Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Dark Intent by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is the ninth book in the Rachel Ryder series. This crime thriller takes place in the small town of Hamby, where past and present collide in chilling ways.

The story begins with Jenn Berman's disappearance at a summer fair. Things take a dark turn when a dog returns home with a bloodied hand, leading investigators to Jenn's body in a shallow grave. But the shocks don't stop there.

Aspenson creates a suspenseful and gripping tale, full of twists and turns. The connection between the murders is both disturbing and fascinating, and the detectives race to uncover the truth. The small-town setting adds extra tension as long-buried secrets come to light.

Though some parts feel predictable and the resolution may seem too convenient, Dark Intent is still a solid addition to the series and a great read for crime thriller fans, especially those who enjoy strong female leads.

4.5 stars

Dark Intent by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is the ninth in the Detective Rachel Ryder series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Severn River Publishing and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Detective Rachel Ryder left her 15 year career on the Chicago police force, and moved to Hamby Georgia, after the death of her husband Tommy. The people responsible are dead.   She still has a friend and father-figure in Chicago, and Lenny remains a true mentor.  She has fought both police corruption and the drug cartel since being in Hamby.  Her boss is Chief Jimmy Abernathy, and her partner is Rob Bishop, a veteran of over 30 years.  Other members of the team are Detectives Justin Michels and Lauren Levy, as well as CSI Nikki and  IT Tech Bubba.  Rachel's best friend is Savannah, her boss's wife, and Rachel has started dating DEA Agent Kyle Olsen.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Rachel and Rob are called to the site of a shallow grave, where they find the body of Jenn Berman, who had gone missing a few weeks ago.  As disturbing as this find is,  the fact that another body is buried beneath Jenn's makes matters more alarming.

When it is determined that the second body has been there for about 40 years, the team is perplexed.  The remains belong to Caroline Turner who went missing from the local fair almost 4 decades ago.  Did a serial killer place both bodies in the exact location that many years apart, or was there a copycat.  Is there a connection between Jenn and Caroline?

In the meantime, both Rachel and Rob are getting disturbing text messages that seem to be taunting them.  Can they truly be from the killer?


My Opinions:
First, I always enjoy the books, rating them all 3 stars and above, but some are just better than others.  This was one of those.  The plot was good, and although I had a good idea of the perpetrator as soon as the character was introduced, the story was really good.

I often struggle with Rachel's temper and her perceived superiority.  This book brought out the caring side of her personality, and it was much needed.  She was still a determined police officer, but she left some of that know-it-all behind.  She proved to be  real team player.

I continue to love all the supporting cast in this book.  Again, I can't say enough about the author's ability to write really good dialogue.  The banter between the characters feels so right!

Anyway, this was a very fast and entertaining read...and I may even be caught up!

This book is number 9 in the series. It grabbed me right from the very start. Love a book that involves missing people and small towns. I felt that you could read this as a stand alone. It was easy to follow and good for people who love their police procedurals.

Thank you to NetGalley, Severn River Publishing, and Carolyn Ridder Aspenson for the ARC.

This is book #9 in the series and a first read for me from this author. While it can be read as a stand alone, I think it would have been better to start with books 1-8 first. I think there was some story lines and character development that I missed that would have helped to keep the story together.

This book I had a hard time getting through, too many characters, way too much dialogue, weak plot, and confusing and contradictory parts. There was an abundance of flight of ideas coupled with fluff and filler. Too much information that didn’t progress the story. This book could have been 100 pages shorter. To me, the writing was amateurish, it could have passed for a young adult mystery. There was incomplete thoughts and storylines that didn’t really come to completion.

I was originally interested in this book because a body was discovered underneath a body. There was more dialogue between characters than plot development. I was really disappointed in this one. I do not think I’d read any more from this series.

A great read! Highly recommend this newest in the Rachel Ryder series. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you #netgalley and #severnriverpublishing for the eARC.

