No Woods So Dark as These is the fourth installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series by Randall Silvis, a master of literary thrillers.

In this story, former Sergeant Ryan DeMarco and his girlfriend Jayme are hoping to heal from their past traumas and enjoy a peaceful life together. But their dreams are shattered when they stumble upon a gruesome crime scene in the woods, involving two burned bodies in a car and another mutilated corpse nearby. DeMarco is reluctantly drawn into the investigation, which leads him to uncover the dark secrets of a close-knit rural community.

The audiobook is narrated by Graham Winton, who does a superb job of bringing the characters and the story to life. His voice is clear, expressive, and engaging, capturing the emotions, the suspense, and the twists of the plot. He also differentiates well between the various accents and tones of the characters, from DeMarco's gruff and weary voice to Jayme's gentle and soothing one.

The book is a gripping and compelling read, with a well-crafted plot, realistic and complex characters, and vivid descriptions of the setting. Silvis explores the themes of violence, corruption, betrayal, and redemption, as well as the psychological effects of trauma and loss. He also balances the dark and gritty aspects of the story with moments of humor, romance, and hope.

This book can be read as a standalone, but it also references and builds on the events and the characters from the previous books in the series.

No Woods So Dark as These is a must-read for fans of murder mystery books and suspenseful thrillers, as well as for those who appreciate the literary quality of Silvis's writing. It is a book that will keep you reading and leave you wanting more of DeMarco's adventures.

One of the things I like the most about mystery is the one set in a small town or close-knit rural communities. So I am by far more invested and intrigued at the same time with this book.

The pacing of the book and the build up of the mystery kept me turning the pages. I also like how the author not only focuses on the mystery alone, but also dealt with various heavy topics in the book. The twist and turn of the story, and the revelations are truly satisfying to read as it unfolds. Don't know what else to say without spoiling the book, but definitely a must read. Looking forward to read what's next in this series.

I am sad that this was the start of the series for me because this was AMAZING and fast paced. Now I will be going back to read more

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of No Woods So Dark as These by Randall Silvis.

Unfortunately, I made it about 35% and then put it down. My criticisms are two.

First, a romantic couple working intimately together as volunteers on a grisly murder right after traumatically losing a baby through miscarriage due to violence. It's a ridiculous stretch, and I just can't imagine actually happening. Plus, it's weirdly sappy for being a cop drama. Kind of creeped me out.

Second, and this may not be fair of me, but I don't need a DUDE author, spelling out in detail, what women do with their bodies when alone. Gross, ew, no. I almost felt like the entire audience of readers were being groomed.

It's not often that I get predatory vibes from the author, through their writing, but here you go.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book in the Ryan DeMarco series by Randall Silvis. This is one of my favorite series so you need to start from the beginning and read them! 4.5 stars!

Former Sergeant DeMarco and his girlfriend Jayme are still recovering physically and emotionally from their last case. They are hoping to just lie low and recover, dreaming of exotic locations to travel and get away. But they are called in to help investigate some brutal murders nearby and they can't resist the opportunity to help. They are required to have a trooper with them, so we meet Detectives Flores. Another new character, a journalist, Chase Miller, is along for the ride as well.

This installment was a tad slower than the others, mostly with the characters continuing to go over their past traumas as well as waxing poetically about their love for each other. But I'm totally invested in these characters so that's okay. But that ending - or more like a cliffhanger - please don't keep me waiting to find out what happens next!

Former Sergeant, Ryan DeMarco and his girlfriend Jayme are taking a much-needed break after the aftermath of their last case. Their quiet reprieve doesn’t last long, when two bodies are discovered in a burned-out car hidden in the woods. Another body was found nearby, evidence of a grisly murder. Ryan and Jayme get pulled back in, trying to solve the case while their past comes back full circle.

The fourth in the series, No Woods so Dark as These does well as a stand alone also. DeMarco is a dark and brooding character, full of angst and pain. Jayme has experienced a loss as well and is dealing with her own share of pain. Little by little, we learn the details of their struggles. The story of these characters is enjoyable and relatable, easily drawing the reader in to see what happens. The ending is charged and tense, leaving the reader wanting more.

While the underlying story is interesting, I feel it overshadowed the details of the plot. Too much time was spent developing the back story of DeMarco and Jayme’s troubled pasts. There was potential for the original plot line to be much more. All in all, it was a quick enjoyable read for fans of the Ryan DeMarco series.

Let me just start by saying that i don't enjoy writing negatives reviews. That said, i must admit that this is the end of the road with the Demarco series.

I read two other books beside this one and i rather enjoyed the first of the series. The second one was less enjoyable because of Demarco and his never ending dwelling on his past and musing about practically everything. This one was really rather annoying.
The mystery/crime could have been interesting but it felt like some side story to all the musing and moralizing of Demarco , it took centre piece in the book. It was rather tiring; i mean, which Sergeant would ever quote Dante's Divine Comedy to a criminal junky to make him want to confess and not lie!!
There wasn't really an investigation to speak of and everything was solved in the last 20% of the book. And it felt patched up quickly, too many loose ends and no logical reason for why the "villain" chose to confess or even how things really happened.

By the end i was feeling really frustrated by the whole book. Not the experience i was looking for, especially that after reading the last two chapters i was tempted the throw my kindle across the room.
So, as i already said, no more Demarco mystery for me.

No Woods So Dark As These is a great slow burn thriller. I enjoyed the characters and like Silvis' writing style. Great choice for crime series readers.

This is the 4th nook in the series. Detective Ryan DeMarco and his girlfriend Jayme Matson are still recovering from her last case when they are asked to assist in a triple homicide.
This is a dark mystery and has some unsavory characters.

A Ryan DeMarco mystery and the fourth in the series.
DeMarco and Jayme are ex law enforcement officers turned private investigators also in a relationship.  Police request their assistance after three bodies are discovered in a burnt out vehicle.
Jayme is a woman pretending the world is okay and DeMarco needs to learn to step out of his own misery before he can comfort her.
Other characters include a rescue dog who ends up being called Hero, Flores the young trooper suffering from depression and a killer whose enjoyment may be to kill them.
DeMarco’s reaction to having the dog castrated seemed a little over the top.  That view was reinforced when he said “he knows what we did to him. I can see it in his eyes.” 
I found it a little hard keeping track of what was going on or working out what had happened in the past.  This made me feel it wasn’t a series you could just pick up  and quickly gain a sense of background when so much appeared to have happened before.
In my opinion there were some good parts to this book but they weren’t enough to hold my attention.  Loved the forensic detail as it’s an area I find very interesting even when fiction is involved.  This had a softer feel compared to my usual crime/thrillers due to the way DeMarco and Jayme demonstrated their love for each other. 
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the final manuscript in return for an honest review.

When I picked up this book, I was unaware that is a was a part of a series. I was a bit apprehensive about starting a story that was #4 in a series, but I plunged on in! Whether or not you have read the previous book, Randall Silvas does a great job of giving out enough information that the reader can pick this up as a standalone.

So what’s the plot? Here is the synopsis that Goodreads gives us:
“There are good reasons to fear the dark...

Former Sergeant Ryan DeMarco's life has been spent in defiance--he's defied death, loneliness, and betrayal all while fighting the worst parts of humanity. He's earned a break, and following the devastation of their last case, DeMarco and his girlfriend Jayme want nothing more than to live quietly in each other's company. To forget the horrors they've experienced and work on making each other whole again.

But dreams of a peaceful life together are shattered when two bodies are discovered in a smoldering car in the woods, and another is found brutally mutilated nearby. Much as he'd like to leave the case to his former colleagues, dark forces are at play and DeMarco cannot escape the vortex of lies, betrayal, and desperation. He and Jayme are dragged back into the fray, where they must confront the shady dealings of a close-knit rural community.

In the highly-anticipated fourth installment in his critically-acclaimed series, Randall Silvis returns with a case that might break Ryan DeMarco for good.”


After reading the story, I am definitely interested in going back to the beginning of the series and seeing how the characters progressed to this point. I will warn you, if you have not read the other books, there are some pretty evident spoilers for previous books, so you may want to keep that in mind. As for the story, I really enjoyed the relationship between DeMarco and Jayme. The have so much love for each other and it is so refreshing to read. Ryan DeMarco is such a fascinating character, and he has an extremely likable personality that makes you want to root for his success! The plot moved a little slow in the beginning for me, but picked up before the halfway mark, and then I didn’t want to put it down. For those of you who have read the rest of the series, this is a MUST READ! If you have not, I would highly recommend starting from the beginning to avoid spoilers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy!

