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Karen Vail #7
The Darkness of Evil
FBI profiler Karen Vail is on the hunt for an escaped serial killer in the latest jaw-dropping thriller from USA Today–bestselling author Alan Jacobson.
Jasmine Marcks was a teenager when she discovered her father was a killer. First, there was the strip of bloody duct tape; then, the bloodstain on his shirt; and finally, the long nights away from home that always coincided with gruesome deaths. Roscoe Lee Marcks killed fourteen people before he was finally put behind bars. But as renowned FBI agent Karen Vail soon learns, Marcks’s reign of terror isn’t over yet.
After writing a book about growing up as the child of a serial killer, Jasmine receives a letter—a single blank sheet of paper mailed from the maximum-security prison Marcks now calls home. The page hides a threatening message from a father who wants vengeance against the daughter who turned him in to the police. So when Marcks breaks out of prison, Agent Vail calls on a legendary retired profiler to help her find Marcks—and keep him from making his own daughter his fifteenth victim.
Alan Jacobson created Karen Vail—one of the most compelling heroes in suspense fiction, earning acclaim from James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, and Michael Connelly—after seven years of working with two senior profilers at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s legendary Behavioral Analysis Unit. Over the years, Vail has tangled with the worst serial killers America has to offer. But none compares to Roscoe Lee Marcks.
Jasmine Marcks was a teenager when she discovered her father was a killer. First, there was the strip of bloody duct tape; then, the bloodstain on his shirt; and finally, the long nights away from home that always coincided with gruesome deaths. Roscoe Lee Marcks killed fourteen people before he was finally put behind bars. But as renowned FBI agent Karen Vail soon learns, Marcks’s reign of terror isn’t over yet.
After writing a book about growing up as the child of a serial killer, Jasmine receives a letter—a single blank sheet of paper mailed from the maximum-security prison Marcks now calls home. The page hides a threatening message from a father who wants vengeance against the daughter who turned him in to the police. So when Marcks breaks out of prison, Agent Vail calls on a legendary retired profiler to help her find Marcks—and keep him from making his own daughter his fifteenth victim.
Alan Jacobson created Karen Vail—one of the most compelling heroes in suspense fiction, earning acclaim from James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, and Michael Connelly—after seven years of working with two senior profilers at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s legendary Behavioral Analysis Unit. Over the years, Vail has tangled with the worst serial killers America has to offer. But none compares to Roscoe Lee Marcks.
460 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2017
654 people are currently reading
983 people want to read
About the author
Alan Jacobson
34 books328 followersALAN JACOBSON is the USA Today bestselling author of a dozen critically acclaimed, award-winning thrillers. His 20 years of research and training with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, DEA, US Marshals Service, ATF, Scotland Yard, SWAT, and the US military bring unparalleled realism to his stories and characters—prompting the San Francisco Chronicle to write that “Alan Jacobson researches his books like a good newspaper reporter and then pushes the envelope into reality more thoroughly than the typical crime novel could ever allow.”
Jacobson's series protagonist, FBI profiler Karen Vail, has resonated with both female and male readers and inspired Nelson DeMille, James Patterson, and Michael Connelly to call Vail one of the most compelling heroes in suspense fiction. Likewise, his OPSIG Team Black series has been lauded by real-life Navy SEALs.
Jacobson’s thrillers have been published internationally and several have been optioned by Hollywood.
Web: www.AlanJacobson.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/AlanJacobsonFans Instagram: alan.jacobson
Twitter: @JacobsonAlan
Jacobson's series protagonist, FBI profiler Karen Vail, has resonated with both female and male readers and inspired Nelson DeMille, James Patterson, and Michael Connelly to call Vail one of the most compelling heroes in suspense fiction. Likewise, his OPSIG Team Black series has been lauded by real-life Navy SEALs.
Jacobson’s thrillers have been published internationally and several have been optioned by Hollywood.
