Lowkey Deadly

by Rachelle Duncan

I plan weddings for a living. People cry, panic, and sometimes threaten to jump. I make it all look effortless. That's my holding other people's chaos together while they're trying to fall apart. But when my violent ex showed up at one of my events, smiling like he hadn't once tried to kill me, it was time for everything to fall apart for me instead. I ran. Straight into a storm, into the middle of nowhere... and into the wrong rental cabin. That's where I found him. Kade. Tall, quiet, handsome... and cleaning blood off of the cabin floor like it was just another day at the office. I should've run. I didn't. Maybe because, for the first time in years, someone was looking at me like I was more than a victim... like I wasn't broken, just a little bent. He says he's not dangerous and I want to believe him, even with blood on his hands. I've met monsters before, and they never looked at me the way he does. And every time his eyes find mine, I stop caring if he is or not.

723 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2026

About the author

Rachelle Duncan writes dark romance that leans cinematic and angsty, steeped in suspense, sharp dialogue, and the kind of emotional fallout that lingers long after the last line. Her writing process is born of bourbon, insomnia, and loud music. She lives tucked away in the southeastern countryside with her family.

Her characters live in the morally gray, where “good” is complicated, survival is a skill set, and love doesn’t arrive wrapped in a bow. It shows up sideways, in unexpected places, between people who have every reason to run and still choose to stay. Expect messy, dangerous devotion, the kind of feral “mine” that is toxic.

Rachelle’s voice favors tension you can feel in your teeth, chemistry that sparks at the worst possible time, and humor that slips into the cracks when you least expect it. Her stories show the raw, unpretty version of romance that earns every inch of warmth it manages to hold onto.

Reviews

[Christy Haworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars) I received this as an ARC read from the author and the following is my unbiased opinion:

Lowkey Deadly by Rachelle Duncan was such a gripping, emotionally charged read that completely pulled me in from the start. This book hits that perfect dark romance balance—intense, dangerous, and deeply emotional all at once.

The FMC is someone you can’t help but root for. She’s trying to rebuild herself after being completely shattered—emotionally and physically—by a truly unhinged, stalker-level psycho ex-boyfriend. And let me just say… I have never wanted a character to be utterly destroyed more than I did with this man. Every appearance had my heart racing in the worst (but best?) way.

Then we have the MMC… the ultimate “touch her and die” energy. Protective, deadly, and exactly what this story needed. The dynamic between him and the FMC wasn’t just about chemistry—it was about healing. Watching her slowly start to trust again and piece herself back together, while he stands in that fierce, unwavering role beside her? So satisfying.

One thing I really appreciated was how strong the side characters were. They didn’t just fade into the background—they had presence, personality, and honestly felt like they could carry their own stories.
The writing itself made everything feel incredibly immersive. You’re not just reading—you’re in it. Feeling the fear, the tension, the emotional weight, and the sparks of something new growing through all the chaos. There were definitely some twisty moments that kept me hooked and turning pages.

Overall, this was a solid 4-star read for me. Dark, emotional, intense, and addictive—with a villain you’ll absolutely love to hate and a romance that feels like survival and healing wrapped into one.

If you love dark romance with high stakes, raw emotion, and a protective MMC who doesn’t play about his woman… this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Joscelynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: 4.5 ⭐️ spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
⚠️check trigger warnings⚠️

Lowkey Deadly gave me a chaotic, suspense filled, laugh out loud but also emotional experience I did not really see coming.

The MMC?
A dark golden retriever who illegally cleans up crime scenes. He’s super analytical, a little socially off in the most endearing way and somehow gives “touch her and you are done” energy while also being unintentionally funny. He also has the patience of a saint. I was obsessed.

The FMC is a chaos coordinator (wedding planner) and a domestic violence survivor who breaks into a cabin she thought she rented only to find him in the middle of a suspicious activity (this had me immediately hooked btw). Her character development throughout felt real and raw.

The banter?? I was literally laughing out loud. Like my husband was questioning my sanity. Little FYI- The MMC’s nickname for the FMC is trash panda. Read it and you’ll see why 😉

The plot keeps you on edge the whole time. You think you know what’s going to happen but the way it unfolds is not what you expect at all. The suspense had me STRESSED. The romance had me FAWNING. ♥️

You also get:
Found Family
Violent stalker ex.
Thriller movie vibes - where you’re questioning their decisions but can’t look away.

If a dark romance with humor, morally grey golden retriever men, survival and recovery and suspense that keeps you on edge sounds good to you then I definitely recommend this one. Just make sure to check trigger warnings before going in. 🖤

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to sit with this book for a few days after finishing it—that’s how deeply it stayed with me. I hope I can do it justice, because it absolutely deserves a glowing, five-star review.

I received this as an ARC, and I can confidently say it’s a story I won’t forget anytime soon. The author’s writing is incredible—completely immersive from the very first page. I was hooked instantly. I found myself thinking about it constantly, even at work, counting down the moments until I could pick it back up. At one point, I was literally trying to read and work at the same time because I couldn’t put it down.

The characters? Unforgettable. I fell in love with (most of) them—the ones you’re meant to love—and that made the ones you’re meant to hate even more effective. And wow, did I hate them in the best way possible.

Kade is everything—a neurodivergent king who is brilliant, methodical, and deeply compelling. Every part of his character felt perfectly written. And his love of girly pop? That was the cherry on top. Javi brings the humor and heart (and I’m seriously hoping this means we get more of him in a future book). Zoe is an absolute force—strong, capable, and endlessly impressive. And Elle? A total baddie from the start, whether she realized it or not.

This rag-tag group has been living rent-free in my mind ever since I turned the last page.

Do yourself a favor—read this book. You won’t regret it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Jilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oof. ✨ Check the trigger warnings✨
I know a lot of us use trigger warnings like a shopping list and just dive in but anyone who has been through an abusive relationship - remember it's okay to take some small breather breaks if it gets too heavy.

This book gave suspense, humor and that zing that us Dark Romance lovers need. Spice level - 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This has:
Stalker ex
Touch her and die MMC
Strong but scarred FMC
Found Family

Our MMC Kade has that socially awkward charm that just reels you in from their very first interaction. He is a pillar of calm, dangerous to others but not her with a healthy dose of deadly strength that just *chefs kiss* I absolutely adore him.

Our FMC is the chaos calmer used to working in high stress environments as a wedding planner with a traumatic history.

Then you have the crazy stalker ex that refuses to let go.

This book will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next.

[Chastity Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed with this MMC! It is dark romance so make sure and check your trigger warnings! The type of man who would burn the world down for you and also buy you fuzzy socks and tuck you in at night. This book had me laughing, on the edge of my seat, and wanting to throat punch someone.

-Stalker Ex
-Found Family
-Amazing side characters
-Trauma Bonding
-Hilarious Banter

Hoping the lovable side characters get their own story!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review!

Check your triggers 😉

This was such a fun read! Kade is top tier book boyfriend material 👌🏻 Perfect amount of spice and suspense to keep you intrigued! The banter was great - laughing out loud throughout! I could not put this one down!