Dr. Meredith Fallon counsels abused women to help them go forward with their lives. Mallory is one of her young clients who has been under treatment for months. Deciding to take the girl out to lunch may not have been the best idea.

One seated, a young man walks up to them, points a gun at Meredith, and then proceeds to tell her he's sorry, but if he doesn't shoot her, 'they will kill her'. Meredith tries to talk him down and eventually pulls out her own gun. When a shot is fired and the young man falls to the floor, Meredith is confused ... she doesn't remember pulling the trigger. Maybe because the kill shot came through the window.

Detective Adam Kimble walks back into Meredith's life after a year's absence. The attraction is still there, but there are things she doesn't know about him .. and he's determined to become a better man .. to be deserving of her.

But first, he has to find the killer that seems to be targeting Meredith.

I have followed this author for years and have never been disappointed in any of her stories. Personally, I think this one is the best yet in this particular series. For anyone who has been following, there are many characters from the previous books encompassing Cincinnati and Chicago that seamlessly make their presence known here.

The action and suspense doesn't let up until the very last page. Bodies keep falling and someone really doesn't like Meredith. But when Adam and his partner start getting closer to learning the truth, he also becomes a target.

The romance takes backstage to the suspense, but it sizzles, nonetheless. All the characters are finely drawn, and remain true to their natures throughout the series. I love how they all interact with each other. The ending was a surprise .. but satisfactory.

Many thanks to the author / Berkley Publishing Group / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Edge of Darkness is everything I love about great romantic suspense! Here are the reasons I think you will love it too:

Great characters: Meredith is a child psychologist but also suffers from depression. She has self harmed and attempted suicide in the past. She still struggles at times and it made her a very believable character. Adam is a recovering alcoholic who struggles daily. Again, this made him relatable and flawed.

Fun supporting characters: their circle of friends is filled with fun people. Kate, the FBI agent who knits, Clarke, Meredith's video game creating grandfather, Diesel, the hacker. They add a lot of depth to the story. I can't wait to read more about them.

Location: As a citizen of Cincinnati, I loved hearing about places in my town! It was great when she would mention Fountain Square, Columbia Parkway, etc.

Suspense/Mystery: The plot revolves around a truly horrific act-human trafficking. The story is well written though and Rose doesn't exploit the topic for shock value or anything. You really feel like you are solving the crime with them. The entire book takes place over a weekend and you get glimpses into Meredith, Adam, a young hooker named Linnea, and the bad guy.

Heartbreaking: Linnea's story had me in tears. This was a problem because I was listening while I drove. Driving and crying are not a good mix. But, man, its impossible to not care about this girl!

So, those are my 5 reasons you should read Edge of Darkness! I haven't read the previous 3 books in the Cincinnati series, but I plan to.
Live on blog 5/10/18

Captivatingly addictive with a shocking outcome! From the very start of this book I was drawn into the mystery of who was secretly pulling the strings of all of the goings ons around the area, and why. Here and there it would lead us to suspect one person, then a little later we might think it's someone else. A very thrilling read with in depth characters, a well developed plot and an eery uneasiness as we came into contact with yet another person around each corner that could be involved in the mystery. I really enjoyed it!

Homicide detective Adam Kimble might have distanced himself from the woman he dearly wants in his life, but he's only doing so until he gets stable and healthy enough to be the man he thinks she deserves to have in her life. He's holding on by a thread as he tries to be patient until enough time has passed, but when he hears that she's at the scene of major danger, he doesn't hesitate to run to her side!

Psychologist Meredith Fallon doesn't understand why Adam has pushed her away for the last several months, but she's thrilled to have him arrive and try to pinpoint what in the world just happened right in front of her. She counsels traumatized and at risk youth, and for some reason someone seems to be targeting her ... and maybe even some of her young clients!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer jerjen

Meredith is a child psychologist who is very good at her job. If she has one downfall in her career, it is that she cares too much. But if you are going to have a fault, I guess that is a good one to have! She is celebrating the progress of one of her clients by going to a restaurant. Before they finish their celebration, a gunman appears. Shots are fired and the gunman is killed and Meredith barely escapes with her life. She gets in touch with Adam Kimball, a detective whom she has a history with. Adam is willing to do anything to protect Meredith, and the two begin to investigate the case. Thus starts a mystery that will stretch them to their limits and put those they love in danger.

