I DNF at the 50% mark. I really enjoyed Part 1 of this book; however, Part 2 took such a different turn and perspective. I just did not enjoy reading the POV of Part 2 or care. If the book would have continued in the same vein as Part 1 I probably would have finished this book, but the dramatic change just did not work for me and I did not care about continuing.

Gregg Dunnett’s whodunit is a masterpiece of a psychological thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.

In this first book of the Detective Erica Sands series, Dunnett introduces us to Christine, a widowed mother of 2 children, trying to find their way in the world, after her doctor husband succumbed to Covid-19, quickly and unexpectedly. She moves her family to a quaint seaside village, not knowing the history of the place that she’s chosen to start over again.

Unfortunately for everyone in her life, history doesn’t seem to be content with staying buried in the past. Soon, Christine is looking for anyone to believe her and help her and her children survive the crazy things that start happening.

This story had so many layers and plot twists, that I suspected everyone. It’s a great listen/read, and you need to grab it to see if you can figure it out before the end.

I can’t wait to read more of this series!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC.

The Cove by Gregg Dunnet was complicated... Narrator Jan Cramer did a fantastic job.
The book started like an intense detective story, then part 2 come around and I felt like what the hell is going on? I could not understand how both stories could be related. But then things land in place and a complicated puzzle gets together is one crazy story!
All the way through you are questioning who did what? Who is responsible for what? Whatever you thought you knew, you are wrong! The author twisted this story really cleverly! The perfect first book of the DCI Stone series!
Thanks, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media to let me enjoy this audiobook ❤️

The first in a new series

DCI Erica Sands is investigating the brutal murder of a child. Things progress quickly, DNA identifies someone, and the suspect runs. There is a standoff with the police, where several people end up dead and/or injured.
Six months later, Christine Harvey moves her family to the seaside. Once they move in, she finds out that a girl was taken from the house next door and murdered. She has her own young daughter. She begins the think that the police got it wrong. Strange things keep happening.

I didn't connect with this one. I did not like any of the characters. I also hate how the book was organized (we have a big event, then completely switch gears in a part 2 with no resolution to part 1's cliff hanger. At least not for a while) The overall concept/plot was fine- I just didn't like how it progressed.

Jan Cramer narrates the audiobook. No complaints.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Cove
An absolutely gripping thriller that will have you hooked
by Gregg Dunnett
Narrated by Jan Cramer

I received an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this audiobook through Netgalley.

This seemed like a thriller with an obvious plot, but stick with it - because there are twists.

I am still shaking from the aftershocks of the big twist. The plot twists are as good as those of Agatha Christie novels.

This story begins with the discovery of a murdered child and then develops into an investigation into the murderer. Then it pivots to a family moving in next door to the family of the murder victim.

The family of the murder victim, the new next door neighbors, and the detective investigating the crime are the main characters in this thriller.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of suspense and thrillers, especially cop dramas.

Everything about this audiobook was expertly done - both the writing and the narrating. I would definitely listen to more books with the two of them involved

The Cove by Gregg Dunnett
Narrated by Jan Cramer

I really like the character of Detective Erica Stone. She comes off as rude, abrasive, impatient, although she really can be compassionate and understanding in the right circumstances. She's had to battle against the men she works with and she has a horrendous family past with a dad who is in prison for mass murder. She has a demon and that demon is still alive, haunting her in ways that will haunt her for the rest of her life.

The day after we meet Erica she is assigned the case that involves the grisly murder of an eight year old girl. She's being shadowed by a young detective who Erica met the night before and Erica would have liked to have been forgotten by this young detective but instead is going to be working with him. No wonder Erica is grumpy, life does not go her way at all.

What proceeds next means a really bad day, week, six months for Erica. We don't see her for a while as we spend time with a mother and her two children who move into one side of the murdered girl's home. This mother, who has just lost her husband, is a frantic personality and she makes some appalling decisions from the little I know about her. Eventually Erica is back on the scene and that's a good thing for the story.

