After the Dark by Cynthia Eden is book one in The Killer Instinct series.

Meet Special Agent Samantha Dark, a investigator and profiler. Together with her partner Blake Gamble she investigates a serial killer case at a University.
What she doesn't know is that she is well acquainted with the killer.
The killer escapes and Samantha gets the blame. She leaves the FBI and moves to a smalltown in the South.
Blake follows her, he wants her back and he needs help with a case. What he doesn't know is that something was following him.

After Dark is a thrilling and dramatic read.
I couldn't put it down, literally. I read this book in one sitting. I was at the edge of my seat and I really really liked the twists and turns, some of them I never had expected.
5 Stars and Thank you Cynthia Eden.

You want a dark and exciting romantic suspense read, then Cynthia Eden is the go-to author. And it’s just not plain horrific evil; her villains are super smart, twisted and a pro at mind games, making her books one of the best thrillers to read.

Her latest Killer Instinct series starts off with the prequel “The Gathering Dusk” and this should be read before continuing with “After The Dark”, to follow Samantha Dark and Blake Gamble, as they take on evil in plain sight and very closely attached to Samantha Dark.

“After The Dark” starts off with Blake reuniting with Samantha who was and is once touted as one of the best profilers. Yet her FBI career goes down south when her ex-lover and best friend turns out to be the killer. A killer she may have let go. But now someone is hunting Samantha in her small quite town and Blake wants Samantha to help catch the killer and also protect her at the same time.

I love when thrillers are just not gory and violent, but have a scintillating mind game in play. Cynthia Eden is exemplary in that field and I just love her characters. She gives equal depth and layers to the good as well as the bad, to make her stories so very brilliant. And Samantha Dark and Blake Gamble make one strong couple as they battle for their lives against a psychopath who knows Samantha to the very bones of her being.

“After The Dark” should be read to enjoy the brilliance of the plot, the characters that will become one of our favorites and the narration that is tight and filled with adrenaline.

Really good story and writing! Even knowing who the killers are, I still found myself eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. The only reasons that this was not a 5 star read for me are that I did not feel the chemistry between Blake and Samantha and I would have liked to have known more about Blake. The story seemed focused on both Samantha and Cameron's past, but did not go much into Blake.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.

I'm reviewing Cynthia Eden's latest romantic suspense After the Dark (Killer Instinct Series ). When Samantha Dark, an FBI profiler , gets fired and kicked out the force she goes into hiding. Her ex-partner Blake Gamble now sees this as their chance to finally get together and goes to her, but there's a killer on the scene who's not letting her off so easily and Blake inadvertently puts her in more danger - especially as the killer and Sam have a connection that even Blake cannot sever. Here are my thoughts:

^^ When a story begins with what should be the ending of Sam's life only a few pages in and I'm already thinking, 'how's she going to get out of this one?' I knew this was going to be one hell of an emotional, fast ride; full of ups and downs. It hooked me from the start and did not let go.

^^ Cynthia Eden has written a gripping fast-paced story I could not put down, which means I'm now going to have to go through her back list and add more titles to my ever growing to be read list!

^^ There are so many layers to this story, which makes it an exciting read. Sam's got a great, dark background, and with this you get a sense that profiling killers makes her almost as evil as them.

^^The tension between Sam and Blake is steamy, and yet, there's also something to be said with Sam's connection to the killer, the control he has over her, and how he hunts her down and draws her back into his games.

^^ I'm sure this must have been said a thousand times over, but as this author is new to me, I've got to say it; the relationship and mind games between Agent Dark and the villian Cameron Latham, reminded me of Clarice Starling's with Lecter when looking to apprehend Buffalo Bill. The only difference being the genre, that was horror thriller, and this is a romantic suspense. There's still plenty of blood and gore, it's just this author's voice is more light-hearted and keeps true to the romantic will-they-won't-they-get-together theme when it comes to Agent Dark and Agent Gamble's on and off relationship.

Overall: An enjoyable fast read, which took me totally by surprise. Like I said, I'm definitely going to go back and read more of Cynthia Eden's work. Superb.

I was given an ARC of this book via Netgalley. Thanks to Harlequin (US & Canada).

Samantha Dark is a profiler for the FBI on the trail of a serial killer. When her latest case ends tragically she gets the blame. Finding out the painful truth will cost many lives. It will also make her doubt her abilities. She should have seen who and what he is.
Blake Gamble was Samantha's partner at the FBI. He needs her to help break a case, but going to her will put her in range of a killer. He is used to always playing by the rules, but no more.
Wow this is a real thriller. The characters are amazing. We don't get time to settle into anything, it is action from the start to the finish. There is an obsessive attraction and a fierce love story.
I will definitely be reading more of this series.

Wow! This book will make you want to keep turning the pages one right after another. I needed to know if Samantha was going to trust the wrong person or if she was going to trust her gut and stand by her profiles.

Blake Gamble is tired of waiting for Samantha, he's going to go after what he wants. While trying to keep her safe, he's going to prove to her how right they are for each other. He has the hot, alpha thing down that knows what Samantha wants and needs.

What if she makes the wrong decision? It could cost people their lives if she chooses wrong. Very suspenseful, on the edge of your chair until the last page. Can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.

This is a story which is packed full of secrets, mystery, power struggles, twists and turns, passion, and love. Cynthia Eden has outdone herself with the storyline and writing of this wonderful book.
I was sucked in from the first chapter and I didn't want to put it down!

Smart. Sexy. Riveting. I felt the chemistry with every breath. I truly love this author's writing!

After the Dark is the first in a new romantic suspense series written in the vein of Ms. Eden's LOST series. It is dark and gritty and holds you attention throughout the entire book. Intensely brutal scenes allow you to get into the minds of the serial killer. This is a cat and mouse game at it's best, the question is who is the cat and who is the mouse?

The development of Samantha and Blake's relationship is fraught with chaos and peril. They start out as partners and their bond just gets stronger. Both lead characters are well developed and feel very connected to each other.

Another well thought out plot driven romantic suspense novel. I will definitely read the next in this series.

FBI Profiler Samantha Dark is shaken after finding out her former lover, Dr. Cameron Latham is a murderer, and she’s fired in the aftermath. All the signs were there in front of her, but she never thought Cameron would be capable of such darkness. Licking her wounds, she moves back to her hometown, all the while trying to track down Cameron before he strikes again, because Samantha knows he’s not done.

Blake, Samantha’s former partner, has never doubted her abilities and knew she was unjustly fired by the FBI. Company policy prevented him from acting on his intense feelings for Samantha, feelings he suspects she returns, but she’s not his partner anymore. When a new murder happens with a similar MO to Cameron’s, Blake has the excuse to track down Samantha for help, and this time never let her go.

I love Cynthia Eden’s romantic suspense novels! I can always count on a fast-paced, good time with some thrills and chills when I pick up one of her stories. As former partners, Samantha and Blake know each other well, and I just loved the undercurrent of sexual tension they had brewing between them. I knew it was only a matter of time before all that longing gave way to heat and passion!

While After the Dark was an exciting read, I think a little bit of the tension was gone knowing the identity of the killer. Still, there were some twists to discover, and the jealousy over Blake’s relationship with Samantha made Cameron even more dangerous, making me worry over his reactions.

You could read After the Dark without reading the prequel, Gathering the Dusk, first, but it lays the foundation of Blake and Samantha’s relationship, and has its only little mystery. It’s only sixty-two pages and currently free.

An amazing, riveting tale that was impossible to put down until the end. It took a hold of me from the very start and didn't let go, it mesmerized my mind, it intrigued my curiosity. The characters were enthralling, the romance passionate and all-consuming, the crimes malicious and the culprits savage - just what I look for in my romantic suspense!
The vile minds and actions of the suspects gave me the chills with their heinous deeds. The constant battle between the good and the evil, the profiler's ability to get into the mind frame of the criminals, and the psychological games they played left me flabbergasted. Absolutely brilliant plot twists and turns in the story had me constantly on the edge, biting my nails, waiting for another disaster to strike.
But all that hate and ugliness was perfectly balanced by the connection and chemistry between Samantha Dark and Blake Gamble. I adored those two together, there was heat and passion and adoration, mixed with such complete understanding and acceptance it took my breath away. Blake's absolute certainty that they belong together was refreshing, the doubts had no room in his mind, heart or soul when it came to Samantha. The passion between them was scorching and absorbing, the intensity high because of Samantha's connection to Cameron Latham.
The supporting cast and crew all contributed to the story and were well drawn out and helped to enrich the story even more. The endorsement Samantha received from her former peers was admirable and told its own story about her abilities and character. She carried such deep wounds inside her from her formative years, yet she had a chance to face her demons and grow and develop as a person through the events of the tale.
I absolutely love the brilliant mind and voice of the author. Every single time she manages to completely capture my mind and leaves me in awe of her ability to twine a story with such adorations and love mixed with deep evilness existing in perfect balance. A mesmerizing tale that left me highly anticipating the rest of the series. Could it get even better than the start?!
~ Five Spoons

Cynthia Eden has a great grasp on grabbing a reader's interest from the first page. Her new love of thrillers and this new series proves that she can keep the buzz of excitement going from the first page to the last.

There is a prequel to this story which just came out and is free on most ebook retailers. Get The Gathering Dusk

This story focuses on FBI Profiler Samantha Dark. Samantha finds out the hard way that her friend and former lover was not the man she thought he was. It does have a bit of a Red Dragon feel at the beginning where Will takes some time before he figures out that Hannibal Lecter isn't the swell guy he originally thought. Here, Samantha's long-time friend and former lover Cameron Latham was more than just an impressively smart college professor. The fact that Samantha didn't realize that her BFF was actually a serial killer calls into question Samantha's ability to do her job.

But her partner, Blake Gamble isn't about to let Samantha walk away. Not from the FBI and not from him. They might have had to keep their distance while working as partners but things are different now. Gamble uses a new serial killer as an excuse to track down Samantha to get her help but he might have inadvertently led the killer to Sam's doorstep.

Women in Sam's small town are being abducted but is there one killer or two? The suspense is high as Gamble and Sam reassemble their team and try to work out their relationship. Partners can't have a romantic relationship but they are no longer partners so the rules are changed.

There is plenty of suspense and intrigue to keep you excited until the end as well as a passionate romance once Sam and Blake finally give in to their desires.

While it is not necessary to read the prequel to enjoy this story, comments are made about the prior case which would ruin the suspense so I would definitely recommend reading The Gathering Dusk first before starting After The Dark.

Four months ago Samantha made the biggest mistake of her life, she let a murderer escape . Now this ex profiler for the FBI has to live with the fact that her best friend and sometimes lover Cameron isn't the clean cut guy she thought no he's dark, cunning and a psychopath . Samantha may appear to be licking her wounds but her thoughts don't stray too much from the events that saw her losing all credibility . When her former partner Blake shows up it's clear that the case is far from closed and soon pretty little Fairhope, Alabama turns into serial killer central!
There's a prequel to this The Gathering Dusk that introduces these characters and shows the beginning of the simmering relationship that grows between these two agents. Its clearly intense but also a really bad idea and by the book Samantha has ignored the attraction until now . Blake doesn't want to pretend they are just professional colleagues, he needs more than anything to protect Samantha but it's apparent the stubborn woman needs protecting from herself!
I thought Samantha was the character that dominated this story. She has a history of horror and pain that she keeps hidden but it's made her what she is today. A woman who can understand how a killers mind works might scare some but Blake is made of sterner stuff and desperate to save Samantha from a cruel adversary and yes even from herself. I don't think we really got into Blakes mind as much as I wanted, certainly not as much as we did other characters although his lust for Samantha was certainly fleshed out. This couple may be surrounded by atrocities and death but they sure do know how to celebrate being alive!
If tense, brutal suspense with a huge dollop of romance appeal to you then this new series will no doubt make its way to your bookshelf . Alpha hero and a tortured heroine combine here as the hunter becomes the hunted. Not a straightforward easily predicatable thriller and I really enjoyed ( perhaps too much) discovering just how far a killer could go. The author involves her readers, we know exactly who and why but it was still a page turner and isn't that how it should be?

After the Dark is perfect if you like Criminal Minds, true crime, and the likes. Samantha Dark is a profiler for the FBI. Well, she was, until a mistake cost her. That mistake? Her former lover was the serial killer she had been hunting. Now, he is on the run and there is a copycat hunting Samantha. Her former FBI partner, Blake, found Samantha and is determined not only to get her back as his partner, but explore the feelings between them.

The story is nonstop action as you can imagine. Told in 3rd person, you get into the mind of the killer which I always love in a book. Eden is probably my favorite romantic suspense author because she really brings the tension to a story. You have multiple killers, multiple motives, multiple victims. The plot never slows and while you know who the killers are, you don't know what their next move would be, and you don't know if Samantha and Blake can get ahead of them. I will say this book is pretty graphic in its descriptions of violence. I wasn't bothered by it, but if you aren't really into that, this book might be a bit much. The murders are fairly grizzly; its not gratuitous because the killings really ARE the story.

The romance is probably the only part of this book I felt was weak. Its not that Samantha and Blake aren't developed characters, it was just that I didn't particularly 'get' why he loved her. I understood why she didn't want to have a relationship with him, I understood his desire, but I didn't understand the motivation. I never really got why he loved her and she loved him. It just was sort of...expected. So, they jump into a sexual relationship well before they had worked through any of their emotional issues, but that didn't even really bother me. I just kept waiting for Blake to explain WHY he loved Samantha and for Samantha to explain why she loved Blake. What was it about the other that was different and worth fighting this hard for?

I can't wait for more of this series. Eden is already one of my favorite authors, but this series is probably one of my new favorite series!

Link will be live on 3/23/17 (preview link: https://thebookdisciple.com/?p=6660&preview=1&_ppp=a81bc8c48c )

I love this author's writing! With this being a new series, I am really looking forward to reading the other books. I loved reading about Samantha & Blake. I love how even after she left the force Blake does not think twice about runing to protect her when her life is in danger. Yes her story is like many others, Where the killer targets one of the officers but Eden puts her own touch to the story that will still have you drawn in. She keeps you wanting to read more to see what else is going to happen.
I am soo looking forward to the next book!

After the Dark kicks off a brand new Romantic Suspense series from Cynthia Eden. I am in love with how this author can create such entrapping novels and she always has the ability to suck me into her stories. In this book we meet Samantha Dark, an FBI profiler now off the force, and her ex-partner Blake Gamble. Sam left the FBI after they placed the blame on her for letting a serial killer get away, so she went home to Alabama. But now there's a very familiar killer after her and Blake runs to her to protect her. Sam knows Blake always wanted more from her, and now that she's off the force she may actually let that happen.

I honestly don't know another author that can have me so captivated by a suspense like Ms. Eden does. She has the ability to put me in, not only the Main Characters', minds but also the killers and I love that. She effortlessly works what the murderer is thinking into the story and it always makes me sit up and take notice. I love that she does that and makes it work so well with the story.

Samantha Dark was an amazing heroine and her story is one that I will definitely be re-reading many times over. This book is the epitome of why I love this genre because it had all of the main reasons to read. The mystery, the suspense, the sweet romance thrown in, the shocks that will leave your jaw on the floor. It's just all great!

Overall, definitely read this book. If you haven't read a book from this author yet then this would be a great story since it's not only the first in a new series, but one her best Romantic Suspenses yet.

After the Dark Playlist:
Right Here - Ashes Remain
Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Lorde
Lucifer - XOV
The Phoenix - Fall Out Boy
Ready to Fight - Roby Fayer, Tom Gefan
Warriors - Imagine Dragons

**4.5 Stars**

After the Dark is the first book in a new romantic suspense series by an author who does suspense so well. I’ll pretty much follow Cynthia Eden wherever she goes, but I love when she writes a good, thrilling story with a twisted killer the most.

Samantha may be my favorite Eden heroine yet. A disgraced FBI profiler, Samantha isn’t one to stay down for long. Her determination and drive constantly force her forward, even when there are twists and turns in every direction. She’s gutsy, ballsy, and a little on the stubborn side (okay, a lot). Her skill to see things others can’t, to want to find all of the answers whether it puts herself at risk, to constantly want to be better–lovers of romantic suspense will love this kickass heroine for all of that alone. What better way to complement her than to give her a strong, skilled man by her side who has the ability to let her lead, to give her the freedom to do things her way even if it’s scary to risk her. Their romance sparked quickly and carried throughout the pages. In a high-risk job, attraction can be detrimental, but here, in this story, it made the characters stronger, more brave.

I’ll admit I didn’t read the prequel, but I got along just fine without it. Eden writes some of the darkest and genius-like killers in her stories, and she always writes such fascinating material around them. I love trying to figure out who the bad guy is, what the motives are, and how all of it will end because most of the time I’m wrong, and there’s a twist embedded somewhere in the story, which is the funnest part of reading her tales. I’m greatly looking forward to the next novel in the series and seeing where else this series will take me. If you love romantic suspense, I know you’ll love this story and where Eden beautifully takes us with her masterful storytelling.

Cynthia Eden has become a pretty reliable author for me. Her books never totally blow me away, but they’re always very solid, enjoyable reads, and After the Dark was no exception.

Samantha Dark was a genius criminal profiler with the FBI, but she left the Bureau in disgrace after her former boyfriend turned out to be a serial killer. She hides away in a small town in Alabama until her old partner, Blake, comes calling looking for help with a case. Blake had the hots for Samantha from the start, but obviously being partners complicated that attraction, and he never acted on it. Now, he wants her back, both in the FBI and in his own life, but Samantha doesn’t trust herself and certainly doesn’t think she’s good enough for a decent man like Blake. However, she’s the only one who can stop the killer who’s become fixated on her.

I really liked the premise of this book. The idea that a profiler could miss that her own friend was a serial killer was very compelling. Plus, Cameron wasn’t just Samantha’s friend but her past lover and confidant with whom she had shared her deepest, darkest secrets. While it’s not really addressed in the book, it seemed to me that Cameron had probably been emotionally manipulating her for years. He convinced her that there was this darkness in her that only he understood, and even after she’s left the Bureau she still holds on to this idea that she’s got some kind of not-entirely-good core. Couple that with her disgraceful exit from the FBI and it made sense why she would be so reluctant to help Blake and to get personally involved with him. It was a unique twist on a serial killer story I haven’t seen before. I also liked that the case wasn’t quite as simple as it first appeared. There were some big twists and turns, and they made for a fast paced and exciting story.

Blake was kind of a mixed character for me. He was one of Eden’s trademark alphas, bossy and in charge. He is the one who comes to Samantha for help, but then he also tries to edge her out when things get dangerous. That was stupid and unnecessary, I thought. Still, his genuine care for Samantha is clear. He stands up to his boss when his boss doubts her, and he isn’t afraid to go after Samantha once he's found her again. He insists he too has a “darkness” in him, but I didn’t really feel like that went anywhere. To be honest, this story is more about Samantha and her struggle to overcome her past and her self doubt, which was fine by me.

This was an engaging story with a fascinating heroine, and I’m glad I read it.

Grade: 4 out of 5

This was such a good book from Cynthia Eden. It had a great romance element and the suspense was off the charts. So we'll written that you didn't suspect what was going to happen next. Samantha was a good, strong, intelligent main female character.

This book was fastpaced and suspenseful! I couldn't put it down.