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After the sudden death of her husband, Christine Harvey would do anything to give her precious children Molly and Ryan a fresh start. The huge clifftop house she’s hastily purchased has the most breath-taking ocean view she’s ever seen. Surely here they can someday be happy again?

But Christine had no idea that her family’s new dream house is right next door to where a child was abducted and murdered. And nobody told her that the father – who was the main suspect in the police investigation before it collapsed – still lives there.

Everyone urges her to move on, but Christine can’t stop thinking about that child. Fearing for the safety of Molly and Ryan, she frantically delves deeper into the old case, looking for anything that will give them some answers.

But some secrets are best left buried, and as the behaviour of their new neighbour grows increasingly unsettling, Christine wonders if digging up this one was the worst thing she could have done for her family…

From the number-one bestselling author, this is an unputdownable read with a twist that will make you gasp. Perfect for fans of JP Delaney, The Housemaid and Shari Lapena, you won’t be able to put this book down.

406 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2021

1136 people are currently reading
1164 people want to read

About the author

Gregg Dunnett

37 books486 followers
Gregg Dunnett is a British author writing psychological thrillers and stories about travel and adventure, usually with a connection to the coast or to the oceans. Before turning to novels he worked as a journalist for ten years on a windsurfing magazine, briefly owned a sailing school in Egypt, taught English in Thailand, Portugal, Turkey and Italy, taught sailing in Greece and Spain, and also had several rather duller jobs along the way.

His brother is the adventurer Jono Dunnett who in 2015 windsurfed alone and unsupported around the entire coastline of Great Britain, and who is currently windsurfing around the coastline of Europe.

Gregg lives in Bournemouth on the south coast of England with his partner Maria. They have two young children, Alba and Rafa, for whom the phrase “Daddy's working” has absolutely no effect.

Gregg's debut novel was an Amazon top 100 best seller in the UK and was downloaded over a quarter of a million times.

Gregg on why he writes:

"I’ve always wanted to do two things in life, to write, and to have adventures. When I was a kid I imagined grand affairs. Kayaking across Canada, cycling to Australia. Whole summers in the Arctic. Did it happen? Well, partly.

I’ve been lucky, I spent some years abroad teaching English. I worked in sailing schools in Greece and Spain. I really lucked out with a job testing windsurfing boards for the magazine I grew up reading. I made a questionable decision (ok, a bad decision) to buy a windsurfing centre in Egypt. I’ve also done my fair share of less exciting jobs. Packing and stacking potatoes on a farm, which got me fitter than I’ve ever been in my life. I did a few years in local government which taught me that people really do have meetings that result only in the need for more meetings, and they really do take all afternoon. I spent a pleasant few months in a giant book warehouse, where I would deliberately get lost among the miles of shelves unpacking travel guides and daydreaming. I’ve done a bit of writing too, at least I learned how to write. Boards Magazine isn’t well known (it doesn’t even exist today) but it did have a reputation for being well written and I shoe-horned articles in my own gonzo journalism style on some topics with the most tenuous of links to windsurfing. But the real adventures never came. Nor did the real writing.

Then, in 2015, my brother announced he was going to become the first person to windsurf alone around Great Britain. I don’t know why. Apparently it was something he’d always wanted to do (news to me). It was a proper adventure. It was dangerous, it was exciting. Even before he set off he was interviewed on TV, in the papers etc... Some people thought he was reckless, some thought he was inspirational. Lots of people thought he’d fail.

But he didn’t. He made it around. He even sailed solo from Wales to Ireland, the first to make the crossing without the aid of a safety boat. I was lucky enough to be involved in a planning level, and take part in a few training sails, and the last leg of the trip. But he did ninety nine percent of it on his own. One step at a time, just getting on with it. That was quite inspiring.

In a way it inspired me to pull my finger out. I’d been writing novels - or trying to write novels - then for a few years. But it was touch and go as to whether I was going to be one of those ‘writers’ with a half-finished novel lost on a hard drive somewhere, rather than someone who might actually manage to finish the job.

I’ve now got two lovely, highly demanding children, so real adventures are hard right now. I still try to get away when I can for nights out in the wilds rough camping, surf trips sleeping in the van, windsurfing when the big storms come. I love adventures with the kids too.

I hope in time to get around to a few real adventures. I want to sail across an ocean. I want to bike across a continent. I definitely want to spend more time surfing empty waves.

But fo

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5 stars
1,127 (42%)
4 stars
1,064 (39%)
3 stars
388 (14%)
2 stars
71 (2%)
1 star
23 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
Profile Image for Tonya.
770 reviews178 followers
October 25, 2023
Listening to this audiobook was like relaxing in a warm bath. The narrator expertly brought this slow-burn mystery to life with her soothing cadence. This mystery is character-driven with a healthy dose of suspense and a constant thread of tension. I was completely hooked as evidence mounted and secrets were revealed. This is the first installment of the Detective Erica Sands saga and I can’t wait for the next book in this captivating series. Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook.
Profile Image for Ceecee .
2,738 reviews2,307 followers
September 14, 2023
The first part is fast paced and action packed. I like DCI Erica Sands who reminds me of Saga Noren (The Bridge) and perhaps she was modelled on her.

I find the second part very slow and not especially riveting. Part three stretches credulity and some of the dialogue is meh.

Although an uneven read I would read novels featuring Sands again.
Profile Image for Kara.
579 reviews142 followers
July 30, 2023
New detective series and i really liked Erika Sans character, very well written and relatable. Told in four parts. I enjoyed the narration and found it easy to follow. Flowed very well and didn’t figure out the ending. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape for advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kylie.
919 reviews18 followers
December 1, 2023
Narrated by Jan Cramer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
by Gregg Dunnett ⭐⭐⭐⭐

So twisty!!!

This story moves fast which I loved and the twist were unexpected which is something I don't often get to say.
Profile Image for Aitziber.
417 reviews103 followers
June 3, 2024
Thriller entretenido, como otro más.

Se divide en varias partes el libro. Un asesinato resuelto que deja algún cabo suelto que lleva a profundizar más en el tema. Te mantiene la intriga y saltan las dudas de un personaje a otro.
Si que peca de “casualidades” que llevan facil al objetivo del libro

La vida de la protagonista que se va conociendo al final del libro, vida traumatica (como en todos los libros de este genero).

El caso se resuelve y queda abierta la trama de la inspectora Sand
Profile Image for Antonio.
254 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2021
What better way to end the year than a book that holds you and keeps you guessing from the first pages.
A good book to start your 2022 reading.
Happy new year to all of you out there who's love of reading makes this site so great.
Profile Image for Samantha.
418 reviews43 followers
December 18, 2023
"The Cove" by Gregg Dunnett is a real page-turner – seriously, I couldn't put it down! You think you've got it all figured out, and then BAM – the twist hits you like a ton of bricks. The characters, especially Detective Erica Sands, are a quirky bunch. Sure, she's a bit odd, and her antics got on my nerves at times, but hey, she gets the job done in her own unique way. Can't wait to uncover more about her in the next installments! The picturesque village of Lulworth and that modern house with killer views? I could practically see them in my mind. Bonus points for weaving in the pandemic – a real-life touch that added to the excitement. Definitely recommend diving into this compelling and twisty read!

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing & Gregg Dunnett for the arc!
Profile Image for Emily.
57 reviews10 followers
July 27, 2023
This was a perfect read for me. The opening page had me hooked! The story of Detective Sand was also intriguing and had all the great beginning of a great detective story. When it switched to Part 2 I was a bit apprehensive at first of the unexpected POV change and how it was going to fit in with the story but I think this was a really good move by the author and I wouldn’t of been as invested in the characters and story without.

The book was very well paced and the twists and turns weren’t obvious or outlandish as I was kept guessing all the way through. With cliffhanger ending of chapters that kept wanting me to read on and I wouldn’t have to eagerly wait for long for the author to finally reveal.

Books like these often have the ending rushed leading up to the big reveal and after, which this book completely avoided doing and made it an excellent read until the end.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange of a honest review. I will be highly anticipating Gregg Funnects next DCI sands novel.
Profile Image for Ariannha.
1,395 reviews
August 26, 2024
Un crimen cruento ๏ Una investigadora tenaz ๏ Secretos inesperados


“La cala” es el primer libro de la Serie que protagoniza la Inspectora Erica Sands y he de decir que ha sido un excelente comienzo. Es un thriller que tiene lo justo para entretener y enganchar: un terrible crimen contra una niña, y dos mujeres dispuestas a averiguar lo que ha pasado, sin importar las consecuencias.

El libro está dividido en cuatro partes y cada una cuenta con una narradora claramente identificada. El autor emplea los diferentes puntos de vista según la situación que desea contarnos, detallando lo necesario para crear la tensión sobre los hechos en dos momentos distintos de tiempo. Logra mantener la intriga, haciéndonos dudar de un personaje a otro.
El prólogo también es el gancho perfecto para iniciar la historia, que al inicio parece sencilla, pero se complejiza a medida que avanza.

Aunque el caso se resuelve, hasta cierto punto de una forma que no vi venir y un tanto al estilo de Agatha Christie, quedan dudas que aclarar con respecto a Erica, que imagino se irán resolviendo en los libros siguientes de la serie, por tanto pronto seguiré con La Fuga, la segunda entrega.

La narración es sencilla y sin el empleo de lenguaje complicado, pero tiene las palabras justas para crear tensión, intriga y cierto nerviosismo en torno al hecho principal. Sin embargo hay algunas cosas (que no contaré para no hacer spoilers) que me resultaron un tanto inverosímiles; pero que en favor de disfrutar la lectura, las pasé por alto, y ha valido la pena.


“¿Cuántos padres permanecen juntos tras la muerte de un hijo?”
Profile Image for Ⓢ Ⓨ.
168 reviews24 followers
July 25, 2023
When the body of a young girl is found on the beach, the evidence leads them straight to a local criminal. But is the case as clear cut as they first expected…?

WOW! From page 1, this is an action packed and gripping thriller. I was completely hooked! Full of plot twists and utterly chilling in places.
I loved Gregg Dunnett’s imaginative and clever writing style. A very believable story that felt like it could easily have been a plot straight out of CSI or Criminal Minds.

Would 100% recommend and would definitely read from this author again.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy.
Profile Image for Amanda Kristina.
484 reviews12 followers
March 5, 2024
How is this the same author of Little Ghost?


My goodness the characters in this book were insufferable. Every single one. So bad to the point where I almost gave up 30% in but I waited forever for this to become available through Libby and felt I had to finish it. Turns out there wasn’t a real reason to because that ending was silly. How are they not going to tell us what happened to everyone? Just Sands? I get the series is about her but there was no resolution to the other POV that took up half the book.
Profile Image for Karm Barter.
507 reviews19 followers
July 26, 2023
this was my first detective thriller and i was plesentaly surprised. it was a decent story although im tired of the hysterical neighbor peering through the window trope. i did figure out the killer, but later than i normally do so yay for that. there was a lot of covid talk though, more than was needed. I will read more from Dunnett though. i enjoyed his writing style.
Profile Image for Albóndiga Lee.
667 reviews109 followers
February 24, 2025
En términos generales me ha entretenido, aunque tiene un ritmo bastante raro. Pero el giro final de la investigación me ha parecido inverosímil.
Profile Image for Heidy.
109 reviews1 follower
April 19, 2025
Es un libro que te mantiene en vilo, sacando conclusiones de quien es el verdadero asesino, sospechando de todos y hasta el último momento es que descubres quien en verdad es un maldito, el autor te envuelve en el suspenso muy bien, con personajes super bien armados, me encantó...
Profile Image for Rosana Adler.
839 reviews74 followers
March 11, 2024
3,5 estrellas.

