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laneylegz's review against another edition
4.0
Another great story in the Smoky Barret series. A twisted mystery of a serial killer with religious overtones. This book gets a little more in depth in Smoky's teams relationships with a little more personal info on James, Alan, Kirby, & Callie. Looking forward to reading the next in the series
eiencafe's review against another edition
4.0
This is the 3rd book in the series. I loved the first book, not really that much the second but I loved this one. I couldn’t stop reading
As I said before, I love serial killers, reading about them and their motivation. And more killings there are, more I like a book.
Smoky Barrett, an FBI agent, is called by the Director of the FBI himself to solve a very delicate case. A woman is murdered on the plane travelling from Texas to Virginia but is this only the beginning or is the end of the most prolific serial killer in American History?
From a murder on a plane, Smoky is taken to a serial killer who murders women with secret sins, confessed only to different priests in the attempt to ask for redemption. But why these women don’t make news? And how the killer knows their sins? Obviously not from the priests, bound by the confessional secret, so what is happening?
Full review here
As I said before, I love serial killers, reading about them and their motivation. And more killings there are, more I like a book.
Smoky Barrett, an FBI agent, is called by the Director of the FBI himself to solve a very delicate case. A woman is murdered on the plane travelling from Texas to Virginia but is this only the beginning or is the end of the most prolific serial killer in American History?
From a murder on a plane, Smoky is taken to a serial killer who murders women with secret sins, confessed only to different priests in the attempt to ask for redemption. But why these women don’t make news? And how the killer knows their sins? Obviously not from the priests, bound by the confessional secret, so what is happening?
Full review here
19minnie's review against another edition
4.0
Zoals de titel zegt is het maar een duister verhaal. Met geweldige personages en een goed samengesteld verhaal. Altijd leuk om over Smoky te lezen!
imzadirose's review against another edition
4.0
Disturbing, as always with this series, but really enjoyable. Don't know how I managed to read two books at the same time both having to do with religion. It's a religion tidal wave. Yuk! Just makes me more and more glad every day that I left that past behind.
renni_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Again loving another installment of the Smoky Barrett series and seeing the characters in their lives and involved with one another. Great twist great plot can't wait for the next one.
booksaremysoulmates's review against another edition
I loved the first two books from this series but sadly didn’t like this one at all. Had to force myself to finish it tbh
shelflife's review against another edition
5.0
This is the third installment of Cody Mcfadyen's character, Smokey Barrett. These books are so crisp, dark and well-written. They are unlike any other serial killer books. These are not for the squeemish. I love them and love the characters. Looking forward to meeting this author. Highly recommend.
dennyhb's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
blood_rose_books's review against another edition
3.0
Cody McFayden is back with his third novel of his Smoky B series. I noticed for this one that McFayden takes the time to very quickly recap what has happened in the first two books of this series that it is not essential to read the other two first books (Shadow Man & The Face of Death). However, I think as a reader you will be doing yourself a great disservice as the first two books are fantastic reads that will keep you up all night whether you want to or not.
Everyone has secrets that they never want to be found out, and are willing to take them to the grave to protect themselves and others. But there is someone out there that wants these secrets to be revealed not only to him but to the public as well. Showing that these normal people have a dark past, a dark secret that they have done everything to keep buried is this killer’s game. This killer has found a way to route out every secret that you have had and takes time to choose his next victim, and taking time to show the world who this person really was. You never know who is going to be next, even when all the clues are right there in front of Smokey and her team struggle to put them together and wonder if something that they hold secret will make them the next target on the list.
I am a BIG fan of McFayden's Smokey Barrett series and I think it is possible this expectation and love for this series lead me not to like this book as much as the others, as my expectations were possible too high. I found that the plot line and serial killers within the first two books were more creative and definitely not the norm. This book definitely fell towards the "normal" side of things. I also found that this book lacked character development of the first two. There are some big announcements especially within the first few chapters of the book, but they really do not get very much attention or change anything. I believe that McFayden did this on purpose to show that these announcements are not a big deal to the team or anyone, but if they do not matter or do not change anything why introduce them?
I really enjoy Kirby and wish to see more of her in future novels. I think that she adds the much needed comic relief when things get too intense for the team with her ability to access the FBI headquarters even though she is not an agent. I also feel that Kirby is the character that has been least explored by McFayden, therefore I hope he changes that. I would really like to know how Kirby became an assassin, who trained her, just her history in general I think would be a very interesting read.
I will always love Smokey as the main character and she has had some awful things happen to her in her life and has been challenged with her ability to come back from them. However, I felt that McFayden was stretching it in this book in that he was attempting have one more thing that she blames on herself or that she had to suffer through. I think that McFayden was just looking for something new to shock us with, where Smokey gets all her anger and her the darkness inside her. Really I think that everything that has happened is enough to justify her way of life and how she sees the world. I think that McFayden was just looking for another thing, and really compared to some of the other incidence that have happened to Smokey in the past this one is by no means the worst. However, I did like the further development of Smokey and Bonnie's relationship and Bonnie's strive to become normal after everything that has happened to her and her push to help Smokey do the same.
There is no doubt that this book is well written, has an interesting, suspenseful and yes at times scary/creepy as hell plot, but I just had higher expectations from McFayden to keep his creative serial killer and plot lines coming. That said I still will be picking up and reading the next book in the series Abandoned, just to see what McFayden can come up with next (and I hope that it is something new/interesting).
Enjoy!!!
Everyone has secrets that they never want to be found out, and are willing to take them to the grave to protect themselves and others. But there is someone out there that wants these secrets to be revealed not only to him but to the public as well. Showing that these normal people have a dark past, a dark secret that they have done everything to keep buried is this killer’s game. This killer has found a way to route out every secret that you have had and takes time to choose his next victim, and taking time to show the world who this person really was. You never know who is going to be next, even when all the clues are right there in front of Smokey and her team struggle to put them together and wonder if something that they hold secret will make them the next target on the list.
I am a BIG fan of McFayden's Smokey Barrett series and I think it is possible this expectation and love for this series lead me not to like this book as much as the others, as my expectations were possible too high. I found that the plot line and serial killers within the first two books were more creative and definitely not the norm. This book definitely fell towards the "normal" side of things. I also found that this book lacked character development of the first two. There are some big announcements especially within the first few chapters of the book, but they really do not get very much attention or change anything. I believe that McFayden did this on purpose to show that these announcements are not a big deal to the team or anyone, but if they do not matter or do not change anything why introduce them?
I really enjoy Kirby and wish to see more of her in future novels. I think that she adds the much needed comic relief when things get too intense for the team with her ability to access the FBI headquarters even though she is not an agent. I also feel that Kirby is the character that has been least explored by McFayden, therefore I hope he changes that. I would really like to know how Kirby became an assassin, who trained her, just her history in general I think would be a very interesting read.
I will always love Smokey as the main character and she has had some awful things happen to her in her life and has been challenged with her ability to come back from them. However, I felt that McFayden was stretching it in this book in that he was attempting have one more thing that she blames on herself or that she had to suffer through. I think that McFayden was just looking for something new to shock us with, where Smokey gets all her anger and her the darkness inside her. Really I think that everything that has happened is enough to justify her way of life and how she sees the world. I think that McFayden was just looking for another thing, and really compared to some of the other incidence that have happened to Smokey in the past this one is by no means the worst. However, I did like the further development of Smokey and Bonnie's relationship and Bonnie's strive to become normal after everything that has happened to her and her push to help Smokey do the same.
There is no doubt that this book is well written, has an interesting, suspenseful and yes at times scary/creepy as hell plot, but I just had higher expectations from McFayden to keep his creative serial killer and plot lines coming. That said I still will be picking up and reading the next book in the series Abandoned, just to see what McFayden can come up with next (and I hope that it is something new/interesting).
Enjoy!!!
hgalbraith09's review against another edition
5.0
I often think when I read a book this shocking...what is wrong with the person that wrote this book? I think they need counseling. Then I remember I'm the one reading it and enjoying it! There were parts of this book that hit so close to home it hurt. His description of self mutilation is so on point that everyone needs to read those few paragraphs. There was a lot of good in this book as well. You learn so much about Smokey and you really learn why she is so good at what she does. The Darker Side is unlike the first two books, but the author does a great job on filling you in if you decide to pick this one up first. Be prepared to be shocked, disgusted, and fearful all at the same time!