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Janey McCallister Mystery #1
Into The Black
She wanted to make her mark. How hard could it be?
In 2130, at Bijoux de L’Etoile, a high-end casino orbiting Earth, you can get anything you desire.
Newly-hired as an investigator, Janey McCallister wants to solve her first big case—the theft of a priceless gem.
When her case of theft escalates to murder and points to the seedy underbelly of world affairs, Janey has to rely on her new team and trust the mysterious insurance investigator, Orlando Valdez—before a killer escapes into the black.
***
Into The Black is perfect for fans of J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas books and Killjoys and CSI. It contains a slow-burn romance, enhanced humans, cool high-tech gadgets, a futuristic vision of the Earth, and a tough heroine with secrets.
In 2130, at Bijoux de L’Etoile, a high-end casino orbiting Earth, you can get anything you desire.
Newly-hired as an investigator, Janey McCallister wants to solve her first big case—the theft of a priceless gem.
When her case of theft escalates to murder and points to the seedy underbelly of world affairs, Janey has to rely on her new team and trust the mysterious insurance investigator, Orlando Valdez—before a killer escapes into the black.
***
Into The Black is perfect for fans of J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas books and Killjoys and CSI. It contains a slow-burn romance, enhanced humans, cool high-tech gadgets, a futuristic vision of the Earth, and a tough heroine with secrets.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2020
10 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Beth Barany
29 books547 followersAward winning author, Beth Barany writes in several genres including young adult adventure fantasy, paranormal romance, and science fiction mysteries.
Inspired by living abroad in France and Quebec, she loves creating magical tales of romance, mystery, and adventure that empower women and girls to be the heroes of their own lives.
For fun, Beth enjoys walking her neighborhood, gardening on her patio, and watching movies and traveling with her husband, author Ezra Barany.
They live in Oakland, California with a piano, cats, and over 1,000 books.
Beth is also the author of bestselling nonfiction books for authors and aspiring authors and helps novelists through her courses and programs at Barany School of Fiction.
Inspired by living abroad in France and Quebec, she loves creating magical tales of romance, mystery, and adventure that empower women and girls to be the heroes of their own lives.
For fun, Beth enjoys walking her neighborhood, gardening on her patio, and watching movies and traveling with her husband, author Ezra Barany.
They live in Oakland, California with a piano, cats, and over 1,000 books.
Beth is also the author of bestselling nonfiction books for authors and aspiring authors and helps novelists through her courses and programs at Barany School of Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 18, 2020
Into the Black starts off with a bang and never lets up from beginning to end. We are introduced to a new character Janey McCallister. Janey is an investigator who works at a high-end casino, Bijoux de L’Etoile in space.
Janey took the job at the casino to help pay for her mother’s health care and at the moment her job is in danger. If she screws up one more time then she is out. Janey is trying her best to play it by the book and follow all the rules. The last thing she needs at the moment is to lose her job. So needless to say Janey is not getting along too well with her boss or her co-workers. Janey doesn’t know who to trust and who not to.
One of the guests at the hotel has a priceless gem stolen from his room. Janey is assigned to the case. Janey must not fail at finding this gem if she wants to keep her job. Before Janey can even step foot on the scene an insurance investigator, Orlando Valdez beats her to it. Janey has no idea who this guy is or if he is even who he says he is.
Into the Black drew me in from the first page and I fell in love with the story instantly. I loved the world that was created for Into the Black. The characters are just as amazing. When I read the summary and saw that it involved working and living on a space station I was in as it reminded me of TV shows like Killjoys, The Orville, Star Trek and, Vagrant Queen.
If you are into science fiction and or TV shows like the ones I mentioned above then you are going to love Into the Black. To get started on this SyFy adventure one-click your copy of Into the Black today!
Janey took the job at the casino to help pay for her mother’s health care and at the moment her job is in danger. If she screws up one more time then she is out. Janey is trying her best to play it by the book and follow all the rules. The last thing she needs at the moment is to lose her job. So needless to say Janey is not getting along too well with her boss or her co-workers. Janey doesn’t know who to trust and who not to.
One of the guests at the hotel has a priceless gem stolen from his room. Janey is assigned to the case. Janey must not fail at finding this gem if she wants to keep her job. Before Janey can even step foot on the scene an insurance investigator, Orlando Valdez beats her to it. Janey has no idea who this guy is or if he is even who he says he is.
Into the Black drew me in from the first page and I fell in love with the story instantly. I loved the world that was created for Into the Black. The characters are just as amazing. When I read the summary and saw that it involved working and living on a space station I was in as it reminded me of TV shows like Killjoys, The Orville, Star Trek and, Vagrant Queen.
If you are into science fiction and or TV shows like the ones I mentioned above then you are going to love Into the Black. To get started on this SyFy adventure one-click your copy of Into the Black today!
June 14, 2020
An amazing first story that introduces Janey to the world. There isn’t anything about this story not to enjoy.
May 23, 2020
Beth Barney is an author who writes strong characters who are woman. If that bothers you, sorry. She does it, and she does it well. By the way, the men in the stories are strong, they are just not the lead chatterers.
Into the Black is the first in the series of books staring the character Janey McCallister. Janey is the leas investigator of a glamours hotel, gambling, spa in the sky. And on her shift a robbery has taken place of a very valuable jewel. As she tries to investigate, she is bothered by a mysterious insurance investigator who seems to show up before she does. Forced to work together by her boss there is some heat flowing. They find the thief but then another even changes everything.
Through all of this, Janey has to face her fears. And that may be the hardest part of all.
While there is a little bit of kissing going on I would consider the book safe for YA and above. Great book that keeps you guessing what will come next and makes sure you have the info to figure it out.
Into the Black is the first in the series of books staring the character Janey McCallister. Janey is the leas investigator of a glamours hotel, gambling, spa in the sky. And on her shift a robbery has taken place of a very valuable jewel. As she tries to investigate, she is bothered by a mysterious insurance investigator who seems to show up before she does. Forced to work together by her boss there is some heat flowing. They find the thief but then another even changes everything.
Through all of this, Janey has to face her fears. And that may be the hardest part of all.
While there is a little bit of kissing going on I would consider the book safe for YA and above. Great book that keeps you guessing what will come next and makes sure you have the info to figure it out.
June 13, 2021
I am a real big fan of Eve Dallas by JD Robb and I have to say if you put that together with Deep Space nine you are starting to understand the world that Janey McCallister. Be prepared to read right through dinner and maybe breakfast the next day. Janey is a smart girl entering a new world of High Casino life and all that entails; from smarmy little pick pocketers to underworld gambling. I am thankful that Beth Barany has written three more books to take care of my new Janey McCallister addiction! I was given this book free by the author with the only request being I write a true and honest review.
June 15, 2022
The writing was quite clunky and simplistic. Almost all the paragraphs were the same length. The dialog was wooden and a lot if it was unnecessary. Good dialogue is not what we use in everyday speech. Everyday speech is inane and boring full of a lot of okays and sure things and other bits that just don’t make good reading but they are included here. Too many unnecessary bit characters.
The characters were one dimensional. There was too much telling not showing. The mystery was not particularly engaging. I’m usually a fan of romance, even romance within sci fi but here the romance just annoyed me. The hero was obfuscating for no real reason and was I assume meant to come off as a charming character ala Cary Grant in Charade. But just didn’t.
The characters were one dimensional. There was too much telling not showing. The mystery was not particularly engaging. I’m usually a fan of romance, even romance within sci fi but here the romance just annoyed me. The hero was obfuscating for no real reason and was I assume meant to come off as a charming character ala Cary Grant in Charade. But just didn’t.
September 10, 2021
This is Book 1 in the Janey McCallister Mystery series. The main character is an investigator at a casino on the space station. Her assignment is to catch a pick pocket. I like that she took this job to help support her mom. I also like that this series is set in the future. I like the futuristic technology. There is also good chemistry between the characters. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
March 4, 2021
I read this book as an ARC with the promise of a review. Wow! This sci-fi mystery is out of this world! The characters are unique and the story is creative and beautifully written. I loved this book! Cannot wait for book two - I totally recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark psychological stories with a clever futuristic twist.
May 21, 2020
Into The Black hooked me from the start and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The futuristic setting and compelling characters made this an interesting read. Janey and Orlando have great chemistry and I loved how independent and take charge Janey is throughout this book. I cant wait till the next installment of the series comes out and I can catch up with Janeys next case.
May 22, 2020
Loved this book! The storyline caught my attention instantly! I am not usually into the futuristic world but this book was intriguing. It was captivating and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for more books featuring Janey to follow her journey!
October 8, 2020
Preface: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
Actual rating: 3.25 stars
I wanted to like this book, I really did. A kickbutt lady detective with robot enhancements in a futuristic casino sounds awesome - and there are parts that are great. Unfortunately, the mystery doesn't hold up, the revelations are underwhelming or feel unfinished, and the constant fixation on the love interest just had me rolling my eyes.
The mystery starts off with a robbery, that turns into a murder partway through the book. The item in question is a priceless gem that has a secret, which was super interesting. As we learn more about the victim, we start to unravel why they were targeted - but all the fun and discovery is cut short. There's no further revelation after the halfway point or so. We don't get any cool secrets or more information. We don't learn what motivated the victim to change their course in life (obviously they have family, but at one point they mention a "my sad story" which the protagonist never inquires about). It just ends up feeling flat and unfinished. The baddie, once revealed, isn't interesting in the slightest, and there's no neat twist to their motivations. A stronger mystery story would have had the killer have motivations beyond what we initially expect, or another twist on top of the first few that completely changes the context of the crimes, but that never happens. There was all this stuff about organ donors and salamander DNA that felt like it should have been leading up to an awesome twist, but it just...doesn't.
The other issue is the love interest. The character in itself is fine, but Janey is OBSESSED with him (and equally obsessed with pretending that she isn't obsessed). Every time he's on screen, literally every other paragraph has her thinking mushy thoughts and then chiding herself for them. This happens over, and over, and over. They also don't trust/like each other at all, so they have no real chemistry, it's all physical attraction that the readers can't really feel. We never really get a sense of who Valdez really is as a person, and he and Janey never connect in a meaningful way that isn't shoehorned in (like him just blurting his backstory once it's important to the story).
There are some cool ideas here - I don't want to discount that. Janey is a loving daughter with a multifaceted background. Her cyborg eye is super cool, and a neat way of gathering information. The setting has a lot of potential, though unfortunately very little happens that wouldn't happen on a normal Earth casino. Valdez could have been a perfectly fine love interest if we saw more of his human side. The twist on the gem is neat, and the organ donor/DNA stuff had tons of potential, but it wasn't utilized. This story has all the ingredients for something really good, it just never came together.
If you're really looking for a sci fi murder mystery and can't find anything else, this might hit the spot, but otherwise I don't think it's worth the purchase in its current state. Hopefully the writer will utilize and improve the strong fundamentals they already have for future books.
Actual rating: 3.25 stars
I wanted to like this book, I really did. A kickbutt lady detective with robot enhancements in a futuristic casino sounds awesome - and there are parts that are great. Unfortunately, the mystery doesn't hold up, the revelations are underwhelming or feel unfinished, and the constant fixation on the love interest just had me rolling my eyes.
The mystery starts off with a robbery, that turns into a murder partway through the book. The item in question is a priceless gem that has a secret, which was super interesting. As we learn more about the victim, we start to unravel why they were targeted - but all the fun and discovery is cut short. There's no further revelation after the halfway point or so. We don't get any cool secrets or more information. We don't learn what motivated the victim to change their course in life (obviously they have family, but at one point they mention a "my sad story" which the protagonist never inquires about). It just ends up feeling flat and unfinished. The baddie, once revealed, isn't interesting in the slightest, and there's no neat twist to their motivations. A stronger mystery story would have had the killer have motivations beyond what we initially expect, or another twist on top of the first few that completely changes the context of the crimes, but that never happens. There was all this stuff about organ donors and salamander DNA that felt like it should have been leading up to an awesome twist, but it just...doesn't.
The other issue is the love interest. The character in itself is fine, but Janey is OBSESSED with him (and equally obsessed with pretending that she isn't obsessed). Every time he's on screen, literally every other paragraph has her thinking mushy thoughts and then chiding herself for them. This happens over, and over, and over. They also don't trust/like each other at all, so they have no real chemistry, it's all physical attraction that the readers can't really feel. We never really get a sense of who Valdez really is as a person, and he and Janey never connect in a meaningful way that isn't shoehorned in (like him just blurting his backstory once it's important to the story).
There are some cool ideas here - I don't want to discount that. Janey is a loving daughter with a multifaceted background. Her cyborg eye is super cool, and a neat way of gathering information. The setting has a lot of potential, though unfortunately very little happens that wouldn't happen on a normal Earth casino. Valdez could have been a perfectly fine love interest if we saw more of his human side. The twist on the gem is neat, and the organ donor/DNA stuff had tons of potential, but it wasn't utilized. This story has all the ingredients for something really good, it just never came together.
If you're really looking for a sci fi murder mystery and can't find anything else, this might hit the spot, but otherwise I don't think it's worth the purchase in its current state. Hopefully the writer will utilize and improve the strong fundamentals they already have for future books.
October 18, 2020
Mystery. Romance. Intrigue. On a space station for the ultra-rich.
Janey McAllister is still getting used to her new job as lead investigator at a fancy space hotel when a guest reports the theft of an incredibly valuable gem. And then along comes Orlando Valdez, insurance investigator and enigmatic pain in the arse.
I can't help but compare Into the Black to another novel I read recently. Christopher Brookmyre's Places in the Darkness is an existential crisis of a story that's also a detective novel set on a space station. This, on the other hand, is a romance that's also a detective novel set on a space station. Same, same, but different.
The mystery and science fiction side of this story were both compelling enough to keep me turning the page. I'm not a fan of romance (in stories or in life), so I found that side of it distracting. But that's just me – most people love romance.
Four stars because this needed another round of editing to remove the redundancies. But otherwise this was a great intro to a series.
Janey McAllister is still getting used to her new job as lead investigator at a fancy space hotel when a guest reports the theft of an incredibly valuable gem. And then along comes Orlando Valdez, insurance investigator and enigmatic pain in the arse.
I can't help but compare Into the Black to another novel I read recently. Christopher Brookmyre's Places in the Darkness is an existential crisis of a story that's also a detective novel set on a space station. This, on the other hand, is a romance that's also a detective novel set on a space station. Same, same, but different.
The mystery and science fiction side of this story were both compelling enough to keep me turning the page. I'm not a fan of romance (in stories or in life), so I found that side of it distracting. But that's just me – most people love romance.
Four stars because this needed another round of editing to remove the redundancies. But otherwise this was a great intro to a series.
October 14, 2020
This first book in the series is fabulous. When you add the fact it's in space and to do your job is hard enough with who the guests of the space station are...the insanely rich, well it makes it that more difficult. The author does an amazing job getting you hooked from the beginning and making the characters real. Can't wait to read more.
May 7, 2021
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
Into the Black had mystery, suspense, deception, murder, and sexual tension. Janey and Orlando’s interactions reminded me of Castle and Beckett, the lovable characters from the hit detective show — Castle.
In the television show, Richard Castle brings out the fun side of Kate Beckett. He’s handsome, sneaky, flirty, quick to mischief. Hmm, yup, it sounds a great deal like Orlando Valdez. Janey and Beckett have some of the same qualities, too. Tough, intelligent, leaders, goal-driven beauties, but can let their hair down at times as well. Plus, they both seem unable to resist their partner, who was thrust upon them against their firm objections… (Figuratively, not literally, of course) 🙂
This story is labeled as science fiction, but I can see certain elements coming to pass as technology grows.
*Casino in outer space? Sure, why not? Casinos are popular on Earth already.
*Ocular eyeballs? I’m surprised Elon Musk hasn’t created that already.
*Personal AI assistants? TOTALLY!
*Penal colony on the moon? Alcatraz is known as The Rock, so would that make the moon The Rock 2.0?
Joking aside, buy the book. You’ll like it, I’m sure.
(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)
June 29, 2020
2.5*?
I'm not sure how I feel about this novel. I just felt it never quite connected, even though it got close. It might be that I feel the author was unsure about what the book was, actually. Or maybe it was my expectations.
Advance publicity touted this book, as I understood, as a science fiction mystery, with some romance. I just feel that none of those genres ever stood out. The science fiction aspect I was ok with; after all, this was pretty near future. The mystery was intriguing on some levels, but the resolution seemed weak and it seems there was a lot of information/clues that merely muddled everything (not effective red herrings, even). And the romance... this part bothered me the most. I just didn't feel the first 2/3 of the book had believable tensions and attractions. Especially when so much time was spent with the main character, Janey, mooning about the mysterious stranger instead of working her case. I guess I think it would have worked better as a more slow-burn relationship, especially since the author plans to continue the series.
Not a bad book, but just not what I was hoping for.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC.
I'm not sure how I feel about this novel. I just felt it never quite connected, even though it got close. It might be that I feel the author was unsure about what the book was, actually. Or maybe it was my expectations.
Advance publicity touted this book, as I understood, as a science fiction mystery, with some romance. I just feel that none of those genres ever stood out. The science fiction aspect I was ok with; after all, this was pretty near future. The mystery was intriguing on some levels, but the resolution seemed weak and it seems there was a lot of information/clues that merely muddled everything (not effective red herrings, even). And the romance... this part bothered me the most. I just didn't feel the first 2/3 of the book had believable tensions and attractions. Especially when so much time was spent with the main character, Janey, mooning about the mysterious stranger instead of working her case. I guess I think it would have worked better as a more slow-burn relationship, especially since the author plans to continue the series.
Not a bad book, but just not what I was hoping for.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC.
June 4, 2020
A strong heroine, an amazing world, and a story full of intrigue, suspense, and romance.
What more could I ask for?
I couldn’t put this down. From the moment I met Janey McCallister scanning the crowded casino for a pickpocket I was drawn into her world, longing to see and experience the high-end casino she works in. It’s a SPACE STATION, with space acrobats! I mean how cool is that?
It’s not just the world building that captured me. The story is full of twists that kept me guessing who was responsible for what, and who was trustworthy or not. The only person I was sure of until close to the end of the book was Janey herself.
Janey is a strong woman with a laser focus on what’s important in life. She’s not afraid to do the hard things or stand up for herself. Her only fear is failing her mother, and maybe space, but hey, she’s inside the space station, right?
This is a great read for anyone who loves strong heroines, mystery and intrigue, and space adventures that don’t involve aliens. And even better, it’s only the first of Janey’s adventures! Don’t fall behind!
What more could I ask for?
I couldn’t put this down. From the moment I met Janey McCallister scanning the crowded casino for a pickpocket I was drawn into her world, longing to see and experience the high-end casino she works in. It’s a SPACE STATION, with space acrobats! I mean how cool is that?
It’s not just the world building that captured me. The story is full of twists that kept me guessing who was responsible for what, and who was trustworthy or not. The only person I was sure of until close to the end of the book was Janey herself.
Janey is a strong woman with a laser focus on what’s important in life. She’s not afraid to do the hard things or stand up for herself. Her only fear is failing her mother, and maybe space, but hey, she’s inside the space station, right?
This is a great read for anyone who loves strong heroines, mystery and intrigue, and space adventures that don’t involve aliens. And even better, it’s only the first of Janey’s adventures! Don’t fall behind!
October 3, 2020
This was an interesting blend of mystery and science fiction. I know the description includes romance, but I kind of wasn’t really feeling it. It seemed more like overwhelming lust, barely resisted, than any actual love or romance. I got a bit of a Castle vibe from this story, but I could just be having a Nathan Fillion moment because there’s a piece of the plot that seems like it could have been heavily inspired by Serenity. I liked that we get to follow the clues with Janey and Orlando. I had lots of suspicions about who could be the villain, but nothing definite until the right person was brought into custody. Now we know who, but not the full story of why. In fact, there are several different plot threads that don’t get fully tied off by the end of the book. I’m very curious to see which ones get picked up and carried deeper into the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.
December 18, 2020
When the casino you are working is in orbit around Earth, getting thrown out can be a real chilling experience. Enter our heroine who just might be the one doing the throwing.
This is book one of the series. No worries there.
This is a science fiction detection story and wow, what a start. The story is well written, easy to read and starts off with a fancy setting that combines all the glitz and trouble of Vegas with a futuristic space opera. The setting is well detailed and populated with all kinds of interesting characters and gadgets. Our heroine is tough and smart, and she is going to need every bit of that to deal with the trouble coming her way. The plot is fast paced and full of twists and turns that kept me turning pages. Never a dull moment for our heroine. Overall, a fun and exciting start to a new series and I am definitely looking forward to more.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
This is book one of the series. No worries there.
This is a science fiction detection story and wow, what a start. The story is well written, easy to read and starts off with a fancy setting that combines all the glitz and trouble of Vegas with a futuristic space opera. The setting is well detailed and populated with all kinds of interesting characters and gadgets. Our heroine is tough and smart, and she is going to need every bit of that to deal with the trouble coming her way. The plot is fast paced and full of twists and turns that kept me turning pages. Never a dull moment for our heroine. Overall, a fun and exciting start to a new series and I am definitely looking forward to more.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
June 20, 2020
This was a sci-fi mistery/romance that had too much on its plate and in the end didn't really satisfy me. The mistery plot was a bit tenuous, it lacked tension and direction. The romance plot was based on insta-love, and unfortunately, quite a number of writers confuse "insta" with sweeping and gripping, which indeed it is not. Moreover, this kind of approach doen't work well in a mistery, it sort of undermines it. I just can't take seriously a mistery centered on a couple of protagonists who swoon over one another since the moment they meet, regardless of the circumstances, instead of carrying on a tense, focussed investigation.
I thank Netgalley for an ARC of this book
I thank Netgalley for an ARC of this book
June 14, 2020
Fantastic Blend!
It was so easy to slip into th world/space station of Into The Black. Everything worked smoothly, blending together seamlessly. From false identities, theft, murder and futuristic gadgets to investigations, teamwork and even romance, the characters carried the story with finesse. Perfect dialogue, a strong female main character, and such beautiful world building have turned me into a fan waiting rather impatiently for the next one in this, hopefully, long series. The author will give JD Robb a strong challenge!
It was so easy to slip into th world/space station of Into The Black. Everything worked smoothly, blending together seamlessly. From false identities, theft, murder and futuristic gadgets to investigations, teamwork and even romance, the characters carried the story with finesse. Perfect dialogue, a strong female main character, and such beautiful world building have turned me into a fan waiting rather impatiently for the next one in this, hopefully, long series. The author will give JD Robb a strong challenge!
June 21, 2020
A detective on a casino space station investigates a series of mysterious thefts, strange technologies and a mysterious and handsome man who keeps showing up where he doesn't belong. A strong premise and interesting world-building are the highlights of the book. It's stronger as a science fiction novel than as a romance - I just wasn't able to warm up to the central relationship. I'll be interested to read more by the author, but maybe not with these characters.
Read through NetGalley & Kobo eReader.
Read through NetGalley & Kobo eReader.
December 17, 2020
I loved this book. Being an outer space setting, I was not sure I would like but the characters were written so well that it won me over. The book was.also a murder mystery that kept you guessing until the end.
June 12, 2020
Wonderful!
May 19, 2021
A voyage and adventure into space
March 5, 2022
The author takes us into the future. Year 2130.
Inspector Janey works at a unique space station just outside of Earth. A gambling casino, hotel and a 6 star restaurant.
Lately there have been several thefts at the hotel. When a precious gem is stolen Janey doesn't know what precious secrets lie within the gem. To her surprise Orlando, an insurance investigator shows up at the same time. There is a strong attraction between them.
Janey and Orlando work somewhat together to unravel the mystery of the stolen gem.
Janey also tries to figure out just who Orlando is and why he's so determined to help her on the case.
Orlando an enigma. Not much history about him but I figure it will come out in coming books. Afterall he does do a lot of undercover work.
When the owner of the gem is murdered Janey and Orlando once again must work together to bring the killer to justice.
Action packed drama, mystery and suspense will keep you intrigued. This a little sci-fi but only because of the space station and the futuristic gadgets.
Can't wait to read next installment Lured by the Light?
Thank you Hidden Gems and the author for a digital copy. Read and reviewed voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Inspector Janey works at a unique space station just outside of Earth. A gambling casino, hotel and a 6 star restaurant.
Lately there have been several thefts at the hotel. When a precious gem is stolen Janey doesn't know what precious secrets lie within the gem. To her surprise Orlando, an insurance investigator shows up at the same time. There is a strong attraction between them.
Janey and Orlando work somewhat together to unravel the mystery of the stolen gem.
Janey also tries to figure out just who Orlando is and why he's so determined to help her on the case.
Orlando an enigma. Not much history about him but I figure it will come out in coming books. Afterall he does do a lot of undercover work.
When the owner of the gem is murdered Janey and Orlando once again must work together to bring the killer to justice.
Action packed drama, mystery and suspense will keep you intrigued. This a little sci-fi but only because of the space station and the futuristic gadgets.
Can't wait to read next installment Lured by the Light?
Thank you Hidden Gems and the author for a digital copy. Read and reviewed voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 23, 2023
This is a fun mashup of sci-fi and detective fiction.
Janey Macallister is so new to her job as lead investigator on a ritzy space-station casino, she doesn’t even have her own office yet. She’s still adjusting to civilian life after a military career, but needs this higher paying job to cover her mother’s experimental meds. That means doing everything right to solve the theft of a wealthy guest’s gem, without many clues. She even agrees to accept help from Orlando Valdez, a charming but enigmatic insurance investigator … if that’s what he really is. Valdez is as much a mystery as the jewel theft even before they find themselves working together on a murder case.
The story hits the expected marks for sci-fi—high-tech gadgets, outer-space views, tidbits of real science; and detective fiction—multiple suspects, missing information, attractive but suspicious ally/antagonist. A lot happens over the course of about two days, which to me seemed like too short a time for Janey and Orlando to overcome their professional ethics and personal boundaries. But their working chemistry is almost as good as their slow-burn romantic chemistry. And this is book 1 of a series, so there must be plenty of fun still in store.
Janey Macallister is so new to her job as lead investigator on a ritzy space-station casino, she doesn’t even have her own office yet. She’s still adjusting to civilian life after a military career, but needs this higher paying job to cover her mother’s experimental meds. That means doing everything right to solve the theft of a wealthy guest’s gem, without many clues. She even agrees to accept help from Orlando Valdez, a charming but enigmatic insurance investigator … if that’s what he really is. Valdez is as much a mystery as the jewel theft even before they find themselves working together on a murder case.
The story hits the expected marks for sci-fi—high-tech gadgets, outer-space views, tidbits of real science; and detective fiction—multiple suspects, missing information, attractive but suspicious ally/antagonist. A lot happens over the course of about two days, which to me seemed like too short a time for Janey and Orlando to overcome their professional ethics and personal boundaries. But their working chemistry is almost as good as their slow-burn romantic chemistry. And this is book 1 of a series, so there must be plenty of fun still in store.
November 24, 2025
Into the Black is a sci-fi mystery by Beth Barany that follows Janey McCallister, a lead investigator working aboard L’Étoile, a luxurious hotel casino floating in space. The story begins with a simple pickpocket case, but things quickly escalate when a priceless gem is stolen from a wealthy guest, Dima Bakaj. As Janey hunts down the thief, she gets tangled in bigger secrets, a possible cover up, and even a murder onboard. Along the way, she works with (and sometimes clashes with) Valdez, an undercover investigator who might not be exactly who he says he is. The book mixes crime solving, space tech, personal fears, and the pressure of doing her job while fighting her own insecurities.
I’d rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It’s a fun, fast-paced read that kept me turning pages. I enjoyed Janey as a character because she’s competent but still flawed in a relatable way, especially when her phobia hits her at the worst moments. The investigation also feels layered, with clues hidden throughout the station and surprises that actually make sense. The dynamic between Janey and Valdez adds tension, both professional and personal, without overwhelming the mystery.
I’d rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It’s a fun, fast-paced read that kept me turning pages. I enjoyed Janey as a character because she’s competent but still flawed in a relatable way, especially when her phobia hits her at the worst moments. The investigation also feels layered, with clues hidden throughout the station and surprises that actually make sense. The dynamic between Janey and Valdez adds tension, both professional and personal, without overwhelming the mystery.
October 16, 2023
Thirty-two year old Janey McCallister needs her job as lead criminal investigator at Bijoux de L’Etoile, a luxurious space station casino-hotel, in order to earn enough money to pay for her mother’s expensive experimental medical treatment treatment. What she doesn’t needs in a short deadline to recover a gem stolen from a rich guest while he slept. High-tech surveillance footage shows no one entered the guest’s room between the time he entered alone and the delivery of his pre-ordered breakfast the next morning. Nor is there any forensic evidence in the room. Further complicating the investigation is the very convenient appearance of Orlando Valdez, who claims to be with insurance company which insured the gem.
Janey has neither the time nor the confidence that the secretive man is who he claims to be to indulge in the chemistry between them.
A competent, intelligent and compassionate woman on a mission, Janey maneuvers through the maze to secure justice in this fast-paced space mystery.
I received a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
Janey has neither the time nor the confidence that the secretive man is who he claims to be to indulge in the chemistry between them.
A competent, intelligent and compassionate woman on a mission, Janey maneuvers through the maze to secure justice in this fast-paced space mystery.
I received a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
June 9, 2020
This was a quick, enjoyable read set in a well thought out future world. The crime plot was fairly simplistic and perhaps more suited for a cosy mystery than an edgier police procedural, but it worked well enough.
What I didn't care for was the romance plot. It was insta-love after a few hours of acquaintance, and then Janey played hot and cold with Orlando, as if she had to be assured of happily ever after before she could even kiss him. I found the romance all the more difficult to root for because I wasn't at all attracted to Orlando, on top of which his constant lies made it impossible for me to trust him as a romantic lead.
Janey was an oddly out-of-sync character, with too much past that both affected her actions and didn't affect them enough, so that her reactions tended to be all over the place. The cast of secondary characters was odd too, especially the chef with her own bodyguards. Nevertheless, I might be tempted to read the next book too.
What I didn't care for was the romance plot. It was insta-love after a few hours of acquaintance, and then Janey played hot and cold with Orlando, as if she had to be assured of happily ever after before she could even kiss him. I found the romance all the more difficult to root for because I wasn't at all attracted to Orlando, on top of which his constant lies made it impossible for me to trust him as a romantic lead.
Janey was an oddly out-of-sync character, with too much past that both affected her actions and didn't affect them enough, so that her reactions tended to be all over the place. The cast of secondary characters was odd too, especially the chef with her own bodyguards. Nevertheless, I might be tempted to read the next book too.
May 16, 2024
Beth Barany's "Into The Black" catapults readers into a thrilling blend of mystery, science fiction, and romance. Set in 2130 at the Bijoux de L’Etoile casino orbiting Earth, the story follows Janey McCallister, a determined investigator tasked with solving the theft of a priceless gem. However, as the case unravels into murder and conspiracy, Janey must navigate a dangerous underworld with the help of her team and the enigmatic Orlando Valdez. Barany's narrative is a gripping ride filled with futuristic technology, complex characters, and a slow-burn romance that adds depth to the story. "Into The Black" is a must-read for fans of gripping mysteries set in captivating futuristic worlds.
August 8, 2022
A nice mystery. In Space!
This was one of those books that at first seem fluff, but they get interesting as the chapters flow.
I didn't like very much the suave love interest, and I have to confess I skipped the "romance" parts (cheesy, clichéed soliloquies).
The MC at first does not seem really an adult, experienced investigator at all, but she turns out very well formed towards the end. When she starts to really investigate, there SHE becomes interesting.
I ended up liking Janey (even when sometimes she makes me roll my eyes), and will read the next one.
This was one of those books that at first seem fluff, but they get interesting as the chapters flow.
I didn't like very much the suave love interest, and I have to confess I skipped the "romance" parts (cheesy, clichéed soliloquies).
The MC at first does not seem really an adult, experienced investigator at all, but she turns out very well formed towards the end. When she starts to really investigate, there SHE becomes interesting.
I ended up liking Janey (even when sometimes she makes me roll my eyes), and will read the next one.
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