Midnight Fear

Chasing Evil Trilogy #2

by Leslie Tentler

"I trusted you, Caity"

The still of the night is once again shattered by Caitlyn Cahill's recurring nightmare—her brother standing before her, gripping a butcher knife, his eyes black with hatred. Two years ago, the former Washington, D.C., socialite defied her powerful senator father and risked the ruin of her family by helping the FBI link her troubled brother to a string of horrific murders. "The Capital Killer" was sent to prison for life…and Caitlyn's entire world fell apart.

Now, FBI agent Reid Novak is forced to rend the peace Caitlyn has found on a rural Virginia horse farm. A copycat killer is on the loose and slowly toying with Caitlyn—his ultimate target—in a terrorizing cat–and–mouse game. Almost destroyed two years ago by Caitlyn's family, not to mention the Capital Killer's haunting final murder, Reid vows to save the woman he's never forgotten or die trying.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Romance, Mystery, Audiobook, Thriller, Contemporary

432 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 19, 2011

About the author

Leslie Tentler is the author of seven novels, including the Rarity Cove series (BEFORE THE STORM, LOW TIDE, and IN DARK WATER), FALLEN, and the Chasing Evil Trilogy (MIDNIGHT CALLER, MIDNIGHT FEAR, and EDGE OF MIDNIGHT). She was a finalist for Best First Novel at ThrillerFest 2012, and is a two-time finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Maggie Award of Excellence. A native of East Tennessee, she currently resides in Atlanta.

Visit Leslie and sign up for her newsletter at www.LeslieTentler.com.

"Taut, page-turning suspense and heart-stopping romance: Leslie Tentler is a rising star of romantic suspense." - New York Times Bestselling Author Allison Brennan

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two years ago, Caitlyn Cahill's life was turned upside down when she discovered that her brother Joshua was the "Capitol Killer". Her parents never forgave her for turning her brother into the FBI. Now a copycat killer is on the loose. FBI Agent Reid Novak never forgot how Caitlyn helped during the first investigation. Now it seems she is being targeted by a new killer that has the same M.O. as her brother. Caitlyn can't believe this is happening again. Reid will do anything to catch the killer and keep Caitlyn safe.

This is the second book in Leslie Tentler's Chasing Evil trilogy. I believe the only connection between the first two books is the fact that women were being murdered and the FBI was leading the investigation.

This book was fast paced and very interesting. The romance was believable. I liked both Reid and Caitlyn. There were several suspects in this story. I thought the reveal of the killer was extremely clever. My rating: 4 Stars.

[Meigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first one in the trilogy (Midnight Caller). It was more of an original storyline, the characters were well thought out, and I found myself really enjoying watching the story play out. I wasn't able to figure out who the killer was, which is always a plus, and there wasn't much about the story I didn't enjoy. Although I must say, I was more interested in Reid and his MRI's and prognosis than I was with the relationship between Caitlyn and Reid. Together, they were quite boring.

I also have to say that I am getting really tired of the "typical" female lead in what seems like most romantic suspense books. The constant "tea drinking" (because it calms them...) and the constant "food pickers" (they can't eat when they're THIS upset). It's a wonder most of the females don't die of starvation instead of almost dying at the hands of a serial killer. At least the male lead didn't take the typical role of constantly making sure the gal is eating!

I look forward to reading the next book of this trilogy. Based on the fact that the first was OK, the second was a bit better, hopefully this means the third will be better than the second.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were expecting a chilling and intricate plots, this book delivered absolutely that and then some. From the beginning the story just pulled me in starting with the slaying of a woman which became the pinnacle of the whole book.

But I must mention that I kinda felt disappointed with the romance part of the story. Reid was all hot and cold towards Caitlyn through out the first 60% of the book. He was without compassion at times, he just drove me crazy. I like my FBI agent all hot and studly.

Anyway, gotta love Leslie Tentler's way of delivering thriller and will check out next.

[CD {Boulder Blvd} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one, although there were a couple of things that annoyed me and a I documented in my progress comments.

I was starting to doubt I picked the bad guy as I picked him early in the book and was glad to see that I was correct. There was also a decent red herring and an obvious red herring.

[Siany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitlyn..sister of notorious serial killer Joshua Cahill. She lost her entire family when she found the crucial evidence to convict her brother for murder. During the case she has a connection with Agent Reid Novak but its another 2 years before they do anything with that connection. And only then as it looks like there is a copycat killer and his target is her.

I really liked Caitlyn, she was gutsy, smart and brave. She was otrasized for helping convict her brother, hounded by the press, and all for doing the right thing.
Agent Reid Novak was a little different to what I was expecting. He had some major health issues but this actually made him seem more human and more likeable.
It was understandable why he came across as cold towards Caitlyn at times because of his job and his role in the conviction of her brother.

I liked the love story angle to this also. It wasn't as full on as it normally is in these types of books, it was actually quite a slow lead up to it. I didn't expect to like it and I was a little impatient as first, but it flowed well with the rest of the story.

Joshua the killer was completely how you would expect him to be. There were no twists there. However, the copycat killer....brilliant. I didn't guess it I have to say. Upon thinking about it, it was obvious, but its only obvious once you know who it is :-)

This was a first for me from this author, but most definately not the last, it was very well written, with a very good storyline and great characters.
If you like this genre and authors such as Brenda Novak, Allison Brennan (to name a couple) then I think you should enjoy this.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.85 stars rounded up

Second book in the series and it took me WEEKS to finish. I can't say that it's the book's fault. I was experiencing book slump where all stories just can't interest me.

Story wise, I think this one was better than book #1 Midnight Caller. Ms. Tentler provided several red herrings and kept the identity of the real copycat killer until later in the game (unlike book #1 where she revealed it a bit earlier). It was quite a surprise too, someone that readers might not guess in the beginning (although, if you're like me, I already dislike this person several chapters into the book).

This book had ANGST! Even more so than the first book. Caitlyn Cahill had her life turned upside down when she helped the FBI captured her foster brother (Joshua Cahill was creepy!!). She was just building her life again when the copycat murders happen. Meanwhile FBI Agent, Reid Novak, was roped back to the case while still recurperating from surgery to remove a glioma. Gosh, an FBI Agent who suffered from cancer. I don't think I ever read a book with that kind of premise! So again, the romance was rather subdued.

I had to admit the middle part seemed a bit slow though. Or maybe it was also because I had the book slump. But I thought this series was good. I definitely will read book #3

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish you could give half stars - this one rates 3.5 stars. Yes there is a copycat serial killer on the loose in Washington, DC - and he has the FBI and locals stumped. I just found the characters a bit to naive to be in the positions that they are.

A few twists and turns, some bad people disguised as good - and some good people mistaken for bad.

It's not a bad read, but just not up to my preferences. I do recommend this for those who like a bit lighter murder story - meaning not a lot of detail surrounding the murders and you are never present when the whole torture, etc. takes place, ergo why I call this murder-lite!

This writer isn't bad by any means, she just doesn't capture my interest enough, so for shame, I'm not going to read the 3rd book in this trilogy - now that's a shocker and pretty much a first for me.

[Wendy-Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight Fear by Leslie Tentler was such a thrill to read I'm sad to see it end. Caitlyn Cahill retreats to her horse ranch, Rambling Rose, to escape the devastation from turning in her brother to police. Joshua Cahill (dubbed the Capital Killer) is now incarcerated for killing numerous women or is he? Copycat murders start to happen in the Washington, DC area as the killer left chess pawns on his victims. The original agent from the case, Reid Novak, is back to investigate, and hopes to get back in the good graces of Caitlyn. Unbeknownst to him, the copycat killer is after Caitlyn and will do just about anything to eliminate her. Everyone becomes a suspect including Caitlyn's neighbors, the Treadwells (who were really creepy), and her hired hand, Manny Ruiz. The part where Caitlyn went to visit her brother in jail really freaked me out. That was the only way he was going to reveal where the bodies of his other victims were, and he would only reveal one each visit! The end was unexpected as I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong. This was a fantastic mystery thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final word. Received courtesy of Net Galley.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Midnight Fear
3 Stars

Caitlyn Cahill is slowly putting her life back together after her brother’s conviction for being the Capital Killer when she becomes the target of a copycat killer seeking to continue her brother’s legacy. FBI profiler Reid Novak, the man who put Joshua Cahill behind bars, returns from medical leave to investigate and provide the protection that Caitlyn so desperately needs.

The plot has potential and Joshua Cahill is one of those villains who simply makes your skin crawl. Nevertheless, the story takes too long to get going and lacks that special something that makes it difficult to put down. There is a limited number of suspects and one is obviously a red herring. Moreover, there is a gigantic plot hole that makes it easy to guess the identity of the copycat - there is no way the FBI would have denied Caitlyn protection unless Tierney had never requested it.

The romance is also weak as Caitlyn and Reid have virtually zero chemistry and their sex scenes are awkward and contrived. Moreover, the fact that Reid is recovering from a brain tumor may add depth to his character but it is not conducive to romance.

Overall, a rather mediocre mystery and there are much better romantic suspense novels out there.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid romantic suspense/thriller story. I did not like as much as Edge of Night but still a great read. This is the second book I've read by this author and both were very well done. Not heavy on the heat, recommended for readers that enjoy a little romance mixed with their serial killer suspense, Leslie Tentler doesn't disappoint.

[Diane Futrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good but since it was the second one in the series I expected the characters from the first story carrying on. But it was completely new characters.

[Kimberly Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable enough. Twists and turns kept me guessing. I totally disliked one character right away. Turns out he was the killer. As the one agent kept saying, it was a sickness. Something has to be broken inside to become a killer.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good plot and interesting characters.

[Dione Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well DAMNNN.. That's the way I like my reads.. I had 0 hint about the killer..but knew Cahill was in on it..wow.

[Moonlight 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s past 4am so I hope i can write a coherent enough review, forgive any errors! (Omg I accidentally deleted my review 😢 Thankfully I’d copied most of it just in case I sleepily made such a mistake!! but a fair chunk of it was still lost.💔.)

Spoiler review:
This was much more than I expected! In both a great way and in a sickening read-about-a-serial-killer way omg.

What I loved:
- I loved Reid’s character when we got into his mind more. At first he felt like the character in a book I’d just read prior—hot quiet law enforcement agent with no distinguishing characteristics. But soon, his vulnerabilities began to show and his unique experiences and struggles shone through. His struggle with cancer was unusual, especially since most books like to present the male leads as infallible, but I loved reading about this. His fears and strengths. His treatments and healings. It just made him unique and dear to my heart. His personality is also so cute. He’s quiet but also keen. He’s a loving big brother, uncle, and son, despite been a sharp profiler. There so much to admire about him!
- On this note, in a book so dark, I loved the glimpses of family relationship we got here. I loved Reid’s sister and father, and the love and protectiveness between them all. How they stood by him during his illness and recuperation. So lovely!
- For the plot, wow. This was way darker than I expected! But it was also twistier than I expected and in the best way. Sometimes, the only thing mysterious about mystery books is ‘who the killer is.’ ‘Who did it?’ Everything else goes on in a linear and familiar manner. So it was a pleasant surprise when a few twists were thrown in—not just to the overall plot, but just in some scenes here and there! For instance I loveddd the scene when David Hunter confronted Reid and Caitlyn, and Manny showed up to defend them, and Reid was just like what the heck is happening right now haha. There were other darker twists, like when a side character is given a pov scene and I think that solidifies their presence/life in the book, but then they are killed. It shocked me both times with Bliss and David Hunter jeez.
Still on this point, I liked how different pov scenes sometimes coincided into something unexpected and exciting.
- I really liked Manny’s character. I loved that Caitlyn gave him another chance.
- At first, I’d never have guessed that Rob and Sophie would be the not-great type of friends. Or that Rob would turn out to be such a MAJOR creep! Why I liked this subplot is that it was unique, but gosh it was rather dark.
- The look into serial killers was chilling but also interesting in a way. I hadn’t understood how much excitement they actually got from harming people or taunting the police. I used to think they were just angry evil people who liked to kill to inflict punishment. I hadn’t known that they found actual excitement from the process. Joshua was one of the more twisted characters I’ve read about. I don’t know how families of serial killers actually deal with such knowledge of the darkness in someone they love and once thought they knew. The fact that Caitlyn had been his muse all along, his sister who’d never done a bad thing to him, was sickening. It’s almost like the senator should’ve never adopted him, because Joshua ended up destroying their family. This was another interesting dynamic in the story—the different ways adopting children can turn out. Caitlin turned out wonderful with a good heart to help other children the way the system helped her find a family, Joshua was a psychopath that destroyed everything he touched.
- The killer was both predictable and not. I guessed from early on who he was, but the author did a good job of diverting my suspicion. I knew all the false suspects she set up were false suspects, but as the book proceeded I began to doubt that Mitch was the real killer. When it was revealed that he was, I was a bit surprised but at the same time, I’d thought it early on. Still it was done rather well!

