I really enjoyed this book too. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because it took way too long for Luke and Iris to finally get together. You really need to read the first book before you read this one. I enjoyed this story about a cult. It was interesting to see Iris's family and how everyone interacts but I think the best is when Iris and Luke work together. Iris is trying to save her brother from a cult and at the same time deal with her family. Everything does not go her way but Iris is very smart and it is interesting to watch her think of different thing and ways of doing things.

Darkness at the Edge of Town was my first Iris Ballard (the main character) read. I struggled to finish this book. It started with a moderately interesting case regarding a cult operating near former FBI profiler, Iris Ballard's, home town in Pennsylvania. However, this book seems to violate the rule I learned in college, "show, don't tell." The story seemed to bog down in family and boyfriend-girlfriend drama, making me feel like I was reading a YA novel. There was so much relational dialogue and drama that the case seemed to take a back seat. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, which is the only reason I continued reading through the final chapters. If you like a lot of dialogue and family drama, this book may appeal to you, but if you're looking for a thriller or a captivating read, I can't recommend this book.

Iris Ballard has been through the ringer! After two years where she let alcoholism and pill popping take over her life, she's clean again, famous for taking down yet another serial killer and is unsure how to deal with her mini-stardom. One call about her brother, Billy, possibly being involved in a cult has her going to back to the one place she's been trying to avoid.... home.

I absolutely love Iris's character. She's dealt with so many issues in her personal and professional life and yet somehow comes up on top. A flawed human that might not always deal with some of the hard knocks that come her way, she still pulls herself together and finds that extra oomph to continue forward. She's certainly not one to keep her mouth shut and blows her stack a few times at her mother and their tumultuous relationship. Remember all those times you bit you tongue so as not to say something you'll regret to a family member? Well Iris has had enough and tongue biting is no longer in her repertoire.

This reads fast and while it's the second book in the series (I also LOVED Beautiful Maids All in a Row), it does read well as a stand alone. The interactions between the characters were fun - especially between Iris and her Grandparents. The ONLY thing, if I'm being nit picky is some of her dialogue with Luke got a little annoying with all the uhs.. and ums... and ... I get it, it's awkward between them, but it almost felt more awkward to read. And there were moments of monologuing that I felt was unnecessary or could've been written more fluently or the same word was used repeatedly.

I love anything remotely cultish so it was fun to see Harlow's take on this type of story line. I will absolutely continue with this series and can't wait to see what else Iris gets herself into.

I’m giving this 4 stars because I couldn’t give it 3.5. Our heroine is a former FBI profiler who now writes books. She is called back to her home town because her twin brother left his fiancé and joined a cult. She is staying with her grandparents and attempting to avoid her mother. Her family is the poster for dysfunctional. There is a plethora of action and lots of interaction among the characters. Our protagonists have a lot of personal baggage they need to work through before an ending can occur. The novel is a good toss up of action and chick lit. Thanks to Net Galley and Alibi for an ARC for an honest review.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed it. It is full of mystery and suspense. Lots of twists and turns. Very intriguing and well written.

Great book but I didn’t realize it was a second book in this thriller series. It was great non the less. I’d highly recommend

Loved It!
Darkness At The Edge Of Town is the 2nd book in Jennifer Harlow's "Iris Ballard" series. It was intriguing, page turning and the perfect sequel to her 1st book "Beautiful Maids All In A Row".
Dr. Iris Ballard is a brilliant, but damaged ex-FBI profiler with a degree in forensic psychology.
Exhausted and recovering from trauma after catching a serial killer she receives a frantic call from her mother. Iris's twin brother Billy has joined a cult called the New Morning Movement. She returns to Grey Mills, Pennsylvania (her hometown) to try and rescue her brother from the clutches of the cunning and sadistic cult leader Mathias Morning.
Iris's former FBI partner and on-again, off-again lover, Luke Hudson, joins her in Grey Mills. Together they try to extricate Billy as they clash with the DEA.
A gritty, emotional and intense thriller that I highly recommend be read after "Beautiful Maids All In A Row".

Thank you to NetGalley and Alibi for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyed reading this book. A thrilling book with hardly a dull moment. Entertaining read that held my attention throughout.

Iris Ballard is one of the most complex female characters I have read in awhile. The plot of the book is believable and intense. The relationship between Iris and Luke is engrossing and keeps you on pins and needles. Will they finally get it together or won't they? Mathias is an excellent "bad guy." The story is full of suspense, mystery, thrills, and twists. I can't remember the last time I wanted to reach into the pages of a book to shake the characters and scream as much as I did with this one! While this story can absolutely be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first in the series because they are both so good. I really hope to see more books coming in this series, it is one not to be missed!

Thank you to Netgalley and Alibi for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.


Dr. Iris Ballard is back and better than before like seriously, she is clean and rocking it again after Luke saved her life. She is finishing up her tour and preparing to go home to write her book, when her mother calls her crying. Her twin Billy has joined a cult and dropped off the grid. She is really worried.


So Iris drops everything and heads back to Grey Mills. Where things just haven't changed much. However, Iris realizes that she has really caused a lot of pain for her family. Her decisions haven't made anyone happy. Plus she is starting to realize that she does feel something for Luke, but she isn't sure it is the best decision to make.


As she begins to investigate the cult, she has to lie her way into the first house in order to gain information about the the farm that Billy is hiding out at. She almost gets entangled with two of the members and realizes that the people are good at what they do. She is found out before she can up to the farm on her own. So she threatens them in order to get a meeting set up to see Billy.


After that everything starts to fall apart, Mathais threatens her and her family, the DEA is investigating the cult and pissed that Iris was out there. Luke is on his way to PA, to help and it is all a mess. Will she be able to save Billy before it's too late? Will she finally admits how she feels to Luke?


This kind of read like an ending book and I hope that isn't the case, because I am really just beginning to have a full on obsession with Iris and Luke. I need more than just two books. When I saw this on Netgalley I knew I had to review this. I read and reviewed the first one when it came out and I couldn't wait to read this and it didn't disappoint. Iris is even better when she isn't so messed up and swoon... Luke.


This his the ground running and forced Iris to deal with her families issues, and her feeling for Luke, throw in a creepy cult and boom makes for a great thriller. I was hanging on the edge of my seat at the end wondering how it was all going to end.

I had a hard time getting into this book. The characters and story seemed very stereotypical. Since I did not finish the book, I do not intend to publish a review.

3.75 stars

This novel was ripe with delicious family drama and I ate it all up like a mouthwatering treat! Iris was able to let some venomous words from others slide down her back while still letting her humorous quips loose, but there were parts within this story where she was emotionally fragile and it showed. Although it was an interesting turn to observe Iris slumming it in her hometown and away from her comfort zone, I actually enjoyed Beautiful Maids All In A Row much more.

Minor Issues?
◈ Faye and Iris had a lifetime of disconnect, misunderstandings, and anger between them, but all of it was remedied during one particular conversation. It was strange and too conveniently wrapped up after such an exhausting and dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship.

◈ Iris’s miraculous recovery from drug addiction was lightly touched upon and not really believable but that didn’t take away from the heart of this story.

◈ Luke’s dialogue with Iris was too cheesy in some parts. He was a very likable character but sort of bland, too.

The romance component was lumped in towards the end and I didn’t mind that it wasn’t the focal point of the story. I also loved that Mathias was a worthy opponent and one Iris couldn’t easily squash with her shoe or with her FBI contacts. Overall, this was a good story, but something was missing for me while other areas felt rushed.

Iris Ballard is back in a thrilling story that brings her dysfunctional mother, angry twin brother, long-suffering Luke, and her surrogate father Hancock into a battle with one of the cleverest men she has encountered. All the regular characters are included, along several well-described new players. The book starts a little slow, as Iris is on tour promoting her new book, but quickly makes the pulse pound as she answers a call from her mother that leads to suspense and danger as she attempts to free her brother from a dangerous cult. Well-written, with not a stray word in the narrative. I hope the ending doesn't suggest we will see no more of Iris.

Darkness at the Edge of Town does have an interesting premise, but the story is a bit drawn out and slow at times. I haven't read the first Iris Ballard novel, and there were things mentioned in this one that were confusing. The author does eventually explain some things as the story progresses, but I spent most of the book feeling like I was behind on the characters and what led them to this point in their lives. The book is well-written and even with the slow pace, it was a compelling and suspenseful read. However, I wouldn't call this one a thriller by any means. It does pick up in the end, but while there is suspense surrounding the cult and its leader, and Iris' snark was entertaining, the book lacks that heart-pounding element that I look for in a thriller. I did find some things a little hard to swallow, especially when Iris attempts to infiltrate the cult to find her brother. From the beginning of the story, we know that Iris is quite well-known and her face has been splashed all over the media, plus being so close to her childhood home. Good or bad, publicity is talked about, especially in a small town. I find it hard to believe that it takes as long as it does for anyone to recognize this woman who is so prevalent in the news. As I said, I haven't read the first book, so maybe that would've put a different spin on this for me, but in the end, the stretch of imagination required combined with the slow pace made it just an okay read for me.

"I'm here if you need me, you know. Day, night, always, forever."


I read Beautiful Maids All in a Row just a few weeks back. I had these characters fresh in my mind and I was glad to be back in their world.

Dr. Iris Ballard survived her second encounter with a psychopath (barely) and this close encounter catapulted her back into notoriety. She has been asked to speak on many TV shows keeping her schedule super busy in the last few weeks. She's ready to relax and enjoy a date with Luke when her mother calls her begging her to come home. Her brother has joined a cult and Iris needs to come home and help save him.

At first, Iris is not sure that what her mother is saying is accurate since she has a tendency to take things out of proportion but she knows she will sleep better if she finds up what's really going on in her childhood home of Grey Mills, PA.

Going home is not easy on Iris. She and her twin brother Billy were called names growing up since they are both bastards. Their half-sister is responsible for most of the name calling. As a teenager, Iris made a decision that impacted her life and thanks to her half-sister, everyone found out. Yet, Iris won't back down. She's determined to know more about Mathias Morning, the guy in charge of the New Morning Movement.

In all honesty, cults really do scare me. They prey on vulnerable people. They know the right thing to say to attract people to their lair and then indoctrinate them. Sad, really.

I believe Jennifer Harlow did a great job portraying the way a cult works. She made me hate Mathias and I wanted Iris to bring him down. I felt sorry for Billy. He was so lost. He made HUGE mistakes but I still felt sorry for him.

Let's talk about (hottie) Luke Hudson. Oh my, he was amazing in this one too. I was devastated when he was not with Iris from the beginning but I understood why it was important for him to be away. He melted my heart when he finally had that serious conversation with Iris. MELTED ME!

What can I say about Iris that I haven't said before? She's an ex-addict (alcohol and pills) with some serious self-destructive issues. She knows her own weaknesses and at least is trying to help herself now. What no one can deny is that she knows how to profile very dangerous individuals and she's great at it. Faults and all, she's a character that I won't forget anytime soon.

Don't hesitate and buy Darkness at the Edge of Town. It's definitely worth it. A page-turner for sure.
I do encourage readers to read Beautiful Maids All in a Row first to get the full spectrum.

I really wish the next one was out already. I hate waiting for a good book.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Random House Publishing Group- Alibi via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the protagonist, Dr.. Iris Ballard, in this novel. The author has managed to create a believable heroine without the "I am strong; I am woman!" attitude. Add to that a devious plot, sharp dialogue and interesting medical procedural descriptions, and you've got a recipe for success. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and think you will, too. Highly recommended.

Iris is on a media tour after her "success" in killing a serial killer when she gets a dreaded call from her mom. (If you have not yet read Beautiful Maids there will be spoilers throughout this book.) She learns about her brother having done the unthinkable and skipped out on his girlfriend. She is determined to understand his situation, possibly save him and many others. What I love about Iris is her tenacity, strength and unforgiving confidence. Her partnership with Luke has made her stronger and wiser. Although I was dying for the two of them to connect I had to face facts that this was not a romantic novel but a suspense driven adventure. Harlow has a great series with Iris and Luke, full of mystery, realistic situations and keeps you on edge. I received my copy from Netgalley, my review written voluntarily.

Book two in this series starts with Iris no longer being a hermit. After past events, she is thrust in the spotlight and seems to be thriving but tired. Iris gets word that her brother has joined a cult and has become completely taken in. It is up to Iris to thwart the leader and save her brother.
What I love most is that this author is not afraid to go dark in her works. Not everything is fun and light and the author does a wonderful job of showing that. She emphasizes the weakness in the main character instead of making her seem infallible. You can imagine these scenarios playing out in a very similar way in real life.
This series is definitely unique and I absolutely enjoy everything about it, especially not being able to decide if I love or despise the main character. I cannot wait for the next installment.

Dr Iris Ballard was enjoying the adulation which had come from catching the serial killer in her last case. But she was tired – she missed her dog and her “previous life”. When FBI agent Luke Hudson invited Iris to the symphony, she accepted – but it wasn’t to be when she received a desperate call from her home town of Grey Mills in Pennsylvania to say her twin brother was missing.

Iris had no desire to return but felt she had no choice. She needed to find Billy and was sure she could do it in a couple of days – a week at most. But when Iris discovered the cult which was recruiting people in town, New Morning Movement, had engulfed Billy after he’d left his fiancé and cleared out her bank account, she knew her search would take longer to execute. The slick, evil ways of the founder captivated everyone – a typical cult.

When Iris suddenly found herself clashing with the DEA over the cult, she and Luke continued to try to extricate Billy. But danger of a huge magnitude was heading her way. Would she manage to save Billy – or was it too late for them all?

Darkness at the Edge of Town by Jennifer Harlow is the second in the Iris Ballard series and a gritty and intense thriller just like the first. But I found I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as Beautiful Maids All in a Row; continual repetition of phrases (“I didn’t mean it, I didn’t”; “I do feel for you, I do”) and the overuse of “smirk”. But that said, I’ll read the next when it’s released and recommend Darkness at the Edge of Town.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.

This book is the second in a series but I haven’t read the first. It doesn’t work particularly well as a stand alone. Yes, the author gives you the background on the heroine, Dr. Iris Ballard, but I always felt somewhat behind the eight ball.

Here, she returns to her hometown to rescue her twin brother from a cult. Iris wasn’t a popular girl during high school, far from it. Returning to her hometown comes with all the attending issues of reliving what made her teenage years hell. She also has serious problems with her mom, who is bipolar and possibly also has borderline personality disorder with narcissistic tendencies.

I had problems with this book at the beginning. Iris has spent the last few months doing every talk show known to man (because of the killer she took down in book one) but we’re supposed to believe she has no problem going incognito into the cult. I also just couldn’t get into Iris’ relationship with Luke. In fact, the conversations between them feel positively contrived.

It took me until the halfway point to start to appreciate Iris. Not until she loses a round against Mathias did I start to appreciate her and her predicament.

Harlow does a good job writing about the cult, their ability to draw people in and the appeal. Your sympathy really goes out to those so needy that they’re drawn in.

The second half of the book is much better than the first half. It moves at a good clip and keeps you interested.

My thanks to netgalley and Random House - Alibi for an advance copy of this book.