No one reported the young woman missing, no one cared for two weeks until her body was found in a shallow grave. Now, Detectives Rachel Ryder and her partner Rob Bishop have the case and they care. As they stood watching their team work, they are alerted that another body is buried below the first one, but this body has been there for years, maybe decades. As Rachel and Rob begin their investigation, they will have to delve back into the past to determine who the second victim is and if they were ever reported missing. The twisted story continues as the detectives soon receive untraceable texts, taunts from someone who appears to be watching their every move. They soon learn the identification of the second victim as the threats become more personal and physical. When her partner’s career is threatened, the gloves are off as Rachel goes after the killer using every piece of evidence they have compiled to end this reign of terror. A fascinating look into the damaged and uncaring soul who has managed to elude law enforcement for years, but their time is now up! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

I WAS HOOKED!!!!!

Small town murder, dog brings a severed hand home, buried body is discovered.

The writing kept me intriguiged the entire time, making me want to race to the end.

Overall a great thrilling book!

Dark Intent by Carolyn Ridder-Aspenson
Rachel Ryder #9

Excellent ~ Couldn’t put it down ~ Can’t wait for the next book!

What I liked:
* That I was engaged from first page till last
* Rachel: widow, detective, team player, determined, dedicated, intelligent, does what it takes, has a bit of a temper, in a relationship with DEA agent Kyle
* Bishop: Detective, Rachel’s work partner, mature, professional, a good balance for Rachel’s personality, in a relationship with Cathy, this case turned personal for him before the end
* The team: Bubba (tech), Nikki (CSI), Michels & Levy (detectives), Jimmy (police chief), Dr. Barron (coroner) – all do their jobs professionally and work together well – loved catching up with them
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The plot, pacing, writing, twists and turns, and red herrings with all their complexity
* That the present murder case was linked to a serial killer that was prolific
* That the threads of case were tied together by the end of the story and the bad guys caught
* Knowing that there will be another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how twisted the killer was and that the person may have gotten off too easily in the end
* Having to wait for the next book in the series.

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn River for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

*Dark Intent* by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is a gripping crime thriller that intertwines the haunting past with a chilling present. The novel kicks off with the unsettling disappearance of Jenn Berman at a summer fair, a tragedy that goes unnoticed by her indifferent family until a bloodied hand, carried home by a stray dog, forces their attention. The discovery of Jenn's body in a shallow grave sets the stage for what appears to be a straightforward murder investigation. Still, the plot thickens with the unearthing of a second, older set of remains beneath Jenn's—those of Caroline Turner, who vanished from the same fair nearly forty years ago.

Detectives Rachel Ryder and Rob Bishop are tasked with untangling the connection between these two murders, both of which are linked by more than just the location. Aspenson deftly weaves a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, as the detectives navigate a maze of suspects and secrets that span decades. The stakes rise as the investigation unfolds, revealing a dangerous threat that could have devastating consequences for the detectives and their loved ones.

Aspenson’s writing shines in her portrayal of the small-town setting, where long-buried secrets and old grudges simmer beneath the surface. The dynamic between Rachel and Rob adds depth to the story, as the escalating tension and the emotional weight of the case test their partnership. The author skillfully balances the procedural aspects of the investigation with the personal stakes for the characters, creating a story that is both compelling and emotionally resonant.

The novel’s pacing is relentless, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. The revelation of the killer’s identity and the motive behind the murders is both shocking and satisfying, tying together the threads of the past and present in a way that feels both inevitable and surprising.

*Dark Intent* is a must-read for fans of crime thrillers, especially those who enjoy complex mysteries with a strong sense of place and well-drawn characters. Aspenson delivers a taut, atmospheric tale that lingers long after the final page is turned.

Thank you to NetGalley. the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review.

Ryder and Bishop are back and better than ever! If you haven't read the entire series, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning as each book builds the various characters' backstories and personalities. It will help you fall in love with the characters, enjoy hours of mysteries and in general just provide good solid entertainment. I will admit that I never miss a new book in the series and am thrilled that I got my hands on this one! I devoured it in no time at all! The stories are dark, gritty and full of intrigue. The location a new murder victim is found is a very revealing site as a cold case becomes wrapped into the current one. This book was extremely well crafted with a multitude of twists and turns, red herrings and toss in a bit of cat and mouse play between the killer and the detectives for extra intrigue! The characters are realistic and draw you in so you care about their wellbeing, but the mystery is what will have you staying up entirely too late to see what happens next. I am already craving the next book in the series to drop so we can see what mystery will be dumped in the laps of the detectives and their crew!

Two young women are found buried one on top of the other. It seems like someone from forty years back is making victims again. Rachel and her team will follow all leads until they put together the puzzle and see what is right in front of them. Good plot, well-written and entertaining.
I thank Ms. Aspenson, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to the people at NetGalley and Carolyn Ridder Aspenson for providing me with a ARC copy of Dark Intent.

This is a good small town thriller with a unique plot line that follows two murders. This was my first time reading a book by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson. She did a great job reintroducing characters which was important for a new reader to the Rachel Ryder stories.

Really enjoyed reading this one and the pace at which the story goes. I will definitely be picking up another book in the Rachel Ryder series soon!

Detective Rachel Ryder has been called out to a new job. Someone has found a hand sticking out of the dirt. Unfortunately, the hand is attached to a recently dead body. During the removal, another body is found which is much older. Not likely to be a coincidence, the detectives must now solve what appears to be two unrelated bodies, buried many years apart. This book will grab you in and won’t let go until the murders are solved. Great characters, tough story. Great book!

This is book 9 of a series and, I think, it would benefit the reader to read some of the previous books to have a better understanding of all the characters and their interpersonal relationships. This is my first book by this author and I was a little overwhelmed with all the names of police personnel plus their romantic partners. Maybe because of so many different characters, I did not feel a real connection to any of them. The mystery was engaging although I did guess the culprit about half way from some obvious clues. In fact, it surprised me that the team did not figure it out until later. The ending was rather sudden so it did not feel like a proper resolution.

The past comes back to haunt a small town when one murder leads to the discovery of another. When a troubled teenager, Jenn Berman, goes missing at the summer fair in Hamby, his uncaring family fails to notice. That is until a loose dog returns home with a bloodied hand. Investigators are led to a developing subdivision where they find Jenn's body in a shallow grave. The town is shocked by the murder, and Detectives Rachel Ryder and Rob Bishop are assigned the case to deliver justice for Jenn. But upon further inspection of the crime scene, a jaw-dropping discovery is another body is found buried deeper in the same grave. The remains belong to Caroline Turner, a teenager who also went missing from the summer fair almost four decades ago. The connection between the murders is undeniable. As Rachel and Rob race to narrow down their suspect list and inch closer to the truth, a dangerous threat emerges, putting those they love at risk.

I’d like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc.

Imagine letting your dog outside and he rewards you by bringing home a human hand. That’s right, a hand. Now you must call the police, answer questions and you guessed it, wrestle your k9 for the appendage. lol Police find the grave which contains not just one, but two bodies. Who are they? How long have they been here? Why would someone want them dead?

Let me first say, the beginning was slow for me. The first half really didn’t keep me hooked like I’d hoped it would. There were just so many characters and I couldn’t keep track of who was who. I held on because I wanted to know who the killer was, like we all do. The second half was fast paced and kept me hooked. So much was happening and everyone was being targeted, I had to keep going. Now I don’t know if it’s just me or it was on purpose but one scene gave away the killer without literally saying it was them. If you’re a thriller/mystery reader I’m sure it stuck out to you as well like ‘now just wait a damn minute..’ 🤔 All that to say, this is a good book and I would definitely recommend.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Carolyn Ridder Aspenson and Severn River Publishing for the chance to read Dark Intent.

This was not a book for me. I love crime novels but I could not get over the writing style. The language is repetitive and I start to care more about the writing than the plot.

Thank you to the Author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson and Severn River Publishing for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed to premise of this story, but had a hard time getting through it. If you like to read about the in's and outs of the behind the scenes police work, they you will really like this. I was missing the connections and thriller side of the story.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Carolyn Ridder Aspenson and Severn River Publishing for the chance to read Dark intent. This is the first book by this author for me but now I think I will be reading more of her books. The main Character Rachel Ryder is someone that people can relate to. She is one person I would not want go make angry. I found the way the supporting characters especially her partner very relatable to. The story is one thar caught me from the beginning. I was surprised in the twists of the book. I found it to be one I couldn't put down. If you want to read a book that surprised you especially the ending then this is it. I say it is a must read.

Another page-turner in a great series. Rachel and Rob are back and the case they are chasing is full of intrigue and twists. The entire cast of characters are engaging. I'm completely invested in all of them. I didn't see the reveal ahead of time. This is my favorite series by this author and this book is a prime example of why.