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Iris Ballard #2
Darkness at the Edge of Town
A complicated, charismatic forensic psychologist tries to rescue her brother from the clutches of a maniacal cult leader
After catching an infamous serial killer, Dr. Iris Ballard has become a TV sensation. Exhausted from her appearances on the talk-show circuit, she’s looking forward to some quality time with Luke Hudson, her former FBI partner and on-again, off-again lover. The last thing Iris wants is to get pulled back to her dying Rust Belt hometown, but after the frantic call from her mother, she doesn’t have a choice.
Iris is a disgrace in Grey Mills, Pennsylvania, but her twin brother has gone and outdone her. Billy has abandoned his fiancée, drained their checking account, and quit his job to join a cult called the New Morning Movement. Expecting to find something sinister at play, Iris is eager to destroy the quixotic hold they have on her brother. And that means outwitting the cult’s cunning, sadistic founder, Mathias Morning.
Iris has logic and reason on her side. But Mathias doesn’t play by society’s rules. Just as Iris begins to lose hope, her investigation leads her to cross path with the DEA. And now she needs to save Billy’s life before they’re both caught in the crossfire.
After catching an infamous serial killer, Dr. Iris Ballard has become a TV sensation. Exhausted from her appearances on the talk-show circuit, she’s looking forward to some quality time with Luke Hudson, her former FBI partner and on-again, off-again lover. The last thing Iris wants is to get pulled back to her dying Rust Belt hometown, but after the frantic call from her mother, she doesn’t have a choice.
Iris is a disgrace in Grey Mills, Pennsylvania, but her twin brother has gone and outdone her. Billy has abandoned his fiancée, drained their checking account, and quit his job to join a cult called the New Morning Movement. Expecting to find something sinister at play, Iris is eager to destroy the quixotic hold they have on her brother. And that means outwitting the cult’s cunning, sadistic founder, Mathias Morning.
Iris has logic and reason on her side. But Mathias doesn’t play by society’s rules. Just as Iris begins to lose hope, her investigation leads her to cross path with the DEA. And now she needs to save Billy’s life before they’re both caught in the crossfire.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
38 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Harlow
27 books409 followersJennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator. Currently she calls Northern Virgina home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 26, 2017
Loved it!
4.5 stars
If you like kick-ass heroines, read this series!
While Darkness at the Edge of Town can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you read book one, Beautiful Maids All in Row, before you read this.
Former FBI profiler, Irish Ballard, finally seems to be in a good place. She is recovering from the events that plagued her for the past two years, and seems to have kicked her addiction to pills and alcohol. After taking down a notorious serial killer, she has become famous and is making rounds on the talk show circuit. Everything seems to be falling into place, until her mother calls alerting her that her twin brother, Billy, is in danger.
Iris returns to Pennsylvania to rescue her brother who has joined a cult. Iris infiltrates the crazy cult and puts herself in danger. Pretty soon Luke, her best friend and former partner, is beside her side to help her take down the cult leaders.
This is a fast-paced, action packed, suspenseful page turner! There’s so much I loved about this book: I loved Iris’s interactions with her grandparents, her acerbic wit, and of course her dynamic with Luke! I cannot wait for book three!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
If you like kick-ass heroines, read this series!
While Darkness at the Edge of Town can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you read book one, Beautiful Maids All in Row, before you read this.
Former FBI profiler, Irish Ballard, finally seems to be in a good place. She is recovering from the events that plagued her for the past two years, and seems to have kicked her addiction to pills and alcohol. After taking down a notorious serial killer, she has become famous and is making rounds on the talk show circuit. Everything seems to be falling into place, until her mother calls alerting her that her twin brother, Billy, is in danger.
Iris returns to Pennsylvania to rescue her brother who has joined a cult. Iris infiltrates the crazy cult and puts herself in danger. Pretty soon Luke, her best friend and former partner, is beside her side to help her take down the cult leaders.
This is a fast-paced, action packed, suspenseful page turner! There’s so much I loved about this book: I loved Iris’s interactions with her grandparents, her acerbic wit, and of course her dynamic with Luke! I cannot wait for book three!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2017
Darkness at the Edge of Town is a unique and addicting read!
Jennifer Harlow is an extremely talented author. She did it again folks! Be prepared to stay home from work, school, life... period to read this! Honestly, I enjoyed this book better then the first in the series.
Iris Ballard is at her PRIME in this novel. Iris is even more sexy, sassy, and bad ass! She is by far my favorite female detective in all of the books that I read (and trust me I read a lot of mystery/detective books). Iris had me in stitches laughing and I went back to re-read sections because she is that entertaining.
What I loved most about this book was the different storyline. As a reader, you see SO many storylines where the serial killer hunts down the main detective. This was NOT the case here! Props and kudos to Jennifer Harlow ;).
Iris gets a phone call from her mother begging her to come back to her home town in Grey Mills, Pennsylvania because her twin brother Billy has disappeared. Billy has left his fiancé and drained their bank accounts to join a mysterious cult. Iris tries to track her brother down and figure out if something is extremely dark and sinister going on with this so-called "cult"? Is Billy trapped in this cult and in danger? Or, is this a place of happiness and peace for Billy? Can, I just say how much cults fascinate me?! I LOVED this storyline!
And.. I know your anxious to get an update on Iris and her off and on again lover Luke Hudson. OH my gosh can I just say how much I LOVE Luke Hudson. He is so sexy!! I just love his character.
I LOVED this book! I highly recommend this series. I would say to start from book one if you haven't because you will get a better understanding of storyline/characters of Luke and Iris.
Overall 5 stars for me on this book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Alibi for an ARC.
Expected publication date is November 14th, 2017.
Jennifer Harlow is an extremely talented author. She did it again folks! Be prepared to stay home from work, school, life... period to read this! Honestly, I enjoyed this book better then the first in the series.
Iris Ballard is at her PRIME in this novel. Iris is even more sexy, sassy, and bad ass! She is by far my favorite female detective in all of the books that I read (and trust me I read a lot of mystery/detective books). Iris had me in stitches laughing and I went back to re-read sections because she is that entertaining.
What I loved most about this book was the different storyline. As a reader, you see SO many storylines where the serial killer hunts down the main detective. This was NOT the case here! Props and kudos to Jennifer Harlow ;).
Iris gets a phone call from her mother begging her to come back to her home town in Grey Mills, Pennsylvania because her twin brother Billy has disappeared. Billy has left his fiancé and drained their bank accounts to join a mysterious cult. Iris tries to track her brother down and figure out if something is extremely dark and sinister going on with this so-called "cult"? Is Billy trapped in this cult and in danger? Or, is this a place of happiness and peace for Billy? Can, I just say how much cults fascinate me?! I LOVED this storyline!
And.. I know your anxious to get an update on Iris and her off and on again lover Luke Hudson. OH my gosh can I just say how much I LOVE Luke Hudson. He is so sexy!! I just love his character.
I LOVED this book! I highly recommend this series. I would say to start from book one if you haven't because you will get a better understanding of storyline/characters of Luke and Iris.
Overall 5 stars for me on this book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Alibi for an ARC.
Expected publication date is November 14th, 2017.
November 13, 2017
I would definitely recommend starting with the first Iris Ballard book if this one interests you. I read it, and I still found myself looking at reviews of the first to refresh my memory because I was getting lost. Unfortunately, I enjoyed the first one a lot more. I read a lot of novels in which the main character is an investigator of some sort, and I love getting to know them "outside of work". What their personal lives are like, who they love, who they lost, how they tick. This book was just a little too much of it. The case almost felt like an afterthought. If you're very interested in love lives and family situations, this is the book for you. It's full of drama, will they or won't they, old grudges, and family secrets. I just wasn't connecting with Iris as much as I did in the first book.
Iris has a lot going on... she's making rounds at talk shows, sitting down for interviews, and will soon write a book... all about catching a serial killer. All she wants to do is go home, get her dog, and relax. Her plans change when she gets a phone call from her mother. Her twin brother Billy has left his fiance and cleaned out their bank account. He's gone to be with a group that seems to have the makings of a cult. Terrified for his well-being, the whole family wants Iris to come bring him back. Grey Mills, PA may be her hometown, but it's not the home she wanted to go back to... though with her brother in danger, what choice does she have?
Going home again means canceling plans with Luke, sexy FBI agent and her former lover. All to return to her dying hometown and get berated by her mother. Doesn't seem like a fair trade, but family is family and she's determined to bring Billy home. It won't be easy... she's not even sure exactly where he is. Reckless and without any other ideas, she decides to infiltrate the cult to try to get some inside information. Everyone seems to be happy and safe, but something just isn't right...
I'm going to give this one a 3.5. It kept me reading, but I could have done with a little more realism and a little less drama. Some of the dialogue also came across as a little stilted and unnatural. If the word "smirk" could be used less, I think that would be for the best. It's used ten times in one of the chapters and really started to bug me. However, the cult angle was intriguing and I thought the ending was done well! Recommended to fans of books with abrasive but determined women and some drama and romance.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Alibi, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Iris has a lot going on... she's making rounds at talk shows, sitting down for interviews, and will soon write a book... all about catching a serial killer. All she wants to do is go home, get her dog, and relax. Her plans change when she gets a phone call from her mother. Her twin brother Billy has left his fiance and cleaned out their bank account. He's gone to be with a group that seems to have the makings of a cult. Terrified for his well-being, the whole family wants Iris to come bring him back. Grey Mills, PA may be her hometown, but it's not the home she wanted to go back to... though with her brother in danger, what choice does she have?
Going home again means canceling plans with Luke, sexy FBI agent and her former lover. All to return to her dying hometown and get berated by her mother. Doesn't seem like a fair trade, but family is family and she's determined to bring Billy home. It won't be easy... she's not even sure exactly where he is. Reckless and without any other ideas, she decides to infiltrate the cult to try to get some inside information. Everyone seems to be happy and safe, but something just isn't right...
I'm going to give this one a 3.5. It kept me reading, but I could have done with a little more realism and a little less drama. Some of the dialogue also came across as a little stilted and unnatural. If the word "smirk" could be used less, I think that would be for the best. It's used ten times in one of the chapters and really started to bug me. However, the cult angle was intriguing and I thought the ending was done well! Recommended to fans of books with abrasive but determined women and some drama and romance.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group - Alibi, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
November 15, 2017
3.75 stars
This novel was ripe with delicious family drama and I ate it all up like a mouthwatering treat! Iris was able to let some venomous words from others slide down her back while still letting her humorous quips loose, but there were parts within this story where she was emotionally fragile and it showed. Although it was an interesting turn to observe Iris slumming it in her hometown and away from her comfort zone, I actually enjoyed Beautiful Maids All In A Row much more.
Minor Issues?
◈ Faye and Iris had a lifetime of disconnect, misunderstandings, and anger between them, but all of it was remedied during one particular conversation. It was strange and too conveniently wrapped up after such an exhausting and dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship.
◈ Iris’s miraculous recovery from drug addiction was lightly touched upon and not really believable but that didn’t take away from the heart of this story.
◈ Luke’s dialogue with Iris was too cheesy in some parts. He was a very likable character but sort of bland, too.
The romance component was lumped in towards the end and I didn’t mind that it wasn’t the focal point of the story. I also loved that Mathias was a worthy opponent and one Iris couldn’t easily squash with her shoe or with her FBI contacts. Overall, this was a good story, but something was missing for me while other areas felt rushed.
*NetGalley ARC kindly provided by Random House Publishing Group - Alibi in exchange for an honest review.
This novel was ripe with delicious family drama and I ate it all up like a mouthwatering treat! Iris was able to let some venomous words from others slide down her back while still letting her humorous quips loose, but there were parts within this story where she was emotionally fragile and it showed. Although it was an interesting turn to observe Iris slumming it in her hometown and away from her comfort zone, I actually enjoyed Beautiful Maids All In A Row much more.
Minor Issues?
◈ Faye and Iris had a lifetime of disconnect, misunderstandings, and anger between them, but all of it was remedied during one particular conversation. It was strange and too conveniently wrapped up after such an exhausting and dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship.
◈ Iris’s miraculous recovery from drug addiction was lightly touched upon and not really believable but that didn’t take away from the heart of this story.
◈ Luke’s dialogue with Iris was too cheesy in some parts. He was a very likable character but sort of bland, too.
The romance component was lumped in towards the end and I didn’t mind that it wasn’t the focal point of the story. I also loved that Mathias was a worthy opponent and one Iris couldn’t easily squash with her shoe or with her FBI contacts. Overall, this was a good story, but something was missing for me while other areas felt rushed.
*NetGalley ARC kindly provided by Random House Publishing Group - Alibi in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2017
Dr Iris Ballard has had a very tough few years, involving widowhood, alcoholism, drug addiction, and severe physical injury to both her and to her best friend and former partner Luke Hudson. But she has come out of it and in the process has become a media star with a million dollar book contract. What she doesn’t have is her husband, her career with the FBI, a lover, or a decent relationship with most of her family.
But it is her family that calls her home to Grey Mills, Pa because her twin brother, Billy, has done his fiancée wrong by deserting her, stealing from her and betraying her. To cap it all off he has joined a cult, which has resulted in the frantic phone call from Iris’s mother demanding she come home to do something.
Iris is a great character, so full of contradictions, such a mess, but so strong and so smart.
She is loyal to her friend Luke and to the Sheriff who with his department supported her career in law enforcement, As for most others, including the family she seems to have so little regard for, they just warrant an occasional phone call. Iris is not even sure if she remembered to send her twin a birthday card. But then Iris is devastated when Billy brings home unwanted truths about her neglect of her family and friends.
I like Harlow’s story of Billy’s entry into a cult, and Iris’ almost seduction into the same cult. But then cults wouldn’t exist if they didn’t answer some deep hidden needs in their adherents.
Luke is such a fabulous guy, deeply in love with Iris, but she is such a mess that she can’t admit her feelings and instead pretty much treats him like crap.
A major complaint and it is costing at least one star, I go off on a book if I see the word smirk or grin used more than once or twice in a book. This book had a never-ending supply of smirks. Everyone smirked. I think I saw smirks four or five times on a single page. Aren’t editors supposed to prevent such solecisms? I’m not the only reviewer who was extremely annoyed by all of the smirking going around. A guy should only smirk if he has black brylcreemed hair. As for women, never, or maybe if she is a really cheap blond.
This is a really exciting story and fascinating in explanations of how cults work, how they are so able to entice the most vulnerable to join.
Iris does show considerable personal growth, although it comes at great cost in realizing her years of selfishness and neglect.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and hones review.
But it is her family that calls her home to Grey Mills, Pa because her twin brother, Billy, has done his fiancée wrong by deserting her, stealing from her and betraying her. To cap it all off he has joined a cult, which has resulted in the frantic phone call from Iris’s mother demanding she come home to do something.
Iris is a great character, so full of contradictions, such a mess, but so strong and so smart.
She is loyal to her friend Luke and to the Sheriff who with his department supported her career in law enforcement, As for most others, including the family she seems to have so little regard for, they just warrant an occasional phone call. Iris is not even sure if she remembered to send her twin a birthday card. But then Iris is devastated when Billy brings home unwanted truths about her neglect of her family and friends.
I like Harlow’s story of Billy’s entry into a cult, and Iris’ almost seduction into the same cult. But then cults wouldn’t exist if they didn’t answer some deep hidden needs in their adherents.
Luke is such a fabulous guy, deeply in love with Iris, but she is such a mess that she can’t admit her feelings and instead pretty much treats him like crap.
A major complaint and it is costing at least one star, I go off on a book if I see the word smirk or grin used more than once or twice in a book. This book had a never-ending supply of smirks. Everyone smirked. I think I saw smirks four or five times on a single page. Aren’t editors supposed to prevent such solecisms? I’m not the only reviewer who was extremely annoyed by all of the smirking going around. A guy should only smirk if he has black brylcreemed hair. As for women, never, or maybe if she is a really cheap blond.
This is a really exciting story and fascinating in explanations of how cults work, how they are so able to entice the most vulnerable to join.
Iris does show considerable personal growth, although it comes at great cost in realizing her years of selfishness and neglect.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and hones review.
November 6, 2017
This book is the second in a series but I haven’t read the first. It doesn’t work particularly well as a stand alone. Yes, the author gives you the background on the heroine, Dr. Iris Ballard, but I always felt somewhat behind the eight ball.
Here, she returns to her hometown to rescue her twin brother from a cult. Iris wasn’t a popular girl during high school, far from it. Returning to her hometown comes with all the attending issues of reliving what made her teenage years hell. She also has serious problems with her mom, who is bipolar and possibly also has borderline personality disorder with narcissistic tendencies.
I had problems with this book at the beginning. Iris has spent the last few months doing every talk show known to man (because of the killer she took down in book one) but we’re supposed to believe she has no problem going incognito into the cult. I also just couldn’t get into Iris’ relationship with Luke. In fact, the conversations between them feel positively contrived.
It took me until the halfway point to start to appreciate Iris. Not until she loses a round against Mathias did I start to appreciate her and her predicament.
Harlow does a good job writing about the cult, their ability to draw people in and the appeal. Your sympathy really goes out to those so needy that they’re drawn in.
The second half of the book is much better than the first half. It moves at a good clip and keeps you interested.
My thanks to netgalley and Random House - Alibi for an advance copy of this book.
Here, she returns to her hometown to rescue her twin brother from a cult. Iris wasn’t a popular girl during high school, far from it. Returning to her hometown comes with all the attending issues of reliving what made her teenage years hell. She also has serious problems with her mom, who is bipolar and possibly also has borderline personality disorder with narcissistic tendencies.
I had problems with this book at the beginning. Iris has spent the last few months doing every talk show known to man (because of the killer she took down in book one) but we’re supposed to believe she has no problem going incognito into the cult. I also just couldn’t get into Iris’ relationship with Luke. In fact, the conversations between them feel positively contrived.
It took me until the halfway point to start to appreciate Iris. Not until she loses a round against Mathias did I start to appreciate her and her predicament.
Harlow does a good job writing about the cult, their ability to draw people in and the appeal. Your sympathy really goes out to those so needy that they’re drawn in.
The second half of the book is much better than the first half. It moves at a good clip and keeps you interested.
My thanks to netgalley and Random House - Alibi for an advance copy of this book.
November 29, 2017
Darkness at the Edge of Town takes us back into the life of Iris Ballard not long after the events in the last book where she and her best friend and former FBI partner, Luke took down The Woodsman. Iris is just finishing on the talk-show circuit, and planning on spending a time with Luke when her mother calls begging for Iris to come immediately and help get her twin brother, Billie, out of the clutches of some cult.
Iris, although not pleased, rushes back to her hometown, a town that holds many a bad memory, and discovers her brother has been going through some tough times, and is vulnerable. Just the kind of prey a manipulative cult leader like Mathias, the New Morningstar’s charismatic leader, and his followers are in search of. Iris must put her natural talent and training as an FBI profiler to use, to stay one step ahead and outsmart Mathias. The more Iris finds out, the more she’s worried for her brother.
I couldn’t wait to get back to Iris and Luke after the events in Beautiful Maids All in a Row. It was clear that the feelings between Iris and Luke were finally going to come out soon. I had hopes that their unrequited love would go somewhere, as they’ve clearly been tortured by being apart. I think my biggest complaint with this installment is that there wasn’t more Luke in the beginning, but boy-oh-boy was I thrilled with how things played out once he’s fully in the picture again! Luke is everything I want in a man, or fictional hero! Totally devoted, protective, while fully confident and proud of Iris’s abilities. They knew each other so well, had a wealth of history between them. The irresistible pull of attraction a palpable thing between them! I just love a friends-to-lovers sort of romance! The love between them was obvious to anyone looking, and yet each were hesitant to take the next step. I read with bated breath every interaction and crossed my fingers they wouldn’t screw things up!
The romance isn’t the only pull in this story. I was awed by Iris’s skills in reading people, and treading in just the right way to get what she needed. It was unfortunate that others in law enforcement didn’t always heed her advice here.
This is the second book in the series, and I don’t recommend reading this as a standalone. The mystery/conflict part could be read and understood, but you’d miss the best part: the history and relationship between Luke and Iris. Their interactions and final outcome wouldn’t mean as much without the first book for reference. I loved both books!
Initial impressions:
Loved, loved Luke!! Iris is pretty bad-ass and great, too, but I LOVED Luke!
A copy was kindly provided by Alibi via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
Iris, although not pleased, rushes back to her hometown, a town that holds many a bad memory, and discovers her brother has been going through some tough times, and is vulnerable. Just the kind of prey a manipulative cult leader like Mathias, the New Morningstar’s charismatic leader, and his followers are in search of. Iris must put her natural talent and training as an FBI profiler to use, to stay one step ahead and outsmart Mathias. The more Iris finds out, the more she’s worried for her brother.
