Laura Griffin

“If you like CSI and well-crafted suspense, don’t miss these books” (RT Book Reviews)! The tenth novel in the New York Times bestselling Tracers series is a gripping romantic thriller from the author who “never fails to put me on the edge of my seat” (USA TODAY). The moment detective Reed Novak steps onto the crime scene, he knows the case is going to rock his world. A beautiful young woman murdered at home. No sign of forced entry. No motive. She’s obviously not the killer’s first victim, and Reed’s instincts tell him she won’t be his last. Reed’s first clue comes via a mysterious text that links to a dating profile, but even more intriguing than the clue is the person who sent it. As a white-hat hacker in the Delphi Center’s cyber investigation unit, Laney Knox sneaks into some of the deepest, darkest corners of the Internet looking for predators. Laney would prefer to stay away from Austin PD’s most recent murder case, but she can’t ignore the chilling similarities between that crime and her own brutal attack years ago. Laney offers to help the sexy lead detective, but he wants more from her than just a promising tip—Reed wants her trust. Laney resists, but as their relationship deepens she’s tempted to reveal the closely guarded secrets that could make her a key witness…or the killer’s next victim.

Deep Dark

Totally Addicted to Reading

Let me begin by saying that I have never read anything written by Laura Griffin prior to this. I was going into this story blindly as I had no idea what to expect. When I realised that this was part of a series and book number 10 at that I was a bit concerned that it could not be read as a stand-alone. However, my concerns were short-lived as I discovered that all the books in the series can be read on its own. 

I have read several books in the romantic suspense genre and I come to realise there are few authors who can provide the right balance of romance and suspense. Laura Griffin has proven to be one of those authors.

The story started out with a bang. This set the pace for the remainder of the story. I knew from the outset that this was going to be an exciting and suspenseful read. I could not wait to see how the story would unfold. 

The female protagonist, Delaney Knox, clearly stole the show. She is a cyber-investigator/white hacker who works for the Delphi Cybercrime unit. She is good at what she does. She is a loner by choice. She avoids socializing. She was not keen on law enforcement officers as she thought they were rigid and authoritative. However, she will find herself providing unsolicited assistance to them when a past acquaintance was murdered. This murder hit close to home as such she felt compelled to provide clues via text messages to the lead detective Reed Novak. 

Detective Reed Novak has found himself embroiled in a homicide investigation that is proving to be the most challenging case of his career. The killer is sharp and the cops are stunned as he leaves no trace evidence. It was assumed as a result that this was not the killer’s first victim. As the investigation progresses Reed’s theory had been proven and the cops have come to realise that there was a serial killer in their midst. The receipt of text messages from an anonymous source providing him clues about the murder had him intrigued, and so he set out to uncover the identity of the sender. However, he was not prepared for his reaction to the mysterious sender.

It was evident that there was chemistry between the Laney and Reed. Reed, however, was a bit wary due to the 15-year age difference between them, but this did not phase Laney one bit. She knew what she wanted and she was not afraid to go for it. It was this approach, she applied to every aspect of her life. I thought they were worked well together in all areas.

I thought the plot was well researched. The story was detailed and easy to follow. The plot was believable and the pacing was good. "Deep Dark" is the type of story that grabs you from the first page and holds you in its grip until the end. It had me turning the pages as I was eager to discover who the killer was. I thought it had the right blend of romance and suspense. This was one of those times that I had a hard time guessing who it was. Even at the end when all was revealed I was in a state of shock as I never saw it coming.

This story highlighted the inherent danger of dating sites. It also demonstrated how the electronic devices that we have come to rely on daily can be detrimental as such, we need to exercise caution when using them.

Verdict: This was a fun, exciting and suspenseful read which I recommend to fans of this genre. I will be looking to read the other books written by this author.

Lynn Braden

Laney Knox is computer hacker extraordinaire, working at the Delphi Center. When she realizes that a recent murder parallels an attack on her from three years ago, she uses her computer skills to force her way into the investigation. Reed Novak, Austin PD detective is her way into the case, but he stubbornly refuses to listen to all of the clues that Laney is supplying until there is a second murder, making her impossible to ignore. All of the leads in the case point to a computer dating service and an expert hacker using the information he accesses to pick and stalk his targets. Even though they have very different styles and personalities, Reed and Laney must work together to prevent another murder.
This story is filled with references to computer hacking. For those not familiar with this world, the amount of information is a little daunting and explanations of that information often overshadow the story. However, the development of the unique characters who work with computers both in and outside the Delphi Center balances the plot. Overall, this is another good story in the Tracers Series.