Dig Two Graves was a solid, slow-burning crime novel that kept me intrigued from start to finish. I really appreciated the atmospheric writing and the way the author wove past trauma into a modern investigation — it added emotional weight without feeling overdone. The characters, especially the detectives, had some depth and realness to them, which made their journeys interesting to follow. That said, some of the side plots (like the romance) didn’t totally land for me, and the pacing felt a bit uneven in places. It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but it definitely kept me turning the pages, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys a darker, more reflective kind of crime story.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Trigger warning re: child abuse, sexual abuse.

However, this is a well written book that is addictive (I read it in one sitting).

"Dig Two Graves" is a slow-burn that builds tension with deliberate pacing. Johnston excels at creating an atmosphere of unsettling unease, where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. The ending, while perhaps predictable to some, is nonetheless impactful, leaving a lingering sense of unease and a haunting reminder of the enduring power of the past.

Recommended for readers who enjoy Southern Gothic literature, atmospheric thrillers, and character-driven stories.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this e-arc! This was a very captivating suspense novel and I’m excited to look into more work from this author in the future.

I requested this book because the synopsis was very interesting. I will admit that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The author, Gigi Johnston, did an excellent job with characters and the story line. I was hooked from the beginning, and I could not put it down. I can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Troubador Publishing

Very surprised by this find. Very interesting story, kept me interested and engaged and needing to know what happened

Thank you NetGalley for the copy

I want to put this at the start of my review. Not because there should be any resistance toread this book. Because you soooo should. Its amazing. But it does cover a topic thst for some would be highly triggering and maybe too much. It's covers abuse, sexual abuse(very very much so) and specific to a care home setting. This isn't a spoiler. This is a known from the start. But what happens to these poor children is brilliantly written in part because of the depth it writes about it. But also it's not gore, or revolting in the writing so there's no worries there. But the very topic is obviously horrible.
Right...
I don't think it sounds quite right to say how much I loved this book. Given its subject matter that doesn't sit right. But nope,sorry it was brilliant.
And applause to the author for handling such raw issues and writing them with both tenderness and just the right amount of details.
I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers or dramas. And this fit that category to a T.
So much hurt happened to our characters. So much to heal from that you often wonder how anyone does. And it shows even from this book that it can take an incredible amount of love and support to do so. And some will go the complete opposite way to try and rid themselves, and in this case the world of the darkness reigned down on them.
The main characters all had their own issues. All had their own complexities. And I was sorry for all of them!
I'm not sure if this is only to be a stand alone. But I'd happily get back to this team.

I found this book to be a complete emotional rollercoaster but in the best way! It was really fast paced and easy to follow the storyline. I loved how every time I thought I knew who the suspect was, there would be a twist that completely changed who you thought it was. The themes of the book did hit quite hard, but that is to be expected considering what the book is about. I did find however that the romance subplot wasn't really for me, but this is a personal preference. I'm not a fan of romance subplots in general, which is why I'd give it 4/5 stars. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes crime thriller books.

Some very dark themes feature in this tension filled thriller. The romantic angle was a bit jarring and I’m not sure it added anything, but others may have found it a positive in the context of a lot of darkness.

Police procedural with a sound plot and interesting characters. Lots of suspects and twists before a dramatic ending.

This was everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed the storyline that was going on. It had that element that I wanted and thought the overall story worked as a suspenseful atmosphere. The characters were everything that I wanted and was glad they were so well written. Gigi Johnston has a great writing style and can’t wait for more.

From the very beginning, I was very very taken in by the story. The quality of writing, the plot and pacing were great and kept me reading without any slumps.

The romantic aspect was the only part of the book that took away from my enjoyment. I think feelings development too quickly and it made little sense. Moreover, I didn't understand why Jenna had to have so many different entanglements throughout the story. The romance took away a star from my final review.

Finally, the ending didn't land emotionally and that took away another star for me. It was too much in a way. Lauren's reintroduction into society was far too quick and then the very end was almost too tragic. I understand the idea behind it, but it didn't have the emotional impact it should have had.

Overall, the story was very solid, plot and character wise, as long as you ignore the romantic aspect. I think it would have been stronger if Jenna had half if not less of men's attention. She was a good enough character as it was.

Dig Two Graves by Gigi Johnston is an intriguing and great story.
This was a riveting and thrilling story that kept me guessing until the very end! It was so exciting to read with all the twists and turns, incredible characters, and intriguing mystery happening. I couldn't put it down. This story is the definition of a page-turner! I loved it!

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

An unexpected 4 star read. Kept me engaged, on the edge of my seat.. needed to know the whole story and how it all worked out!

Worth the read and definitely exciting!

Wow! This book was nothing like I thought it would be! It was a fantastic read! It does have plenty of triggers! It was a heart wrenching thriller! It had great suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, child kidnapping, child rape, incest rape, very depraved characters! But the story behind everything was so very interesting! I was definitely glued to my kindle! Beware of the triggers but it was a great book! I highly recommend reading it! Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

WOW oh WOW!

I was worried that this book might be triggering for me as it deals with child abuse, but I was hooked.

It is so different from the usual plotline and I was quite excited.

It is a story that is brilliantly told and it's pacy and creepy. At times I was scared, but this was a book that I really enjoyed..

its amazing.

Loved this book, it was great to read during the spooky season. Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.

Wow! I freaking loved the sh*t out of this!!
This is a crime thriller about an abused boy and girl who spent time in a children's home. Two police officers must solve the mystery while dealing with their own personal issues and secret love for one another.
The boy escapes the children's home as a teenager and when older becomes a serial killer.
Hunting down the people who abused him when he was younger, he ends up falling for the lady police officer named Jones, who is hunting him down and Jones has no idea the secret he is holding onto.
The girl who was at the children's home with him remains trapped and with the help of her childhood friend, the police officer Jones, is able to help her slowly get her life back together, but not for long!
This book had so many twists that I did not see coming. The cliff hangers had me sitting on the edge of my seat, reading until my eyes were stinging! I could not put this down. I had to push on so I could find out who the killer was and what the girl was planning to do.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a gripping crime thriller and who may also enjoy the slow burn between the two police officers!

Thankyou to Netgalley and to Gigi Johnston for allowing me to be an arc reader for this amazing book. I will be purchasing this book so that I can share it amongst my book loving friends and also so I can add it to my crime collection!

Very impressed!

Wow this did keep me on my toes
I enjoyed it fast paced interesting with good characters and a crazy horrible crime.
I felt so many emotions reading this
Loved getting to know the main detectives and their team
A really good crime thriller which will keep you engrossed and feeling the emotions written on the paper

This was such an interesting book, and I enjoyed it! I liked the story line and the pacing. It had a good lever of suspense, and the themes of loss, grief, trauma were all well written. I think the character development was great too

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

The story follows the boy who manages to escape from the traumatic environment of the children’s home. As he grows into adulthood, he becomes determined to track down and eliminate those responsible for the abuse he endured. In stark contrast, the girl remains trapped in her circumstances, raising questions about her fate and well-being.

The plot thickens as Officers Brady and Jones lead an investigation to uncover the truth behind the abuse. They face numerous challenges while piecing together clues that could lead them to justice. Amidst their professional struggles, Officer Jones finds some solace in her personal life; however, she begins to suspect that her new partner may be hiding a dark secret.

The novel explores themes of trauma, revenge, and the quest for justice while also addressing personal relationships affected by past horrors. It raises poignant questions about what happens to those left behind in such harrowing situations and how individuals cope with their pasts.

In summary, “Dig Two Graves” is not just a tale of crime but also an exploration of human resilience in the face of adversity.