Bitter Falls

Bitter Falls is another addictive, action-packed installment in the Stillhouse Lake series. Alternating between multiple POV's - Gwen, Sam, Lanny and Connor - we follow the family as they realize that Stillhouse Lake is no longer the safe haven it once was. Gwen's failed TV interview and everything that occurred afterward has only made things worse. Surprisingly, Gwen's past isn't the driving force in the feud with the local hillbilly mafia - a.k.a the Belldene family - although the increased media/police presence certainly isn't good for business. The credit here goes to Sam...mostly.

Now working as a Private Investigator, Gwen is assigned to look into the cold case of a college man who disappeared without a trace 3 years ago. Despite show more the fact that his mother refuses to give up hope, it isn't his parents who hired her. It's an organization called All Saints International, but the question is why? What interest could they possibly have in this case?
Her investigation uncovers new sinister leads along with connections to Wolfhunter River. In going up against this religious cult, Gwen unknowingly puts another target on her family.
Between the problems with the Belldene's, Connor suffering from PTSD and Lanny struggling to fit in, it's time for Gwen and Sam to come to a decision. Are they to continue trying to make life at Stillhouse Lake work, or is it finally time to move on?

I still think [b:Killman Creek|35329101|Killman Creek (Stillhouse Lake, #2)|Rachel Caine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503518302l/35329101._SY75_.jpg|56695052] would have been a good conclusion for the series but I'm continuing because I'm rooting for Gwen and her family. Although considering who they are, it's hard to believe they will ever catch a break and be able to settle somewhere peacefully...especially if Gwen continues working as a P.I instead of keeping a low profile.
They've suffered so much already and deserve a chance at a normal life. It would be nice to see people accept them and recognize the fact that Lanny and Connor are also victims. Gwen is as well but the children are completely innocent and shouldn't still be receiving so much hate/death threats because of Melvin's crimes.
I admit, I wasn't a huge fan of Vee's reappearance but the cult storyline was fascinating and needing to know how everything would unravel had me hooked.

I will definitely be picking up book 5 because I adore Sam and Gwen together and how they've managed to overcome the obstacles thrown at them to become a solid family unit.
I'm looking forward to reading about whatever trouble Gwen lands herself in next!

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

Gwen Proctor is trying to make a new life for herself. As the wife of a serial killer who has become a target for all sorts of creeps on the internet who can't believe she didn't know anything about her ex-husband's crimes, Gwen faces all sorts of harassment. Luckily, she has a job as a private investigator and a boss who believes in her.

Her children Lanny and Connor also face a lot of harassment. Both are bullied at school. Things come to a head during an active shooter drill when the school admin is crazy enough to play sounds of gunshots and Connor suffers a PTSD episode and manages to break the jaw of one of the school bullies who was trying to get him to move.

The broken-jawed bully happens to be related to the Belldenes who are show more the local drug dealers and who have a lot of influence in town. They pressure Gwen to move away immediately because her notoriety is bringing too much publicity and scrutiny that they fear will spill over onto their activities.

Lanny sneaks out of the house with her friend Vee to attend a party and finds herself in the middle of a scene where another local drug dealer has attacked a girl who owed him money. The dealer works for the Belldenes and now wants Lanny dead too. This adds to the pressure from the Belldenes to get Gwen and her family out of town.

Meanwhile, Gwen is working on a very cold case about the disappearance of a college student named Remy Landry. The young man's been gone for three years but someone has hired the agency she works for to look for him again. Gwen's investigation leads to a crazy cult related to the cult they already disrupted in Wolfhunter. And when the cultists kidnap her partner Sam and son Connor, Gwen has to find a woman who was involved with the missing college student before the cultists kill the ones she loves.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints: Gwen, Sam, Connor and Lanny. It is narrated by four people who each portray one of the viewpoint characters and who do a wonderful time elucidating their personalities and ramping up the tension in the story. The story was exciting and filled with action and with tension. It was an excellent story and very well narrated. show less

Bitter Falls
Stillhouse Lake, Book 4

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.

The Characters:

Gwen Proctor:
Sam Cade:
Lanny Procter, Conner Procter, Vera “Vee” Crockett, Carol, J.B., Javier, Kezia

The Story:

Gwen cut off the head of the snake in Wolfhunter River, she was just unaware that this snake has multiple heads.

Ms Caine has graced us with another well written twisty plot. Not only does she write incredible heroines but also excellent love to hate villains. I should also say heros because Conner, Sam and even Javier are fantastic in these stories. I started off reading this a little slowly. I was very shocked by the prologue and avoided reading at home late at night (when I tend to read) for a while but by the end I show more couldn't put it down. Who needs sleep, right?

I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for this family. I honestly can’t imagine Ms Caine topping this installment.

The Random Thoughts:

She should have shot him

4.5 Stars show less

"We'll have a dinner this evening, Sister Harmony. A real feast to welcome him to Bitter Falls."

Another fast paced, un-put-downable story in the Stillhouse Lake Series. It's a family I've grown to know and love and each time a new struggle is presented for them, I want to hug them a quickly run them away. But even Gwen knows better than that. No better way to protect your children then to make sure they are prepared.

This time, Gwen's new job as a P.I. pulls her again in to the crosshairs of a pretty wild group. Unfortunately, Gwen doesn't know them but, like most of the world, they know her. The kids, Sam - no one is safe in this story anymore. Also an old but true group, still local and mean, are back again to push Gwen and Sam to make show more some pretty rough decisions.

The conclusion was one I honestly didn't see coming as each new twist was a new revelation, but it was well done and I can't wait to read the next. show less

This was my favorite so far of the Stillhouse Lake series because it's here, in this tense, nail-biter of a book, that Gwen and her children start to believe there's life after what they experienced. They're more open now and that's a fantastic thing to read.
[I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.]

This is the fourth book in the Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine. Gwen Proctor and her family are back, hoping to settle back in their small town. Gwen, now a private investigator, has taken on the cold case of a missing young man and soon discovers there are several more young men missing. In a town that’s closed its ranks against Gwen; her partner, Sam; and her kids, there’s no bolder enemy than the Belldene family—paramilitary, criminal, powerful, and vengeful. They make their presence known from the beginning. Gwen Proctor is a force to be reckoned with and when it comes to protecting her family, she takes no prisoners.

I think this series is particularly good in audio. The narrators add just the right amount of tension to show more their voices and made this audio book an enjoyable listening experience. I’ve been a fan of this series since I read Stillhouse Lake There is something about Caine’s writing that draws me in and keeps me engaged. This isn’t a series where you can read out of order. You really need to start with the first book in order to appreciate everything that Gwen and her family have been through. The good news is that even though this is the fourth book they’re fairly quick reads and are easy to binge. show less

4.5 stars. Bitter Falls is the fourth in the Stillhouse Lake series. Rachel Caine once again does not disappoint!! She has done an amazing job with the series and the characters. Each member of the family manages to be a fully realized person with their own issues and strengths. Connor really grew in this book too. It really is such an addictive series. Bitter Falls is another fast, action-packed story to this series and while the mystery is different from each book, I feel the stories follow the same pattern with Gwen's trying to outrun her past and the shadow they live under and putting her family in danger. There were a few times I wondered if the author was going to go too far or be too obvious. But she stayed the course. My only show more complaint is that I would have liked the ending to be tied up a little better as it related to Remy. show less