Find Me In The Dark by Dea Poirer is one of the most comfortable police procedural thrillers I have ever heard. Think of when you are home sick and you find a Law & Order SVU marathon on-and all are Stabler centric episodes-just that feeling of I can just rest now and enjoy the show.

Homicide Detective Harlow Durant knows when she gets the call that once again a female has been found buried in another snow bank that they are dealing with a serial killer...and she knows serial killers. After all, her father was one of the most notorious ones of the century. But she changes her name, never stays too long in one place and never makes friends so that no one knows her real connection to murder.

Narrator Lisa Rost Welling is perfect as the angst ridden Harlow and the intense cast of characters. Her ability to play a misogynistic cop then in the same scene make you feel Harlow's utter disdain for the man is pure genius.

This is book one of a series that can't be written fast enough for me. I just want more of Harlow's story. Also, her partner Lucas is so absolutely the Stabler to her Olivia. Just a really excellent satisfying crime thriller.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from #Bookouture via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Bookouture for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I was lucky enough to get an audio ARC of this book as well as an ebook. I had a day of essentially data entry at work so the audio was the perfect thing to stop me from falling asleep.

Detective Harlow Durant has been through so much. she has spent her life dealing with the consequences of her father's actions. I was disappointed that so many officers were determined to ruin Harlow's life. Harlow is trying to right her father's wrongs by hunting killers and so many officers seem to think that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Some people are so small-minded. I really liked Harlow. She knows how to stand up for herself and doesn't take crap from anyone! At times I did think she was a little harsh on her partner but I think she is just o used to having to be defensive that she's forgotten how to have someone on her side. Dea also perfectly wove in Harlow's past. I can't wait for more of that to be unravelled as the series progresses.

I really liked Harlow's partner Lucas. I know he's a bit green but I think he has good instincts and that will help him go far. He's also got a good heart. He came into the police for good reasons. I do hope Harlow decides to stay put this time as I'd like to see her relationship with Lucas develop. The rest of the cops in this book were either useless, creeps or both. I don't know how Harlow puts up with them. If they aren't making lewd comments about her then they are bullying poor Lucas.

The case was quite a strange one with so many dead ends. I felt so frustrated for Harlow and Lucas. I had absolutely no idea who the killer was. Dea did an excellent job of hiding it from me.

Lisa made a really great narrator for this book too. I thought she did an excellent job of building the suspense and tension through the book.

I really enjoyed this book. I blitzed through this in pretty much one day I was loathed to stop listening for a meeting I had at the end of the day with only 30 minutes left! This was an excellent start to what I hope will be a thrilling series!

Pub Date: October 21

Detective Harlow has been running from her past her whole life, trying to keep everyone she works with from finding out that she’s the daughter of a serial killer. We follow two timelines—current day where she and her partner, Lucas, work on a violent case in upstate New York, and 25 years earlier as we unpack life with her father.

I really enjoyed all the details and layers packed into the story. Having the dual timelines where our characters’ pasts were slowly revealed kept me invested the entire time. There is some violence, as you’d expect, but nothing overtly gory or disturbing. The narration was just okay so I’d recommend reading this rather than listening.

This is the first in the Detective Harlow Durant series. I enjoyed this a lot and will definitely be continuing the series!

I’ve also come to realize that police procedurals are a favorite of mine. If that’s the same for you, I can easily recommend this be added to your TBR!

QOTD: Do you have a theme you enjoy most when reading mystery thrillers?

Big thanks to Netgalley & Bookouture Audio for this advanced listening copy!

In this new series by Dea Poirier we are introduced to Detective Harlow Durant, daughter of a serial killer. Harlow lives her life without planting roots, running from her father’s past and trying to resolve her own identity. Her current placement in upstate New York brings her a new partner, Lucas Park, and a mysterious set of murders to solve.
This is an easy, fast read. The dynamic between Lucas and Harlow is charming, and I really enjoyed every scene they were in together.
The story is interspersed with memories of Harlow’s childhood with her father which sets up a thrilling conclusion.
The audiobook was well done.

