The story is told from multiple POVs including a group of teenage friends, their parents, and a ritualistic killer. The plotting is dark, suspenseful, intriguing, and full of red herrings which I devoured. The details of the murders are dark and disturbing and there is some animal cruelty in this book, so be aware of the triggers before reading.

In this excellent thriller/mystery, a serial killer is stalking teenage boys in a quaint coastal Maine town. His signature style of killing is grisly and unique, which enables the FBI to establish a pattern. Alex is the town's only detective, and he doesn't have much experience, but he is under pressure both professionally and personally -- his daughter's friends are targets, and possible his daughter is a target as well. Tense and well-plotted, this will appeal to so many thriller readers.

There are some minor spoilers ahead, only because I have no idea how to describe my disappointment about certain elements.

Granite Harbor is a dark story of a serial killer stalking teen boys in the titular small Maine town. Alex is the police detective on the case, accompanied by the eccentric Isabel, whose own son may be caught in the killer's sights.

Let me say this: there are some things I wish I could unread in this book. I've read across a variety of genres, including thrillers and horror and can handle most things. But sometimes, like in this story, it feels like the author is trolling--in a what-can-I-write-on-the-page-before-the-reader-tosses-my-book-in-disgust kind of way.

Beloved Jurassic Park character Ian Malcolm said it best: "your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should." Indeed, Mr. Malcolm, some things are better left to the imagination.

Other reviews have mentioned the horrific instance of animal cruelty that made them stop reading. But before you get to that part, you have to read some pretty horrific child abuse, including--did I read that right(??)--a 14-year-old "doing sex" with a 9-year-old? Sorry, but I'm not getting paid for this, so I'm not going to re-read any of it.

But moving away from the stomach turning scenes, the story moves along fine, but the pacing at times felt off. There were many "filler" scenes that seemed unnecessary to the plot--backstory of side characters, for example, that I skimmed right over. This includes the present/flashback narrative early on of Alex and his daughter that slowed the immediacy. And the setting was fine, but nothing felt scary, even though there's a creep slicing up teen boys on the loose.

As for the characters, well, they felt a bit flat to me, and many times were unbelievable. Alex is the worst cop--he barely seems to know how to use his gun or technology so I'm shocked that he was promoted to detective. Morgana was obnoxious, the side characters unmemorable. The killer, while his motivations were believable and his backstory made his personality understandable, was kind of a letdown. And the teenagers? Mostly contemptible. I could not even believe Sohphia (Sophie? I can't even remember) had the gall to chastise her mother for tracking her phone. I would have shipped her butt off to that school in Texas. That tracking saved your life, you ungrateful little brat.

All in all, I'm sure this book will find an audience, and it's saying something that I didn't stop reading, because I was truly interested in how everything would turn out. But I wouldn't recommend it--I'd be too afraid of how I'd be judged. And quite frankly, there were just too many parts that made me wish I never picked it up.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an early copy of those book to read and review through NetGalley.

Thank you to the publisher, Celadon Books @celadonbooks, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Granite Harbor is a quiet and serene town, until a local teenager is found brutally murdered.

Alex is adjusting to life as a single father and is the towns sole detective. Alex knows the people of the town are looking to him to solve the murder.

Isabel is a single mother attempting to support her family. She finds herself immersed in the case because her son Ethan, and Alex’s daughter, Sophie, were best friends with the victim. They both are fighting to find the killer in their midst. When secrets are revealed, can they keep their tight-knit community, that way?

This was a dark and immersive read. I struggled to get into this one as the pacing was on the slower side and there are lots of characters to get to know, so I did have a hard time. After about the halfway mark, things clicked, the pacing picked up, and I really started getting into the story. I enjoyed that we got the killers perspective, without knowing who the killer was, which was an added perk. With plenty of characters, there are some I liked and some I really didn’t like at all, but they were all thought out and developed. I also enjoyed the look into the relationships between teens and their parents, it was well done. This book was a little gory at times, but I didn’t find it off putting, it was well done and flowed nicely with the story. It was vivid and I easily pictured it, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing, but the writing was wonderful. I think the author did a great job with the complex characters in the story, and the reveal was fun.

If you are looking for a character driven, atmospheric mystery, then check this one out.

