(Watch out! I see a scary man in the shadows)
Fade to Black – Leslie Parrish
July 7, 2009
Romantic suspense
Paperback, 368 pages
Signet
I love it when someone feels passionately about a book they have just read because I get the same way. You read an amazing book and you just have to give it praise and recommend it to everyone you know. This is how I came across Fade to Black. Stacy from Stacy’s Place on Earth raved about this book and the others in the series. After reading her reviews and seeing all her tweets, I knew it was time to check it out.
Dean Taggert has thought he has seen it all. He has spent years working in the FBI’s Violent Crimes Division, and recently transferred to a new department – Cyber Action Team or CATS. But nothing has prepared him for what he sees on his computer screen. A video of a girl getting murdered, and it isn’t a quick one. She is tortured, brutally assaulted. What is worse, there are seven more videos, each the same perpetrator murdering a woman, but by different means.
Someone named the Reaper, has opened his own internet playground, offering auctions to its exclusive members. The winner of the auction gets to pick the way the murder is to occur and the Reaper selects the victim and performs the deed. He stalks his victims for weeks, very carefully, and very inconspicuously, once the victim is kidnapped, the murder happens that night, before anyone knows she is missing – she is already dead.
In the small town of Hope Valley, Lisa Zimmerman went missing a year and a half ago. Some think the troubled girl just ran off to deal with her problems somewhere else. Dean Taggert, along with his team assembled of other detectives and IT specialists think Lisa was the Reapers first victim. Dean along with his boss Wyatt Blackstone, travel to Hope Valley and meet with the sheriff, Stacey Rhodes. Stacey confirms the victim on the first video is that of Lisa Zimmerman. She also notices a clue in the video, leading her to believe she knows where the video was taken – right in Hope Valley. They also notice something else on the video, as the victim breathes in her final minutes of air, the Reaper gets close to her, and Lisa says “You.” She knew her attacker, which means most likely he is living in Hope Valley.
As Dean and Stacey lead the investigation, searching for clues, interviewing anyone relevant to Lisa, the Reaper strikes again. Everyone involved becomes desperate to stop this psychotic killer before more lives are taken.
Fade to Black details gruesome, violent acts. Leslie Parrish does not hold back telling the tale of what this perverted killer does. It’s creepy and disturbing and the details come across as so real. You feel yourself sickened by his acts and on the edge of your seat waiting for the good guys to figure out all the clues. This is definitely a change of pace for me, but I really enjoyed the suspense and crime drama.
While the action unfolds, there is a sweet love story as well. Dean Taggert is recently divorced, more married to his job than anything else. When he first meets Stacey in her sheriff’s office, he admits to instant attraction. Stacey feels it too. She moved back to Hope Valley after the tragic Virginia Tech massacre, which she responded too. She is looking for more small town crimes and instead finds herself in the middle of a horrific serial killer. Although always on her game and never one to be found not composed, Dean is someone she can turn to, just to have that moment of emotion and weakness.
They are both very direct with each other. They know there is a mutual attraction, lying out in the open the first night they meet. They both are also very professional and know their first priority is investigating the crime. But they also have a “screw it” attitude. Why not have a friendly adult fling – which of course turns into more than they bargained for.
Although the story line is wrapped up and there is a HEA, the series continues with more mysteries and more romance. Leslie Parrish blends gritty action and a lovely romance in a book that will have you holding your breath until the last page. I can’t recommend this book enough!
Rating: 4 stars
This series includes:
Fade to Black – July 7, 2009
Pitch Black – August 4, 2009
Black at Heart – September 1, 2009
Leslie Parrish’s website
More Reviews:
Wonderful review Mandi :) I am hearing a lot about Leslie Parrish and am holding my breath for her new trilogy in 2010. That one hits all my buttons. I think I need to go out and buy me some Leslie Parrish now for those dark winter months, they seem a perect read for the winter season :D
Nice review Mandi,
I can't remember if I have ever heard about her. Sounds like an ok book, to tired to focus if it's for me though right now
This is a great review! I can tell because you got me interested in this book even though i don't usually read this genre. I've been hearing a lot about this series, i'm curious to know what you think about the following books too =)
Great review Mandi! I've read the entire series and think they just get better and better. I'm hoping Leslie gets enough people reading the Black CAT books so we get more books in the series.
Another to add to my list! Thanks for the great review Mandi!
Great Review. I'm so happy I bought this series yesterday and hope to get them tomorrow so I can finally start reading them.
Great review!
I've heard great things about this series and I really want to read this trilogy. Glad to hear that Leslie has another trilogy coming out next year!
This book reminds me of Allison Brennan's "Fear no Evil" which has the same plot. That was pretty gruesome too!
Great review, this sounds sort of bump in the night scary.
I've been mad doging Pitch Black every time I go into Borders. I can't remember the last Romantic Suspense I read, L. Howard's Burn – geesh I need to put the demons, vampires, and dragon away and get with romantic suspense program. This book sounds great.
I haven't read a romantic suspense in a long time and this one sounds really, really good. I want to be sitting on the edge my seat too! I'm adding this to my wishlist. Thanks!!
I am a fan and just got my hands on this…
Thanks for the review I love a little gruesome every now and then..
E.H>