This book started out with great promise but it soon left me feeling disappointed. It opens with a female murdering a man and I really liked the idea of a female serial killer! Jump to detective Riley and the tragedy in his past but I soon got bored with all his reminiscing. The plot was good and the characters were well developed, just not my favourite read. Not enough police work for me and too much empathis on the personal life of Riley. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads, Facebook and Amazon.

Unfortunately, the book did not work out for me. The main character never felt real and his way of working lacked authenticity.

I was so excited to read this book. Black Heart is a dark crime thriller. It was full of suspense and anticipation. I would recommend this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

4:5*
What an unexpected surprise!!

Detective inspector Dan Riley is trying to get his life in order after the sudden loss of his girlfriend and unborn baby. He’s drawn to a new case that looks to have some real meat on the bone. The death of a wealthy family man found in a luxury hotel. At first appearance it looks like a suicide. But not everything is as it looks…

As he digs into this new case, Dan is also attempting to dip a toe back in the always daunting dating game. And he may just get more than he bargained for. (Who hasn’t been there before?!)

I absolutely devoured this book in one day! I wasn’t sure what to expect (I’ve stopped reading the blurbs lately) and all I can say is wow! That was really good!
I have been reading quite a few detective novels lately and have to say this one was so refreshing! The main character felt very real, with a great balance between his personal and professional life. The storyline hit some tough subjects but all were well handled.

This was my first book by Anna-Lou Weatherley. It is also presented as book one to a brand new series! (Yeah!) I can’t wait for book two!

A traveling sister read with Brenda and Susanne!:)

For this review and our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma’s fantastic book blog: http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Anna-Lou Weatherley for an ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.

It’s refreshing to follow a male detective again for a change, even though he has the ‘usual’ complicated past baggage with him… And I do have a weak spot for a serial killer thriller. The writing draws you right in and it was without doubt a lightning-speed fast thriller ride… Just the way I like them. The plot was a bit predictable though and it was quite clear early on who the killer really was. There just weren’t all that many plot twists and surprises? There is more focus on the development of the serial killer and her background as well as some fleshing out of our new star detective... The ending didn't came as such a big surprise either, although if you somehow manage to not see the clues you will be in for a good twist. Black Heart was without doubt a very entertaining read and has a healthy dose of creepy and disturbing serial killer. The writing is great and I'll be looking forward to find out what will happen next... Detective Dan Riley's personal life surely raised some questions. And while Black Heart wasn't that intense and didn't have the expected plot twists and suspense of a typical serial killer, it shows that the characters were the main focus of this story and fans of more character-driven thrillers will have a blast reading this one.

4 Stars.

Something wicked this way comes and in “Black Heart,” it’s up to Detective Dan Riley to stop it, before all hope is lost.

When a wealthy man is found in the bathtub of a hotel room, Riley is called to the scene. Immediately, he knows that all is not as it seems. There is something in the air, and then, there is the teddy bear. Whatever does it mean?

Could a killer be on the loose? Leave it to Riley to find out.

Flo is a chameleon, a shapeshifter. Dangerous, dynamic and gorgeous. Men and women alike are drawn to her. There is just something mysterious about her, even cops agree.

This is a book one in the new Detective Dan Riley series from Anna-Lou Weatherley. From what I can see, she has a winner on her hands. Riley is quite the copper and he’s unabashedly romantic to boot. All I can say is, sign me up!

“Black Heart” is both a chilling and fear-inducing thriller. It is dark, romantic, sinister and utterly suspenseful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Though this novel is a mystery, it is also thought-provoking and delves into serious subjects for which I must provide a caution to the readers.

For Full Traveling Sister Group Reviews, please see Brenda and Norma’s Amazing Blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com/

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Anna-Lou Weatherley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon and Twitter on 2/7/18.

I was lost in the dark, grim Barren Coulee with Kaceey and Susanne reading Black Heart.

Black Heart is a fast-paced, engaging, interesting and original dark story. At first, we were a little unsure about how we felt about this one and at times the story made us feel a little uncomfortable when some dark clouds closed in on us. Instead of running for cover in our Coulee we continued on and were rewarded with a very well layered complex story here.

Anna-Lou Weatherley does a really good job creating such a likable and caring main character here with Detective Dan Riley. After reading a few female leads we enjoyed our lead here being a male detective. Dan is cynical, yet kind-hearted and struggles with his own personal demons.

Anna-Lou Weatherley also does a fantastic job drawing us into the mind of Goldilocks, allowing us to be quite surprised with how we felt about this character. We found the story to be thought-provoking and that inspired a very interesting discussion between us. In the end, we were left amazed at how we felt towards Goldilocks and our psychopath to this story and were left thinking now that was just brilliant. We are left wanting more from Detective Dan and we look forward to book two. We highly recommend but with caution.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Anna-Lou Weatherley for a copy to read and review.

Traveling Sisters Review also can be found on our sister blog:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....

This is a really fast paced edge of the seat thriller. It is definitely a dark version of Goldilocks and the three bears. I read this book in one sitting. I got totally caught up in the plot and how one person could be so evil and twisted. Really well written and really well put together. I hope there are more books about Dan. He is a really interesting character that I felt so sad for. I hope this the start of a series.

Black Heart is the first in the Detective Dan Riley series . Dan is struggling with personal grief and trying to work his cases . He's on the trail of a serial killer that calls herself Goldilocks. This book is deeply disturbing and dark as it delves deep into the dark mind of a serial killer ! Highly recommend this book if you like a great thriller . This book was brilliantly written ! Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the e-book in exchange for my honest review !
@Netgalley @Bookouture #Last Cry

I was given an ecopy of this book by Kim Nash at Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. This is something I am more than happy to do.

This is first book in a new detective series by Anna-Lou Wetherley an author I haven't previously read although I believe this is a new genre for her.

Anna - Lou Weatherley packed so much into the opening chapter of this book I couldn't help but be engrossed. What is quite obviously an elicit, steamy meeting in the penthouse suite of a luxury hotel is turned on its head as 'Goldilocks' as we come to know her commits a murder that had me is nauseatingly transfixed. I couldn't stomach to read as the story unfolded and yet I couldn't not turn the pages. I got to the end of the chapter and had to take stock. Asking myself the question - could I actually read this book, yet even as I thought it my fingers were turning the page.

Chapter two and we are introduced to Detective Dan Riley, I really liked him, he had a dogged determination, attention to detail and that good old hunch that is often found in detective novels. He was sent to the hotel to investigate an apparent suicide and almost instantly he picks up details that are so subtle they are almost invisible.

Anna - Lou's descriptions of both people and scenario's was superb. The characters both complex and haunting. Dan is almost a shell of a person, he clearly has a bleeding heart, we are privy to his inner voice and thoughts and it's clear he hasn't got over a tragic death that was close to home. He needs something/someone to drag him out of the abyss and has turned to on-line dating and buried himself in his work.

It takes longer to un-ravel the character of Goldilocks - she is beyond cold and calculating and as the story went and her actions played like a cinema reel across my eyes I just wanted to get to the end of the book - he crimes so horrific and pre-meditated my stomach churned constantly.

Black Heart is told from both the killer and the investigative points of view and also from the inner turmoil and voices of the central characters, it is a shockingly brilliant book that I highly recommend. It's one of the fastest reads I have read in a long time, not because the plot moved quickly - that was expertly drawn out to induce panic and fear into the reader. But, because I wanted the book to end before the most horrific crime of all could be enacted.

Huge thanks once again to Kim at Bookouture for her on the mark recommendation.

I think what stood out for me the most about this story was that it had a different feel to the average detective/crime book. This was definitely down to the emotional connection you get with Dan you could feel his pain and loss even after all this time. I think this allows the reader to get inside his head and fully experience the case with him.

Black Heart is a dark story especially whenever we hear from the point of view of the killer. Now I'm not saying I agree with their actions however Anna-Lou Weatherley has created a character that I couldn't help but be drawn to. There is a great balance showing the illusion of normality mixed in with a killer intent on committing murder. Along with the pages packed full with tension and suspense that had me hooked waiting to see what would happen next. I have to admit that I loved the inclusion of the Goldilocks story after all don't most fairy tales have that darker edge to them anyway.

Black Heart manages to be both action packed and addictive with me finishing it in no time at all. I can't wait to see what is in store for Dan next.

Five stars from me!

With thanks to Bookoture and Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Black Heart is the first book in the series introducing Detective Dan Riley. I love trying out new crime series so I was really keen to get stuck in to this one especially after reading that blurb!

I thought that Dan was a really good character, he is struggling with personal grief as well as trying to crack his current cases and this for me made him a more rounded individual that I really sympathised with, his grief is quite evident at times in the book.

I enjoyed that we were thrown straight in to the story and the investigation and I loved the short punchy chapters - these are always a hit with me and I love the pace that they create to make sure you stay engaged.

Four stars from me for this one, I really enjoyed the plot, pace and the characters and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book. This is the first book I have read by Anna-Lou and I think that I would enjoy her other books too which are chick-lit based. 

This is the first in a new series following Detective Dan Riley. I really like Detective Dan. He's genuine. He's a good Copper and he really cares about making a difference. Dan's grief is overwhelming at times just like it is in life. Two years may have passed but grief doesn't care about the passing of time. The thing about grief is that you can think you're doing great, you're getting on with life and then the simplest of things can knock you down. A smell for example can evoke a memory that will sucker punch you and its like you've lost that person all over again. For Dan Rachel hasn't left him. He hasn't dealt with his grief which as a Copper could be quite dangerous. I am looking forward to seeing more of his character as the series progresses. 

The book switches perspective from Dan to our killer. I have to say I rather enjoyed the chapters from the killer's POV. It was very interesting to see inside her head. Sometimes she was rather normal but other times she had such a different view of the world to what I have that it was quite an eye opener.  At times you actually feel sorry for her and what she has been through which can only come from very skilled writing.

Anna-Lou does an excellent job of pulling you in from the very first chapter. The beginning is very fast paced and I raced through the first half of the book. There was a lot going on and I was intrigued. The middle was a little slow and at times I just wanted to speed through. But the end was worth the wait. 

I also really liked Davis. She is an excellent copper and I can see her rising through the ranks. I hope we get to see a little more of her as the series progresses. Touchy is also an enjoyable character who I look forward to seeing again. 

I can't wait for Detective Dan's next case and I think I will try to check out some of Anna-Lou's other books in the meantime.

Black Heart is the first book in the series introducing Detective Dan Riley.

The story starts off with a hot and steamy scene where I actually had to check I was reading the right book. We are made aware that this is a female serial killer from that moment.

Dan lost his girlfriend two years ago in an accident he is still grieving. I like him has a character. There is plenty of character build up in this story. We follow him on the trail for a serial killer who calls herself Goldilocks after a body of a man is found in a London hotel which is made to look like a suicide.

Alternating from Goldilocks and Dan's POV and third person. I much preferred the story being told from third person. Has I am not a fan of stories told from first person with a repetitive use of the word she and I.

I especially liked that it was a female serial killer it's not very often you get that in a crime thriller and I really enjoyed the last 20% of the story has it picks up where it took a turn that I wasn't expecting.

This story started off very well and the plot was intriguing but the more i read the less i cared for the main character. I understand he'd been through a lot but the constant call backs to the dead girlfriend got annoying and felt highly repetitive.

This book took off at a rate of knots and I was instantly hooked .For me the whole book wasn't as exciting as the first few chapters but non the less I found it very entertaining and raced through it . When a wealthy banker is found in the suite in a luxurious London hotel seemingly a death by suicide the detective on the case has a gut feeling its something more and he is right , it was a murder . Detective Riley soon realises he is hot on the heels of a serial killer , while still grieving over the loss of his girlfriend 2 years earlier he is dipping his toes in the online dating game . I really liked him and loved the descriptions in the book , things like the music he loved and was listening too really made him more human . A great read , very enjoyable .

Bloody hell! Give me a minute to pick my jaw up off the floor and figure out how to write coherent sentences.

When the body of a wealthy man is found in a hotel bathtub with his wrists slashed, it seems this case is nothing more than a tragic suicide. But Detective Dan Riley isn’t convinced and it soon becomes apparent the man was poisoned. Who would want to hurt this man and why?

The who is fairly obvious from the start. The why leads to a an utterly heartbreaking story and despite the horrible acts this serial killer is committing, you can’t help but feel sorry for them. I found these parts to be brilliantly written and an interesting character study. This serial killer is on a mission, which results in a race against the clock to make sure they won’t succeed in their plan.

And then there’s our main character, Dan. He’s so different from the average detective I tend to read about. A copper with a heart of gold, who’s able to sympathise on various levels because of his own personal loss. He knows what it’s like to receive that particular bad news, the shock of it all, the grief and how hard it is to move on. He’s one of those characters you can’t help but gravitate towards and you’re rooting for him in every way. In my head, I’ve even already fixed him up with another character. That’s how much I want him to be happy! 😄

This is an absolutely amazing start to the Dan Riley series. Black Heart has everything. The original premise had me hooked from start to finish and this sordid tale is incredibly gripping, compelling and addictive. Quite frankly, I’m a little unsure as to how Anna-Lou Weatherley can top this (no pressure!) but I’ll be using my elbows to make sure I’m first in line when book two in the series hits the shelves.

This is the second book I have read by Anna-Lou Weatherley and having previously loved Pleasure Island i was really looking forward to reading Black Heart.The description had me totally intrigued and the cover is fabulous, it really stands out.
Two years ago Detective Dan Riley lost his girlfriend and unborn child in a terrible accident, he’s still mourning the loss but trying to also move on. He’s called to the scene of an apparent suicide but he’s not convinced all is as it seems and his instincts are telling him to dig deeper.
Dan’s a cracking character, he’s still quite vulnerable after the loss of his girlfriend and is struggling to let go but he’s a determined detective and a blooming good one at that. I really took to Dan, he’s quite a different character to the usual detectives and I can’t quite put my finger on why. Maybe it’s because he has a sympathy that really shows for the victims and their families, an understanding of sorts. Or maybe it’s the love he still shows for his girlfriend, it was a true love and one that will stay deep in his heart. Either way I’m really excited to see where Anna-Lou Weatherley takes Dan in the future.
The story is a wee bit gory in parts but I loved that, it’s maybe not for the faint hearted and at some points throughout the book I could feel me toes curling and the images that were created in my head will stay for a while. That’s the sign of a good book though in my opinion.
The story is very engrossing and is told from the point of view of Dan and Goldilocks. I was racing through the pages desperate to get to the next chapter and I have to say it’s quite edge of your seat stuff. It’s not a story you can say you’ll just read one more chapter because on quite a few occasions it’s left on a cliff hanger so you have to read on. I ended up reading it all in one sitting.
So without giving anything away I’ll just say that Black Heart is an edge of your seat, toe curling thriller that will have you totally engrossed, one I will be highly recommending and a cracking start to a new series.

An excellent, well written thriller that had me hooked throughout.

The story is told from two perspectives; firstly, the killer, who is a beautiful, complex, intriguing female and then from the perspective of the detective, Daniel, another complex individual, written so, so well.

I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to the next Daniel mystery/thriller!

Many thanks to net galley, Bookouture and Anna-Lou Weatherley for the opportunity to preview this excellent read.

Dan Riley is now one of my favorite detectives. I was a bit disoriented when I first met him though. I read the blurb a while back and I guess I had completely forgotten it by the time I picked this book again. I thought Dan was a bit different and that is when it hit me, I have been reading so many crime thrillers with female lead detectives that it took a minute to adjust to a male lead. Don’t get me wrong, I do love female detectives especially Erika Foster and Robyn Carter. However, it was nice to meet a different new favorite.

Riley is the lead detective in a twisted, serial killer murder case. The serial killer has been using the name Goldilocks. This killer seems inspired by the fairy-tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and is committing murders picking victims using the storybook as the criterion. As mentioned in the blurb, the first victim is Daddy Bear. This murder occurs in the first chapters of the book hence setting the tone for the story. I was immediately intrigued by the killer and the crime. The teddy bear calling card and the MO were both chilling and intriguing. Naturally, I was curious about Mummy Bear and Baby Bear. I wondered how the killer will select the victims and if the police would be able to solve the case fast enough. I was also curious about the choice of the fairy-tale.

The story is narrated through alternating POVs between Detective Riley and the killer. I am usually drawn to the darker narrations but in this case, I enjoyed both narrations because the two characters were fascinating with complicated, strong personalities. I like detectives who have interesting back stories and are not just about the job. Riley had a sad story and his personal life interspersed with the investigation brilliantly without taking the focus away from the case. You need to read the book to get exactly what I mean by this.

The only thing that bothered me a little was the conflict resolution. I expected more especially given how the entire story was narrated. The tension escalated towards the end and I expected something more dramatic. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the ending. Black Heart is the first book in the Detective Dan Riley series and I am excited to see where the author will take this.