A great start to a new series introduces FBI agent Val Costa. After being kidnapped by the serial killer she was tracking, she is placed on mandatory leave to recover from the physical and psychological trauma. Val, a single mom with a son about to start college, returns to her hometown to stay with her mother, who is the retired sheriff. Her son plans to stay with them until he leaves for a trip with friends before college. While there, Val reconnects with Brady, a close friend from high school, now a deputy sheriff in their hometown.

Frustrated by being on leave and unable to work on the serial killer case, Val volunteers to assist Brady and the local Sheriff’s department when a local teenager goes missing. What unfolds is a fantastic, engaging story that is hard to put down.

What I appreciated about this book, beyond the gripping plot, is that the main character is mature, dealing with relatable issues—worrying about her son and realizing she will need to be around more for her aging mother. I'm looking forward to reading future books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and author H.K. Christie for the opportunity to review the advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Title: Gone By Dawn
Author: H. K. Christie
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Story: Gone By Dawn by H. K. Christie is a gripping thriller that thrusts readers into the tense and dangerous world of FBI Agent Val Costa. Just two days ago, Val faced off against a notorious serial killer known as the Bear, a man who left her with a permanent reminder of their encounter: a curling “S” carved into her skin. Val is one of only two women to ever survive an attack by the Bear, and she knows that it’s only a matter of time before he strikes again.Forced to return home to Red Rose County, California, to recover from her ordeal, Val barely has time to catch her breath before the community is thrown into panic over the disappearance of Scarlett Douglas, a local teenager with blonde hair and freckles. Despite being ordered to rest, Val cannot ignore the call to action and begins investigating the case, quickly discovering that Scarlett’s life was far from perfect. The more she digs into the Douglas family’s secrets, the more disturbing the picture becomes.As Val and her team scour the nearby redwoods for clues, the case takes a terrifying turn when a pink teddy bear—a signature left by the Bear—is delivered to Val’s doorstep. It’s a chilling message that suggests the Bear may have followed her to Red Rose County, putting her own family at risk. Val is now in a race against time to find Scarlett before the Bear can claim another victim, all while unraveling the dark truths hidden within the seemingly close-knit community.
Likes and Dislikes :-
Likes :-
1 Val Costa: Val is a compelling protagonist, marked by both physical and emotional scars. Her resilience and determination drive the story, making her a character that readers can easily root for. Christie does a great job of delving into Val’s internal struggles as she grapples with the trauma of her encounter with the Bear while trying to protect her son and solve the case.
2 The Bear: As a villain, the Bear is terrifyingly effective. His presence looms large over the narrative, and Christie uses him to inject a constant sense of dread into the story. The psychological cat-and-mouse game between Val and the Bear adds an extra layer of suspense to the novel.
3 The novel’s pacing is excellent, with each chapter ratcheting up the tension. Christie’s portrayal of Val Costa as a strong yet vulnerable protagonist is a highlight, and the psychological depth of the story keeps the reader engaged. The setting of Red Rose County, with its towering redwoods and small-town secrets, adds a sense of isolation and danger that enhances the overall atmosphere.
Dislikes :- Some readers may find the intensity of the plot a bit overwhelming, particularly the darker themes and violent scenes. Additionally, the ending, while satisfying, may leave some questions unanswered for those who prefer a more conclusive resolution.
My rating 4.3/5

Excellent introduction to Val Costa!! I’m excited to continue this series

The characters are lovable

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy

I enjoyed this start to a new series. It was fast paced, twisted and left you wanting to know more. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Drop everything and grab a copy of Gone by Dawn ASAP. You can thank me later!

This thriller is absolutely gripping, riveting, and spine-chilling. Though I've read many books featuring collaborations between FBI agents and local law enforcement, this new series by H.K. Christie is on another level!

From the very first page, I was hooked, unable to put my Kindle down until I reached the end. This bone-chilling story kept me awake late into the night.

From the storytelling to the scene-setting to the character development, this book checks every box with the highest marks. Christie's storytelling is sharp and immersive, blending elements of psychological thriller and scandalous mystery. Val is a compelling character, haunting yet determined - the kind of protagonist you would root for till the end. Gone by Dawn is everything a thriller lover would look for - intense, gripping, and impossible to put down.

Gone by Dawn is the first H.K. Christie book I have read, but it definitely won’t be the last. I am diving straight into the next book in the series to keep this thrill ride going. What are you waiting for? Grab your copy today!

Fantastic start of a new series. Meet Val Costa, FBI profiler. She is on leave to recuperate after having been kidnapped by a serial killer. She and her son go to her mother’s house in California. While there, a local teen goes missing and Val volunteers to help. The author does a great job of presenting different threads of the story and bringing them together for the ending. All is not as it seems. Why did the girl go missing, or did she? Why are other youths disappearing off the streets? And has the serial killer that caught Val discovered where she is staying. Awesome story. You can’t go wrong with anything by HK Christie!

Solid detective mystery with believable characters, small town feel, good mix of action and human interactions to keep things moving.

I like this series. Val Costa is a very interesting character. She’s an FBI Profiler that knows her stuff. I really enjoyed the storyline it had my interest from beginning to end. Looking forward to 2nd book.

H.K. Christie's writing has topped the charts! This one has it all....once again I was drawn in from the very first chapter. Twist, turns, thrills and chills! Thank you Christie!

H.K. Christie has another hit series! With a fabulous lead character, Val Costa, readers will find many similarities between H.K. Christie's Martina Monroe. Both are strong, independent women, who speak with honesty, conviction, and are able to dig deep into cases. Val, an FBI special agent, is finding herself at home with her mother (who is the county's former sheriff)... she's recovering from being kidnapped by the serial killer she was tracking. Val managed to escape, but not before she was scarred both figuratively and mentally,. Sleeping is tough for Val. The current deputy sheriff, Brady, is a friend of Val's from high school. After Val learns that a young girl is missing, she goes to Brady to ask to help with the case - as a volunteer, as she's been told by her FBI superiors that she's on leave until she recovers and sees the psychologist. The case quickly develops with Val and Brady working closely together to help determine what happened to Scarlett. And also, a mysterious letter appears that has Val even more on edge. Absolutely fantastic!!! Told in different narratives to keep the story moving - this is a great series to get hooked on! Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 stars! Such a good start the series! I fell in love with her Martina Monroe series which is also thriller. I loved how there are many different aspects to uncover rather than just a main theme like most thrillers have. I cannot wait for the next in the series!

This was a new series for this author. I have read the majority of this authors books and have never been disappointed. A female agent is the main character. You'll immediately find yourself wanting to have her in your corner. She's a person who thinks of her family first even when her own life is ideal. I highly recommend reading this book and other books of this author.

Gone by Dawn was a thrilling, action packed ride. I loved it. It kept me guessing and turning pages until the very end.

New to this author I was excited to get stuck into this book especially knowing it’s going to be a series!

I loved how you got to know the characters especially through the short chapters and chapters from different characters views.
The plot unfolds easily with a few twists just keeping you wanting to read more to get the answers. I am not sure if we have heard the last of the Bear as it seemed to have been left unresolved and therefore I genuinely cannot wait to see what’s next for Val Costa!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy and throughly would recommend to anyone wanting an easy thriller that doesn’t disappoint!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!

I must admit, when I saw H.K Christie had a new series, I was a little unsure whether I would warm to another character, without drawing parallels with Martina and Selena, having read all of those books.

Enter Val Costa, an FBI agent reeling from a traumatic event and forced into taking time off to recover. She can't help but get caught up in an intriguing case, despite her awful ordeal, and her tenacity is evident from the start of the book.

I needn't have worried, as I soon became really invested in her story and I am really looking forward to the series progressing and hopefully learning more about her backstory as time goes on.

I always find H.K Christie's novels easy to lose myself in and a pleasure to read. I read a huge amount, and look forward to these releases every time.

It was a pleasant surprise to get the opportunity to read the second book so soon, and I am just about to start that now. I have high hopes for Val Costa !

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of Gone by Dawn by H K Christie

FBI agent Val Costa is on sick leave after bring captured by a serial killer. Staying with her Mum, herself a retired sheriff and with her son home for the holidays Val is supposed to be recuperating. But then a girl goes missing. The story splits into two parts that come together near the end. It is a fabulous read, quite harrowing in parts and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
The only thing I didn’t like was Val’s total disregard for any authority. Would this really be allowed and is it really necessary?

Gone By Dawn written by H.K. Christie will have you glued to the pages. The character development is amazing and makes you feel like you’re really getting to know them. The shock value was definitely there as the story progressed. This book isn’t your average thriller and i definitely recommend reading it.

5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great end-of-summer thriller that will keep you turning pages and glued to the story. GO get THIS book!

I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of this gripping crime thriller and thoroughly enjoyed the read! My deadly true reviews will give you the legit down low on whether a book is worth the read -- Gone by Dawn is 💯 worth it!

The author does a great job of keeping mystery and thrill while captivating you with character development and twists. An exciting read that shifts between character points of view flawlessly and joins storylines together cohesively. You will feel like you know the characters by the end, and I look forward to more in this series!

Although I was never really overly surprised, I definitely enjoyed the story and mysteries that unravel. Not too gritty, but just a good amount of shock value for the average thriller reader. (I generally prefer more shock/horror, but still enjoyed!)

There are several twists and you'll be on your toes wondering if you have figured out potential victims and what's really going on, making it tough to put down.

Well written, great chapter lengths, heartfelt characters, excellent plot. A smooth and easy read but one with a rich plot that keeps you entertained and engrossed.

💯 Good read 😎🙌

4 stars. This is the first book in the Valerie Costa series. This author is new to me and I really liked the writing and character description. Valerie is an FBI agent who is on leave after being held captive by The Bear, a serial killer. Luckily, she escaped but is relentless on finding him. While on leave and recovering, she goes and stays with her mom. While there, a strange case comes to her attention and she gets involved as an advisor. I'm excited to see what book 2 brings as I have a lot of unanswered questions. This will definitely be a good series. Very easy to read and I was immersed.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it and recommend this book.

Agent Va l Costa’s life changed dramatically after being rescued from a serial killer called the Bear. While taking a leave to recover from the traumatic abduction by the Bear, Val Costa moves in with her mom in California. A young teenage girl from the neighborhood goes missing. Agent Costa gets drawn into the search for this girl while she is recovering. The events that happen during this search take the agent in daring directions. This book leads you on a chase to find this girl, the Bear, and eventually other missing teenagers. Danger is lurking at every corner. It is a wild adventure that will keep you guessing throughout the story. It has a shocking turn of events that will leave you stunned. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has all the elements pf a good thriller mystery. I am looking forward to reading more adventures with Agen Val Costa.