Book Review: Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
👋🏾 Happy Sunday! In this newsletter, you’ll find…
📚An unfiltered book review
📝 A thought-provoking journal prompt
🎙An audio version of this review
You can read a synopsis of the book plot here because I won’t copy and paste from elsewhere.
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
My Thoughts
Ever read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn? If you love it as much as me, then you will enjoy Stillhouse Lake! This one had me in its grips, on the edge of my seat, unable to stop reading until complete. I am just grateful that each book in this series is a complete story and I didn’t have to read the next installment for the conclusion of the storyline.
But, let me back up.
Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine is a crime novel that takes you on a “fast ride in a short train” through brutal murder, a woman fighting for survival, and a mother trying to parent her children through immense trauma. Caine throws quite a bit into the plot line, but I promise that this story was able to hold all of the moving parts together and keep me guessing until the end.
I listened to this book while on a road trip and it was perfect for keeping me alert! So much so, that once I reached my destination, I kept listening! The main characters in this novel aren’t all likable. Matter of fact, I wasn’t sure whether or not I was being duped for a significant part of the story. Then, when the plot twists and turns are revealed, they hit hard because oftentimes you can’t even see them coming!
This book is dark, pulls no punches, and even though I suspected who the main villain was early on, the writing had me second-guessing myself until the truly evil characters were revealed! Yes, there were multiple bad actors in this crime drama. The plot does need trigger warnings because Caine does not sugarcoat the brutality done to women who are abducted by sexual predators. Nor does she pull back from discussing and showing how vulnerable we all are on the internet, day to day.
Ocassionally, I was annoyed by the portrayal of children in this novel. At times, their actions seemed very out of character considering their age and level of maturity. But, perfection isn’t possible, and that did not take anything away from the overall storyline.
What makes books like this and Gone Girl five-star reads? The way the author keeps you guessing and engaged. The way the plot makes completely unexpected turns, but remains believable. The portrayal of evil and calculated crime as committed by those we least expect. The realistic actions of law enforcement when faced with crime by those our society deems trustworthy, while also letting their emotions blind them to possibilities.
Clearly, I enjoyed Stillhouse Lake, so of course I’ve kept going with the series. I’ve used my audible credits to acquire books two and three. In my opinion, the POV of book two (Killman Creek) distracts from the overall plot but is still a worthy sequel to book one. I’ll report back on the rest of the series once complete.
Journal Prompt: Could you pick up and leave all of your possessions behind at a moment’s notice?
What I find most difficult about moving is facing the amount of things I have accumulated. Inevitably, within the process of moving is purging my stuff and taking only what I need. Only for the cycle to start again. This makes the idea of moving at a moment’s notice quite daunting.
My answer: I can honestly say, yes to this question. BUT if I was on the run, I don’t think that I have set myself up for success. I mean, how would I have access to money if I had to get rid of my phone, wallet, and ID?
It’s not something I’ve thought about before. I’m prepared for a hurricane or tornado, but certainly not true base-level survival. This question has me thinking about my safety and security, alongside preparing for this type of emergency.
Picking up and changing my identity would first require lots of cash, knowledge of how to acquire a new ID, the ability to trust certain people, and so much more. However, people in domestic abuse or other traumatic situations do so every single day. This is a prompt that I’m going to think more about and take action accordingly.