Dark Places

Linda Ladd's move from romance to thriller was the right one. Her new series featuring Missouri Detective Claire Morgan offers up guaranteed creep factor with a dash of romance mixed in. After a brutal brush with death in Head to Head, Morgan is back at work. This time, a missing persons case turns into a gruesome murder that Morgan is determined to solve. Fabulous, fast-paced, thriller readers will enjoy the latest from this author to watch.

This aptly titled novel takes the reader inside the darkness of two friends who style themselves angels, archangels, agents of the divine. But there is nothing of light to the twisted way they think or act. The parts of the book I was most caught up in were the chapters exploring the relationship between the two, the way the older mesmerized the younger into callous acts of cruelty. The storyline is woven around these glimpses into Gabriel and Uriel's sociopathic behavior, which involves assorted spiders, snakes, scorpions, frog sweat, and, you get the drift. The fact that the really creepy action takes place in dank caves and cobweb covered passages adds to the ick-factor. The detective and her wealthy guy are reminiscent of Eve Dallas and Roark, but that's not a bad thing. She works through the mess and mayhem, with the reader cheering her on.

I always enjoy reading Linda Ladd's books because she's always so exciting and this one is awesome! I highly recommend buying and reading this book! I can't wait to read the next one!

After recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty (See Head to Head) Cranton County detective Claire Morgan of Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri is ready for a stimulating case. It begins when she is called to investigate a missing person Simon Classon. She finds him up in a tree his mouth and hands taped together dying from the bites of recluse spiders. The police think he was hanging there for three days where he could see the school The Dome of the Cave Academy for the gifted where he taught. When Claire starts interviewing at the school she finds out Simon was universally hated with just about every staffer and students having a reason to kill him. Another body is found that of secretary to the director Christie Foxworthy, in teacher Stewart Rowland's home. Claire was directed there by psychic Joe McKay on her boss's orders but he thought Stewart was the one dead from twelve snake bites. The body was in a box and taped in the same manner as Simon's body except Christie wore a red devil's mask. Claire's lover, wealthy psychiatrist Nicholas Black believes that they have a serial killer working the area one who has been murdering a long time. Claire is determined to hunt him down but before she can he strikes again. DARK PLACES is an exciting thrill a minute police procedural that spends at least a third of the time showing how the killer was created, honed his craft and found his victims. The protagonist is a determined woman who is resolute to get her man. There are some light moments in this dark thriller mostly dealing with romantic scenes between the millionaire and his cop. They have a great relationship as both understand it is all business when it comes to the killer. Harriet Klausner