Gone by Dawn

Val Costa #1

by H.K. Christie

You kissed your daughter goodnight. By morning, she’s gone.

Two days ago, FBI Agent Val Costa came face to face with a serial killer known as the Bear. One of only two women ever to survive, she’s forever branded with his a curling “S” carved into her skin. Val knows it’s only a matter of time before he takes another victim.

Forced home to recover, Val returns to Red Rose County, California, to be with her son. But the very next day she finds the close-knit community panic-stricken over the disappearance of blonde-haired, freckled-faced local teen, Scarlett Douglas.
Defying orders, Val interviews the Douglas family at their farmhouse and uncovers a less-than-idyllic picture. Housebound since a devastating diagnosis, Scarlett’s world was crumbling. The sight of Scarlett’s unworn prom dress hanging in her room brings a tear to Val’s eye. She won’t sleep until this sweet girl is home and safe.

Val and her team search the nearby towering redwoods for any clue to what happened the morning Scarlett disappeared. But the case takes a sinister turn when a little pink teddy bear is delivered to Val’s door. Did the Bear follow her to Red Rose County? Is her family now in terrible danger? Could Scarlett be his latest victim?

Working around the clock, Val begins to question if the Douglases are the loving parents they claim to be. With time running out to save Scarlett’s life, and the truth just within her reach, will Val once again come face to face with the Bear? And who—if anyone—will survive?

A totally addictive and pulse-pounding crime thriller for fans of Lisa Regan, Mary Stone and Willow Rose. You won’t be able to put this page-turner down!

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Amazon, Procedural, Mystery Thriller

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2024

About the author

H. K. Christie watched horror films far too early in life. Inspired by the likes of Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, true crime podcasts, and a vivid imagination she now writes suspenseful thrillers. When not working on her latest novel, she can be found eating & drinking with friends, walking around the lakes, or playing with her favorite furry pal. 
She is a native and current resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. 


The MARTINA MONROE series featuring Private Investigator Martina Monroe and her unofficial partner, Detective August Hirsch of the Cold Case Squad, is a nail-bing crime thriller series full of suspense. If you like high-stakes games, jaw-dropping twists, and embattled seekers struggling to do right, then you’ll love the thrilling Martina Monroe series.

The SELENA BAILEY series is a collection of suspenseful stories detailing one young woman's turbulent path to becoming a top-notch, kick-ass private investigator. If you like thrilling twists, dark tension, and smart and driven women, then you’ll love this new dark thriller series. A Permanent Mark is a suspenseful murder mystery featuring a grown-up Selena Bailey.

www.authorhkchristie.com

Reviews

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a good murder mystery and this was quite the twisty one.

The blurb is misleading, because it’s only just a little bit about a girl disappearing overnight. It’s actually about a whole bunch of things that would spoil it if I said anything. Let’s just say that the initial disappearance is only the tip of the iceberg. And it’s a big iceberg.

Our main character Val Costa, an FBI agent akin to a Criminal Minds’ BAU agent, is staying with her mother the former sheriff in her home town while she recovers from an incident on her last case. She is “called in” to consult on the disappearance of a local girl. What she uncovers goes way deeper though. While she navigates recovery, struggling with bodily and mental harm, she escapes into this case.

If you like twisty, complex stories that cut deep you will enjoy this book. This is the first in a series (the second, Don’t make a sound - which I haven’t read yet - was also published today and the 3rd is forthcoming mid-December) and the sequels promise to continue the trend.

Thanks to H. K. Christie, Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and help promote this book. I hope you enjoy it at least as much as I did.

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from H.K. Christie here: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/h-k-...

Buy Link:
Gone By Dawn: https://geni.us/B0D94GH21Vsocial
Don't Make a Sound: https://geni.us/B0DBHQR17Rsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

***

ARC - thanks to the author, publisher, and Bookouture for providing this book. I will be posting a full review on instagram on or after 27 August 2024 as part of the book tour Bookouture has organized.

Let’s just say, that this is a bit like a long episode of Criminal Minds. An FBI/police procedural with a couple of other brief POV chapters mostly from victims thrown in.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Gone by Dawn by H.K. Christie is the first in the FBI Agent Val Costa series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Information:
FBI Agent Val Costa lives in DC and has an 18-year old son Harrison who is starting at MIT.  She is middle-aged, and divorced.  She has a sister Maxine, who is a major in the U.S. Army.  Their mom lives in Red Rose County, California, and is a retired sheriff.  Val's boss is Kieran.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
FBI Agent Val Costa is supposed to be on medical leave to recover from an attack by the serial killer known as the Bear.  She's only one of two women that have survived his brutality.  Val now has his signature "S" carved into her.  The Bear is still at large.  So she and her son are staying with Val's mom in California, looking forward to a little bonding time before Harrison starts at MIT.   They are all a little tense knowing that the Bear is still out there somewhere, and he may want to get Val back.  Her boss has instructed her to see a therapist. and stay low.

