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She came home to face her past.
She stayed to fight for her future.
Former FBI agent Izar "Izzy" Llewellyn never wanted to return to Darkness, California. But when she's offered the position of sheriff in her hometown—the same role her father held before his death—she sees it as a chance to rebuild her life after her husband's betrayal and death.

The last thing she needs is the town's handsome doctor, Cole Barrow, challenging her every move. Between his helicopter rescues and small-town charm, he's already won over most of the county. But Izzy knows better than to trust a man who seems too good to be true, no matter how much he makes her want to believe in second chances.

When children start falling ill and her predecessor's "accident" begins to look like murder, Izzy realizes Darkness holds more secrets than she imagined. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a deadly conspiracy that threatens everything she holds dear. With a killer closing in and corruption poisoning the town, Izzy must decide if she can trust Cole—and her heart—before it's too late.

In this small town, darkness isn't just a name—it's a promise.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2025

2828 people are currently reading
362 people want to read

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Zara Evans

11 books20 followers

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5 stars
1,293 (54%)
4 stars
790 (33%)
3 stars
228 (9%)
2 stars
38 (1%)
1 star
12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Merry.
893 reviews284 followers
August 19, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was a great read that held my interest throughout the book, and I recommend it. I look forward to reading the next in the series. I read the book over 2 days and enjoyed the storyline, main characters and side characters. I have not read this author before and she wrote Izzy to be strong, smart and independent (perhaps a bit too much at times). Dr Cole was a great male lead, war veteran who has been hurt before. This was a fast-moving story of about 300 pages that was not too graphic or procedural. There is a minor clean romance. I found a few things that seemed a bit improbable, but the mystery is solved at the end for this episode and an enjoyable series is born. Rate it 4.5*.
Profile Image for Donna Mallery.
958 reviews93 followers
August 14, 2025
I enjoyed this police procedural with a dab of romance! It wasn’t really heavy as so many in this genre are. The description of the town was heartfelt as well as many of the characters. The plot isn’t original, but I enjoyed getting there. I’m definitely read the next in the series. This female sheriff is thankfully likable unlike so many of the narcissistic female leads in so many books in this genre!
Profile Image for Gwen Chester.
595 reviews9 followers
March 31, 2025
This is the first book that I have read by Zara Evan's and I can guarantee it will not be my last. I am waiting patiently for part 2 and part 3 in this series. This book starts out with Special Agent Izar "Izzy" Llewellyn in a shoot out and the one that she shot is her husband but no one at the FBI realizes that they are married. So she has to go through an investigation to clear her name and even though she is found not guilty of anything she still parts ways with the FBI.

Izzy moves back home with her mother and decides what she wants to do now. And then she gets a phone call with an offer to become the Sheriff of her hometown of Darkness, California. This is the place where her dad was sheriff before he was killed in the line of duty and her family fled from the area. Izzy sees this job as a way to rebuild her life after the whole FBI shooting. She accepts the position and moves back to Darkness and in with her grandfather, still living in the area. Izzy can just feel the gossip everywhere she goes and the town seems to be taking bets as to see if this "woman" sheriff will make it or not.

One of the first people she meets is Cole Barrow, the town Doctor. He is so handsome and challenges her every move. He has a helicopter and does rescues and sometimes flies in to see patients if they can not get in to him. Over time her and Cole become close. They really start to work together when some of the town's children become ill to something beyond Cole's expertise. They both use their investigating skills to solve the mystery before it is too late. Will Cole and Izzy's friendship blossom into something more? Will the woman sheriff be successful and earn the respect of her men and the town?
Profile Image for Stephanie Hofmeister.
2 reviews1 follower
September 23, 2025
I honestly believe that both this book and author are AI generated. Super generic mystery tropes with an obvious ending. And the author somehow came out with 6 books in this series in one year?
Profile Image for Dawn Gee.
3,000 reviews12 followers
September 14, 2025
Very good start to new series

The town is a little different small town. The main and secondary characters are interesting and likeable. Izzy is realizing there's A lot more going on in the county than she expected or planned for. Cole is a former military doctor that has strong morals. Izzy is in danger during this book but I have there's even more danger out there.
Profile Image for LaRae☕️.
722 reviews10 followers
October 7, 2025
I am honestly shocked and appalled at the 4.46 rating this book has. It is truly awful. I only gave it two stars (instead of one) because the mystery was vaguely interesting, and my daughter read parts of it aloud, allowing me to release endorphins as I chortled at the absolutely horrible writing, so it has entertainment value.

First, the male lead, Cole, is not just a doctor. And he’s not just one who has sacrificially decided to live in a very tiny town to treat children. He is also ex military. And not just military, but special forces because he was a Ranger. And even though he was a doctor in the military, he is somehow an expert marksman. And he can fly a helicopter. And he owns the helicopter and flies all over to rescue people. And none of this is ever explained. But the author pays so much attention to detail, I know what he feeds his dog, and how he shaves.

And then there’s the female lead, Izzy, who is overwhelmingly foolish. She frequently runs headlong into danger without backup or a real plan. I found her very frustrating.

After being shot in the shoulder, and having surgery to repair the muscle damage, the very next day she is out in the desert, chasing bad guys and shooting her gun. She is constantly “dizzy with pain” or “leaning against the rock for support as she ignores the pain” or “pushing down the pain” or “lightheaded with pain”… but the reality is after that kind of injury she wouldn’t be physically able to chase bad guys, let alone aim her weapon and fire with any accuracy. It is ridiculous.

Also, the bad guy was clearly the bad guy from the moment he entered the story. Izzy‘s inability to see it simply makes her look idiotic, and it makes the play out boring.

Here are some quotes for posterity:

“Izzy pulled into a spot marked *visitor* and killed the engine.” (Of her Tesla. Has Zara Evans ever been in an electric car?)

“When the moment felt right, he reached into the cooler and pulled out two Cokes. He opened one and offered it to her. She studied him for a long moment, that analytical gaze he was coming to know, before accepting the soda. He opened his own, and they clinked bottles in a wordless toast before drinking.… “Do you come here often?” Izzy asked brushing crumbs from her lap. “About once a month since I found it.” Cole took another pull from his beer.… [She asks who he comes here with.] “Your dog?” Amusement crept into her voice. “You bring your dog up here?”
“Sure. He loves it.”
“In the helicopter?”
He nodded as he took a pull on his soda.… Izzy finished her soda, the empty bottle clinking as she set it down.
Cole reached into the cooler. “Another? Or I’ve got beer if you prefer.”
“Beer sounds good.” She glanced at him. “Will you join me?”
“No can-do.” Cole pulled out a bottle and handed it to her. “Flying and alcohol is a no-no, Sheriff.”
(Did anyone read this book before it was published? Coke - beer - soda - no beer, all in one page.)

“Cole gripped the roll cage as they bounced across flat, featureless ground.” (He’s ex military, special forces, but that flat ground was sure scary.)

“Cole pushed up from his chair and pressed his lips to hers. The sharp tang of iodine filled his senses, embedding this moment in his memory, like a lesson carved in stone. He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, their noses still touching.” (I’m sorry, but what does this even mean?)

“You’re not going to like this,” [Dylan] Pickett warned. “Check your email.”
Cole brought up the data Dylan had sent through. As he perused it Dylan explained what he was seeing.… Cole’s finger traced down the list on the screen as his colleague spoke.… Cole’s stomach clenched. He knew these chemicals.… Matthews nodded. (OK people. There is no one in the entire book named Matthews. What is happening here?) “Exactly. Someone’s dumping their waste into that water source”…. Cole tossed over the test results, his mind already racing ahead to implications.… (He tossed them over? To Matthews? Like, he threw his laptop at a nonexistent character?) “Thanks for the rush job.”Cole hit print on his computer. “Now I owe you one.”

The story is simply not so good that I wasn’t distracted by terrible writing and glaring errors. It was obviously interesting enough to plenty of people, but the execution is sloppy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rebecca Goldthorpe.
46 reviews2 followers
November 30, 2025
It had a reasonable plot, and so I kept reading, but I was hoping for a more serious story and far better quality editing. So many typos, repeated phrases within paragraphs of one another - and far too "chick-lit' for my preferences. I also found that some aspects of the story were pretty far- fetched - and that irritated me.

But as I said above, the story has potential, so in the hope the niggles reduce, I may read the next in the series.
Profile Image for Ashley.
27 reviews1 follower
October 23, 2025
I have really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to watch Izzy’s story keep going
365 reviews3 followers
August 6, 2025
I liked this book. The story and the characters were well-developed and very readable. Now I must find out what happens next!
1,494 reviews25 followers
April 9, 2025
This is the first in a series and the first I've read by this author. It definitely won't be the last.

Izzy is an ex agent who returns home to the small town of Darkness when she accepts the offer to be the new sheriff. After she arrives, she encounters some friendly faces but also some open hostilities. When she discovers that the prior sheriff died in what was deemed an accident, she is determined to investigate as the whole situation seems suspicious.

I love the small town vibe here. It resonated a lot with me and how people behave and know your business. The investigative side had me riveted as did the developing relationship between Izzy and the local doctor. This was a book I read through really quickly as I just didn't want to put it down. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Andra Shaw.
1,314 reviews11 followers
April 4, 2025
Falling Darkness is the first book in the Izzy Llewellyn series. The remaining books in the series will have a lot to live up to as this book is an excellent start to the series. Note that I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The storyline fits the bill for a page-turner with suspense, mystery, thriller, fledgling romance, and drama thrown in to keep you captivated. The characters belong in the small town of Darkness and keep the story moving along. There is definitely more to this town and the characters let you know that everyone has secrets that can lead to some interesting situations. With a bit of a cliffhanger ending, I can hardly wait to read the next book in the series. There is a hint of unfinished business.
Profile Image for Vickie Chaisson.
1,193 reviews10 followers
April 15, 2025
Falling Darkness is full of suspense, drama, secrets, mistrust, murder, good and evil and it will keep you hanging on to the very end. This is the first book I have read by this author and it will definitely not be the last. The storyline is so well developed and dark you will not be able to put it down. Her world building and exacting visual descriptions will keep the reader enticed. A disgraced FBI agent and an ex army doctor Izzy and Cole will engage your heart will they survive the secrets of Darkness. Will Izzy as the new town sheriff be able to bring the secrets in Darkness to light. Secondary character haracters give great weight and flow to this story. This author understands her characters and brings them to life to entice her readers. Very well done.
Profile Image for Manjima Chatterjee.
98 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2025
ARC Review:
I got this ARC for free and am willingly putting out the review.

It kept me hooked and I breezed through the pages. I really loved the suspense building and Izzy and Cole's bond, even when things went down. Though I enjoyed the read to my fullest, I had the culprits in my suspect list since the start but not in the same way as suspected. So the plot twist, though not that overwhelming was satisfactory. Overall I loved it.
3,105 reviews13 followers
November 22, 2025
FBI Agent Izar 'Izzy' Llewellyn was married to another FBI agent - she killed him.
Several investigations later she was formally cleared but told that her career was at a standstill and she'd sit behind a desk until she retired or …
Izzy chose to leave.
Some time later, moping around the family home, she gets a call from Darkness, California - they need a Sheriff pronto.
America is a big country so it is surprising that the one job offer she got is from the same town where her father, then the Sheriff, was killed twenty years ago.
She's no sooner in town than she meets the handsome and annoying local doctor Cole Barrow - their sudden attraction is the weakest part of the book and never did completely convince me.
All is not well in Darkness, something hinky lurks around every corner, and it turns out that the previous Sheriff died under suspicious circumstances while investigating corruption in his own police department.
It's an interesting plot, made possible by the vastness of America's hinterland.
I quite enjoyed “Falling Darkness” but felt it was slightly let down by poor editing:- “His emancipated face shows real fear now ...”
3 Stars.
Profile Image for Judi Haley.
1,354 reviews6 followers
March 22, 2025
Izzy Llewellyn was an FBI agent, until the night she shot and killed a man, her husband. Although she was cleared of the murder, the FBI forced her to quit as they said she would never go anywhere in the agency as no one would trust her.

Not knowing where she is headed, or what she is going to do, she receives a call from her hometown offering her the role of Sheriff there. The role that her father had held all those years, but was killed in the line of duty. That is why her family moved away. But, now Izzy thinks she can go back and it would be good to see her Grandfather again.

When she gets there, the hometown is the same, but drugs are running rampant, half of the force doesn't trust a woman as sheriff and someone is trying to kill her!

Can't wait for the next on in this series!!!
Profile Image for Rebecca.
324 reviews2 followers
December 1, 2025
As Izzy tries to navigate her new "normal," there are enough issues to keep her from feeling settled. Working into her new job as sheriff, in the same place where her father was sheriff before he was killed, brings memories and new challenges. With kids in the area being sick, and not getting any better, she begins working with the town's doctor, but things are going to be complicated between the two.
Izzy works to keep her past in the past, but it is going to bleed into the present. With danger lurking, she is not sure who she can trust...

A really interesting read! This was an engaging book, and the characters were relatable. I look forward to reading more in this series.
Profile Image for RE Reader.
1,312 reviews3 followers
August 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this! I like Izzy a lot -- she complex and interesting. Cole is also a fascinating character, and I liked the dual POV. This is definitely a type of police procedural, and since I enjoyed this, it worked well for me. I also appreciate that there's no sex/violence on page -- it's all referred to after the fact (or thru 'fade to black'). The focus is on the characterizations, the setting (which is nicely portrayed), and the mystery (which is engaging).

All in all, a solid 5 stars!
Profile Image for TC Meyer.
24 reviews
October 19, 2025
I suspect these books are AI.

I've read the Darkness series books and find them to be quick, almost script-like reads. The characters are likeable and interesting, but don't possess "warmth" or much emotion. The writing style, while detailed with facts and figures is passive and distant. No twists, no need for intuition -- just linear and narrative. Considering there is no real information on this author (no bio, no photos) and the fact that six books have been generated in one year, I am suspicious, and frankly sad for the true authors out there.
Profile Image for Cynthia L Peters.
447 reviews
November 24, 2025
As Izzy is dealing with the betrayal and loss of her husband, she accepts the sheriff position in her hometown. She finds all kinds of shady dealings, dying kids, and long-lost friends when she gets there. She hits the ground running and starts investigating the death of the old sheriff right away. Things move quickly with many twists and turns to the final showdown.

The characters are sympathetic and flawed, which makes them very real. I had a hard time putting this book down. I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series.
94 reviews3 followers
April 9, 2025
This book had me hooked after reading the first few pages. Izzy agrees to take a job offer as Sheriff of Mirage County after being forced to retire from the FBI. She and the local doctor Cole discover something is harming the residents of the town. The book is full of page turning action, suspense, and a little romance. This is the first book I've read by the author, and i loved it! I received an ARC copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lacey Scheidel.
89 reviews1 follower
May 23, 2025
Falling Darkness didn’t exactly catch me off guard with its twists, but that didn’t stop me from flying through the pages. The plot may follow a familiar path, but the pacing and tension were spot on—I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. A solid thriller for fans who don’t mind a bit of predictability as long as the suspense delivers.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
188 reviews
June 18, 2025
Great story line! Izzy seriously gets the shaft after losing her FBI job and decides to be the Sheriff in Darkness, the same town her father once was sheriff at until he died. Having her FBI background hells her navigate the challenges she’s up against being a sheriff in a small town with an all male staff who has no idea what they’re up against. Izzy is tenacious and won’t quit until justice is served.
19 reviews
July 14, 2025
Quick & Enjoyable read!

Loved the prose, descriptive scenes, background information and situational scenic explanations. Unusual plot. Now I need to continue on, to find out how and why! Don’t like continuation novels, but I’ll see about this one. Also, don’t like the foreign words and endearing Basque names! Too distracting for me, as I speed read mostly, unless I appreciate author’s ability to use splendid words.
Profile Image for LuLu.
8 reviews
November 30, 2025
While initially reading like an oddly placed Tesla ad, it slowly builds to a great small town mystery.

Only to be enormously let down when the creepy and obvious foil…ends up being the villain. All the little details you think are building up to a great whodunit are most likely character building for the series.

On top of it all, ending with the “Heroine is just about to be SA’d and the big tough hero steps in” ruined any interest for me to continue with the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Margaret Yelton.
2,140 reviews43 followers
April 9, 2025
Falling Darkness by Zara Evans, this was a new author for me. Overall I did really enjoy this book, I was able to figure out very early on, whom the bad person was in Darkness. I loved watching the growth of Izzy, she came into her own as the Sheriff. I would recommend this book to others.

I received and ARC from BookSirens, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
195 reviews6 followers
April 15, 2025
I love when I find the first in a new-to-me series, and Falling Darkness did not disappoint. Zara Evans has written a smart, very propulsive mystery with well-fleshed-out characters. I enjoyed getting to know Izzy and look forward to diving into the next book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for hailey sejna.
107 reviews
May 12, 2025
okay so i feel like i didn’t love this as much as i hoped because i was distracted w crescent city and silent patient buttt it was enjoyable. female sheriff who starts investigating the previous sheriffs death but then also love interest in the local doctor? so i will read the second book because i gotta just see where this goes so we shall see.
Profile Image for June.
414 reviews2 followers
June 25, 2025
Izzy is at a crossroad in her life....her past is pretty much shattered and her present does not hold much promise. After a not so happy departure from her job at the FBI she takes a job as sheriff in a
town where her dad was also sheriff. Now that she is back it is very obvious not too many people are
happy with her being there including most of her staff.
952 reviews2 followers
November 26, 2025
found another great author

This story grabs you right in. Moving back to her hometown of Darkness CA after killing her husband who was keeping a secret, Izzy is offered the sheriff’s job, as her father had been sheriff years before. Don’t want to say more…once you start this series you’ll be waiting for the next!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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