What do you think?
Rate this book
Bishop/Special Crimes Unit #18
Hold Back the Dark
An SCU team investigates an inexplicable string of murders committed by men and women with no memory of their crimes in the latest in this New York Times bestselling series.
Madness has taken ahold of Prosperity, North Carolina. Residents are killing one another, as if in a dream, and waking up with no memory of the monstrous acts they've committed--or why. As the death toll climbs, the local sheriff's department is further rocked by a murder carried out by one of their own. Deputy Katie Cole knows that whatever monster is afoot is beyond her scope...
The Special Crimes Unit is called in for their specific brand of investigation. It will take all their training, all their experience, and every extra sense they can call on to get to the bottom of things in Prosperity. And as a dark pattern begins to emerge, even the most experienced and hardened SCU agents have to wonder if this is beyond their understanding.
Madness has taken ahold of Prosperity, North Carolina. Residents are killing one another, as if in a dream, and waking up with no memory of the monstrous acts they've committed--or why. As the death toll climbs, the local sheriff's department is further rocked by a murder carried out by one of their own. Deputy Katie Cole knows that whatever monster is afoot is beyond her scope...
The Special Crimes Unit is called in for their specific brand of investigation. It will take all their training, all their experience, and every extra sense they can call on to get to the bottom of things in Prosperity. And as a dark pattern begins to emerge, even the most experienced and hardened SCU agents have to wonder if this is beyond their understanding.
295 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2018
780 people are currently reading
2753 people want to read
About the author
Kay Hooper
97 books2,452 followersKay Hooper (aka Kay Robbins) was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
April 8, 2018
FINAL DECISION: I ended up tremendously disappointed in this book which began as an amazing story with a whole bunch of characters I was interested in, but ended up being resolved (mostly offscreen) in the space of only a couple of pages. In fact, the book felt like a half book with the author's synopsis at the end. I'm hoping there will be more with this group in the future.
THE STORY: Something is happening in the town of Prosperity. A call has gone out from a mysterious source calling psychics from all over to the town. A series of vicious murders with unlikely killers takes over the town. The SCU along with a rag tag group of people who have rejected joining the SCU must join together to keep the evil contained in Prosperity and find the source before the evil expands.
OPINION: Until the last chapter of this book, I really loved it. It might have been a 5 star book, but definitely a 4 star one. Then the entire book just abruptly ended with a summary resolution that read more like a synopsis than an actual ending for the book.
This book was disappointing and perhaps one of the worst of the series because it completely abandoned the actual storytelling of the paranormal events. The book felt like it should have had another 100 pages instead of just ending the entire plot in a couple of pages with events that were told in a summary fashion.
I was let down because I believed that the beginning of this book showed incredible promise. The book introduces a whole new cast of characters that are intriguing and their interactions show great possibilities. I loved the return of Galen who is now a more reflective, damaged and dark character. And I loved seeing Hollis and Reese (though disappointed that significant events have occurred offstage once again). All the new possibilities raised my interest in the story and I expected that after all the introductions that there would be some real exploration of what is happening in Prosperity. But this book really feels like it is missing its third act. Instead of the well thought out and plotted ending, we only get a cursory explanation of events without any drama or suspense.
This book might be a gateway to more stories (I hope so because I loved the characters), but this book as a whole was a letdown.
WORTH MENTIONING: The blurb of this book is misleading as it focuses on Katie Cole who is merely a bit character and doesn't really have much to do with the book.
CONNECTED BOOKS: HOLD BACK THE DARK is the eighteenth book in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series. I don't believe these books can operate as standalones because there are numerous overlapping characters, references to prior cases and (especially in this case) some overarching storyline.
STAR RATING: I give this book 2.5 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
THE STORY: Something is happening in the town of Prosperity. A call has gone out from a mysterious source calling psychics from all over to the town. A series of vicious murders with unlikely killers takes over the town. The SCU along with a rag tag group of people who have rejected joining the SCU must join together to keep the evil contained in Prosperity and find the source before the evil expands.
OPINION: Until the last chapter of this book, I really loved it. It might have been a 5 star book, but definitely a 4 star one. Then the entire book just abruptly ended with a summary resolution that read more like a synopsis than an actual ending for the book.
This book was disappointing and perhaps one of the worst of the series because it completely abandoned the actual storytelling of the paranormal events. The book felt like it should have had another 100 pages instead of just ending the entire plot in a couple of pages with events that were told in a summary fashion.
I was let down because I believed that the beginning of this book showed incredible promise. The book introduces a whole new cast of characters that are intriguing and their interactions show great possibilities. I loved the return of Galen who is now a more reflective, damaged and dark character. And I loved seeing Hollis and Reese (though disappointed that significant events have occurred offstage once again). All the new possibilities raised my interest in the story and I expected that after all the introductions that there would be some real exploration of what is happening in Prosperity. But this book really feels like it is missing its third act. Instead of the well thought out and plotted ending, we only get a cursory explanation of events without any drama or suspense.
This book might be a gateway to more stories (I hope so because I loved the characters), but this book as a whole was a letdown.
WORTH MENTIONING: The blurb of this book is misleading as it focuses on Katie Cole who is merely a bit character and doesn't really have much to do with the book.
CONNECTED BOOKS: HOLD BACK THE DARK is the eighteenth book in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series. I don't believe these books can operate as standalones because there are numerous overlapping characters, references to prior cases and (especially in this case) some overarching storyline.
STAR RATING: I give this book 2.5 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
February 28, 2018
3.5 Stars
Mediums. Clairvoyants. Empaths. Telepaths. Empathic Healers. Psychics of all sorts are being summoned from within. Severe headaches, blackouts, strange colors, and those whispering voices ... all are saying the same thing .... go to Prosperity.
Prosperity is a small town in North Carolina that has had more than its share of paranormal activity over the years. The warning now is the evil that emanates there must be stopped and stopped now to keep it from spreading all over the country.
And in Prosperity, the evil is gathering strength. A man commits suicide. His last note was Just Me, Not Them. A housewife brutally kills and mutilates her husband and three children. She remembers nothing. A real estate agent guns down two clients. He, too, remembers nothing. A sheriff's deputy comes close to strangling his wife. He's lucky ... he resisted the voices telling him to kill and his wife is still alive.
Even with all their 'gifts' and powers ... will they be able to stop the evil?
For those who have followed this series, it will be a real treat in that many characters from previous books are all together in one place .. a reunion of sorts... just not a real happy one. There are a few new players and I hope to see more of them in future books.
The premise is okay, the characters are outstanding, but this isn't one of the author's best. The ending felt a bit abrupt and without the fast action that is usually seen in her books. Because of the characters, it was still well worth reading.
Many thanks to the author / Berkley Publishing / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Mediums. Clairvoyants. Empaths. Telepaths. Empathic Healers. Psychics of all sorts are being summoned from within. Severe headaches, blackouts, strange colors, and those whispering voices ... all are saying the same thing .... go to Prosperity.
Prosperity is a small town in North Carolina that has had more than its share of paranormal activity over the years. The warning now is the evil that emanates there must be stopped and stopped now to keep it from spreading all over the country.
And in Prosperity, the evil is gathering strength. A man commits suicide. His last note was Just Me, Not Them. A housewife brutally kills and mutilates her husband and three children. She remembers nothing. A real estate agent guns down two clients. He, too, remembers nothing. A sheriff's deputy comes close to strangling his wife. He's lucky ... he resisted the voices telling him to kill and his wife is still alive.
Even with all their 'gifts' and powers ... will they be able to stop the evil?
For those who have followed this series, it will be a real treat in that many characters from previous books are all together in one place .. a reunion of sorts... just not a real happy one. There are a few new players and I hope to see more of them in future books.
The premise is okay, the characters are outstanding, but this isn't one of the author's best. The ending felt a bit abrupt and without the fast action that is usually seen in her books. Because of the characters, it was still well worth reading.
Many thanks to the author / Berkley Publishing / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 20, 2018
Prosperity a small peaceful town in North Carolina is being attacked by some kind of negative energy . Energy that is driving ordinary people to kill and commit heinous act . Meanwhile psychics with different abilities are being summoned to Prosperity under Hollis’s leadership to stop this energy before it escapes and spreads its evil all over the country.
Hold back the dark is the 18 book in the SCU unit and it was fun reconnecting with some of the characters. The ending seemed a little rushed but still an enjoyable read for Noah Bishop series lovers.
I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Hold back the dark is the 18 book in the SCU unit and it was fun reconnecting with some of the characters. The ending seemed a little rushed but still an enjoyable read for Noah Bishop series lovers.
I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
September 25, 2018
ARGHHHH. I was so underwhelmed by the way this book played out that I actually went back to the library and checked out the two previous books, thinking "Maybe I missed reading these and just don't realize I'm missing something big"- nope, I've read the other "Dark" books. And this one was built up a LOT in the early chapters, introducing a ton of new characters who we learn next to nothing about, to go investigate some particularly gruesome murders, yet most of the book is meandering dialogue about energy. The actual action scenes DON'T EXIST in this book- there is like one moment where anything actually is shown happening- the rest is just glossed over and explained away, but without any actual suspense/action happening. I don't understand- I LOVED these books for years. But this one just felt like a giant tease of "hey, here are some new characters with new abilities, and stuff is happening so they can go meet up with the regular characters and oh, by the way, the story just kind of stops right when it gets started, so you'll have to wait for the next book!" I'm getting frustrated. Need a good one next, or I may abandon these characters I've grown so attached to soon.
April 10, 2018
This one started out strong for me. I liked seeing the "call" that everyone got and how it seemed like it was going to be this epic battle of good vs evil. As all of Bishop's crew showed up in Prosper they could tell something was wrong, it was as they saw what was happening that they knew without a doubt evil came to visit. I hated how that took place, that good people were manipulated to do horrible things. I was glad that our crew figured things out pretty fast. It was only as the book came to a very rushed end that I was underwhelmed, heck I even looked at my ipod and said huh? as the book ended. I went back and listened to the last 30 minutes and had the same thought. I really wish that things would have been different at the end, would have been more somehow.
May 22, 2018
I ended up very dissappointed in this book -- synopsis sounded interesting, beginning was engaging, it seemed that the "call" will bring together big battle between Good and Evil but turned out that all those characters with "special gifts" gather up... for basically nothing. All those different characters and their "special" abilities...it felt like there were just characters and not enough story to tell. I din't enjoy descriptions of what "evil" made people do and how children were mutilated. Also there were so many questions left hanging, like what happened to the cop, the teacher, the other members. Very weird book.
June 23, 2018
Kinda disappointing for me.
I usually enjoy Kay Hooper's SCU books much more than this one. As other reviewers have pointed out, not much happened for most of the book.... So why write a book? Other popular authors seem to be writing and releasing more and more "short stories" or "novellas" as their promotional teams present them. For the most part I've found them to be a real letdown. Seems more like they were trying to develop a book and just lost interest or couldn't make it work for whatever reason. Okay.
But why publish it? Contractual obligations? Pushy agents? What??
This whole book felt like that to me.
I usually enjoy Kay Hooper's SCU books much more than this one. As other reviewers have pointed out, not much happened for most of the book.... So why write a book? Other popular authors seem to be writing and releasing more and more "short stories" or "novellas" as their promotional teams present them. For the most part I've found them to be a real letdown. Seems more like they were trying to develop a book and just lost interest or couldn't make it work for whatever reason. Okay.
But why publish it? Contractual obligations? Pushy agents? What??
This whole book felt like that to me.
June 20, 2018
SO bad. Repetitive, poorly written and edited, lame. 80% of the book was set-up, way too much time spent with character "development," yet the characters were all still super one-dimensional. The big climax/solution was over in two pages. A major plot point (all the characters were pulled together for a reason, supposedly) was never fully realized. This book was a total waste of time.
April 24, 2018
Oh my, Kay Hooper makes the most extraordinary things seem completely believable and almost ordinary. The SCU and Haven and all the players have lives and stories that keep drawing me. The evil in this story was a bit different but no less chilling.
April 13, 2018
Absolutely not a bit surprised that this latest installment in the “SCU/Bishop/FBI Files” series was another 5-star read for this book Work and fan girl. I LOOOOVE this series and feel like I personally know the characters. Can’t get enough! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 10, 2018
I’ve been a fan of the series for awhile. Unfortunately this one felt forced, it read dry almost like a script. The characters were flat and the extended conversations a bit painful and then it just ends. There was a huge buildup to this major end of the world as we know it activity and then it just ends suddenly and almost quietly. I was really disappointed.
February 28, 2018
Very creepy addition to the series. A psychic blast was sent out and received by small group of psychics to come to Prosperity, North Carolina. Something evil is going on there and only this group can stop it.
Noah Bishop and his wife felt the blast but were not part of the invitation but they do provide the place in North Carolina for everyone to gather before heading to Prosperity. Hollis Templeton and her partner/lover Reece DeMarco along with 6 other psychic who are not part of Bishops SCU team were the ones that got the summons. Those 6 psychic are aware of SVU but have not wanted to join and instead try to live ordinary lives with un-ordinary abilities. Even though hesitant they know they need to get to Prosperity to help fight whatever evil has taken over the town.
Madness has taken over a few of the residents minds and had them comment unspeakable acts of violence. Sheriff Jackson Archer has never had any trouble in Prosperity. Its a nice, peaceful place to live. He doesn't understand the heinous murders that are suddenly being committed in his town and only at the urging of his chief deputy Katie Cole who has kept her abilities hidden does he call in Noah Bishop's special team.
You curiosity was captivated from the beginning. I liked how the author had the book broken up into three sections.. The Summons, The Gathering and then The Darkness. The ending was a little abrupt and I am hoping that we get to see more of the 6 in future books but overall I liked this creepy little addition to the series.
Noah Bishop and his wife felt the blast but were not part of the invitation but they do provide the place in North Carolina for everyone to gather before heading to Prosperity. Hollis Templeton and her partner/lover Reece DeMarco along with 6 other psychic who are not part of Bishops SCU team were the ones that got the summons. Those 6 psychic are aware of SVU but have not wanted to join and instead try to live ordinary lives with un-ordinary abilities. Even though hesitant they know they need to get to Prosperity to help fight whatever evil has taken over the town.
Madness has taken over a few of the residents minds and had them comment unspeakable acts of violence. Sheriff Jackson Archer has never had any trouble in Prosperity. Its a nice, peaceful place to live. He doesn't understand the heinous murders that are suddenly being committed in his town and only at the urging of his chief deputy Katie Cole who has kept her abilities hidden does he call in Noah Bishop's special team.
You curiosity was captivated from the beginning. I liked how the author had the book broken up into three sections.. The Summons, The Gathering and then The Darkness. The ending was a little abrupt and I am hoping that we get to see more of the 6 in future books but overall I liked this creepy little addition to the series.
February 2, 2021
I really thought I was going to love this one and that didn’t happen. I hadn’t read one of these since book 10 or 11, but when I caught this on sale I was happy because I used to love this series.
I really liked the first part of the book. But then, aside from horrific murders that we hear about after the fact, nothing much happens. There’s a lot of talking about the Major problem facing this group of psychics. When it came to doing anything about it, everything was so rushed and the ending was crazily sudden. I guess you could say the big build up ended up being ridiculously quickly taken care of. No muss, no fuss. I kept thinking there has to be more. But, no. Unfortunately.
I did like seeing previous characters and some new ones as well. Actually that and the initial premise of the book ended up being my favorite part of this book. I just think more could have been shown instead of told to readers. And the ending needed a lot more explanation. I was left feeling like I’d just read an unfinished book.
I really liked the first part of the book. But then, aside from horrific murders that we hear about after the fact, nothing much happens. There’s a lot of talking about the Major problem facing this group of psychics. When it came to doing anything about it, everything was so rushed and the ending was crazily sudden. I guess you could say the big build up ended up being ridiculously quickly taken care of. No muss, no fuss. I kept thinking there has to be more. But, no. Unfortunately.
I did like seeing previous characters and some new ones as well. Actually that and the initial premise of the book ended up being my favorite part of this book. I just think more could have been shown instead of told to readers. And the ending needed a lot more explanation. I was left feeling like I’d just read an unfinished book.
May 6, 2018
A group of psychics, empaths, mediums and others with special abilities get the call to go to a small town called Prosperity and I don't mean a regular phone call. Something really, really bad is happening in Prosperity that is causing townspeople to kill others.
The first chapter begins the book with a bang. Several new characters come together with Bishop and his special crew to fight evil in the town of Prosperity. The death scenes are gruesome. There's a lot of buildup to an ending that comes abruptly.
This book is for readers who like paranormal and supernatural stories. The back of the book contains a biography of all the characters which is most helpful. It also contains psychic terms and abilities. I strongly suggest reading these first.
The first chapter begins the book with a bang. Several new characters come together with Bishop and his special crew to fight evil in the town of Prosperity. The death scenes are gruesome. There's a lot of buildup to an ending that comes abruptly.
This book is for readers who like paranormal and supernatural stories. The back of the book contains a biography of all the characters which is most helpful. It also contains psychic terms and abilities. I strongly suggest reading these first.
April 13, 2018
I loved it just as I love every other book by Kay Hooper. Having said that, I think it's the first novel in the series that I have to give 4 and not 5 stars. There was a very long build-up and the climax of the story happened within a few pages; it seemed very rushed. The first three quarters of the book were very-slow going and the last quarter was like a fast-moving hurricane, one that you didn't expect. It came fast and it left just as fast, before you realized it was even there.
On the upside, I liked the newly introduced characters, and I'm hoping to see them inside the SCU in the next book of the series.
Full review: https://mysterysequels.com/book-revie...
On the upside, I liked the newly introduced characters, and I'm hoping to see them inside the SCU in the next book of the series.
Full review: https://mysterysequels.com/book-revie...
Read
April 11, 2018Several consecutive pages of Miranda and Bishop. Finally. Not enough to satisfy my personal desire, but it's better than the essential nothing in series entries since the horrific ending of Blood Ties. Hold Back the Dark continues the SCU's mission to protect humankind from unspeakable evil. Sheriff Jackson and Deputy Sheriff Katie are pretty much incidental characters to introduce Hollis and Reese and their team onto the scene.