What I didn’t like
- this book is a bit old and it is clear that this was the time where female characters were more passive. There were good moments where Caitlyn showed agency, and she’s definitely better than the heroine in one of my other recent reads who just did whatever the men told her to. Caitlyn decided where she went, who she spoke to etc. She shot Mitch and saved Reid even though Reid initially told her to hide. She rode her horse on her own terms — and almost broke her neck, but still that scene was pretty badass. She went where she wanted regardless of what anyone thought. But I felt there was still more room for activeness. Often times in her relationship with Reid. I also wish her character had more ‘life’. Had more humor, more attitude that distinguished her from a ton of other blonde female leads, just as Reid’s personal trauma distinguished his struggles. Caitlyn was definitely in a hard place with a serial killer brother who upended her life, yes, but that wasn’t tied enough to her character to make her unique.
- Caitlyn made some vexing choices and I wondered why Reid always seemed to take the perfect routes, while the woman made harebrained decisions. Why in heck would she go to Bliss’s burial? Her reason that she had to say goodbye was paltry. In a way, Bliss had died because of Caitlyn’s family—why would Caitlyn think Bliss’s family would be happy to see her so soon? Also why did Caitlyn think she could comfort Sophie at the time when Sophie found out Sophie’s husband had been stalking Caitlyn? In this case I understood that Caitlyn felt worried her friend Sophie was all alone and confused, but Caitlyn still should’ve heeded Reid and stayed away from Sophie smh.
- chemistry wasn’t sufficient. It felt passive but there was a lot of potential. The i love you moment was cringe and bland and not well set up.
- the predictability of the serial killer wasn’t loved. Mitch was crass and mean right from the start to everyone except Reid, so it made him a quick suspect
- it was unrealistic how quickly Mitch killed and completely hid evidence. He was torturing/killing new people almost every day, completely cleaning up his tracks, yet balancing his almost 24-hour job
- there were areas where Reid and Caitlyn just stood still, without talking or interacting with their surroundings. That wasn’t realistic and I craved more life from the scenes. I also wished there were more dialogue tags to add emotion to scenes.
- I’m not sure I love the tagline of an FBI agent who falls for the sister of a serial killer he put behind bars. I mean, it’s *catchy*, but in reality I don’t think it works. There’s just too much baggage to unload there to be able to still look at each other with googly eyes. The author made this work by making Caitlyn disregard the fact that, in a way, Reid is the reason her family fell apart. Caitlyn just brushed it off that Reid was doing his job, but that’s not realistic. Both also knew the type of publicity such a liaison would bring them. In reality, this would definitely steer them far from each other.

All in all, this was captivating and sickening and riveting. 4.5 stars!

[Saturnus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Två år tidigare hittade Caitlyn Cahill det ultimata beviset för att hennes bror Joshua var en seriemördare, vilket satte honom bakom galler.
Hennes pappa, som var Washington-senatorn dog av sorgen. Hennes mamma sattes in på mentalsjukhus.
Caitlyn själv flydde till landet och började med häst- terapi för barn.

Nu försöker en copycat väcka liv i den gamla utredningen, med början att mörda,våldta och tortera 2 kvinnor på samma sätt som Joshua brukade göra.
Han lämnar en hälsning till Caitlyn i form av hennes favorit hästs huvud på hennes gård.

Journalister trängs nu för att intervjua systern till mördaren, författare vill skriva böcker om "Societetsmördaren" och FBI får åter störa Caitlyn i hennes frid.

Välkommen tillbaka till ditt gamla helvete, Caitlyn.

FBI- agenten Reid var mannen som tog hand om Joshuas fall, tar direkt upp sitt gamla arbete trots att han fortfarande är sjukskriven efter att ha haft en hjärntumör och skadad efter allt våld han sett i sitt arbete.
Dom gamla känslorna för Caitlyn - helt förbjudna i hans jobb- får honom att återuppta kontakten med henne och efter ett inbrott som kunde slutat dödligt, bli hennes livvakt på hel tid.
Men det är svårt att slåss mot något han förmodar är en ny tumör och beskydda Caitlyn samtidigt och på det försöka hålla sina känslor för henne i kontroll.
Även hans gamla jobbarpartner Mitch finns med i bilden då han gör allt för att få tillbaka Reid.

Medan offer efter offer faller för den nya Societetsmördaren spirar kärleken mellan Caitlyn och Reid upp. Trots offren, skandalerna och livshotande upplevelser paret går igenom fortsätter de att stå vid varandras sida.
Men vad kommer bli slutet?
Mördaren eller cancer?

Uppföljaren till "Samtal vid Midnatt" är en underbar del i trilogin "Jakten på ondskan" Högsta betyg för fint skrivande, kreativa ideer och en speciell, men vacker kärlekshistoria som känns oerhört verklig.

[Lyn (Readinghearts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first book by this debut author just last month, and really enjoyed it. Therefore, when I got the chance to read this one I jumped at it. I was anticipating another good mystery along the lines of the first book in the series. What I got, however, was an even better book than Midnight Caller. In the time that has passed between the writing of her first book and this one, the author has certainly honed her craft. This second book of the series had a more exciting story line with a myriad of possibilities for the antagonist, leaving the plot twists harder to figure out. Once the antagonist was finally revealed, I found myself cheering that I had guessed correctly, a sure sign that I was involved in the story.


In addition, the characters seemed to have more personality making it even easier to get invested in their stories. The heroine, Caitlyn, had the perfect mixture of softness and backbone and her hero, Reid was the perfect strong but vulnerable leading man. There were also a number of well developed secondary characters who played interesting roles throughout the book. All in all, I had a really hard time putting this book down once I started to read it. I wanted the world to go away and just keep reading. I think I may even have snapped at a few of my family members when they interrupted my reading time.


If I really enjoyed the author's first book, I LOVED this one. I can't wait for the next installment from this author and hope that she writes many more books similar to her first two, and this one in particular.

[Mrs. Badass · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great suspense thriller with a side of romance.

Reid Novak is an FBI Profiler, and on the hunt for a serial killer. We open the novel with a standoff between Killer and FBI and what happens haunts Reid in the future. Setting things in motion.
I liked Reid, but he was too hot and cold at times. Although it fit with his life and job.

Caitlyn Cahill is the sister of the serial killer. She loses not only her family, friends, and her fiancee, but her identity. She is working on rebuilding her life in the aftermath of her brothers incarceration and political fallout.

This was a very twisty thriller novel with two creepy villains. The original serial killer (Joshua-Caitlyns brother) and the copycat killer.

It kept me guessing until the very end, and was surprising.

Easy to read writing voice. Good red herrings, and Leslie didn't shy away from the violent and disturbing aspects of a serial Killer.

If you like Suspense novels, you will enjoy this one. There isn't much romance, but I liked Reid and Caitlyn together.

[Kelly Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an awesome sophomore novel by Leslie Tentler. I am super impressed, and extremely happy that Midnight Caller was not a fluke and this is a new author I can really count on for a great mystery. I got caught up in the story from the very first page and truly never guessed "who did it"! Caitlyn and Reid were a very heart warming couple and I love the obstacles they overcame together. My only complaint, or question if you will, is how this book tied together with the previous novel? I was under the impression that they were part of a series, but I just never got that. Overall, great book, and I will definitely more looking for more by this author.

[Kerry sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH WOW this is a fantastic thriller, there is so much going on in it my head was spinning but it made it all the more believable. This book is 425 pages of suspenseful magic I didn't see who the copy cat was until just before Caitlyn found out. Once I found out who it was I was not disappointed either it made a macabre sense the it would be him. This story is masterfully done and a must read for thriller fans I will be recommending this book to every one I know!!!

[Chad James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid hit book for Leslie Tentler!! My rating is 4.5

[(Grace) Kentucky Bohemian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snuck Up on Me
I enjoyed this book--romantic suspense is my catnip. But I figured this to be a 4-star story. Then I realized I stayed up several hours later than intended last night because I was so involved in these characters and the mess someone was creating of their lives. That deserves the full 5-stars in my estimation. This story just snuck up on me, grabbed hold, and wouldn't let go!

Caitlyn is a strong woman, someone who can be respected and admired. She's an overcomer, refusing to allow circumstances to make her a victim. When Agent Reid Novak reenters her life, she wants no part of him or the drama he's brought to her door. While he's concerned that FBI business has again intruded into her world, he's truly glad to see her. She's been on his mind since the original murders her brother committed a couple of years before.

Reid is smart, charming, and driven. He's also haunted by his past. His desire to ensure her protection at any cost is endearing. His insight is lifesaving. As the case gets more complicated, his white-knight syndrome kicks into overdrive. The result is a thrilling, no-holds-barred, whirlwind of a story. With superb pacing and an amazing cast of characters, this suspense novel definitely earned those five stars.

[Bg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very scary and honestly triggering, so be warned!

The second novel in the Chasing Evil trilogy and honestly none of the books really seem to intercept so you could read these completely out of order. This time again a copycat serial killer is on the loose and Caitlyn, a former social lite has to rehash her trauma by seeing the evil brother who completely tore their family apart. If anything I was slightly surprised toward the end but it was pretty good once I got past all the gross violence and absolutely insane characters. Reid Novack, the FBI agent in this one is probably the most "human" in the book with dealing with his mortality, his job, and his long history with the case being the one that brought her sicko brother to justice. Again, this book was VERY disturbing and I would not recommend it for those who are easily triggered. I'm honestly surprised I was able to get through it, but I felt angry reading it and when it was over even though the ending was much nicer than the first book.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book in this series. The reader is given several potential candidates for the guilty party in this story; which could lead the reader astray. Safe to say, this author doesn't shy away from killing characters within the hero/heroine's close circles; though, the H/h do benefit from some plot armor that probably wouldn't hold up otherwise. I listened via the Audible Plus catalog, and some of the male voices ended up sounding a bit childlike or youthful; which was weird at times. Overall, though, I liked the story.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

~* 4.25 Stars *~
Solid, Surprising, and Chilling
Two years ago, serial killer Joshua Cahill was convicted of raping, torturing, and killing six young women. The case was brutal on FBI Special Agent Reid Novak, but for one young woman who bore a startling physical resemblance to the killer's victims, it altered her life forever. She is the reason Joshua's reign of terror ended. She provided the evidence of his heinous crimes to Agent Novak.

In the furor following his trial, her father died, her mother suffered a mental breakdown, her fiancé left her, and she gave up her position as a Virginia socialite to flee from the harsh media spotlight. The woman's name is Caitlyn Cahill. She's Joshua's sister.

Now a new threat stalks the streets of Washington D.C., a killer with a macabre but familiar signature. Reid Novak is called in despite still being on medical leave leave to consult with his partner Special Agent Mitch Tierney at a scene of grim horror. It doesn't take long for Reid and Mitch to identify exactly what they have on their hands, a copycat of the nightmare case and killer that still haunted their dreams, Joshua Cahill.

A copycat who may intend to honor Cahill with a most grisly prize: his sister Caitlyn's corpse.

