Menaced by a killer… When someone starts picking off child abusers previously arrested by Department of Justice Agent Samantha (Sam) Chase, he uses the signature method (not known to the public) of an already-executed serial killer—also one of Sam’s cases. Has her social isolation made her the perfect victim to frame? Is it the killer who has been threatening her anonymously? As danger closes in, will she allow someone to help before it is too late?Years earlier, Sam fled the South and a troubled past that she shares with no one. Following her sister’s unexpected death, Sam found herself guardian to her 8-year-old twin nephews. She tackled single parenthood while forging ahead in her law enforcement career, but life’s fragile order starts to crumble when the twins hit their tumultuous teen years. Willing to help is Detective Nick Thomas, a colleague and faithful family friend who would like to be more. He has tried to get close to Sam, but she keeps him at arm’s length, like everyone else. - - - Set in the early 2000’s, this story would be more credible if the time had been 20 to 30 years earlier. It is illogical that video or other electronic surveillance wasn’t used to identify a suspect when threats/incidents repeatedly occurred in predictable locations (Sam’s home, office, parking garage).+++ On the plus side, true to its name, Chasing Darkness (A Taught Psychological Thriller) delivers a suspenseful mystery with some romance. The few intimate scenes are mostly implied with no explicit description beyond kissing. Characters are well developed, and the story is told from the perspective of variety of characters, including that of a 6-year-old girl. Danielle Girard effectively uses this device to introduce clues and potential suspects with subtlety, making this an engaging who-done-it. Overall, this is a good story, for those looking for a straight-up who-done-it. Author’s website: http://www.dainellegirard.com Tags: Thriller, Serial Killers, Police Procedural, Mystery, Romance
When all was said and done, I wasn't too impressed with this book. It was far more of a romance and far less of a thriller than I expected. And the plot was actually kind of weak and transparent in a lot of ways. Considering Sam's history and training, a lot of things should have been obvious to her that weren't. I was able to figure out the story with the kids as well as who the killer was long before it was revealed in the book - and Sam should have been able to also.Once it became clear to me where the story was headed, it removed what shallow thriller aspect there ever was present and really left it as nothing but a romance story starring an incompetent guardian/law enforcement agent.
What do You think about Chasing Darkness (2015)?
California Dept of Justice Special Agent Samantha Chase balances raising her two nephews with protecting abused children until an old case when she was a homicide detective re-surfaces and she is called in to consult. The new murders should be copycat, save the one piece of evidence that was withheld is part of the new crimes and the person convicted for the first spree was executed.She is paired up with a man who has had romantic interests but Sam seems to not to want to go beyond the friendship he offers her nephews. Then she becomes a suspect.
—Ellen
Chasing Darkness is the first of this author's books and as of early last night - when I finished this one - I have become a dedicated fan!Child abuse is appalling and the subject of this plot. I won't go into the synopsis as that has been done by many reviewers, but look at the effect this novel had on me.Danielle Girard lured me into the story with the first page. I read it while waiting in the car for my husband to run errands in town and went to a meeting. I read it leaning against walls in the shopping centre, while I waited for him to buy things, get lunch for us and fill the car with fuel. Every time he came back - poor man - I felt resentful because I need to find out what happened next.The plot was tight and scary. Every turn of the screw had me desperate for a good resolution.Well done, Ms Girard.
—Diana Hockley
Believe this was my first book written by Danielle Girard. It is always with anticipation that one reads an author for the first time because you do not know what to expect.When I finished this book I wrote "Excellent" on the cover, which is where I make comments on most of the books I read to keep them distinguished from the books I have not read.This is a typical mystery, thriller in which the main character gets into a lot of trouble that they do not see coming and then have to work their way out of the trouble - sometimes alone and sometimes with another person. In this case there is another person, Nick Thomas.Would happily read other books by this author.J. Robert Ewbank, author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
—J. Ewbank
