Format: Kindle, 378 pages
Release Date: July 1, 2025
Publisher: Rachel Caine, LLC
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
It’s time for Gwen Proctor to bury her past—before it buries her.
For years, the Lost Angels have hunted Gwen, blaming her for the murders committed by her ex-husband, Melvin Royal. Now, they’ve found a new a viral true-crime podcast that drags Gwen and her family back into the spotlight—and into the path of a deadly new danger.
Then the FBI arrives with a chilling someone is killing Gwen’s enemies, leaving behind a twisted signature that links the crimes to Melvin. The evidence points to the last person Gwen ever expected—Sam Cade, the man she’s come to trust with her heart.
With her family’s safety at stake, Gwen returns to Stillhouse Lake for a final confrontation. But as the bodies pile up and the doubts about Sam grow, Gwen must face the one question she’s been running She trusted the wrong man once before…
What if she’s about to do it again?
For years, the Lost Angels have hunted Gwen, blaming her for the murders committed by her ex-husband, Melvin Royal. Now, they’ve found a new a viral true-crime podcast that drags Gwen and her family back into the spotlight—and into the path of a deadly new danger.
Then the FBI arrives with a chilling someone is killing Gwen’s enemies, leaving behind a twisted signature that links the crimes to Melvin. The evidence points to the last person Gwen ever expected—Sam Cade, the man she’s come to trust with her heart.
With her family’s safety at stake, Gwen returns to Stillhouse Lake for a final confrontation. But as the bodies pile up and the doubts about Sam grow, Gwen must face the one question she’s been running She trusted the wrong man once before…
What if she’s about to do it again?
Darkwater Lane is the Seventh and final installment in a series created by Rachel Caine, and finished by Carrie Ryan after Rachel's death a few years ago. Published by Rachel Caine, LLC, this novel concludes the intense journey of Gwen Proctor, a woman relentlessly pursued by the shadows of her serial-killer ex-husband, Melvin Royal, and his rabid fans, known as the Sicko Squad. Darkwater Lane delivers a high-stakes, emotionally charged finale that blends psychological suspense, family drama, and relentless action.
Darkwater Lane centers on Gwen Proctor, who has spent years hiding from the fallout of her ex-husband Melvin Royal’s horrific crimes. Living under constant threat from the Lost Angels, a group blaming her for Melvin’s murders, created by Sam after the loss of his own sister to Melvin, Gwen faces a new danger: a viral true-crime podcast that thrusts her family back into the public eye. The stakes escalate when the FBI delivers a chilling warning—someone is targeting Gwen’s enemies, leaving a signature that mimics Melvin’s methods.
Suspicion falls on Sam Cade, Gwen’s trusted partner, forcing her to question whether she’s once again placed her faith in the wrong man. As the body count rises, Gwen returns to Stillhouse Lake for a final confrontation, battling both external threats and her own doubts to protect her children, Lanny and Connor. The narrative weaves a taut web of suspense, exploring whether Gwen can finally bury her past or if it will consume her. Gwen Proctor remains one of the most compelling protagonists in modern thrillers. Her transformation from Gina Royal, a naive housewife, to a fierce, weapon-savvy protector is complete in Darkwater Lane.
Her paranoia, strength, and unwavering commitment to her children make her both relatable and admirable, a “fierce mama bear” who embodies maternal love under extreme pressure. Sam Cade’s arc introduces a heartbreaking layer of complexity, as Gwen grapples with doubts about his loyalty, adding depth to their relationship. Lanny and Connor, now older, are more active participants, their growth reflecting the series’ focus on family dynamics under duress.
The antagonists, including the Lost Angels and the shadowy killer, are chillingly effective, though the villain’s motivations could have been fleshed out further. Darkwater Lane explores themes of trust, redemption, and the inescapable weight of the past. Gwen’s struggle to trust Sam mirrors her broader battle to reclaim agency after Melvin’s betrayal, making the novel a meditation on the cost of survival. The true-crime podcast element feels timely, critiquing society’s obsession with sensationalizing trauma, a thread that resonates with modern media culture.
In the end, readers should be happy that Carrie Ryan stepped in to finish the final two books of this series so that Gwen, her kids, Sam, and her friends can finally get the closure they deserved.
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