Web: www.AlanJacobson.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/AlanJacobsonFans Instagram: alan.jacobson
Twitter: @JacobsonAlan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 27, 2016
Jasmine Marcks turned her father in when she discovered he was a serial killer. Now Roscoe Lee Marck has escaped prison and is on the run leaving bodies in his wake. FBI profiler Karen Vail has been assigned to a special team to help capture Roscoe Marcks and now Jasmine has gone into hiding from her father. All clues point to him looking for Jasmine to kill her. Can Karen and the team find him before to many bodies turn up or before he finds Jasmine. But everything is not as it seems. Great read. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
March 9, 2017
Review of THE DARKNESS OF EVIL by Alan Jacobson
(Karen Vail #7)
THE DARKNESS OF EVIL is the seventh in the series of FBI Special Agent (Behavioral Analysis Unit) Karen Vail. In this engrossing thriller, Vail is “hand-holding” (in the view of her unit commander) Jasmine Marcks, the woman who as an adolescent repeatedly informed local police that her father Roscoe was a serial killer. Finally investigated, charged, and convicted, Roscoe Marcks has been incarcerated in maximum security for the past seven years. Now Jasmine's nonfiction book detailing her life with a murderous father has been published, and simultaneously she receives threats, while Roscoe engineers a prison escape. Vail is in the midst of the new investigation, despite an arrogant U.S. Marshal who holds no approbation for the FBI.
There's plenty of violence, of course, since Marcks is a sadistic killer, but it's not gore for its own sake. THE DARKNESS OF EVIL is a well-constructed, tautly-written page-turner.
(Karen Vail #7)
THE DARKNESS OF EVIL is the seventh in the series of FBI Special Agent (Behavioral Analysis Unit) Karen Vail. In this engrossing thriller, Vail is “hand-holding” (in the view of her unit commander) Jasmine Marcks, the woman who as an adolescent repeatedly informed local police that her father Roscoe was a serial killer. Finally investigated, charged, and convicted, Roscoe Marcks has been incarcerated in maximum security for the past seven years. Now Jasmine's nonfiction book detailing her life with a murderous father has been published, and simultaneously she receives threats, while Roscoe engineers a prison escape. Vail is in the midst of the new investigation, despite an arrogant U.S. Marshal who holds no approbation for the FBI.
There's plenty of violence, of course, since Marcks is a sadistic killer, but it's not gore for its own sake. THE DARKNESS OF EVIL is a well-constructed, tautly-written page-turner.
February 21, 2017
THE DARKNESS OF EVIL (Karen Vail, #7) by Alan Jacobson
Jasmine Markes has to cancel her book tour that she wrote about her father Roscoe Lee Marks who is a serial killer. Her testimony about some bloody duct tape and other items helped to put her father in prison with a life sentence and no chance of parole. Now Jasmine is terrified that her father wants to kill her. Roscoe Lee Marks is a dangerous and brilliant psychopath who seems to know a lot about law enforcement. Karen Vail gave Jasmine protection and it failed, so Jasmine will take her chances hiding and replacing phones and keeping her whereabouts secret.
Karen Vail is a tough and seasoned FBI profiler that inherited Roscoe Lee Marks when the famous profiler before her retired and is now writing books. Karen Vail is a worthy adversary of Roscoe Lee Marks and is doing her best to check in with Jasmine and make sure she stays safe. Vail goes to visit Marks in prison to evaluate how much of a threat he is to Jasmine and question him. When he refuses to cooperate Karen Vail thinks that she should let Jasmine know that she went to see her father. While meeting with Jasmine at a place and time of her choosing, Jasmine gives Karen a blank sheet of paper that her father mailed from prison.
Karen Vail has a colleague at the FBI forensically analyze the blank sheet of paper and it is brought to Karen's attention that the blank sheet of paper has a menacing message for Jasmine they meet again. Between the paper and Karen's interview she desperately tries to convince Jasmine to let the United States Marshall service put Jasmine in witness protection. Jasmine tells Karen that she is not a witness and reminds her that the previous attempt to have someone stay with Jasmine did not work.
