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Bleak Harbor #1
Bleak Harbor
Their son is gone. Deep down, they think they’re to blame.
Summertime in Bleak Harbor means tourists, overpriced restaurants, and the Dragonfly Festival. One day before the much-awaited and equally chaotic celebration, Danny Peters, the youngest member of the family that founded the town five generations ago, disappears.
When Danny’s mother, Carey, and stepfather, Pete, receive a photo of their brilliant, autistic, and socially withdrawn son tied to a chair, they fear the worst. But there’s also more to the story. Someone is sending them ominous texts and emails filled with information no one else should have. Could the secrets they’ve kept hidden—even from one another—have led to Danny’s abduction?
As pressure from the kidnapper mounts, Carey and Pete must face their own ugly mistakes to find their son before he’s taken from them forever.
Summertime in Bleak Harbor means tourists, overpriced restaurants, and the Dragonfly Festival. One day before the much-awaited and equally chaotic celebration, Danny Peters, the youngest member of the family that founded the town five generations ago, disappears.
When Danny’s mother, Carey, and stepfather, Pete, receive a photo of their brilliant, autistic, and socially withdrawn son tied to a chair, they fear the worst. But there’s also more to the story. Someone is sending them ominous texts and emails filled with information no one else should have. Could the secrets they’ve kept hidden—even from one another—have led to Danny’s abduction?
As pressure from the kidnapper mounts, Carey and Pete must face their own ugly mistakes to find their son before he’s taken from them forever.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2018
6499 people are currently reading
5468 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Gruley
14 books356 followersBryan Gruley's sixth novel, BITTERFROST, tells the story of Jimmy Baker, a former minor league hockey player who quit the game after almost killing an opponent in a fight. Thirteen years later, he's the Zamboni driver for an amateur team in his hometown of Bitterfrost in northern lower Michigan--and the prime suspect in a brutal double murder. Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author, “Visceral, vivid, and suspenseful, Bitterfrost immerses readers in a chilly—and chilling—world of lost dreams and deadly feuds. I was instantly and completely engrossed. Masterfully done.”
Gruley is also the author of the Starvation Lake trilogy, including his Edgar-nominated debut, STARVATION LAKE, as well as two novels set in Bleake Harbor, Michigan. A lifelong journalist, he shared in The Wall Street Journal's Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He lives in northern Michigan with his wife, Pam.
Gruley is also the author of the Starvation Lake trilogy, including his Edgar-nominated debut, STARVATION LAKE, as well as two novels set in Bleake Harbor, Michigan. A lifelong journalist, he shared in The Wall Street Journal's Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He lives in northern Michigan with his wife, Pam.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 494 reviews
November 1, 2018
Bleak Harbor marks the return of Bryan Gruley, and not a moment too soon. I was a big fan of his Starvation Lake trilogy, but the last book in that series, The Skeleton Box, appeared in 2012, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting his next book ever since. It turns out, though, that the wait was well worth it. Bleak Harbor is a fast-paced, taut thriller that grabs the reader from the opening lines and refuses to let go until the final scenes have played out in the wake of a great climax.
At the center of the book is a troubled family living in Bleak Harbor, Michigan, a small town where the highlight of the summer tourist season is the annual Dragonfly Festival. Carey Peters, the wife and mother, is descended from the town’s founder. Her mother, Serenity Bleak, lives in a huge home overlooking the town, isolated from the rest of the residents, both geographically and economically. The Bleaks made a huge fortune from their various enterprises in the town, but the rest of the citizens have not done nearly as well, and many of them are experiencing hard times as several of the Bleaks’ businesses have closed, leaving their former employees high and dry. Carey is employed by a firm in Chicago and commutes back and forth to Bleak Harbor two or three times a week to see her family. She is estranged from her mother who has cut Carey out of her will.
Carey’s husband, Pete Peters, was once a high-flying commodities trader in Chicago, but he hit a bad streak and lost his job. He convinced Carey to move back to Bleak Harbor where he has opened a medical marijuana shop and is struggling to get the business up and running. Both Carey and Pete have dark secrets that they are hiding from each other, and their relationship is strained for a variety of reasons.
Carey’s son—Pete’s stepson—is fifteen-year-old Danny. Danny is on the autism spectrum and, while brilliant in some respects, can also be a “difficult” child. One thing that Carey and Pete do agree on is that they both love Danny very much. Danny and Pete have an excellent relationship, centered on fishing and other activities that they do together.
The book opens on the eve of Danny’s sixteenth birthday as the annual Dragonfly Festival is about to begin. Pete arrives home expecting to take Danny fishing. He finds that Danny has prepared the sandwiches and drinks they will be taking with them, but the boy himself is nowhere to be found. Shortly thereafter, Pete receives a photo of Danny bound to a chair with what appears to be a bruise on his cheek. Accompanying the photo is a demand for a huge ransom and with that, the book is off and running.
The plot is intricately designed; the characters, even the minor ones, are sharply drawn, and the tension is palpable throughout as Carey and Pete and a variety of law enforcement officials work to save Danny from a particularly fiendish and clever antagonist. In particular, as he demonstrated in the Starvation Lake series, Gruley excels at describing life in a small town like Bleak Harbor, where all sorts of secrets and machinations are at work beneath the surface. The setting is expertly rendered and becomes a character in and of itself. All in all, this is a very entertaining novel and the reader leaves the book very much hoping that it will not be another six years before we hear from Bryan Gruley again. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
At the center of the book is a troubled family living in Bleak Harbor, Michigan, a small town where the highlight of the summer tourist season is the annual Dragonfly Festival. Carey Peters, the wife and mother, is descended from the town’s founder. Her mother, Serenity Bleak, lives in a huge home overlooking the town, isolated from the rest of the residents, both geographically and economically. The Bleaks made a huge fortune from their various enterprises in the town, but the rest of the citizens have not done nearly as well, and many of them are experiencing hard times as several of the Bleaks’ businesses have closed, leaving their former employees high and dry. Carey is employed by a firm in Chicago and commutes back and forth to Bleak Harbor two or three times a week to see her family. She is estranged from her mother who has cut Carey out of her will.
