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Violet Darger #1.5
Image in a Cracked Mirror
A family has been massacred in their home, a display of violence both brutal and bizarre. The details prove curious -- not only are the bodies savaged way beyond anything found at a normal murder scene, every mirror in the house has been shattered.
The spectacle shocks a peaceful island community, and when local police turn to the FBI for assistance, Agent Violet Darger finds herself working another harrowing crime scene. She stares, once more, into the abyss, and mankind's warped reflection stares back.
The spectacle shocks a peaceful island community, and when local police turn to the FBI for assistance, Agent Violet Darger finds herself working another harrowing crime scene. She stares, once more, into the abyss, and mankind's warped reflection stares back.
74 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2017
802 people are currently reading
564 people want to read
About the author
L.T. Vargus
52 books1,087 followersLex Vargus is the co-author of over 20 thriller and horror novels.
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BOOKS BY LT VARGUS
The Violet Darger series
The Victor Loshak series
The Charlotte Winters series
FIND LEX ON:
Amazon - Twitter - LTVargus.com
BOOKS BY LT VARGUS
The Violet Darger series
The Victor Loshak series
The Charlotte Winters series
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
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June 4, 2024Done, done, done!
“Behoove” why would you use that word? 😅😂
“Behoove” why would you use that word? 😅😂
November 30, 2019
A novelette that fits in between book 1 and 2 of the Violet Darger series, this gives us a small case and some background as to how Violet was asked to join the FBI BAU. I've really fallen in love with Violet, but this long short story fell flat and a seemed a tad airless.
October 12, 2021
Short but sweet! Enjoyed this little didi but it was very short and Darger was not in any danger this time. So that was different. It seemed almost like an intro to the BAU than anything else. I now await more of the good stuff. Many Thanks to the authors.
January 10, 2025
I love the Violet Darger series. This one is a novella a very quick read. But don't that fool you. It's still a great police procedural. A family of four is brutally murder all at once in there home. Including a 6 year old and a new infant. Special Agent Violet Darger and her partner have to go profile the crime scene and the state of mind of the killer. There are several suspects to interrogate and can only be held for 18 hours. So the Agents have to work fast to solve this one. It may be quick but it's still very well written. Don't miss the Darger series go start reading them today.
June 8, 2017
This is a quick read, but it's an extra-creepy short installment in the Violet Darger series.
In this story, Darger is back and investigating another crime with her pseudo-mentor Victor Loshak. I don't want to reveal spoilers, but this story is just CREEPY. The kind of story that gets into your brain and makes you want to take a shower, because it's that disturbing.
The story *IS* disturbing, but that's a good thing in this genre. The writing is top-notch, as always, and I was left eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the series.
In this story, Darger is back and investigating another crime with her pseudo-mentor Victor Loshak. I don't want to reveal spoilers, but this story is just CREEPY. The kind of story that gets into your brain and makes you want to take a shower, because it's that disturbing.
The story *IS* disturbing, but that's a good thing in this genre. The writing is top-notch, as always, and I was left eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the series.
June 8, 2017
Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the authors but have voluntarily provided a review.
“Image in a Cracked Mirror” is a Violet Darger short story set a few months after the close of “Dead End Girl”. While this book may be read as a stand-alone from “Dead End Girl”, I would not recommend doing so basically because I feel it’s important to know what transpired in the previous novel to truly appreciate this installment. The novella catches up with Violet and Detective Loshak as they have returned to their daily lives and are still trying to recuperate from the fallout from the Doll Parts case. Loshak is heading up to do some profiling on a particularly grisly murder case in Washington State and wants Violet to accompany him. Violet tentatively accepts and learns that Loshak is looking to mentor the promising young agent an assist her in her career. Upon touring a rather grisly murder scene with multiple deaths, the duo return to the local police station to interview certain persons of interest with the hopes of catching the culprit.
“Image in a Cracked Mirror” was a nice quick catch up with the main characters in this new series. A few lingering questions were answered and the Darger/Loshak dynamic seems to be getting fleshed out more. The fact that this short is based on a real case had me googling certain details to see if I could get more information. While not successful, I did manage to find a ton of killer macaroni and cheese recipes. A very nice tie in story, that showcases the profiling prowess of both our veteran agent and his young trainee. It will be interesting to see where the duo end up when their next case comes up.
“Image in a Cracked Mirror” is a Violet Darger short story set a few months after the close of “Dead End Girl”. While this book may be read as a stand-alone from “Dead End Girl”, I would not recommend doing so basically because I feel it’s important to know what transpired in the previous novel to truly appreciate this installment. The novella catches up with Violet and Detective Loshak as they have returned to their daily lives and are still trying to recuperate from the fallout from the Doll Parts case. Loshak is heading up to do some profiling on a particularly grisly murder case in Washington State and wants Violet to accompany him. Violet tentatively accepts and learns that Loshak is looking to mentor the promising young agent an assist her in her career. Upon touring a rather grisly murder scene with multiple deaths, the duo return to the local police station to interview certain persons of interest with the hopes of catching the culprit.
“Image in a Cracked Mirror” was a nice quick catch up with the main characters in this new series. A few lingering questions were answered and the Darger/Loshak dynamic seems to be getting fleshed out more. The fact that this short is based on a real case had me googling certain details to see if I could get more information. While not successful, I did manage to find a ton of killer macaroni and cheese recipes. A very nice tie in story, that showcases the profiling prowess of both our veteran agent and his young trainee. It will be interesting to see where the duo end up when their next case comes up.
June 28, 2021
Image in a Cracked Mirror - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
The eponymous Image not only shows Agent Violet Darger a distorted view of her own visage, but also symbolises the disjointedness from reality that the whole case encompasses.
The victims are all members of the Cameron family and we learn something of their lives and the way the three main suspects interacted variously with the husband and wife.
Darger's partner on the case is Special Agent Victor Loshak, (who's less than a year short of compulsory retirement and in remission of his pancreatitis). She sympathises with him being called in from sick leave, but values his opinion as a fellow profiler.
After visiting the murder scene and speaking to the local sheriff, only three are interviewed by the Agents. But which of them is the killer?
Can the case be solved by their specialist skills?
Get your copy of LT Vargus and Tim McBain's excellent Image in a Cracked Mirror today to find out the answers. Highly recommended to fans of Willow Rose's FBI profiler, Eva Rae Thomas and Carolyn Arnold's Detective Madison Knight series.
The eponymous Image not only shows Agent Violet Darger a distorted view of her own visage, but also symbolises the disjointedness from reality that the whole case encompasses.
The victims are all members of the Cameron family and we learn something of their lives and the way the three main suspects interacted variously with the husband and wife.
Darger's partner on the case is Special Agent Victor Loshak, (who's less than a year short of compulsory retirement and in remission of his pancreatitis). She sympathises with him being called in from sick leave, but values his opinion as a fellow profiler.
After visiting the murder scene and speaking to the local sheriff, only three are interviewed by the Agents. But which of them is the killer?
Can the case be solved by their specialist skills?
Get your copy of LT Vargus and Tim McBain's excellent Image in a Cracked Mirror today to find out the answers. Highly recommended to fans of Willow Rose's FBI profiler, Eva Rae Thomas and Carolyn Arnold's Detective Madison Knight series.
March 29, 2022
Quickie
A short quick read just to get your little heart pumping. A family brutally slaughtered stabbed so many times the ME couldn’t officially give an exact number. Detective Darger is getting into the deep end with this one.
A short quick read just to get your little heart pumping. A family brutally slaughtered stabbed so many times the ME couldn’t officially give an exact number. Detective Darger is getting into the deep end with this one.
February 27, 2025
It was a good short read, not really much to it but it was good to see how Violet gets the offer.
Book 2 sounds interesting, going to start it now!
Book 2 sounds interesting, going to start it now!
June 15, 2017
(3.7 Stars). This Violet Darger series novella was good, though I would've preferred it as a full length novel. The solve was way too fast and pat. I'm curious why the short shrift? If I'm not mistaken, this was based on a crime that happened in my area...it sounds really familiar. Seattle/Everett area, maybe a year or two ago? Would've been pretty interesting. Anyway, I would really like to see a 2nd full length story from this series. Looking forward to giving a solid 4 stars. ( I reserve 5 stars for life-changing books and longtime favorite authors I can't live without, just for the record).
May 21, 2017
I love this new world/series with Violet Darger. Kind of reminds me of a combination of Silence of the Lambs and Criminal Minds with the author's own personal twist. If you like your thrillers dark, edgy and brilliant, you must read this series of books. Can be read alone, however, but better if you read in order. Enjoy!
July 4, 2017
This long short story really captivated me, making me want to read more of their work. The description was downright brilliant. I don't usually like collaborations, but this one's the exception.
July 21, 2017
In this bite-sized episode of the Violet Darger series, Darger and Loshak are in an idyllic island town where nothing bad could ever happen, investigating every family's nightmare.
Image in a Cracked Mirror is viscerally unsettling, suspenseful, and eerie, and you can read the whole thing over your lunch break or just before bed. Of course, if you do read it over lunch, avoid the mac & cheese. And if you read before bed, be prepared to lock all your doors and board up the windows when you're done. Neither you nor Darger are getting out of this case undisturbed.
Image in a Cracked Mirror is viscerally unsettling, suspenseful, and eerie, and you can read the whole thing over your lunch break or just before bed. Of course, if you do read it over lunch, avoid the mac & cheese. And if you read before bed, be prepared to lock all your doors and board up the windows when you're done. Neither you nor Darger are getting out of this case undisturbed.
June 14, 2017
"A Very Suspenseful Crime Investigation (A Novella)"
This story happens to be based on a real crime case. Much of the details remain true to life. This is the second story I've read about Violet Darger. She is a FBI Special Agent. Receiving a call from Special Agent Loshak, he asks her to join him to interrogate some suspects in Washington State. He's already reserved a flight ticket for her, so she accepts. A family of four has been murdered on Lopez Island, just off the coast of Washington. All the mirrors in the home had been shattered and bizarre mutilations had been done to all the dead victims. The local police felt the case was too extreme to handle and asked that the FBI agents interrogate the six suspects who seem to be tied to the scene. Both agents are skilled in constructing behavioral profiles based on the facts of the crime. This is a rapidly solved case, one you'll finish reading in one sitting. It's well developed and well written. Another winner for these two authors ... as well as for Violet Darger, Special agent with special talents. I loved it!
This story happens to be based on a real crime case. Much of the details remain true to life. This is the second story I've read about Violet Darger. She is a FBI Special Agent. Receiving a call from Special Agent Loshak, he asks her to join him to interrogate some suspects in Washington State. He's already reserved a flight ticket for her, so she accepts. A family of four has been murdered on Lopez Island, just off the coast of Washington. All the mirrors in the home had been shattered and bizarre mutilations had been done to all the dead victims. The local police felt the case was too extreme to handle and asked that the FBI agents interrogate the six suspects who seem to be tied to the scene. Both agents are skilled in constructing behavioral profiles based on the facts of the crime. This is a rapidly solved case, one you'll finish reading in one sitting. It's well developed and well written. Another winner for these two authors ... as well as for Violet Darger, Special agent with special talents. I loved it!
September 29, 2017
First of all, this is not for the weak. It may be brief, but it's disturbing.
Violet Darger and Victor Loshak make solving crimes look easy, but I still had no idea who did it until the end. I even read it again to see what I missed, but the only thing I came away with is a nice solid fear of pretty much all strangers. I have known a lot of crazy people but this one takes the cake.
I love seeing Darger and Loshak working together. His experience and her instincts are a perfect combination. They're both emotionally guarded, haunted by troubled pasts...and they're both insightful into others while remaining stubbornly clueless...or at least not entirely forthright about their own motivations. I want to see how their relationship grows.
