Kristina Anderson
That Darkness by Lisa Black is supposed to be a suspense thriller. It is the first book (such a pity) in the Gardiner and Renner series. Jack Renner is a vigilante and a cop. He has decided he is guilty and is taking them out one by one. Maggie Gardiner is a fingerprint officer in the crime lab. She does, though, fill in where needed including going out to crime scenes. She is good at putting together clues to help the detectives (she is actually better than the detectives who get bored with her scientific talk). Will Maggie be able to piece together the clues and discover that Jack is the killer? What will Jack do when Maggie uncovers his crimes? That Darkness had no suspense or thrills. We know who the killer is and how he does it. We just follow Maggie as she solves the crimes and Jack tries to stay ahead of her. That Darkness reads more like a police procedural manual than a fiction novel. I had a hard time getting through this book (I read two other books while I was supposed to be reading this novel). The characters are not really likeable (and have questionable morals). I could not wait to finish That Darkness. I will not be reading any more books in this series (sorry). I give That Darkness 2 out of 5 stars (I took pity on it). That Darkness is just not my type of novel. I want more interest (the best part of mysteries is solving the crime). I like to be drawn into the story and feel that I am a part of it (and I like solving the crime). The novel includes many details on fingerprints (which I liked), fibers (hair, rugs, wool, etc.), and dead bodies (autopsies). Some of it was interesting, but it did bog down the story (it got a little too technical at times). Somehow it is better on television than in print. I received a complimentary copy of That Darkness from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
2 people found this review helpful
Sandie Boykin
Could not get through the book at all. The main characters are boring - very one dimensional. Just in the first 3rd of the book, there were many opportunities missed that could have perked up the characters and story line. Wish i could return e-books.
Stephanie Wolf
The world is full of criminals. Some that don’t deserve to live after the crime(s) they have committed. The United States has a justice system to take care of criminals, but sometimes those that should be put away go free. What if one man has decided to take care of those that the system set free? Jack Renner, in his goal on one person, has taken it upon himself to keep society safe of some of these criminals. With a great attention to his details, he thinks no one will ever find out it’s him. Not until he meets a forensic investigator Maggie Gardiner, and her attention to detail. Will Jack be able to locate the woman he is searching for before he is discovered, or will the clues and his mistakes give him away. Suspenseful with twists along the way, and a varied cast of characters. Quite descriptive but not over the top gory. While Maggie is the investigator, it seems Jack has more storytime. All in all a good read.
1 person found this review helpful