Trapper Road: A Stillhouse Lake Novel
Sometimes danger comes from the most unexpected places.
Gwen Proctor has always been willing to do anything it takes to protect her kids. But there are some things even she can't protect them from. When a violent incident at Connor's school brings the press to Gwen's doorstep, she agrees to take a case out of town hoping to keep her family out of the crushing media spotlight.
The case is that of a missing girl, last seen getting into a truck with a stranger before disappearing. Gwen has a reputation for finding those who are lost, but this time something is wrong. Her instincts are off, and every clue she uncovers only raises more doubts, not just about the missing girl and the circumstances of her disappearance, but also about the fragile safety Gwen's created for her family.
The closer she comes to uncovering the truth, the more she unwittingly puts those she loves at risk. Someone from Gwen's past doesn't appreciate the new life she's built for herself and is willing to do anything it takes to tear it apart. Except this time it isn't Gwen in the crosshairs, but her partner Sam. Without her instincts to rely on, how can Gwen protect those she loves against an enemy she never sees coming?
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Community Reviews
Trapper Road was more than just the final chapter of the Stillhouse Lake series-it was a farewell that carried the weight of loss, Iove, and legacy. Stepping into this book, knew it would be emotional. Not only because the series was coming to an end, but because Rachel Caine, the brilliant mind behind it all, had passed away before she could see it published. Author Carrie Ryan stepped in to finish the book after Rachel's death, honoring her friend's vision and voice with immense care and grace. And you could feel it-every page felt like Rachel. The characters were still raw, real, and fearless. Gwen was still the woman had followed for five intense books, still fighting, still protecting, still growing. The plot brought everything ful circle. With danger looming closer than ever and Gwen and her family once again facing impossible odds, the story was a true test of strength, unity, and survival. It was emotional, high-stakes, and full of that signature grit that made the series unforgettable. Going into Trapper Road, my heart was already heavy. I knew Rachel was gone. knew this was the last time l'd be with Gwen, Sam, Lanny, and Connor. After spending nearly two weeks completely immersed in their lives, letting them go was genuinely hard. The grief of losing Rachel Caine blended with the ending of the series in a way that was hard to separate. But somehow, through the pages, through Carrie's beautiful and respectful finish, Rachel's spirit lived on. And that's what made this final book so powerful. Bittersweet, yes--but also inspiring, and full of heart.
This is the sixth book in the Stillhouse Lake series, which I never thought I would see since the author, Rachel Caine, died of cancer in 2020. Apparently, Caine had already drafted this book along with a few future books in the series and Carrie Ryan came in to finish this book. It will be interesting to see if Ryan will continue with the series going forward.
The gangs all back: Gwen and Sam and the kids (Lanny & Connor) along with Gwen’s BFF, Kezia, and her partner, Javier. The book summary lays out the two storylines: Gwen and Sam’s continuing protection of the kids from the Sicko Patrol (vigilantes made up of relatives of her serial killer husband’s victims) and a case of a missing girl. In case you haven’t already guessed it, the “violent incident at Connor’s school” is a school shooting. For those who don’t like stories about school shootings, this is a blip in the story, no one dies and the incident isn’t even a whole chapter.
The two storylines begin to come to a conclusion 90% mark. The ending was very intense and scary. The epilogue was a lead into the next book, which looks like an extension of one the storylines in this story: the continuation of harassing Gwen, Sam and the kids by the Sicko Patrol. Overall, this was a good story even if it wasn’t one of my fave installments of the series. Not sure if it’s because it wasn’t written by Rachel Caine; drafting the book’s storylines is not a finished product. I did find Carrie Ryan’s voice and style different than Caine’s; not sure that’s a good thing or bad – just different. Time will tell.
The gangs all back: Gwen and Sam and the kids (Lanny & Connor) along with Gwen’s BFF, Kezia, and her partner, Javier. The book summary lays out the two storylines: Gwen and Sam’s continuing protection of the kids from the Sicko Patrol (vigilantes made up of relatives of her serial killer husband’s victims) and a case of a missing girl. In case you haven’t already guessed it, the “violent incident at Connor’s school” is a school shooting. For those who don’t like stories about school shootings, this is a blip in the story, no one dies and the incident isn’t even a whole chapter.
The two storylines begin to come to a conclusion 90% mark. The ending was very intense and scary. The epilogue was a lead into the next book, which looks like an extension of one the storylines in this story: the continuation of harassing Gwen, Sam and the kids by the Sicko Patrol. Overall, this was a good story even if it wasn’t one of my fave installments of the series. Not sure if it’s because it wasn’t written by Rachel Caine; drafting the book’s storylines is not a finished product. I did find Carrie Ryan’s voice and style different than Caine’s; not sure that’s a good thing or bad – just different. Time will tell.