But when Scarlett Douglas, a local teenager goes missing, Val can't help but get involved.  Red Rose County is a close-knit community, so Val feels obligated to help.  She will work with Deputy Brady Tanner as a "consultant".  He is an old high school friend.

Against Kieran's orders, Val goes to see the Douglas family, and finds out that Scarlett was housebound due to a devastating diagnosis, and now she is missing.  Val is determined to bring her back to her family.   But she feels that May and Jack, Scarlett's parents, are keeping  something from the investigators.

In the back of her mind, the Bear is still causing her nightmares, and Val worries about the safety  of her family.  She has a lot on her plate.

Meanwhile, Ava, who runs the Grace Center to help the homeless, is missing some of her regular visitors.  Over the last few weeks, three teenagers have failed to appear, and although the police don't seem interested in three missing homeless people, Ava is determined to find them.


My Opinions:
This may turn out to be an interesting series, but the verdict is still out.

Although her heart is in the right place, I didn't always like Val, who doesn't seem to obey anyone's orders.  She's a little too headstrong.  However, she is a strong female protagonist who is trying to juggle motherhood, work, and an aging parent.  That was interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing that progress.   I loved her mom.  Brady seems a little too meek, and I don't particularly like the idea that they may hook up.  I think Val would just run right over him.

The plot was really good, but there were not really any major surprises.  It seemed very predictable.  However, I still enjoyed the process.  I didn't like the fact that there is this big "thing" hanging over Val's head which was not solved in this book, and therefore encourages the reader to buy book #2...  That always annoys me.

I did like how the author wove the different threads of Ava's story and Val's investigation together, although somewhat slowly.

So overall, this was quite good.  I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress in the next book.

 

For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Michelle Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, author HK Christie and Bookoture publishing for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.

This was my first book by this author and I was very excited to read it. I had seen many of her books being promoted on TikTok and can report that as an author she lives up to all the reviews.

This was an excellent book. I would have rated it 5 stars, but I don’t like when a very big part of the book is left with no answers. I am guessing this part of the storyline will continue into further books with this main character but it feels a bit of a letdown in my opinion.

The rest of the book was phenomenal. The character development was well done as was the writing. It was a fast paced page turner that I couldn’t put down.

I love finding new authors to read. While I don’t typically read books in a series, I must prefer the stand alone ones, I will be reading more books from this author. She provides a suspenseful read that will keep you reading.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[tei hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

gone by dawn is yet ANOTHER five star read from h k christie that had me hooked from the very start! as someone who loved the martina monroe series, val costa had a slightly different pace that worked REALLY well for the plot- and despite thinking i knew exactly who did it at 30%, was kept guessing until the very last second. as with her other books, the three ‘separate’ threads of cases wound together to create a very satisfying whole, and the cliffhanger of an ending has me wondering when the next book is coming (and please can it be soon)!

(oh, and i loved val and brady. their dynamic is perfect and i really hope we get to see more of them being partners.)

[Shauntelle (shauntellereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author to me, and I absolutely love her writing. Her storytelling had me hooked to everything going on in this book. Val Costa, an FBI agent, is great at her job. She’s fierce, inquisitive, and relentless. We see Val wearing many hats and trying to juggle them all. The characters are greatly written. The plot developed in a way that had me hooked. It was definitely a great ride with lots of twists and surprises along the way.

[Bella Crooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I just find my new favorite author and my new favorite series?!?! I think I did!! THIS ONE WAS TWISTY AS ALL GET OUT!! I am IN LOVE with these characters they’re fun Val Costa is a determined character and won’t stop until the case is solved!! I just love Brady he was so fun and sweet and Harrison 🥹 I’m excited to see what he is up to!! Diving into book 2!!

[Tayler Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES. i was so excited when this series was announced and i was in for a shock when it came as quickly as it did. i loved this. there’s not much else to say. i was super proud of myself for figuring the case out, but i was missing a huge piece of the puzzle at the end that surprised me. these characters are amazingly written already and i already feel so attached to them. another incredibly hk christie read!

i was given in arc in exchange for my honest review

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5- Very quick, fun read. Some of the writing was super cheesy and one of the plot lines was left open but I still enjoyed it

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book interesting. I thought the missing people and serial killer after Val were thrilling. I feel like they just kind of dropped of on the bear story line but I’m glad they at least made it through the plot with the kids. However, it ends on an opening with both what she’s going to do know and her mom. I’ll have to continue the story to see what happens next but I wish it would have followed through and had a conclusion on the whole Bear story line that it started off introducing Val with.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

having read book 2 before this one... a mistake...i knew what to expect from this author and man did they run me a merry dance through their book

when scarlett was first reported missing everyone in the community looked for her.... but things werent adding up and it was vals idea to bring in the cadaver dogs.....

it wasnt long before they had a body.... question was...was it scarlett and if so why...

the answers when they came didnt make sense and the parents werent being helpful....

things were going to get stranger.....

man what a ride this book gives.... who knew where next you going to end up and what else was going to happen... well written and the characters were very life like and likeable... i cant wait to see what book 3 brings....

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be reading more from her.

A great true crime read that takes you on a ride.
The story was told from 3 different POVs which I thought would be confusing. Totally wasn’t and added depth to the story.

The twists were twisting.
The turns were turning.
The red herring were scattered about.

Definitely give this book a try.

[Celecia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was hoping for more shock value.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fine, but certainly not H.K Chritie's best - by a long shot.

Val was not that likeable of a character and it's kind of unbelievable that she was such a "great FBI agent" considering she got herself captured by a serial killer by going after him alone, and then continuing to disobey orders and then, at the end, just retiring.

I don't know if I'm just more critical now than I was of Christie's work when I fell in love with the Martina Monroe series, but the fact that an FBI agent didn't consider running the plates of a suspect's vehicle while following them, or to check the DNA of an illegally transplanted kidney just seems unbelievable. And there is something about the way Christie writes the children of these law enforcement workers.... why are they all so "wise beyond their years"?

Lastly, the unresolved storyline eith the Bear is just annoying. I get there obviously had to be a reason for Val to be on leave from the FBI, but... there was just too much going on in this one for my liking.

I'm going to complete the series, because that's who I am as a reader, but I certainly hope it gets better

[Donna Mallery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first by this author, and I really enjoyed it! Her writing makes the passages go by quickly! The story was engaging, and there was definitely a hint about a future book. And, for once, the protagonist wasn’t self absorbed! I have already downloaded the sequel. It’s about an FBI profiler getting caught up in a mystery while she is supposedly recuperating after being held and attacked by a serial killer. She’s staying with her Mother and son, but when a young girl goes missing, she offers to help the small town sheriff’s office. What follows is a very interesting case. Stating any more would be giving away too much! Oh, and an author who knows that you use commas between two complete sentences separated by and, because, etc. I don’t understand how authors can be so bad at grammar. In college, my professor gave F’s for such transgressions! Anyhoo, if you are looking for a good mystery writer, I’d recommend this book!

[Vivianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75 stars*

Really liked this. Was easy to get into, I was intruiged from the beginning. It took no effort at all to start this book. Always up for an organ travic plot! Finished this in less than a day.

Liked the mc! Liked her family! And actually all the characters in this story were pretty decent. Refreshing to for once have a teenage guy in the story that is not an asshole but a supportive sweet son.

What I had problems with was the pacing of the ending. I did love the end don't get me wrong. But I felt like a whole lot was skipped? It just skips from maybe they are in this building to jep they were there and the victims are now in the hospital and will or will not make it. No storming this building, no seeing the interogations, who was behind it? Where was the action? This part of the story had a lot of telling and not showing, which was super sad for a thriller!

I'm definitely going to continue reading the next book in this series.

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 of the new FBI agent Val Costa series. There is a serial killer (the “Bear”) who actually caught her, but she escaped. The killer left an “S” carved on her skin. There was only one other person who survived the Bear. Val goes home afterwards, to recover from this trauma. Shortly after, Scarlett Douglas, a local teen goes missing. Even though she is going against orders, she goes to see the family. Once meeting them and hearing about Scarlett, Val has to help. Things get scary when she receives a little pink teddy bear at her door. Could the Bear have followed her home? Is everyone in danger? Things get tense and it is a great read. I have always enjoyed books by HK Christie and thoroughly enjoyed this one too. I received an ARC copy from the author, and this is my honest review.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recovering from an abduction and torture, FBI agent Valerie Costa finds herself resting at her childhood home and bored to tears. When a girl goes missing, Val throws her hat in the ring, lending her expertise. But this misper has a hidden secret, and Val is determined to get to the bottom of it. Even if it costs her cherished FBI career.

3.5 Stars

While Gone By Dawn is a solid police procedural, I felt there was too much content stuffed into the story. And a subplot telegraphed the ending too early, pulling the punch from the plot twist. With that in mind, I did however finish reading the book and could see myself reading on in the series.

[Marie Lafreniere · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 😎🙌

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not usually into FBI books, but this one was better than others I’ve read. The writing was easy to follow, though sometimes it felt a little cheesy. I figured out the story about halfway through and was hoping for a twist, but there wasn’t much of one.

There’s a big plot point that’s still unresolved. It might be explained in the next books, but I’m not sure I want to keep reading. The descriptions of the teen victims at the end were heartbreaking and definitely the strongest part of the book.

[Justice Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 - fast pace FBI thriller

“You kissed your daughter goodnight. By morning, she’s gone”.

FBI agent Val Costa is faced with a serial killer known as the Bear. When put on leave she goes home and starts working a case for a “missing” girl which turns into a bigger case than expected.

You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens and how the case is solved if it’s solved….

[Audrey Osburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this thriller/mystery! I liked the main characters who had their own chapters until inevitability their paths connected as one case to solve. Sort of like a Criminal Minds episode with an FBI profiler, and not a totally happy ending. I’ll definitely read the next after a dip back into fantasy I think.

[Joanie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start of a new series...FBI Agent Val Costa is at her childhood home in northern California recovering from injuries she received after being taken by the serial killer the FBI was chasing and who ultimately got away. While recovering, Val volunteers to assist the local police search for a teenage girl who has been reported missing by her parents. While finding the girl dead, it leads to the discovery of what looks to be a human trafficking ring dealing in organ transplants operating out of Los Angeles, and the cases of several missing teenagers who live on the streets and may be used as the organ donors, and not voluntarily.
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy)

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author for me and she had me hooked because of her storytelling and her writing style.

The main protagonist is Val Costa, an FBI agent and she is a wonderful person. She is determined and a bit head strong not wanting to waste time and thus venturing out on her own, with terrible consequences. What I also like about her is that she tends to color outside the lines, but all for the greater good.

Val is doing her uttermost to keep all the plates spinning: trying to find a serial killer she has been eye to eye with, spending much needed time with her family and helping the police team in her home town with a missing persons case. The last one leading us down a road filled with disgusting characters.

This was an extremely thrilling book and a perfect first book in a new series. 5 stars

Thank you

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting and fresh new series about FBI agent Val,
Val’s life is being sidelined with her narrow escape from a killer and her only child launching into the world.
Having been forever marred and marked by the Bear, Val is sucked into a new case close to home.
I sucked in my breath with shock over the diabolical twist of the plot and what was occurring.
Val had to put in for her early retirement but she’s still very needed by local law enforcement.
I’m eager to see what’s next in line for Val!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first instalment in the Val Costa series and couldn’t put this one down. I was hooked from the first couple of pages. Really intriguing storyline that just kept you wanting more. Loved the characters especially Val as I’m a sucker for a strong female character. It’s cleverly written that it builds the suspense and just gives you enough to keep you interested. You get a great insight into how the FBI work and the procedures they go through. Loved this one and even better I’ve found a new book series and have the next in the series ready to go…. If you are a fan of crime thrillers this is a read for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #GoneBeforeDawn

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author and the ARC team for allowing me to read this book!

I absolutely loved getting to know Val and her background. I grew extremely attached, not only to her, but to her mother as well. I’m not leaving out the team she has behind her….Those people have a grind like no other.

I am sooooo anxious to see what comes of the Bear. But I know Val will remain safe as long as she has amazing people behind her!

[Marie Wikle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book would’ve been much better without so much insufferable internal dialogue and explaining things that are common sense and should go without saying.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a weird review as I was sure I wrote about book #1 and #2 in this series. I was going to write the review for book #3 and discovered that I didn't write anything for the entire series so this will be a common review for the entire series, including the third novel.
Val Costa is a great character: she's not wonder woman, she hasn't any huge chip on her shoulder nor a traumatic past, she's a clever and brave woman who works for FBI and collaborate with the local police.
She moved in a Californian county to be near her son after a meeting with a serial killer that left her branded and phisically hurt. She needs to recover and think about her future.
Red Rose county is not a huge and highly populated county, you have to suspend your belief because the number of violent death is highest than 58.4 dead for 100k person.
Statistics apart this is a hell of a series that improves with each installment and the third one is the best one so far. There's always suspense and emotions in these stories and I found the third one a gripping and heart wrenching page turner.
Val grew on me and I loved her evolution and cannot wait to read new stories as I wanted to visit Rose County and catch up with the characters.
I appreciated how the author developed the solid plots that surprised me and the good storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Nicole Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Between the Wines book review #84/130 for 2024:
Book Tour!!
Rating: 4 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Book: Gone By Dawn (Book 1 of Val Costa)
Author: H.K. Christie
Available now!! Released on August 27, 2024!

Sipping thoughts: This is another new series that I recently started, and I love this main character. Val is a tough gal who just narrowly escaped being killed by a serial killer. I appreciated how she is dealing with those toxic demons while still trying to fight crime. While Val was visiting her family and taking a rest, per her sergeant’s orders, she decided to try and help find a missing girl. The story behind the disappearance was one that I thought was very well done. It mirrored what we have seen in the news, somewhat. I liked how it ended and am excited about reading book 2, Don’t Make a Sound. If you are looking for a mystery with a little drama mixed in, try this series on for size.

Cheers and thank you to @Bookouture and @Netgalley for an advanced copy on this book tour of @GoneByDawn.

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