2.5
Good premise and characters but a bit long winded. I started to get a bit impatient at the halfway mark. There were too many side stories and too little action. The parallel between Eryn and Cady, their abuse, was over the top. There were too many characters piled on and after I while they got muddled... This had the potential to be an excellent story/intro to a series if it had focused on the main story and given us a few insights to Candy’s character. It tried to hard and took too long - some things could have been held back for the next one...

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for a review.

Cold Dark Places – Kylie Brant

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.
Little Eryn Pullman was only a child when her uncle found her beside her mother’s dead body, bloody knife at her side. Placed in an intensive inpatient psych hospital, Eryn grew up known as a murderer, but with no memory of the incident. Now, as a young adult, Eryn is being released into her Uncle’s care, no longer considered a danger to others...but people remember…

Cady Maddix is a Deputy Federal Marshall, who’s returned home to North Carolina to help care for her ailing mother. She’s fresh off the capture of a wanted felon, when she’s awakened from sleep by a phone call. A child molester and murderer has escaped from a nearby prison, and she’s needed for the assembling task force. Cady has her own childhood demons as well.

Ryder Talbot is the County Sheriff for Haywood County, and is also a member of the law enforcement team assembled to track Samuel Aldeen. He and Cady team up as they attempt to catch a killer, who remains in the area, and seems to stay just a step ahead of law enforcement. But what is Aldeen after? And why?

A top-notch mystery novel that’s grabs you on the first page and doesn’t let go! The characters are intriguing, complex and likeable, and Cady is the perfect rough and tough female cop!! I loved this book, and I Can’t wait for more of Cady and Ryder! Grab this book and settle in for a long read! You won't be disappointed!!

Eryn has been recently released from an institution for killing her mother when she was 9.
Trying to re-acclimate herself back into her small town Eryn finds herself in the middle of a new mystery.
Sam Aldeen has escaped from an institution for the criminally insane. And he didn't do it alone.

As good as the description sounds, nothing about this book grabbed me, nothing held my attention.
There was a mystery, there was a twist, but when it was revealed it was more of a
'oh, ok' moment and not a 'wow' moment.

There were some loose ends and I guess that is because this will be a series following Cady Maddix, a US Marshall.
I can see why this book would appeal to people, just not my cup of tea.

I admit I was sold as soon as I saw the cover and read the blurb. A stunning cover AND the promise of meeting a new twisted serial killer? Yes please! I have been looking forward to start Cold Dark Places and there is no doubt that the story delivered. This complex, action-packed and heart stoppingly good thriller was everything I hoped for and more... The perfect start of a new series. What I liked is that Cold Dark Places isn't just another detective thriller and instead treats us to a multiple POV story where we get to follow four different characters including the killer, two different law inforcement angles and a young woman with mental health issues. And that is not all: we also get a dose of flashbacks helping to reveal more about the past. This seems like a lot to stuff into just one thriller, but somehow Kylie Brant makes it work. A lot of this has to do with the excellent writing and a fast pace that will sweep you away until you have somehow reached the final page. The plot development and use of suspense and plot twists is also spot on: being able to create a constant atmosphere of urgency, danger and suspense. There is a lot of action involved as the hunt for the escaped killer is on, but this is not the only angle of the story. It is also about Eryn, her past and her mental issues, and we get indirect hints about Cady's past as well. It was interesting to see how the different storylines slowly connected, and Cold Dark Places definitely has some shocking surprises in store for you. If you like your thrillers fast, action-packed, disturbing and suspenseful, this new series definitely is for you. Trigger warnings are in place for sexual and child abuse, violence and graphic scenes in general.

I had a good feeling about Cold Dark Places and it turns out my instincts were right. I do love my detective thrillers, but I also love when a story is able to bring something original to the mix. Being able to get a glimpse inside of the head of both the serial killer Samuel and Eryn as well was simply fascinating. Another bonus was that both other POV characters Cady and Ryder were easy to like... The writing is spot on, the pace is superfast, the plot twists are brutal. Oh yes, this was one hell of a ride and an excellently constructed and complex one at that. I'll be looking forward to see more of Cady Maddix in the future!

I was looking forward to reading this book due to the description and I was not disappointed.. The author intertwined a story of families who are connected through loss and grief.. The author does not let up until the end. This is a book well worth your time to read.

There were so many likable characters. Ryder is the sheriff, Eryn the woman that went to a psychiatric hospital for killing her mother at 9 years old. Then there's US Marshal Cady Maddix who also killed a parent as a child. She's looking for a dangerous escaped mental patient. Chasing fugitives seems the perfect job for her. She's like a dog with a bone when she's on the hunt.

I had a bit of a struggle with Cold Dark Places. It started much like taking a semi up a mountain for a really slow climb.. The end plunged full speed ahead like the brakes failed. I enjoyed the characters but thought the story jumped back and forth between them more than necessary. The ending twisted and turned for shock value and made the story for me. Cady and Eryn prove worthy heroines and I wish the story just visited their viewpoints without the extra one tossed in. A surprisingly good story for a book I had to start three times before I finished it, definitely full of thrills and excitement. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC of #ColdDarkPlaces

A complex story of predator and prey. Kylie Brant delivers a suspense novel involving murder, the criminally insane, and the residual trauma of childhood abuse.

The story unfolds from alternating points of view as it weaves through the past and present. The plot is multifaceted and held together by a wide array of well-crafted characters, including that of the main character, US Marshall Cady Maddix. However, while the story gives some insight into the background of these characters, it is not enough. As the first book of the series, additional contextual details would have supported the development of the storyline much better than the superfluous details that were offered. The overwriting slowed the pace of the plot, almost taking away the thrill of the read, leaving it to feel unbalanced. 3 stars.

Cold Dark Places is a story told from multiple points of view. Eryn has spent many years in a psychiatric facility after committing a horrible crime. She has recently been released and an angry mob of neighbors awaits her arrival as they are not at all pleased to have her back home. Samuel has escaped from a high-security facility for the criminally insane, and if his past is any indication of what he might do now, he needs to be found quickly. Cady is a US Marshall with demons of her own. Still, she is determined to find Samuel and figure out the connection between him and Eryn. We also follow Sheriff Ryder who has his hands full with Samuel's escape and Eryn's release.
This was a page flipper for me as I wanted to know Eryn's backstory, find out if she was somehow involved with Samuel, and of course, I was hoping Cady and Ryder would figure everything out( and clue me in as my guesses were flawed). Lots of twists and turns, plenty of mystery and suspense, and a surprising ending. This is the first book I have read by Kylie Brant and if Cold Dark Places is indicative of her work, all I can say is “more, please”. Great characters, a fast-moving plot and I hope when Cady returns, we get more Ryder too!
I received a DRC from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley.

An excellent start to a new series. The story unravels from several characters perspective and flows perfectly. The characters are intriguing and the plot is full of twists. I didn't see that ending coming. I can't wait for more of Cady and I hope there is more Ryder.

I kept waiting for this book to take off, but unfortunately I didn't really like the characters or storyline. I have read past books of this author and liked her writing. I would definitely read more of her work, just didn't care for this story.

This is an amazing book! Kylie Brant has done a masterful job of telling an exciting,suspenseful story. Each book is better than the last.

COLD DARK PLACES is the perfect title for this book. It refers to actual places from the two protagonists childhoods - places that scarred them and the cold dark places troubled people hold in their psyches. The novel begins with the release of Eryn, a rich disturbed young woman, from a psychiatric facility where she has been detained for the past 15 years - the amount of time that has passed she she murdered her mother. Eryn is returning to the familial home, but her neighbors don't want a killer in their midst. shortly thereafter, Samuel Aldeen, a delusional serial killer and pederast, makes an escape from a hospital for the criminally insane. US Marshall Cady Maddix begins to suspect that Sameul and Eryn are somehow linked, a frightening thought for all concerned. But Cady likes Eryn, and recognizes herself in their common history. COLD DARK PLACES is a tense page turner that left me wanting more. Great read.

I really enjoyed this book from Kylie Brant.. This was the first time I've ever read any of her books.but I can be sure of the fact that this definitely won't be the last. This book jumps from person to person with a change in point of view in every chapter rotating between the 4 main characters in the book, mainly between Erin Pullman, Cady Maddix, Ryder Talbot and some for Samuel Aldeen. The aforementioned 3 characters were very well created and well written but I would have liked some more details and background of Aldeen. In fact with all the characters apart from Erin, there were hints of the background given but not described in much details which in certain situations made the characters a bit difficult to understand. As I stated earlier I personally would have liked a bit more details about Samuel Aldeen's background, his history but that's just me. The lack of it doesn't make the book any poorer. It's a very well written book and had me quite gripped from the beginning. A deserving 4 stars and I won't hesitate in recommending it. A big thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Cold Dark Places by Kylie Brant draws the reader into a dark , fast moving story with twisted characters, strong but challenged ones, and more than a few surprises Intriguing start to a new series featuring US Deputy Marshall Cady Maddix.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This was an absolutely perfect suspense book. There is so many different stories going on that interconnect at the end to a great conclusion. Did Eryn really kill her mother or was there something else sinister going on? I didn't figure out the end which gives kiddos to the author because usually in mystery books you can kinda figure out midway thru what is going on and why. Loved this book lots of mystery and suspense! This book just flowed and was a very easy fast paced book! Definitely recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery! .

This one grabs you by your insides and never lets go! Whooooooo, what a book.

Cady Maddix, a survivor in every way possible, is now a gritty, steely US Marshall. She is assigned to find an escapee from a hospital for the criminally insane named Samuel Aldeen. Aldeen is the stuff of nightmares, having a proclivity for both young children and cannibalism.

The outlier is Eryn Pullman, a young woman released from a psychiatric hospital, 12 years after the murder of her mother. Aldeen has his sights set on Eryn for reasons unclear and as this suspenseful, twisty story unfolds, Brant's talent for story telling is a thing to behold.

I loved this book and know it's one I'll be thinking about for some time. Brant is a wordsmith and a wonder.

Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer, and Kylie Brant for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the first book I've read by this author and it's clear from the get-go she's far from a new author.

Cold dark places is told from a number of point-of-views which allows readers to really go to know three central characters.

If you enjoy suspenseful stories, that touch on some tough topics, mental illness for one, cannibalism for another, you'll find yourself enthralled by the tale.

Copy received via NetGalley

The beginning is really choppy, and it was hard to follow the storyline/how everyone and everything was connected. Therefore, it was hard to get invested in the story. I managed to make it to the end, but I was underwhelmed. I love Kylie Brant’s other books, but this one missed its mark for me.

Bravo! Kylie Brant knows his to write a fabulous gripping thriller. This book has twists and turns, great characters, and a great dark plot. I have to read more from this author. This book I could not put down.