What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Megan Carpenter #3
Silent Ridge
One bath wall is a mural of a brilliant-yellow sunflower. The theme carries over to the shower curtains, but the yellow vinyl is spattered with red blotches. Propped against the mirror is a South Kitsap High School photo of a teenaged girl.
Detective Megan Carpenter is no stranger to horrifying crime scenes, but when she arrives at the home of a woman whose body has been brutalized, Megan is shocked to discover that she knows the victim. Monique Delmont helped Megan when she was in danger years ago. And the killer has left a disturbing calling card… two laminated photographs of a sixteen-year-old high school girl – Megan.
Someone is taunting her in the worst way possible and Megan is convinced she knows who is responsible. She just has to find him.
With the help of her new partner, Deputy Ronnie Marsh, Megan begins to unravel the clues that will lead them to the killer including links to three female murder cases from nearly twenty years ago – one of which was Monique’s daughter.
But to protect those closest to her, Megan must continue to hide the dark truth of her past, even if that means lying to her team about her connection to Monique.
When two photographs of a teenage Megan are found at her boyfriend’s place in Snow Creek, she knows the killer is circling and ready to strike again.
Can she get to him before he finds her? And will she pay the ultimate price for trying to keep her terrifying past buried?
Detective Megan Carpenter is no stranger to horrifying crime scenes, but when she arrives at the home of a woman whose body has been brutalized, Megan is shocked to discover that she knows the victim. Monique Delmont helped Megan when she was in danger years ago. And the killer has left a disturbing calling card… two laminated photographs of a sixteen-year-old high school girl – Megan.
Someone is taunting her in the worst way possible and Megan is convinced she knows who is responsible. She just has to find him.
With the help of her new partner, Deputy Ronnie Marsh, Megan begins to unravel the clues that will lead them to the killer including links to three female murder cases from nearly twenty years ago – one of which was Monique’s daughter.
But to protect those closest to her, Megan must continue to hide the dark truth of her past, even if that means lying to her team about her connection to Monique.
When two photographs of a teenage Megan are found at her boyfriend’s place in Snow Creek, she knows the killer is circling and ready to strike again.
Can she get to him before he finds her? And will she pay the ultimate price for trying to keep her terrifying past buried?
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2020
5240 people are currently reading
1981 people want to read
About the author
Gregg Olsen
116 books7,089 followersThroughout his career, Gregg Olsen has demonstrated an ability to create a detailed narrative that offers readers fascinating insights into the lives of people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written ten nonfiction books, ten novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.
The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen’s Snapped, Court TV’s Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E’s Biography.
In addition to television and radio appearances, the award-winning author has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People, Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.
The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.
Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).
A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written ten nonfiction books, ten novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.
The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen’s Snapped, Court TV’s Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E’s Biography.
In addition to television and radio appearances, the award-winning author has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People, Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.
The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.
Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
March 25, 2021
Silent Ridge
by Gregg Olsen is the third book in a series featuring Detective Megan Carpenter, and largely set in and around Port Townsend, Washington. This author knows how to pull a reader into a book with the first sentence. By the end of the first paragraph you are hooked. The novel is a police procedural with a lot of suspense, but it is also a study of characters.
While the story starts with and is interspersed with looks at the killer, most of the novel is from Sheriff’s Detective Megan Carpenter’s point of view. When she is called to a crime scene by the sheriff, she wonders why he is handling the case and not her. When she gets to the scene, it turns out she knows the victim and the killer has left two laminated photos of Megan at the scene.
Megan has a dark past and more details of that time come out in this novel. She is likeable, but seriously flawed, and is a memorable character who feels real and three-dimensional. She shows definite character growth in her personal interactions with friends and colleagues. Her new partner, rookie Ronnie Marsh, plays a major role in this novel and shows new character depth as well.
This book is fast paced and I did not want to stop reading it even when it was very late and I needed to sleep. The author does a great job of worldbuilding and gives the reader a vivid sense of the place and people. The ending is explosive. However, there are a few open threads that will likely play into future books in the series. The story flowed well and kept me guessing. Danger and tension built rapidly. Overall, this was suspenseful, fast-paced and twisty. Readers should be aware that the vivid descriptions include those at crime scenes. Themes that run through this novel include loneliness, humor as a stress relief, murder, cruelty, defensiveness, trust, lies, secrets, family and romantic relationships and complexities, desire for vengeance and retribution, and much more.
This is the third book in this series that I have read and I am looking forward to the next one. The series is fresh and it just keeps getting better and better. However, it would be nice to have Megan take on a case that doesn’t tie into her past. I believe those readers that enjoy crime fiction and police procedurals with a little something extra will enjoy this book. The series should be read in order.
I purchased a digital copy of this novel. This is my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was December 4, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
While the story starts with and is interspersed with looks at the killer, most of the novel is from Sheriff’s Detective Megan Carpenter’s point of view. When she is called to a crime scene by the sheriff, she wonders why he is handling the case and not her. When she gets to the scene, it turns out she knows the victim and the killer has left two laminated photos of Megan at the scene.
Megan has a dark past and more details of that time come out in this novel. She is likeable, but seriously flawed, and is a memorable character who feels real and three-dimensional. She shows definite character growth in her personal interactions with friends and colleagues. Her new partner, rookie Ronnie Marsh, plays a major role in this novel and shows new character depth as well.
This book is fast paced and I did not want to stop reading it even when it was very late and I needed to sleep. The author does a great job of worldbuilding and gives the reader a vivid sense of the place and people. The ending is explosive. However, there are a few open threads that will likely play into future books in the series. The story flowed well and kept me guessing. Danger and tension built rapidly. Overall, this was suspenseful, fast-paced and twisty. Readers should be aware that the vivid descriptions include those at crime scenes. Themes that run through this novel include loneliness, humor as a stress relief, murder, cruelty, defensiveness, trust, lies, secrets, family and romantic relationships and complexities, desire for vengeance and retribution, and much more.
This is the third book in this series that I have read and I am looking forward to the next one. The series is fresh and it just keeps getting better and better. However, it would be nice to have Megan take on a case that doesn’t tie into her past. I believe those readers that enjoy crime fiction and police procedurals with a little something extra will enjoy this book. The series should be read in order.
I purchased a digital copy of this novel. This is my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date was December 4, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
November 2, 2020
Dark Falls is the third in the Megan Carpenter series. I enjoyed the first two, but found this one lacking.
Once again, we hear from both Megan and the killer. Megan is called to the scene of a gruesome murder and discovers she knew the woman. Monique Delmont had helped Megan back in her prior life. Now, her good deeds have been punished.
I have to admit that it’s getting a little boring that every case Megan works ties into her personal life. Really? How many folks have been “influenced” by the initial serial killer? The book requires a knowledge from the prior two books and definitely can’t be read as a standalone.
Ronnie, Megan’s reserve deputy is still a hardworking trainee, doing whatever she can to get to be involved. She was one of the bright spots in this book. I’m tired of damaged lead characters and Megan is definitely damaged goods.