The thing that's bothering me now is the image in the cracked mirror, and what that means for the next book. This novella has left me wondering - do we even know who Violet is? Does she?
Violet Darger and Victor Loshak make solving crimes look easy, but I still had no idea who did it until the end. I even read it again to see what I missed, but the only thing I came away with is a nice solid fear of pretty much all strangers. I have known a lot of crazy people but this one takes the cake.
I love seeing Darger and Loshak working together. His experience and her instincts are a perfect combination. They're both emotionally guarded, haunted by troubled pasts...and they're both insightful into others while remaining stubbornly clueless...or at least not entirely forthright about their own motivations. I want to see how their relationship grows.
The thing that's bothering me now is the image in the cracked mirror, and what that means for the next book. This novella has left me wondering - do we even know who Violet is? Does she?
December 6, 2020
A great short story that starts a couple months after Dead End Girl ends. Out of the hospital and on the mend, Loshak has another case and he asks Darger to help out. A family is brutally murdered and the police are out of their element. Loshak and Darger interview the suspects and solve the case. A fast paced stand alone story (that would be better understood if you read Dead End Girl first). I really enjoyed this story a lot, especially the interactions between Loshak and Darger. We get a better understanding of them and the direction Darger will go in the future. I love seeing Loshak more involved. He was awesome in his series and I think he adds balance to this one.
WARNING - the murders are a bit disturbing, especially the infant. Not for triggered or people uncomfortable with infanticide.
WARNING - the murders are a bit disturbing, especially the infant. Not for triggered or people uncomfortable with infanticide.
September 5, 2023
Pretty sure this was a spin on the creepy case of Richard Chase. The crime scene descriptions were brutal and creepy. I don't cringe easily, but the description in this book got me. Again, these books are not the popular crime romance books some of you are looking for. These are hardcore. The Richard Chase case freaked me out when I listened to the serial killer podcast from Parcast. I wasn't even remotely curious about him, except that like the agents discovered in this book, so many mental health cases are either overlooked, misdiagnosed, or the patient's treatments are not followed up on. We the people tend to be masters at explaining odd, random things away when it suits our narrative. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but felt it was missing something. I'm not quite sure what. Maybe more definitive dialogue between Loshak and Darger? Still, it engaged me and I couldn't put it down!
March 6, 2020
I don't like short stories, as a rule. But I really liked this one because I already knew the characters from Dead End Girl, the first Violet Darger novel. I gave this one only 4 stars because I expected a novella and instead got a short story. It was a fun little story and it moves Darger's background story along a bit so I am more than ready for book 2, Killing Season. I received this little story from the authors for free in return for an honest review. It was a bit difficult to download to my Kindle through Book Funnel, but I did enjoy it. I like Violet Darger, look forward to her next case, and plan to put Killing Season on my Kindle.
March 8, 2024
I found this book with no context in a little indie shop while on vacation. I was drawn in by the cover and thought it was poetry. Once I flipped it open and realized it wasn't I went for it.
I know nothing about the characters or the story line so up until the last chapter I was like how are they going to fit a whole story into this tiny book. I'm glad it went the way it did. They handled the details with the right amount of discretion and wrapped it up cleanly, in a way that felt like how real life goes. Not every case is weeks and weeks and every sheriff's office unhelpful. I really liked this but am not sure I'll read others as reading BAU type things usually messes with my dreams.
I know nothing about the characters or the story line so up until the last chapter I was like how are they going to fit a whole story into this tiny book. I'm glad it went the way it did. They handled the details with the right amount of discretion and wrapped it up cleanly, in a way that felt like how real life goes. Not every case is weeks and weeks and every sheriff's office unhelpful. I really liked this but am not sure I'll read others as reading BAU type things usually messes with my dreams.
June 21, 2017
Image in a Cracked Mirror is a great novella for whetting your Violet Darger appetite. You can easily read this in a short period, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this appalling tale. Also try not to vomit all over your e-reader. Vargus and McBain do a great job of throwing the reader into Violet's world, with tight writing and exquisite detail that's not overbearing. It's not necessary to read the first book in the series to immerse yourself in this story. Highly recommended for anyone who loves creepy thrillers!
January 5, 2019
I received this novella via download from the authors after I finished the first book. It includes the two characters from the first book in the series, Violet Barger and Victor Loshak. This was a very quick read, with the two agents focused on solving the murder of a family. As with the first novel, this was quickly paced and very well-written. I am hoping that as the series develops, we learn more about Loshak--there was a reference to his daughter in the first novel. I am looking forward to more with these agents.
June 13, 2017
Excellent story!!
I received the story for an honest review, but it was so good that I would do it any way. I love the storyline and the characters, because it kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the end. That's the type of story I look for in books. Please read for yourself and leave a review. Reviews are good for both the authors as well as prospective readers. ☺
I received the story for an honest review, but it was so good that I would do it any way. I love the storyline and the characters, because it kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the end. That's the type of story I look for in books. Please read for yourself and leave a review. Reviews are good for both the authors as well as prospective readers. ☺
October 18, 2018
When I first started reading it I couldn't put down. I really wished this was a full book because the author had a great story and vision. As they started to delve into the suspects the strength of this amazing book slowly fell apart for me because the author just threw his hands up and rushed it. I find this author has a great talent and skill in writing and i hope they put it towards a full book because it will be an amazing piece of work vs these small cut up stores.
January 5, 2022
I'm gonna like this series
I loved how quick I read this short st.ory. I'm also glad I read book #1 first. I had some history reading book # 1 then book .5 that w. ill help me get into book #2. You have a choice to read.5 then book 1 or read book 1 then .5 as I did .Now I know how Violet gets into BAU. And I know why her partner is offering to get her there I'm gonna like this series
I loved how quick I read this short st.ory. I'm also glad I read book #1 first. I had some history reading book # 1 then book .5 that w. ill help me get into book #2. You have a choice to read.5 then book 1 or read book 1 then .5 as I did .Now I know how Violet gets into BAU. And I know why her partner is offering to get her there I'm gonna like this series
July 16, 2024
I had really hoped this novella would make the story move faster and we wouldn't get as much off topic information. Instead, things just got worse it felt more like an information dump then a full story.
Here you go reader, the local cops have this figured out but let's bring in Violet and Loshack in to "fix" it anyway.
I won't carry on with this series even though I got both the Loshack and Violet box sets. It just isn't worth it!
Here you go reader, the local cops have this figured out but let's bring in Violet and Loshack in to "fix" it anyway.
I won't carry on with this series even though I got both the Loshack and Violet box sets. It just isn't worth it!
February 27, 2019
Intense and thought-provoking. I liked the mystery that was added with trying to figure out which culprit did it, and what their reason was. I was a little surprised with the reveal, but it made sense. Overall, I highly recommend this book, the Violet Darger series, and the work of L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain.
June 27, 2021
Ohk so somewhere it was written that the story is inspired by real life incidence which is pretty messed up. I wish they would have mentioned which actual case it was for research purposes...ahm ahm. Otherwise it's a very small part to complete. Wish Darger and Loshak had a lil more chemistry, looking forward to their partnership.
July 26, 2021
A short and sweet novella that sees Violet Darger reunited with Victor Loshak, the FBI' s leading profiler. Based on an actual case the story is focused on our two central characters interviewing three suspects in a multiple murder. As a result of their teamwork Loshak invites Darger to transfer to the unit within the Bureau, thereby setting the scene for the remainder of the series.
October 19, 2017
This was a good, short read about a really interesting case. I wish it had been a bit longer because I wanted to know more but I still enjoyed it.
I got this as a free download from L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain.
I got this as a free download from L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain.
January 2, 2018
The Violet Darger series is fantastic and book 1.5 was a great Segway into book 2. I can’t wait to see where the series goes in the future. I discovered Vargus and McBain last year and I am thankful I did. They are fantastic and seem to be getting better with each new book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews