We are loving this one over at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse! If you’re in the mood for something twisty, atmospheric, and just a little bit eerie, pick this one up!
James, a newer lawyer is sent to defend a mysterious billionaire accused of murdering his fiancée. The case leads her to a small New England town with a dark history. Think secret societies and past crimes that won’t stay buried. As she digs deeper, nothing is what it seems, and the clock is ticking.
I loved the gothic vibes in this one mixed with a bit of paranormal. It gave me small town secrets, spooky history, and a slow burning suspense. Perfect for spooky season.

I really enjoyed reading this book! Love the dark elements, witchy feels, eerie cults, secret society and a family with a dark past!
The read was quick, fast, pace with enough suspense to keep you guessing, entertaining, and turning your pages.

I loved James the FMC, she is stubborn, strong will, clever and is not afraid to talk back and not afraid to do anything that it takes to excel in her career while taking care of her sister. I wished that in this story , she would've had the experience to get her day in court. I can see her becoming an extraordinary Defense Attorney. However, she does have a character development.

Loved how the romance didn't take over the suspense and mystery of a thriller which is where I am guessing the author was going with the story. I hope that there is sequel to this as I would love to learn more about Damien and his entire family.

Definitely a must read coming fall time. This was my first book by this author but I will be exploring more of her writings.

🎃 Book Review 🎃
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

James Woodsen is used to being underestimated. Top of her class at Harvard Law, she’s brilliant, beautiful, and now the youngest female associate at Boston’s most elite criminal defense firm. But after a devastating misstep on her first case, she has one last shot at redemption. Her assignment? Defend Damien Blackhollow—a dangerously charming billionaire accused of murdering his fiancée.

There is so much of this book that I enjoyed I actually read this book in one sitting because I was so obsessed. It has the Halloween aspect of it down. This is the perfect spot before or if you’re trying to get the spooky time this book is perfect for that. It’s mystery, the feeling of dread and danger and some suspense. this book has amazing person throughout it. It wasn’t one moment then I felt bored, or felt like something dragged on. I absolutely loved the paranormal aspect of this book like I said before this book is perfect for fall and spooky time if you are into that, then this book is perfect for you! It comes out tomorrow, so make sure to go pre-order please baby or check back tomorrow and buy it 🫶🏼

Have you ever been to Salem?

This book hooked me right in. James Woodsen is a hotshot lawyer and has been through so much with her past and is helping represent a handsome billionaire. Damian Blackhollow is being accused of murder for his fiancée.
As she dives deeper into the case mysterious deaths start to occur and that's only just the beginning. James has her black cat Lucky who is always there for emotional support.
This book has all the mystery and turns that I wanted in a book.
It is the 3rd book in the Dark Seasons Thriller series but can be read as a stand alone.

Salem’s Fall is a page turner! I couldn’t put this book down. It literally kept me on the edge of my seat, as soon as I thought I knew who was behind it all another twist would happen. This is the perfect fall book, exciting , thrilling - a must read,

This is not what I was expecting (and stay with me) I figured I’d enjoy it that’s why I requested the ARC but I didn’t expect to love it so much I lost the day reading it.

The mystery and all the new twists we get kept me hooked and turning the page, like I’m OBSESSED!!!

“But it’s a role I’m willing to play if it means keeping you safe. Because if I let you leave, you won’t live to see November.”

It’s such a wild ride but SUCH a great ride too! It’s perfect for anyone wanting to jump into spooky season now it’s definitely got that vibe to it!

This follows a girl named Jamie who works on a defense team for Damien your morally grey MMC*
This story was so fast paced I flew right through it each time I got to pick it up The story line and setting was so easy to follow but also has depth when describing the grey or dark areas of the book
I liked James she definitely shows she cares and tries her best not only for herself but for her sister I loved the spooky, witchy, ritualistic vibes of this book a must read for the spooky season
It shocked me with all the little twist and turns and I ate it up!
Thank you to Rektok, Ic13 Books, and net gallery for the EARC in exchange for my 100%honest review!

Salem's Fall introduces us to James, a lawyer ready to prove herself and let her past mistakes go. She will soon get tangled in something bigger than herself, something she needs to solve, whatever it takes.

I am a sucker for books with fall and Halloween vibes and this one sounded right up my alley. However, while I did like the plot and the fast rhythm of the book, my experience was a bit tainted by how annoyed i was at almost every single character but especially our FMC. I think the issue could have been resolved 200 pages earlier if she had been willing to do so.

I do recommend this book to everyone who is in search of a yearning rich and dangerous man and for everyone looking for a fast-paced read to get them into those fall vibes we so dearly miss during Summer.

James Woodson, a young attorney, gets put on the case of a lifetime representing a billionaire accused of murdering his fiancée. Damien Blackhollow takes an interest in James and follows her to Salem’s Fall. As she dives deeper into the case some of her colleagues end up dead leaving her with more questions than answers. James and Damien grow closer but she can’t shake an uneasy feeling about him. James begins to find links to similar slayings that took place on Halloween and to her own mother’s case.

Salem’s fall is the perfect blend of a thriller, cozy mystery and dark romance, it’ll have you hooked from the first page. I haven’t read a book like this before and I loved it! It definitely keeps you interested as the story unfolds.
This book is the perfect way to kick off the fall season, Salem’s Fall will be out Aug, 5th!

Thank you to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review, and thanks to the author for making sure I got approved!

I greatly enjoyed Salem’s Fall, it was atmospheric and spooky (lite). Filled with a secret cult and murder mystery.

James, our FMC, is a headstrong defense attorney who is also incredibly stubborn, normally this would be annoying but it worked so well with the story and uncovering the mystery. It’s a paranormal thriller, we are going to have the classic moments of “don’t go in there alone” and our MCs are going to do exactly that! Rektok Ross did a good job with delivering those classic thriller tropes in a natural way that made sense to the character’s personality. I was completely along for the ride, wanting to solve the mystery and dig deeper with James.

I loved that the romance plot line took more of a back seat and let the main story take the spotlight. Even if it was a little insta-love, it didn’t distract from the story.

Thank you Rektok Ross for this ARC! Salem’s Fall is out August 5th

Rektok Ross continues to dazzle, thrill, chill, spook, and creep me out and I love every second of it!!!! Salem's Fall is a gripping, atmospheric, eerie, horrific, and hard to put down book. I enjoyed the multifaceted characters, the plot, and the search for the truth! I enjoyed how the tension built as the book got closer to the end. If you have not read a book by Rektok Ross before, do yourself a favor and grab a copy, you will not be disappointed!

James Woodsen who was top of her class at Harvard Law and is trying to make a name for herself at a law firm in Boston. When Damien Blackhollow, a handsome and charismatic billionaire is accused of murdering his fiancée, James might be able to finally make a name for herself - but it won't be easy. She and her Cat, travel to Salem Falls, a small town outside of Boston with a dark history. As she gets to know Damien better, she learns that his family has a dark legacy and soon there are those in her life warning her away from the case....

I enjoyed the dark elements in this book along with the talk of a secret society and a family with a dark legacy. This alone brought on the thrills and chills that I was looking for. I also enjoyed James's search for the truth, her unwillingness to back down and her drive. Damien is also an interesting character. Those around him seem to die in ritualistic ways, yet he tells James that she can trust him. While reading, I kept going back and forth with my thoughts on whether he could be trusted or not. I loved the uncertainty this brought to the table along with the smoldering chemistry between James and Damien.

Salem's Fall had so many elements that I enjoy in books: mystery, tension, secrets, suspense, the feelings of dread and danger, intriguing characters, some chemistry between characters, and chilling moments. I also enjoyed the pacing, the well thought out plot, the wonderful writing, and supernatural element in Salem's Fall.

Rektok Ross blew me away with her book, Summer Rental, and has shown that she is still here to stay! This is the third book I have read by this author, and she always delivers! I can't wait to read what she writes next!

I really really enjoy this book!! 😍
James is an attorney who when into law because her father (who was accused) was sentenced to put in for her murder. Damien is being accused of murdering is fiancé and James has is his attorney. While working the case James visits Damien home town Salems Fall but all isn’t what it seem. James has been death threats, been attacked by a mad mask man with a knife and told by Damien to leave town. By James is stubborn and damning to know what is going on and why body’s have symbols carved into them.

Tropes
Mystery
Thriller
Creepy Town
Love triangle (kind of)

Thank you NetGalley and Ic13 for allowing me to arc read this book 🥰

James Woodson only wants to succeed at her law firm but is often underestimated. The newest case, defending the famous Damien Blackhollow could make her career. But there’s a family legacy and secret hidden behind the case.

This was such a fun read, adding a little Halloween in July to my life! It’s a fast read and the pages fly. I especially loved it because I visited Salem last fall, so I could really visualize the atmosphere and history behind the story. The legal investigation behind it was fun and I loved the main character AND her cat. We often get dog characters, but in this story the black cat is fitting! The ending was perfect, romantic and open to a possible sequel.

“He may look pretty and respectable, but there’s a really monster hidden under all that gloss.”

Salem’s Fall comes out 8/5.

4 ⭐️
Tropes: morally gray MMC, mysterious witchy small town, paranormal suspense, billionaire client accused of murd*er🔪🩸

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book like this and I devoured it! The witchy elements, mysterious deaths and search for the truth was done so well - I was hooked from start to finish. Definitely recommend!

Damien Blackhollow was accused of killing 🔪 his fiancée and James Woodsen was put on the case to prove his innocence as she worked for the law firm he hired. After her last case was a disaster she needed to redeem herself. Except this case was far more dangerous than James thought - she uncovered a dark history that led right to Damien and his family. A family with a dark past and a connection to her she wasn’t expecting, that made this case more complicated motivating her even more to get to the bottom of things.

“Damien Blackhollow is far more dangerous than I ever suspected. He can control me, manipulate even my very emotions, bend my reality until I can’t tell right from wrong anymore. A man like this… what else has he done? What else is he capable of?”

There was a pull and a magnetism to Damien, James couldn’t deny and this case kept throwing them together blurring the lines in a way that James knew was wrong. In her search for the truth she kept throwing herself into dangerous situations but Damien was never far away.

“Damien Blackhollow—a man who could be my savior or my doom.”

Thank you to NetGalley, Ic13 and Rektok Ross for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Looking for a little romance, a sprinkle of spooky vibes, and splash of mystery? Then this book is exactly what you need. Salem’s Fall does a fantastic job of combining elements of a love story with the “edge of you seat” feeling a mystery gives you, all the while adding in the cozy, but spooky vibes of Salem. In this story James, a very fashionable up and coming lawyer, gets assigned to a new case. Her job? To not only prove that the client is innocent, but to also prover herself to the firm, and most importantly, stay alive. The client? The ever mysterious Damien Blackhollow. James sets out to find all the facts she needs in the cozy town of Salem’s Fall while Damien seems to be going everything to make her job harder. Is Damien really the bad guy everyone thinks he is or is this is all one big misunderstanding?

I very much enjoyed this read. I thought the way it combined romance, thriller, and mystery elements was a breath of fresh air. It is not your typical romance novel and definitely has a sense of uniqueness that I think the market is looking for right now. My only desire for this book is I wish we could have read some of Damien’s POV. I feel like hearing his POV, even toward the end of the story, could have helped us understand how he fell for James so quickly. Other than that tiny detail, this was a wonderful story that I have already recommended to friends. Excellent book.

Salem’s Fall kept me guessing from start to finish. Just when I thought I had figured everything out, the story would take a sharp turn and completely change what I thought was going on. It was full of twists and turns that made it impossible to put down.

This is a real “who done it” kind of book, and every time I thought I knew who was guilty, something new would happen to prove me wrong. The mystery was super well done, and the characters were all interesting and had their own secrets.

If you like thrillers with a lot of surprises and great characters, you should definitely add Salem’s Fall to your TBR. It’s a wild ride that’ll keep you on your toes the whole way through.

Teresa Brock <fullybookedinkentucky@gmail.com>

8:41 AM (0 minutes ago)

to me
Salem’s Fall
Rektok Ross @rektokross
08/05/2025
Ic13 Books

From the second I read the blurb—murder, secret societies, a brooding billionaire, and a haunted New England town—I knew I had to read Salem’s Fall. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The pacing was so on point, I actually found myself reading faster just to keep up with the spiraling secrets and eerie twists. James, the whip-smart lawyer with something to prove, had me in her corner immediately, and Damien? Let’s just say he’s giving dangerous, maybe-murderous, but-can’t-stop-thinking-about-him energy. Throw in a crumbling mansion, old money, and Halloween creeping closer, and you’ve got all the spooky-season gold.

What really made this one shine was the genre-blending magic. Legal thriller? Absolutely. Psychological suspense? In spades. Gothic romance with just the right dash of supernatural unease? Chef’s kiss. Anytime you hand me a psychological horror with a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers twist, I’m not just reading it—I’m sprinting toward it. The criminal defense angle kept the momentum tight, while the smoldering chemistry and occult undertones added a dark, seductive pull. It’s smart, sexy, and sinister in all the best ways.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @thrillerbookloversthepulse for having me along on this books journey

Salem's Fall by Rektok Ross is a fun and suspenseful story.
Rektok Ross has written a great thriller that is fast moving, quickly paced with great characters.
The pacing is relentless, with the suspense steadily building. The author keeps readers guessing, introducing twists and turns that will keep them engaged and invested in solving the mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Ic13 Books for this ARC.

This was a great thriller from Rektok - I would classify it more as a thriller and not a dark romance (just my personal opinion). James and Damien were so fun to read about and I had my own guesses as to whether Damien was guilty or not. A few of the theories about the veil were confusing to keep up with and I had to go back to re-read it a couple of times as well.

I really enjoyed this book and will be going to read her other work!

I read this book in 24 hours! That is how good it was :)

The suspense mixed in the banter and tension from James and Damon was perfect. I love that Rektok gave the FMC what would normally by a male name to her. The storyline was easy to follow and still kept me on my toes in the last few chapters of what was going to happen.

I can't wait to read more by Rektok.