Today I’m reviewing Dark Prophecy by Anthony E. Zuiker. Book 2 in the Level 26 series.

I may be 12 years late to the party but my blog was set up with one main point other than honest reviews.. that being it will be a true reflection of my reading.

There’s so much choice out there and this has been on my radar for quite sometime so without further ado….

Here’s the blurb.

Steve Dark is a man on a mission. He is ready to embrace his destiny, and has nothing to lose . . .

Steve Dark was once a lost soul, torn between his family and his one-of-a-kind talent for hunting down serial killers – especially those so-called ‘Level 26’ killers whose depravity exceeds law enforcement’s official scale of evil. In his reluctant pursuit of justice Dark once crossed the ultimate line, a line that might cause a lesser man to lose himself completely.

Not Dark. When the world took everything from him, when it destroyed the very thing Dark once lived for, it sparked a transformation that, three years later, is only just complete.

Dark is now a man on a mission. A mission unbound by authorities. A mission that, at long last, allows him to embrace his destiny. Dark is finally ready – ready to take justice to the next level.

Review

We are back with Steve Dark.. the one man capable of hunting down the worst of the worst… Level 26s.. these are beyond the worst killers known to humankind.

After the events of the 1^st book Steve is a broken man. He’s lost his adoptive family and recently the love of his life to a Level 26.. Steve managed to track him down in the end and claimed vengeance in the most horrific way..because of this Steve is no longer with the special circs team.. he lost control and he knows it would be so easy to lose control again.

While Steve tries to move on and live a normal life he knows that won’t be possible… he’s not the average person and he can’t let that side of his life go so while he’s not on the job any longer he does keep and eye out.. When a new killer appears it quickly catches Steve’s attention..

He’s not the only one interested in this killer.. not only are his old team in special circs on the case but there’s also a mysterious woman with seemingly deep pockets that temps him back into the field.. but it’s a race against time, not only to stop the killer but also to beat his old team to the scene…this isn’t a case they can work together…too much red tape.

This latest killer is on a twisted killing spree, leaving his victims posed as pictures depicted on tarot cards… but what’s the end game??

As with the previous book throughout the story you are linked to short video clips you can view online, you don’t need to view them to follow the book but it does make the book feel unique. Being released 12 years ago does mean the original website that hosted these is no longer valid but the clips are on YouTube so easily accessible.

Plot wise I loved the flow and development as Steve investigated the murders and tried to get himself into the mind of the killer but there are things that don’t make sense to Steve and I loved the development as the case progressed and these inconsistencies become resolved and the real motives are discovered.

What I also really enjoyed was Steve’s development as a character, he’s torn between grief, love for his daughter but also his urge to hunt these killers down… his mind is special..and there’s a hidden secret that may hint as to why..

Short chapters make this a quick enjoyable read.. you can always fit in one or two more chapters easy and I loved the changing perspectives and the divide between Steve and his old team that grows.

As a big fan of the CSI franchise, I really enjoyed this story and have already started on book 3.

4/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Today I’m reviewing The Last Line by Stephen Ronson.

Here’s the blurb.

May 1940.

With Nazi forces sweeping across France, invasion seems imminent. The English Channel has never felt so narrow.

In rural Sussex, war veteran John Cook has been tasked with preparing the resistance effort, should the worst happen.

But even as the foreign threat looms, it’s rumours of a missing child that are troubling Cook. A twelve-year-old girl was evacuated from London and never seen again, and she’s just the tip of the iceberg – countless evacuees haven’t made it to their host families.

As Cook investigates, he uncovers a dark conspiracy that reaches to the highest ranks of society. He will do whatever it takes to make the culprits pay. There are some lines you just don’t cross.

THE LAST LINE is a blistering action thriller combined with a smart noir mystery, played out expertly against the taut backdrop of the British home front.

Review

Ooooo The Last Line was little gem of a read. A bit of noir during the war.. yes please.

John Cook is an ex-military man who’s still sharp. While he would love to be back at the front he’s got the important job of helping with the resistance efforts.

Trouble comes quickly for John when he meets a girl named Mary.. she’s doesn’t know who to trust but John shows her he’s a man she could rely on.

Little does John know that just a short time later that very same girl will be found dead..and her death is brutal.

John is the prime suspect at first as he was seen with the girl, but it soon becomes clear the police aren’t really that interested.

The girl was right though.. John is a man she can rely on… he’s going to find out who hurt the girl and will bring them to justice!

This won’t be easy.. John is only at the tip of the iceberg!

The Last Line is tagged as a blistering action thriller combined with a smart noir mystery and I can’t sum it up any better. Typically as a fan of noir films I wondered how well it could come across in a book but Stephen Ronson effortlessly give us a intricate plot, mixed with the cynical undertone I love in noir.. it just worked!

The setting of the book was spot on too.. it worked so well for the plot, as at the time of the war and children being shipped off for their own safety anything could have happened!

Pace wise the chapters are a decent length.. again this just ticked the box as nothing was drawn out unnecessarily, just believable characters and the action following perfectly.

I really don’t want to give anything too vital away but the depth of the story really reminded me of the noir detective type movies I used to love watching when I was younger… edgy..dark and gritty. There’s depth not only of character but also of the plot with clever and interesting scenes throughout.

There’s clearly been a lot of time and effort put in to this offering and I for one say it’s well worth a read.

5/5 stars.

My thanks go to Stephen Ronson for reaching out and to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

You can pre-order the kindle version for £6.99 but If I was you opt for paperback at £9.99 😊.

If you want to find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.