The sixth book in the Stillhouse Lake series finds Gwen and her family settled in Knoxville. She's working as a private investigator and the kids are in school and getting older and more independent.

However, the problems that had them moving from place to place have not ended. She will always be the former wife of a serial killer and the kids will always have him as a father. And social media trolls will always blame them for what her former husband did.

When Connor's only friend at school brings a gun to school and shoots a couple of fellow classmates, the court of public opinion is quick to assume that Connor had something to do with what his friend did. Connor is also spending time on the dark web in chat rooms about his father trying to find out more about him and bring facts to the various discussions. He knows his mother hates his father, but he remembers the good things about his father and is very conflicted about how he should feel about him.

Lanny would like to put it all behind her and begin to live a more normal life. She is looking forward to a college weekend visit where no one will know who her father was. But the Lost Angels website isn't willing to leave her alone and sends along threats to harm her.

Gwen decides to take a case out of town to get Connor away from the Press that won't leave him alone. Family friend and adopted daughter Vee goes along. The case is that of a missing person - a teenage girl - who has been gone for a couple of months. Gwen isn't sure what she can do. The police did all the right things including calling in the State investigators and the FBI, but they didn't find her.

As Gwen, Connor and Vee investigate, they find some troubling things and run afoul of some other evil people. Meanwhile, Gwen's partner Sam is having his own problems when he goes to Stillhouse Lake where the home they were forced out of and are now renting looks like it has become a crime scene. Large amounts of blood are found in the house that tests show belongs to the man who took over the Lost Angels website and has a particular grudge against Sam. But there is no body. Also Sam should have had an alibi since he was with Lanny on her college visit but someone has spoofed cameras that track license plates making it look like Sam was there when the blood was deposited.

I like that the story is told from multiple viewpoints. I also liked that it was packed with action and danger. I'm glad that Carrie Ryan was able to take over and finish this book after Rachel Caine died of cancer. There is certainly room for more stories in the series. ( )

Trapper Road
Stillhouse Lake, Book 6

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series.

Media Type: eBook
Source: KindleUnlimited
Dates Read: 10/11/22 - 12/27/22
Stars: 3.5
Narrator(s):

The Characters:

Gwen Proctor:
Same Cade:
Lanney Proctor-Cade, Conner Proctor-Cade, Vee (I have no idea what her full name is), Juliette, Mandy, Willa

The Story:

I’m not even sure how to summarize this book. There really was so much that happened. The last 15% was off the rails crazy. It took me more than two months to read this and I’m not sure if it was the change in author (writing style), book slump or too much groundwork. Probably a combination of all three. In the end I liked the book and will likely continue the series, but I will admit something did hold me back in this. The characters, more so the new ones, were very hard to read and strange. This new line with the Lost Angels seemed a little useless but I suppose it was set up for a future book. It was kind of frustrating that it didn’t really go anywhere in this book, and it took up a good chunk of time.

The Random Thoughts:

Live reaction at 88%: Holy forking shirtballs!!! This cannot be any crazier. The vibes of this book might be why it’s taken me two and a half months to finish it. This is straight nuts. ( )