This was honestly just the perfect book for me to read this week. A good thriller never goes astray and it has been a while. And even better, it's a standalone so there's no major backstory or foreshadowing of future events (even if there is apparently a sequel).

Most summers Silver Creek is a vacation getaway. Lots of tourists come in, money is made, and all is happy. However over the past month a serial killer has been leaving bodies next to the lake and there are no clues to the murder weapon let alone who it is.

Police Chief Nathan Sommers is trying his best to find the killer before another body is discovered. He's getting pressure from a local reporter the ex-boyfriend of his former wife who gave her photographic evidence of Nathan's infidelity at the time which led to her dying in a car accident after she ran out of the house. Yeah they get on real well.. The mayor his ex-father in law is concerned about his re-election later in the year and is saying that Nathan has 'lost his urge'. On top of this Nathan is dealing with personal problems due to him starting to fall in love with the new baker in town while he still hasn't come to terms with the death of his pregnant wife

I liked that the murder investigation wasn't the only thing which the police concentrated on during the course of this book. At various times they had to deal with unpaid parking tickets, domestic arguments, bar fights, planning for Fourth of July celebrations, and strangers in the neighbourhood. Crime as a whole didn't stop while they investigated and that felt realistic to me (it bugs me that some thrillers have the police able to devote every single minute to chasing the killer - not realistic in a small town).

There was a romantic thread weaving through this (between Nathan and Katie) but we also heard events from other characters POV (Jack one of the deputies) which rounded this out. Things didn't proceed smoothly at all.

I didn't suspect who the 'monster' was but it didn't feel as though it had been 'sprung' on the reader. There were even clues dropped (when considered in hindsight). The ending was unexpected but it felt right.

A definite worthwhile read and I'll be looking out for this author's work to read again. ( )

The Monster of Silver Creek. Belinda G. Buchanan. 2011. I was reading this Kindle download at the gym the same time I was reading Love in the Ruins. It was sort of like going from National Review or First Things to People Magazine! A serial murderer is killing young women in a resort town. The sheriff who his fighting his own guilt battle over the death of his wife, must find the killer, appease the mayor who is the father of his dead wife, and save the new woman with whom he is falling in love. It was all predictable except the ending which was a real shocker, but even that is not enough to make me want to read the sequel. ( )

I read Monster of Silver Creek straight through, finishing at 3 am. It was such a riveting story there was no way I was going to sleep if I put it down, and I'm glad I made that choice. I absolutely did not anticipate the ending, and it came as quite a shock. Author Buchanan is a master at creating unforgettable characters and her descriptions are so vivid, I felt I was in Silver Creek. The murderer was revealed in a surprising manner and while I can often figure out who did it, I was blindsided here – the writing was that good. No matter the story, in my opinion a book is always a bit better if it includes a cat, and Lance the cat becomes a part of this story. I'm eager to discover what Tragedy at Silver Creek (book 2 in the series), has to offer. Monster of Silver Creek is one of the best murder mysteries I've read in some time, and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys getting involved in the story.
~ Linda Thompson, Host of The Authors Show ( )

Nathan Sommers had great intentions when he allowed himself to be convinced to move to Silver Creek by his wife. She was expecting, wanted to be “home”, all the usual. He was in love with Jennifer and would move earth to make her happy. Until he met someone at his best friend’s wedding. That was going well until the local reported – always in love with Jennifer, never got a second glance – sent her photos. Nathan tried to stop her from leaving but she wouldn’t listen and wrapped the car arou9nd a tree, killing herself and her unborn child.
The fact that the Mayor of Silver Creek was Jennifer’s father didn’t help things any. Nathan could do nothing right and was thinking of leaving when the killings began. All alike in pattern, two punctures, 3” apart on each female victim. That is the only clue and the Mayor is getting very testy for an arrest.
Nathan and team are doing all they can along with the usual cat-up-a-tree reports, drunks wandering in the streets and the new bakery owner’s cat getting eaten by her neighbor’s dog. (She was NOT happy!) (Dog was!!) Nathan and his deputy, Jake, don’t need anything to get in their way, especially since Jake’s wife in nearly due to have their first baby and it making everyone especially nervous. Who is the murderer?
WARNING! This is a great book. But don’t plan on reading just a bit to put yourself to sleep. It won’t work. You’ll be up until 2:30 a.m. like I was today finishing it! Ms. Buchanan is a good storyteller. Her plots are well thought out, the “Who” will amaze you and the ending……well, let’s just leave it at that. ( )