Book 3 in the Kate Marshall series and we follow Kate and Tristan’s PI agency take off. Twelve years ago Journalist Joanna Duncan disappeared after exposing a political scandal and her mother Bev wants answers.

They begin to investigate and get the files from the investigation. Following cold leads and digging up dirt and connections. They begin to uncovers secrets and connects that people want to stay dead. And when they uncover the smoking gun everything falls into place and there’s a serial killer lurking closer than anyone thinks.

I’m a big fan of Bryndza’s work, his The Girl in the Ice series is my favourite decrective mystery/thriller series and this series it up there. I really enjoy Kate’s character and the way she uncovers the truth.

Robert Bryndza first gained attention with his series of books about London detective Erika Foster. The series had a strong serial killer theme to it and attracted a strong following, especially in the United Kingdom.

In 2019 Bryndza shifted to a new character, former police detective Kate Marshall who was eking out an existence as a lecturer at a small coastal English university and trying to forget the traumas of her past. Containing hints of Silence Of The Lambs, Nine Elms was a significant step-up for Bryndza and was a gripping tale that held attention till the end.

Darkness Falls is the third book in the Kate Marshall series and once again Bryndza has produced a
well-crafted tale that entertains and surprises. Kate, and her work partner Tristan, now manage a small local private detective agency and are struggling to stay afloat when they are offered a substantial job. Young female journalist Joanna Duncan went missing twelve years ago after exposing a political scandal. She was never found and while the police appear to have given up on the case, Joanna’s mother is desperate to find out what really happened. Kate and Tristan go back over the old files and find some unfollowed leads that suggest that Joanna was onto something far more sinister than anyone first believed.

Bryndza has really matured as an author, and Darkness Falls unfolds with clockwork precision as Kate and Tristan convincingly work their way through old clues and well described suspects. Some more recent murders add a good touch of suspense to the proceedings and the book has a really nice flow to it. The characterisations are rich and interesting, and the descriptions of the southern English coast add good texture to the book.

Red herrings and false leads are adroitly woven into the story, and while I correctly identified some of the key clues, I could not work out what they meant. After some clever detection by Kate, the story builds to a good and surprising ending, and there is plenty of tension in the closing chapters.

A very enjoyable British crime novel and my favourite of the Bryndza books so far.

I have followed and read all of Robert Bryndza books and this new one featuring Kate and Tristan is another good read.
Kate and Tristan have been hired to find out what happened to Joanna. Joanna disappeared ten years ago after discovering a political scandal but when the trail leads to a serial killer what will they uncover.
Although this is not the first in the series it can easily be read as a stand alone.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and found the description of people and places pretty vivid.
I would class this as an easy enjoyable read

Bryndza continues his Kate Marshall series, this time looking at a cold case from 13 years earlier. As Kate and Tristan begin their investigation they find commonalities between their cold case and a string of missing young men that brings them closer and closer to the truth. I love all of Bryndza's series and I'm always thrilled when there's a new one out as I have numerous patrons who look forward to each.

I am delighted to have read the latest book in this series. Kate Marshall formed her own Detective Agency after quitting the police force. She still has a few contacts in the department that help on the quiet when she needs it. Working for Kate is Tristan, a keen young man that she can wholly rely upon. They have had some rather tricky cases so far, and the one they are about to take on is no exception.

Twelve years ago, a bright newspaper reporter Joanna Duncan disappeared after work. Her car was found abandoned in the multi-storey car park she used daily. No sign had been seen of her since that day. In a last-ditch effort, her mum’s wealthy husband asks Kate if she will take on the case to find her, be it dead or alive.

Joanna’s mum isn’t anything like what Kate had expected. She is brassy and loud but has a heart of gold. She wants to know where her daughter is. Money talks, as they say, and Joanna’s stepdad has acquired the files and investigation documents surrounding her disappearance. Kate and Tristan set to work on these, and soon discover something that had been previously missed. It is an unusual case for Kate and Tristan as the story takes on a detour.

Robert Bryndza is on top form with his writing as he captures the essence of the characters in his story. The emptiness of Joanna’s mum, the ambitious detective after all the glory and the terrifying confidence of a killer. But the victims, oh my, that hit home. I had to stop just for a little while because it didn’t seem right just to carry on reading. The writer makes it all seem so real. The story twists in ways I hadn’t thought of. It was so easy to jump to conclusions. It is an awesome story. Wowed!

I wish to thank the author for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.

I was not aware that this book was part of a series when I requested it. I tried to read it but I could not connect with the characters at all. You definitely need to read the other books to enjoy this book.

I would like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the 3rd installment of the Kate Marshall series but it can be read as a stand alone. I had not read the other 2 before being gifted the advanced copy (thank you NetGalley) but I will now that I have read - and enjoyed - Darkness Falls.

When budding journalist, Joanna, goes missing, her distraught mother and the mother's boyfriend hire private investigator Kate and her assistant, Tristin. Together Kate and Tristin use what I would call "old fashioned police work" to find clues and uncover the "who done it" truth to the disappearance of Joanna. The end was shocking, I didn't really see it coming. It really picked up pace and it was hard to put down until I turned to the last page. Excellent book. Now, to read the others before it!

Robert Bryndza's latest is a terrific addition in the Kate Marshall series, set in Devon in 2015, it has Kate and her partner, Tristran Harper, delving into a cold case mystery that goes back 12 years to 2002 and Joanna Duncan, an ambitious married journalist on West Country News. Duncan disappeared in Exeter, her mobile phone was found under her abandoned car, with CCTV able to track her making her way to the carpark, after which there is no further sighting. Kate has left her post as a lecturer, whilst Tristan continues to work at Ashdean University part time. Kate is trying to get her fledgling PI detective agency off the ground, helped by inheriting her AA sponsor and good friend Myra's home and caravan site business on her death. She is slowly recovering from her traumatic history with Peter Conway and her relationship with Jake has improved considerably, he returns from university to help her run the caravan site.

Bev Ellis is Joanna's mother, she has never recovered from the painful grief of losing her daughter, finding solace in drinking heavily. She has moved in with her long term partner, the wealthy construction business owner, Bill Norris, who is supporting Bev by paying Kate and Tristan for 6 months to find out what happened to Joanna, and locate her body so Bev can feel some sense of closure. The police have closed the case, and Kate is fortunate enough to be handed their entire case notes. The police got nowhere with their inquiries, and she knows that it will be difficult to make any progress, given the length of time that has passed. They begin by interviewing as many of the people they can from the case, including the editor, Joanna's husband, Fred, and her best friend. When Kate discovers the names of 2 missing men, their investigation goes on to uncover a serial killer who appears to be still active in the present, this leads to the police reopening the cold case.

Bryndza is a wonderfully talented crime writer, his plotting is impeccable, the tension and suspense ratchets up with each revelation and there are some surprising twists, particularly the final one. This is turning out to be a great crime series, with a fabulously atmospheric coastal location, and stand out characterisations. It looks like Kate is going to make her detective agency succeed against all the odds, she and Tristan work so well together, having each other's back when events take a deadly turn. Fans of Bryndza will love this, and I recommend this to other crime and mystery readers. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Another great book in this series which keeps getting better and better. I really enjoy the way Bryndza writes.

Kate Marshall and Tristan Harper have now formed a PI agency, but luckily they both have other jobs on the side as clients are not very forthcoming. In Darkness Falls they pick up a cold case which is intriguing as well as financially worthwhile. Joanna Duncan disappeared mysteriously twelve years ago and her mother has never really recovered. Their task is to find out what happened and give her some closure.

The mystery is fascinating and Bryndza provides enough coincidences, possible culprits and red herrings to sink a ship. And then, just in case we have guessed who the murderer is, he presents us with a wonderful twist at the end. A very readable and entertaining book altogether! I hope he writes us another one very soon.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to the publisher and Author.

Robert Bryndza has done it again, in delivering yet another taut, fast paced mystery. He works his magic, once again, he knows just how to keep the plot tight without giving away too much. But dropping in a generous helping of red herrings.