I think I'd rate this story a 4 IF I'd read it. But despite the narrator being good overall, the narration is so overacted during critical scenes, especially when it comes to the detective that shadows Erica, the mother, the evil person, and Erica's boss, that it brought the book down for me. This story is so violent, gory, and graphic and the characters say such outrageous things that I think this story demands very subtle narration. As it was I could imagine bad/crazy people sending spit flying as they spewed their lines, maybe twirling mustaches even if they are too young to grow them. I know my imagination would not have these people being so over the top expressive if I just read the words.

Be aware that this story contains animal abuse, child abuse, people abuse. This is not a kind and gentle story. I do think I want to follow Erica Stone into the second book, knowing that it deals with serial killers but the subject matter is a tough one to read/hear.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for this digital free ARC. I enjoy psychological thrillers tremendously and this one is lives up to the mark. It was so true when the pandemic hit, and these facts were all too real. What a perfect time to get away with murder! I highly recommend this book to all thriller readers. Especially those who love stories with twists! The narrator Jan Cramer was spot on, and I enjoyed listening to this ARC immensely. Plus, the cover is just perfect!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Really great audiobook. Enjoyed listening to it and the narrator was great.
This story kept me interested and waiting to see what would happen next. Definitely has promise to become the first book of a new detective series.
Great job by the author and also by the narrator as well.

4.25⭐️

The Cove is a perfectly-paced first chapter in what looks to be a promising new detective series featuring DCI Erica Stone, a skilled officer haunted by her own ghosts, navigating recovering from injury right at the start of the global pandemic. She gets pulled back into a case that proves much more complex than at first glance.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing right up until the very end- and rooting for Stone all the while.

Jan Cramer did a perfect job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Gregg Dunnett, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Christine and her children go from the frying pan into the fire when she purchases a new house. The cliff-top home is supposed to be a place where Christine and her children can start afresh and try to get over the loss of their husband and father respectively. It isn’t until the little family has moved into their new home that Christine learns that they’re living next door to a house where a child was kidnapped and murdered. To make matters worse, the main suspect, the child’s father still lives there. This is a deliciously creepy read great for an afternoon on the beach

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio ARC. This book was not what I expected going into this and was GREAT. The twists and turns were unpredictable, and I absolutely loved DCI Stone. A must add to your TBR!

This my 1st book by Gregg Dunnett but it will most certainly not be my last! I am adding all of his backlog of books to my TBR! This was a wild ride from the beginning and I was here for it! I absolutely didn't see the twist coming at the end, and I love that! I can't wait for the next in the Erica Stone series!

#TheCove
#NetGalley

Highly recommend this one on audio! The narrater has an accent that helps create an atmsophere to the. book and give a better geographic idea of where the story takes place. When you first start this book you are unsure where it is located and having an audio helps locate where the story takes place. The narration also adds to the pace of the story in a way that makes you want to keep reading.

A gripping thriller that weaves in the action of crime dramas, this book made me feel like I was reading the book equivalent to Criminal Minds! The action-packed sequences and the exploration of the killer's dark deeds make for an intense reading experience. Dunnett's writing successfully captures the essence of a crime drama, allowing readers to vividly imagine the action shots and immerse themselves in the gritty details of the murders. The suspense and intrigue keep the pages turning and made it almost impossible to put down and go to bed.

However, while "The Cove" excels in its thrilling atmosphere, there are some areas that could have been further developed. The author places significant emphasis on particular characters, creating an expectation of their significance to the plot. Unfortunately, these characters do not end up being as significant as the author sets them up to be. Then the characters that do matter do not get the depth and attention they deserve, leaving the reader wanting more. This discrepancy in character development and focus on extraneous details ultimately leaves some aspects of the story feeling unresolved and lacking depth.

Nevertheless, "The Cove" remains a compelling read, providing a thrilling experience for fans of crime fiction. The immersive nature of the narrative and the exploration of the killer's actions make it an engaging and suspenseful journey. I would recommend this to my audience of thriller lovers, and I think it is a great introduction to a series.

I would like to thank the publisher for an advance listening copy

REVIEWS OF "THE COVE" ON OTHER PLATFORMS
**links will be updated as posted