La primera parte mantiene el interés mientras la protagonista realiza la investigación.

En la segunda, que pone el foco en otro personaje, parece, en principio, que hay un bajón de interés, que la historia no fluje con la misma naturalidad, que se dispersa, aunque pronto se recupera el interés, manteniendo un buen ritmo hasta el final.

Ciertas circunstancias hacen que sea relativamente fácil adivinar el quién y porqué, quizá demasiado pronto, y en la recta final no se evita la clásica confesión.

Hubiera estado bien saber qué fue de tres personajes, las consecuencias que tiene para ellos la resolución del caso, deja la sensación de que falta algo.

Bien redactada (con alguna errata), muy entretenida, la clásica novela que se dice que engancha.
Profile Image for Fanny.
2,395 reviews50 followers
May 21, 2024



Mi primera lectura de Gregg Dunnett y no pude elegir mejor, ojala todos mi debuts fueran tan impresionantes como esta experiencia.

The Cove no es solo un thriller magistral, con un desarrollo fantastico y una protagonista femenina que me encanto, sino que ademas, consiguio lo que hacia tiempo un libro de misterio no conseguia, dejarme totalmente asombrada.

Realmente la trama se desenvuelve de una forma tan correcta y sin flecos sueltos que practicamente es mision imposible acertar con el autor de los crimenes que se narran hasta que la protagonista lo descubre por si misma. Yo tuve muchisimos sospechosos y debo reconocer que ninguno de ellos fue el responsable del asesinato.

Como ya digo, creo que The Cove es un libro redondo, no hay ni un solo detalle que no este cuidado al milimetro, y pese a no ser un thriller precisamente breve, yo lo senti hasta corto de lo mucho que lo disfrute.

Es cierto que mis partes favoritas son las narradas por la inspectora Erica Sands, no obstante, todos y cada uno de los capitulos le aporta algo esencial a la historia, estoy deseando poder leer mas tomos de esta nueva saga, estoy muy intrigada con estos personajes y este recien descubierto escritor.

En conclusion, una de las novelas mas destacables que he leido en un tiempo, a pasado un tiempo desde que un libro de suspense no me cautivaba como este.

Intenso, lleno de tension y con una trama llevada de manera formidable.

4.25 Estrellas!!
Profile Image for Lee .
169 reviews7 followers
January 4, 2024
4.5 stars rounded down

This is a humdinger of a page-turner, which is why I rated it with 4.5 stars. I rounded it down to 4 instead of up to 5 for two reasons:

1. The whole scenario of who the killer turned out to be. It was just unbelievable, as if the author had read something in an Introduction to Psychology textbook, but that's all he knew about abnormal psychology.

2. At some point in the story, someone gets shot and that someone ends up in hospital where the doctors explain that the bullet entered just above the right hip, travelled diagonally upward, and exited just below the ribcage. They had to perform surgeries on the colon, gallbladder, and the bile duct, which has, the doctors diagnosed, left the patient paralyzed from the neck down. Huh? That's not possible. To be paralyzed from the neck down, there must be damage to the cervical spine i.e. the neck. I don't even think the trajectory of the bullet would have even hit the gallbladder or bile duct.

Having said all that, I did really enjoy the book. It was an exciting and tense read and, before the reveal at the end, I was distrusting just about every character. This was the first book I've read by Gregg Dunnett and I'm looking forward to reading more.
Profile Image for Tara Cignarella.
Author 3 books139 followers
August 15, 2023
Format Read: Audiobook from NetGalley (available now)
Review: This was better in the beginning and the end, some of the middle was too far-fetched and the audio was dull. Amazon has this listed a cozy animal mystery and this truly doesn’t make sense to me. This was a ‘police procedure/who done it?’ with some gruesome parts that I should not have been eating to while listening. Overall not the best, but not the worst.
Recommended For: Those who like a who committed the crime books.
Book-opoly #14
Profile Image for Risa.
762 reviews31 followers
August 1, 2023
DNF very early on

Detailed description of a dead animal right away…no thanks. Can’t comment too much on the rest of the story because of that. The premise sounded okay, so maybe someone else will be able to get past that initial piece and enjoy the rest of it.

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kate.
279 reviews23 followers
September 23, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm publishing for access to this Arc in exchange for my honest review. There is so much to say about this book. After reading the first part, i was so impressed. The author described the scenes so well I felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading. It felt like I was on scene !! Starting the 2nd part, I was confused thinking it was another book but it soon connected haha.. That book was such a ride, I didn't see the twist coming. It's the first book I read from this author and I am very much impressed and it won't be my last.
Profile Image for María.
6 reviews
March 1, 2025
Es increíble cómo distintas historias aparentemente inconexas acaban uniéndose para revelar un final totalmente inesperado. Lo mejor es que a pesar de que la historia queda cerrada, la última frase del libro abre un nuevo comienzo para otro libro.
Profile Image for Jill.
362 reviews68 followers
August 3, 2023
The Cove
Thank you to Dreamscape Media Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook of, The Cove, by Gregg Dunnett.

This is the first book I’ve listened/read by Gregg Dunnett and look forward to book #2 of the DCI Stone Crime Thriller series. I enjoyed this audiobook read by, Jan Cramer.

The story starts with the brutal murder of an 8 year old girl found on a beach. The story moves at a frenetic pace and the tension builds with each chapter. It is an unputdownable listen.

If you like psychological crime thrillers with dysfunctional families, I think you will enjoy this. There are a few descriptions that are a bit macabre, but it didn’t deter me from finishing.
Profile Image for Stephany.
726 reviews22 followers
June 6, 2024
El giro del final me ha gustado , no me esperaba esa conexión.
Otro autor a mi lista de thriller , espero seguir con el segundo inmediatamente. ⭐
Profile Image for Sol.
82 reviews3 followers
March 25, 2025
Hace rato que no leí un thriller con continuación que me diera ganas de seguir los otros libros. Este lo súper logro!
Profile Image for Robyn.
2,370 reviews131 followers
April 5, 2024
THE COVE
GREGG DUNNETT


That is D U N N E T T... just so you have it when you go to the bookstore or library you can find this book. I happen to like very straightforward writing that depicts focused and single-minded detectives, particularly if they are female. Having been a female police officer I can assure you there is always some drama based on the fact that you are female. so the drama is always a result of your being female, it would not happen had you been male.

At any rate, this was a fast-paced book that sucked me in and held me in place until the last page. I enjoyed Sands quite a bit and found her to be brave, smart, analytical, and with a general air of feminity. The supporting characters were drawn well and believably fit the story.

It was a great read.

5 stars

Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Paula Sáez.
252 reviews2 followers
August 15, 2025
Nada del otro mundo. No me importaría continuar con la saga, pero no se me va la vida en ello
Profile Image for NereaDust.
15 reviews
July 27, 2025
4,5/5 ⭐️ - es un libro realmente muy bueno, jamás me imaginé ese final
Profile Image for Gatorman.
726 reviews95 followers
December 29, 2021
This is a hard one to rate. The story of a DCI who has a case literally blow up in her face, resulting in a suspension, investigating the underlying crime of a girl taken from her room and murdered on a beach. The girl's mom, Christine, is one of the most insufferable, annoying characters I've read in a long time, and she only serves to bring the story down. The DCI, Erica, starts out as a rather nasty, abrasive person but at least she softens somewhat as the story progresses. There is a surprise twist I did not see coming, but it's a bit incredible and doesn't quite ring true. Plus, there's a bit of cheating by Dunnett to hide the reveal, which I never like. The writing is solid, and the story does get better as it goes along, but overall it was disappointing considering the quality of Dunnett's previous books, especially the Rockpool series. Definitely my least favorite of his works. I think there is a future in this series with Christine gone and Erica having evolved as a character, so hopefully the second one improves on the formula. Didn't hate it but didn't love it, either. 2.5 stars for the writing and story improvement.
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