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Kate Barnes #2
Dark Obsessions
A GRUESOME MURDER IN THE WOODS
IS THE FIRST TERROR TO BE UNCOVERED
Reeling from the trauma of her last case, SFPD Detective Kate Barnes heads to the Olympic Peninsula hoping to heal the present by resolving the past. When the ravaged corpse of an unidentified teen is discovered, her search for personal peace takes a back seat to the quest for justice.
...IN A DEADLY WORLD OF DARK OBSESSIONS
As Kate digs deeper, she discovers the victim was not the only one who had been taken against her will. Racing against the clock to rescue the remaining girls, she uncovers a complex series of ever-increasing horrors. In the darkest corners of Washington state, Kate Barnes will come face-to-face with an adversary so ruthless and powerful that it will take everything she has to save herself, let alone the girls.
IS THE FIRST TERROR TO BE UNCOVERED
Reeling from the trauma of her last case, SFPD Detective Kate Barnes heads to the Olympic Peninsula hoping to heal the present by resolving the past. When the ravaged corpse of an unidentified teen is discovered, her search for personal peace takes a back seat to the quest for justice.
...IN A DEADLY WORLD OF DARK OBSESSIONS
As Kate digs deeper, she discovers the victim was not the only one who had been taken against her will. Racing against the clock to rescue the remaining girls, she uncovers a complex series of ever-increasing horrors. In the darkest corners of Washington state, Kate Barnes will come face-to-face with an adversary so ruthless and powerful that it will take everything she has to save herself, let alone the girls.
375 pages, Paperback
Published April 26, 2022
3 people are currently reading
2347 people want to read
About the author
Marie Sutro
6 books66 followersMarie Sutro is an award-winning and bestselling mystery author. In 2018, she won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for the Best New Voice in Fiction for her debut novel, Dark Associations.
Her stories are inspired by her family history (i.e. her father, grandfather and great-grandfather all served in the San Francisco Police Department). Marie is a member of Sisters in Crime and a volunteer with California Library Literacy Services, helping adults improve their reading and writing skills. She resides in Northern California and is currently at work on her next book.
Her stories are inspired by her family history (i.e. her father, grandfather and great-grandfather all served in the San Francisco Police Department). Marie is a member of Sisters in Crime and a volunteer with California Library Literacy Services, helping adults improve their reading and writing skills. She resides in Northern California and is currently at work on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 1, 2022
This is the second book featuring SFPD Detective Kate Barnes. I have not read book one, but I did not feel like it was necessary. As far as Kate goes, I did like her. I felt like she was strong but a bit broken. This is not a bad thing as it made her more human and personable. Also, I think that because of this, she feels for the victims in the cases she is solving.
In regards, to this book I did feel like it was a good police protocol one. It did not feel like the killer had the upper hand but that the police were on the right trail. It was just a matter of time. There were a few twists that did keep me engaged. This helped as I did find myself struggling in the beginning to find my engagement with the characters and storyline. Just the latter half and last third of the story is where it did pick up.
In regards, to this book I did feel like it was a good police protocol one. It did not feel like the killer had the upper hand but that the police were on the right trail. It was just a matter of time. There were a few twists that did keep me engaged. This helped as I did find myself struggling in the beginning to find my engagement with the characters and storyline. Just the latter half and last third of the story is where it did pick up.
May 2, 2022
Dark Obsessions by Marie Sutro is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. This is my first read by Marie Sutro and it certainly won’t be my last. This was SO good!
Marie Sutro’s writing is gripping. I devoured this book. It was impossible to put down. Tip: don’t start this book at bed time or you won’t sleep! That’s not a complaint though, I love when books grab my attention and hold it from beginning to end.
Psychological thrillers are some of my favorites and Dark Obsessions is a perfect example of why. It seeped into my brain and I’m still thinking about the storyafter I finished reading.
Kate is a great main character. She’s relatable and very likable. She’s strong and independent with a lot of growth in this book. I’m looking forward to reading the first book in this series because even though they are standalone, I want to know more about Kate!
Overall, I absolutely loved Dark Obsessions. This is easily a five star read for me. Highly recommended.
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
Marie Sutro’s writing is gripping. I devoured this book. It was impossible to put down. Tip: don’t start this book at bed time or you won’t sleep! That’s not a complaint though, I love when books grab my attention and hold it from beginning to end.
Psychological thrillers are some of my favorites and Dark Obsessions is a perfect example of why. It seeped into my brain and I’m still thinking about the storyafter I finished reading.
Kate is a great main character. She’s relatable and very likable. She’s strong and independent with a lot of growth in this book. I’m looking forward to reading the first book in this series because even though they are standalone, I want to know more about Kate!
Overall, I absolutely loved Dark Obsessions. This is easily a five star read for me. Highly recommended.
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
April 28, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 on here!
Buckle up for the ride that you are about to take with Kate Barnes. This is the second book in the Kate Barnes series, and while I think that it was still an excellent book as a standalone crime thriller, I think that if I had read the first book, I would have a better understanding of what Kate went through with the trauma of the last case and how it is impacting her decision making in the current book. That being said, I definitely want to go back and read the first book in the series because I absolutely LOVED Marie’s writing style. She is so descriptive with the setting and what is going on, that you feel like you are watching a movie instead of reading a novel! This story captivated me enough that I was almost late to a meeting for work because I was so engrossed in the storyline (and I work from home so I don’t have many excuses to be late for work!).
Buckle up for the ride that you are about to take with Kate Barnes. This is the second book in the Kate Barnes series, and while I think that it was still an excellent book as a standalone crime thriller, I think that if I had read the first book, I would have a better understanding of what Kate went through with the trauma of the last case and how it is impacting her decision making in the current book. That being said, I definitely want to go back and read the first book in the series because I absolutely LOVED Marie’s writing style. She is so descriptive with the setting and what is going on, that you feel like you are watching a movie instead of reading a novel! This story captivated me enough that I was almost late to a meeting for work because I was so engrossed in the storyline (and I work from home so I don’t have many excuses to be late for work!).
May 2, 2022
Dark Obsessions by Marie Sutro is the second in her Kate Barnes series, and if you are a lover of dark and twisted mystery novels you’re not going to want to miss out on this book.
Kate’s story continues as she’s seeking some closure concerning the tumultuous relationship she had with her mother as a child. She has no way of knowing that while in Eagle’s Nest that she’ll be pulled into helping investigate a horrible murder. The deeper she digs the more she learns and the darker things become. Justice cries out and Kate won’t stop until she’s saved the remaining victims.
Dark Obsessions can be read as a standalone novel and I absolutely devoured this book. Kate is such an engaging character. She’s shadowed by her past – both childhood trauma and the trauma of the last case, but she’s driven to show that she’s stronger than she seems. Battling her personal demons will either make or break her, but her determination will be the final answer to it all.
Dark Obsessions is dark, twisted and an edge of your seat thriller of a novel. I love how the author weaves an intriguing tale of abductions, murder, and cruelty. But the story doesn’t solely focus on that. The author never lets slip into the background the original purpose of Kate’s visit to Eagle’s Nest. When the moment calls for it, Kate interacts with her mother and you can tell just how deeply rooted these issues are between the two women. This book is packed with drama from beginning to end. There are some hints of romance, but things just don’t pan out. While it is disappointing on a level, it all works together to create characters and situations that seem like they could have been pulled from headlines.
This author does a fantastic job writing this novel and I’m eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. I’m rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I’m looking forward to reading this author’s debut novel and steeping myself fully in Kate’s world as I await book three. I highly recommend this novel to readers who love a good twisted with even more twisted killers.
Kate’s story continues as she’s seeking some closure concerning the tumultuous relationship she had with her mother as a child. She has no way of knowing that while in Eagle’s Nest that she’ll be pulled into helping investigate a horrible murder. The deeper she digs the more she learns and the darker things become. Justice cries out and Kate won’t stop until she’s saved the remaining victims.
Dark Obsessions can be read as a standalone novel and I absolutely devoured this book. Kate is such an engaging character. She’s shadowed by her past – both childhood trauma and the trauma of the last case, but she’s driven to show that she’s stronger than she seems. Battling her personal demons will either make or break her, but her determination will be the final answer to it all.
Dark Obsessions is dark, twisted and an edge of your seat thriller of a novel. I love how the author weaves an intriguing tale of abductions, murder, and cruelty. But the story doesn’t solely focus on that. The author never lets slip into the background the original purpose of Kate’s visit to Eagle’s Nest. When the moment calls for it, Kate interacts with her mother and you can tell just how deeply rooted these issues are between the two women. This book is packed with drama from beginning to end. There are some hints of romance, but things just don’t pan out. While it is disappointing on a level, it all works together to create characters and situations that seem like they could have been pulled from headlines.
This author does a fantastic job writing this novel and I’m eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. I’m rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I’m looking forward to reading this author’s debut novel and steeping myself fully in Kate’s world as I await book three. I highly recommend this novel to readers who love a good twisted with even more twisted killers.
May 4, 2022
Thank you to R&R Book Tours for my spot on this tour and thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
When I signed up to read this book, I didn't realize it was part of a series. It is the second book in the Kate Barnes series but luckily it can be read as a standalone. This is my first book by this author and after reading this one I want to go back and read the first book now.
This is a crime thriller. I don't read very many thrillers, but I sprinkle some in here and there. It took me a little bit to be fully immersed into the story but once I got into it, I was really into it. The author does a great job at keeping you guessing who the bad guys are until the very end. In books like this I always suspect pretty much everybody and I'm never able to narrow it down to just one person until it is revealed to me and that is exactly how it happened in this book.
There are a lot of trigger warnings for this book some of which are murder and rape along with so many others that I don't want to mention because of spoilers. I would suggest you look into trigger warnings for this book if you are triggered by anything because like I said there are a lot.
There is a touch of romance, but it doesn't take over the story which is good. I feel like everything was well balanced. I do think that Kate made some very stupid decisions throughout this book. Maybe it's because of the trauma she is supposed to be dealing with from her previous case that is making her act rashly. There were a couple of things she did that I just didn't think an actual cop/detective would do. Maybe that's just my way of thinking though I don't know.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the first book in this series as well as any more books that the author releases in the series because I would like to know where Kate goes from here.
When I signed up to read this book, I didn't realize it was part of a series. It is the second book in the Kate Barnes series but luckily it can be read as a standalone. This is my first book by this author and after reading this one I want to go back and read the first book now.
This is a crime thriller. I don't read very many thrillers, but I sprinkle some in here and there. It took me a little bit to be fully immersed into the story but once I got into it, I was really into it. The author does a great job at keeping you guessing who the bad guys are until the very end. In books like this I always suspect pretty much everybody and I'm never able to narrow it down to just one person until it is revealed to me and that is exactly how it happened in this book.
There are a lot of trigger warnings for this book some of which are murder and rape along with so many others that I don't want to mention because of spoilers. I would suggest you look into trigger warnings for this book if you are triggered by anything because like I said there are a lot.
There is a touch of romance, but it doesn't take over the story which is good. I feel like everything was well balanced. I do think that Kate made some very stupid decisions throughout this book. Maybe it's because of the trauma she is supposed to be dealing with from her previous case that is making her act rashly. There were a couple of things she did that I just didn't think an actual cop/detective would do. Maybe that's just my way of thinking though I don't know.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the first book in this series as well as any more books that the author releases in the series because I would like to know where Kate goes from here.
May 16, 2022
Excellent thriller from Marie Sutro that had me turning the pages furiously as the novel came to its exciting climax!
Kate Barnes, SFPD, still recovering from her last case in which she nearly lost her life (and more!), goes to visit her estranged mother in a sleepy Washington town. While navigating the choppy waters of the reconciliation with her mother Chloe, Kate gets caught up in a local murder case. She decides to help out the short-handed (and attractive) sheriff, Tony.
The deeper she and Tony get into the mystery of the murdered young woman, the more difficulty Kate has overcoming the effects of her last case, which still haunts her. She soon determines there are other young women who have been trafficked into the country for very unsavory purposes. She and Tony must race against time--and against some pretty evil adversaries--to save the girls.
Kate Barnes is a kick-butt character with a vulnerable side borne of childhood neglect and tragedy. As a reader, I found myself rooting for her to not only solve the case and save the girls, but to come to a healthy reconciliation with her mother. Did either happen? I'll just say that a sequel is apparently already in the works!
Kate Barnes, SFPD, still recovering from her last case in which she nearly lost her life (and more!), goes to visit her estranged mother in a sleepy Washington town. While navigating the choppy waters of the reconciliation with her mother Chloe, Kate gets caught up in a local murder case. She decides to help out the short-handed (and attractive) sheriff, Tony.
The deeper she and Tony get into the mystery of the murdered young woman, the more difficulty Kate has overcoming the effects of her last case, which still haunts her. She soon determines there are other young women who have been trafficked into the country for very unsavory purposes. She and Tony must race against time--and against some pretty evil adversaries--to save the girls.
Kate Barnes is a kick-butt character with a vulnerable side borne of childhood neglect and tragedy. As a reader, I found myself rooting for her to not only solve the case and save the girls, but to come to a healthy reconciliation with her mother. Did either happen? I'll just say that a sequel is apparently already in the works!
April 29, 2022
Thank you R&R Book Tours and Marie Sutro for this gifted ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is the second book in the Kate Barnes series, and the first I've read. This book was so AMAZING! I was so impressed with Marie Sutro's style of writing. I devoured this book!
Kate Barnes is such a likable and relatable character. She's a strong and independent SVU detective with a side of unresolved trauma and mom issues. Another favorite character of mine was Tony Luchasetti. I liked the connection between him and Kate and their trips to "Beans of Mine" coffee shop. I'm adding Marie Sutro's first book in this series, Dark Associations to my TBR since I'd love to read more of Kate's backstory and her first case of the Tower Torturer. Even though this is book two in the series, it could definitely be read as a stand-alone. Can't wait to read book 3!
Highly recommend this book to all crime thriller readers!
This is the second book in the Kate Barnes series, and the first I've read. This book was so AMAZING! I was so impressed with Marie Sutro's style of writing. I devoured this book!
Kate Barnes is such a likable and relatable character. She's a strong and independent SVU detective with a side of unresolved trauma and mom issues. Another favorite character of mine was Tony Luchasetti. I liked the connection between him and Kate and their trips to "Beans of Mine" coffee shop. I'm adding Marie Sutro's first book in this series, Dark Associations to my TBR since I'd love to read more of Kate's backstory and her first case of the Tower Torturer. Even though this is book two in the series, it could definitely be read as a stand-alone. Can't wait to read book 3!
Highly recommend this book to all crime thriller readers!
January 17, 2024
Dark Obsessions is the second book Marie Sutro has published with her hero, Kate Barnes. Kate is nicely flawed, having suffered from a serial killer in the last book. In Dark Obsessions Kate has gone on vacation only to be pulled into a murder. The local authorities have found the body of a Malaysian girl who was sexually abused and cut up. Kate has an inner core that must protect women. She can’t stop herself from helping the local police. At the same time she is attracted to the sheriff. Kate follows the trail to a terrible human trafficking ring and kicks ass a few times in the process. She often doesn’t do what she is told, which makes her a delightful hero. This psychological thriller also portrays a very realistic and gradual reconcilement of Kate with her mother, a former drug addict and terrible parent. The writing is strong and Sutro’s grasp of technical scientific details and procedures is impressive. This novel roars to the ending. I’m looking forward the next one.
April 28, 2022
If Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King had collaborated, Marie Sutro's DARK OBSESSIONS might well have been a result. In the second of her Kate Barnes psychological thrillers, Marie grabs Kate at her most vulnerable, thrusting her deeper into a maelstrom of madness. After a stunning debut with the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Winning DARK ASSOCIATIONS, Marie ratchets up the tension with powerful prose and a plot that leaves you in a puddle of satisfied exhaustion. And just when you think you can breathe again, she baits the hook with a last page teaser, teeing up our taste for her next delectable study in suspense. Read DARK OBSESSIONS and you'll agree: Marie Sutro deserves a place among the pantheon of our most gifted dream weavers of darkness.
February 2, 2023
I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the second book in the Kate Barnes series but can be read as a stand-alone. There are lots of references to book 1 but I was totally able to read book 2 without having read the first book. The book was so good and I was hooked from the start. I am not always the biggest thriller fan (I just don’t naturally gravitate towards them) but I loved this one. The storyline was great and the main characters as well. I loved Tony, the sheriff, and hope he will stick around for future books. I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because I felt it was a little long. The story was well-paced but I felt like sometimes there were filler pages of description of things like the forest etc. in too much detail.
May 2, 2022
This is the second book in the Kate Barnes series and just like the first I was hooked! Kate is a wonderful main character. She has her strengths and flaws. She's strong, independent and vulnerable but she is easy to like and relate to. The connection between her and Tony is another part that I enjoyed! The twists and turns are great! The minute you think you got everything together, another bread crumb I'd dropped and you start all over again! I can't wait to see what the next book brings, especially with that last twist!
Thank you R&R Book Tours and Marie Sutro for sharing this fantastic book with me!
Thank you R&R Book Tours and Marie Sutro for sharing this fantastic book with me!
May 18, 2023
I purchased this book at a reader event in Northern California. I love that it takes place in Washington State. The protagonist is a strong woman, but has some haunting childhood memories. It can definitely be a dark phycological thriller, but I loved the action and it kept me guessing throughout. This is the second book in a series, I have not read the first one, but the story is told so well, you have glimpses into what the first book was about without missing anything. My husband loved this story too. I can't wait for the next Kate Barnes story.
August 25, 2022
Excellent story ! Detective Kate Barnes is in Washington state to get some down time and to try and make a new start with her Mother All that goes out the window when the body of a young woman is found in an old factory Brutally abused and obviously tortured the teenager is part of a much larger horrifying case that Kate is quickly drawn in to This is the second book in a series by Marie Sutro but is easily read as a stand alone I’m excited for the third to come out !
November 9, 2022
A worthy successor to Dark Association. Once again Kate Barnes is embroiled in a mystery while trying to reconnect with her abusive mother. Young women are missing, and after the discovery of a particularly nasty homicide, Kate joins the local Sherriff in trying to discover what is happening. Set in Washington state the natural beauty is only rivaled by the evil lurking behind a respectable face. Highly recommendfed
January 31, 2024
Kudos to all writer who tackle the tough topic of human trafficking. In this novel by Marie Sutro, SFPD detective Kate Barnes is taking a break from her deeply stressful and dangerous job and stumbles into a disturbing case that leads her deeper and deeper into the world of trafficking young girls, many of them from foreign countries. Sutro writes well and keeps the tension level high in this second book featuring Kate.
June 21, 2022
This is a pure gem! Since the beginning of 2022, I have been devouring thrillers featuring undaunted female leads like crazy and Kate Barnes just entered my list of top ten. It was intriguing and kept me guessing! I am really happy that this book is part of a series because I will, without any doubt, be waiting for sequels. A great read!
May 8, 2023
Wow! Marie Sutro really knows how to craft a dark thriller! Dark Obsessions grabbed my attention in the first few pages and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I enjoyed getting to know protagonist Kate better and to see her soft side as well as her determined and physically capable gritty side. I highly recommend this book!
January 17, 2024
I'm not sure "enjoyed" is the right word for how I experienced this book. It was a nail-biting trip, compelling with a page-turning pace. The dark theme was sometimes hard to digest, but meaningful and thought-provoking. I started the series with this one and definitely want to go back to book 1.
April 26, 2022
Could not put this book down!! Kate Barns is smart, cool and a total bad ass. There are a lot of twists and turns, so be prepared for a chilling ride till the end.
May 24, 2022
More of a 3.5. I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it, decent mystery and all just now sure I like Kate
November 7, 2022
I hadn't read the previous book, but it really didn't matter. A little slow at the start, but ended up being a cracker of a read.
January 29, 2024
Book 2 in this series was just as good! Scary-ish.
May 15, 2022
4.5 stars
First, let me say I've never read this author before, and jumped into the series with book 2. While I didn't exactly feel lost, I think I would have understood the character better (and been able to immerse myself in the story more from the beginning) had I read the first installment to the Kate Barnes series.
The writing was well done, and the story itself kept me entertained. I liked that Kate wasn't perfect. She had her flaws, which made her seem more real. The story wasn't predictable and kept me guessing.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, and want a gripping read that will pull you in, then you can't go wrong with Dark Obsessions.
*I received an ARC from R&R Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
First, let me say I've never read this author before, and jumped into the series with book 2. While I didn't exactly feel lost, I think I would have understood the character better (and been able to immerse myself in the story more from the beginning) had I read the first installment to the Kate Barnes series.
The writing was well done, and the story itself kept me entertained. I liked that Kate wasn't perfect. She had her flaws, which made her seem more real. The story wasn't predictable and kept me guessing.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, and want a gripping read that will pull you in, then you can't go wrong with Dark Obsessions.
*I received an ARC from R&R Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2022
First off, the title of the book is such a foresight to what is uncovered by Detective Kate Barnes, Sheriff Tony Luchasetti, and the rest of the cast. As the Hitchcock quote alludes to, it is one of the horrors of reality that does seem to stay hidden. Humans can be the most monstrous beings on our planet, and Sutro delves into those darkest recesses of humanity.
Throughout Dark Obsessions, Sutro does such a tremendous job making the interactions flow smoothly. All of the conversation is relevant to the story, and I never found myself skimming through any of the paragraphs. It took me longer to read this one (in a good way) because of the importance of each and every word. Even the descriptions of the settings were done masterfully - with no unnecessary details.
I will absolutely go back to read Dark Associations and grab the next one in the series as soon as it is released!
Thank you to R & R Book Tours and Marie Sutro for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!
Throughout Dark Obsessions, Sutro does such a tremendous job making the interactions flow smoothly. All of the conversation is relevant to the story, and I never found myself skimming through any of the paragraphs. It took me longer to read this one (in a good way) because of the importance of each and every word. Even the descriptions of the settings were done masterfully - with no unnecessary details.
I will absolutely go back to read Dark Associations and grab the next one in the series as soon as it is released!
Thank you to R & R Book Tours and Marie Sutro for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews