By: H.K. Christie
Val Costa #3
Narrator: Tanya Eby
Hachette UK - Bookouture
ISBN: 978-1835259160
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 12/12/2024
Format: e-book
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
The table is set for family dinner; roast chicken, wine for them and juice for their darling boy, a vase of fresh daisies from the garden for decoration. But the food is cold, and the flowers are wilting. You might think they were sleeping in the next room, if it wasn’t for the blood dripping crimson onto the carpet…
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.
Val Costa Series
HIDDEN IN THE DARK #3
My Review
H. K. Christie returns with her popular FBI Val Costa Series—GONE BY DAWN#1, DON'T MAKE A SOUND #2, with her latest addition, HIDDEN IN THE DARK #3.
Meet FBI Agent Val Costa, a unique character in her own right. At 46, she's a divorced woman, a mother, a daughter, and a retired FBI agent. But don't let her retired status fool you; she's still a force to be reckoned with in the field!
This #3 installment is a twisty, fast-paced action crime thriller, whodunit, and whydunit, with an unstoppable heroine you will root for. The suspenseful plot will keep you on the edge of your seat as she balances her work and home life, staying one step ahead of danger.
About...
Picking up from the last two books, FBI Special Agent Val Costa was living in DC until she was kidnapped by a serial killer, "The Bear." She barely escaped and has a carving on her skin, as with all the other victims. However, she was lucky to make it out alive.
However, Bear is still out there. Has he followed her to California? If so, her mother could be in danger. Is he the SECRET ADMIRER?
Val's life is far from simple. At 46, she's retired from the FBI, divorced, and a mother to a son who's about to start at MIT. Her mother's health issues (a stroke) prompted her recent move back to Red Rose County in California, adding another layer of complexity to her life.
Not long after arriving, she is drawn out of retirement and called to work as a consultant for the local sheriff's department, working closely with her high school friend Brady.
The murder of the Cramer family is a chilling mystery. The husband and son are dead, and the wife is barely clinging to life in the hospital. On the surface, they seemed like the perfect family, but what dark secrets were they hiding?
The dad worked at an auto body shop, the mom is a receptionist at a law firm, and they have lived in the town for fifteen years. They were quiet and never any signs of disturbance or domestic violence.
Val will stop at nothing until she solves the mystery of Mike (the dad) and what he was involved in. Is there something more sinister going on?
In a race against time, she must figure out a way to keep the wife safe once she is out of her coma.
And someone is watching Val. A SECRET ADMIRER. Then, a note. Is Bear back?
My thoughts...
Gripping, Intriguing, Engaging, and Cliffhanging!
HIDDEN IN THE DARK is a multi-leveled fascinating crime series blending cop procedural and psychological. With her strong character development, FBI Detective Val Costa is highly relatable and the show's star. She is sharp, driven, and tenacious, and I love how the author blends her personal with her business life.
Val is retired from the FBI, but she knows she cannot possibly stay retired forever as she has too much energy and life left. She had not worked in seven months except for her investigation into the Bear. The FBI's trail on him had gone cole.
But Val's gut tells her he is holed up somewhere waiting to attack. She knows he has piercing blue eyes that she had seen outlined by his black ski mask when she was in captivity. He still haunts her in nightmares. It appears we are going to meet him again in the next book. (cliffhanger).
HIDDEN IN THE DARK is twisty and complex. An evil plan of revenge, drugs, greed, and a past of violence, heartbreak, and trauma, with high-stakes and relentless suspense and a protagonist racing against time to solve this complex crime, uncovering hidden secrets and facing formidable antagonists. All this and more will keep you glued to the pages.
I am enjoying this series (thank you, Bookouture, for introducing this author and series with #1 and #2) and the author's writing style. Even though you may read this as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first and the second books in the series in order before reading the third. I am invested in the well-written characters and the different cases Val is immersed in while caring for her family.
Val's mom's friends are so much fun and quite supportive. I also love the team Val works with and their relationship. Plus, Brady may be a new romantic love interest. I look forward to seeing what will happen next as there is more unraveling with Bear and the Secret Admirer stalker.
Recs...
As mentioned in my previous reviews, this series is for fans of the author and those who enjoy books by Robin Mahle, Willow Rose, and Lisa Gardner. (all favs)
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 12, 2024
About the Author
H. K. Christie watched horror films far too early in life. Inspired by the likes of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, true crime podcasts, and a vivid imagination she now writes suspenseful thrillers featuring unbreakable women.
She found her passion for writing when she embarked on a one-woman habit breaking experiment. Although she didn’t break her habit she did discover a love of writing and has been at it ever since.
When not working on her latest novel, H.K. Christie can be found eating & drinking with friends, walking around the lakes, or playing with her favorite furry pal. She is a native and current resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. WEBSITE
