Wildflower Girls

Special Agent Beth Katz #1

by D.K. Hood

In the dark pine forest surrounding the quiet town of Rattlesnake Creek, the body of a young girl lies on the ground. Her angelic blonde hair spills over her shoulders and her unblinking eyes stare up toward the sky...

It was Beth Katz's serial killer father who made her like she is: a successful FBI agent and an unstoppable vigilante dedicated to hunting down murderers who have evaded capture. Beth will push herself to the limits to deliver justice. Even if it means killing those who deserve to die.

When the body of missing schoolgirl Brooklyn Daniels is discovered in a secluded patch of woodland on the outskirts of town, Beth and her partner Dax Styles race to the scene. Brooklyn and her best friend left home to pick wildflowers a week ago and vanished without trace.

Taking in Brooklyn's body carefully laid on a blanket and the dress neatly folded next to her, Beth suddenly freezes. She's seen this before: in the files of a cold case. The perpetrator takes two girls-one vanishes, the other is killed and left with her clothes beside her. Now Beth knows she has a twisted serial killer on her hands, she'll stop at nothing to catch him. Even if it means going against Dax's orders...

Desperate to find the other missing girl, Beth's heart pounds as she puts herself up as bait and walks into the secluded forest, knowing evil is lurking nearby. With Dax watching her every move, Beth prays the gamble pays off. Can she outsmart the murderer, or did she just walk into a trap? And when Beth finally comes face to face with the killer, will she hand him over or serve justice of her very own?

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Fiction, Serial Killer

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2023

Reviews

[Bec (becbingesbooks) - sorry, behind with lots of catching up to do · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Happy publication day for this AND Shadow Angel **

Well, I am pretty happy with this 5⭐️ police procedural being the read for me to hit my Goodreads goal of 60 for 2023!

This was solid and unique (for me). Beth is a psychopath and a FBI agent! A psychopath agent!!!! Soooo good! So good that I started book 2, Shadow Angel, immediately.

Beth is repositioned in the middle of no where with another usually solo agent, Styles. She was moved to work with Styles because she failed her psych test after being witness to a horrific crime (huh? Psychopath struggles after a horrific crime..? A need to read to understand).

At her new base and in surrounding towns, two girls go missing and each time one turns up murdered and the other is abducted or not found. The FBI is trying to track down the killer and find out what's happened to the girls who were taken.

In the meantime, the FBI are also trying to track down the Tarot Card Killer. A serial killer taking out the scum of the Earth killers and child abusers etc. and that is (not a spoiler) Beth. She is a psychopath with control over her desires and who only kills the worst of the worst.

The research that's gone into psychopaths and serial killers for this book is next to none. It's fascinating and confronting/scary. With lots of moving parts to this, I also really enjoyed the banter between Beth and Styles and wondering if he's cottoning on at all to Beth's psychopath traits. I also found myself asking what he would do/think if he did find out. I thought the character development in this police procedural was pretty great, but would've preferred to understand a bit more about Beth (note that there is some history and background though).

Of course, I have to also mention the cybercrime aspect in this which was fantastic, and also Bear, a quasi K9 unit doggo. You probably already know from my past reviews but if you don't - dogs being well written, adored, loyal, smart and included in books as such is a bonus for me every time.

This wasn't a hugely fast paced, page turning thriller, but it was outstanding nonetheless.

Anticipated publication date: 12 September 2023.

⚠️ Please check TWs online ⚠️

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Angel is a well written, gripping, fast paced, first book in a new series by D. K. Hood! I listened to the audiobook, and it was fantastic! I kept finding time to listen as I was fully invested in the plot, the characters, and the suspense!

Special Agent Beth Katz of the FBI happens to be the daughter of a serial killer. She also happens to be a vigilante who hunts down killers and has no problem killing those she feels deserve to die!

A young girl's body was found in the woods outside of the town of Rattlesnake Creek. Beth and her partner Dax Styles are on the case. Brooklyn, the dead young girl, was last seen with her friend a week ago. Seeing the scene, Beth is reminded of a cold case where two girls were taken but only one dead body is found.

Beth is determined to solve this case and catch the killer no matter what! I enjoyed both Beth and Dax, their interactions, and how they worked together even when Dax wasn't happy with Beth's actions. They are a fantastic and interesting team and I look forward to reading more about them in future books.

This was a riveting page turner! Dark Angel is well thought out and perfectly paced. This book kept me on my toes, wanting more, and doing my best to find time to keep listening, fully invested in this gripping book. I tried my best to figure out the identity of the killer but was unsuccessful.

Gripping, shocking and hard to put down! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!


Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark,Disturbing & Gritty is how I would describe Dark Angel by DK Hood it got me in straight away, this is the first in the series of Special Agent Beth Katz who I loved through lout.


Beth Katz is an excellent cop she does her job well but is on the edge she also has a special talent for bringing in serial killers … you see her father was one so she has a special interest in bringing these scumbags to justice. Her partner Ben Styles is a maverick from Rattle Snake Creek a small town in Montana that backs on to the Rocky Mountains, Styles is a loner& has the reputation going back to his military police he revived 2 silver stars ⭐️ & a purple heart was honourably discharged after eight years he joined the FBI & works undercover.


The two are investigating the murders of young girls who have blonde hair & blue eyes they think the pied piper is alive & well . I won’t go any further as I may give spoilers away so all I will say is get ready for one helluva ride I loved this first time read by this author won’t be my last.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-4.75 Stars
If you're a fan of Dexter, this is for you!

FBI agent Beth Katz has a dark secret. Like her serial killer father, she has an itch to kill. Fortunately, she has made it her mission to track down only those murderers who have managed to slip through the cracks of the legal system. Thanks to her job, identifying these criminals was simple. The question now is how long can she keep this up?

This was a captivating and action-packed novel! Highly recommend.

*** Thank you to NetGalley, D.K. Hood, and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

[Terence M [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!] · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-Stars for "Dark Angel - "I Didn't Like It Much"
D K Hood - Special Agent Beth Katz #1 - Dark Angel
[also published as "Wildflower Girls"]
Audiobook: 10:04 Hours – Narrator: Lauryn Allman
Fooled again! Intrigued by the early, positive reviews (none rated less than a three), I pre-ordered Dark Angel from Audible in July 2023. It was released on 12 September 2023 and I started listening to it that night.
NB, this is a spoiler-free review!

I KNOW it’s Fiction, I ACNOWLEDGE that Fiction can sound improbable, implausible, incredible, or even impossible, but still be fun to read or hear. I accepted that Beth Katz is a psychopath who has a ‘dark side’ – it’s in the blurb – but the contrived introduction of Beth in the opening chapters was a stretch for me. A serial killer paedophile attempting to murder a young girl is stopped by Beth in the nick of time and the child is saved. Beth’s story is that another person who managed to arrive just seconds before her, killed the serial killer, escaping cleanly in the process, but not before leaving a ‘tell-tale’ tarot card at the scene. A vigilante known as “The Tarot Killer” is officially blamed for the paedophile’s demise🙄!

Following her “evaluation”, Beth is banished to the FBI office in *ahem* Rattlesnake Creek, Montana, and placed under the supervision of the office’s sole resident agent, FBI “maverick”, Dax Styles. Within a couple of days in Rattlesnake Creek, they are on the trail of a notorious paedophile and serial killer, known across the country as the “Pied Piper”.

In a surprise diversion, to California I think, Beth (who is most likely in her early 30’s) shops at Target, dresses up, and goes “undercover” as a child-like sex-worker, while seeking a pimp named “Spike”, and offers salvation to a group of very young prostitutes, etc, etc. Eventually, Beth and Dax return to Rattlesnake Creek and continue their quest for the "Pied Piper".

So, another disappointment, but I did go in eyes wide open after reading the blurb and a couple of GR Friends’ reviews. I thought I would like it. I didn’t, so poop happens, but this time I didn’t DNF!

From my Listening Activity:
13/09/2023: I'm up to Ch.15, 30% of the audiobook, and I'm reasonably interested in the Beth Katz story. With an unlikely, tantalising premise, Dark Angel also had a few implausibilities that typically rankled me, but I listened for three hours last night and it will be a finisher :)

14/09/2023 @ 60%, another three hours under my belt, but alas... implausibilities have developed into almost impossibilities and my eyes have been 🙄!! This is sad because I thought the story might develop some credibility, but it doesn't look like it will.

15/09/2023 @99%, Meh...😬 Review to come.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
Beth Katz is an FBI special agent who has a unique skill in tracking serial killers. That’s because her father was one…and so is she! But, the men she kills are predators who prey on young girls, serial killers. In the opening scene, we get a front seat view of how she operates. But when she rescues a child and professes to have already found the predator dead, she gets transferred to Rattlesnake Creek, Montana to work with FBI Senior Special Agent Dax Styles. They are soon faced with tracking down and capturing the Pied Piper serial killer who is currently terrorizing cities in their state.

the heart of the story…
I decided to read this story because of its unique premise and it surpassed my expectations. Beth is committed to saving the young girls being abducted and murdered by the Pied Piper. She’s equally committed to surreptitiously killing the man in the process while protecting her true nature. Styles is a maverick who’s not averse to crossing lines but she unnerves even him! It was fascinating to follow the clues and procedurals while also seeing how Beth executes her secret planning to avoid discovery. It was a precarious balancing act and I was surprised to find myself privately hoping for her success. There’s a particular takedown during their pursuit of a Pied Piper lead in another city that perfectly illustrated her skills and the depravity of those she targets. It was impossible not to get on board.

the narration…
The voice for Beth adeptly captured her coolness and dispassion as the public agent and the transition to the cold blooded killer. It was chilling! I also liked her voice for Dax.

the bottom line…
I’m not normally of fan of vigilante killers no matter how noble their cause but this character had me rooting for her throughout. Her relationship with Styles was equally compelling as he’s both trusting and wary of this enigmatic woman. This kept me on the edge of my seat as nothing about this woman is predictable except her mission to permanently end these men. I’m all in because there’s still lots to learn about her background and how she came to be an agent and a vigilante killer.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5★
“When kept under control, her dark side was like a virus grown in a lab, only lethal when it escaped.”

If she said it once, she said it several dozen times. I didn’t bother to count. She’s the avenging angel, murdering serial killers while working as an FBI agent – and getting away with it. She is a computer expert, a disguise expert, and says she is a psychopath but not your everyday, garden variety psychopath, because she knows who and what she is.

“Psychopathic serial killers come in many flavors—the careless, the smart, and the invisible—and then there’s me. I figure the others are sick freaks, and you might ask what makes me different? You see, in my world they’re the prey and I’m the predator.”

She’s special. She knows that psychopaths can be so charming and charismatic that people love them. She is aware that intelligent FBI agents know this, so she’s careful to harness her instinct to be charming and likeable so she won’t raise suspicions. She purposely puts on a somewhat bristly exterior.

“Allowing her psychopath’s charm to surface, she looked at the girl. Being the sweet colleague or the perfect neighbor was a mistake many of her kind made. She had it in spades and could turn it on and off like a tap when needs be.”

That’s what she says in the beginning – that she has to “allow” her charm to resurface - that her instincts are to be nice and make people like her so she can gain their trust and use it against them.

Then, all the way through the book, we’re told how she fights to control her instinctive threatening looks and behaviour, her violent nature, her thirst for revenge.

After rescuing a girl (and killing the perp), the FBI sends her out to Montana to ‘recover’ from the trauma of dealing with so many deaths. She can hardly complain, so she goes, gets jeans, boots, Stetson and joins the local FBI agent to fight crime in the woods.

For me, this was like reading a textbook written as a thriller, with steady repetition of what it takes for her to do her work and how clever she is at doing it.

“She’d added a few other accessories from the stash she’d hidden in her luggage. The dangly gold earrings were in fact lock picks and her belt, once unclasped, transformed into a garrote. She arranged the wig and pushed a pair of eight-inch long hatpins into each side. The decorated tops made them resemble a normal hair clip. She’d had these pins made especially from steel and kept the points deadly sharp. The brooch she attached to her top held a detachable shuriken. The Japanese throwing star was held in place with a magnet. She’d used this method of killing before and was an expert at throwing them.”

I admit after the first quarter of the book, I skimmed. I would like to think an editor will pick up the typos (“your” instead of “you’re” and “might” instead of “mite”).

There must be readers who eat this stuff up, but I’m obviously not one of them. I wish them well, but I recommend they try Michael Robotham instead to enjoy some good writing and see how it should be done.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Bookouture for the copy of #DarkAngel for review.

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the first in a to-be series and it does get off to a decent start. I do hope it gets better than this in the next book(s) though.

Beth Katz’s father murdered her mother and was a serial killer responsible for many deaths. This fuels her determination to get the bad guys, and she joins the FBI. The blurb is a little too revealing about her character though – she does not care if she is unconventional and seen to be stretching the rules. After the death of a man she was chasing, Beth is asked to move to the small town of Rattlesnake creek in Central Montana. There she teams up with Dax Styles. They come upon a difficult case where a guy who calls himself ‘Warlock’ kidnaps two girls and one of them is found dead. It is unclear what happened to the second girl. As they investigate, they find a murky criminal underworld exploiting children, and other similar cases.

The last book I read ‘One Last Kill’ by Robert Dugoni was also about a serial killer. The two books are very different, nevertheless. The last sections of this book are a little stretched. While Beth Katz’s personality is a little different and interesting, it is still a little underdeveloped. Other than that, the rest of the story is pretty straightforward despite the attempt to give it a different touch with two missing girls. This book has violence against children & exploitation as the central them, though the descriptions are not too graphic. Overall, a series with potential which gets off to a promising start but could have been much better.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Katz is an FBI agent. She is also a vigilante serial killer. Beth figures she might as well eliminate the pedophiles and human traffickers so they don't have to rely on the justice system to take care of them. With each of her kills, she leaves a tarot card. In fact, this has led to the FBI trying to track down the "tarot killer".

Beth has been transferred to the FBI's Montana field office to work with Agent Dax Styles. Right away they are asked to help out the local sheriff on a case where two eleven-year-old girls are missing. Search parties are combing the woods when they find a body. Beth looks at the scene and remembers a cold case. Two young girls disappeared. One was found murdered, her clothes stacked neatly beside her. The other girl was never found. Beth realizes that this is the work of the Pied Piper. She makes it her goal to find him before another little girl disappears.

This is the first time I've read a book by D.K. Hood. I was hooked on her writing from the first chapter. Beth knows how a psychopath thinks because she is one herself. She is working with Styles; and knows he has been assigned by the brass to watch her every move. Dax is not a by-the-book agent. He wants to give Beth some room to work, but make sure she doesn't go off on her own and endanger herself.

This book had a great mystery. I loved how Beth and Dax worked together with the sheriff to identify their killer. There was lots of suspense in this story. I thought Beth took a few too many chances. She kept me on the edge of my seat. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series. My rating: 4.5 Stars.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

DK Hoods Black Rock Falls series is one of my favourite police procedural series out there right now. So when ai hear she was writing a spin off series with FBI agent Beth Katz, I was intrigued. Dark Angel is the first book with Beth in the lead and what a cracker of a book it is.

Beth is the daughter of a serial killer, and a vigilante FBI agent who wants real justice for the victims. She works very hard to keep her dark side hidden, but now she has been sent to Rattlesnake Creel and must work with a partner. This is going to be tricky.

Beth is a badass and does not hold back what she is thinking. She also does like to stay within the law in her quest to stop the serial killers.

I loved the narration for this book, it was lot on and gave the perfect voice to Beth. I look forward to listening to book 2 and learning more about her dark heart.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy of both the kindle and audiobook book to read. Publishes on September 12th

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, D.K. Hood, and Bookouture Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always eager to try a new author’s work, I turned to D.K. Hood. This is a great crime thriller with some intriguing backstory about the protagonist, sure to impress the reader. In a story that works with serial killers, online presence, and a secret best kept under wraps, Hood weaves a tale that kept me listening until I could get to the end, leaving nothing to chance. A well-paced thriller that proves Hood is at the top of her game!

Beth Katz has a family secret; that her father is a serial killer and has helped push her into be a vigilante. After earning her spot in the FBI, Beth has taken it upon herself to find serial killers and end their terror by killing them herself. She is careful and leaves calling cards, though no one is aware of this.

When another killer is found dead, Special Agent Beth Katz is in the middle of it, though her cover is not blown. Higher-ups feel that she is in need some some stress relief and she is reassigned to a small community in Montana to cool her heels and reset. Disgruntled by the decision, Beth mopes, but agrees to the temporary reassignment, which might help keep her cover.

Working with her new partner in Montana, Dax Styles, Special Agent Katz is called to the scene when the body of a missing schoolgirl is found in a field. Brooklyn Daniels was last seen with her friend a week ago, before the girls went missing. The scene sends shivers up Special Agent Katz’s spine, as she knows this layout from notes in a cold case she’s studied. Two girls go missing and one turns up dead soon thereafter. This is the world of some one who is able to earn the trust of children, deemed the Pied Piper.

While trying to locate Brooklyn’s killer, there is another mystery in the middle of all this. Where is the second girl and what is the killer doing with that victim. Trolling online sources, Katz and Styles realise that there could be some sinister things going on, including slavery or prostitution rings. Trying to lure the Pied Piper out of hiding will be essentials, though Special Agent Katz will have to try to keep from killing him as well, which is surely trying her patience with every passing moment. Every moment counts and with the killer out there, Katz will have to work with Styles not only to find a killer, but try to bust. the motive wide open to bring closure to many families. D.K. Hood is masterful with this piece and kept me wanting to know more the further I made it into the book.

I love books that centre around serial murder and strong crime thrillers. D.K. Hood has all the elements to a successful novel and utilises many of the tools at her disposal. A strong narrative foundation propels the book forward and keeps the story sharp. Hood offers up some great tidbits that not only help solidify this story, but lays the groundwork for what will surely be a strong series. Characters, both presented and developed, keep the story moving, while also adding something interesting to the reading experience. Beth Katz has a lot going on and the reader gets a great insight into her struggles, as well as capabilities. The plot points were placed perfectly to keep the reader guessing and on their toes. What proved even more interesting was Hood’s analysis, not only of serial killers, but how children are preyed upon with ease in this tech-savvy world. I am eager to get my hands on more in the series, which appears to have a second book on its way soon. There is much more to discover with Katz, as well as her new residence in rural Montana.

Kudos, Madam Hood, for piquing my interest with ease.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[David (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis of this book is just screaming, "Read Me!" We have Beth who not only is a FBI agent but a serial killer. But she only kills those who deserve it. A female Dexter but much more badass.

In the beginning we see Beth in the middle of one of her kills and learn she is the "Tarot Killer" since she always leaves Tarot Card next to her bodies so we know early she is legit. She already has a name and is being hunted by the FBI. Plot Twist! Like mentioned above Beth is also a FBI agent and this kill gets her into a little bit of a tussle with the uppers. They think she didn't show much empathy in her last case so they send her to a small mountain town for a few years to cool off and solve crimes with mountain resident agent Dax Styles. He gets major kudos for having a badass name AND being a mountain man.

So of course Beth gets involved in a hunt of her own up there.

On the whole this was a good book. It was paced well and the only negative was the lack of any kind of personality with Beth. Yes, she's awesome but it was be nice if she just showed a little snark here and there. What really does save this book is the ending. Like, WTF, how off the wall was that? Lol. I can't even explain it in any kind of serious manner it was so over the top. It works for me!

So I will definitely read book two in this series, which releases on the same day as this one. I just hope Beth has a tad more personality in that one.

I really appreciate Bookouture for once again letting me review one of their books for free for a honest review and this one has a publication date of September 12, 2023.

[Kimberly R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Katz is a vigilante FBI agent who is moved to Rattlesnake Creek to help find a pedo abducting young girls and killing them. Her and her partner Dax Styles use unconventional means to get their killers. This was a very exciting read and the first in a series. I can’t wait to read the next one.
Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC that will be published September 12, 2023!

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to both Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Dark Angel, by D.K. Hood. Expected publication September 12, 2023.

3.5 Stars, rounded up.

FBI agent, Beth Katz is a maverick who is prepared to do anything to rid the world of evil. Some would call her a hero, but others would call her a killer. It takes a psychopath to recognize one.

When I first started reading Dark Angel, with all of the descriptions of Beth Katz's dark side, and the repeated mentions of her psychopathy, I was afraid it wasn't going to be a book I would enjoy. However, as I continued reading, I found myself becoming more and more interested.

Beth gets sent to Montana to work with Dax Styles on a case where a perpetrator takes two girls—one vanishes, and the other is killed with her clothes neatly folded beside her. The more I read, the less crazed Beth seemed and the more she seemed quirky. Beth and Dax make a good team and it will be interesting to read the next book: Shadow Angel.

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Angel (Detective Beth Katz Book 1)
By D.K. Hood
Audiobook Narrated by Lauryn Allman
Pub Date: 12 Sep 2023
Bookouture / Bookouture Audio
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 5/5

D.K. Hood's Dark Angel is book one in the Beth Katz series. This book is an engrossing and compulsively readable FBI agent crime thriller, earning it a perfect 5/5 rating from me.

It follows FBI agent Beth Katz as she navigates a complex case with intense suspense and unexpected twists. One wrong move could mean disaster - making it a heart-stopping journey as each decision leads to thrilling consequences.

Beth Katz, a special agent with the FBI, is the daughter of a serial killer. As a vigilante, she hunts down criminals who commit brutal murders and kills those she feels deserve to die. In Rattlesnake Creek, Beth and Dax Styles are called to investigate the discovery of a young girl's dead body in the woods. The murdered girl, Brooklyn, was last seen with her friend Skylar one week ago, but where is Skylar?

The scene reminds Beth of an another unsolved case in which two young girls were abducted, but only one body was recovered. As Beth and Dax dive deeper into the investigation, they realize that this is much more than a simple murder case - it is an exploration of a pedophile's mind, and a search for a killer who will finally be held accountable for their crime.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for sharing this book and audiobook with me. The book and audiobook were so riveting that I read and listened to them in one sitting. The book is one of the most outstanding crime thrillers I have read in a long time. This is an absolute must for crime and thriller fans!



#DarkAngelDetectiveBethKatzBook1 #DKHood

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[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Well, an FBI agent who's also a serial killer ! What's there not to like ? It was an amazing read following Detective Beth and her partner trying to track down a pedophile ! Those monsters deserve the worst ! I'm VERY happy with how the book ended. I'm impatient to read more adventures of hers and how she will continue to reconcile her serial killer needs with her job as an FBI agent.

[Lori Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Angel is the first book in a new series created by D.K. Hood. I'm a huge fan of Hood's and couldn't wait to read this new series. The series is based on FBI agent Beth Katz who specializes in finding serial killers. Beth has a knack of thinking like a serial killer as her father was one! They say that kind of thing can run in families and Beth has a secret that she keeps hidden from her FBI co-workers. She has the dark side to her, but she uses it for good. Beth takes down very bad people that murder, injure, or hurt others. No one else knows this and Beth must work hard to keep it that way!

Beth has been moved to the Montana FBI field office to work with a new partner Dax Styles. He's been a one man show in Montana for a couple of years and he kind of liked it that way. Dax has some secrets in his past that he's not ready to share yet either. Beth was moved here after being in the middle of a big case where she saved a little girl from a serial killer, but the killer was found dead. Even though no one saw Beth do it, her superiors thought she didn't empathize enough with the little girl and sent her to Montana. Meanwhile, Beth had shielded the little girl from the killer and put her in a safe spot. Beth said she arrived after the killer was already dead. A tarot card was left with the body of the killer and the cops and FBI knew that the Tarot Card killer had taken down the serial killer. The Tarot Card killer was a vigilante killing only the worst of the worst and it was Beth.

Agents Katz and Styles are called to the scene of a murdered young girl. Her clothes are piled neatly next to her body and she has been missing for a week. Brooklyn Daniels and her friend went into the woods together one week ago and neither has been seen until now. Brooklyn is dead and placed just so while there's no trace of her friend. They call the killer the Pied Piper. This starts happening in towns close by. Two girls go missing and one turns up dead with her clothes piled beside her. The other girl is never seen again. Katz and Styles want to catch the Pied Piper before more bodies are found. It's heartbreaking that these young girls are being killed.

As Katz and Styles begin investigating they have some leads on who they think could be doing this. Will they figure it out before the next pair of girls go missing? How is the killer communicating with the girls to get them to go into the woods? Do the girls know the killer? What happens to the second girl? Why doesn't she run when the Pied Piper is killing her friend? Katz and Styles have the local police helping as well as famous Medical Examiner in the next town over. With all of them working together, can they stop this horrific killer? Dark Angel is a thrilling read that will have you guessing and on edge until the very end. Will Katz be able to keep her dark side from the others as she works this case? Will Katz begin to trust Styles and vice versa? D.K. Hood has another hit series for readers to devour! I rate Dark Angel 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Dark Angel in return for a fair review. #DarkAngel

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my!!!! Beth Katz is most definitely a Dark Angel. Oh wow! If you’ve read the Kane and Alton series, you need to put aside their clean cut images that Hood has created as Beth Katz is dark!

She’s FBI so you’d think she’d be on the right side of the law, catching the criminals so the victims can receive justice… but Beth’s justice is akin to that of Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter. She deals out her own level of justice. But is this nature or nurture?!? I’m interested to find out more in that respect!

Beth’s new partner is an interesting one. He comes across as rather by-the-book kind of guy to start with but as I got to know him, there was more to him which might make him the perfect partner for our Beth. Whilst I’m on the subject of supporting cast, I LOVE THE CROSSOVER!!!!! Yes characters from the Kane and Alton series make an appearance in Dark Angel and I love it!

I’ve got to say D. K. Hood has started her new series with a bang. I loved Dark Angel and can not wait to read Shadow Angel.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series by this amazing author I love and yes, she convinced me again. 

When an author starts a new series, it often means the end for the previous one and for a minute I was afraid this would be the case here too. You cannot imagine how happy I was when I realised it's not like this here. I am so not ready to say goodbye to Kane and Jenna.

But about this book now.

Killing is never a good thing, but I can see where Beth is coming from. She believes strongly she makes the world a better place and honestly I kind of agree with her.

Beth is very good in tracking down psychopathic serial killers. She knows how their mind works and she has it first hand.. The only difference is that she can control herself and never takes down an innocent person, but only the baddest of the baddies.

I love the link the author crates between this series and her other very successful one, connecting with some of the characters. 

I like Beth. I like the way she puts herself in danger to save others and I love the way she can come up with explanations in order to not attract the attention. Her partner Styles is also not always coloring between the lines and they make a good team, although Beth always takes it a few steps further.

A great start to an, what I believe, is going to be another amazing series. 5 stars

Thank you

[Jazz Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRAND NEW SERIES BY THE AMAZING D.K HOOD!!!. PUBLICATION DATE 12TH SEPTEMBER plus on kindle unlimited

If you've read the Kane and Alton series, then you are ready for Beth Kats and her partner Dax Styles. If especially like me, you've been waiting for the taro killer

"When the body of missing schoolgirl Brooklyn Daniels is discovered in a secluded patch of woodland on the outskirts of town, Beth and her partner Dax Styles race to the scene. Brooklyn and her best friend left home to pick wildflowers a week ago and vanished without trace."

What an interesting crime series. Honestly, as a dedicated fan to kane and Jenna, I was worried I wouldn't like this series, but I must admit I am a hugeeeeee fan of this new series. Think I love it just as much. Beth is such an amazing lead, a psychopath herself, after witnessing her dad kill her mother as well as him being a notorious serial killer! 🙄 I know, right? And that's just the half of it!

Beth has vowed to rid the streets of serial killers in one of the most ironic ways possible, I must say! This case is an interesting one. Two girls kidnapped one returns dead clothes folded next to them. It's very similar to a cold case. the problem is that someone is already in prison for that crime. So, poses a few questions; is the wrong person in prison, did they have a partner, or is it a copycat. Questions that they have to answer to get to the truth!

Beth and Dax are great partners, they both live on the edge of the rules, differently but they ate just perfect together Beth is a bit of a badass and Dax is a lone wolf and yet it works. Of course, there's a dog because every crime fighting duo needs a great ex army dog 🐕. They are also in touching distances of Blackrock Falls, which means Wolf and his team are available as the local ME's.

This case was so up and down that I honestly found myself baffled at who the killer was, especially after an undercover sting that takes a turn. It was absolutely fascinating. How best to find a psychopathic serial killer? Get a psychopath to search for them!
If I say more, I will spoil it, but I will say this, I've yet to read any other crime thriller with this type of storyline or characters. I didn't even realise I wanted to until now.

If you've not got your copy, then go and grab one!

All in all, I highly recommend Dark Angel. It is by far one of the best books I've read all year! It is drama filled, full of suspense, and has everything you need from a crime thriller series! 5+🌟

Thanks to D.K HOOD, Bookouture and Netgalley for the digital ARC of Dark Angel in exchange for my fair and honest opinions

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Angel by D.K. Hood is the 1st in the FBI Special Agent Beth Katz series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Information:
It was Beth Katz’s serial killer father who made her who she is: a successful FBI agent and an unstoppable vigilante dedicated to hunting down murderers who have evaded capture. Beth will push herself to the limits to deliver justice. Even if it means killing those who deserve to die.  Her "Tarot Killer" persona has served her well.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Beth has been assigned to the small town of Rattlesnake Creek to work with fellow FBI Agent Dax Styles.  Unfortunately for Beth, she prefers to work on her own, bringing her own kind of justice to each case.

Two young girls are missing, and one is discovered in the woods outside of town, her clothing neatly piled beside her.  There is no sign of her friend.  Beth quickly realizes that this is the work of a predator they call the Pied Piper.  He takes two little girls, killing the blond one, and the other disappears.  Beth fears that the other one may have been sold to a pedophile ring.


My Opinions:
I was really excited to find a new series by this author, as I was getting tired of the characters in the Alton & Kane series.  Much to my dismay...the same characters show up in this one.  I thought a fresh series might mean fresh characters?  I worried that the Black Rock and Jo's crew would take over, but that was not the case.  They played more minor roles, and I really like both Beth and Dax, who are both strong and independent characters.  I hope this trend continues.

Even when I grew to dislike her characters in the other series, I've always admired Danica Hood's  writing skills and amazing plots.  This continues to be the case in this new series.  The plot was really good, and although there were no major twists, the whole story kept me turning the pages.

I really think Hood has another successful series on her hands!  This was a fast and entertaining read!


For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Beth Katz #1

It was Beth Katz serial killer father who made her like she is: a successful FBI agent ans an unstoppable vigilante dedicated to hunting down murderers who have evaded capture. Beth will push herself to the limits to deliver justice. Even if it means killing those who expect to die. When the body of missing schoolgirl Brooklyn Daniels is discovered in a secluded patch of woodland on the outskirts of town, Beth and her partner Dax Styles race to the scene. Brooklyn and her best friend left home to pick wildflowers a week ago and vanished without trace.

FBI Special Agent Beth Katz and her newly assigned partner Special Agent Dax Styles are trying to hunt down a serial killer who is abducting and murdering young girls. Beth has been sent to Rattlesnake Creek to work. The serial killer seeks pairs of girls into the woods, murders one and abducts the other. None of the abducted schoolgirls has been found. The characters are complex. I've been looking forward to reading this series and it looks like it's going to be a winner. Now I'm going to dive right into the second book - #Shadow Angel.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #DKHood for my ARC of #DarkAngel in exchange for an honest review.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW 



Review for 'Dark Angel' by DK Hood. 



Read and reviewed via NetGalley for DK Hood, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous 



Publication date 12th September 2023.



This is the ninth book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in the 'Detective Beth Katz' series. I have previously read 'Cross My Heart' (book 12 in the Detective Kane and Alton series), 'Fallen Angel' (book 13 in the Detective Kane and Alton series), 'Don't Look Back (book 13.5 in the series), ' Pray For Mercy '(book 14 in the Detective Kane and Alton series), 'Kiss Her Goodnight' (book 15 in the Detective Kane and Alton series ) 'Her Bleeding Heart' (book 16 in the Detective Kane and Alton series) 'Chase Her Shadow' (book 17 in the Detective Kane and Alton series) and 'Their Wicked Games' (book 19 in the Detective Kane and Alton series) and I would highly recommend them all.  



This novel consists of a Introduction, 48 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!



OMG!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS SERIES!!! D.K HOOD you just keep getting better and better!!! 



Well, Well, Well!!!! Firstly,  I must admit that being a humongous fan of the amazing D.K Hood's Detective Kane and Alton series I was a bit dubious when I realised this was a start of a brand new series. I mean, for starters how on Earth is she going to match the amazingness of Kane, Alton and the rest of the gang? How could she make another series just as good or even better that the Detective Kane and Alton books? Well ladies and gentlemen I haven't got a clue how this queen of crime does it but by God she absolutely smashed it out of the water and I fell in love!!!! Don't get me wrong I did miss some of the amazing characters from the Detective Kane and Alton series but all was not lost!!! The absolutely incredible DK Hood knows her fans so well and knew that we would be having withdrawals from them so she makes sure that this cracking series not only includes Rattlesnake Creek but we also have a crossover of some of the fantabulous characters!!! Who I hear you ask? Well, you'll have to give this series a try to find out won't you?? Needless to say you won't be disappointed and I was absolutely landed myself!!!!!


This is yet another book and series that is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. DK Hood way of writing is perfectly evocative and she has such a creative imagination!! Even with nineteen amazing books in the Kane and Alton action packed series she is still coming up with unique and action packed storylines and another whole series that absolutely grip the reader immediately from page one to the very end!!! Hood's fantastic and evocative writing skills ensured the descriptions were so vivid and realistic I felt myself feeling the fear running through me and the hairs on my arms raise. This has got to be one of the best storylines I have ever read!!!! Just when you've read the best book in this series and it can't get any better BANG DK Hood does it again!! I absolutely loved all the crossovers from the Kane and Alton books from cases to characters to locations but one of the best things I loved about this book is our main protagonist Beth who has her own dark secrets that she must keep hidden from the rest of the characters!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!! This book really will have you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails and even covering your eyes at times!!!! Oh and did I mention the bombshell, jaw dropping and explosive twists and turns throughout??? Well I am gobsmacked that.....

Ooops I can't tell you!!! That would just be spoiling it wouldn't it? So if you want to know what the twist is, who the killer is, why they are killing and much, MUCH more you will just have to grab your copy of this epic thriller today!!!! Needless to say I absolutely LOVED the storyline, LOVE this series and LOVE this amazing author!!!. This book is absolutely perfect for any crime lovers as you are literally reading about crime, twists and murder!!! It just does not get better than that!!! Just seriously, I cannot say how brilliant all this book was!!! The storyline is packed with tension, suspense, murder, tension and filled with twists and turns. I was absolutely shocked when everything was revealed and was not expecting it at all!!! I genuinely thought for once I had actually worked out who it was in this amazing series but YET AGAIN DK Hood proves me wrong!! A HUGE congratulations to D.K Hood, it is getting harder and harder to shock me but you did it well!!! LD.K Hood has obviously done her research on police procedurals which has absolutely shines through the Kane and Alton series along with this one which is yet another bonus as I've read many crime novels where the authors make massive mistakes due to not doing enough research.This is an absolutely unputdownable page turner and I cannot wait to read the previous and future books in what is one of the best series I have ever read!!


 

This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Lauryn Allman who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Lauryn did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by D.K Hood but also to listening to more books narrated by Lauryn! I have previously listened to 'The Niece' by Georgina Cross that Lauryn also narrated and did an amazing job with that book too and I would also recommend reading or listening to it.


Do not start this until you have cleared yours schedules as you will not be able to put it down!! 


It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but also any characters that may make repeat appearances during the series too.


I absolutely LOVED meeting and getting to know all the new characters in this book along with meeting some of the amazing characters from her Kane and Alton series again and they are all realistic and I became completely invested in them. The characters very quickly became like friends to me I feel like I have got to know them so well and so quickly with the new characters and I absolutely LOVE Beth!!!! She is such a dark horse and a dark angel which makes the title for this book perfectly. She reminded me very much of Dexter from the book and TV series. If you are a fan of Dexter then you will love Beth!!! In regards to the previous crossover characters (who I won't name as I don't want to spoil the fun) every time I meet them again I am landed and every time I have to say Goodbye I am gutted I have to wait to greet them again. I cannot wait to meet Beth and Dax again. I really enjoyed seeing how the dynamics of this new team were going to go and the power struggle between Beth and Dax was definitely intriguing to "see" play out. I absolutely adore the fact that Dax has a dog called Bear as that is one of the other things I loved about the Kane and Alton series and that is Duke and Zorro (dogs) played such large parts. I am a massive animal lover and even run my own cat rescue called Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice so any animals playing main parts in books are always a huge bonus for me!! DK Hoods fantastic evocative writing skills and Lauryn's amazing narrative skills really bring all these characters off the pages and into real life and I just loved getting to meet them all!!! Anyway, before this turns into too long an essay I will wrap it up by saying I cannot wait to meet all these characters and more again in the second book in this amazing new series which is called 'Shadow Angel' which I am actually off to read now!!!



