4.5 stars.

Meg Gardiner is the queen of terrifying crime thrillers, and she’s finally quenching our thirst for her haunting serial killer stories with the third installment in the UNSUB series - The Dark Corners Of The Night!

Oh how I’ve missed Caitlin Hendricks - she still remains my absolute favorite fictional detective (now FBI behavioral analyst). Caitlin now has a new challenge - The Midnight Man: a killer who will exceed all your expectations. Each new information that emerges about our killer is more shocking than the one that precedes it.

As always with Meg’s books, the writing is sharp, confident, doesn’t look down on the reader, and the descriptions are impressively cinematographic (the scene in the intro is a perfect example - incredibly haunting)! I thoroughly enjoyed the investigation dynamics as Cait worked with her team to understand the killer’s behaviors, and also the involvement of a genius psychiatrist (Jo) who helped put everything into perspective, like, how did she figure all that out?!!

If you’re looking for a unique police procedural, or are a fan of the UNSUB series, make sure not to miss this one. Can it be read as a stand-alone? Heck yes! But given how this 3rd book ends (what the heck?!), I recommend reading the 1st one. Either way, you’re in for a treat. I can’t get over the final line in this book though, I have a feeling the 4th installment is going to be a killer!

The Dark Corners Of The Night by Meg Gardiner is the third book in the UNSUB series, if you are a fan of gritty crime thrillers that veer towards the dark side, that explore the mindset of a serial killer, and aren’t averse to gory, gritty crime scenes then this is a ‘must read’ for you crime book junkies. Although this book could easily be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend you read the whole series,

In this book behavioural analyst Caitlin Hendrix is back and chasing her most deadly adversary yet ‘the Midnight Man’. Picture the scene, you and your children are sound asleep, safe in the knowledge that you are secure in your home, but then out of the shadows steps a serial killer, they kill you, but leave your children alive, witnesses to unspeakable horrors. Just writing this sentence sends shivers down my spine! But that’s the premise for this blood chilling thriller, it’s a read that will make you check the windows, the doors, hell you may even have to sleep with a light on!

Caitlin is a character that is growing more likeable as the series progresses, as you would expect like many protagonists in crime thrillers, she comes with her own set of baggage. You get a strong sense of who Caitlin is as a person, and despite her flaws, she’s one determined lady. The strength of Meg Gardiner UNSUB books are her attention to the details of the profiling process, these facts that are presented in straightforward way, grabbing the reader’s attention, rather. I found on a couple of occasions that the subject of profiling slowed the pace of the overall plot, but on the other hand I found these sections an interesting read.

This is one author who doesn’t shy away from writing scenes which might make readers feel uncomfortable, but that said neither does she sensationalise scenes for the shock factor. As the attacks escalate, the communities of Los Angeles are gripped with fear, the tension ramps up a notch. The Dark Corners Of The Night definitely lives up to its predecessors, and if you’re looking for a new crime thriller series to read, it’s one I would happily recommend.

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/5

'The night and the wind filled him with command. He licked his lips. His knife sliced the window screen. His shadow invaded the house before the rest of him."

Brilliant police procedural thriller. Full of action and suspence. People interested in profiling will especially love this book!

Someone is targeting families in LA. Killing the parents and traumatizing the children 'I am beyond good and evil'

Will FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin Hendrix and her team be able to figure out who this person is before things escalate?
In the meantime they don't seem closer to finding the Ghost who has vowed to kill Caitlin.

I liked the multiple story lines and how it's neatly pulled together. I can't wait to read the next in the series. Brilliant author!

Thank you to Netgally and Blackstone Publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Meg Gardiner, queen of the serial killer thriller, has a new Caitlyn Hendrix UNSUB book going on sale February 18, and YOU NEED A COPY!!! In this outing, Dark Corners of the Night, Caitlyn and the FBI Behavioral Analysis team are in Los Angeles profiling a serial killer who calls himself "the Midnight Man." Unlike most serial killers, the Midnight Man targets families, killing the parents but leaving the children alive but terrorized. As the team scrambles to complete the profile, the killing escalates, and family after family is awakened from sleep to meet death and terror.

Gardiner's writing is darkly atmospheric, and the pace of Dark Colors of the Night is breathtKing. This book will keep you up all night, but you may be scared of the dark! Highly recommended. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley, who provided an ARC in return for this honest review.

After refreshing my memory with the past two UNSUB books I tore through Dark Corners in one night!!⁣
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This is my favorite book in the UNSUB series yet! FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin is still recovering from a bombing that almost killed her best friend six months ago. Her boyfriend is part of the team looking for that bomber while she's suddenly involved in an intense new killer investigation. ⁣
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This unknown subject (aka UNSUB) breaks into houses in safe neighborhoods in the middle of the night to kill the parents, but leaves the children alive and terrified by drawing bloody eyes all over the walls. He calls himself The Midnight Man and his frenzied attacks are escalating. Caitlin has a sneaking suspicion about the Midnight Man and feels connected to him in a way that scares her a little bit.⁣
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I don't want to give anything away because the reveal shocked me, but this was hella suspenseful and kept me turning pages late into the night! ⁣
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If you love shows like Criminal Minds and entering the dark minds of killers you will love this series. I'm going to be thinking about that ending and shuddering to myself for awhile!⁣
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/ 5 blazing stars for this stunning suspense novel!⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 comes out February 18th and it lives up to its fantastic creepy cover!!⁣

The Dark Corners of the Night is the third book in the UNSUB series from Meg Gardiner.

"Caitlin Hendrix, a behavioral analyst, and her team from the FBI and called to LA to assist the police in catching a killer. He calls himself the Midnight Man and has been terrorizing families and neighborhoods by breaking into homes and killing the parents in bed and forcing children to say his name. Caitlin realizes the killer is not like any the FBI has ever encountered and when he begins to escalate his behavior they can only hope to catch him before more families are killed."

Gardiner gives us a terrifying killer - one who stands in the dark next to your bed. How many times have you heard a noise in bed and opened your eyes thinking someone was there? Someone in black with a gun? And there's a couple of things about the killer that makes him even scarier (no spoilers)

There are some interesting parts about kill zones. Only issue I have is the author sometimes slips into "over-explanation" When discussing the killer's psychopathy, there's way too much detail and it doesn't add much to the narrative. One other scene where someone who has been shot is being questioned seems a little forced.

Also the storyline from the first book - the Prophet - is teased to us throughout the story. MG - we need that story!

A great chase and finale to this story. Caitlin really has to dig deep on what she would do when she faces the killer. If you like an intense, fast-paced story with some great characters you should read this book.

For those of us who are intrigued by the psychology of crime, a novel like this is an incredible treat. This novel does an incredible job delving into the motivations and psychology of serial killers as well as its protagonists. It's rare to encounter a unique criminal in the genre but this novel delivers an unforgettable antagonist and plotting. The only reason I knocked off a star is because of an interminable car chase sequence that really reads like the Californians skit from the SNL. Not that car chases can't be fun, but when they drag on too long and seem to require knowledge of the area to enjoy, it can make your eyes glaze over in an overall compelling work.

A mysterious dark hooded figure is breaking into homes in L.A. murdering parents in their beds and traumatizing but not harming the children in the house. LAPD are stumped and call in the BAU to help profile their Unsub.

We are back in the world of Caitlin Hendrix and the team and seriously this series just gets better and better. In fact, I'd go so far as to say this is the best book yet.

Jaw dropping, nerve jangling, nail biting and a proper knicker gripper, you are right there with the team as the self proclaimed Midnight Man continues his trail of destruction. But with clues that don't appear to make sense and all survivors being young children, L.A. is in fear and on lockdown. Just who is The Midnight Man and where will he strike next? The team are truly against the clock to help identify and track down the elusive predator.

OMG loved, loved, loved this book.

If you're looking for a high octane, heart stopping crime thriller involving the FBI's BAU team then look no further. This book has it all. Excitement, danger, mystery, likeable and empathetic characters, mega climactic scenes and an old adversarial foe lurking in the background.

Meg Gardiner writes her books as if you are one of the team almost, and explaining some of the police speak and criminal terminology along the way adds to it. She always gets the right balance of descriptively writing an ending so as not to rush it but also so that it sets the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end and has your heart in your mouth. I can't wait for Unsub 4. An excellent read.

If you a thriller fan and you haven’t read this series it’s a MUST! Bonus if you’re a fan of shows like Criminal Minds because this book (and the whole series) is like an insane episode of the show but better. Also, you could probably read this as a standalone and be fine but don’t, because all three books are phenomenal and you’ll be missing out.

What makes a perfect thriller for me? A few things, first the case has to be somewhat original so and MG managed to explore something I’ve really never read about before. I won’t say exactly what, but it’s dark, horrifying and fascinating all at the same time and I was mesmerized. I also like solid characterization, this is even more important to me in a series since there’s time to dive deep, and not only do I feel like I really have a strong sense of who Caitlin is as person, I care about her. She’s not some perfect, save the day heroine, don’t get me wrong she’s badass but she’s deeply flawed as well and who can’t relate to that? Finally, I need good writing and MG is one of the best. Her style is both bold and crisp and her pacing is spot on. This had it all for me friends, gimme book four ASAP because that ending has me shook and dying to see what happens next!

Someone is hunting families. Caitlin Hendrix is on a new case with the rest of her BAU team and their killer is targeting families but leaving the children alive. They have no clues and their profile isn't welcomed by the LAPD as they realise that the killer is young and that they have some connection to the police. Caitlin is trying to find out a pattern to the murders but the killer is evolving becoming more dangerous will they be able to catch him before even more people die? Will the team be able to figure it out? Caitlin is worried about her partner Sean as he trying to track down a bomber and they both know that he isn't playing around. Will they ever find the answers that they need to put both cases away? Can the team find the clues to save their latest victim before it is too late as this is the killer's endgame? A good thrilling read. I liked Caitlin character as she is strong yet vulnerable when it comes to Sean & their life together. She puts herself out there. I was lucky enough to receive a copy from netgalley and the publishing house in exchange for my honest review. Can't wait to see what happens next with the bomber.

I have been a huge fan of Meg Gardiner's books for many years. This current series, The Unsub Series, is my at the top of my list. After reading this third installment, I am so anxious about the next book. Full of intense suspense with lots of twists and turns. I was so engrossed in this engaging story, I read for three straight hours! The writing is superb as always, and her stories flow seamlessly.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
#netgalley
#thedarkcornersofthenight

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This novel deals with the horrific theme of juvenile psychopathology. It is a disturbing yet real phenomenon. Due to the weighted content, it is a dark read. However, it is enlightening. The reader is painstakingly introduced to a number of serial killer types. While educational, it becomes too analytical and textbook, slowing the pace. The hunt for the antagonist hogs down as well. The technical aspects become overwhelming. I found myself flipping through the pages to get to the point. Ditto for the car pursuits.

There are numerous holes in the storyline: clues aren’t pursued, leads are mentioned then forgotten in the story. Police procedures are not not accurately portrayed. This becomes extremely frustrating for a detail oriented reader. Transitioning was difficult to follow.

A major error that happens at the beginning ( pretense of deltas to come) is in the opening pages of the exposition when the FBI’s BAU is called out to California to deal with a rash of three similar ritualistic killings within a two month time frame. Christmas season. The first crime comments on the decorated Christmas tree. By the end of the book, Christmas Day still has not occurred. Do the math: who puts up Christmas trees and decorations in October? Or even November 1. Very sloppy editing.

While the plot is interesting and the action is thrilling, the miscues and missed opportunities were too many to overcome. Furthermore, there are frequent references to the backstory of other cases, I assume, from previous novels in this series, leaving a new reader at a disadvantage. Too much backstory not explained is frustrating.

Overall, while the plot and protagonists are interesting, poor editing and plot holes left this reader disappointed. My expectation is for a more polished end product.

Meg Gardner has crafted an engrossing page turner of a read in The Dark Corners of the Night. Well worth the read!

Do you like the television series Criminial Minds or Mindhunters? If so, you will like Meg Gardiner's Unsub, of which this is book number three. Do you need to read the previous two to enjoy this one? Nope - but it doesn't hurt. This time around the story is set in urban Los Angeles as the Midnight Man terrorizes the city, killing parents but leaving the children alive. FBI profiler Caitlin Hendrix is back with her team of investigators, trying to unravel whodunnit. While I enjoyed this one, it was not as good as previous books, in my opinion. The characters seemed more shallowly developed, maybe because they were so complex in earlier books? I was completely engrossed in the hunt for the killer, particularly in the geographical profiling which was fascinating, but at times the story gets stuck in the weeks of the psychological aspects and the chase in the end...good grief, it just went on and on and on. Ultimately, I was satisfied - just thought perhaps a little more editing could have made the story more tight and crisp, which is what I love about a good crime novel.

Meg Gardiner has written a book that once you start you can’t put it down. Her characters are well formed and the plot moves quickly. It doesn’t take but 2 pages to know you’re going to love this book. Plus you will be scared out of your wits. It was creepy , dark, and scary. Made me want to leave the lights on and put a gun under my bed. Loved it !

Seriously sayin'..........

The Dark Corners of the Night elbows its way into those tiny crevices in your mind that are sacred. Those little niches that you scurry into when life stomps boldly on the fringes of your delicate soul. So much like hidin' under the covers during a violent thunderstorm or zoomin' under the whole damn bed when it just gets deafening and loud enough to break the sound barrier. Only there's no place to hide in this one. No place at all.

Meg Gardiner pulls up a chair for Caitlin Hendrix, FBI behavioral analyst, whom we've met in UNSUB #1 and #2. (You can read this one as a standalone, but the first two books are stellar.) She and the BAU Unit walk through the remains of an explosion at a Los Angeles hospital along with the LAPD. Her heart is in rapid fire as she searches for her best friend, Michele Ferreira, who works as a nurse there. Things don't look too good for Michele at the moment. Could she be a victim of The Ghost known for his devastating bombings? We'll soon found out.

And in the middle of all this, Caitlin has been assigned to a new case by the FBI. A lone devious hunter in black, known as The Midnight Man, has been breaking into local homes and committing horrendous crimes. He's smart, analytical, and slips through the fingers of the LAPD. Along with Special Agent Brianne Rainey, Caitlin uses her finely honed skills as a BAU agent. But this evil doer always seems to be one step ahead of his pursuers.

Gardiner always digs deep into what makes her UNSUB characters tick. She brings in a talented psychologist who lays out the brickwork in the building of these demented souls. It's an eye-opener into the cracked minds of serial killers who appear to be functioning in the normal zone. Lesson learned: Don't ever let your guard down.

Prepare yourself for heart palpitations bouncing off the walls by means of high speed chase scenes and then soft, silent approaches at the foot of your bed in the midnight hour. Case in point: You're never too old for that teddy bear, Kiddo.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Black Stone Publishing and to Meg Gardiner for the opportunity.

A fantastic third installment in the UNSUB series with yet another truly terrifying serial killer as well as the shadowy threat from the Ghost to deal with. I pushed through a migraine to finish this; that's how much I enjoyed it.

This is another great Caitlyn Hendrix book! Caitlyn is a very well developed main character who carries quite bit of baggage. She was at her best in this installment of the series as she tries to track down a killer who torments the children of his victims.

The storyline in this one was rather horrific, but spellbinding. It grabbed me in the beginning and never let go. This thrilling book is everything I've come to want from a Meg Gardiner book!

This is the third entry in Gardiner UNSUB series. I was somewhat caught up in the first one because she sketched out her characters to have some life and interest for the reader. By this, the third, it's deja vu all over again, but perhaps worse. Very nearly the entire book is having the protagonist, the newest member of the FBI's serial killer unit, explain absolutely everything--how profiles are collected, how computers can make patterns, and on an on. It seemed like a bunch of little Wikipedia pages put together. If you are an AVID fan of FBI procedure, these bits of knowledge from the newbie might work for you.

I requested this ARC numerous times from multiple sources like a stage 5 clinger and my tenacious nature paid off when Netgalley came through for me and I was approved! I was over the moon with joy to be able to get this novel early because this is the third installment of one of my favorite thriller series.

I loved the first two books and felt the same about this one. The first book, Unsub was inspired by the Zodiac Killer. The second book, Into the Black Nowhere, was inspired by Ted Bundy. This book, The Dark Corners of the Night deal with the most chilling killer yet. Similar to the first two, this novel made me want to double check that everything is locked, leave the lights on, and keep my 100 pound dog nearby at night.

I highly recommend starting with book one because the main character of the series, Caitlin Hendrix, elvolves with each read and it’s something that should be experienced in order. Caitlin is a flawed and multifaceted character who battles inner demons of her her. It’s important to have a grasp on this when reading so that the reader’s connection to her is strongly forged.

This is a novel that will appeal to fans of Criminal Minds and those of you looking for a fast paced crime thriller. This book has some graphic and unsettling Murder scenes, so beware. I hope this series gets made into a TV show because it’s amazing..