Time is against Katz and Styx when a robbery leads to multiple deaths and an abduction, but when this robbery is like others, they realise time is running out when the abducted victim is usually found dead the next day.
Soon there are more bodies, but there is also more than one killer, and it won’t be long before Katz thinks about taking matters into her own hands.
This novel had me reading well into the night, my heart was racing at certain scenes I couldn’t put this novel down. Beth Katz is back and does not disappoint. Hood writes us characters that all have depth, and we find out more about our character Beth Katz, which makes us want to know even more.
I love this author’s writing, it’s easy to read and follow, and constantly engaging and I know it will be a great read as soon as I pick it up.
This is a fantastic addition to this series.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Dark Hearts' by DK Hood.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for DK Hood, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 26th February 2024

This is the eleventh book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in her 'Detective Beth Katz' series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'Cross My Heart' (book 12 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Fallen Angel' (book 13 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Don't Look Back (book 13.5 in the Kane and Alton series), ' Pray For Mercy '(book 14 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Kiss Her Goodnight' (book 15 in the Kane and Alton series) 'Her Bleeding Heart' (book 16 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Chase Her Shadow' (book 17 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Their Wicked Games' (book 19 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Where Hidden Souls Lie' (book 20 in the Kane and Alton series) and Dark Angel (book 1 in the Beth Katz series). All of these books can be read as standalones and I would highly recommend each and every one of them!!!

This novel consists of a Prologue, 48 chapters and an Epilogue. The chapters are short medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

OMG!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS SERIES!!! D.K HOOD you just keep getting better and better!!!

Well, Well, Well!!!! Firstly, I must admit that being a humongous fan of the amazing D.K Hood's Detective Kane and Alton series I was a bit dubious when I realised she started a second series. I mean, for starters I had no idea how on Earth is she going to match the amazingness of Kane, Alton and the rest of the gang? How she could make another series just as good or even better that the Detective Kane and Alton books? Well ladies and gentlemen I haven't got a clue how this queen of crime does it but by God she absolutely smashes it out of the water each and every time and I fell in love with Beth and this series after reading the first book in this series 'Dark Angel'!!!! This book may be the third book in the 'Beth Katz' series but if you haven't read the first one, fear not as this can be read as a standalone!! However, I would recommend you read them in order to get the best picture of Beth, Dax and the situation! This is yet another book and series that is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. DK Hood way of writing is perfectly evocative and she has such a creative imagination!! Even with 22 amazing books in the Kane and Alton action packed series and 2 previous books in this epic series she is still coming up with unique and action packed storylines that absolutely grip the reader immediately from page one to the very end!!! Hood's fantastic and evocative writing skills ensured the descriptions were so vivid and realistic I felt myself feeling the fear running through me and the hairs on my arms raise. This has got to be one of the best storylines I have ever read!!!! Just when you've read the best book in this series and it can't get any better BANG DK Hood does it again!! !! LOVE IT!!!!!! This book really will have you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails and even covering your eyes at times!!!! Oh and did I mention the bombshell, jaw dropping and explosive twists and turns throughout??? Well I am gobsmacked that.....Ooops I can't tell you!!! That would just be spoiling it wouldn't it? So if you want to know what the twist is, who the killer is, why they are killing and much, MUCH more you will just have to grab your copy of this epic thriller today!!!! Needless to say I absolutely LOVED the storyline, LOVE this series and LOVE this amazing author!!!. This book is absolutely perfect for any crime lovers as you are literally reading about crime, twists and murder!!! It just does not get better than that!!! Just seriously, I cannot say how brilliant all this book was!!! The storyline is packed with tension, suspense, murder, tension and filled with twists and turns. I was absolutely shocked when everything was revealed and was not expecting it at all!!! I genuinely thought for once I had actually worked out who it was in this amazing series but YET AGAIN DK Hood proves me wrong!! A HUGE congratulations to D.K Hood, it is getting harder and harder to shock me but you did it well!!! D.K Hood has obviously done her research on police procedurals which has absolutely shines through the Kane and Alton series along with this one which is yet another bonus as I've read many crime novels where the authors make massive mistakes due to not doing enough research.This is an absolutely unputdownable page turner and I cannot wait to read the previous and future books in what is one of the best series I have ever read!!

Do not start this until you have cleared yours schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!

Although this is the third book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading without reading the previous books in the series. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I absolutely LOVED meeting and getting to know even more about all these amazing characters in this series again along with meeting some of the amazing characters from her Kane and Alton series again. All of DK Hood's fantastic characters are all realistic and I am completely invested in each and every one of them, regardless of which series they are in/from. The characters have all become like friends to me as I feel like I have got to know them so well and so quickly and I just absolutely LOVE Beth!!!! She is such a dark horse and a dark angel which makes the title for this book perfectly. She reminds me very much of Dexter from the book and TV series. If you are a fan of Dexter then you will love Beth!!! In this fantastic addition to this series we get an even deeper insight into Beth's character as she works with her partner Agent Dax Styles. At the same time my heart was absolutely in my throat because her working with Dax when he is working on 'The Tarot Card Killer'!! I love watching how the dynamics of this team play out in these fantastic books and it leaves me wanting, no needing, more of them each and every time I turn the final page!! I absolutely adore the fact that Dax has a dog called Bear as that is one of the other things I loved about the Kane and Alton series and that is Duke and Zorro (dogs) play such large parts. I am a massive animal lover and even run my own cat rescue called Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice so any animals playing main parts in books are always a huge bonus for me!! DK Hoods fantastic evocative writing skills really brings all these characters off the pages and into real life and I just loved getting to meet them all!!! Anyway, before this turns into too long an essay I will wrap it up by saying I cannot wait to meet all these characters and more again in the second book in this amazing series which is called 'Shadow Angel' which I am yet to read as well as the future books in this series!!

Congratulations D.K Hood on yet ANOTHER HUMONGOUS success!!! Very rarely an authors books get better but you have certainly mastered it!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are one my favourite crime authors!!! Here's to your next guaranteed success 🥂

This book is definitely in my top 5 and considering I've read 1000's this is a HUGE achievement!!! This series is also in my top 3 ♥

Overall an absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night. Another absolutely explosive addition to this absolutely epic series by the amazing D.K Hood

328 pages

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with Kindle Unlimited and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

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Beth Katz rocks! Have you ever known another Special Agent with such a murky past and a sideline doing exactly what she puts people away for? The Tarot Killer is back in a banging inclusion to the series.

With a convenience store killer seeming to be targeting young girls, it's Katz and Dax who are out to catch a killer.

It's moderately paced, compelling, and just wouldn't be the same without the killer twists skillfully thrown in by Hood.

Favorite Quotes:

She often compared herself to science-fiction characters who by no fault of their own had been the issue of two opposite species. In her case, both sides of her had different ideas of how to deal with monsters and each had a convincing argument for being themselves. Yes, she often referred to herself as two people because in reality that’s what she’d become.

Covering up crimes of the rich and powerful wasn’t new, but it made those responsible as guilty as the perpetrator. Beth might well be a serial killer, but she’d never been corrupt. She followed a set of rules and stuck to them.


My Review:

Silly me for jumping into this series with the third installment yet I didn’t struggle to keep up. However, I am eaten up with a fatal case of curiosity about the prior books and itching to read them as well. The crimes were disturbing and twisted, as were the individuals who were committing them. The storylines were complicated, well-nuanced, and multi-layered while each character was complex and cunningly crafted, even the secondary ones. D.K. Hood has mad skills although I worry for her neighbors if they give her grief.

Wow, this is already book 3 in the Beth Katz series. I guess it seems a little longer since it is kinda a spinoff of the Kane and Alton series. And they even make a cameo in this one.

Beth is still looking for her vigilante justice on the tarot card killer, but her boss has other ideas. He assigns her and Styles a case with a missing girl and a trail of dead ones. While there is an underlying story in the series, the missing girl is the stand alone case of the book. This could easily be read as a stand alone, but I almost think this is better if read in order. And since it is only book 3, there isn’t a huge backlist.

