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A Murder in the Mountains #4
False Pretense
FALSE PRETENSE is a 2022 Christy Award finalist.
Beloved amateur sleuth Tess Spencer returns in this fourth and final Murder in the Mountains mystery.
Tess has her work cut out for her—from her day job at the police station to her nights on the campaign trail with her husband, she's stretched thin. Her two young children also keep her busy, but thankfully she has a supportive mother-in-law who lives just next door.
When the legendary Mothman makes a terrifying appearance and a local librarian goes missing, Tess feels compelled to get involved, convinced something evil has been unleashed on her little town. Then another woman disappears—this one bearing an eerie resemblance to Tess—and the police receive a cryptic message hinting that a serial killer is on the prowl.
After a nightmarish turn of events completely upends the Spencer family, Tess musters her courage to hunt for the monstrous murderer in the woods...even if she has to walk straight into the Mothman's lair to do it.
False Pretense brings a stunning and memorable conclusion to the award-winning Murder in the Mountains series.
Beloved amateur sleuth Tess Spencer returns in this fourth and final Murder in the Mountains mystery.
Tess has her work cut out for her—from her day job at the police station to her nights on the campaign trail with her husband, she's stretched thin. Her two young children also keep her busy, but thankfully she has a supportive mother-in-law who lives just next door.
When the legendary Mothman makes a terrifying appearance and a local librarian goes missing, Tess feels compelled to get involved, convinced something evil has been unleashed on her little town. Then another woman disappears—this one bearing an eerie resemblance to Tess—and the police receive a cryptic message hinting that a serial killer is on the prowl.
After a nightmarish turn of events completely upends the Spencer family, Tess musters her courage to hunt for the monstrous murderer in the woods...even if she has to walk straight into the Mothman's lair to do it.
False Pretense brings a stunning and memorable conclusion to the award-winning Murder in the Mountains series.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2022
23 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Heather Day Gilbert
40 books868 followersHeather Day Gilbert, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award-winning author and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries/psychological thrillers and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather's realistic characters—no matter what century—feel like best friends. When she's not plotting stories, this native West Virginian can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.
Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.
Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 16, 2022
By now, Heather Day Gilbert is a favorite author for both my wife and I, and series protagonist Tess Spencer is one of our favorite fictional sleuths. As always, we read this fourth and final installment together. (Full disclosure: it came to us as a kind gift from the author herself, who's a much-valued Goodreads friend.) For us, it was an enjoyable visit with old friends, though bittersweet because it'll be the last one. Many of the general comments in my reviews of the three previous books would also apply to this one; and I would absolutely recommend reading all four books in order, rather than starting with this one. The characters and their situations do develop organically over time. (Note: I don't recommend reading the Goodreads description, which is also the cover blurb. IMO, it imparts a lot of plot information that readers might prefer to learn as the author more slowly discloses it.)
Our story here is told entirely in Tess' first-person, present-tense narration. It's about a year and four months after the events of the previous book, Guilt by Association, and Tess and hubby Thomas are now adoptive parents to Brady, the little boy she rescued from an abusive home in that book, as well as natural parents to toddler daughter Mira Brooke. Thomas is running for reelection as the county prosecutor, and Tess is still working as secretary to Zeke Tucker (also introduced earlier in the series), the detective on Buckneck's small police force, who respects her deductive acumen enough to occasionally ask for her opinions and minor assistance. Early on, four disturbing elements upend the peaceful course of local life. First, a young local woman who works at the library in the nearby larger town of Point Pleasant (which is a real-life community) turns up mysteriously missing. Second, for the first time since late in 1967, there are credible reports of sightings of the "Mothman." (Several sightings of this cryptid were reported in this area in real life in 1966-67, and Point Pleasant boasts a Mothman Museum and an annual Mothman Festival. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman .) Third, there are indications that the county prosecutor election is about to take a down-and-dirty turn (as backwoods electoral politics in West Virginia historically sometimes has). And finally, the close-knit Spencer clan is confronted by an unexpected and maybe life-threatening medical crisis. Are any of the first three events related to each other? If so, how? Will the resolution of events leave everybody still standing? For answers to these and other questions, you'll have to read the book. But you can rest assured that events will get a lot hairier before you turn the last page.... :-)
With just 205 pages of actual text (there's also an appended recipe for the potato soup that appears in the book as a comfort food), this is a pretty quick read, provided that you aren't reading it only sporadically as a "car book;" some fans might devour it in one or two sittings. The narrative is fast paced; for Barb and I, our attention was engaged throughout. I can sometimes guess the identity of the culprit before the reveal in mysteries that I read, but I didn't here (though I did suspect the general outline of the solution to one plot strand). There's somewhat more reference to prayer and reliance on Christian faith here than in some of the earlier books, or at least that's my impression, but that's mostly a natural response to the health crisis of a family member. (Tess and her family are church-going evangelicals, as is the author.) My only real quibble with the plotting was that Tess doesn't actually solve the mystery here by her own sleuthing efforts. But the narrative carries the reader along on an engaging ride anyway. There's no stress on violence or blood and gore here; Heather's approach is solidly in the genre's more cerebral, traditional camp.
Note: I've long known that Heather has a lot of commonality with her series heroine here. Both ladies are West Virginia natives, share an evangelical Christian faith, like video games, and have strong, supportive relationships with their husband's families. (And I suspect that both are smart, tough gals who are very protective of others. :-) ) In researching this review, I discovered that, like Tess and Thomas, Heather and her husband also served as foster parents for a child whom they went on to adopt.
Our story here is told entirely in Tess' first-person, present-tense narration. It's about a year and four months after the events of the previous book, Guilt by Association, and Tess and hubby Thomas are now adoptive parents to Brady, the little boy she rescued from an abusive home in that book, as well as natural parents to toddler daughter Mira Brooke. Thomas is running for reelection as the county prosecutor, and Tess is still working as secretary to Zeke Tucker (also introduced earlier in the series), the detective on Buckneck's small police force, who respects her deductive acumen enough to occasionally ask for her opinions and minor assistance. Early on, four disturbing elements upend the peaceful course of local life. First, a young local woman who works at the library in the nearby larger town of Point Pleasant (which is a real-life community) turns up mysteriously missing. Second, for the first time since late in 1967, there are credible reports of sightings of the "Mothman." (Several sightings of this cryptid were reported in this area in real life in 1966-67, and Point Pleasant boasts a Mothman Museum and an annual Mothman Festival. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman .) Third, there are indications that the county prosecutor election is about to take a down-and-dirty turn (as backwoods electoral politics in West Virginia historically sometimes has). And finally, the close-knit Spencer clan is confronted by an unexpected and maybe life-threatening medical crisis. Are any of the first three events related to each other? If so, how? Will the resolution of events leave everybody still standing? For answers to these and other questions, you'll have to read the book. But you can rest assured that events will get a lot hairier before you turn the last page.... :-)
With just 205 pages of actual text (there's also an appended recipe for the potato soup that appears in the book as a comfort food), this is a pretty quick read, provided that you aren't reading it only sporadically as a "car book;" some fans might devour it in one or two sittings. The narrative is fast paced; for Barb and I, our attention was engaged throughout. I can sometimes guess the identity of the culprit before the reveal in mysteries that I read, but I didn't here (though I did suspect the general outline of the solution to one plot strand). There's somewhat more reference to prayer and reliance on Christian faith here than in some of the earlier books, or at least that's my impression, but that's mostly a natural response to the health crisis of a family member. (Tess and her family are church-going evangelicals, as is the author.) My only real quibble with the plotting was that Tess doesn't actually solve the mystery here by her own sleuthing efforts. But the narrative carries the reader along on an engaging ride anyway. There's no stress on violence or blood and gore here; Heather's approach is solidly in the genre's more cerebral, traditional camp.
Note: I've long known that Heather has a lot of commonality with her series heroine here. Both ladies are West Virginia natives, share an evangelical Christian faith, like video games, and have strong, supportive relationships with their husband's families. (And I suspect that both are smart, tough gals who are very protective of others. :-) ) In researching this review, I discovered that, like Tess and Thomas, Heather and her husband also served as foster parents for a child whom they went on to adopt.
March 9, 2022
I couldn't get enough of this book!! I have loved this series and was so happy to get one more book to finish tying things up. As much as I didn't want it to end, I was very happy with the way it ended. I enjoyed the pace of this one and read most of it in one sitting. I would highly recommend it!
March 5, 2022
I both looked forward to and dreaded the release of this book. Looked forward to because I just love this series! Dreaded because I knew this book was the finale of the series. I don't want to say goodbye to these characters I've come to love.
Tess Spencer is a wonderful character, as is her husband. Well, just about everyone is; except the bad guys, that is. And there is definitely a bad guy here. And a creepy thing going on. The legendary Mothman has made an appearance and a woman goes missing. Tess is quite a good amateur sleuth and it seems that this critter may just have set his sights on her. Add that to some upheaval in the Spencer family that is causing a lot of tension and you have a great cozy mystery. It was good to see old friends, and hear about others that feature in another Gilbert series. She ends it well, but I will still very much miss these folks in the little West Virginia town of Buckneck.
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.
Tess Spencer is a wonderful character, as is her husband. Well, just about everyone is; except the bad guys, that is. And there is definitely a bad guy here. And a creepy thing going on. The legendary Mothman has made an appearance and a woman goes missing. Tess is quite a good amateur sleuth and it seems that this critter may just have set his sights on her. Add that to some upheaval in the Spencer family that is causing a lot of tension and you have a great cozy mystery. It was good to see old friends, and hear about others that feature in another Gilbert series. She ends it well, but I will still very much miss these folks in the little West Virginia town of Buckneck.
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.
April 28, 2022
Heather Day Gilbert is one of few suspense authors that I make a point to follow. I have loved the Murder in the Mountains series from day one, and this final installment did not disappoint. I always felt such a connection to Tess Spencer, and while book three probably remains my favorite, False Pretense is the wrap-up that she deserves, and I was thrilled to read it.
Tess has certainly had some terrifying encounters throughout the series, and that's the case in this story, too. I’ve heard of the Mothman before but never read a book that features him, and I quite enjoyed the mystery behind it all. More dangerous than the legendary Mothman are the murders that are taking place within the small community.
Tess’s personal life is in some upheaval as well, and with the danger coming closer to her personally, she’s beginning to re-think some of her decisions. While I wish the series could continue, I do think the author has given Tess such a wonderful, true-to-life ending. I’ll miss her and the Spencer family, as well as the secondary characters that make up the small Virginia town of Buckneck.
I do recommend reading the series in order, as everything builds from book one in such a rich, authentic way. It’s definitely a series I would love to reread one day.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel; these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Tess has certainly had some terrifying encounters throughout the series, and that's the case in this story, too. I’ve heard of the Mothman before but never read a book that features him, and I quite enjoyed the mystery behind it all. More dangerous than the legendary Mothman are the murders that are taking place within the small community.
Tess’s personal life is in some upheaval as well, and with the danger coming closer to her personally, she’s beginning to re-think some of her decisions. While I wish the series could continue, I do think the author has given Tess such a wonderful, true-to-life ending. I’ll miss her and the Spencer family, as well as the secondary characters that make up the small Virginia town of Buckneck.
I do recommend reading the series in order, as everything builds from book one in such a rich, authentic way. It’s definitely a series I would love to reread one day.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel; these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
April 19, 2022
"Why is everything coming back to the Mothman?"
"Dark of hair and pure of heart, this is only just the start. Good things come in threes."
"’Trust in the Lord, with all thine heart.’ Those words are the reminder I need. God is in control.”
Another fantastic Heather Day Gilbert novel! I am a huge fan of many of her series, but her Murder In The Mountains series is my favorite. It felt like an eternity since Book 3 came out so this was definitely one of my anticipated releases this year. Tess is a great heroine and all the secondary characters are excellent. I was glad to learn more about Axel.
What I love about a lot of her books are that they take place in her native West Virginia. I love the authenticity and West Virginia is like a character of its own. Living in neighboring Virginia makes me want to come and visit some of the places she mentions. The fact that she brings in the Mothman legend into the story is really cool!
I thought the mystery was strong as they dealt with a serial killer and Mothman sightings. I have some suspicions on the culprit but admittedly, this didn’t happen until shortly before the big reveal. And Gilbert throws in another twist that I did not see coming. So very satisfying!
And oh, this has to be one of the coolest book covers I have seen in awhile!!
There’s a good chance this was the last one as it wraps up nicely so all I can say is go read this series now!
"Dark of hair and pure of heart, this is only just the start. Good things come in threes."
"’Trust in the Lord, with all thine heart.’ Those words are the reminder I need. God is in control.”
Another fantastic Heather Day Gilbert novel! I am a huge fan of many of her series, but her Murder In The Mountains series is my favorite. It felt like an eternity since Book 3 came out so this was definitely one of my anticipated releases this year. Tess is a great heroine and all the secondary characters are excellent. I was glad to learn more about Axel.
What I love about a lot of her books are that they take place in her native West Virginia. I love the authenticity and West Virginia is like a character of its own. Living in neighboring Virginia makes me want to come and visit some of the places she mentions. The fact that she brings in the Mothman legend into the story is really cool!
I thought the mystery was strong as they dealt with a serial killer and Mothman sightings. I have some suspicions on the culprit but admittedly, this didn’t happen until shortly before the big reveal. And Gilbert throws in another twist that I did not see coming. So very satisfying!
And oh, this has to be one of the coolest book covers I have seen in awhile!!
There’s a good chance this was the last one as it wraps up nicely so all I can say is go read this series now!
January 15, 2025
3.5 stars
"She said it was dark all over and looked to be around seven feet tall. It had glowing red eyes, and they were focused right on her. . . . she swears she'll never forget the feeling of looking into those soulless red eyes."
The Mothman. What are the odds that a mysterious creature from the 1960's would make a reappearance at the same time that a young librarian from a small town in West Virginia goes missing? Buckneck Detective Zeke Turner's alarm is well founded when the young woman turns up dead. Pulling in his office assistant, and unofficial sleuth-consultant Tess Spencer onto the case, doesn't change the fact that the body count continues to rise, while Tess receives some alarmingly personal clues. Simultaneously, she and her husband Thomas face challenges on another front; the home front. Nothing is making sense.
As much as I would love for this beloved series to continue on into infinity and beyond, this is a most satisfying conclusion, complete with the author's signature twists and turns as she takes her readers on a terrifying wild-moth chase.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart"; from the mouth of babes!
"She said it was dark all over and looked to be around seven feet tall. It had glowing red eyes, and they were focused right on her. . . . she swears she'll never forget the feeling of looking into those soulless red eyes."
The Mothman. What are the odds that a mysterious creature from the 1960's would make a reappearance at the same time that a young librarian from a small town in West Virginia goes missing? Buckneck Detective Zeke Turner's alarm is well founded when the young woman turns up dead. Pulling in his office assistant, and unofficial sleuth-consultant Tess Spencer onto the case, doesn't change the fact that the body count continues to rise, while Tess receives some alarmingly personal clues. Simultaneously, she and her husband Thomas face challenges on another front; the home front. Nothing is making sense.
As much as I would love for this beloved series to continue on into infinity and beyond, this is a most satisfying conclusion, complete with the author's signature twists and turns as she takes her readers on a terrifying wild-moth chase.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart"; from the mouth of babes!
March 7, 2022
False Pretense is a satisfying finale to a mystery series filled with heart and truly likeable characters.
Missing persons, unexpected power flickers, and sightings of a creature from West Virginia folklore… except the huge grey Mothman is being seen by trustworthy witnesses. And the winged creature isn’t just a guy in a costume, because it flies. More troubling still, its appearance seems to coincide with the disappearance of two local women—women who look a lot like Tess Spencer.
Mysteries keep finding Tess. She’s solved three as an amateur sleuth, earning enough respect from the police in her small town that Detective Zeke Tucker has hired her as admin assistant. Sure, it’s a desk job, but Zeke values her insights on active cases.
As Tess begins to suspect this case may be personal, she’s also concerned about her mother-in-law’s health and the dirty politics being played by her husband’s rival. As readers of the series know, Tess isn’t one to allow anyone to mess with her family.
I’ve liked Tess from book one. She’s a smart, brave, loyal, self-reliant woman of faith. Since she lives in a state where it’s allowed to conceal-carry a weapon, she takes a handgun and sometimes a knife into danger.