The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. Meredith and Adam have both had difficult pasts and they both have a lot of baggage they are carrying around. They are wounded and broken, but they have not completely given up on life yet. They both want to do the right thing and helps others in need. They are brave and courageous and loyal to a fault. They have a lot of love in their hearts, if only they have the courage to love. Their relationship is complicated, trying and full of hope.

This author is a master at writing romantic suspense. She is able to create tension and apprehension with just the written word. There are so many twists, turns and red herrings thrown in that the reader feels like they are driving along a winding zigzagging road. I changed my mind many times while reading this book and I did not figure it out until the reveal at the end.

Since this is the twentieth book in this series, there are a lot of characters to know and keep track of. This is the first book in this series that I have read (I have read many other of this authors books, just not this series), so it was hard for me to keep track of so many people. That is only my opinion and others may not feel this way. For fans of the series, this is a reunion of many of the characters and that makes it an extra special read.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a finely crafted romantic suspense. This book has everything that you could want in a book: great characters, thrilling action, a suspenseful mystery and a romantic romance. I would suggest reading this series in order, that way you will have the history of many of the characters.

Highly recommended. Perfect suspense that keeps you on your toes. I felt everything the characters felt including some major anxiety.

The Delight: He kept away for a year and she’s all but given up hope until her life is threatened. Now? All good intentions are laid aside as they race to stop a horrific murderer on the streets of Cincinnati. Each page seemed to sizzle with thrilling intensity and I could not put this book down.
Review

Edge of Darkness brings us back to the Cincinnati series as book four. Each book could probably be okay standalone or out of order, but is optimally enjoyed when read in order so all the connections and mentions of past situations make better sense. Both the main characters were introduced in the first Cincinnati book and have been staples all along. I was so glad they got their story.

Adam has been fighting personal demons that make him push away his friends and family and even a chance at love with seemingly sunny Meredith Fallon. Meredith has her own demons, but she’s good at hiding them behind a smiling mask and cheerful, compassionate demeanor. But, now Meredith is nearly shot by a sniper and the killer has plans to cut off all the loose ends that threaten his secret underworld dealings while he poses as an upstanding citizen. Adam, in his work to bring the killer down and protect others stands right in the crosshairs of a killer’s sniper rifle.

Each book in this series are veritable doorstoppers in size, but after the first one I tried, I was not intimidated by that. They read fast and frenzied. The killers are truly evil and cunning so the law enforcement group is kept on their toes and in high danger the whole time. Human misery and darkness gets explored in each book. Edge of Darkness shines light into the murky world of vulnerable young people exploited and used by organized criminals who see them as commodities and not people. It also shows the vulnerable and raw toll that people in law enforcement pay to serve and protect.

Adam and Meredith’s story was one that really tugged at me. He has hit the very bottom and is hurting and alone craving the drink to blot out the nightmare images he sees each night and the PTSD flashbacks he gets while working his cases. Meredith assumes that Adam stays away because he’s not interested and it breaks her heart to have her interest unrequited. She’s amazing in many ways as the one always giving to others and surrounding herself with a great group of friends and family. Adam sees right through her screen of happiness and realizes when he almost loses her that staying away was the wrong move.

Adam and the wide group of law enforcement team have quite the complex case to untangle even as the killer and his allies are destroying any trail they have left behind. Normally, I find the inclusion of the antagonist’s thoughts and narration to cause a let down and loss of good tension in a story, but Karen Rose has a gift for using it to advantage. It never helps having the killer get his own narration and scenes because invariably I still have no idea until near the end just who it is. Evil can reside under any smiling, friendly, even helpful countenance and she proves this yet again. I thought it was masterful how she slowly peeled back the killer’s agenda, but several gasp-worthy motivations especially near the end.

The story line does not shy away from brutality and the truly insidious things humans can do to each other, but I think this gives these stories a sense of urgency and the thriller quality as the good guys push hard to bring it to an end. The pace on this book was perfect from cover to cover. It never stops moving forward at a good speed and still doesn’t skimp on character and relationship development. I loved seeing Adam work his way through his alcoholism and PTSD and I loved seeing him and Meredith finally get their chance. The author handled the mental health issues well as well as the appropriate response in treatment that result in what the people of her story goes through.

Other characters and side stories were present. I loved seeing Dr. Dani Novak, Diesel the brilliant hacker, Meredith’s colorful grandfather, and several other old and newer characters shine as secondary characters. My heart went out to those foster kids who are now trying to make a good life after what they were dealt in their youth just as I was happy to see Mallory and the other young women who had been sexually exploited getting a new start. These other stories never distracted, but instead added depth to the main plot.

I can’t wait to see what comes next for the Cincinnati group though I read the sample at the back and know that the Baltimore series is getting the next book and I need to catch up from the beginning on those first. For those looking for an emotionally engaging, in-depth thriller romance, I heartily recommend this author’s books, but in particular the Cincinnati series.

My thanks to Penguin-Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

First I need to say that I never realized this was the fourth book in a series. I started to get a feeling I was missing some stuff, but it really didn't hinder the reading of this story. Past events are mentioned, but not in a way that makes it necessary to read the previous books. I will be going back to read from the beginning because I love this author.

OK so Edge of Darkness...

Meredith has a huge heart. She takes care of others and disregards the needs of herself. Always putting everyone else first. She really doesn't deter from this throughout the story. No matter the stress or danger, Meredith is constantly trying to save others without thinking though what it could mean for her.

Adam has been through hell. Instead of finding comfort in those who love him, he pushes them away. Thinking that after he is better he will be able to make amends for his current actions. What he doesn't realize is that everyone doesn't understand why he's changed. They can't understand where the person they used to love is gone. Instead of helping his friends and family he is breaking them, especially the one he loves the most.

Edge of Darkness is a fast paced thrilling read. Adam and Meredith are tested, as well as, the bonds that they have with everyone around them. It's those bonds that could hold the weakest point through their whole ordeal.

A thrilling close to the series that I started with the last book. Looking forward to going back and getting to know the other characters.

Okay, I have to admit it. I am a huge fan of Karen Rose's writing! And this novel only made me love her books more. Once again I was hooked from the first few pages and could not put the book down.

This is book #4 in the Cincinnati series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. After reading it, however, I'm sure you will want to check out the other books in this series. Karen Rose creates fascinating characters that go straight to your heart... or straight to your nervous system. Sometimes you don't know the difference until later in the book, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Police Detective Adam Kimball has been fighting the demons inside him for almost a year, pulling him away from the woman who means the most to him, Meredith Fallon. But when Meredith's life is threatened in a most horrific event, Adam finds himself in the middle of the ordeal, wanting nothing more than to protect Meredith, keep her safe, and find the man responsible.

I was totally caught off guard when the bad guy was revealed. That's one of the things that makes Karen Rose such a great mystery/suspense writer. And the romance between Adam and Meredith was intense and hot, which is what makes Karen Rose such a great romance writer. Perfect blend of romance, mystery and suspense!

I'm sad to see the Cincinnati Series end, but looking forward to whatever this author has for her next series. I'll be watching!

As the fourth and final book in Karen Rose's nail-biting Cincinnati Series I cannot help but be sad - very sad! Reading Karen Rose is such a pleasure and I know that while the Cincinnati Series is ending - Ms. Rose will be back with another series that will be equally good - or better!

Homicide detective Adam Kimble is no stranger to battling demons working for a good year on battling his PTSD. Meredith Fallon is a different kind of weakness: one that could actually be good for him, if only he would let himself depend on her. Meredith has loved Adam for a year, and seeing how hard he's worked to deal with his PTSD makes her feelings only stronger, but she respects his need to work it out for himself. Meredith keeps busy anyway: counseling sexually abused women to help them reintegrate into the world. Yet someone doesn’t want Meredith helping woman and is ready to kill to make her stop!