Carey’s husband, Pete Peters, was once a high-flying commodities trader in Chicago, but he hit a bad streak and lost his job. He convinced Carey to move back to Bleak Harbor where he has opened a medical marijuana shop and is struggling to get the business up and running. Both Carey and Pete have dark secrets that they are hiding from each other, and their relationship is strained for a variety of reasons.
Carey’s son—Pete’s stepson—is fifteen-year-old Danny. Danny is on the autism spectrum and, while brilliant in some respects, can also be a “difficult” child. One thing that Carey and Pete do agree on is that they both love Danny very much. Danny and Pete have an excellent relationship, centered on fishing and other activities that they do together.
The book opens on the eve of Danny’s sixteenth birthday as the annual Dragonfly Festival is about to begin. Pete arrives home expecting to take Danny fishing. He finds that Danny has prepared the sandwiches and drinks they will be taking with them, but the boy himself is nowhere to be found. Shortly thereafter, Pete receives a photo of Danny bound to a chair with what appears to be a bruise on his cheek. Accompanying the photo is a demand for a huge ransom and with that, the book is off and running.
The plot is intricately designed; the characters, even the minor ones, are sharply drawn, and the tension is palpable throughout as Carey and Pete and a variety of law enforcement officials work to save Danny from a particularly fiendish and clever antagonist. In particular, as he demonstrated in the Starvation Lake series, Gruley excels at describing life in a small town like Bleak Harbor, where all sorts of secrets and machinations are at work beneath the surface. The setting is expertly rendered and becomes a character in and of itself. All in all, this is a very entertaining novel and the reader leaves the book very much hoping that it will not be another six years before we hear from Bryan Gruley again. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
December 1, 2018
I really wanted to like this but it just wasn't for me.
January 23, 2020
Not a bad story, but very slow until about 75%. I would have expected more panic from the parents when their “on the spectrum” teenage son went missing, but they acted like there was something more important to worry about. I have the next book and plan to read it soon. Hope there’s some improvement.
December 19, 2018
2.5/5
Had potential but didn’t work for me unfortunately
Had potential but didn’t work for me unfortunately
December 1, 2018
When Carey and Pete's autistic son, Danny, goes missing, both start to panic as they assume their own sordid secrets could be to blame. Already at a breaking point, where can their relationship go from here... and most importantly, how are they going to come up with this ridiculous amount of strange dollar amount to get him back?!
It takes about 65 pages in for the story to ramp up. Even at this point I'm unsure where the plot it going.... but I'm super intrigued and need to find out what's going to happen. We get introduced to a variety of characters, their back stories and how they may or may not be complicit in what is happening to Danny. What I loved was how everyone was integrated and that we don't have one or three particular characters as part of the main plot line - really each character brings their own part.
I'll be honest though -the reveal just did not work for me. I wasn't particularly surprised about the main part and the reasoning behind it seems a tad bit ... elementary. Maybe that's fitting for that particular character and I've certainly read and seen people do far worse things for a lot smaller reasons... however, this one just didn't quite push my AHA button. Instead I was left a bit disappointed and wanting.
I do think those who like a more complicated plot that involves several characters and are more into the slower suspense will like this novel. I think my timing was a bit off for this one and in the vast amount of thrillers that I read, this one just fell a bit subpar for what I typically prefer.
Thank you Thomas & Mercer and Kaye Publicity for this copy.
It takes about 65 pages in for the story to ramp up. Even at this point I'm unsure where the plot it going.... but I'm super intrigued and need to find out what's going to happen. We get introduced to a variety of characters, their back stories and how they may or may not be complicit in what is happening to Danny. What I loved was how everyone was integrated and that we don't have one or three particular characters as part of the main plot line - really each character brings their own part.
I'll be honest though -the reveal just did not work for me. I wasn't particularly surprised about the main part and the reasoning behind it seems a tad bit ... elementary. Maybe that's fitting for that particular character and I've certainly read and seen people do far worse things for a lot smaller reasons... however, this one just didn't quite push my AHA button. Instead I was left a bit disappointed and wanting.
I do think those who like a more complicated plot that involves several characters and are more into the slower suspense will like this novel. I think my timing was a bit off for this one and in the vast amount of thrillers that I read, this one just fell a bit subpar for what I typically prefer.
Thank you Thomas & Mercer and Kaye Publicity for this copy.
January 23, 2019
This had an interesting premise. A 15-year-old boy on the autism spectrum is kidnapped. His Mum and stepdad both feel they're to blame because they've been hiding things.
Bleak Harbor was bleak (sorry). The first two-thirds were dreary and slooooow. The characters were colorless; the flashbacks stopped the story from flowing. The last third was a little better because there was finally something happening, but the problem was what was happening was totally ridiculous. This one just didn't work for me. Might be enjoyed more by somebody who can completely ignore what they've ever learnt about autism and who is happy to suspend disbelief.
Bleak Harbor was bleak (sorry). The first two-thirds were dreary and slooooow. The characters were colorless; the flashbacks stopped the story from flowing. The last third was a little better because there was finally something happening, but the problem was what was happening was totally ridiculous. This one just didn't work for me. Might be enjoyed more by somebody who can completely ignore what they've ever learnt about autism and who is happy to suspend disbelief.
November 19, 2018
Terrible plot
I’m sorry but this was a terrible attempt to write a mystery novel with a little technology thrown in as a whim. Difficult to follow at times with numerous characters that come together in a weak conclusion. Not recommended.
I’m sorry but this was a terrible attempt to write a mystery novel with a little technology thrown in as a whim. Difficult to follow at times with numerous characters that come together in a weak conclusion. Not recommended.
January 8, 2020
If you're willing to suspend disbelief for a few hours, mainly for the 2nd half of the book, Bryan Gruley's 'Bleak Harbor' may be just the mystery for you. It begins conventionally enough, with a family comprised of an autistic teenage boy, his mother (a business executive), and stepfather (an eff-up who is now in the legal marijuana business) living an idyllic life in a small lakeside town in Michigan after escaping the pressures of Chicago. The kid's OK but has some issues, the mother is attempting to extort money from her boss to cover a clandestine affair they'd had, and the step-dad is in trouble with an illegal supplier in his supply chain. On a day when the parents are juggling their responsibilities, the teenager disappears and ransom demands appear. The remainder of the book attempts to solve the mysteries of who took him, why, was the mother involved in some sort of effort to squeeze money out of her boss, was it the father trying to satisfy his dealer's cash requirement, was it the dealer, the boy's real father who'd just been released from prison? All sorts of questions, and with as many twists and turns the story takes I'll avoid the risk of spoiling it and stop here.
The writing is pedestrian, the dialogue isn't very authentic sounding, but all that's secondary to the story, which in this case gets trickier and trickier and is too clever by half. It moves along at a decent pace but I constantly found myself wondering about the coincidental aspect of all of these building blocks of the story being present and the unlikelihood of the conclusion of the book as the case is 'solved'. Fiction's fiction, I know, and you often need to suspend disbelief, but I like to have at least a feeling that the story could actually happen. In this case, it just didn't seem plausible to me.
The writing is pedestrian, the dialogue isn't very authentic sounding, but all that's secondary to the story, which in this case gets trickier and trickier and is too clever by half. It moves along at a decent pace but I constantly found myself wondering about the coincidental aspect of all of these building blocks of the story being present and the unlikelihood of the conclusion of the book as the case is 'solved'. Fiction's fiction, I know, and you often need to suspend disbelief, but I like to have at least a feeling that the story could actually happen. In this case, it just didn't seem plausible to me.
November 18, 2018
Skip it!
This is a long drawn out story about an autistic child who was smarter than anybody gave him credit for. It is very confusing and has an abundance of f bombs I would not recommend it.
This is a long drawn out story about an autistic child who was smarter than anybody gave him credit for. It is very confusing and has an abundance of f bombs I would not recommend it.
September 12, 2018
I was immediately drawn to this book by this cover -so moody, so mysterious. And the name – Bleak Harbor – is a tip off that maybe this coastal town has some secrets that aren’t all sunshine and rainbows. Perfect for that beginning of fall read, where summer is waning and the leaves are just starting to turn, and instead of beach reads, you want something a little darker.
At first, this book seems pretty straight forward – a boy goes missing, and his family is desperate to find him. But then, little by little, all these secrets spill out, there are twists and turns, all woven together so well that the reader never sees them coming. And you never feel like something just came out of left field – it all masterfully falls into place, and the reader is drawn to finish the book as fast as possible, just to see what the heck happens next! And the characters were perfect in that perfectly human way – not without flaws, this was not a glossy magazine type family despite that their connections to the town founders. This is a family with secrets.
As a Michigander, I love that Gruley is a Detroit native and that the setting is a small town on the water in southwest Michigan. Everyone loves to find bits and pieces of places and things that they know and are familiar with in a story, and it was neat to see references dropped in to cities I have visited. I especially liked the addition of a Mexican restaurant named Xochilmilco – I am only guessing but perhaps named for one of the most popular Mexican restaurants in Detroit.
I also liked how Gruley wrote Danny. He didn’t stick to a stereotyped version of someone who has autism, and in fact, addresses these stereotypes a few times within the book itself, and challenges the reader to change their perception of what they think autism is. I am not personally very familiar with the diagnosis, so I can’t speak to the accuracy of Gruley’s depiction, but I do like how he writes the character of Danny.
Overall, I loved this book. I found it exciting, and I couldn’t wait to see what would come next. It was chock full of mystery and surprise, and it was exactly the type of book I have been craving.
At first, this book seems pretty straight forward – a boy goes missing, and his family is desperate to find him. But then, little by little, all these secrets spill out, there are twists and turns, all woven together so well that the reader never sees them coming. And you never feel like something just came out of left field – it all masterfully falls into place, and the reader is drawn to finish the book as fast as possible, just to see what the heck happens next! And the characters were perfect in that perfectly human way – not without flaws, this was not a glossy magazine type family despite that their connections to the town founders. This is a family with secrets.
As a Michigander, I love that Gruley is a Detroit native and that the setting is a small town on the water in southwest Michigan. Everyone loves to find bits and pieces of places and things that they know and are familiar with in a story, and it was neat to see references dropped in to cities I have visited. I especially liked the addition of a Mexican restaurant named Xochilmilco – I am only guessing but perhaps named for one of the most popular Mexican restaurants in Detroit.
I also liked how Gruley wrote Danny. He didn’t stick to a stereotyped version of someone who has autism, and in fact, addresses these stereotypes a few times within the book itself, and challenges the reader to change their perception of what they think autism is. I am not personally very familiar with the diagnosis, so I can’t speak to the accuracy of Gruley’s depiction, but I do like how he writes the character of Danny.
Overall, I loved this book. I found it exciting, and I couldn’t wait to see what would come next. It was chock full of mystery and surprise, and it was exactly the type of book I have been craving.
November 8, 2018
What to say about this book? I chose this from my Amazon Prime first look list as it seems to be quite the thriller. Unfortunately, I ended up feeling more than a little disappointed. I didn't really bond with any of the characters and I found the story pretty flat and predictable. I also didn't like the way it ended at all.
That said, it did keep me turning pages and for that reason gets 3 stars.
That said, it did keep me turning pages and for that reason gets 3 stars.
June 27, 2018
Back in 2008/2009, an advance reader edition of a little novel was given to me by Wendy Sheanin at Simon & Schuster with a note saying "I think you will like this one, and the author lives in Chicago.'. That novel is STARVATION LAKE, and it was like a smack to the back of the head, in a good way. A very good way. Gruley's debut was lauded with good reason, it is filled with a great story peopled with believable characters. Two novels followed, continuing the story of Gus Carpenter and the people of Starvation Lake, Michigan. 2012 was the last time I read fiction from Gruley, being teased with email and social media comments of a fourth novel coming. AT LAST!! I got another smack to the back of the head from BLEAK HARBOR. Gruley knows small town Michigan and his writing takes you into the small corner bar and lakeside homes. HIs characters are everyday people, like your neighbors - only with some major problems. Carey is the offspring of the founding family of Bleak Harbor, and her relationship with her Mother is strained to say the least. Her son Danny is a brilliant, gifted loner suffering from autism. Her husband Pete is, well Pete runs a medicinal marijuana shop in Bleak Harbor and he too has problems. When Danny is abducted, Cary and Pete's problems rear up to haunt them. Will their secrets destroy any chance of finding Danny? Enter a cast of characters, local police force, FBI agents, drug lord thugs and the locals of normally peaceful Bleak Harbor. The writing flows from the start at a smooth pace, revealing bits and pieces of the character's pasts for you, but when Gruley steps on the pedal you are in for a thrill ride. I suspected the twist and it was delivered wonderfully. These are people that you want to know about, even the 'bad guys', and Gruley knows how to write and deliver them. I was getting very antsy, waiting for this one, but damn it was worth it. A special THANK YOU to Bryan for writing this one... I look forward to the next one. Maybe a return to Bleak Harbor?
November 18, 2018
Exciting and gripping mystery from Gruley, his first since he completed the Starvation Lake trilogy in 2012. The story of the kidnapping of a 15-year old autistic boy and the unraveling of the secret and troubled lives of those involved moves at a very rapid pace. The characters are multi-dimensional and the plot full of enough twists to keep you hooked from beginning to end, wondering what may be revealed next. The ending does not disappoint and leaves you hoping that Gruley is not finished with these characters and town. A bit implausible at times but that is a minor quibble. Eagerly looking forward to his next one, which hopefully won't take another six years. 4-4.5 stars. Highly recommended.
November 9, 2018
Tough read
I must admit I had to struggle to finish. I’m a 3-5 book a week reader and didn’t find the characters very attractive or appealing. Figured out most almost from the start of the missing kid I really hate to admit defeat and not finish a book but came close with this one. Frankly not worth my time but I will give author another chance.
I must admit I had to struggle to finish. I’m a 3-5 book a week reader and didn’t find the characters very attractive or appealing. Figured out most almost from the start of the missing kid I really hate to admit defeat and not finish a book but came close with this one. Frankly not worth my time but I will give author another chance.
November 30, 2018
Bleak Harbor is the epitome of a summer town, where wealthy families come to vacation and tourists are attracted to their unique Dragonfly Festival. The town is named after the Bleak family, who’s matriarch, Serenity, lives in a gated mansion in town, while her children choose to be estranged. Carey Peters is the daughter the daughter of Serenity. Along with her husband, Pete, and son, Danny, the Peters family have just returned to live in Bleak Harbor. They live a relatively quiet life here. Carey is still commuting to her old job in Chicago. Pete is running a marijuana dispensary. And Danny is trying to find a place to fit in.
One day while Carey is at work and Pete is nursing his business concerns over alcohol, Danny goes missing. Carey and Pete instantly fear the worst after receiving a photo of Danny tied to a chair, along with a ransom request. Danny is a brilliant boy, but Carey and Pete worry more than typical parents over the state of their son’s well-being in this kidnapping situation, as he is autistic and extremely socially withdrawn. Soon texts and emails come pouring into the couple revealing secrets they would rather leave buried. Who abducted Danny? How do they know so much about their private lives? Was Danny kidnapped because of something Carey or Pete did?
When Bryan Gruley reached out to be about reviewing his novel I instantly found the plot interesting and accepted. After reading this book, I am so happy Gruley reached out to me! BLEAK HARBOR was a book I thought I would enjoy going into it and it ended up being such a surprising, twisty ride of so much more than I was expecting.
BLEAK HARBOR on the surface is the story of a kidnapped teenage son, Danny, who happens to have autism, being held for ransom by an unknown person. The parents of Danny have much more happening in their lives than meets the surface and the secrets they are hiding leave both of them wondering if their actions lead to the abduction. Get ready for some serious drama! Carey and Pete are all over the place with their pasts, presents, and the next moves they choose to make during the abduction. I couldn’t stop second guessing whether or not I liked either parent and certainly didn’t trust what they were revealing about themselves.
The best part of this book is that there are actually a lot more characters involved in the plot than you initially go into the book thinking there will be. Gruley casts these characters each with their own unique backstory that truly helps the reader become more connected to them. While they may not be the main focus of the book, each secondary character has an important role or function within the story and the end result. While we’re talking end results...I loved the ending of BLEAK HARBOR! I definitely still have some questions for several characters and am curious about where their lives will take them, but overall I was satisfied with the way things wrapped up. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller that will really make you think and contemplate character’s actions I highly recommend giving BLEAK HARBOR a shot!
While rating this on Goodreads I realized there is going to be a second book in the series (currently slated for 2020), but then also saw a comment from Gruley saying it won’t focus on advancing this story. I can definitely see this town having more secrets up its sleeve, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next installment.
One day while Carey is at work and Pete is nursing his business concerns over alcohol, Danny goes missing. Carey and Pete instantly fear the worst after receiving a photo of Danny tied to a chair, along with a ransom request. Danny is a brilliant boy, but Carey and Pete worry more than typical parents over the state of their son’s well-being in this kidnapping situation, as he is autistic and extremely socially withdrawn. Soon texts and emails come pouring into the couple revealing secrets they would rather leave buried. Who abducted Danny? How do they know so much about their private lives? Was Danny kidnapped because of something Carey or Pete did?
When Bryan Gruley reached out to be about reviewing his novel I instantly found the plot interesting and accepted. After reading this book, I am so happy Gruley reached out to me! BLEAK HARBOR was a book I thought I would enjoy going into it and it ended up being such a surprising, twisty ride of so much more than I was expecting.
BLEAK HARBOR on the surface is the story of a kidnapped teenage son, Danny, who happens to have autism, being held for ransom by an unknown person. The parents of Danny have much more happening in their lives than meets the surface and the secrets they are hiding leave both of them wondering if their actions lead to the abduction. Get ready for some serious drama! Carey and Pete are all over the place with their pasts, presents, and the next moves they choose to make during the abduction. I couldn’t stop second guessing whether or not I liked either parent and certainly didn’t trust what they were revealing about themselves.
The best part of this book is that there are actually a lot more characters involved in the plot than you initially go into the book thinking there will be. Gruley casts these characters each with their own unique backstory that truly helps the reader become more connected to them. While they may not be the main focus of the book, each secondary character has an important role or function within the story and the end result. While we’re talking end results...I loved the ending of BLEAK HARBOR! I definitely still have some questions for several characters and am curious about where their lives will take them, but overall I was satisfied with the way things wrapped up. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller that will really make you think and contemplate character’s actions I highly recommend giving BLEAK HARBOR a shot!
While rating this on Goodreads I realized there is going to be a second book in the series (currently slated for 2020), but then also saw a comment from Gruley saying it won’t focus on advancing this story. I can definitely see this town having more secrets up its sleeve, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next installment.
December 13, 2018
This book had so much promise and the premise sounded so dang good however, it just wasn’t for me. It started off slow and sadly never really picked up. It took around 100 pages for me to get into the story for it to hold my attention enough to continue, but by the end I was disappointed. The reveal wasn’t all that surprising, I never cared for any of the characters, the motives were unclear, and overall I was left frustrated. What I did like though was that each character that was introduced played a vital part to the story. I liked that each clue that came about sort of pulled the cast together while secrets could have been tearing them all apart. I can’t say that I expected it to turn out the way it did but I could see how this easily came together. I just wish I had connected more with the characters, that it was a bit quicker paced, and the why’s were more clear at the end.
November 21, 2018
I wasn't sure I was going to rate and review this, I'm still not sure how to rate it, I hover between 2-3 stars. I still don't know what I want to say. This book invoked some pretty rage-y feelings in me, as a mom of an autistic boy.
I disliked all of the characters. Every single one of them. Even Danny, and that is saying a lot because I have an autistic son and I usually gravitate and empathize and root for autistic people in books. This book had me furious about everyone. Pete was the only one I respected just a smidge, because he seemed to be the only one in the entire book, including the mother that had any sort of a bond with Danny, with the fishing and knowing his schedule, even the mom was too self absorbed and I saw zero interaction between them.
The only positive thing I could really say was that I liked how the obvious choices for who done it were eliminated pretty quickly so then you were like..ok then who? It kept me reading until they revealed who did it, then I kept reading cause I was waiting for the joke, the punchline, or the other shoe to drop, because really?
I think the ending was a pile of utter rubbish.
I normally hate posting spoilers, but I am very much in my feelings about this book.
I disliked all of the characters. Every single one of them. Even Danny, and that is saying a lot because I have an autistic son and I usually gravitate and empathize and root for autistic people in books. This book had me furious about everyone. Pete was the only one I respected just a smidge, because he seemed to be the only one in the entire book, including the mother that had any sort of a bond with Danny, with the fishing and knowing his schedule, even the mom was too self absorbed and I saw zero interaction between them.
The only positive thing I could really say was that I liked how the obvious choices for who done it were eliminated pretty quickly so then you were like..ok then who? It kept me reading until they revealed who did it, then I kept reading cause I was waiting for the joke, the punchline, or the other shoe to drop, because really?
I think the ending was a pile of utter rubbish.
I normally hate posting spoilers, but I am very much in my feelings about this book.
June 30, 2018
I was offered an advance copy of "Bleak Harbor" in exchange for a review. I agreed on the strength of the book's description, though I did not know the author, Bryan Gruley.
"Bleak Harbor" is a tightly-plotted mystery set in a small Michigan town, and you know what they say about small towns ... there's more going on beneath their placid surfaces than anyone will ever know (I don't know Michigan and am not qualified to say whether Gruley captures some of its essence, but his descriptions have the feel of authenticity).
“If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act.” Gruley clearly takes Chekhov to heart, wasting not a single word on irrelevant detail. Every house, street, dock, and bar in Bleak Harbor, no matter how casually inserted into an opening chapter, is sure to come back into play later. More importantly, the ever-expanding cast of characters (just three to start with, but by the end a couple of dozen) are pistols hanging on the wall as well, with secrets, hidden motivations, and surprises in store.
As each new plot development unfolds, the mystery deepens, the list of possible culprits expands, and the suspense increases. I was pulled along by a string of surprising (because unexpected) revelations, but never once felt played. Even though the mystery is complex and multi-layered, it doesn't feel contrived. The characters' flaws make them more human. Are some details of the mystery stretches? Sure (Danny remaining undiscovered in the attic of an abandoned house despite searchers combing through it multiple times, for example), but in general the twists and turns Gruley throws at us are believable. At the end, over the course of three or four very short chapters, Gruley ties up loose ends in a very satisfactory manner.
One more thing: my advance copy is labeled an "uncorrected proof." I didn't see anything that needed correcting. No typos, no mistakes. I wish my uncorrected proofs were half as good.
