This feature is for short reviews, reviews of books in a series where it might feel repetitive, or (as Michelle suggested) books I was too lazy to write a “real” review for. Today’s books I read as part of COYER Book Club.

Narrator: Emily Sutton-Smith, Lauren Ezzo, Will Ropp, Dan John Miller
Series: Stillhouse Lake #2
Published by Brilliance Audio on December 12, 2017
Genres: Mystery
Length: 11 hours 55 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Length:
11 hrs and 55 mins
Every time Gwen closed her eyes, she saw him in her nightmares. Now her eyes are open, and he’s not going away.
Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text…
You’re not safe anywhere now.
Her refuge at Stillhouse Lake has become a trap. Gwen leaves her children in the protective custody of a fortified, well-armed neighbor. Now, with the help of Sam Cade, brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen is going hunting. She’s learned how from one of the sickest killers alive.
But what she’s up against is beyond anything she feared—a sophisticated and savage mind game calculated to destroy her. As trust beyond her small circle of friends begins to vanish, Gwen has only fury and vengeance to believe in as she closes in on her prey. And sure as the night, one of them will die.
I am so glad we decided to continue with this series for book club. I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. Unlike the first book, we get multiple POVs – including the kids – and it really changed the dynamic of the story for me. Getting the kids perspective really gave me space to almost doubt her husband’s guilt for a few momentary seconds, even. Gwen goes hunting her ex-husband and her being on the offensive, while under attack added a lot of tension and excitement. Especially since she’s still also under attack. I’m curious to see how the series continues, as this one wrapped things up fairly well, in my opinion. But I’m eager to keep reading.
Side note: When I saw that there were multiple narrators I thought I had pulled the info wrong. The narrators were from different points of view, and thinking back, they were distinct. But they blended together so well, I didn’t consciously realize there were several.

on September 19, 2017
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 338
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Goodreads

In this gripping stand-alone from bestselling author Mary Burton, an FBI agent must catch a copycat killer. The only difference this time: she’s the final victim.
Catching monsters helps FBI agent Kate Hayden keep her nightmares at bay. Now an urgent call brings her back to San Antonio, the scene of her violent past. A brutal new murder shows hallmarks of a serial killer nicknamed the Samaritan. Tricky part is, Kate already caught him.
Either Kate made a deadly error, or she’s got a copycat on her hands. Paired with homicide detective Theo Mazur, she quickly realizes this murder is more twisted than it first appeared. Then a second body is found, the mode of death identical to a different case that Kate thought she’d put behind her.
Now Kate and Detective Mazur aren’t just working a homicide; the investigative pair is facing a formidable enemy who knows Kate intimately. While Mazur is personally trying to protect Kate, the closer they are drawn to the killer, the clearer it becomes that in this terrifying game, there is only one rule: don’t believe everything you see…
I doubt I would have picked this one up if it weren’t for coyer book club, but I’m glad I did.
I enjoyed the characters so much – from Detective Mazur and FBI agent Kate to the villains and even Mazur’s daughter and Kate’s family, hell Baudry’s maid whose only in it a few pages! – they are well written and complex. You get the villains perspectives, which doesn’t always work for me, but did here.
As far as the plot, you know who’s responsible pretty early on. But connecting the dots takes a while and right up to the reveal I was stumped on a couple connections.
And the romance worked, without taking over the story. I would actually really like to see more of these characters… But I’m pretty sure this is a standalone. If that changes, I would pick up another.

Narrator: Luke Daniels
Series: The Iron Druid Chronicles #1
Published by Brilliance Audio on April 19, 2011
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 8 hours 11 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Borrowed
Goodreads

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old - when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.
Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power - plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish - to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil
I’m so glad this was a coyer book club pick! I’ve known about this series for a long while and have intended to read it, but it wasn’t until I came up for book club that I actually made time for it. I love the characters, the magic, Oberon (the dog who talks through a mind – link) and just the world in general. The little details really pay off to make it a complete win. And, since I had heard it was a good audio choice that’s the way I read it. And I’m glad I did. The voices were great, particularly the voice for Oberon. It feels like a dog. There’s some great accents as well. I will definitely continue – though probably not until Anne does it for her read-a-long (2023 I think…?).
@BerlsS is sharing Just a Few Books she read in for #COYER Book Club. Have you read them? Share on X
I skipped over the Killman Creek review because I’m picking it up later this week. I have really loved almost all the books we’ve read for book club and I’m so happy you guys put it together.
I really, really enjoyed The Last Move and Hounded too! I’ve added a few names to my list to dig into back lists or series continuation.
I loved Hounded, but need to keep going in the series. I just grab the Stillhouse Lake book one. 🙂 Yes, it looks like book club is giving you some fabulous reads, Berls!
It really is! I hope you enjoy Stillhouse Lake! It will probably be Anne’s Readalong before I continue the Iron Druid,just out of practicality/time. But I did enjoy it!
As it happens I have read and enjoyed all 3 of these books even before they were COYER BC picks. But I definitely enjoyed Hounded more the second time on audio instead of ebook.
Oh really!?! I missed that somehow. The audio is so good for Hounded!