A dark and evil presence is attempting to destroy the balance between good and evil, to save the world the Chosen have been summoned to Prosperity. This small town in the mountains of North Carolina has always been peaceful until strange deaths start occurring, the likes of which they have never seen. The SCU is called in to help with the investigation as well as the Chosen. It will take all of them to stop this evil from destroying everything.

I am a huge fan of Kay Hooper’s and the Bishop books but I was disappointed with this one. The new characters weren’t developed and minimal background was given. The deaths that occurred were skimmed over as well as the crime scenes. The evil itself was hardly touched on and the finale of the book was quick and easy. I would have only given it 3 to 3 ½ sheep but since this author usually delivers I went ahead with a 4 sheep since it was still worth reading.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

The latest installment of the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Series, Hold Back the Dark, is an engaging read. My attention was held throughout and in fact, as the story went on, I could not seem to put the book down – it was that captivating!

If you have followed the series, you will find a number of characters come together in Prosperity, North Carolina to find out (and stop) the residents of this small town from killing each other. It seems that the “something” has captured the town and torturing them by having the residents partake in unspeakable atrocities amongst themselves. The local constabulary (specifically Chief Deputy Katie Cole – she seems to have some abilities of her own) request the help of the feds (the Special Crime Unit-SCU) as the situation is escalating quickly and beyond their means to solve what is really happening in their small town.

Even before the request for help, Bishop was assembling a team to go to Prosperity. And this team would consist of six new characters with psychic abilities that they have not fully developed or understood (or maybe even denying or ignoring.

“Those summoned are untrained people, lacking experience as well as unwilling, or unable, for one reason or another, to be feds, cops, or other kinds of investigators.” “All are exceptionally powerful, or have the potential to be, even though most lack even nominal control.” “They’ve all met each other, spent some time together. For a while, they lived in a sort of group home. Some have known each other for years. And some of them were, at least at one time, close.”:



Olivia Castle heard the whispered demand that made no sense to her – Prosperity. Go to Prosperity.
Logan Alexander is a man of hard-headed practicality…and a medium and he was told by a ghost -> You have to go to Propensity, Logan. You have to help them….We’ll all be in danger if you can’t help then stop it. The living and the dead.
Reno Bellman – while on a date began “hearing” -> Come…come to…come to Prosperity. They…need you. We all need you. You have to come to Prosperity.” Her vision of what was to come was just frightening!
Sully Maitland
Victoria Stark
Dalton Davenport – a telepath


And of course, some of the “regular” cast of characters came back to fight….Hollis (arguably, the most powerful individual psychic in the unit) and her partner, Reese DeMarco. I really enjoyed reconnecting with those two. Especially interesting to see how far their personal relationship had progressed, how their connection augmented each other and their psychic abilities.

It must be said, I was certainly disturbed by the mayhem that ensued…so many deaths…and not all of them easy to read about. At the same time, I was in awe at how well the team worked together to figure out “what” was going on in Prosperity and react in such a way as to neutralize any threat to the town.

One point to make, I did find that this book was a bit flat in the middle compared to the others in the series that I have read. Additionally, the ending came abruptly. Luckily, what made the story was the coming together of many characters that have been interspersed throughout the previous books, as well as some newbies – which I can’t wait to see where their story lines take them. Nice to see so many of the characters together.

If you are a fan of mysteries with paranormal / supernatural thrown in as well as some romance, then I would suggest reading this latest installment of the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series – Hold Back the Dark. In fact – read the whole series!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

HOLD BACK THE DARK – Kay Hooper
A Bishop/ Special Crimes Unit Novel, Book 18
Berkley
ISBN: 978-0425280959 (HC)
ISBN: 978-0698194014 (EB)
April 2018
Paranormal Suspense

Present Day
They all felt it. The massive pressure in their heads, the itching of their skin. And to a few it came with a summons in visions, through spirits and through repeated whispering. Go to Prosperity. The call was imperative, urgent and desperate.
Those in the FBI SCU felt it too. Some to a greater degree than others. And while all psychics felt the pressure in their heads and the itching on their skin, not all were summoned. Bishop and Miranda shared a vision, and even Tony was affected by the call. But only Hollis Templeton and Reese DeMarco felt the summons to go to Prosperity. Many of those summoned have had contact with Bishop and are aware of what exactly makes the Special Crimes Unit special. Olivia Castle, Logan Alexander, Reno Bellman, Dalton Davenport, Victoria Stark and Sully Maitland are all psychics with varying abilities and strength, and none with any background in law enforcement.
It becomes clear that the danger in Prosperity is real and must be stopped before the evil that hides there destroys everything in its path. It starts with a shocking suicide. And then things get very bad, very quickly
It will take the combined forces of the SCU agents and the civilian psychics to work together to stop the evil, if they can’t stop it there will be untold devastation.
HOLD BACK THE DARK is the eighteenth novel in Kay Hooper’s exciting and suspenseful paranormal suspense series. Characters from previous novels appear in this book, and once again Hollis Templeton (Touching Evil, 2001) is a central player in the action. There are many new characters introduced in this novel, and I suspect we will see more of some of them in future books. Fast paced, and riveting, HOLD BACK THE DARK is a powerful and intense novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed HOLD BACK THE DARK, although I will have to say that the ending of the book felt very abrupt, a closing chapter, or wrap up with Bishop would have made it feel more complete. Beyond that, the pace was fast, the action exciting and character development was top notch. For a fast and thrilling read, don’t miss the latest in the Bishop/SCU series. I look forward to the next book and getting to know some of the newly introduced characters in future books.
Terrie Figueroa

Kay hooper's psychic mysteries have delighted me since the first book in Bishop's trilogy that started us on this awesome journey. The newest one was more unpredictable than expected and I love how my favorite characters get cameos in each story. I can't wait to see what comes next.

After seeing Hollis and Reese come together as a romance pair as well as FBI Special Crimes partnering, I was tickled to see them back and fabulous as ever against a resident evil. They are working with an unconventional team this time around and I enjoyed meeting all these new players.
Review

Hold Back the Dark is the eighteenth book in this long standing paranormal thriller romance series and is also the sixth book in the sub-series within the larger one of Bishop’s SCU FBI team stories. There is a little feeling of this book being tied in with the rest of the series, but I suppose, in a pinch, a person could grab this one out of order. There are character charts and a list of psychic terms in the back of the book to help out.

Hold Back the Dark was an interesting one. It felt very much like the start of a new series in ways. It introduced a half-dozen new people, their pasts, and their gifts, their ties to the SCU and Haven and then the story got into the main case they are all working on. With this one, I felt like the inter-personal and individual stories were more the focus than their actual case. Like others before it in this series, it was a gritty, violent series of murders and the reader gets a sense the team and local law enforcement are up against some true evil.

Because, this built a huge front porch (all the set up and intros), I felt the overall story development was uneven. The end was rushed and abrupt. I was actually thinking as I neared the last pages that the story would carry over into another book, but then suddenly, wham, here’s the answers and wham, there’s the finish. I felt more was needed to conclude this book for me with unanswered questions that were brought up earlier let alone what’s the direction for all these new characters. As this is part of an ongoing series, I can only hope that this just means the next book will tease some of that out.

Several characters take turns being the focus and the narrators though the main pair are Hollis and Reese. Hoillis is worried about being lead over a group that she doesn’t know and they are all heading into a huge, dark situation with apocalyptic possibilities if they fail. She has to learn to rely on others, not try to shield them, and let people do their jobs. I loved how Hollis heeded Bishop’s advice and lived up to his great confidence in her. And what I really loved was seeing that, once again, Reese totally respected her as an equal partner and had no trouble with her as the lead. He loves her, but he also respects and trusts her.

So, another thrilling installment in the series was easily devoured. There are some dark, gritty, and moderately squeamish descriptions when the investigators come across the grisly crime scenes, but I was able to handle it because it wasn’t told in the present just described afterward. Those who enjoy psychic thrillers or paranormal romantic suspense would be the best fit for this book.

My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The dark series featuring the special crimes unit has chilled it's way through small towns in and around North Carolina. This time psychics are summoned to the town of Prosperity to stand witness to a horrific crime wave that is sweeping this hither to fore seemingly calm and prosperous town.
It's no coincidence that Prosperity is at the center of a grid of the SCU's recent cases. Get ready to come face to face with things that go bump in the night and raise the hairs on your arms.

The crimes are horrific and revolting. The town is traumatized. The dead and even some of the seemingly living might as well be dead and the rest of the town's folk will never be the same again. The disparate band of psychics who come together to Prosperity to fight this new evil are far from a team. It's up to seasoned SCU operative Hollis with her multiple advanced psychic senses to create a team who will hold down the line and hopefully stop the evil in it's tracks.
The author weaves a compelling tale as the team starts investigating even as the toll of the dead and damaged continues to rise. The crime scenes are far ranging and horrific though they feel a bit staged. The entire story reads like an exercise as people come together, learn to operate as a team and investigate clues to find the answers.
Even though this story lacks the punch delivered by some of the earlier books in the series, Ms. Hooper continues to be one of my favorite authors and on my auto buy list.

I have several of Kay Hooper's books, but have never got around to read them. This was my first one. I did not realize that this was a series and I was starting on number 18. (Shocked face!!) I just knew that she had a lot of books and I had never read them.

I naturally assumed she was a mystery/suspense writer. I was correct in that assumption only off by the fact that her characters all had some kind of psychic powers. Some had more than one. I wasn't expecting that, but I can handle that if it's not all out there and decided to forge on and give it a chance.

While definitely hokey, or was it, I did enjoy the read. I loved all the different powers everyone had and spent an enjoyable afternoon sailing through this read. And even though it was number 18, I had to trouble following the story line. The author wrote in such a way, that yes, of course this is a super power and it's real, that just kept me following the action and loving it.

I guess I am going to have to find time to catch up on this series as I rather quite enjoyed it.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Bishop’s team of psychics is back and this time they have been summoned along with some all new psychics and there are up against an evil that is pushing for a blood bath in this chilling paranormal suspense that had the hair on the back of my neck standing up on end.

Kay Hooper’s suspenseful world of psychics is full of wonderful characters that are strong and captivating, always adding lots of depth to each and every case as they try to solve cases using their psychic abilities and at least some of the time they become targets because of those abilities as well. Every case is different and each have their own unique elements and the author makes it all seem very plausible and real that I can’t help but get chills just thinking about.

Hold Back the Dark is the newest thrilling read in the series and I was completely enthralled and unable to put the book down until I had read every last detail. The suspense and anticipation kept building throughout and there was no way to predict just what the evil might make happen next which of course means that there is never a dull moment and to make this book even more interesting, the author introduces some new psychics that have trouble controlling their gifts / curses. There is not really a new romance in this book but there are couples that have hooked up in previous books involved in the case so you still get a bit of romance throughout the story.

I can never get enough of this series, so of course I can’t wait to read the next one which I think will be the third book in the Bishop Files series and it will be out in October.

Prosperity a small peaceful town in North Carolina is being attacked by some kind of negative energy . Energy that is driving ordinary people to kill and commit heinous act . Meanwhile psychics with different abilities are being summoned to Prosperity under Hollis’s leadership to stop this energy before it escapes and spreads its evil all over the country.

Hold back the dark is the 18 book in the SCU unit and it was fun reconnecting with some of the characters. The ending seemed a little rushed but still an enjoyable read for Noah Bishop series lovers.

I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

Hold Back the Dark by Kay Hooper. Had a bit of trouble getting into the book; there was a lot of background information on the characters to get through before the actual story evolved. But a good read in this different and interesting series.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Mediums. Clairvoyants. Empaths. Telepaths. Empathic Healers. Psychics of all sorts are being summoned from within. Severe headaches, blackouts, strange colors, and those whispering voices ... all are saying the same thing .... go to Prosperity.

Prosperity is a small town in North Carolina that has had more than its share of paranormal activity over the years. The warning now is the evil that emanates there must be stopped and stopped now to keep it from spreading all over the country.

And in Prosperity, the evil is gathering strength. A man commits suicide. His last note was Just Me, Not Them. A housewife brutally kills and mutilates her husband and three children. She remembers nothing. A real estate agent guns down two clients. He, too, remembers nothing. A sheriff's deputy comes close to strangling his wife. He's lucky ... he resisted the voices telling him to kill and his wife is still alive.

Even with all their 'gifts' and powers ... will they be able to stop the evil?

For those who have followed this series, it will be a real treat in that many characters from previous books are all together in one place .. a reunion of sorts... just not a real happy one. There are a few new players and I hope to see more of them in future books.

The premise is okay, the characters are outstanding, but this isn't one of the author's best. The ending felt a bit abrupt and without the fast action that is usually seen in her books. Because of the characters, it was still well worth reading.

Many thanks to the author / Berkley Publishing / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Very creepy addition to the series. A psychic blast was sent out and received by small group of psychics to come to Prosperity, North Carolina. Something evil is going on there and only this group can stop it.

Noah Bishop and his wife felt the blast but were not part of the invitation but they do provide the place in North Carolina for everyone to gather before heading to Prosperity. Hollis Templeton and her partner/lover Reece DeMarco along with 6 other psychic who are not part of Bishops SCU team were the ones that got the summons. Those 6 psychic are aware of SVU but have not wanted to join and instead try to live ordinary lives with un-ordinary abilities. Even though hesitant they know they need to get to Prosperity to help fight whatever evil has taken over the town.

Madness has taken over a few of the residents minds and had them comment unspeakable acts of violence. Sheriff Jackson Archer has never had any trouble in Prosperity. Its a nice, peaceful place to live. He doesn't understand the heinous murders that are suddenly being committed in his town and only at the urging of his chief deputy Katie Cole who has kept her abilities hidden does he call in Noah Bishop's special team.

You curiosity was captivated from the beginning. I liked how the author had the book broken up into three sections.. The Summons, The Gathering and then The Darkness. The ending was a little abrupt and I am hoping that we get to see more of the 6 in future books but overall I liked this creepy little addition to the series.

Another great read by Kay Hooper. This is a part of the Bishop: Special Crimes Unit series. This is a paranormal romantic suspense. I enjoy seeing the ongoing relationships between the characters