Deep Dark (Tracers Series Book 10)

Title: Deep Dark
Author: Laura Griffin
Series: Tracers Series, book 10
Reviewer: Kathleen
Genre(s): Suspense Romance
Page Count:368 pages
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

The moment detective Reed Novak steps onto the crime scene, he knows the case is going to rock his world. A beautiful young woman murdered at home. No sign of forced entry. No motive. She’s obviously not the killer’s first victim, and Reed’s instincts tell him she won’t be his last. Reed’s first clue comes via a mysterious text that links to a dating profile, but even more intriguing than the clue is the person who sent it.

As a white-hat hacker in the Delphi Center’s cyber investigation unit, Laney Knox sneaks into some of the deepest, darkest corners of the Internet looking for predators. Laney would prefer to stay away from Austin PD’s most recent murder case, but she can’t ignore the chilling similarities between that crime and her own brutal attack years ago. Laney offers to help the sexy lead detective, but he wants more from her than just a promising tip—Reed wants her trust. Laney resists, but as their relationship deepens she’s tempted to reveal the closely guarded secrets that could make her a key witness…or the killer’s next victim.

Review:
Crime. Drama. Romance. Mystery. And so much suspense. Laura Griffin's Deep Dark was all of these and so much ore that simply had me riddled with goosebumps more than once as I followed Reed, the detective in charge of investigating the later murder of a woman that may have been linked to an online dating site. Being part of an elite cyber investigation unit at the Delphi Center, Laney can't keep away from the case for too many reasons, one being that the latest victim was her fiend and the other being that the crime seeming much too similar to the one she had suffered through, and she keeps sending Reed clues on where he should look for more evidence, she doesn't realize in how much danger she's putting herself in. Having been married and known pain from lies when his wife continuously cheated on him, when Reed meets Laney for the first time and feels the chemistry between the two of them sparks and sizzles, he is more than a little apprehensive, unsure what to expect and even less sure if he should believe the younger woman when she expresses her feelings of affections and love. I'll come right out and say it - it's been a very long time since I've last read a murder-mystery-suspense-romance novel and to have one that kept my attention long enough to make me want to know more and get frustrated each time I guess wrong at who the killer really is,which is a rarity, but here I am reading Deep Dark and that's exactly what's happening. More often than not, my heart would speed up in nervousness, anticipation and even in relief when all the pieces fell in all the right places, and then my emotions were Ina turmoil when I had to come to tow with having to deal with all the new information and 'living' the love growing between Reed and Laney. I knew that, after having had looked at a few descriptions about the book, Deep Dark is the tenth novel in the series and although I was able to follow the story, I still feel that I would benefit from reading the rest of the previously released instalments. All in all, Laura Griffin did an amazing job with keeping the realism in her story and i can't praise it enough.




Review Copy of Deep Dark provided by the Publisher, Pocket Books for an honest Review.
Reviewed by Kathleen from Alpha Book Club

A complex who-done-it, which had me guessing until the end. This is a prime example of romantic suspense done right.

If you know me, then you know how much I love romantic suspense. I've read a number of books from other authors, but am always looking for more. When this book popped up on my NetGalley feed and I saw the rating for the authors other books (something I always check now), I decided to give it a whirl, and I'm so glad I did.

There are some key things this book had that many others fall short on.
Thorough research, particularly on hacking
Believable plot
Complicated relationship between main characters
Complex story-line that kept me guessing
With the plot centering on the killer, it made it that much better that I couldn't figure out who it was.

This story revolves around a number of brutal homicides. We are first thrown into the story as the heroine escapes her own death years prior. Fast forward to the present, and she now plays a key role in the investigation to catch this serial killer. Let's be honest, the detectives on the case would be at a dead end without Laney's help. I'm not saying they are incompetent. They are very thorough in what they do. But I don't think any of them could have made the hunch that Laney, our hacker extraordinaire, was able to make and back up that hunch with evidence.

As a heroine, I really liked Laney. She has this quest for justice that's hard not to appreciate, and she's extremely intelligent. Does she follow rules or laws? Not so much. But again, with the chances she takes, she helps, not once, but multiple times, in providing clues to aid the detectives.

This book didn't have a heavy romantic element and I was perfectly ok with that. However, there is romance, as one of the main detectives, Reed, begins to fall for Laney. She's too young (24), too different from his type, too much of a rule breaker. But he can't stop thinking about her. And lucky for him, she reciprocates those feelings. The two play a game of cat and mouse throughout the story, which is complicated when Laney's past experience comes to light.

I really liked how the author developed the plot in the story.
New crimes.
New evidence cleverly found by Laney.
Possible corruption within the force.
Hacking tying everything together.

If you are really paying attention and taking notes on possible suspects, you may figure it out. I didn't, which I love. Yes, I'd rather be surprise then figure it out early. Where's the fun in that? LOL.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I felt like I was watching a great crime show evolve and unravel. The third person POV made it a little confusing at times, but the author provides a lot of details that weren't farfetched. The whole story felt real, yet creative enough that I hadn't seen it before. This was my first book from this author, and it definitely won't be my last.

Deep Dark by Laura Griffin
Romantic Suspense -May 24th, 2016
4 stars

This intense romantic suspense series never stops its pulsing action! As the eleventh in Laura Griffin's Tracers series this author is unstoppable. She combines science, technology and detective work to create another top notch thrill ride!

Laney Knox is young and brash. She is also a genius on the computer. She can hack systems but she uses her powers for good. Working at the renown Delphi Center to prevent cyber crimes. But when a friend is murdered Laney wants to use skills to help. For she believes that the dating site her friend used may have been the instrument of her death. When a similar death occurs and it is discovered that the another woman who used the site was also killed it looks like her theory is correct.

But the problem is getting the detective in charge -sexy, Reed Novak to listen to her!
Reed Novak is a man on a mission. To stop a vicious murderer before he can kill another helpless woman again. But he can't seem to stop being distracted by the beautiful and headstrong, Laney. She feels she has clues to help him solve the case but her help seems to be putting her in deep danger. As Reed begins to care for Laney he finds himself wanting to protect her and bending rules that he never has before. But Laney may soon become a target if she doesn't stop digging. Can they unlock the pieces in time or will it be too late for the next victim?

Reading the Tracers series is intense. The author has created a realistic world filled with dark passion and terrifying suspense. Reed is the tough and sexy cop. His work has killed his marriage and he isn't looking for another relationship. But something about the young Laney draws him. She has had a tragic past -one that he wants to unravel. Laney is like a pit bull- she won’t let go until she finds out who is responsible. Plus, she needs to solve this series of murders since it unerringly reminds her of her own brush with danger. Unfortunately, the handsome detective in charge won’t take her seriously because of her youth. This was a fast paced read. Both characters have depth and are easy to become invested in. As a superb thrilling this book has two big thumbs up. My only quibble is with the romance. (I wanted more!) It plays secondary to the mystery but I found it difficult to swallow the large age difference between Reed and Laney. Not that they could get together but that it would be something that would actually last. Since I like mystery to be secondary to the romance I didn’t find it as enjoyable as the author previous books but I still enjoyed it tremendously.

Reviewed by Steph from Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Anyone who dares to venture into the world of online dating may rethink their dating habits after reading Deep Dark!

Delaney 'Laney' Knox is a twenty-four-year-old kick-ass white-hat hacker working for The Delphi Centre as an investigator. When the body of a young woman is discovered, Laney's reminded of an incident from her past. Determined to assist in solving the case and erase the memories that have haunted her, she gets more than she bargained when she messages the chief detective in an unconventional way.

Reed Novak is a thirty-nine-year-old detective with Austin PD, jaded with life generally. He's still sharp as a button when it comes to his job and a new case always fires up his enthusiasm. When a body is discovered with no clues or evidence left at the scene of the crime, he's as determined as ever to find the perpetrator. So, his interest is more than piqued when he receives an unexpected message about the case from an anonymous source, in an unconventional way. He's just as intrigued to know the sender as he is to solve the case.

The beginning was a slow start for me, but it didn't take very long to become engrossed in this original and fast-paced novel. The intrigue definitely kept my attention and the pages turning as Reed and Laney investigated the case. There may be a fifteen year age gap between the protagonists but the pairing works incredibly well and doesn't feel forced. Both are workaholics and loners with a passion for their work with a shared sense of duty work ethic. Their lust filled chemistry, always smouldering under the surface, as they attempt to fight against the attraction for each other.

I'm blown away by the author's attention to detail with the research for this well-written novel. I was on my toes right until the revealing of the murderer, which was a surprise.

If you enjoy the Romantic Suspense genre as much as I do, you'll love this adrenalin-charged, well thought out and intelligent novel. This is the tenth novel in the Tracers series and a standalone. I'll be reading the other nine novels in the series as soon as I can and will add Laura Griffin to my favourite author list.

The question I asked myself after reading Deep Dark is: Why has it taken me so long to discover Laura Griffin?

***arc generously received courtesy of Pocket Books via NetGalley***

This is the tenth book in the Tracers series, and the latest story about the elite investigative group, Delphi Center, is one of the best yet. DEEP DARK has enthralling realism during every suspenseful episode. There is constantly much uncertainty as to what will happen next, while the romantic aspects are smoothly blended into the storyline. Laura Griffin is definitely one of the top authors when it comes to creating convincing romantic suspense, as characters are very believable and every riveting situation is plausible.

When Reed Novak begins his investigation into the death of a woman, there are few clues and no solid evidence pointing to a particular suspect. Then the detective with the Austin police department receives a cryptic text message that leaves him even more puzzled about the victim and her perplexing murder. After discovering the identity of the person who sent him the supposed facts, Reed tries to learn if Delaney Knox actually knows something relevant about his case. Though she gives him a little information, he feels certain Laney knows more about the dead woman than she is willing to tell him.

Working at the Delphi Center gives Laney the chance to use her hacking skills, and she specializes in catching those who prey on others now that socializing is so popular on the Internet. One of the reasons she is so interested in this new murder is because she could have easily been killed during a violent incident in the past, and several factors about the current case are just like what occurred to her. While she does offer her assistance in finding the individual responsible, working closely with Reed causes unexpected feelings to surface.

The hero and heroine in DEEP DARK are a couple with whom I instantly connected, and I was truly concerned about their happiness on numerous occasions. Laura Griffin skillfully drew me into the lives of Reed and Laney, two people who seemed so real regardless of the situation in which they found themselves. Whether they are searching for decisive proof about the murder, or are exploring their growing desire for one another, the moment is always packed with reactions that are totally genuine and let me know exactly how they felt about the circumstances. Reed is a dedicated cop who follows the rules while protecting those in need. Yet from the time he meets Laney, his steadfast professional beliefs are not quite as easy to follow. I thoroughly enjoyed the doggedly persistent way that Laney would not give up her pursuit to find the killer. Though she is not really comfortable working with the authorities, stopping a heartless murderer using her expertise is more important. The relationship of Reed and Laney is certainly complex, and I enjoyed seeing how things would work out between them when things became even more difficult.

Anything related to a homicide is expertly portrayed with specifics that let me know much research had been done to make scenes as accurate as possible. I frequently felt as though I was right there in the room watching evidence be collected, and then I was able to experience the analysis of whatever was found. There are a number of surprises which I did not see coming, and their disclosures left me stunned. Laura Griffin always makes details come across as factual, causing me to feel like the story could have taken place. Several of the Delphi Center employees are featured from time to time, and it was great getting to revisit with some of these favorite characters. I hope the Tracers series continues for many more installments. DEEP DARK is imaginatively chilling.

Received copy from publisher for Always Reviewing blog

Laura Griffin, has written another book in the series Tracer. Deep Dark, is her latest one. You get to meet Laney Knox, who worked for the Delphi Center Cyber Investigation Unit. Novak Reed, is a homicide detective for the Austin Police Department.

Laney Knox, worked for the Delphi Center Cyber investigation unit, the job that she did was consider a hacker or white-hat. Her job was to digging into some of the dark corners of the internet looking for predators. But when a young woman is brutally murdered, it brings back the attack that had happen to her their years ago. But this murder has some very similarities of the attack that she went through and was able to escape from. Laney, has involved herself in Novak case because she feels that she can be of help to solve this case with Novak.

Novak Reed, is a homicide detective with the Austin Police Department. We meet Novak at a crime scene with a young woman who has been murdered in her home without any sign of forced entry. Novak, has a feeling that this isn’t the killer’s first victim. Laney, keep digging more into Novak, case which he has told her that he wanted her to stay off of this case. Laney is a very head strong, and independent young woman. Who keep pushes against authority, she very smart with computers, but she doesn’t’ t know how to interacted with people.

From the very first page Laura, pull you right in to this story. She has you trying to figure out just who is the killer and why. She loves keeping you on the edge of your seat all the way until the last page. If you like books that has suspense, mystery, romance, and lots of forensics like CSI. than this is a book for you.

I received a complimentary book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Laura Griffin’s Tracer books since I first discovered, Untraceable, the first book in the series. However, in spite of the fact that this is the tenth book in the series, each book can be read as a stand-alone. Although, people from other books often show up later, they usually only appear as peripheral characters. Therefore, it is not necessary to know their background, although it is fun to see them again when you have read the series.

Even though the Tracer books are classed in the romantic-suspense genre, this series differs from a lot of other books in this category. First of all, there is very little blood and gore. In this book, a serial killer murders young women in their homes. The detectives are convinced that these crimes involve a dating service and computers. The plot emphasizes the work detectives do to try to figure out how, why and who is committing these murders. Therefore, we do not see the deaths happen nor does the book describe how the victims look.

Another difference is that the couple, Laney Knox, a legal hacker from the Dephi Center, and Detective Reed Novak, do not jump in and out of bed throughout the book. Instead they work together to solve the crime as they slowly fall in love with each other. In fact, there is wonderful chemistry between Laney and Reed, but Ms. Griffin shows it by how they treat, and relate to, each other. When they do, finally, get together, we know that they are “making love.”

Finally, at the end of the book, we find out “whodunit” and that Laney and Reed live happily ever after. I expected the HEA, but I had no idea who the serial killer was until the very end. Not only was it a surprise “whodunit,” but I was also amazed with how the killer actually accomplished it.

If you have never read this Laura Griffin before, this is a wonderful book to start with. The best part is that, when, when you are done, you will still have nine other Tracer books to read!

Someone is murdering women, and Reed Novak is determined to find out who it is and stop him. His greatest asset is also the one person he wants as far away from the investigation as he can keep her but she’s stubborn and driven to discover the truth just as much as he is. Laney Knox survived the killer, she knows he’s not only a predator in real life but in cyberspace too, now if she can just find out how he gets in to watch, stalk, and eventually kill.

I have to admit that when I first started reading DEEP DARK by Laura Griffin, I was a tad confused. A woman is attacked in her home and then in the next chapter, a woman is found dead in her home but they are not the same woman. Granted, I didn’t pay close enough attention to the name of the victim and once I went back to check, I got caught up but it did put me off slightly…then it didn’t matter anymore because I was hooked!

I had not read anything by Laura Griffin before. Although I do have copies of a couple of her other books given to me by a friend, and now I know they are both going to get pushed up the TBR list because Laura created an exciting, character and action driven suspense that kept me guessing practically to the reveal of the killer. That’s tough to pull that off with me but she wove such a detailed, intriguing, and suspense-filled mystery that I was sorry it ended when it did. Her investigators, her investigations, and her character interactions rival my favorite CSI shows.

I highly recommend DEEP DARK, book 10 of the Tracers series by Laura Griffin to anyone who is a fan of CSI stories, romantic suspense (trust me - the sexual tension between Reed and Laney is enough to have you fanning yourself), and fabulous characters filled with depth and personality, then you need to read this one. I’m going to have to go back and start reading the rest of the series now that I know just how amazing the Tracer series is.

***galley provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unscripted review

Laney Knox is a hacker working at Delphi Center’s Cyber Investigation Unit. A young woman Laney once worked with is brutally murdered and Laney thinks she can help the case. She sends information to Detective Reed Novak but has no idea what that little piece of information she gave to him will cost her in the long run. One murder turns into another, which turns into the Detective having a serial killer on his hands. Laney is truly the only one who can help the Detective find this serial killer.

Reed Novak is the lead Detective on the case of April Abrams. He receives information from Laney on the case and decides to hear her out. Reed starts to fall for Laney while he keeps telling himself to stay away. He knows Laney is being far from truthful about what she knows and can sense that she is hiding something. Neither of them knows just what her connection to this case really is.

I truly enjoyed the relationship between Laney and Reed. Even though there was a big age difference, I didn’t find it to be a problem. You can sense when the trust between them starts to change and their feelings for one another become more apparent. I also enjoyed all the secondary characters and hope their stories will be told in other books.

This book is full of mystery, suspense with some romance thrown in. It kept me on the edge of my seat and trying to figure out who the serial killer was until almost the very end of the book. With some stories you can figure out more than halfway thru who the killer is. That is not the case with this book at all! I have to say I was quite shocked to find out who done it.

I’m usually not a fan of romantic suspense books, until now. I have never read anything by Laura Griffin prior to this book and I honestly do not know why! I will definitely be adding Laura Griffin to my TBR list!

"The words hit her like a slap. And regrets flooded her mind again. April was dead. And Laney should have followed up. She'd warned April about the security breach, but then she'd basically checked it off her list and forgotten about it. She should have done more. If she'd pressed the issue, April might have taken more steps to protect herself and she might be alive right now.".......

Detective Reed Novak and partner Jay Wallace are investigating a young woman's death. Someone sends Reed mysterious texts that leads him to a dating site April was using before she was murdered.

Working as a hacker for a cyber investigation unit, Delphi Center, Laney Knox searches the dark side of the Internet for the evil that lurks there. This new case that the Austin PD is investigating is similar to her own horrible attack that was never solved. She was also friends with April.

In this romantic thriller Laney sends Reed in the right direction, but will she assist him or resist him? She'll either be helping him or alerting the killer that she's still around. Can Reed protect her? Laney is so much younger than Reed, it's a deterrent for him. Secrets kept may ruin things before they can get started.

The story gets exciting when ties are discovered to other murders. Laney's inability to follow orders will endanger her life. Can she save herself? Can Reed? Others will also be in danger unless this killer is captured.

This is the 10th book in the "Tracers" series. Definitely a stand alone story line. A nice mix of mystery with a little romance. I prefer a crime over romance story. I'm glad I read this in spite of my preferences. Having an open mind often leads to things possibly overlooked. Great story with plenty of action, contemporary ideas involving online dating and the dark side of the Internet.

I’m a huge fan of Laura Griffin, especially her Tracers series: romantic suspense with a well-developed and well-researched focus on forensics. Now into its 10th full-length installment, one would fear that DEEP DARK would feel repetitive and unoriginal-- after all, how many ways can one author skin the RS cat? But it is a testament to Ms. Griffin’s skill as an author that DEEP DARK is just as fresh and thrilling a the first book in the series and delivers everything readers have come to expect from her: crisp, accessible writing that rocks the pop culture references, pulse-pounding suspense, thoroughly-researched forensics that are instructive without getting bogged down in meaningless minutiae, thoroughly enjoyable and relatable characters, and off-the-charts chemistry that manages to be incredibly hot without being overly in-your-face. DEEP DARK feels a bit like a throwback to UNTRACEABLE, the first book in the series-- which is a huge compliment, given that it’s one of my favourite Tracers and RS books of all time! I can see echoes of Alex and Nathan in spunky, rules-were-meant-to-be-bent, white-hat hacker heroine Laney Knox and cynical, by-the-book, married-to-his-job, Austin PD detective hero Reed Novak. Big age gaps are often a tough sell for me, but Ms. Griffin handles the 15-year difference between Laney and Reed masterfully, and watching Reed beat himself up over it before opening up again and finally giving in to the feelings of protectiveness and love she stirs in him will make you want to have a Reed of your own. The two of them just work, and watching their relationship grow and develop is heartwarming.

Another excellent entry in one of the best RS series around. Though DEEP DARK is the 10th book in the Tracers series, it can be read as a standalone without missing much (other than the awesomeness of Mia Voss and Kelsey Quinn. And Alex) and can be the perfect starting point for any new reader. You’ll quickly want to get caught up on the rest of the Delphi Centre crew! Looking forward to book #11 already.

I absolutely love this series!! This is the 10th book in the Tracers series, and they just keep getting better. The Tracers are a group of elite forensic investigators who work for the Delphi Center, sort of like the TV show CSI. They have top of the line equipment and all sorts of advanced technology to help sift through evidence. Ms. Griffin skillfully mixes mystery, suspense, romance with investigative skills to make the most amazing stories.

Our heroin, Laney, is a computer hacker for the Tracers. Laney can hack into just about anything. She helps make on-line sites safer by hacking into them and finding potential flaws. The book opens with Laney being attacked in her home, but she manages to escape. Fast forward a few years, and she now lives a very solitary life in a very secure apartment with a good security system. When one of her friends is murdered Laney thinks it has to do with an on-line dating site she once worked for. Laney meets our hero, Reed, who is the police detective in charge of the murder investigation. Laney secretly sends him information about the dating site and Reed tracks her down. He thinks Laney is hiding something and doesn’t trust her and of course Laney doesn't trust him either. I really liked how, though they couldn’t quite trust each other in the beginning, they eventually teamed up to solve the mystery. Their romance worked so well for me.

I have read every single one of the books in the Tracers series and each book is totally different. Deep Dark kept me interested from the first page to the end. The mystery, suspense and romance blended perfectly with the story.

I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. Romantic suspense is so hard to balance, but this book has everything you want. Deep Dark has edge of your seat suspense, an intricate mystery, a creepy cyber stalker, spicy romance, intelligent heroine and a sexy hero, all perfectly blended together. I can honestly say, this is another 5 star book for me!

DEEP DARK is a fast moving suspenseful mystery filled with action on every page. Laura Griffin’s storyline deals with issues of trust, manipulation, relationships, and romance. The author introduces her readers to her female protagonist Laney Knox, a cyber investigator for the Delphi Center. She helps readers understand Laney’s background including a secret from her past that could hinder her involvement in the search for a serial killer. Readers meet Griffin’s male protagonist Reed Novac, an Austin homicide detective. They learn Reed’s background, including details bringing Laney to Reed’s attention, in his search for a serial killer of young women.

The author explains the importance of services Delphi Center provides federal, state, and local law enforcement, helping evaluate evidence found at crime scenes, including DNA, fingerprints, and social media using the center’s Cyber Investigative Unit. Reed’s investigation uncovers cyber clues leading him to consider if Laney could be a witness or if she might be in danger. Griffin introduces support characters to readers providing their backstories and the roles they play as the story progresses. Readers who follow Griffin’s Tracer series see how she continues enhancing her main characters as well as her support characters from earlier books in the series.

Readers are kept on edge as they follow the pursuit of the serial killer and realize someone is trying to hinder the investigation. Griffin keeps increasing the pace of DEEP DARK by adding twists and turns changing directions of the plot. The author keeps her readers involved in the progress of the story giving them insight to unfolding events leading to a great ending. Griffin delivers a must read story earning a five-star ranking.

Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Deep Dark, in exchange for an honest review.

Reed Novak, detective with the Austin Police Department, has been given a puzzling case of a woman murdered in her home, but there are no signs of false entry.

White hat hacker Delaney (Laney) Knox, who works for the Delphi Center's cyber investigation unit, sees too many similarities in the case to her own brutal attack years ago. Anonymously contacting Reed with possible information on the young woman's case, Laney inserts herself into the investigation in the hopes of helping find the killer. With possible links to a dating site that is a client of the Delphi Center, both Reed and Laney are determined to find the killer before he finds his next victim.

Deep Dark reads like a cross between an episode of CSI: Cyber and Bones. Fast paced with a good premise, this book has two interesting main characters. Detective Reed Novak is dedicated to his job and takes the protection of Austin's citizens very seriously. Laney Knox is a skilled hacker and has great intuition, but runs headlong into potentially dangerous situations. With her background, Laney's risky behavior does not seem all that believable. Although this is a suspense novel, there is a little bit of romance involved. As the crimes and the subsequent criminal investigations take center stage, the romantic entanglements did not detract too much from the central story. I have not read the previous books in this series, but did not feel like I was missing out on any part of the story. I would recommend Deep Dark to readers who enjoy suspense and police procedurals.

4.5 Stars

A riveting and intense thrill ride. Griffin delivers a fast paced story, full of action and suspense. She had me completely wrapped up in this story.
Detective Reed Novak's newest case has him and his team coming up empty. A woman is found murdered. They have been able to find no physical evidence but Novak knows there's more to this murder than meets the eye. Finally, he gets a break in the case...a text message from an anonymous source.
Laney Knox is a woman with a past. She's also a brilliant white-hat hacker for the Delphi Center as part of their cyber investigation unit. When she discovers a friend of hers has been murdered, she does what she can to help the investigation. The more she learns, the more she notices the similarities between this case and her own attack years ago.
Will Reed and Laney be able to find the killer before he kills anyone else? Will this case put Laney right in the killer's path?
Reed is a conflicted man when it comes to Laney. As a detective he tends to see things in black and white and Laney challenges that, she spends much of her time in the gray. I loved his protective and possessive side as well as his honor and intelligence.
Laney is an amazing female lead. I was drawn to her strength, drive, brilliance, and tenacity. She pushes limits and embraces that about herself.
Griffin grabs ahold of us with a mesmerizing storyline and intriguing characters. I was enthralled with Deep Dark, unable to put it down. A great mix of mystery, suspense, action, and passion. I'm eager to go back and read the other books in the series!

Deep Dark
Laura Griffin

Griffin’s Tracers series just gets better and better as evidenced by the fantastic #10 page-turner in the series, Deep Dark. Staring an intensely complex couple, tech savvy Delaney Knox and veteran cop Reed Novak opposites that fit together beautifully in spite of or maybe because of their differences. Her chilling storyline is delivered via her astute signature evidence/fact filled dialogue plus some techie facts for dummies in this particular installment. Her cache of super characters, the opposites attract, May, September romance plus a never saw it coming climactic ending make this one unforgettable, amazing read.
Laura you impress me with each and every novel and I can’t wait to see who you throw the book at in #11.

The murder of a local Austin Texas woman is very disturbing to Delphi Center cyber crime investigator (white hat hacker) Delaney (Laney) Knox. Not only did she know the victim, she also has a suspicion about how the perpetrator targeted his prey, and it’s eerily similar to her own attack. Unfortunately the cops aren’t moving fast enough or in the right direction, fortunately she’s got the tools to gently push them there, but that puts her right in the line of fire of a sexy slightly older detective.
Austin detective Reed Novak has just been handed a heinous murder case and almost immediately is getting help from a mysterious source. When that source turns out to be an edgy, seductive twenty something cyber prodigy he wants her help but doesn't want this intense desire he feels for her.
As the body count rises both Laney and Reed have much more to worry about than the attraction they feel for each other.

And there was even some romance in there. Deep Dark was not just a title. There was some serious attention paid to the details of the mystery unfolding. Providing a connection to the thrill of the suspense, the mystery who and why, the chemistry of the connection, and the intense emotions experienced while reading and digesting all that was being consumed. A mystery to sink your teeth into and a romance to experience.

There were things thrown at me that I was most certainly not expecting. I was thrilled to have the diversion. I did not know what to expect with the turn of the next page or tap on the screen as this read was. I was biting my lip anticipating the next move. The next clue. The next encounter. The next anything. I was drawn in and desperate for more.

Cyber investigator/hacker, a detective and a murder. There was something that this detective, Novak, did not know or expect bread crumbs leading him in a direction for answers. Those bread crumbs from Laney were what was needed to get the investigation heading in the right direction. Laney and Novak could help each other but Novak was not so sure this was wise and Laney knew more than she was comfortable giving.

There encounters. There collaboration was more than just solving the murder case and catching the murder. They were forming a chemical bond that neither would be completely comfortable giving up on once all was said and done.

I have not read any of the Tracer series books prior to this read. That will no longer be the case by the time this was typed up for my review.
**This ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Griffin is back with another great Tracers read! This book has it all mystery, romance and non stop suspense. It's csi and criminal minds rolled into one fantastic read!

There are bad and good hackers and Laney is one of the good ones. She works in Delphi Center's Cyber Investigation Unit. After a young woman is murdered she gets involved by sending information to the detective on the case but she has no idea what is about to come next.

Reed knows Laney isn't telling him everything so he has her helping on the case that is until her life becomes in danger but he knows Laney will stop at nothing to get the answers they are looking for.

I really liked Laney and Reed. They don't have a simple relationship but as there trust for one another starts to grow so do their feelings. I liked that Griffin wrote a 15 year age difference between them and it totally wasn't creepy but sweet. They wanted each other but I thought it was kinda sweet how Reed kept reminding himself she was younger.

The story also had some great secondary characters and honestly I would really like to see them have their own books someday because I didn't feel their story was done.

Of course in this one we deal with a serial killer but I loved the suspense on what would happen next and when would they discover who it was. It honestly kept me on the edge of my seat. When they figured out who it was I was actually shocked!

This will be a definite re read for me in the future because reading it just once wasn't enough. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series and hopefully maybe Griffin will have another Tracers book out this year.

Laura Griffin writes amazing, smart romantic suspense. This book was full of twists and turns and the details were just amazing. I learned so much about the world of hackers (and am now a bit scared about that little camera at the top of my laptop.)

I adore Laney's character. She's tough and persistent and when she gets a goal in her mind, she doesn't let go of it. That's what makes her so very good at her job. She's a computer hacker...and her specialty is tracking down weakness...something that she has in common with the serial killer in this book because he's a computer expert too. The fact that Laney has a personal tie to the serial killer story just adds another element of intrigue to the story. It takes a while before her full story is exposed in the book...and that kept me engaged in ths story too.

Then there's Reed. He's this tough detective who's seen it all, but Laney takes him completely by surprise. She's too young for him, too tenacious. She scares him just because he is so drawn to her when everything says he shouldn't get involved with her. Then add in the fact that she refuses to back away from this case...a case that seems to endanger her more everyday...and then he's terrified.

I enjoyed every moment of reading this story. It was a great enthralling story that kept me interested from page one. It was simply another great story in this series from Laura Griffin.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

-It’s a romantic suspense, which was a good change of pace for me.
-It’s also the first time I’ve read Ms. Griffin’s work and I really enjoyed her writing. The prologue grabs your attention and kept me interested well into the night.
-The suspense part holds up. I was intrigued, the story flowed well, and the villain isn’t too obvious. In the age where many people have seen at least one procedural show [if not many], Ms. Griffin certainly paid attention to detail regarding the investigation and I thought Reed and Laney were well-developed characters that worked well inside and outside of their romance. Speaking of...
-The romance was milder (not fade to black, but not overly detailed either). I would say that the romance was a bigger part of the story than I expected, which works for me, but those who are in it strictly for the suspense might not be into that part.
-The only part of the plot that I didn’t enjoy as much was a bit of a subplot regarding the social media site implicated in the investigation. I thought was resolved in a bit of a convenient manner. -Additionally, I would have loved a better resolution to the secondary romance. Then again, in a romantic suspense to even get a secondary romance is rare, so it’s a minor quibble for me.

The Bottom Line
Overall, I really enjoyed it and it kept me turning the page well into the night. I’d recommend for those into romantic suspense. I’d be interested in reading more by Ms. Griffin.

**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**

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“Deep Dark”, the newest Tracers novel by Laura Griffin, opened with heart-stopping intensity that gripped me from the first pages and never let go.

I grew up watching mystery TV shows and movies with my father, so it was natural that I spent most of my young adult and early adult years reading only mysteries. Even though I have now moved on to reading almost exclusively romance, I still get that slice of nostalgia that has me gravitating towards mysteries again. Enter Laura Griffin. My obsession with all things Laura Griffin began with “Whisper of Warning”, and I think she will always be an author who will give me grabby hands, give-it-to-me now, drop everything in order to get and read her next book in nearly one sitting. Not only does she give me everything I loved about mysteries – the heart stopping action and excitement – but she knows how to build a romance between all that action with unresolved sexual tension and intense chemistry that is amped up because of the lurking danger.

“Deep Dark” is no exception to what I expect to find in a Laura Griffin book, but the basis of this story involving a female hacker (a rare find, I think) and two characters with a significant age difference (something the author never shies away from) is exciting, fresh, and well-developed. I try so hard to savor every moment of this book, but once again, I could not stop turning the pages.

Although this is the 9th book in the series, it can be read as a complete standalone.

Where has Laura Griffin been all my life? This book was fantastic, now I have to go and read the rest of her books!

Reed Novak is a detective for the Austin PD working a brutal murder of a young woman named April Abrams. There are not many clues left at the scene and Reed knows this case is going to be a tough one to solve. He gets a mysterious text that gives him a clue in the case, and he is instantly intrigued and must know who sent it.

Laney is a professional hacker for the Delphi Center and knows the victim, she is a friend and co-worker. Laney thinks the killer gained access to April through her profile on a dating website. When her and Reed start working together on the case she starts to realize there are frightening similarities between April's murder and her own brutal attack years before.

Laney and Reed have chemistry from the word go, but neither one wants to act on it. Reed thinks Laney is too young, and Laney is used to being alone. They can't resist each other and a relationship begins, but when Reed discovers Laney's secrets their relationship might be over before it started.

This is a great read. I still would have thoroughly enjoyed this book if it has just been a murder mystery, the romance was a big bonus. The writing is excellent and the story is paced perfectly. This book is full of mystery, danger and nail biting suspense and once I started reading I was riveted to my Kindle and couldn't put it down!

Reading a Tracers novel is like coming home after a long day at work. There is just something so comforting knowing I am reading a book written by Laura Griffin. Always smart, always better than the last, and always filled with well thought-out plotlines and unexpected turns. Deep Dark is no different. It’s captivating from the onset and will keep you invested throughout its entirety.

Cyber investigator and white-hat hacker Laney Knox has discovered a link: one that is alarmingly familiar to an incident in her past. Using her vast skills, she is dropping breadcrumbs of information for detective Reed Novak to follow.

Novak takes no time in discovering who the crumb dropper is, and decides to form a partnership that he isn’t comfortable with at all. Novak fears for her safety the more Laney digs deeper into the investigation. Trying to keep her “not-so-legal help” to a minimum is his reason for distance. Laney isn’t having any of that. She knows two things: what she needs to do to help solve the case and that she’s attracted to the detective.

May-December is how you would describe these two. Fifteen years separate Laney and Reed, but chemistry, life experiences, and a combustible compatibility is what brings them together in the Deep Dark.

I feel as if I say this every time I read the latest Tracer Novel… It’s one of the best to date. Laney and Reed are one of my favorite book couples of the year thus far!

Deep Dark, Laura Griffin’s latest Tracers novel, addresses every woman’s worst nightmare head on: what if all my precautions are not enough? Laney Knox discovers this first hand when she is assaulted in her home one night. She successfully manages to escape, but at what cost? Three years later a similar attack on one of her friends doesn’t end so well and brings everything back to the forefront of Laney’s life. A master white-hat hacker at the Delphi Center, together with Austin PD Detective Reed Novak, Laney starts tracking this predator where he lives: the darkest parts of the interwebs. The suspense ratchets up as the hunter becomes the hunted. Interwoven is the slow build between Reed and Laney. The romance is definitely secondary, but feels organic to the story. Griffin keeps you guessing the entire novel, while still providing enough information for you to figure it out (I didn’t). I always enjoy Griffin’s writing style and storytelling. This is definitely on my list of favorite novels this year.

Copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Where has Laura Griffin been all my life? This book was fantastic, now I have to go and read the rest of her books!

Reed Novak is a detective for the Austin PD working a brutal murder of a young woman named April Abrams. There are not many clues left at the scene and Reed knows this case is going to be a tough one to solve. He gets a mysterious text that gives him a clue in the case, and he is instantly intrigued and must know who sent it.

Laney is a professional hacker for the Delphi Center and knows the victim, she is a friend and co-worker. Laney thinks the killer gained access to April through her profile on a dating website. When her and Reed start working together on the case she starts to realize there are frightening similarities between April's murder and her own brutal attack years before.

Laney and Reed have chemistry from the word go, but neither one wants to act on it. Reed thinks Laney is too young, and Laney is used to being alone. They can't resist each other and a relationship begins, but when Reed discovers Laney's secrets their relationship might be over before it started.

This is a great read. I still would have thoroughly enjoyed this book if it has just been a murder mystery, the romance was a big bonus. The writing is excellent and the story is paced perfectly. This book is full of mystery, danger and nail biting suspense and once I started reading I was riveted to my Kindle and couldn't put it down!

Reading a Tracers novel is like coming home after a long day at work. There is just something so comforting knowing I am reading a book written by Laura Griffin. Always smart, always better than the last, and always filled with well thought-out plotlines and unexpected turns. Deep Dark is no different. It’s captivating from the onset and will keep you invested throughout its entirety.

Cyber investigator and white-hat hacker Laney Knox has discovered a link: one that is alarmingly familiar to an incident in her past. Using her vast skills, she is dropping breadcrumbs of information for detective Reed Novak to follow.

Novak takes no time in discovering who the crumb dropper is, and decides to form a partnership that he isn’t comfortable with at all. Novak fears for her safety the more Laney digs deeper into the investigation. Trying to keep her “not-so-legal help” to a minimum is his reason for distance. Laney isn’t having any of that. She knows two things: what she needs to do to help solve the case and that she’s attracted to the detective.

May-December is how you would describe these two. Fifteen years separate Laney and Reed, but chemistry, life experiences, and a combustible compatibility is what brings them together in the Deep Dark.

I feel as if I say this every time I read the latest Tracer Novel… It’s one of the best to date. Laney and Reed are one of my favorite book couples of the year thus far!

Fantastic Book in the 10th Tracer Series is not one to be missed. Laura Griffin brings just everything you expect. Thrilling Suspense, and two main chacacters Laney Knox and Reed Novak who are amazing.

Detective Reed Novak is trying to solve a murder investigation. The only thing is one Laney Knox thinks she can help him by leaving him clues on his phone.. She's a force to be reconked with. He doesn't know how she does it, but she manages to hack into things. Oh she's really good at, but it puts her into so much trouble. It gets pretty dangerous at one point.

Laney Knox will do whatever it takes to get justic for her friends. She knows a lot and is trying to help Detective Reed Novak. He is too stubborn to listen to her.

Reed doesn't know what to do with Laney. He tries to protect her, but she doesn't listen. She has a mind of her own. The more she snoops the more things get out of control..what can he do?

Things get heated And you'll see it build between Reed and Laney. But will they give into it?

In order to find out you need to buy the book.

Deep Dark, Laura Griffin’s latest Tracers novel, addresses every woman’s worst nightmare head on: what if all my precautions are not enough? Laney Knox discovers this first hand when she is assaulted in her home one night. She successfully manages to escape, but at what cost? Three years later a similar attack on one of her friends doesn’t end so well and brings everything back to the forefront of Laney’s life. A master white-hat hacker at the Delphi Center, together with Austin PD Detective Reed Novak, Laney starts tracking this predator where he lives: the darkest parts of the interwebs. The suspense ratchets up as the hunter becomes the hunted. Interwoven is the slow build between Reed and Laney. The romance is definitely secondary, but feels organic to the story. Griffin keeps you guessing the entire novel, while still providing enough information for you to figure it out (I didn’t). I always enjoy Griffin’s writing style and storytelling. This is definitely on my list of favorite novels this year.

Copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic story of suspense, mystery, murder, romance and everything in between. Laura Griffin wrote a wonderful in-depth story in "Deep Dark" that will keep you turning pages from the very first one until the very last one. Detective Reed Novak hooking up with white hat hacker Laney Knox while trying to solve a murder got more than he bargained for while trying to keep her out of the action. With a killer on the loose, Reed has his hands full while trying to solve his case, but Laney knows what she is talking about when it comes to hacking. The story is fast paced and will keep you guessing until the murder is solved. This is my kind of story and the first I have read in the Tracers Series. I look forward to going back and reading more in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Pocket Books for gifting me with an ARC of "Deep Dark" and asking me to leave my honest opinion. My review of "Deep Dark" is my own and I highly recommend it for all suspenseful romance readers. 5 Stars!

Loved the age difference and the opposites attract romance here! Laney was only twenty-four and Reed thirty-eight, but they had instant chemistry and attraction. Laney was a young, edgy computer genius, with pink highlights, not Reed’s usual type. Reed is a conventional clean-cut cop and definitely not Laney’s usual type, either, but, boy, Reed was very male in the best way possible, and they just clicked together!

As for the mystery, I was keep guessing and on the edge of my seat with lots of revelations, danger and twists! I loved all the crime procedural bits, and piecing together all the clues, technical and otherwise. The technical aspects, computer/software details seemed very well researched and cutting-edge. Laura Griffin is writes top-notch mystery/romantic suspense and I plan on adding all her backlist to my TBR.

You. Will. Never. Guess. Who. "Done". It!! Hold on to your seats, because Laura Griffin is going to take you for a wild ride around Austin. Women of women of similar age and looks are being raped and murdered, brutally, in their own homes. The UNSUB leaves NO trace, no DNA, nothing. The lead detective gets an anonymous tip, from a white-hat hacker, that leads him to find that the women are connected by a dating website - the UNSUB finds them, and watches them, through the internet - and their own personal computers. As a love story slowly blossoms between the lead detective, Reed, and the white-hat hacker, Laney, the killer could go after her next. You will NOT be able to put this down until you are done!!!

Laura Griffin hit one out of the ballpark again with Deep Dark, her newest book in the Tracers series.

The book is a mixture of a police procedural, a romance, and a mystery. The story is about a murder investigation led by Reed. Laney, a hacker, inserts herself into the investigation because she knew the victim and believes the murder is linked to a dating website she had done work for. She and Reed have definite chemistry, but he is hesitant to get involved with her because he is much older than she is.

(I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review)

To read more of this review, please visit booksthathook dot com

Classic Laura Griffin! Excellent! If you like her Tracer's series, this is for you! #10 and as fresh as the first ones! It's the police procedural type of RS, with the added bonus of Delphi center angle, yet it doesn't shirk the romance either. Detective Reed and Delphi hacker Laney fall hard for each other despite the conflicts in their way!

A great edge of your seat thriller, Follow Detective Reed. Novak as he tracks a killer that finds hos victims through a internet site, Watch as he fights his attraction to the young professional hacker, can she help him find the killer. Or will she end up the next victim? An can a romance blossom between a relationship shy detective and an unsecure young woman with issues from being attacked before, will love concure all? I was totally into this book from page one til the last page, and can hardly wait to read her next book, I was gifted this book for a true and unbiased review,

A suspenseful book as a police detective teams up with a computer hacker to try and find a killer of young women before he strikes again. Laney Knox, the hacker, was almost a victim herself and still recalls the horror she experienced before she got away from the masked man. Detective Reed Novak uses her help when they come up against someone who is also good at hacking.

Laura Griffin does not disappoint with this new installment in the Tracers Series. I love a feisty female character who doesn't allow anyone or anything (including a hot detective) get in her way!! Laney doesn't scare easily and proves age ain't nothing but a number! I was on the edge of my seat and could not put this book down until the end. My only disappointment is waiting until the next book!!

I love this book! Another fast paced, thrilling adventure from one of the best writers I've had the pleasure to read. The Tracers series is well researched, informative and has great characters. The plot in this book had me hooked from the first page, and the ending was totally unexpected. What more could you ask for in a book? Laura Griffin delivers again!

I absolutely loved this book. This is the first novel by Griffin that I have read...I found it at a used bookstore. What a jackpot and now I am going to go back and start from the beginning of Tracers. If Griffin's writing is this fantastic well into the series, I have high hopes for the earlier novels.

I like this author but I was really disappointed in the ending of this book. I think more details should have been shown about the culprit. Since I don't want to give anything away, I won't go into detail here. However, I think it really fell apart at the end. It's like the author had to hurry up and finish it to do something else. Very disappointing.

I think my favorite Laura Griffin series is The Tracers. DEEP DARK, while being the 10th book in this series, DEEP DARK (as well as the other 9 books) can be read as a stand-alone book.

Laney Knox is a very "spirited" young lady who has vast knowledge of cyber space. She works for the Delphi Center as a "good-guy" hacker in order to track/find criminals. Then, we have "mature" Reed Novak, Austin homicide detective. Reed has the type of instincts he needs to be excellent in his profession. But, are his instincts about love as good? These two work together to hunt down a serial killer before he can kill again.

Since I'm not a writer, but a GREAT reader, I sometimes can't find words to explain in a review how exciting a story is. From page one, DEEP DARK starts off with a bang and doesn't stop. The story didn't slow down anywhere in the book. It IS really a page turner.

DEEP DARK has suspense, mystery, romance and anything you like in a great thriller. If you have never read Laura Griffin, this is a great book to start with. If you are a regular reader of Laura Griffin, you will love this book too. In either case, don't miss this book!

Another great story by Laura Griffin. This series got me at the first book, now at book ten, I am seriously hooked. Great story line, likable and fun characters, some romance and the twists & turns to keep you guessing who did it. Bravo on another great book Laura!

This series is still just as fresh and thrilling as the first book was. I love a good forensics book and this series never disappoints.

In each of the books we've gotten to see a different aspect of how forensics is used to solve murders or crimes from the experts at the Delphi Center. For a latest group of murders the Cyber team is called upon to try and find the killer. The way this authors writes I was riveted from beginning to end with the story. Both the leads command your attention and their chemistry off the charts.