Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine #BookReview

We here at Sci Fi and Scary have followed along as Rachel Caine fought cancer time and time again. She was a great person and one that many people looked up to.  We hold her family and friends in our thoughts.

Gina Royal is the definition of average—a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor. The ultimate warrior mom.

With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace.

When she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake. Threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is certain: she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop.

Title: Stillhouse Lake | Author: Rachel Caine | Publisher: Thomas & Mercer| Pub. Date: 1 July 2017 | Pages: 286 | ISBN: 9781477848661 | Genre: Suspense | Language: English |  Source: Self-purchased | Starred Review

Stillhouse Lake Review

Sometimes my reading habits tend towards suspense and thrillers. I like the pacing and the different experience. Right now this series has become everything I needed in a year of feeling like I cannot get grounded. Sci Fi and Scary normally posts horror and sci-fi with the occasional dark fantasy, so I hope readers will indulge me in this brief departure.

I meant to start this series months ago. I follow Rachel Caine on Twitter, and while I hadn’t read any of her books, I really enjoyed connecting with her in that way. While looking for a way to help her family, I bought the first book and then quickly grabbed the rest. I decided to start the series in the hopes that it would kickstart my reading habits, and boy did it work. I blazed through the first two books and am currently finishing the third.

Stillhouse Lake is the first book in the series. I expected a little bit of “bingeability” but I was not prepared for how fast I devoured it. Caine has crafted characters and a plot that kept me flipping those pages in earnest, neglecting all else so I could finish just one more chapter. This idea that a woman could be married to a serial killer is fascinating, but I like that Caine focuses in on the aftermath. What might happen to someone like this? How would life ever be the same, especially in this world of social media and keyboard warriors?

Gwen (Gina) Proctor and the relationship she shares with her children is set up very well. The combination of accessible writing, buzzing action, and the fact that I related on a mom level, really sucked me in. Many readers will be able to do the same and Caine is certainly adept when it comes to keeping things fresh and engaging.

Finding a good book series to get lost in is difficult. Especially in this year of “what is going on?” If I were a librarian or a book seller, this would definitely be a suspense series to highlight. I may even buy copies for several of my family members. Recommended for readers who enjoy quick reads, suspense, family relationships, and just a touch of real life horror.

  You can find this book at many retailers via clicking on the appropriate link on Goodreads. In the spirit of supporting literacy programs, we would like to point out that you may be able to find it through BetterWorldBooks.