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Killer Instinct #1
After the Dark
In New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden's gripping new series, a disgraced FBI profiler must save her reputation by stopping a sadistic killer she knows all too well.
Former FBI agent Samantha Dark was one of the most respected profilers in the bureau, an expert on the twisted minds and dark hearts of the most depraved criminals. But when her own former lover turned out to be the serial killer she was hunting, Samantha's career was destroyed. Blamed for the FBI's failure on the complex case, Samantha fled Washington, DC, for the quiet anonymity of Alabama.
Now an all-too-familiar killer is hunting once again. She can catch the sadistic assassin, but that means putting her trust in her former partner, Blake Gamble. Ex-military, Blake is tough, protective, precise. With her entire life on the brink, she knows he wants her back in the FBI…and possibly more.
But someone else wants her, too. A threat is waiting in the dark, a killer who has set his sights on the ultimate trophy victim—Samantha.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2017
468 people are currently reading
2951 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Eden
311 books6,802 followersAward-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
March 28, 2017
NOW LIVE!
*Amazon*B&N*
After the Dark kicks off a brand new Romantic Suspense series from Cynthia Eden. I am in love with how this author can create such entrapping novels and she always has the ability to suck me into her stories. In this book we meet Samantha Dark, an FBI profiler now off the force, and her ex-partner Blake Gamble. Sam left the FBI after they placed the blame on her for letting a serial killer get away, so she went home to Alabama. But now there's a very familiar killer after her and Blake runs to her to protect her. Sam knows Blake always wanted more from her, and now that she's off the force she may actually let that happen.
I honestly don't know another author that can have me so captivated by a suspense like Ms. Eden does. She has the ability to put me in, not only the Main Characters', minds but also the killers and I love that. She effortlessly works what the murderer is thinking into the story and it always makes me sit up and take notice. I love that she does that and makes it work so well with the story.
Samantha Dark was an amazing heroine and her story is one that I will definitely be re-reading many times over. This book is the epitome of why I love this genre because it had all of the main reasons to read. The mystery, the suspense, the sweet romance thrown in, the shocks that will leave your jaw on the floor. It's just all great!
Overall, definitely read this book. If you haven't read a book from this author yet then this would be a great story since it's not only the first in a new series, but one her best Romantic Suspenses yet.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
*Amazon*B&N*
After the Dark kicks off a brand new Romantic Suspense series from Cynthia Eden. I am in love with how this author can create such entrapping novels and she always has the ability to suck me into her stories. In this book we meet Samantha Dark, an FBI profiler now off the force, and her ex-partner Blake Gamble. Sam left the FBI after they placed the blame on her for letting a serial killer get away, so she went home to Alabama. But now there's a very familiar killer after her and Blake runs to her to protect her. Sam knows Blake always wanted more from her, and now that she's off the force she may actually let that happen.
I honestly don't know another author that can have me so captivated by a suspense like Ms. Eden does. She has the ability to put me in, not only the Main Characters', minds but also the killers and I love that. She effortlessly works what the murderer is thinking into the story and it always makes me sit up and take notice. I love that she does that and makes it work so well with the story.
Samantha Dark was an amazing heroine and her story is one that I will definitely be re-reading many times over. This book is the epitome of why I love this genre because it had all of the main reasons to read. The mystery, the suspense, the sweet romance thrown in, the shocks that will leave your jaw on the floor. It's just all great!
Overall, definitely read this book. If you haven't read a book from this author yet then this would be a great story since it's not only the first in a new series, but one her best Romantic Suspenses yet.
After the Dark Playlist:
Right Here - Ashes Remain
Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Lorde
Lucifer - XOV
The Phoenix - Fall Out Boy
Ready to Fight - Roby Fayer, Tom Gefan
Warriors - Imagine Dragons
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2018
4.5 stars
Strong badass heroine, highly intelligent woman.
Strong devoted hero.
Interesting storyline. Very intense.
Maybe some small inaccuracies… but I won’t complain – much better than any average they sell us in this genre.
“How many bad things can happen to a person… before they start to lose their soul?”
March 31, 2017
Once you cross some lines, there is no going back...
Four months ago former FBI agent and gifted profiler Samantha Dark realised she wasn’t infallible when it turned out that her former lover and close friend was the very serial killer they had been hunting for months. Devastated by her inability to see the monster close to her and used as the scapegoat for the FBI’s failure, Samantha fled and returned to her hometown of Alabama.
But when her former partner, the sexy Blake Gamble tracks her down, needing her to help him stop the killer who has started hunting again, Samantha can’t refuse. But someone else wants Samantha too, someone who sees her as the woman who destroyed his life. And he’s determined to get his revenge.
Will Samantha finally trust Blake with all her secrets, let down all her walls so that they can defeat the enemy together?
Blake Gamble was dangerous to her. Another truth she’d always known. She felt too much with him. Too much, too fast.
I have been intrigued by Samantha since her first introduction in Abduction and she didn’t disappoint in this book. Her ability to understand the evil minds of killers was fascinating, the darkness she carries with her just adding depth to her character. She’s strong and smart and even when doubts crawled in, her belief in herself shaken because she didn’t see her friend for who he really was, she still did all she could to catch the killer. She’s learned not to trust and although she tried to keep her distance from Blake, was afraid to tell him her secrets because she didn’t think he would continue to see her in the same light, she still couldn’t ignore him or the pull between them.
The truth of the matter was...he’d taken one look into Samantha’s golden eyes and pretty much lost a piece of his soul. No one should have eyes like her. So unusual. So deep. Eyes that saw too much.
Blake was amazing. He’s a straight shooter, ex-military, tough and meticulous. And he’s wanted Samantha since the first moment he saw her. But office rules forced him to keep his want controlled, but that didn’t stop him from being protective of her. I loved the way he looked out for her, how determined he was at finding out all her secrets, of getting her to trust him. And I loved that he didn’t keep his distance from her once he found her again. He was determined to make her his.
“Screw that.” His words were ragged. “I’m not playing by the rules any longer. You matter too much.”
The romance was just as intense and amazing as I thought it would be. Since the very beginning the chemistry between these two was clear as day and I knew it was just a matter of time before they gave into their desire. I loved how hard Blake worked at breaking down the walls Samantha has built around her, at getting her to trust him with all she was. And I loved that he made her see that her past didn’t make her a bad person.
The plot was perfectly executed with a twist I very much enjoyed. I love the way this author writes her killers, how dark and depraved they are, so very intelligent. And seeing how the killer evolved in this book, from trying to deny his urges, to succumbing to them completely, having no remorse over killing, was chilling. Cynthia Eden is the only author to ever write a serial killer that I loved, and although I didn’t love him like I did Michael in Die For Me, I did like how he used to be before he started killing and it was very sad seeing him lose his soul, the good part of him he only found with Samantha and turning into a monstrous killer.
Once again Cynthia Eden has written a fantastic romantic suspense and I loved every moment of it. A must read for all fans of dark thrillers with a strong and sexy romance. Highly recommended.
BTW I wouldn't recommend reading this as a stand-alone. In order to get the full enjoyment of this book I recommend reading the following first:
Abduction
The Gathering Dusk
May 9, 2017
5++ Stars
"The instinct to live is so strong in some people. I’ve been surprised by how strong. They can withstand almost any pain, as long as they have the hope that they’ll live. That they’ll escape."
Wow, Ms. Eden did it again like always! This story was so amazing, exciting and thrilling like all her other books. I love her writing in romantic-suspense. She is so talented in this genre. Such a great talent to picture some sick killers.
Samantha is a profiler for the FBI. But she made a mistake for one of the files. Actually it wasn’t a mistake but her boss thinks it was; the profile was off. So her boss suspended her. Then her suspension turned into unemployment. Not because of her profile (it was perfect) but because the killer had gotten away on her watch and had killed again and they found her in the killer’s house… So her boss blamed her for that death and press had written all the gossips. Now after four months the killer is back and started to kill again. And she is one of the killer’s prey!
When you finished the first half, you know exactly who is the killer and what’s happening but this doesn’t diminish the charm of the story, on the contrary it makes the story more exciting.
"He intended to have a little bit of fun with her before she died. After all, death was the easy part. He’d been taught that lesson by a master. It was the pain, the suffering, the absolute loss of hope—that was the best. That was the rush. Samantha Dark, before I’m done with you...you will break apart."
The story is in such a way that you can’t put it down for a second. It’s full of stress. You are concerned for victims whether they are saved or not and I’m telling you most of them weren’t saved. Every thing was perfect. The characters were fantastic and well-written. Samantha is the best profiler, wicked, insanely smart. She could dissect a killer from a nearly perfect crime scene. She could see evidence that others missed. She could see motives. She could see monsters. But she has secrets. She has some darkness and let’s don’t forget about her partner, Blake who is in love with her and it makes story more interesting!
"I trust her. I have from the moment we were partnered together. She always had my back. The truth of the matter was...he’d taken one look into Samantha’s golden eyes and pretty much lost a piece of his soul. No one should have eyes like her. So unusual. So deep. Eyes that saw too much."
The story is told in multiple POV, 3rd person. it can be read as a standalone. Overall, it was a terrific story and definitely a page turner. I loved it and I hope you enjoy this incredible story as well!
"The instinct to live is so strong in some people. I’ve been surprised by how strong. They can withstand almost any pain, as long as they have the hope that they’ll live. That they’ll escape."
Wow, Ms. Eden did it again like always! This story was so amazing, exciting and thrilling like all her other books. I love her writing in romantic-suspense. She is so talented in this genre. Such a great talent to picture some sick killers.
Samantha is a profiler for the FBI. But she made a mistake for one of the files. Actually it wasn’t a mistake but her boss thinks it was; the profile was off. So her boss suspended her. Then her suspension turned into unemployment. Not because of her profile (it was perfect) but because the killer had gotten away on her watch and had killed again and they found her in the killer’s house… So her boss blamed her for that death and press had written all the gossips. Now after four months the killer is back and started to kill again. And she is one of the killer’s prey!
When you finished the first half, you know exactly who is the killer and what’s happening but this doesn’t diminish the charm of the story, on the contrary it makes the story more exciting.
"He intended to have a little bit of fun with her before she died. After all, death was the easy part. He’d been taught that lesson by a master. It was the pain, the suffering, the absolute loss of hope—that was the best. That was the rush. Samantha Dark, before I’m done with you...you will break apart."
The story is in such a way that you can’t put it down for a second. It’s full of stress. You are concerned for victims whether they are saved or not and I’m telling you most of them weren’t saved. Every thing was perfect. The characters were fantastic and well-written. Samantha is the best profiler, wicked, insanely smart. She could dissect a killer from a nearly perfect crime scene. She could see evidence that others missed. She could see motives. She could see monsters. But she has secrets. She has some darkness and let’s don’t forget about her partner, Blake who is in love with her and it makes story more interesting!
"I trust her. I have from the moment we were partnered together. She always had my back. The truth of the matter was...he’d taken one look into Samantha’s golden eyes and pretty much lost a piece of his soul. No one should have eyes like her. So unusual. So deep. Eyes that saw too much."
The story is told in multiple POV, 3rd person. it can be read as a standalone. Overall, it was a terrific story and definitely a page turner. I loved it and I hope you enjoy this incredible story as well!
April 4, 2017
5 stars - Romantic Suspense
I was looking forward to this one after reading the promising, edgy prequel story, The Gathering Dusk, and After the Dark didn't disappoint. Cynthia Eden has delivered another dark, thrilling romantic suspense series, and I'm looking forward to Tucker's book, Before the Dawn.
I was looking forward to this one after reading the promising, edgy prequel story, The Gathering Dusk, and After the Dark didn't disappoint. Cynthia Eden has delivered another dark, thrilling romantic suspense series, and I'm looking forward to Tucker's book, Before the Dawn.
July 13, 2023
3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The suspense/mystery
The Not-So-Good: The ending. I wanted much more in the romance in terms of closure. Also, it would've been nice to hear more about her job too! That cover kinda sucks too...just sayin' 🤷🏻♀️
The Bad: The depth of development. In both the characters and the romance. The suspense and mystery development I felt was great! I just needed more on those other two aspects.
Overall: The suspense/mystery was enjoyable in this book. I just wish the romance was better balanced out with it. I thought it was instalove because I didn't get their progression to deeper feelings, but I do recognize that they were supposed to have been partners for a while before the story began -- so that could've explained things. But I just need that balance to really enjoy the romantic suspense sub genre.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Samantha and Blake's story. They are FBI serial killer investigator partners when Samatha gets fired after finding out that her ex lover and good friend was actually a killer and he got away. Blake finds Samantha when a video gets sent to the FBI that looks a lot like that same killer and he is also worried about her. There are some suspenseful scenes, some mystery, and a few sexy times...and they end with a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on the mcs and the killers in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Yes, because it felt out of nowhere.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Blake. I think he was just alright. We didn't get that deep into his character.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Samantha. I liked her fine. I appreciated her smarts and control over her emotions.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with closure for the mystery and suspense but not a lot of closure for the romance . I would call this a HFN ending.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The suspense/mystery
The Not-So-Good: The ending. I wanted much more in the romance in terms of closure. Also, it would've been nice to hear more about her job too! That cover kinda sucks too...just sayin' 🤷🏻♀️
The Bad: The depth of development. In both the characters and the romance. The suspense and mystery development I felt was great! I just needed more on those other two aspects.
Overall: The suspense/mystery was enjoyable in this book. I just wish the romance was better balanced out with it. I thought it was instalove because I didn't get their progression to deeper feelings, but I do recognize that they were supposed to have been partners for a while before the story began -- so that could've explained things. But I just need that balance to really enjoy the romantic suspense sub genre.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Samantha and Blake's story. They are FBI serial killer investigator partners when Samatha gets fired after finding out that her ex lover and good friend was actually a killer and he got away. Blake finds Samantha when a video gets sent to the FBI that looks a lot like that same killer and he is also worried about her. There are some suspenseful scenes, some mystery, and a few sexy times...and they end with a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on the mcs and the killers in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good, I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Yes, because it felt out of nowhere.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Blake. I think he was just alright. We didn't get that deep into his character.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Samantha. I liked her fine. I appreciated her smarts and control over her emotions.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Alright. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with closure for the mystery and suspense but not a lot of closure for the romance . I would call this a HFN ending.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
March 27, 2017
3.5 Stars
FBI Profiler Samantha Dark is shaken after finding out her former lover, Dr. Cameron Latham is a murderer, and she’s fired in the aftermath. All the signs were there in front of her, but she never thought Cameron would be capable of such darkness. Licking her wounds, she moves back to her hometown, all the while trying to track down Cameron before he strikes again, because Samantha knows he’s not done.
Blake, Samantha’s former partner, has never doubted her abilities and knew she was unjustly fired by the FBI. Company policy prevented him from acting on his intense feelings for Samantha, feelings he suspects she returns, but she’s not his partner anymore. When a new murder happens with a similar MO to Cameron’s, Blake has the excuse to track down Samantha for help, and this time never let her go.
I love Cynthia Eden’s romantic suspense novels! I can always count on a fast-paced, good time with some thrills and chills when I pick up one of her stories. As former partners, Samantha and Blake know each other well, and I just loved the undercurrent of sexual tension they had brewing between them. I knew it was only a matter of time before all that longing gave way to heat and passion!
While After the Dark was an exciting read, I think a little bit of the tension was gone knowing the identity of the killer. Still, there were some twists to discover, and the jealousy over Blake’s relationship with Samantha made Cameron even more dangerous, making me worry over his reactions.
You could read After the Dark without reading the prequel, The Gathering Dusk , first, but it lays the foundation of Blake and Samantha’s relationship, and has its only little mystery. It’s only sixty-two pages and currently free.
A copy of After the Dark was kindly provided by HQN Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
FBI Profiler Samantha Dark is shaken after finding out her former lover, Dr. Cameron Latham is a murderer, and she’s fired in the aftermath. All the signs were there in front of her, but she never thought Cameron would be capable of such darkness. Licking her wounds, she moves back to her hometown, all the while trying to track down Cameron before he strikes again, because Samantha knows he’s not done.
Blake, Samantha’s former partner, has never doubted her abilities and knew she was unjustly fired by the FBI. Company policy prevented him from acting on his intense feelings for Samantha, feelings he suspects she returns, but she’s not his partner anymore. When a new murder happens with a similar MO to Cameron’s, Blake has the excuse to track down Samantha for help, and this time never let her go.
I love Cynthia Eden’s romantic suspense novels! I can always count on a fast-paced, good time with some thrills and chills when I pick up one of her stories. As former partners, Samantha and Blake know each other well, and I just loved the undercurrent of sexual tension they had brewing between them. I knew it was only a matter of time before all that longing gave way to heat and passion!
While After the Dark was an exciting read, I think a little bit of the tension was gone knowing the identity of the killer. Still, there were some twists to discover, and the jealousy over Blake’s relationship with Samantha made Cameron even more dangerous, making me worry over his reactions.
You could read After the Dark without reading the prequel, The Gathering Dusk , first, but it lays the foundation of Blake and Samantha’s relationship, and has its only little mystery. It’s only sixty-two pages and currently free.
A copy of After the Dark was kindly provided by HQN Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2017
Well... That was pretty intense. I usually don't have a good experience with this author but finished this book in one sitting.
Definitely going for the next installment in the series.
Definitely going for the next installment in the series.
December 28, 2017
This was good but as another reviewer mentioned , the flowery descriptions really took me out of the story especially with such intense characters, who cares how the water slicked off his hair. It was still enjoyable nonetheless, on to the next one.
December 14, 2017
4 I love Samantha Dark stars!
Don't get me wrong, I liked the H - Blake too. He was protective of her but I feel like Sam overshadowed him all the way.
"The thing about profiling killers... Once you learned to think lile them, you never learned how to stop."
Her father figure's faith in her was humbling and for me, a testament of how strong she is.
"You're Samantha Dark. No one breaks you. No one undermines you. You make them eat shit, and you make them enjoy every bite."
Fast paced with hot sexy times. The killings are brutal and we have two serial killers!
"How many bad things can happen to a person before they start to lose their soul?"
A VERY satisfying read! Off to read book 2 :)
Don't get me wrong, I liked the H - Blake too. He was protective of her but I feel like Sam overshadowed him all the way.
"The thing about profiling killers... Once you learned to think lile them, you never learned how to stop."
Her father figure's faith in her was humbling and for me, a testament of how strong she is.
"You're Samantha Dark. No one breaks you. No one undermines you. You make them eat shit, and you make them enjoy every bite."
Fast paced with hot sexy times. The killings are brutal and we have two serial killers!
"How many bad things can happen to a person before they start to lose their soul?"
A VERY satisfying read! Off to read book 2 :)
May 30, 2017
This would have been much better without flowery descriptions of the main characters!
Maybe I'm overwhelmed by all the descriptions of how much succulent the heroiine's lips were, ot how large the hero's shoulders were, but here it was out of place, IMHO.
The grisly murders, where the villain is known and was best friend and lover of the heroine, clashed with these cheesy descriptions!
Maybe I'm overwhelmed by all the descriptions of how much succulent the heroiine's lips were, ot how large the hero's shoulders were, but here it was out of place, IMHO.
The grisly murders, where the villain is known and was best friend and lover of the heroine, clashed with these cheesy descriptions!
February 7, 2018
✨Unapologetic Romance Readers' New Year 2018 Reading Challenge: Romantic Suspense✨
How has Cynthia Eden escaped my radar? There ain’t no escaping me now! After the Dark and its prequel, The Gathering Dusk, are smart and sexy romantic suspense stories that checked most of my boxes (despite a cover that inexplicably portrays a blonde couple when the hero and heroine both have black – not even brown, but black – hair).
"You're Samantha Dark. No one breaks you. No one undermines you. You make them eat shit, and you make them enjoy every bite."
I’ve always been partial to tortured heroines. Samantha Dark? Tortured doesn’t even begin to cut it. It is an understatement that the brilliant criminal profiler has known loss and betrayal. Her parents died when she was very young. Her former lover and close friend kinda sorta turned out to be a serial killer. Her professional credibility and integrity were maligned, resulting in her being unceremoniously drummed out of the FBI. Sam is haunted, guilt-ridden, and unable to trust – not just a lover, but herself. Her judgment. Her darkness.
But Blake, her former partner, trusts her. He is steadfast and unwavering in his faith. And he wants her. He always has. Although the two fall into bed relatively early, unable to resist a year’s worth of longing and tension and desire, there is no insta-love. Sam has good reasons to hold back, and Blake is willing to wait. I enjoyed, so very much, the reversal of the roles that men and women commonly play in romance. Here it is the hero who helps heal the heroine and bring her back into the light. But at the end of the day, she saves herself.
The novel sets a fast and furious pace, tracking the killers – both Sam’s former lover AND his protégé. I was more than creeped out a time or two, but it made for a thrilling read. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this intense and riveting story with intriguing characters and connections to fellow lovers of romantic suspense.
How has Cynthia Eden escaped my radar? There ain’t no escaping me now! After the Dark and its prequel, The Gathering Dusk, are smart and sexy romantic suspense stories that checked most of my boxes (despite a cover that inexplicably portrays a blonde couple when the hero and heroine both have black – not even brown, but black – hair).
"You're Samantha Dark. No one breaks you. No one undermines you. You make them eat shit, and you make them enjoy every bite."
I’ve always been partial to tortured heroines. Samantha Dark? Tortured doesn’t even begin to cut it. It is an understatement that the brilliant criminal profiler has known loss and betrayal. Her parents died when she was very young. Her former lover and close friend kinda sorta turned out to be a serial killer. Her professional credibility and integrity were maligned, resulting in her being unceremoniously drummed out of the FBI. Sam is haunted, guilt-ridden, and unable to trust – not just a lover, but herself. Her judgment. Her darkness.
But Blake, her former partner, trusts her. He is steadfast and unwavering in his faith. And he wants her. He always has. Although the two fall into bed relatively early, unable to resist a year’s worth of longing and tension and desire, there is no insta-love. Sam has good reasons to hold back, and Blake is willing to wait. I enjoyed, so very much, the reversal of the roles that men and women commonly play in romance. Here it is the hero who helps heal the heroine and bring her back into the light. But at the end of the day, she saves herself.
The novel sets a fast and furious pace, tracking the killers – both Sam’s former lover AND his protégé. I was more than creeped out a time or two, but it made for a thrilling read. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this intense and riveting story with intriguing characters and connections to fellow lovers of romantic suspense.
March 24, 2017
Four months ago Samantha made the biggest mistake of her life, she let a murderer escape . Now this ex profiler for the FBI has to live with the fact that her best friend and sometimes lover Cameron isn't the clean cut guy she thought no he's dark, cunning and a psychopath . Samantha may appear to be licking her wounds but her thoughts don't stray too much from the events that saw her losing all credibility . When her former partner Blake shows up it's clear that the case is far from closed and soon pretty little Fairhope, Alabama turns into serial killer central!
There's a prequel to this The Gathering Dusk that introduces these characters and shows the beginning of the simmering relationship that grows between these two agents. Its clearly intense but also a really bad idea and by the book Samantha has ignored the attraction until now . Blake doesn't want to pretend they are just professional colleagues, he needs more than anything to protect Samantha but it's apparent the stubborn woman needs protecting from herself!
I thought Samantha was the character that dominated this story. She has a history of horror and pain that she keeps hidden but it's made her what she is today. A woman who can understand how a killers mind works might scare some but Blake is made of sterner stuff and desperate to save Samantha from a cruel adversary and yes even from herself. I don't think we really got into Blakes mind as much as I wanted, certainly not as much as we did other characters although his lust for Samantha was certainly fleshed out. This couple may be surrounded by atrocities and death but they sure do know how to celebrate being alive!
If tense, brutal suspense with a huge dollop of romance appeal to you then this new series will no doubt make its way to your bookshelf . Alpha hero and a tortured heroine combine here as the hunter becomes the hunted. Not a straightforward easily predicatable thriller and I really enjoyed ( perhaps too much) discovering just how far a killer could go. The author involves her readers, we know exactly who and why but it was still a page turner and isn't that how it should be?
There's a prequel to this The Gathering Dusk that introduces these characters and shows the beginning of the simmering relationship that grows between these two agents. Its clearly intense but also a really bad idea and by the book Samantha has ignored the attraction until now . Blake doesn't want to pretend they are just professional colleagues, he needs more than anything to protect Samantha but it's apparent the stubborn woman needs protecting from herself!
I thought Samantha was the character that dominated this story. She has a history of horror and pain that she keeps hidden but it's made her what she is today. A woman who can understand how a killers mind works might scare some but Blake is made of sterner stuff and desperate to save Samantha from a cruel adversary and yes even from herself. I don't think we really got into Blakes mind as much as I wanted, certainly not as much as we did other characters although his lust for Samantha was certainly fleshed out. This couple may be surrounded by atrocities and death but they sure do know how to celebrate being alive!
If tense, brutal suspense with a huge dollop of romance appeal to you then this new series will no doubt make its way to your bookshelf . Alpha hero and a tortured heroine combine here as the hunter becomes the hunted. Not a straightforward easily predicatable thriller and I really enjoyed ( perhaps too much) discovering just how far a killer could go. The author involves her readers, we know exactly who and why but it was still a page turner and isn't that how it should be?
March 29, 2017
After the Dark was less a romance and more a police thriller, but that didn’t take away from the great storyline and drama that made this an entertaining book to read.
Ex-FBI profiler Samantha Dark has just been fired from her position with the bureau and has retreated to her hometown to regroup after letting a serial killer escape. The long standing friendship and physical relationship between her and Cameron, the suspected killer, caused her hesitation during the arrest, allowing him to escape. Now, she has gone home to a small town to seek solace, and her old partner Blake has followed her. He is acting on feelings he couldn’t when she was his partner.
But a serial killer has also followed Samantha back home.
As a thriller, this story was fantastic. It was smart and dark and psychologically twisted. It brought you into the mind of a killer and into the mind of the hunted as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed every character. Samantha was strong willed and tenacious. Blake was alpha and protective. Even Cameron was a puzzle, causing feelings of horror and pity (mostly horror) in me. I loved reading this whirlwind of a story with its twists and turns with a helping of sexy on the side.
My only regret is that I wish I had been aware of the prequel* that sets the stage for Blake and Samantha’s attraction before reading this story. I could feel the tension between these two as their relationship grew, but I would have liked to have seen it from the start. Instead, I was just told that they had an intense attraction for one another and felt as if I had missed something.
If you like your romance with a body count, this one’s for you!
*The prequel is included in the print and digital versions online, it just wasn't in the ARC.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
October 4, 2024
h-Samantha profiler
H-Blake her partner
Samantha thinks she has mis-profiled a serial killer case until she gets suspended and goes to her BFF and ex lovers house and finds out she was right all. She just didn’t think her BFF was a the killer. Now he is on the loose and the killings are happening again. Is he back or is it a copy cat.
Safety
Our H and h…..
They are partners and have feelings for each other but we don’t know if they are with others during this time or why they didn’t act of their feelings. Or how long they have been partners.
There is a 4 month separation when she leaves the FBI but again no info on OP. But it does say she hasn’t been around people in those 4 months. So I guess it’s just the H that’s unclear.
-It is mentioned that the h hadn’t been with her ex lover in over a year since she met Blake.
-He’s not giving manwhore vibes he’s a good guy so I like to believe he was celibate after meeting the h. He’s pretty obsessed with her from the start. I mean this man is obsessed so I don’t think he slept w OW after they met. But o would have liked to know for sure.
OMD- her closest longest friend and ex lover is a serial killer and he is obsessed with her. So yummy OMD
This book was fun really enjoy it.
I love when the h was lovers or a family member w a serial killer makes for great drama.
H-Blake her partner
Samantha thinks she has mis-profiled a serial killer case until she gets suspended and goes to her BFF and ex lovers house and finds out she was right all. She just didn’t think her BFF was a the killer. Now he is on the loose and the killings are happening again. Is he back or is it a copy cat.
Safety
Our H and h…..
They are partners and have feelings for each other but we don’t know if they are with others during this time or why they didn’t act of their feelings. Or how long they have been partners.
There is a 4 month separation when she leaves the FBI but again no info on OP. But it does say she hasn’t been around people in those 4 months. So I guess it’s just the H that’s unclear.
-It is mentioned that the h hadn’t been with her ex lover in over a year since she met Blake.
-He’s not giving manwhore vibes he’s a good guy so I like to believe he was celibate after meeting the h. He’s pretty obsessed with her from the start. I mean this man is obsessed so I don’t think he slept w OW after they met. But o would have liked to know for sure.
OMD- her closest longest friend and ex lover is a serial killer and he is obsessed with her. So yummy OMD
This book was fun really enjoy it.
I love when the h was lovers or a family member w a serial killer makes for great drama.
February 8, 2017
This was well written as always and I will read the next book; but it contained my least favorite cliché in all of romantic suspense - the incredibly unrealistic trope of the killer making the cop/FBI agent their newest target of prey. Are you investigating the case or running for your life? Disappointing.
On the plus side, this RS series looks to be a really good one, in the vein of Eden's excellent "Deadly" series. She stopped writing that one far too soon.
On the plus side, this RS series looks to be a really good one, in the vein of Eden's excellent "Deadly" series. She stopped writing that one far too soon.
June 12, 2018
The first book in the Killer Instinct series by Cynthia Eden. Former FBI agent Samantha Dark relocates to Alabama after her career is destroyed. But then her former partner, Blake Gamble, shows up to ask for her help in finding a serial killer. The killer was a former lover of Samantha's and the cause of her leaving the FBI.
Cynthia Eden is one of those "go to" authors that I find comfort in. If I want a good story I know I can take comfort in knowing that Ms. Eden will come through for me. While her work may not have the "WOW" factor, I still enjoy them and know they will satisfy me.
Cynthia Eden is one of those "go to" authors that I find comfort in. If I want a good story I know I can take comfort in knowing that Ms. Eden will come through for me. While her work may not have the "WOW" factor, I still enjoy them and know they will satisfy me.
January 10, 2017
The stylistic hallmarks of Cynthia Eden never show up more clearly than in her romantic suspense thrillers: the unapologetically tense atmosphere, the brutality of the murders, the psychopathic killer(s) and the characters with their own baggage that hinder them from moving on properly. If it all sounds somewhat repetitive, it’s because it is to an extent, but Eden manages to make every crime story fresh despite the similarities of her the tortured heroines and alpha heroes who tend to populate the pages of these thrillers. In fact, I thought very much about the LOST series as I went through this book and saw how much this is already mirroring it.
But from the moment I read “The Gathering Dusk”, I was eager to see how Samantha’s and Blake’s very obvious chemistry was going to combust and “After the Dark” didn’t disappoint as it kicked the drama into high gear with betrayal, a relentless body count and mind-bending psychoanalysis. There’s always the hunter and the hunted, but Eden complicated this predatory relationship and I liked how this became a game of wits as it showed how personal the relationship really was between Samantha and Latham—with Blake as the unusual third party who got in the way with his steady and admirable straight shooting behaviour. There’s no straightforward whodunnit moment like most crime books, leaving you with the feeling that the game could be won either way—with fate playing a huge hand in it.
It all makes for good storytelling, really. I liked how the climax played out (the resolution was sort of expected) but most of all, I liked how this series is keeping me excited for the next book to come.
*ARC by netgalley
(mind-bendingly grateful, as always)
But from the moment I read “The Gathering Dusk”, I was eager to see how Samantha’s and Blake’s very obvious chemistry was going to combust and “After the Dark” didn’t disappoint as it kicked the drama into high gear with betrayal, a relentless body count and mind-bending psychoanalysis. There’s always the hunter and the hunted, but Eden complicated this predatory relationship and I liked how this became a game of wits as it showed how personal the relationship really was between Samantha and Latham—with Blake as the unusual third party who got in the way with his steady and admirable straight shooting behaviour. There’s no straightforward whodunnit moment like most crime books, leaving you with the feeling that the game could be won either way—with fate playing a huge hand in it.
It all makes for good storytelling, really. I liked how the climax played out (the resolution was sort of expected) but most of all, I liked how this series is keeping me excited for the next book to come.
*ARC by netgalley
(mind-bendingly grateful, as always)
January 31, 2020
I like the authors writing style. She keeps.you entertained as well as wanting to.keep.reading until the end. An FBI profiler, her partner that wants more, and a serial killer. This was a quick read as I didn't want to put it down. Edge of your seat, thrilling and I want more! I don't go into detail so as I don't like to spoil it for others, you'll have to read for YOURSELF.
April 4, 2017
Y'all. Cynthia Eden is the shit. She's quickly become one of my favorite romantic suspense writers and I really enjoy the stories located on the Gulf Coast. I felt like there were a few predictable moments, but the writing draws you in so well that even if you've seen this particular trope before, it doesn't register as a trope. Looking back I'm thinking "Well, that bit near the beginning wasn't all that original, now that I think about it..." but when I read it, I was so engrossed and entertained that I didn't even notice it at the time.
That doesn't sound positive, but it truly is. There are only so many stories to tell and when you've read 80+ books in two months you're sure to come across some similarities and repeating plot devices. The joy in reading Cynthia Eden's books is that she's able to breathe fresh air into plot points or story lines that may seem familiar.
I loved the prequel novella, which also features the H/h from this story - it's a story about one of their previous cases. And I was hoping the entire series would be about them - I really enjoy Samantha and Blake, guys. Alas, we seem to be moving on to Tucker in the next book. He didn't get a lot of page time in this story, so I dunno how I feel about his character. But Cynthia Eden is now officially an auto-buy for me - I'll see you soon, Tucker.
That doesn't sound positive, but it truly is. There are only so many stories to tell and when you've read 80+ books in two months you're sure to come across some similarities and repeating plot devices. The joy in reading Cynthia Eden's books is that she's able to breathe fresh air into plot points or story lines that may seem familiar.
I loved the prequel novella, which also features the H/h from this story - it's a story about one of their previous cases. And I was hoping the entire series would be about them - I really enjoy Samantha and Blake, guys. Alas, we seem to be moving on to Tucker in the next book. He didn't get a lot of page time in this story, so I dunno how I feel about his character. But Cynthia Eden is now officially an auto-buy for me - I'll see you soon, Tucker.
September 12, 2022
3.5 rounded up to a 4
March 23, 2017
Link to full review below! So freaking good!! Will hook you right away! See full review on The Book Disciple
April 14, 2017
You can find this review in English below.
Antes que nada aclaraciones:
Esta historia no estaría completa sin sus primeros capítulos: The Gathering Dusk. No creo que nadie en su sano juicio pueda llamar a The Gathering Dusk una historia de por si. Son los primero capítulos de After the Dark, sin ellos la historia estaría incompleta. Ya sé que soy un poco tiquismiquis con esto de las historias por fascículos, pero realmente considero una tomadura de pelo cortar 7 capítulos de una historia y llamarla tal.
Así que asegúrate de leer primero The Gathering Dusk o comprar la versión de After the Dark que incluye The Gathering Dusk.
Ahora sí empiezo con la reseña ;)
4.5 stars.
Este suspense romántico ha sido casi perfecto. Me quedo con media estrella porque no hemos podido disfrutar del nacimiento del romance. Este es otro de esos casos en los que la autora nos cuenta lo atraídos que se sienten los protagonistas pero no lo vemos ni lo sentimos. Si sólo me hubiese dejado ver el principio de esa atracción…hubiesen sido 5 estrellas.
Ha sido una lectura inquietante, entretenida y absorbente. No recuerdo haber leído últimamente ninguna en la que todos los personajes sean gente tan perturbadoramente inteligente y en la que nadie, nadie haga ninguna estupidez. Increíble pero cierto.
Samantha Dark es, probablemente, la mejor analista criminal del FBI. Pero el último caso en el que trabajó tuvo un giro inesperado al final y ella fue usada de cabeza de turco. Ahora intenta llevar una vida tranquila en su pueblo natal, pero una vez más, su pasado la persigue.
Blake Gamble es duro, honesto y ama su trabajo. Un héroe de verdad. Cumple las reglas a rajatabla pero sabe perfectamente cuáles son sus prioridades en la vida. Y su prioridad es mantener a salvo a Samantha cueste lo que cueste.
Y después está el malo. Un malo increíblemente descrito, con capas, multifacético, inteligente y aterradoramente realista.
Durante absolutamente toda la historia me he estado preguntando cómo iban a neutralizar a este malo. Ha sido una lucha muy igualada, la autora no ha permitido en ningún momento que la balanza se desequilibrase. Ha sido una persecución extenuante, sin fallos, con giros inesperados, intentado analizar una mente (la del asesino) que sabe cómo funciona el FBI y sobre todo conoce perfectamente a Samantha. Hasta el mismísimo final ha estado interesante. Y hasta el mismísimo final la lucha ha sido encarnizada. De tú a tú. Me ha encantado. Eso sí, el nivel de violencia de esta historia supera la media de este género. Los asesinatos han sido atroces y algunas descripciones no son aptas para cardiacos. Pero no tengo más remedio que recomendarla.
Ha sido intensa y absorbente.
***
First things first, a few clarifications:
This story would not be complete without its first chapters: The Gathering Dusk. I do not think anyone in their right mind should call The Gathering Dusk a story by itself. They are the first chapters of After the Dark, without them the story would be incomplete. I know I'm a bit persnickety about stories by fascicles, but I really consider it a bad joke to cut out 7 chapters of a story and call them such.
So make sure you read first The Gathering Dusk or buy the After the Dark version that includes The Gathering Dusk.
Now, I´ll start with the review ;)
4.5 stars.
This romantic suspense has been almost perfect. I´m going to keep a half star because we have been denied the beginning of the romance. This is another of those cases in which the author tells us how attracted the MC's are about each other but we do not get see it or feel it. If only I could have seen the beginning of that attraction ... it would have been a 5 stars.
It has been a disturbing, entertaining and absorbing reading. I do not remember lately reading one in which all the characters were so disturbingly intelligent and in which nobody, absolutely nobody does a stupidity. It seems incredible but it´s true.
Samantha Dark is probably the best FBI criminal profiler. But the last case she worked on had an unexpected twist at the end and she was used as a scapegoat. Now she tries to lead a quiet life in her hometown, but once again, her past pursues her.
Blake Gamble is tough, honest and loves his job. A real hero. He follows the rules to a T but he knows perfectly what his priorities are in life. And his priority is to keep Samantha safe at all costs.
And then there's the bad guy. A superb described, layered, multifaceted, intelligent and frighteningly realistic evil guy.
For quite the whole story I've been wondering how they were going to neutralize this bad guy. It has been a really even fight; the author has never allowed the balance to become unbalanced. It has been a strenuous pursuit, without errors, with unexpected twists, trying to analyze a mind (the murderer´s) who knows how the FBI works and above all knows Samantha perfectly. It has been interesting from the beginning to the end. And until the very end the fight has been fierce . On the same level. I loved it. Of course, the level of violence in this story exceeds the average of this genre. The murders have been atrocious and some descriptions are not for the faint of the heart. But I have no choice but to recommend it.
It has been intense and gripping.
Antes que nada aclaraciones:
Esta historia no estaría completa sin sus primeros capítulos: The Gathering Dusk. No creo que nadie en su sano juicio pueda llamar a The Gathering Dusk una historia de por si. Son los primero capítulos de After the Dark, sin ellos la historia estaría incompleta. Ya sé que soy un poco tiquismiquis con esto de las historias por fascículos, pero realmente considero una tomadura de pelo cortar 7 capítulos de una historia y llamarla tal.
Así que asegúrate de leer primero The Gathering Dusk o comprar la versión de After the Dark que incluye The Gathering Dusk.
Ahora sí empiezo con la reseña ;)
4.5 stars.
Este suspense romántico ha sido casi perfecto. Me quedo con media estrella porque no hemos podido disfrutar del nacimiento del romance. Este es otro de esos casos en los que la autora nos cuenta lo atraídos que se sienten los protagonistas pero no lo vemos ni lo sentimos. Si sólo me hubiese dejado ver el principio de esa atracción…hubiesen sido 5 estrellas.
Ha sido una lectura inquietante, entretenida y absorbente. No recuerdo haber leído últimamente ninguna en la que todos los personajes sean gente tan perturbadoramente inteligente y en la que nadie, nadie haga ninguna estupidez. Increíble pero cierto.
Samantha Dark es, probablemente, la mejor analista criminal del FBI. Pero el último caso en el que trabajó tuvo un giro inesperado al final y ella fue usada de cabeza de turco. Ahora intenta llevar una vida tranquila en su pueblo natal, pero una vez más, su pasado la persigue.
Blake Gamble es duro, honesto y ama su trabajo. Un héroe de verdad. Cumple las reglas a rajatabla pero sabe perfectamente cuáles son sus prioridades en la vida. Y su prioridad es mantener a salvo a Samantha cueste lo que cueste.
Y después está el malo. Un malo increíblemente descrito, con capas, multifacético, inteligente y aterradoramente realista.
Durante absolutamente toda la historia me he estado preguntando cómo iban a neutralizar a este malo. Ha sido una lucha muy igualada, la autora no ha permitido en ningún momento que la balanza se desequilibrase. Ha sido una persecución extenuante, sin fallos, con giros inesperados, intentado analizar una mente (la del asesino) que sabe cómo funciona el FBI y sobre todo conoce perfectamente a Samantha. Hasta el mismísimo final ha estado interesante. Y hasta el mismísimo final la lucha ha sido encarnizada. De tú a tú. Me ha encantado. Eso sí, el nivel de violencia de esta historia supera la media de este género. Los asesinatos han sido atroces y algunas descripciones no son aptas para cardiacos. Pero no tengo más remedio que recomendarla.
Ha sido intensa y absorbente.
***
First things first, a few clarifications:
This story would not be complete without its first chapters: The Gathering Dusk. I do not think anyone in their right mind should call The Gathering Dusk a story by itself. They are the first chapters of After the Dark, without them the story would be incomplete. I know I'm a bit persnickety about stories by fascicles, but I really consider it a bad joke to cut out 7 chapters of a story and call them such.
So make sure you read first The Gathering Dusk or buy the After the Dark version that includes The Gathering Dusk.
Now, I´ll start with the review ;)
4.5 stars.
This romantic suspense has been almost perfect. I´m going to keep a half star because we have been denied the beginning of the romance. This is another of those cases in which the author tells us how attracted the MC's are about each other but we do not get see it or feel it. If only I could have seen the beginning of that attraction ... it would have been a 5 stars.
It has been a disturbing, entertaining and absorbing reading. I do not remember lately reading one in which all the characters were so disturbingly intelligent and in which nobody, absolutely nobody does a stupidity. It seems incredible but it´s true.
Samantha Dark is probably the best FBI criminal profiler. But the last case she worked on had an unexpected twist at the end and she was used as a scapegoat. Now she tries to lead a quiet life in her hometown, but once again, her past pursues her.
Blake Gamble is tough, honest and loves his job. A real hero. He follows the rules to a T but he knows perfectly what his priorities are in life. And his priority is to keep Samantha safe at all costs.
And then there's the bad guy. A superb described, layered, multifaceted, intelligent and frighteningly realistic evil guy.
For quite the whole story I've been wondering how they were going to neutralize this bad guy. It has been a really even fight; the author has never allowed the balance to become unbalanced. It has been a strenuous pursuit, without errors, with unexpected twists, trying to analyze a mind (the murderer´s) who knows how the FBI works and above all knows Samantha perfectly. It has been interesting from the beginning to the end. And until the very end the fight has been fierce . On the same level. I loved it. Of course, the level of violence in this story exceeds the average of this genre. The murders have been atrocious and some descriptions are not for the faint of the heart. But I have no choice but to recommend it.
It has been intense and gripping.
February 8, 2021
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After the Dark follows the events of The Gathering Dusk. Samantha no longer works for the FBI and has returned to her hometown in Alabama. The outcome of her last case turned out to be a humiliating experience. She failed to recognise that the serial killer they had been hunting was none other than her ex-lover. Samantha took this failure hard and sets and took it on herself to hunt him on her own while trying to figure out what made her fail to see what had been in front of her eyes.
Meanwhile, the killer is still on the loose and appears to be killing again. Needing her help, Blake came to Alabama to convince her to work with him to put an end to ex-lover’s reign of terror while hoping to pursue the attraction that burnt between them.
After the Dark took the reader on a journey filled with tension, suspense and non-stop action. Seeing Into the mind of the killer has always been one thing which fascinated the reader with stories featuring psychopaths, and in this regard, Eden did a splendid job. When Blake and Sam began their investigation, they discovered they are hunting not one but two killers. Despite knowing the identity of the killers, it did not detract from the tension as not knowing when they would make their next move and who would be their next victim made for some serious nerve-wracking moments. The main villain proved to be the scariest of all. His obsession with Sam made him unpredictable, which made more dangerous than his counterpart. Like most serial killer books, the reader has read, this was graphic and definitively not for the faint of heart.
Like most suspense books, the romance took a back seat to the danger and the investigation. However, the moments they spent together outside of the investigation sizzled and popped. Blake’s need to protect Samantha proved overbearing. His need to protect Samantha was understandable, but in his zeal to keep her safe, he ignored her abilities, which led to some missed opportunities.
Overall, the reader had a great time with this installment and is looking forward to reading the other books in the series.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
After the Dark follows the events of The Gathering Dusk. Samantha no longer works for the FBI and has returned to her hometown in Alabama. The outcome of her last case turned out to be a humiliating experience. She failed to recognise that the serial killer they had been hunting was none other than her ex-lover. Samantha took this failure hard and sets and took it on herself to hunt him on her own while trying to figure out what made her fail to see what had been in front of her eyes.
Meanwhile, the killer is still on the loose and appears to be killing again. Needing her help, Blake came to Alabama to convince her to work with him to put an end to ex-lover’s reign of terror while hoping to pursue the attraction that burnt between them.
After the Dark took the reader on a journey filled with tension, suspense and non-stop action. Seeing Into the mind of the killer has always been one thing which fascinated the reader with stories featuring psychopaths, and in this regard, Eden did a splendid job. When Blake and Sam began their investigation, they discovered they are hunting not one but two killers. Despite knowing the identity of the killers, it did not detract from the tension as not knowing when they would make their next move and who would be their next victim made for some serious nerve-wracking moments. The main villain proved to be the scariest of all. His obsession with Sam made him unpredictable, which made more dangerous than his counterpart. Like most serial killer books, the reader has read, this was graphic and definitively not for the faint of heart.
Like most suspense books, the romance took a back seat to the danger and the investigation. However, the moments they spent together outside of the investigation sizzled and popped. Blake’s need to protect Samantha proved overbearing. His need to protect Samantha was understandable, but in his zeal to keep her safe, he ignored her abilities, which led to some missed opportunities.
Overall, the reader had a great time with this installment and is looking forward to reading the other books in the series.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
April 29, 2022
After the Dark
4 Stars
Following a debacle that ended in the escape of a sadistic serial killer, FBI Profiler Samantha Dark finds returns home to Alabama at loose ends. When her former partner, Blake Gamble, arrives with troubling new details about the case, Sam is forced to confront her past. But can she overcome her demons, and will the man she loves accept her for who she is?
Series note:This is the first novel in Cynthia Eden's new Killer Instincts series. There is a prequel novella (Gathering Dusk), which provides an important introduction to the characters, as well as a Harlequin Intrigue (Abduction) set in the same world and portraying events mentioned in this book.
After the Dark has an intense and chilling serial killer plot, and Eden can always be relied upon to provide a suitably malevolent villain together with exciting action sequences.
Sam and Blake are both likable characters and their romance is satisfying overall. That said, their chemistry is not as tangible as some of Eden's other couples. Perhaps it is the fact that their relationship comes after a period of separation, but the heat and passion behind the words and love scenes is somewhat lacking. Moreover, Blake's overprotectiveness begins to chafe after a while, especially since Sam is a trained FBI agent and can take care of herself.
In sum, recommended for fans of serial killers and police procedurals as well as the TV show Criminal Minds. The rest of the series looks very promising.
4 Stars
Following a debacle that ended in the escape of a sadistic serial killer, FBI Profiler Samantha Dark finds returns home to Alabama at loose ends. When her former partner, Blake Gamble, arrives with troubling new details about the case, Sam is forced to confront her past. But can she overcome her demons, and will the man she loves accept her for who she is?
Series note:This is the first novel in Cynthia Eden's new Killer Instincts series. There is a prequel novella (Gathering Dusk), which provides an important introduction to the characters, as well as a Harlequin Intrigue (Abduction) set in the same world and portraying events mentioned in this book.
After the Dark has an intense and chilling serial killer plot, and Eden can always be relied upon to provide a suitably malevolent villain together with exciting action sequences.
Sam and Blake are both likable characters and their romance is satisfying overall. That said, their chemistry is not as tangible as some of Eden's other couples. Perhaps it is the fact that their relationship comes after a period of separation, but the heat and passion behind the words and love scenes is somewhat lacking. Moreover, Blake's overprotectiveness begins to chafe after a while, especially since Sam is a trained FBI agent and can take care of herself.
In sum, recommended for fans of serial killers and police procedurals as well as the TV show Criminal Minds. The rest of the series looks very promising.
March 31, 2017
This was my first read from Ms. Eden and it won't be the last.
Samantha Dark is a FBI profiler along with her partner, Blake Gamble, they are tasked with finding a serial killer.
Unbeknownst to Samantha, the killer is closer than she could imagine.
The suspense was on par for a Romantic suspense book, I do wish Blake would have been more of an alpha male, but overall good book. I look forward to continuing this series.
Samantha Dark is a FBI profiler along with her partner, Blake Gamble, they are tasked with finding a serial killer.
Unbeknownst to Samantha, the killer is closer than she could imagine.
The suspense was on par for a Romantic suspense book, I do wish Blake would have been more of an alpha male, but overall good book. I look forward to continuing this series.
April 11, 2019
Ohhhh, I really liked this one. The beginning was a bit different from any suspenseful reads I have read before. I look forward to the others in this series.
#LibraryLoveChallenge
#LibraryLoveChallenge
July 16, 2020
Talk about a twisted FBI thriller! Profiler Samantha Dark is suspended after a serial killer who just happens to be her ex-lover escapes capture. With her tail between her legs she runs away to her hometown in Alabama and after a time her former partner and want-to-be lover Blake Gamble comes calling when the murders start again.
The best way I can describe this is that is a love triangle between Samantha, Blake and the psychopathic killer, Cameron. It’s been a while since I’ve read any of Eden’s other books, but this seemed quite different to me. It wasn’t a bad read and the suspense was well written. However, the love story between Samantha and Blake seemed a little forced to me. They worked together as partners for quite some time and never acted on their feelings, yet we must believe they knew and accepted their feelings for each other.
In the meantime, crazy serial killer Cameron was out wreaking havoc because Samantha stopped being intimate with him and he knew it was because she had feelings for Blake. If you know anything about psychopathic killers, they don’t tend to have any real feelings for anyone. He is creepy, despicable, and evil. I don’t want to go further into the story as to not spoil it for anyone, but of course, these three are going to crash into each other at some point.
I really wavered on how to rate this story. I listened to this on Audible. I tried to decide if reading a physical copy might have been better as it sometimes is. Points in favor are that I do want to continue with the series. Also, the narrator Summer Norton did an excellent job with all the characters. In the end I gave it 3 ½ stars rounding up to 4.
The best way I can describe this is that is a love triangle between Samantha, Blake and the psychopathic killer, Cameron. It’s been a while since I’ve read any of Eden’s other books, but this seemed quite different to me. It wasn’t a bad read and the suspense was well written. However, the love story between Samantha and Blake seemed a little forced to me. They worked together as partners for quite some time and never acted on their feelings, yet we must believe they knew and accepted their feelings for each other.
In the meantime, crazy serial killer Cameron was out wreaking havoc because Samantha stopped being intimate with him and he knew it was because she had feelings for Blake. If you know anything about psychopathic killers, they don’t tend to have any real feelings for anyone. He is creepy, despicable, and evil. I don’t want to go further into the story as to not spoil it for anyone, but of course, these three are going to crash into each other at some point.
I really wavered on how to rate this story. I listened to this on Audible. I tried to decide if reading a physical copy might have been better as it sometimes is. Points in favor are that I do want to continue with the series. Also, the narrator Summer Norton did an excellent job with all the characters. In the end I gave it 3 ½ stars rounding up to 4.
March 14, 2019
If you loved her Deadly series you are going to love Killer Instinct series.
Cynthia Eden has a way to twist and turn readers as she pulls the readers into the dark minds of serial killers. The author keeps readers on their edge of their seats even when they already know the outcome of the story she keep the readers hooked to ever single word.
Cynthia Edens romantic suspense novels are always the hunter vs the hunted. The game of wits is what keeps mystery readers hook and romance reads love how the relationship between the leads with their combustible passion that consumes them while hunting down the killer(s)
Even though you can tell who is the murders who are the hero's in this story you wonder if at some point it might twist the other way and the hero becomes the killer. The dark mind of serial killers vs the dark mind of the true blue FBI agents who hunt them.
Eden paints are dark world that consumes the hero's but is able to pull the hero from dark to light in moments of passion, trust and enlightenment.
I have read many books by Cynthia Eden and not one has ever been disappointing. I love her books that keep me surprise until the very end of the story. After The Dark doesn't keep anything a secret. It is all laid out in every single perfect scene.
Advance Copy from Netgalley.
Cynthia Eden has a way to twist and turn readers as she pulls the readers into the dark minds of serial killers. The author keeps readers on their edge of their seats even when they already know the outcome of the story she keep the readers hooked to ever single word.
Cynthia Edens romantic suspense novels are always the hunter vs the hunted. The game of wits is what keeps mystery readers hook and romance reads love how the relationship between the leads with their combustible passion that consumes them while hunting down the killer(s)
Even though you can tell who is the murders who are the hero's in this story you wonder if at some point it might twist the other way and the hero becomes the killer. The dark mind of serial killers vs the dark mind of the true blue FBI agents who hunt them.
Eden paints are dark world that consumes the hero's but is able to pull the hero from dark to light in moments of passion, trust and enlightenment.
I have read many books by Cynthia Eden and not one has ever been disappointing. I love her books that keep me surprise until the very end of the story. After The Dark doesn't keep anything a secret. It is all laid out in every single perfect scene.
Advance Copy from Netgalley.
April 5, 2017
***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley and Social Butterfly PR***
This story grabs you from the beginning and, oddly, even though it is in the blurb, you kind of forget the direction it is going at the beginning (at least I did) and it makes this story shock you from the opening chapter.
Samantha and Blake were great together. You really like both of them, and you respect Blake. The idea that he was attracted to her the entire time they were partners (which you get a glimpse of in the short novella at the end) but too honorable to act on the attraction made their story really compelling...especially onceyou realize Samantha feels the same way.
The serial killer plot was interesting. I liked that you know pretty much who it is and what is going on. The suspense is catching him, the pursuit, the twists and turns of the story and the mix of the suspense with the romance of Samantha and Blake.
Cynthia Eden is a favorite of mine for her ability to write a well crafted and well balanced romantic suspense. And, when romantic suspense is well balanced, they are some of my favorites. I enjoyed this, the romance aspects and the suspense as well.
I recommend this book.
***This and other reviews featured on our blog “Booked All Night” http://bookedallnightblog.com/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/BookedAllNight/***
This story grabs you from the beginning and, oddly, even though it is in the blurb, you kind of forget the direction it is going at the beginning (at least I did) and it makes this story shock you from the opening chapter.
Samantha and Blake were great together. You really like both of them, and you respect Blake. The idea that he was attracted to her the entire time they were partners (which you get a glimpse of in the short novella at the end) but too honorable to act on the attraction made their story really compelling...especially onceyou realize Samantha feels the same way.
The serial killer plot was interesting. I liked that you know pretty much who it is and what is going on. The suspense is catching him, the pursuit, the twists and turns of the story and the mix of the suspense with the romance of Samantha and Blake.
Cynthia Eden is a favorite of mine for her ability to write a well crafted and well balanced romantic suspense. And, when romantic suspense is well balanced, they are some of my favorites. I enjoyed this, the romance aspects and the suspense as well.
I recommend this book.
***This and other reviews featured on our blog “Booked All Night” http://bookedallnightblog.com/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/BookedAllNight/***
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