Readers who don't enjoy disturbingly gruesome details may want to skim or skip pages 114 - 116 (hardcover).
[Minor proofing oversight: missing open quotes on page 39 ...Bishop answered. "These were...]
Readers who don't enjoy disturbingly gruesome details may want to skim or skip pages 114 - 116 (hardcover).
[Minor proofing oversight: missing open quotes on page 39 ...Bishop answered. "These were...]
February 24, 2018
I won this book on a giveaway.
Though it is #18 I wondered if I was going to be clueless on what was going on, Thankfully you don't have to read all the other books to pick up what's happening it fully explains, all though it took me several chapters in to start putting it all together. The book itself has a good story line though not a page turner for me, I still enjoyed it. i would recommend reading the "Psychis terms and Abilites" at the back that I didn't see till finishing the book.
Though it is #18 I wondered if I was going to be clueless on what was going on, Thankfully you don't have to read all the other books to pick up what's happening it fully explains, all though it took me several chapters in to start putting it all together. The book itself has a good story line though not a page turner for me, I still enjoyed it. i would recommend reading the "Psychis terms and Abilites" at the back that I didn't see till finishing the book.
September 19, 2018
Edit: This classless crone attempted to come for me on Twitter. Condescending, rude, immature. A whole ass, grown ass woman acting an ass. My respect dropped faster than the quality of her writing.
Sub par, underwhelming, white as fuck. I grew up on these books, read them for actual decades. It’s as if she regressed as I matured.
Or do I need a thorough reread?
She reads like fanfic. Which I’m all for...on fanfiction.net. AND THEY HAVE POC.
Jesus Kay, get it together.
Sub par, underwhelming, white as fuck. I grew up on these books, read them for actual decades. It’s as if she regressed as I matured.
Or do I need a thorough reread?
She reads like fanfic. Which I’m all for...on fanfiction.net. AND THEY HAVE POC.
Jesus Kay, get it together.
March 31, 2018
After seeing Hollis and Reese come together as a romance pair as well as FBI Special Crimes partnering, I was tickled to see them back and fabulous as ever against a resident evil. They are working with an unconventional team this time around and I enjoyed meeting all these new players.
Hold Back the Dark is the eighteenth book in this long standing paranormal thriller romance series and is also the sixth book in the sub-series within the larger one of Bishop's SCU FBI team stories. There is a little feeling of this book being tied in with the rest of the series, but I suppose, in a pinch, a person could grab this one out of order. There are character charts and a list of psychic terms in the back of the book to help out.
Hold Back the Dark was an interesting one. It felt very much like the start of a new series in ways. It introduced a half-dozen new people, their pasts, and their gifts, their ties to the SCU and Haven and then the story got into the main case they are all working on. With this one, I felt like the inter-personal and individual stories were more the focus than their actual case. Like others before it in this series, it was a gritty, violent series of murders and the reader gets a sense the team and local law enforcement are up against some true evil.
Because, this built a huge front porch (all the set up and intros), I felt the overall story development was uneven. The end was rushed and abrupt. I was actually thinking as I neared the last pages that the story would carry over into another book, but then suddenly, wham, here's the answers and wham, there's the finish. I felt more was needed to conclude this book for me with unanswered questions that were brought up earlier let alone what's the direction for all these new characters. As this is part of an ongoing series, I can only hope that this just means the next book will tease some of that out.
Several characters take turns being the focus and the narrators though the main pair are Hollis and Reese. Hoillis is worried about being lead over a group that she doesn't know and they are all heading into a huge, dark situation with apocalyptic possibilities if they fail. She has to learn to rely on others, not try to shield them, and let people do their jobs. I loved how Hollis heeded Bishop's advice and lived up to his great confidence in her. And what I really loved was seeing that, once again, Reese totally respected her as an equal partner and had no trouble with her as the lead. He loves her, but he also respects and trusts her.
So, another thrilling installment in the series was easily devoured. There are some dark, gritty, and moderately squeamish descriptions when the investigators come across the grisly crime scenes, but I was able to handle it because it wasn't told in the present just described afterward. Those who enjoy psychic thrillers or paranormal romantic suspense would be the best fit for this book.
My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hold Back the Dark is the eighteenth book in this long standing paranormal thriller romance series and is also the sixth book in the sub-series within the larger one of Bishop's SCU FBI team stories. There is a little feeling of this book being tied in with the rest of the series, but I suppose, in a pinch, a person could grab this one out of order. There are character charts and a list of psychic terms in the back of the book to help out.
Hold Back the Dark was an interesting one. It felt very much like the start of a new series in ways. It introduced a half-dozen new people, their pasts, and their gifts, their ties to the SCU and Haven and then the story got into the main case they are all working on. With this one, I felt like the inter-personal and individual stories were more the focus than their actual case. Like others before it in this series, it was a gritty, violent series of murders and the reader gets a sense the team and local law enforcement are up against some true evil.
Because, this built a huge front porch (all the set up and intros), I felt the overall story development was uneven. The end was rushed and abrupt. I was actually thinking as I neared the last pages that the story would carry over into another book, but then suddenly, wham, here's the answers and wham, there's the finish. I felt more was needed to conclude this book for me with unanswered questions that were brought up earlier let alone what's the direction for all these new characters. As this is part of an ongoing series, I can only hope that this just means the next book will tease some of that out.
Several characters take turns being the focus and the narrators though the main pair are Hollis and Reese. Hoillis is worried about being lead over a group that she doesn't know and they are all heading into a huge, dark situation with apocalyptic possibilities if they fail. She has to learn to rely on others, not try to shield them, and let people do their jobs. I loved how Hollis heeded Bishop's advice and lived up to his great confidence in her. And what I really loved was seeing that, once again, Reese totally respected her as an equal partner and had no trouble with her as the lead. He loves her, but he also respects and trusts her.
So, another thrilling installment in the series was easily devoured. There are some dark, gritty, and moderately squeamish descriptions when the investigators come across the grisly crime scenes, but I was able to handle it because it wasn't told in the present just described afterward. Those who enjoy psychic thrillers or paranormal romantic suspense would be the best fit for this book.
My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2018
The story was really engaging but it all fell apart in the ending. The story’s resolution was abrupt and rush. The book seemed to be building to a dramatic finish but it just fizzled in the end.
November 30, 2018
Prefer the earlier books in the series
May 16, 2019
Disappointed
This was a rehash of old characters and old story lines with a few pages of defeating the evil. Waste of time and money.
This was a rehash of old characters and old story lines with a few pages of defeating the evil. Waste of time and money.
November 18, 2020
A fairly good read... Quite confusing though.
March 27, 2018
Early Review! Hold Back the Dark (Bishop Special Crimes Unit #18) Kay Hooper!
An SCU team investigates an inexplicable string of murders committed by men and women with no memory of their crimes in the latest in this New York Times bestselling series. Madness has taken ahold of Prosperity, North Carolina. Residents are killing one another, as if in a dream, and waking up with no memory of the monstrous acts they've committed--or why. As the death toll climbs, the local sheriff's department is further rocked by a murder carried out by one of their own. Deputy Katie Cole knows that whatever monster is afoot is beyond her scope... The Special Crimes Unit is called in for their specific brand of investigation. It will take all their training, all their experience, and every extra sense they can call on to get to the bottom of things in Prosperity. And as a dark pattern begins to emerge, even the most experienced and hardened SCU agents have to wonder if this is beyond their understanding.
Bishop’s team of psychics is back and this time they have been summoned along with some all new psychics and there are up against an evil that is pushing for a blood bath in this chilling paranormal suspense that had the hair on the back of my neck standing up on end.
Kay Hooper’s suspenseful world of psychics is full of wonderful characters that are strong and captivating, always adding lots of depth to each and every case as they try to solve cases using their psychic abilities and at least some of the time they become targets because of those abilities as well. Every case is different and each have their own unique elements and the author makes it all seem very plausible and real that I can’t help but get chills just thinking about.
Hold Back the Dark is the newest thrilling read in the series and I was completely enthralled and unable to put the book down until I had read every last detail. The suspense and anticipation kept building throughout and there was no way to predict just what the evil might make happen next which of course means that there is never a dull moment and to make this book even more interesting, the author introduces some new psychics that have trouble controlling their gifts / curses. There is not really a new romance in this book but there are couples that have hooked up in previous books involved in the case so you still get a bit of romance throughout the story.
I can never get enough of this series, so of course I can’t wait to read the next one which I think will be the third book in the Bishop Files series and it will be out in October.
Hold Back the Dark is the 18th book in the Bishop / Special Crimes Unit series.
Explore the World of Bishop
Hold Back the Dark is available in Hardcover or ebook at:
Amazon B&N iBooks Kobo GPlay
Kay Hooper can be found at:
Website Goodreads Facebook YouTube BookBub
An SCU team investigates an inexplicable string of murders committed by men and women with no memory of their crimes in the latest in this New York Times bestselling series. Madness has taken ahold of Prosperity, North Carolina. Residents are killing one another, as if in a dream, and waking up with no memory of the monstrous acts they've committed--or why. As the death toll climbs, the local sheriff's department is further rocked by a murder carried out by one of their own. Deputy Katie Cole knows that whatever monster is afoot is beyond her scope... The Special Crimes Unit is called in for their specific brand of investigation. It will take all their training, all their experience, and every extra sense they can call on to get to the bottom of things in Prosperity. And as a dark pattern begins to emerge, even the most experienced and hardened SCU agents have to wonder if this is beyond their understanding.
Bishop’s team of psychics is back and this time they have been summoned along with some all new psychics and there are up against an evil that is pushing for a blood bath in this chilling paranormal suspense that had the hair on the back of my neck standing up on end.
Kay Hooper’s suspenseful world of psychics is full of wonderful characters that are strong and captivating, always adding lots of depth to each and every case as they try to solve cases using their psychic abilities and at least some of the time they become targets because of those abilities as well. Every case is different and each have their own unique elements and the author makes it all seem very plausible and real that I can’t help but get chills just thinking about.
Hold Back the Dark is the newest thrilling read in the series and I was completely enthralled and unable to put the book down until I had read every last detail. The suspense and anticipation kept building throughout and there was no way to predict just what the evil might make happen next which of course means that there is never a dull moment and to make this book even more interesting, the author introduces some new psychics that have trouble controlling their gifts / curses. There is not really a new romance in this book but there are couples that have hooked up in previous books involved in the case so you still get a bit of romance throughout the story.
I can never get enough of this series, so of course I can’t wait to read the next one which I think will be the third book in the Bishop Files series and it will be out in October.
Hold Back the Dark is the 18th book in the Bishop / Special Crimes Unit series.
Explore the World of Bishop
Hold Back the Dark is available in Hardcover or ebook at:
Amazon B&N iBooks Kobo GPlay
Kay Hooper can be found at:
Website Goodreads Facebook YouTube BookBub
April 29, 2018
I will start off by saying this book is 4. stars for me, and it could easily have been five. This is a long running series that I love, because it is always good versus evil, by using a special unit in the FB I, under Noah Bishop. These men, and women have special abilities. They all have some psychological ability, that most people do not. Speaking to the dead, reading minds, moving objects, reading feelings, and aura' s, and more. This book brought the professionals, and those chosen for their abilities to a small town in North Carolina. They were called by ghosts, voices, visions, and painful headaches, bright lights of strange colors, and what ever it took to get people moving that way to help. The danger through out the book was dark energy, being controlled to make good people into killers. The author, who I really like put lots of twists, and turns, and shocking features in it, but she did not end it well. The whole book is carefully laid out, lots of discussions on what, where, and who so everyone is on the same page. Characters from other books are reunited, which is great. She then takes us to what should be the climax, and ends it in a page. No major description of how they pulled it off, or the clean up, or the victims recovery, or not. It was like they gathered and fought all the battles, just to say ,and it all went as planned. What ??? They did tell you who was behind it, in another paragraph, but it just was a sad way to end a very good book. I will read her again, because I love these stories, but I hope before her next book ends, she takes a few days off, so it is not so rushed, and leaves you feeling incomplete. Another few pages, and it would have been a five. This is not her usual way to end her stories, which is a plus..The book is still worth the read , but the exciting climax that usually ends these books, is just a fizzle.
March 27, 2018
Bishop’s team of psychics is back and this time they have been summoned along with some all new psychics and there are up against an evil that is pushing for a blood bath in this chilling paranormal suspense that had the hair on the back of my neck standing up on end.
Kay Hooper’s suspenseful world of psychics is full of wonderful characters that are strong and captivating, always adding lots of depth to each and every case as they try to solve cases using their psychic abilities and at least some of the time they become targets because of those abilities as well. Every case is different and each have their own unique elements and the author makes it all seem very plausible and real that I can’t help but get chills just thinking about.
Hold Back the Dark is the newest thrilling read in the series and I was completely enthralled and unable to put the book down until I had read every last detail. The suspense and anticipation kept building throughout and there was no way to predict just what the evil might make happen next which of course means that there is never a dull moment and to make this book even more interesting, the author introduces some new psychics that have trouble controlling their gifts / curses. There is not really a new romance in this book but there are couples that have hooked up in previous books involved in the case so you still get a bit of romance throughout the story.
I can never get enough of this series, so of course I can’t wait to read the next one which I think will be the third book in the Bishop Files series and it will be out in October.
Kay Hooper’s suspenseful world of psychics is full of wonderful characters that are strong and captivating, always adding lots of depth to each and every case as they try to solve cases using their psychic abilities and at least some of the time they become targets because of those abilities as well. Every case is different and each have their own unique elements and the author makes it all seem very plausible and real that I can’t help but get chills just thinking about.
Hold Back the Dark is the newest thrilling read in the series and I was completely enthralled and unable to put the book down until I had read every last detail. The suspense and anticipation kept building throughout and there was no way to predict just what the evil might make happen next which of course means that there is never a dull moment and to make this book even more interesting, the author introduces some new psychics that have trouble controlling their gifts / curses. There is not really a new romance in this book but there are couples that have hooked up in previous books involved in the case so you still get a bit of romance throughout the story.
I can never get enough of this series, so of course I can’t wait to read the next one which I think will be the third book in the Bishop Files series and it will be out in October.
October 31, 2024
Hold Back the Dark
4 Stars
The tranquility of Prosperity, North Carolina, is shattered by a series of horrific and inexplicable deaths that the local sheriff's department is ill-equipped to solve. Deputy Katie Cole is quick to call in the SCU Agents, who have serendipitously gathered on the outskirts of town after being summoned by an unknown entity. Who or what is behind the terrible events in Propserity and will the agents be able to stop it?
Series note: There are several recurring characters as well as references to previous events, especially from the Blood trilogy.
The first 85% of the book is excellent. The character development is compelling with updates on some SCU regulars, including Noah and Miranda Bishop, Hollis Templeton and Reece DeMarco, as well as the enigmatic Galen, whose inclusion is particularly rewarding. The new additions to the team are intriguing and it is interesting to see how their diverse abilities work together. Hopefully, Hooper will include them in future books.
The case is one of the more gruesome in the series, and the evil at work in Prosperity is insidious. Unfortunately, the final 15% is disappointing as most of the action takes place off-page, and the situation is resolved quickly and with little to no effort. Moreover, there is one glaring plot hole in the form of the , which is never revealed. Finally, the blurb does not match the events of the book - .
Despite these issues, the book is entertaining overall and well worth reading for the character updates.
4 Stars
The tranquility of Prosperity, North Carolina, is shattered by a series of horrific and inexplicable deaths that the local sheriff's department is ill-equipped to solve. Deputy Katie Cole is quick to call in the SCU Agents, who have serendipitously gathered on the outskirts of town after being summoned by an unknown entity. Who or what is behind the terrible events in Propserity and will the agents be able to stop it?
Series note: There are several recurring characters as well as references to previous events, especially from the Blood trilogy.
The first 85% of the book is excellent. The character development is compelling with updates on some SCU regulars, including Noah and Miranda Bishop, Hollis Templeton and Reece DeMarco, as well as the enigmatic Galen, whose inclusion is particularly rewarding. The new additions to the team are intriguing and it is interesting to see how their diverse abilities work together. Hopefully, Hooper will include them in future books.
The case is one of the more gruesome in the series, and the evil at work in Prosperity is insidious. Unfortunately, the final 15% is disappointing as most of the action takes place off-page, and the situation is resolved quickly and with little to no effort. Moreover, there is one glaring plot hole in the form of the , which is never revealed. Finally, the blurb does not match the events of the book - .
Despite these issues, the book is entertaining overall and well worth reading for the character updates.
January 18, 2021
Hooper has a way of bringing the paranormal to light and making it feel normal. when several physics seem to get the same message in their head to go to Prosperity they have no idea what they will find. They arrive to an apparent suicide which looks questionable and than a mother kills her whole family and it just gets worse. The team is tasked with finding the source and stopping it.
Another great read in the Bishop Special Crimes Unit series.
Another great read in the Bishop Special Crimes Unit series.
July 26, 2018
3,5 stars
Love this series! The potential of this book was tremendous but it didn’t quite reach it.
The ending was so abrupt and anti-climatic, I thought there were pages missing :(
Love this series! The potential of this book was tremendous but it didn’t quite reach it.
The ending was so abrupt and anti-climatic, I thought there were pages missing :(
April 9, 2018
I want to thank Goodreads, and Berkley Publishing for picking me to receive this advanced copy of Kay Hooper's Hold back The dark.
It's been awhile since I've read any of the Bishop books. I've read all but the Special Crimes Unit ones.
This being the 1st I've read I'm going to have to go back and read the other 5. This was a very enjoyable book with a great story line. I think some of the characters are new to me, but others I do remember. I would recommend this and any other of Kay Hooper Books. They are page turners, and lots of surprises. Hope others enjoy it as much as I did.
It's been awhile since I've read any of the Bishop books. I've read all but the Special Crimes Unit ones.
This being the 1st I've read I'm going to have to go back and read the other 5. This was a very enjoyable book with a great story line. I think some of the characters are new to me, but others I do remember. I would recommend this and any other of Kay Hooper Books. They are page turners, and lots of surprises. Hope others enjoy it as much as I did.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews