A CRY IN THE DARK by Jessica R. Patch

 

My thoughts

This was a real page turner of a thriller. From the very beginning it grabs you and pulls you into the story of a young woman who was conceived in the most horrible way. From a life that is not filled with any kind of love. But from a fear. A fear that she will be just like "him."

Violet is a detective with a group who goes all over the place to solve the strangest of cases. A lot of them are serial killer/religion based crimes. She's working hard to prove that she is a good person despite everything she's been taught. Her life was not a good one and she was constantly reminded of her background. Where she came from. Who her father was. That she was just like him or would be. Can she prove that to be false? Can she make herself believe that she deserves to be loved. That she is not a monster. 

John is working on the Blind Eye Murders with Violet and the whole team. They are called to the hills of Kentucky. To the Night Hollows(hollers) after three young women are found in a cave brutally murdered with their eyes removed. John is convinced that his wife was killed by the same murderer. He also is very attracted to Violet. 

There are many secrets in the Hollows. They take care of their own. At least that is what they say. I think some do and then you have the ones that are only out for themselves. The cold hearted ones. Those you better look out for. They will hurt you. They will stop you at all costs. They are the "religious" ones. While I don't believe in all the religion aspects of this book it did make it way more interesting when trying to figure out who did it. Who the killer was. I was way off. I really thought I had it all figured out but I was so wrong. I was shocked when I finally read who it was and what he had done and why. 

There are quite a few twists and turns in this book and quite a lot going on. Drug runners. Prostitution. Murder. Serial killing. Rape(though not explicit). Even a love story in the making if you will. John and Violet. I rooted for him to break her icy exterior. Melt her heart. Help her see that she was so worthy of love. 

Thank you #NetGalley, #JessicaRPatch, #Harlequin, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five huge edge of your seat stars. 

Synopsis

Deep in the Kentucky hills, three women have been found brutalized and murdered.
But the folks in Night Holler have their own ways and their own laws.
And they’re not talking…

Led to an isolated Appalachian Mountain town by a trail of disturbing murders, FBI special agent Violet Rainwater’s determined to catch a serial killer with a twisted agenda. With locals refusing to reveal their secrets, Violet’s only ally is Detective John Orlando. But even John has an ulterior motive—he’s convinced this case is connected to his wife’s murder. 

As they dig deeper, Violet uncovers a link to her own unresolved past. For years she’s worked the cold case of her mother’s abduction, which had led to her birth. The need to look into the eyes of the sinful man who fathered her consumes Violet. Until she can, she’ll never have peace. Because she’s terrified she might be exactly like him.

In this chilling novel, when the present collides with Violet’s mysterious past and John’s tragic loss, they must unravel the warped, sinuous connections before the killer strikes again. But solving the case might not be nearly as terrifying as the possibility that Violet’s finally found her roots…