First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, D.K. Hood, 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 try a new author’s work, I turned to D.K. Hood. This is a great crime thriller with some intriguing backstory about the protagonist, sure to impress the reader. In a story that works with serial killers, online presence, and a secret best kept under wraps, Hood weaves a tale that kept me listening until I could get to the end, leaving nothing to chance. A well-paced thriller that proves Hood is at the top of her game!

Beth Katz has a family secret; that her father is a serial killer and has helped push her into be a vigilante. After earning her spot in the FBI, Beth has taken it upon herself to find serial killers and end their terror by killing them herself. She is careful and leaves calling cards, though no one is aware of this.

When another killer is found dead, Special Agent Beth Katz is in the middle of it, though her cover is not blown. Higher-ups feel that she is in need some some stress relief and she is reassigned to a small community in Montana to cool her heels and reset. Disgruntled by the decision, Beth mopes, but agrees to the temporary reassignment, which might help keep her cover.

Working with her new partner in Montana, Dax Styles, Special Agent Katz is called to the scene when the body of a missing schoolgirl is found in a field. Brooklyn Daniels was last seen with her friend a week ago, before the girls went missing. The scene sends shivers up Special Agent Katz’s spine, as she knows this layout from notes in a cold case she’s studied. Two girls go missing and one turns up dead soon thereafter. This is the world of some one who is able to earn the trust of children, deemed the Pied Piper.

While trying to locate Brooklyn’s killer, there is another mystery in the middle of all this. Where is the second girl and what is the killer doing with that victim. Trolling online sources, Katz and Styles realise that there could be some sinister things going on, including slavery or prostitution rings. Trying to lure the Pied Piper out of hiding will be essentials, though Special Agent Katz will have to try to keep from killing him as well, which is surely trying her patience with every passing moment. Every moment counts and with the killer out there, Katz will have to work with Styles not only to find a killer, but try to bust. the motive wide open to bring closure to many families. D.K. Hood is masterful with this piece and kept me wanting to know more the further I made it into the book.

I love books that centre around serial murder and strong crime thrillers. D.K. Hood has all the elements to a successful novel and utilises many of the tools at her disposal. A strong narrative foundation propels the book forward and keeps the story sharp. Hood offers up some great tidbits that not only help solidify this story, but lays the groundwork for what will surely be a strong series. Characters, both presented and developed, keep the story moving, while also adding something interesting to the reading experience. Beth Katz has a lot going on and the reader gets a great insight into her struggles, as well as capabilities. The plot points were placed perfectly to keep the reader guessing and on their toes. What proved even more interesting was Hood’s analysis, not only of serial killers, but how children are preyed upon with ease in this tech-savvy world. I am eager to get my hands on more in the series, which appears to have a second book on its way soon. There is much more to discover with Katz, as well as her new residence in rural Montana.

Kudos, Madam Hood, for piquing my interest with ease.

I received this audiobook as an ARC from NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook! Beth's character is one of the most relatable and real characters I have experienced in a while! The narrator did a great job of capturing her voice and the story behind her darkness. D.K. Hood you are awesome!

This new series will be a quick hit with the thriller crowd. It needed some polishing, but the 2nd book will hopefully do that! This was my first D.K. Hood novel. A quick and engaging audio book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Copied from Goodreads:
“Dark Angel” is the first in a new series about an FBI agent whose actions are not always within the FBI handbook. The novel starts off with a bang when Beth Katz takes down a DC area pedophile on her own. Her actions lead her to be banished to an FBI outpost located in a small Montana town. She and her partner/supervisor soon find themselves embroiled in the “Pied Piper” pedophile case that has plagued the FBI for at least three years. I do not have firsthand knowledge of the dark web or FBI, but the details seemed accurate and realistic without bogging down the plot.

Beth’s demons are front and center throughout the novel, but her character does show some growth regardless. It reminds me of other vigilante crime fighter novels, but its similarities do not detract from the book as a whole. I can see it being a solid series and look forward to the next installment.

Many thanks to Bookouture Audio via NetGalley for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Beth Katz is a FBI agent with a secret--she hunts serial killers off duty. A bit of a female Dexter. Beth's father was a serial killer and she thinks she also a sociopath. Beth gets transferred to a remote area in Montana which might make her extracurriculars more difficult.

Beth and her new partner are on the trail of a killer/kidnapper of young girls. Overall a good thriller.

I enjoyed Lauryn Allman's narration.

I loved this book! Beth’s father is a convicted serial killer and now she is a FBI agent who tends to take things into her own hands. I feel like Beth is the perfect mix between the Dr. Gretchen White series by Brianna Labuskes & the Mercy Kilpatrick series by Kendra Elliot. A core idea in this story is what is Morality vs Legality. Most times what is legally correct, isn’t morally correct. I’m excited for the rest of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

FBI agent Beth Katz is relocated when she fails a psych test, to the middle of nowhere Montana with Dax Styles. Their first case involves two missing girls which reminds Beth of another case she had worked on, The Pied Piper. Can they figure out who this person is before any more children go missing?

Beth and Dax clash in several ways, she’s a go getter and lives on the edge and he’s more laid back and relaxed. Can these two make their partnership work?

This is another amazing series tied in with D.K. Hoods Detectives Kane and Alton series, all set in the beautiful state of Montana.

I very much enjoyed the crime thriller "Dark Angel" by best-selling writer, D.K. Hood, and narrated by Lauryn Allman.

This is the first of a brand-new detective series about Beth Katz, an FBI special agent who's experienced in cyber crime. She also knows a thing or two about catching serial killers.


What I liked:

--Fast-moving, short chapters

--Engaging characters, especially Beth who's a vigilante, and her new partner, Dax Styles

--Listenable at 2X, so the 10-hr audio can be enjoyed in 5 hours

--Great character accents by Allman


What I didn't love:

--A bit melodramatic in tone and inflection.


Trigger warning for pedophilia, rape and child porn.

Special thanks to Bookouture Audio for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook via the NetGalley app.

Publishes on September 12, 2023

I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture through netgalley.com I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is currently free on kindle unlimited

Beth is an FBI agent. She is also a serial killer known as the Tarot Card Killer. Beth's father was a serial killer and awoke the dark side of her when he killed her mother, the difference is that Beth only kills other serial killers and other murders.

Due to a psych eval after a case Beth is sent to more secluded spot where she partners up with a man who also bends the law, just not as much as Beth. Together they stumble upon a case where the killer takes two girls, kills one and the other seems to disappear.

This is an interesting story that reminds me a bit of Candice Fox's Archer and Bennet series and also a bit of Dexter. The concept of a serial killer also being a law enforcement agent is not new but this was done well. I liked how Beth has to constantly hold her other side back and secret it away from her partner. She isn't quite as controlled as she thinks she is. Not only does the mystery pull you along but so does the question of will she be caught and what will her partner do if he finds out? Will she kill him? Will he turn her in?

I just discovered that the 2nd book in this series is being released not the same day as this one. It will also be available free on kindle unlimited.

Wow! I will reading anything D.K Hood writes her other series is brilliant!!! Beth was actually briefly mentioned in one of them just not who she actually is, Beth is my sort of person strong dependent slightly crazy! I adored her and her new partner Dax and his adorable dog. The crime is truly shocking. This book is fact paced heart stopping. I couldn’t stop listening and already have book 2 waiting. This my be my new favourite FBI team
The audio book was fantastic. This was written so way it just flowed I didn’t want it to end. Thankyou so much D K Hood for yet another brilliant thriller

This latest venture by DK Hood features FBI Special Agent Beth Katz starting with the series debut, Dark Angel.

I love getting in on the ground level of a new series. The debut novel sees the FBI in search of a child serial killer and Beth has been relocated and given a new partner.

Dark Angel is dark and so much more. There is lots more to Beth and the killer she is hunting, than a simple police procedural.

Her sometimes unorthodox and 'gray area' methods cause some friction between her and her new partner Dax but she is mostly able to hide the monster within.

As a morally gray character Beth often fights her darker impulses but at times, the fight is fruitless.

Dark Angel is a compelling read and I was surprised to find that I shared some common ground with Beth.

There is no doubt that justice is the motivating factor in everything she does which gives her character a likeability.

Personally, I really like both the light and dark sides she presents and can't wait for her next case that showcases her particular brand of justice.

I read all of the Kain and Alton series and I can see a similarity already forming, I do love how D,K incorporated both of the series, bringing in characters but you can still read the series independently without spoilers. I do wish the narrator of the book had a little variety in their reading. Sometimes I had trouble following and it felt like it was all running together. Of course, with this being a series, I'm expecting it to get smoother and I'm excited to read what comes next.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Dark Angel
DK Hood

🌟🌟🌟🌟

So, having read the blurb for this one after I finished reading, I actually can't write my usual style of review.
Normally I'd write a little blurb to describe the theme...but even this, I feel, might give too much away!
So....no plot info at all!

I loved the setting for this. It absolutely fitted the genre and storyline perfectly.
Secluded, forest areas galore and off the beaten track. But plenty of opportunity for the expansion of the "whore houses" and drug trade. So lots to be explored by the police and FBI.

Beth and Styles just made the best team! It seemed at first as though they wouldn't get on. Beth with her ways of getting around the rules and Styles a total stickler. But as the story went on and the characters developed, they really found ways to trust each other and work well together.

In terms of the storyline, all I can say is how brilliantly worked through it was and presented to us.
I had absolutely no clue who "The Pied Piper" was and even when this was revealed the plot that came after was gripping and shocking. A brilliant end to what had been a complex case.

All in all, I really enjoyed this. It was definitely a slow burn as opposed to being on the edge of your seat, but there was lots going on and sections where the tension built up and had me gripped.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what book 2 holds for us as I'm already certain I'm going to love it!




💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

Oooh loved this book. Follows Beth Katz, the female Dexter with a code of her own. She is a serial killer full of compassion, who also likes animals. Read this quickly and left me wanting more so I'll search for the rest of the series. Great narration on audiobook, can't fault it. I usually stay away from books about abuse and kids but one of the people she hunted was a nonce, however it didn't upset me as some other books might, it was well done. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this, my review has been left on Goodreads and Bookmory.

This is an exciting mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. The story is fast-paced and moves along smoothly. The characters are wonderfully described, and the character development is impressive the story is suspenseful and intriguing. The FBI are hunting a serial killer, in a remote town. One agent is experienced and the other is a new transfer with a very dark side. As we move along the story, we see them try to find a balance. They need to work together to solve this case. D.K.Hood has done a remarkable job bringing everything together. This is one murder mystery I definitely enjoyed!

Dark Angel by D.K.Hood is overall a pretty solid first book in the Detective Beth Katz series. At first I worried I'd dnf it but the storyline is actually pretty good. I just thought the dialogue was pretty cheesy and corny. But the action and what was happening was really nice. I just wish it was not as corny!!! Maybe I'm just used to more gore when it comes to similar books. I have listened to other books narrated by Lauryn Allman and she is very talented and can do believable male voices. But I feel like for this book she made the main character sound a bit old. Maybe it's just me! The story is very good and I ended up enjoying it!

A quick gripping read which makes perfect lazy weekend reading. A bit corny and a bit predictable but that's also what makes it enjoyable. Personally I'd have liked to see some more accurate serial killer research in there but it's fiction and the writing is good so I'll forgive the author this creative license.

This is the first book in the Detective Beth Katz series. Interesting storyline that had great potential but for me it lacked something. It felt like there was too much emphasis on Beth’s vigilante ways and “untouchable” attitude then on the actual storyline and it took from the plot for me as I found it a little unbelievable when it came to that aspect. I didn’t really feel there was a suspense factor or any big twists which is a must in a storyline like this. I really liked Beth and Dax as characters and together they’re a great duo. The narration was engaging and held my attention. The FBI procedural side of the storyline was really interesting and really well developed when it came to profiling etc. It was an interesting listen but just lacked a few things to me and going forward if the theres as much emphasis on Beth’s “vigilante” ways I’m not sure I’d be as inclined to want to read anymore of the series unfortunately.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review #DarkAngel

Title: Dark Angel
Author: D. K. Hood
Series: Special Agent Beth Katz
Narrator: Lauren Allman
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Crime Thriller
Pub Date: September 12, 2023
My Rating: 4.3 Stars
Pages: 361

Special agent Beth Katz is great at being an FBI agent and delivering justice. She is especially good at tracking down psychopathic serial killers. She knows how their mind works as she has had first-hand experience as her own father was a serial killer.
Question: Is being a serial killer hereditary?
It appears Beth has a dark side when it comes to psychopathic killers.

Story starts with Beth in DC on a case where a serial killer has targeted young Missy and has taken another girl. Beth finds him on top of her and Beth slits his throat; when her partner shows up. He asks ~”Why did you killed him? We wanted him alive!”
She lies and states that is the way she found the crime scene. Missy reports that she was saved by an angel. We, of course, know that angel is Beth - a dark Angel. He suspects that she has a dark side and reports that he believes she needs a psych evaluation.
She has the evaluation and it is decided to reevaluate in a year but she is transferred out of DC to the FBI Field post in Rattlesnake Creek, Montana.

As Beth is settling in, she decides work isn’t all that bad when you can wear jeans, boots and a Stetson hat to work.
One of her first cases in Montana is when young Brooklyn Daniels and her best friend Skylar Peters go missing when they went wildflower picking in the forest outside. We learn that Brooklyn and Skylar are approached by a man they believe is a warlock. He befriends them and they trust him. SO when he asks if they want to see the ‘Fairy Queen’’ they both agree.
Sadly he kills Brooklyn and takes Skylar.

Beth and her partner Dax Styles arrive at the scene and immediately are aware that this is the same MO as a ‘Piped Piper Serial killer’. They both know they have a serial killer they need to find.

As they continue to investigate Beth is desperate to find the missing girl and decides to put herself up for bait which is against Dax’s orders…

My first author, D.K. Hood] ~Thought this crime was disturbing - I am looking forward to reading another story she writes or has written.
In fact, this ends with a bit of a teaser regarding next in this series.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for granted me this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 12, 2023.

Dark Angel (Detective Beth Katz Book 1) by D.K. Hood

Beth Katz who was a FBI Agent and her father was a serial killer. Beth found herself capable in killing those who deserved to die.

A body of a schoolgirl was found. Beth and her partner Dax Styles were in charge. This reminded Beth of a cold case that two girls were taken. It resulted in one vanished and one dead. Beth was trying to find the other missing girl and this might let her fall into the murderer's trap...

The whole story was smartly written, perfect paced and suspenseful. I felt how eager Beth was trying to stop the serial killer. The narrator created the gripping atmosphere and I was drawn into the story. I look forward to the Book 2 in this series!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and D.K. Hood for this audiobook!