Killman Creek (Stillhouse Lake #2) by Rachel Caine

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Killman Creek by Rachel Caine is the second book in the Stillhouse Lake series. The first book in the series, Stillhouse Lake, introduced readers to Gwen Proctor who had gone into hiding with her two children after it was found that her husband was a serial killer. The trio had been on the run for several years not only trying to make sure that her husband who had gone to prison wouldn’t know of their whereabouts but also the vigilantes that thought Gwen was an accomplice to the killings instead of an innocent housewife.

Now in Killman Creek the story picks up shortly after the ending of the first book with Gwen trying to decide how to proceed now with her husband having escaped from prison. Gwen is tired of running and hiding and wants to put down roots in Stillhouse Lake with her kids but first she needs to find her ex, Melvin Royal, and make sure he never hurts anyone again. With the help of her friend, Sam Cade, the brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen decides to turn the tables and go on the hunt for Melvin and his network of psychotic accomplices.

After finishing the first book of this series I was completely in love with Gwen, her children and their story. Focusing on the family left behind of a captured serial killer the author did a wonderful job making it feel realistic with the way they had been tried in the media and online and lived in fear that someone out there would go after them for revenge or vigilante justice. I was curious if the intensity of the story would carry over into the second book and I’m happy to say that it certainly did.

This second book is done a bit differently from the first in the fact that now the family is being split apart so the story also does so with the point of view changing between the characters. Not only does Gwen have a voice and viewpoint but so do her children and the man they had come to rely on in the first book, Sam Cade. This gave a wonderful depth to the story and allowed the author to expand the action. The twists and turns that I came to expect from the first book were still there and never failed to keep the pages turning. This definitely is a series I’d recommend to the thriller fans out there and I do hope the author continues the story.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.