A Chilling Mystery with Some Missed Opportunities- A 3 Star Review of Gregg Olsen's Snow Creek

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Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Snow Creek by Gregg Olsen is a gripping psychological thriller set in the eerie and isolated town of Snow Creek, Washington.  The novel follows Detective Megan Carpenter as she investigates a series of disturbing events that unfold in this seemingly quaint little town.  While the book offers a compelling plot and some intriguing characters, it falls short in a few key areas, resulting in a mixed reading experience.

Plot Overview:

Snow Creek kicks off with Detective Megan Carpenter being called upon to investigate a mysterious disappearance. As she delves deeper into the case, she unravels a web of secrets and lies that lead to a chilling and quite unexpected climax.  The book excels in creating a tense atmosphere, keeping readers on edge with a well-paced narrative and unexpected twists. 

What I like:

1. Atmosphere/Setting: Olsen does an excellent job setting the scene in the snowy, isolated, and somewhat creepy town of Snow Creek.  I tend to love a thriller, or horror, story set in a snowy, mountainous area, and Washington is the perfect state to achieve this.  The cold, desolate landscape, adds to the overall sense of foreboding in the plot.  

2. Strong Protagonist: Detective Megan Carpenter is a well-developed, and intriguing character.  Her personal struggles and determination make her relatable and engaging.

3. Suspenseful Plot: The story maintains a good level of suspense throughout, with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the very end.

What Could be Improved:

1. Character Depth: While the protagonist is well-crafted, this is not a standalone story, though its main plot gives the reader the option to just read it, or to read other Megan Carpenter books by Gregg Olsen, in order to learn more about her alluring background, you will have to pick up another Gregg Olsen novel featuring Megan Carpenter.  Snow Creek gives just a few subtle peeks into Carpenter's past, leaving readers without closure on her secrets.  Also, some of the supporting characters feel a bit one-dimensional, although they may also develop further in subsequent novels.  

2. Pacing Issues: At times the pacing of the story feels uneven.  There are moments in the story that drag, impacting the overall flow and engagement.

3. Predictability: Despite the suspense, some of the plot twists were somewhat predictable. A few more surprises would have increased the thrill factor.

Conclusion:

Overall, Snow Creek is an entertaining read for fans of psychological thrillers and detective fiction.  While it has its strengths in atmosphere and a strong female lead, it misses the mark in fully fleshing out its support cast and maintaining consistent pacing.  It may also disappoint those hoping to find out the secrets the protagonist is keeping, the few hints may lead the reader to seek out more of Gregg Olsen's novels featuring the compelling main character, or it may just be a tease that leaves the reader unsatisfied.  For my first Gregg Olsen read it was not a standout, but I will check out some of his other psychological thrillers, for their ratings and surmises are compelling.  

Have you read Snow Creek by Gregg Olsen?  Or any of his other novels?  Leave a comment with your thoughts, we would love to hear from you!  Follow our blog for more amazing book reviews, writing prompts, and educational tools.  Join our email club for exclusive resources and newsletters by contacting us at curriculumlab365@gmail.com!