This is a great series! This book can be read as a stand alone, but I really recommend reading it from the beginning for continuity and character development.
Former Sergeant Ryan DeMarco and his girlfriend Jayme are still recovering from the traumatic effects of their last case. They just want to spend some peaceful quality time together.
But when the remains of two burnt bodies and another maimed one are found in the nearby Pennsylvanian forest, he and Jayme are asked to assist with the triple murder case. They are pulled into the ongoing suspicious enterprises in the area, and danger lurks ahead for them.
A darkly atmospheric and brilliantly written series, with fantastic characters that really come to life. I enjoy following the procedures and thought processes that lead to solving the crimes.
What didn't work as well for me in this book were the lengthy musings of theories and beliefs that pulled me out of the story at times, and overall this murder case just didn't grab my interest.
But I look forward to the upcoming installments of the series, to find out what happens next for these highly regarded characters.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

No Woods So Dark as These by Randall Silvis is a very highly recommended procedural and the fourth book in the Ryan DeMarco Series.

Ryan DeMarco, former Sergeant with the Pennsylvania State Police, and Jayme Matson, a former State Trooper, have earned a break. The two have decided to take time off to recover from the horror and devastation of their last case, including the loss of their unborn child. Their goal is for a peaceful life while they both recover mentally and emotionally. That goal is shattered when Ryan's old boss Capt. Kyle Bowen requests their help in the investigation of a horrendous crime scene. Two bodies are burned beyond recognition in a car while nearby a man is impaled with rebar to a tree. The leads take them into the world of a drug dealer. While they are helping to uncover clues and track down the main suspect, there is information a former colleague is trying to hint at that must be figured out and their old nemesis Daksh Khatri is clearly targeting both of them.

No Woods So Dark as These is absolutely riveting and held my rapt attention from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed and portrayed as very complex, humane, intelligent individuals. I loved everything about them. They are both in a pensive, reflective mood in the novel and are trying to leave the darkness of all their previous investigations and life experiences behind while looking for a peaceful existence and healing. They are both good people who have been conscripted into another investigation full of horror, lies, scheming, fear, and subterfuge. It will warm the hearts of dog lovers everywhere when they adopt a puppy and set about naming him. Not only does it lighten the darkness, it is endearing.

The plot is very well paced and the short chapters keep the narrative moving, making the investigation, clues, and action easy to follow. The story can be dark due to the nature of the case they are following as well as the people and the clues. This is a case that requires the careful, watchful experience of seasoned investigators who are used to uncovering clues and facts that people are desperate to keep hidden. The ending is a jaw-dropping, heart-stopping moment.

The four books in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery Series are: Two Days Gone (Book 1); Walking the Bones (Book 2); A Long Way Down (Book 3); and No Woods So Dark as These (Book 4). You can read this final book as a stand-alone, but, after lamenting your poor choices in life, you will want to immediately go back and read the first three leading up to the fourth.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Sourcebooks via Netgalley.
The review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Randall Silvis is a gifted writer. In the Ryan DeMarco series, Silvis walks the tightrope between crime genre and literary fiction. He writes beautifully about life, while his characters are engaged in solving crimes. These books are so much more than mysteries.

DeMarco is (now, in the fourth installment of the series) a retired Pennsylvania state cop, a former sergeant. He's of a philosophical bent, which means he overthinks everything -- including his sad and traumatic past.

What I like about the series: 1) the depth and complexity of the characters; 2) Silvis' intelligent writing style; 3) his perceptive handling of the female point of view -- perhaps the best I've read from any male writer, and 4) his knowledge of and respect for the rural Pennsylvania setting.

The problems I had with this particular book: I disagree with the numerous readers who said No Woods So Dark as These could serve as a standalone. I've read and loved the other three books that preceded it, and there were still many, many spots where I was baffled by a reference to characters or events from the earlier novels -- without even a paragraph to place it or them in context.

Then there was the ending. I like the shock value of a good cliffhanger, but this one felt manipulative. Not sure I'll be reading the (reported) 5th installment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance readers copy.

Title: No Woods So Dark as These
Author: Randall Silvis
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

Former Sergeant Ryan DeMarco's life has been spent in defiance--he's defied death, loneliness, and betrayal all while fighting the worst parts of humanity. He's earned a break, and following the devastation of their last case, DeMarco and his girlfriend Jayme want nothing more than to live quietly in each other's company. To forget the horrors they've experienced and work on making each other whole again.

But dreams of a peaceful life together are shattered when two bodies are discovered in a smoldering car in the woods, and another is found brutally mutilated nearby. Much as he'd like to leave the case to his former colleagues, dark forces are at play and DeMarco cannot escape the vortex of lies, betrayal, and desperation. He and Jayme are dragged back into the fray, where they must confront the shady dealings of a close-knit rural community.

I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series, and I enjoyed this one as well, although there was quite a bit more introspection from the characters than in the previous novels—which seems a bit odd for a thriller. Facing mortality after the events of the previous novel, maybe?

Silvis’s writing is sharp and solid as always, but this book seemed to be more about DeMarco’s mental struggles than the actual case. Jayme is also struggling, but Ryan is the focus here, which I enjoyed.

Randall Silvis is an award-winning author. No Woods So Dark as These is his newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Poisoned Penn Press in exchange for an honest review.)

No Woods So Dark as These is the fourth book in the Ryan DeMarco mystery series. I enjoyed it as a standalone novel but did not feel that I was at any particular disadvantage not having read the first three instalments, though some familiarity with the characters might have enriched my reading experience.

Ryan DeMarco, a former Pennsylvania State Trooper, is asked to assist in the investigation of a triple murder. He is joined in the investigation by his girlfriend and work partner, former State Trooper Jayme Matson, and other young troopers, Daniella Flores and Mason Boyd. The victims are almost impossible to identify so they are struggling from the offset, however, after canvassing and interviewing the town's residents, they soon pinpoint a suspect. Can DeMarco and Matson find the evidence they need to solve the case? As DeMarco is consumed by his perceived failings as a father, husband and son, he and Jayme use the investigation to try and help them come to terms with recent tragic events.

The pacing in this terrific crime mystery is comfortable and strong. The book encompasses some hard hitting topics, such as infertility, drug abuse, and mental health. I relished in Randall Silvis' rich, outstanding writing - it completely drew me into the story and the characters lives. I will certainly be reading more of this fabulous author's work, checking out the first three books of this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I didn’t realise going into this book that it was the fourth in the series. I am glad I continued with the book due to the fact I actually ended up quite enjoying it. I feel like this book is one of those that if you can read the first ones in the series you will benefit greatly however you can read them as a stand alone. I am now looking into getting myself the first three so that I can reread and appreciate this one a little bit more.

I loved the suspense and the characters. I feel like the procedure part of it is accurate. Which is always a bonus in books like this especially with my line of work.

I will be recommending this series and I am looking forward to other books within the series.

DeMarcos and Matson have retired from the police force after their last case, a case that has scarred them and left them broken in many ways. When a horrific crime scene in discovered, they are called back in as private investigators. DeMarcos worries that it’s too soon, but Jayme seems to blossom a bit as she pours herself into the case. As they work on the case they end up collecting a small group of people along with an abused puppy. People that are struggling, lost or just trying to fit in. People that are in need of their mentorship. Their recent case, that ended badly, is still very much in the forefront, and is hanging over their heads. Throughout it all their deep love for each other shines through and their bantering and relationship is quite endearing. This series has been exceptionally well done and I’ve very much enjoyed it right up until it’s gut punching ending.

I'm torn. I wanted to love this book. I loved the first book in the series. Somehow I missed the other books and came in on this one. Maybe that was my problem. I felt like I came into the middle of a trilogy. The ending kind of confirmed that for me. But I am getting ahead of myself.

The story can be read alone but it does constantly refer back to the previous books. A plot point of this book is some guy who has nothing to do with the current mystery. It's really distracting if you are not familiar with the previous book. The crime is truly gruesome. However, it doesn't turn out to be all that interesting a back story. I felt that it was just a vehicle to link back to something else we don't see in this book, while introducing new characters (the best being a dog who may or may not have his forever name by the end of the book).

Aside from the fact that the underlying crime and it's investigation turns out to not be all that interesting (at least not yet, you get the feeling that there is more and you will have to read the next book), the characters are often just wandering around their own head rehashing the same things over and over. Their love is the best ever. We get it. And it seems strangely religious and right winged in a lot of places. It just got preachy and I started to lose interest. Often. I really wish it was as good as the first.

No Woods So Dark as These is the fourth book in the Ryan DeMarco series. I can be read as a standalone novel, but reading the first three would be helpful.

This is an amazing thriller and the first book I've read by Randall Silvis. It won't be the last. Sometimes a reader just clicks with a writer, and this happened with me. The way Silvis writes keeps me spellbound, even with scenery description, which is not usually my favorite thing. For me, this is one of the best current writers I've come across. I can't wait to read more of his work, and I will go back and read the first three books of this series.

I received a free copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.