Darkened Heart

by Venezia Miller

When two fishermen pull a decaying human heart from the icy river, it sparks the beginning of a chilling hunt. The victims—young boys—are found with their hearts removed, the organ placed in an eerie wooden box adorned with ancient symbols. As the killer's pattern emerges, so does the scale of the a murderer who moves effortlessly across Europe, leaving a grisly trail behind.

For the Gävle police, the case takes a disturbing turn when an old case appears hauntingly linked to the current killings. As shocking evidence surfaces, long-held beliefs are shattered, forcing the investigators to question everything they once thought was true.

With each new clue, they find themselves drawn deeper into a sinister web of deceit. But as they edge closer to the truth, the stakes grow deadlier—and the killer is always one step ahead. Time is running out, and the final, most devastating revelation may come too late.

Venezia Miller's Darkened Heart is a gripping psychological thriller that probes the shadowy boundaries between justice and vengeance, revealing the terrifying darkness lurking within us all.

mystery, nordic noir, suspense

Genres: Mystery

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

Engineer by day, writer by night—that's how I would describe myself. Since childhood, I have been fascinated with how writers can create entire worlds with simple words and draw others into their stories. I remember spending my summer holidays as a teenager reading detective stories and trying to write my own tales in the style of Agatha Christie on an old typewriter (yes, I'm that old!).

In the evenings, I would read my freshly typed pages to my younger sister, always ending on a cliffhanger to keep her longing for more. Those were precious moments. But as I got older and my schedule filled up with a job, husband, and children, there was little time left for writing. Eventually, I realized that all those stories in my head had disappeared.

In 2020, at the start of the Covid pandemic, I decided to reignite my passion for writing and published my first novel, THE FIND, on Amazon. Since then, this has become a full-blown book series.

As a writer, I truly appreciate your feedback and reviews. I am still on a learning curve and can always do better.

I am grateful to all the readers who have taken the time to read my books.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the series.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is utterly addictive! The complexity of the characters, immersive atmosphere, and unpredictable twists make it impossible to put down. The cases are compelling, keeping me hooked from start to finish. Despite their emotional baggage, I can't help but root for Isa and Timo—maybe one day…

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things tend to get different scenarios and red herrings all the time but in this case you never know what will come along. I did wonder about August when he showed up and it played out. Liked the way that Venezia treated Timo and Isa really noir. But it may happen in the next book. But that may be another scenario.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was amazing.
Winding themes and plots from the very first book through all of them was wonderful, the continued issues being met and expanded.
Characters continued to grow, change and evolve throughout the series.
Some for the better and some not so.
This was a very involved and intense series. A great read.

[Maria Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frustrating

I really liked the story but find the romantic intrusions frustrating. I really do not care about the characters love dramas and wish they were not so prominent in the story. I know I probably am completely in a minority but it's how I feel!!!

[janice robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkened heart

Brilliant brilliant book from start to finish can't wait for next instalment and I will be recommending these books to my friends

[michelle gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Absolutely loved this series ,murder,romamce,twists and turns.hope there will be more to come as I'm now invested in the charts

[Vero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my God. This was so good. Fantastic series. So addictive. Looking forward to the next one.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

kindle - 4.25* - still a good book but not my favourite in the series. Easy to read and gripping, love the characters, just such a good lil series.