I don't always say this about authors who are new to me, but now that I know Bryan Gruley, I plan to read his earlier work.
"Bleak Harbor" is a tightly-plotted mystery set in a small Michigan town, and you know what they say about small towns ... there's more going on beneath their placid surfaces than anyone will ever know (I don't know Michigan and am not qualified to say whether Gruley captures some of its essence, but his descriptions have the feel of authenticity).
“If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act.” Gruley clearly takes Chekhov to heart, wasting not a single word on irrelevant detail. Every house, street, dock, and bar in Bleak Harbor, no matter how casually inserted into an opening chapter, is sure to come back into play later. More importantly, the ever-expanding cast of characters (just three to start with, but by the end a couple of dozen) are pistols hanging on the wall as well, with secrets, hidden motivations, and surprises in store.
As each new plot development unfolds, the mystery deepens, the list of possible culprits expands, and the suspense increases. I was pulled along by a string of surprising (because unexpected) revelations, but never once felt played. Even though the mystery is complex and multi-layered, it doesn't feel contrived. The characters' flaws make them more human. Are some details of the mystery stretches? Sure (Danny remaining undiscovered in the attic of an abandoned house despite searchers combing through it multiple times, for example), but in general the twists and turns Gruley throws at us are believable. At the end, over the course of three or four very short chapters, Gruley ties up loose ends in a very satisfactory manner.
One more thing: my advance copy is labeled an "uncorrected proof." I didn't see anything that needed correcting. No typos, no mistakes. I wish my uncorrected proofs were half as good.
I don't always say this about authors who are new to me, but now that I know Bryan Gruley, I plan to read his earlier work.
September 1, 2019
What starts as a simple story of a kidnapped teen becomes much more complicated as multiple underlying storylines surface outing secrets of all the characters involved. Kudos to the author for weaving a delightfully complicated story to bring hours of entertainment as you untwist the secrets and lies to figure out who the kidnapper is and where the teen is located. I’m quite looking firward to more books from this author!
December 16, 2018
It has been several years since his excellent series billed as The Starvation Lake Trilogy, but finally author Bryan Gruley is back with a new book. Bleak Harbor more than lives up to the hype surrounding it.
Daniel Peters, who only goes by Danny, is about to be sixteen. Son of Carey and Andrew, he isn’t that fond of Bleak Harbor. It is a Thursday as the book opens and Danny is spending his time, as he often does, out on the dock watching the dragonflies.
Dragonflies are a major part of his life as an autistic young teen. They are also the reason for the upcoming annual “Southwestern Michigan Dragonfly Festival” that starts tomorrow which also happens to be his birthday. This will be 28th such festival in a city known more for the legacy of the Bleak family. Daniel Peters is a part of the Bleak family and that legacy even if his incredibly wealthy grandmother, Serenity, refuses to acknowledge his presence or existence. She has the town and her family firmly under her control and their failure to cooperate has economic consequences for anyone and everyone.
That includes Danny’s parents as his mother is Carey Bleak Peters, daughter of Serenity. She has many regrets and they include moving to Bleak Harbor. She did it to help her husband start his already failing medical marijuana business as well as get help for Danny from her family. As that has all failed, she has made a last ditch gamble. Now that she has proof of several different things, she can take down her boss and his company. She has told him she won’t pull that trigger---if her wealthy and powerful boss pays her ten million dollars for her silence. Not only can he afford it, she really wants to take Danny away with her so that they can start a new life. Daddy, who is working his own agenda, won’t be part of that new life.
Before she can make good on their escape, Danny goes missing and has obviously been kidnapped.
As the hours pass, things escalate out of control in this thriller. Author Bryan Gruley follows the standard thriller formula these days of keeping the chapters short and the point of view constantly changing as he ratchets up the tension. He also does a superb job of misdirection that surprised this reader. Bleak Harbor is engrossing and intense read from start to finish and very much worth your time. Sadly, the second book in the series, Purgatory Bay, is not currently scheduled to come out until January 2020.)
Bleak Harbor: A Novel
Bryan Gruley
http://bryangruley.com/
Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing)
https://amazonpoublishing.amazon.com
December 1, 2018
ISBN#: 978-1503904682
Hardback (also available in digital and audio book formats)
$24.95
378 Pages
ARC supplied by Sarah Burningham of Little Bird Publicity.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
Daniel Peters, who only goes by Danny, is about to be sixteen. Son of Carey and Andrew, he isn’t that fond of Bleak Harbor. It is a Thursday as the book opens and Danny is spending his time, as he often does, out on the dock watching the dragonflies.
Dragonflies are a major part of his life as an autistic young teen. They are also the reason for the upcoming annual “Southwestern Michigan Dragonfly Festival” that starts tomorrow which also happens to be his birthday. This will be 28th such festival in a city known more for the legacy of the Bleak family. Daniel Peters is a part of the Bleak family and that legacy even if his incredibly wealthy grandmother, Serenity, refuses to acknowledge his presence or existence. She has the town and her family firmly under her control and their failure to cooperate has economic consequences for anyone and everyone.
That includes Danny’s parents as his mother is Carey Bleak Peters, daughter of Serenity. She has many regrets and they include moving to Bleak Harbor. She did it to help her husband start his already failing medical marijuana business as well as get help for Danny from her family. As that has all failed, she has made a last ditch gamble. Now that she has proof of several different things, she can take down her boss and his company. She has told him she won’t pull that trigger---if her wealthy and powerful boss pays her ten million dollars for her silence. Not only can he afford it, she really wants to take Danny away with her so that they can start a new life. Daddy, who is working his own agenda, won’t be part of that new life.
Before she can make good on their escape, Danny goes missing and has obviously been kidnapped.
As the hours pass, things escalate out of control in this thriller. Author Bryan Gruley follows the standard thriller formula these days of keeping the chapters short and the point of view constantly changing as he ratchets up the tension. He also does a superb job of misdirection that surprised this reader. Bleak Harbor is engrossing and intense read from start to finish and very much worth your time. Sadly, the second book in the series, Purgatory Bay, is not currently scheduled to come out until January 2020.)
Bleak Harbor: A Novel
Bryan Gruley
http://bryangruley.com/
Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing)
https://amazonpoublishing.amazon.com
December 1, 2018
ISBN#: 978-1503904682
Hardback (also available in digital and audio book formats)
$24.95
378 Pages
ARC supplied by Sarah Burningham of Little Bird Publicity.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
April 21, 2019
Just to vulgar and filthy to finish! Moved so slow, horrible characters, just a very bad book - after 239 pages I couldn’t read another foul word coming from that poor excuse for a mother’s mouth!! 👎👎👎👎👎
December 4, 2018
4.5*
The prologue sets the scene for a kidnapping so we know something bad is about to happen, but not who the perpetrators are. Carey Bleak Peters, her husband Pete and teenage son Danny, who is on the autism spectrum, have moved back to Bleak Harbor from Chicago. Carey is descended from the founder of the town but her mother, the reclusive Serenity Bleak, is the sole heir to the family fortune built up over the years. She has no interest in her grandson and no plans to pass her fortune on to Carey or her brother Jonah, the mayor of Bleak Harbour.
Both Pete and Carey are struggling with unresolved and potentially dangerous work related issues. In fact, most of the characters, and there are a good many introduced along the way, have issues of one sort or another and none of them appear to have many principles. When Danny disappears Carey and Pete want to believe he’s gone walkabout as he has before, but then they both begin to receive odd and sometimes ominous texts.
What starts off as a seemingly obvious case of kidnapping with a demand for an extremely large ransom, quickly morphs into something much more complex, with surprise twists and possible suspects coming thick and fast as the plot develops.
Bleak Harbour is a town with many undercurrents and secrets, and it’s described extremely well. The characters are flawed, not particularly likeable but they drive the plot, and as efforts to find Danny escalate the darkness at the heart of the town begins to surface. The only redeeming feature is Carey’s desire to protect her son. Suspicions are raised and actions questioned but each trail seems to lead to a dead end. A bit like my guesses about the perpetrator. The reveal is something I would never have guessed. Perhaps it was a little farfetched but nevertheless I enjoyed the read very much.
The diverse characters are well depicted, especially Danny. I don’t know much about the effects of autism but Danny is as individual as any of them, with his own distinct personality and doesn’t seem to be just defined by his condition.
Bryan Gruley is a new to me author but now I’m looking forward to catching up with previous books and reading the Starvation Lake trilogy.
I chose to read and review Bleak Harbor courtesy of Katie Olsen (Little Bird Publicity) and NetGalley
The prologue sets the scene for a kidnapping so we know something bad is about to happen, but not who the perpetrators are. Carey Bleak Peters, her husband Pete and teenage son Danny, who is on the autism spectrum, have moved back to Bleak Harbor from Chicago. Carey is descended from the founder of the town but her mother, the reclusive Serenity Bleak, is the sole heir to the family fortune built up over the years. She has no interest in her grandson and no plans to pass her fortune on to Carey or her brother Jonah, the mayor of Bleak Harbour.
Both Pete and Carey are struggling with unresolved and potentially dangerous work related issues. In fact, most of the characters, and there are a good many introduced along the way, have issues of one sort or another and none of them appear to have many principles. When Danny disappears Carey and Pete want to believe he’s gone walkabout as he has before, but then they both begin to receive odd and sometimes ominous texts.
What starts off as a seemingly obvious case of kidnapping with a demand for an extremely large ransom, quickly morphs into something much more complex, with surprise twists and possible suspects coming thick and fast as the plot develops.
Bleak Harbour is a town with many undercurrents and secrets, and it’s described extremely well. The characters are flawed, not particularly likeable but they drive the plot, and as efforts to find Danny escalate the darkness at the heart of the town begins to surface. The only redeeming feature is Carey’s desire to protect her son. Suspicions are raised and actions questioned but each trail seems to lead to a dead end. A bit like my guesses about the perpetrator. The reveal is something I would never have guessed. Perhaps it was a little farfetched but nevertheless I enjoyed the read very much.
The diverse characters are well depicted, especially Danny. I don’t know much about the effects of autism but Danny is as individual as any of them, with his own distinct personality and doesn’t seem to be just defined by his condition.
Bryan Gruley is a new to me author but now I’m looking forward to catching up with previous books and reading the Starvation Lake trilogy.
I chose to read and review Bleak Harbor courtesy of Katie Olsen (Little Bird Publicity) and NetGalley
October 17, 2018
Manipulation Creates Mayhem
Excessive manipulation? Kidnapping? Disappearance combined with threats?
What lengths will a person go to in order to extort money? And why? The motives will surprise you in Bryan Gruley newest book, Bleak Harbor.
When 16-year-old Danny (not Daniel) disappears, and a picture of him tied to a chair turns up on the household computers, his parents are horrified. Baffled by the requests for money they obsess about getting the ransom. They can’t go to Danny’s wealthy grandmother, who dislikes the boy because he is emotionally immature and obsessive, as children with autism often are. Poor Danny still grieves for his dog, Paddle, who was put down months earlier.
His parents, a dad who sells legal pot and a mom who is the daughter of the manipulative woman, are drowning in guilt about Danny’s problems. In addition the mom, Carey, has a guilty secret of her own. She’s been seduced and by the less-than-honest man she works for. Will this come out when the perpetrator requests ransom? Who is behind this plot, and will any of it work? And what is really wrong with Danny’s grandmother, a descendant of the town’s founding fathers who has money to burn?
Author Bryan Gruley is a life-long journalist who is proud to have shared in the Putlitzer Prize awarded to the staff of the Wall Street Journal for their coverage of the 9-11 attacks in New York City. His complex mystery is full of shady characters and a twisted yearning to be noticed and accepted. There are lots of characters but this is a page-turner and worth the time of those who have a family member who has autism as well as those who love a thriller. As my husband would say, “Follow the dollar,” but there is a lot more here.
Excessive manipulation? Kidnapping? Disappearance combined with threats?
What lengths will a person go to in order to extort money? And why? The motives will surprise you in Bryan Gruley newest book, Bleak Harbor.
When 16-year-old Danny (not Daniel) disappears, and a picture of him tied to a chair turns up on the household computers, his parents are horrified. Baffled by the requests for money they obsess about getting the ransom. They can’t go to Danny’s wealthy grandmother, who dislikes the boy because he is emotionally immature and obsessive, as children with autism often are. Poor Danny still grieves for his dog, Paddle, who was put down months earlier.
His parents, a dad who sells legal pot and a mom who is the daughter of the manipulative woman, are drowning in guilt about Danny’s problems. In addition the mom, Carey, has a guilty secret of her own. She’s been seduced and by the less-than-honest man she works for. Will this come out when the perpetrator requests ransom? Who is behind this plot, and will any of it work? And what is really wrong with Danny’s grandmother, a descendant of the town’s founding fathers who has money to burn?
Author Bryan Gruley is a life-long journalist who is proud to have shared in the Putlitzer Prize awarded to the staff of the Wall Street Journal for their coverage of the 9-11 attacks in New York City. His complex mystery is full of shady characters and a twisted yearning to be noticed and accepted. There are lots of characters but this is a page-turner and worth the time of those who have a family member who has autism as well as those who love a thriller. As my husband would say, “Follow the dollar,” but there is a lot more here.
February 24, 2019
Set in a town where the lumber milling and steel works have closed, Bleak Harbor is a story of the cast-offs remaining. One such is the daughter of the town millionairess, not about to inherit. Her son has autism and they live modestly with her new husband, the lad's stepfather. But one day the boy vanishes and a series of strange, erratic and menacing ransom demands arrive.
By sheer coincidence the stepfather is having troubles because a local drug supplier wants to take over supplying legal drugs to his store. And the mother is in the midst of a blackmail attempt on a former boss who had a fling with her. And the boy's real father has just got out of jail. And the local news site gets defaced by a hacker. And, and....
With plenty going on and more unpleasant persons than you would expect to find in one book, this book should please adult thriller fans. I didn't love it, partly because of the copious strong language, but mainly because I didn't get to like a single person. I would have preferred a balance by showing us a nicer kid with autism to cheer for at the same time as we fear for the missing lad.
This book has very strong parallels with a famous story, but I can't say the name or it will give away a plot line.
I downloaded an ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
By sheer coincidence the stepfather is having troubles because a local drug supplier wants to take over supplying legal drugs to his store. And the mother is in the midst of a blackmail attempt on a former boss who had a fling with her. And the boy's real father has just got out of jail. And the local news site gets defaced by a hacker. And, and....
With plenty going on and more unpleasant persons than you would expect to find in one book, this book should please adult thriller fans. I didn't love it, partly because of the copious strong language, but mainly because I didn't get to like a single person. I would have preferred a balance by showing us a nicer kid with autism to cheer for at the same time as we fear for the missing lad.
This book has very strong parallels with a famous story, but I can't say the name or it will give away a plot line.
I downloaded an ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
February 7, 2019
I'm torn between 3 or 4
First off, the book is written ok. Not great, but definitely not bad. I wish there was a way to have the Locke and Dulcy dialogue translated or a footnote for those of us who cant get access to a translation service.
The twist was certainly great, but leading to it was almost too cheesy. I felt bad for Pete and irritated at Danny and Carey.
After the twist, and towards the end, the irritation grew. At times, some of the characters thought processes didnt make sense, at all.
The ending fizzled, which is why I'm leaning towards a 3 star. It felt uninspired at times.
First off, the book is written ok. Not great, but definitely not bad. I wish there was a way to have the Locke and Dulcy dialogue translated or a footnote for those of us who cant get access to a translation service.
The twist was certainly great, but leading to it was almost too cheesy. I felt bad for Pete and irritated at Danny and Carey.
After the twist, and towards the end, the irritation grew. At times, some of the characters thought processes didnt make sense, at all.
The ending fizzled, which is why I'm leaning towards a 3 star. It felt uninspired at times.
April 6, 2019
This book is unnecessarily ridiculous. Ridiculously long, ridiculously convoluted, with ridiculously lackluster and hard to follow characters.
January 22, 2019
Great concept, but there was just so much going on. Sometimes it was hard to follow since there were so many different characters and going every which way. It had a good twist and an ok ending. I was left wanting more information, but also kind of glad the book had ended.
September 23, 2018
Fortunate to receive an advance copy... what a thriller! If you enjoy mystery novels with a great payoff, this book is for you. Superbly written, replete with interesting characters (my favorite was Quartz the ‘fixer’), intricate plotting and vivid detail that places the reader in every scene. And best of all, a surprise twist that will leave mystery aficionados satisfied.
January 26, 2019
At 98% it finally got interesting
Very slow, laborious and confusing at times, and didn’t peak interest until literally the very end, the introduction of numerous characters wasn’t necessary and merely dragged the story out until the very end.
Very slow, laborious and confusing at times, and didn’t peak interest until literally the very end, the introduction of numerous characters wasn’t necessary and merely dragged the story out until the very end.
February 18, 2019
Very confusing
I really hate it when a writer uses first and last names in a book, with nearly every single character! Confusing, a little far fetched and badly structured, leaving the reader clueless.
I really hate it when a writer uses first and last names in a book, with nearly every single character! Confusing, a little far fetched and badly structured, leaving the reader clueless.
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