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Carriage House #4
The Harbor
Rediscover the Carriage House series with this classic tale of romantic suspense from
New York Times
bestselling author Carla Neggers.
A killer strikes—then disappears without a trace
Shattered by her father’s murder, Zoe West left Goose Harbor, Maine. Still struggling, Zoe realizes only one thing will help to repair the damage—returning home to confront the past.
FBI special agent J. B. McGrath is burned-out after working undercover for a year. Forced to take a break, he chooses Goose Harbor as a retreat. But he isn’t lying low. He believes a killer is still loose in the town—a killer who isn’t happy to see Zoe West return.
Zoe isn’t sure she can trust the unpredictable FBI agent—or their growing attraction to each other. But the danger mounts, and one wrong move could destroy everything she and J.B. care about. Someone got away with murder and is determined to keep it that way.
Originally published in 2003
A killer strikes—then disappears without a trace
Shattered by her father’s murder, Zoe West left Goose Harbor, Maine. Still struggling, Zoe realizes only one thing will help to repair the damage—returning home to confront the past.
FBI special agent J. B. McGrath is burned-out after working undercover for a year. Forced to take a break, he chooses Goose Harbor as a retreat. But he isn’t lying low. He believes a killer is still loose in the town—a killer who isn’t happy to see Zoe West return.
Zoe isn’t sure she can trust the unpredictable FBI agent—or their growing attraction to each other. But the danger mounts, and one wrong move could destroy everything she and J.B. care about. Someone got away with murder and is determined to keep it that way.
Originally published in 2003
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 25, 2002
329 people are currently reading
630 people want to read
About the author
Carla Neggers
143 books1,608 followersCarla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sharpe & Donovan series featuring Boston-based FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan, and the popular Swift River Valley series set in the small, fictional New England town of Knights Bridge. With many bestsellers to her credit, Carla loves to write now as much as she did when she climbed a tree at age eleven with a pad and pen and spun stories perched on her favorite branch.
A native New Englander, Carla and her husband divide their time between their hilltop home in Vermont, a sofa bed at their kids' places in Boston and various inns, hotels and hideaways on their travels, frequently to Ireland.
Find out more and sign up for Carla's newsletter at CarlaNeggers.com.
A native New Englander, Carla and her husband divide their time between their hilltop home in Vermont, a sofa bed at their kids' places in Boston and various inns, hotels and hideaways on their travels, frequently to Ireland.
Find out more and sign up for Carla's newsletter at CarlaNeggers.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 10, 2019
I actually really enjoyed this and I didn't quite have it all figured out so, bonus points for that.
December 17, 2017
Zoe West used to be a police officer and was scheduled to go to FBI training until her father was murdered. That changed everything and she had to leave town to get a handle on her emotions. But when her little sister calls to tell her someone has broken into her house, Zoe goes back home to Goose Harbor, ME, determined to face what sent her away a year earlier.
FBI special agent JB McGrath comes to Goose Harbor for a much-needed vacation after he's almost killed when under cover. The murder a year earlier also has drawn him, in part because he knows a distant relative came from there.
When additional break-ins occur, both Zoe and JB have to look into what's going on, but soon the danger escalates when it becomes clear that Zoe and maybe even her sister may be in danger. So is her heart--from JB--but that's only part of the problem she must confront.
In this carefully crafted suspense, subtle, easily missed clues are scattered throughout until the bad guy is finally revealed--and Zoe may never be the same, given how that knowledge may have contributed to her 101-year-old grandmother's death, as well. A super story, best enjoyed by amateur sleuths or readers who want to think they are.
FBI special agent JB McGrath comes to Goose Harbor for a much-needed vacation after he's almost killed when under cover. The murder a year earlier also has drawn him, in part because he knows a distant relative came from there.
When additional break-ins occur, both Zoe and JB have to look into what's going on, but soon the danger escalates when it becomes clear that Zoe and maybe even her sister may be in danger. So is her heart--from JB--but that's only part of the problem she must confront.
In this carefully crafted suspense, subtle, easily missed clues are scattered throughout until the bad guy is finally revealed--and Zoe may never be the same, given how that knowledge may have contributed to her 101-year-old grandmother's death, as well. A super story, best enjoyed by amateur sleuths or readers who want to think they are.
April 28, 2018
A killer strikes then disappears without a trace
Shattered by her father's murder, Zoe West left Goose Harbor, Maine. Still struggling, Zoe realizes only one thing will help to repair the damage returning home to confront the past.
FBI special agent J. B. McGrath is burned-out after working undercover for a year. Forced to take a break, he chooses Goose Harbor as a retreat. But he isn't lying low. He believes a killer is still loose in the town a killer who isn't happy to see Zoe West return.
Zoe isn't sure she can trust the unpredictable FBI agent or their growing attraction to each other. But the danger mounts, and one wrong move could destroy everything she and J.B. care about. Someone got away with murder and is determined to keep it that way.
A great reat that you won't want to put down. Keeps you caught up in the story line. 5 stars.
Shattered by her father's murder, Zoe West left Goose Harbor, Maine. Still struggling, Zoe realizes only one thing will help to repair the damage returning home to confront the past.
FBI special agent J. B. McGrath is burned-out after working undercover for a year. Forced to take a break, he chooses Goose Harbor as a retreat. But he isn't lying low. He believes a killer is still loose in the town a killer who isn't happy to see Zoe West return.
Zoe isn't sure she can trust the unpredictable FBI agent or their growing attraction to each other. But the danger mounts, and one wrong move could destroy everything she and J.B. care about. Someone got away with murder and is determined to keep it that way.
A great reat that you won't want to put down. Keeps you caught up in the story line. 5 stars.
May 7, 2011
The Harbor by Carla Neggers is a good read, but didn't hold my interest like some of her other books. The fact that it took me two weeks to read it, shows that. I usually read a book within two days time, but this story didn't have the power to make me think about it when I had to put it down; I only went back to it when I saw it sitting on the table.
That being said, the plot was very good. I really enjoyed the two main characters and their relationship. I also enjoyed the quirks of both of them as individuals. They were both equally strong and personable. In my opinion, the supporting characters are where the strength of the story faultered some. There were no strong, likeable supporting characters, except for the egnimatic great-aunt, Oliva, who died early on, but was mentioned throughout the story.
I wanted to like Christina, leading lady Zoe's little sister, but even she wasn't as likeable as I'd hoped. Zoe was blamed for leaving her hometown a year after her father's death, and then treated as an uninvited guest when she returned home. With everyone 'not' wanting her back for their own, varying reasons, it was hard to understand why she really would return. Family loyalty was the reason, but even that is sketchy when her only family, her sister, seems torn on being happy she's back and being upset by it.
If you like Carla Neggers, I say, give The Harbor a chance. Its story line and main characters are enjoyable. This isn't one of my favorites by her and I doubt I'll re-read it, but it won't stop me from picking up any other book written by her.
Reviewed by Ursula Gorman- Author of Old Acquaintances
That being said, the plot was very good. I really enjoyed the two main characters and their relationship. I also enjoyed the quirks of both of them as individuals. They were both equally strong and personable. In my opinion, the supporting characters are where the strength of the story faultered some. There were no strong, likeable supporting characters, except for the egnimatic great-aunt, Oliva, who died early on, but was mentioned throughout the story.
I wanted to like Christina, leading lady Zoe's little sister, but even she wasn't as likeable as I'd hoped. Zoe was blamed for leaving her hometown a year after her father's death, and then treated as an uninvited guest when she returned home. With everyone 'not' wanting her back for their own, varying reasons, it was hard to understand why she really would return. Family loyalty was the reason, but even that is sketchy when her only family, her sister, seems torn on being happy she's back and being upset by it.
If you like Carla Neggers, I say, give The Harbor a chance. Its story line and main characters are enjoyable. This isn't one of my favorites by her and I doubt I'll re-read it, but it won't stop me from picking up any other book written by her.
Reviewed by Ursula Gorman- Author of Old Acquaintances
December 22, 2010
Carla Neggers writes some of the best mysteries, always different and beyond the conventional. The Harbor was no different. Once again the plot was intelligent and intriguing to keep you involved from start to end. The romance was just as good. Often times, I find that "romantic suspense" is more like a suspense with romance thrown in or vice verse but in this story both elements were well-balanced and intertwined together seamlessly.
The mystery began a year earlier with the unsolved murder of a small town cop, Patrick West. His murder shocks the quiet, quaint town of Goose Harbor and sends his once-aspiring cop daughter, Zoe West fleeing. Now a year later she returns, the mystery no closer to being solved. However, all is not peaceful in Goose Harbor, as sinister events are happening all over again with Zoe's return. It is up to Zoe to piece together the missing pieces and discover that friends may be enemies and strangers are friends.
J.B. McGrath has also come to Goose Harbor, to recover and rejuvenate from a traumatizing experience. Instead he finds himself under Zoe's spell and just as determined to solve her father's murder. It's not just Zoe's peace and closure they are looking for, their lives they must protect.
It was a great read.
The mystery began a year earlier with the unsolved murder of a small town cop, Patrick West. His murder shocks the quiet, quaint town of Goose Harbor and sends his once-aspiring cop daughter, Zoe West fleeing. Now a year later she returns, the mystery no closer to being solved. However, all is not peaceful in Goose Harbor, as sinister events are happening all over again with Zoe's return. It is up to Zoe to piece together the missing pieces and discover that friends may be enemies and strangers are friends.
J.B. McGrath has also come to Goose Harbor, to recover and rejuvenate from a traumatizing experience. Instead he finds himself under Zoe's spell and just as determined to solve her father's murder. It's not just Zoe's peace and closure they are looking for, their lives they must protect.
It was a great read.
September 28, 2011
Ugh! I got more than halfway through and just could not continue! The plot was interesting, but it wasn't going anywhere. The characters weren't very interesting; they could have been with their backgrounds (especially J.B., who was a bit interesting), but they were fairly flat and annoying at times. With that said, there was no chemistry between J.B. and Zoe, and hardly any time devoted to bringing about the relationship; they mostly discussed everything else boringly (is that even a word? Oh well!). The book was blah, blah, blah this and blah, blah, blah that, and I'm sorry I wasted time reading so much. Besides, I had kinda figured out who was the one behind everything since there was a lack of suspects. I did skim the end and it was confirmed, and I'm not sure if the rest of the book has anything about the why, but where did that come from?
February 4, 2018
The Maine setting sounded beautiful. The plot was interesting, and I enjoyed the novel.
November 30, 2011
Nicely detailed Maine setting and two strong-willed protagonists, but the romantic setup is rather depressingly close to that of Neggers's recent Saint's Gate. I probably would have enjoyed this a little more if there had been more time between my reading this and that; as it was, I kept thinking about how Neggers was repeating herself.
August 27, 2015
I liked this book - enjoyed the new england setting!
I believe that the description of the novel in Good Reads is incorrect...it seems to be from another book!
I believe that the description of the novel in Good Reads is incorrect...it seems to be from another book!
November 4, 2017
The last in the 4 book Carriage House Series. This is, in my opinion, a great series.
October 6, 2019
I was so absorbed in "Stonebrook Cottage" by the story of Defense Attorney Kara Galway after her move back to Texas from Connecticut and the interactions with her godchildren and Sam Temple, a Texas Ranger that reports to Kara's brother that I missed clues as Sam interacted with Zoe West, sole detective in Bluefield, CT, that the next novel in the Carriage House series might be about Zoe West.
As "The Harbor" opens, Zoe is no longer a detective but has remained in Bluefield. However, a phone from Zoe's sister, Christine has Zoe packed and on the road "home" to Goose Harbor, Maine in no time.
This is not only a tale of suspense to discover about break-ins but to finally solve the mystery from a year ago of who killed Zoe and Christine's father, Police Chief Patrick West and the message that their grandmother was trying to share on learning of her son's death. The reveal of grandmother and author Olivia's star character Jen Perwinkle's (who sounds like a modern Nancy Drew) evil nemesis, Mr. Lester McGrath is an enticing subplot. The background of the evil nemesis name selection and much more is another highlight of the novel as well as why Olivia provided a special legacy to each of her granddaughters. The novel also portrays how each person in a family copes differently with the loss and grief of family members.
The suspense is characteristic of Carla Neggers with page-turning interactions, sharing her love of New England through the settings of many of her novels, and romance to add to the intrigue.
As "The Harbor" opens, Zoe is no longer a detective but has remained in Bluefield. However, a phone from Zoe's sister, Christine has Zoe packed and on the road "home" to Goose Harbor, Maine in no time.
This is not only a tale of suspense to discover about break-ins but to finally solve the mystery from a year ago of who killed Zoe and Christine's father, Police Chief Patrick West and the message that their grandmother was trying to share on learning of her son's death. The reveal of grandmother and author Olivia's star character Jen Perwinkle's (who sounds like a modern Nancy Drew) evil nemesis, Mr. Lester McGrath is an enticing subplot. The background of the evil nemesis name selection and much more is another highlight of the novel as well as why Olivia provided a special legacy to each of her granddaughters. The novel also portrays how each person in a family copes differently with the loss and grief of family members.
The suspense is characteristic of Carla Neggers with page-turning interactions, sharing her love of New England through the settings of many of her novels, and romance to add to the intrigue.
July 19, 2025
I really liked getting to know all of the characters, as well as the bay setting in Maine, with "The Harbor." It took me a while to get through this one - I'm not sure if the story itself slowed down at points, or if I just didn't have the best attention span for one reason or another...but the last 70 pages were riveting!
The backstories with Zoe and Chris' father and their grandmother were well-grounded - consistent, sensible, and emotional. The family connections that JB brings in to the plot (and to Maine) were logical and interesting. Even at the conclusion, I still felt like I had no idea where Luke or Teddy had come from and how their plot lines clearly intertwined with everyone else...but the rest of the characters were easy to understand and follow!
The layering of family, geography, and story-telling worked very well for Neggers' plot. A good read with a satisfying ending that was hard to predict!
The backstories with Zoe and Chris' father and their grandmother were well-grounded - consistent, sensible, and emotional. The family connections that JB brings in to the plot (and to Maine) were logical and interesting. Even at the conclusion, I still felt like I had no idea where Luke or Teddy had come from and how their plot lines clearly intertwined with everyone else...but the rest of the characters were easy to understand and follow!
The layering of family, geography, and story-telling worked very well for Neggers' plot. A good read with a satisfying ending that was hard to predict!
November 30, 2022
I give this one 4.5 stars. I love the slow burning intensity of Neggers's stories. Zoe and J.B. circle each other as wary predators for most of the novel as they struggle to understand and deny their attraction. I love that Neggers always has so much going on in her novels--as real life does. It's not just about the cold case of who killed Zoe's father but also the break-ins that occur and whether or not they are connected. Does Zoe returning to Good Harbor trigger events or is something else going on. And, as always, one questions who can truly be trusted, who is a friend and who is a wolf in sheep's clothing? This one will keep you turning pages right up to the end!
August 1, 2017
I actually listened to this book while in the car during vacation (I can't read in the car, I get nauseous so I tried an audio book). I had a difficult time listening to the book & had trouble with the person reading the book (at times her 'voices' were so similar I had difficulties distinguishing which character was speaking). That being said, the story was good, it began a little slow and then seemed to wrap up pretty quickly. This was a decent book. I may try some of this authors other books.
