Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak Pages: 416
Series: The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles #1
Genres: Romantic Suspense, Psychological Thriller
Also by this author: Hanover House
Goodreads
First in an electrifying new series from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak
THE HUNT FOR A SERIAL KILLER Evelyn Talbot knows that a psychopath can look perfectly normal. She was only sixteen when her own boyfriend Jasper imprisoned and tortured her—and left her for dead. Now an eminent psychiatrist who specializes in the criminal mind, Evelyn is the force behind Hanover House, a maximum-security facility located in a small Alaskan town. Her job puts her at odds with Sergeant Amarok, who is convinced that Hanover is a threat to his community…even as his attraction to beautiful Evelyn threatens to tear his world apart. BEGINS WITH AN ESCAPE FROM HER PAST Then, just as the bitter Alaskan winter cuts both town and prison off from the outside world, the mutilated body of a local woman turns up. For Amarok, this is the final proof he needs: Hanover has to go. Evelyn, though, has reason to fear that the crime is a personal message to her—the first sign that the killer who haunts her dreams has found her again. . .and that the life she has so carefully rebuilt will never be the same…
Her Darkest Nightmare
Brenda Novak
I often think about jobs that people have that I would NEVER want. You know, like podiatrist. They are super important, but I would NOT want to spend all day dealing with people’s feet. So, the same goes with Evelyn’s job in Her Darkest nightmare. As a psychologist studying psychopathy, her job is important but scary as hell! Novak starts each chapter with a quote from an infamous serial killer too which adds to the creepy factor. There is a prequel book that you should read first. Hanover House (the prequel) sets up why Evelyn is in Alaska and who some of the killers she is working with are in for. It also gives you the intro to the romance interest, Amarok.
Her Darkest Nightmare starts with Evelyn getting a warning from an inmate about some danger. Then there is a new arrival (a very scary inmate). And on top of that, there is a serious snow storm that prevents Evelyn from being able to go home. Who takes her in? Yep, Amarok. I liked the slow burn relationship between these two as Evelyn tried to deal with her past and the issues it has caused her.
I will say I was not sure who the killer was. I kept guessing and then thinking “No, it can’t be ‘X’ because…”. I never did guess it correctly so kudos to Novak for totally keeping me on my toes.
What didn’t work for me? The length. There were large parts where I skimmed because the book was moving so slow. I felt there were whole chapters that could have been condensed or taken out completely. But, I am not a writer, so what the hell do I know!
If you like murder mysteries with a slow burn romance side plot, this is a great story!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: none
- Trope: mortal peril, evil
- Triggers: View Spoiler »
- Series/Standalone: series
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
Deep Dark by Laura Griffin, The Obsession by Nora Roberts, Virtue Falls by Christina Dodd…then you will probably like Her Darkest Nightmare!
Sorry to hear you didn’t love this as much as I did. I liked being in Alaska, so maybe that added to the appeal for me.