Ghosts of Grady

Grady Lake Mystery #3

by J.L. Hyde

What happens when the safest place you know becomes the center of your nightmares?

In the third and final book of this hit series, we follow the Benard family as they slowly discover that the secrets of their little town run deeper than they could have ever imagined.

With the discovery of security footage found buried on Rich Lowery’s property, a new round of suspects in Grady’s seedy criminal underground ring emerge. Will they be apprehended before they can commit more heinous crimes, or will the residents of Grady Lake have to take justice into their own hands?

Kidnapping, lies, and murder have rocked this quaint community and thrust the family into the national spotlight once again. As the story of Grady Lake comes to an end, will this family find peace at long last, or is their nightmare only beginning?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Love Story, Whodunit

240 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2024

About the author

Hi Everyone!

Thank you for stopping by to rate my books or see my reviews. I don't spend much time on Goodreads, as it's not great for the mental health of an author to obsess over their own reviews.

I simply rate books as I finish reading them, and if you'd like a full review, check out my Instagram - @bookandbeerreview - where I keep it light, funny, and never disrespect fellow authors!

Happy reading!

Reviews

[J.L. Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third and final book in my Grady Lake Mystery Series will be available in early July. This was unexpectedly the hardest book to write - how do you say goodbye to characters you've grown to know and love?

When I asked readers whether they'd prefer a happy ending to the series or a surprise twist, the answer was overwhelmingly "both," so I hope I delivered! Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Thank you, as always, for your overwhelming love and support.

[Kayla Hewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ this series just got better and better. I loved this conclusion to the Grady Lake series! The secrets! That epilogue! This family! Absolutely loved every second and honestly would read 5 more books about them! Sad this series is over, but will definitely reading J.L. Hyde’s other books!

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a dysfunctional family they were but i loved following them all!
Sad to see the Grady Lake crew go, but i wouldn't be surprised if they make a pop up again in the future!

P.S. Everyone needs an Aunt Lou in their lives!

🤎🤍🤎🤍

[Sammie Pechkurow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute most perfect conclusion to a series. JL Hyde CONTINUES to blow me away, not only with her atmospheric vibe but with her ability to put you on edge. This final chapter of the Grady Lake series was everything I could hope for.

Also…the final twist?! Are you kidding me!!!! My jaw was on the damn floor. I can’t wait for everyone to be able to read this book!!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly don’t know how J. L. Hyde does it but she managed to end this series perfectly while still having me miss the characters as soon as I finish the epilogue. WELL DONE!!!!!!! ❤️👻

[Sammie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This! Was! So! Fun!!!!! We’ve got small town lake life. A family lodge and restaurant. A close knit family with three auntie matriarchs, a goofy dad, and our favorite trio Katie, Dougie, and Nicole. And we have Malorie and Robbie, the sweetest duo ever, IYKYK. I devoured this series and I’m so glad I did, it fed something inside of my little cozy, fall-loving soul that needed a new comfort series to binge.

I won’t give anything away, but I did not see the twists coming, which I always love, and I especially love that it wasn’t someone who devastated me, which usually pisses me off. Read this series, it’s a good one!

[J.C. Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fitting and fun ending to this series! Twist and turns, gasps and laughs, along with what ifs and what now? Five stars!

[Krystin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great ending to The Grady Lake series. Continued twists and turns until the very last page; just like the last two books. What a story. I’ll definitely miss these characters and the Benard family shenanigans. Whether you’re from MI or not she gives you an understanding to all the beauty MI has to offer. Highly recommend!

[kayliesbookcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Grady Lake’ by J.L. Hyde is the best book/series I’ve read in SO long 🙌🏼📖

It’s been nearly two years since I read ‘The Mindf*ck Series’ by S.T. Abby and I’ve never found anything that compared to how good that mystery thriller series was. . . until now 👏🏼

The Grady Lake series is wayyyy less thriller/gore but it had page-turning twists throughout the entire series! What this trilogy also had was a close-knit family & characters that you’ll fall in love with. I truly savored book three because I did not want this series to end! And just when you think everything is wrapped up all perfectly at the very end. . . my jaw was literally on the floor with one final twist I NEVER saw coming in the last five pages. 🙈😅🙌🏼

I will be recommending Grady Lake & the entire Grady Lake mystery series for a longgggg time! It is so hard to come by a GREAT mystery thriller book in a very romance-dominant book world, let alone a series and this was utterly phenomenal.

OBVIOUSLY a five star read, but probably one of my favorites of the entire year ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[CassieM · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m definitely in the minority here but this was by far my least favourite of the trilogy. I was bored with the characters and the story just didn’t get to me like the past 2 books of the series.

[Ashley DeRosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craziest last 16 pages EVER

[Sam Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect ending to an absolute ROLLERCOASTER of a story. I loved every character, every twist and every turn in this series, I’m so sad there aren’t more to read but it was so well done and buttoned up. THAT EPILOGUE!!?!? I will never get over this.

[Katy Fann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an incredible thriller series. I loved how the story wrapped up and that ending 🤯

[Emma Steward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I overall liked this book until about 95% through. I wish Lou didn’t turn out the be this evil vigilante who murders anyone who crosses their family, because truthfully it doesn’t seem like something she would do. That just didn’t feel like the Lou I’ve been reading about.

I also wish the author spent more time talking about Malorie and Robbie’s mother/son relationship, rather than a “telling Robbie was hard but now they’re so close” type of paragraph, since that was a big secret to the characters for 90% of the book.

[Kait Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, quite literally one of the easiest 5 stars I’ve given. Not just a five star book but a five star series. All the loose ends are wrapped up, but I feel like this book was the most heart warming of all of them. By this point you’ve fallen in love with the whole cast of characters and the found family and small town feels gives you want fuzzies. I LOVED the ending. Such a great twist and a happy ending. Well done JL HYDE! You’ve done it again 🖤

[Devany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ stars for the three book series.
Quick paced and I didn’t want to put them down once I got started- the perfect books for me to curl up on the couch with along with some tea and chocolate!
Really good twists & turns throughout, right up to the end 😳

A little of it was predictable but in no way did it take anything away from the overall series as a lot keeps you wondering and guessing. Small town woodsy lake lodge life, family bonds, friendships, romance, sisterhood, murders, secrets, tragedy all mixed in- a lot was in this series and all was handled very well.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! JL Hyde did it once again. Once I believe I know where the story is going, BAM! plot twist...then another and another! Her storylines are so addictive!!!! This one wrapped up this series perfectly! I have no questions. All has been answered, and I can move on to finishing my last book to read by JLHyde! 😭🤣❤️

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this whole series so much! This book had a lot more down time for the characters, as not a lot happened compared to the first two books. But I liked having more time to see the characters living their lives in the aftermath of all the crazy things that they’ve had to endure. And even though it was a little more mellow, there were still bombs to be dropped that kept the action going. And I’m not even going to try to describe that ending….because, WHAT?! So so good!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grady Lake Mystery series is officially at the top of my list of favorite book series. J.L. Hyde is a genius. The way she wraps up the series is perfect, absolutely perfect. I’m not sure I’ll ever read another mystery that will match my love for this book and the first two.

If you’re looking to read a series that’s mind blowing and short and sweet/straight to the point, The Grady Lake Mystery series is for you. Thanks to J.L. Hyde for sending an ARC to me. Forever thankful to get my hands on this book a little earlier than expected.

[Michelle M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy 5 stars on this entire series but especially the final book. Literal perfection.

[Allie DeRosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just really love JL Hyde wow

[Heather DeRosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great series! I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the twists and turns! JL Hyde did it again!!

[Amy Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much! Book 3 did not disappoint! I love JL’s humor and her ability to take me right back to the 90s! I also love how she keeps me guessing! Great series!!!

[BookwormBeccaAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of THE BEST series I’ve ever read!! The ending to the series was so shocking but also complete perfection!!

[Nikki Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

So last book of the series & it wrapped everything up, maybe a little too neatly for my liking. It was an easy read & I was 100% invested but I needed all the glory details about the girls being captured, murders, lies, etc. 😅

I had a feeling about Lou the whole time, good little twist for the epilogue.

[Elaine Elandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally awesome! Amazing ending!

[Antonia Maycunich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow 👏🏼 Clap 👏🏼 For 👏🏼 Lou

Fantastic end to the series!

[Mia 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and easy mystery series to dive into! One of the best aspects was the tight-knit family dynamic—I loved the emphasis the author placed on it. The surprise plot twists at the end were a great touch as well. Overall, this series was a fantastic escape, though I was expecting a bit more action—maybe some suspenseful moments or a chase after a perpetrator. Instead, most of the mysteries were solved through the police department or uncovered via clues. That said, I still highly recommend it!

[Caileigh (thebookpear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so sad The Grady Lake Mystery series is over but I LOVED how it ended. THAT twist!!! The Ghosts of Grady was the perfect conclusion to the Benard’s story. The characters got better and better with each book. J.L. Hyde does such an amazing job making the reader feel totally immersed in a place and time without being overly descriptive. I am going to miss spending time in Grady! If you are looking for a bingeable, character driven, small town mystery with plenty of twists, look no further!

[Nicolle Trudeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never quite understood how people finish a book in one sitting, until I read this book. It helps that this series takes place near my hometown and it naturally pulls me in a little more, but I couldn’t think of a better way to end this family’s story. JL Hyde did it again.. I was hooked from start to end!👏🏼

(This is also the first time I’ve ever written a real review instead of just rating a book, if that tells you anything about how I feel about her books)