Former Detective Kate and her side kick Tristan have now set up a PI agency, thanks to a bequest left to Kate, in a will.

They are asked to look into a cold case that the police have failed in solving for 12 years. The chapters are interspersed with the murderer’s viewpoint. Some people don,t like this tactic, but I love it. I had my suspicions, as to who was responsible but I was still wrong thanks to a great twist

This is just an amazing mystery that will keep you engaged. It could be read as a standalone as the author gives away enough of a backstory to fill in the blanks, but no spoil the 1st 2 books, which I also highly recommend. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Overall I think Nine Elms” is still my favourite of the series so far, but this book runs it very close. Darkness Falls” really is a superb read!

Robert Bryndza has done it again, delivering a taut, fast paced mystery.
Kate and Tristan have now set up a PI agency, thanks to a bequest left to Kate. Their current case involves a female journalist, Joanna Duncan, who went missing 12 years before. As they investigate, they come across a possible link to two missing young gay men.
Bryndza intersperses chapters from the viewpoint of the murderer between the investigation’s chapters. He throws out quite a few red herrings. I had my suspicions. Of course, I was only partially right because there was a great twist.
Bryndza does a great job of weaving a mystery and personal lives together for both Kate and Tristan. We learn more about each of them. He also gives enough backstory that it would be easy to read this as a stand-alone.
This is just an entertaining mystery that will keep you engaged. I’ll continue to read whatever Bryndza writes.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

“Darkness Falls” is the third instalment in the Kate Marshall thriller series and is an absolute stonker of a book!

“Nine Elms” is still my favourite of the series so far, but this latest book gives it a good run for its money. It is unusual to find a storyline so intriguing that every person you suspect as the murderer turns out to be correct or have a deep connection to the case! I can’t say much more than that, you’ll understand when you’ve read this too, but “Darkness Falls” really is a cracking read!

5 Star Read – Highly Recommend

Publication Date: 7th December 2021

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ThomasandMercer and #RobertBryndza for an ARC of #DarknessFalls in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I've read by Robert Bryndza and WOW! I must read the first books, as this is the 3rd book in this series! Kate Marshall and Tristan Harper have started up a detective agency and have received their first major case - find a missing woman named Joanna Duncan, who was a local journalist. The police have deemed it a cold case but Joanna's mother wants her daughter found so she hires Kate and Tristan. I couldn't put this book down - it was so good! Great pace, wonderful characters, thrilling and emotional! If you like crime and mystery books, you should pick this one up! Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook for an honest review.

Kate Marshall is back. Myra, her AA sponsor, has died and left Kate her business, with the caveat that Kate start her own PI business. And she does.

Business, however, is slow, and Kate and Tristan need a break. They get one when Bev, the mother of journalist now missing a dozen years, asks them to look into her daughter's case. It's long gone cold, but Kate and Tristan will take it - it's better than no work, after all. Bev's current partner has somehow laid hands on the boxes (and boxes) of case files kept by the police, and Kate and Tristan start going through it, following the same leads, looking in the same spots. They come up empty, even though the journalist was thought to be working on a story involving a local politician.

Until Kate notices two names written on a notebook. Two men, young and healthy, gone missing without a trace. Just like the journalist, but prior to her own disappearance. Could they be related?

With a new wind in their sails, the duo start the tedious task of determining who these men were, tracing their contacts, and figuring out why they would disappear. The chasing of the clues, the interviews, the scenery: no sagging middle in this book.

Eventually, Kate puts the pieces together. The only gripe I had here is that unlike the last book in the series, I didn't think there were enough clues - or, rather, enough details in some respects - to allow the reader to determine (or guess) the villain in this one.

Still, it's an enjoyable read, about people who are grounded in who they are and have a doggedness worthy of admiration.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the reading copy.

What is there to say about Robert Bryndza that I haven't said before. After reading his Erika Foster books I feel in love with his writing and characters and he became an auto buy author for me. Darkness Falls is the 3rd book in his latest series featuring private detective Kate Marshall and her partner Tristan. This one takes them to some dark and dangerous places to solve the case.

Kate is called by a grieving mother who will not give up on finding her daughter. 12 years ago, her daughter, Joanna disappeared without a trace. Joanna was a journalist and was about to expose a local politician in a scandal. She left her office and was never seen again. Kate and Tristian must use every trick they have to find her .Their investigation leads them to more missing people and sparks a whole new side to the case.

Another wonderful read Robert. Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for my advanced copy of his book to read.

Another excellent installment in the Robert Bryndza thriller series. I enjoy all of Robert’s books and his ability to go across different genres is impressive.

My thanks to @thomas and mercer for my #gifted ARC of Darkness Falls by the awesome @
Expected publication date: 7th December 2021

There’s few words that spring to mind whenever I pick up a book by Robert Bryndza ’DO NOT DISTURB’ and woe betide anyone who doesn’t heed my warning! The author has away of dragging the reader in with a shocking prologue, then creates a gripping storyline that begs to be read in one sitting. Darkness Falls is the third book in Kate Marshall series, and I’m going to sound like a broken record as I say the same thing every time I finish one of Robert Bryndza books! This is the author’s best and darkest book yet.

Kate has opened her own private investigation agency with her partner in crime, Tristan Harper. They’re asked to investigate a cold case that goes back 12 years, that of missing journalist Joanne. This case is a going to be a tough one to crack, as there are no clues or suspects, any leads the original investigating team had led nowhere. One thing I love about this series is the two main characters. Kate and Tristan are as different as chalk and cheese, but together they form a formidable partnership.

As the case takes becomes more complex and the body count rises, the case takes them in an even more ominous direction, and the tension becomes unbearable. I could have devoured Darkness Falls in one sitting but like a fine wine I choose to savour it, immersing myself in the atmosphere, characters and settings.Robert Bryndza’s writing goes from strength to strength. I love how he’s able to take an imaginative plot and turn it in to the most exciting, deliciously twisted read. Highly recommended.

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. Brilliant book!

This is the third book in the Kate Marshall series, and since I haven't read the previous books, I felt a little lost when anything came up about Kate's background. I didn't quite understand her relationship with her detective partner Tristan, or the backstory of her son Jake and his father. Fortunately, the story itself was intriguing. I liked the tenacity of Kate; it definitely seemed like she overcame a lot in her life. This was a very good mystery with a lot of twists. I would like to read the previous books in the series because I really liked the Kate Marshall character.

After thoroughly enjoying the first two books in this series, I was chomping at the bit at the opportunity to dive into this one (thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the advance review copy). And once again, I wasn't disappointed. Kate Marshall, who recently started a private investigation business in England, is in her best sleuthing mode, with lots of help from her personable partner, Tristan Harper. Business isn't exactly booming, so they're both delighted when they get a call from Bev Ellis asking them to tackle a cold case: the disappearance of her journalist daughter, Joanna Duncan, a dozen years earlier.

Kate also owns a bunch of caravans - which if I'm correct is what we across the Pond call trailers (as in trailer park) - that bring in some money but need to be cleaned regularly. For that, she's hoping her grown son, Jake, will take charge when he comes home from college in a couple of weeks. For now, though, she and Tristan concentrate on their new case and start looking for clues, beginning with people who might be holding a grudge after Joanna did an expose on a local government official that resulted in losing his seat. It was, after all, just a couple of weeks after that when Joanna went missing. Willing to pay for the search is Bill, Bev's rather wealthy partner for many years, with whom she's now living.

Eventually, clues - some found in evidence boxes Kate has obtained from the police from their early-on investigation - turn up some names that lead to connections to the gay community, which seems to proliferate locally, both publicly and in secret (the latter mostly among married men who frequent gay bars and hire "rent boys" on the sly). As their investigation continues, though, it takes an even more sinister direction: the possibility that Joanna's disappearance isn't a one-off, but rather another in a string of serial killings by someone who isn't a stranger to the local community.

All in all, another entertaining adventure from beginning to end with very likable characters who are easy to "root" for. Bring on the next one - I'm ready already!