FBI Agent Val Costa is drawn out of retirement once again when the Cramer family are found dead in their home in Red Rose County. She falls to her knees in despair at the sight of little Michael Jr., curled up on the couch. What monster would take the life of an innocent child? Val vows to find justice for the mother, Stephanie Cramer, who survived the attack but is fighting for her life in hospital.
Interviewing neighbors uncovers no leads, but Val knows there’s a message in the way Mike Cramer’s body was left, tied to chair, stab wounds all over his body. It seems mother and son were collateral, and Mike was the real target. But why? Working in an auto shop between taking his boy to karate class, Michael was a perfect family man. There are no signs of a robbery, and all Val has to work with are small-town whispers about the age gap between him and his wife.
A break in the case comes when a secret phone is found hidden in Mike’s car and GPS reveals he’d been making late-night trips out of town for weeks before his family was attacked. Her team are quick to suspect an affair, but Val’s instincts tell her it’s something far more sinister.
As more cracks in the perfect Cramer family picture begin to show—arguments, money troubles—Val must work around the clock to stop this twisted individual in their tracks. But does she know someone is watching her every move? And when a dark secret in Mike’s past surfaces, can Val stay ahead of her stalker long enough to catch the killer before another precious life is taken?
An absolutely pulse-pounding crime thriller with unputdownable suspense, perfect for fans of Mary Stone, Kate Gable and L.T. Ryan.
My Review
Hidden in the Dark is the third book in the Val Costa series. Val used to work for the FBI, but since being held hostage by a serial killer and her mother having a stroke, Val has stepped back from this work. It hasn't stopped her from getting involved in murder and detective work and in this third book we see her again assisting the local police.
I really enjoy the way that Val and Brady, her childhood friend, policeman and potential love interest work together to solve this mystery. It's a particularly nasty crime, with a tortured man and his wife and son also having been shot. I'm not sure that the residents of Red Rose County will be that thrilled to have Val living back there, as she seems to have heralded a particularly nasty spate of murders with her recent arrival.
Val also has the threat of the Bear hanging over her. This is the serial killer that she was chasing on her last case and who held her hostage. It seems that he's never far away, even if Val doesn't always realise it. In each book he gets a little bit closer.
This is a gripping and thrilling read and one that I would highly recommened.
Author Bio:
H.K. Christie is an Amazon bestselling crime novelist best known for her Martina Monroe crime thriller series. H.K.’s writing style is a gripping blend of suspense and pace. Her ability to craft complex plots creates a dynamic ebb and flow of tension that keeps readers captivated and eager for more. Inspired by true crime and social justice, she develops realistic, multidimensional characters that bridge the gap between fiction and reality. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and feisty pup, Charlie.
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Buy Link:
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