Enter to Win a $50 Amazon gift card, a Tracers
tote bag and a signed copy of DEEP DARK
By: Laura Griffin
Releasing
May 24, 2016
Pocket Books
Pocket Books
In Deep Dark (Tracers #10) by Laura Griffin, Reed Novak knows the homicide he's been sent to investigate is going to be a difficult one to solve, especially since there's no evidence to be found. The killer is meticulous, and it's obvious that the UNSUB has killed before. What's worse, Reed knows if he doesn't get a lead on the killer soon that there will surely be more deaths. He doesn't know where to begin looking for leads until he receives a mysterious text message suggesting he look into a certain online dating service.
As an investigator with the Delphi Centre's cyber unit, Laney Knox is beyond exceptional at her job, searching the web looking for those that prey on the innocent. But when a murder being investigated by Austin PD hits a little too close to home, and brings up terrible memories, Laney knows she can't bury her head in the sand. She knows she has to help, even if she has to be a little sneaky in providing Austin's finest with clues that will hopefully lead them to a suspect.
What can I say, other than Ms. Griffin has done it again the way she entices her readers with a fast-paced plot, engaging characters, and pulse-pounding suspense that grabbed my attention from the very beginning and didn't let go until the end. I enjoyed how this story opened with the trauma Laney suffered, and how it's the reason why she gets so involved in the investigation into the murder.
The dialogue was well-written and intense due to the main characters back stories, and everything the killer does to push Reed to solve the case and Laney to not give up until she finds the answers that will give the police someone to apprehend. However, there were some light-hearted moments between Reed and Laney that made me smile. Since she's such a challenge for Reed, one that he's determined to figure out. What makes her so determined to help him? What drives her to get involved -- is it something personal?
I really liked both the main characters, just as much as I liked the secondary ones. Except for Reed's boss who annoyed me, as it was obvious he was hiding something. As for Laney, she's strong, brave, tenacious, stubborn and independent. She finds it hard to trust as she's been through a lot in her life, but Reed is persistent and isn't about to let her slip away from him. Is it because he knows she's hiding something important from him? Important enough that it could compromise his case, if she continues to dig until she discovers the evidence they need to find the killer. But what I liked most about her is that she ignored Reed's instructions for her working the evidence for the case. Since I could understand why she couldn't let go. She needed closure from her past, and if solving the case did that, then she needed to keep going so the nightmares of her trauma didn't keep replaying in her head.
While Reed, he's persistent and tenacious. Laney definitely tests his patience with her stubbornness, but he needs her. Without her, he wouldn't have gotten as far into the investigation in so little time. He's also determined to learn what she's hiding, even if he has to be sneaky in discovering the truth. But what I liked most was how protective he was of Laney, even though she seems quite tough and not someone that needs protecting. Since she's done her best to be able to protect herself over the years.
Overall, this was another really good book for Ms. Griffin's Tracers series where nicely-detailed sex scenes illustrate the intense chemistry Reed and Laney share, despite the fact that there's a big age difference between them. I really liked how this story ended with Reed and Laney declaring how they feel about each other, especially after everything Laney goes through at the hands of the killer. I would recommend Deep Dark by Laura Griffin, if you enjoy the opposites attract trope, romantic suspense, or have read the other books of this series.
OVERALL RATING:
BLURB:
A gripping new romantic thriller
from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laura Griffin...
The moment detective Reed Novak
steps onto the crime scene, he knows the case is going to rock his world. A
beautiful young woman murdered at home. No sign of forced entry. No motive.
She’s obviously not the killer’s first victim, and Reed’s instincts tell him
she won’t be his last. Reed’s first clue comes via a mysterious text that links
to a dating profile, but even more intriguing than the clue is the person who
sent it.
As a white-hat hacker in the Delphi
Center’s cyber investigation unit, Laney Knox sneaks into some of the deepest,
darkest corners of the Internet looking for predators. Laney would prefer to
stay away from Austin PD’s most recent murder case, but she can’t ignore the
chilling similarities between that crime and her own brutal attack years ago.
Laney offers to help the sexy lead detective, but he wants more from her than
just a promising tip—Reed wants her trust. Laney resists, but as their
relationship deepens she’s tempted to reveal the closely guarded secrets that
could make her a key witness…or the killer’s next victim.
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Reed watched her, and she had that
frustrated look in her eyes again. Every time she started to open up to him, he
did something to tick her off. She shook her head and glanced away.
“Laney?”
“What?”
“I’m a
detective. It’s my job to ask questions. To push.”
She
looked at him again and her expression softened. “No, you’re right.” She
glanced down at her beer bottle and picked at the label. “I’m glad she has
you.”
“Who
has me?”
“April.
You seem--” She paused, like she was searching for the right word.
“--committed.”
He
didn’t answer. It wasn’t really a question, but the way she looked at him gave
him the feeling she wanted a response.
She
drained her beer and plunked down the bottle. “I should get home.” She stood
up.
Reed
stood, too. He left a tip on the table and followed her through the throng of
people. The bar was packed, and the music had gotten louder since they’d first
walked in.
They
stepped into the warm, muggy air. It was dusk now, and a neon Lone Star Light
sign cast a blue-and-red glow over the sidewalk. As they walked in silence, he
thought of what she’d said about her job being meaningful. It was refreshing.
Maybe he’d been a cop too long, but he didn’t know anyone who talked about
things being meaningful anymore. If
they thought about work in those terms, they kept it to themselves.
Maybe
he was jaded.
No, he
definitely was jaded. But it had more
to do with his failed marriage than anything he’d seen on the job.
Reed spotted her little white car
and felt a twinge of regret. He’d enjoyed talking to her, enjoyed being near
her. And he couldn’t remember the last time that had happened with a woman.
Having a beer with Laney had been the highlight of his crap week. Hell, the
highlight of his month.
She
looked around. “Where are you parked?”
“Around
back.”
She
gazed up at him. He couldn’t read her expression.
“Thanks
for the drink,” she said.
“You
bought it.”
He
couldn’t read her tone either. The thrum of music seeped through the thin walls
of the bar as they stood there in the light of the beer sign.
She
stepped closer, and a jolt of heat went through him. She looked up at him with
those bottomless brown eyes, and he knew he was in trouble. It was a bad idea
to involve this girl in his investigation. Whatever useful info she might have
was outweighed by the fact that she was young, and edgy, and he wanted her. And
she must have seen something in his face because her eyes sparked.
She went up on tiptoes and kissed
him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author LAURA GRIFFIN started her career in journalism before
venturing into the world of romantic suspense. She is a two-time RITA Award
winner as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Laura currently
lives in Austin, where she is working on her next book.
Lovely review! Thank you for hosting DEEP DARK today!
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