That Darkness

March 14, 2016
Maggie Gardner, the heroine of this uneven suspense novel from bestseller Black (Evidence of Murder), works with the Cleveland PD as a civilian criminologist. When the bodies of four men are found away from where they were killed, each shot with .22 caliber bullets, Maggie joins the homicide team delving into possible links among the victims. The four all have traces of granite, asbestos, lead paint flakes, and cat hair—and have committed such serious crimes as rape, murder, and human trafficking. Since their criminal records are available only to the police, Maggie suspects that the killer is someone in law enforcement. If she knows who it is, she could face an agonizing decision about whether to turn that person in. She hopes she’s wrong. The intriguing forensic details help drive the plot to its satisfying conclusion, but the sketchy portrayal of the characters, particularly Maggie, will disappoint readers expecting more depth. Agent: Vicky Bijur, Vicky Bijur Agency.

April 15, 2016

Cleveland police forensic investigator Maggie Gardiner must fingerprint and determine cause of death of an unidentified teenage girl's body. No one appears to be looking for the youth, so it seems likely that she's an orphan or a runaway. Soon after, the corpse of a street criminal with a history of violence turns up in Maggie's lab, and the investigation points to organized crime, human trafficking, and the possibility of vigilante justice. VERDICT Black, a former forensics investigator, skillfully portrays the stark realities of homicide cases in her latest thriller (after Close to the Bone). In this series launch, she pairs Maggie with Jack Renner, a determined detective with secrets of his own who has no intention of allowing murderers to evade their punishment. A great choice for readers of psychological suspense, forensic investigations, and mystery.--Linda Oliver, MLIS, Colorado Springs

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2016
This is the first book in a new series featuring Cleveland forensic investigator Maggie Gardiner and homicide detective Jack Renner, but don't expect your typical detective story. Gardiner is a complete forensic nerd with no real personal life outside her job. She has become obsessed with the victims of several murders, all of whom were shot point-blank in the back of the head, yet are seemingly unrelated. By using tapingspieces of tape pressed against victim's clothing that pick up threads, dust, and fibersshe has literally picked up enough clues to find the place where all the murders took place. Renner is a vigilante cop turned serial killer, but he only kills people who need killing, reminiscent of Jeff Lindsay's Dexter. But Renner is no sadist; he kills quickly and cleanly in his quest for the justice often denied by the legal system. While Gardiner is not a cop, she works hand in hand with the police as she narrows in on the killer. The surprising ending is sure to keep readers coming back for more.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)