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Geneva Chase #3
Graveyard Bay
Time is running out… The nude bodies of a corrupt judge and a Jane Doe are found under the icy, black waters at Groward Bay Marina, chained to the prongs of a mammoth fork lift. A videotape points to Merlin Finn, a ruthless gang leader with a proclivity for bondage and S&M who had recently broken out of prison. In the videotape, he's wearing a black leather bondage mask. With the newspaper she works for about to be sold and her job in jeopardy, journalist Geneva Chase investigates pill mills, crooked doctors, and a massive money laundering scheme in an attempt to identify the murdered woman and find the killer. Along the way, she finds herself working with a disgraced New York cop and a host of other unlikely characters with ties to the criminal underworld. Geneva is clearly hot on the killer's trail, but when she is kidnapped and held at the mercy of the criminals she hoped to stop, it looks like her chance to uncover the darkness that has seeped through her hometown may be lost forever.
299 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2019
29 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Kies
8 books59 followersAuthor of the Geneva Chase Mystery Series, Thomas Kies lives and writes on a barrier island on the coast of North Carolina with his wife, Cindy.
He has a long career working for newspapers and magazines, primarily in New England and New York, and is currently working on his next novel.
When he’s not writing mysteries, Thomas Kies is the President of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce.
He has a long career working for newspapers and magazines, primarily in New England and New York, and is currently working on his next novel.
When he’s not writing mysteries, Thomas Kies is the President of the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 16, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review
The fact that this is the third book in the Geneva Chase series and I am two books behind, wasn’t too much of a problem. There are enough references to the back stories, that you can piece together past events. And I genuinely don’t think that the info given will spoil reading the first 2 books if I do read them afterwards. That in itself is a great skill.
The main characters is a stereotypical investigative journalist, hard drinking, cynical sort of person who pushes further than they should, risking their lives. In this instance the journalist is a woman for a change. The other main characters, are well drawn and developed through the story.
Part of the story is that the paper Geneva works for has been bought, and the staff are all wondering if they will still have a job after the Christmas holiday. Kies does a great job creating tension between the old employees and the new owner, who has brought in a new editor. The new editor is,excited by the developing “Graveyard Bay” murder story, as if the torture and murder of two humans is nothing more than a promotional gimmick. It is in these situations that Kies’ background as a journalist shines through. As he obviously knows the workings and pressures of a newsroom.
This is not a book for the faint of heart. (Not many Crime stories are!) The author does hold back a lot of the detail of the gruesome murders, but there is more than enough detail to convey the message and let your imagination fill in the blanks Maybe this is more shocking, letting the reader decide for themselves what happened?
Overall this is a terrific story full of twists, tension, some horrific murders and a cynical but cheeky journalist. The book moves along at a good pace and is easy to follow despite the many different paths explored. I said at the beginning that this was my first book in the Geneva Chase series. It will not be my last.
The fact that this is the third book in the Geneva Chase series and I am two books behind, wasn’t too much of a problem. There are enough references to the back stories, that you can piece together past events. And I genuinely don’t think that the info given will spoil reading the first 2 books if I do read them afterwards. That in itself is a great skill.
The main characters is a stereotypical investigative journalist, hard drinking, cynical sort of person who pushes further than they should, risking their lives. In this instance the journalist is a woman for a change. The other main characters, are well drawn and developed through the story.
Part of the story is that the paper Geneva works for has been bought, and the staff are all wondering if they will still have a job after the Christmas holiday. Kies does a great job creating tension between the old employees and the new owner, who has brought in a new editor. The new editor is,excited by the developing “Graveyard Bay” murder story, as if the torture and murder of two humans is nothing more than a promotional gimmick. It is in these situations that Kies’ background as a journalist shines through. As he obviously knows the workings and pressures of a newsroom.
This is not a book for the faint of heart. (Not many Crime stories are!) The author does hold back a lot of the detail of the gruesome murders, but there is more than enough detail to convey the message and let your imagination fill in the blanks Maybe this is more shocking, letting the reader decide for themselves what happened?
Overall this is a terrific story full of twists, tension, some horrific murders and a cynical but cheeky journalist. The book moves along at a good pace and is easy to follow despite the many different paths explored. I said at the beginning that this was my first book in the Geneva Chase series. It will not be my last.
August 16, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review
The fact that this is the third book in the Geneva Chase series and I am two books behind, wasn’t too much of a problem. There are enough references to the back stories, that you can piece together past events. And I genuinely don’t think that the info given will spoil reading the first 2 books if I do read them afterwards. That in itself is a great skill.
The main characters is a stereotypical investigative journalist, hard drinking, cynical sort of person who pushes further than they should, risking their lives. In this instance the journalist is a woman for a change. The other main characters, are well drawn and developed through the story.
Part of the story is that the paper Geneva works for has been bought, and the staff are all wondering if they will still have a job after the Christmas holiday. Kies does a great job creating tension between the old employees and the new owner, who has brought in a new editor. The new editor is,excited by the developing “Graveyard Bay” murder story, as if the torture and murder of two humans is nothing more than a promotional gimmick. It is in these situations that Kies’ background as a journalist shines through. As he obviously knows the workings and pressures of a newsroom.
This is not a book for the faint of heart. (Not many Crime stories are!) The author does hold back a lot of the detail of the gruesome murders, but there is more than enough detail to convey the message and let your imagination fill in the blanks Maybe this is more shocking, letting the reader decide for themselves what happened?
Overall this is a terrific story full of twists, tension, some horrific murders and a cynical but cheeky journalist. The book moves along at a good pace and is easy to follow despite the many different paths explored. I said at the beginning that this was my first book in the Geneva Chase series. It will not be my last.
The fact that this is the third book in the Geneva Chase series and I am two books behind, wasn’t too much of a problem. There are enough references to the back stories, that you can piece together past events. And I genuinely don’t think that the info given will spoil reading the first 2 books if I do read them afterwards. That in itself is a great skill.
The main characters is a stereotypical investigative journalist, hard drinking, cynical sort of person who pushes further than they should, risking their lives. In this instance the journalist is a woman for a change. The other main characters, are well drawn and developed through the story.
Part of the story is that the paper Geneva works for has been bought, and the staff are all wondering if they will still have a job after the Christmas holiday. Kies does a great job creating tension between the old employees and the new owner, who has brought in a new editor. The new editor is,excited by the developing “Graveyard Bay” murder story, as if the torture and murder of two humans is nothing more than a promotional gimmick. It is in these situations that Kies’ background as a journalist shines through. As he obviously knows the workings and pressures of a newsroom.
This is not a book for the faint of heart. (Not many Crime stories are!) The author does hold back a lot of the detail of the gruesome murders, but there is more than enough detail to convey the message and let your imagination fill in the blanks Maybe this is more shocking, letting the reader decide for themselves what happened?
Overall this is a terrific story full of twists, tension, some horrific murders and a cynical but cheeky journalist. The book moves along at a good pace and is easy to follow despite the many different paths explored. I said at the beginning that this was my first book in the Geneva Chase series. It will not be my last.
October 30, 2019
Absolut and Tonic
Crime reporter Geneva is back with her dysfunctional personal life, her career in limbo, Russian mobsters, Aryan Brotherhood, her 15 year old daughter Caroline, S&M fetish, and her bottle of Absolut vodka to wash it all down.
The body of a 60 year old judge and a woman half his age are found dead at the bottom of the Long Island sound bound to the forks of a marina forklift. Geneva Chase is on the chase for answers.
A well written, fast paced, strong story from page one. At one point i realized there was only 84 pages left and i was already missing Geneva Chase. I hope to see her again, drinks on me.
S&M? Really? Ow! Do that again. No! Wait!
Crime reporter Geneva is back with her dysfunctional personal life, her career in limbo, Russian mobsters, Aryan Brotherhood, her 15 year old daughter Caroline, S&M fetish, and her bottle of Absolut vodka to wash it all down.
The body of a 60 year old judge and a woman half his age are found dead at the bottom of the Long Island sound bound to the forks of a marina forklift. Geneva Chase is on the chase for answers.
A well written, fast paced, strong story from page one. At one point i realized there was only 84 pages left and i was already missing Geneva Chase. I hope to see her again, drinks on me.
S&M? Really? Ow! Do that again. No! Wait!
August 20, 2019
"Graveyard Bay" picks up two months after the events of "Darkness Lane" (I strongly recommend reading this one first so you can better understand everything that happens in "Graveyard bay". In a shocking first scene we witness how the bodies of a corrupt judge and an unknown woman are found under the waters at Groward Bay chained to the prongs of a forklift (I felt anxious just reading about it). A video points to the Aryan Brotherhood gang leader, recently broken out of prison. Geneva Chase finds herself in the center of a gang war between the Brotherhood and the Russian mob while at the same time she has to cope with the sell of the paper she works for and her struggles with alcohol.
"Graveyard Bay" is a solid thriller that moves along at a good pace. Although it has several subplots, at the end everything ties up nicely (that ending caught me by surprise!). Hoping to see what the future has in store for Genie.
Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Graveyard Bay" is a solid thriller that moves along at a good pace. Although it has several subplots, at the end everything ties up nicely (that ending caught me by surprise!). Hoping to see what the future has in store for Genie.
Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2020
"Graveyard Bay" is by far the most exciting read in the series. I was indeed very impressed. While the first two installments were good, this one came strong. Definitely one of those plots will stay with readers for a long time. 4.5 stars!
May 11, 2021
Love Geneva Chase and all the drama she gets caught up in. Here, Genie's job is once again on the line but not because of her drinking...her boss, Ben Sumner, has put THE SHEFFIELD POST, up for sale and Genie has thoughts of moving on. Fairly quickly on, she gets caught up in the gruesome murder of a judge and things are off and running. Really love how fast-paced and we'll written this series is. Characters sure are memorable! Highly recommend.
August 8, 2021
Another great book in this series! This one has Genie, alcoholic newspaper reporter, chasing down an escaped convict thought to be behind some very gruesome murders. So many twists and turns in this one and the bodies just keep coming. Is Genie going to be next? It'll be close! Can't wait to see where the new her new employment opportunity takes her. Good thing I have #4 ready and waiting for me!!
Want to Read
December 29, 2019A thrilling third book of a series. I really like this main character and the way it all fits into the suspense genre. The writing is very descriptive and it makes you feel like part of the story.
August 7, 2019
This was book three in the Geneva Chase series, but the first one I’ve read. Other than an one or two who-is-THAT? references to characters from previous novels, I wasn’t confused. This works as a standalone.
This is not a book for the faint of heart. While Kies refrains from giving salacious details of the gruesome murders, even the bare-bones version makes me shiver. There’s also a tour (of sorts) in a torture chamber. So if that will be an issue for you, you might want to skip this one. But most people who read current crime thrillers won’t be overly shocked.
The inside scoop into journalism
Kies’ background as a journalist shines. It’s obvious he knows the ins-and-outs of a newsroom, the constant pressure of deadlines, and the often-chaotic world of journalism. In high school, I briefly entertained the notion of becoming a journalist myself, and reading Graveyard Bay was both a trip down memory lane to the newsroom of my hometown’s newspaper and a good reminder of why I didn’t choose that career path.
Geneva’s newspaper has just been bought by Galley Media. All the Sheffield Post employees are tense, wondering if they’re going to lose their job shortly after the Christmas holiday. Kies does a great job creating tension between the old employees and the new owner, who has brought in a new editor. The editor, Lorraine, is thrilled by the developing “Graveyard Bay” murder story. The “nastier the death, the better the ink,” she proclaims to Geneva (chapter 8), as if the torture and murder of two humans is nothing more than a promotional gimmick.
The question of whether Geneva will be able to stand this new, cutthroat editor rumbles in the background throughout the book.
Geneva
Geneva is a flawed but interesting and sympathetic character. Her career has almost been derailed by her excessive drinking. (The pressures of work, perhaps?) Others think she’s drunk herself out of other decent jobs. Even her retiring boss, Ben, reminds her that he took a chance on her.
But while her drinking is clearly a problem, it doesn’t dominate her personality. She’s a darned good investigator. She is also worried about being 40; she constantly compares her age to those around her, wondering if everyone in the newsroom is younger than her, and feeling a bit threatened when her ex-boyfriend dates a younger woman. Not that she’ll admit to feeling threatened, of course!
Geneva is a complex character. I really enjoyed reading her “voice” on the page. She’s a hard-nosed cynic with a cheeky side. Her catty thoughts about the new editor, Lorraine, are snarky and funny. But she also cares deeply for her “daughter” Caroline.
In the past, she’s worked with a shadowy organization called Friends of Lydia, which works to free people from trafficking, and two of these “friends” appear in Graveyard Bay. Though she never says it, she maintains her ties to John and Shana partially because she cares about women in trafficking.
The mystery
This is a twist-filled journey that takes Geneva to some strange places. A torture chamber. A dominatrix’s workplace. An isolated house guarded by a man with an AR-15. A pill mill. An alley outside a drug dealer’s house. Like I said, it’s not for the faint of heart.
The S&M references
The one thing that diminished my enjoyment was the S&M references. I understand that Kies (through Geneva) is highlighting the difference between what Shana, a dominatrix, does for a living and what happens in the torture chamber; one is for pleasure between consenting adults, and the other is for one person to inflict main on another. I also understand that the details into Shana’s profession and background are partially to develop her character.
But this part of the storyline seemed distracting, as though it didn’t quite fit into the overall story. Frankly, it didn’t interest me nearly as much as the investigation into the murders and the area’s opium epidemic.
Overall, though, this was a good novel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Geneva’s opinions and I would read another book in this series. 4 stars
This is not a book for the faint of heart. While Kies refrains from giving salacious details of the gruesome murders, even the bare-bones version makes me shiver. There’s also a tour (of sorts) in a torture chamber. So if that will be an issue for you, you might want to skip this one. But most people who read current crime thrillers won’t be overly shocked.
The inside scoop into journalism
Kies’ background as a journalist shines. It’s obvious he knows the ins-and-outs of a newsroom, the constant pressure of deadlines, and the often-chaotic world of journalism. In high school, I briefly entertained the notion of becoming a journalist myself, and reading Graveyard Bay was both a trip down memory lane to the newsroom of my hometown’s newspaper and a good reminder of why I didn’t choose that career path.
Geneva’s newspaper has just been bought by Galley Media. All the Sheffield Post employees are tense, wondering if they’re going to lose their job shortly after the Christmas holiday. Kies does a great job creating tension between the old employees and the new owner, who has brought in a new editor. The editor, Lorraine, is thrilled by the developing “Graveyard Bay” murder story. The “nastier the death, the better the ink,” she proclaims to Geneva (chapter 8), as if the torture and murder of two humans is nothing more than a promotional gimmick.
The question of whether Geneva will be able to stand this new, cutthroat editor rumbles in the background throughout the book.
Geneva
Geneva is a flawed but interesting and sympathetic character. Her career has almost been derailed by her excessive drinking. (The pressures of work, perhaps?) Others think she’s drunk herself out of other decent jobs. Even her retiring boss, Ben, reminds her that he took a chance on her.
But while her drinking is clearly a problem, it doesn’t dominate her personality. She’s a darned good investigator. She is also worried about being 40; she constantly compares her age to those around her, wondering if everyone in the newsroom is younger than her, and feeling a bit threatened when her ex-boyfriend dates a younger woman. Not that she’ll admit to feeling threatened, of course!
Geneva is a complex character. I really enjoyed reading her “voice” on the page. She’s a hard-nosed cynic with a cheeky side. Her catty thoughts about the new editor, Lorraine, are snarky and funny. But she also cares deeply for her “daughter” Caroline.
In the past, she’s worked with a shadowy organization called Friends of Lydia, which works to free people from trafficking, and two of these “friends” appear in Graveyard Bay. Though she never says it, she maintains her ties to John and Shana partially because she cares about women in trafficking.
The mystery
This is a twist-filled journey that takes Geneva to some strange places. A torture chamber. A dominatrix’s workplace. An isolated house guarded by a man with an AR-15. A pill mill. An alley outside a drug dealer’s house. Like I said, it’s not for the faint of heart.