Favourite line:
The mystery in False Pretense offers enough clues for readers to feel like we’re part of the investigation. I came up with a few ideas, but they were definitely off-base. Fans of the series will be glad to spend time with Tess and her family again, and will be hoping to finally learn the truth about the mysterious Axel Becker. And while this finishes the series, it left me wanting to go back and read again from the beginning.
Readers of the author’s Barks ‘n Beans mystery series will recognize a few mentions of those characters. I enjoy seeing nods like this to other fictional friends.
If you’re new to the Murder in the Mountains series, you could start here without feeling lost. But I’d encourage you to start with book 1, Miranda Warning, and enjoy the development of characters and relationships through the full series.
Author Heather Day Gilbert writes contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. To quote her bio on the Goodreads site, “She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love.” For more about the author and her work, visit heatherdaygilbert.com.
[Review based on an advance reader copy provided by the publisher, because I couldn’t wait to read the copy I’ve preordered. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.]
Missing persons, unexpected power flickers, and sightings of a creature from West Virginia folklore… except the huge grey Mothman is being seen by trustworthy witnesses. And the winged creature isn’t just a guy in a costume, because it flies. More troubling still, its appearance seems to coincide with the disappearance of two local women—women who look a lot like Tess Spencer.
Mysteries keep finding Tess. She’s solved three as an amateur sleuth, earning enough respect from the police in her small town that Detective Zeke Tucker has hired her as admin assistant. Sure, it’s a desk job, but Zeke values her insights on active cases.
As Tess begins to suspect this case may be personal, she’s also concerned about her mother-in-law’s health and the dirty politics being played by her husband’s rival. As readers of the series know, Tess isn’t one to allow anyone to mess with her family.
I’ve liked Tess from book one. She’s a smart, brave, loyal, self-reliant woman of faith. Since she lives in a state where it’s allowed to conceal-carry a weapon, she takes a handgun and sometimes a knife into danger.
Favourite line:
I’ve always felt the woods are my native environment, a place I can be protected from the pressures of life. Now something—maybe some age-old evil, if I let my imagination run wild—has invaded our area. [Kindle location 539]
The mystery in False Pretense offers enough clues for readers to feel like we’re part of the investigation. I came up with a few ideas, but they were definitely off-base. Fans of the series will be glad to spend time with Tess and her family again, and will be hoping to finally learn the truth about the mysterious Axel Becker. And while this finishes the series, it left me wanting to go back and read again from the beginning.
Readers of the author’s Barks ‘n Beans mystery series will recognize a few mentions of those characters. I enjoy seeing nods like this to other fictional friends.
If you’re new to the Murder in the Mountains series, you could start here without feeling lost. But I’d encourage you to start with book 1, Miranda Warning, and enjoy the development of characters and relationships through the full series.
Author Heather Day Gilbert writes contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. To quote her bio on the Goodreads site, “She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love.” For more about the author and her work, visit heatherdaygilbert.com.
[Review based on an advance reader copy provided by the publisher, because I couldn’t wait to read the copy I’ve preordered. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.]
March 14, 2022
False Pretense is the fourth book in the Murder in the Mountains series by Heather Day Gilbert. Having read the first three books, I was eager to find out how the author would finish this series about Tess Spencer, wife of a prosecuting attorney up for re-election, mother of two wee ones, and amateur sleuth. In this final book of the series, readers find Tess knee-deep in a search for a serial killer. Suspense is kept high throughout the book with unexpected twists to the plot, sightings of the legendary Mothman, and other unforeseen events that give the author plenty of chances to bring authenticity to her characters, allowing us to see their foibles along with their strengths. I am usually pretty good at guessing whodunit, but this story kept me guessing to the end. I enjoyed the 'nod' to the Barks and Beans Cafe and the mobster's wife, Anne Louise, from another series the author has written. Even though this is the fourth book in a series, the storyline and themes of this book are well-developed enough to keep the reader's attention and not leave unanswered questions of what may have happened with the characters previously. Gilbert has given her readers a compelling mystery with a hint of a Christian thread running throughout in False Pretense. Avid readers who enjoy mystery and suspense will not want to miss it. I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
March 4, 2022
This series finale is a fun read that's hard to put down. The inclusion of Mothman is an interesting, if Scooby Doo-like twist, and I enjoyed seeing how many of the characters we've become familiar with in earlier books "played out." The best part, however, is Tess' "playing out." It makes for a very satisfying ending, in my opinion. If you're looking for an entertaining, clean mystery, "False Pretense" is a great choice!
March 4, 2022
It was good to read about Tess and Thomas again. Like being with old friends again. But this was a really good book filled with a couple of murders, family crisis and much more. Heather has out done herself.
June 14, 2023
Sad to come to the end of a really good series but wow Heather Day Gilbert saved the best for last! It was one of those stories that you can’t stop reading - “just one more chapter”. I love the different family dynamics included (foster kids, step parents, biological family, non-blood family) and the way Tess loved everyone in hers so loyally. The faith of many of the characters was relatable and realistic - fear and anxiety and the unknown was met with a calm assurance that God was in control and no matter the outcome everything would be ok. Light on romance (and that’s ok!) it still has moments between Tess and Thomas that really warmed my heart! The whole Mothman element - that was cleverly worked out - really had me going! It all came to together brilliantly! And so I highly recommend this book and the whole series!
September 2, 2022
I was so excited to read the next book in one of my favorite series. It did not disappoint, except for it being the final book. I may just have to reread all four books again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2022
Tess is shocked and concerned when a young woman in her community disappears, and she does everything she can to help her coworkers at the police station solve the mystery. When the case starts to impact her own family, she’ll stop at nothing to find answers. Her faith and family devotion will be tested like never before as her path intersects with illness, a mythical creature, and a possible serial killer.
False Pretense is an exciting, dramatic, and heartfelt conclusion to the Murder in the Mountains series. We get to see the many layers of the heroic and gutsy Tess character shine as she confronts both physical harm and personal struggle with faith and fierce love. The side characters that form Tess’s family and community are vibrant enough to feel like real friends and neighbors, but still manage to pull a few surprises. As with previous books in this series, the complex, interwoven threads of the plot’s mystery unravel with suspense and intrigue underscored by the haunting, almost mystical West Virginia setting.
False Pretense is an exciting, dramatic, and heartfelt conclusion to the Murder in the Mountains series. We get to see the many layers of the heroic and gutsy Tess character shine as she confronts both physical harm and personal struggle with faith and fierce love. The side characters that form Tess’s family and community are vibrant enough to feel like real friends and neighbors, but still manage to pull a few surprises. As with previous books in this series, the complex, interwoven threads of the plot’s mystery unravel with suspense and intrigue underscored by the haunting, almost mystical West Virginia setting.
November 6, 2022
Fun series! And such a clever way to conclude it.
Loved the characters. In this last novel, I wasn't a huge fan of the Mothman.
Loved the characters. In this last novel, I wasn't a huge fan of the Mothman.
March 9, 2022
This is a great ending to a great series! It answers questions I’ve had since book one and has a satisfying ending. I’m just sad to say goodbye to the characters I love.
April 6, 2022
This is my favorite of the A Murder in the Mountains series. I have visited the Mothman's "nest" in the old WWII power plant outside Pt. Pleasant, WV. Sadly, this building and others have been torn down, but the aptly named TNT area, called this due to the explosives stored in earthen mounds, or "igloos", is still there for the inquisitive to tour. I was curious as to how Heather Gilbert would explain the Mothman--is he a factual being or is he entirely fictitious? He certainly plays havoc with the townspeople in this fast-read book, including kidnapping and scaring inhabitants to pieces. Tess Spencer doesn't let this stop her from getting to the bottom of the strange sightings of this creature, though. She had a busy schedule caring for her two children, working at the local police station, plus aiding her husband on his campaign trail. Tess brings the Mothman to his knees, however, but not without giving the reader a few scares along the way.
Reading this engaging book was a bittersweet endeavor. Knowing it was the last of the Tess Spencer mysteries was indeed sad. However, Heather wrapped up the series in a very satisfying way, giving us readers a glimpse of the future for this beloved character.
Please read this entire series!
Reading this engaging book was a bittersweet endeavor. Knowing it was the last of the Tess Spencer mysteries was indeed sad. However, Heather wrapped up the series in a very satisfying way, giving us readers a glimpse of the future for this beloved character.
Please read this entire series!
November 4, 2022
This has been a great series. I love that it features a married couple with a Godly relationship. I've been reading it little by little over the past couple weeks, letting myself enjoy a cozy chapter before bed or when I can't sleep. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this series is the way to go.
December 13, 2022
False Pretense is a page-turning mystery with a great small town setting (Buckneck, VA). With a wide cast of many possible suspects and friendlies, I enjoyed this well-paced, slightly short (in a good way) hometown thriller with a likable protagonist and her clan. A slight supernatural/fantastical element cleverly gives a local legend traction in the story, with the reader wondering about its true nature until the very end.
November 8, 2022
Oh my!!!
This was my absolute favorite in the entire series!! I just thought the other ones had crazy twists…they were nothing compared to False Pretense!! I don’t even have the words to describe how much I loved this book!! Read it now!! You won’t regret it!!
This was my absolute favorite in the entire series!! I just thought the other ones had crazy twists…they were nothing compared to False Pretense!! I don’t even have the words to describe how much I loved this book!! Read it now!! You won’t regret it!!
November 1, 2022
There was plenty of suspense in the book to keep me turning the pages until the very end. I loved the way the author so artfully wove Christian themes throughout the book. I've read a few Christian books where the author was so heavy handed with the Christian themes that, even to me as it Christian, it felt forced and preachy and fake. Not the case with this book at all. The author does well with adding the Christian themes into the story in a natural and pleasing way. The characters were realistic and likeable. I look forward to reading more of the author's work in the future, and I highly recommend this book!
June 6, 2023
Awesome series. Absolutely loved it
March 20, 2022
Excellent Christian suspense novel
This is an awesome Christian suspense novel and addition to the series. I have loved every one of these books!
This is an awesome Christian suspense novel and addition to the series. I have loved every one of these books!
March 18, 2022
Great and satisfying series conclusion. I love how unique and real the characters/families are.
March 15, 2022
Tess wants to help when a young woman disappears within the community. Along with searching for a serial killer and hearing about the legendary Mothman from trustworthy witnesses, she also faces a family crisis.
I enjoyed reading False Pretense but didn't want this series to end.
I enjoyed reading False Pretense but didn't want this series to end.
October 2, 2023
This book gave me the creeps. I mean, the Mothman freaked me out more than Chicago's The Swamp Thing (which I read about when I was 11). But still, this was a great conclusion to the series! It's bittersweet, knowing that I've finished the whole series, but it was a great ending.
Recommended for ages 15 and up, due to some not-very-graphic descriptions of dead bodies, serial killers, and a creepy winged flying creature that may or may not be an alien. If you get nightmares from winged things, do NOT read this book.
Also, do not read this book at night. I did, and now I'm warning you.
Recommended for ages 15 and up, due to some not-very-graphic descriptions of dead bodies, serial killers, and a creepy winged flying creature that may or may not be an alien. If you get nightmares from winged things, do NOT read this book.
Also, do not read this book at night. I did, and now I'm warning you.
October 9, 2022
I absolutely loved this series and I'm sad it's over. Gilbert ended it nicely with great closure. 5/5 stars!
May 24, 2023
This was a great conclusion to this series! It's been awhile since I've visited the world of Tess Spencer, but the author provided enough history that I didn't feel lost at all. Tess is working as an assistant at the police department when word of a missing girl comes in. When the famed mothman starts showing up and another girl disappears, there is question on if the events are related. In the midst of the drama at work related to these things, Tess's husband is up for re-election for county prosecutor and her mother-in-law is facing a potential health scare, so there is a lot packed into this little book. This story had a lot of twists and turns and kept me turning pages to see what would happen next!
One of the things I loved best about this book/series is that the heroine is married. Though this isn't classified as a romantic suspense, there is almost always some level of romance in suspense novels and it typically makes me roll my eyes. But since her husband is more of a minor character, the romance is not out front, but it's also married romance, which is very different from single/dating romance. And that's an element that is almost never in suspense novels for some reason. As a married person, I really enjoy the portrayal of marriage in these books. This book had a lot of other great things going for it as well - actual lore from the area in the mothman, a great plotline with lots of twists, great character development, a solid faith thread, and a great conclusion. While I'd love to see more of Tess, the author provided a satisfactory ending to the series. All in all, one I'd heartily recommend to fans of suspense novels.
One of the things I loved best about this book/series is that the heroine is married. Though this isn't classified as a romantic suspense, there is almost always some level of romance in suspense novels and it typically makes me roll my eyes. But since her husband is more of a minor character, the romance is not out front, but it's also married romance, which is very different from single/dating romance. And that's an element that is almost never in suspense novels for some reason. As a married person, I really enjoy the portrayal of marriage in these books. This book had a lot of other great things going for it as well - actual lore from the area in the mothman, a great plotline with lots of twists, great character development, a solid faith thread, and a great conclusion. While I'd love to see more of Tess, the author provided a satisfactory ending to the series. All in all, one I'd heartily recommend to fans of suspense novels.
September 6, 2023
I highly recommend this book and the whole series! The characters are real, and the dialogue is natural. The author has a way of capturing your attention from the beginning. There is a strong faith thread throughout the book, but the author is not preachy, but encouraging. I was sad to finish the last book in the series, but look forward to reading more by Heather Day Gilbert!
May 19, 2022
A thrilling conclusion of the Murder in the Mountains series! An urban legend haunts the woods, a serial killer in on the prowl, and an election hinges on a murder investigation. Can Tess uncover the truth before her husband's career is destroyed and the Moth Man strikes again? This book is a must read!!!
December 31, 2023
False Pretense by Heather Day Gilbert. This was a great read. It has murder, stalking, and the infamous Mothman . Tess is married into the Spencer family. She works in the sheriff department in Buckneck's. Her husband Thomas is running for office and is a prosecutor. Kayla is a librarian who has disappeared and is later found murdered. She looks a lot like Tess. Tess's friend Rosemary has a business named Queen Bee who saw Kayla talking to an elderly gentlemen named Julius Vos. Rosemary has a new man and she wants Tess and Thomas to meet him to see if he's right for her. His name is Byron Woods. They meet him but Thomas isn't too impress. Tess likes that he knows art and he owns a company that fix computers and one of his employee fixed Tess computer in her office. A lot of people start seeing the Mothman creature even Tess. A second woman named Iris has disappeared and is found murdered on the Spencer's property by Tess's brother-in-law Peter. Then she finds out from Sheriff Zeke that Thomas received a phone call from Iris the night she disappeared. Thomas becomes a suspect. Tess start receiving a call from a reporter name George who creeps Tess out by telling her looks like the victims. She calls his boss at the newspaper and finds out he doesn't exist.
She start to investigate Julius Vos because he invites her and husband over to dinner. Thomas doesn't go with her because he is a suspect and it will effect his running for office. She goes with Thomas's brother Andrew. They go to his houseboat and does a little snooping around and runs into Axel an old boyfriend who is German and nice looking and who Thomas is jealous of. Axel tells her he is a friend. Julius really like Kayla. So he wasn't involved with her disappearance and murder. Tess finds a note on her car from George who she realize he is stalking her. He tells her to meet him and to come alone that he knows who the killer is. She asks Charlotte her friend to follow her. She does not see him and is kidnapped by the Mothman. She learns some truths about the Mothman and the killer. it changes the direction of her life.
She start to investigate Julius Vos because he invites her and husband over to dinner. Thomas doesn't go with her because he is a suspect and it will effect his running for office. She goes with Thomas's brother Andrew. They go to his houseboat and does a little snooping around and runs into Axel an old boyfriend who is German and nice looking and who Thomas is jealous of. Axel tells her he is a friend. Julius really like Kayla. So he wasn't involved with her disappearance and murder. Tess finds a note on her car from George who she realize he is stalking her. He tells her to meet him and to come alone that he knows who the killer is. She asks Charlotte her friend to follow her. She does not see him and is kidnapped by the Mothman. She learns some truths about the Mothman and the killer. it changes the direction of her life.
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