#Review - Trapper Road by Rachel Caine, Carrie Ryan #Mystery #Suspense

Series: Stillhouse Lake # 6
Format: Ebook, 426 pages
Release Date: August 2, 2022
Publisher: Rachel Caine, LLC.
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Mystery / Suspense

Sometimes danger comes from the most unexpected places.

Gwen Proctor has always been willing to do anything it takes to protect her kids. But there are some things even she can’t protect them from. When a violent incident at Connor’s school brings the press to Gwen’s doorstep, she agrees to take a case out of town hoping to keep her family out of the crushing media spotlight.

The case is that of a missing girl, last seen getting into a truck with a stranger before disappearing. Gwen has a reputation for finding those who are lost, but this time something is wrong. Her instincts are off, and every clue she uncovers only raises more doubts, not just about the missing girl and the circumstances of her disappearance, but also about the fragile safety Gwen’s created for her family.

The closer she comes to uncovering the truth, the more she unwittingly puts those she loves at risk. Someone from Gwen’s past doesn’t appreciate the new life she’s built for herself and is willing to do anything it takes to tear it apart. Except this time it isn’t Gwen in the crosshairs, but her partner Sam. Without her instincts to rely on, how can Gwen protect those she loves against an enemy she never sees coming?

Trapper Road is the Sixth installment in the Stillhouse Lake series created by Rachel Caine, and now written by Carrie Ryan after Rachel's death in 2020. This book alternates between every member of Gwen's family as well as Detective Kez Claremont. As the story begins, Gwen is finishing up on her rehab after nearly dying in Heartbreak Bay thanks to yet another of Melvin Royal's sick followers. She's doing her private investigation job at her desk while she heals. When the family of Juliette Larson asks for Gwen's help through her employer, it would mean a road trip to Gardenia, North Carolina.

Gwen has a reputation for finding kids lost forever, but this case might be her undoing. When a violent incident at Connor and Lanny’s school brings the press to Gwen’s doorstep, she agrees to take Juliette's case hoping to keep her family out of the crushing media spotlight. Gwen takes Connor as well as Vera (Vee) Crockett who Gwen took in. While Gwen is digging into Juliette's disappearance, she finds out that her friends Mandy and Willa were the last to see her alive jumping into a stranger's truck. The details are vague & the local sheriff's department found no evidence of foul play but refused to call it a cold case because there's no body. 

Now with Gwen on the case, she's hoping she'll be able to shed some light on what happened to Juliette as well ensuring the family gets closer. Gwen's family has been continually targeted by a group known as Lost Angels. They now claim to have solid proof that Gwen knew that her ex-husband was a serial killer and did nothing to stop him. While Gwen was found innocent by a jury of her peers, stalkers still believed that she literally got away with murder and deserves to pay. Gwen's new stalker, a man named Leonard Varrus, is ready to release a story to the media called The Truth about Gina Royal. 

Sam Cade has learned the hard way what it means to open his heart to Gwen, Lenny, and Connor and be targeted by Royal's followers. One year ago, Connor and Sam were kidnapped by a cult leader who believed all the sick, vile nonsense that was posted online and in dark web chat rooms. In fact, Sam was once a member of the Lost Angels who now considers him to be a traitor and open game over his relationship with Gwen and her kids. While Sam believes he is safe taking Lanny to a university, he soon finds out that nowhere is safe as long as Leonard is loose.

I'm not a fan of Connor's after this book. For years, Gwen has repeatedly warned the family about allowing anyone to brainwash or groom them to become like their father. She warned them about the dark web, and the sicko patrol. Gwen’s need to control her children’s lives, and hyper-vigilance proves 100% accurate once again. Connor endangers his family by doing really stupid things behind his mother's back as well as not warning anyone about his friends destructive behavior which lead to a school shooting. He and Vera really have my scorn after this book.

I am glad that Rachel left behind a transcript for Trapper Road which was then picked up by Carrie Ryan who does a pretty good job of understanding who these characters are. While it is extremely sad that we lost Rachel, she's no longer suffering and is hopefully in a better place. After 6 books, I am kind of sick of the constant threat by outsiders to Gwen and her family. If Leonard and his sycophants wants war, well I say please set Sam and Gwen loose to do what they do best. Protect the family. 

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