Deep Dark (Tracers, #10)

by 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.

• ISBN10: 1476779260
• ISBN13: 9781476779263
• Publish Date: 24 May 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Pocket Books
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Let me begin by saying that I have never read anything written by Laura Griffin prior to this. I was going into this story blindly as I had no idea what to expect. When I realised that this was part of a series and book number 10 at that I was a bit concerned that it could not be read as a stand-alone. However, my concerns were short-lived as I discovered that all the books in the series can be read on its own.

I have read several books in the romantic suspense genre and I come to realise there are few authors who can provide the right balance of romance and suspense. Laura Griffin has proven to be one of those authors.

The story started out with a bang. This set the pace for the remainder of the story. I knew from the outset that this was going to be an exciting and suspenseful read. I could not wait to see how the story would unfold.

The female protagonist, Delaney Knox, clearly stole the show. She is a cyber-investigator/white hacker who works for the Delphi Cybercrime unit. She is good at what she does. She is a loner by choice. She avoids socializing. She was not keen on law enforcement officers as she thought they were rigid and authoritative. However, she will find herself providing unsolicited assistance to them when a past acquaintance was murdered. This murder hit close to home as such she felt compelled to provide clues via text messages to the lead detective Reed Novak.

Detective Reed Novak has found himself embroiled in a homicide investigation that is proving to be the most challenging case of his career. The killer is sharp and the cops are stunned as he leaves no trace evidence. It was assumed as a result that this was not the killer’s first victim. As the investigation progresses Reed’s theory had been proven and the cops have come to realise that there was a serial killer in their midst. The receipt of text messages from an anonymous source providing him clues about the murder had him intrigued, and so he set out to uncover the identity of the sender. However, he was not prepared for his reaction to the mysterious sender.

It was evident that there was chemistry between the Laney and Reed. Reed, however, was a bit wary due to the 15-year age difference between them, but this did not phase Laney one bit. She knew what she wanted and she was not afraid to go for it. It was this approach, she applied to every aspect of her life. I thought they were worked well together in all areas.

I thought the plot was well researched. The story was detailed and easy to follow. The plot was believable and the pacing was good. "Deep Dark" is the type of story that grabs you from the first page and holds you in its grip until the end. It had me turning the pages as I was eager to discover who the killer was. I thought it had the right blend of romance and suspense. This was one of those times that I had a hard time guessing who it was. Even at the end when all was revealed I was in a state of shock as I never saw it coming.

This story highlighted the inherent danger of dating sites. It also demonstrated how the electronic devices that we have come to rely on daily can be detrimental as such, we need to exercise caution when using them.

Verdict: This was a fun, exciting and suspenseful read which I recommend to fans of this genre. I will be looking to read the other books written by this author.



 

[Lynn]

Anyone who dares to venture into the world of online dating may rethink their dating habits after reading Deep Dark!

Delaney 'Laney' Knox is a twenty-four-year-old kick-ass white-hat hacker working for The Delphi Centre as an investigator. When the body of a young woman is discovered, Laney's reminded of an incident from her past. Determined to assist in solving the case and erase the memories that have haunted her, she gets more than she bargained when she messages the chief detective in an unconventional way.

Reed Novak is a thirty-nine-year-old detective with Austin PD, jaded with life generally. He's still sharp as a button when it comes to his job and a new case always fires up his enthusiasm. When a body is discovered with no clues or evidence left at the scene of the crime, he's as determined as ever to find the perpetrator. So, his interest is more than piqued when he receives an unexpected message about the case from an anonymous source, in an unconventional way. He's just as intrigued to know the sender as he is to solve the case.

The beginning was a slow start for me, but it didn't take very long to become engrossed in this original and fast-paced novel. The intrigue definitely kept my attention and the pages turning as Reed and Laney investigated the case. There may be a fifteen year age gap between the protagonists but the pairing works incredibly well and doesn't feel forced. Both are workaholics and loners with a passion for their work with a shared sense of duty work ethic. Their lust filled chemistry, always smouldering under the surface, as they attempt to fight against the attraction for each other.

I'm blown away by the author's attention to detail with the research for this well-written novel. I was on my toes right until the revealing of the murderer, which was a surprise.

If you enjoy the Romantic Suspense genre as much as I do, you'll love this adrenalin-charged, well thought out and intelligent novel. This is the tenth novel in the Tracers series and a standalone. I'll be reading the other nine novels in the series as soon as I can and will add Laura Griffin to my favourite author list.

The question I asked myself after reading Deep Dark is: Why has it taken me so long to discover Laura Griffin?

4.5 Stars

***arc generously received courtesy of Pocket Books via NetGalley***

[thebookdisciple]

I enjoy this! Good mystery that keeps you guessing, good characters, good plot. Full review at The Book Disciple

[kimbacaffeinate]

The story hooks the reader from page one when she shared Laney Knox’s memories of the night she was brutally attacked three years ago. Three years later, this brilliant hacker works for the Delphi Center. Through her job, and their acceptance of "hacktivism" she is able to take down child porn sites, protect identities and more. A bit of an Emo, who marches to her own beat, I connected with Laney from the onset.

Austin Homicide detective Reed Novak has just taken on a case where a beautiful young woman is found murdered in her own home. There appears to be no forced entry and no motive. The job is too clean; making Novak instinctively knows this is not the killer’s first victim. With no forensic evidence to go on, Novak will be forced to the streets interviewing everyone she knows. A mysterious text with a link appears on his phone directing him to a social dating site sets the ball in motion and of course peaks his curiosity.

Laney cannot help getting involved based on the similarities of her own brutal attack and begins sending Novak information. It isn’t long before Novak hunts her down and the two begin working together, but if Novak discovers how close this case is to Laney’s own will he kick her off the case?

Griffin writes riveting suspense and I enjoy her knowledge of procedure and terminology. We discover clues as those working the case and it allows for a wonderful, face-paced flow. As new victims appear and connection are made we move closer to solving the case. Twists, turns and red herrings keep us guessing. With realistic tones and an attention to detail Deep Dark kept me flipping the pages. While I had a feeling about the killer, Griffin managed to keep me guessing until the reveal.

The romance in Deep Dark was delicious. Laney is twenty-four and Novak is about fifteen years older. His first marriage failed because of the job, but both Laney and Novak are driven making them a good match. Novak is attracted to Laney and the chemistry is sizzling, but he is also reluctant due to their age difference. It created a nice tension and role reversal. Laney is not shy and soon realizes she will need to make the first move. I enjoyed watching their romance develop and these moments outside the intense case allowed us all a reprieve.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer