Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

This series with Kate Marshall as the main character is really growing on me. I enjoyed this read, and felt the story flowed well. Kate and Tristan have set up their own PI business and are approached by a mother who asks them to find out what happened to her daughter who went missing 12 years before. There were a lot of threads to the story here which I loved. Both Kate and Tristan are so likeable, believable and realistic. It’s a pleasant change to follow the investigation from a PI’s perspective and I loved the twists and turns and think this is a well written, engaging book with a good plot line. It didn’t wow me though. I was underwhelmed with the previous book and this one definitely hit the mark more with me. Looking forward to the next in the series.

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I've been a fan of Robert Bryndza's thrillers ever since I first met detective Erika Foster back in 2016, and I've read every single thriller book he published since. His newest series featuring Kate Marshall is quickly becoming a new favorite; Darkness Falls is already book number three... And without doubt another solid sequel that is both highly addictive, suspenseful and a thrilling ride. Oh yes, it's time to clear your schedule again before picking up this one!

One of the things I love of this series is the PI angle, as it means a different type of crime investigation and I like refreshing angles in my thrillers. The fact that I really like the dynamics between Kate and Tristan both on a personal level and in how they pursue their investigations is always a big bonus of course... And I've enjoyed seeing them develop and grow over time. The story in Darkness Falls can be followed quite easily without reading the previous books, but if you want to have more background on the characters I would advice you to read at least the first book before you tackle this one. It will give you a better idea as to where the characters stand and why they behave in a certain way.

The case in Darkness Falls is another fascinating one, with the missing journalist quickly turning into something a whole lot darker... And there are plenty of plot twists, secrets and different angles to keep you busy along the way. I have to say that I did see part of the final reveal coming early on, but I never guessed the full truth and the story itself was engaging enough to make me want to keep reading anyway. There is just something about the way Robert Bryndza writes that makes it impossible to put a book down once you start reading the first chapter, and that is definitely what happened to me with this story all over again.

Darkness Falls uses a multiple POV structure, and I always love it when we get to have a glimpse inside the head of a killer as well as our 'good guys' trying to catch him. The POV structure gives the story more dept, and while the killer's POV did help me spot his identity early on, I still liked what it added to the plot. As a whole, Darkness Falls turned out to be another excellent sequel and I already can't wait to find out what he has in store for Kate and Tristan in the next book.

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While I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, for some reason this one didn't have the same bite as the others. I love that the first case Kate and Tristan take on as a new private investigation agency is a cold case; twelve years cold with a distraught mother looking for closure as to what happened to her adult daughter. The build up is steady but slow and the ending is chaotic and predictable. I still enjoyed it and will continue to read the Kate Marshall series, but this one is not very memorable.

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I really enjoyed this addition to the Kate Marshall/Tristan series. It was even more enjoyable because the mystery was more complicated and the ending definitely wasn't obvious.

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Robert Bryndza delivered another good and well thought out crime story in the Kate Marshall series. It can be read as a stand-alone but it is worth reading the series in order to understand the dynamics between Kate and Tristan, so I would suggest adding Nine Elms and Shadow sands to the reading list.

In this third installment, Kate and Tristan find themselves investigating a cold case that centers on a missing journalist named Joanna. The case takes a more sinister turn as they begin to uncover the widespread lies and deceit that surround the investigations Joanna was involved with before her disappearance. Written with the good pace and attention to detail that Bryndza usually delivers, this is a good solid crime novel.

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I had always loved Bryndza's Erika Foster detective mysteries, so I was thrilled when his Kate Marshall series was in the works. For some reason, I missed the first two installments! This book is the third. The good thing about Bryndza is that you can pick up any book and be assured it will be a page-turner.

I thoroughly enjoyed the hunt with private detectives Kate and Tristan as they searched for clues in the disappearance of a journalist years before. The journalist, Joanna, had disappeared without a trace, and after some years with no leads, the police had closed the file. Along come Kate and Tristan, hired by Joanna's mother, to give the case a final shot. Will they succeed? The final chapters are gripping and tense as they come close to possibly solving this once and for all.

I'll be looking forward to more Kate Marshall mysteries and certainly catching up on the ones I missed.

I'd like to extend a big thanks to the author and publisher through NetGalley for the eARC!!

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Bryndza is definitely my kind of author. He has a gift in writing amazing thrillers that you can’t put down. I have yet to take longer then 2 days to read one of his books.
After reading the amazing Erika Foster series, I was super excited when Nine Elms came out with the new and amazing characters of Kate & Tristan. This third instalment of the fantastic series does not disappoint and I’ll look forward to the next.
Darkness Falls is a book with Kate & Tristan on a quest for the truth regarding a 12 year mystery. Informative and captivating from the first chapter, it is not predictable. And you look forward to how the story will reveal itself.
The paragraph when you realise what the title means is very impressive writing!

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Darkness Falls is the third in the Kate Marshall series. It can be read as a standalone but works better if you have read the other books, as you will get more from the background stories. Kate is an ex-police officer and has just started a private detective agency with her colleague Tristan. The book opens with the abduction of a young woman 12 years ago, and then jumps to present day when the woman's mother asks Kate to investigate the cold case. The author often uses this formula of a crime in the opening chapter, which the rest of the book unravels to solve, and I find it works really well as it grabs you straight away.

I am a big fan of Robert Bryndza and this was my favourite in the Kate Marshall series so far. I didn't warm to Kate and Tristan initially but they are growing on me as the series progresses. Kate's history as an alcoholic adds depth, as do her relationships with her son and her ex-partner.

The plot itself is a little grisly but not as much as some other books by this author. It includes graphic descriptions of violence, which may be disturbing for some readers. The investigation takes Kate and Tristan around the southwest of England, and is mostly based in Exeter. I happen to live in Exeter, so I enjoyed the local details.

I found this a gripping read (I finished it in a day) and a satisfying mystery with a good ending. I look forward to seeing more of Kate and Tristan.

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Thanks to Robert, Net galley for the book. This is my first preview so was quite excited, I am a Robert Bryndza fan, and this one does not disappoint . He keeps doing it book after book, very readable ; fast moving plot; great characters. I love Kate and the way her character has evolved. Here she is asked to investigate a cold case ; the disappearance of a journalist; and she stumbles upon a some one who has operating under the shadows for decades. Loved the way the story builds up; Kate gets a few lucky brakes ; I loved the final reveal did not see that one coming. Looking forward to the next one! (less)

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Fabulous love all Robert Bryndza books it’s about a journalist that goes missing 12 years ago and the heartbreak of a mother not knowing where she is. Kate and Tristan come to the rescue as they find out that Joanna was investing a political scandal at the time she went missing the deeper they delve into this mystery the more dangerous it becomes the twist at the end was fantastic I would never have guessed. I didn’t want it to end can’t wait for the next one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.

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While the story is interesting and the set up good tHe writing is awkward. I kept saying to myself throughout the book what is not making this click? I wanted to know who the killer was. I liked how the storyline went however I think un another writers hands this would have been a much better book.

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This is Book 3 in the Kate Marshall series and I am overjoyed that there will be another book coming. I love the characters of Kate Marshall and Tristan Harper. Jake is a surprisingly well adjusted young man. In this book Kate is hired by the mother of a journalist who has been missing for twelve years. What a mystery! I was stunned beyond belief at the ending. WAY TO GO ROBERT BRYNDZA! Please write faster so we can have the next book soon. Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

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PI Kate Marshall and her partner Tristan find themselves in their first big case, one that stretches back 12 years. The case of a murdered journalist ends up as a cold case but Kate is determined to solve it. Kate is such a complex character and her backstory as a recovering alcoholic adds some depth to the story. Robert Bryndza has another winner here!

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Darkness Falls: A Kate Marshall Thriller, by Robert Bryndza, # 3 in the series. I have read the previous books, but this installment could easily be read as a stand alone. This is one of my favorite authors, favorite genre of mystery/thriller, and this book did not disappoint.
Thank goodness Kate Marshall is back! This time starting her own PI Agency with long time friend  Tristan. This new business now includes running the beach cottages, inherited from Myra.
Let's just get this out of the way first thing:  Trigger warning: there are vivid, detailed portrayals of sexual acts and death, which some may find offensive.
Now, to the mysterious new case of Jo Ann, who disappeared 12 yrs. ago. Vanished, no trace, no suspects, police close the case. Jo's mother, Bev, has no closure and hires Kate & Tristan, based on their past success, to find out what happened to her daughter.
Jo was a reporter, possibly working on a sensitive story. Did this contribute to her disappearance? Jo's husband, Fred, has hidden motives to get rid of his wife, too.
Then there is the commune/hotel and the rent boys, a rather unsavory peak into a dark subject.
The case is suspenseful, interesting and was easy to follow. The police let Bev borrow their case files. There is a tangled web of suspects, but Kate makes a discovery in the files which only increases the number of people who have disappeared. I found myself reading ' just one more' chapter to see how the case was solved. There are twists and surprises galore.
I snickered at all the references to the heat and how hot it was there. I'm from TX, does Ashdean, Devon, S. England know hot?
There was a good mix of old and new characters. Kate's son, Jake, Tristan's sister, Sarah, pathologist Alan Hexham, and new DCI Faye Stubbs, all with personal baggage.
I can hardly wait to see where the next case will take the new PI agency, a series I highly recommend.
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for the advance digital copy. The opinions are mine written voluntarily.

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Bryndza never disappoints! Kate and Tristan take on their first big case as private investigators - a 12 year old cold case of a missing journalist. There are some twists I did not expect. I can’t wait for the next book in the series

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Kate and Tristan do a great job of solving crimes on a shoestring, with help from friends. Kate is now a full time investigator, supported by her friend Myra's business of the caravan park and shop, helped by her son. Tristan is still part time at the university as she can't afford to pay him any more. The rapport between them is the same as ever.

This time they are investigating a cold case of 12 years on behalf of Bev, a missing journalist's mum. It would seem that Joanna disappeared without a trace and the police have long given up. The investigation opens up one complicated can of worms that of course they solve. I had ideas of who was guilty but there was a good twist in the tale.

Brilliant story and I can't wait for more takes of Kate and Tristan!

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Darkness Falls is the latest Kate Marshall Thriller and can be read as a standalone but the series is so good who would want to miss the earlier books. Kate and her partner are struggling to pay the bills with their new private detective agency when a big case lands in their laps. Twelve years ago a journalist disappeared and her mother wants closure. The case takes Kate and Tristan down a twisted road of missing people and dead bodies. The ending will smack you upside the head with the shocking twist. Full of good, likable, and solid characters and a case that will leave you guessing, Darkness Falls is another winning thriller in the series by Robert Bryndza sure to leave you coming back for more. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

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I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This is the third book featuring Kate Marshall and each book just gets better and better, I can't wait for the next one.

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I have read all of Bryndza's previous novels of the Erika Foster series and really enjoyed them and I have perservered with the Kate Marshall series in a hope that they'll replicate the same, however I continue to struggle to get into the plots of this series.
While this latest book had a good storyline, unfortunately I really struggled to keep track of the number of other characters and this really affected my enjoyment of the book.
I will continue to read Bryndza's work as I KNOW I love so many of his books and know that while this wasnt my favourite, other people will enjoy it. On the plus side, I do think this could be read as a stand alone which many will find appealing.

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Kate and Tristan are getting their fledgling detective agency started while running a caravan park simultaneously. They are asked to investigate the disappearance 12 years earlier of Joanna, a local journalist who disappeared. Joanna’s mother Bev has never had closure after the loss of her daughter and needs them to do what the police have so far been unable to achieve.

This was my first story in the Kate Marshall series and frankly, I found Kate unbelievable as a former police detective. She seems very naive and almost simplistic in nature. I sometimes felt like I was ready a YA novel with sentences like, “They’d got him. They’d solved the case.” Or, usage of the phrase “cracked the case”. I think once it started to bother me I was seeing everything over simplified. They had the dental comparison done in 5 secs after the body was found? Come on!

I also was able to guess the “twist” easily as well. This was almost a DNF for me but I slogged through. I think judging by the other reviews that I am in the minority, but the writing style of this makes me feel that this is not the series for me.

Thank you to Netflix and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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