Hemlock by Kiersten Modglin
Published: August 31, 2023
Kiersten Modglin
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pages: 366
I purchased a copy of this book on Amazon, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Kiersten Modglin is an Amazon Top 10 bestselling author of psychological thrillers and a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. Kiersten is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix’s Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine’s Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021. She grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her husband, daughter, and their two Boston terriers: Cedric and Georgie. Kiersten’s work has been translated into multiple languages, and readers across the world refer to her as ‘The Queen of Twists.’ A Netflix addict, Shonda Rhimes superfan, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her nose in a book.
Thirteen years ago, Maggie Ellis left her small townand vowed to never return. In her rearview mirror were two men she loved and an ominous secret that would forever haunt her.
Now, tragedy has brought her back, and she’s determined to forget that fateful night. But in a town like Myers, with familiar faces and chilling memories lurking around every corner, moving on is easier said than done.
Before the ink can dry on the closing documents for her new residence, Maggie begins to feel unsettled. In every room, there’s the unmistakable sensation she’s being watched. The strange sounds, odd smells, and bizarre occurrences only add to her paranoia.
There’s something sinister about her new home…
When she discovers the devastating truth about the house and its grim history, Maggie’s worst fears are realized. In order to survive, she must unearth the secrets she’d always planned to keep buried.
After all, they say that home is where the heart is, but as Maggie knows, home is also where the skeletons lie.
“Choices. Decisions.”
Maggie moved back home to a house that always called to her, not realizing how much of the past would come crashing into her present. Tucker was living half a life, sure he was living in his childhood home, and he owned his own successful business, but he always missed her. Clayton was an almost big-time music star. While he did well enough for himself, he never entirely crossed that golden bridge into massive success. But now, he will get what he wants no matter what.
This beautiful blend of older KMod (think The Messes series) and the current KMod (think Queen of Twists). And she blended these portions perfectly.
I love that this was not a twisted thriller that I couldn’t put down. I loved the romance element, I loved the twists, and I loved that I didn’t want to put this book down.
Anytime Kiersten releases a new book, I get excited butterflies like it’s the first time I’ve ever read her writing. As someone who has read everything she has published (to date), I very much appreciated how this book paid beautiful homage to the Kiersten (pre-KMod), who was still trying to figure out exactly what gender she would dominate.
I enjoyed Maggie. She had such a kindness to her. She was selfless in rare ways. She loves wholeheartedly, and she is inclined to see the good in people- something some may take advantage of.
Tucker was every bit a KMod leading man. There were elements of Gunner and Noah in what made Tucker such a beautiful character. I enjoyed his effortless charm, his ease with handling situations, and his honesty. He was not afraid to lay it out.
Clayton was another classic KMod character. If you know, you know. Kiersten has such a remarkable way of creating characters. She can capture traits and bring them to life with such vivid detail. The realism in her character’s personalities is almost too good to be true- almost!
I devoured this story. I enjoyed the way things unraveled. Not knowing which direction things would turn and making the wrong assumptions. I thought I had figured the twists out. I should have known better!
I loved the complexity of the relationship dynamics throughout this book and the self-awareness that comes with experience. It gets heavy but in the best way possible. This was such a brilliant book about growth, forgiveness, and truth.
If you are looking for a Kiersten Modglin book that will captivate you from page one, start here. If you are looking for a book that will take you on an intense journey through the past and present, with terrifying twists and swoon-worthy romance, start here.
In KMod, we trust!