Kate Marshall's new PI business is off to a great start when she's hired to look into the disappearance of journalist Joanna Duncan, this is a cold case from 12 years ago, the police investigation came to a dead end, but her mum Bev has refused to give up on finding her daughter. Kate and her partner, Tristan Harper revisit the case files and find names of two men who also vanished, leading them to believe that Joanna was about to uncover something that someone wanted to remain hidden, did she meet the same fate as these two men, and if so could that mean Kate and Tristan are looking for a serial killer?

This is the third in this series and Kate and Tristan are back, attempting to rid the streets of undesirables with their new private investigation agency. It's a tough case that they've been asked to look into with some very cagey characters involved and they've certainly got their work cut out to try and solve it, find the answers and hopefully Joanna, for her mum Bev who has never given up on her daughter. I've loved getting to know more about Kate and Tristan, they are the perfect team! The story drew me in from the first page and kept me hooked throughout, with many twists along the way and a very unexpected outcome. Robert Bryndza certainly knows how to write a thriller, it was an edge of your seat, seamless plot which was packed with intrigue and if you like a dark read then this is one for you, but I would advise you read the books in order to understand the backgrounds of the characters.

I'd like to thank Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

I believe this is the best book in this series so far. There is a very consistent plot, Kate and Tristan are quite sure of what they want with their business, and especially Kate, who seems to finally have made peace with her past. It was amazing to read how they started pulling the thread and finding a connection between the disappearance of Jo, the journalist, and that of other boys in the same area, culminating in the most dramatic ending. It was a powerful and entertaining story, Robert Bryndza at his best!

Darkness Falls is the 3rd book in the Kate Marshall series but it can be read as a stand-alone. Kate and her partner, Tristan, are trying to keep their start-up Private Investigative agency afloat. They are hired by a mother whose daughter disappeared twelve years ago.

This novel has a twisty plot that is cleverly executed by a master storyteller. I love a book where I can't guess who the killer is and surprises me at the end. Overall, I found this book to be fast paced, well written, and definitely kept my interest. I definitely recommend reading this book and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Robert Bryndza for a copy of "Darkness Falls" in exchange of an honest review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

joanna duncan was a journalist but for the last 12 years she has been missing

her mother bev hires kate and tristan to find out what happened to jo, its a cold case with the police and through them bev was given the case files for jo which she hands over to kate and tristan who have had some success with another cold case from their fledging PI agency work

the case will bring them into the seedy side of life but as they get closer to finding out what happened to jo their case suddenly becomes an active case with the police as the bodies of several men are identified and a serial killer is sought as their case is linked to the murders

a tense drama which plays out really well,...

cant wait for the next one in this series

Darkness Falls carries on the Kate Marshall series brilliantly, allowing us to revisit favourite characters including Kate herself, of course, and her partner (in her business, not personal life!) Tristan as well as new characters such as Bev, whose daughter Joanna disappeared. Kate and Tristan are paid by Bev and her husband Bill to try to find out what happened to Joanna, and give them some closure at least.

The story in Darkness Falls is as brilliantly plotted out as always, with lots of twists and surprises. There’s plenty of tension and atmosphere, keeping me completely absorbed in the story – this is the kind of crime novel I’ll always enjoy from first page to last. The characterisation is brilliant as ever, with convincing characters that you can imagine being real people.

Robert Bryndza is an author I know I can rely on to create engaging, entertaining reads and this series, along with his Erika Foster series, is a favourite of mine – I always eagerly anticipate a new release! I’d really recommend starting from the first book, but I still think anyone new to would enjoy this novel as a standalone too.

Darkness Falls is the third book in the Kate Marshall series by British author, Robert Bryndza. Former London Met detective Kate Marshall has given up lecturing in criminology and started her own private investigation agency with her young assistant, Tristan Harper. In the past months, business has been slow, so when Bev Ellis engages them to find out what happened to her daughter, Kate and Tristan are eager to immerse themselves in a big case.

An investigative journalist for the West Country News, Joanna Duncan disappeared without a trace in the first week of September 2002. Thirteen years on, the Devon and Cornwall Police have deemed it a cold case, and Bev’s wealthy partner Bill Norris, who is funding their investigation, has managed to acquire all of the police files. Kate and Tristan examine them very thoroughly, vowing to solve this puzzling case.

Their first priority is to talk to those who were questioned by the police at the time, including Jo’s editor, colleagues, best friend, husband, and a certain MP who lost his seat after Jo’s hard-hitting exposé. But then Kate happens upon the names of two young men amongst Jo’s papers, who turn out to be missing.

It’s apparent from her career prospects that Jo didn’t disappear of her own accord, but did her work make her a target? Was it someone involved in the cover-up of an asbestos-laden office building? Or whoever was taking those missing young men? Or was it her claim that the already-disgraced MP was using his Parliamentary allowance to pay for rent-boys? Or was she actually the victim of an opportunistic killer?

There’s plenty of good detective work apparent here, with both Kate and Tristan utilising friendly police or ex-cop sources. Bryndza gives the reader a solid plot with several red herrings and a clever twist. Once again, great British crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer.

I do not know the author personally, but for some reason I am constantly surprised by how unfiltered his writing is. After moving from fluff writings like his Coco Pinchard series and Miss Wrong and Mr Right, his ability to write serious suspense continues to be unexpected. When Kate and Tristan are hired to look in to a disappearance cold case and start connecting it with an ongoing series of murders of gay men, there is no fluff. The murderer is brutal, the gay men are honest and real, and all the characters are well developed. It all makes for a very engaging series and I'm hoping that some of the people introduced in this book come back in future installments. So while I complained when Mr. Bryndza set Erika Foster aside to introduce a new character, I am very glad to be getting to know Kate and Tristan and am looking forward to the 4th book.

This is book three in the series and, usual series rules apply! You know them by now, I don't need to spell them out.
In this book we see Kate struggling to balance her fledgling PI business with running the caravan park she has inherited. Tristan is helping her but he still has his "day job" a few days a week, so they are only just about managing to make ends meet. But her son Jake is due home for the summer so hopefully he can help. And then they get a big case. That of missing journalist Joanna Duncan who disappeared over a decade ago, the police having long since given up trying to solve and have practically closed the case, all bar lip service. It's her mother who has never accepted the loss of her daughter and she is still, after all these years, suffering from the tragedy.
So they start to re-interview all the witnesses. Those still around at any case, and it doesn't take Kate long to make a breakthrough...
And that's all I'm saying. You'll have to discover the rest yourself - obviously! But I will say that this book is right up to the author's usual, very high, standards. Cracking, well described, characters all playing their parts with aplomb in a fantastically well plotted, and executed, narrative which hit the ground running for me and didn't let up until the very last page. With his no nonsense style of writing, the story gets on with itself very well indeed as it twists and turns to a wholly satisfying conclusion.
What I like best about this series, and all the author books to be honest, are the characters. They feel so real. Here, Kate and Tristan are just two normal people trying to get on with their lives and run a business. They have the same struggles as you and I along the way. OK so Kate was married to a serial killer, and that's not a normal, but that seems to be a minor thread in the series and just points to her background rather than intruding on what is really going on in the present.
All in all, a cracking read that I have no hesitation in recommending to fans of the genre. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I cannot love the Kate Marshall books anymore than I do. They are so cleverly written and well put together. I love the individual stories and murder investigations but also the intertwined background stories with Kate and her partner and son. Brilliant!

Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in a series, and the first book I've read by this author. Although there are obvious hints to previous happenings, the book reads well as a stand-alone. This story of a cold case investigation by a team of two who have just launched their PI agency is well-written and atmospheric, and I enjoyed the dynamic and the detail around the lives of the two. There were periodic appearances by the killer, with short chapters from his POV. There is a long phase in the narrative of following various threads and various bits of evidence, and the last fifth of the story really speeds up - which I imagine mirrors the course of an investigation that is 20 years old and definitely gone cold. I found the big twist/reveal fairly foreseeable, but enjoyed this book nevertheless, and will keep an eye out for further works by this author.

4 stars

Darkness Falls, by Robert Brynzda, is the third book in his Kate Marshall series. In this thriller, Kate, a former policewoman, has established her own private detective agency, with business partner Tristan Harper. They are visited by Bev, whose journalist daughter Joanna Duncan disappeared on her way to her car 13 years before. The police have closed their investigation, so Bev brings the police evidence and materials to Kate and asks her to find Joanna’s remains, so Bev can have closure on her loss.
Kate and Tristan’s investigation takes several surprising turns, as they find more unsolved murders involving gay men, and the mysterious leader of a commune along the way.
The pacing of this story is excellent, and the twists/red herrings keep the reader engaged from the dramatic prologue to the startling reveal at the conclusion. Brynzda uses lovely touches of wit and believable dialogue between his characters. Kate is a strong female protagonist and wisely uses her police training to find answers and unravel the mysteries. Underlying the investigation is a great humanity in Kate’s approach.
The author’s other series, featuring Detective Erika Foster, is also excellent. I highly recommend all the entries in both series to fans of British whodunits written with introspection and heart, and to readers who look for strong smart female characters.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my unbiased review.

Another super offering from Robert Bryndza who rarely fails to produce a great read. Once again Kate is female lead and although I never wanted her to, leave the police have to admit she makes a formidable PI. I’m often one to criticise books with too many characters but Bryndza introduces and re-introduces lots but somehow manages to make them all distinct and memorable so easy to know who is who.
I love Tristran too and I’m sure Jake the girl he had got in touch with ( sorry I’ve forgotten her name) will appear in a future plot.

This is the third in the series following this set of detectives. It is not a stand alone book. I had not previously read the others in this series so it was hard to follow.

I must admit, the more I read from the Kate Marshall series, the more I am enjoying it. Book three now and it is fair to say we have seen our protagonist go on one hell of a journey so far. After the loss of her best friend and neighbour, Kate has thrown herself into her private investigation business full time - well with the small distraction of a bunch of holiday caravans to manage on the side. It's not been the big earner she may have liked but her latest case, a request to look into the disappearance of a young journalist many years before, looks set to be a really meaty one, something she can finally sink her teeth into. Now as readers, we know far more of what is happening than Kate and her partner in crime solving, Tristan, but. whilst we may know the what, we most certainly have no clue as to the who or the why.

What I love about Robert Bryndza's writing is his ability to create an overwhelming sense of mystery from the start, something he does spectacularly in this book. I could feel the tension build from the start, anticipated that something shocking and pivotal was about to happen, and then, when it did, I was completely invested in the story and even though I didn't know the characters involved at this stage, didn't know their history and wasn't necessarily engaged with them as people just yet, I was completely absorbed in the story. And this mystery continues throughout the book, several scenes written from the aggressors point of view, scenes which make it very clear what happened was not a one off event, that it was indicative of something far darker, far deeper than you may first imagine. Did I have an inkling part way through the book as to who the bad guy might be? Honestly ... yes, but that for me was half the fun, powering through to the end to see if I was right. It didn't impact on my enjoyment of the book in the slightest, it drew me in more.

I really find that Kate and Tristan are two brilliant characters to spend time with. Both have their quirks and Kate has a far more turbulent history than most, but she is someone you can admire, conquering her demons and fighting those personal battles a day at a time. She is stronger than she thinks and certainly a canny investigator, forging somewhat shaky links with the local constabulary, but ultimately pressing ahead with the investigation she was hired to complete. Her friendship and camaraderie with Tristan is brilliantly written and whilst he might not be as troubled as Kate, he has his own moments of doubt, still trying to find his perfect place in life. They really do gel, bouncing off each other, providing support, friendship and banter that keeps me completely entertained and drawn into the story. They are as determined and intrepid as each other, and complement each others skills, everything I look for in a crime fighting team.

Pace in the book is spot on, with the flow of the narrative ebbing and flowing much as the investigation does. There are times when you know something bad is about to happen, although you might not be fully prepared for what that is and there is a certain amount of misdirection involved that brought a smile to my face. But for all those scenes of high tension, there are moments of real emotion and reflection that give you time to pause and catch your breath. There are many scenes grounded in the hellish reality of everyday life too, just to remind us that kate is not some all singing all dancing, superstar Detective. Fancy trying to hire new toilet cleaners for a holiday park right at the start of holiday season anyone? And this brings us nicely to setting. The location of the stories are perfect, a blend of remote countryside, towns, cities and coastal retreats that allows for the killer to remain in plain sight whilst also the perfect cover and anonymity for them to execute their deeds and dispose of the evidence.

This was another top class, mystery laden read that had me powering through the pages. With brilliant characterisation, tension oozing from the pages and writing which really evokes emotion and the stark contrasts of the setting, it's definitely recommended. Fans of the series and of the author's writing will eat it up.

In this, the third Kate Marshall book in the series, Robert Bryndza brings it with excellent writing, terrific pacing and a story that is riveting. Darkness Falls has it all.

Kate and Tristan have just created their detective agency when they get a call from a woman whose investigative journalist daughter disappeared thirteen years ago. Having gotten access to the police files, she asks Kate and Tristan to do what the police failed to do: find her daughter.

Joanna Duncan had just published a story about a corrupt politician that caught the attention of the London newspapers. She was looking forward to advancing her career with her next in depth story. Sifting through her belongings, Kate discovers that Joanna was looking into the disappearance of two gay men. Both were connected to the politician and the enigmatic leader of a commune. Uncovering the past has its hazards, however, and Kate and Tristan soon find themselves on the dangerous trail of a serial killer.

I'm not sure which of Mr. Bryndza's series I like better, Detective Erika Foster or Kate Marshall. Both feature strong female protagonists and while the Foster series tends to be a bit darker, both are excellent in their own right. If you have yet to discover Robert Bryndza, I highly recommend picking up one of his novels. You won't regret it!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book. The publication date is December 7, 2021.

Darkness Falls is another gripping thriller in the Kate Marshall series.

Kate and her partner Tristan are getting their detective agency up and running on a cold case that involves the disappearance of journalist Joanna Duncan.

At the same time gay men are disappearing and being murdered.

Did Joanna know something that the police did not?

Robert Bryndza does a great job leaving clues and red herrings and once again he out smarted this reader.

Thought I knew but I was wrong.

I thoroughly enjoy anything written by Mr. Bryndza and the Kate Marshall series is no exception. I have my fingers crossed for book 4 and I will be first in line.

Thank to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for another great read by Robert Bryndza.

Having read the previous books in this series I was really looking forward to this. I was not disappointed.
Kate and Tristan are hired to look into the disappearance of Joanna Duncan, a journalist, who vanished 12 years previously.. Her mother Bev and her boyfriend Bill have hired them and are able to hand over the police investigation files as it is currently a cold case.
When they discover a clue that the Police missed, the case is opened and also the murders of some missing young men.
Their discover leads to a dramatic climax.
Read this!

The is the 3rd book in the Kate Marshall series by Bryndza. Kate and Tristan's PI Agency is now official and this case involves the case of a journalist, Joanna Duncan, 12 years ago. They begin investigating her disappearance and they come across a possible link to Joanna's investigation before she went missing into two missing gay men. Bryndza does a great job of sending the reader off in a tangent using red herrings and I found myself focusing on a killer and then re-evaluating my thoughts over and over and there is a great twist at the end. The author goes back and forth between the killer's POV and Kate and Tristan's investigation as well as a few glimpses into their personal lives giving us a more rounded picture of the main characters as we get further into the series.
A great mystery/thriller that keeps you engaged and guessing right to the end.

Kate Marshall and Tristan Harper have just started operating their own private detective agency and Kate is also the owner/operator of a caravan park which she inherited from her friend Myra. Kate and Tristan are hired to look into a cold case involving Joanna Duncan, a journalist who's been missing for 12 years. Their investigation uncovers links to a killer who is still active and leads to the police reopening Joanna's cold case. Even though this is the third book in the series it stood on its own very well. Events in the past were alluded to of course but that only made me want to read the first two books even more. Very well written with many twists and turns, good characters and an easy pace. It was nice to read a book where the partners got on so well and where there was no hint of romance! The description of Burnham-on-Sea in Southwestern England led to an internet search which turned up many lovely pictures and some interesting information on the area.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read my first Robert Bryndza book. It won't be the last! All opinions expressed are my own.

Expected Publication Date: December 7, 2021

In the third book of the series, Kate Marshall is now officially working as a PI with Tristan as her assistant. They are hired by Bev Ellis to find out what happened to her daughter, Joanna Duncan, 12 years ago. Bev is now living with her long time boyfriend Bill who is very wealthy so this could be a lucrative case for the fledgling PI outfit.

Joanna was working for the local paper and had, 6 months before she disappeared, written an exposé of Noah Huntley MP and irregularities around a development contract. It cost him his seat at the following election. So it is an obvious place to start investigating. Joanna was also hoping to do an article on the MPs use of ‘rent boys’ but the editor pulled that article as there was no evidence and community sentiment had moved on. Such outings no longer caused outrage!

Bev also had all the police files on Joanna’s disappearance as the case had been closed and she passed all of that on to Kate and Tristan. Working through the files led Kate to a commune that had been run in an abandoned building and it turned into a search for a number of missing gay men. Kate and Tristan left no stone unturned, one of the men thought missing turned out to be alive and well in Spain and agreed to speak to them. His information turned out to be a goldmine and provided a shocking twist! Although by this time I had some suspicions.

This was an interesting story with quite a few threads running through it and I must say it was a pleasant change to have (mostly) male victims even if it was still all very sordid. I didn’t think the pace was quite so cracking as usual and the outcome seemed a little predictable. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly. 3.5 stars rounded down.