Saints and Sinners

Under City Lights #1

by Piper Leigh Ion

My brother’s murder at the hands of my fiancé created a monster. So, I focus on killers like him, unfortunately becoming what I hate most in the process.

As an assistant coroner at one of the best crime labs in the country, the last thing I need is a relationship to complicate things, but there is no stopping the strong connection to Crime Scene Analyst Johnny Cooper. I'm struggling to keep my two lives separate. I want him, but I want to continue my vigilante crusade more.

If I’m not careful, I may find myself behind bars with nowhere left to run.

Genres: Thriller, Dark Romance, Mystery Thriller, Romance, Thriller Suspense, Ebooks, Dark

367 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 12, 2023

About the author

Piper lives in East Tennessee with her husband, two children, and their dog, Denver. She enjoys reading, horror movies, and occasionally binging television procedural dramas. Her weakness is NFL Redzone on a cold Sunday with a bowl of chili. One day, she hopes to own a few acres of land in the countryside and travel to New Zealand for vacation. For the latest on new releases, please visit www.piperleighion.com.

Reviews

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEXTER... but make it a woman. I'm excited to see where this series goes. The plot is definitely there. A bit all over the place in the romance department but wasn't unbearable. The story overall very entertaining. Especially when she was actually killing people. I hope it's wayyyy more killing in book 2. But definitely a great setup for the series

[Calli · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!

this is a Dexter meets rom-com type feel
definitely check your trigger warnings as well!


So my first initial thoughts were:

The comedy in this book is absolutely GOLD.
I feel like angela‘s inner monologue is literally everyone’s inner monologue😂 she is so brutal in her thoughts vs what she actually says, but don’t we all do that? I absolutely loved it. I used a red tab every time I laughed, and I eventually ran out of red tabs!! so funny. The comedy mixed with the scary gruesome parts and the mystery was the absolute perfect balance.

I absolutely LOVED Johnny. He was the perfect golden retriever man, so sweet and just willing to accept her with her flaws. I loved how he was so willing to work with how closed off she is! and it made their romance so much better knowing how long he had been waiting for her!!!!

The spice was perfect! Definitely right up my alley. Wasn’t disgusting or uncomfortable, but it also wasn’t super PG-13 either. I literally have no complaints about it.

Johnny and Angela’s fight on page 454 brought tears to my eyes only because ive had relationships where i would have had to BEG a man to say the things Johnny was saying. ive needed a man to not let me walk away. and just force me talk it out. definitely hit home, again, i love johnny lol.

I will say I am absolutely completely shook at her relationship with Henry. I know nothing truly happened, but I am. I’m still so shook at how they act around each other, they went from hating each other too flirting so hard! And I’m also shocked at how hard-core she flirts with stephen as well. It makes me feel super bad for Johnny because he’s literally the perfect man, but obviously she’s off her rocker throughout the book, I’m really anxious to see what comes about this in the second book!!!! I think the toxic part of me is kind of living for it😂😂😂😂


I wish Clarissa’s character would have lived a bit longer, just because I wanted her to ask some questions, but she absolutely needed to go. She was way too much of a risk so I totally get that. As soon as she said something threatening about johnny, I was like… NO!

i buddy read this with my friend and we loved this book so much!!!! We already plan to get the second and third one and we’re gonna continue the series. ❤️😂

definitely read this if you’re in the mood for a hilarious, spicy, twist and turn, female version of Dexter!!!!

[Shauna Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

CSI meets Dexter with a spicy romance kicked in for good measure.

I love Angela and all her quirks. She is on a mission to deliver justice to those the criminal system can't get to. Through in a hot Analyst in Johnny and a feisty conscience this book is highly addictive and keeps you hooked from the get go.

Book 1 in the series and I can't wait to see how it all pans out for our favourite vigilante

[Allie Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok. Is anyone as confused as I am after finishing this book?

