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Darkness Series #2
Deeper into Darkness
From the outside, Bee Iverson and her fiancé, Aidan Shepard, look like any other happy couple—but looks can be deceiving. Not long into their engagement, secrets seep out of her past, lies surround them, and unwelcome surprises leak into their lives, breaking down Bee’s confidence not only in herself but in their relationship, too.
Secret: Bee’s keeping a piece of her past from Aidan—for him.
Aidan knows Bee’s a serial killer, preying on men as often as she can. In fact, their shared passion of such dark desires fuels their love for each other. Each stalks the cold, dark nights of Maine in search of their next victims—but separately. Aidan doesn’t want to play as a pair, but afterward they celebrate every kill. Every time blood is shed, their relationship deepens.
Lie: Bee is like any other serial killer.
As her past starts to bleed into her present, sleep comes harder and harder and monsters lurk around every corner. Worse still: as suspicion builds around a missing person’s case involving the murderous pair, Bee will have to either outwit the detective breathing down her neck…or come up with another way to secure her freedom.
Surprise: Freedom comes at a high price.
*Content Warning: graphic violence, sexual content, and language*
Secret: Bee’s keeping a piece of her past from Aidan—for him.
Aidan knows Bee’s a serial killer, preying on men as often as she can. In fact, their shared passion of such dark desires fuels their love for each other. Each stalks the cold, dark nights of Maine in search of their next victims—but separately. Aidan doesn’t want to play as a pair, but afterward they celebrate every kill. Every time blood is shed, their relationship deepens.
Lie: Bee is like any other serial killer.
As her past starts to bleed into her present, sleep comes harder and harder and monsters lurk around every corner. Worse still: as suspicion builds around a missing person’s case involving the murderous pair, Bee will have to either outwit the detective breathing down her neck…or come up with another way to secure her freedom.
Surprise: Freedom comes at a high price.
*Content Warning: graphic violence, sexual content, and language*
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2019
9 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Maria Ann Green
31 books190 followersMaria, an internationally bestselling indie author, lives in Minnesota despite the frozen winters. Actually, she prefers snow drifts and icicles over summer and all that sweat running everywhere. She lives with her husband and little family, which includes a couple lazy cats who make great lap warmers. You can usually find her whishing that she lived in a secret cabin in the woods where she could be a hermit reading and writing all of the time. Instead she lives the suburban life where she pretends to her neighbors and the other moms around that she doesn’t swear like a sailor, have hidden tattoos, and loves a good bottle of wine. She absolutely believes in unicorns and ghosts and hopes vampires and monsters are real too. She's a coffee-in-the-morning and wine-in-the-evening kind of person, preferably with a nap in between. Maria prefers cats over dogs, books over people, and late nights over early mornings. She probably shouldn’t talk to anyone until she’s had her first cup of coffee. And if you ever want to hang out with her, you’ll have to be game for a horror movie or just a quick run to target for two (hundred) little things. Also, you couldn’t pay her to be in her twenties again; Thirties is where it’s at. She's a creative, mouthy, introverted, proud bisexual, highly-sensitive INFJ, Slytherpuff, dork with a sweet-tooth.
Maria devours books, reading mostly in bed or listening to audiobooks in the car. Writing has been one of her passions for pretty much her whole life. So creativity is a necessity for her, always. After working in the mental health field for almost a decade, she's now living her dream as a stay-at-home writer, kiddo wrangler, professional snuggler, and constantly-tired-person. When it comes to her writing, she specializes in dark and twisted thrillers or gritty, angsty contemporary romances. But no matter the genre, she always prefers writing deeply flawed characters with dysfunctional relationships. She's pretty sure the whole "unlikable character" thing is a conspiracy because every character she loves have been labeled this way. Ridiculous. And because of this, she's pretty much found it impossible to write anything without at least a little mayhem.
Maria was once told she painted with her words, and that phrase stuck with her - because writing really is an art, and good stories are true masterpieces. She's always trying to grow and improve in her craft, shooting for a masterpiece of her own someday. And she plans to write forever because writing gives Maria the ability to disappear into new worlds and create people within twisting plots, all from the comfort of her couch. She will always believe that though not every story is for her, and her stories aren't for everyone, every story has a reader.
For more from Maria find all of her links, including a link to get more content at her newsletter, here: linktr.ee/mariainmadness
Maria also loves connecting with readers and writers and she can be found at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariainmadn...
Facebook: https://bit.ly/2U7dY4a
Twitter: https://twitter.com/missmariaann
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/1pOpUU3
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maria...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mariaannwri...
Member of Independent Author Network: https://www.independentauthornetwork....
Maria devours books, reading mostly in bed or listening to audiobooks in the car. Writing has been one of her passions for pretty much her whole life. So creativity is a necessity for her, always. After working in the mental health field for almost a decade, she's now living her dream as a stay-at-home writer, kiddo wrangler, professional snuggler, and constantly-tired-person. When it comes to her writing, she specializes in dark and twisted thrillers or gritty, angsty contemporary romances. But no matter the genre, she always prefers writing deeply flawed characters with dysfunctional relationships. She's pretty sure the whole "unlikable character" thing is a conspiracy because every character she loves have been labeled this way. Ridiculous. And because of this, she's pretty much found it impossible to write anything without at least a little mayhem.
Maria was once told she painted with her words, and that phrase stuck with her - because writing really is an art, and good stories are true masterpieces. She's always trying to grow and improve in her craft, shooting for a masterpiece of her own someday. And she plans to write forever because writing gives Maria the ability to disappear into new worlds and create people within twisting plots, all from the comfort of her couch. She will always believe that though not every story is for her, and her stories aren't for everyone, every story has a reader.
For more from Maria find all of her links, including a link to get more content at her newsletter, here: linktr.ee/mariainmadness
Maria also loves connecting with readers and writers and she can be found at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariainmadn...
Facebook: https://bit.ly/2U7dY4a
Twitter: https://twitter.com/missmariaann
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/1pOpUU3
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maria...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mariaannwri...
Member of Independent Author Network: https://www.independentauthornetwork....
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 29, 2019
I loved the book. I just could not wrap my mind around a female serial killer lol. I know there were some but I only know of 2. Anyway. This was a great book to read. It was just a little bit weird for me having a female serial killer and later in the book, the engaged couple serial killers, together. AAAHHH!! That just blows my mind lol. Now I would love to read the third book and wonder if she or they would continue to kill when she maybe pregnant. If you like dark romance or just dark anything, then this series would be perfect for you. Suggest 18 + for people to read.
This was an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2019
**Full review HERE at The Literary Hooker.**
Review excerpt:
Well here’s a first. I never thought serial killer romance would be a niche genre I’d be into, but here we are. I enjoyed Aidan’s story in the first Darkness book, even with its extremely violent and sexual undertones which I’d normally shy away from in non-horror books. So I had fairly high hopes for the sequel. Hopes that have been completely blown away, because I completely loved this book!
I seriously devoured this book, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next through the plot’s twists and turns. I found myself just a little bit in love with Bee, and, charismatic as Aidan was in the first book, I felt that Bee’s perspective lent itself better to providing more depth to the story. And, obviously no spoilers but UGH, that ending! THAT ENDING. A fantastic page-turner of a thriller, trust me when I say that you’re going to want to get into this series before the next book comes out.
Review excerpt:
Well here’s a first. I never thought serial killer romance would be a niche genre I’d be into, but here we are. I enjoyed Aidan’s story in the first Darkness book, even with its extremely violent and sexual undertones which I’d normally shy away from in non-horror books. So I had fairly high hopes for the sequel. Hopes that have been completely blown away, because I completely loved this book!
I seriously devoured this book, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next through the plot’s twists and turns. I found myself just a little bit in love with Bee, and, charismatic as Aidan was in the first book, I felt that Bee’s perspective lent itself better to providing more depth to the story. And, obviously no spoilers but UGH, that ending! THAT ENDING. A fantastic page-turner of a thriller, trust me when I say that you’re going to want to get into this series before the next book comes out.
April 12, 2019
This was a great follow-up to the first book in the series. I loved the switch to Bee's perspective in this one. Some parts were a little too spacey for me, being all in Bee's head, and her having somewhat of a breakdown at times made it kind of difficult to follow. Her and Aiden's couple moments in this one were kind of super adorable though and made me forget that they were serial killers a little bit. :P Even though I didn't want to like them (I mean, they're serial killers), I was also feeling the stress and tension of the characters when they thought they were going to be caught, which goes to show how good the writing was that I was so pulled into it. Also, the ending?! No spoilers, but that definitely felt very cliff hangery to me and I need to know if there's going to be another one! Great job. :)
December 20, 2019
The second installment in Maria Ann Green's Darkness series, Deeper Into Darkness takes us deep into the mind of Bee Iverson, mild-mannered writer by day, ruthless serial killer by night. Throughout the novel, Green expertly weaves a tale between Bee's past and present that create a fully-formed, wholly unique female protagonist.
This book is delightfully dark and twisted, and is perfect for those who enjoy a few plot curveballs and surprises. Green's adept storytelling skills are evident not only in the plot, but also in the way she has us rooting for the protagonists, even though their actions are morally reprehensible. You can't help but want Bee and Aidan to live happily together, even if that means two serial killers go unpunished. The ending of this book creates more questions than it does answers, and I, for one, cannot wait to see what happens next.
**I received an ARC for my honest review.**
This book is delightfully dark and twisted, and is perfect for those who enjoy a few plot curveballs and surprises. Green's adept storytelling skills are evident not only in the plot, but also in the way she has us rooting for the protagonists, even though their actions are morally reprehensible. You can't help but want Bee and Aidan to live happily together, even if that means two serial killers go unpunished. The ending of this book creates more questions than it does answers, and I, for one, cannot wait to see what happens next.
**I received an ARC for my honest review.**
April 13, 2019
"The best sex Aidan and I have is after one of us, it doesn't matter which, has killed someone." - Well, damn! If that isn't one hell of an opening line that punctures its fangs into your limbic system, I don't know what is.
Green has done it again. She's taken me into the darkness, guided me through the sick thought processes and behaviors of an unsympathetic murderer, allowed me access into the twisted mind of a deranged killer, and left me craving more. Just when I thought she'd satiated my need to desperately turn the pages, suddenly I'm longing to continue the saga of these demented characters. Seriously, these people are completely unhinged.
This is the second book in the Darkness series, with the first being from the perspective of Aidan, and this one being from Aidan's fiancé, Bee's perspective. (Go back a few posts to check out my review of book 1!) It begins shortly after the first book has ended. Maybe it's partly because she is a woman, but I liked Bee's character better than Aidan's, despite them both being complete lunatics. Bee is just as fucked up as Aidan is. But, she is more likable. She is more complex, and much more badass. Aidan is simple, childish, and preys on smaller, physically weaker women he knows will be easy to take down, while Bee kills men who are always bigger and physically stronger than she is.
Up until the last few pages, I still was unsure of how it would wrap up, thinking a few different things could happen. And I was wrong about every single one of them. That ending - wow! I won't say more than that, but if you read this book, please DM me so we can talk about it!
Once again, fantastic writing, character development, and plot movement to keep me engaged and addictively turning pages until I finished reading the last word. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Thank you again, Maria, for gifting me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm so happy to read your work.
Green has done it again. She's taken me into the darkness, guided me through the sick thought processes and behaviors of an unsympathetic murderer, allowed me access into the twisted mind of a deranged killer, and left me craving more. Just when I thought she'd satiated my need to desperately turn the pages, suddenly I'm longing to continue the saga of these demented characters. Seriously, these people are completely unhinged.
This is the second book in the Darkness series, with the first being from the perspective of Aidan, and this one being from Aidan's fiancé, Bee's perspective. (Go back a few posts to check out my review of book 1!) It begins shortly after the first book has ended. Maybe it's partly because she is a woman, but I liked Bee's character better than Aidan's, despite them both being complete lunatics. Bee is just as fucked up as Aidan is. But, she is more likable. She is more complex, and much more badass. Aidan is simple, childish, and preys on smaller, physically weaker women he knows will be easy to take down, while Bee kills men who are always bigger and physically stronger than she is.
Up until the last few pages, I still was unsure of how it would wrap up, thinking a few different things could happen. And I was wrong about every single one of them. That ending - wow! I won't say more than that, but if you read this book, please DM me so we can talk about it!
Once again, fantastic writing, character development, and plot movement to keep me engaged and addictively turning pages until I finished reading the last word. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Thank you again, Maria, for gifting me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm so happy to read your work.
April 12, 2019
Following the twisty thriller Nothing But Darkness, the second book in the Darkness series by Maria Ann Green does not disappoint!
In book one, we saw everything through Aidan’s eyes, but now we get to see the world from his fiancé Bee’s perspective. Is it possible there is someone more messed up than Aidan? Apparently so, but strangely enough Bee is more likeable than him too. She knows who she is and seems much surer of herself than Aidan. In book one, we saw Aidan taking bigger and bigger risks as he got away with crime after crime, however in the first half of Deeper into Darkness his character has shifted from confidence and arrogance, to quite weak and nervy. In this book, Bee’s character really starts to shine as the badass woman she is.
The pace of this book is just perfect, it never felt slow or strained. On the contrary I found myself having to slow my own reading pace down as I rushed to see how the story was going to play out. The author does an amazing job at keeping the reader on their toes, right until the very last page. Without spoiling anything, the ending of this book caught me more off-guard than anything I have read in the last couple of years.
In summary; a well-written follow up that does not disappoint, fantastic character development and an ending that will make you want to discuss it with anyone that has read it.
In book one, we saw everything through Aidan’s eyes, but now we get to see the world from his fiancé Bee’s perspective. Is it possible there is someone more messed up than Aidan? Apparently so, but strangely enough Bee is more likeable than him too. She knows who she is and seems much surer of herself than Aidan. In book one, we saw Aidan taking bigger and bigger risks as he got away with crime after crime, however in the first half of Deeper into Darkness his character has shifted from confidence and arrogance, to quite weak and nervy. In this book, Bee’s character really starts to shine as the badass woman she is.
The pace of this book is just perfect, it never felt slow or strained. On the contrary I found myself having to slow my own reading pace down as I rushed to see how the story was going to play out. The author does an amazing job at keeping the reader on their toes, right until the very last page. Without spoiling anything, the ending of this book caught me more off-guard than anything I have read in the last couple of years.
In summary; a well-written follow up that does not disappoint, fantastic character development and an ending that will make you want to discuss it with anyone that has read it.
April 19, 2019
Do you love suspense, murder, and thrillers? This one is for you. In the first book, Nothing but Darkness, we follow Aiden as he transitions from normal, ultra cocky guy to serial killer. Deeper into Darkness is told through Bee's point of view. She is the epitome of ruthless serial killer.
Let's start at the beginning. Aiden and Bee are engaged, but tensions are running high due to the extra-curricular activity concluded in book 1, their need to engage in 'playdates' & 'rendezvous' which have been put on hold, and the lack of setting a wedding date. Aiden has been questioned many times by the cops and Bee has finally been questioned. The need to be safe, not get caught, is the focus of Aiden, but Bee is jonesing.
We begin to see early on the difference between these two serial killers. His newness has created fear/hesitation versus her experience and need for the release it provides her. Maria did a fantastic job jumping from present to past to explain how Bee came to be. We learn how long she has been partaking in killing.
They are a completely fucked up couple and I was rooting for them. This says so much about the writing if you want them to win. While they have their sweet moments, the stress in their relationship is palpable for most of the book.
There is one part of the story where Bee gets herself into a bind and the whole time while reading you are wishing for her survival. How messed up is that? You are wanting the serial killer to make it. She is a certifiable psychopath with no sympathy. She figures out who the mark will be and has no qualms following through with the need she has. While she has this fierce side, you also get a peek behind the curtain of her human side. Her doubts, fear, and love are witnessed when her actions become careless.
The ending!! I never saw it coming and kept thinking I don't have much left, how is it going to end! OMG.... I am already wondering what is to come. Warning: It does leave you with a cliffhanger. I'm hoping to see further into her past with the next story.
Let's start at the beginning. Aiden and Bee are engaged, but tensions are running high due to the extra-curricular activity concluded in book 1, their need to engage in 'playdates' & 'rendezvous' which have been put on hold, and the lack of setting a wedding date. Aiden has been questioned many times by the cops and Bee has finally been questioned. The need to be safe, not get caught, is the focus of Aiden, but Bee is jonesing.
We begin to see early on the difference between these two serial killers. His newness has created fear/hesitation versus her experience and need for the release it provides her. Maria did a fantastic job jumping from present to past to explain how Bee came to be. We learn how long she has been partaking in killing.
They are a completely fucked up couple and I was rooting for them. This says so much about the writing if you want them to win. While they have their sweet moments, the stress in their relationship is palpable for most of the book.
There is one part of the story where Bee gets herself into a bind and the whole time while reading you are wishing for her survival. How messed up is that? You are wanting the serial killer to make it. She is a certifiable psychopath with no sympathy. She figures out who the mark will be and has no qualms following through with the need she has. While she has this fierce side, you also get a peek behind the curtain of her human side. Her doubts, fear, and love are witnessed when her actions become careless.
The ending!! I never saw it coming and kept thinking I don't have much left, how is it going to end! OMG.... I am already wondering what is to come. Warning: It does leave you with a cliffhanger. I'm hoping to see further into her past with the next story.
April 12, 2019
There's just something about thrillers and serial killers that I can't get enough of when it comes to fiction. I think it's because no matter what monsters are compelling. After reading Nothing But Darkness and getting to know Aidan I was really excited to start this one. And Aidan and Bee, the perfect serial killer couple, are unforgettable. As their relationship grows and Bee's past becomes an issue the tension ratchets up and I seriously stayed up half the night to finish it. Gripping characters, great story that's unlike anything else I've read, and a twisty plot. If you like things on the darker side I can't recommend it highly enough. I'm really looking forward to the next book!
April 12, 2019
I loved this!! Deeper into Darkness is the second in the DARKNESS series. This book follows Bee, the lady serial killer, and -- in my opinion -- she's way more fascinating than Aidan. I love love love love love following Bee on her twisted journey through the book. And wondering whether she'll be able to continue to evade the police or get caught.
April 12, 2019
I don’t want to give much away, but I couldn’t put this book down. It was lovely to get in the mind of Bee, and Maria’s writing is just amazing. I’m not sure if there is another one, but dear god I hope so! If you loved the first, YOU NEED TO READ THIS! 10/10!!!
April 12, 2019
A great sequel to a very dark, intriguing book. I was excited to read this one before I even started it, because Bee was my favorite character from book 1, and now I get to be inside her point of view?!? Did not disappoint!
April 14, 2019
I receive this title as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll be the first to say this is not my normal fare, but this, and Nothing but Darkness, were absolute page turners, so very, well, dark and thrilling. With twists that I did not see coming, over and over. She managed to write about two serial killers that you have empathy for, that you hope don't get caught. I like this book even better than the first in the Darkness series, as I thought it delved deeper into the characters of both Bee and Aiden, and their relationship. I am curious where what will happen to them.
April 15, 2019
Although I'm not a romance fan, this book is a great read. Very well written and the scenes are pretty wicked. I haven't read the first book, but if it's like the second one, I'm hooked.
April 2, 2020
First of all, this is a dark book. Don't go in thinking you'll get sunshine and rainbows; it takes those rainbows and grinds them into a dust and consumes the sunshine until everything is dark. It's an interesting anti-hero story about a serial killer -- a couple of serial killers, actually. And I don't mean couple as in pair. I mine a romantic couple. It's a psychological wild ride into the mind of Bee, who not only likes to kill, but she also is incredibly lustful. So, on top of dark, expect a lot of intimate scenes that are equally intense in their own right, and dark on occasion as well. It's a unique take from the twisted mind of a woman who partners with another of the same mindset and how they evade capture as well as find solace in each other. The narrator was a bit nasel, dropping her consonants, and the voices she did were a bit distracting at times, but it didn't ruin the incredibly riveting story. Highly recommend but not for the faint of heart.
March 26, 2020
This is one weird story. I struggled with the characters. Not them per say but the idea of them. They were all over the place. The story seemed to choppy and a lot of thoughts put together. One min they are dragging a body through the woods and the next they are having sex. No break in the scene. Then usually it’s back to body dragging or killing. Whenever B goes to a bar. I never really know which what is really happening and what isn’t. Usually she can’t remember either so I get no answer. That ending was just on par with the rest of the book. Apparently this story isn’t for me.
I did listen to this on audio. The narrator, Kim Rossi, sounded a bit nasally at for but either I got used to it or she quit. Either way after that everything went fine.
I did listen to this on audio. The narrator, Kim Rossi, sounded a bit nasally at for but either I got used to it or she quit. Either way after that everything went fine.
April 13, 2019
Deeper into Darkness is a wild thrill ride. I loved following Bee's serial killer journey. Maria Ann Green takes her readers through an intense story with realistic, relatable characters that yearn to make more of themselves and find purpose. Green's prose is beautiful and enthralling. With the combination of story, characters, and writing, I flew through this book with ease and couldn't wait to find out how it would end--and the ending was well worth the read. I look forward to reading the next book from this author!
January 13, 2020
A strange sequel
I really enjoyed book one that focuses on Aiden and his evolution into a serial killer, but this book was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't as smooth and was way too wordy when in Bee's nightmares or thought process. I found myself skimming a lot. I know an author works very hard to create every word and plot situation and I dislike criticism of their work. Good plot, just too wordy and disjointed. This book just leaves me cold and I will not read the next one in this trilogy as a result.
I really enjoyed book one that focuses on Aiden and his evolution into a serial killer, but this book was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't as smooth and was way too wordy when in Bee's nightmares or thought process. I found myself skimming a lot. I know an author works very hard to create every word and plot situation and I dislike criticism of their work. Good plot, just too wordy and disjointed. This book just leaves me cold and I will not read the next one in this trilogy as a result.
March 24, 2020
Dark and twisty, just as promised. *evil grin*
June 13, 2023
Honestly loved the first book. I just could not get into the second one sadly.
October 13, 2024
I didn’t realize I would like this book even more than the first one in the series, but Bee is 😍😍😍 great writing and amazing story line. Can’t wait to read the last one!!!!
June 5, 2019
Well Maria has done it again. This book was incredible.
Just as dark as the first book in the series and just as gripping. I literally read it in one sitting because I could not stop - and believe me I tried, I had a million other things I needed to do but nothing was getting this book out of my hands. Literally there wasn't a single page where I felt I could pause for a bit, I needed to know what was going to happen and my god, it blew me away.
I loved the switch of perspectives in this book - even though both characters are serial killers and I really shouldn't like either of them, Bee seriously grew on me, I honestly kept forgetting that she was basically a murderer because they are so well done. You really do get in their heads.
The twists throughout the book were perfectly done as well, I didn't expect a thing, and that ending completely knocked me over. So, so well done, and so cleverly hidden in the book. It was brilliant.
If you like a seriously dark thriller I would definitely recommend this series. It's incredible.
Just as dark as the first book in the series and just as gripping. I literally read it in one sitting because I could not stop - and believe me I tried, I had a million other things I needed to do but nothing was getting this book out of my hands. Literally there wasn't a single page where I felt I could pause for a bit, I needed to know what was going to happen and my god, it blew me away.
I loved the switch of perspectives in this book - even though both characters are serial killers and I really shouldn't like either of them, Bee seriously grew on me, I honestly kept forgetting that she was basically a murderer because they are so well done. You really do get in their heads.
The twists throughout the book were perfectly done as well, I didn't expect a thing, and that ending completely knocked me over. So, so well done, and so cleverly hidden in the book. It was brilliant.
If you like a seriously dark thriller I would definitely recommend this series. It's incredible.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews