Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose

Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2.5 days

Pages - 608

Publisher - Headline

Source - Bookbridgr

Blurb from Goodreads

The fourth and final book in Karen Rose's nail-biting Cincinnati Series revisits your favourite characters battling crime in the city's dark underbelly.

Homicide detective Adam Kimble is no stranger to battling demons. But Meredith Fallon is a different kind of weakness: one that could actually be good for him, if only he would let himself depend on her. Meredith has loved Adam for a year, and seeing how hard he's worked to deal with his PTSD makes her feelings only stronger, but she respects his needs. Her work keeps her busy anyway: she counsels sexually abused women like Mallory Martin to help them reintegrate into the world.

But someone doesn't want Meredith helping women like Mallory, and Meredith finds herself in the crosshairs of a very determined killer. Adam would risk anything for her, but they'll soon find out she isn't the only target...



My Review

I have read some of these books and not always in order, I think to get the most out of these books you should really read in order, says she who doesn't. I recognise a lot of the characters mentioned and their past struggles but there was some I didn't know and whilst you can keep up with the characters I think the book packs more punch with knowing all the back stories.

This is really Meredith and Adam's story with some of Mallory (character from previous books and young girl rescued from a horrific sex trafficking). Meredith and Adam had one night a year ago, Adam has kept himself away since, Meredith doesn't know exactly why but she still loves him. Adam has kept his family at a distance too whilst trying to recover and keep on the job. Whilst trying to stay away and sort himself Meredith is attacked and Adam needs to be part of the investigation. The two try to deal with their feelings inbetween trying to work out who is after Meredith and why. Working with abused kids anyone could be the perp, as the killer closes in and ups his game the police have to pull closer and find it isn't just Meredith who is in danger.

Crime and sex doesn't always work and Rose always has ill fated or doomed relationships from the beginning. The characters have so much danger to face, people to protect that you have action almost non stop. She manages to work in the love interest angle really well and it doesn't take from the main story, in my opinion. Family is a huge theme and there are so many of them, most either cops or helping victims of crime so they are always targets of one type or another. What I love about this is whilst many of the back stories have been left open we find a fair bit of closure in this book. Despite being a chunky 600 plus pages I could easily have had more, the characters are a plenty and there are so many strands to the stories.

Actions, violence, sexual deviants, killers, families, love, loss, personal growth and that is just scratching the surface. Rose carves out characters you can't help but be drawn to and leaves you wanting more. 4/5 for me this time, if you have enjoyed her previous books you will love this, if you haven't read her before, go back to the start!

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