The book is fast paced. We know the killer, but Megan does not. So, it’s more the suspense of how she’ll outwit the individual.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
Once again, we hear from both Megan and the killer. Megan is called to the scene of a gruesome murder and discovers she knew the woman. Monique Delmont had helped Megan back in her prior life. Now, her good deeds have been punished.
I have to admit that it’s getting a little boring that every case Megan works ties into her personal life. Really? How many folks have been “influenced” by the initial serial killer? The book requires a knowledge from the prior two books and definitely can’t be read as a standalone.
Ronnie, Megan’s reserve deputy is still a hardworking trainee, doing whatever she can to get to be involved. She was one of the bright spots in this book. I’m tired of damaged lead characters and Megan is definitely damaged goods.
The book is fast paced. We know the killer, but Megan does not. So, it’s more the suspense of how she’ll outwit the individual.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
November 8, 2020
Unfortunately, I found this third novel in the Detective Megan Carpenter series a somewhat tedious read. It could be because I am tired of novels where the investigator is also the one being targeted by the murderer. We know from previous books in this series that Megan is haunted by her past. With her mother and brother she was constantly on the run and even now with a new identity to keep her hidden is constantly looking over her shoulder.
When a woman from her past, who helped Megan and other victims of crime, is found hideously tortured and murdered and a photo of Megan as a teenager is left at the scene, Megan immediately assumes that someone connected with her past is responsible. She decides who it has to be without any evidence, except for the photo and the link to the victim, not even considering other suspects and the Sheriff seems happy to let her do that. Although the Sheriff doesn't know all her secrets, he know something of her past and that she is connected to the victim, but yet lets her continue to run the case with only a trainee detective to assist. It felt to me that Megan was overly obsessed by her past, if not a little deranged, and I wasn't at all surprised when she later put herself directly into harm's way. I also wasn't terribly convinced by the psychotic murderer's motives for the people killed or for targeting Megan and even the action packed ending wasn't enough for me to feel invested in the suspense.
I think if Megan can now move on from her past, this could be a good series. She is a good detective with good instincts and a character you could warm to, especially if she can learn to relax and open up to people a bit more. I really like Ronnie, the smart, over-sharing rookie detective as well as Megan's love interest, wood carver Dan who is an interesting character (who puts up with a lot from her). However, if Megan is still the target for ripples from her past in the next book then I think I'm done with this series, although I'm sure Gregg Olsen will remain a favourite author.
With thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a digital copy of this book
When a woman from her past, who helped Megan and other victims of crime, is found hideously tortured and murdered and a photo of Megan as a teenager is left at the scene, Megan immediately assumes that someone connected with her past is responsible. She decides who it has to be without any evidence, except for the photo and the link to the victim, not even considering other suspects and the Sheriff seems happy to let her do that. Although the Sheriff doesn't know all her secrets, he know something of her past and that she is connected to the victim, but yet lets her continue to run the case with only a trainee detective to assist. It felt to me that Megan was overly obsessed by her past, if not a little deranged, and I wasn't at all surprised when she later put herself directly into harm's way. I also wasn't terribly convinced by the psychotic murderer's motives for the people killed or for targeting Megan and even the action packed ending wasn't enough for me to feel invested in the suspense.
I think if Megan can now move on from her past, this could be a good series. She is a good detective with good instincts and a character you could warm to, especially if she can learn to relax and open up to people a bit more. I really like Ronnie, the smart, over-sharing rookie detective as well as Megan's love interest, wood carver Dan who is an interesting character (who puts up with a lot from her). However, if Megan is still the target for ripples from her past in the next book then I think I'm done with this series, although I'm sure Gregg Olsen will remain a favourite author.
With thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a digital copy of this book
December 7, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
“Sheriff said she’s about eighty years old and frail looking.” “Rowena Perkins likes tea spiked with Johnnie Walker and puzzles of half-naked firemen waving a hose.” “Who doesn’t?” Mindy says with a laugh. “Maybe they got in a fight over the puzzle.” I think it would be more likely over the Johnnie Walker, but I keep that to myself.
I wonder how I’ve gotten so popular all of a sudden. It can’t be because of the pile of dead bodies I seem to attract. Maybe it’s not being emotionally available? Men seem to like that. And big breasts. I don’t have those. But Clay also invited Ronnie, and she can give Dolly Parton a run for her money.
I love my job. I love that I’m making a difference. Helping victims. Getting justice. Maybe in the form of vengeance, but justice all the same.
My Review:
I was more than a bit conflicted during perusal and again in deciding my rating of this brilliantly contrived and multi-layered tale. It was my first outing with the talented scribe known as Gregg Olsen and I found his pen to be chillingly brilliant and his characters to be compelling and somewhat enigmatic. Mr. Olsen’s twisted serial killer has put a knot in my neck and kept my shoulders in my ears. His latest tautly written missive gripped my attention and pinned me in place, keeping me tense while periodically grinding my teeth throughout perusal as I had great difficulty with the unreliability of his main character.
Megan was a sharp and astute detective but deeply paranoid and a consummate liar. She lied about something every time she opened her mouth. Some subterfuge was understandable, but she seemed to have an overriding need for massive deception that got in her way and put others in peril. Maybe had I read the first two books in the series I would have had a better grip on the underlying issues and wouldn’t have struggled with my personal distaste for her predilection for falsehood. And since I have no other complaints and nothing but respect for Mr. Olsen’s cunning craftsmanship, expert pacing, and shrewd placement of snark and humorous observations and musings, I chose to let go of what my friend Shalini calls her “niggles” and rave of his absorbing yet darkly disturbing storytelling skills. This bears further research on my part so I have added his listing to my TBR.
“Sheriff said she’s about eighty years old and frail looking.” “Rowena Perkins likes tea spiked with Johnnie Walker and puzzles of half-naked firemen waving a hose.” “Who doesn’t?” Mindy says with a laugh. “Maybe they got in a fight over the puzzle.” I think it would be more likely over the Johnnie Walker, but I keep that to myself.
I wonder how I’ve gotten so popular all of a sudden. It can’t be because of the pile of dead bodies I seem to attract. Maybe it’s not being emotionally available? Men seem to like that. And big breasts. I don’t have those. But Clay also invited Ronnie, and she can give Dolly Parton a run for her money.
I love my job. I love that I’m making a difference. Helping victims. Getting justice. Maybe in the form of vengeance, but justice all the same.
My Review:
I was more than a bit conflicted during perusal and again in deciding my rating of this brilliantly contrived and multi-layered tale. It was my first outing with the talented scribe known as Gregg Olsen and I found his pen to be chillingly brilliant and his characters to be compelling and somewhat enigmatic. Mr. Olsen’s twisted serial killer has put a knot in my neck and kept my shoulders in my ears. His latest tautly written missive gripped my attention and pinned me in place, keeping me tense while periodically grinding my teeth throughout perusal as I had great difficulty with the unreliability of his main character.
Megan was a sharp and astute detective but deeply paranoid and a consummate liar. She lied about something every time she opened her mouth. Some subterfuge was understandable, but she seemed to have an overriding need for massive deception that got in her way and put others in peril. Maybe had I read the first two books in the series I would have had a better grip on the underlying issues and wouldn’t have struggled with my personal distaste for her predilection for falsehood. And since I have no other complaints and nothing but respect for Mr. Olsen’s cunning craftsmanship, expert pacing, and shrewd placement of snark and humorous observations and musings, I chose to let go of what my friend Shalini calls her “niggles” and rave of his absorbing yet darkly disturbing storytelling skills. This bears further research on my part so I have added his listing to my TBR.
December 6, 2020
3.5* I enjoyed this police procedural / psychological thriller set in the north-western corner of Washington State, in the USA. However, I have no doubt that my reading experience of Silent Ridge (a.k.a. Dark Falls: A gripping crime thriller and mystery) would have been enhanced, had I first read the first two books in Gregg Olsen's Megan Carpenter series, Snow Creek and Water's Edge.
Detective Megan Carpenter is a dedicated and intuitive investigator, but she has an incredibly dark and tangled past, which is unknown to her colleagues and virtually all her friends. She's living under an assumed name after she and her family had been targeted by a serial killer.
Megan's past and present collide when photographs of her at work and as a high school student are found at a gruesome crime scene. The victim is a woman Megan had taken into her confidence and whose daughter had previously been murdered by the same serial killer who stalked Megan.
Megan is an understandably prickly character and a significant part of the narrative consists of her efforts to keep one step ahead of her boss, the sheriff, her probationer colleague Ronnie, her boyfriend and anyone else who knows her, whilst also appearing to investigate the crime through normal channels.
While the plot was intriguing, I felt that Megan's frequent reminiscence over past events often seemed to halt the flow of the narrative. I found the character of Megan difficult to warm to, but loved the vivacious and keen Ronnie!
This was a solid Pacific Northwest thriller, but I believe this to be a series which readers would be best to tackle in series order. I intend to return to book 1 and re-read from there.
My thanks to Gregg Olsen, publisher Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Detective Megan Carpenter is a dedicated and intuitive investigator, but she has an incredibly dark and tangled past, which is unknown to her colleagues and virtually all her friends. She's living under an assumed name after she and her family had been targeted by a serial killer.
Megan's past and present collide when photographs of her at work and as a high school student are found at a gruesome crime scene. The victim is a woman Megan had taken into her confidence and whose daughter had previously been murdered by the same serial killer who stalked Megan.
Megan is an understandably prickly character and a significant part of the narrative consists of her efforts to keep one step ahead of her boss, the sheriff, her probationer colleague Ronnie, her boyfriend and anyone else who knows her, whilst also appearing to investigate the crime through normal channels.
While the plot was intriguing, I felt that Megan's frequent reminiscence over past events often seemed to halt the flow of the narrative. I found the character of Megan difficult to warm to, but loved the vivacious and keen Ronnie!
This was a solid Pacific Northwest thriller, but I believe this to be a series which readers would be best to tackle in series order. I intend to return to book 1 and re-read from there.
My thanks to Gregg Olsen, publisher Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
November 14, 2020
This is my first book by Gregg Olsen, I haven't read the previous books in this series, but it wasn't a big deal. Though I believe my experience would have been more fulfilling if I had known what happened in the earlier books.
Yet, I managed to get to know the main character, Megan, quite well. Thanks to the author's good work, even with only this one book Megan looks like a complex and multidimensional character. I love that her dark and uneasy past isn't the only interesting thing about her, and Megan has a fascinating personality too. I also like her relationship with Ronnie. I believe that these two women, although so different, make a remarkably interesting duo. I'm also glad that Ronnie is also a more complicated girl than just a cute overzealous talker.
The plot is fine too, although it might be a bit too dark for some people. Just like the choices Megan made in previous books. Personally, it didn't bother me. It's a fast-paced story that you can read very quickly, with just the right amount of more or less unexpected twists and turns.
If I had to change anything, I'd probably leave out the murderer chapters. I believe that if we had not found out at a fairly early stage who the murderer is and what motivates them to kill, the stakes would be much higher and we would be much more surprised at the end. But this can also be just my problem because it seems to me that recently I more and more enjoy being surprised by the identity of the murderer.
It is a very good book that makes me want to check out other works by this author. Including the previous books in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Yet, I managed to get to know the main character, Megan, quite well. Thanks to the author's good work, even with only this one book Megan looks like a complex and multidimensional character. I love that her dark and uneasy past isn't the only interesting thing about her, and Megan has a fascinating personality too. I also like her relationship with Ronnie. I believe that these two women, although so different, make a remarkably interesting duo. I'm also glad that Ronnie is also a more complicated girl than just a cute overzealous talker.
The plot is fine too, although it might be a bit too dark for some people. Just like the choices Megan made in previous books. Personally, it didn't bother me. It's a fast-paced story that you can read very quickly, with just the right amount of more or less unexpected twists and turns.
If I had to change anything, I'd probably leave out the murderer chapters. I believe that if we had not found out at a fairly early stage who the murderer is and what motivates them to kill, the stakes would be much higher and we would be much more surprised at the end. But this can also be just my problem because it seems to me that recently I more and more enjoy being surprised by the identity of the murderer.
It is a very good book that makes me want to check out other works by this author. Including the previous books in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2020
This is the 3rd book in the Megan Carpenter series and I am looking forward to book 4.
In this book, the beginning is quite gruesome with the discovery of a flayed body. For Megan this is personal, the victim being a person from her past, and an old photo of Megan as 'Rylee' her former identity being found at the crime scene.
This time with her new trainee officer, Ronnie, in tow, Megan starts to realise that there are advantages to being part of a team as opposed to the lone wolf approach she normally takes.
As the investigation progresses Megan becomes more and more sure that a person connected to her biological father (a serial killer) is stalking her.
There are moments of frustration in this book. Megan is constantly lying to those around her, and there are constant references to her past that are beginning to wear thin at this point in time.
Not a standalone book, this is firmly part of a series that needs to be read in order.
Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
* Released by Kindle as Silent Ridge
In this book, the beginning is quite gruesome with the discovery of a flayed body. For Megan this is personal, the victim being a person from her past, and an old photo of Megan as 'Rylee' her former identity being found at the crime scene.
This time with her new trainee officer, Ronnie, in tow, Megan starts to realise that there are advantages to being part of a team as opposed to the lone wolf approach she normally takes.
As the investigation progresses Megan becomes more and more sure that a person connected to her biological father (a serial killer) is stalking her.
There are moments of frustration in this book. Megan is constantly lying to those around her, and there are constant references to her past that are beginning to wear thin at this point in time.
Not a standalone book, this is firmly part of a series that needs to be read in order.
Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
* Released by Kindle as Silent Ridge
December 21, 2020
Silent Ridge (originally titled Dark Falls) by Gregg Olsen is the third in the Detective Megan Carpenter Tapes series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Megan Carpenter is a detective in Port Townsend, Washington. Her childhood was a nightmare, with a mother who did little but lie, and a father who was a serial killer. Her uncle was just as bad. Her brother Hayden, who she tried to protect, joined the Army, and has never forgiven her for what she did. She is re-living her childhood by listening to tapes made by a therapist, who is the only one who knows her full story. As a detective, she works under her friend and mentor, Sheriff Tony Gray, and now has a young partner Deputy Ronnie Marsh.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The body of Monique Delmont, an advocate for victims of violent crimes, shocks Megan. Not the fact that this woman had first helped, then betrayed Megan years ago, but the fact that she has been skinned, and two photo's of Megan, one when she was 16 years old, are left at the crime scene. The fact that Megan knew Monique and why, is going to be difficult to conceal.
Megan is almost positive that Monique's murderer is one of two people. Her uncle, Michael Rader, has not forgiven Megan for killing his brother, her serial killer father Alex. The other possibility is someone named "Wallace" who has been sending Megan emails. Both these people know that Megan is still alive, although she has moved repeatedly, and changed her name. Only three other people know she is alive, but neither her brother, her therapist, nor her ex-boyfriend are capable of murder.
However, the murder of Monique Delmont definitely has ties to Megan's past, and it looks like that is where she will have to look in order to find the killer. It will be difficult to do this without sharing her secrets with her team. If her secrets get out, she will have to run again. But if she can kill the perpetrator before she ends up dead herself, perhaps she can move on.
My Opinions:
I am enjoying this series. Megan is flawed. She has had a rough life, and although she has killed, she doesn't regret the bodies she has left behind. They deserved what they got. She is honest with herself, if not with anyone else.
I like the other characters that surround Megan as well. I wasn't sure about Ronnie at first, but she grew on me. Olsen has built a great support network around Megan, even though she doesn't always see it that way.
This book further delved into Megan's past, creating a wonderful plot, and lots of suspense. I liked the way the story was told from both Megan's and the perpetrator's perspective, so that the reader was able to see when Megan's thought process was right, and when it was wrong.
I guess my main problem with the book, is the constant re-capping. Yes, I understand if you didn't read the first two books in the series, re-capping is good. There was just a lot of it.
I know that there are 3 more books planned for this series, and I assume one of them will center on Megan's brother, but I am having problems imagining more books about Megan's past. Sooner or later you would think she'd stop lying and move on.
Anyway, I am definitely looking forward to the next book.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and a favorite quote or two) please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 1, 2020
4 ★
Detective Megan Carpenter has been adept at keeping her lies buried, but a recent murder threatens to bring her past to the surface as she becomes the killer’s focus. As the circle closes in on Megan, she is willing to take all measures necessary preserve her secrets and protect the few she cares about.
In this police thriller, Megan is constantly battling the consequences of her actions and her inability to feel truly safe. Megan knows it’s just a matter of time, and reading the passages in the killer’s point of view, adds tension to the plot. Plus, the dichotomy of Megan’s nature is intriguing and her inner monologues evoked a few laughs. With layered character development and a proper foundation for the setting, the narrative cleverly weaves together.
Dark Falls is an addictive crime investigative that intersects the protagonist’s dark past and the present. This book would appeal to those looking for a disturbing revenge-based plot.
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.*
*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey!*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Detective Megan Carpenter has been adept at keeping her lies buried, but a recent murder threatens to bring her past to the surface as she becomes the killer’s focus. As the circle closes in on Megan, she is willing to take all measures necessary preserve her secrets and protect the few she cares about.
“I don’t want anyone to start protecting me. I can take care of myself. I can take care of whoever this is. My way.”
In this police thriller, Megan is constantly battling the consequences of her actions and her inability to feel truly safe. Megan knows it’s just a matter of time, and reading the passages in the killer’s point of view, adds tension to the plot. Plus, the dichotomy of Megan’s nature is intriguing and her inner monologues evoked a few laughs. With layered character development and a proper foundation for the setting, the narrative cleverly weaves together.
Dark Falls is an addictive crime investigative that intersects the protagonist’s dark past and the present. This book would appeal to those looking for a disturbing revenge-based plot.
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.*
*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey!*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
November 29, 2020
Genre: Crime Thriller
Type: Book 3 of Detective Megan Carpenter series
POV: First Person - Female
Rating:
Detective Megan Carpenter couldn’t run from her past no matter how hard she tried. When her latest case turned out to be highly personal, she knew she needed to take care of it before she put anyone else in danger. But the closer she was to find the killer, the more risk she’s facing of her past blowing up in her face.
This is the third book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series, and without reading the first two books, the author did a good job in introducing Megan and the characters connected to her. I was able to understand her fears and motivations without issue. The only thing I didn’t fully understand is her living family dynamics, which I wished the author did a quick recap on within the story.
Megan was not exactly a likable character, and she was reckless. But that’s exactly why I was drawn to her - the unapologetic personality. The other characters balanced out her personality and gave her a level of humanity. As for the story, I enjoyed it overall. However, certain aspects of the ending felt unresolved, and I’m not sure if this is something the author intends to address in the next book.
Dark Falls is a story of personal vendetta. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a crime thriller with dark characters.
Books in the series:
🌿 🔹 🌿 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . 🌿 🔹 🌿
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
Type: Book 3 of Detective Megan Carpenter series
POV: First Person - Female
Rating:
Detective Megan Carpenter couldn’t run from her past no matter how hard she tried. When her latest case turned out to be highly personal, she knew she needed to take care of it before she put anyone else in danger. But the closer she was to find the killer, the more risk she’s facing of her past blowing up in her face.
This is the third book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series, and without reading the first two books, the author did a good job in introducing Megan and the characters connected to her. I was able to understand her fears and motivations without issue. The only thing I didn’t fully understand is her living family dynamics, which I wished the author did a quick recap on within the story.
I also know that no matter how hard you try to keep the past out of your mind, it will come back. Through dreams, or worse, through people.
Megan was not exactly a likable character, and she was reckless. But that’s exactly why I was drawn to her - the unapologetic personality. The other characters balanced out her personality and gave her a level of humanity. As for the story, I enjoyed it overall. However, certain aspects of the ending felt unresolved, and I’m not sure if this is something the author intends to address in the next book.
Dark Falls is a story of personal vendetta. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a crime thriller with dark characters.
Books in the series:
🌿 🔹 🌿 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . 🌿 🔹 🌿
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
November 19, 2020
Twisted and somewhat disturbing story. Definitely read the others first. 3.5 STARS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I made a technical error with this book. This is definitely a continuation in a series so I did feel a little bit lost here and there.
The author did a good job recapping other books in the series to try to keep the reader on top of it all. But it seemed like a lot of the book was recapping prior situations and stories. While it was great for me to get a handle on the missing pieces, it also made me feel like the story never really moved too far along the way.
Many times I did lose concentration and with the number of characters, I was losing track of who was who. Or maybe the author just did not grab me or suck me in enough.
Megan the Detective is certainly not your average heroine. She is definitely a bad girl and for much of the book, she is lying and covering her tracks while looking for her stalker and a murderer. The plot is tied personally to Megan and they are targeting her specifically. She seems to have a history of people trying to kill her. But I can see why as her background is definitely questionable!
Dark Falls is a bit of a disturbing story when you look at the main character with her issues and flaws. The story is engaging and really would have been more interesting had I read other books prior. Twisted characters and strange plot twists made this an exciting yet mildly suspenseful read.
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/dark-falls-b...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I made a technical error with this book. This is definitely a continuation in a series so I did feel a little bit lost here and there.
The author did a good job recapping other books in the series to try to keep the reader on top of it all. But it seemed like a lot of the book was recapping prior situations and stories. While it was great for me to get a handle on the missing pieces, it also made me feel like the story never really moved too far along the way.
Many times I did lose concentration and with the number of characters, I was losing track of who was who. Or maybe the author just did not grab me or suck me in enough.
Megan the Detective is certainly not your average heroine. She is definitely a bad girl and for much of the book, she is lying and covering her tracks while looking for her stalker and a murderer. The plot is tied personally to Megan and they are targeting her specifically. She seems to have a history of people trying to kill her. But I can see why as her background is definitely questionable!
Dark Falls is a bit of a disturbing story when you look at the main character with her issues and flaws. The story is engaging and really would have been more interesting had I read other books prior. Twisted characters and strange plot twists made this an exciting yet mildly suspenseful read.
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/dark-falls-b...
December 7, 2020
The past ought to be over and done with. Life becomes insecure and scary if the loose ends kept popping up. But alas for the badass cop Megan, the past became the present when the killers kept targeting her.
The crime scene revealed the corpse of a woman who had help Megan escape and the only clue left was the laminated photo of a 16-year-old Megan. The need to escape the claws of this killer and unmask and neutralize him became paramount for the brave, but highly paranoid cop.
The investigation made inroads and followed the usual rigmarole as most most policeprocedurals did, but this went one step forward. Megan had to survive the traps hidden by this twisted serial killer. That raised the stakes throughout the story.
But the story came with its own niggles. Megan’s duplicity got to me. As a cop, I understood the need to be one step ahead and maintain own rules of truth and lies. But she lied constantly and her paranoia too felt tedious after a point. Nonetheless, I concentrated on the killer and his agenda, and the book became interesting.
The story was well crafted. It bespoke of dark motives, bringing to mind vivid scenes. The fast-paced writing and compelling storyline helped me reach the finish line. Overall, an entertaining read.
The crime scene revealed the corpse of a woman who had help Megan escape and the only clue left was the laminated photo of a 16-year-old Megan. The need to escape the claws of this killer and unmask and neutralize him became paramount for the brave, but highly paranoid cop.
The investigation made inroads and followed the usual rigmarole as most most policeprocedurals did, but this went one step forward. Megan had to survive the traps hidden by this twisted serial killer. That raised the stakes throughout the story.
But the story came with its own niggles. Megan’s duplicity got to me. As a cop, I understood the need to be one step ahead and maintain own rules of truth and lies. But she lied constantly and her paranoia too felt tedious after a point. Nonetheless, I concentrated on the killer and his agenda, and the book became interesting.
The story was well crafted. It bespoke of dark motives, bringing to mind vivid scenes. The fast-paced writing and compelling storyline helped me reach the finish line. Overall, an entertaining read.
October 7, 2024
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Mystery / Suspense
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Dark Ridge is the third installment in author Gregg Olsen's Detective Megan Carpenter series. **Slight Spoilers** Dark Ridge begins with the viewpoint of a killer who we learn is female. The killer, who burns with hatred towards a woman named Rylee, knows all about Detective Megan Carpenter's past and what she did to her serial killer bio-father and his psychotic wife before faking her own death. In return, the unnamed killer targets those closest to Megan including a woman named Monique Delmont, an advocate for victims of violent crimes, who helped her disappear and change her name, as well as Dan, Megan’s would-be boyfriend.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Mystery / Suspense
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Dark Ridge is the third installment in author Gregg Olsen's Detective Megan Carpenter series. **Slight Spoilers** Dark Ridge begins with the viewpoint of a killer who we learn is female. The killer, who burns with hatred towards a woman named Rylee, knows all about Detective Megan Carpenter's past and what she did to her serial killer bio-father and his psychotic wife before faking her own death. In return, the unnamed killer targets those closest to Megan including a woman named Monique Delmont, an advocate for victims of violent crimes, who helped her disappear and change her name, as well as Dan, Megan’s would-be boyfriend.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
December 4, 2020
This is the 3rd book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series by Gregg Olsen although my introduction. This was a good introduction to the characters for me but I feel I need to read more of the series to get truly into Megan Carpenter. Megan Carpenter is certainly a troubled soul and I am pretty sure will grow on me.
The body of a severely brutalised woman is left for Detective Megan Carpenter to discover and she is shocked when she recognises her. Monique Delmont helped Megan when she was in danger two years ago. At the scene the killer leaves two photographs of a school girl Megan.
This is a quick read and the characters are strong with plenty to develop so I fully expect to read more of this series in the future.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
This is the 3rd book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series by Gregg Olsen although my introduction. This was a good introduction to the characters for me but I feel I need to read more of the series to get truly into Megan Carpenter. Megan Carpenter is certainly a troubled soul and I am pretty sure will grow on me.
The body of a severely brutalised woman is left for Detective Megan Carpenter to discover and she is shocked when she recognises her. Monique Delmont helped Megan when she was in danger two years ago. At the scene the killer leaves two photographs of a school girl Megan.
This is a quick read and the characters are strong with plenty to develop so I fully expect to read more of this series in the future.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The body of a severely brutalised woman is left for Detective Megan Carpenter to discover and she is shocked when she recognises her. Monique Delmont helped Megan when she was in danger two years ago. At the scene the killer leaves two photographs of a school girl Megan.
This is a quick read and the characters are strong with plenty to develop so I fully expect to read more of this series in the future.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
This is the 3rd book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series by Gregg Olsen although my introduction. This was a good introduction to the characters for me but I feel I need to read more of the series to get truly into Megan Carpenter. Megan Carpenter is certainly a troubled soul and I am pretty sure will grow on me.
The body of a severely brutalised woman is left for Detective Megan Carpenter to discover and she is shocked when she recognises her. Monique Delmont helped Megan when she was in danger two years ago. At the scene the killer leaves two photographs of a school girl Megan.
This is a quick read and the characters are strong with plenty to develop so I fully expect to read more of this series in the future.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2020
If you have not read books #1 and #2 in this series, DO NOT read this. It's essential to have all the backstory in order to fully enjoy this third one -- and you definitely will! Note the title change to SILENT RIDGE.
I like this series a lot. The author has a writing style that really appeals to me and the story is told in first person voice from Detective Megan Carpenter's point of view. And, what an interesting character she is! "I destroy monsters, but I'm a monster." If you'd had her past life, you might lean that way too.
After a woman who knew Megan in her previous identity is found murdered (that first chapter is a bit of a grisly shocker), Megan and her new sidekick, Deputy Ronnie Marsh, pull out all the stops to figure out how this all ties to events and murders that happened over 20 years previously. Lots of action and the inclusion of hearing the killer's point of view as well. NO SPOILERS.
I can't wait to see where the next installment will take Megan and Ronnie and am very much looking forward to continuing. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
I like this series a lot. The author has a writing style that really appeals to me and the story is told in first person voice from Detective Megan Carpenter's point of view. And, what an interesting character she is! "I destroy monsters, but I'm a monster." If you'd had her past life, you might lean that way too.
After a woman who knew Megan in her previous identity is found murdered (that first chapter is a bit of a grisly shocker), Megan and her new sidekick, Deputy Ronnie Marsh, pull out all the stops to figure out how this all ties to events and murders that happened over 20 years previously. Lots of action and the inclusion of hearing the killer's point of view as well. NO SPOILERS.
I can't wait to see where the next installment will take Megan and Ronnie and am very much looking forward to continuing. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.
December 6, 2020
Gripping and suspenseful story with many twists and a main character that tries to get a grip of her life especially now when her job collides with her hunting past.
It was my first book by the author but I’ll surely be on the lookout for more stories.
It was my first book by the author but I’ll surely be on the lookout for more stories.
January 2, 2021
Love this series! Can’t wait for the next book...
December 7, 2020
Probably not great to read as a standalone? It is confusing, even WITH having read the first two books; I think authors need to understand that just because they eat, sleep and breathe their characters, the rest of us read other books inbetween and we don't always remember the ins and outs of the previous book(s) in a series.
I am super conflicted about this book. The descriptions of the murders are shocking and chilling and very well done. The descriptions of the murderer, same. But Megan? She is a mess.
Perhaps she pushes my buttons because I really hate liars, and she seems to be a first-class one, even to her boss (who has her back, no matter what) and her romantic partner, which I thought wasn't very cool. I understand that she is deeply damaged by what happened to her early in life, but someone who operates the way she does - should she even be employed as a police officer?
I loved Ronnie, she was a shining star in this book and gave it much needed light in a book which was full of shade.
I have no idea what Megan's brother was doing in the book at all, the way he just appeared and then left was really strange, and if you hadn't read the previous books, you would be scratching your head wondering what was going on. I was wondering that too!
I am really sorry, but this book had some serious issues and I am still confused.
3 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
I am super conflicted about this book. The descriptions of the murders are shocking and chilling and very well done. The descriptions of the murderer, same. But Megan? She is a mess.
Perhaps she pushes my buttons because I really hate liars, and she seems to be a first-class one, even to her boss (who has her back, no matter what) and her romantic partner, which I thought wasn't very cool. I understand that she is deeply damaged by what happened to her early in life, but someone who operates the way she does - should she even be employed as a police officer?
I loved Ronnie, she was a shining star in this book and gave it much needed light in a book which was full of shade.
I have no idea what Megan's brother was doing in the book at all, the way he just appeared and then left was really strange, and if you hadn't read the previous books, you would be scratching your head wondering what was going on. I was wondering that too!
I am really sorry, but this book had some serious issues and I am still confused.
3 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
December 4, 2020
Detective Megan Carpenter is back with a vengeance. Oh, maybe I should not say this but I love Megan. She lies through her teeth, she is not very good in obeying orders, she is cold blooded, but she has a heart of gold even if she would deny it if you would say it in her face. Her only goal is to protect and bring justice, but in her own way.
It seems though she has found her equal in her partner. She is not as easily deceived as you would think at first sight and maybe that’s just what Megan needs.
I also admire Sheriff Tony for all the trust he puts in his detectives. I really like him too.
To make a long story short, it’s a great series that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up constantly and I love it.
I can’t wait for the next book. 5 stars
Thank you, Gregg Olsen and Bookouture
It seems though she has found her equal in her partner. She is not as easily deceived as you would think at first sight and maybe that’s just what Megan needs.
I also admire Sheriff Tony for all the trust he puts in his detectives. I really like him too.
To make a long story short, it’s a great series that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up constantly and I love it.
I can’t wait for the next book. 5 stars
Thank you, Gregg Olsen and Bookouture
December 25, 2020
The third in the Detective Megan Carpenter series was a fast read like its predecessors. This is always a good sign, but Silent Ridge seemed to fall a little short of Book II, Water's Edge. So far, that is the best of the three. Silent Ridge seemed too short and left the reader wanting more, although I suppose that is a good sign. Ronnie's character is developing via the hard & fast decisions of police work. And Megan is becoming closer to Dan. Her little brother, Hayden, is the wild card in the story, and I feel he is very unstable. A traumatic childhood experience and then Afghanistan. No wonder.
September 2, 2021
I'd previously read The Hive by the same author, and picked this up as that was okay. Silent Ridge, alas, is not. This is the third book in a series, and if you have not read the first two, it's going to be a real problem. At least it was for me.
Police are called to the scene of a gruesome murder. Wait, before we begin that, let me say that this is primarily written in first person, present tense. I really do not like that. I persevered, though, and Detective Carpenter shows up at the scene. We immediately know she has some kind of connection to the victim, because we're flat out told that she does. Does she tell anyone, so she can be restricted from investigating it due to her emotional compromise. As we all know for maverick cops, they do their own thing and basically flaunt everything there is about proper law enforcement and investigations.
I absolutely do not like this character. She is by turns whiny and angry. She lies to the people around her, and is paranoid even at the best of times. Without even an ounce of investigation being done, she's decided that the murder has to be something related to her childhood. In fact, there are many, many, many, ad nauseum instances of connecting every single thing to her terrible childhood. This woman should be on desk duty at best, with mandatory psych evals once a quarter at least.
All of that psych stuff, after awhile, starts to feel like filler. There was no tension because we get the murderer's scenes, too, so the mystery slowly drains out like one of those blow up kiddie pools that springs a small leak. Worst of all, Carpenter seems to wallow in the childhood trauma, and after awhile, I just didn't care because it was boring. I wanted then to catch the murderer before I gave up on the book (which, to be honest, happened multiple times)
If you're pressed for something to read, or you're a fan of the series, you might like this. Sorry, but I did not. It took months for me to finish it, something completely abnormal for me.
Two out of five stars, and a vow not to read anything else in this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the reading copy.
Police are called to the scene of a gruesome murder. Wait, before we begin that, let me say that this is primarily written in first person, present tense. I really do not like that. I persevered, though, and Detective Carpenter shows up at the scene. We immediately know she has some kind of connection to the victim, because we're flat out told that she does. Does she tell anyone, so she can be restricted from investigating it due to her emotional compromise. As we all know for maverick cops, they do their own thing and basically flaunt everything there is about proper law enforcement and investigations.
I absolutely do not like this character. She is by turns whiny and angry. She lies to the people around her, and is paranoid even at the best of times. Without even an ounce of investigation being done, she's decided that the murder has to be something related to her childhood. In fact, there are many, many, many, ad nauseum instances of connecting every single thing to her terrible childhood. This woman should be on desk duty at best, with mandatory psych evals once a quarter at least.
All of that psych stuff, after awhile, starts to feel like filler. There was no tension because we get the murderer's scenes, too, so the mystery slowly drains out like one of those blow up kiddie pools that springs a small leak. Worst of all, Carpenter seems to wallow in the childhood trauma, and after awhile, I just didn't care because it was boring. I wanted then to catch the murderer before I gave up on the book (which, to be honest, happened multiple times)
If you're pressed for something to read, or you're a fan of the series, you might like this. Sorry, but I did not. It took months for me to finish it, something completely abnormal for me.
Two out of five stars, and a vow not to read anything else in this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the reading copy.
October 26, 2020
Book three in the Megan Carpenter series and I loved it !
This is a series that’s getting more and more compulsive with each book and as we find out more and more of Megan’s past I found it impossible to put down this instalment and I just love Megan she is so flawed and yet so likeable and that’s all down to the wonderful writing of Gregg Olsen.
So we start with a really gruesome murder and Megan is shocked to find out this is someone from her past, trying hard to not to divulge anything Megan is tasked to solve a case that is really much too close to home. We also once more have characters from previous books my favourite being Ronnie who is again another wonderfully written character and now I can’t wait for the next in one of my favourite series of books.
Highly recommended and a five star read I loved every page and a massive thank to Gregg Olsen please don’t leave it too long till the next.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is a series that’s getting more and more compulsive with each book and as we find out more and more of Megan’s past I found it impossible to put down this instalment and I just love Megan she is so flawed and yet so likeable and that’s all down to the wonderful writing of Gregg Olsen.
So we start with a really gruesome murder and Megan is shocked to find out this is someone from her past, trying hard to not to divulge anything Megan is tasked to solve a case that is really much too close to home. We also once more have characters from previous books my favourite being Ronnie who is again another wonderfully written character and now I can’t wait for the next in one of my favourite series of books.
Highly recommended and a five star read I loved every page and a massive thank to Gregg Olsen please don’t leave it too long till the next.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 7, 2020
What a fabulous dynamic duo with Detective Megan Carpenter and her partner, Reserve Detective Ronnie Marsh, as they work to find the killer of Monique Delmont who was a friend to Megan years ago.
This is the third book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series, but works well as a standalone. Megan has a lot of baggage in her past that she is still struggling to deal with including a stalker. Reserve Detective Marsh has finished her rotation and is being hired as a full-time deputy. Marsh is assigned to work with Megan on the case and what a great team they make. This is a fast-paced book with a lot of action and suspense to it.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this outstanding nail biter that I really enjoyed in exchange for an honest review. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
This is the third book in the Detective Megan Carpenter series, but works well as a standalone. Megan has a lot of baggage in her past that she is still struggling to deal with including a stalker. Reserve Detective Marsh has finished her rotation and is being hired as a full-time deputy. Marsh is assigned to work with Megan on the case and what a great team they make. This is a fast-paced book with a lot of action and suspense to it.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this outstanding nail biter that I really enjoyed in exchange for an honest review. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
November 26, 2020
https://book-bucket.com/2020/11/27/da...
I didn’t know this was the third book in a series when I requested it from Netgalley, and for a while I was confused because it felt like the continuation of a series but the recaps were so many and detailed that it also felt like a standalone giving the character her backstory.
I got frustrated with the main character outright lying to everyone around her and withholding vital information in a murder case. I have to be honest and say I didn’t like her very much. She was very egocentric.
My favourite character was Ronnie without a doubt. She is smart and I look forward to her character and role development in future books. And I liked the small town setting.
The story was good and a page turner. Definitely read the first two books first.
I didn’t know this was the third book in a series when I requested it from Netgalley, and for a while I was confused because it felt like the continuation of a series but the recaps were so many and detailed that it also felt like a standalone giving the character her backstory.
I got frustrated with the main character outright lying to everyone around her and withholding vital information in a murder case. I have to be honest and say I didn’t like her very much. She was very egocentric.
My favourite character was Ronnie without a doubt. She is smart and I look forward to her character and role development in future books. And I liked the small town setting.
The story was good and a page turner. Definitely read the first two books first.
November 10, 2020
Dark Falls, Detective Megan Carpenter’s third outing, starts almost a month after she and Ronnie Marsh – the trainee deputy – stop a serial killer and almost get themselves killed in the process. Megan is being stalked by someone who knows all about her murky and violent past and the stalker has upped their game now, by gruesomely killing a woman who had helped Megan in the past and was one of the very few friends she has had in her turbulent life. Megan has only one suspect – the sibling of the man responsible making her what she is. Now, she has to catch the killer and neutralize him, in order to avenge her friend’s murder and to prevent the secrets of her past from derailing her somewhat agreeable present.
Megan’s is a difficult character to readily like or dislike. Her aversion to playing by the rules and her readiness to use people to achieve her ends make her quite unpredictable. She seems to be living in her past most of the time, replaying often the old tape recordings of her sessions with her psychiatrist. Her longing to put her past to rest and lead a normal life like so many others shows a vulnerability inside her tough veneer. Intriguing though she is, her cynicism, her unsociable behaviour, and her obsession with her past starts to grate a bit. But, the lovable Ronnie lightens up all that bleakness, and she has grown more endearing in her second appearance. Sheriff Gray is another fine character, his trust and leniency towards Megan in spite of her faults feels unconvincing.
Dark Falls, like its predecessor Water’s Edge, is atmospheric, fast paced and is quite gripping in its narration. These factors, along with the strong central characters, make it a compelling read. However, I dearly wish that Megan’s obsession with her past is finished with this book and that she moves on to fighting crimes unrelated to herself in the future episodes. I would recommend Dark Falls to those crime thriller buffs who like powerful female protagonists and would advise that they read the series from the start for a better experience. My rating for this intense thriller is 3.5 out of 5, the extra half being exclusively for Ronnie.
I would like to thank the author (Gregg Olsen), the publisher (Bookouture), and netgalley.com for the e-ARC of Dark Falls in exchange for my unbiased review, which appears here... https://www.netgalley.com/book/206446...
Megan’s is a difficult character to readily like or dislike. Her aversion to playing by the rules and her readiness to use people to achieve her ends make her quite unpredictable. She seems to be living in her past most of the time, replaying often the old tape recordings of her sessions with her psychiatrist. Her longing to put her past to rest and lead a normal life like so many others shows a vulnerability inside her tough veneer. Intriguing though she is, her cynicism, her unsociable behaviour, and her obsession with her past starts to grate a bit. But, the lovable Ronnie lightens up all that bleakness, and she has grown more endearing in her second appearance. Sheriff Gray is another fine character, his trust and leniency towards Megan in spite of her faults feels unconvincing.
Dark Falls, like its predecessor Water’s Edge, is atmospheric, fast paced and is quite gripping in its narration. These factors, along with the strong central characters, make it a compelling read. However, I dearly wish that Megan’s obsession with her past is finished with this book and that she moves on to fighting crimes unrelated to herself in the future episodes. I would recommend Dark Falls to those crime thriller buffs who like powerful female protagonists and would advise that they read the series from the start for a better experience. My rating for this intense thriller is 3.5 out of 5, the extra half being exclusively for Ronnie.
I would like to thank the author (Gregg Olsen), the publisher (Bookouture), and netgalley.com for the e-ARC of Dark Falls in exchange for my unbiased review, which appears here... https://www.netgalley.com/book/206446...
December 4, 2020
One bath wall is a mural of a brilliant-yellow sunflower. The theme carries over to the shower curtains, but the yellow vinyl is spattered with red blotches. Propped against the mirror is a South Kitsap High School photo of a teenaged girl.
I enjoy the first two books in this series very much. This one was good, but not quite as good as the previous two. It lacked something. It seemed to get a bit repetitive when talking about Monique Delmont's daughter and what happened to her. Every time she was mentioned the author added who she was and what happened to her. That would be something you would not forget so ease up on the reminders there. The book was excellent though, with the exception of the person of interest here. I still do not know who she is other than Alex's lover maybe. I know where she was from and why she did what she did but still that ending just seemed a bit rushed. It was not as well played out as the closure in the first two books. That disappointed me. As for reading about Megan's history that didn't bother me in the least. I learned some things in this book that was not mentioned in the first two. I thought this book was good but not as good as SNOW CREEK or WATER'S EDGE. Those too were absolutely unputdownable for me. I'm afraid this one just fell a tad short.
Megan is still working with Ronnie, who you met in book 2. Ronnie is a very likable character and a very good cop. I really liked her. I really liked Megan also. The characters in this book were all likable with the exception of the one after Megan/Riley who's name I don't even remember ever knowing. That was a bit disconcerting for me. But it is what it is. Apparently the author thought that would add mystery to the story and it did to a point. But it's always a good thing to find out who did what to whom. At least to me it is.
This book was well written to a point. It keeps you wanting to know who is doing what and why. You will find out part of that. The why part. It's the who that floored me. Though you know basically who she is you don't learn her name. I didn't like that. I didn't appreciate that.
The scenes in this book are great. You feel like you are walking through the woods. Like you are creeping inside Megan's home with gun drawn. Like you are being dragged behind the trailer. It's a good story just missing something that I can't quite put my finger on. Almost but not quite.
Those are my thoughts of this book. I would say it's well written and it is. Just missing something.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #GreggOlsen, #Bookouture for this ARC. This is my own thoughts about this book.
I'm giving it a 3.5/5 stars. I wish I could give it more but I was left wondering too much with this one. Read for yourself and decide though. It's pretty good but....
I enjoy the first two books in this series very much. This one was good, but not quite as good as the previous two. It lacked something. It seemed to get a bit repetitive when talking about Monique Delmont's daughter and what happened to her. Every time she was mentioned the author added who she was and what happened to her. That would be something you would not forget so ease up on the reminders there. The book was excellent though, with the exception of the person of interest here. I still do not know who she is other than Alex's lover maybe. I know where she was from and why she did what she did but still that ending just seemed a bit rushed. It was not as well played out as the closure in the first two books. That disappointed me. As for reading about Megan's history that didn't bother me in the least. I learned some things in this book that was not mentioned in the first two. I thought this book was good but not as good as SNOW CREEK or WATER'S EDGE. Those too were absolutely unputdownable for me. I'm afraid this one just fell a tad short.
Megan is still working with Ronnie, who you met in book 2. Ronnie is a very likable character and a very good cop. I really liked her. I really liked Megan also. The characters in this book were all likable with the exception of the one after Megan/Riley who's name I don't even remember ever knowing. That was a bit disconcerting for me. But it is what it is. Apparently the author thought that would add mystery to the story and it did to a point. But it's always a good thing to find out who did what to whom. At least to me it is.
This book was well written to a point. It keeps you wanting to know who is doing what and why. You will find out part of that. The why part. It's the who that floored me. Though you know basically who she is you don't learn her name. I didn't like that. I didn't appreciate that.
The scenes in this book are great. You feel like you are walking through the woods. Like you are creeping inside Megan's home with gun drawn. Like you are being dragged behind the trailer. It's a good story just missing something that I can't quite put my finger on. Almost but not quite.
Those are my thoughts of this book. I would say it's well written and it is. Just missing something.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #GreggOlsen, #Bookouture for this ARC. This is my own thoughts about this book.
I'm giving it a 3.5/5 stars. I wish I could give it more but I was left wondering too much with this one. Read for yourself and decide though. It's pretty good but....
May 29, 2022
We continue with our detective Megan only this time, her past is coming up big time, and she has to figure out who is behind it before she is the one that will be buried like the past she keeps trying to hide.
Though the storyline is good, and the story is fast-paced, which is what you want in a story, it does get a bit boring to keep having her past play a huge part in it. It is like everything Megan does; her past is coming up. I would like to see the solving of cases that help her grow. She constantly has to fight her past at every turn in her investigation and life. Our dead character Monica helped Megan years ago, and not only does Megan want her to receive justice, but she is also trying to make sure no one finds out that Monica helped her while trying to find the killer. Why is Megan being targeted? Why was Megan killed?
Though the storyline is good, and the story is fast-paced, which is what you want in a story, it does get a bit boring to keep having her past play a huge part in it. It is like everything Megan does; her past is coming up. I would like to see the solving of cases that help her grow. She constantly has to fight her past at every turn in her investigation and life. Our dead character Monica helped Megan years ago, and not only does Megan want her to receive justice, but she is also trying to make sure no one finds out that Monica helped her while trying to find the killer. Why is Megan being targeted? Why was Megan killed?
September 9, 2024
Hello Goodreads Family, Well the 2nd book from the Detective Megan Carpenter is on point!! Megan is a Kick Butt Detective!! She is tough as nails. Book 2 had to do more with her past. They killed a friend of hers from her past and she is going after the person that did it but the thing is she thinks it’s a certain person but it might not be. Her boss Sheriff Tony Gray is awesome. He really cares about his team and Deputy Ronnie Marsh has been a great add on to the Team. Which by the way she gets sworn in on book 2 📚 I really enjoyed this book and now I’m reading book 3. See you on my 3rd book review..
February 20, 2021
I like this series but the main character needs to start dealing with her problems. Perhaps the last few years of politics has burned me out but I am tired of all the lies. And Megan, the main character, does nothing but lie. It gets old. That said I like Gregg Olsen and will give this series one more try.
2.5 rounded up
2.5 rounded up
July 19, 2022
Absolutely loved this series! I read the 4th book, Stillwater Island first not realizing it was a series, but they can be stand alone books as well so I still enjoyed it. I'm very glad I went back to read the first 3! I love the way Gregg Olsen writes and keeps your interest without being overly violent/graphic and the development of his characters is second to none! You won't regret reading any of these or his books in general!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews