Forever Dark

by Blake Pierce

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.”
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When a murder occurs in her rural home town, brilliant FBI Agent Selena Raven is dispatched, unaware she must work alongside her ex-husband, now sheriff, as the two butt heads, face old grudges, and must partner to stop a killer before it’s too late.

When a body is discovered in the abandoned church where Selena Raven was supposed to get married, coming home feels like a warning. As more women turn up dead, Selena realizes the killer is far from finished—and working alongside the man she left behind may be the only way to stop them.

FOREVER DARK is the first book in a long-awaited new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 7,000 five star ratings and reviews.

The Selena Raven mystery series drops readers into the rural heart of the American Midwest, where the cases are brutal, the secrets run generations deep, and the agent tasked with solving them is the last person who wanted to come home. Fans of Laura Griffin, Robert Dugoni, and Kendra Elliot are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are also available!


“An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Everything that I look for in a book… a great plot, interesting characters, and grabs your interest right away. The book moves along at a breakneck pace and stays that way until the end. Now on go I to book two!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Exciting, heart pounding, edge of your seat book… a must read for mystery and suspense readers!”
—Reader review (Girl, Alone)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Amazon, Mystery Thriller

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2026

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

[Carol]

Thrilling page turner.
Characters well developed.
Great start for the first book in
a new series.
Looking forward to reading the second book.

[Mike]

Blake Pierce, you need a new editor. Lots of spelling errors in this book. Quick read with a fast pace to it, no real suspense or page turning created throughout. Just a book of very unlikable characters and a typical storyline of “FBI agent returns home where they don’t like to be and have neglected their family for a long time”.

[Janet]

Hometown justice prevails in this sordid tale!

FBI agent Selena Raven is under temporary suspension for closing a case that media coverage had sensationalized. Due to higher ups not liking her meticulous work on the case, she is sent back to her own hometown to solve murders there. Harlan County has not ever been a place where murders occur, but her former husband, Chase Connors, is now sheriff! She left it fifteen years ago to throw herself into work becoming an FBI agent, a big shot to her former friends and ex husband. Together, Chase and Selena are expected to solve the murder of three women.

This is a very well thought out murder mystery involving tent style ministries in small country counties. The crimes are bizarre, religious style rituals, punitive or purifying, all deliberate and staged for effect.

There are flaws or unanswered questions in this character study. Custom boots are never explained or really relevant. I guess the author wanted to end the story. Their only purpose was to indicate that the killer was the same in each murder. But I am curious even yet why this killer had custom made boots.

I like the storyline of the agent and sheriff. It is a love story about the agent and the friends and family she has neglected over the years. Chase is a really good guy. Maybe Selena and Chase may overcome past issues to bond again.

The character study is better than the deranged killer plot! I would read another story with Selena and Chase!

[Denise Zendel]

Women keep turning up dead in FBI agent Selena Raven’s rural hometown, a place she is thrilled to be from. Despite her desire to be anywhere else, she gets sent there. She has to work with her ex-husband, now sheriff, to investigate and stop the killer before it’s too late.

I like the author’s other works, so gave this one a go. It was well written, with tight dialogue, interesting characters, and a story that held my interest all the way through. Watching Raven have to work so closely with her ex, with whom she has unfinished business, was interesting, as was her confronting ghosts from her past, including her unwell father. “For a second she was no longer an FBI Agent, not a woman of forty, not someone who had faced down killer and committees and the wreckage of her own choices. She was tired daughter on her father’s porch, wanting his approval and hating herself a little for how much it still mattered.”

I very much enjoyed this first in the series, and I will read more.

[Ella]

𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊

By Blake Pierce

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blake Pierce definitely nailed this story!
Forever Dark is about Selena Raven, an FBI agent forced to handle a case in her hometown—Harlan County. A place she chose to runaway from because of a hard-to-bear past. Back to back with her Sheriff's ex-husband, Connor Chase, they are about to deal with a case and have a run through to a waiting past.

The story is brilliantly written.

I commend how the author mindfully introduced each character while preserving the mystery of the story. The character buildup is one of its strengths. I love how Selena changes her heart over time.

Another applause for the pacing of the story. It takes it time to roll and unfold, giving enough time to the readers to grasp and be at the story.
I love the rock paper scissors scene. It's indeed a breather!

To sum up! The story is highly recommended. Definitely there is light in this story. A lesson and a new case solved.

[Angie Mitchell]

This book was a blind date with a Kindle offering, and WOW… it was so good! I honestly can’t believe a book I was randomly offered ended up being this much of a hit.

The suspense was fantastic, the mystery kept me guessing, and the characters were really well thought out and developed. I was completely invested and definitely didn’t want to put it down.

I will admit, I wanted a little different ending, but I was very happy to hear there’s a second book in the series. So maybe I’ll get the ending I was hoping for in that one!

Definitely a pleasant surprise and a book I’m glad I took a chance on. 📚

[Martin Pingree]

When a murder rocks her rural hometown, brilliant FBI Agent Selena Raven is sent home to investigate—only to discover that her most difficult obstacle may be the man waiting for her: her ex-husband, now the local sheriff.

Their reunion is anything but cordial as old grudges and unresolved feelings resurface. But when a body is discovered inside the abandoned church where Selena was once supposed to be married, she begins to wonder if her return home is more than coincidence—it may be a warning.

As more women are brutally murdered, Selena realizes the killer is far from finished. With time running out and the body count rising, Selena and her ex-husband must put their differences aside and work together to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.

[Liza]

Sheriff chasing someone on a highway but doesn't turn on lights and siren? [I know FBI agent was only driving a rental but sheriff had his work vehicle.] Related car crashes an uninvolved car and no-one stops to check for injuries? Didn't sheriff's car have camera to get licence plate? I know that both these comments apply to only one (or two) chapters but it is poor story-telling.

Most of the story was fine.

[Simon Mcleish]

Run of the mill FBI investigation story centring on a revivalist minister. Selena Haven is a decent main character; the idea of her being sent back to her home town from Washington less so - it could have been, as many readers would resonate with returning to where they grew up in that way. Basically, meh.

[Janejellyroll]

This is one of those FBI books with an absolutely implausible serial killer who is deliberately leaving comprehensible messages to investigators, a generically average female FBI agent who is assigned to the town to solve it on an indefinite basis to solve (while having close ties to many in the town), and a weak ending to presumably justify the next 5-6 books in the series. No thank you.

[Cynthia E Provencher]

A Winner!

Another winner for Blake! Heart pounding & nail bitting. Couldn't put it down. Believable characters. Easy to follow. Non stop entertainment. Another masterpiece. Hit way out of the ball park. Way to go. Keep them coming.

[Gene Burch]

Agent Raven et al

There isn't necessarily twists and turn, but an expectant flow. That is what can catch you off guard. Conner was by far more characterized and easily pictured. Still, all the characters were balanced.

[sandra k smith]

thrilling read

Interesting plot, well written with great premise and lots of tension. Dark horror as well as deep mystery with lots of twists to keep the reader guessing. Good character development throughout.

[Bisma]

Ending was not nice but overall a solid book

[Maryann (Mae)]

What a well executed story line. The characters are strong and the plot solid.

[Barb]

I usually read a Blake Pierce book in 2 days. This one just didn't pull me in like usual.

[Karen Young]

New for me

This was a good read. Part of it was slow part fast. Hurtful and happy. Different ending would have been nice

[Frank]

Great read of an FBI agent going back home

Great procedural, characters, crime and whodunnit. I'm hooked. Enjoy. How to go black home again. Which usually is hard as hell.

[Kandy]

This book is definitely a real page turner. It hooks you from the first page and keeps you entertained until the very end. I love the characters and will definitely be reading more in this series.

[Ron Michnik]

Fast paced detective story

A most enjoyable novel with good harmony between police officials & locals. A return home to mend some fences with family & friends. You will enjoy!

[Sheila Illes]

Page turner

Another one in a riveting series, Blake Pierce does not disappoint. I was able to read this in one sitting.

[Alice Smith]

I haven't read a book like this in a long time, not my typical genre, and the story was decent. What I thought the author executed especially well was the descriptions. The atmosphere was explained so well that I could almost hear the buzz of the soda machine and see the bugs flying near the lights at night. It might not be a selling point for most people but I thought I'd still express my appreciation for the effort

[Rochelle Rossouw]

Good suspense, weird start.

[Stephanie M]

Great story line about punishing those who are outside the Godly lines.

Several parts of the book kept me hooked while other parts felt slightly disjointed.

Still this is a book I would recommend due to the “who done it” surprised me.

[chris tolliver]

great story

This book had turns and depth -enjoyed it immensely! One I will definitively want to pick up the next in the series! Thank you Mr Pierce I can always count on you