Killman Creek

Turning tables on her husband the serial killer ...

I have been waiting anxiously for this second book to be released. This is Rachel Caine's second mystery/thriller for adults, I was hoping that she hadn't just written a one hit wonder with her first book- Stillhouse Lake. I am so happy to say this author has lived up to my expectations.
That's out of the way, I would recommend reading/listening to Stillhouse Lake first. This book picks up exactly where that book ends. Gwen Proctor (the protagonist) has fled her home. In a hotel she wakes from a nightmare about her husband the serial killer, she then gets a text from a hacker she had thought was her friend but who was actually working with her ex husband to keep track of her whereabouts and each new identity he helped her get. The text says "you're not safe anywhere ". Gwen decides that she cannot fight with her children in tow and leaves them with the man who taught her how to accurately shoot a gun. She and Sam Cade whose sister was a victim go hunting. Their prey - Melvin Royal, Gwen 's ex. At one point they are sent to a cabin in the middle of Bum F**k, GA, where they almost loose their lives when the cabin blows.
I really enjoy Caine's writing style. This book just flows, there are no lulls or fillers, never a dull moment and it's told from multiple points of view. The characters are fleshed out with complex personalities and inner turmoil as well as external conflicts.
The multiple narrators (with Emily Sutton-Smith being primary ) are EXCELLENT! Very impressed with all.
This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
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58 of 64 people found this review helpful

Do people really act this stupid?

Book one was enjoyable. Book 2 was just a drug out series of events, that made you constantly ask do people really act this dumb? Most of it seemed very predictable. And the one thing I found the most difficult to comprehend, was That we are in the middle of book 2, and the kids are still having a hard time believing their dad could do such a thing. Even 4 years later. But at the drop of a hat, everybody completely believed the worst of Gwyn the Mom. Every single person. Really? Nobody at all questioned, nobody at all trusted that there's no way she could do such a thing? In my opinion, we should have stopped at book one, and just added a chapter of Epilog. And truthfully, I guess I wasn't much fan having the different perspectives as the I character, 1st person. Changing from Gwen to Sam to Connor to Lanie....There was way too much time spent on individual feelings, thoughts and beliefs that could have been cut out. because having them in there only irritated me when i thought, you're doing something really stupid. seriously?
kudos for book 1 though.

23 of 25 people found this review helpful

Good story line but tedious dialogue

After reading Killman Creek I was eager to read the sequel and expected a similar, exciting rendition of the continuation of Gwen's struggle w/trolls and crazies. The plot line was good and potentially very clever. BUT, as one reviewer noted, the teenage angst of the daughter, and the agonizing of both daughter and son became soooooooo tedious I wanted to fast forward the book just to get to the end. It was a very good mystery, but it was mired down w/repetitive adolescent anguish and malingering over their feelings and actions that it spoils the overall impression of the book. Consequently, I would not recommend it to anyone even if they had read Killman Creek and wanted to continue the story. Not worth the effort and time wasted which amounts to at least half of the book.

12 of 13 people found this review helpful

5 star psychological/suspense thriller!

Killman Creek is Book 2 in the Stillhouse Lake/Gwen Proctor series. I loved the first book in this series and this one is even better. The author knows how to tell a story and how to build suspense to a seemingly unsustainable level. All four narrators do a superb job. As the voice of Gwen Proctor Emily Sutton-Smith carries most of the narrating load.

The author is Roxanne Conrad using her most frequent pen name of Rachel Caine. During her writing career of more than 25 years Conrad has written over 50 novels using her own name and three different pen names. Her novels cover a broad range of genres with most of her novels being either science fiction and teen fiction. I'm happy this very talented author has now successfully began writing novels of the mystery/thriller genre.

I very highly recommend both Stillhouse Lake and Killman Creek to listeners who like dark intense suspense thrillers.

31 of 35 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable Series

Still a captivating story and love all the characters. Caine does an amazing job making you believe each character's point-of-view and why they do things that from the outside seem irrational or stupid. But you buy into everything that's going on as the whole story unfolds, which makes me went to get back to the book every time I set it down to find out what happens next

The narrators Emily Sutton-Smith , Lauren Ezzo , Will Ropp , Dan John Miller were excellent with the delivery of the story

15 of 17 people found this review helpful

KICK ASS GRIPING EXCELLENT BOOK!

Couldn't out this down. listened to the audio book and I kept commenting and sometimes yelling at what wad going on. My poor husband couldn't figure out I was talking too. ( Had earbuds in) You know its good when you engage with the book. ....

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Stunning Conclusion Keeps Us On Edge

This is the sequel to Stillhouse Lake, the story of the wife and children of a notorious serial killer after his capture. They were forced into hiding by hackers seemingly convinced they had to be complicit in the horrible murders committed by the killer. Killman Creek picks up where Stllhouse left off. Their husband and father has escaped prison and it’s likely he will be coming after his family.

In order to save her family, the mother must turn the tables by exposing the hackers and become the hunter of her husband. But who are The hackers? Why do they persist? And what is their connection to her husband? All of these questions are answered in this masterful thriller of a novel.

14 of 16 people found this review helpful

Love the ending but the build up.....

Would you try another book from Rachel Caine and/or the narrators?

Maybe on Caine, definitely on the narrators.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I loved the ending but not the build up to it.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really enjoyed the children's voices that were added to this audio book. It really made the listening experience better than the single narrator the first book had.

Was Killman Creek worth the listening time?

There were times I almost stopped listening because of the way the author had the support characters behaving in the second half of the book. The way Gwen's family, potential love interest and friends vacillated back and forth; one minute going on about what a great mom and person Gwen was and the next accusing her and treating her so poorly and throwing her out. It's as if none of these support characters had any sense of loyalty at all. I hated the way they were so wishy-washy and treated Gwen so poorly. I know that her kids were kids, but geez she had raised them and spent a ton of time nurturing them. It was not plausible that they would just turn on her so fast without a shred of doubt that she was bad. I just couldn't buy into the way the author wrote their behavior up. And for Gwen to constantly be beating up on herself and saying it was her fault the kids and the friends etc were treating her poorly, ugh. The only time she had any back bone was when actually fighting for her kids. But never when fighting for herself. I really don't like it when female authors play into that stereotype of the weak willed woman who only fights back when it's for her kids. Just not enjoyable in that regard.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

I have mixed feelings about this book

I'll start with the narration. Overall I'd say the narration was good except the teenage girl angst, always present with Lani was like nails on a chalkboard. Now, this is most likely my feelings about having to listen to teenage girl angst in general - it just drives me nuts and was almost enough to make me want to return the book. Listening to Gwen's anger & fear, constantly monotone got pretty old as well. Now as for the story, it drug on and on and really didn't get exciting until the last two hours. There's a twist and I won't say anything more about it. My overall feelings towards this story was Ho-Hum

13 of 16 people found this review helpful

Edge of your seat story!

I have read quite a few of Rachel Caine's books, mostly her paranormal and they were pretty good books. I did not know she wrote this genre as well, not until Still House Lake was released. I listened to that audible and loved it! Caine was definitely intended to write thrillers. Her paranormals are good but her thrillers are outstanding. When I finished Still House Lake I started anxiously awaiting Killman Creed, the conclusion of the story. I listened to the audible on release day, all in one sitting. Yes, it was that good! Even better than Still House Lake. This is the end of 2017 and I have read and listened to MANY books this year! I definitely think this one is in the top 5 of the year. You definitely need this audible!!

9 of 11 people found this review helpful