So let me start off by saying that the blurb sounded interesting. It had that murder/suspense aspect that people love but with a different spin on it. That was about the only positive thing I would say about this book. To put it simply, it was overwritten. Some much description for no reason. It seems like the author was just trying to compensate for a lack of story. Additionally, the electronic copy that I received had some glitch where any word with two corresponding "t's" would be deleted. So attempt would look like a empt and that just made it even more challenging to read. Not a fan.

⚠️WARNING — SPOILER AHEAD⚠️
(but trust me, you need it)

This book is NOT noncon. That is an extremely important distinction, and one you deserve to know before you start reading. If you're going in blind, you might DNF early. This story deliberately walks the line between horror and desire, and if you didn't know it wasn't noncon it would be a deeply uncomfortable experience.

I get it—not knowing at the start is the point. But I just can’t risk anyone picking this up, not finishing, and thinking that’s what I’m into.

This book is bold. There's no other word for it. It tiptoes the line between horror and erotica with the precision of a psychological scalpel—and it left me unsure whether I needed a cold shower or a therapy session...but it worked.

The premise? A woman wakes up bound, gagged, and blindfolded—paralleling recent brutal murders. The writing is cinematic, the dread is palpable, and the author doesn’t flinch. For a long stretch of this novella, you’re left wondering: Is this a horror story? A dark romance? A crime thriller in disguise? And for a while? It’s brilliant. I found myself constantly questioning the author’s intent. Is he exploring the darkness we all carry? The thrilling overlap between danger and desire? Or holding up a mirror to readers who find themselves turned on by it all?

If the ending had landed, this might’ve been a dark romance masterpiece.

And for most of the story, I was on board. Completely hooked. But when the resolution hit, the tone shifted abruptly. The ending felt rushed, with an info-dump explanation that broke the immersive spell the rest of the story worked so hard to build. I wish it had ended more cinematically—on a moment of revelation, then cut to an epilogue that explained everything in a way that kept the same voice and tension. Instead, it felt like the author stepped out from behind the curtain and said, “Okay! Show’s over. Here’s what you just read.”

Would I recommend it? Depends.
If you like American Horror Story for how it mixes fear and arousal—yes.
If dubcon, BDSM dynamics, or psychological games are a hard no—run far, far away.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lege Industries LLC for this ARC!

My rating reflects the experience I had while reading this with the spoiler.
I went in knowing this was consensual play masquerading as noncon. That allowed me to enjoy the tension, the writing, the game the author was playing.

Without that knowledge? I would’ve stopped reading early, deeply disturbed. That’s not a critique of the writing—it’s a warning about the reader experience.

This story was twisted in its execution and effective in what it set out to do… but only if you know what game you’re playing.

This book was a bit of a roller-coaster ride. I found the book had sections that read out as suspense thriller, and other parts as horror and dark erotica. It was like the author couldn't make up on what the main storyline would follow. The characters were good, and I found the first bit of the book really kept my attention then I was having difficulty being able to focus and finish the book. I know not every book will be what I like or want to read but I do give it a go. I will still be recommending to my friends and followers.

Two hunters find a body and report it to the police. The hunters are distraught and cannot unsee the horror in their discovery. Meanwhile Leah is being held captive. She cannot see or hear who has taken her. What should she do? How should she feel? This book focuses on emotions. Both with the kidnapping and those who find the victims. It is a little slow and I thought it was a bit repetitive. I was surprised by the ending. I thought it was a good ending. It is a good book it was just a little slow. I would recommend it though. It was interesting how each of the chapters is in a different point of view. Depending on the character within the chapters

I've rated this 2 stars as I felt the story was unfinished. The mystery behind the serial killer was interested but left unanswered. The story arc of her investigating such serial killer to then get captured by him was also very interesting to me. However with the plot twist showing that wasn't the case and was role playing it felt almost chopped up. Like an unfinished murder mystery thrown in with a dark romance. The writing style was great and made the story easy to read and follow but overall I found the ending disappointing. The spicey scenes in the book were also very well written.

If I could make my review just the 🙄 emoji, I would. What a fucking pointless waste of time, and very like a white male author to decide to write about a cop and a coroner deciding to roleplay the gruesome murders they're investigating and then not solving the crime or giving the reader any answers to what exactly is going on there and who's doing it. For all I know, it's these two shitasses themselves.

A book afraid to be erotic. I am not entirely sure what the story is trying to achieve honestly. We start with a woman tied up and blindfolded with no idea what's going on and then people are finding dead women in the bayou with similar injuries as our protagonist is likely going to get. The pacing is slow which is surprising for a short book and I struggled to get through, finding myself skimming passages quickly because I wanted to find something. anything, to hold my attention. Then we get to the climax, where I'm thinking the murderer is going to have his way with her and then kill her. Only it's not actually a murderer, it's her husband and they're roleplaying but just like this book doesn't commit to being dark and sexy, her husband doesn't commit to seeing things through. The last chapter tells us that the murders are real and the woman was a coroner's assistant who crafted an entire fantasy around the murders and wanted to roleplay being a victim. It's so frustrating to read a book that won't go all in.

This book had so much potential, but unfortunately, it completely failed in execution. From the synopsis, I was expecting a gripping mystery with suspenseful elements, but instead, I got a confusing mix of mystery, erotic suspense, and what felt like an unnecessary amount of hunting and fishing details. I honestly struggled to stay engaged because the plot lacked clear direction. It felt like the book didn’t know what it wanted to be, which made it difficult for me to connect with the story or understand the point of reading it.

Leah, a coroner's assistant in Vermillion Parish, had an intriguing setup—waking up bound, gagged, and blindfolded, just like the victims she had been investigating. That premise alone had the potential to deliver a tense, psychological thriller. But instead of following an intense hunt for the killer, the story meandered with repetitive details, dull dialogue, and a plot that just never found its footing. The phrase “bound, gagged, and blindfolded” was used so many times that it lost all impact. Instead of drawing me into the horror, it became frustratingly redundant.

The writing itself was another issue. Many sections felt like filler, as if the author was trying to hit a word count rather than tell a compelling story. The dialogue was painfully repetitive, with characters constantly echoing each other’s lines in slightly different wording. At times, it felt like entire paragraphs were reworded versions of the same idea, making the reading experience feel unnecessarily bloated. The spicy scenes didn’t add anything for me either—they lacked tension, chemistry, and any real emotional weight. In fact, I found them so dull that I literally fell asleep while reading.

The last two chapters were the strongest part of the book, but by then, it was too little, too late. It honestly felt like they were written by a different person. If the entire book had been like that, it might have been a much more engaging read.

In the end, I wish I had DNFed this book. It didn’t deliver on its promise, and I’m still not entirely sure what I just read—but I do know I never want to read it again. That's why it gets 1 aka 0 ⭐ from me.

This was an interesting idea for a book. I thought it needed some more depth and development of character to make it a deeper novel. It wasn't bad, but I was expecting more. I want to read more from this author to see what else they have written..

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Lege Industries LLC, and Shane Lege

::| The Cypress Tombs
By Shane Lege
Chapter 4 Page 28

“Johnny, is that you?”
“Yeah, it's me, Johnny called back, still unable to see Chris through the thick fog.
“Are you alright? What were you shooting at?”
“I… I’m not sure,” Chris replied, his voice shaky.
“I heard some strange noises to the East and - I get i just got spooked.”
“Alright, take a deep breath. I am almost there, so don't shoot when I come down the levee,” Johnny reassured him. Johnny could sense the strain in Chris’s voice, the unease from being alone in the swamp for too long. Thought it has been less than an hour since Johnny left to make the phone call, it might have as well have been an eternity in this environment. The bayou was notorious for playing tricks on the mind - stray sounds, shifting shadows, and the ever-present fog could make the most seasoned hunter feel on edge. Add the creeping thoughts of what they have discovered, and it was no wonder Chris had fired those shots. |::

Something is happening in the little towns on the outskirts of a beautiful bayou, seemingly during when festivals are held, where everyone knows everyone else, a horror is waiting to be sprung on some unsuspecting hunter. In more than one village, targeting those who came out onto the still waters to lose themselves in nature, some have grown up around the beautiful cypress trees, whose roots go deep down in the mysterious waters and one by one.. secrets are coming up to haunt innocent people, reminding everyone that even in the smallest of innocent towns and villages. Evil lurks.

Okay. So yeah I very quickly began to really love this story it was a little different from any other i wrote and although I could forgive the weird feelings poor Leah was experiencing during the situation she found herself in.. I have to admit I was so unhappy with how it ended. I wanted to know what happened! Like omg how could you end it like that? I don't know if I should be impressed or angry haha.
It was good while it lasted!
We definitely need a book 2 please!

Big thank you to Shane Lege, Lege Industries LLC, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback.

I saw some pretty negative reviews of this book online. While many of those reviews made good points, they were a little harsh. This book definitely veered from societal norms while combining erotica with thriller/murder mystery elements. I personally like both genres, so this was not off-putting for me. I wish the pace were a little slower, as I felt it rushed to get its point across. It felt like the actual story was just fluff to make it to the ending. This book has good bones and could be expanded into a great novel. I am unsure if this will be a series. I think that could be a great direction to go. It could further explore the feelings expressed at the end of the book and follow the investigation into the murders.

Now for my complaints. There was a recurring formatting issue. Anywhere "tt" appeared in the text, it became a space. So "attending" became a ending." This did make for some slight confusion throughout. It also looks like the author used the find and replace function to change "Tina" to "Leah." This caused words containing "tina" also to change (i.e., destination became desleahtion). My other complaint is a bit nitpicky culturally. As someone who grew up in the deep south, some of the phrases the characters used didn't feel authentic. I'm in no way saying that Southerners aren't intelligent enough to have an expanded vocabulary. However, two middle-aged duck hunters aren't going around saying "purposefully" and "simultaneously." You're more likely to hear, "I swear I ain't never felt that relieved and that embarrassed at the same dang time."

With all of this in mind, I would like to thank NetGalley, Shane Lege, and Lege Industries LLC for gifting me a free copy of Cypress Tombs. I would like to see Shane continue writing in this same world. With a bit of work, I think this could become something great.

A coroners assistant in the middle of the horror of her own investigation.
I just couldn’t get into this book I felt the premise of it was very good but for some reason I just really struggled with it.
The tense unnerving vibes along with the dark fantasy elements really drew me in but I just felt it got a little repetitive BUT I didn’t expect plot twist and I actually felt shock with the reveal

Cypress Tombs by Shane Lege is a tense, atmospheric thriller set deep in the haunting bayous of Louisiana, but despite its eerie premise and potential for nail-biting suspense, the novel struggles to leave a lasting impression. While the plot promises a gripping tale of survival and terror, it is weighed down by underdeveloped characters and pacing issues that undermine the story’s emotional stakes.

Leah, the coroner's assistant turned victim, is positioned as the heart of the novel, and her predicament should have been enough to keep readers riveted. However, her characterization feels thin, making it difficult to fully empathize with her beyond the surface-level terror of her situation. Her backstory—particularly her relationship with her boyfriend and her work in forensics—feels underexplored, robbing the reader of the chance to understand what truly makes her tick. This lack of depth makes her reactions to her terrifying circumstances feel predictable rather than surprising or emotionally resonant.

The setting is where the novel shines brightest. Shane Lege’s descriptions of the remote Vermillion Parish and the isolation of the bayou evoke an oppressive sense of dread and helplessness. The thick cypress trees, the looming mist, and the ever-present hum of insects create a vivid backdrop for Leah’s nightmarish ordeal. The use of the Duck Festival as the starting point for her abduction adds a sinister layer of normalcy turned horrific, underscoring how quickly ordinary life can spiral into chaos.

Unfortunately, the villain—a crucial element in any thriller—is also somewhat generic. While their motivations and methods are horrifying, they lack the psychological complexity or charisma that make great antagonists stand out in the genre. The scenes of torment, while graphic and disturbing, don’t reveal much about the captor’s deeper psyche, making the conflict between Leah and her abductor feel more like a mechanical struggle for survival rather than a cat-and-mouse game brimming with tension and intrigue.

The pacing of the novel is uneven, with the middle sections bogged down by repetitive internal monologues and slower-moving sequences that dilute the urgency of Leah’s predicament. The final act does pick up the pace, delivering some genuinely pulse-pounding moments, but by then, the emotional impact feels diminished due to the lack of investment in the characters' fates.

At 2.75 stars, Cypress Tombs succeeds in capturing the oppressive atmosphere of the Louisiana bayou but falters in making its characters memorable or its story unpredictable. Shane Lege has a talent for crafting vivid settings and the bones of a gripping thriller, but the lack of emotional depth and distinct character voices make the story feel more like a standard procedural horror than a standout entry in the genre. Readers looking for a quick, unsettling read with a strong sense of place may still find something to appreciate here, but those seeking layered protagonists and a more psychologically complex narrative may be left wanting more.

Im not really sure how to review this book!!!! Great imagination definitely. Awesome plot for sure. Very vivid and detailed in some areas, would have loved more character building. I would definitely read more from this author now that I know what I'm getting into lol.

Thank you so much for the arc copy of this book, I am so grateful for the opportunity to read early.

However, I wanted to be honest and say that I don't believe this book was something that meshed well with me. I ended up dnfing, I do apologise and books are so subjective. However I found it lacked the ability to reel me in, hence why I dnfd.

There is a serial killer in Vermillion Paris; he is targeting women and hiding their bodies in the bayou. The public nicknamed him the Bayou Butcher. Leah was the assistant to the coroner; she spent hours at the crime scene documenting the horrific details of the crimes. Sarah Cormier was the first victim; she was tortured, restrained, beaten and her body was thrown into the bayou. The second victim’s identity was unknown. Rebecca Boudreaux was the third victim; her body told the same story. All three women had blonde hair and blue eyes. The fourth victim was Leah Broussard.
The reader has a front row seat as Leah’s predicament is played out. She is tied, gagged and blindfolded by her captor. She knows her life is in danger. Her captor played games with his victims; he tortured them. Can the information she gathered from the crime scene assist her in any way?
The cover of this book is well done. It hints at the suspense, fear and intrigue that awaits the reader. The setting is frightening, and the atmosphere is tense, intimidating, and disturbing. This tale has potential but there are several aspects that need work.
1. There is too much repetition.
2. There are times when the plot loses focus.
3. The plot has a split personality. It is mystery and suspense and yet it is erotic suspense.
4. The characters lack depth.
5. The men that found the bodies got more sympathy than the dead women.
6. The ending needs work.
7. The writing is rambling in many places.

Things that work.
1. The cover quickly caught my attention and reeled me in.
2. The setting was perfect: A bayou and cypress trees set the atmosphere.
3. The atmosphere is tense.
4. The premise had potential and with work could be great.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Although I think this book could have had potential, the writing was just something you'd find out of a bad sci-fi movie or something on an erotic website. Most of the time, the dialogue was just one person saying something and then the person they were talking to would say it right back, just worded a tiny bit differently. A lot of the paragraphs seemed like they were written to say the exact same thing as if the author had alternate things they were writing but weren't sure which one they were going to use and then accidentally used both. I felt like it was all rambling like the author was writing a 5000 word essay and they had to fill the word count. I honestly would have liked it if everything about finding the bodies was taken out and it was just turned into a short erotica.

The premise is terrifyingly captivating, yet because of the character relationships and repeated descriptions, the pacing occasionally lags. Lege's strength, meanwhile, is in his painstakingly detailed depiction of the scene, which captures the stifling, unearthly atmosphere of the Louisiana wetlands.

I skimmed like half this book and that's not great for being under 150 pages. There was so much detail and background about the people discovering the bodies, but at the end of the day, those people didn't really matter. It was unnecessary fluff in a thriller. If you want to go into excruciating detail about the towns people, write small town fiction.

Also we never discover who the killer is or what exactly is going on. The twist was interesting but since it didn't lead to the killer it felt so unsatisfactory.

Leah, a coroner's assistant in a small town finds herself in the middle of the horror she's been investigating. Following a town festival she awakes bound, gagged and blindfolded in the middle of the bayou, eerily similar to a multitude of other blonde hair blue eyed women.

This is how the book starts, this is the first few pages. What follows is the next 95% of the book leaves Leah where she is and delves into backstory and exposition. The backstory however, is paced and written very poorly. It's constantly jumping from different POVs; it's repetitive and frankly boring. Don't read this and take a shot every time the phrase "bound, gagged and blindfolded" is used, you might be hospitalised.

All the set up and backstory comes to a head with a very lackluster ending. The twist has been done better by so many other authors.

This book just could not decide what it wanted to be: suspense thriller, horror, dark erotica. It needed to figure it out before it put pen to page.

Thank you to NetGalley and lege industries LLC for providing a copy for review. All opinions are my own.