I like that in addition to the normal chapters of trying to solve the crime, there are chapters from the victim and the bad guy. But don’t fret, the bad guy chapters don’t let you know who it is and you still get to try and solve things along with speical agents. One of my favorite parts of a crime procedural.

Beth and Styles are still testing out their partnership and there is even a little will they won’t they going on. Styles seems to know there is something up with Beth and with them both having baggage in their past, I think they are maybe getting closer to taking that step and trusting the other.


With Beth’s past vigilante justice trail, it makes her think a little different that normal law enforcement and think outside the box. It is great to watch her unique thoughts mesh with Styles more by the book style as they track down the clues.

I can’t wait to see how the two grow in their partnership as they solve their next crime.

"Dark Hearts" by D.K. Hood is a riveting addition to the series, offering a fast-paced and gripping crime thriller that will captivate police procedural enthusiasts. As the third installment, it is advisable to read the preceding books for a complete understanding of the characters and their intricate relationships. The storyline unfolds with a robbery gone awry, leading to the abduction of sixteen-year-old Cassidy Wilder. FBI agent Beth Katz and her partner Dax Styles spearhead the investigation, revealing a pattern of heinous crimes committed by the elusive Tarot Killer. The narrative delves into Beth's haunting past, adding layers to her character, while maintaining a relentless pace. The dynamics between characters, especially the evolving partnership between Beth and Styles, contribute to the narrative's depth. The inclusion of Wolfe and other familiar faces from earlier books enhances the overall continuity of the series. D.K. Hood's masterful storytelling and intricate plot make "Dark Hearts" a must-read for fans of police procedurals, delivering a thrilling experience filled with suspense, mystery, and compelling characters.

Book 3 in the Special Agent Beth Katz series.

Beth and her partner are call to investigate a series of horrific general store robberies where everyone is shot dead and a young girl is taken hostage. Their battered bodies are always found dumped the next day. They know time is running out to find her alive.

Meanwhile, Beth's alter ego The Tarrot Killer has found a series of girls who've gone missing then found dead in the nearby town of Mischief. But no-one else has linked the. Is it just incompetence or something more sinister. Can she link the two sets of crimes together so she has an excuse to be in the area to investigate? And will she enact her own form of justice?

I really enjoyed this book. It has a great plot with plenty going on to keep you hooked from start to finish. I especially enjoyed learning more about Style's background. I look forward to reading the next one.

A convenience store robbery ends up in a massacre and a missing teenager. FBI agents Beth Katz and Dax Styles are called to the scene. Once the investigation begins, they realize this is not the first attack of this sort, and in the other cases the teenage girl is always found dead the next day. There was already a clock on this crime due to the abduction, but now the clock is shorter and the stakes are higher.

Beth will also have to battle her dark side because she wants to revenge. There are actually two mysteries going on in the book with two madmen on the loose. Beth and Jax are definitely the right duo for the job. Beth is brilliant and ruthless, Jax is tough and relentless in his pursuit of justice.

The chase is on for two killers whose crimes may or may not be connected. This story was pure adrenaline. D. K. Hood's writing style is smooth and easy to follow with characters you will immediately like, so you can easily read this book in one evening You will feel compelled to read it in one evening because you will have to know more. We learn a little more about Beth's tragic history in this book which explains why she is the woman she is today. I feel some fireworks coming soon in this series.

Fans of the Kane and Alton series will enjoy seeing our favorite forensic expert, Dr. Wolfe, be a major part of this story. This is another top notch installment in the Agent Beth Katz series which leaves you yearning for another one soon.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

One thing is for certain, Special Agent Beth Katz is toeing a dangerous line with her continuing on as the Tarot Killer. Especially since her current partner, Dax Styles, has his dog Bear with him much of the time. And even as Katz and Styles are working on investigating/solving one serial killer case, she lays the groundwork for them to go to another county where women are being killed. But are those deaths connected to the serial killer they are after or another person altogether?

We get a little more background on these two main characters and there is plenty of suspense and danger as they narrow in on the main suspect. And when the Tarot killer strikes again, questions are as to the gender of the killer.

4.5⭐

FBI Special Agent Beth Katz and her alter ego, the 'Tarot Killer' return. Along with her colleague Dax Styles. For another intriguing, twisty and gripping crime thriller.

That sees Beth and Dax ordered by the director of the FBI to catch the Convenience Store Killer. Who has been going from town to town holding up convenience stores, killing everyone in sight and abducting and subsequently killing a young girl.

And thanks to the multiple locations, a lack of police, experience and equipment evidence is thin on the ground.

But luckily Beth and Dax have medical examiner and forensics expert Dr Shane Wolfe and his team on hand to help and soon they have some suspects in their sights.

However, this is a killer who is methodical and will take out anyone who witnesses them in action. So they're going to need to act fast.

Yet, that's not the only case Beth and Dax end up involved in. As Beth has been looking at where the Tarot Killer can strike next and she's found just the serial killer eerily called the Night Creeper who needs her brand of justice.

Only she needs Dax on board to help investigate if she is to get close enough to find the killer and take them out.

But how is she going to manage this? And is her secret about to come out?

After all, Wolfe and Dax are both pushing Beth to discuss her theories on these latest cases with FBI Agent Jo Wells. Who just happens to be a profiler of serial killers and someone Beth has been very keen to avoid for obvious reasons.

And with big twists and turns. This was another cracking instalment in the series, and I'm really enjoying the development of both Beth and Dax as characters, and I'm intrigued to see if someone really has worked out Beth's killer secret and if so, what that'll mean going forward.

I would happily recommend Dark Hearts to all. 😊

This is another good addition to this series. It’s fast paced and full of action and suspense. I like the chemistry of Beth and Styles. I’m just waiting for him to figure her out. Looking forward to the next one
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Dark Hearts is book 3 in the Agent Beth Katz series by D.K. Hood. It's a fantastic book that has your heart in your throat on many occasions as Agent Katz gets into too many close calls. Katz and Styles, her partner, are called to the scene of a convenience store robbery where everyone in the store was killed. The killer took a young woman as a hostage with him and drove off. He even killed a man outside the store who was walking his dog so as not to leave any witnesses. The girl that was taken is Cassidy Wilder, 16, and her parents are frantic to get her back safely.

As Katz investigates she finds a string of similar convenience store robberies in which everyone was killed and a young woman was taken as a hostage. The robberies happen during the day and the hostage is found dead the next day. That means that time is of the essence or Katz and Styles will find the girl dead. Cassidy's body is found near a highway by a forest. As more robberies keep happening and more girls are taken, Katz and Styles must find the killer before more lives are lost. The killer doesn't hesitate or seem to mind killing everyone in the store. Who could be doing this? Why does no one notice him?

When Katz puts herself in harms way to try to get revenge on another killer, will she succeed? Will Katz be caught by Styles? This book will keep your heart racing as the suspense gets to be too much at times. Dark Hearts is another fantastic book in this series. Katz, Styles, and Bear the dog are characters that I enjoy and want more from. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Dark Hearts in exchange for a fair review. I rate Dark Hearts 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. If you love a good thriller, this book is for you! #DarkHearts

So whenever I see a DK Hood book it immediately goes to the top of my pile. I am so loving this new series it is so dark but warming at the same time. The relationships all of them are working so well and developing, I cant wait to see where it goes. I was a little bereft at the end of the book as I just wanted to binge onto the next one. Just totally devoured this one in one sitting.

Love the dogs as well they bring such a nice touch and this time got so involved.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and Bookouture but the review is entirely my own.

When a robbery at a local store ends with multiple deaths and the abduction of sixteen-year-old schoolgirl Cassidy Wilder, FBI agent Beth Katz and her partner Dax Styles are called in. Looking at CCTV footage, Beth is horrified to see how calm the killer is as he shoots everyone in the store before forcing the terrified Cassidy to follow him into his truck. Then Beth uncovers multiple robberies just like this one, where all witnesses are killed and a young girl is taken. All of the victims are taken at night and found dead the following morning, so Beth knows time is running out to save Cassidy. Then Cassidy’s lifeless body is discovered dumped on a busy highway
The third book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own I’ve enjoyed getting to Know Beth & Dax & more is revealed in this book. Another well written, fast paced mystery that drew me in from the start & kept my interest all the way through. I look forward to more in the series & wonder when Beth’s ‘other side’ will be revealed
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Wow, my heart is still racing!
Two serial killings, are they connected?
I really love these FBI Agents, Katz is excellent at her job as she can get right into the minds of killers. She came close to someone finding out about her dark side in this story.
The storyline in this book was so engaging and I was heavily invested in the characters. Katz and Styles worked methodically to find these killers, evidence was scarce and local sheriffs a bit imcompetent.
Thanks for the little reference to Australia, yes Daks are pants like sweats that you can pull down like to dak someone :)
As usual this was an amazing story, I was gripped from the beginning and couldn't put it down.

I become giddy when I get to read a new Hood book! I marvel at how the author can keep the stories fresh and appealing with each new book. Hood has a tremendous knack for writing crime fiction and I’m just one of the happy recipient readers of her talent.
I love how the layers of Beth continues to be revealed. I love how she transforms herself to become the Tarot Killer. I love her dueling sides: revenge and respect for the law. The woman is multitalented.
I did suck in my breath during several scenes Beth came within a hair’s breadth of getting caught and just Bearly (clue) escalated detection.
I also love the cameo appearances of Wolfe, Jo, Kane (swoon), and Jenna.
Hood also reveals a bit more about Styles’ background which I can’t wait to learn more about.

ASTOUNDING addition to this terrific & unusual series by a great author. Lots of suspense in a very well written thriller with totally interesting & diverse characters. RECOMMEND this & all of the books with Kane & Alton who also appear in this series with Beth Katz. Kudos to a superb author.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dark Hearts’, book 3 in the Detective Beth Katz series written by D K Hood, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A killer is at a convenience store where he calmly shoots four people dead and abducts a sixteen-year-old girl. As with his previous crimes, he takes the girl with him promising to release her the next day but shoots her dead as he sets her free. While FBI Agents Beth Katz and Dax Styles are in Roaring Creek searching for the killer whom they call the Convenience Killer, Beth finds time to investigate the Night Creeper, hoping she’ll be able to bring her own type of justice down on him.

‘Dark Hearts’ is another gripping thriller with the characters of Detectives Beth Katz and Dax Styles as they connect with those we know so well at Black Rock Falls and the FBI at Snakeskin Gully. Beth has a dark side where she needs to personally seek justice for the victims and her psychopathic tendencies are causing her to take risks with her life without raising any suspicions. This thriller is packed full of action and has all the excitement and drama I’ve come to expect from Ms Hood, and the further I’ve read the more gripping the story becomes until the tension builds to a crescendo and Beth’s life is once again on the line. I’m looking forward to reading book number four as I can’t wait to find out what Beth and Dax get involved with next.

The Tarot Card Killer, what a character. But who is the person who is killing serial killers? Quite the man really. Wrong, he is a she and an FBI agent. Take that, world! Beth is most definitely a special character, and a great agent. However, for how long can she keep on being in the same town as the Tarot Card killer? Remains to be seen!

Another great book by D.K. Hood! It spooks me sometimes what is going on in the world, luckily this is just fiction. I am wondering though why I have this much sympathy towards an agent that kills humans. Yes, these people are serial killers, but it is still wrong. Human psychology can indeed be intriguing. My favourite character is of course the dog! What's not to like?

Number 3 in the series and another brilliant read. We get to know Beth a lot more in this instalment and as she gets closer to Styles you can almost feel she’d like to reveal her ‘other ‘self, almost!
Two enthralling main plots, the Convenience Store Killer and the Night Creeper case. One case will be solved conventionally and the other taken care of by Beth’s alter ego, the Tarot Killer. Some excellent scenes in the both plots keep you gripped. There is a white knuckle ride, literally, to the conclusion to one of the plots and your heart is in your mouth as Styles almost catches the Tarot Killer In the other.
I absolutely love the crossovers with the characters from the Kane and Alton and oh the wonderful tension when Beth bumps into Jenna.
Our favourite vigilante lives to kill another day and I’m so looking forward to witnessing it in book four