Once teen Shane is found brutally murdered at an archaeological site in a small town of Maine, single father and former writer turned detective, Alex Brangwen, is called to investigate his first murder case. Isabel, single mother, finds herself in the middle of the case when she begins working at the location where the body was found. Alex’s daughter and Isabel’s son were best friends with the deceased teen, so when another teen is found murdered in the same gruesome fashion, both Alex and Isabel are terrified their children are next.

A dark and disturbing serial killer thriller that takes place in a small town? Yes please! The small town setting and dynamics were creatively captured within a dark and atmospheric vibe and the characters were well developed. I personally loved the flashbacks to the killer’s childhood, which gave me more of an understanding of the killer and how he was molded into this monster without knowing his identity. While I was able to determine who the killer was pretty early on, I still enjoyed learning about the killer’s MO, the suspenseful build-up, and twists and turns throughout.
If you are a fan of the show Criminal Minds, I definitely recommend picking this up!


Thank you Celadon Books for a #gifted copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This upcoming new release is one of the darkest and most captivating crime novels this year. Although set in Maine, the style of this novel closely resembles my favorite Nordic Noir - think The Chestnut Man and Lars Kepler novels. What looks like a ritualistic killing of one of the local teen turns into a nightmare when another boy is found dead. Town's only detective is now on a hunt for a serial killer.

This deeply atmospheric read really chills you to the bone. From page one, you get a true horror movie vibe: a psycho following and hunting down teenagers. The author did such a great job creating the unsettling, eerie feeling of the empty streets at night.

The side story of single parents raising their teens in the town of Granite Harbor is emotional and grim. Their struggles, worries and horrors they are thrown into while the killer is on the lose are real and deeply felt. I really enjoyed the psychological aspect of this novel. The dual timeline tells the story in present time and gives a glimpse into the killer's early life and childhood trauma. As the past slowly revealed, you are able to put two and two together. It's a surprising twist and the race against time begins.

Overall, this was an excellent thriller, propulsive and intriguing. Be ready for some dark and disturbing parts. Plenty of spine-tingling suspense and tension building till the very end.

This is a suspenseful crime mystery thriller about a serial killer in a small town in rural Maine. The detective investigating the case is new and this is his first murder. He is feeling tremendous pressure to solve the case but the small community has their secrets and he is finding it hard to get information. It’s a dark grisly atmospheric read that’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!!

It took me a while to get into this book. I was about half way through before it really grabbed a hold of me. I did really enjoy the rest of the book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Was ok. Not my favorite but I did enjoy the setting. Definitely some dark plot points. Thank you NetGalley for this arc

GRANITE HARBOR by Peter Nichols review!

Thank you to @celadonbooks for my early copy on NetGalley! When I read the blurb in the email that this is a crime fiction/serial killer story taking place in Maine, I knew I would be reading this ASAP! I’m giving this one 4 ⭐️

Maine (my favorite state) 🤝 serial killer crime fiction. Alex is a Maine transplant from the UK, single dad, failed author, and idyllic Granite Harbor’s new detective. For his first case, he’s faced with a brutally murdered teen found at the small town’s historic archeological site. Alex knows that the tight-knit community in which everyone thinks they know each other, is looking to him to find the killer amongst them.

This started off a bit slow for me, but I quickly became wrapped up in the characters, the setting, the writing, and the overall creepiness of small town murder hysteria. There were some genuinely dark moments that I didn’t expect, but very much appreciated. If you enjoyed Tana French’s IN THE WOODS, THE CHESTNUT MAN by Søren Sveistrup, and TRUE DETECTIVE, you’ll enjoy this one! Available 4/30!

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the copy of Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols. I loved the story and I liked the quirky characters. Unfortunately, the writing was choppy, and a couple of times I would have to reread a sentence because the sentence structure was awkward. I didn’t enjoy the animal cruelty or the racist remarks one character made, so those were almost DNF triggers for me. You should read this if you want a great story and enjoy a large cast of interesting characters, you will love this book.

There's a serial killer on the loose in this murder mystery thriller. Peter Nichols' Granite Harbor engages readers with his strong and relatable characters and suspenseful plot.

