Into the Dark by Karen Rose Pages: 624
Series: Cincinnati #5
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Setting: Cincinnati, OH
Source: ARC, NetGalley
Also by this author: Monster in the Closet, Have You Seen Her?, Edge of Darkness, Death Is Not Enough, Say You're Sorry, Say No More, Say Goodbye
Goodreads
New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose returns with a new thriller in her chilling Cincinnati series.
Michael Rowland is not your typical teenager. Deaf from birth, he’s always looked out for his five-year-old brother, Joshua. When his stepfather comes after Joshua, Michael takes the child and runs. He’s determined to protect his brother at all costs, even if that means making himself vulnerable to a danger he can’t hear coming. And the danger intensifies when Michael witnesses a stranger kill his stepfather.
Desperate and afraid, the boys have nowhere else to go but to Joshua’s soccer coach, journalist and ex-Army ranger Diesel Kennedy. When Diesel sees that Michael is injured, he takes them to see Dr. Dani Novak—not only because she’s fluent in American Sign Language, but because he’s drawn to her and everything she stands for. She never refuses Diesel’s requests—because she, too, feels their connection—but she resists him for reasons she doesn’t want to confess.
When Dani and Diesel learn that Michael saw the face of his stepfather’s killer, they fear for his safety. But they quickly discover that it’s even worse than they feared: They may have a serial killer on their hands—and all signs point to Michael as the next target.
Into the Dark by Karen Rose was exactly what I expect from her Cincinnati series and I loved it. First, I must say that her inclusion of deaf characters was amazing. As someone who is mostly deaf in one ear, I love to read about characters who have similar struggles and still maintain active, happy lives. The BAHA that Dani wears was an option offered to me by my ENT a year ago!
Now, I have to say that Into The Dark is pretty much one long trigger. There is child molestation discussed throughout the book as several characters have dealt with it and the plot of the story is focused around it. So it’s difficult to say I loved this book because the content is so heartbreaking. However, Rose writes such wonderful characters and terrifying plots that I was hooked from page one. Dani and Diesel have such awful backstories. These two have had more trauma than any person should have to bear. Diesel’s devotion to Dani for over a year before she gives him a chance was so endearing. You can’t help but adore Diesel! Add in how wonderful he is with Joshua and Michael and you are a goner (and so is Dani)!
If you are able to read stories about horrible human tragedies like child abuse and human trafficking, I encourage you to read Karen Rose’s Cincinnati series! She handles the delicate topics by showing the reader the effects in the immediate aftermath and the long term. The focus is on the people who survive these abhorrent crimes and how they rebuild their lives. In that sense, you get a hopeful look into the possibilities for those who are survivors and that is what I loved about the stories. Into the Dark shows you all sides of the puzzle: the cop looking for a missing sister, the children rescued from an abusive home, and a vigilante who wants to kill the people involved in trafficking.
Into the Dark will take you on a journey that is at times painful, at times endearing, yet always hopeful despite the challenges of each person. Rose’s books will always be “must buys” for me because of her writing style and her gripping characters.
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: yes
- Trope: serial killer, dysfunctional family, police
- Triggers: View Spoiler »
- Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series (lots of character overlap but it won’t affect your ability to understand and enjoy Into the Dark
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
| Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Hero | |
| Heroine | |
| Chemistry | |
| Writing/Plot | |
| Trope | |
| Cover | |
| Overall: | |
Other gritty romantic suspense series/books like Cold Justice by Toni Anderson, Don’t Breathe a Word by Christie Craig, Pretend You’re Safe by Alexandra Ivy…then you will probably like Into the Dark!
Into the Dark
Excellent review Samantha! I found all the aspects you mentioned incredible. I love all the Karen Rose books; she does an amazing job. Although they are heart-breaking as you say.
Anne – Books of My Heart
Great review Samantha. I do admire authors that tackle these sensitive subjects to bring more awareness to them but they aren’t very easy to read. I do have to be in a certain mood to read darker subjects like these in romance. But definitely going to add this to my list for sure.
Karen Rose is an author I haven’t read in a long while and I don’t know why. Her books are always pretty enjoyable and it’s great to here the inclusion of deaf characters here. I feel like I may to check this out and thank you for the trigger warning.