Congratulations D.K Hood on yet ANOTHER HUMONGOUS success!!! Very rarely an authors books get better but you have certainly mastered it!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are one my favourite crime authors!!! Here's to your next guaranteed success 🥂 



This book is definitely in my top 5 and considering I've read 1000's this is a HUGE achievement!!! This series is also in my top 3 ♥ 



Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the Introduction, Prologue and first 2 chapters of D.K Hood's 'Shadow Angel' which is the second book in this series and promises to be just as addictive as this book!!! I am actually off to read that next so keep your eyes peeled for my review of it coming soon!!



Overall an absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night. An absolutely explosive start to what is guaranteed to be an epic new series by the amazing D.K Hood




361 pages/ 10 hours 4 minutes.



This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited, £20.03 for the Audiobook, £7.99 with Audible and £8.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 



Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 



Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 


 


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[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading: August 22nd 2023

"Psychopathic serial killers hid behind masks of decency and lived in plain sight. They were the best friend, the sociable neighbor. In fact, they came in every flavor and were the most vicious of killers, but she recognized them as if they wore a flashing red light on their heads. It takes one to know one."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***



I've been meaning to try D.K. Hood's work for quite some time now, and this is probably one of the reasons why I couldn't resist this new series with a female FBI agent main character. I have a weak spot for serial killer thrillers, and FBI thrillers tend to take things just one step further than your regular detective thrillers... Something I can always appreciate, as I like these kind of stories on the dark, action-packed and twisted side. And boy, did Dark Angel fit this description perfectly!

I always love it when crime thrillers offer a fresh angle, and Dark Angel definitely seems to be presenting us with one. Instead of your typical FBI thriller where a FBI agent tries to catch serial killers, this time around our main character seems to be playing both sides. Oh yes, you read that right: Special Agent Beth Katz has a little job on the side playing vigilante and killing off the worst murderers that have been escaping justice... Like she says: it takes one to know one, and she sure seems to be having a perfect radar to help point out the true psychopaths. I can never resist a serial killer POV, but to have a FBI agent AND serial killer POV in one? It just can't get much better than that.

While I've read thrillers with a similar angle before, I loved how this contradiction was incorporated into the plot. Beth Katz makes for such a fascinating main character, and it's intriguing just how easy it is to like her considering the fact that she is basically a serial killer with a badge. She is definitely one of the reasons Dark Angel works so well, although it also has to do with her pairing up with Dax Styles and his dog Bear. Both have their own vision of what is right and wrong and definitely aren't afraid to think outside the box... Vigilante justice or not, you can't seem to deny that their 'victims' had it coming.

Dark Angel is without doubt on the dark and twisted side, and includes references to child abuse, grooming, rape, pedophilia and trafficking among others. Some of the scenes are quite graphic and this story is heavy on the violence and action, so make sure to brace yourself before you start reading this story... But if you like your thrillers this way, you will be in for a treat. I couldn't stop reading, and this is definitely one of those books that it's best to clear your schedule for. I already can't wait to read the sequel!

P.S. Find more of my reviews here.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5)You say whats new? FBI agent and psychopath? How about they are one and the same. You know how there are functioning alcoholics, well Special Agent Beth Katz is a functioning psychopath. She uses her tendieces for the truly depraved who seem to get away with it time and time again. I feel you as the reader should learn while reading the book so no spoilers or hints. Beth ends up being transferred to Rattlesnake Creek Montana to partner with Dax Styles, or just Styles, Styles does a little smudging the line hisself, but nothing like Beth. He has a k9 Bear, who also has his own issue. I am not a fan of vigilante and honestly was not sure I would finish the book. That being said I am addicted to the Kane and Alton series so I knew it wasn't the author, it was my own prejudices so I read on.. As this is book 1 in a continuing series I am sure things will become more cohesive but man, where do you go? Loved some of the characters being mentioned and seen (Dr Wolfe) from the Kane and Alton. What a tight rope to walk, How can Beth keep someone as intelligent and learned as Dr Wolfe from questioning what he sees and hears? By the end of the book I was hooked and ready for book 2, I still have concerns, as this scenario does not seem realistic for a long series, not when you have Dr Wolfe, Emily, Jo, Carter etc. My unsolicited two cents. Great news that 2 releases the same day, Thank you for the arc, I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #DarkAngel #DetectiveBethKatz #D.K.Hood, Bookoutre #NetGalley

[ElectricOutcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve Dallas meets Dirty Harry Callahan

I bring up those two characters because I got introduced to this series by way of some fellow fans of the Eve Dallas/Roarke series written by J.D. Robb and in terms of backstory, both Beth and Eve are similar in that they came from monster fathers. But reading into this book you'll realize really quick that Beth learned from her father and has used her career as an FBI agent as a cover for her "Righteous" kills, which leads me to giving Beth Katz the Dirty Harry comparison, because aside from those "Righteous" kills, she also has a tendency to skirt some parts of the FBI rulebook in order to get some justice done.

Now in terms of how this book was written, the chapters are mostly medium length, running about 2-4 pages on average, I bring this up because I've read at least one James Patterson book, and researched his other books and both he and novelist Jon Land and his Caitlin Strong series normally have 100+ chapters. I'm not a fan of that book writing style, it makes the stories choppy and inconsistent.

But what's making me like D.K. Hood and why I'm gonna read more books of hers in the future, is that her chapters are evenly balanced and as a result, I'm not thrown off by any sudden random chapter breaks.

This is gonna be a series that I'm gonna keep an eye on and I look forward to reading more in the coming years.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrated by Lauryn Allman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
by D.K. Hood ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dark, Twisted and addictive!

This was an absolute page turner. A female Dexter! I live for these types of characters.

Fans of Karin Slaughter definitely need to check out D.K. Hood. This story is real world scary!

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars 🌟

Another first time "new to me" author. I was actually awarded the audio version as an ARC and the narrator - Lauryn Allman -was also a first time narrator for me. With that being said, the narration was fine.

This book introduces the reader to Beth Katz, who is an FBI agent with an interesting background. She is the daughter of a serial killer herself. Her father is still alive, but in prison somewhere. Somewhere that she says she is unknown to her. I wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did.

There is some really good bones to this book - and the upcoming series. There is the beginnings of a solid structure with some pretty interesting characters. Without going into spoilers, let's just say the Agent Katz is not your run of the mill FBI agent. She believes she has a 'darkness" inside of her that when she thinks about it, she describes it as almost being alive and that it can literally take her over at times. The way she keeps this darkness at bay is to "feed it" by administering her own brand of justice. Basically, she's a closet vigilante (that much is in the book summary, so it is not a spoiler).

Where I began to have problems was with the description of Beth herself. To me, she felt kind of over-written. I mean, she's an extremely tough agent who doesn't take anything from anyone, reacting physically whenever she feels slighted, without worrying about consequences (even up against a stronger, heavier opponent). She takes enormous risks with her brand of justice and it is mind boggling that she has gotten away with what she is doing for as long as she has. Especially since what she does leaves behind a calling card.

She meets her new partner after being reassigned to the middle of nowhere Rattlesnake Creek. He has his own story that we really haven't been told, but I'm thinking it is also going to be a doozy. There is potential with this duo. I liked their dynamic, but of course, it does start a bit rocky.

Then there is the whole incident that occurs in California. There is believable, and then there is "throw out any semblance of reality and let's just roll with it". I think that incident fell into the latter category. There is absolutely no way in the world I can imagine that going down the way it did, I mean, these two just met each other the day before or something like that. Honestly, that is probably the least of the issues in that scenario.

Anyway, she falls into a serial killer situation in Rattlesnake Creek and that part of the story was actually interesting. There are some pretty interesting characters that I think are going to get even more interesting as they are more fleshed out in the subsequent books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

[Melissa Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to NetGalley and BookOuture for the Audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ok… I was not at all expecting this to be as good as it was.. ITS A FREAKING FEMALE DEXTER WHO WORKS WITH THE FBI. I LOVE HER. I love her partner, Styles… I love that hes a rugged mountain man with a habit of taking justice into his own hands as well… I love how Beth went off the rails a bit and while her partner found it irritating at times, he came to respect and appreciate that part of her.

The one thing I didnt like was that when I came to the end of the book I realized that it was the first in the series and i had to freaking wait to read the second one when it came out. I’ve absolutely found another one-click author for me.

This book has everything. Murder mystery, creepy villains, an awesome Medical Examiner, a dog that goes on the hunt with the two FBI agents.. and the duo of Beth and Styles taking down bad guys! I LOVED Beth.. she was just… so amazing. She was intimately aware of her “dark side” and didnt let that inhibit her. She decided to turn herself into somewhat of a vigilante serial killer who only went after the bad guys (in an attempt to keep her “dark side” that craved violence and killing and death appeased). She also has a freaking amazing name — the Tarot Killer— because she leaves a grim reaper tarot card on the bodies of all her victims. Tell me thats not awesome. Because it is. She was aware of her shortcomings and didnt come off like a mary-sue at all which made me like her even more.

I wasnt sure how I’d feel about her newly assigned pairing in the FBI… but I LOVED HIM. I think he genuinely likes Beth and as I said, while he finds some her her brash and unconventional behavior a bit out of the ordinary, he also understands her. He’s a bit of a vigilante himself, more akin to bend the rules than to all out break them, but he doesnt hold Beth back when it comes to her sense of justice. (Even though he has NO IDEA that shes actually a serial killer who goes after the bad guys… lol) He’s just the right about of light to her darkness and omg I can’t WAIT to see what happens to these two in the future!

I loved the setting, I loved the story, I loved the characters, and I am SO FREAKING HERE for this entire series! Its been a MINUTE since I read something that got me excited like this and I can confidentially say that I will be reading this series for as long as the author continues to write it!

[Joanne Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

From bestselling author DK Hood (Detectives Kane & Alton, 20 books and counting) comes a brand new series, featuring a unique main character - one who you will not soon forget.

Meet Special Agent Beth Katz of the FBI - a cybercrime expert and undercover agent who hunts the worst of the worst: serial killers, rapists, pedophiles, human traffickers….vowing to rid her world of these psychopaths.

But Katz is no stranger to murder: she’s the daughter of a serial killer whose crimes made a deep impression on her character and inform her every move as exemplified by this internal monologue: “No, the psychopaths in her sights had a high intelligence, murdered frequently, and planned ahead. They hid their secrets well and took dangerous to a new level. They were a worthy challenge.” Agent Katz has a dark side, that she must hide from everyone.

In the opening chapters of “Dark Angel”, Agent Katz, she is on the hunt for a serial killer, who’s grabbed his latest prey right from the girl’s school. After a hair-raising chase Beth catches up to the killer, with the intention of ending his reign of terror and rescue the girl. After calling in to her team that she’s got him, Katz finds him dying - throat slit, bleeding out - but the girl is safe. It also appears that the Tarot Killer (who we were introduced to The Tarot Killer in the Kane & Alton thriller “Her Bleeding Heart“) has struck again, and rid the world of another psychopath; all the little girl can say is that an ‘angel’ rescued her.

Given the intensity of the case, and the fact that Agent Katz was seen to be actually trying to stem the tide of blood from the kidnapper’s slit throat, she is given a psych evaluation, and it’s noted that she has a problem with empathy. (Little do they know!)

As a result, Agent Beth Katz is reassigned to an FBI outpost called Rattlesnake Creek, where she will partner with ex-military Special Agent Dax Styles will oversee a number of small towns as well as deal with rowdy miners on booze-fuelled weekends. In a more intimate setting, Beth will have to work extra hard to keep her ‘dark side’ hidden from her partner, resulting in a seemingly constant tension. But, they do work well together.

The first case that Beth and Dax end up with is a kidnapper/child killer called The Pied Piper - he lures pairs of young girls into his clutches, leaving one brutally murdered and one seemingly vanished forever. Having struck in other areas of the country, it seems that the Pied Piper is now operating in their area, and they swear to bring him down as quickly as possible.

We get deep into the investigation, and witness the lengths that Beth Katz will go to in order to stop this and other psychos.

Anyone familiar with the Kane & Alton investigations will recognize some of the players in this one: Dr. Shane Wolfe, his daughter Emily and his assistant Colt show up as part of the forensic team assigned to the case(s), and the close proximity of Rattlesnake Creek to both Black Rock Falls and Jo Wells’ outpost in Snakeskin Gully means that there will be more character interactions in future books. (I cannot wait to see what Jo Wells thinks of Beth Katz….)

I read this one in one, nail-biting session . Five-Star Suspense. Recommended.