Not much happens in the small coastal town of Granite Harbor until the sudden, unexpected murders of two teenage boys. Investigator Alex Brangwen becomes very alarmed since his daughter Sophie is friends with these boys, and it's his first murder case. Teens are true to form in this novel, unaware of the killer's motive or the dangerous situation. Many characters' backstories, even the killer, are revealed as readers try to determine who the murderer is. But the story ramps up as the identity is revealed, and it's a race to find this nut job before they kill again.

My favorite character is Isabel, an empath, mother, and widow who has witnessed tough times—the loss of her husband at sea, her job, and her reputation. Determined and forgiving, she forges ahead and is critical to tracking down the killer. Granite Harbor describes how a small town deals with a major disruption that almost destroys it. Peter Nichols’ pacing and characterization make this an intriguing novel. I thank NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it. #NetGalley #Granite Harbor #thriller #murdermystery

I have been provided with a review copy of Granite Harbor from NetGalley for an impartial review. I just really enjoyed this story and I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. Granite Harbor is a cut above some of the other books in the suspense/drama genre. Set in a small town in Maine, Alex is a detective with local law enforcement when a local teen is found murdered.. Alex is divorced with a teenaged daughter and his ex-wife is close by. No one can imagine who would be stalking or murdering in this close knit community and suspicions and circumstantial evidence lead to wrong conclusions. Peter Nichols' writing style reminded me of some of Dennis Lehane's books. Its not like the plethora of suspense/thriller novels in which the plots go over the top. Its grounded in real characters with flaws, doing their best while protecting those they love.

I unfortunately will not be able to give an honest review of this book. I stopped reading because of a scene that I wish I’d known was part of the book. I do appreciate the ARC but I just can’t read it.

Born and raised on Maine's Midcoast, this book spoke to me in ways no other book set in Maine ever has. I could literally envision the scenes playing out, considering this is my home. For that reason alone, I immensely enjoyed this book. When you add the descriptive writing and the gruesome and eerie plot, it was a total recipe for success.

A brutal murder of a teenage boy in a quiet coastal town has everyone on edge. Alex, Granite Harbor's singular detective has his work cut out for him in regards to this case, especially considering his daughter, Sophie is one of the victim's closest friends. Sophie and their other bestie, Ethan refuse to simply let the town forget about their friend. When another body is found brutalized in the same way as before, it looks like they have a serial killer on their hands...

This is told in one of my favorite ways. We have the two protagonists we are following, Alex and Isabel (Ethan's mother), and then we get the insights into the unknown killer. The point of view of the killer is always my favorite because you get the completely opposite dynamic between killer and victim than you do with anyone else.

I absolutely loved this book. I wanted to really take my time with it, but I couldn't help flying through it. It was grisly and fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols.

I was not the reader for Granite Harbor, but there will be plenty that absolutely love it. It's very dark, sinister, creepy, and suspenseful. This could easily be made into a movie or TV series that would be very popular. If you enjoy stories that make you slightly uncomfortable, or are a binger of true crime documentaries, this is probably the book for you.

Honestly, the storyline of this book is really good, but I am so disappointed with the execution. I skimmed through the majority of this book because there were so many unnecessary fillers in this book and a few unnecessary background information about the characters.

When I started reading, I was so confused as to what was going on. It felt disorganized and I hated how the chapters didn’t feel connected to each other. Alex is the MMC in this story, but it didn’t feel like that. I expected so much from his character, but it was underdelivered. And this is my personal opinion, I wish Alex’s POV was in first person because that would have been much better to read.

As for the story, I was not happy with it. Most of the time, I was confused as to what was happening and I got through this book quickly because it had a good pace. And the ending has left me unsatisfied.

As I mentioned, this storyline is really good, and it can become a hit if the execution is excellent.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Granite Harbor is a STUNNER of a psychological thriller, one that could easily make a blockbuster film.

Peter Nicols does a wonderful job portraying complex characters in a tourist town where people come to visit a simpler time. However, in this family community someone is picking off the best and brightest teenagers, a close band of friends, one-by-one. This serial killer has a unique signature that is the stuff of which nightmares are made.

A stunner of a thriller set in a sleepy community, Peter Nichols has created a story you won't readily leave behind - even if you'd prefer to...

I enjoyed this unsettling thriller I did predict a few twists early on but it was engaging. It was a violent and creepy serial killer story that kept me reading the whole book in one setting. The characters were believable and the setting and mood were creepy. This is a strong 4 Star novel.