Has the past come back to haunt the Darkwater Inn?Adelaide Fountaine, general manager, is enthusiastically renovating parts of the Darkwater Inn. Her intentions come to a screeching halt when a skeleton is found behind a makeshift wall—an axe beside it. Something ghastly from the past has come back to haunt the Darkwater Inn.As Adelaide works alongside owner Dimitri Pampalon and Detective Beau Savoie, the two men who have been pursuing her heart, she learns the eerie death has tentacles that reach deep into the seedy past of both the Darkwater Inn and the evil underground of New Orleans.The past and the present collide as the stakes are upped—not only for Adelaide’s heart, but for her very life and her father’s life as well. The threats are deadly, the coils of evil are tightening around everyone involved, and they are more powerful than anyone could have ever imagined."Wow, what an exhilarating ride! Unexpected twists, an authentic atmospheric setting, and great characterization make Darkwater Truth an exceptionally fine romantic suspense you won’t want to put down until the last page. This is Caroll at the top of her game." Colleen Coble, USA Today bestselling author of the Lavender Tide series"While I hate to say goodbye to Caroll's Darkwater Inn series, I can't think of a better sendoff than Darkwater Truth! A complex suspense plot with historical elements and thrilling turns keeps readers glued to the pages, hardly daring to breathe. So, too, does the culmination of the decision Addy has been struggling with since book one - which man truly holds her heart? Darkwater Truth is a multi-layered story in every way, with richly-drawn characters and a subtle-but-solid brush of faith across the pages. A must-read for readers who love a riveting suspense novel!" - Carrie Schmidt, ReadingIsMySuperPower.org
“I love boxing. I love Hallmark movies. I love fishing. I love scrapbooking. Nope, I've never fit into the boxes people have wanted to put me in.” ~Robin Caroll is definitely a contradiction, but one that beckons you to get to know her better.
Robin’s passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others and come alongside them on their faith journey—aspects Robin weaves into each of her published novels.
Best-selling author of more than twenty-seven novels, ROBIN CAROLL writes Southern stories of mystery and suspense, with a hint of romance to entertain readers. Her books have been recognized in several awards, including the Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, and more.
When she isn’t writing, Robin spends quality time with her husband of twenty-eight-plus years, her three beautiful daughters and two handsome grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home.
Robin serves the writing community as Executive/Conference Director for ACFW.
'He'd talk to the devil himself if that's what it took to make sense of all this.'
Robin Caroll brings us the conclusion to her Darkwater Inn series and she truly brings it! Well done! Readers have been hanging on since the first book to see who Addy chooses: Beau or Dimitri. Well, I'm not telling. (smile)
The Darkwater Inn has had its share of issues in the last year and they're not going to stop with this book. The biggest ever: renovation is going on and a skeleton is found behind a wall. Uh oh. What in the world is going on now? There are nefarious things afoot in New Orleans and in the Darkwater. It's up to Beau and his partner, Marcel, who I really liked in this series, to discover the culprit. Beau, who is so in love with Addy and desperately wants her to choose him. And Dimitri, who wants the same thing. No more of that. There is a great mystery here and one based on an actual serial killer. But this serial killer was on the loose and creating murder and mayhem in 1918! What is going on now? Even Addy's father is not safe.
I loved this book. The mystery was absolutely wonderful and creepy at times. Caroll is at her very best here and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and she has brought the series to a very satisfying conclusion. I can't wait to see what she has for us next. Highly recommended.
*Thanks to the author for a preview copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
This is the third installment of the Darkwater series and my favorite. This book has action, mystery and romance. It is quite the thrill ride. I am a happy camper with the outcome of the love triangle and I am excited because the series will continue with novellas. Bring them on Ms. Caroll. *I was given a copy of this book by the author and this is my honest opinion.
This is the fabulous finale of the Darkwater Inn series set in New Orleans, where various cults and practicing voodoo folks are based. My favorite characters return in this third in series and the historic Darkwater Inn is home to a very cold case murder. The characters are three-dimensional, and I’m very excited about the changes in Adelaide “Addy” Fountaine’s heart.
Addy has been general manager at the Inn for four years. The Darkwater has been in the Pampalon family since it was built in the 1840’s. Dimitri currently has legal oversight of the Inn. His heart has always been as a chef, so he is head chef for the Inn’s restaurant while Addy manages the operations.
In Darkwater Truth, we follow two time lines, the primary one being the present. We are also taken back to 1918 as a young woman leaves a seven-month boy at an infant’s asylum run by nuns. She is young, has no way to support him, and can’t bring him to her parent’s home. She left a letter with the infant telling about his background so he might one day know why he was left there.
Addy is having remodeling in the Inn. The workers tear down a wall, which quickly crumbles and reveals a skeleton inside a narrow space between walls. Near the skeleton is an axe that may have dried blood on the blade. That section of wall was added in a sloppy fashion, not as a tradesman would typically work. Beau Savoie, a homicide detective, begins to investigate with the assistance of FACES, a fascinating forensic group from LSU-Baton Rouge.
Addy’s father, a best-selling suspense author, asks to see where the skeleton was. He is curious; he had once looked up the background information on the Axeman, a killer with specific means from 1918 and 1919, never to be heard from again. At the same time, a nosy TV news reporter heard about the skeleton, goes to the Inn, and runs into Addy’s father, and does an exclusive interview with him. Within days, Vincent Fountaine is attacked in his home and it is set afire while he lay unconscious inside.
One of the underlying themes has been romance. Both Dimitri and Beau are in love with Addy, Dimitri for a couple years and Beau for most of his life. On her best friend Tracey’s suggestion, Addy, who didn’t know which of the men she thought of as more than a friend, dated both, with their knowledge. I know who I would have selected, but eagerly awaited finding out which young man – if either! – she has romantic feelings for.
The plot has exhilarating twists throughout, several giving “aha!” moments. While I did anticipate some of the steps along the way, I didn’t anticipate the explosive events as the novel raced to the end. Yes, raced; once I reached a certain point, I couldn’t put it down! I appreciated learning about the work of FACES, as I’ve read much about the science in other novels. I enjoyed learning more about Beau, Dimitri, and Vincent, especially watching Beau as he and his partner Marcel work with Dimitri on the case and struggle to find new clues to follow when it appears that a copycat Axeman is targeting people today. This exciting novel has a very satisfying ending, and I admit, I am going to miss the characters and the Darkwater Inn! I highly recommend this novel to those who appreciate Christian thrillers with challenging mysteries, intrigue, and a bit of romance.
From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author, a positive review was not required.
What a great ending to this series! Robin did a great job of bringing in some New Orleans history with her normal suspense and romance. I love her characters and the twists and turns she puts in her books! She has a gift for crafting a great story with depth of character and compelling tales!
The Darkwater Hotel is one of New Orleans beautiful old hotels that has kept many secrets over the years. However a few of them have come to light by way of dead bodies that keep showing up from the past to the present. While renovations are going on in one of the wings the crew come face to face with a skeleton that had been walled in during one of the previous renovations. New Orleans has a diverse history which includes many different occults that are still practicing. As the pieces start coming together it becomes clear that Dimitri has an ancestor tied to one of those occults. Which makes him very uncomfortable, as it would anyone. He prayed for a quick resolution and was very thankful for his general manager Adelaide Fontaine with whom he was very smitten with and he believes she is with him as well. But she is also smitten with Beauregard Savoie. So he is giving her the time to figure out what her heart wants. Detective Beauregard Savoie has been the lead detective on the previous cases involving dead bodies at the hotel, so when the call about another body unearthed in a wall, he was not that surprised. But no matter the reason for the call he was happy to be able to see Adelaide even if it is because of a dead body. Beau and Adelaide have known each other since childhood and he wants to marry her but he knows that she cares for him as well but she cares for Dimitri as well and he is giving her the space and time she needs to decide who gets her heart. Adelaide Fontaine has been the general manager at The Darkwater Inn for the last few years and she loves her job. She travels to top hotels to learn from the best so she may continue to run The Darkwater to best of her ability. While her professional life is going well her personal life has also been interesting. She has deep feelings for both Beau & Dimitri but she has needed to date them both to figure out which man she envisions herself with in the future. Or if neither are meant to be in her life as her husband so while the men have been wonderful about her sharing her time with both she knows she needs to make a decision. Thank you Robin Carroll for allowing me to be able to participate on your Street Team. This was a wonderful series and highly recommend it.
Has the past come back to haunt the Darkwater Inn?
Adelaide Fountaine, general manager, is enthusiastically renovating parts of the Darkwater Inn. Her intentions come to a screeching halt when a skeleton is found behind a makeshift wall—an axe beside it. Something ghastly from the past has come back to haunt the Darkwater Inn.
As Adelaide works alongside owner Dimitri Pampalon and Detective Beau Savoie, the two men who have been pursuing her heart, she learns the eerie death has tentacles that reach deep into the seedy past of both the Darkwater Inn and the evil underground of New Orleans.
The past and the present collide as the stakes are upped—not only for Adelaide’s heart, but for her very life and her father’s life as well. The threats are deadly, the coils of evil are tightening around everyone involved, and they are more powerful than anyone could have ever imagined.
What a great book. When a skeleton is found at Darkwater Inn, the suspense just keeps going. Who is the person, when were they murdered, how, who did it. It just keeps going. When they find out who the body was there is even more questions. On top all that murders start happening like serial killings of years past. Addy and her father are in danger of being the next victims.
In the midst of the murders Addy makes up her mind about who she loves. I was going both ways about who I wanted her to end up with. Beau and Dimitri are both great guys. I won't spoil the book and tell you who she picked. But the loser was very gracious. I would love to see his story in a book sometime. This is the third book in the Darkwater Inn series. It's not necessary to read the first books in the series. But it would be helpful to understand some of the background.
I was given this book by the author for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
In this final novel of the series, Adeline Fontaine once again faces a most unusual predicament. During some renovations in a wing of the Darkwater Inn, a human skeleton is found behind a false wall. Obvious that the body has been there for quite some time, the only clue is a rusty axe found enclosed with the body.
Detective Beau Savoie, Dimitri Pampalon and Addie work together to determine who was in the wall, but first they must determine the date. With the assistance of a beautiful forensic specialist, the estimated date is determined and the work of who and why begins.
When threats against Adeline and her father become deadly, Beau and Dimitri, despite the rivalry for Adeline’s heart, dig deep to find clues. As Addie comes to the realization that it is time for her decide which man has truly won her heart, the suspense and danger increases.
It’s hard enough to be the general manager of the infamous and historic Darkwater Inn, adding a old skeleton buried with a rusty axe, death threats and two men vying for her heart, it is no small matter the beautiful Adeline Fontaine to resolve this newest mystery.
Which man will Addie choose? Detective Beau Savoie or hotel owner and chef, Dimitri Pampalon? Perhaps a more appropriate question would be will Addie, and her father, be able to make a choice or will a killer make it for her?
I highly recommend Darkwater Truth, along with Darkwater Secrets and Darkwater Inn. Actually, might I recommend binge-reading all three novels? Just don’t plan on sleeping anytime soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own.
Has a past demon been unleashed at the Darkwater Inn?
After a skeleton is found bricked up in a wall at the Darkwater Inn, Adelaide Fountaine must once again deal with unspeakable events and try to keep those she loves safe while solving the puzzle surrounding dark secrets, a deadly cult, and a serial murder called the Axeman. At the same time, her feelings for two men lay in the balance. Who will she choose—the handsome detective Beau Savoie or the dashing chef Dimitri Pampalon?
Will she make up her mind before it’s too late and also keep her loved ones safe? Find out in this spectacular completion.
Robin Caroll brought this series to a gripping conclusion. This book is AMAZING. I loved it. The story has exhilarating plot twists that will keep the reader glued to the pages, breathless. The gothic feel to it had the hairs on my arms dancing. Turn the light on and be prepared to finish it in one sitting.
The two timelines are effective in making this story even more powerful as the past and present collide for everyone at the Darkwater Inn. The history behind the setting of New Orleans brings the novel to life,
I loved finding out what happens with all the characters and will miss them. I can't wait to see what Robin Caroll brings us next.
I give Darkwater Truth five skeletons. This conclusion will take the reader by storm and hold them in a vice-grip until they turn the last page.
**An e-copy of this book was provided by the author for my honest opinion.
I have loved every one of this author's books I have read, but she knocked it out of the ballpark with this series. The suspense, plot, setting, and characters were all top notch, and I enjoyed every book. This book, however, topped the other three in everything. Caroll did a back and forth between the past and present to make a great suspense plot that kept me reading til I got to the awesome ending.
Throughout this trilogy, Adeline, the heroine of the story, had 2 very likable love interests. I may be a single guy, but I am a romantic, so I got into that aspect a lot. I have read single books where there were 2 people vying for the love and affections of one person, but this is the first time I remember reading a whole trilogy where that was up in the air.
I think it was also the first time both people were so likable. There was nothing to dislike in either guy. During the first book, I went back and forth between the two: Dimitri, son of the inn owner where Addy worked....... and Beau, police detective and long time friend of Addy since childhood. During book 2, I wavered a little between "team Dimitri" and "team Beau", settling on one of them before the book ended. I won't give any spoilers away, but I was definitely happy with the way that ended......and the book and series. I highly recommend all 3 books, and they definitely should be read in order.
While Addy knows that she needs to figure out which man is her soul mate, it is so difficult. There is a renovation going on at the inn which is exciting for Dimitri and Addy too. Almost immediately the Construction Crew finds a human skeleton. Horrible news for the famous old inn. Beside the skeleton is is an axe which awakens old memories for Vincent Fontaine, Addy's Dad, who writes popular mysterious using a pen name. About the same time, murders begin taking place with an axe left behind. Vincent wants to see the site of the murder in the hotel (inn). After checking with the Detective, he is allowed to visit it. He believes it is a Axeman copy cat from over almost a hundred years ago. That same night, Vincent almost died in a fire set by an arsonist at his house. An axe is left behind. Of course, Addy is angry and confused too! Why in the world? That's the background for the story which should be stellar, but stopped short. There is so much darkness in the book with a lot of room for great spiritual truth which isn't used. Yes, the end is good to a degree, but it should have been great with some tweaks. Still a good read.
This book is actually my favorite in the series! It starts with the shocking discovery of a skeleton and an axe hidden behind a fake wall at the Darkwater Inn. Who is it? Why was this person killed? Who would have blocked them behind a wall? Those answers prove more and more elusive as the plot thickens and becomes increasingly complex. Halfway through the book, I was still completely stumped along with Addy, Dimitri, Beau, and Vincent as they tried futilely to solve this mystery with very little clues. Then the clues they figured out didn’t point anywhere, and I had NO idea how they could possibly figure it out! The plot was twisted around a real serial killer in New Orleans a hundred years ago who was never discovered. It was also eye-opening to realize the depths of darkness in the underground life of that colorful city. I was hooked from start to end!
When an obviously aged skeleton is found between the walls of the famed Darkwater Inn, general manager Adelaide Fountaine is thrust into yet another set of mysterious circumstances beyond her control. A construction crew not only discovered bodily remains, but the murder weapon was left behind as well. As she, and inn owner Dimitri Pampalon, dive into the investigative process with lead detective Beau Savote, it appears that they have unearthed a legendary evil; one that over a century passed is still alive and well.
Join Robin Caroll as she steers her readers through some of New Orleans' darkest history while paving the way towards a much anticipated romance; which man will win the heart of Adelaide Fountaine. . . or was it ever even a contest?
This was the best one of the series! I'm so glad I continued after book one :) In a rare instance, I actually really liked the time jumps between the early 1900s and "today". I was able to put some pieces together because of it.
How do you say that content like what was in this book is interesting? But somehow, it is. I had a friend do a report on the Axeman for a True Crimes class we did, so this was kind of a refresher for me. I never cease to wonder at the depth of depravity and evil in this world.
The story and mystery were superb and I was thrilled at how the love "triangle" was resolved. At the beginning of the series, I like both guys for different reasons and thought I'd be happy with Addy picking either one but I ended up coming down hard on one side and YAY!!! He's the one she picked.
All three books in this series focus on the elegant Darkwater Inn with its illustrious past and sinister secrets, set in the heart of mysterious and often dangerous New Orleans. As promised in this final book, female lead Adelaide Fontaine, general manager of the Darkwater Inn, chooses between the two loves of her life: inn owner Dimitri Pampalon, and Detective Beauregard Savoie. I appreciated the amount of research done by the author to make this book work. Tales of the Axeman are true and haunting, especially since the historical perpetrator was never found. Also, stories of various cults, like Cretum Deus, intensify the mood of the story. For the most part, the ending satisfies, but for a couple of loose ends. Other than these inconsistencies, the story is a page-turner.
Wow! Just wow! This exciting conclusion to the Darkwater Inn series is so full of breathtaking, heart thumping action and suspense, frankly I am exhausted! A skeleton and axe are found in a wall during the Inn’s remodel. Has the “Axeman murderer” of the 1917s returned, or is it a copycat as new cases of axe murders begin?So many intertwined stories and characters keeps this page turner full of tension. A lot of good research was put to use, and forensic science explained. Among all the action, Addie makes her choice between the two men after her heart. Can’t wait to see what Ms. Caroll comes up with next!
I loved the Darkwater Inn series and have been dying to see who Addy chooses since the first book. In the midst of romance, murder, danger, and mystery seem to be stalking the Darkwater Inn. So many twists and turns to the plot kept my interest from beginning to end. Also, I loved how well the author kept to the culture and her love of this city. Beautifully written and highly intense.
This last book in the Darkwater Inn series was very exciting! The true story part of the Axeman was really interesting. I had to look that up because I'd never heard it before. I was a little disappointed with the relationship choice at first but by the time I got to the end, I thought it was a good choice. Every book in this series was great. I was also thrilled that they were on Kindle Unlimited.
I won't talk about the story for spoiler fears. I loved the characters, the romance, and how it was handled. I read all 3 books back to back because I HAD to. I could not stop after the first. Action and non-stop mystery. Buy these books and you won't be sorry!
This is a great read, loved this story. There is lots of suspense, and lots of twists and turns in this story. This story blends a cold case in with a modern day serial killer. This book has a little of everything, suspense, murder, kidnapping, and of course, a little romance. Highly recommend.
I loved this book and I hate to see the series end. The storyline was and the characters amazing. This book is recommended for those who love Christian romantic suspense.
This series was amazing. Evil is real but Robin showed that even in the chaos and the evil, God will win every time. I am so glad Addy picked the right man. Robin did a great job with the characters. Addy’s dad was the best. Great story, great and crazy plot and an incredible series. It is definitely worth reading every one.