The Soul Collectors

Darby McCormick #4

by Chris Mooney

Charlie Rizzo has his family at gunpoint and when Darby arrives to defuse the scene, she finds him horrifically mutilated, with a mask of human skin sewn in place over his own face. Within minutes, a group of men disguised as SWAT officers bursts in and releases deadly Sarin gas, killing the Rizzo family outright and leaving Darby herself barely alive.

Where has Charlie Rizzo been held all these years? Who are The Twelve who have been executing this gruesome torture? And why are the FBI running scared in the face of this particular, chilling episode? Darby is facing the toughest case of her career...and, as the body count rises, one that will bring her into great personal danger and leave her in fear of losing her mind, if not her soul.

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Procedural, Mystery Thriller

468 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Hailed as “one of the best thriller writers working today” by Lee Child and “a wonderful writer” by Michael Connelly, Chris Mooney is the international bestselling author of twelve novels, most recently, The Snow Girls. His fourth book, The Missing, the first in the Darby McCormick series, was a main selection of the International Book of the Month Club and an instant bestseller in over thirteen countries. The Mystery Writer’s Association nominated Chris’s third book, Remembering Sarah, for an Edgar Award for Best Novel. Foreign rights to his novels have been sold to twenty-eight territories. He has sold nearly two million copies of his books.

Chris teaches writing courses at Harvard and the Harvard Extension School, and lives in the Boston area with his wife and son. His new novel, Blood World, will be released in August of 2020.

International Praise for Chris Mooney:

“Scary voice, scary talent. Mooney is one of the best thriller writers working today.”
– Lee Child

“A wonderful writer . . . Compelling, thrilling and touching.”
– Michael Connelly

“Harrowing, gripping, haunting, gut-wrenching and beautifully written.”
– Harlan Coben

“Chris Mooney has written his finest novel, and that’s saying something indeed.”
– Dennis Lehane

“It will keep you up past your bedtime.”
– Karin Slaughter

“A thriller that will chill your blood, break your heart and make your pulse race.”
– Mark Billingham

"Chris Mooney is an exceptional thriller writer, with the rare gift of being able to of balance action with compassion, and grit with humanity. I envy those who have yet to read him."
– John Connolly

“The Missing is the season’s most unrelenting thriller. It will keep readers enthralled from its gripping opening chapters to its shocking last page.”
– George Pelecanos

“Mooney writes like a man on fire.”
– Linda Fairstein

“The smart money has long been on Chris Mooney, one of crime fiction’s rising stars.”
– Laura Lippman

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how to review this book. I love the Darby McCormick series, and this one started out with the potential of being great, it certainly had all the ingredients and it was pacy and a real thriller. But, and here's the but, it was just too unrealistic and had more holes in it than a cheese grater. There were too many questions that had no answers and lost the plot eventually. It was like Chris Mooney got real mad with his characters and wanted to punish them big style. I was left feeling cheated. Darby was after a religious group, who had been kidnapping children as far back as the fifties, that she knew of, and this group had infiltrated ever law enforcement in the country. They knew every move the F.B.I., C.I.A., were making, they were so powerful, it was impossible. Yet, they seemed to have no source of income or explanation as to how they could afford to get their hands on weapons, listening and tracking devices, and how they could disappear from a location in the middle of nowhere and move masses of people, in the blink of an eye. I was reading a thriller/crime/mystery and I almost felt I was moving into another genre of sci-fi/fantasy/supernatural. I just didn't buy it and I think Chris Mooney should go back to the start, when Darby was a forensic expert and working more realistic cases. I wonder if he plans to bring her back, if he does, he should bring it back to a more grounded story, or I'm just not sure about where he is going.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Soul Collectors
3.5 Stars

On suspension following the events of the previous book, forensics investigator, Darby McCormick is called in to assist a SWAT team when a man, who has taken his entire family hostage, asks for her specifically. Just as Darby is about to defuse the situation, a group of armed men storm the house setting in motion a series of events that reveal the dark and deadly deeds of an extremist group involved in child kidnapping, torture and mutilation.

While The Soul Collectors is a fast paced and action packed thriller, it is not as satisfying as the other books in the series mainly due to the rather far-fetched cult/conspiracy plot as well as Darby’s unrealistic transition from forensic expert to Zena Warrior Princess.

The basic premise of a religious cult abducting and indoctrinating children is compelling, and the villains come across as an even more diabolical incarnation of the Opus Dei in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code. However, the motives behind the crimes are obscure and the group’s ability to infiltrate a variety of agencies is implausible.

Darby is an engaging heroine and it is entertaining to see her getting the better of the men in the book. Nevertheless, her sudden militant persona is at odds with her characterization from earlier in the series and the change is not for the better. Moreover, the developments in her relationship with Coop are also disappointing. They seem to take some welcome steps forward in accepting their attraction, but this is immediately followed by a huge step back. The inclusion of Coop’s sudden girlfriend/fiancée in London is a completely unnecessary addition as there are sufficient obstacles to Coop and Darby’s romance without it.

Although not precisely a cliffhanger, the conclusion is rather open-ended and there are numerous loose ends and unanswered questions that will hopefully be addressed in the next installment.

All in all, Mooney certainly knows how to spin a good yarn and I highly recommend the first three books in the series even though this one is only so-so.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointed in this 4th book. I've loved the previous 3 of the Darby McCormick series and was greatly looking forward to this one. It all seemed a bit farfetched for my liking and I was tempted to give up but then it did improve. However, the end seemed to be very rushed as it all came to a climax. He left a lot of loose ends so there was really no need to have done this. I'll need to read book 5 when it's released to see if said loose ends are dealt with.
It's all a little unbelievable and also harks back to one of the previous books in the story in the way it all ended up. So I'm pleased I never read this one first or I wouldn't have bothered with the other three !!

[Gatorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was even better than I expected. The best Mooney book I have read so far. A gripping tale of secret religious cults and missing children that starts off with a bang and only lets up somewhat in the middle before moving non-stop towards a tension-filled finish that leads one to believe the story is not yet over and will be continued in later books. Well-written and suspenseful. Highly recommended.

[LucyLui · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Soul Collector by Chris Mooney

Title - The Soul Collector
Author - Chris Mooney
First Published - Oct 10
Publisher - Penguin
Pages - 480
Price on Amazon - Paperback - £7.70 Kindle - £3.99
ISBN - 0141049502

This is the fourth book in the Darby McCormick series by Chris Mooney. Ten years ago Darby worked on an abduction case where a young boy was abducted and never found. Now ten years later he is back and has taken his family hostage, he is asking to speak to Darby an Darby only. What happened to him in those ten years and why is he back now?

This book is just as good as the previous three books in the series. This series is shaping up to be one of the best series I have read this year or in fact in a long time. This book keeps me constantly wanting to come back for more. A quote on the front cover of the book says "Will keep you up past your bedtime" truer words have never been spoken, this book kept me up well into the early hours as I just couldn't put it down, I yet again found myself saying one more chapter over and over till I finally finished the book.

I love reading how Darby's carer evolves and devolves and how her relationship with Coop grows throughout the books, I find myself desperate to know if they finally get together and if Darby will finally get the happy ending she deserves.

The cases Darby works are always really interesting and the book, in general, is very interesting, well written and keeps you captivated from the very first page right to the last page, it keeps you desperate to continue onto the next book to find out what happens next.

Rating - Five out of Five Stars
Would I Read Again? - Defiantly
Would I Recommend? - Yes
Would I read other books by the same author? - Yes

Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley (If a NetGalley Book)
My Blogs at www.lu-ellensreadingandreviewingblog....
www.lusreviewsblog.wordpress.com

Links to this review can be found at:
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[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time taken to read - in and out over 4 days

Pages - 468

Publisher - Penguin

Source - Bought copy

Blurb from Goodreads


Charlie Rizzo has his family at gunpoint and when Darby arrives to defuse the scene, she finds him horrifically mutilated, with a mask of human skin sewn in place over his own face. Within minutes, a group of men disguised as SWAT officers bursts in and releases deadly Sarin gas, killing the Rizzo family outright and leaving Darby herself barely alive.

Where has Charlie Rizzo been held all these years? Who are The Twelve who have been executing this gruesome torture? And why are the FBI running scared in the face of this particular, chilling episode? Darby is facing the toughest case of her career...and, as the body count rises, one that will bring her into great personal danger and leave her in fear of losing her mind, if not her soul.



My Review

Darby has been called to a hostage situation, a kid that went missing years ago has apparently resurfaced and is now holding his family hostage. Bizarre in itself Darby heads in, backed up by SWAT and nothing goes as planned. As Darby investigates, the stakes are high, the killer will stop at nothing and noone could have guessed how deadly and dark things get.

Murder, abuse, danger on every corner and Darby is up against it trying to keep focused on the case, stay alive and not get too wrapped up in the issues in her personal life. The thought of something so cruel and organised out there is creepy and I hope we get more insight or back story in a future book.

Darby is super tough in this one but has a softer side when we see a glimpse into her personal life. Otherwise she is a bit of a one man band because she seems to be hitting walls at almost every turn. I defo wanted to see where it was going so a page turner from that perspective but a little unsatisfied with how some of it went and hoping to get more closure from the next in the series - I have it ordered. 3/5 for me this time, I don't remember much of the previous books that had relevance to this one so you could pick this book up and read as a standalone but I would read the previous ones if you are able.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed this series especially the last book so it's a shame Chris Mooney decided to move away from that format and give us Darby in a different role. Having said that if you read it as a standalone it works well and if you take it as a piece of over the top escapism it's an enjoyable read. I'm an avid fan of Tom Wood so this style of plot works for me although I can see why it won't for readers expecting the CSI element. It's fast paced and tense in parts although there are a few plot holes. No definitive ending to this one and no real explanation as to who the 'mystery twelve' were. Odd but enjoyable 3.5⭐️

[Jain · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ★

[Julie Kellner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter gave me this book to read as I have never ready any oh his books before but I'm sure glad she did I was hooked within a few pages. It was such a good read. Highly recommended

[Elina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just bought number 5 and 6 of this series and I can’t wait to read them. Number 4 was even crazier and creepier than 1-3…. I’m traumatised and amazed at the same time….

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

>>Diese Rezension und viele mehr findet ihr auch hier: http://wort-welten.blogspot.de/

Zusammenfassung:
Nachdem Darby McCormick die Polizeipräsidentin erschossen und zudem deren schmutzige Machenschaften aufgedeckt hat, ist sie so ziemlich der letzte Mensch auf Erden, den eine Regierungsbehörde um Hilfe bitten möchte. Doch als ein maskierter Mann sich im Haus der Familie Rizzo verschanzt und behauptet, deren vor Jahren verschwundener Sohn Charlie zu sein, fordert man sie dennoch an. Schließlich will Charlie ausschließlich mit Darby sprechen, wenn er die Geiseln freilassen soll. Immerhin war es Darby, die damals seinen Entführungsfall bearbeitete. Doch was Darby schließlich im Haus vorfindet und auch dort erlebt, sprengt ihre Vorstellungskraft. Und die Entführer von Charlie Rizzo warten nur darauf, zuzuschlagen ...

Fazit:
Jeder, der die drei bisherigen Fälle der doch etwas eigenwilligen Darby McCormick gelesen oder angehört hat, dürfte wissen, dass ihr Autor, Chris Mooney, bei seinen Werken stets ein Schippchen draufgelegt hat. In diesem bisher letzten Fall von Darby lehrt Mooney seine Leser wieder einmal eine ganz neue Art von Grauen. Und an sich gefiel mir das wirklich gut. Wenn mir auch der Einstieg in die Handlung ein wenig schwerfiel, so war die Geschichte danach doch ausgesprochen spannend und fesselnd. Fast schon ein großartiges Buch nach meinen Bewertungsmaßstäben. Allerdings habe ich so meine Probleme mit dem Ende und den offenen Fragen - und auch mit der Tatsache, dass eben noch ungewiss ist, ob der in diesem Jahr erschienene fünfte Fall der Reihe überhaupt ins Deutsche übersetzt wird. Alles in allem ist dieses Buch allerdings ungemein spannend und auch recht lesenswert.

[Luke · Rating 1 out of 5]

DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Not even joking, it was just so awful... The characters were half developed, the plot was uninspired but the worst of all was the writing... Painfully wrought sentences reading like a middle school amateur dramatics society throughout the whole book and then the end just kind of trails of and implies there's a sequel. I really hope I'm wrong.

The tagline - "They'll make you wish you were dead" could not be more appropriate.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Real page turner which, at some points, made me worry for the sanity of this talented author. A disappointing ending in that you were left wanting so much more, and I hope that is what mr mooney is working on right now!!

[T C Riventyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Soul Collectors by Chris Mooney left me stunned in the best possible way. I went in expecting a typical crime thriller, but what I got was a tense, disturbing, psychological rollercoaster that had me hooked from the first chapter.

I loved how the book picks up with Darby McCormick still dealing with the trauma of her past, only to be pulled right back into the nightmare with the abduction of the two college girls. The scene where Darby discovers that chilling room—walls covered in pictures of kidnapped victims, and that eerie video footage—gave me goosebumps. It’s one of those moments where you physically tense up because you’re right there with her, feeling the horror.

The “Soul Collectors” themselves were such a terrifying concept. The way Mooney reveals that this wasn’t the work of a single killer but a network—a literal trafficking ring of sadistic predators—was both brilliant and horrifying. The twist that the police corruption ran so deep that Darby basically couldn’t trust anybody was exactly the kind of tension I love in thrillers. And when she realizes that someone inside law enforcement was not only protecting the kidnappers but helping select their victims? I had to stop and just breathe.

One of the most intense moments for me was when Darby gets captured. I’m usually pretty calm reading thrillers, but the scene where she wakes up trapped, knowing exactly what the other victims went through, had my heart pounding. The escape sequence was so well-written—fast, desperate, and believable—and I was so invested in her survival that I actually caught myself holding my breath.

What really pushed this to five stars for me wasn’t just the plot, but how Mooney handled the emotional fallout. The victims weren’t just plot devices; their trauma felt real, and Darby’s determination to stop the cycle, even when she’s shattered herself, made her incredibly compelling. The ending left me with that perfect mix of satisfaction and lingering dread. Sure, Darby survived and stopped some of the operation—but Mooney makes it clear the network isn’t completely gone. And that final hint that the Soul Collectors are still out there? Chilling.

If you like thrillers that are dark, suspenseful, emotionally intense, and full of twists that hit hard, The Soul Collectors is absolutely worth the read. Chris Mooney delivered a terrifying, addictive story that I’m still thinking about.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read a few other Chris Mooney novels including other Darby McCormick novels. I had enjoyed them enough to keep picking up Chris Mooney novels as I've found them. Unfortunately I just could not get on with 'The Soul Collectors' at all, finding it bordering on the side of far-fetched and ridiculous.

I really enjoyed the first few chapters, I was dying to know what happened to Charlie and who had tortured him in such a way. What had happened? Who had done it? What involvement had his family had? I flew through the chapters quite quickly, even during the chemical attack. Right up until Darby gets taken for decontamination and then the book seemed to grind to a halt. It became a repetitive cycle of frustrating events that had no real plot progression. Darby was written like a Angelina Joile look-a-like Bruce Lee. She was bringing down multiple men in seconds without blinking, she was ducking and diving and full ninja at points. I don't remember her other novels with much clarity, but I don't remember her being action-woman. Her role just added to the sense of the ridiculous that was supported by the scale of the plot.

The plot itself had started so well, but devolved into this frustrating series of events in which everyone was the bad guy and Darby was hunted and alone. I had to admit, novels where the 'big bad' is omnipotent and has infiltrated every political office and / or law enforcement branch, really frustrate me, and I rarely finish them, if starting them at all if I get that vibe from the blurb. The fact that the FBI and army and such all seemed to be against Darby just really annoyed me and seemed so ridiculous. On top of Darby-Lee running round attacking everyone, I just couldn't finish it.

[Adri266 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vela knih na mna caka v citacke a kym sa k nim dostanem, aj zabudnem, o com kniha je. Takze vyberam iba podla nazvu a podla pocitu.
Toto je stvrty diel serie o vysetrovatelke Darby. Ona je taky Rambo / McGyver v sukni. Vsetko vie, vsetko dokaze. Ale je aj sympaticka :slight_smile: Su tam nejake vztahy, ktorym som nerozumela kvoli neprecitaniu predchadzajucich knih.
No spat k pribehu. Darby zavolaju k pripadu, kde syn drzi svoju rodinu ako podnajomnikov a vybral si vyslovene ju. Ked tam pride, je zhrozena. VSetci su zviazani a Charlie, chlapec, ktoreho uz vyse 10 rokov hladaju, kedze bol uneseny, ma na tvari prisitu tvar ineho cloveka, na tele ma rany po muceni. Zial, vsetko sa pokazi a Darby je dlho zatvorena FBI kvoli podozreniu z otravy smrtelnym plynom.

Ked sa stamadial dostane, zistuje, ze ze FBI vysetruje pripad sekty, ktora vyse 50 rokov unasa deti /pravdepodobne 300 deti/.

Zo zaciatku som sa mierne nudila, najma ten uvod s Charliem. Nebavi ma opis taktiky alebo vypisane zbrane.
Ale postupne to chytilo stavu a knihu som nevedela spustit z ruk. A ked som hore pisala, ze az horor, je to kvoli tomu, ze su tam take zverstva, ze az. Napr mucenie pavukmi, pekne cez trubku do zaludka
Fuj, musim povedat, ze niektore sceny som prelistovala cele strany.

Tych deti aj rodin mi bolo strasne luto, rozmyslala som nad tym, co by som spravila na mieste niektorych ludi. Neviem, ak by som bola v takej pozicii
Tak ci tak, odporucam tym, ktori maju radi drsne knihy.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a crime thrillers series with a kick ass female lead then this one is absolutely right for you.
The 4th book in the series, Darby is as kick ass as ever and I absolutely love her character. Shes no holds barred and will do whatever it takes to get her perp.
In this book she's called in to help a SWAT team on a call out where she has been asked for by name, by the person holding people hostage.
Once there she finds out the person is a previous missing person who has come back after escaping a cult where he has been tortured and severely disfigured including having someone else's face sewn onto his. Not believing at first he is who he says, after something goes complete wrong and the entire police squad and SWAT team are killed and infiltrated by the cult group who kill the family and take the dad, Darby manages to survive, by kicking ass and then has to convince the FBI to let her join the team going after them.
They eventually find where they've been hiding out and in the process, find they've been taking the youngest children from families for years.
This one is left open ended as the perpetrators get away but I now that at some point the series will go back to this, as Darbys character would never let it lie.
Love this series.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in an excellent series. Each time I read one, I think they can't get any better and Chris Mooney has shown me each time that they can. In the case of this novel, I was finally correct. From early on I thought this was going to be another 5 star read. I continued to believe that up until the last 50 pages or so. -

Then if a book can have a psychotic break, this one did. It almost seemed like the author wrote this book up to about page 400 and then put in down for a few months and started writing again without reading what he had previously written. At the end there are no explanations, conclusions, or assumptions, it just left you hanging. I looked at the summaries of the later books in the series and it seems Darby McCormick never encounters this "cult" again. This would have been a great situation for a sequel. I'll give it 4 stars for a really exciting and suspenseful first 80% of the novel, but due to the feeble ending, I can't give it that last star.

[miteypen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My biggest complaint about this book is that there was no resolution. It just ended. The bad guys weren’t caught and no motive for their unspeakably cruel behavior was ever determined. The whole book seemed to be a vehicle for showing how much of a fighter Darby is.

Then there is her relationship with Coop. It hits a snag which seems weak. I do admire Darby’s strength, smarts and courage. But she seems to be in over her head with this book.

I will probably read the next book mainly to see if there ever is a resolution to this story.

[Eunice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm obsessed with Chris Mooney's Darby McCormick series. I highly recommend it!

You'll be hooked from page one with this page-turner of a story. The good stuff starts fast. Fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat reading.

This book is like sex in your hand, no foreplay is needed. Just go straight to the best part.

There's no time for foreplay when you've got a killer case to crack.

I don't want to say much more, but I will tell you that this is one of my favorite book series and that it is more than worth the read. Now stop reading this and go get your copy!😊

[Shell Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to get straight on to the next Darby McCormick book but unfortunately, I don't have it yet :(
After reading the first four books in this series, one after the other, I feel like Darby is now a friend and I'm worried for her. I need to know what happens next and I might have to resort to buying the books from Amazon rather than waiting for them to come into the charity shop!
I'll be writing a full review on my blog https://www.shelllouise.co.uk

[Jenn Brouwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was riveting from page 1. I adore these characters and this author knows how to tell a story. I would have given this one 5 stars except for the unresolved ending. There was such an incredible build up and then it just ended with no resolution. I was expecting the story to pick up in the next book to no avail. Aside from the fact that the book felt incomplete it was a great fast paced novel with a unique storyline.

[Stoxy001 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got to be honest, I had to push on to get through this one. It's not that I didn't enjoy reading the book, but I felt like it was building up to something for 95% of the story. If anything I thought the end was something of an anti climax.
I'll be back to read anything other books in the Darby McCormick series though!

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard Darby McCormick fare. To be honest I struggled with this book for the most part but that could have been down to my state of mind. That being said, once it got to the last 60 pages I couldn't put it down even staying up till well after 1am to finish it.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this thriller. I have never read anything by the author so I thought I would give him a try and I would definitely read another. It had a few slow moments but all in all, it was a pretty solid read.

[Mel (CrazyforBooksandCoffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Will be reading others in series

[Emmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am addicted to Chris Mooney's books. They are so riveting and at times completely unexpected, they boggle your mind. I truly love every page

[Eleanor Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished listening to the audio version. I have listened to the Darby series from the beginning. This had no ending and I hope this is revisited in a later book.

[SomeGuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blind buy, had no idea wtf was going on throughout the book. Still managed to hook me till the end though.
A goodread

[Carol Wippich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series.