Gaslight (Crossbreed Series Book 4) (Crossbreed, #4)

by Dannika Dark

[kimbacaffeinate]

Dannika Dark has quickly become a favorite here at Caffeinated. She sits on my shelves alongside Illona Andrews, Anne Bishop, Seanan McGuire. Kevin Hearne and Patrica Briggs.  She like the others delivers unique, well-developed characters that you will come to care for and then casts them into storylines that keep you listening because you need her to fix the crazy messed up situation she has gotten them into!

I've loved all of the books in this series, but Gaslight was brilliant and the insight into Christian Poe and our heroine Raven Black pulled at my heartstrings, made me laugh aloud, shudder in acknowledgment and love the feck out of them!

Raven likes sifting through unsolved Breed cases and she stumbles upon some information that has the group looking for a vampire trafficker. These despicable individuals turn young men and women into vampires and sell them. Not since the Megeri series has Dark share such a dark storyline. Christine and Raven are undercover when Raven unexpectedly disappears. From that point on, my heart was racing as I felt the tension building. The places Dark took this storyline and the things she revealed to us about Raven kept me listening.

We witness the members of Keystone coming together to fight for one of their own. I love the different members, personalities, and abilities of this motley crew. While tensions were high as they raced against a ticking clock, we were also given Raven's story as it was unfolding. I usually like to perform mundane tasks while listening, but that was not the case with Gaslight. I sat at attention like a Meerkat listening for a potential threat. And just when I thought we've won let's go kick some arse, Dark pulled the rug out from under us and we were turning more dark corners and witnessing unspeakable things before we finally got to kick some arse. Dark put me back together again and wrapped up some threads but she did leave some strings for us to follow.

I think what made this and the storyline so incredibly nervewracking and addictive is the characters. Raven reminds me a little of Mercedes Thompson from the series by the same name. All kick-ass on the outside and a little gooey on the inside. Raven has been broken time and time again, but she never gives up and somehow still manages to see the good in others. I've known Christian Poe since the Mangeri series and adore this snarky, sexy, candy-loving vampire. He is tested in Gaslight and I felt his desperation and pain.

If you haven't tried Dannika Dark, the Crossbreed series is a great place to start. I recommend them on audio. Nicole Poole narrates and I could not imagine any of these characters without her voice. In fact, she narrates all of Dark's series. Go grab your earbuds and check them out. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer