until the second half for all the action to start and for the story to come together. If that vital piece wasn’t given away at the beginning it would have made a nice twist to the story at the end. By the last hundred or so pages I skim read to the end.

When Andy left her hometown many years ago, she did so after the murder of one school friend and the disappearance of another and vowed to never return. However, her work as a Vet Locum brings her back and she starts to realise the troubles that have haunted her for years are still a threat. A great read with lots of twists and turns and an amzaing horse!

What I connected to the most in this book was the setting in Victorian mountains. It made me feel like I was there. I love books that involve small towns. The fact there was also a love interest was even better.

I loved Bronwyn Hall’s debut, Gone to Ground and was really excited about her new book and can I say WOW again, what a fabulous action packed story this one is, from start to finish it kept me engrossed and on the edge of my seat at times, this one has some twists and turns, it is a must read come along and meet Andy, you are going to love her.

Andy King moved away from her home town of Stonefield ten years ago in a cloud of mystery, she went off to university and is now a vet doing locum work around Victoria and loving it, when she is asked by her friend Matt to do four weeks at Taplin which is very close to Stonefield, surely after ten years no one will remember her if she meets up with some of the locals.

Meeting some of the wonderful farmers and their families in Taplin is a pleasure for Andy, especially Ethan and his family, his sister Holly is not well and she has a beautiful support dog Angel and a horse Big Jack, and Ethan’s mother remembers Andy from her riding days years ago and soon Andy is riding Big Jack and it feels good to back in the saddle. But while she is out one evening with Ethan she meets up with someone from her past, someone dangerous, and he wants answers about her missing boyfriend Will Hoffman from ten years ago but Andy will never, never tell anyone what happened all those years ago.

When Andy discovers information about the people from her past and sees that they are also now threatening Ethan and his family things are now getting very dangerous, threats are coming thick and fast and Andy and Ethan find themselves in an extremely dangerous situation, will they be able to get out of it or will the past be repeating itself?

I loved this one from start to finish, I could not put this one down and had a very late night last night, the strength and courage Andy shows is awesome, she and Ethan with the help of Big Jack are doing everything to stay alive, but will they make it? Will the past secrets come out?

You must read this one, if you love a gripping, riveting stories that will keep you up late then read this one, I do highly recommend it, come along and see how everything turns out. A fabulous story one not to be missed.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

“The Chasm” is another powerful thriller from Bronwyn Hall, where strong relationships and a tense situation combine to keep the reader breathless.

Andrina “Andy” King has come to Taplin as a locum vet, reluctantly coming at the request of a good friend from vet school. She grew up in this part of the country, and loves it, but she doesn’t feel safe. It’s all too close to the actual town that she grew up in – a town where most people still think she murdered a fellow teen, Will Hoffman.

So Andy has no intention of staying longer than her friend needs her. And when she feels a pull of attraction to local Ethan Landers, she knows she can’t get involved. Even if he seems unconcerned by her past.

And it soon becomes clear that the past won’t stay the past. Andy is in danger here, and not just from gossip. Some very dangerous people are up to something bad, and they’d like to be very sure Andy can’t interfere with their plans.

This is a great thriller. It’s well written, it’s plausible, and the action doesn’t let up for a moment. The last third of the novel, particularly, is hard to put down because it’s one great big rush of action and suspense.

I found all of the characters believable, and most were well rounded. (The bad guys don’t get a lot of character development.) Even the more minor characters are sketched in a way that makes them feel real and interesting.

The setting, too, is believable. Both small towns and the Australian bush are presented in a way that’s vivid and realistic. You can understand why Andy enjoys it despite the risks.

There is one minor glitch in the novel, and that’s that Andy talks as though people drove her out of Stonefield, and as though she had to deal every day with the gossip and accusations. But in fact she’d already moved to Melbourne before Will Hoffman disappeared, and although she’d have been aware of what was said, she wouldn’t have had to face it head on.

Andy has good reasons to be afraid, and that’s portrayed convincingly. However, the way she talks about the gossip didn’t quite ring true.

But that’s a very small problem in what was otherwise a great thriller. I really enjoyed this. It’s well written, well plotted, and well characterized. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable read for crime or thriller fans.

Andy King is a vet working as a locum in a small town nestled in the Victorian mountains. She has returned to the region in which she grew up and is fearful of the fact that there will be people who remember the events that took place immediately before she left the town of Stonefield. But she made a promise to her friend Matt that she would take over his practice while he took a break.

All seems to be tracking nicely as Andy performs the routine tasks required of a vet in a country practice. Checking for pregnant cows, desexing goats and removing grass seeds from dog’s ears are all standard jobs and Andy is adept at each. She stays comfortably removed from the locals, getting in, doing her job and getting out again, all part of the plan to remain under the radar. But that changes while she’s on the Landers property where she meets young Ethan Landers, his sick sister and her support dog Angel and their horse Big Jack.

It’s while she’s on the Landers property that the first sign of trouble starts in the form of a drone that sweeps slowly over the land. She learns that the reason it’s doing this is because a large corporate neighbour wants to build an access road through one of their paddocks. It’s an intimidatory tactic that’s been going on for some time trying to get Ethan to sign away part of the farm.

Just when it appears we’re getting a Victorian-set James Herriott type of story, things take a turn for the dangerous as intimidation turns into abduction and the pace of the story abruptly changes. The easy country life becomes a full-on drama and Andy is thrust squarely in the centre of it in a classic life or death struggle.

This is a strong thriller that divides into two distinctly different halves that serve the purpose of setting the scene before unleashing the action. The first half of the book establishes the promise of what could be a pleasant lifestyle in an idyllic setting. There’s a hint of a possible romance and perhaps a solid long-term job opportunity. But it also hints at a hidden past and a dangerous man who’s part of that past. It’s a rather careful build up to establish a rapport with Andy as well as an understanding of her strengths and weaknesses.

In contrast, the second half is far more explosive as the vaguely threatening overtones are realised in a violent invasion. Suddenly, the story of a vet doing her rounds becomes a desperate chase to evade killers while also trying to figure out how to save someone who has been abducted.

There are some great moments of ingenuity and good use of modern technology throughout as the idyllic landscape is the vital scene for the hunter and the hunted to play. Difficulties such as the steep mountain slopes, the thick bushland and the chasm for which the title takes its name all play crucial roles.

The Chasm turns out to be a frantic thriller stacked with moments of close calls and danger. It benefits from a thoughtful backstory to provide added depth to the main characters and to further establish the threat from the bad guys. It’s another quality small-town Aussie thriller that I found completely absorbing.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Australia HQ for the opportunity to read and enjoy this digital ARC.

This book takes a little while to get going and then boom! You can't put it down.
Andy is a locum vet sent to a small country practice to help out while the local vet is injured. He is a friend and she feels she owes him, despite the fact that she has a long and dark history with the neighbouring town. Determined not to like the place or to get close to anyone, Andy does her best to keep everyone at arms length and avoid as much as possible people who knew her as a teenager.
However, as you may guess, despite her efforts the past does catch up with her, and as Andy earns the trust of the local farmers, her identification as a 'murder suspect' could bring this undone in a second.
This book is a great read, and really gets the balance of suspense and intrigue just right to be believable. I recommend this to those who enjoy a good thriller.
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Australia HQ for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

This was so good!

Last year I read Bronwyn Hall's debut novel Gone to Ground a non-stop, action-packed thriller/romance that I couldn't put down so I had high expectations for her second novel The Chasm and it did not disappoint.

This started off a bit slower than I was expecting as we meet the characters, and start to get some hints about why Andy left town 10 years before, what happened to her friend Will and why there were accusations that Andy herself killed Will despite there being no body or evidence to suggest this at the time. Once things started happening, this book didn't slow down and I was taken for a wild ride with Andy and Ethan as things become dire for the both of them and the past catches up with Andy.

Bronwyn Hall did a great job of making me feel like I have been to the Victorian Mountains and spent time there, breathed the air and felt the peace they could bring, and part of me understood why Andy had returned to help out her friend in his vet practice, because the mountains were where she felt a deep connection (like myself and the ocean), but the other part was yelling at her to just leave after her first run-in with Connor, a dangerous guy from the past.

We are trickle-fed hints, clues and snippets of the past as we learn about the reason for Andy and Will's disappearance and Andy starts to realise she's made a mistake in returning. But it is not only Andy who has drawn the attention of Connor and his friends. Ethan is also in their sights because they want to buy his farm and he refuses to sell. As Ethan and Andy start to get close, they also learn how dangerous Connor and his mates can be if you cross them, they just don't know exactly why.

Once the action starts I couldn't breathe as Andy and Ethan's lives are at risk and the criminals are not going to stop until they are dead. The hero of the story is a horse called Big Jack who plays a big role in saving the day.

I can't wait to see what Bronwyn Hall brings us next.

Andy King arrived in Taplin, only a short distance from her home town of Stonefield, with trepidation in her heart. She was to be the locum vet for four weeks, helping out Matt, the local vet who had injured himself. She knew it was ten years since she and her father had left Stonefield for Melbourne, but the people involved had long memories.

Helping old Jim put his beloved dog to sleep; stitching up a bull mauled by dogs; fixing mastitis in a cow - all part of the job she loved. But meeting Ethan on his parents farm, where his sister Holly was ill, plus meeting Angel, Holly's care-dog, Andy felt her emotions from the friendliness of strangers bring her home. But not all were friendly. The neighbours to Ethan's farm wanted the property, and it seemed they would stop at nothing in their ways of intimidation. Andy was scared, but determined not to show it. But when they went too far, Andy decided not to take it any more. The last ten years had been bad - they weren't going to add to the secrets she'd hidden for all that time...

The Chasm is a brilliant second novel from Aussie author Bronwyn Hall. I loved her debut - Gone to Ground - and this one, although completely different, was the same, with the gritty, heart stopping, breathtaking moments, meaning I couldn't stop reading until the book was finished! Set in the rugged Victorian bushland, and with exceptional characters - especially Big Jack - The Chasm is another I recommend highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

What a ride that book was and I’m off to find Bronwyn Hall’s previous novel!
Andy King has accepted a locum vet position in a town close to where she spent her high school years but it was a town she wanted to escape. All those years ago her boyfriend disappeared and it was thought that she was to blame, little did people know the real story.
Settling into her locum vet job, Taplin is a far cry from the town of Stonyfield but befriending some local property owners makes her aware that they are being bullied by the local plantation owners who want their land. And that in its self becomes a deadly game.
This book had everything I love, great characters, small towns, people caring about each other, suspense and a touch of romance that didn’t take over the storyline.
Second half of book read in one sitting, loved it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

First I must say I loved Bronwyn Hall's first book Gone to Ground so was so excited to be able to read this book and I wasn't disappointed.

This is a story about returning to a place where thee are still secrets and past events that still haunt you and this is the case for Andy King. She left her home town in the Victorian Mountains after her boyfriend disappeared in intriguing circumstances. Now she returns to a nearby town for 4 weeks to fill in at a friends Vet practice.

What will happen when Andy returns to her local area, Will secrets be revealed and does Andy have her own secrets she is hiding? This book will keep you turning the pages as you try to work it all out. It is suspenseful, intriguing, mysterious and full of great characters. This is another well written book by this author which I couldn't put down. I loved it

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Revisiting the past can be dangerous …

Andy King grew up in the Victorian mountains but left after her boyfriend Will Hoffman disappeared without a trace. Some of the residents of Stonefield believe that Andy and her father were responsible for Will’s disappearance, and they have not forgotten. Nor has Andy, and she has no intention of returning. But Andy’s friend Matt, a fellow veterinarian who lives in Taplin in the adjacent valley, needs a locum. Andy agrees, as it is only for four weeks, and she should be far enough from Stonefield.

Andy meets Ethan, a talented musician currently helping on his family’s property in Taplin. Connor, who is someone unpleasant from Andy’s past wants to buy Ethan’s family farm and is applying heaps of pressure. While she’s attracted to Ethan, Andy is determined not to form any attachment. But Ethan’s sister is unwell, and she has a horse who needs exercise. Andy agrees, which means that she sees more of Ethan and spends more time in the mountains closer to Stonefield.

As Andy soon discovers, some people are still looking for Will, and they think that she has the answers. Yes, Andy does know what happened to Will, but she is sworn to secrecy. Those who are looking for Will have their own secrets to protect and will stop at nothing to defend them. Andy’s life is at risk, as are others.

There are two mysteries to solve: Will’s disappearance is the first; why Connor want Ethan’s family farm is the second. There are plenty of twists in this story: I anticipated some, missed some and enjoyed them all.

Highly recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Vet Andy King is working as a locum for her friend Matt in the small town of Taplin in the Victorian mountains. She knows the area well because she grew up in Stonefield in the next valley, but left after her best friend Will Hoffman disappeared ten years ago. Everyone believed Andy and her father, who was Will’s teacher, had something to do with his disappearance and in the end they both left Taplin to escape the constant finger pointing. Although Andy knows the truth about what happened to Will on the day he disappeared at Chasm falls, she refuses to talk about it, as she has secrets she needs to keep hidden.

Andy finds herself enjoying being back in the area she knows and loves so well, especially after she meets Ethan, a handsome and talented musician, currently back to help his parents on the family farm. She also discovers how much she’s missed horse riding when Ethan’s mother asks her to ride Jack, Ethan’s sister’s beautiful horse, who she can longer ride.

Although Andy was hoping she wouldn’t run into anyone from Stonefield, she unfortunately, catches the attention of Connor Reilly, the last person she wanted to see. She remembers well as a bully and a thug and now he is trying to bully Ethan’s family into selling their land to the neighbouring pine plantation he manages.

Bronwyn Hall’s second novel is two suspenseful mysteries packed into one. First there is the mystery of Will Hoffman’s disappearance and why Andy dares not talk to anyone about it. The reader gets some hints early on of what happened to Will, but it’s not until the end of the book that the whole story unfolds. The second is why Connor is so desperate to get Ethan’s family to sell their farm, to the point that he doesn’t care who he has to hurt. The atmosphere and rugged beauty of the Victorian mountains is perfectly captured in this action packed thriller and particularly in the nail biting climax.

I loved how atmospheric it was!! You really felt like you were right there with Andy. But I didn't love knowing the 'who' relatively early on, as you don't get that jaw dropping moment towards the end.

Overall, Bronwyn Hall does a great job drip feeding you just enough information to keep you hooked!! Add to that a great cast of characters (and animals) and you have yourself a thriller you won't be able to put down!!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book.