I couldn’t wait to get back to Iris and Luke after the events in Beautiful Maids All in a Row. It was clear that the feelings between Iris and Luke were finally going to come out soon. I had hopes that their unrequited love would go somewhere, as they’ve clearly been tortured by being apart. I think my biggest complaint with this installment is that there wasn’t more Luke in the beginning, but boy-oh-boy was I thrilled with how things played out once he’s fully in the picture again! Luke is everything I want in a man, or fictional hero! Totally devoted, protective, while fully confident and proud of Iris’s abilities. They knew each other so well, had a wealth of history between them. The irresistible pull of attraction a palpable thing between them! I just love a friends-to-lovers sort of romance! The love between them was obvious to anyone looking, and yet each were hesitant to take the next step. I read with bated breath every interaction and crossed my fingers they wouldn’t screw things up!
The romance isn’t the only pull in this story. I was awed by Iris’s skills in reading people, and treading in just the right way to get what she needed. It was unfortunate that others in law enforcement didn’t always heed her advice here.
This is the second book in the series, and I don’t recommend reading this as a standalone. The mystery/conflict part could be read and understood, but you’d miss the best part: the history and relationship between Luke and Iris. Their interactions and final outcome wouldn’t mean as much without the first book for reference. I loved both books!
Initial impressions:
Loved, loved Luke!! Iris is pretty bad-ass and great, too, but I LOVED Luke!
A copy was kindly provided by Alibi via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
November 7, 2017
Dr Iris Ballard was enjoying the adulation which had come from catching the serial killer in her last case. But she was tired – she missed her dog and her “previous life”. When FBI agent Luke Hudson invited Iris to the symphony, she accepted – but it wasn’t to be when she received a desperate call from her home town of Grey Mills in Pennsylvania to say her twin brother was missing.
Iris had no desire to return but felt she had no choice. She needed to find Billy and was sure she could do it in a couple of days – a week at most. But when Iris discovered the cult which was recruiting people in town, New Morning Movement, had engulfed Billy after he’d left his fiancé and cleared out her bank account, she knew her search would take longer to execute. The slick, evil ways of the founder captivated everyone – a typical cult.
When Iris suddenly found herself clashing with the DEA over the cult, she and Luke continued to try to extricate Billy. But danger of a huge magnitude was heading her way. Would she manage to save Billy – or was it too late for them all?
Darkness at the Edge of Town by Jennifer Harlow is the second in the Iris Ballard series and a gritty and intense thriller just like the first. But I found I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as Beautiful Maids All in a Row; continual repetition of phrases (“I didn’t mean it, I didn’t”; “I do feel for you, I do”) and the overuse of “smirk”. But that said, I’ll read the next when it’s released and recommend Darkness at the Edge of Town.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.
Iris had no desire to return but felt she had no choice. She needed to find Billy and was sure she could do it in a couple of days – a week at most. But when Iris discovered the cult which was recruiting people in town, New Morning Movement, had engulfed Billy after he’d left his fiancé and cleared out her bank account, she knew her search would take longer to execute. The slick, evil ways of the founder captivated everyone – a typical cult.
When Iris suddenly found herself clashing with the DEA over the cult, she and Luke continued to try to extricate Billy. But danger of a huge magnitude was heading her way. Would she manage to save Billy – or was it too late for them all?
Darkness at the Edge of Town by Jennifer Harlow is the second in the Iris Ballard series and a gritty and intense thriller just like the first. But I found I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as Beautiful Maids All in a Row; continual repetition of phrases (“I didn’t mean it, I didn’t”; “I do feel for you, I do”) and the overuse of “smirk”. But that said, I’ll read the next when it’s released and recommend Darkness at the Edge of Town.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.
November 16, 2017
Loved It!
Darkness At The Edge Of Town is the 2nd book in Jennifer Harlow's "Iris Ballard" series. It was intriguing, page turning and the perfect sequel to her 1st book "Beautiful Maids All In A Row".
Dr. Iris Ballard is a brilliant, but damaged ex-FBI profiler with a degree in forensic psychology.
Exhausted and recovering from trauma after catching a serial killer she receives a frantic call from her mother. Iris's twin brother Billy has joined a cult called the New Morning Movement. She returns to Grey Mills, Pennsylvania (her hometown) to try and rescue her brother from the clutches of the cunning and sadistic cult leader Mathias Morning.
Iris's former FBI partner and on-again, off-again lover, Luke Hudson, joins her in Grey Mills. Together they try to extricate Billy as they clash with the DEA.
A gritty, emotional and intense thriller that I highly recommend be read after "Beautiful Maids All In A Row".
Thank you to NetGalley and Alibi for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Darkness At The Edge Of Town is the 2nd book in Jennifer Harlow's "Iris Ballard" series. It was intriguing, page turning and the perfect sequel to her 1st book "Beautiful Maids All In A Row".
Dr. Iris Ballard is a brilliant, but damaged ex-FBI profiler with a degree in forensic psychology.
Exhausted and recovering from trauma after catching a serial killer she receives a frantic call from her mother. Iris's twin brother Billy has joined a cult called the New Morning Movement. She returns to Grey Mills, Pennsylvania (her hometown) to try and rescue her brother from the clutches of the cunning and sadistic cult leader Mathias Morning.
Iris's former FBI partner and on-again, off-again lover, Luke Hudson, joins her in Grey Mills. Together they try to extricate Billy as they clash with the DEA.
A gritty, emotional and intense thriller that I highly recommend be read after "Beautiful Maids All In A Row".
Thank you to NetGalley and Alibi for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 15, 2017
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
She took down a brutal serial killer and was catapulted to fame, but it came at a cost. Now exhausted after doing the television interview circuit, all Iris wants is some quiet downtime with the man she considers her best friend, her former FBI partner, the handsome Luke Hudson. What she gets is a desperate phone call that sends her back into the bowels of her youth, the small town she could get far enough away from.
Her twin brother, Billy, the gentle soul to her hardscrabble personality is in trouble. Now she must infiltrate the cult he has joined after he turns his back on all he had, including a fiancée he has left high and dry. Can Iris outwit the charismatic cult leader and open her brother’s eyes before his life goes down in a blaze of twisted glory?
DARKNESS AT THE EDGE OF TOWN by Jennifer Harlow is an emotional thriller that takes one woman back to the town and family that shamed, humiliated and belittled her, all to protect the one person who stood in her shadows under the radar, but she thought loved her unconditionally. The raw and unbalanced animosity shown by her own mother was as gut-wrenching as was the treatment she received from others in her past that should have been on her side. Iris is damaged, she is self-destructive and only one man seems to see beyond her tough outer shell to the woman she is.
Readers beware, there is backstory here that is vital to know. I was invited to review this and would have passed had I known this was not a series standalone read. Fast paced, dark and emotionally clawing at-the-throat, the sometimes over-the-top outbursts made me want to commit several characters. That said, this is an edge-of-your-seat thriller! make sure to read book one first, hopefully, it will contain the answers to the past events that shaped this book.
I was invited to read an ARC edition from Alibi.
Series: Iris Ballard - Book 2
Publisher: Alibi (November 14, 2017)
Publication Date: November 14, 2017
Genre: Suspense
Page Count 360
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
She took down a brutal serial killer and was catapulted to fame, but it came at a cost. Now exhausted after doing the television interview circuit, all Iris wants is some quiet downtime with the man she considers her best friend, her former FBI partner, the handsome Luke Hudson. What she gets is a desperate phone call that sends her back into the bowels of her youth, the small town she could get far enough away from.
Her twin brother, Billy, the gentle soul to her hardscrabble personality is in trouble. Now she must infiltrate the cult he has joined after he turns his back on all he had, including a fiancée he has left high and dry. Can Iris outwit the charismatic cult leader and open her brother’s eyes before his life goes down in a blaze of twisted glory?
DARKNESS AT THE EDGE OF TOWN by Jennifer Harlow is an emotional thriller that takes one woman back to the town and family that shamed, humiliated and belittled her, all to protect the one person who stood in her shadows under the radar, but she thought loved her unconditionally. The raw and unbalanced animosity shown by her own mother was as gut-wrenching as was the treatment she received from others in her past that should have been on her side. Iris is damaged, she is self-destructive and only one man seems to see beyond her tough outer shell to the woman she is.
Readers beware, there is backstory here that is vital to know. I was invited to review this and would have passed had I known this was not a series standalone read. Fast paced, dark and emotionally clawing at-the-throat, the sometimes over-the-top outbursts made me want to commit several characters. That said, this is an edge-of-your-seat thriller! make sure to read book one first, hopefully, it will contain the answers to the past events that shaped this book.
I was invited to read an ARC edition from Alibi.
Series: Iris Ballard - Book 2
Publisher: Alibi (November 14, 2017)
Publication Date: November 14, 2017
Genre: Suspense
Page Count 360
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 3, 2017
"I'm here if you need me, you know. Day, night, always, forever."
I read Beautiful Maids All in a Row just a few weeks back. I had these characters fresh in my mind and I was glad to be back in their world.
Dr. Iris Ballard survived her second encounter with a psychopath (barely) and this close encounter catapulted her back into notoriety. She has been asked to speak on many TV shows keeping her schedule super busy in the last few weeks. She's ready to relax and enjoy a date with Luke when her mother calls her begging her to come home. Her brother has joined a cult and Iris needs to come home and help save him.
At first, Iris is not sure that what her mother is saying is accurate since she has a tendency to take things out of proportion but she knows she will sleep better if she finds up what's really going on in her childhood home of Grey Mills, PA.
Going home is not easy on Iris. She and her twin brother Billy were called names growing up since they are both bastards. Their half-sister is responsible for most of the name calling. As a teenager, Iris made a decision that impacted her life and thanks to her half-sister, everyone found out. Yet, Iris won't back down. She's determined to know more about Mathias Morning, the guy in charge of the New Morning Movement.
In all honesty, cults really do scare me. They prey on vulnerable people. They know the right thing to say to attract people to their lair and then indoctrinate them. Sad, really.
I believe Jennifer Harlow did a great job portraying the way a cult works. She made me hate Mathias and I wanted Iris to bring him down. I felt sorry for Billy. He was so lost. He made HUGE mistakes but I still felt sorry for him.
Let's talk about (hottie) Luke Hudson. Oh my, he was amazing in this one too. I was devastated when he was not with Iris from the beginning but I understood why it was important for him to be away. He melted my heart when he finally had that serious conversation with Iris. MELTED ME!
What can I say about Iris that I haven't said before? She's an ex-addict (alcohol and pills) with some serious self-destructive issues. She knows her own weaknesses and at least is trying to help herself now. What no one can deny is that she knows how to profile very dangerous individuals and she's great at it. Faults and all, she's a character that I won't forget anytime soon.
Don't hesitate and buy Darkness at the Edge of Town. It's definitely worth it. A page-turner for sure.
I do encourage readers to read Beautiful Maids All in a Row first to get the full spectrum.
I really wish the next one was out already. I hate waiting for a good book.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Random House Publishing Group- Alibi via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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November 14, 2017"Most people aren't aware when a life-changing moment happens to them until time passes. The moments that form a person, define him or her, when everything changes."
Ex FBI profiler, Iris Ballard, always knows her "moments" almost as soon as they happen. She is on the talk show circuit after her most recent case made her a household name when she gets a call from her mother -- Iris's twin brother, Billy, has left his girlfriend, taken all their money, and ran off to join a cult. There's not much that Iris hates more than going back home, but off she goes to see if she can at least talk to Billy and figure out what's going on.
Grey Mills holds few good memories for Iris, but she did have a mentor at the Sheriff's Department from way back when before she left the town and never looked back. She wants to spend as little time at home with her psycho mom as possible, so she gets started right away. What she finds at the New Morning Movement chills her to the bone. But Billy seems happy and Iris is stunned to learn that he's married a fellow member and is going to be a father. When the cult leader, Mathias Morning, finds out that Iris is onto him, she must rely on her former partner, Agent Luke Hudson. Well, he's much more than her work colleague.
No more spoilers but there is plenty of action and romance in this second book of the series. I'd call it more of a drama than a suspense thriller, but it was fast-paced and entertaining. Iris is an interesting character, there's good backstory within in case you haven't read the first book, but I'd urge you to read these in order so you can see the changes that Iris goes through after all that happens to her. She's quite the complicated woman and she is well aware that she's not an easy woman to love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alibi for the e-book ARC to read and review. I'll definitely want to catch book #3 when it comes out.
Ex FBI profiler, Iris Ballard, always knows her "moments" almost as soon as they happen. She is on the talk show circuit after her most recent case made her a household name when she gets a call from her mother -- Iris's twin brother, Billy, has left his girlfriend, taken all their money, and ran off to join a cult. There's not much that Iris hates more than going back home, but off she goes to see if she can at least talk to Billy and figure out what's going on.
Grey Mills holds few good memories for Iris, but she did have a mentor at the Sheriff's Department from way back when before she left the town and never looked back. She wants to spend as little time at home with her psycho mom as possible, so she gets started right away. What she finds at the New Morning Movement chills her to the bone. But Billy seems happy and Iris is stunned to learn that he's married a fellow member and is going to be a father. When the cult leader, Mathias Morning, finds out that Iris is onto him, she must rely on her former partner, Agent Luke Hudson. Well, he's much more than her work colleague.
No more spoilers but there is plenty of action and romance in this second book of the series. I'd call it more of a drama than a suspense thriller, but it was fast-paced and entertaining. Iris is an interesting character, there's good backstory within in case you haven't read the first book, but I'd urge you to read these in order so you can see the changes that Iris goes through after all that happens to her. She's quite the complicated woman and she is well aware that she's not an easy woman to love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alibi for the e-book ARC to read and review. I'll definitely want to catch book #3 when it comes out.
November 14, 2017
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After catching and killing a serial killer called The Shepherd, forensic psychologist Dr. Iris Ballard has become a media sensation and has a contract to write a book. But her mother calls to tell her that her twin brother, whom she hasn't really kept in touch with, is in trouble so Iris returns to her hometown of Grey Mills, PA, to help. There she learns Billy's fiancé Gia recently had a miscarriage and he has drained their accounts and joined a mysterious commune. When Iris pretends to be "Carol," a lost soul looking for help in order to find Billy, thing go downhill quickly and soon the FBI and DEA are accusing Iris of interfering with a federal investigation. Knowing that the group leader is a dangerous psychopath, Iris enlists the help of her former partner Luke to try and save Billy before the Feds strike.
Second in the series, Darkness at the Edge of Town, is a suspenseful read you won't want to put down. Iris is a quirky, complex character with lots of personal as well as professional issues and we learn much more about why she is the way she is. Although this second book could be read as a stand alone, reading the first book in the series will help you understand why Iris is the way she is. I look forward to Iris's next adventure.
After catching and killing a serial killer called The Shepherd, forensic psychologist Dr. Iris Ballard has become a media sensation and has a contract to write a book. But her mother calls to tell her that her twin brother, whom she hasn't really kept in touch with, is in trouble so Iris returns to her hometown of Grey Mills, PA, to help. There she learns Billy's fiancé Gia recently had a miscarriage and he has drained their accounts and joined a mysterious commune. When Iris pretends to be "Carol," a lost soul looking for help in order to find Billy, thing go downhill quickly and soon the FBI and DEA are accusing Iris of interfering with a federal investigation. Knowing that the group leader is a dangerous psychopath, Iris enlists the help of her former partner Luke to try and save Billy before the Feds strike.
Second in the series, Darkness at the Edge of Town, is a suspenseful read you won't want to put down. Iris is a quirky, complex character with lots of personal as well as professional issues and we learn much more about why she is the way she is. Although this second book could be read as a stand alone, reading the first book in the series will help you understand why Iris is the way she is. I look forward to Iris's next adventure.
December 28, 2017
A great psychological thriller! I couldn't put it down, nor did I want to. Iris Ballard is an awesome protagonist. I just loved this book. A strong heroine is exactly what Iris is and made for perfect bedtime reading.
When Iris receives a frantic call from her mother telling her to come home, she rushes home. Investigating her brother's disappearance is going to be tricky, but Dr. Iris Ballard is on the case. A hunky love interest complicates matters even more. I hope this series will continue to grow.
When Iris receives a frantic call from her mother telling her to come home, she rushes home. Investigating her brother's disappearance is going to be tricky, but Dr. Iris Ballard is on the case. A hunky love interest complicates matters even more. I hope this series will continue to grow.
October 1, 2017
This second outing for Dr Iris Ballard was a difficult read for me. Like her first Iris Ballard novel, Beautiful Maids All in a Row, Jennifer Harlow gives us a character who is all over the place emotionally. The self-loathing Iris from the first book is still quite prevalent. So is the brash, arrogant, in your face Iris. I almost put the book down twice because I couldn't reconcile these two Irises. As a psychologists you would think she wouldn't antagonizes those whom she needs to find her twin brother. She demonstrates a complete lack of self-control when her life could be in jeopardy. And then blames herself when others die.
Needless to say I didnt like this read.
I wish to thank Jennifer Harlow, the publisher, and NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
Needless to say I didnt like this read.
I wish to thank Jennifer Harlow, the publisher, and NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
September 6, 2017
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. Another excellent read from Jennifer Harlow. She is a very talented writer who can give us a really flawed heroine but you like her a heck of a lot. Ms. Harlow keeps you turning the pages because you just HAVE to learn what's going to happen next. Fantastic
September 10, 2017
I was hooked on this series from Beautiful Maids All in a Row. Iris Ballard is the perfect heroine that you'll fall in love with. Sarcastic, sassy, and very flawed. Darkness at the Edge of Town is just as fast paced and so very addicting. If you love mystery/thrillers by Karin Slaughter pick up this series! Jennifer Harlow will hook you too!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
November 14, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and Alibi for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.
Dr. Iris Ballard is back and better than before like seriously, she is clean and rocking it again after Luke saved her life. She is finishing up her tour and preparing to go home to write her book, when her mother calls her crying. Her twin Billy has joined a cult and dropped off the grid. She is really worried.
So Iris drops everything and heads back to Grey Mills. Where things just haven't changed much. However, Iris realizes that she has really caused a lot of pain for her family. Her decisions haven't made anyone happy. Plus she is starting to realize that she does feel something for Luke, but she isn't sure it is the best decision to make.
As she begins to investigate the cult, she has to lie her way into the first house in order to gain information about the the farm that Billy is hiding out at. She almost gets entangled with two of the members and realizes that the people are good at what they do. She is found out before she can up to the farm on her own. So she threatens them in order to get a meeting set up to see Billy.
After that everything starts to fall apart, Mathais threatens her and her family, the DEA is investigating the cult and pissed that Iris was out there. Luke is on his way to PA, to help and it is all a mess. Will she be able to save Billy before it's too late? Will she finally admits how she feels to Luke?
This kind of read like an ending book and I hope that isn't the case, because I am really just beginning to have a full on obsession with Iris and Luke. I need more than just two books. When I saw this on Netgalley I knew I had to review this. I read and reviewed the first one when it came out and I couldn't wait to read this and it didn't disappoint. Iris is even better when she isn't so messed up and swoon... Luke.
This his the ground running and forced Iris to deal with her families issues, and her feeling for Luke, throw in a creepy cult and boom makes for a great thriller. I was hanging on the edge of my seat at the end wondering how it was all going to end.
Dr. Iris Ballard is back and better than before like seriously, she is clean and rocking it again after Luke saved her life. She is finishing up her tour and preparing to go home to write her book, when her mother calls her crying. Her twin Billy has joined a cult and dropped off the grid. She is really worried.
So Iris drops everything and heads back to Grey Mills. Where things just haven't changed much. However, Iris realizes that she has really caused a lot of pain for her family. Her decisions haven't made anyone happy. Plus she is starting to realize that she does feel something for Luke, but she isn't sure it is the best decision to make.
As she begins to investigate the cult, she has to lie her way into the first house in order to gain information about the the farm that Billy is hiding out at. She almost gets entangled with two of the members and realizes that the people are good at what they do. She is found out before she can up to the farm on her own. So she threatens them in order to get a meeting set up to see Billy.
After that everything starts to fall apart, Mathais threatens her and her family, the DEA is investigating the cult and pissed that Iris was out there. Luke is on his way to PA, to help and it is all a mess. Will she be able to save Billy before it's too late? Will she finally admits how she feels to Luke?
This kind of read like an ending book and I hope that isn't the case, because I am really just beginning to have a full on obsession with Iris and Luke. I need more than just two books. When I saw this on Netgalley I knew I had to review this. I read and reviewed the first one when it came out and I couldn't wait to read this and it didn't disappoint. Iris is even better when she isn't so messed up and swoon... Luke.
This his the ground running and forced Iris to deal with her families issues, and her feeling for Luke, throw in a creepy cult and boom makes for a great thriller. I was hanging on the edge of my seat at the end wondering how it was all going to end.
November 8, 2017
Book two in this series starts with Iris no longer being a hermit. After past events, she is thrust in the spotlight and seems to be thriving but tired. Iris gets word that her brother has joined a cult and has become completely taken in. It is up to Iris to thwart the leader and save her brother.
What I love most is that this author is not afraid to go dark in her works. Not everything is fun and light and the author does a wonderful job of showing that. She emphasizes the weakness in the main character instead of making her seem infallible. You can imagine these scenarios playing out in a very similar way in real life.
This series is definitely unique and I absolutely enjoy everything about it, especially not being able to decide if I love or despise the main character. I cannot wait for the next installment.
I received an advance copy of this book. The review and opinions are my own.
What I love most is that this author is not afraid to go dark in her works. Not everything is fun and light and the author does a wonderful job of showing that. She emphasizes the weakness in the main character instead of making her seem infallible. You can imagine these scenarios playing out in a very similar way in real life.
This series is definitely unique and I absolutely enjoy everything about it, especially not being able to decide if I love or despise the main character. I cannot wait for the next installment.
I received an advance copy of this book. The review and opinions are my own.
February 13, 2018
I like this series and I like Iris Ballard. This is a thriller about an FBI forensic psychologist and her efforts to rescue her brother, if needed, from what may be a cult. I really enjoy how the author incorporates Iris's relationships with other people into the story and how she fully develops those other characters. Especially as you read the series, you get to know more about Iris and her family, friends, and colleagues.
The story in this one didn't grip me quite as hard as in the first book, which is probably just as well, because the villain in the first one was too creepy for me. It was, however, an interesting plot and completely different from the first book, which I consider a plus.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.
The story in this one didn't grip me quite as hard as in the first book, which is probably just as well, because the villain in the first one was too creepy for me. It was, however, an interesting plot and completely different from the first book, which I consider a plus.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.
November 8, 2017
Iris is on a media tour after her "success" in killing a serial killer when she gets a dreaded call from her mom. (If you have not yet read Beautiful Maids there will be spoilers throughout this book.) She learns about her brother having done the unthinkable and skipped out on his girlfriend. She is determined to understand his situation, possibly save him and many others. What I love about Iris is her tenacity, strength and unforgiving confidence. Her partnership with Luke has made her stronger and wiser. Although I was dying for the two of them to connect I had to face facts that this was not a romantic novel but a suspense driven adventure. Harlow has a great series with Iris and Luke, full of mystery, realistic situations and keeps you on edge. I received my copy from Netgalley, my review written voluntarily.
November 6, 2017
A well written page turner featuring twin siblings who have taken different life paths but are still tough together. Iris Ballard is recovering from trauma and frankly messing up her life when her mother begs her to come home to help get her twin Billy out of a cult. Taking things into her own hands, she runs afoul of the FBI and DEA. Luckily, she can still call on her former partner and periodic romantic interest Luke. There are twists, there are turns, there's a messianic leader in Manning, and all in all, it's a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is fine as a standalone but now I'm looking forward to the next book!
June 21, 2018
I enjoyed the first book in this series. The main character was brash and her language too, but it seemed to work with the story, which focused on a particularly nasty serial killer. However this story was not as compelling, the characters were overly melodramatic and I found myself being bothered by the many explicatives used by the main character.
December 13, 2017
Darkness at the Edge of Town is my first book by Jennifer Harlow. I realized partway in that this was second in a series, but I did not need to read the first Iris Ballard book to enjoy this one. Iris is a smart, tough, former FBI agent and forensic psychologist. She gets people, even if she doesn't like them every much. Iris has a checkered past and has plenty of personal demons, but at the start of the book she is riding a career high when she gets called to her hometown to help rescue her brother from what seems to be a cult. Iris has to face unpleasant memories from her troubled childhood along with creepy cult members in order to try to save her brother. Her best friend and former partner, Luke, helps her with her unofficial investigation. This is a fun, fast read with interesting characters and a plot that kept me entertained. Iris and her sharp tongue makes for snappy dialogue. I will definitely look for more by this author.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
October 12, 2017
Darkness at the Edge of Town is the second Iris Ballard thriller by Jennifer Harlow. I think I preferred the first book a little bit more but I still thought it was a great thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
This book felt more personal to Iris because it involved her twin brother Billy, who joined a cult and disappeared on his girlfriend Gia and his own family. To find her brother, Iris infiltrates the cult, which is not without its dangers, obviously. I really liked that this story involved a cult because it made for a nice change from the first book. I really dislike it when thrillers keep being the same theme with each book so it made everything pretty intriguing.
I'm also glad to say that I also still am a big fan of Iris Ballard. She's one of my favorite heroines from this author's books. Iris is not a perfect person at all, but I totally love her sarcastic and witty side. I was also glad to see her relationship with Luke grow a bit more through the story, especially towards the end. I've been shipping them since the first book.
I have to admit that there wasn't as much suspense as there was in the first book. Don't get me wrong, there definitely was suspense but it wasn't on the same level as the first book, in my opinion. The writing was also really great, just like in the first book. Not that this was a big surprise to me becaue I've always loved the author's writing style.
Overall, Darkness at the Edge of Town by Jennifer Harlow is a thriller you definitely need to read. I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the eerie feel of the cult.
This book felt more personal to Iris because it involved her twin brother Billy, who joined a cult and disappeared on his girlfriend Gia and his own family. To find her brother, Iris infiltrates the cult, which is not without its dangers, obviously. I really liked that this story involved a cult because it made for a nice change from the first book. I really dislike it when thrillers keep being the same theme with each book so it made everything pretty intriguing.
I'm also glad to say that I also still am a big fan of Iris Ballard. She's one of my favorite heroines from this author's books. Iris is not a perfect person at all, but I totally love her sarcastic and witty side. I was also glad to see her relationship with Luke grow a bit more through the story, especially towards the end. I've been shipping them since the first book.
I have to admit that there wasn't as much suspense as there was in the first book. Don't get me wrong, there definitely was suspense but it wasn't on the same level as the first book, in my opinion. The writing was also really great, just like in the first book. Not that this was a big surprise to me becaue I've always loved the author's writing style.
Overall, Darkness at the Edge of Town by Jennifer Harlow is a thriller you definitely need to read. I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the eerie feel of the cult.
October 7, 2017
When I chose to read and review this book I thought I had read the first one in the series but I was mistaken. Iris Ballard is a strong character with human flaws and a pain filled past. To me she appears to be quite intelligent and fearless, (sometimes to the endangerment of others). I'm not thrilled with the language she uses but I was interested enough in the story to read the entire book and see what would happen to her brother. In all honesty, this will probably be the only one in the series that I will read. The language and sexual innuendo just throws it off for me. It tears down the smooth flow and class of the character of the story for me. I like the characters, her grandparents are also strong and interesting individuals who still guide her.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ecopy of the book.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ecopy of the book.
October 3, 2017
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Alibi and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dilemma here.
I want to give the book 4 stars because it was a good solid book but I just can't. The over usage of the word smirk had me so frustrated that it came to a point when I wanted to throw the book across the room in anger every time those 5 little letters appeared. Everyone was smirking!! Sometimes everyone in the scene was smirking!! There has got to be a dozen other words that would convey the same feeling.
Iris Ballard, a former FBI profiler, returns to her hometown after news that her brother Billy has broken all ties to his former life and joined a local cult. She tries to infiltrate the cult by pretending to be a newly divorced timid women with a large divorce settlement in order to find the location of her brother. This is made more difficult by the fact that she just finished a long tour of television appearances and could be recognized at any moment. The question is can she talk some sense into him and get him home safe.
Dilemma here.
I want to give the book 4 stars because it was a good solid book but I just can't. The over usage of the word smirk had me so frustrated that it came to a point when I wanted to throw the book across the room in anger every time those 5 little letters appeared. Everyone was smirking!! Sometimes everyone in the scene was smirking!! There has got to be a dozen other words that would convey the same feeling.
Iris Ballard, a former FBI profiler, returns to her hometown after news that her brother Billy has broken all ties to his former life and joined a local cult. She tries to infiltrate the cult by pretending to be a newly divorced timid women with a large divorce settlement in order to find the location of her brother. This is made more difficult by the fact that she just finished a long tour of television appearances and could be recognized at any moment. The question is can she talk some sense into him and get him home safe.
November 17, 2017
Iris Ballard has been through the ringer! After two years where she let alcoholism and pill popping take over her life, she's clean again, famous for taking down yet another serial killer and is unsure how to deal with her mini-stardom. One call about her brother, Billy, possibly being involved in a cult has her going to back to the one place she's been trying to avoid.... home.
I absolutely love Iris's character. She's dealt with so many issues in her personal and professional life and yet somehow comes up on top. A flawed human that might not always deal with some of the hard knocks that come her way, she still pulls herself together and finds that extra oomph to continue forward. She's certainly not one to keep her mouth shut and blows her stack a few times at her mother and their tumultuous relationship. Remember all those times you bit you tongue so as not to say something you'll regret to a family member? Well Iris has had enough and tongue biting is no longer in her repertoire.
This reads fast and while it's the second book in the series (I also LOVED Beautiful Maids All in a Row), it does read well as a stand alone. The interactions between the characters were fun - especially between Iris and her Grandparents. The ONLY thing, if I'm being nit picky is some of her dialogue with Luke got a little annoying with all the uhs.. and ums... and ... I get it, it's awkward between them, but it almost felt more awkward to read. And there were moments of monologuing that I felt was unnecessary or could've been written more fluently or the same word was used repeatedly.
I love anything remotely cultish so it was fun to see Harlow's take on this type of story line. I will absolutely continue with this series and can't wait to see what else Iris gets herself into.
3.5 stars but rounding to 4 for GR.
Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this copy!
I absolutely love Iris's character. She's dealt with so many issues in her personal and professional life and yet somehow comes up on top. A flawed human that might not always deal with some of the hard knocks that come her way, she still pulls herself together and finds that extra oomph to continue forward. She's certainly not one to keep her mouth shut and blows her stack a few times at her mother and their tumultuous relationship. Remember all those times you bit you tongue so as not to say something you'll regret to a family member? Well Iris has had enough and tongue biting is no longer in her repertoire.
This reads fast and while it's the second book in the series (I also LOVED Beautiful Maids All in a Row), it does read well as a stand alone. The interactions between the characters were fun - especially between Iris and her Grandparents. The ONLY thing, if I'm being nit picky is some of her dialogue with Luke got a little annoying with all the uhs.. and ums... and ... I get it, it's awkward between them, but it almost felt more awkward to read. And there were moments of monologuing that I felt was unnecessary or could've been written more fluently or the same word was used repeatedly.
I love anything remotely cultish so it was fun to see Harlow's take on this type of story line. I will absolutely continue with this series and can't wait to see what else Iris gets herself into.
3.5 stars but rounding to 4 for GR.
Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this copy!
December 6, 2017
Want a fun book to read? Then read this one! This is is a quick, funny, suspense-filled thriller complete with longing love, a cult, undercover work, a millionaire's illegitimate children, and a highly dysfunctional family. What's not to love?
I missed the first Iris Ballard novel, Beautiful Maids All in a Row. However, I was given enough information to understand the background of Iris and Luke, her FBI partner, and former lover.
Iris has many flaws, all which are played out openly. She is cold, calculating, & cunning, but she is also intelligent, loyal, and loves deeper than she even realizes. But when push comes to shove, her true personality comes out. And I love her for it!
The story starts with the aftermath of Beautiful Maids All in a Row. It seems she is finally on top of the world. Only for her family to call her to let her know that her twin brother, Billy, joined a cult. She reluctantly goes back home, where she is known as the "Abortion Whore of Grey Mills," a decision made in her childhood that some will never let her live down. However, she is also known as Nancy Drew, another title she hates, but rooted in her childhood curiosity and desire to always know what really happened.
As Iris gets sucked deeper into the cult, her only way out is to finally face who she is, who she comes from, and where her heart truly lies.
I missed the first Iris Ballard novel, Beautiful Maids All in a Row. However, I was given enough information to understand the background of Iris and Luke, her FBI partner, and former lover.
Iris has many flaws, all which are played out openly. She is cold, calculating, & cunning, but she is also intelligent, loyal, and loves deeper than she even realizes. But when push comes to shove, her true personality comes out. And I love her for it!
The story starts with the aftermath of Beautiful Maids All in a Row. It seems she is finally on top of the world. Only for her family to call her to let her know that her twin brother, Billy, joined a cult. She reluctantly goes back home, where she is known as the "Abortion Whore of Grey Mills," a decision made in her childhood that some will never let her live down. However, she is also known as Nancy Drew, another title she hates, but rooted in her childhood curiosity and desire to always know what really happened.
As Iris gets sucked deeper into the cult, her only way out is to finally face who she is, who she comes from, and where her heart truly lies.
September 23, 2017
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I really liked this book! I have not read the first book in this series but I plan too as soon as I can. Iris is a great character, smart and a huge-risk taker, sassy sarcastic honest and funny too. She has overcome a lot of personal issues but seems to be on the right track now. Her mother calls her telling Iris that her brother has disappeared and joined a cult and she is really worried about him. Iris goes home to help find her brother and see what is going on with the cult. She stumbles on something bigger than just a cult and gets really involved in exposing the cult leader as a criminal as well as saving her brother. Her ex-partner Luke shows up and helps her get to the bottom of what is going on. They are so adorable and work amazingly well together! The story is definitely unique involving the cult aspect which is very interesting. Suspenseful and exciting as well! Looking forward to reading the first book and more in the series as they come out. Great book!
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