*** As usual, Mr. Rose doesn’t pull any punches and slaps right into the middle of some of the worse type of killers around. Killers who love to terrorize and bring the most pain to their victims. In EDGE OF DARKNESS there are several folks who are killers and one boss who also delights in killing as well.

Meredith has escaped violence several times by people not wanting her to discover how much of an animal they are in how they treat their children, spouses and females of all persuasions. But when Meredith takes one of her patients out to celebrate and is almost killed the question becomes who were they trying to kill? Was it Meredith or her companion. In the meantime, Adam, assigned to Meredith’s case is fighting his own demons and trying to not break an oath he made to himself a year ago before he approaches Meredith as a ‘new’ man.

This is definitely a full body novel with a plethora of secondary characters all central and playing big parts in the tale of murder, violence, kidnapping, betrayal and greed. In fact, it will take most of the book before you even get an inkling of who the real bad guy is! Fast read - thrilling, exciting and simply one of the best!

Marilyn Rondeau

I'm a die hard Karen Rose fan. The more twisted madness the better and Karen never fails me!!

I love this series and each book gets better than the previous one. The characters are all intertwined, some lovable, some not!!! Each character has his or her own flaws, but at the end of the day they are one huge tight-knit family. I truly love how each book is one couple's story, but all the characters make an appearance.

If certain events such as rape are triggers for you than you might not want to pick up this book, but if you can handle rape, murder, kidnapping, mayhem, twists/turns, no you did not just go there moments, addiction, and the like than you must read this book.

I can not wait for the next book in this series!!! Keep me on the edge of my seat Karen, I LOVE IT!!!

This story was a great crime thriller that will have you turning pages like crazy! I picked up this title because I battle a severe form of PTSD and sometimes I enjoy reading how others cope with it whether it be fiction or not. The author had great descriptions of the characters emotions and you can feel the intensity through the pages. I love a good crime thriller and Karen Rose definitely delivered!

Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose (romantic suspense, Berkley, February 2018, the Cincinnati Series): I believe that this is my first Karen Rose book ever. I admittedly have been put off my the length of them and by the subject matter of some (I find reading books where children are victims difficult at times). But Edge of Darkness was everything a romantic suspense book should be; it had a wonderful and emotionally fraught romance and an intense and evil suspense plot. Adam Kimble is a homicide detective and a newly recovering alcoholic. He has been through hell and has been hiding from the women he wants to love, Dr. Meredith Fallon. Meredith has just about given up on Adam who walked away from her. However, things change dramatically when Meredith is targeted by a killer.



Adam is the lead investigator on Meredith’s case, a very twisted and gruesome case that involves a very evil bad guy, a college co-ed prostitution ring and some serious corruption. It is amazing that Adam and Meredith can find any amount of happiness and comfort with each other in the midst of the awfulness that surrounds them, but I was so glad that they had each other. I have to say Rose puts Adam through the wringer in Edge of Darkness; I couldn’t believe how many knocks he takes over the course of the story. He desperately needs Meredith and the love that she offers him. Edge of Darkness was a roller coaster read from start to finish, but one I could not put down. This one is not for the faint of heart, but it delivers an unforgettable edge-of-your-seat suspense story.

WOW! Karen Rose gives us another dark and chilling thriller!

The action starts right out of the gate and speeds full throttle throughout the entire 640 pages! I could not put this book down! Adam and Meredith are brilliantly crafted! Their characters are complex, flawed and genuine, as are all the characters in the Cincinnati branch of the Romantic Suspense series!

The mystery/suspense aspect of the story was on point! There were so many layers of subterfuge and intrigue that kept me glued to my Kindle screen WAY past my bedtime. And boy can Ms. Rose write a villain! It’s scary how her mind works, she’s diabolical! 😈

EDGE OF DARKNESS is a dangerous and deadly mystery that will have you white-knuckling the pages until the very end!

Title: Edge of Darkness
Author: Karen Rose
ISBN: 9780399583087
Publisher: Berkeley
Series: Cincinnati Series
Price: $5.98 (Paperback) $7.99 (e-book) $28.28(Audible)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



It seems like I've been reading Karen Rose novels my entire life. I remember the day I came across Count to Ten in the Duane Reade on Queens Blvd. I'd finished the paperback I brought with me to school that day while sitting in the Dining Hall eating lunch and needed something for the long bus ride home. I almost didn't buy it because it was $9.99 and I hadn't gotten my financial aid money yet, but the cover copy called to me. Not even the 500+ page count could scare me away.

I recently learned that Edge of Darkness is Ms. Rose's 20th book and in a strange way, I feel like a proud mama watching her child cross the stage to get their diploma. I'm just a big ball of happy nostalgia, thinking back to all of the other books I've read by her and hopeful about the ones to come, so before I get to the review, I feel like a little celebrating is in order.


With that out of the way, it is probably time to get to the review. Don't you think?

From the Publisher:

A Cincinnati detective questions everything he knows--and everyone he trusts--in the new novel of romantic suspense from New York Times bestseller Karen Rose.

Homicide detective Adam Kimble is no stranger to battling demons. But Meredith Fallon is a different kind of weakness: one that could actually be good for him, if only he would let himself depend on her. Meredith has loved Adam for a year, and seeing how hard he's worked to deal with his PTSD makes her feelings only stronger, but she respects his needs. Her work keeps her busy anyway: she counsels sexually abused women like Mallory Martin to help them reintegrate into the world.

But someone doesn't want Meredith helping women like Mallory, and Meredith finds herself in the crosshairs of a very determined killer. Adam would risk anything for her, but they'll soon find out she isn't the only target...
The Review:

Ever since he first appeared in Closer Than You Think, I've been curious about Detective Adam Kimble. He was a complete asshole to Faith (and Deacon) and I couldn't help wondering why he was behaving that way. I have to admit the glimpses we got of him in the other books in the series, especially Every Dark Corner had me intrigued, so I was glad to see we would finally be getting his book. The fact that his heroine is Meredith Fallon was just the icing on the cake. Of course we knew that she was going to be his heroine from their interactions in Every Dark Corner, but still...

Like Adam, Meredith is also a returning character. Her first appearance was in Scream for Me, the second book in the Vartanian trilogy, which is my favorite series Ms. Rose has written. In that book, we don't get much of Meredith other than the fact that she's the cousin of the heroine, Alex, and a child psychologist, who liked to use coloring as part of her therapy with Hope, Alex's young niece, whose mother, Bailey, was missing. It was nice to see all of these characters return in Edge of Darkness, and what made their cameos even better was that they felt natural to the progression of the story.

I loved the relationship aspect of this book. From the very beginning, it was obvious that Adam was head over heels in love with Meredith and miserable because he can't do anything about it. There were a few clues as to why he couldn't do anything, but these were mostly subtle. Once he admits what was keeping them apart everything he's done over the last several books makes sense and if you're like me, you spent a few minutes wondering how you didn't connect the dots sooner.

Another thing that really worked for me was the introduction of Meredith's grandfather, Clarke, a big, bald, tattooed teddy bear of a man, who collects people like my cousin collected Beanie Babies back in the day. I particularly loved the interactions between Clarke and Diesel, one of the members of the Cincinnati Circle, and hopefully the hero of the next book in this series because I absolutely need his and Dani's book.

(Seriously, I need their book right now. An HIV+ heroine and a hero who I'm fairly certain was molested as a child? Yes, please!)

There were only two weak points in the book for me. The first is that Adam never really deals with his parents. His father, especially, is a big part of his issues and aside from one short scene in which Adam and his father talk (and by talk I mean Jim slings invective after invective at his son as a means of tearing his self-esteem down) at the police station we don't really get a satisfying confrontation. I have to admit that it was nice to see Adam's boss and colleague tell his father he's an asshole, it would have been better coming from Adam, himself.

Unfortunately, the weakest part of the book was the mystery. As soon as the antagonist was introduced I knew that he would turn out to be the bad guy, although I hoped I was wrong because having this person be the mastermind behind the murders was lazy. I can't adequately explain why without spoiling things, so I'm going to try hiding it behind some code, fingers crossed that it works.

The killer's introduction was not subtle at all. Meredith wasn't comfortable with him at all and her body language was described in a way that made it obvious she did not want to be near him. To make matters worse this guy was not only the person behind the current killing, but also the reason Adam suffered a breakdown before the start of the series. This character's manipulation of everyone around him was also the reason why Adam stayed away not only from Meredith, but also his cousins, Deacon and Dani, who would have supported him had they known what was going on with him. Obviously, this was the point.
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I wish this was handled better and that this character was simply a red herring. At one point, I thought he was, but it was almost immediately revealed that he was, in fact, the killer. While I enjoyed this book, I wish I hadn't figured out most of what was going on by the 30% mark.

4 Stars

EDGE OF DARKNESS has all the elements I love in a good story; intricate plot weaving, unforgettable characters and an engrossing story. Karen Rose writes a heart pounding, suspenseful story with interesting yet flawed characters that are easy to connect with. This story had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Along with all the intrigue there is romance and entertaining secondary characters. This story kept me guessing and I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
Meredith and Adam are thrown together when they work on a case. Meredith is a child psychologist and Adam is a detective and I easily connected with these two characters.

Adam has tons of baggage and he continually sells himself short. He thinks he is weak because he has a difficult time dealing with his PTSD. He is loving, caring and much too hard on himself. Although he cares about Meredith, Adam is afraid to get involved with her. Adam works hard trying to solve the case and keep Meredith safe.

Meredith cares about Adam but she is tired of waiting for him to make a move. She is kind and sweet and strong and she always puts her needs behind everyone else’s. Meredith seems serene but behind her cool facade, she is anything but calm. Everyone loves Meredith and she has a large, wonderful group of friends who care about her. There are many twists and turns to this emotional story and I found it thrilling and satisfying. This is the fourth book in the Cincinnati series and is a standalone, although all the characters are interconnected

This was a great story and one I am happy to recommend. I have been reading Karen Rose for years and always thoroughly enjoy!

Edge of Darkness gives us a man who is fighting for both his sanity and his sobriety all while trying to track a killer who is attempting to kill the woman he cares about.

Adam Kimble had been on the edge for a while. Dealing with PTSD from the things he has seen as a Homicide detective and used alcohol to kill the pain. He met Meredith Fallon at cusp of this and has been avoiding her due to AA's recommendation of no relationship for the first year of sobriety. He knows that he's hurt her badly with not telling her the real reason he has avoided her but he wants to make her proud of him by getting that one year (typical man – if he'd just explain pretty sure she'd understand).. Well all of that's blown to hell when someone tries to kill her with a bomb.

Meredith who counsels children and adolescents who have been victimized was taking one of her clients, Mallory Martin (who fans of the series will recognize from Every Dark Corner – she was the young girl that had been held for 6 years by a the head of a child trafficking and pornography ring) out to lunch to celebrate her starting education classes. It's while at this lunch that a man approaches with a gun and bomb strapped to his chest.

As this is part of the Cincinnati series those characters play a big part in this book which is always nice to revisit previous characters. The hunt for the person responsible for orchestrating the hit on Meredith ends up leading to very large trail of bodies as the killer is trying to both cover his tracks and carry out a twisted game he started years ago.

Betrayal is the word for this book.. Want to know the who and why? Read the book (insert evil laugh here)

Meredith loves her job helping women who’ve been abused find a way to cope with their trauma and move forward. She also loves detective Adam Kimble, a man whose own demons keep him from trusting anyone, keep him from letting someone like Meredith get too close. Adam believes his work is too dangerous and doesn’t want someone he loves getting caught in the crossfire. But is turns out that Meredith is the one in danger, someone doesn’t like the fact that she helps women recover from trauma, someone willing to put Meredith in her place, to make sure she can never help anyone else again. A strong female lead, a tormented hero and a sadistic criminal all add up to a compelling read