Een Meisje in de Val (Een Ella Dark FBI Thriller—Boek 8)

Ella Dark #8

by Blake Pierce

FBI-agente Ella Dark bestudeert al seriemoordenaars sinds ze kon lezen, getraumatiseerd door de moord op haar eigen vader. Ze heeft een encyclopedische kennis van moordenaars opgebouwd. Maar wanneer Ella een moord onderzoekt en beseft dat dit geen gewoon lijk is, staat ze voor een het lichaam is samengesteld uit delen van meerdere slachtoffers. Hoeveel mensen heeft deze moordenaar omgebracht? En kan Ella ontdekken wie dit deden waarom—voordat de tijd op is?

"Een meesterwerk van spanning en mysterie. Blake Pierce heeft uitstekend werk geleverd bij het ontwikkelen van personages met een psychologische kant die zo goed beschreven is dat we ons in hun geest kunnen verplaatsen, hun angsten voelen en juichen voor hun succes. Vol wendingen zal dit boek je wakker houden tot de laatste bladzijde."
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (over Once Gone)

EEN MEISJE IN DE VAL (Een Ella Dark FBI Thriller) is het achtste deel in een langverwachte nieuwe serie van de nummer 1 bestsellerauteur en USA Today bestsellerauteur Blake Pierce, wiens bestseller Once Gone (gratis te downloaden) meer dan 1.000 vijfsterrenrecensies heeft ontvangen.

FBI-agente Ella Dark, 29 jaar oud, krijgt de kans van haar leven om haar droom waar te lid worden van de Gedragsanalyse-eenheid. Ella's verborgen obsessie om een encyclopedische kennis van seriemoordenaars op te bouwen, heeft ertoe geleid dat ze vanwege haar briljante geest is opgevallen en uitgenodigd om bij de grote jongens te komen.

Wanneer de laatste moordenaar een ongewone obsessie met Jack the Ripper lijkt te hebben, moet Ella al haar kennis aanwenden om de aanwijzingen aan elkaar te knopen.

Kan ze deze verwrongen puzzel op tijd oplossen om het leven van het volgende slachtoffer te redden?

Een pageturner en huiveringwekkende misdaadthriller met een briljante en gekwelde FBI-agente. De ELLA DARK-serie is een meeslepend mysterie, vol spanning, wendingen en onthullingen, voortgedreven door een adembenemend tempo dat je tot diep in de nacht bladzijden doet omslaan.

Toekomstige delen in de serie zijn nu beschikbaar!

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Murder Mystery

247 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2022

About the author

Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Fanny Reads ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Octavo libro de la serie Ella Dark, y seguimos con esto.

Sinopsis general: Ella Dark, una chica de 29 años, se le presenta la gran oportunidad de alcanzar el sueño de su vida: entrar en la Unidad de Crímenes de Conducta en el FBI. Ella tiene una obsesión oculta, ha estudiado a los asesinos en serie desde que sabía leer, devastada por el asesinato de su propio padre. Ha adquirido un conocimiento enciclopédico de cada asesino en serie, cada víctima y cada caso, gracias a su memoria fotográfica. Destacada por su brillante mente, Ella es invitada a unirse a las grandes ligas.

Opinión en específico del libro: Ripley está en el hospital y Ella tiene una nueva compañera provisional para un caso súper crítico en otra ciudad (mismo esquema que funciona) este es un poco más sádico porque corta las extremidades de sus víctimas aparentemente sin ningún rastro en común que claramente Ella va a detectar antes del tercer asesinato, realmente me gusto, lo disfrute pero hay una parte que siento que el libro se vino abajo.
Thobias sigue suelto, y al parecer nadie puede con él y se me hace excesivo como después de golpes, cortes, disparos, el man anda como si nada, como si tuviera 18 años con toda la energía lo cual aparte de que no es lógico pues ya tiende a ser un poco aburrido, en cada libro después del 6, se dan cuenta que Thobias está detrás de algún suceso, las intercepta, las quiere matar, está a punto, pero por la fuerza de los avengers, escapan y lo dejan prácticamente muerto y cuando se logran parar o recomponerse se dan cuenta de escapo ¿Cómo? Es inmortal.
Es cool porque es como ver un episodio de CSI pero el tema de Thobias ya aburre un poco, necesito que lo quiten y me pongan otra cosa.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues to pick up speed. Each book in the series that I read, I think is the best so far. I am never disappointed. As with the previous stories in the series, this book has another serial killer to catch. Ella is paired with a newbie, Paige, while Mia recovers in the hospital. But even in the hospital, Mia is "working another case." Dual serial killer stories flow through this book, but it is well written and their is never any confusion. Again, as in the previous books, there is no additional "fluff" to fill a book. These books are easy and fast to read, but full of clues if you pay attention to help the reader do a little investigating on their own. Everything I love in a thriller.

[Shari C · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 I don't know why I keep reading this series... It's like popcorn I guess. But seriously, the titles have nothing to do with the stories lol
Gonna take a break from them for awhile. I feel my brain getting softer. 😉

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

another good quick read by Blake. was not expecting that ending

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one starts out a bit odd, Ella and Ripley are still reeling from the events in the last book. Ripley in the hospital, Ella at work, where all of a sudden she is the senior agent working with a newbie. I found myself laughing at all the times Ella would channel Ripley and how Ripley acted to her when she was training her. Paige the newbie was pretty good, listened to Ella and had a good thought process and was very good at chasing people down.

Things got a bit crazy towards the end when the bad guy got one step ahead of Ella and Paige, but in the end, they did what they needed to and kept themselves alive. Ella's question to Paige about what she thought of field work and would she do it again at the end was a good one and gave Paige really thought her answer through.

Through out the case, Ripley was sidelined, in the hospital, but not totally out of it. Ella would call and check and almost came back after one stupid event. At the very end, Ripley had a little too much time to think and realized Ella was being set up and rushed into save the day, which she did, unfortunately, their prey once again escaped. Which is too bad.

[Kathy Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best one yet

I am reading Blake Pierce's series in order, the Ella Dark series, FBI agent with a photographic memory of serial killers from the past. The patterns and methods give her clues to solve modern cases. In this book, someone is killing young women and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to his selection of victims.
Ella's training a new rookie agent, Paige Ellis, because her usual partner is in the hospital after being injured by Tobias Campbell. It was fun seeing Paige in the same position Ella was in not long before.
This book kept me up reading until the.middle of the night.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not enjoy this one much at all. But pushed through since it's part of the series.

[Jade Pilling · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Marianne Small · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #26 of 2025 , these books do not disappoint. I always immediately go to the next!!

[Kayla McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pierce always has me glued to her books from the first page to the last. This series is intense and has you on the edge of your seat through the whole thing.

[Dario Delfino · Rating 2 out of 5]

So far one of the best of the series, probably!

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I like these books the endings are getting predictable. The real killer is never caught until the end so all the coincidences that seem relevant are just that, coincidences. And at the end Ella and her partner, regardless of which partner, will be separated. Ella will get hurt somehow, but prevail in the end, catching the killer in record time. And now that Tobias is out of prison, you can add that he comes so close to dying, but still escapes. Also, I still don’t trust Ben.

[Em Fanning · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what, I like this new storyline. I like the new agent and psychological aspect of the villain.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh how the turntables…

They really just switched characters by replacing Ripley with Ella and then putting the new rookie, Paige, into Ella's spot and giving all of Ripley's characteristics to Ella. Such as calling Paige “Rookie,” asking for an Irish coffee, thinking of Paige as Ella like when she first started, Ella missing stuff at the crime scene for Paige to find, etc.

I also thought the book was going to go a different way like there would be two serial killers where they have to choose something from the last murder and match it to their next one and something about handing off the leg. I thought that would've been a cool twist to the typical formula that the author has been sticking to with this series, so I was sad when it was just the usual three wrong suspects then Ella has a feeling and bam she's got the killer with another injury to show for it.

I'm sick of people coming after Ripley and Ella. It's just going to be redundant at this point. There is also no way she would be sent on assignment a day after almost being burnt down in her own apartment.

Talk about a soap opera of an ending. Of course Page happens to be lucky enough to fit the final victim, of course he doesn't kill Paige right away to wait for Ella (to show you for what reason I don't know I was waiting for it to be another Tobias thing again), of course Ella is there to save the day, and of course it’s a super dramatic ending.

Don't even get me started about the epilogue with Tobias. Cheesy. Silly. Makes me want to throw up. "Who should I kill you or you? Hmm I’ll start with you. Wait no you." Did a child write the ending? I find it hard to take Tobias' character seriously with scenes like this and especially how obsessed he's gotten over Ella. If he's so great and manipulative, shouldn't he have gotten his way by now? Other than defying death. He’s lost his superior complex he had when his character was first introduced. Now he’s just a delusional character sticking around for no reason.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't want to knock the author because most of what I am reviewing has to do with editing, and other decisions made by the publishing company. The story is OK- This is book 8- and already an extremely formulaic pattern has developed. It's as if the author watched Silence of the Lambs and then decided to write a series of books. The ultimate serial killer villain, Tobias Campbell, is completely unrealistic- darting from state to state- moving at will and somehow able to avoid what would have been a nationwide search with daily news updates. He's been shot more times than you can count, yet somehow manages to continue to disappear. To quote the author "No human could withstand this punishment and live to tell the tale". which is correct- He's super human- jumping from a building with a noose around his neck- living, and then driving off in a vehicle!
I listen to the audiobook versions of these stories and I applaud the narrartor "Amanda Goettl?" for attempting, but the litany of mispronounced words, along with barely any inflection in her voice makes it difficult to endure, nor envision finishing this lengthy series. It's as if the story is being read by a nervous high schooler giving a book report. I think there's around 30 books in this series alone?!
That along with the fact that even in goodreads' description of each book has nothing to do with the book itself. It's the same generic description repeated over and over.

[Thatgirllyssakinnns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book picks up with Mia left in the hospital from her fight with Tobias and Ella is on her way to work another case with a rookie . At first Ella wasn’t sure about having a new partner but Agent Ellis proved herself on the field . She and Ella had become the new Ripley and Ella lol with Ella now being the teacher . Ripley was attacked in the hospital by one Tobias many goons . Ella and Agent Ellis solved their case and headed back to DC where more trouble followed . Ripley had one more day left in the hospital and then she could recover from home . Ella landed and went to met up with Ben a nice gentleman who we got introduced to in the first book but Ella broke things off since she was starting her career as a field agent within the bureau . Mia told Ella to stay away from the hospital since the man who attacked her had his gang come down to DC so now the feds and regular cops were all busy . Mia was unguarded at the hospital and she knew something more sinister was at work and her gut was right . Ella walked into a trap by Tobias himself . Just when we think the dynamic duo would finally put an end to him he made an escape I didn’t even think he could survive . He should have died from the noose around his neck but nope all we know is he has escaped their grasp yet again and the game / hunt continues .

[Daiana Gonzáles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reseña: La chica atrapada – Blake Pierce

En esta octava entrega de la saga (que volví a leer después de dos años, ya que no encontraba las traducciones), la autora nos muestra nuevamente la mente oscura de un asesino serial y nos sumerge cada vez más en cómo trabaja el FBI y sus investigaciones.

¿De qué se trata?
La historia sigue a un asesino que sufrió mucho en su niñez a causa de su madre. Esa relación marcada por el dolor lo llevó a convertirse en un criminal que mató a cinco chicas, todas con algún parecido físico o psicológico con ella, o que compartían rasgos de su historial.

¿Qué me pareció el libro?
Como dije, llevaba dos años sin leer esta saga, pero decidí retomarla justo en Halloween (¡una buena elección para la época!). Fue extraño al principio, pero me gustó mucho porque poco a poco conocemos más sobre los casos y también sobre los personajes: Ella, Mia y Peggie, que me encantó.
Un libro que sigue manteniendo el nivel y que me ayudó a salir de mi bloqueo lector.

✨ En definitiva, una buena lectura para la temporada, que aunque no me sorprendió tanto como los primeros libros de la saga, me mantuvo enganchada y me ayudó a salir del bloqueo lector. Mi valoración: ★★★✰ (3,5 estrellas).

[Samantha (Millennial Life Crisis Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the edge of my seat! In this next installment, we see Ella and Mia handle the aftermath with Tobias and what happens next. Ella decides to give an old flame another shot, despite Tobias still being out there, and she also reluctantly takes another case with the agency that involves a new partner since Mia is in the hospital. Like the previous book, after solving her latest case, it seems that Tobias has set his sights on Ella instead of Mia and uses her flame to draw her out. While the case in the book is good, I’m more hanging on for them catching Tobias and putting that case to rest, and while I thought it was going to happen in this book, it seems we will have to wait for another installment.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Bernd Friedmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these books, they catch you from the first moment and you blink and you are the eight book like I am. Obviously I enjoy the reading style, the story, the character development and everything around it ... I have to say though, this ending here is sounding unreal. How she is stuck in the apartment with Ben, then there are all these guys including Tobias and for some unexplained wonder Mia shows up ??? Seriously, it sounds totally dumb at this point And then they have a rope around his neck throw him over the balcony and he still gets away ... Ok sorry, it is as stupid of an ending as pretty woman on the staird at the end when she says " She rescued him right back". Looks like you ran out of good ideas .. maybe I let it end here at the 8th book ..

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers!


I like that Ella had to train a new Rookie. I liked the story of this unsub to a degree. The story was easy to follow, but not very thrilling. The ending was interesting, how her new Rookie and her got into the altercation with the unsub. But as always, Ella needed saving, which I hate. Let her do the saving!

The epilogue was good. I liked that Tobias and Ben were waiting for her, that Tobias used Ben to get to Ella. Mia came to the rescue and saved Ella and Ben! And that Tobias was free and somehow escaped. I want the story that takes him down to be more dramatic.

[Cathy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we go again, Agent Mia Ripley and Agent Ella Dark her protege' hunting unsubs and the biggest unsub of them all Tobias Campbell. Tobias wants Mia and Ella dead, and he is determined to be the one that kills them. Mia and Ella want Tobias dead and are convinced that they are the only ones that will be able to take him down. This story is another in a long line of great suspense thrillers and on to the next story to read. I love this series but I Love Jessie Hunt, and Laura Frost etc. Blake Pierce knows how to take these women and make them super bad at catching bad guys.

[Kira Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg this was a twisted case. this one was throwing me for a tailspin but, the way all the pieces connected was so good.
as always, really enjoyed this book. this one i could see so clearly in my mind which was gory but that is what i love about this books so much. the legs?? the victims?? omg!

however, i will say how many times is tobias going to miraculously escape death😭 i fs thought he wouldn’t still be alive from his run in with mia but the NOOSE??? like how tf is that even possible? i wonder how long this storyline will go on for.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book in this series, so far! Mia is at the hospital and although Ella is also recovering from the past case, she is requested to partner with a new agent, Paige, and train her. The case turns out to be more complicated than it seemed and Paige proves to be a great asset as she is a good fighter and fast thinker. Tobias, however, continues to hunt Mia and Ella and this story has a surprising ending!
I received an ARC from the author and this is my unbiased review.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella has to work really fast to get ahead of this serial killer and if she doesn't yet another victim will die. And it seems as always only Ella's brain full of serial killer facts can solve the puzzle and save the next person from death. And to add a twist Ella has to work with a rooky partner, Paige Ellis, as her regular partner is hurt. Ella tries to be kind and teach her gently so she will get the hang of a real case not just one from a book. Will she work out or be a failure?

[Sandy Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Story Continues

Excellent story, plot, charecters!
I love these books. The trials of Dark and Ripley are Always good reading.
Action and mystery always moves along.
I like how plot is always different... Nothing repetitive.
Spoiler: thought for a moment, Supreme Nemesis was a goner, but Surprise?

[Teresa Stroud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling

I love these Ella Dark books, they are thrilling with several twists and turns. This book kept me interested and engaged the whole time wondering how she would solve her current crime and how Tobias would torture her again. Can't wait to read the next book in this series. I give it 5 stars!

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was Book 8 of the Ella Dark series. It was another good 10 hour road trip audiobook that kept me awake!

This book follows Ella Dark, an FBI field agent, as she solves serial murder, using her photographic memory to recall prominent serial cases.

Again, if you need a quick read or audiobook to consume your time and don’t care too much for good writing, check out this series.

⭐️⭐️

[Riley Steelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m absolutely loving this series. It’s so interesting and entertaining, and I feel like it’s perfect for us who love to listen to ture crime. Each book is a different serial killer type story told for the describes point of veiw with occasional point of view chapters form the other detective, the victim and even the killer sometimes.

[Patricia Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chase

Following in this series in ow can someone Tobias age out maneuver to younger FBI agents and after 16 yrs in prison have so many connections within the FBI . I would not be surprise if the direction is in on it.

[Sam keys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another good read with Agent Dark training a new field agent. Some similarities with her own experiences under Ripely. Getting burnt on the nine lives of Tobias though. It’s time to have him leap from a tall building or become an instructor for new agents since he’s so elusive.