There is a serial killer on the loose in a small coastal town in Maine. It starts with the body of a teenage boy found on a historical settlement reenactment site. Alex is the only detective in the small town and it’s his first murder case. His daughter, Sophie, is friends with the victim.

This was a slow paced police procedural murder mystery with an atmospheric small town vibe. I enjoyed the serial killer aspect and the writing was good. It is a little graphic but that doesn’t bother me personally. I didn’t like the clairvoyance aspect involved and that took away from the story for me. I also knew who the killer was pretty early so I didn’t get any surprise or twists. The mind of a serial killer is a crazy thing and learning the backstory and childhood events of this one was intriguing and I enjoyed that part of the story. I enjoyed this one but it wasn’t as good as I had hoped.

I really enjoyed this crime novel set in Maine. I still don’t know how I feel about the ending (the ending made this 4 stars instead of 5 for me), but this definitely kept me reading! I would recommend going in blind, so I don’t want to say too much, but the following two books are great comps for GRANITE HARBOR. So if you loved those, I highly recommend you try Granite Harbor!

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols offers a gripping portrayal of a small town rocked by a series of brutal murders. Set against the picturesque backdrop of coastal Maine, Nichols skillfully weaves together the narratives of Alex Brangwen, a detective grappling with personal and professional challenges, and Isabel, a single mother navigating her own struggles while being drawn into the investigation.

The novel excels in its atmospheric depiction of Granite Harbor, capturing the tight-knit community and the sense of unease that permeates the town in the wake of the murders. Nichols adeptly builds suspense as secrets unravel and tensions escalate, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout.

However, while Granite Harbor boasts strong character development and an intriguing plot, it occasionally falls into familiar tropes of the crime genre. The pacing can be uneven at times, with certain plot points feeling rushed or underdeveloped. Additionally, the resolution of the mystery may leave some readers wanting more complexity or depth.

Overall, Granite Harbor delivers a solid crime novel that will appeal to fans of small-town mysteries. Nichols' evocative prose and vivid setting make for an engaging read, even if the story treads familiar ground.

I've had a lot of firsts this year. First time reads that is. Another new to me author that I will be looking out for. This book was great.

This is a dark story but it has a lot of things that I didn't expect. From fear to laughter to holding my breath. Yes there is a serial killer out there murdering teen boys. Cutting them open. Yes the killer is evil to the core. Yes he went through a lot in his life. Not an excuse for what he is doing though. I have to admit that I laughed in parts in a scene close to the end. I could not help it and believe anyone reading will do the same. Though I felt bad for the woman and I kind of felt bad for the killer during that scene. It didn't last long though. The feeling bad for him. I also had the killer narrowed down to two people, him being one of them. I was right and it did not at all in anyway take away from the story.

This town is rocked by the murder of a teenage boy. A boy who wasn't even missed by his so called family. "Aw he's just staying with a friend." Yeah right. What mother does not know where her child is. Well obviously this one didn't. I did not like her at all. My heart broke for Shane. He did not deserve anything that happened to him. Most importantly being killed. He had a horrible life at, well I would not call it home, that house. He was well loved by his friends though.

When Shane's body was discovered the other teens in his life were scared. Who could have done such a horrid thing. Who might be next. Though they should maybe have taken it a bit more series. A killer was among them. When the next boy is murdered the two remaining, Ethan and Sohpie, are truly terrified. Ethan is convinced that he will be next. Sohpie's dad is a detective and her mother is a nut. She is still so afraid though. She and Ethan decide to stick together. To leave town and find a safe place but it's not meant to be....

This book is a story of such deep loss. You will see what makes a serial killer. Or at least this one. The depths a mother will go for her child. To keep that child protected. The people in the town of Granite Harbor, Maine are faced with something dark and sinister. Why is this happening in their small town. Who's child is next???

Thank you #NetGalley, #PeterNichols, #CeladonBooks, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

FIVE big stars and I highly recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley, Peter Nichols, and Celadon Books for this ebook! This was a serial killer gone wild book in the setting of Maine (Maine girl here). Some parts were really hard to read, not sure if there are trigger warnings but just be mindful! This story really delves into the many lives of those effected. A twisted web!