Find Me in the Dark is a fascinating story and a great introduction to a new series of books! Detective Harlow Duran is assigned to work a case in a small town when a young woman is found murdered and they are in a rush to find a suspect before more bodies turn up. The Detective had a traumatic childhood that she is still trying to run from. The author has wound a story together including past and present and will keep you turning the pages and wishing for more! I listened to this in audiobook form and and enjoyed the narrator! I am looking forward to more books in this series!
Thank you to @netgalley , Dea Poirier and Bookouture for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was great, I really enjoyed this crime/thriller as it was an amazing page turner. It is the first detective novel I have read in a while and I was at the edge of my seat throughout. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was really good adding atmosphere and tension of the story. I ended up binge read this book in just over a day. It was well written and the flow was brilliant, this made understanding the plot very easy. The author really brought the characters to life, making them believable and created a real connection to them from the very start. This book had a very creepy air to it and a fantastic sense of atmosphere. I loved the fact it could of been anyone doing the killings a great who done it murder mystery. Which lead to me constantly trying to work out who was the murder it was... no way am I telling you that would spoil the whole book. I thought the cover was excellent a real tension masterpiece. The main character was great a strong female protagonist. I really enjoyed her back story aswell.
Many thanks to the author and publishing team for bringing us this creepy, gripping, atmospheric and tension filled crime thriller to us just in time for Halloween 🎃. Already left the review on waterstones, Barnes&noble will leave others on publication date review is live on my blog

https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/find-me-in-the-dark-by-dea-poirier-bookouture-audio-4-stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Harlow Durant is a female detective working in a men's field. With a haunting past she is trying to atone for the sins of another. A woman found dead in the snow turns into the case that makes her confront her past while trying to track down a killer.

I enjoyed the narrator of this story and the switch from her past to her present, with little snippets of the killer thrown in. I thought the storyline moved pretty quickly and the tension built up around the murderer. The friendship between Harlow and partner was believable and I was grateful it was a platonic friendship and the author didn't try to make it a romance. The cliffhanger ending made me eager for the next in the series.

-The audio version, when sped up did have some sound issues that may want to be addressed prior to release.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Dea Poirier, and Bookouture Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always eager to discover great authors that have never crossed my radar, I picked up this series debut by Dea Poirier. As I usually enjoy a dark police procedural with a strong backstory for the protagonist, Poirier pulled me in with the opening chapters and I could not get enough. A body found in a pile of snow could be a snowblower accident in upstate New York. However, when more bodies appear and Detective Harlow Durant receives messages instructing her to leave, it would appear that a killer is lurking in the shadows and targeting young women. Chilling and intense throughout, perfect for those who need something to keep them on edge.

While Plattsburgh, New York is no joy in the winter, when the Spring thaw commences, it is usually quite nice. However, this March may be the exception, when the body of a young woman is found sticking out of a snowbank. It appears as though she’s been there quite a while, encased in ice and preserved for all to see.

Detective Harlow Durant arrives on the scene to assess the situation before her. Part of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Durant has much to prove to her colleagues, as well as a number of secrets. For the time being, she’ll keep the case at hand and look for a break to make this a quick solve.

After identifying the victim from a list of missing person reports, Durant discovers that the woman lived two lives, depending on who knew her. Working alongside a new partner, Durant tries to piece it all together, only to find herself with more questions than answers. All the while, someone threatens her for being in town and investigating. Should she be heeding the anonymous advice?

When another body emerges in the snow, Durant knows that this is the work of the same person, but struggles to connect the dots. All the while, her secret past begins to emerge to her colleagues, some of whom are ready to pounce on her and cast her out. Durant will have to work through it all and find that one clue, buried out there, to tie the killings together, in hopes of locating a killer before it becomes a spree. A great series debut that has me wanting more.

While this was my first Dea Poirier book, it will certainly not be my last. This novel had all the elements I look for in a great thriller and kept my attention throughout. I found the narrative crisp and the plot ever-developing, which left me wanting to know more with each passing chapter. I cannot wait to see where Harlow Durant goes within the series.

Harlow Durant was a well-crafted protagonist with a great deal going on. If it’s not her sharp police work, it’s trying to handle many of the flashbacks to her fated childhood, with a father who led a double life and a mother who abandoned her at the worst time. Balancing these two areas of her life, Durant enriches the story with her presence and kept me wanting to learn more. Gritty as needed but also showing some slight vulnerabilities, she’s surely got a lot to show readers in the future.

Poirier knows how to write and deliver a strong thriller, of that I have no doubt. The narrative flowed well and kept gaining momentum at the perfect time, leaving the reader to wonder what was coming next. Using the small town setting, the story was not lost in the rush of the big city, allowing it to complement the plot as it thickened. Great writing and just the right number of twists keep the reader guessing until the final reveal, yet also opening new and chilling avenues for the next novel to come. I will be waiting anxiously, to see what Dea Poirier has for us next.

Kudos, Madam Poirier, for a stunning series debut that left me with some burning questions. I will certainly be back for more!

I was really happy to find a new police detective book and I especially loved the fact that it is set in America. I loved the narrator's American accent too. The story is about Detective Harlow Durant, the daughter of a serial killer, who, while working alongside Detective Lucas Park at the New York Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, helps to convict serial killers like her Dad. I loved the characters and the story and I look forward to reading more detective books from this author!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this thriller, the clues and information trickled out throughout so it didn’t get boring, the detective had a dark past that intrigues the reader and it ended on a complete cliffhanger
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for letting me read an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Narrator 3 stars

Story 3 stars

I didn't like the narrators interpretation of the characters and I think I would have preferred to have read this.
The premise was really interesting however.

Find me in the Dark

I struggled with this book. Honestly I would have given up if it wasn’t an ARC kindly provided by @netgalley

My main issue was with the writing, it conveyed *so much minutiae*. Great writing (in my opinion) give you enough of a picture to imagine the rest. It flows and allows the reader to create a moving image in their mind. This book detailed every movement of each character and gave descriptions of everything from coffee cups to cars. I found myself constantly waiting for something of substance, and it made me constantly zone out.

The other aspect I didn’t enjoy was the plot. It was stale and overdone. Closed off police detective with emotional baggage - check. New partner who manages to slowly peel away their layers and help them to trust again - check. Overbearing authority figure - check. Overt sexual harassment of female main character - check. And there was no satisfying twist to cap it all off either! I felt like it just.. petered out. Although I will admit the final quarter was the most engaging.

I desperately wanted something new but this just didn’t deliver. It felt like the equivalent of drinking day old, stale coffee, a recurring theme in this book.

Unfortunately I can’t recommend this one. Oh well, you can’t win em’ all!

Find Me In The Dark by Dea Poirier

Detective Harlow Durant has spent most of her life trying to escape the shadow of her tormented past. She's the daughter of a convicted serial killer. Harlow is determined to turn her life around! She is the only female detective at the New York Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, bringing killers like her father to justice!

A body of a young woman is found inside a melting snowbank upstate in the small collage town of Plattsburgh. Harlow and her partner Detective Lucas Park are called to investigate.

As they search for evidence, the snow continues to melt and soon another two victims are discovered. It is then clear they are hunting for a serial killer. Do these women have anything in common?

The two is living in fear with the killer at large. Harlow soon receives a chilling message from someone who knows her father's case and knows she's hidden the secret from the bureau. Will the bureau find out? What will happen? Is she being scared off the case?

With a pending snowstorm heading across the state, Harlow is determined to find the killer before another dead body shows up. Will it be too late? Or can they bring the killer to justice before another body is found? Will they be found in the cross fire?

It was a little slower than I wished, but I still enjoyed listening to it. I enjoyed Harlow's character. A tough woman! As I mentioned I felt the story was a little slow and then at the end it seemed very rushed to finish. Still a good plot. Look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you Dea Poirier, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the audio to listen to this book in return for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley, Dea Poirier and Bookouture for the advanced eARC of "Find Me in the Dark" and allowing me to give my honest review!

Detective Harlow Durant has spent the majority of her life trying to escape her father's shadow. As a known serial killer, Harlow knew she wanted to be on the other side of the law and become a detective to put people like her father away. When she transfers to a New York Detective Unit, she finds herself too close to home. When a serial killer is walking the streets, killing college girls, Harlow doesn't stop until she finds the killer - even getting herself caught in the cross fire.

