Alone in the Dark (Cincinnati, #2)

by Karen Rose

New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose returns with a breathtaking novel of suspense in the Cincinnati series—one that crosses the line between danger and desire, and justice and revenge.
 
Homicide Detective Scarlett Bishop has seen enough bad guys slip through the cracks and innocent victims go unavenged to know that good doesn't always prevail. So far she’s been able to lock away her rage and her vigilante fantasies. That lock is about to break.
 
Former Army Ranger Marcus O'Bannion is a fierce champion of victims’ rights. His secret past gives him good reason. He believes he’s seen the depths of human depravity, but then his investigation into the murder of a young girl who once asked for his help lures him and Scarlett down a dark, dark road—and straight into the crosshairs of a dangerous, powerful underground ring that deals in human trafficking. To stop them, Scarlett and Marcus have to be just as cunning and just as ruthless. But first they have to make it out alive.

• ISBN10: 0451466748
• ISBN13: 9780451466747
• Publish Date: 2 February 2016 (first published 23 November 2015)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 736
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780451466747

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Five reasons to grab Alone in the Dark

Trigger Warning: This case deals with human trafficking, torture and there is violence. (show spoiler)[Rape is mentioned primarily in the past tense and is not overly graphic. But might trigger a response from those who have a sensitivity. There are torture scenes and while things are heavily implied (he pulled his array of tools into view), most is told after the fact. For example, he finally gave up the codes, but it cost him several toes and fingers. ] (hide spoiler)

• Set in Cincinnati the tale picks up a few months after Closer Than You Think and gives us Homicide Detective Scarlet Bishop story as we begin a dark case involving human trafficking. Fans of psychological thrillers and darker romantic suspense will find themselves quickly pulled in. Rose delivers the full story from the case to her depth of characters. Alone in the Dark weighed in at over 700 pages allowing us to see the case, the criminal, the victims and especially the main characters -Scarlet and Marcus O'Bannion.



• The characters are complex and allow you form attachments even to secondary characters. Scarlet is Decker's partner, and I knew going into the tale I was going to love this courageous woman. She presents this tough as nails exterior, but we quickly get to learn about some of the baggage she carriers. These issues drive her to excel. Former Army Ranger Marcus O'Bannion runs the local paper called the Ledger, along with his brother Cal, friend Diesel and a crew he considers family. Marcus is driven and events from his past drive him and his team to help victims in ways the law cannot. I loved the reporter angle and the more I got to know him and his crew the more I loved them. Secondary characters from familiar ones to new ones added depth, fellowship, and interest. I loved Cal, Diesel and even Jill with all her attitude. The victims had a voice here, and I appreciated it.



• The case was interesting and begins when Scarlet gets a phone call in the wee hours asking her to meet in a shady section of town. She goes because the caller is Marcus O'Bannion a man she met on a previous case. Marcus was meeting a young woman who apparently needed help, but things quickly go south. The young woman ends up dead, but not before saying something that soon has Scarlet and Bishop working side by side.



• Rose delivers the full picture as she relates the case to us. We spend time with the FBI and local authorities as well as time with the criminals and victims. I love this attention to detail, and it makes the seven hundred pages read more like a book half that length. The change is perspectives enhanced my reading pleasure even as I squirmed when the criminal elements of this tale had theirs.



• The romance was well done and tugged at my heart-strings. Scarlet and Marcus have met previously, so there was chemistry established. Working together forced them to admit the attraction and be brave enough to act. I love when damaged or scared individuals open up and grow. Rose gave us delicious banter, snark, and attitude. These two clicked making their emotions and actions felt genuine. While the romance is threaded throughout and we enjoyed a little heat, it stayed firmly on the sidelines of this thrilling and suspenseful tale.

copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer