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UNSUB #3
The Dark Corners of the Night
I am the legion of the night …
He appears in the darkness like a ghost, made of shadows and fear—the Midnight Man. He comes for the parents but leaves the children alive, tiny witnesses to unspeakable horror. The bedroom communities of Los Angeles are gripped with dread, and the attacks are escalating.
Still reeling from her best friend’s close call in a bombing six months ago, FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin Hendrix has come to Los Angeles to assist in the Midnight Man investigation and do what she does best—hunt a serial killer. Her work is what keeps her going, but something about this UNSUB—unknown subject—doesn’t sit right. She soon realizes that this case will test not only her skills but also her dedication, for within the heart of a killer lives a secret that mirrors Caitlin’s own past. Hesitancy is not an option, but will she be able to do what must be done if the time comes?
He appears in the darkness like a ghost, made of shadows and fear—the Midnight Man. He comes for the parents but leaves the children alive, tiny witnesses to unspeakable horror. The bedroom communities of Los Angeles are gripped with dread, and the attacks are escalating.
Still reeling from her best friend’s close call in a bombing six months ago, FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin Hendrix has come to Los Angeles to assist in the Midnight Man investigation and do what she does best—hunt a serial killer. Her work is what keeps her going, but something about this UNSUB—unknown subject—doesn’t sit right. She soon realizes that this case will test not only her skills but also her dedication, for within the heart of a killer lives a secret that mirrors Caitlin’s own past. Hesitancy is not an option, but will she be able to do what must be done if the time comes?
352 pages, ebook
First published February 18, 2020
559 people are currently reading
7097 people want to read
About the author
Meg Gardiner
45 books2,247 followersMeg Gardiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seventeen thrillers. Shadowheart, her latest novel, is part of the UNSUB series featuring FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix. The Real Book Spy calls it “A mind-trip of a story.” Booklist says, “As always, the writing is exquisite and the story is perfectly crafted.” UNSUB, the first novel in the series, won the 2018 Barry Award for Best Thriller. The Dark Corners of the Night was bought by Amazon Studios for development as an hour-long television drama.
Heat 2 is a prequel/sequel to the film Heat, co-authored with the film’s writer/director, Michael Mann. Booklist’s starred review calls it “Riveting… the fully fleshed human stories support and even transcend the often-breathtaking action.” The Associated Press says, “Slick as a Neil McCauley heist and as intense as a Vincent Hanna chase, ‘Heat 2’ is just dynamite.” It debuted at #1 on the NYT best seller list.
Meg is the author of the Evan Delaney series, the Jo Beckett novels, and several stand alones. China Lake won the 2009 Edgar award for Best Paperback Original. The Nightmare Thief won the 2012 Audie Award for Thriller/Suspense audiobook of the year. Phantom Instinct was one of O, the Oprah magazine's "Best Books of Summer."
Meg was born in Oklahoma and raised in Santa Barbara, California. A graduate of Stanford Law School, she practiced law in Los Angeles and taught writing at the University of California Santa Barbara. She's also a three-time Jeopardy! champion. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Find Meg on Facebook: Facebook.com/MegGardinerBooks Twitter: @MegGardiner1 and Instagram: @Meggardiner1.
Series:
* UNSUB
* Evan Delaney
* Jo Beckett
Heat 2 is a prequel/sequel to the film Heat, co-authored with the film’s writer/director, Michael Mann. Booklist’s starred review calls it “Riveting… the fully fleshed human stories support and even transcend the often-breathtaking action.” The Associated Press says, “Slick as a Neil McCauley heist and as intense as a Vincent Hanna chase, ‘Heat 2’ is just dynamite.” It debuted at #1 on the NYT best seller list.
Meg is the author of the Evan Delaney series, the Jo Beckett novels, and several stand alones. China Lake won the 2009 Edgar award for Best Paperback Original. The Nightmare Thief won the 2012 Audie Award for Thriller/Suspense audiobook of the year. Phantom Instinct was one of O, the Oprah magazine's "Best Books of Summer."
Meg was born in Oklahoma and raised in Santa Barbara, California. A graduate of Stanford Law School, she practiced law in Los Angeles and taught writing at the University of California Santa Barbara. She's also a three-time Jeopardy! champion. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Find Meg on Facebook: Facebook.com/MegGardinerBooks Twitter: @MegGardiner1 and Instagram: @Meggardiner1.
Series:
* UNSUB
* Evan Delaney
* Jo Beckett
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 766 reviews
February 7, 2020
4.5 stars
The Midnight Man lurks in the darkness. He can silently enter homes - homes in quiet safe communities. He Kills the parents but leaves the children alive. He's smart, He's sinister, and he always seems to be just one step ahead of the investigators who are hot on his trail.
And.....she's back! FBI behavioral analyst, Caitlin Hendrix!!!! She's been called to Los Angeles to help investigate the killings and a sinister and elusive killer who is escalating. Who is this killer? Why does he seem to always be a step ahead of local police? How and why is he choosing his victims? What drives the Midnight Man?
This is the third book in the series and I highly recommend reading the first two books (UNSUB & Into the Black Nowhere)- because they are just so dang good! Yes, this can be read as a stand-alone novel, but don't let that stop you from reading the previous two books.
This book not only focuses on the killer and his victims but on the profiling process and the investigation which ensues as the FBI and local police attempt to catch the killer. This book was right up my alley!!!! Meg Gardiner obviously did extensive research while writing this book. Kudos for her attention to detail and for crafting such a riveting tale.
This is another solid, gritty, hit for Gardiner. As with the previous books in the series, this is well written, plotted and executed (no pun intended). I found this book to be exciting, suspenseful and captivating. This went from being a "whodunit" to be a "holy-crap-how-are-they-going-to-catch-him" book!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Blackstone Publishing and Meg Gardiner for the arc. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
**This was a Traveling Sister's Group Read
The Midnight Man lurks in the darkness. He can silently enter homes - homes in quiet safe communities. He Kills the parents but leaves the children alive. He's smart, He's sinister, and he always seems to be just one step ahead of the investigators who are hot on his trail.
And.....she's back! FBI behavioral analyst, Caitlin Hendrix!!!! She's been called to Los Angeles to help investigate the killings and a sinister and elusive killer who is escalating. Who is this killer? Why does he seem to always be a step ahead of local police? How and why is he choosing his victims? What drives the Midnight Man?
This is the third book in the series and I highly recommend reading the first two books (UNSUB & Into the Black Nowhere)- because they are just so dang good! Yes, this can be read as a stand-alone novel, but don't let that stop you from reading the previous two books.
This book not only focuses on the killer and his victims but on the profiling process and the investigation which ensues as the FBI and local police attempt to catch the killer. This book was right up my alley!!!! Meg Gardiner obviously did extensive research while writing this book. Kudos for her attention to detail and for crafting such a riveting tale.
This is another solid, gritty, hit for Gardiner. As with the previous books in the series, this is well written, plotted and executed (no pun intended). I found this book to be exciting, suspenseful and captivating. This went from being a "whodunit" to be a "holy-crap-how-are-they-going-to-catch-him" book!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Blackstone Publishing and Meg Gardiner for the arc. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
**This was a Traveling Sister's Group Read
January 28, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up to 5, because the queen is back! Full review to come.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
January 19, 2020
4.5 Heart Stopping Stars!
There’s a Serial Killer on the loose in the City of Los Angeles and this time, he’s targeting Families and that means, no one is safe.
When FBI Behavioral Analyst Caitlin Hendrix and the rest of the team arrive from the Bureau to join forces with the LAPD to find the man aptly named the “Midnight Man” no stone is left unturned. Unfortunately, more bodies are pile up night after night, and finding the man responsible, seems like an impossibility, until the team deciphers the clues left behind.
This assignment becomes personal for Caitlin in more ways than one, ways that both harm and terrify her. In order to find the “Midnight Man,” Caitlin must face her past and conquer it, neither of which will be easy.
“The Dark Corners of the Night” by Meg Gardiner is a mystery / suspense that made my heart leap out of my darn throat. The suspense in this book is ratcheted up in a way that kept me up till all hours of the night to finish this brilliantly plotted novel. My breath caught and my stomach was in knots during oh so many moments and yet, I loved every minute of it. I love the character of Caitlin and feel like I really understand how her mind works and that speaks volumes about the writing in “The Dark Corners of the Night.”
Having read “UNSUB” and having loved it, and having liked “Into the Black Nowhere”, I can say that “The Dark Corners of the Night” is almost as good as “UNSUB.” For me, “Into the Black Nowhere” was a little more gruesome than I’d like, which turned me off a bit. I highly recommend this book for fans of the UNSUB novels, as well as for fans of mystery / suspense and serial novels.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Blackstone Publishing and Meg Gardiner for the arc.
Published on Edelweiss and Goodreads on 1.18.20.
There’s a Serial Killer on the loose in the City of Los Angeles and this time, he’s targeting Families and that means, no one is safe.
When FBI Behavioral Analyst Caitlin Hendrix and the rest of the team arrive from the Bureau to join forces with the LAPD to find the man aptly named the “Midnight Man” no stone is left unturned. Unfortunately, more bodies are pile up night after night, and finding the man responsible, seems like an impossibility, until the team deciphers the clues left behind.
This assignment becomes personal for Caitlin in more ways than one, ways that both harm and terrify her. In order to find the “Midnight Man,” Caitlin must face her past and conquer it, neither of which will be easy.
“The Dark Corners of the Night” by Meg Gardiner is a mystery / suspense that made my heart leap out of my darn throat. The suspense in this book is ratcheted up in a way that kept me up till all hours of the night to finish this brilliantly plotted novel. My breath caught and my stomach was in knots during oh so many moments and yet, I loved every minute of it. I love the character of Caitlin and feel like I really understand how her mind works and that speaks volumes about the writing in “The Dark Corners of the Night.”
Having read “UNSUB” and having loved it, and having liked “Into the Black Nowhere”, I can say that “The Dark Corners of the Night” is almost as good as “UNSUB.” For me, “Into the Black Nowhere” was a little more gruesome than I’d like, which turned me off a bit. I highly recommend this book for fans of the UNSUB novels, as well as for fans of mystery / suspense and serial novels.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Blackstone Publishing and Meg Gardiner for the arc.
Published on Edelweiss and Goodreads on 1.18.20.
September 4, 2020
Wow, I blew through this book like a reading-monkey on crack. There are reading-monkeys, right?
I don't feel like he's retaining much. Maybe slow it down, reading-monkey.
It was soooo suspenseful, just like the previous two books.
Serial killer? Does he do a lotta killing?
And, actually this killer is just killing the crap out of everyone. I mean, it's like he's a teenager playing Grand Theft Auto. Brutal.
Actually, that looks kinda fun. I think I've been missing out on this whole video-game craze. I thought it was a fad.
So, our killer this time is a guy who thinks he's the darkness. I guess like a murdery Batman. And, like Batman probably did, he likes to kill parents but leaves the kids alive. You know, to become the next Batman. It's my theory, anyway.
Hard to resist that call.
Caitlyn is the FBI profiler who is also our narrator. Let's just say she isn't exactly the model of mental stability herself. She can get a little cutty.
She's both of these guys at the same time.
The pacing is fast, even though it is a police procedural. There are tons of chases, and more killings, and missed opportunities to catch the guy. It didn't exactly give a shining view of the police. Unlike real life.
Ahem.
A perfectly reasonable response.
I picked up the book to start it this afternoon, and after shooing the family off to bed I've been speed-reading. You know, like the monkey. It was awesome! And, a little scary, but not too bad. I can't wait for the next one of these.
I don't feel like he's retaining much. Maybe slow it down, reading-monkey.
It was soooo suspenseful, just like the previous two books.
Serial killer? Does he do a lotta killing?
And, actually this killer is just killing the crap out of everyone. I mean, it's like he's a teenager playing Grand Theft Auto. Brutal.
Actually, that looks kinda fun. I think I've been missing out on this whole video-game craze. I thought it was a fad.
So, our killer this time is a guy who thinks he's the darkness. I guess like a murdery Batman. And, like Batman probably did, he likes to kill parents but leaves the kids alive. You know, to become the next Batman. It's my theory, anyway.
Hard to resist that call.
Caitlyn is the FBI profiler who is also our narrator. Let's just say she isn't exactly the model of mental stability herself. She can get a little cutty.
She's both of these guys at the same time.
The pacing is fast, even though it is a police procedural. There are tons of chases, and more killings, and missed opportunities to catch the guy. It didn't exactly give a shining view of the police. Unlike real life.
Ahem.
A perfectly reasonable response.
I picked up the book to start it this afternoon, and after shooing the family off to bed I've been speed-reading. You know, like the monkey. It was awesome! And, a little scary, but not too bad. I can't wait for the next one of these.
January 15, 2020
Seriously sayin'.........
The Dark Corners of the Night elbows its way into those tiny crevices in your mind that are sacred. Those little niches that you scurry into when life stomps boldly on the fringes of your delicate soul. So much like hidin' under the covers during a violent thunderstorm or zoomin' under the whole damn bed when it just gets deafening and loud enough to break the sound barrier. Only there's no place to hide in this one. No place at all.
Meg Gardiner pulls up a chair for Caitlin Hendrix, FBI behavioral analyst, whom we've met in UNSUB #1 and #2. (You can read this one as a standalone, but the first two books are stellar.) She and the BAU Unit walk through the remains of an explosion at a Los Angeles hospital along with the LAPD. Her heart is in rapid fire as she searches for her best friend, Michele Ferreira, who works as a nurse there. Things don't look too good for Michele at the moment. Could she be a victim of The Ghost known for his devastating bombings? We'll soon find out.
And in the midst of all this, Caitlin has been assigned to a new case by the FBI. A lone devious hunter in black, known as The Midnight Man, has been breaking into local homes and committing horrendous crimes. He's smart, analytical, and slips through the fingers of the LAPD. Along with Special Agent Brianne Rainey, Caitlin uses her finely honed skills as a BAU agent. But this evil doer always seems to be one step ahead of his pursuers.
Gardiner always digs deep into what makes her UNSUB characters tick. She brings in a talented psychologist who lays out the brickwork in the building of these demented souls. It's an eye-opener into the cracked minds of serial killers who appear to be functioning in the normal zone. Lesson learned: Don't ever let your guard down.
Prepare yourself for heart palpitations bouncing off the walls by means of high speed chase scenes and then soft, silent approaches at the foot of your bed in the midnight hour. Case in point: You're never too old for that teddy bear, Kiddo.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Black Stone Publishing and to Meg Gardiner for the opportunity.
The Dark Corners of the Night elbows its way into those tiny crevices in your mind that are sacred. Those little niches that you scurry into when life stomps boldly on the fringes of your delicate soul. So much like hidin' under the covers during a violent thunderstorm or zoomin' under the whole damn bed when it just gets deafening and loud enough to break the sound barrier. Only there's no place to hide in this one. No place at all.
Meg Gardiner pulls up a chair for Caitlin Hendrix, FBI behavioral analyst, whom we've met in UNSUB #1 and #2. (You can read this one as a standalone, but the first two books are stellar.) She and the BAU Unit walk through the remains of an explosion at a Los Angeles hospital along with the LAPD. Her heart is in rapid fire as she searches for her best friend, Michele Ferreira, who works as a nurse there. Things don't look too good for Michele at the moment. Could she be a victim of The Ghost known for his devastating bombings? We'll soon find out.
And in the midst of all this, Caitlin has been assigned to a new case by the FBI. A lone devious hunter in black, known as The Midnight Man, has been breaking into local homes and committing horrendous crimes. He's smart, analytical, and slips through the fingers of the LAPD. Along with Special Agent Brianne Rainey, Caitlin uses her finely honed skills as a BAU agent. But this evil doer always seems to be one step ahead of his pursuers.
Gardiner always digs deep into what makes her UNSUB characters tick. She brings in a talented psychologist who lays out the brickwork in the building of these demented souls. It's an eye-opener into the cracked minds of serial killers who appear to be functioning in the normal zone. Lesson learned: Don't ever let your guard down.
Prepare yourself for heart palpitations bouncing off the walls by means of high speed chase scenes and then soft, silent approaches at the foot of your bed in the midnight hour. Case in point: You're never too old for that teddy bear, Kiddo.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Black Stone Publishing and to Meg Gardiner for the opportunity.
March 26, 2020
Fans of creepy crime thrillers, this series is for you!!
A serial killer is targeting Los Angeles families. Smart, ruthless, methodical, the so-called “Midnight Man” kills both husband and wife, but leaves any children physically unharmed but terrorized, left looking at ritualistic symbols and heeding frightening warnings from the man who killed their parents.
Desperate to catch this killer, the LAPD brings in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, including profiler Caitlin Hendrix. The daughter of a former cop, she’s young but tough as nails when it comes to her job. She also bears the physical and emotional scars of past cases, and while her extreme empathic nature makes her good at what she does it also takes its toll on her.
As the killer becomes more and more brash, the discoveries they make about him shock them, particularly Caitlin, and make it both easier and more difficult to stop him. It’s a dangerous battle with unexpected adversaries, and this killer will do all he can to wreak havoc.
Meg Gardiner’s “UNSUB” series is really intense and well-written. This is the third book in the series. They're dark and suspenseful and tremendously well-written. I love Caitlin’s character. Her sensitivity really sets her apart and I love her relationship with Sean, which didn’t get as much coverage in this book as I would’ve liked.
I think this book definitely is setting up one hell of a fourth book. There’s a lot of action and violence in here but it never seems gratuitous. If you love crime novels, pick up this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
A serial killer is targeting Los Angeles families. Smart, ruthless, methodical, the so-called “Midnight Man” kills both husband and wife, but leaves any children physically unharmed but terrorized, left looking at ritualistic symbols and heeding frightening warnings from the man who killed their parents.
Desperate to catch this killer, the LAPD brings in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, including profiler Caitlin Hendrix. The daughter of a former cop, she’s young but tough as nails when it comes to her job. She also bears the physical and emotional scars of past cases, and while her extreme empathic nature makes her good at what she does it also takes its toll on her.
As the killer becomes more and more brash, the discoveries they make about him shock them, particularly Caitlin, and make it both easier and more difficult to stop him. It’s a dangerous battle with unexpected adversaries, and this killer will do all he can to wreak havoc.
Meg Gardiner’s “UNSUB” series is really intense and well-written. This is the third book in the series. They're dark and suspenseful and tremendously well-written. I love Caitlin’s character. Her sensitivity really sets her apart and I love her relationship with Sean, which didn’t get as much coverage in this book as I would’ve liked.
I think this book definitely is setting up one hell of a fourth book. There’s a lot of action and violence in here but it never seems gratuitous. If you love crime novels, pick up this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
June 23, 2019
Meg Gardiner is one of my favorite authors, and her upcoming thriller,
The Dark Corners of the Night
, continues to haunt readers. It's the third book in her very popular UNSUB series, and while this chapter in this series seems a bit more police procedural than suspense, the horrors are still prevalent throughout.
FBI behavioral analyst, Caitlin Hendrix has returned to the west coast after her boyfriend's ex was healing from a bombing scare. As Caitlin is still reeling from that attack, she is called to go to Los Angeles because there's a new serial killer wrecking havoc in the outskirts of the city. He is attacking dimly lit neighborhoods, in houses with a nuclear family setting. First he kills the parents, then he taunts and torments the children. He calls himself the Midnight Man. As the attacks continue to grow, the FBI needs Caitlin on this assignment. As the investigation develops, Caitlin starts noticing similarities between the Midnight Man and her own upbringing. Will this case hit too close to home for her?
As usual, The Dark Corners of the Night is a masterpiece and one of the darkest books I've ever read. This police procedural novel really gets personal with the characters, and I definitely feel more connected to the series than ever before. At times, this book is haunting and scary, and at other times, it's a deeply gripping character study. You can tell while you are devouring this novel that Gardiner had done more research about criminal investigations than ever before. With The Dark Corners of the Night , Gardiner staples herself in the suspenseful genre of the criminally insane. I can already see her plotting book 4!
FBI behavioral analyst, Caitlin Hendrix has returned to the west coast after her boyfriend's ex was healing from a bombing scare. As Caitlin is still reeling from that attack, she is called to go to Los Angeles because there's a new serial killer wrecking havoc in the outskirts of the city. He is attacking dimly lit neighborhoods, in houses with a nuclear family setting. First he kills the parents, then he taunts and torments the children. He calls himself the Midnight Man. As the attacks continue to grow, the FBI needs Caitlin on this assignment. As the investigation develops, Caitlin starts noticing similarities between the Midnight Man and her own upbringing. Will this case hit too close to home for her?
As usual, The Dark Corners of the Night is a masterpiece and one of the darkest books I've ever read. This police procedural novel really gets personal with the characters, and I definitely feel more connected to the series than ever before. At times, this book is haunting and scary, and at other times, it's a deeply gripping character study. You can tell while you are devouring this novel that Gardiner had done more research about criminal investigations than ever before. With The Dark Corners of the Night , Gardiner staples herself in the suspenseful genre of the criminally insane. I can already see her plotting book 4!
May 8, 2020
I've been a big fan of Meg Gardiner's UNSUB series since the first book came out a few years back, so I was eagerly anticipating the newest book in the series, The Dark Corners of the Night.
Like the others, this book follows FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin, who is on a new case for a serial killer they've dubbed 'The Midnight Man', as he breaks into houses of families in the middle of the night and kills the parents, leaving the children alive. We jump right into the action with this one, so I was hooked from the very beginning!
This installment of the series focused more on the police side of things - we see Caitlin in action trying to determine who the killer is more than we see the crime scenes. You can tell Gardiner has really done her research - the procedural parts of the book came across very knowledgeable and well written.
I finished the book in just a few hours, and am already eager for the next book, which seems to be set up to tie in some of the storylines from the earlier books, which is exciting! The only thing I wish I could have seen more of in this book was a better understanding of why our killer was the way they were, and more about their motives. There was a lot of symbolism the killer used, and the meaning of those things was discussed throughout the book, but I was wishing some of those pieces could have been wrapped up slightly neater. That said, I rated the book 4.5 stars!
I'd like to thank Blackstone Publishing for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
Like the others, this book follows FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin, who is on a new case for a serial killer they've dubbed 'The Midnight Man', as he breaks into houses of families in the middle of the night and kills the parents, leaving the children alive. We jump right into the action with this one, so I was hooked from the very beginning!
This installment of the series focused more on the police side of things - we see Caitlin in action trying to determine who the killer is more than we see the crime scenes. You can tell Gardiner has really done her research - the procedural parts of the book came across very knowledgeable and well written.
I finished the book in just a few hours, and am already eager for the next book, which seems to be set up to tie in some of the storylines from the earlier books, which is exciting! The only thing I wish I could have seen more of in this book was a better understanding of why our killer was the way they were, and more about their motives. There was a lot of symbolism the killer used, and the meaning of those things was discussed throughout the book, but I was wishing some of those pieces could have been wrapped up slightly neater. That said, I rated the book 4.5 stars!
I'd like to thank Blackstone Publishing for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
February 29, 2020
I love this kind of book, with its behavioral and data analyses. Caitlin Hendrix is back with Emmerich, Rainey, and Keyes helping the LAPD investigate a series of gruesome murders. I was slowly pulled in, and then there was an adrenaline-pumping car chase that handcuffed me to the book.
The UNSUB in this book is one really scary, fucked up individual. I’ll be looking into every dark corner in the future while I await UNSUB #4.
The UNSUB in this book is one really scary, fucked up individual. I’ll be looking into every dark corner in the future while I await UNSUB #4.
April 20, 2020
Book 3 in the Unsub series published 2020.
The Unsub series got off to a strong start and this book is a strong contender to be the best one yet.
The LAPD have asked for assistance from the FBI in a case that is rapidly getting out of their control.
Someone, who calls himself, The Midnight Man, gains entry to houses where unsuspecting families are fast asleep. Once inside he kills both the parents and terrorises the children. No clues are ever found at the scene.
What the LAPD need from the FBI, apart from investigative expertise, is a profile of the unsub. And behavioural analyst Caitlin Hendrix is the best the FBI has.
The body count is rising and the LAPD and FBI are nowhere near to finding the Midnight Man. Tempers are at stretching point between the LAPD and the FBI. The LAPD want definitive answers and the FBI can’t provide them.
But, slowly but surly, after exhaustive analysis, Caitlin and her team get an emerging picture of a very troubled teenager. But what sticks in the throat of the LAPD is the fact that this is probably the child of one of their own, a cops son.
It’s obvious from the ending that there will be another instalment in the Unsub series. All I can say is ‘bring it on’ and the sooner the better.
Believe me when I say this is an intense, twisted, atmospheric tail told one of the genres best.
This is a 5 stars unalloyed thrilling entertainment.
The Unsub series got off to a strong start and this book is a strong contender to be the best one yet.
The LAPD have asked for assistance from the FBI in a case that is rapidly getting out of their control.
Someone, who calls himself, The Midnight Man, gains entry to houses where unsuspecting families are fast asleep. Once inside he kills both the parents and terrorises the children. No clues are ever found at the scene.
What the LAPD need from the FBI, apart from investigative expertise, is a profile of the unsub. And behavioural analyst Caitlin Hendrix is the best the FBI has.
The body count is rising and the LAPD and FBI are nowhere near to finding the Midnight Man. Tempers are at stretching point between the LAPD and the FBI. The LAPD want definitive answers and the FBI can’t provide them.
But, slowly but surly, after exhaustive analysis, Caitlin and her team get an emerging picture of a very troubled teenager. But what sticks in the throat of the LAPD is the fact that this is probably the child of one of their own, a cops son.
It’s obvious from the ending that there will be another instalment in the Unsub series. All I can say is ‘bring it on’ and the sooner the better.
Believe me when I say this is an intense, twisted, atmospheric tail told one of the genres best.
This is a 5 stars unalloyed thrilling entertainment.
January 29, 2023
Book Blog | Bookstagram
I cannot control my bias when it comes to Meg Gardiner's books, apparently. I love all of them. I think they're all the best things I've ever read until I read the next one. She's a fucking BRILLIANT writer and I want to be her when I grow up. That's just the way it is. I'm sorry I'm not sorry. So, I understand why you might want to take my reviews of her work with a grain of salt.
That said, this book is fucking awesome and if you are not reading Gardiner's UNSUB series then please change that correct course immediately. I highly recommend reading the first two books in the series before picking up this one because the character-driven side of the series is one of my favourite aspects. Get to know the MC, Caitlin Hendrix, from the very beginning. Trust me.
I mean, it can be read as a standalone as well, but I think you would miss out on some of the magic that way. But you do you, book nerd.
The UNSUB series takes inspiration from real-life, big-name serial killers and uses that to spin a new disturbing and thrilling case for FBI Profiler, Caitlin Hendrix, to solve. In this third outing, you are getting all the Richard Ramirez, Night Stalker vibes mixed with some other creepy shit.
Known as the Midnight Man, a killer in LA is entering homes in the middle of the night, killing parents and leaving the children alive, getting off on the trauma and grief they will live with forever. And the killings are prettyyyyyy brutal.
Like nothing in a book has creeped me out more this year than the opening chapter of this novel, I swear to shit. I literally had to turn my home alarm system on before I could keep reading. And I think that's part of Gardiner's brilliance to me as a writer. She knows how to scare you with real-life moments. Simple scenes, concise writing and description. It becomes so immersive, your own personal space starts to feel less safe.
Gardiner's writing is raw, honest and perfectly crafted. I'm not sure I've ever read an author whose writing I genuinely love and connect with more than her. The atmosphere is all-encompassing. Dialogue is sharp, scenes are crisp. There exists nothing in the detail that does not belong. Every moment is propelling the scene forward, and the reader along with it, like you're in a goddamn rocket ship or rollercoaster car.
GODDAMNIT I LOVE HER.
Okay, sorry...
There's a lot to love in this thriller because Gardiner never slacks on the action side of the genre, but the psychological side of the plot is fire, too. I felt like the insider knowledge was dialled up to eleven (+2 points to me for the Spinal Tap reference) The forensics and profiling procedures, psychological aspects and law enforcement tools are all there in depth without being too explain-y.
While trying to avoid getting into spoiler territory - I will say that there are some darker, more frustrating aspects of law enforcement and the "blue wall" explored in this novel that added an extra layer to the intensity of the plot. And in that, it's a bit more honest than most police-centred novels that wholly cast police as exceptional heroes, when we know that's not always reality.
This book was right up my dark and twisty alley. It had everything I love in a serial killer thriller. Meg Gardiner truly never disappoints me... so far *knock on wood*
A gritty, gruesome thriller that knocked my bits right off.
READ IT.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5 stars
I cannot control my bias when it comes to Meg Gardiner's books, apparently. I love all of them. I think they're all the best things I've ever read until I read the next one. She's a fucking BRILLIANT writer and I want to be her when I grow up. That's just the way it is. I'm sorry I'm not sorry. So, I understand why you might want to take my reviews of her work with a grain of salt.
That said, this book is fucking awesome and if you are not reading Gardiner's UNSUB series then please change that correct course immediately. I highly recommend reading the first two books in the series before picking up this one because the character-driven side of the series is one of my favourite aspects. Get to know the MC, Caitlin Hendrix, from the very beginning. Trust me.
I mean, it can be read as a standalone as well, but I think you would miss out on some of the magic that way. But you do you, book nerd.
The UNSUB series takes inspiration from real-life, big-name serial killers and uses that to spin a new disturbing and thrilling case for FBI Profiler, Caitlin Hendrix, to solve. In this third outing, you are getting all the Richard Ramirez, Night Stalker vibes mixed with some other creepy shit.
Known as the Midnight Man, a killer in LA is entering homes in the middle of the night, killing parents and leaving the children alive, getting off on the trauma and grief they will live with forever. And the killings are prettyyyyyy brutal.
Like nothing in a book has creeped me out more this year than the opening chapter of this novel, I swear to shit. I literally had to turn my home alarm system on before I could keep reading. And I think that's part of Gardiner's brilliance to me as a writer. She knows how to scare you with real-life moments. Simple scenes, concise writing and description. It becomes so immersive, your own personal space starts to feel less safe.
Gardiner's writing is raw, honest and perfectly crafted. I'm not sure I've ever read an author whose writing I genuinely love and connect with more than her. The atmosphere is all-encompassing. Dialogue is sharp, scenes are crisp. There exists nothing in the detail that does not belong. Every moment is propelling the scene forward, and the reader along with it, like you're in a goddamn rocket ship or rollercoaster car.
GODDAMNIT I LOVE HER.
Okay, sorry...
There's a lot to love in this thriller because Gardiner never slacks on the action side of the genre, but the psychological side of the plot is fire, too. I felt like the insider knowledge was dialled up to eleven (+2 points to me for the Spinal Tap reference) The forensics and profiling procedures, psychological aspects and law enforcement tools are all there in depth without being too explain-y.
While trying to avoid getting into spoiler territory - I will say that there are some darker, more frustrating aspects of law enforcement and the "blue wall" explored in this novel that added an extra layer to the intensity of the plot. And in that, it's a bit more honest than most police-centred novels that wholly cast police as exceptional heroes, when we know that's not always reality.
This book was right up my dark and twisty alley. It had everything I love in a serial killer thriller. Meg Gardiner truly never disappoints me... so far *knock on wood*
A gritty, gruesome thriller that knocked my bits right off.
READ IT.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5 stars
March 14, 2020
Thank you so much Book Sparks for my free copy.
It’s no secret how much I love the UNSUB series so we all know I had to read the third installment! I mean UNSUB and INTO THE BLACK NOWHERE were both 5★ reads. BUT GUESS WHAT?!...The third book, THE DARK CORNERS OF THE NIGHT, is THE BEST ONE YET!
I am not much of a series person and I’m super picky with police procedurals, but this book is DARK. The story is gripping, captivating, haunting, and horrifying. Gardiner goes deep into character study so you really get to know who Caitlin is. You will not only care about Caitlin, YOU WILL BE HOOKED. I only fall in love with series that are something special and this crime fiction series is just too good to pass up. Read it as a standalone if you prefer BUT all three books are solid gold! I AM OBSESSED.
It’s no secret how much I love the UNSUB series so we all know I had to read the third installment! I mean UNSUB and INTO THE BLACK NOWHERE were both 5★ reads. BUT GUESS WHAT?!...The third book, THE DARK CORNERS OF THE NIGHT, is THE BEST ONE YET!
I am not much of a series person and I’m super picky with police procedurals, but this book is DARK. The story is gripping, captivating, haunting, and horrifying. Gardiner goes deep into character study so you really get to know who Caitlin is. You will not only care about Caitlin, YOU WILL BE HOOKED. I only fall in love with series that are something special and this crime fiction series is just too good to pass up. Read it as a standalone if you prefer BUT all three books are solid gold! I AM OBSESSED.
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May 28, 2022
2-Stars – “It Was OK”
“The Dark Corners of the Night (UNSUB, #3)”,
by Meg Gardiner
Audiobook: 12:02 Hours - Narrator: Hillary Huber
From “My Reading/Listening Activity” comments:
May 18, 2022 @ 42%:
“The author seems intent on demonstrating her research and knowledge of the 'dark arts' of psychiatry, psychopathy, etc, as they pertain to the frightfully evil "Unsub" they call "The Midnight Man".
As GR friend Pamela's review says: “While the education is enlightening ... it becomes tedious ... too analytical and encyclopaedic ..."”
May 21, 2022 @ 99%:
“What a struggle! Save for some decent tension and excitement during the last hour or so of the book, listening, in the main, has been a drawn-out chore.”
“The Dark Corners of the Night” was a twelve hours long audiobook which would have benefited from some fairly serious editing. As Pamela says, "While the education is enlightening … it becomes tedious ... too analytical and encyclopaedic ..." and this was also my main issue with the book. The seemingly boundless details of the anticipated sociopathic and psychopathic behaviour of the UNSUB (dubbed “The Midnight Man”, by the police and FBI), became overwhelming. I love ‘the details’ and I enjoy learning, but not when it goes on, and on. I understand that having this view may well put me at odds with readers who ‘inhale’ the details and can’t get enough of them, but when I read for enjoyment, the reading shouldn’t be hard work, as this book was!
Hilary Huber’s narration was very good and helped carry me through the more tiringlectures passages. Her story telling excelled during the last hour and a half, when the book finally generated some genuine excitement which led to a reasonably satisfactory finale.
Except for the “UNSUB” books, I haven’t read or listened to any of Meg Gardiner’s other books, but at least my ratings for her “UNSUB” series have been consistent: (#1, 2-Stars), (#2, 3-Stars), (#3, 2-Stars). This consistency doesn’t please me, as my reading or listening objective is one of personal enjoyment and I want to rate a book as a 5-Stars 'ripper', not a 2-Stars ‘just ok’.
“The Dark Corners of the Night (UNSUB, #3)”,
by Meg Gardiner
Audiobook: 12:02 Hours - Narrator: Hillary Huber
From “My Reading/Listening Activity” comments:
May 18, 2022 @ 42%:
“The author seems intent on demonstrating her research and knowledge of the 'dark arts' of psychiatry, psychopathy, etc, as they pertain to the frightfully evil "Unsub" they call "The Midnight Man".
As GR friend Pamela's review says: “While the education is enlightening ... it becomes tedious ... too analytical and encyclopaedic ..."”
May 21, 2022 @ 99%:
“What a struggle! Save for some decent tension and excitement during the last hour or so of the book, listening, in the main, has been a drawn-out chore.”
“The Dark Corners of the Night” was a twelve hours long audiobook which would have benefited from some fairly serious editing. As Pamela says, "While the education is enlightening … it becomes tedious ... too analytical and encyclopaedic ..." and this was also my main issue with the book. The seemingly boundless details of the anticipated sociopathic and psychopathic behaviour of the UNSUB (dubbed “The Midnight Man”, by the police and FBI), became overwhelming. I love ‘the details’ and I enjoy learning, but not when it goes on, and on. I understand that having this view may well put me at odds with readers who ‘inhale’ the details and can’t get enough of them, but when I read for enjoyment, the reading shouldn’t be hard work, as this book was!
Hilary Huber’s narration was very good and helped carry me through the more tiring
Except for the “UNSUB” books, I haven’t read or listened to any of Meg Gardiner’s other books, but at least my ratings for her “UNSUB” series have been consistent: (#1, 2-Stars), (#2, 3-Stars), (#3, 2-Stars). This consistency doesn’t please me, as my reading or listening objective is one of personal enjoyment and I want to rate a book as a 5-Stars 'ripper', not a 2-Stars ‘just ok’.
February 29, 2020
I was drawn by the premise of a crafty serial killer only striking at night.
Special Agent Caitlin Hendrix and her FBI colleagues from the Behavioral Unit are called in to assist the L.A. police in profiling and identifying the killer.
The book is tightly written and slightly more formal than most police procedural's thus enhancing the FBI aura. I can appreciate the research that went into writing this and found the profiling aspect interesting since it was new to me.
This my first read by this author and I’ll definitely try more of her books.
Special Agent Caitlin Hendrix and her FBI colleagues from the Behavioral Unit are called in to assist the L.A. police in profiling and identifying the killer.
The book is tightly written and slightly more formal than most police procedural's thus enhancing the FBI aura. I can appreciate the research that went into writing this and found the profiling aspect interesting since it was new to me.
This my first read by this author and I’ll definitely try more of her books.
February 9, 2020
4.5 scared me senseless stars
I read a lot of thrillers, mysteries, and Nordic noir, but this book and the Midnight Man really scared me! It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly what got me, but a few times, I had to set it down and remind myself that this is just a book!
Set in California, a task force has been put together to catch a terrifying killer who kills the parents but leaves the small children to tell his story. He lurks in good neighborhoods and is elusive, seeming to disappear into the night without leaving clues behind. He’s got Southern California in a frenzy and no one feels safe. Who will he attack next? Things really heat up and I started to wonder how they would ever catch the Midnight Man.
Caitlin is an FBI behavioral analyst who is hot on his trail and I enjoyed learning more about the work in profiling and how various groups work together in cases like this. It is obvious that the author has researched this and knows her stuff!
This one was the third in a series. I am definitely interested in reading the first two to fill in a few pieces. I must admit that I need a little break though if those two are as intense and dark!
Thank you to Meg Gardiner, Edelweiss, and Blackstone Publishing for a copy of this to read and review. Release on 2.18.2020
I read a lot of thrillers, mysteries, and Nordic noir, but this book and the Midnight Man really scared me! It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly what got me, but a few times, I had to set it down and remind myself that this is just a book!
Set in California, a task force has been put together to catch a terrifying killer who kills the parents but leaves the small children to tell his story. He lurks in good neighborhoods and is elusive, seeming to disappear into the night without leaving clues behind. He’s got Southern California in a frenzy and no one feels safe. Who will he attack next? Things really heat up and I started to wonder how they would ever catch the Midnight Man.
Caitlin is an FBI behavioral analyst who is hot on his trail and I enjoyed learning more about the work in profiling and how various groups work together in cases like this. It is obvious that the author has researched this and knows her stuff!
This one was the third in a series. I am definitely interested in reading the first two to fill in a few pieces. I must admit that I need a little break though if those two are as intense and dark!
Thank you to Meg Gardiner, Edelweiss, and Blackstone Publishing for a copy of this to read and review. Release on 2.18.2020
June 29, 2020
3.5 Stars
I stopped and started this a few times a few months ago, not able to get into it. Finally picked it back up and I'm glad I did.
Enjoyed the police procedural parts. The geographic profiling was fascinating. The case because of the brutality, killing the parents and leaving the kids behind was tough to read about. The ending pursuit dragged for me and I had to skim a bunch to get through it.
I have to say the romance is my least favorite part of this series. The continued close relationship Sean has with his ex, yes I know they have a kid together, but they're like best friends. I'd constantly be questioning whether they're going to get back together or not too, just like Caitlin.
A copy was kindly provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I stopped and started this a few times a few months ago, not able to get into it. Finally picked it back up and I'm glad I did.
Enjoyed the police procedural parts. The geographic profiling was fascinating. The case because of the brutality, killing the parents and leaving the kids behind was tough to read about. The ending pursuit dragged for me and I had to skim a bunch to get through it.
I have to say the romance is my least favorite part of this series. The continued close relationship Sean has with his ex, yes I know they have a kid together, but they're like best friends. I'd constantly be questioning whether they're going to get back together or not too, just like Caitlin.
A copy was kindly provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2021
When Stephen King tells you not to miss it then you have to pick it up. Book 3 in the UNSUB series and another 5 star read for me. And now it is over? This series is incredible and I am sad it is over. Crime fiction readers, if you haven't read this then you need to change that now. All 3 books are dark and addictive and had me wanting to sleep with the lights on!!
In The Dark Corners of the Night, we follow Caitlin and the team to Los Angeles, where the Midnight Man is terrorizing the city. This killer is breaking into family home late at night and killing the parents while their children are left scared and alone. He is a sadistic and clever killer, and always one step ahead of the authorities. I couldn't stop reading and I was hearing every little noise my house was making! It was seriously tense!
I look forward to checking out some more books by this author, she has really impressed me with these 3 books and I wish that I had discovered her sooner.
In The Dark Corners of the Night, we follow Caitlin and the team to Los Angeles, where the Midnight Man is terrorizing the city. This killer is breaking into family home late at night and killing the parents while their children are left scared and alone. He is a sadistic and clever killer, and always one step ahead of the authorities. I couldn't stop reading and I was hearing every little noise my house was making! It was seriously tense!
I look forward to checking out some more books by this author, she has really impressed me with these 3 books and I wish that I had discovered her sooner.
Want to read
December 3, 2019Finally available for download on Edelweiss!!!! My whole day has been made!!!
This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2020!!!!
This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2020!!!!
April 22, 2022
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Positive :
This novel deals with the horrific theme of juvenile psychopathology. It is a disturbing yet real phenomenon afflicting “normal” families. Due to the weighted content, it is a dark read. However, it is enlightening. Also, it is important to get a glimpse of the conflicts imposed on law enforcement personnel when confronted with youthful offenders. The nature verses nurture issue is addressed and explained very well. I appreciated the knowledge gained.
Negatives:
While the education is enlightening and appreciated, it becomes tedious. The reader is painstakingly introduced to a number of serial killer types. This exposition goes on and on, becoming too analytical and encyclopedic, slowing the pace for at least half the book. The hunt for the antagonist bogs down as well. The police chases go on and on and on. The task force activity drags on and on and on. I found myself skipping pages to get to the point. Much too lengthy.
There are numerous holes in the storyline: clues aren’t pursued, leads are mentioned then totally forgotten in the narrative, police procedures are not not accurately portrayed. The response of the parents of the unsub is utterly bizarre and unrealistic. The extent of savvy knowledge of police procedures by the unsub is ridiculously unrealistic. This lack of authenticity becomes ludicrous and extremely frustrating for a detail oriented reader. Transitioning was difficult to follow.
Poor editing is a big negative. A major error that happens at the beginning (pretense of deltas to come) is in the opening pages of the exposition when the FBI’s BAU is called out to California to deal with a rash of three similar ritualistic killings within a two month time frame. One deduces it is Christmas season because the first crime comments on the decorated Christmas tree. By the end of the book, Christmas Day still has not occurred. Do the math: the timeframe is two months. The very first crime scene depicts a Christmas tree, yet two months later, Christmas is still has not occurred. Ergo, who puts up Christmas trees and decorations in October or early November? Very sloppy editing.
There are frequent references to the backstory of other cases, I assume, from previous novels in this series, leaving a new reader at a disadvantage. Too much backstory not explained is frustrating.
Overall, while the plot and protagonists are interesting and action (finally!) is thrilling , poor editing, slow pacing and plot holes left this reader disappointed. The storyline has the promise of a unique and enthralling thriller. Perhaps tighter editing could have made the promise a reality. There are way too many miscues; the negatives listed above far outnumber the original and informative plot. My expectation is a polished end product. It is a shame because the content is intriguing but the editorial staff did not do their job.
Positive :
This novel deals with the horrific theme of juvenile psychopathology. It is a disturbing yet real phenomenon afflicting “normal” families. Due to the weighted content, it is a dark read. However, it is enlightening. Also, it is important to get a glimpse of the conflicts imposed on law enforcement personnel when confronted with youthful offenders. The nature verses nurture issue is addressed and explained very well. I appreciated the knowledge gained.
Negatives:
While the education is enlightening and appreciated, it becomes tedious. The reader is painstakingly introduced to a number of serial killer types. This exposition goes on and on, becoming too analytical and encyclopedic, slowing the pace for at least half the book. The hunt for the antagonist bogs down as well. The police chases go on and on and on. The task force activity drags on and on and on. I found myself skipping pages to get to the point. Much too lengthy.
There are numerous holes in the storyline: clues aren’t pursued, leads are mentioned then totally forgotten in the narrative, police procedures are not not accurately portrayed. The response of the parents of the unsub is utterly bizarre and unrealistic. The extent of savvy knowledge of police procedures by the unsub is ridiculously unrealistic. This lack of authenticity becomes ludicrous and extremely frustrating for a detail oriented reader. Transitioning was difficult to follow.
Poor editing is a big negative. A major error that happens at the beginning (pretense of deltas to come) is in the opening pages of the exposition when the FBI’s BAU is called out to California to deal with a rash of three similar ritualistic killings within a two month time frame. One deduces it is Christmas season because the first crime comments on the decorated Christmas tree. By the end of the book, Christmas Day still has not occurred. Do the math: the timeframe is two months. The very first crime scene depicts a Christmas tree, yet two months later, Christmas is still has not occurred. Ergo, who puts up Christmas trees and decorations in October or early November? Very sloppy editing.
There are frequent references to the backstory of other cases, I assume, from previous novels in this series, leaving a new reader at a disadvantage. Too much backstory not explained is frustrating.
Overall, while the plot and protagonists are interesting and action (finally!) is thrilling , poor editing, slow pacing and plot holes left this reader disappointed. The storyline has the promise of a unique and enthralling thriller. Perhaps tighter editing could have made the promise a reality. There are way too many miscues; the negatives listed above far outnumber the original and informative plot. My expectation is a polished end product. It is a shame because the content is intriguing but the editorial staff did not do their job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2024
4.5⭐
Genre ~ crime psychological thriler
Series ~ Unsub #3
Others in the series ~ #1-4
Setting ~ California
Publication date ~ February 18, 2020
Est Page Count ~ 337 (57 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 1 minute
Narrator ~ Hillary Huber
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ police procedural, FBI, violence, brutal murders
A new serial killer, The Midnight Man, brings Caitlin and team to Los Angeles. This man is killing the parents, but, thankfully, leaving the children alone.
We've got a very perspective girl, Hannah (12), who plays an intricate part in the investigation when she catches some glimpses of The Midnight Man.
Overall, another action packed, edge of your seat thrilling ride. So terrifying that now I need to research getting an alarm system on my home. My favorite of the series so far.
Series notes:
For sure read UNSUB and Into the Black Nowhere first, so you can get a feel for Caitlin.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ crime psychological thriler
Series ~ Unsub #3
Others in the series ~ #1-4
Setting ~ California
Publication date ~ February 18, 2020
Est Page Count ~ 337 (57 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 1 minute
Narrator ~ Hillary Huber
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ police procedural, FBI, violence, brutal murders
A new serial killer, The Midnight Man, brings Caitlin and team to Los Angeles. This man is killing the parents, but, thankfully, leaving the children alone.
We've got a very perspective girl, Hannah (12), who plays an intricate part in the investigation when she catches some glimpses of The Midnight Man.
Overall, another action packed, edge of your seat thrilling ride. So terrifying that now I need to research getting an alarm system on my home. My favorite of the series so far.
Series notes:
For sure read UNSUB and Into the Black Nowhere first, so you can get a feel for Caitlin.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
February 26, 2020
I requested this book from Edelweiss based on the recommendation of a fellow blogger. I am happy to report I made the right choice to read it, as the book delivered all I expected and more. The Dark Corners of the Night took me on hair-raising, spine-tingling and nerve-wracking ride.