I loved this! It was definitely a slower burn and really made you want to know who the serial killer could have been. I felt like I was playing detective, trying to piece together the clues myself. I had the pleasure of speaking to Dea via instagram and she told me that this book is part of a series! So I am looking forward to seeing how this all plays out.

Great job!

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and Dea Poirier for an Audio-ARC in return for writing an honest review.

This book follows the story of Detective Harlow Durant who is trying to find her way in CID with her new name. There is a serial killer on the loose and Harlow is trying to keep her past from getting out.

This book is the definition of crime-thriller. It is fast-paced, gripping and exciting. Harlow is a likeable 'hard-ass' who is tough but fair. The characters a likeable and the story is easy to follow.

The narrator was perfect for the characters and gave added character to Harlow. The narrator was well suited to the story and fitted perfectly.

i really enjoyed listening to this book. The daughter if a killer Harlow has survived an unusual childhood and goes on to be a detective.

The book centres around her and her investigations. a great mystery which leaves you on a cliff hanger so i look forward to the second one

As the body of a young woman is found buried in a snowbank Detective Harlow Durant tries to find out what has happened.
Some people claim that the young woman lead a secret life. This is somethng Harlow can relate to! So she is keen to solve this case which turns out even nastier when another female student is found dead.

This is certainly one start for a dark series and I really enjoyed the narration of this audiobook. It kept my attentionwhile listening and I hardly wanted to stop listening!

Thanks a lot #NetGalley #Bookouture Audio, Bookouture for an Advanced Audio Version

This is a good solid detective novel with good coverage on the procedural aspect of investigating a crime. What I particularly loved about the book is that it didn't finish as soon as the 'baddie' was arrested. It feels like a strong start to the series and I look forward to the character development as the series progresses - it would also be good to get more detail on Harlow's partner, Lucas, who I really liked. In all honesty, I can't say that I particularly liked Harlow, who is pretty hung up on her father's crimes and has a strong opinion on the challenges women face in a male-dominated occupation like law enforcement, but I can see that she is a good contrast to Lucas.

Overall, I found the story enjoyable, although I don't particularly have strong feelings about it either way. If you enjoy police mysteries, you will probably enjoy this one.

Many thanks to NetGallery and Bookouture Audio for approving my request.

Detective Harlow Durant is a homicide detective, the only female investigator at the New York Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, she is also the daughter of a convicted serial killer - something she likes to keep quiet. Harlow and her new partner, Lucas Park are sent to investigate the murder of a teenage girl at a college town in Upstate New York, who's body was found in a snow bank. As more bodies begin to appear after more snow storms, it becomes clear that this is the work of a serial killer. During the investigation, Harlow is receiving threatening text messages, warning her off the case...does somebody know about her past?

I enjoyed this book immensely, it had me suspecting so many people, I didn't know which characters to trust and the story had me completely on edge at times - it was everything I love about a crime thriller. I like both Harlow and Lucus, I'm so glad this is going to be a series...especially after that ending. I can't wait for the next book! Lisa Rost-Welling did an amazing job with the narration, the way she switched voices for each character was great.

What's the book about?

Detective Harlow Durant has spent her life trying to escape the shadows of her tormented past. As the daughter of a convicted serial killer, she was determined to change her life. She's now the only female detective at the NYP Bureau of Criminal Investigation, where she is bringing killers like her father to justice.
The body of a young woman was discovered inside a melting snowbank in the upstate college town of Plattsburgh. Harlow and her partner, Detective Lucas Park, are dispatched to the scene right away to conduct an investigation. While searching around the victim's frozen body, they come across a bracelet that identifies the victim as Alyssa Trent, a college student.
Two more victims are discovered during their investigation. Harlow is clearly on the trail of a serial killer, as the body count continues to rise. With the town on edge and a murderer on the loose, Harlow receives a chilling message from someone familiar with her father's case and aware of the secret she has kept from the bureau. Is she being warned to stay away from the investigation? Will Harlow risk everything to apprehend a serial killer before they strike again, with a freak April snowstorm bearing down on the state?

My thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Good pace, good character, good plot! I especially liked the feminist angle in a boys club that only a female writer can truly capture. The only thing I wished would have been different was how quickly the serial killer was caught. It felt rushed to me but even then, the book ends with a good bang.