This is not giving anything away about the several twists and turns that take place throughout the entire book. Everything above takes place in the beginning of the book. I don't particularly like books about serial killers or gratuitous violence. What I love about this book is the tremendous amount of research that gives this book its authenticity. The Author consulted with many different people who have specialized in different departments of law enforcement to bring this book its accuracy. I have only read this one book by Allan Jacobson. I have respect for an Author that goes to the sources and people who have worked in vast amounts of law enforcement positions. Not only does this author consult and interview these experienced individuals that he writes about, these professionals also read the manuscript for accuracy. I will definitely read the entire Karen Vail series. I look forward to the six that precede this book and anything this author writes.
Jasmine Markes has to cancel her book tour that she wrote about her father Roscoe Lee Marks who is a serial killer. Her testimony about some bloody duct tape and other items helped to put her father in prison with a life sentence and no chance of parole. Now Jasmine is terrified that her father wants to kill her. Roscoe Lee Marks is a dangerous and brilliant psychopath who seems to know a lot about law enforcement. Karen Vail gave Jasmine protection and it failed, so Jasmine will take her chances hiding and replacing phones and keeping her whereabouts secret.
Karen Vail is a tough and seasoned FBI profiler that inherited Roscoe Lee Marks when the famous profiler before her retired and is now writing books. Karen Vail is a worthy adversary of Roscoe Lee Marks and is doing her best to check in with Jasmine and make sure she stays safe. Vail goes to visit Marks in prison to evaluate how much of a threat he is to Jasmine and question him. When he refuses to cooperate Karen Vail thinks that she should let Jasmine know that she went to see her father. While meeting with Jasmine at a place and time of her choosing, Jasmine gives Karen a blank sheet of paper that her father mailed from prison.
Karen Vail has a colleague at the FBI forensically analyze the blank sheet of paper and it is brought to Karen's attention that the blank sheet of paper has a menacing message for Jasmine they meet again. Between the paper and Karen's interview she desperately tries to convince Jasmine to let the United States Marshall service put Jasmine in witness protection. Jasmine tells Karen that she is not a witness and reminds her that the previous attempt to have someone stay with Jasmine did not work.
This is not giving anything away about the several twists and turns that take place throughout the entire book. Everything above takes place in the beginning of the book. I don't particularly like books about serial killers or gratuitous violence. What I love about this book is the tremendous amount of research that gives this book its authenticity. The Author consulted with many different people who have specialized in different departments of law enforcement to bring this book its accuracy. I have only read this one book by Allan Jacobson. I have respect for an Author that goes to the sources and people who have worked in vast amounts of law enforcement positions. Not only does this author consult and interview these experienced individuals that he writes about, these professionals also read the manuscript for accuracy. I will definitely read the entire Karen Vail series. I look forward to the six that precede this book and anything this author writes.
March 8, 2017
Absolutely fantastic!!!! I loved it! I connected with Karen so much more this go around. I connected so much I keep waiting for her to text me or call me!! LOL. It's a great read and so gripping. Great job Alan Jacobson ....only now I'm sad it's over...lol....I honestly. Had that reaction at the end. I thought noooooooo I don't want to be done!!
August 21, 2017
I've read all of the books in the Karen Vail series and have enjoyed them all. Vail is a tough, independent FBI profiler. I love her character and the relationships she has formed personally and professionally. Although it seems like her relationships always come back to bite her in some way. This book is a page turner with action, twists, and crazy villains! I really enjoyed it.
January 11, 2018
Mr. Jacobson has given us a chilling and intriguing page turner here. It's the 7th in a series, but reads well as a stand-alone. Excellent read!
November 15, 2016
'The Darkness of Evil' puts us right in the midst of tracking a vicious serial killer. We're with the FBI team, working through each detail, learning the killer's unique profile, and trying to anticipate his next move.
I liked Karen Vail's character. She's tough and smart, but also a normal woman with fears and flaws. She pushes herself hard. We feel her dedication to her job, her coworkers, and the people she is sworn to protect.
The author clearly knows his subject matter. This is not the kind of story that grips you with intensity, while you simultaneously know it would never happen. This story could play out just as it's written, and that realism might be the most terrifying aspect.
For me, this book's major strength is tied up in its one weakness. The author is a detail man, which I greatly appreciate. The plot has no holes, no loose threads, no moments that require a leap of faith for the readers. I also enjoyed the focus on profiling and getting inside the mind of a killer. At the same time, the immense amount of detail included sometimes slows the story a little too much. I also thought some of the conversations were unrealistic, with the dialogue obviously meant to educate readers in the art of profiling.
While violence is always an undercurrent in this story - clearly, we're talking about serial killers - that violence is never gratuitous or overly graphic. This is an intricate, well plotted crime novel that will grip you with the very real psychopathy of the killer.
I have not read the previous books in the Karen Vail series, and I had absolutely no problem understanding the characters or their relationships. This book works exceptionally well as a stand-alone.
*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine, in exchange for my honest review.*
I liked Karen Vail's character. She's tough and smart, but also a normal woman with fears and flaws. She pushes herself hard. We feel her dedication to her job, her coworkers, and the people she is sworn to protect.
The author clearly knows his subject matter. This is not the kind of story that grips you with intensity, while you simultaneously know it would never happen. This story could play out just as it's written, and that realism might be the most terrifying aspect.
For me, this book's major strength is tied up in its one weakness. The author is a detail man, which I greatly appreciate. The plot has no holes, no loose threads, no moments that require a leap of faith for the readers. I also enjoyed the focus on profiling and getting inside the mind of a killer. At the same time, the immense amount of detail included sometimes slows the story a little too much. I also thought some of the conversations were unrealistic, with the dialogue obviously meant to educate readers in the art of profiling.
While violence is always an undercurrent in this story - clearly, we're talking about serial killers - that violence is never gratuitous or overly graphic. This is an intricate, well plotted crime novel that will grip you with the very real psychopathy of the killer.
I have not read the previous books in the Karen Vail series, and I had absolutely no problem understanding the characters or their relationships. This book works exceptionally well as a stand-alone.
*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine, in exchange for my honest review.*
March 18, 2017
In this book Karen was really challenged. Marcks was truly evil in so many ways. It seemed like every time that Karen had a handle on things Marcks would make a move to change things and once again Karen and the team were on the chase. I was shocked by what we found out at the end, Marcks truly surprised me at the way the law enforcement were manipulated. I have a feeling that all of them will be looking at things differently from now on.
June 6, 2017
This is a really good book if you like the serial killer/mystery. It isn't as graphic as some but you still get the point the killer is a psychopath. There were no dull moments in this book it kept moving the whole time.
August 31, 2019
OMG OMG OMG that was sooo good. This has been an awesome series that I mostly read some years ago and suddenly there is a new book. Joy of joys. It is, however, best to read these book in order.
November 16, 2016
FBI Profiler Karen Vail is on the hunt for a serial killer, Roscoe Marcks, who has just escaped from prison. While looking for him, Karen tries to protect his daughter Jasmine who believes her fathers main objective is to kill her out of revenge for turning him into the police after she discovers he has murdered several people.
Full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat! There was a vast amount of research that went into this which made it more appealing. The end will not only shock you but, have you wanting more.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media for allowing me to read The Darkness Of Evil. I couldn't stop reading and only did so when I had to. I enjoyed Karen Vail as she is a tough woman who doesn't let anyone stand in her way. It was refreshing to see a soft side of her as well. I haven't read any of Alan Jacobson's books but sure will now! He has a beautiful writing skill that kept me interested and at the end couldn't wait for the next Karen Vail book! In my humble opinion, Alan Jacobson is the bomb diggety !!
Full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat! There was a vast amount of research that went into this which made it more appealing. The end will not only shock you but, have you wanting more.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media for allowing me to read The Darkness Of Evil. I couldn't stop reading and only did so when I had to. I enjoyed Karen Vail as she is a tough woman who doesn't let anyone stand in her way. It was refreshing to see a soft side of her as well. I haven't read any of Alan Jacobson's books but sure will now! He has a beautiful writing skill that kept me interested and at the end couldn't wait for the next Karen Vail book! In my humble opinion, Alan Jacobson is the bomb diggety !!
April 11, 2019
I liked this story a lot better than the first book in the series. It still had the problem of being too wordy in the wrong places, but I didn't find myself skimming this time. I don't think I'll be going back to read anything else in the series, though. I tried the second book and didn't even make it past the first chapter. I couldn't buy the main character jumping into a murder investigation on the other side of the country when she's supposed to be resting up after surgery. I can suspend my disbelief with the the best of them, but a lot of the situations that crop up in these stories are too unbelievable. In this particular book, the use of an incredibly rare type of offender for a second time feels like a gimmick rather than a solid plot element. I know I'm in the minority based on other reviews and the overall numbers, but this is one series I won't be recommending.
January 5, 2019
This is also my 7th Karen Vail journey. It is amazing that Jacobson continues this series with such skill ... each novel is better than the last. The reader is immediately immersed into a complex and twisted narrative that holds you on the edge of your seat. This latest installment in the series is a page turner that can't be read fast enough. The daughter of a serial killer is threatened after publication of her life story by her father from a maximum security prison. The cat and mouse game is on when he engineers his brutal escape . His path is littered with bodies to accomplish his goal.
Full of twists and turns .... this "fiction" is chocked full of startlingly real facts. Hopefully Jacobson will continue this amazing series.
Full of twists and turns .... this "fiction" is chocked full of startlingly real facts. Hopefully Jacobson will continue this amazing series.
May 18, 2017
An excellent mix of mystery, whodunnit, original twists, and page-turning suspense by a seasoned author.
However.....There was one disappointment. Most authors, including this one, sometimes like to end a chapter with the reader left hanging with heavy drama. Readers actually don't mind having to read 2 to 5 more chapters of subplots to find out how that specific drama was resolved. In this story, the reader had to wait 18 chapters and over 100 pages to learn the fate of the woman and child who were gagged and bound to chairs in Chapter 25. Readers do not like to have to wait that long. The story should have been reformatted to avoid reader frustration.
However.....There was one disappointment. Most authors, including this one, sometimes like to end a chapter with the reader left hanging with heavy drama. Readers actually don't mind having to read 2 to 5 more chapters of subplots to find out how that specific drama was resolved. In this story, the reader had to wait 18 chapters and over 100 pages to learn the fate of the woman and child who were gagged and bound to chairs in Chapter 25. Readers do not like to have to wait that long. The story should have been reformatted to avoid reader frustration.
June 14, 2020
I am a fan of Alan Jacobson. I have read all his book in this series. Having said that this is my least favorite of all the Karen Vail books. i found the book very predictable. I figured out who the killer was about half way through. It was so obvious. Jacobson tried to throw you off the track but throwing other people out there as possible killers but the plot lines weren't well developed. I also thought there were too many characters that weren't necessary. He has another book coming out in September I hope it's better.
December 1, 2022
It's been a long time since I've read from the Karen Vail series but I only had two left to read to be current. This is an intelligent, dark thriller. Karen Vail put a man in jail who was a serial killer. His daughter was the one who notified the FBI. But he has escaped now and vows to kill Vail and his daughter. Now he's out he's killing again. He kidnaps, tortures kills, and mutilates his victims. This was a fast-paced read and at almost 500 pages it reads very quickly. The race to capture the killer had me on the edge and the twist surprised me. Another excellent thriller in the series.
January 25, 2019
This was an awesome read! Just what I needed, an engrossing can’t-put-down rollercoaster of a thriller read! Alan does not disappoint! His Karen Vail series is great, and Darkness of Evil is no exception. You can tell that he does a lot of research but it all comes across naturally, it doesn’t read like a textbook or like he’s showing off the info, nope, it’s all natural-flowing. I really enjoyed this book. The ending was pretty surprising! Can’t wait to read the next installment!
June 8, 2021
Very good
A fast-paced novel about Karen Vail, an FBI agent on the trail of a con CV cited killer who manages to escape an goes back to killing. Roscoe Lee Marcks is very familiar with law enforcement techniques, as he read many books by the profiler who worked on his. This is making it difficult to find him and a task force is gathered in the search for him. A lot of intense action and a revelation are in store.
A fast-paced novel about Karen Vail, an FBI agent on the trail of a con CV cited killer who manages to escape an goes back to killing. Roscoe Lee Marcks is very familiar with law enforcement techniques, as he read many books by the profiler who worked on his. This is making it difficult to find him and a task force is gathered in the search for him. A lot of intense action and a revelation are in store.
November 27, 2018
The Darkness of Evil is a must read!
I’ll say this is a 4.5*, about the only thing I didn’t like was Karen Vail was constantly having “thoughts” before answering a question. That really is just a little irk for me not really effecting my rating much. Great book that keeps you guessing almost until the end...
I’ll say this is a 4.5*, about the only thing I didn’t like was Karen Vail was constantly having “thoughts” before answering a question. That really is just a little irk for me not really effecting my rating much. Great book that keeps you guessing almost until the end...
March 19, 2021
First time author, for me.
Guess I should have began, with number one, oh well. Will backtrack. Karen, and the FBI and other agencies, are looking for a serial killer, who broke out of prison. He killed a nurse, and two guards. Went on the run. While this went on, his daughter, wrote a book about her father. All of these intersect. Great read!
Guess I should have began, with number one, oh well. Will backtrack. Karen, and the FBI and other agencies, are looking for a serial killer, who broke out of prison. He killed a nurse, and two guards. Went on the run. While this went on, his daughter, wrote a book about her father. All of these intersect. Great read!
October 8, 2021
I never rate a book 5 stars as there is always room for improvement. This book hit all my likes, smart, thrilling , and suspenseful!!! Just when I think I’ve got it all figured out, the author leads you in a different direction, until he leads you back to it again. Great book all around. Getting to know the characters, what they look like and how they feel. Again, great novel!!
December 18, 2017
Karen Vail is great
Never really disappoints. Each book has an unexpected twist. The series remains interesting and a good read. This author has a good style with attention to detail without overdoing it.
Never really disappoints. Each book has an unexpected twist. The series remains interesting and a good read. This author has a good style with attention to detail without overdoing it.
December 29, 2017
The story was a little slow for me in the beginning, but once you get into it a little further it was very good. The twists in it were definitely not what you expected and the the suspense at the end was great. Very enjoyable listen.
March 12, 2019
Two Thumbs Up
This was an awesome book and the suspect is unexpected! I really like how Jonathan is older in the book and it’s amazing how he’s role just change in this book. Very good book!
This was an awesome book and the suspect is unexpected! I really like how Jonathan is older in the book and it’s amazing how he’s role just change in this book. Very good book!
Read
August 22, 2020No stars because I didn't finish the book. Got through 40% and stopped reading to read something more pressing. After reading six more books, I have no desire to get back to this one. It just wasn't compelling enough.
September 15, 2020
Excellent
Another Karen Vail thriller! Fast paced, chock full of detail but not boringly so. The story was interesting, suspenseful, exciting, twisted and turned.... never dull. I didn't want to put it down. This series keeps me coming back for more. Highly recommend!
Another Karen Vail thriller! Fast paced, chock full of detail but not boringly so. The story was interesting, suspenseful, exciting, twisted and turned.... never dull. I didn't want to put it down. This series keeps me coming back for more. Highly recommend!
March 14, 2021
Another heart pounder
A convicted murderer Karen helped out in prison 7 years ago escapes. He's after his daughter who just wrote a book about hum. He's after revenge. Karen is assigned to the task force to recapture him.
A convicted murderer Karen helped out in prison 7 years ago escapes. He's after his daughter who just wrote a book about hum. He's after revenge. Karen is assigned to the task force to recapture him.
December 8, 2024
It's been awhile since I had read one of the books in this series. Took some getting used to writing style and some of the characters, but once I did it was an enjoyable read. Definitely recommend but also would recommend reading the series in chronological order.
March 28, 2025
Seventh in the series, hadn't read any before, but nothing that I didn't know, can read as a standalone.
I would have given it a 4, but a little long, some repetitiveness, guessed who at the start, however there was also more of a twist than I thought.
Still a fun read.
I would have given it a 4, but a little long, some repetitiveness, guessed who at the start, however there was also more of a twist than I thought.
Still a fun read.
June 5, 2017
I never saw it coming. Seriously, don't you love a book that surprises the devil out of you? My first book of this author's and won't be my last. Read it, you won't be sorry
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews