Highly recommend this one!! The Cove catches your attention quick and hooks you into the fast paced thriller that throws you twist after twist throughout the story. A lot of thrillers are more mystery books than actual thrillers - that is not the case with The Cove. This book will make your heart race and keep you at the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next.

There is an abrupt POV change as the book goes to part 2 that had me a little weary about where the story was going, but stick with it. It plays out well!

I listened to this on audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator’s style. She had voices for each character and really brought the story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Gregg Dunnett for a wonderful story and Jan Cramer for a fantastic narration.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book and the final reveal was totally unexpected. It was totally gripping with very distinct parts. I must say I didn’t enjoy the very clipped tone of DCI Sands in the first part. It made her seem very unlikeable but she definitely improved in the 3rd part when the narrator toned down the coldness. I hope this is the start of a series. Really well written twisty story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this audio book.

This was a long book, but that didn't stop me for finishing it in one day. Wowza, I couldn't put it down!! I loved the book, the twist, and the characters!!

I was so excited to read The Cove! Dunnett was able to pull me in so quickly - I was invested right away! This blew my mind. I did not anticipate the twists - I could not put this down. Detective Emily Sands is brilliant - and on the hunt for the perpetrator of a grisly child murderer. We then meet Christine, a widow with two children who moves to the neighborhood where the murdered child lived. Super fast-paced and fun. Excellent narration! Thank you so much to @netgalley for the chance to review this thriller!!

In the book The Cove, author Gregg Dunnett follows Christine Harvey, who is looking for a fresh start with her children Molly and Ryan after her husband dies from COVID. Moving from the fast-paced life of the city to the seashore, Christine buys a house with a breathtaking view of the ocean. But she does not realize that the house next door is the sight of a child abduction and murder. And that murdered girl was the same age as her daughter Molly. Did she just move in next door to a man who murdered his own daughter? And what secrets is Christine hiding? This is a good fast pace psychological thriller. I would recommend this book. The audio-book narration was very good. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a perfect read for me. The opening page had me hooked! The story of Detective Sand was also intriguing and had all the great beginning of a great detective story. When it switched to Part 2 I was a bit apprehensive at first of the unexpected POV change and how it was going to fit in with the story but I think this was a really good move by the author and I wouldn’t of been as invested in the characters and story without.

The book was very well paced and the twists and turns weren’t obvious or outlandish as I was kept guessing all the way through. With cliffhanger ending of chapters that kept wanting me to read on and I wouldn’t have to eagerly wait for long for the author to finally reveal.

Books like these often have the ending rushed leading up to the big reveal and after, which this book completely avoided doing and made it an excellent read until the end.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange of a honest review. I will be highly anticipating Gregg Funnects next DCI sands novel.

This was an interesting detective thriller. In audio format, the back and forth between characters was a little difficult to follow. But over all it was a good story. I definitely recommend for those that enjoy crime/ detective thrillers.

I do not normally pick out books by men or "cop" books. I am like "no that's a detective book."
But something about this one enticed me. The very beginning was hard on me because I am super sensitive and it depicts an 8 year old dealing with her father killing dogs. Later a cat is murdered, and a small child.
It is hard.
But then Sands tries to proposition a handsome man when she's sad. And it goes badly. Later the man comes back in the most awkward way. I LOVED it. Then we see a mother's perspective. The mother is dealing with the death of her husband, a move, and the knowledge that a child died in the home she has just bought.

When the two women come together it gets even better!

I loved it all very much!
The narration was perfection. I mean seriously hire this woman to narrate everything.

It started off good but as most thrillers and mysteries seem to go for me it slowly went down hill but it probably for someone just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how this story was told where it starts with the murder and the capture of the supposed perpetrator and then goes to focus on six months after the capture with a whole new narrator then goes back to the detective’s perspective. This was so good and exciting. I could not believe who the actual murderer was and was left in awe of the book. I also really liked Erica Sands as a detective and look forward to more books with her as the main character.

this was my first detective thriller and i was plesentaly surprised. it was a decent story although im tired of the hysterical neighbor peering through the window trope. i did figure out the killer, but later than i normally do so yay for that. there was a lot of covid talk though, more than was needed. I will read more from Dunnett though. i enjoyed his writing style.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. This book had an interesting start that really captured my attention. Towards the middle though the story become slow, it picked up the pace at the end. I wasn’t into the characters which tends to be hard to continue to be interested in the book. Overall the story was good.

The Cove by Gregg Dunnett

I had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy of "The Cove" from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, and I must say, this gripping thriller exceeded all my expectations. From the very first page, I was hooked, and I owe a great deal of credit to the excellent narrator, Jan Cramer, whose storytelling was impeccable. She presented the narrative with a perfect balance of emotion and clarity, never resorting to obnoxious kid speak or any distracting affectations.

The heart of the story lies with Detective Erica Stone, a character I absolutely adored. Her no-nonsense, "suffer no fools" attitude was incredibly appealing, making her an engaging protagonist. However, what truly sets "The Cove" apart is the authenticity of all the characters. Gregg Dunnett managed to avoid clichés, crafting a cast that felt real and relatable, making their journeys and decisions all the more impactful.

As the plot unfolded, I found myself constantly on the edge of my seat. The author skillfully weaved a web of intrigue and suspicion, keeping me guessing throughout. While I thought I had the mystery figured out at various points, the final revelation still managed to surprise me, leaving me in awe of the clever storytelling.

One aspect I particularly loved was the attention to detail in the setting. The locale came to life through vivid descriptions, and the portrayal of the house in the story added an eerie and atmospheric quality to the narrative.

I wholeheartedly recommend "The Cove" to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted thriller. Gregg Dunnett's writing style is superb for the genre, and what I truly appreciate is that he never underestimates the intelligence of the reader. This refreshing approach allows the audience to fully immerse themselves in the story and become invested in the characters' fates.

In conclusion, "The Cove" is a masterfully written thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. With its compelling characters, surprising twists, and atmospheric setting, it's a must-read for fans of the genre. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for more books by this talented author.

The Cove was a Netgalley audio arc I requested because I was desperate for a new read. Since I absolutely avoid series' (except for Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child and Nelson DeMille), I was initially leery of the full title, The Cove (DCI Stone, #1). Ugh. But, at least it was the first in a series so I could do my typical date vs marriage and nothing would be lost.

I began listening and I knew I'd made a serious mistake. I disliked the narrator so much, I was tempted to DNF but, since I take my review gig seriously, I plodded on.

I LOVE this book. I love main character Erica Stone. I love her brashness. Her abrasive personality. Her back story. The second and third chapters book pulled me in and I was applauding my fortitude for sticking with it instead of dnf'ing.

Then I literally screamed wtf.

Did you hear me yesterday from my West Virginia mountain? I was livid.

The next part of the book was a like a Star Trek reboot and I was confused to where the story intended to take me. With the mentions of a virus, and lockdown, I was conflicted because #toosoon. But I persisted.

Gregg Dunnett is a magician. He got me to like things I didn't like, develop feelings for characters, and the ending? Chef's kiss.

I am now the non-series reader who will eagerly be looking for DCI Stone #2.

"The Cove" by Gregg Dunnet proved to be a complex and captivating experience, expertly narrated by Jan Cramer.

At the outset, the book started with all the intensity of a gripping detective story, drawing the reader in. However, as Part 2 unfolded, confusion set in, wondering how the two seemingly unrelated stories could possibly come together. But, like the pieces of a complicated puzzle, everything eventually falls into place, creating one crazy and enthralling tale.

Throughout the journey, the author masterfully keeps readers guessing, questioning the actions and motives of the characters. Nothing is as it seems, and the story takes unexpected twists and turns, brilliantly crafted by the author. It's a true testament to the cleverness of the storytelling.

This book serves as a brilliant introduction to the DCI Stone series, leaving readers eager for more. A big thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook, making for an unforgettable listening experience. #CoveThe #NetGalley

I listened to the audiobook and liked the narrator- great differentiating voices for the characters so it was easy to keep track of everyone. I enjoyed the twists and tricks the author put into the book, I felt like it kept me interested and wanting to read more. I will definitely read more of this series and more by this author!

3.5 stars rounded up

This book has several parts, starting with a young girl who is taken from her home and found murdered on the beach nearby. Definitely check trigger warnings because some of the descriptions are quite hard to listen to.

The girl’s family splits their house in two and live on one side, and put the other side up for sale. Several months later a woman and her two children move in. The mother learns about what happened to the girl and starts to look more into the case, believing the police blamed the wrong person.

I didn’t really love how the book was split up, with cliff hangers we had to wait to find out what happened to, but this book kept me interested and I kept listening to find out more. I liked the twist at the end but found the suspect’s actions, which lead to their downfall, to be a little unbelievable.

This was my first book by this author and would definitely read more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#book66of2023 The Cove by Gregg Dunnett This book was suspenseful and also heartbreaking. It was slightly predictable, but still enjoyable for a popcorn thriller. I enjoyed the way the author split the scenes almost in this dual perspective. When a very young girl is found brutally murdered on a beach it’s up to detective Erica Sands to solve the case and bring justice to the girls family. Sifting through her own family history and coming to terms with it is hard enough without the complicated case at hand. And after an accident she may not even be able to continue. Christine is a widowed mom of two who is trying to restore some semblance of normalcy and happiness for her children Ryan and Molly. They’ve made a huge move into a house with a history she didn’t know. The house belongs to the family of the young girl who was murdered. Christine starts to suspect that the murderer wasn’t caught after all and he may be closer than anyone thought and she’ll do anything to protect her children. A solid three stars. #kristalreads

Thank you to #netgalley and #stormpublishing for an advanced copy.

This is my second experience with a book from Gregg Dunnett, and I have enjoyed both! This is book one of a new series, and I will be following the rest. The case was great, and Detective Sands has an interesting background and personality. Dunnett has earned a spot in my "auto request" club, and I can't wait to hear more from him!

Well, that was different. Initially this story had a tragic but intriguing start. A little girl is taken from her home and found dead, DC Erica Stone is on the case and quickly tries to gather the missing pieces to solve the violent crime. Despite her initial suspicion of the parents, clues lead her elsewhere and another tragic event. 6 months later Chrstine Harvey moves into the shared home from where the girl was murdered, as time unfolds, Christine starts to suspect maybe something more sinister is at work. How far will she go to protect her own 2 children....

My struggle with this book was the following 3 points:
1. The Characters
-Yes our lead girl DC Erica Stone is to harsh and cold for words. I know Dunnett is trying to write a "tough as nails" female cop, instead she comes off as down right rude. Case in point how she treats a rookie who wants to shadow her, and worst of all how undelicate she was with the Slaughter's relaying that their 8 year old daughter had been found raped and murdered. I don't care how "tough" of a cop you are, you don't handle situations like that. Her character doesn't change throughout the book, and so I never connected or honestly even cared for her.
-Christine Harvey I will not say much because I do not want to spoil anything, but Dunnett does the reader wrong in my opinion. He does not fully develop her character despite allowing the reader her POV. She suddenly transforms from a somewhat strong woman in part 2 to all the sudden acting a fool by part 4.

2.The Villan(s)
Again here Dunnett really does the reader wrong in my opinion. He pulls a literary trick here where I felt robbed and lied to. On top of that the whole believability of the situation in part is hard to grasp on to. 1/2 of it was clever and a good idea but the other part is hard to buy. The last 10% of the novel was extremely drawn out and agonizing as the the villian literally explains EVERYTHING and buys into being distracted. The Villian is in the middle of explaining their reasons for doing what they did and stops to google something....like really? I really hate when books do the whole "Dr Evil" in Austen Powers thing....explaining to their victim why, which just allows them to escape....it's not like this villian all the sudden grew a concience and became a softy.

3.The Gore
I do not like reading about kids being brutally murdered OR animals. I understand there are stories where children deaths are part of the plot, but I do not need details. I do not need graphics. The whole cat/little girl thing was just too much.

The writing was good enough and kept my attention, but like I said the characters were all unlikeable (Especially Mr Pink) the excessive gore. and over explanation at the end brought it down.
I will give Dunnett another go for sure, this one just was not for me.
Thank you Netgalley For this advanced audio recording of this book. I was not influenced or paid for this honest review.