🌲 Book Review: Hemlock Bay by Catherine Coulter
A wild, genre-blending FBI thriller that mixes serial killers, art fraud, and supernatural twists—with emotional stakes and high-octane suspense.
Book 6 in Catherine Coulter’s FBI Thriller series, Hemlock Bay continues the adventures of agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock, while introducing a deeply personal subplot involving Savich’s sister, Lily Frasier. With a solid Goodreads rating of 4.06/5 from over 10,000 readers, this installment is praised for its fast pacing and layered storytelling, though some critics found its plot a bit over-the-top.
🧠 Plot Overview
The novel opens with Savich investigating the ritualistic murders of young boys by twin serial killers—Tommy and Timmy Tuttle—who may be more than they seem. Meanwhile, his sister Lily crashes her car in Hemlock Bay, California, in what appears to be a second suicide attempt following the tragic death of her daughter.
But Lily suspects foul play. Her psychiatrist husband, Tennyson Frasier, and his domineering father may be hiding something—especially when it’s revealed that four valuable paintings left to Lily by her famous grandmother have mysteriously vanished. Enter Simon Russo, a charming art broker who helps Lily uncover a conspiracy involving art theft, manipulation, and a sinister collector with ties to her family.
As Savich and Sherlock chase the Tuttles across rural Maryland, Lily and Simon are drawn into a dangerous web of deceit, culminating in a showdown with a psychopathic illusionist and a bizarre supernatural threat known as the “Ghouls”—miniature spinning cyclones of light that defy explanation.
💬 Reader Reactions
- “A rollercoaster of suspense, but the paranormal elements felt jarring.”
- “Loved Lily’s arc—her strength and vulnerability were beautifully balanced.”
- “The art fraud subplot was fascinating, though the villains were cartoonish.”
Critics like Kirkus Reviews called the plot “preposterous” and the characters “improbable,” noting the story’s wild tonal shifts and implausible twists. Others appreciated the emotional depth and the dual-mystery format, even if the execution felt uneven.
⚠️ Content Notes
- Themes of grief, suicide, and psychological manipulation
- Graphic violence and disturbing imagery
- Supernatural/paranormal elements that may not appeal to all thriller fans
🏁 Final Verdict
Hemlock Bay is a bold, chaotic entry in Coulter’s FBI series—part crime thriller, part gothic mystery, part paranormal drama. If you enjoy stories that push genre boundaries and don’t mind a few implausible turns, this one delivers suspense, emotional stakes, and a touch of the bizarre.
