Mar 13

Mar 13 Deep Into the Dark

Audiobooks, Fiction, Mystery, Thrills & Chills

Score: 4/5 Bookmarks

Thank you to Minotaur and Macmillan Audio for gifting me with review copies of Deep Into the Dark by P.J. Tracy. This is the first in a new series following Detective Margaret Nolan.

Talk about gripping! From the moment I started this book I couldn’t put it down…dinner, bathing the kid, and folding the laundry be damned!

This book is split between the perspectives of Sam Easton—who’s trying to rebuild his life after two tours to Afghanistan—and LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan who’s trying to solve a string of homicides.

Sam has been blacking out, and having hallucinations on top of the PTSD and nightmares, which isn’t helping his case as he begins to look like the prime suspect, as people in his orbit start dropping like flies.

Detective Nolan is sympathetic to Sam’s story though, her own brother died while serving overseas. But can she uncover the truth before more people bite the dust?

I really enjoyed the way this story unfolded, and it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were well developed and I can’t wait to read more in this series. My only complaint was that I wanted a little more of Detective Nolan and the police procedural side of things. I felt like the book was heavy on Sam’s story, which I really enjoyed, but I wanted to get to know Nolan in more detail, and see what she was up to.

I can’t believe this was my first book by this author (or rather authors because I believe it’s actually a mother-daughter writing duo), I’m definitely looking forward to reading more!

The audiobook was just under nine hours long and narrated by Abby Craden. I really enjoyed her narration, and you might recognize her from The Holdout and Recursion (both of which are great on audio).

If you’re in the mood for a gritty LA mystery definitely check this one out. You can grab a copy of the audiobook via the button below, or get a physical copy here.

Trigger warnings include PTSD, war, adultery, physical and emotional abuse, violence, and drug use.

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Synopsis:

Sam Easton—a true survivor—is home from Afghanistan, trying to rebuild a life in his hometown of LA. Separated from his wife, bartending and therapy sessions are what occupy his days and nights. When friend and colleague Melody Traeger is beaten by her boyfriend, she turns to Sam for help. When the boyfriend turns up dead the next day, a hard case like Sam is the perfect suspect.

But LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan, whose brother recently died serving overseas, is sympathetic to Sam's troubles, and can't quite see him as a killer. She's more interested in the secrets Melody might be keeping and the developments in another murder case on the other side of town.

Set in an LA where real people live and work--not the superficial LA of Beverly Hills or the gritty underbelly of the city—Deep into the Dark features two really engaging, dynamic main characters and explores the nature of obsession, revenge, and grief.