I loved the Maine setting - very atmospheric.

It was darker than expected, which is fine by me. I felt like some of the rationale and story behind the serial killer lost me, but it was okay overall.

I think it was also a timing issue / if I read this at a different time, I probably would’ve enjoyed this more.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols. I read The Rocks by him, which is what prompted me to request this book. This story begins with Alex who is a new detective, who has been somewhat down on his luck. Soon a teenager is found murdered and Alex is set to figure out who did it. Along with Alex, a woman named Isabel is introduced. Her son and Alex’s daughter were friends with the victim. Not too long after the first murder, a second body is found and Alex and Isabel start to fear and wonder who’s next. This was a pretty evenly paced read, but at times it felt a little flat. Overall I did enjoy reading it.

While I appreciate the premise of this book it just did not resonate with me. I really wanted to love it and I did enjoy the suspense throughout the story I just feel like the characters weren’t likable and the plot was a little loose.

Peter Nichols' "Granite Harbor" is a gripping thriller that captivates readers from the very first page. Nichols masterfully combines his literary prowess with the suspense of a murder mystery, delivering a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

The novel begins with an eerie scene that sets the tone for the rest of the book, as three teenage boys skateboard through the quiet streets of Granite Harbor, unaware of the lurking danger. The depiction of a serial killer's disturbing thoughts adds a chilling layer to the narrative, making it clear that this is not just a simple whodunit, but a deep dive into the psyche of a murderer.

At the heart of the story is Detective Alex Brangwen, a former novelist whose life has taken a dramatic turn. Nichols skillfully develops Brangwen's character, portraying his transition from a successful writer to a police detective in a small Maine town. The backstory of Alex's move to Maine, driven by his now-estranged wife, adds a personal dimension to the plot, making his character relatable and multifaceted. The local police chief, Belinda “Billie” Raintree, sees potential in Alex’s investigative skills, believing his literary background equips him with a unique perspective on crime-solving.

The novel's setting in Granite Harbor is richly described, with the small-town atmosphere playing a significant role in the story. The local archaeological site, the Settlement, serves as a haunting backdrop for the murder investigation, intertwining the town's history with its present-day horrors. As the plot unfolds, Nichols delves into the lives of the town's residents, creating a well-developed ensemble cast that adds depth to the narrative. The tension escalates as Alex's daughter, Sophie, and her friends become targets, intensifying the stakes and driving the story to its thrilling conclusion.

Granite Harbor is a well-written, character-driven novel that seamlessly blends the charm of small-town New England with the suspense of a psychological thriller, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

Tnis one was way too slow and I had to fight for it to hold my attention. I need a thriller/mystery to have some good pacing; if it can't hold my attention throughout, it's not going to work for me! Also, animal cruelty is a surefire way for me to hate a book!

It never ceases to amaze me how writers come up with different ways to kill people. This book is no exception. There were a few faces made (eewwww, gross) but that is what is expected. The story is good. It kept me connected from start to finish.

Would recommend for fans of…
🕵🏻‍♀️ Mare of Easttown
🕵🏻‍♀️ Tana French
🕵🏻‍♀️ Hannah Morrissey

Granite Harbor has an interesting and gritty premise that initially hooked me, but as the story progressed, I quickly realized this book was a miss as there were a few big things that ultimately didn’t work for me:

– It’s a mystery that spends a lot of time focused on the people within the community and their relationships with one another. That might be a great thing for people who love character-driven stories, but I needed a little bit more of the investigation
– The mystery itself was pretty underwhelming, especially at the conclusion
– This book deals with some heavy and dark subject matter (specifically around animal cruelty), which made it difficult to read. Use caution and check out content warnings.
– I read a good portion of this book via audio and if you’re able to read a print or Kindle copy, I’d suggest doing that instead. The way the male narrator voiced the female characters gave me the ick in a major way, and I don’t want anyone else to be subjected to that. 😝

Granite Harbor is out now. Thanks to Celadon and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. It had a good mystery to solve, with interesting extra information mixed in.
The characters were likeable and the plot was well articulated.
I did figure out who the killer was pretty early in the book, but will still give it a 4 star overall, because of how much I liked it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

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.

An excellent well-crafted thriller set in a sleepy community, Peter Nichols has created a story you won't readily leave behind - even if you'd prefer to...

Granite Harbor tells the story of Alex, a novelist and detective, trying to solve the murder of a teenage boy in his town. When the boys friends start going missing, can he stop them in time?

The character of Alex was fun to follow and read. The mystery elements were really good and the modern day/ colonial setting elements really added to it. The serial killer MO were extremely original and very good. I loved the use of dual POV's to highlight the killers origin story. You really got to have an understanding of how he got there. The thing that makes this mystery stand out among the rest is the empathy that you feel throughout. The emphasis on motherhood and the loss of your child really sat heavy with me in a way I wasn't expecting. The only reason this isn't a five star read for me is because I guessed who did it. That's it. Everything else was top notch. Cannot wait to read more from this author!

Peter Nichols' latest book is Granite Harbor.

The cover appealed to me - the lone figure on the somewhat iffy jetty. For me that man is Alex. This is his first murder case as both a parent and detective. This is also frightening to Isabel - a single mother to Ethan.

I liked how Nichols unfolded his plotting. Each character has a voice, their thoughts explored, and the possibility of what they might know, hold back or/and more. This includes the killer. Definitely unsettling...

The social fabric of Granite Harbor is also explored from all ages. Don't be overwhelmed by the wealth of details. Around the halfway point things get grisly. I quite liked the slow burn of this one

Very well written and intriguing. I enjoyed the plot of the book as well as the ending. I will be recommending this book to others.

In the quiet town of Granite Harbor, crime is always been at a minimum/much of the community knowing each other well. Then the unthinkable happens and a teenage boy is brutally murdered in a very specific manner. The town rocked by this event, they are fearful that it’s also not an isolated incident.

The story focuses on different residents of the town-how they know each other and how they react to what’s going on. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but once their personalities and connections are established, it becomes far easier to become immersed in the mystery.

Just as the town tries to connect the dots of the first murder, another boy is killed. With time running out and few leads to go on, it’s up to everyone to put the pieces together before-it’s too late.

Granite Harbor is a slow moving mystery that takes a minute to get going. Once it did, however, I found myself hooked-eager to find out what happens next. After the initial sluggish start, it was a quick read, and one that I could easily see being turned into a movie or miniseries with all of its complex characters and their convoluted back stories.

An interesting mystery - a high school student is found brutally murdered and Alex is tasked with finding the killer in his small Maine town. The method of the victim’s death was unique and overall it was a good mystery.

I would have liked the killer’s backstory to have come out a little more - Alex kind of falls into who the killer is, but in the end no one really pieces the entire story together. We, as readers, can see it, but I found it curious that it never plays out with the characters.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy to include this title in “Cool It,” a recent round-up highlighting notable new mysteries and thrillers in the Books section of Canadian national culture and lifestyle magazine Zoomer. (see column and mini-review at link)

This book started out as a slow burn, but quickly picked up pace. It is a dark thriller/serial killer/detective novel. I loved the setting of Maine and I really liked what I consider to be the two main characters. Alex is a detective in the small town. Isabel is one of the mothers of the teens who are the focus of this book. The chapters from the killer’s point of view were so devious and disturbing. It kind of reminded me of a Peter Swanson story. I could see this becoming a series and I would definitely welcome that. This is a somewhat troubling story so check trigger warnings. I cannot wait for more books by this author. Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was immediately disturbing. Very graphic descriptions of the gross stuff if that's not your thing and also descriptions of incest so fair warning. Despite that it was a great story.

The sysopsis gives away a huge part of the story that doesn’t even happen until the last third of the book.

Don’t read the synopsis and then expect that story.

The murder of the teens in Granite Harbor was definitely predictable but it was still an enjoyable read.

I read a lot of crime novels but this one was too much for me and after looking at reviews I saw it would stay that way so decided to DNF. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook.

This was very good! My first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I thought I knew the killer twice but the red herrings and twists kept me guessing. What more can you ask for in a mystery than well earned surprise?