Boney Creek
Paula Gleeson
06/03/2025
Thomas & Mercer

After reading Paula Gleeson’s Original Twin, I knew from then on that whatever she writes I would read. As soon as Boney Creek became available I knew I had to have it. This will make the perfect summer thriller read!
Right from the first page, I was completely hooked as Addie drives into the eerie, almost nonexistent town of Boney Creek. This town is shrouded in mystery and plagued by a series of unsolved deaths. And as we all know, there’s no such thing as coincidence, right?
The town itself is more than just a backdrop—it’s almost like a character in its own right. There’s an unsettling, almost tangible sense of dread that lingers as you navigate its eerie streets. And then there are the townspeople, quirky and fascinating in their own peculiar ways. As I read, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was... off, like a sense of tension that constantly builds, never quite letting you relax.
This story is fast-paced and completely immersive, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Secrets unfold at every corner, and just when you think you have things figured out, the narrative takes a turn that leaves you reeling.

Boney Creek is a small town thriller with many dark secrets. From the start it had my attention and I was hooked on the storyline. It was intriguing and kept me flipping the pages to figure out what was happening, who was lying, what was real and what wasn't. The pacing was good throughout keeping me on my toes until the end. It was definitely a quick and easy read.

The characters were pretty much all unreliable, I didn't trust anyone. I enjoyed how the author made the past and present merge together. My only thing is that I have many unresolved questions with the ending, so that did leave me a little underwhelmed. I still did enjoy trying to uncover the mystery and secrets of this town with our narrator.

Overall, this was a fun and twisty small town thriller. Easy to read with a good pacing. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, @thrillerbookloversthepulse & @paulagleeson for my gifted ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Boney Creek is a great mystery that packs layers and layers of intrigue, local town history, and family secrets. Addie was a complex character and strong protagonist. She is trying so hard to fit into a new town, fuel her passion and ambition, and feel like she's succeeding. At times, I felt frustrated with her impatience -- things seemed to move pretty fast for unearthing a complex and multi-generational mystery! But overall, it was fun solving the mystery with her and gaining insight into the town's history and lore.

I really liked that I couldn't quite pinpoint if the deaths in Boney Creek were connected or purely accidental and coincidental. I had a hard time trusting anyone in the town and seemed to suspect everyone at one point or another.

Boney Creek evolved into a two-for-one mystery which I'm always here for. I liked that the past and present converged and that there was more to Boney Creek than met the eye.

This is a quick read and I had fun being an amateur sleuth alongside Addie. The Pulse has been thoroughly enjoying being armchair detectives and if that's your speed, I highly recommend!