December 25, 2018
The town and it's people are very interesting. I love the old lady & I would like to read more of the earlier stories with hopes that she is in them. This book kept you guessing that's for sure. I also love books about writers who are writing mysteries in the mystery book. :)
I shouldn't have tried to read it while exerising-got distracted and couldn't stay into the book while worrying about being run over while walking on the track. ha.
I shouldn't have tried to read it while exerising-got distracted and couldn't stay into the book while worrying about being run over while walking on the track. ha.
December 1, 2021
A nice little mystery, plenty to keep you guessing, plenty of suspects and clues, a few odd but likeable characters (and some not so likeable).
I'd not read anything from this author before but definitely would again. An easy-to-read mystery and one that keeps the suspense and excitement going (hard to put down). A little romance but I guess that has to happen from time to time...
Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
I'd not read anything from this author before but definitely would again. An easy-to-read mystery and one that keeps the suspense and excitement going (hard to put down). A little romance but I guess that has to happen from time to time...
Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
July 2, 2025
Excellent story. I really liked it- nothing specific, just that it held my attention, wanted to keep reading, even got mad when I was falling asleep and had to put it down until the next night.
I didn't realize it was. #4- in a series? So now I will be looking for the other books, wondering if the characters are the same, or the setting, or maybe all of it- anyway, I shall be looking for the others.
I didn't realize it was. #4- in a series? So now I will be looking for the other books, wondering if the characters are the same, or the setting, or maybe all of it- anyway, I shall be looking for the others.
July 8, 2022
Carla has an easy writing style that just makes me want to come back for more. I love her strong women characters, even the ones not fighting the bad guys. She makes the northeast of the United States sound like a beautiful place to live with her descriptions of the flora and fauna in the area.
April 8, 2020
A nice romance mystery that was better than average.
The characters were likable and the bad guy somewhat of a surprise.
I like these lighthearted mysteries with a romantic vain. They keep my mind busy and interested in something other than this crazy virus.
The characters were likable and the bad guy somewhat of a surprise.
I like these lighthearted mysteries with a romantic vain. They keep my mind busy and interested in something other than this crazy virus.
February 6, 2022
Home should be a comfort. Hard to accomplish with two break-ins in two days after your return. Plus, it is a year since your father's murder that is still unsolved.
A great read. Hard to put down.
A great read. Hard to put down.
April 8, 2022
Loved it! Fun to read about a character from another book, but it's not necessary to have read the other book first. Mild-to-moderate swearing and sex (though the sex scene was easy to skip). Nice mystery without being super scary.
April 21, 2024
This is the first book by Carla Neggers for me. It was an easy read which is relaxing for me at bedtime. From the beginning I didn’t like the treatment of some people by the judge, to pushy. It was close to the end when I figured out who the killer was.
August 22, 2025
GREAT!!!’
I really enjoyed reading this book. It took me to many places I did not expect but enjoyed. I am so glad I picked it to read and I’m going to start another one of Carla Neggers books asap.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It took me to many places I did not expect but enjoyed. I am so glad I picked it to read and I’m going to start another one of Carla Neggers books asap.
July 17, 2017
Muy aburrido.
September 7, 2018
I tried this author based on my aunt's recommendation and was pleased. I read more by Carla Neggers but in order rather than starting with the fourth.
October 10, 2018
Her characters are real, the situations are real and the plot works
January 7, 2019
I liked it -- didn't figure it out until the end
February 7, 2019
Good read...!
I gave it 4 stars because it dragged a bit in some spots.....still liked it. Love Carla Neggers and this series.
I gave it 4 stars because it dragged a bit in some spots.....still liked it. Love Carla Neggers and this series.
July 29, 2019
A nice rounding-out of the series . . . could possibly lead to a whole new series in Maine. A really good mystery tying the past and the present.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews