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    That Darkness
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    That Darkness
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    That Darkness
    Audiobook9 hours

    That Darkness

    Written by Lisa Black

    Narrated by Kirsten Potter

    3.5/5

    ()

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    Currently unavailable

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    About this audiobook

    In this tour de force of psychological suspense, bestselling author Lisa Black draws from her experience as a forensic investigator to create fascinating characters, including a woman in a lifelong relationship with death. Her latest case is an unidentified female in her early teens, discovered in a local cemetery. More shocking than the girl's injuries-for Maggie at least-is the fact that no one has reported her missing. She and the detectives assigned to the case (including her cop ex-husband) are determined to follow every lead, run down every scrap of evidence. But the monster they seek is watching every move, closer to them than they could possibly imagine.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDreamscape Media Audio
    Release dateApr 26, 2016
    ISBN9781520005072
    Author

    Lisa Black

    Lisa Black is the author of several thrillers, including the Theresa MacLean series and the Gardiner and Renner series. A latent fingerprint examiner and crime scene investigator, she is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and has testified in more than fifty homicide trials. Native to Cleveland, where she worked for the coroner's office, she currently resides in Cape Coral, Florida.

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    Reviews for That Darkness

    3.5/5

    50 ratings15 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Author Lisa Black is a certified latent fingerprint examiner and crime scene investigator in Florida and a former forensic scientist for the Cleveland coroner's office. That Darkness is a psychological suspense with fascinating characters of Maggie Gardiner, a forensic investigator, and Jack Renner, a serial killer homicide detective. I found this book to be very well-written and thought-provoking with some dark humor. It's not your typical suspense book where you get to try to solve the murder. We know from the beginning that the homicide detective, Jack Renner, is the killer. We get to watch Maggie Gardiner as she does forensics on 3 dead bodies and is able to link the forensics and come to the realization that Jack is the serial killer who she has been working alongside with on trying to solve the murders. Question now is: Will this knowledge put Maggie in danger and will she expose Jack? You will have to read it for yourself and see if you agree with Jack's vigilante justice. Can't wait to see what will happen in the 2nd book of the series. I would highly recommend this book to those who are fans of forensic suspense novels.
    • 3/5
      I had trouble assigning a star rating to this one. I needed more from the people in the story, but the plot is solid. I kept reading because I wanted to know how it would all play out. But, in the end, I was left shrugging my shoulders.The good stuff: The plot tackles the philosophical question of vigilante justice. When the justice system fails, is it ever acceptable to kill someone in order to prevent possible future violent crime? The author leaves that question for readers to answer. It's a compelling dilemma that, for many of us, will have no easy answer. The focus of the story is very much on forensics. We're given a lot of detail in how forensic work is really done, apart from the typical - and unrealistic - DNA evidence shown to us in TV programs. The hunt for a killer runs parallel with the evidence, one thing leading to the next, in a steady pace.The not so good stuff:My one issue is a huge one for me, and that is the total lack of character development. I spent 336 pages with Jack and Maggie, but I didn't feel like I ever knew either of them. Both main characters were very much one-dimensional. With Jack, I figured out his driving factor for vigilante killing early on. Beyond this obsession, we learn little else about him. For me to take that leap with a vigilante, to really connect with him as a person and not just a killer, I need more than his playbook and excuses. I need to feel his pain, to see him beyond the murders, and I never got that here.With Maggie, we learn her relationship status, but no details. We learn she doesn't sleep well and takes long walks alone every night, though we never learn why. And we learn that she excels at her job. She is the hero of the story, yet she could have been anyone or everyone. I couldn't like her, because I didn't know enough about her to care.My reading experience was a bit like watching a chess match between two strangers; lots of intricate moves but I could walk away and never think about it again.*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine.*
    • 2/5
      That Darkness by Lisa Black is supposed to be a suspense thriller. It is the first book (such a pity) in the Gardiner and Renner series. Jack Renner is a vigilante and a cop. He has decided he is guilty and is taking them out one by one. Maggie Gardiner is a fingerprint officer in the crime lab. She does, though, fill in where needed including going out to crime scenes. She is good at putting together clues to help the detectives (she is actually better than the detectives who get bored with her scientific talk). Will Maggie be able to piece together the clues and discover that Jack is the killer? What will Jack do when Maggie uncovers his crimes?That Darkness had no suspense or thrills. We know who the killer is and how he does it. We just follow Maggie as she solves the crimes and Jack tries to stay ahead of her. That Darkness reads more like a police procedural manual than a fiction novel. I had a hard time getting through this book (I read two other books while I was supposed to be reading this novel). The characters are not really likeable (and have questionable morals). I could not wait to finish That Darkness. I will not be reading any more books in this series (sorry). I give That Darkness 2 out of 5 stars (I took pity on it). That Darkness is just not my type of novel. I want more interest (the best part of mysteries is solving the crime). I like to be drawn into the story and feel that I am a part of it (and I like solving the crime). The novel includes many details on fingerprints (which I liked), fibers (hair, rugs, wool, etc.), and dead bodies (autopsies). Some of it was interesting, but it did bog down the story (it got a little too technical at times). Somehow it is better on television than in print.I received a complimentary copy of That Darkness from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
    • 4/5
      Does a vigilante killer justifiably protect future victims of crime by eliminating repeat offenders which the court system failed to put away? That's one of the moral questions posed in Lisa Black's new crime series "Gardiner and Renner".Jack Renner is a homicide detective with the Cleveland PD. He is also a serial killer. He sees his job as protecting society, and if that means killing perpetrators of crime who went unpunished in order to prevent them from hurting anybody else, so be it.Maggie Gardiner is a forensic technician with sharp observation, dogged determination and a meticulous eye for trace evidence.This was a really appealing set up for a police procedural. These two are working together on an investigation while Maggie's razor-sharp logic gradually uncovers Jack's secrets.That Darkness contains a lot of details about forensics. The author worked as a forensic scientist and is now a latent print examiner. Her expert knowledge of crime scenes and trace evidence is obvious. Fans of CSI will probably love it. I found it quite interesting, but it was a little too detailed for me and slowed down the pace a bit.The two main characters were really interesting, but I felt I didn't get to know them enough. Maggie more than Jack appeared a bit flat. Considering there were some quite emotional scenes, neither Maggie nor Jack seemed to feel very much.A slow build-up but the last 30% were definitely gripping. I am quite interested to see how both of them and their relationship will develop (hopefully) in the next book. A solid 3.5 stars rounded up because of the later part of the book.I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      Mixed read for me. Loved all the crime scene analysis, the details, the investigating, in which the author has much experience. Also liked the question of vigilante justice, the moral ambiguity of the question. When someone is so evil that other people are nothing to them, people to be abused, thrown away, shouldn't they be stopped no matter what the means, or who delivers the justice. Up for personal opinion. Human trafficking and all its horrendous after effects, also addressed. So many positives. But, for me the story stalled at times, I lost interest but than something would happen and I'd think okay, just go with the flow. The ending though, that surprised me and not in a good way. Though I can see some reader's liking this twist. ARC from Netgalley.
    • 3/5
      Reminiscent of Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs.A forensic investigator gets more involved in the mystery and background of the body of a woman found in a cemetery.Then things get more complicated....I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Kensington Books via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
    • 5/5
      I received a free advance e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is about vigilante justice as a way to protect future victims from crime. The main character has appointed himself the judge, jury, and executioner of some very dangerous and abusive repeat offenders whom the judicial system has failed to put away. One character is a vigilante cop and another is a forensic investigator obsessed with her work. The author writes with a steady pace as the story unfolds. I recommend reading this book to see how the author handles the dilemma of vigilante justice.
    • 2/5
      Regardless of your spiritual tradition, "Thou shalt not kill" is part of it. Society cannot function if extra-judicial killings are allowed. So why should we consider them OK in fiction? I cannot condone Renner's vigilantism so there goes the premise of the series.Like other reviewers here I object to smart characters acting in stupid ways just to advance the plot.Finally, although we are not supposed to accept the ARC text as the final text, no one who writes: "a properly decimated [facial] expression" even in a draft, could rank high in my estimation.I received a review copy of "That Darkness" by Lisa Black (Kensington) through NetGalley.com.
    • 4/5
      A good police procedural with an interesting twist. We know from the beginning that the vigilante killer is police officer Jack Renner. The question is, will investigator Maggie Gardiner catch on to him and once she does, what will she do with him.

      The question of vigilante justice is an interesting one. We all want to see the bad guys punished. But is it ok to go outside the law to do so? I found myself rooting for Jack, and wanting him to succeed in his mission.

      I received an ARC from NetGalley.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      A special thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Nice Cover. Lisa Black’s introduction to her first installment of Gardiner and Renner #1, THAT DARKNESS, is a psychological crime suspense of justice, morality, and evil, keeping you page-turning. Maggie Gardiner, a forensic investigator for the Cleveland Police Department has a new case. An unidentified white female twelve to fifteen years of page, blonde hair, and blue eyes--discovered in a local cemetery. A Jane Doe. A runaway? No one has reported her missing. Symbolic?Jack Renner is a Homicide Detective for Cleveland PD. (A serial killer). He believes in justice. Good at details. A vigilante. Truth and Justice. Morality. Evil. Revenge. Glad to meet another Florida crime author ---who currently works as a latent print examiner and CSI for Cape Coral, Police Department in Florida, working mostly with fingerprints and crime scenes. Drawing on her expertise as a forensic scientist, she has analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes.With some good forensics, humor, a unique cat and mouse twist, and a suspenseful mystery of good and evil--keeps the reader guessing and speculating. Looking forward to more from the author, and future books in the series. "But if thine eye by evil, thywhole body shall befull of darkness.If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness,how great is that darkness!"Matthew 6:23
    • 3/5
      Brian Johnson, a life-long criminal miscreant, believes he is completing a required pre-release prison interview. Decked out in gangsta garb, stylng a cocky attitude, Brian struts into what appears to be an interview room followed by “Dr.” Renner. Jack Renner, Cleveland homicide detective by day, dispenser of vigilante justice in his spare time, has “interviewed” 14 “clients” here. He has a well-honed method getting the most hardened criminal to spill their story. Each client has been hand selected after careful consideration; Jack has retrieved every known fact about each one and is ready to play his role in cleaning up the world.So Brian, like the 14 before him, never knew it when the gun pointed at the back of his head was fired.Bang. Bang. Bang.Maggie Gardiner works as a civilian criminalist with the Cleveland Police Department primarily collecting fingerprints but has experience in serology and spends time working crime scenes work as well. Naturally inquisitive, doggedly persistent and keenly observant, Maggie takes on a crime scene challenge like hound dog on a scent.Renner has managed to control his shady side to perfection right up until he bumps up against Maggie. As the morgue fills with unfortunate victims and murdered criminals, Maggie begins to connect the dots and unknowingly closes in on Renner’s secret life. As Jack unravels trying to control and steer the investigation away from his involvement, Maggie begins to question inconsistencies in his behavior and statements until the day….Jack straightened and turned to her…She stared at him open-mouthed. Then she said, “It’s you.” “Yes, Maggie,” he told her. “It’s me.”The novel’s overarching theme posits the question… when is it moral to take the law into your own hands? When society fails to protect the weak from predators that game the system should someone step in and stop the madness? What is the line between justice and vigilantism?StrengthsThe author, a forensic investigator herself, shares her knowledge of the work in exquisite detail.The parallel story lines with Jack as part of the investigative team trying to distract Maggie from linking him to her findings and Maggie’s dogged determination to unearth the truth move steadily through the story before reaching an unexpected ending.Jack’s clients reveal the seedy side of life and focus the reader’s thoughts on topics such as human trafficking and elder abuse and neglect.WeaknessBlack “tells” us things about Jack, Maggie, the victims and the perpetrators, but we don’t become invested in their lives. We don’t know the back stories. She doesn’t scratch beneath the surface. It would have been better to personalize the main characters in enough detail to excite the reader to follow them in later works.Overall impressionA worthy read. The hot topics will challenge your thoughts about the justice system and the plight of the innocent. Hoping for more character development in the second issue of the series.
    • 4/5
      Thank you to the Goodreads Giveaway and Kensington Publishers for my copy of That Darkness. This crime novel is the first of a series that introduces you Maggie Gardiner a forensic investigator and Jack Renner a Homicide Detective. Early on you are told that Jack Renner is actually a vigilante killer seeking to mete out justice and protect future victims when the judicial system has failed to do so. for me there wasn't a lot of suspense but it was an enjoyable and entertaining read. I feel the two main characters could have been developed a little further but maybe that will come in subsequent books. Maggie's character at times seemed a little too smart and I felt some of her conclusions about the trace evidence she had were a bit of a stretch. The premise of a cop being a vigilante killer is an interesting one and slightly reminiscent of "Dexter" but without the same need to kill. Are the murders that Jack Renner commits justifiable and a service to the community. To be continued.......

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      That Darkness by Lisa Black is a 2016 Kensington publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in the Gardiner and Renner series. I’m not entirely sure my feelings about this book are entirely settled just yet, however, even though I have a few lingering feelings of unease, I thought this story was pretty clever. Maggie is a fingerprint expert working in forensics and Jack is a cop working homicide. They cross paths after a spate of dead bodies show up in the Cleveland morgue, all of them murder victims. While they seem unconnected, forensics tie them together and it nags at Maggie, who is perhaps a little OCD. But, her powers of observation could be her undoing when evidence begins leading her to the most unlikely suspect she could ever imagine. This is one of those times when I struggle with what to leave in or what to leave out in a review. Suffice it to say, Jack Renner is a most interesting man, a man with a hidden agenda, one that Maggie inadvertently stumbles across. This part of the story was very well executed because the reader is well aware of Jack’s after hours activities. So, I was on pins and needles as Maggie begins to methodically connect the dots. Does her knowledge put her in danger? Will she expose Jack? The crime element exposes all manner of lowlifes and losers who parade through the criminal justice system without being rehabilitated, or those who walk away with a slap on the wrist or get off Scot free, and who continue to terrorize and murder at will. This novel explores the flaws in our system as well the temptation one may entertain of taking the law into their own hands. This type of personality, the vigilante, is not without conscience, like, say, Dexter, who is sociopathic. The vigilante is righting a wrong and so could evoke a certain amount of empathy from the reader and perhaps even garner some respect, become something akin to the antihero. In this type of setup, I questioned my own moral code as I caught myself actually hoping Maggie would remain in the dark. Two wrongs never make a right, but are there gray areas? Is it right to cheer this character on or feel relief if they escape prosecution themselves? To balance out the equation, we have a 'by the book' character, in Maggie, who is sharp, dedicated, and sees things in a right or wrong manner, until she crosses paths with Jack, who leaves her feeling conflicted, up against a wall, forced to make a choice she will have to live with for a long time come. Did she do the right thing? What would you do? How do I feel about her decision? Although I don’t know what’s going to happen next in the series or what plans the author may have for the characters, it should be very interesting indeed. Overall, this is a very well written crime novel and a compelling, thought provoking thriller. It’s unique, dark, and at times brutally graphic and raw with emotion, but also provides a smattering of dark humor which is like the cherry on the cake. I’m definitely on board for book two!
    • 4/5
      When I started this book, I wasn’t sure that I was going to like it. More to the point…I wasn’t sure I was going to like that the heroine is essentially pulled over to the “dark side”. She goes from a fairly firm belief in what is right and what is wrong, to somewhere in the middle just waiting to fall one way or the other. This slip is enforced by a decision that she makes that is in total conflict with what we were lead to think that she embraces. Perhaps it’s just a different way to look at justice and revenge. Being the first book in this series it does give the reader insight into how Jack…a detective with more deep, dark secrets than you can ever imagine…and Maggie…a forensic expert that is a genius when it come to evidence identification, actually come to be together. It’s one of the strangest associations I have ever found in any book with the exception of maybe Jeff Lindsay's Dexter series. I believe that this is going to be the beginning of what will become a really good series if this pair stay involved.
    • 4/5
      Titanic stories have always fascinated me. While I am familiar with much of what happened with the Titanic before, during, and after its demise, I was not aware of the complete story regarding the Californian, and its utter and negligent failure to potentially stop the Titanic tragedy. As the story unfolded, I simply could not put this book down. In Part One of the novel, Dyer creates a fictional journalist, John Steadman, to uncover and pursue what exactly transpired on the Californian the night the Titanic sank. He alternates Steadman’s story with the story of the crew members that were aboard the Californian that night. Second Officer Herbert Stone, a crew member on the Californian, had night watch on his ship in the early hours of April 15, 1912. As he is watching the sea he begins to see white rocket flares in the sky coming from another ship. He alerts his captain, Stanley Lord, who chooses to do nothing but continue sleeping. The next morning the crew members of the Californian learn that the Titanic in fact sank while Lord slept. While Lord attempts to cover up the Californian’s role in the tragedy, the story slowly comes out.In Part Two of the book, Steadman follows Lord as he appears before the Senate committee and later an inquiry in Great Britain. Dyer finishes the story with a fictional article, entitled “Eight White Rockets” that Steadman wrote as a journalist following his investigations into the event. While I loved the entire book, “Eight White Rockets” was by far my favorite part; it was so beautifully written.David Dyer writes beautifully and so descriptively that I frequently felt that I was on board the Californian and the Titanic. I really liked John Steadman and his dogged pursuit of the truth. I had a harder time with Stone (who was a real person) and his inability to stand up for himself and do the right thing. I intensely disliked Lord and felt that he should have paid more for his inaction. I knew very little about the Californian before I read this novel. The story was absolutely captivating and so terribly tragic. It is always easy to say what might have been when looking back at events that have occurred, but in this case if two men had acted differently an entire tragedy might have been averted or at least been limited to a smaller death count. I highly recommend this novel – it is so well done.