Great, multi-faceted characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. I felt every emotion. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last. Simply a GREAT read!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

I didn't read the first book in this series. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was kinda of sad that it opened with our main character in bed with some guy. At least the murder happened fast, where an older man who was "sleeping rough" aka homeless, has been killed. I love the movie angle was a lot of fun. It is tense, and there is a lot of drama. The zombie movie, families with secrets, some abuse issues, and a lot more is happening in this story, This book does have some language, but the over all plot was very readable!

Thanks to Net Galley for my digital copy of this book. This review is mine, and contains my thoughts about this book. A positive review isn't required.

I fell in love with the character of Gemma Woodstock when reading THE DARK LAKE. Bailey created a character that exudes beauty and strength at the same time. Her sensitivity and in contrast toughness makes her an interesting character. I hope there are more Gemma Woodstock books in the future!

This novel was less successful to me than DARK LAKE, but I still enjoyed being back with these characters. The murders, especially on set of the zombie film, were very well depicted - Bailey is a writer with a keen eye for detail. Yet I found it hard to fully connect with Gemma, our protagonist. Nicely sewn up conclusion. Curious to see if the series continues.

New author for me but pleasantly surprised. Thank you for the approval and look forward to a book relationship with other reads in the future,

When I first picked up this book, I was not aware that it was the second book in a series. Ironically, I had listened to the first book, which, to be honest, I didn’t LOVE. It was good, but it didn’t leave me wanting more. I am glad that I wasn’t aware, because it probably would have stopped me from reading this book, and i really enjoyed this story. So much so that I wanted to go back and read the first book versus listen to the audiobook to give it a second shot.

The story was different, and kept me hooked. I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to another from this series!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The second in a series where the main mystery is contained, but there is character development for the main characters from book to book. I always suggest with these to start at book one, so my review may contain spoilers if you haven't read it.

Gemma Woodstock is back in book two and her personal life is a little nutty. With her personal life in an upheaval, she spends much more time and energy on her professional life. With a high profile celebrity murder in the middle of a zombie movie, Gemma and her coworkers are put into the middle of a big case that has a lot of media attention. Just before this murder a homeless man was murdered and maybe they are connected?

I usually rate a mystery/thriller based on the culprit and of course, I won't divulge, but I was definitely satisfied with the ending on this one. I liked the twists and turns and the clues and when they released, there were very few moments where I could put this one down because I wanted to know what came next.

I can't wait for the next Gemma Woodstock edition and will be wondering what she will get into next time.

I need to go back and read the first book in the series. Plunging in now on book two made me feel a bit behind. I thought I had read it but perhaps I had forgotten it. Anyway, loved the setting of Melbourne and the mystery was well plotted. Looking forward to reading more in the future.

Fractured relationships abound in this novel, the second book in the Gemma Woodstock series.

We have a murdered homeless man, elderly and kind, knifed in the early hours of the morning. Gemma is not assigned lead detective on this case so straight away we can see her mopey side. Next murder is a high profile case. A good looking young actor, Sterling Wade, is killed on the set of a movie being filmed locally in Melbourne. This will take priority as it's a media nightmare. Gemma is lead on this one but descriptions of her personality don't exactly have her leaping off the page.

In the first book, The Dark Lake, she was a lead detective in a rural town in Australia. Gemma transferred to another detective position in busy Melbourne after her relationship with her partner Scott fails. She leaves her young son Ben with Scott and has issues with the separation yet doesn't seem to want custody, only visits. It's a good transition from book one to this story.

In my opinion, Gemma Woodstock’s personal issues detracted from this story. You do want a little bit of the personal side of your main character, that’s one of the things I like about the DCI Banks series, but Gemma’s internal turmoil could have been toned down. I was actually warming more to her partner Nick Fleet, incorrigible as he is. Hoping he shows up in the next book and we get more information about his back story.

If you like multiple story lines with more than one murder investigation then you will enjoy that aspect of the book. Hoping Gemma conquers her many demons and becomes confident and energetic. We need some flaws in our main characters but Gemma's issues are legend.

Much thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy. Opinions are mine and I was not compensated for the review. This book was published in December 2018.

While I really enjoyed THE DARK LAKE, INTO THE NIGHT didn't do it for me. While the story line was intriguing (homeless man and movie star murdered on the same day - is there a connection?), Gemma's characters is so inside her own head that the story drags. Bailey is certainly a talented writer, though, so I will check out the next Woodstock installment.

Second installment on the Gemma Woodstock series! This one was a slow burner for me. Even though there were two different murders involved, I didn't enjoy the slow start at all. I am up for thrillers and mysteries all day long but I am always looking forward to getting engaged and gripped from the start. This did not happened at all this time. I loved The Dark Lake because of that. Found the personal life issues of Gemma a bit boring, as it didn't have anything to do with the plot this time around. Not major twists in this one either.

Sarah Bailey does it again in my mind. I really hope she keeps this series going for atleast another book. How the story unfolds has got to be one of my favorites.

What do you consider the most important element of a book? What aspect is the most influential when deciding if you enjoyed a book or not? For me, it is the main character. I do not necessarily have to like the main character but I have to find them intriguing. With Into The Night, I will be completely honest. I did not like its protagonist Detective Gemma Woodstock, but I found her very interesting. Into The Night presented me with a new experience, a lead character I did not care for but with an exciting and original central mystery, I found myself glued to the book.
Detective Gemma Woodstock is in a new city but cannot seem to make a fresh start. Gemma’s new life in Melbourne Australia is a far cry from life in her small hometown of Smithton. Although her life is in shambles, Gemma finds stability in her work. While investigating the death of a homeless man another murder occurs. Sterling Wade, a fast-rising movie star, is murdered while filming his latest movie. Gemma and her partner are reassigned to investigate Sterling’s murder but Gemma cannot forget the murder of the homeless man. Although the two victims lead completely different lives, Gemma cannot help but draw comparisons between the two murders, fearing a serial killer may be at work.
Gemma’s reassignment to Melbourne’s police department was voluntary but it was also strongly suggested by her boss. With loads of emotional baggage and fear of an uncertain future, Gemma cannot seem to get out of her own way. Her new colleagues and boss do not completely trust her. She struggles to make new friends and to maintain friendships from Smithton. Gemma is stagnant and repeating some of the mistakes she made in Smithton. This is why I struggled to like Gemma, her unwillingness to change and adjust to her new surroundings frustrated me. She knows she needs to make changes but she does not know how to do it (a feeling I can completely relate to). Along with a great central mystery, Gemma’s old reactions to new circumstances was what made Into The Night engrossing. I kept reading because I wanted to see if Gemma would ever evolve and learn from her past mistakes.
The murder of Sterling Wade takes place in the middle of the day while Sterling is filming a movie. With the cameras rolling and an abundance of witnesses, he is stabbed repeatedly. The murder was caught on film, but the perpetrator is not visible. Many of the witnesses assumed Sterling’s actions as he was dying were part of the role he was playing. Reading about a murder which takes place in the middle of filming a movie was a first for me and I really enjoyed it. One would assume that the investigation would be easily solved because of the amount of witnesses and the murder being captured on film. However, the difficulties Gemma and her partner face are some of the most challenging I have read. Many events occur during the investigation.These events involve key witnesses and suspects in Sterling’s murder, giving the story constant twists, turns, and a strong sense of foreboding.
Although Into The Night and I got off to a bit of a bumpy start, I truly enjoyed it and I am so glad I kept reading. Despite disliking Gemma, she is a complex and murky character who I hope I to get to know better. Into The Night is book two in the Gemma Woodstock series. I do recommend reading book one, The Dark Lake first. I think it is really important to know the circumstances surrounding Gemma’s departure from Smithton. Fans of Jane Harper’s Aaron Faulk series should add Into The Night to their list of must reads.

Murder and Moore Rating :
4 out of 5 Stars

This is the sequel to Dark lake, which I read a while ago, and I thought it was even better. The story is dark and there's a lot going on, but it didn't take long for me to feel sucked into the story and eager to know how it would end. There are plenty of twists and turns and Gemma is a well developed protagonist!

Gemma is in a whole new place, mentally and physically. She has moved to Melbourne for a new start. She has a new partner which is, to say the least, very unfriendly. Plus, she has been placed on the biggest case of her career. Someone has murdered Sterling Wade during a movie production. The murder has actually been caught on film. But, it is not as cut and dried as she thinks it is.

I will be honest. I did not like The Dark Lake, the first book in this series. I really disliked Gemma in that tale. I did not feel that way in this one. She came across as so sad. Her sadness just oozes off the page. Then her intellect comes out.

It has been a while since I have read a really good crime fiction. Crime fiction is different from a suspenseful read. It moves slower, but they are smart reads. You have to use your brain! I love how this story plays out. I was constantly guessing who did this and who did that. This story is interwoven with great characters and it is a wonderful guessing game.

Head over to my instagram for a giveaway,@reecaspiecesbooks. I have 2 copies up for grabs. Instagram

I received this novel from Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley for a honest review.

I’ve been meaning to read the first book in the series for quite some time and just never managed to get around to it and then this one just sounded right up my alley, so I took a chance and just started with book two. It was totally fine but I enjoyed this one so much that I’m kicking myself for not having started at the beginning!

There was a lot going on here plot wise, Gemma is a busy detective working on multiple cases and as much as I was intrigued by the cases, what really engrossed me was the outstanding characterization. Gemma is fascinatingly complex and just so well drawn that I was immediately invested in her. The setting of Melbourne was also a standout, I haven’t read many thrillers set there and it’s always nice to read about someplace new and fresh to me. I imagine as the series continues Gemma will become more and more interesting and I’ll definitely be following along. Recommended for thriller fans, especially those who feel like they want something slightly different and written by an incredibly gifted author.

Into the Night in three words: Engaging, Intriguing and Nuanced.

I'm not sure what it is about deeply flawed and emotionally resistant female protagonists that I love so much. Getting to know Gemma in book 1 was a pleasure... now in Into The Night, we dive deeper into her mind and phew... she has got a LOT going on. I feel you, girl.... I feel you.

Complete transparency, I was way more into Gemma's story than I was about the case. Celebrity gets killed, secrets come out, fairly predictable ending. However, I was completely fascinated with Gemma and everything she had going on. I'm so pissed off at Fleet .. but that's a whole other matter and you'll have to read this book to figure out why. And don't even get me started on the guy she was "dating"... I can't even remember his name now because I flicked him off my shoulder like a bothersome fly. Complex but lovable, I can't help but adore how Bailey has brought Gemma's character to life and am looking forward to see where Gemma's story goes.

I think some readers will find the pacing to be a bit slow.. and I'd agree. Somehow though I kept swiping the pages in my need to know. I somehow always feel book two in a series seem to fall a bit short after a really strong book one. I don't know if I necessarily feel that way about this even though I did have to force myself to continue at times. If I haven't made it clear yet, ahem, it's Gemma's character that keeps me riveted... I can only assume that the cases will get more interesting to my tastes... either way I'm sticking around to find out.

Another order of Gemma please, hold the Fleet.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a great follow up to " Dark Lake", which I really enjoyed reading. Into the Night is interesting, intriguing and overall a very well written book. The characters are likable and complex. The book has a lot of twists and turns that will keep the readers on the edge of their seats.

Into the Night is the sequel to the great The Dark Lake. In this book, has Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock left behind her old life and started over fresh in Melbourne. Her relationship with Scott has hit a dead end and their son is staying with his father. Gemma herself is a shadow of herself. She misses her son, she mourns her failed relationship with her lover Felix that moved away. And, alone in Melbourne is she spending her time working cases and picking up strange men at bars at night for one night stands. One really gets the feeling that she's not OK.

Then a homeless man gets stabbed to death, but that case is quickly overshadowed when a young popular actor is killed on set. Together with her new partner Nick Fleet is Gemma trying to solve the actor's murder. There are many people on the set and those around the actor are all trying to paint the actors as being well liked. So, who killed him, and why?

Into the Night is a great sequel. The story is bleak, and Gemma I feel is not all there. She such a broken character, depressed and lonely. I do hope life will brighten for her. I was not that surprised at the ending. I had my suspicions along the way, but it was a satisfying ending. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock is back in the absorbing Australian police procedural Into the Night.

Gemma has moved from her hometown and son, Ben, to Melbourne. Her relationship with Ben’s father, Simon, mutually ended after The Dark Lake. Gemma is falling into half-night stands with strangers picked up in bars despite having a nice man trying to be a part of her life. She is missing Ben but feels compelled to solve crimes regardless of the cost to her personal life.

Gemma’s first case with her new guarded partner, Nick Fleet, is a seemingly random stabbing of a homeless man. However, the murder of up-and-coming celebrity Sterling Wade while the cameras are rolling pulls all the police detectives into the high profile case. Sterling was making a zombie movie where extras were chasing and assaulting him when he is stabbed with a real knife later found at the scene. His girlfriend, Lizzie, realizes something is wrong and her screams bring help unfortunately too late. The camera footage is of little help as everyone around Sterling is dressed in masks as zombies. Who has a motive? Everyone and no one. Sterling is well-liked and respected. However, his wealth and fame present irresistible challenges to many of his co-workers, friends and family.

It is refreshing to see a female detective go through the same drinking and relationship issues so familiar to male detectives from Phillip Marlowe to Harry Bosch. Despite all her baggage, she is an excellent detective. All the clues are here for the conclusion but I didn’t guess whodunit. It was still nice to see the author twist together all the mystery’s strands into a surprising conclusion. I can’t wait for the next in the series! Into the Night is recommended for police procedural fans. 4 stars!

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.