Murderess of the Midnight Raven

by Samantha Ransier

Book 1 in Tales From The Midnight Raven

If someone were to offer you the chance to solve the murder of your loved one, with the catch that you had to work as an escort for the Atlanta Red-Light Scene's most notorious pimp, Lorenzo Gonzalez... Would you sign that contract?




Valentine did...




Valentine Valore is the most highly sought after escort in the Atlanta Red-Light Scene. She is sassy, gorgeous, and knows exactly how to bring anyone to their knees. Cain, her roguish bad-boy Driver with hulking muscles, tattoos, and an affinity for leather, is absolutely head-over-heels in love with her. Only issue is...She hates him with every fibre of her being.




As it turns out, though... Having a lamp broken over your head during a fight for your life makes you put things into perspective. Especially when the man you hate is the one to risk it all to save you... And you figure out that he is under contract as well.




What can you do when the man you hate suddenly becomes the only person you can trust? And when you realize you have fallen for him... What if it is too late?




There is a killer on the loose in Metro Atlanta... And Lorenzo seems to be the only person with all of the answers to these burning questions.

324 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2024

Reviews

[Morgan Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a book set in my city. I was instantly drawn in to the story line of digging deeper into what a sex worker has to deal with on a day to day basis. I loved the connection between Cain & Valentine even before they succumb to their feelings for each other. I do wish we got a little more backstory of each of the characters that brought them to where they are now in life, but still a very good plot. Cain is the type to do anything for someone who he deems worthy of his love and trust. Valentine is someone just trying to figure out life and take it day by day and not give up. Them coming together for each other just makes sense. I can’t wait to continue the Midnight Raven series.

4/5 ⭐️
🌃 Sex Work/Prostitution
🌃 Slow Burn
🌃 Physical Assault
🌃 Sex Addiction

[Teahlyn Seeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

I’m giving this 4.5⭐️ but rounding up to 5. I’m obsessed!! I love the story of Valentine and Cain. The growth of their relationship was perfect and you could tell early on that they were both fighting their connection. I adore the side characters! Mags makes me think of a female Lafayette from True Blood, all I could picture with Cole was the bartender guy in Deadpool, and Lorenzo definitely gave Danny DeVito in Matilda!
The friendship between the girls is glorious, you’d have to be close with the women you work with in that industry. The spice is spicyyyyy!! Absolutely worth the slow burn. Knowing Cain’s backstory with his family made me want to know even more about Valentine. I did NOT see the twists coming!! I’m so excited for the next installment of the Midnight Raven series!!

[Taylor May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Release Date: October 31st, 2024

If someone was to offer you the chance to solve the murder of your loved one, BUT you had to work as an escort for the Atlanta Red-Light Scene's most notorious pimp, would you?

Murderess of the Midnight Raven (MOTMR) is a medium paced, slow burn, darker romance, thrilling read that will keep you on your toes. You dive into the lives of Valentine, Val, and Cain as they navigate life while fulfilling their contracts with Lorenzo,the Atlanta Red-Light Scene's most notorious pimp. You see the unwelcoming side of Val’s life that she tries to hide while also learning about Cain and how deep of a connection he has to his family.

While Val is fulfilling her contract as a Varsity Vixen to find out who killed her best friend, she is having to deal with her driver, Cain. Everyone knows that he is madly in love with Val, but everyone also knows that this love is very one sided. After Val gets home from one of her escort jobs, her life is forever changed when her roommate attacks her with a lamp. Will Val put her hatred aside and let the one person who can save her, save her?

While Cain is fulfilling his contract to find out who murdered his brother, he gets the pleasure of driving around the Varsity Vixens. After falling madly in love with one of the Varsity Vixens, Val, he is faced with an unimaginable situation. Try to save the person that he is madly in love with but hates every fiber of his body and potentially ruin his entire life OR continue working and worry about Val later.

By the end of MOTMR, you will have cried, laughed, sobbed, thrown the book, and come to love all the characters. The way that Samantha Ransier has described the love that Cain has for his mother and how raw the emotions feel while reading about this connection will have you holding your loved ones a little bit tighter.

Favorite quote: “Pain demands to be felt, and when the world seems to be against you, the hardest thing in the world is coming to terms with it.”

Please!!! Before starting, read the trigger warnings at the start of the book. While none of this is happening in real life, some might still find the topics discussed in MOTMR triggering.

This was an arc read for me, so I did receive an early e-copy of this book for free. My thoughts and review are 100% my own and are in no way swayed by the author.

[Matt Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murderess of the Midnight Raven is a dark, gripping romance that pulls you into Valentine’s world of survival, sex work, and heartbreak. The chemistry between Valentine and Cain is raw, intense, and unforgettable. Ransier doesn’t hold back, tackling tough themes with real emotion and depth. This book isn’t just a love story; it’s about finding strength in the darkest moments. If you’re ready for a wild, emotional journey, this book is a must-read!

[Doonut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly!!! I definitely loved reading this book!!! It was soo freaking good and the thrill in this book was endless and threw me everywhere like a crazy roller-coaster!! I loved the characters and I loved how smooth the storyline flowed! I would definitely recommend reading this book!!

[Alexandra Nodea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! It is worth every minute of reading! It has a perfect slow burn plot, with a great twist!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride! You are thrown into a dark underworld of semex workers. Val wants to find out you killed her friend and her driver Cain wants to find out who killed his brother. They slowly learn to trust each other and become closer. Well written characters and world building.

[Kiara Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For this being the authors first book I have to say it is very well written!
Such an engaging story and each characters back story as to why they are in this current situation with Lorenzo and how he is just taking advantage of them both is heart wrenching. The spice also? Def caught me off guard from the escort perspective of what Valentine and the girls endure and have to tolerate.


SPOILERS:


So satisfying when Cain got payback on King and got the beaten he deserved.

And Cains mom passed away it brought me to tears 🥺

[Regina M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, great plot and a good amount of spice! I thoroughly enjoyed Val and Cain’s story and look forward to more of this authors work.

[NATHALIE PILON · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review
This was a 3.75 for me. I love a slow burn, but it was a bit too slow.
It is quite dark due to the subject matter and the type of characters one would encounter in that kind of world. Nevertheless, there was a fair bit of light in there. I loved the FMC’s relationship with her colleagues, and it was pretty clear that the MMC was innately good.
It was enjoyable and would read more from this author.

[Cynder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to preface this by saying I have not written a review in ages, so you'll have to forgive any structural inconsistencies.As for the book itself: I enjoyed it! It's a heavy-hitting tale of sex, violence, vengeance and escapism. The writing is powerfully emotive, and I definitely shed some tears at its emotional cruxes. The characters and plot weave together fittingly and fluidly, which made for a character-rich, compelling story which surprised me several times with the depth of maturity and the grace with which it handled its subject matter.

Spoilers past this point.

Look away now! Or be beholden to the secrets of the Midnight Raven...

Okay, recap. Valentine is a sexual escort working under sleazeball pimp, Lorenzo Gonzales. Along with her co-wankers--er, co-workers, Mags and Sasha (whose characters I really liked and would go as far to call them favourites), she is towed around by her bodyguard, stoic and broody Cain. Valentine has a bone to pick with Cain because he let her down when she used her safe word with a client, and as a result they have a hard time genuinely communicating with each other, preferring to sit in silence and brood or snap at each other rather than addressing their issues like grown-ass adults. This will become the key focus of the plot, as we eventually learn that Lorenzo is a prat who has both of them wrapped around his fat little fingers, reeling them in with the promise of unveiling the identities of their loved ones' murderers.

Starting with the characters, I liked them. I have my own gripes with some of them, but overall, the cast is solid. Nobody stood out in particular to me, though Mags and Sasha provided some much-needed comic relief and moments of plot-jogging-along and were key in Cain and Valentine's relationship moving forward. Other side/secondary characters (Lorenzo, King, Roy, that one bird-watching guy, Cain's mother) served the narrative well, and it felt like they all had their place in the development of our main duo.

Speaking of the happy couple, let's start with Valentine. Valentine, Val, or Becca, was an OK character for me. I thought Lorenzo's manipulation of her was deplorable, and I really felt for her whenever she was pushed past her limits, or otherwise left broken at Mags/Sasha's feet. However, this was in conflict with her immature interactions with Cain, especially in the first half of the book. It grew grating to see her badmouthing and/or shunning Cain then playing mind-games with herself about whether she liked this sexy bad-boy or hated his guts. And then, at the halfway point, my least favourite moment in the book happens, and it really made me feel strange about her and Cain's characters. More on that in a bit. But afterwards, it feels like her character is gradually stripped of what made her interesting, and by the end she is just a shivering, paranoid mess... which does make sense, considering what she's gone through, but I don't feel it felt entirely earned. Overall, I liked her, and she was quite well written, particularly her struggles and sex scenes, but I didn't find much appeal in her growth arc. 6/10 character for me.

Cain, or Adam, is a better character, though still suffers at the halfway point. He is your typical tatted-up bad-boy, the silent grunt who is revealed to have a soft heart. His was the more interesting perspective to follow, as through his eyes we see the truth behind Valentine's hatred for him and the reasons for his disaffected personality slowly unfold in a natural and engaging way. I especially revelled in his struggle to maintain his night job and day cover job, and the eventual crash and burn as his shady pimp work is leaked to his day boss in a heart-crushing ploy of vengeance. But there is one elephant in the room, and that is the centre of the book's conflict.

So. My least favourite moment in the whole entire story. Leading up to this, Cain discovers that Valentine is the one who killed his brother, where he promptly confesses to Val, then quits his job and cuts contact with Val for months. By this point, Val has become a sex-hungry mess, and is fucked relentlessly and repeatedly by her abusive new bodyguard, King. They meet by chance at the Midnight Raven, Cain saves Val from a sticky situation with King, and they drive back to his apartment. This is the point where I really questioned where the narrative was headed.

Cain, despite saving her thanks to his moral nature, still detests her, as far as we're aware. Val explains that Lorenzo has been using her as a contract killer. Now, there's a point earlier on where Val admits that she's under contract to discover the identity of her best friend's murderer; likewise, Cain admits his version, and they both talk about it so casually then go back to being bitey with each other after a hint of romance. I did not like how this part was written. Back to the apartment, Val now explains that she was under contract to kill his brother. Naturally, Cain is still upset at her, and he would have little reason to forgive her so easily, and yet... he does.

I have no problems with these two bonding over their shared fate and becoming a couple. But the way it was written, where they just tell each other that they're under contract, and later on have a massive conflict of interest and get over it just because, and I quote, "Are you telling me that this whole time, I have been blaming you for something that wasn't your fault?", does not sit right with me. Sure, I get that Cain's sympathetic because Lorenzo put her up to it, but after this point he does not feel negatively whatsoever about her killing his brother. 'Ah yes, Lorenzo put you up to this thing I could have guessed he put you up to? It's okay baby, Lorenzo's a cunt and he deserves to eat shit and die. I love you forever and always <3'

This turning point could have been great, but I feel that it could have been bridged more smoothly, as it felt jarring to see them suddenly make up over something that should realistically be a serious point of pain. The reveal was too casual and there was basically no follow-up for the main conflict for the couple. Despite this, though, the plot continued to be a rollercoaster of impact, cushioned out by quieter moments, and had me thoroughly in its grasp 'til the very end. King deserved what he got and Lorenzo deserved worse.

All this aside, I want to talk about some more minor critiques before I wrap up my review. Firstly, tense-switching. There is a jarring amount of tense-switching in this book--the narrative switching between past and present. My immersion suffered as I kept on having to reread sentences and correct them in my head. There's a similar problem with the spelling and grammar, though not to the same degree. Paragraph-wise, there are some weird breaks, but nothing majorly disjointed. The problem is, it all adds up, robbing moments of their impact and resulting in some stilted dialogue, which ultimately robs the book of a star. The editing is amateurish, and leaves much to be desired in terms of polish. I sincerely hope that lessons have been learned from this and the editor improves going forward.

Other little bits... I liked the attention to detail with appearances--for example, makeup and clothes. Very consistent and well described. Adored the part where King fucked Cain over and proceeded to be obliterated off the face of the earth. It broke me when Cain lost his mother, since I lost my grandma while reading this. Despite my qualms with the couple's conflict resolution, I loved it when Cain found out Val murdered his brother, told her he LOVED her, LOVE-D, kissed her then disappeared. Smut was fantastic. No further elaboration needed.

All in all, a solid read. I haven't read a good sex work tale in a while, and it was refreshing to see how the work itself was portrayed as opposed to sex for pleasure, and to get insight into all the real struggles people in this line of work go through on a daily basis. Addiction is indeed a slippery slope and should not be downplayed as a simple lack of self-discipline. Humans are complex creatures and are welcomely treated as such.

I look forward to discovering the author's future works and will be a returning client of the Midnight Raven.

7/10

[Colette De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously dark romance but who exactly is the villain.

The twists and turns of this slow burn love story between Valentine and Cain are devastating, unexpected and left me reeling, had me reading well into the early hours to find out what happens next.

This is a tale of two people searching for justice and trusting the wrong person. Lorenzo promises answers but they end up indentured to his escort ring where both are trying and failing to pay off their debts.

For me , Valentine was very unlikeable at the beginning but after learning what she has been put through at the hands of Lorenzo, I felt more empathetic and I really started to root for her.
Plus her relationship with her friends and co workers was so beautiful and trusting.


Cain has many demons of his own to overcome in his quest to find out who killed his brother before he can think about becoming the White Knight for Valentine


The author certainly kept me entertained and delighted in this world and for a debut novel I found it beautifully descriptive, enough tension to really keep me invested and enough spice to make this world believable

You really should go read it


There is some spice and graphic scenes so check the TWs

[Mino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. Overall, the writing is very good. The author has such beautiful writing. It's poetic almost. I didn't like this one as much as I liked The Importance of Loving Ernest... I really like Cain/Adam and his brooding character. I had a harder time coming to like Val/Becca. She was a bit grating to me... I do think there was a decent amount of character development for both of them but I definitely didn't connect as much as I had with the other book I read. It felt like the relationship was less personal to me but I do like how it ended.

It's also a personal issue with me, but I'm not as great with straight stories as I am with queer.. So I struggled with the book a bit but I wanted to give it a try regardless! Overall, I do think it was a well-written book and if you're not as awkward with straight stuff as I am, it'll definitely be a good read. Lorenzo is gross and I'm glad he got what he deserved (although he deserves much worse) and I hated King which just shows she does a good job of creating characters you're meant to love to hate. I'm excited to read Ask for Ellis 🖤

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murderess of the Midnight Raven is a gripping, emotional rollercoaster full of betrayal, manipulation, and hard-earned love. Valentine signs away her freedom to uncover the truth about her loved one’s murder—only to find herself trapped under the thumb of Lorenzo, a calculating and cruel boss who manipulates people into selling their souls under the guise of help.

Valentine and Cain? Whew. Their relationship is a slow-burn mix of tension, misunderstandings, and intense silent communication. Both have been used and broken in different ways, and watching them slowly find trust—and eventually love—in each other is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Their dynamic feels raw and earned, and you’ll be rooting for them through every twist and betrayal.

The story dives deep into exploitation and survival, and while it doesn’t shy away from darkness, it also leaves room for hope. The ending is exactly what these two deserved after everything they’ve been through—a rare light in a world built on shadows.

If you’re into romance with grit, pain, healing, and suspense that actually delivers, this one's for you. Just be prepared for emotional whiplash—in the best way.

[CeeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Would fight Cain in a back alley, then cry about it later.

📖 Tropes delivered with emotional carnage:
– Enemies to lovers (aka “I hate you but also… 👀”)
– Grumpy x sunshine (but both of them are kind of feral)
– “Who hit you?” (internal screaming)
– Dark romance meets survival-core

I was obsessed with Cain & Val’s dynamic by the end — but ohhh Valentine. I could NOT stand her at first. Girl was all knives and attitude. But then I got it.
In a world where she had no control, she took it the only way she could — by being sharp, guarded, and a little bit dangerous.

🖤 Their relationship? Not toxic.
🧨 Their circumstances? Pure chaos and deeply unfair.
The book reads fast but hits heavy — betrayal, manipulation, trauma, survival. The writing was super immersive and honestly, once I fell in, I stayed there.
Also, Cain’s backstory made me want to throw hands.
If you want a gritty, emotional rollercoaster with spice, danger, and messy humans trying to survive each other — this one’s for you.

[Tabbs Cajun Girl Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hear me out friends. HEAR ME OUT.

I was lucky enough to get to read this as an ARC and I am not at all upset about it! I absolutely LOVED this. If there is one thing y’all know about me, it’s that I love a good enemies to lovers book! And this gave me every single thing that I wanted!

I do love a good slow burn as well and this book gave me the steady build up that I needed, but didn’t make me wait FOREVER for what I needed! The growth was amazing - the character development was so on point that it didn’t leave me with questions upon questions.

I know that y’all know I love me some side characters and THIS BOOK IS GIVING IT. I ADORE the side characters. Sometimes they gave me the best moments of the book.

The spice. The twist. THE STORY. Hands down had a good time. 100000% recommend.

[woodsy.reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

With incredibly immersive writing, it was easy to be completely sucked into the realm of The Midnight Raven.

This is book one in the series, Tales from the Midnight Raven, and I look forward to reading more from Samantha Ransier — easily a new favourite author and genre of mine!

The relationship of the main characters, Valentine and Cain itself isn't toxic, but the environment they're placed in is. With incredibly realistic takes on tough topics, Samantha does a fantastic job at delicately addressing and navigating the horrors of the world that far too many can relate to. It's an eye opening read you won't want to miss.

As with every dark romance, please pay attention to the trigger warnings before reading, and make sure to take care of yourself in the process. If you're a lover of this genre, this book does not disappoint!

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed

I've said it once and I'll say it again Samantha Ransier, Samantha does an amazing job at truly pulling the reader in! Ransiers writing is cinematic and you will not want to ever leave the world she creates!

I have absolutely read these books backwards on accident but that just goes to shoe how versatile the reading order is! I did not feel lost at all while reading this series and I am so excited to see what comes next!

Ransier writes characters that you truly fall in love with! They make you feel a huge slew of emotions that you wouldn't get elsewhere! If you are looking for an emotional and truly interesting series then Tales from the Midnight Raven is the series for you!

5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3🌶🌶🌶

[AmesChicReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Val and Cain have a tragic love story with a perfect ending. It’s complicated by forced proximity, sex work, abuse - physical, mental, and drugs, death, and a lot of grief. The slow burn was killing me at times haha. This was beautifully written and so easy to read, I was definitely hooked from the first few pages and finished in 2 days. I really enjoy this author’s writing and I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, one of the best and hottest books I’ve read. Cain and valentines aka Becca and Adam are friends to enemies but they basically save each other. Love this story and the desire and will within the both of these characters.

[Laura Wofford · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. It’s thrilling, spicy, dark romance, you won’t want to put it down. You may cry, you may scream but you will love this book.

[amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. If you want a reasonably quick read with slow burn, spice and a good plot, why not give this a try!

[Chelsey Kraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m now obsessed with Valentine and Cain and Becca and Adam and Scarlett and Sebastian. What a freaking ride this book was! Way to start a series! I’m immediately diving into book two!

[Samantha Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤯

This book!!! This book!!! It made me feel every emotion possible. I was laughing, crying, angry, blushing, anxious - the lot.

The slow burn, my gosh does Samantha know how to make a girl sweat! 😥 The tension, the angst, the stress. Was it worth it?! Hell yes!! The spice 👩🏼‍🍳😚 x1000

I loved Cain & Valentine!!

The gritty & raw energy just flew off the pages. It covers so many themes in such a beautiful way. It’s a world I don’t know much about but I learnt enough to feel so much love & empathy for these characters. (Well not all the characters, there are some Bastards in there!! Who I would gladly have kicked between the legs myself).

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. And honestly, at one point I hated the author for what she was putting me through, but she is 100% forgiven.

Please check your Trigger Warnings first!!!