#Review - Wolfhunter River by Rachel Caine #Thriller

Series: Stillhouse Lake #3
Format: Paperback, 334 pages
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Source: Publisher
Genre: Thriller

She can’t ignore a cry for help. But in this remote hunting town, it’s open season.

Gwen Proctor escaped her serial-killer husband and saved her family. What she can’t seem to outrun is his notoriety. Or the sick internet vigilantes still seeking to avenge his crimes. For Gwen, hiding isn’t an option. Not when her only mission is to create a normal life for her kids.

But now, a threatened woman has reached out. Marlene Crockett, from the remote town of Wolfhunter, is panicked for herself and her daughter. When Gwen arrives in the small, isolated rural community, Marlene is already dead—her own daughter blamed for the murder. Except that’s not the person Marlene feared at all. And Gwen isn’t leaving until she finds out who that was.

But it may already be too late. A trap has been set. And it’s poised to snap shut on everyone Gwen loves. Her stalkers are closing in. And in a town as dark as Wolfhunter, it’s so easy for them to hide…

Wolfhunter River, by author Rachel Caine, is the third installment in the Stillhouse Lake series. The story once again features narratives from four characters. For Gwen Proctor, her daughter Lanny, her son Connor, and Sam Cade, the man who lost his sister to Melvin Royal, and once thought Gwen was as responsible as he was, nothing is easy. Not where they are living. Not the fact that they barely have any friends at all outside of Javier, and Kezia Claremont. Not when internet trolls continue to cause trouble.

Even though her ex is now dead, and Gwen has tried to move on with her life, she makes a fundamentally bad choice of going on a talk show in order to clear her name and letting the world see who she really is. It's a bad decision because the show pulls a fast one on Gwen by inviting Miranda Tidewell, whose daughter was Melvin Royal's second victim. Miranda is out for vengeance on Gwen. She has absolutely no hesitation in destroying her life, or putting Gwen's children in harm's way.   

Gwen then gets a call from Marlene, a woman in a remote Tennessee town called Wolfhunter. Marlene is afraid of someone, but isn't willing to divulge the reasons for her fears. Marlene asks Gwen to come to Wolfhunter but she fears it's some sort of trap. After all, Gwen and her kids are a prime targets for anyone looking to make a name for themselves, including Marlene. But, after she receives a second call from Marlene's daughter Vee saying her mother is dead, Gwen chooses to travel to Wolfhunter River. 

This is the crux of the story really. While Gwen knows she may be stepping into something dangerous, she has no idea of the corruption and the deep danger that seems to seep out of every crack in this town. Gwen's arrival causes a ripple affect that will collect everyone from Gwen, and her Kids, to Sam, along with Sam's friend FBI Agent Mike Lusting, as well as Miranda herself who just can't help herself when it comes to destroying Gwen's life. 

My feelings are this is the weakest book of the series so far. Here is my issue with the story. The author pretty much turns Wolfhunter into a hick town by using political statements to make claims that these people have to be white supremacists and therefore they bad people who are responsible for hatred in this country. There's the usual suspects of the corrupt Sheriff and cops to support her point of view along with diabolical kidnappers who steal a black child and then lose her, as well as a group that shelters itself inside a compound filled with guns for some nefarious reasoning.

The book took over 100 pages before it actually got moving in the direction that made any sense, but it wasn't until the final 1/3 that the action was really good. There is also the surprise betrayal of faith by Sam, and no, I'm not going to spoil it. I will just say that I hate people who keep secrets and then expect things to ever be the same again. Yes, there is such things as forgiveness, but Sam's past actions really caused Gwen and her kids a whole lot of difficulties. Can they move on from here? I guess we will see when the fourth installment is released next year. 

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