Hear me out… The premises was good, Dexter but make it a girl meets CSI, I’m diving head first BUT it fell so flat and there is SO much missing I just have to say my piece..

First of all, WHO is her fiance and WHY did he kill her brother?! It’s on the blurb on the back of the dang book & there is literally NO explanation of it. Theres ZERO context about her relationship with either of them… or even how the fiance got off of the charges of MURDER and once again WHY?

This book jumped around SO much & half the book is about this rushed romance… I felt zero connection between them and I felt zero connection to any character in general. She is supposedly this “killer” and doesn’t want to be in a relationship but moves in with him in two months and is already saying I love you.. and getting married after 9!? What?

Her internal dialogue was so cringe and just felt like she was trying to be funny but I don’t think I laughed once.

Don’t even get me started on the “twist”….. there’s a copy cat sending her clues and imitating her murders and then it was like the NEXT page, she caught her and killed her? Wtf is happening… 😂

And then Henry thinking she is hot? Wow! What a HUGE surprise! I’m flabberghasted…

I could go on and on but I think it’s safe to say I will not be continuing this series 😩

[Carlene Burns · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish this one. Very disappointed with all the hype it received

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saints & Sinners is the first book in the Angela Wilkins series. This was an absolutely addicting ride, straight from the start the storyline hooked me, I needed to know what was going to happen. The author's writing is simple, descriptive and gripping, delivering exactly what it needs to. The FMC’s inner monologue is absolute gold, it's hilarious. The pacing was steady throughout, constantly keeping the suspense, not too intense, but never with a dull moment. It was a highly entertaining read.

Angela was such a complex character, she has so many layers to uncover. Many that I have not uncovered in this book. The author did a fantastic job at keeping me wanting to learn more about her in future books. I absolutely loved the entire setting, the morgue, the police station and the crime scenes. The side characters were all definitely unique in their own genre, all had their own quirks.

Some little things that were harder for me were the romance that does happen very fast on page (they have known each other over 3 years), but I felt I missed a bit of their growing chemistry and relationship. It all progressed at lightning speed. In a way, it's still not a huge bother as it's not the sole focus of the book. Secondly, there are some parts where things jump from one to the other very quickly. Honestly, I have high hopes that the series just keeps getting better !

Overall, this is a super fun and entertaining ride. It will appeal to fans of the show Dexter and readers of the Mindf*ck series. It held me in its grasps and i'm excited to continue Angela's vigilante journey.

✨️Thank you to @piperleighion for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Abby Hofmeister · Rating 2 out of 5]

It just didn’t do it for me. It felt too disconnected and random. It had a lot of potential though!

[Heidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not usually review books but I needed to review this one. I did finish it but it was painful. The idea of the books is a great one, it was just not executed well. The plot jumped all over the place many themes or phrases were repeated. Many errors like on the same page the name of the soon to be in-laws was wrong. Times did not match up. I wanted to love this book but just could not.

[Meghan]

DNF

[Sharayah Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely do not know how this book isn’t all over booktok. It kept my attention the whole entire book. It’s a great mix of romance and thriller/true crime. I am starting to fall deep into my vigilante book era and I am loving it. I need book 2 and 3 now. The battle within the main characters self of if she’s a good person or not. The battle to let someone lover her. I just could not get enough.

[Brie Davidson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got so bored with female Dexter that I stopped reading for a week. Then, the last 50% I skimmed and then the last 30% I just read dialogue... I was that bored and too stubborn to DNF. I'm sorry, Piper.

[seher · Rating 3 out of 5]

↬ rating: 3.75 stars ☾ ❦
huge potential to be the new mindfck series, and i support.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book if you like crime thriller. This really good book. It had me on the edge of my seat. I read this in a day. Very well Witten. Very well researched.

[Kaitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dexter x CSI vibes

[Mikayla Knowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is CSI meets Dexter, but our FMC is Dexter in this case!

There were comical moments, serious and heart breaking moments, and moments you just wanted to shake the main characters! I read this book in a day and it kept me entertained from start to finish.

I will say I felt like the ending of the book was a little abrupt, I kept flipping after the last page thinking that surely couldn't have been the end! I am curious to see how this series develops.

[Carolynne aka Saucy Chicken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I really did. However, I struggled with several aspects of it.

So the premise of the book is good. We have a female vigilante (aka serial killer) who works as an assistant coroner for the police department. Off to a good start!

But the issue is that this book is kinda all over the place. The dialogue was lacking for me, the love interest felt incredibly rushed, forced, and disingenuous.

I really struggled to connect with any of the characters. Angela, the FMC, can't seem to figure out who exactly she is. Maybe that was the point? I'm not sure, but it was certainly clear that she can't figure what she's doing in human interactions.

Overall, the book has potential, but it fell flat for me. I'll read the next book in the series to see if it gets any better, though.

[Kelly Eubanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it was just me but I found the dialogue hard to follow. I had a hard time deciphering who was saying what and I had to kind of use clues to fill it in. I think if it weren’t for that I would have enjoyed it more but I just found myself kind of confused for parts of the book. I am a huge Dexter fan so I was really looking forward to reading this but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

[Brittney Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me Dexter/ the Mindf*ck series vibes! I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read the rest of them! ♥️

[Jacquelyn Kreiser · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline has so much potential but was sadly so boring. It felt very scattered and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. Felt like an off brand mindf*ck series 😕

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one of the Under City Lights series and the main character is assistant coroner Angela Wilkins, who has a secret life as a killer in her spare time. She has never been a normal person and had to learn how to react in social conditions by watching and learning from others around her. She doesn’t just kil anyone, but those who have gotten away with doing bad stuff and she levels the playing field by taking them out. Her knowledge of forensics allows her to make sure she leaves no trace of her crimes. She has avoided any friendships or getting close to any of her fellow workers, which they have all noticed and commented on, but she finds it hard enough to pretend to be normal at work and keep her other life secret. However, Crime Scene Analyst Johnny Cooper, manages to break through her shell and asks her out on a date and she finds it hard to refuse. She is shocked to find that he actually makes her relax and she can actually trust him, not enough to tell him of her secret life, but enough to let him into her life and even agreeing to move in with him! But one case shocks her to her core, as it reminds her of her brother’s death, killed by her own fiancé, which made her into the monster she is.

Johnny’s best friend and fellow worker in her office, Henry, seems to know more about her than she wants to have others notice. He doesn’t like her relationship with Johnny and believes she will end up hurting him, wanting to stop her from doing so. Added to this pressure is their director, who ends up forcing her and Johnny onto opposite shifts because of their relationship, and her other colleagues who are talking about them. The pressure of her alternative work and all the extra shifts at the morgue due to staff absences, has her not seeing or even talking to Johnny for weeks on end, which she can cope with, but he finds difficult. If she isn’t careful, she will make a mistake from being too tired and end up where her thoughts have often taken her, into a cell for the rest of her life like those she stops should have been. With the number of criminals getting away with murder, she feels a need to continue, but her feelings for Johnny are starting her to slow down and think of a different life. Trouble comes as another voice comes into the mix and also someone who appears to know what she is doing, just as a very similar death appears on her table. Someone is acting out as an admirer of her work and is bringing danger to her door. Distractions can be deadly in her second job and there seems to be no end of people on her list. Unfortunately, Johnny is slowing down her need to carry them out and someone has noticed. She has more problems than she realises, as the book comes to an end with her wanting Johnny and all the comfort he brings to her but also wants to carry on her vigilante role as much as she can. More vengeance to come no doubt, just as her need for it is slowing due to love!

A mix of Dexter with Bones, as a strong female MC falls in love finally, even after trying to keep her distance carry out both of her roles. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Alis Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saints and Sinners is the first book in the Under City Lights Trilogy and introduces us to Angela Wilkins, a coroner with a sharp wit, a cutting sense of humour, and a loner streak that I immediately loved. Described to me as a thriller with a dash of romance, this book had me hooked from the start.
Right away, Angela stood out to me. She’s feisty, independent, and has this inner dialogue that I absolutely loved—it’s cutting, funny, and often very relatable. I found myself grinning at moments like the quote: "The Devil on my shoulder had other plans." That kind of dark humour gives Angela so much personality and made her feel real to me.
What makes this book so addictive is its pacing. The short chapters add tension and make it impossible to put down—it’s one of those “just one more chapter” books that had me turning pages late into the night. Angela’s job as a coroner adds an intriguing edge, but her vigilante side brings in this whole new layer of mystery and complexity. While her full backstory hasn’t been revealed yet, I’m sure there’s much more to come in the next installments. I’m already curious to see what drives her and what she’s truly capable of.
The interactions between Angela and her colleagues are another highlight for me. The dialogue is sharp, layered with wit, disdain, and sometimes laugh-out-loud humour. It created this dynamic tension that kept me entertained and added depth to the story. Whether she’s clashing or bantering with those around her, Angela is always a force to be reckoned with.
Final thoughts: Saints and Sinners is a brilliant start to the Under City Lights Trilogy. If you love thrillers with strong, complex female leads and a mix of tension, dark humour, and mystery, this one is for you. I can’t wait to read the next book and uncover more about Angela’s story!

[Deep Choudhary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under City Lights is an electrifying two-book series by Piper Leigh Ion that delves into the dark and intricate world of crime, vigilante justice, and the battle within oneself. Angela Wilkins, an assistant coroner haunted by personal tragedy, finds solace in her relentless pursuit of justice against heinous criminals. The first installment, "Saints and Sinners," unveils Angela's struggle with her vengeful desires and unexpected romantic connections amidst a backdrop of copycat killers and high-stakes crime scenes. The author masterfully weaves a web of suspense, leaving readers at the edge of their seats as Angela's two worlds collide.

In "Funeral of a Good Girl," the second book, Angela grapples with her darker urges, yearning for redemption and a chance at a different life. The Artist, a chilling serial killer, challenges her newfound desires for normalcy, pushing her skills and determination to their limits. Piper Leigh Ion skillfully portrays Angela's internal conflict, showcasing her evolution and unwavering dedication to justice. The suspenseful narrative keeps readers engaged, racing through the pages to uncover the truth.

Both novels immerse readers in the intense realm of vigilante justice and serial killers, offering a thrilling rollercoaster ride through the shadows of crime. Piper Leigh Ion's writing captivates with its authenticity, intricate plot twists, and complex characters, making Under City Lights a must-read for fans of the vigilante justice thriller genre. Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled journey through the darkest corners of the human psyche.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I loved this quirky, twisted and violently bloody story. It was unique and written in a way that had you questioning everything at every turn of the page. You never knew what Angela was going to do or say at any given point in the story, which kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

Angela is this quirky corner with a fierce disposition, a cutting sense of humor, an introverted personality and a resting bitch face that kept people at a distance from her. There are dark things that we learn about her and the darkness that dwells inside her. But as her story slowly starts to unravel Angela starts to mentally unravel with it. There were many moments that her dark humor had me giggling like crazy and then when you add in Steven (the golden retriever friend) I couldn’t help but laugh over their antics.

Johnny, the sexy detective, just wants to love and protect Angela but work and other complications get in the way. He loves fiercely and has a heart of gold – a total cinnamon-roll.

I loved all the banter between Angela and everyone else. It was filled with cutting remarks, jokes and jabs, and smartass comebacks, plus her inner dialogue had me frustrated and giggling like crazy.

This was an entertaining story from beginning to end. It kept me gripping my kindle tightly and turning the pages quickly to see what would happen next. There were many twists and turns that left me on edge and then the ending left me craving to know what the hell is going to happen now!

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book I’ve ever read by this author and it WILL NOT be the last!! This was such a great story! Grabbed my attention from the very beginning, fast paced, action, romance, suspense and a few twists and turns! What more could you want from a vigilante crime romance?! If you have not read this series or any of her books, you definitely need to! I can’t wait to see where the rest of this series goes! A few days in to me starting book one, on my kindle, I immediately ran to the authors TikTok shop and HAD to buy myself a physical copy because I’m loving it so much!! I ended up buying Under City Lights, which is the omnibus of all 3 books in 1 in this series!!

Her books need more support and love, so I will be reviewing each book as I read it, as well as the omnibus, Under City Lights! I highly recommend this book & this series and I will recommend this to everyone who likes romances and mystery/thrillers because I feel like this is an awesome mix of the two genres!

[🐷Shay loves books🐷 · Rating 5 out of 5]

When vigilante Angela Wilkins, a coroner by trade, decides to take matters into her own hands and becomes a serial killer to rid the world of scumbags who have gotten away with murdering people, she kills them herself. She’s rough and tough and doesn’t take anybody’s crap. She stays to herself and doesn’t allow herself to get close to anyone. Until one day when she finally agree to go on a date the Johnny, who has been trying to get her to go out with him forever, among a few of the other detectives she works with day in and day out, she starts to soften up her hardened shell. She falls head of hills in love with him and he feels the same about her. But will this union pose a problem for Angela and her extra curricular activities? Find out for yourself! Read this book!! I’m so glad I have the omnibus and also the whole single series, because I’m gonna need to jump right into book 2 asap! I love pipers writing skills and the way she brings the story to life!

[Kswag · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this app had a way of issuing half stars because I believe in them. I don’t believe I have ever experience a book where I felt it was a slow burn. However, the plot twist seemed a bit rushed. The main female character is a coroner who lives a double life. She goes about her day day, life in constant battle of giving in to social norms versus navigating the abnormalities of her life. She has a dark twisted secret that escalates the more and more she tries to suppress who she really is. I became completely invested in Angela, and she has peaked my curiosity on how she intends to navigate these challenges that she has in the rest of the series.

[Devons book corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying, if you have shit to do and you can't afford to spend all afternoon reading this book, then maybe start it when you have a few hours to spare. If you are a CSI, NCIS, and Dexter girl like I am, then you will love this book because that's the vibes that it gives. Angela and Johnny will have you wrapped around their little fingers in no time, and the plot is so intriguing that it will keep you hooked and flipping them pages till there isn't anything left to flip. It's a well-paced book, likeable characters, especially Angela who has me chuckling a lot, and reads easily. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Stormy Shadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

This is first in a series about a medical coroner for a detective team like CSI and we follow Angela Wilkins but she secretly leads a double life. She is really good at working in the morgue and doing what she does at crime scenes but she is also out for vigilante justice. The banter between her and her team mates are great and her inner monologue is fun too. This is categorized as a dark romance but it’s really not. It has a romance between Angela and a guy on her lab team who’s Johnny. She keeps falling deep in love with him and she doesn’t want him to find out the darker side of her.

[Desiree Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and read it within two days I didn’t want to stop if you loved the show Dexter than you will love this the best way to sum up this book is that you have an intelligent woman corener who loses someone dear to her who gets unalived by someone who she thought she knew and it drives her on a revenge spree on people who deserve justice and leads to her living a very eventful double life that gets harder hen she falls in love with the last person that she should, it makes her want to change but there’s always a devil on her shoulder who says that this is who she was always meant to be and I highly recommend this read!

[Lea Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this book a 3.5, but since Goodreads doesn't do half star ratings, it shows as a 3. The plot kept me entertained, and the banter was on point. I enjoy some good sarcasm! I do agree that parts of the plot jumped a bit here and there, but I think it was brought back together appropriately at the end. I was even wondering throughout if side romances would spark, so that kept me guessing! I do want to know more about Angela's character and her mindset, so I plan to read the next book, for sure.