Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In the Darkness by Mike Omer Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Series: Zoe Bentley Mystery #2
Published by Brilliance Audio on June 25, 2019
Genres: Mystery
Length: 10 hours, 50 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble
An online video of a girl clawing at the ceiling of her own grave could be the worst thing FBI forensic psychologist Zoe Bentley has ever seen. Perhaps even more disturbing is the implication of the video’s title: “Experiment Number One.”
Zoe and her partner, Special Agent Tatum Gray, work as fast as they can to find the monster behind the shocking video, but soon another one shows up online, and another girl turns up dead. Meanwhile, a different murderer is on Zoe’s mind. Rod Glover has been tormenting her since childhood, and his latest attack is a threatening photo of himself with Zoe’s sister. As Glover’s threats creep toward action, Zoe’s torn between family and duty.
Zoe must think fast to prevent another murder. With her own family’s safety on the line, Zoe feels she’s never been in more danger. And while she’s always known her job could send her to an early grave, she always assumed she’d be dead first.
In the Darkness is the second book in the Zoe Bentley Mystery series. I got A Killer’s Mind through the Kindle first program as an ebook. I liked it so when I saw this audio for review I took it.
I really liked many of the characters who were realistically developed. I always enjoy the law enforcement procedures to solve the case. Here, there is a serial killers so they are rushing to save the woman’s life. Even the petty political squabbles of some of the team are part of the usual situation.
Other distractions were less comfortable. Zoe had ANOTHER killer after her sister at home, while she gets sent to Texas for her case. There’s an odd dynamic between her and her partner. I’m not sure what’s happening with Tatum. They are off balance for much of the story. Zoe also has a one-night stand while in Texas on the case which rubbed me the wrong way.
I read the first book and I listened to this one. Since I didn’t like the voice for Zoe, I would plan to read these in the future. I liked these books quite a lot, even with many distractions to the plot. I don’t know if they are bread crumbs to future stories or red herrings for the current one. The hunt for Glover is a series plot arc so I am sure it will be part of the next one.
Narration:
I have listened to Brittany Pressley before and enjoyed her work. Her voice for Zoe, the main character, did not work for me. It had too much of an accent. Everything else was well performed, with both male and female voices. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Mike Omer
Mike Omer is the author of the Zoe Bentley Mystery Series and the Glenmore Park Mystery Series. In the past, he’s been a journalist, a game developer, and the CEO of the company Loadingames. He is married to a woman who diligently forces him to live his dream, and is the father of an angel, a pixie, and a gremlin. He has two voracious hounds that wag their tail quite menacingly at anyone who comes near his home.
Mike loves to write about true-to-life people who are perpetrators or victims of crimes. He also likes writing funny stuff. He mixes these two loves quite passionately into his mystery books.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2019 Audiobooks
- 2019 Releases
- COYER Hunt
Oh no. LOVE that cover and that alone would have drawn me in, but then I read the blurb and my skin crawled.
Yes great story. I like these serial killer thrillers.
I didn’t know about this one but it looks good
I really enjoyed this story. It has more than one plot line.
Sounds like there was a whole lot going on in this one. I have liked Brittany Pressley in the past and liked her work too. Too bad the accent she used in this one just didn’t work. Great review!
Thank you! Yes it just was odd so I would read these in the future but the story was good with multiple plot lines.
Lovely review, Anne! It’s good to know about the narrator for Zoe’s voice. I hope you enjoy reading the books more than listening.
Thank you! I did enjoy the story so I will keep with the series, reading in the future.
My kind of story and I’ll keep in mind about the voice for the character and read instead of listen to these if I do get to them. That synopsis is something else!
Yes I don’t read horror, per se, but some of the fantasy and suspense thriller books I read are plenty gritty / dark and horrific.