This was certainly a twisted little story.
It’s a bit gruesome in parts too. It does seem to start slow but picks up towards the last part of the book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

While the writing of this book was excellent, the plot was quite gruesome and veered into the horror genre for me at times. Had I known that ahead of time, I might have managed my expectations better. The violent, mystical nature of the murders coupled with the detailed descriptions of child abuse were too graphic for me. While I did enjoy the character development and the small town setting, everything was overshadowed by the fantastical/horrific elements of the crimes and killer’s past.

The first chapter had me really intrigued about where the story was going to go. I liked the dynamic between the boys and I thought the suspense from getting the killer's POV as he's trolling the streets was high. However, it went downhill from there. I found myself not to continue.
There were quite a few things that I had a hard time with in this book. There is some animal abuse that I definitely didn't feel necessary to be included, and for the most part, I felt like those characters were one-dimensional and very stereotypical. That wouldn't have bothered me if it were just one of the characters but I felt that way about every. single. one. These things made it very hard for me to get immersed in the story or really care about what was happening to the characters.

Thanks to Celadon Books for the gifted copy. All opinions above my own.

Small town Maine, a body is found at a reenactment site and the town detective has to solve his first murder. He is a single father, trying to balance his desire to be an author with need to provide for his daughter. Things get all tangled up when it turns out the boy went to school with his daughter and that the murder resembles a cold case.

This was a great police procedural where the characters were all really well fleshed out. I really liked the lead detective and the interwoven nature of a small town relationships. I always love to give us the killer’s POV, and this one was super creepy. I would have liked a little bit more about the settlement itself, it felt weird to have the story named after it and yet it didn’t play as much of a role as I had hoped. But that is a minor criticism. Definitely fell high on the unique story scale. I think this would make a good TV miniseries or movie.

Read this one if you liked The Chestnut Man.

Alright….I think perhaps I just may not be the right audience for this book, so either read other reviews or just dive right in and take the chance. That said…I would actually recommend skipping the synopsis if you can. I think you’ll have a better reading experience going in blind, as the synopsis is a tad misleading almost.

That said: there is a huge TW for animal harm/animal involvement. It is a very gory book overall (in the setting of murders, serial killings, psychological issues, grooming of a serial killer).

At its core this is a small town whodunnit. There is a lot interspersed with this (old romances, family dynamics, single parenthood, child protection, small town society, criminal investigation, serial killer insights, and so much more). I personally felt there were too many characters, oftentimes not adding much to the storyline or outcome other than to introduce other characters. At times this made things confusing, or added choppy transitions. I also felt that there was sometimes too much background information that became filler, and the book could have been more concise.

I did appreciate the intricacies of the story line, and appreciated how the author was able to make everything come together. I appreciated the themes of small town culture and parental protectiveness.

Thank you to Celadon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Granite Harbor is an unusual book. The premise is interesting but like a lot of other books: small town, missing teenagers, possible serial killer. Sounds good but nothing unique, nothing that grabs you . . . until you read a couple of chapters and realize you are already completely immersed. Author Peter Nichols fills this story with people surprisingly fascinating and different than expected, situations and events that you don’t see coming, and so many twists and turns and shocks that you won’t want to put it down until the mystery is solved, the killer is identified.

Alex Brangwen is one of those unexpectedly fascinating people. An Englishman who was a novelist when a whirlwind romance and marriage brought him to the United States and eventually to Granite Harbor. Things are a little different than those early days, though. Novelist: failed. Marriage: failed. Alex is now Granite Harbor’s sole detective. He shares a daughter, Sophie, with his ex. They get along well enough to co-parent, but once Morgana realized she wasn’t married to a soon-to-be-famous novelist she returned to her high society self without Alex. Loving Maine, never even considering leaving Sophie, Alex became a policeman and then a detective. He’s content – well, content enough anyway. And now it’s his job to solve this crime and make sure no more teenagers are taken and murdered.

Isabel Dorr is also a single parent, to son Ethan. Widowed eleven years ago, she’s still stuck in grief and losing her husband and Ethan’s father has been difficult on them both. Difficulties at work for Isabel, at school for Ethan. They’re making do, but barely. There was at one time a little spark, a barely started what-if relationship between Alex and Isabel but things got complicated and it ended.