This is the third book in the UNSUB series and it works well as a stand-alone. This is my first time venturing into this world created by Meg Gardiner, and it was an experience that I hope to repeat whenever the opportunity arises. The Dark Corners of the Night is the type of story that will pull you in and grip you, making it difficult to put down. An engaging read from start to finish. A note of warning a book like this is not for the faint of heart.
I have read several psychological thrillers, which featured some scary villains, but I have encountered none like the Midnight Man. He took scary to another level. His modus operandi involved him entering homes in the middle of the night, where he targets the father, then the mother, but leaves the children, but not before terrorizing them and leaving chilling messages in his wake. The community is on edge as no one knows who will be the Midnight Man’s next victim. His reasoning for choosing his victims were unclear at first, however as the profilers dug deep into his psyche the reason for his actions became clear. The more information I got about him, the scarier he became.
It was great meeting the members of the profiling team. I loved how they worked as a team. They were relentless in their pursuit of the villain. I especially enjoyed getting to know Caitlin. She possessed an inner strength and an analytical mind, which aided her in the investigation. I loved how Caitlin’s personal life was incorporated into the story. It provided me with a better understanding of her as a person, flaws and all.
The scenes were dark, gritty and intense. The last quarter of the book was heart pounding, and it had me gritting my teeth in fear for the parties involved, except for the villain.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Gardiner weaved an incredible tale with twists that held me spellbound. The plot was tight and the characters well developed. This is perfect for fans of thrillers and police procedurals.
This is the third book in the UNSUB series and it works well as a stand-alone. This is my first time venturing into this world created by Meg Gardiner, and it was an experience that I hope to repeat whenever the opportunity arises. The Dark Corners of the Night is the type of story that will pull you in and grip you, making it difficult to put down. An engaging read from start to finish. A note of warning a book like this is not for the faint of heart.
I have read several psychological thrillers, which featured some scary villains, but I have encountered none like the Midnight Man. He took scary to another level. His modus operandi involved him entering homes in the middle of the night, where he targets the father, then the mother, but leaves the children, but not before terrorizing them and leaving chilling messages in his wake. The community is on edge as no one knows who will be the Midnight Man’s next victim. His reasoning for choosing his victims were unclear at first, however as the profilers dug deep into his psyche the reason for his actions became clear. The more information I got about him, the scarier he became.
It was great meeting the members of the profiling team. I loved how they worked as a team. They were relentless in their pursuit of the villain. I especially enjoyed getting to know Caitlin. She possessed an inner strength and an analytical mind, which aided her in the investigation. I loved how Caitlin’s personal life was incorporated into the story. It provided me with a better understanding of her as a person, flaws and all.
The scenes were dark, gritty and intense. The last quarter of the book was heart pounding, and it had me gritting my teeth in fear for the parties involved, except for the villain.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Gardiner weaved an incredible tale with twists that held me spellbound. The plot was tight and the characters well developed. This is perfect for fans of thrillers and police procedurals.
September 1, 2020
This is the third entry in Gardiner's UNSUB series. I was somewhat caught up in the first one because she sketched out her characters to have some life and interest for the reader. By this, the third, it's deja vu all over again, but perhaps worse. Very nearly the entire book is having the protagonist, the newest member of the FBI's serial killer unit, explain absolutely everything--how profiles are collected, how computers can make patterns, and on and on. It seemed like a bunch of little Wikipedia pages put together. If you are an AVID fan of FBI procedure, these bits of knowledge from the newbie might work for you.
March 14, 2020
I am still on a good roll of books lol. This was the third book in the series and it was just as good as the previous two. The story was pretty good and moved at a good pace and never bogged down . The main characters were good and the story was pretty believable . I would give it a soft 4.2 . I did have a couple of problems however the book picked up where the last one left off-well it has been over a year since I read the last one and do I recall every since book I have read-not sure about that type of beginning. I also thought the bad guy was maybe a little to competent for his age. In the end it was a good book and I would say to give it a spin.
June 8, 2022
Waw! Another heart throbbing book from Meg Gardiner. The Dark Corners of the Night is #3 in the Unsub series. Each book is a homage to a real serial killer. #1 Unsub was loosely reminded us of The Zodiac, #2 Into The Black Nowhere, Ted Bundy and #3 The Dark Corners of the Night, Golden State Killer. I read all three and loved every single book. I would advice you to start from the first in the series, Unsub because you will get a better sense of the character development over time.
Each book was quite fast paced and thrilling. It hit all the right buttons for me. I am surprised no one turned any of these books into tv series!
We are following Caitlin Hendrix, an FBI profiler working for Quantico. On the one hand she is strong, brave, focused and unrelenting once she is pursuing a series killer. On the other hand, she harbors pain from her childhood of being a cops daughter. She saw how her father slowly slipped into drinking too much, lack of uncontrolled anger and distancing himself from the family. Caitlin knows well the harm of obsessing over criminals of the worst kind. In order to cope, she lives a healthy life style and has a very healthy relationship with a fellow FBI agent. As a character she is very likable and real.
I really enjoyed all 3 books. However if you are a bit squeamish about unpleasant images, than be warned. This series may not be for you. If you like fast paced thrillers with an edge, please do not give it a second thought. Pick it up!
A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoy!
Each book was quite fast paced and thrilling. It hit all the right buttons for me. I am surprised no one turned any of these books into tv series!
We are following Caitlin Hendrix, an FBI profiler working for Quantico. On the one hand she is strong, brave, focused and unrelenting once she is pursuing a series killer. On the other hand, she harbors pain from her childhood of being a cops daughter. She saw how her father slowly slipped into drinking too much, lack of uncontrolled anger and distancing himself from the family. Caitlin knows well the harm of obsessing over criminals of the worst kind. In order to cope, she lives a healthy life style and has a very healthy relationship with a fellow FBI agent. As a character she is very likable and real.
I really enjoyed all 3 books. However if you are a bit squeamish about unpleasant images, than be warned. This series may not be for you. If you like fast paced thrillers with an edge, please do not give it a second thought. Pick it up!
A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoy!
February 26, 2020
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was great! This book threw me right in the action from the very beginning and the pace never let up. It was one of those stories that are almost impossible to set aside. As horrible as the case they were dealing with was, I couldn't help but think about the fact that something like this could actually happen and the authorities would probably have a difficult time getting to the culprit. This was a really entertaining read from beginning to end.
The culprit in this case was truly frightening. The Midnight Man has entered several family homes in the middle of the night while the family is sleeping. He kills the father and then the mother leaving the children with a message. The victims appear to be random and the criminal takes all evidence from the scene. The whole community is on edge. The more that Caitlin and her team along with the local authorities learn about the individual responsible for these crimes the scarier it becomes.
I love seeing Caitlin and the rest of the team at work. It was great getting to see how each piece of the puzzle fit into the making of their profile. There are some pretty intense scenes that left no doubt as to how tough Caitlin really is. The FBI team is a really cohesive unit and they all put everything they had into finding the suspect. I thought that some of their ideas were pretty creative and I liked the way that everything came together.
I really liked the way that the story was written. We spend most of our time in the book with Caitlin's point of view but there are are few other points of view that do show up at times that I think had a really strong impact on the story. I liked that we got to see more of Caitlin's personal life including some scenes including Sean. Some of the murder scenes were rather brutal and I thought that the author's descriptions made everything feel very vivid.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was a really exciting story that kept me glued to the pages. This is the third book in the Unsub series but could work as a stand-alone. I can't wait to read more of this exciting series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Blackstone Publishing via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts
This was great! This continues to be an excellent series. I loved the complexity of the case that Caitlin and the rest of the team were faced with. There were more than a few surprises worked into the story that I did not see coming. Definitely an intense and exciting read!
This was great! This book threw me right in the action from the very beginning and the pace never let up. It was one of those stories that are almost impossible to set aside. As horrible as the case they were dealing with was, I couldn't help but think about the fact that something like this could actually happen and the authorities would probably have a difficult time getting to the culprit. This was a really entertaining read from beginning to end.
The culprit in this case was truly frightening. The Midnight Man has entered several family homes in the middle of the night while the family is sleeping. He kills the father and then the mother leaving the children with a message. The victims appear to be random and the criminal takes all evidence from the scene. The whole community is on edge. The more that Caitlin and her team along with the local authorities learn about the individual responsible for these crimes the scarier it becomes.
I love seeing Caitlin and the rest of the team at work. It was great getting to see how each piece of the puzzle fit into the making of their profile. There are some pretty intense scenes that left no doubt as to how tough Caitlin really is. The FBI team is a really cohesive unit and they all put everything they had into finding the suspect. I thought that some of their ideas were pretty creative and I liked the way that everything came together.
I really liked the way that the story was written. We spend most of our time in the book with Caitlin's point of view but there are are few other points of view that do show up at times that I think had a really strong impact on the story. I liked that we got to see more of Caitlin's personal life including some scenes including Sean. Some of the murder scenes were rather brutal and I thought that the author's descriptions made everything feel very vivid.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was a really exciting story that kept me glued to the pages. This is the third book in the Unsub series but could work as a stand-alone. I can't wait to read more of this exciting series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Blackstone Publishing via Edelweiss.
Initial Thoughts
This was great! This continues to be an excellent series. I loved the complexity of the case that Caitlin and the rest of the team were faced with. There were more than a few surprises worked into the story that I did not see coming. Definitely an intense and exciting read!
February 5, 2020
If you a thriller fan and you haven’t read this series it’s a MUST! Bonus if you’re a fan of shows like Criminal Minds because this book (and the whole series) is like an insane episode of the show but better. Also, you could probably read this as a standalone and be fine but don’t, because all three books are phenomenal and you’ll be missing out.
What makes a perfect thriller for me? A few things, first the case has to be somewhat original so and MG managed to explore something I’ve really never read about before. I won’t say exactly what, but it’s dark, horrifying and fascinating all at the same time and I was mesmerized. I also like solid characterization, this is even more important to me in a series since there’s time to dive deep, and not only do I feel like I really have a strong sense of who Caitlin is as person, I care about her. She’s not some perfect, save the day heroine, don’t get me wrong she’s badass but she’s deeply flawed as well and who can’t relate to that? Finally, I need good writing and MG is one of the best. Her style is both bold and crisp and her pacing is spot on. This had it all for me friends, gimme book four ASAP because that ending has me shook and dying to see what happens next!
What makes a perfect thriller for me? A few things, first the case has to be somewhat original so and MG managed to explore something I’ve really never read about before. I won’t say exactly what, but it’s dark, horrifying and fascinating all at the same time and I was mesmerized. I also like solid characterization, this is even more important to me in a series since there’s time to dive deep, and not only do I feel like I really have a strong sense of who Caitlin is as person, I care about her. She’s not some perfect, save the day heroine, don’t get me wrong she’s badass but she’s deeply flawed as well and who can’t relate to that? Finally, I need good writing and MG is one of the best. Her style is both bold and crisp and her pacing is spot on. This had it all for me friends, gimme book four ASAP because that ending has me shook and dying to see what happens next!
March 8, 2020
RATING: 4.5 STARS
2020; Blackstone Publishing
Caitlin Hendrix, FBI behavioral analyst, is recovering from a bombing that almost killer her best friend, with the support of her boyfriend (and her friend's ex), Sean. She soon heads to LA to help capture a deadly new serial killer, the Midnight Man. As he escalates in his crime, Caitlin and her team have less and less time before he strikes quicker and deadlier. The lack of clues he leaves behind just might be the clue they need to find him.
I loved this one! I could not listen fast enough to the audiobook. I caught a cold a few days ago, so this book was perfect as I am not good at resting. Caitlin is a strong female lead. Her strained childhood with her cop father, divorce of her parents and the cases she has been involved in personally, have left Caitlin feeling a bit broken. Her "flaws" are what draw readers into the series. Her relationship with Sean, at times, is a balance of romance and work but is always interesting to see where it will go next. Gardiner has been great at setting up the suspense for this series, so I am down for more Unsub books!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2020; Blackstone Publishing
Caitlin Hendrix, FBI behavioral analyst, is recovering from a bombing that almost killer her best friend, with the support of her boyfriend (and her friend's ex), Sean. She soon heads to LA to help capture a deadly new serial killer, the Midnight Man. As he escalates in his crime, Caitlin and her team have less and less time before he strikes quicker and deadlier. The lack of clues he leaves behind just might be the clue they need to find him.
I loved this one! I could not listen fast enough to the audiobook. I caught a cold a few days ago, so this book was perfect as I am not good at resting. Caitlin is a strong female lead. Her strained childhood with her cop father, divorce of her parents and the cases she has been involved in personally, have left Caitlin feeling a bit broken. Her "flaws" are what draw readers into the series. Her relationship with Sean, at times, is a balance of romance and work but is always interesting to see where it will go next. Gardiner has been great at setting up the suspense for this series, so I am down for more Unsub books!
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
September 27, 2020
3.5 Stars
July 16, 2020
"The eyes are more exact witnesses than the ears." - Heraclitus
What do you do when someone preys upon you in the dark of night? Can you trust your sense of sight when someone has taken the light? I've got to say... Meg Gardiner has escalated one of my fears with this one, albeit, some might say it's an irrational fear, but a realistic one all the same. I've often feared someone sneaking into my room in the middle of the night and attacking me, and should I survive said attack, not being able to identify my attacker due to my terrible lack of sight. So Meg Gardiner, thank you for escalating that fear even further.
With the third installment of the UNSUB series we find that Caitlin is tasked with locating a man that is terrorizing suburban neighborhoods, targeting families with children and leaving them orphaned. Caitlin and her team finally catch a break when a 12 year girl catches the UNSUB, the man that calls himself The Midnight Man in the act. Unfortunately, The Midnight Man is able to get away, but not before valuable details into his identity are provided. The more Caitlin uncovers, the more uneasy she becomes. She's convinced that the profile for The Midnight Man is all wrong, but can she convince the team?
It's no secret, I'm terrible at sticking with series, but, this is one of the few series I can honestly say so far I've been able to jump on board and stay on board. What I love about the UNSUB series is how each installment is inspired by a real serial killer (in the case, The Night Stalker). I feel this gives the reader the ability to really connect to the storyline with the added credibility. I enjoy the psychological profiling that's involved with each new case that Caitlin Hendrix is tasked with. I find myself profiling the killer right along with her, and ultimately coming to the same conclusions. Just call me a wannabe profiler. Another added perk to this series is that each novel could be read as a standalone. I wouldn't say that having read them in order gives the reader that much greater understanding into the character of Caitlin. Other than maybe her personal relationships, but in truth, I wouldn't say it takes away or adds much to the storyline either way.
This is one series without a doubt that I can highly recommend.
What do you do when someone preys upon you in the dark of night? Can you trust your sense of sight when someone has taken the light? I've got to say... Meg Gardiner has escalated one of my fears with this one, albeit, some might say it's an irrational fear, but a realistic one all the same. I've often feared someone sneaking into my room in the middle of the night and attacking me, and should I survive said attack, not being able to identify my attacker due to my terrible lack of sight. So Meg Gardiner, thank you for escalating that fear even further.
With the third installment of the UNSUB series we find that Caitlin is tasked with locating a man that is terrorizing suburban neighborhoods, targeting families with children and leaving them orphaned. Caitlin and her team finally catch a break when a 12 year girl catches the UNSUB, the man that calls himself The Midnight Man in the act. Unfortunately, The Midnight Man is able to get away, but not before valuable details into his identity are provided. The more Caitlin uncovers, the more uneasy she becomes. She's convinced that the profile for The Midnight Man is all wrong, but can she convince the team?
It's no secret, I'm terrible at sticking with series, but, this is one of the few series I can honestly say so far I've been able to jump on board and stay on board. What I love about the UNSUB series is how each installment is inspired by a real serial killer (in the case, The Night Stalker). I feel this gives the reader the ability to really connect to the storyline with the added credibility. I enjoy the psychological profiling that's involved with each new case that Caitlin Hendrix is tasked with. I find myself profiling the killer right along with her, and ultimately coming to the same conclusions. Just call me a wannabe profiler. Another added perk to this series is that each novel could be read as a standalone. I wouldn't say that having read them in order gives the reader that much greater understanding into the character of Caitlin. Other than maybe her personal relationships, but in truth, I wouldn't say it takes away or adds much to the storyline either way.
This is one series without a doubt that I can highly recommend.
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