From the Bookshelf of Tall, Dark & Deadly…

Heartbreak Bay (Stillhouse Lake, #5)

Rachel Caine

Start date: July 1, 2024

Finish date: July 31, 2024

Discussion: Robb's Unending Series - 2025

Discussion leader: Jonetta

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 13 topics — 138 comments total

Robb's Unending Series - 2025

* Hush Little Girl by Lisa Regan (Detective Josie Quinn #11) - September 2025
By Jonetta · 1 post · 6 views

last updated Aug 31, 2025 02:57PM

* Detective Josie Quinn Series by Lisa Regan
By Jonetta · 56 posts · 46 views

last updated Sep 04, 2025 11:47AM

showing 6 of 6 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Sep 27, 2020 Sandra Hoover rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance-suspense, mystery-thriller, arc-publisher

Heartbreak Bay is the fifth book in the Stillhouse Lake series and another superb addition to the series. I'll say upfront that while each of these books will standalone, you're missing a great reading experience and a lot of character development if you skip any of the books. My advice: Read in order!

This story opens with Gwen, Sam, Lanny and Connor living an almost normal life in their new home a little distance away from Stillhouse Lake. It appears the vigilantes have finally focused their at Heartbreak Bay is the fifth book in the Stillhouse Lake series and another superb addition to the series. I'll say upfront that while each of these books will standalone, you're missing a great reading experience and a lot of character development if you skip any of the books. My advice: Read in order!

This story opens with Gwen, Sam, Lanny and Connor living an almost normal life in their new home a little distance away from Stillhouse Lake. It appears the vigilantes have finally focused their attentions elsewhere and life is good again . . . until its not. A phone call in the wee hours from Det. Kezia Claremont pulls now P.I. Gwen out of the warm bed she shares with Sam into the ominous dark night. She meets Kez on a seldom traveled road beside a murky pond near Stillhouse where a submerged vehicle is pulled out of the water. Two young sisters are in the backseat still strapped in their child seats. No one else is around. Both Kez and Gwen are horrified and heartbroken at the unspeakable crime. Where is their mother? Was she kidnapped? The answers to these questions lead Kez and Gwen into a deadly investigation that goes from bad to worse, stirring a hornet's nest that draws the crazies back out of the woodwork. Gwen's life is in chaos yet again. An invisible killer is playing a game of "Would you rather . . . " with them and the endgame is their lives.

Heartbreak Bay is a character driven story that unravels at a deadly pace. As events spiral out of control, it becomes clear that Kez and Gwen are being played by a cruel killer. Caine excels at setting a tone of malice that carries throughout with imminent danger always lurking around the next corner. I swear I could hear my heart bound as this story played out. I especially loved learning more about Kez in this one as readers get a look at what makes her tick. She and Gwen put their lives on the line to protect loved ones and their heart, grit, and drive is a force to be reckoned with. This story is action-packed from cover to cover with an explosive block-buster ending that might be a bit unbelievable IF it was anyone else. But in this case, the author has clearly done her research and also previously established these characters as super heroes with a strong sense of right and wrong. Heartbreak Bay is a raw, emotional, high octane suspense thriller that I highly recommend to everyone. Especially fans of this highly addictive series!

March 9, 2021 Update to my original Note below: As many known, beloved Author Rachel Caine lost her heroic battle against cancer. On this, release day for Heartbreak Bay, I'd like to say Happy Pub Day, Rachel. We love and miss you so much! You'll forever have a special place in the hearts of readers.

*Original Personal Note: Hugs and prayers go out to author Rachel Caine during her battle against cancer. Just like the strong women she writes about, Rachel's heart, will, and endless determination is an inspiration to us all. We love you, Rachel!

**Many thanks to publisher Thomas & Mercer for an arc of this book via Netgalley.
***Review posted at: Cross My Heart Reviews ...more

35 likes · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2021 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley, 2021-release, 5000-2021, mystery, read-on-kindle, thriller, own-read, psychological-thriller, arc

When Detective Kezia Claremont called Gwen Proctor in the middle of the night, it was the beginning of a deadly, cruel and heartbreaking time in their lives. Kez had been called to a motor vehicle in a nearby pond – the sheriff who’d found it discovered two bodies inside; little girls strapped into their seats. The mother was missing, and her partner was also missing, but he’d been gone for twelve months.

Gwen, Sam and the two children, Lanny and Connor had been happy since their move but always, ...more

34 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2025 Sharon rated it really liked it

Shelves: 3000-2025, mystery, thriller, suspense, kindle-unlimited, net-galley

Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine is the 5th in the Stillhouse Lake series. This has been such a good series and I have thoroughly enjoyed every book, including this one. The storyline has a good amount of intrigue and tension that keeps you turning the pages wanting to know what will happen next. I do recommend that if you are thinking of reading this start with the first book in the series. Highly recommended.
The author's note at the end of this book is quite sad to read. Sadly Rachel Caine is no ...more

23 likes · Like · see review

Mar 17, 2021 Wendy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5000-2021, wom-21, mar-21

Loved this 5th book in Rachel Caine's "Stillhouse Lake" series!
The drama and suspense in this book was every bit as captivating and intense as it was in the first four books.
The bodies of two little girls, strapped into their seats, are found in a car submerged in a remote pond. Their mother who has mysteriously vanished lead Private Investigator Gwen Proctor and Detective Kezia Claremont down a dangerous path.
As vicious crimes mount in this backwoods Tennessee town it soon becomes apparent the ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Jul 09, 2021 Reen added it

Shelves: netgalley, mystery-thriller

Book #5, and sadly the last book in the Stillhouse Lake series and finds Gwen and Sam trying to create a “normal” life for Gwen's children, Lanny and Connor. Unfortunately, their lives don't stay normal for long, and they soon become the targets of a serial killer. The story moves along slowly at first, but then Caine starts to pull all the plot threads together. There is a lot of suspense leading up to the end and at the end Gwen becomes an even stronger woman, a successful PI and moves on from ...more

1 like · Like · see review