The S&M references
The one thing that diminished my enjoyment was the S&M references. I understand that Kies (through Geneva) is highlighting the difference between what Shana, a dominatrix, does for a living and what happens in the torture chamber; one is for pleasure between consenting adults, and the other is for one person to inflict main on another. I also understand that the details into Shana’s profession and background are partially to develop her character.
But this part of the storyline seemed distracting, as though it didn’t quite fit into the overall story. Frankly, it didn’t interest me nearly as much as the investigation into the murders and the area’s opium epidemic.
Overall, though, this was a good novel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Geneva’s opinions and I would read another book in this series. 4 stars
October 8, 2019
A really good book, well written.
Captivating storyline, interesting from page one, full of suspense, good pace, smart plot and interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Captivating storyline, interesting from page one, full of suspense, good pace, smart plot and interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 27, 2019
This is the third book in the Geneva Chase series and I am two books behind! In all seriousness though, there is sufficient information in this third instalment that you can piece together past events that do not negatively impact the reading of this third book. It might be helpful if you want to know a little more about Geneva and her history to go back and read the other two before starting on this one, if you are so inclined.
Geneva is a reporter/editor for a newspaper that has recently been taken over by a large conglomerate, that at the outset no-one knows much about. Geneva knows she's not going to be happy about it as she's already heard on the grapevine she'll be back on the crime beat. It is, however what Geneva is good at. Chasing down leads, networking are her primary skill set. Her secondary skills set appears to be drinking almost daily, and sabotaging most of her personal relationships. She also appears to have a knack for finding herself in dangerous situations - perhaps reflective of some of the company she keeps.
In this instalment Geneva investigates the murder of a local corrupt judge and a female "companion" who both died a brutal death. Geneva has a number of potential persons of interest - a couple of Russian brothers, as well as a white supremacist group known as the Brotherhood are the front-runners. Geneva has crossed paths with them at various times and they all pose a great risk, not least of all to Geneva herself.
Geneva is a prickly character who clearly has her own personal demons she is battling with. However she has a quick mind and wit, and a strong sense of social justice. She also has a mother's protective instinct towards her dead husband's daughter, now 15. It is this relationship, and the potential of romance with a professional acquaintance John, that allows a glimpse of a softer side of Geneva. You wonder if the soft underbelly Geneva exposes will be her undoing at some point ...
Geneva and John work together until Geneva is kidnapped. Who is behind it all and will Geneva make it out alive?
This book has all the ingredients for success. An identifiable lead character with some human fragilities, badass villains, and some characters that you are yet to figure out. The plot is good and the ending was good as well, leaving room for further novels. There are some S&M links in here that just seem a bit gratuitous and maybe there for the shock value and I think this is the area that misses the mark for me - it's adding too much to the plot and in my opinion the less is more.
Thank you to Poison Press, Sourcebooks, and Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I tended towards four stars for this book but it wasn't quite there as I have read some awesome thrillers lately..
Geneva is a reporter/editor for a newspaper that has recently been taken over by a large conglomerate, that at the outset no-one knows much about. Geneva knows she's not going to be happy about it as she's already heard on the grapevine she'll be back on the crime beat. It is, however what Geneva is good at. Chasing down leads, networking are her primary skill set. Her secondary skills set appears to be drinking almost daily, and sabotaging most of her personal relationships. She also appears to have a knack for finding herself in dangerous situations - perhaps reflective of some of the company she keeps.
In this instalment Geneva investigates the murder of a local corrupt judge and a female "companion" who both died a brutal death. Geneva has a number of potential persons of interest - a couple of Russian brothers, as well as a white supremacist group known as the Brotherhood are the front-runners. Geneva has crossed paths with them at various times and they all pose a great risk, not least of all to Geneva herself.
Geneva is a prickly character who clearly has her own personal demons she is battling with. However she has a quick mind and wit, and a strong sense of social justice. She also has a mother's protective instinct towards her dead husband's daughter, now 15. It is this relationship, and the potential of romance with a professional acquaintance John, that allows a glimpse of a softer side of Geneva. You wonder if the soft underbelly Geneva exposes will be her undoing at some point ...
Geneva and John work together until Geneva is kidnapped. Who is behind it all and will Geneva make it out alive?
This book has all the ingredients for success. An identifiable lead character with some human fragilities, badass villains, and some characters that you are yet to figure out. The plot is good and the ending was good as well, leaving room for further novels. There are some S&M links in here that just seem a bit gratuitous and maybe there for the shock value and I think this is the area that misses the mark for me - it's adding too much to the plot and in my opinion the less is more.
Thank you to Poison Press, Sourcebooks, and Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I tended towards four stars for this book but it wasn't quite there as I have read some awesome thrillers lately..
August 21, 2019
Graveyard Bay is an all-action thriller which twisted and turned right up to the last chapter. The main character Geneva Chase is a very attractive, hard-drinking, marauding journalist who is on-hand when the gruesome discovery of a murdered judge and another woman is made. Her investigations lead her to believe that the murderer is likely a recently escaped convict with a score to settle but Genie cannot rule out or a villain with whom she has had a previous unpleasant encounter either.
The story is well written and the story unravels at a good pace. The author uses the backdrop of a newspaper takeover to add more drama to the plot, whilst the supporting characters are believable but at the same time some are on the slightly exotic side. There are mild references to torture and some kinky sex but nothing gratuitous.
Overall this was a solid thriller and a very good read.
The story is well written and the story unravels at a good pace. The author uses the backdrop of a newspaper takeover to add more drama to the plot, whilst the supporting characters are believable but at the same time some are on the slightly exotic side. There are mild references to torture and some kinky sex but nothing gratuitous.
Overall this was a solid thriller and a very good read.
September 5, 2019
Geneva Chase is a crusading journalist who seems to find trouble. She's also got a serious problem with alcohol. Now, her paper's been sold, there's a distinct possibility she's going to lose her job, and the hot story involves a judge and an unnamed woman found dead in a bizarre way. AND, Merlin Finn, a bad guy (bad bad guy) with a fondness for S&M is on the loose. And there are white supremacists and Russian gang guys. Geneva's worked against traffickers in the past and her friend Shana works as dominatrix but is that what this is? Who is Jane Doe? And who the heck has kidnapped Geneva? She spending a lot of time worrying about her job (and her age) but that makes her voice more authentic. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a nicely done thriller. No spoilers.
December 4, 2024
Enjoying following Geneva's adventures. In this one, things get even darker and more dangerous when a criminal from her past dealings surfaces. At one point, she trades one really bad dude for another, so while she's glad the first one is gone, "there's an even worse monster out there" and she's in his crosshairs. While her newspaper is still under a sale agreement and she gets a new editor who is the worst, Geneva works to find the recent "bad guy" prison escapee before he kills and tortures another person. Her continued struggles in her personal life are always there, like a lingering odor, and the skirts the line trying to figure out how to control her demons. There are still a few places where you know the female character was written by a man, but they're not glaring enough to interfere with the story. There's a new potential love interest in this one, and I like how in the end, she's kinda juggling the affections of two men, not choosing either. Sometimes a girl needs a little time to decide.
Favorite Line ~ "It was a cold stew of fear, dread, and the thrill of getting a great story all rolled up into one."
Favorite Line ~ "It was a cold stew of fear, dread, and the thrill of getting a great story all rolled up into one."
November 26, 2024
Geneva Chase always knows how to follow a story right into danger and I am always down for the ride!
Book three starts with both her personal and professional life in a mess -- her paper has been sold and she is about to lose the freedom (and salary) she enjoys. Her adopted ward Caroline is off to celebrate Christmas with her aunt in Aspen and her on and off again boyfriend Mike Dillon seems to be tired of waiting for her to commit, meaning she is facing a holiday by herself.
But when a local judge and unidentified woman wash up in the marina brutally murdered, she is back on the beat with a case more dangerous than ever. She never knows when she might ask the wrong person the right question to land herself in hot water.
Short but excellently paced and thoroughly enjoyable! I love this imperfect reporter and the inner monologue that leads her to top-notch investigative reporting.
Book three starts with both her personal and professional life in a mess -- her paper has been sold and she is about to lose the freedom (and salary) she enjoys. Her adopted ward Caroline is off to celebrate Christmas with her aunt in Aspen and her on and off again boyfriend Mike Dillon seems to be tired of waiting for her to commit, meaning she is facing a holiday by herself.
But when a local judge and unidentified woman wash up in the marina brutally murdered, she is back on the beat with a case more dangerous than ever. She never knows when she might ask the wrong person the right question to land herself in hot water.
Short but excellently paced and thoroughly enjoyable! I love this imperfect reporter and the inner monologue that leads her to top-notch investigative reporting.
June 16, 2022
Graveyard Bay by Thomas Kies is a ‘train wreck’ of a book. Evidently it is the third book in a series. I am just glad I never had to read the other two. The story is about Geneva Chase, who works for a newspaper and ends up investigating two gruesome murders. Kies is clearly a lazy writer. When he can’t figure out where the story should go, he just kills another random character. I did not like the premise. I thought the story was dull and rather unbelievable. I did not like the characters. It is a lousy book and belongs in a graveyard. But a graveyard near a bay is too good for this book. It needs to be a graveyard in an abandoned cemetery in some lost desert. And that even might be too good for this book.
August 1, 2022
Book 3 really continues much of what happened in book 2 (Darkness Lane), so be sure to read that first! The notebook that Genie received has her trying to decipher the codes in the book. This leads to her following a drug dealer, and that sets a slew of things in motion.
Genie is still in the sights of the Tolbonov brothers, the newspaper may get sold due to lost advertising dollars, and Genie is investigating some ruthless murders as well as some drug deaths. She continues to rely on Shana Neese and John Singleton for help (from book 2). Of course, Mike Dillon, police is also a great confidant.
Genie may be on to a new adventure, but she is still digging deep into the scary world of murder!
Genie is still in the sights of the Tolbonov brothers, the newspaper may get sold due to lost advertising dollars, and Genie is investigating some ruthless murders as well as some drug deaths. She continues to rely on Shana Neese and John Singleton for help (from book 2). Of course, Mike Dillon, police is also a great confidant.
Genie may be on to a new adventure, but she is still digging deep into the scary world of murder!
April 27, 2020
This is the first time I’ve read a Thomas kies book and found it interesting. You wanted to find out how it would end. He kept you going throughout the book. I’ll look for another. This is the first for an advanced readers copy also. And poisoned pen press. In the time we are going through all libraries are closed so in my town we have the free library boxes. That’s where I found it. It does give a lot of blood and guts so be prepared for it. I finished in record time because it kept you on your toes and wanted to read more.
August 31, 2022
I wanted to really like this book but I just couldn’t relate to the characters at all. I feel like there were so many unnecessary descriptions(although very well written) that could have been applied to the actual story progression instead of the characters’ appearance and clothing. I feel like this book dragged its feet up until the last chapter.
I will say, this was my first mystery but I was not impressed at all. Not sure if this is the outline for most mysteries(very slow beginning and middle and a good end) but I think I’ll give mystery a break for now.
I will say, this was my first mystery but I was not impressed at all. Not sure if this is the outline for most mysteries(very slow beginning and middle and a good end) but I think I’ll give mystery a break for now.
July 9, 2025
I thought this was a pretty good book! I rated it 4 stars because I think the main character and her drinking thoughts are a bit silly. I really liked though that until the end you really didn’t know how many people were really involved with everything, she had all of these random people and couldn’t piece together how they all fit together. I had an assumption toward the end when she was going to get kidnapped but it seemed to end as quick as it started was just a little bit disappointing. Overall though, I liked it and would probably read other Geneva Chase stories.
June 5, 2020
An absolutely enjoyable crime solving plot, with a fabulous team of investigators. The plot, the characters, the methods of investigation keep you hooked. A page turner that's got everything going for it!
April 22, 2020
Really enjoyed this 3rd book in the series of Geneva Chase mysteries
July 24, 2022
My free book from the library reading challenge but got into the mystery and characters!
September 27, 2023
... and better...
January 1, 2025
Enjoyed the added local history in this one.
September 7, 2025
I’m really enjoying the Geneva Chase mystery series! This book was tense and has some really scary moments for Miss Chase. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 22, 2021
Enjoying this series, another great installment, carrying a bit of the plot from the previous book
August 2, 2020
A fairly good crime novel, but the characters were thin. The author gave more information about the way they dressed than their personalities.
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