Granite Harbor is so good, so compelling, that to say much more about the plot would introduce major spoilers. The Granite Harbor Living History Settlement as well as some rough, wooded country of Maine plays a major role – and some of the people, some of what goes on, is nothing short of weird. Once the killings start the story takes off and you just have to hang on. It’s one of those books so full of suspense your brain is churning, trying to figure out who the murderer is and how to prevent the next murder from happening. At the start, you can read a couple of chapters and put the book aside, but at some point your brain goes from merely churning to frantically churning. So many suspects to worry about. And even once you learn who the killer is, instead of calming down, your brain becomes even more frantic, because now you have to warn the potential next victims: Go! Run! Hide! What? What can you tell them? How can you tell them? Everything will be okay, though, won’t it? Your favorite characters will live happily ever after, won’t they? Well, maybe a little trauma, but they will be alive and breathing. Not dead. Or will they? And you absolutely cannot put this book down anymore.

The characters are so well drawn. Alex is complex, Isabel is heartbreaking, especially when she “sees” things that terrify her. Supporting cast is varied with a multitude of secrets. The words, the pace, the plot: excellent.

Thanks to Celadon Books for providing an advance copy of Granite Harbor via NetGalley. As always, I am proud and happy to be a Celadon Reader because their selection of books is the absolute best. Peter Nichols has written a suspenseful, startling, satisfying book that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

A serial killer is loose in a small coastal town in Maine. Young teenage boys are being hunted and Alex must find the killer before more children are harmed.

Super slow with lots of character POVs that could be confusing at times. Overall, enjoyed the story and how Peter Nichols described Maines coastal towns.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

GRANITE HARBOR by Peter Nichols is a race to the finish to find a serial killer in a small, bucolic, coastal town in Maine. Nothing ever happens here and people just seem to float through their day to day. Until….the body of a teenager is found with a very strange calling card.

When Shane’s body is found, there is talk about his friendships with other local teenagers. Sophie is the daughter of the only detective (Alex) in town. Ethan is the son of a single mother (Isabel) whose husband was lost at sea. The three of them were best friends since an early age. When another body is found on the grounds of The Settlement, an archaeological site that is the town’s largest employer, both Alex and Isabel worry about the safety of their children and also set out to find out who the killer is. But what of the former teacher who runs the apothecary at The Settlement? And why is Isabel having strange visions of animals? As both pairs complete different parts of the puzzle, no one sees the whole picture and ultimately, the teenagers put themselves in serious jeopardy.

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. I also learned quite a bit about the difference between frogs and toads. I mean, we read to learn things, right? The only reason I only gave 4 stars was because there were just too many characters to try to keep track of, which had me confused at points. But this is definitely worth the time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily..

Granite Harbor
Peter Nicols

I kept hearing that this book was dark and I thought I was ready for it but I was not. If you read this definitely check your trigger warnings. I admittedly was a bit lost in the beginning of this story only because there were so many characters being introduced at one time.

I love a good thriller especially when it involves a serial killer. There are just a few things that happen in this book that just tore my heart out and I’m still thinking about them. My overly empathetic self was dying a little inside when we learned the backstory of the serial killer. 😭 Thankfully the ending wrapped up the story in a way that gave me a little bit of peace.

Granite harbor is the story of a small town suddenly plagued with murder. Alex, A novelist turned police officer takes on the case-which could be his first major one as he has a personal connection to the victim, as his daughter is one of the victims best friends. Isabel, the mother of the victims other best friend, tries to help Alex as she fears her son may be the next victim. As Alex investigates, secrets from the town become to come to the light and he finds the current crime tied to mysteries from the past.

This book has more a supernatural and occult tinge to it than I originally thought by the synopsis and is not a straight mystery/thriller. As long as the reader knows that there are those elements going into, he or she should find the read enjoyable! It is paced well and atmospheric, but there were parts hard to read at times. The read is more 3.5 than 4 star.

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Could not read this book while being uncomfortable with the animal abuse this book has throughout it. Also very slow.

Granite Harbor, a small Maine town, is a place of peace and simplicity until the gruesome murder of a teenager. Peter Nichols’ dark thriller might be classified as horror. Although it was unnerving, I can honestly say that the narrative keeps the reader’s attention. The story follows the transformation of a violent serial killer. Once I was hooked, I had to stay and help detective Alex figure out who was carrying out these heinous acts. Keep the lights on when reading this one!

A dark thriller about a serial killer in Maine. Please don't read the official synopsis- something is described that doesn't happen until 3/4 of the way into the book.

This book will not be for everyone! Overall, I liked it. But the serial killer murders a 16-year old at the beginning which will be too much for some readers. Also, I could've done without the animal abuse. I think it was around chapter 34 (about 55% of the way in). It was too descriptive. It was very upsetting and I ended up skipping the entire chapter.

Other than that, it was good! It's dark but easy to binge. The final 25% flew by!

3.75 stars

"Granite Harbor" by Peter Nichols is a fast-paced, on-the-edge-of-your-seat police procedural/thriller. A fair warning: this book involves a serial killer who targets teenagers, and kills in a particularly gruesome, albeit creative, way. There is also some animal abuse. I was kept guessing all the way to the end, and there were several twists I didn't see coming. It is a creepy read and I found myself holding my breath at several moments. I really liked the main character, Detective Alex Brangwen, especially his backstory and how his character developed throughout the novel. I also enjoyed the chapters told through the eyes of the killer, even before his identity was revealed. Fans of police procedurals and thrillers will devour this book as I did and I can't wait to read more from author Peter Nichols.

A dark crime thriller set in a cold, seaside town in Maine. Peter Nichols’ Granite Harbor is not for the faint of heart, but fans of crime fiction and small towns will enjoy this atmospheric, gripping story.

Nichols is a talented writer—this book is extremely well-paced and expertly plotted. Crime fiction more than some other genres seems to have a high bar to clear in that regard, and Nichols kept up with other contemporary writers expertly. This is an engaging book that is quite dark (both the murders and other content). It has some disturbing content that I expect won’t work for some readers. For those used to the genre (and particularly Nordic Noir, which this actually reminded of), this is one to read.

The small town, coastal setting was one of the best parts of Granite Harbor. The sea isn’t necessarily a main part of the plot, but it’s also ever-present (and has some key roles). The sea can be such a mood and it definitely set the mood for this book. I also pictured every scene happening at dusk or after dark and also with a cold breeze. I have no idea if that was intended, but isn’t it a mark of a good book if we build out the scene in our minds?

The characters were well-developed and so were the relationships between them. The characters were what drew me into the story. This is a small community where most residents have lived their whole lives. There are stories that center around the teenage character as well as the adults, so I recommend early on making a note for yourself of which child belonged to which parents. It helped until I got the feel for everything, especially because this is a bit of a latchkey town where the parents don’t necessarily spend a lot of time with their kids.

There isn’t exactly a main character in this book because we hear from many different perspectives, but if I had to identify one, I’d say it’s our writer-turned-detective, Alex Brangwen. Alex is the only detective and he’s new to the town. But that doesn’t mean he lacks ties to the book. His daughter and his daughter’s mother live there (its what drew lex there), and there’s a compelling backstory that pulls through into this story that added an interesting layer to Alex and his family.

There’s also a part of the story that surrounds a place called the Settlement, which is an historic archeological site in town. Not only is that where the body is found (raising the question if its related), but one of our other central characters Isabel works there. Things with the Settlement will make more sense as the book goes on, so don’t worry if you’re confused at first with Isabel’s narrative.

One of the more interesting parts of the story are the chapters narrated by an unknown male who we know is the person who goes on to be the murderer. Those chapters actually don’t get into the current events until close to the end of the book. The majority of them tell the story of a boy who was relentlessly and cruelly bullied, abandoned, and isolated in many ways. It has the effect of making the reader feel mildly sympathetic, while also horrified at what he’s become.

Granite Harbor begs the question of how serial killers become who they are. Are they always born that way, or can life make them that way? Would this boy have still ended up on this past if his childhood had been different?

A dark and occasionally disturbing crime fiction novel with outstanding character development and compelling storytelling. Granite Harbor won’t be for every reader, but for those who like Nordic noir and crime fiction, this is for you.

Thank you to Celadon Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.