*ARC REVIEW* Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for a gifted copy of this book!

This is giving ALL the spooky, eerie, suspenseful Halloween vibes and I am so here for it. This book has perfect spooky season setting with talk of secret societies & ritualistic murders set in Salem’s Fall (Salem, MA).

Not only do we get the spooky creepy adventures but also some AMAZING romantic tension with a FMC and 1, very handsome morally grey man.

This entire book felt like an episode of Vampire Diaries. Not kidding (minus the vampires). I would say this is more mystery and suspense coded than “thriller” but either way I devoured it!!

4/5 because some of the writing was repetitive and I don’t really feel the thriller vibes as it’s marketed but rather mystery/suspense. BUT STILL SO GOOD! Definitely recommend adding to your spooky season TBR! 👻

THIS ONE COMPLETELY HOOKED ME. I ALREADY KNEW I LOVED REKTOK ROSS'S WRITING, AND SALEM'S FALL JUST CONFIRMED IT. THE SETTING IS SO ATMOSPHERIC (PERFECT FOR HALLOWEEN OR A LITTLE SUMMERWEEN READING) AND THE MIX OF LEGAL THRILLER, MYSTERY, AND LIGHT PARANORMAL ELEMENTS MADE IT STAND OUT FROM THE USUAL DARK ROMANCE OR SUSPENSE.
JAMES WOODSEN IS A STRONG, INTELLIGENT LEAD, AND I LOVED FOLLOWING HER JOURNEY.
SHE'S AMBITIOUS, CAPABLE, AND TOTALLY HELD HER OWN-PLUS, SHE HAS A BLACK CAT, WHICH JUST MAKES HER EVEN COOLER. THE DYNAMIC WITH DAMIEN BLACKHOLLOW HAD JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TENSION. I'M ALWAYS DOWN FOR AN ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS STORY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH AND THE SETTING IS THIS EERIE.
THIS HAD THE PERFECT BLEND OF DRAMA, CREEPY TOWN SECRETS, AND A HINT OF THE SUPERNATURAL. IF YOU'RE INTO THRILLERS WITH A DARK, GOTHIC EDGE AND STRONG FEMALE LEADS, THIS ONE'S DEFINITELY WORTH PICKING UP.

Thank you Netgalley and lc13 Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Salem’s Fall” by Rektok Ross is a haunting and fast-paced psychological thriller that brings together courtroom drama, dark romance, and eerie small-town secrets, all wrapped in the atmospheric setting of a modern-day Salem steeped in witch trial history. It's a chilling and seductive read perfect for autumn nights, and especially for fans of morally gray characters, secret societies, and slow-burn thrillers with a dash of the paranormal.

The story centers around James Woodsen, a brilliant but recently disgraced junior attorney at a prestigious Boston law firm. When she’s assigned to a high-profile murder case involving Damien Blackhollow, a mysterious and powerful billionaire accused of killing his fiancée, James sees this as her shot at redemption. But what begins as a professional opportunity quickly spirals into a personal journey filled with buried family secrets, shadowy organizations, and an unsettling connection to her mother’s unsolved murder.

James is a compelling protagonist as she is fiercely intelligent, emotionally complex, and deeply driven to prove herself in a cutthroat legal world that’s eager to see her fail. Her relationship with Damien crackles with tension, though it’s not without its controversies. Damien is the archetype of the dark, brooding love interest—intense, protective, and borderline obsessive. While some may revel in the enemies-to-lovers vibe, others may find the romance arc underdeveloped or unsettlingly fast-paced. Still, their dynamic raises the emotional and psychological stakes, adding an addictive layer to the mystery.

The supporting characters, including James’s charming but enigmatic boss Quinn, and her complicated sister, round out the story with personal conflict and moments of vulnerability. Lucky, Damien’s eerily clever black cat, adds just the right amount of gothic whimsy and symbolic weight, becoming a standout favorite for me as I love reading about cats in books.

Ross excels at creating atmosphere. From the fog-drenched streets of Salem’s Fall to the tension of courtroom showdowns, the novel drips with autumnal, spooky vibes. The town itself feels like a character with its haunted past connecting into the unfolding mystery. Themes of justice, legacy, power, and buried trauma run deep throughout the book, and while there’s a light touch of the paranormal, the real horror lies in the secrets people keep.

The pacing is brisk and addictive. Chapters end on cliffhangers, pulling you deeper into the labyrinth of lies and unanswered questions. The twists and turns will have you second-guessing every character's motives; while some plot threads remain unresolved by the end, the open-ended finale only amplifies the desire for a sequel.

Overall, “Salem’s Fall” is a darkly alluring legal thriller laced with mystery, gothic atmosphere, and emotional complexity. With a strong female lead, morally ambiguous love interests, and an eerie New England setting, it’s hard not to crave more of James’s twisted world.

I had the pleasure of reading this book as an ARC. 😀
and what an amazing read it was!
A slow burn errie triller that will have you turning pages to find out what happens next, the story instantly hooks you.
This book will be perfect for an autumn Halloween read.
I am looking forward to reading more books from this author.

Okay, fun!! This was such a cozy/fun fall thriller. I'm on my summerween journey and this is perfect for that! It's also a perfect book to jumpstart fall in general. I think I've read most of Rektok's books and this is by far my favorite! James is a lawyer at a criminal defense firm that's representing a powerful billionaire accused of murdering his ex fiancée. This was a quick, fun, magical read.

This was such a fun thriller. It kept me engaged the entire time. James is a new young attorney and has been put on this high profile case. Not only was she put on it, Damien requested her specifically. James goes to Salem’s Fall to try to uncover all the lies and secrets and finds so much more than she expected. This was such a perfect book for anyone who likes thrillers and mysteries with a dash of romance.

I was kindly provided with the arc of this book by NetGalley and Rektok Ross in exchange of an honest review, thank you ✨

4.5⭐️

Wow… that was certainly a roller coaster of emotions!! I though I cracked the code and knew who was behind of all the things that were happening, and then I was 🤡 because I was sooo wrong 😂 but hear me out, when it comes about books like this one, with all the suspense, and thrillery story, I love when I’m wrong, because it means this book was so well written and done and oh my god I loved every second of it!! I loved James, my girl, she was such an amazing woman, so tough and smart and resilient and focused and determined and I just love her! And you know I’m a girl who falls for the villain so OF COURSE I was rooting for Damien 🙂‍↔️✨ I mean, a tall, dark haired, with dark eyes, morally grey men? I was sold 🙈🛐

This also was my first boon by the author and surely won’t be the last because I was invested in the story from the moment I start reading 🙂‍↔️✨

✨ My Review of Salem’s Fall by Rektok Ross ✨

Whew, this one hooked me from page one and did not let go! If you love psychological thrillers with a touch of spooky small-town secrets, witchy undertones, and a legal twist—add this to your TBR immediately.

The story flowed effortlessly, and every character felt like they belonged. The dynamics were on point—no one felt extra or out of place. The tension? Delicious. The guessing game? Real. I thought I had it figured out more than once… and I was wrong every. single. time. 🙃

I devoured it in a day, and honestly? I’m still thinking about that ending. Chef’s kiss to Rektok Ross for delivering a thriller that actually thrilled.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. This one’s a win.

LOVED THIS, loved summer rental and I just knew this was gonna be another hit!! Total page turner, finished in 24 hours. You can’t put this down!

Absolutely LOVED this book!! All the spooky, witchy, cult fall vibes a girl could want to kick off the beginning of spooky season starting soon! Read this book in a single day because I could not stop once I was quickly pulled into the story. I truly was obsessed with this story and the plot line.

(2.5/5)

Salem’s Fall had a strong premise—a sharp young attorney, a mysterious billionaire, and a small town with a dark past. I was intrigued by the mix of legal drama and eerie suspense.

Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite land. The characters lacked depth, the romance felt forced, and the love triangle was distracting. Some parts were repetitive, and the pacing felt rushed, especially near the end.

It wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t leave much of an impact. I wanted to love it, but it just fell flat for me.

Excited to have the opportunity to read this ARC. I found this to be a page turning cozy dark romance legal thriller. It had everything I wanted, dark brooding mysterious billionaire MMC, stubborn intelligent FMC. As secrets were unveiled the book got better and better leaving me wanting more!

I sped through this book…. Ate it up !!! A stubborn and smart FMC which I live for !!! Two handsome men both wanting her … and the plot twist … I kept trying to guess it throughout and could not !!! Very easy fun read … extreme slow burn 🔥 I need more answers which I’m assuming we will get in the next book …. It was suspenseful, interesting, witchy, romantic, and a must read !!!

I absolutely loved and devoured this book. It was the perfect mix of a thrilling mystery and romance in one. The plot was plotting during the entire duration of the book. I couldn't put it down and I read it in one day. To say that I ate this up is an understatement. I loved all of the twists and turns. Also loved Lucky.

The story is about Salem, witches, magic, crime, a secret society, and supernatural suspense.
Our MFC James is a junior associate at a law firm. She struggles to fit in and find her place. She is usually a target due to her appearance. She just wants to be taken seriously and finally prove herself. James gets put on a case that is either going to make or break her. It's a very high-profile murder case that hasn't been solved in years but now there is a new suspect. Before she knows it, she becomes entangled with the case and it's not just her job that is on the line it's life or death at stake.

Our MMC Damien is moody, dark, and irresistible. He is mysterious and keeping a lot of secrets and he will protect what he loves no matter what.

Will Jamie be able to prove herself and solve the case or will she get distracted in Salems Fall?

Absolutely loved loved loved this book! It's a fun fast paced mystery that has a strong FMC and a dark and broody MC.

The way I absolutely devoured this book should be illegal. Salem’s Fall will have you flipping the pages and foaming at the mouth to find out what happens next! As soon as I heard that it’s set in New England, there is a black cat (I love black cats!!!), and it had Silence of the Lambs vibes, I was all in.

The story follows James, who was at the top of her class at Harvard. She now works at a firm in Boston and is the youngest one at her company. When she’s suddenly thrown on a case that involves the Blackhollow family, James knows that this is her chance to prove herself. She is now working on a case trying to defend Damien Blackhollow, who is a charming billionaire who’s been accused of killing his fiancée. Soon, James follows a lead to a small New England town, where she starts to uncover more than she bargained for. With Damien following her every move, ensuring she’s safe, and taking care of her, James doens’t know what to think. But soon, she finds out exactly why she’s been asked to be on this case and learns more about her own family.

I loved James’ character. She was so determined and confident in herself. She tries hard at her company to prove that she’s not just going to sleep her way to the top. When she was investigating, she was always following her hunch, and I know I wouldn’t be able to do that if I were in her position. I would always question myself and wonder if I had made the right choices. I loved how much she cared for the people in her life. James would do anything to keep the people close to her safe. She’s so caring and selfless.

When I first started reading this book, I didn’t like James’ sister that much. She was so annoying. She was always begging for money and just felt kind of annoying. I felt bad for James because she works so hard, and her relationship with her sister didn’t seem that strong; it felt like James had to say yes to her all the time because of guilt. Towards the end of the book, I felt that things had changed, and you could tell that James and her sister cared about each other so much, and her sister had grown on me.

I loved the pacing of this book! It was so quick, and the story progressed at a nice pace. The story will have you hooked right from the first couple of pages. There is a lot of action throughout the book, and there aren’t any dull moments. By the end of each chapter, you will be flipping the page to find out what happens next. Once I started putting together more of the pieces in the story, I couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know what was going to happen to James and Damian. When James went to talk to Damian’s brother, omggg I wanted her to stay longer and figure out EVERYTHING.

Overall, this was a great book, 5/5 stars!

I absolutely loved this book! This was my second book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last! I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put it down until I was done! Suspenseful, spooky, thrilling!

Loved this book! This is the first book I have read from this author and I will be reading more from her. This was the perfect summerween book for me. Spooky vibes, banter, and a cat named Lucky who you will fall in love with.

James is a young associate at a law firm, but she struggles to be taken seriously because of her looks. When she finds herself in the middle of a very high profile murder case, she's determined to prove herself. But James soon realises it isn't just her job on the line, it's also her life.

I'm not too sure what I expected this book to be, but it wasn't this. But, you know what? I bloody loved it. It was a fun read, that I couldn't put down and I was left wanting more. There was some romance in it, but it was only a small amount and the sex scenes were implied, so no details. Win-win for me. I loved the added link to get the bonus epilogue at the end. It really helped finish the story, but I do hope this means there will be a sequel following Lucien.
This is actually my first from this author, despite having their previous books on my tbr for ages. I'm excited to read more.

I'm in the minority here but I thought this was bad. James (nonsensical name for a FMC) is so stubborn and stupid. She's clearly in danger but keeps ignoring everything for "the truth". Good grief. Damian is suspicious AF but he's hot and wealthy so it doesn't matter, right?! And I really don't enjoy love triangles so that's a me thing, others might like that part of the story. The cult stuff was mostly interesting. I really enjoyed Summer Rental but the characters in this were aggravating and the "romance" was cringe. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC