Dressed in garish Halloween costumes, two teenage girls run through a patch of dense woodland towards the outskirts of town. But before they can reach the safety of the streets beyond, they make a shocking discovery.
Following a piece of old rope, the girls find a large mound of freshly laid earth, undisturbed in the darkness of the trees. Clawing at the ground beneath them, they make contact … they make contact with something solid. When they realise what they’ve discovered, the silence is broken by their piercing screams as they stare down at the shallow grave.
Without looking back, they run as fast as they can, failing to spot the person nearby watching their every move…
And when another grave is found just days later, it’s clear a serial killer is praying on the small town. But who is the killer watching now? And when will another grave be filled?
If you like Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Clare Mackintosh, you’ll love this heart-racing thriller from bestselling author, Carla Kovach. With gripping suspense and a twist you won’t see coming, Their Silent Graves will have you hooked from page one.
What readers are saying about Their Silent Graves:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘WOW, what a great thriller this was! I can’t really put into words how good this book was… Amazing… fantastic.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved this creepy crazy book!! So many dark twists and turns! I could not put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Ding, ding, ding! Another winner in the DI Gina Harte series… Once you start reading, you don’t want to put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘So gripping, you are flying through the pages!’ NetGalley reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘RECOMMEND!!!’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was kept on the edge of my seat with each gruesome murder!’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Gripping and fast-paced, never a dull moment… I legit did not want to put it down… The ending is so satisfying and perfect, and I was not able to guess it at all. Loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A book that hooks you from the start.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow, this one had a creepy vibe that just did not give up… Once I start, I just cannot put down.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Clever, complex and unique… I enjoyed each word.’ Sam’s Common Scents
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I’m always excited with the prospect of a new Carla Kovach book, and this certainly proved to be worth waiting for… brilliant.’ NetGalley reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Creepy, full of mystery and twists and with plenty of weird and wonderful suspects along the way. I loved this novel and would definitely recommend. NetGalley reviewer
‘I was glued to my Kindle until I finished it.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another fantastic book in the series.’ Hampshire Book Lover
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Wow, this series just gets better and better.
When a night of frivolity uncovers a shallow grave. It’s not the only one to be uncovered by the police. Pointing to a serial killer with a sinister MO.
In my opinion, this has to be the hands down best book in what has become my favourite detective series of all time.
The fact that DI Gina Harte’s personal life is brought to a head makes this a page-turner not to miss.
A fabulous read from start to finish and one that I will be recommending for many years to come.
I love the way this author sets up the story with flashbacks from 24 and 12 years ago, because when we get to present day, we have some sort of background on current events; we know more than the police do, anyway. Not that it helps too much, because as always, this is a clever plot that keeps the reader guessing. As always, the team works together smoothly. we know from past books that Gina has some traumas that have left her scarred and shaken. This time, one surfaces in the most unexpected way. As she is busy with the case at hand, she also has to determine what the truth is about this new twist from her past. It all weaves together for a page-turning crime thriller that’s perfect for the season. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital ARC of the book.
Two things attracted me to this book before I even read the description! The first was that the publisher was the Bookouture. I’ve read many of their books and they have all been good reads, so I knew that was a plus! The second thing was the beautiful cover! I love butterflies, so any book with a butterfly on the cover stops me. Then, I read the description of the book and knew I had to read it!! I haven’t read any of the other six books in the series, but I will be going back and catching up. This one can be read as a standalone with no problem because there is just enough insight into the previous books to understand the storyline.
Their Silent Graves has a nice Halloween vibe so it is being published at just the right time! The story is about two girls running in the woods on their way to a Halloween party and discover a shallow grave. In another few days, another grave is discovered. It is now up to DI Detective Gina Harte and her team to solve what appears to be the murders of a serial killer!
I love the who-done-it kind of psychological thrillers that keep you turning pages and guessing throughout the book. This one has the added bonus of a shock factor in the end!! You are in for a ride with this one!
I would definitely recommend This book to anyone that enjoys a good mystery/psychological thriller. I know I’ll be going back to Carla Kovach’s first book and reading the series in order!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review.
#NetGalley #TheSilentGraves #Bookouture
Hang on tight! Carla Kovach has once again created a fast-paced, action packed thriller. Readers are instantly drawn in with the dark, creepy undercurrent and easily swept away by Kovach’s storytelling. While this is the seventh book in the Gina Harte series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Those familiar with the series will absolutely love the character arc for DI Harte and those close to her. Highly recommended.
Thank you to #NetGalley and @bookouture for the ARC of #TheirSilent Graves which was read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#dontfreakout #yikes #whodunnit #imnotscaredyourscared #bookstagram #bookblog #booktweets #kindlegoals #readreviewrepeat #booklove #ginaharteseries #policeprocedurals @CKovachAuthor @carla_kovach #TeamBookouture
Halloween capers turn cruel and deadly: true whodunit
4-4.5stars
The culprit is cruel and remains a big question mark right through to almost the last chapter and the cagey actions of a group of friends keep you guessing at the origins of the killer’s anger. With plenty of twists and red herrings, this Carla Kovach thriller is a true whodunit. Tons of suspense, shady characters and, leading the investigation, a very messed up DI.
The thrill was there at the end but I did not enjoy this DI Gina Harte thriller as much as the previous one I read despite the engaging murder mystery. I found the vagueness and switching time periods, POVs and scene at the start of the book confusing. As the story built momentum this was less of a concern for me.
Gina’s personal life and history often overshadowed the murder case she was trying to solve. I like knowing something about the lead and secondary characters’ lives outside work in a police procedural but I prefer where their private lives are supplemental and not a main focus. Gina has so many personal issues that it’s hard for me to understand how she got past vetting as a police recruit! Kovach did a good job of meshing Gina’s haunting past with the case but I could have done without Gina’s freakouts and flashbacks.
Thanks to publisher Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
A Slow Starting But Lives Up To Its Hype With A Caveat
The novel opens with two flashbacks. The first, 24 years earlier, has two guys in a bar where one brags how he is going home and show his wife her place. The second, 12 years earlier, a young woman cajoled into attending a Halloween party, but her new friend and others turned against her and as a prank buried her in a coffin.
The main storyline then starts with DI Harte meeting her boss, DCI Briggs in a local café as two friends having a coffee together. Suddenly, an obnoxious man, apparently looking and smelling homeless, starts a row with the owner over the price of reduced-price chicken sandwich. Harte intervenes and the man leaves. That evening, two young girls taking a short cut through the woods discover bell without a clapper with a string going into the ground into what looked like a fresh grave. Once Harte is on the scene and the coffin opened, she recognizes the deceased as the obnoxious man from the café. The novel proceeds from here.
The main storyline line consists of two major threads. First is in the voice of Harte and deals mostly with the investigation, and the second in the voice of a local woman who seems to be coming apart at the seams. There is a minor thread in the voice of the unknown perpetrator, and another thread deals with Harte’s dark secret that may be revealed. The investigating has plenty of twists and turns as the light seems to shine on one individual before it fades and wonders until the light finds another individual or back to refocus the investigation a previous individual. The pressure to solve this case intensifies and more people disappear.
The B-storyline is rich with much character development for Harte and Briggs. The reader will learn much about their, sometimes, too close relationship, and how that relationship affects their actions especially when Harte is placed in a very serious situation. Harte’s dark secret also plays a major role in B-storyline. This aspect of the novel contributed my reading enjoyment.
As for aspects that some readers find objectionable, this novel comes through with flying colors. There are not any intimate scenes and only seven minor vulgar words. The psychological violence is quite edgy as there are some very frank descriptions of individuals being buried alive. Reader beware. As the setting of this novel is England, there is use of informal British language. I found reading this novel on an e-reader was an advantage as I could highlight the word and search the Internet quickly and easily.
The one caveat I have is responsible for my evaluation of a slow start. The author would start a chapter with name of characters, but I didn’t have a clue who they are and their place in the storyline. Many of these were members of Harte’s investigatory team. This is the seventh novel in the series, but the first I read. This aspect interrupted the flow of my reading resulting in slowing down for the first part of the novel. If these new characters are just part of the main storyline, after reading a little deeper into the chapter, their places became clear. This aspect also caused me to miss the significance of an early chapter until much later in the novel. This is the only aspect that made me question on reading this novel first. Once I became comfortable with the characters, the novel finally captured my attention and a desire not to stop reading. Lastly, because I enjoyed reading this novel, I was influenced to purchase the first novel in the series.
From the aspect of reading this novel as the first novel in the series, I rate this novel with four stars. If you have read any of the previous novels in this series, this novel probably would be a five star read. Enjoy reading Their Silent Graves.
I have received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Bookouture with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Cherie needed to die.
I won’t indulge too much into it, but damn. The bitch had to go and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
What happened to Lucy. What happened to Gina. Should not have happened to anyone.
Nuff said.
Now to move back to the review, there were strong ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ vibes from this suspense thriller and I was loving every single moment of it. The anticipation of what was to follow after the first grave was found had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The characters were real and raw, and the triggering topics such as abuse, alcoholism, drug addiction, and (minor) bullying were well touched on. And despite this being the seventh installment of the ‘Detective Gina Harte’ series, it could be considered a standalone as it’s easy to follow and as a reader, you can pretty much get the gist of what’s happening.
With that being said, there were a few things that prevented this from being a 4+ star read, such as the pacing. It was a bit wishy washy for me. The constant fast and slow pacing that vary from scene to scene could have been slightly tweaked to make the read smooth sailing. It seemed with that issue alone, the story at times dragged on and on. Additional to that issue, the predictability of the storyline and whodunit mystery was easy to find out. Despite how much I enjoyed this, I do wish there were more twists and turns to make this a much more enthralling read.
Another book with a beautiful dedication: “To all who have suffered loss or illness during this year of pandemic.”
The book starts out with 2 very disturbing scenes of the past.
– 24 years ago a coffin-maker watches how his friend locks his wife up in the shed and beats her regularly.
– 12 years ago a young girl who’s new in town is buried alive in a coffin by her new ’friends’.
Now; When 2 16-year-old girls are on their way to a Halloween party and take a shortcut through the woods, they stumble across a bell without a clapper that’s tied to the buried coffin. At first, they think it’s a practical joke but they call the police anyway. A dead man lays inside; there are claw marks on the inside of the lid so it looks as if the victim was buried alive. DI Harte recognises him; it’s a man she told of for being rude to the café owner 2 days earlier. The killer seems to have a connection with her and writes her letters with intimate details about her own abusive past.
Then, there’s Cherie, married to Christian and mother of 2. We don’t know what she’s up to but she’s keeping secrets from her husband. It’s a secret from her past that she shares with some school friends.
Who are those people, what are they hiding, what is all this about? Why do they involve Gina Harte in their game? You know there must be a connection or it wouldn’t be in the book.
While you try to puzzle out who’s who and what is going on, the suspense increases with every chapter (there are a lot of them in this book). It’s frustrating, so many secrets, clues and puzzle pieces and I couldn’t make sense of them. Grrr, I loved it though. It’s definitely one of those books that keep you up half of the night. And when I finally went to bed, I kept milling it over and over before falling asleep.
My first assumption was that there was someone taking revenge on men that behave badly against women. But if so, what is the connection with Gina’s abusive ex? He’s dead, so it can’t be him, and why would he target abusive men.
Although the victims aren’t very likeable, you can’t go around murdering ‘bad’ people. We all know a couple of people without whom the world would be a better place. But if we all go rogue serving vigilante justice, the world would be pure anarchy and chaos. Unfortunately, we’re stuck with laws and systems that aren’t always bringing justice and righteousness where they should. So I would urge our lawmakers (wherever in this world) to update both the police and justice departments into the 21st century.
When the identity of the killer was finally revealed, I was surprised. Despite my multiple theoretical scenario’s, I never saw this coming. The ‘why’ was already clear by then but not the ‘who’.
Most of the story is written from DI Harte’s POV but there are also chapters about Cherie and her friends, and those by the killer who doesn’t reveal his/her identity. It’s very well constructed and it keeps your attention to the last. It’s both police procedural and psychological thriller.
Despite being the 7th book in this series, it’s very easy to read on its own. Of course, there are some references made to the past but I’m not even sure if those are just background information or that they’ve been part of former stories.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided me with; this is my honest and unbiased review of it.
Ding ding ding! Another winner in the DI Gina Harte series. This is book 7 and I’m not tired of this series yet. The characters are so well-developed, as is the storyline. Once you start reading, you don’t want to put it down. I hate when these books end as I always want more! I would LOVE to see this entire series made into a TV series!!!!
Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.