~*~
Tentler's sophomore effort evidences her increasing talent and gives her a firm footing in the romantic suspense genre. For all that I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in her trilogy, Midnight Caller, Midnight Fear is more tightly plotted and evenly paced, secondary and ancillary characters were offered a more significant amount of development, and the ancillary plot threads were a bit more expansive but more seamlessly woven into the overall. All were points I'd hoped to see from this promising new author as her trilogy progressed.

I was surprised and a little confused by the absence of crossover characters or storyline from the first book to this one. The series is advertised as a trilogy so I'm not exactly sure why there wasn't at least some connecting thread between them. The only one I could see is the FBI's Violent Crimes Unit. Both Trevor Rivette (Midnight Caller) and Reid are FBI agents with the VCU, but that's a slight connection at best. While the lack of a better one makes each book easy to read as a stand-alone, there's also nothing to point to and say, "I've got to keep reading this series because I have to find out what happens next!"

I enjoyed this book slightly more than its predecessor, which is a good thing, I think. The suspense threads worked a bit better for me here, were more tense and suspenseful, and I didn't get the slight sense of over-reaching contrivance I got in places in the first one. Nor, thank goodness, did the moments of protagonist stupidity that hampered the first book trend over to this one. I liked Reid and Caitlyn quite a lot, and I can't say the same about both Trevor (who I liked) and Rain (who I wasn't as fond of) in Midnight Caller.

Special props to Tentler for two very important things: I was surprised by the identity of the killer, and I didn't figure it out until Tentler started to drop the more obvious hints. I can't tell you how rare that is for me, and what a pleasant surprise when it happens. Even nicer (if you can call it that), the identity of the killer made sense to me in a sick, dark sort of way, instead of being too impossible/unlikely to believe. I appreciated that Tentler seemed to make a conscious effort to tie the threads all together.

The romance between Reid and Caitlyn was well done and felt organic to the characters and their situation. It was as low key and subdued as Reid and Caitlyn were in their lives and with their struggles. That fit perfectly with the tone of the book and the external conflict, but it was a little too low key and subdued for my personal taste to really thrill to it. My preferences lean a bit more towards the passion and intensity end of romance and I felt like there were a few places where the relationship between Reid and Caitlyn could have heated up a little and still remained true to the story and the characters.

If Tentler keeps firing on all cylinders like she is here, she's got a long and wildly successful career in front of her. Her characters are real people with real problems outside the main arc of the conflict. They have realistic emotional reactions and deal with things in a way that reflects a wide spectrum of human responses. In short, I believe them, more so in this book than the last, but I do believe them. I can't wait to see what comes next. Hopefully it will be something that ties the trilogy together for me more securely than just an FBI Violent Crimes Unit.

Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Mira Books publisher Harlequin via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

[Kristen Stuppy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough book to pass the time. I listened to the audio version and the narrator's voice acting wasn't great. The story was okay. The characters didn't make me care enough about them and their romance seemed more forced than real. The who-done-it aspect was decent. There were several suspects and I didn't guess who until later in the book, which kept it interesting.

I'm not sure why this is #2 in a series. None of the characters are from book 1.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A better romance between the two protagonists, but for whatever reason the audio narrator of this one was very much a relative of Siri 🤨 I was pleased with my detective and deduction skills in this one over the first one - calling it before it was revealed. High-five to me. Though I didn’t feel like the reason behind the killer’s actions, the purpose for the whole story, was very believable. In any case, a good build. Keen for #3

[Alexandra Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8 rounded up to 5 stars
I loved this book. The characters where well thought out and the twist and turns kept me coming back for more. I honestly have not read another book with this story line so I was very happy to dive into this book. I read this book over 5 years ago but it’s a book I continue to coming back to read once or twice a year, and recommend it to everyone!

[Fran (with the book addiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. I enjoyed the writing and the characters, although some may think they’re a little stereotypical. The suspense and action was maintained throughout the story, and I was interested in the layers the author threw in. It was a bit dark and I appreciated that this wasn’t glossed over, which so often happens in romantic suspense.

[Allison Hicklen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better character development than the first. The story pulled me in much more and I ended up feeling so sorry for Caitlin. She just had a rough go of things. Didn’t see the ending coming until right before. Much better than first. Definitely will move onto next one.