That Darkness by Lisa Black

When it comes to suspense and thriller novels, I love getting wrapped up into the heat and the intensive meat of the story. And when that story involves police crime and forensics, then it’s a even bigger draw for me. This new release That Darkness by Lisa Black is written by a forensic investigator so you know that the details are going to be intricate and correct. Here’s my thoughts on this new release I reviewed.

That Darkness by Lisa Black
Series: A Gardiner and Renner Novel
Publisher: Kensington (April 26, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-1496701886

As a forensic investigator for the Cleveland Police Department, Maggie Gardiner has seen her share of Jane Does. The latest is an unidentified female in her early teens, discovered in a local cemetery. More shocking than the girl’s injuries–for Maggie at least–is the fact that no one has reported her missing. She and the detectives assigned to the case (including her cop ex-husband) are determined to follow every lead, run down every scrap of evidence. But the monster they seek is watching every move, closer to them than they could possibly imagine.

Jack Renner is a killer. He doesn’t murder because he enjoys it, or because he believes himself omnipotent, or for any reason other than to make the world a safer place. When he follows the trail of this Jane Doe to a locked room in a small apartment where eighteen teenaged girls are anything but safe, he knows something must be done. But his pursuit of their captor takes an unexpected turn.

Maggie Gardiner finds another body waiting for her in the autopsy room–and a host of questions that will challenge everything she believes about justice, morality, and the true nature of evil …

My Thoughts on That Darkness by Lisa Black

Like I said in my opener there is tons of detail in the story. The author takes us on the trip through crime scenes and the investigation to hunt for a serial killer. What’s unique about the way the author set this one up is that you know who the killer is and you get to read the book from both points of view – The killer and the hunter, if you will. It’s a cool perspective to be able to see both sides and to interact with both of them.

Loaded with intricate detail on the forensic end with a decent development on the characters, this book was not a fast read. It’s in depth and engaging but a bit dry in parts. The story is unique and it is one that involves you but I would have liked to see more twists and turns to keep the reader guessing a bit.

The best part of the book is the ending because it completely surprises you. What you think is going to happen is so off-base and that makes for a different look to the characters overall.

This is the first book I read by this author but from the type of story that she has given us today, this will not be the last book I’ve read with her. While it is not overly fast paced, it is one that will keep you thinking about it long after you close the cover.

Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.