This is a weird review as I was sure I wrote about book #1 and #2 in this series. I was going to write the review for book #3 and discovered that I didn't write anything for the entire series so this will be a common review for the entire series, including the third novel.
Val Costa is a great character: she's not wonder woman, she hasn't any huge chip on her shoulder nor a traumatic past, she's a clever and brave woman who works for FBI and collaborate with the local police.
She moved in a Californian county to be near her son after a meeting with a serial killer that left her branded and phisically hurt. She needs to recover and think about her future.
Red Rose county is not a huge and highly populated county, you have to suspend your belief because the number of violent death is highest than 58.4 dead for 100k person.
Statistics apart this is a hell of a series that improves with each installment and the third one is the best one so far. There's always suspense and emotions in these stories and I found the third one a gripping and heart wrenching page turner.
Val grew on me and I loved her evolution and cannot wait to read new stories as I wanted to visit Rose County and catch up with the characters.
I appreciated how the author developed the solid plots that surprised me and the good storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

H.K. Christie has a fantastic writing style and a bonafide protagonist in Val Costa. I loved the first two books in her series & it’s great to read them in order, but they can be read as stand-alones. This pulse-pounding crime thriller is filled with suspense & and excitement.

Thank you, H.K. Christie, Bookouture, & netgalley for my #gifted copy! All opinions are my own.

Book three of the series and this was flows from the last in terms of Vals personal circumstances and she finds herself consulting on a case for the local sheriff's department as she decides upon her future within the police force.

Val is a tenacious resilient character who is passionate about her profession and need for justice,

This was another great installation that had a multitude of layers with lots of different facets that were excellently woven together to produce a compelling case with a satisfying conclusion and a hanger for book four.

Being obsessed with this series is an understatement. I love Val and Brady. The way they work together to solve crimes, and the bit of tension between them too ::chef's kiss:: And they’re older characters, which makes them more relatable.

Brutal murders to kick off the book. And Val and Brady and crew are brought in to figure out why. They’re so methodical and Val’s instincts are stellar. They all work well together and have some great friendships beyond the job too. She’s protective of everyone in her life, and there are many times in this book where that is blatantly obvious.

I read this one in a morning, I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

Firstly, the character development of Val is perfect. I am so invested in her. The mystery was full of twists and kept me questioning what I thought. There was a lot of tension and I caught myself holding my breath. This series just keeps getting better.

Mike, Stephanie and 12 year old son, Michael, are enjoying a nice family dinner before heading out to Michael’s karate tournament when there’s a knock at the door. What follows will shake Red Rose County to its core and put Val Costa, Deputy Brady Tanner and their team on a trajectory with evil. Mike and Michael are killed at the scene and Stephanie is in the hospital fighting for her life. With very few clues to go on they are scrambling for answers. Is this a random act or is this a crime against them personally? Upon further investigation, they uncover facts that no one saw coming.

Well-crafted and textured characters, in depth world building, short chapters and multiple POVs contribute to an enjoyable story that is well-written and finely detailed with a plot that hooked me in from the start and held my interest until the very end.

I was eager to push up my sleeves and be an armchair detective alongside Brady and Val as they valiantly track down who slaughtered an entire family, except one victim survived.
The synergy between Brady and Val was torture but there was a very positive movement at the end for both of them.
However, Val’s creepy admirer lurked even closer and I finally connected with who he was.
Christie left me hanging, for not only Val but also another target the Bear is toying with!!,

A fantastic thriller 👌 I haven't read the others in the series, but it can be easily read as a standalone. Valerie Costa and Brady, they both made a great team in solving the crime. I would love to read more about their friendship turning into a relationship. Fast-paced chapters and gripping mystery until the end. Some suspense is left unsolved at the end, and it's intriguing to wait for the next book in the series. Excellent mystery thriller. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, and the author for providing the eARC.

A family or three is viciously attacked in their home, with the husband and young son killed, the husband was also tortured. The wife clinging to life and might not survive. Why would someone target this seemingly quiet family? Val Costa is once again asked to assist the police department in solving this horrible murder scene. There seems to be no leads and the more digging the police do the less it all makes sense. A break seems to happen when it is discovered that the man has been selling drugs over the past year. Did a rival drug gang take him out? Seems like it could be the reason. Until a major lead drops into the police's lap. But could this really be the reason an entire family was attacked and could it really be that easy of a reason...the US Marshals office is the lead but then even that hits a snag. Meanwhile, Val's past trauma is still causing her nightmares and since the person who caused it has not been caught he is closer to her than she knows.

Hidden in the Dark is book three in the Val Costa series by H.K. Christie.
Another great book by HK Christie! This new series hooks you and doesn't let go. The writing is fantastic and the characters are well developed.
This was an amazing read that kept me interested. The characters were perfect. The plot terrified me.

Book 3 in the Val Costa series by H.K. Christie, Hidden in the Dark, delivers another engaging read bring the cast of regular characters together again with a new mystery, coupled with a touch of romance and an ongoing story that will keep you hooked for the next installment.

With another horrific crime scene in Red Rose County, retired FBI agent Val Costa receives a call from Brandy, asking if she could once again consult and take the lead on the investigation. As the team work to unravel the motivation behind the attack to uncover who is responsible, Val also continues in her pursuit of ‘The Bear’, a serial killer she was lucky to escape.

The women really take the lead in this series, from their professions and being highly qualified and experienced in what was a small, quiet county, to what is going on in their lives (hello dating in Red Rose Country… and girls' nights).

‘The Bear’, is back and this story will have you wondering, just how progressed is his plan, when will he take action, and just how many in Val’s circle might be impacted.

5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Hidden In The Dark.

Val is once again called upon by her friend Brady to help solve the brutal murder of a family. Val is still suffering from PTSD from her abduction by a serial killer known as The Bear but working on this new case gives her a fresh perspective on the possible identity of The Bear. This family seems like your normal family until they start digging more in the husbands past and realize he may not be your average husband and father.

This is the third book in this series and I would definitely recommend reading the first two books before reading this one. The main characters are so easy to resonate with and the storyline was very well written. I was hooked from the first page and did not see the twists coming at all! I hope this series continues because I cannot wait to see what else will happen. I highly recommend this entire series!

Hidden in the Dark by H.K. Christie is the 3rd book in the excellent Val Costa series and what a gripping and very addictive crime thriller this is. This has been a series i have enjoyed reading from the very first book and I love Val Costa character, she was/is a FBI Special Agent Val Costa was living in DC until she was kidnapped by the serial killer known as "The Bear." She was hunting him but he hunted her and captured her! So, glad her team rescued her in time. But, there was something "The Bear" always does to all his victims was to carved his signature on their skin!
Now, he is still out there, somewhere and walking freely amongst people.
Val has retired from the FBI and has moved back in with her mom who lives in Red Rose County California as she has had a stroke, she is there to help her recover. Val has had it tough but always comes bouncing back.

With the table is set for family dinner; roast chicken, wine for them and juice for their darling boy, a vase of fresh daisies from the garden for decoration. But the food is stone cold, and the flowers are wilting. You might think they were sleeping in the next room, if it wasn’t for the blood dripping crimson onto the carpet. . . . .

Whilst Interviewing all the neighbours Val and her small team uncovers no leads, but Val knows there’s a message in the way Mike Cramer’s body was left, he is tied to his chair, and stab wounds all over his body.
It seems mother and son were collateral, and Mike was the real target.

Why were they all murdered? They seem to be a perfect and respected family!

Mike worked in a local auto shop and he took his son to karate classes, Michael was a perfect family man. There are no signs of a robbery, and all Val has to work with are small-town whispers about the age gap between him and his wife. But, there is nothing wrong with that............

There's a small break in the case and it comes when a secret phone is found hidden in Mike’s car and his GPS reveals he’d been making late-night trips out of town for weeks before his family was attacked.
Her team are quick to suspect an affair, but Val’s instincts tell her it’s something far more sinister.

More cracks begin to show in this so called perfect Cramer family and a picture is beginning to show. . . . arguments, and money troubles, Val and her small team now has to work around the clock to stop this twisted individual in their tracks.

But, does she know someone is watching her every move?

A dark secret in Mike’s past surfaces, and can Val stay ahead of her stalker long enough to catch the killer before another precious life is taken?

WoW....Another excellent book!

I highly recommend it. I am looking forward reading book 4 within this series.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Hidden in the Dark is the third book in the Val Costa series. Val used to work for the FBI, but since being held hostage by a serial killer and her mother having a stroke, Val has stepped back from this work. It hasn't stopped her from getting involved in murder and detective work and in this third book we see her again assisting the local police.

I really enjoy the way that Val and Brady, her childhood friend, policeman and potential love interest work together to solve this mystery. It's a particularly nasty crime, with a tortured man and his wife and son also having been shot. I'm not sure that the residents of Red Rose County will be that thrilled to have Val living back there, as she seems to have heralded a particularly nasty spate of murders with her recent arrival.

Val also has the threat of the Bear hanging over her. This is the serial killer that she was chasing on her last case and who held her hostage. It seems that he's never far away, even if Val doesn't always realise it. In each book he gets a little bit closer.

This is a gripping and thrilling read and one that I would highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

This fast-paced, twist-laden novel is the third installment in the Val Costa series, but it works brilliantly as a standalone. Hidden in the Dark is a stellar thriller that delivers on every front, making it a solid 5-star read.

H.K. Christie’s writing style is highly readable and addictive. You’ll find yourself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down. The use of multiple POVs is a highlight, particularly the perspective of the enigmatic “secret admirer.” This character’s chilling voice adds an extra dimension of suspense and leaves readers hanging on a tantalizing cliffhanger, eagerly awaiting the next book.

Val Costa herself is a standout. She’s a relatable, multidimensional protagonist who juggles her roles as a consultant for the police, mother, daughter, and friend with grit and humanity. Her strength and vulnerability make her easy to root for, and her romance with Brady adds a touch of warmth amidst the darkness.

H.K. Christie is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her ability to weave unpredictable twists with deeply personal stakes sets her apart in the thriller genre. Fans of strong female leads, clever plotting, and relentless suspense will find much to love here.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Cramer family was found in their home - the husband and son murdered, and the wife barely hanging on. FBI Agent Val Costa is drawn out of retirement to try to solve this heinous crime. On the surface Mike seems like the perfect family man, and the Cramer family seems like the perfect family. But things don't add up. He worked at an auto body shop and she is a receptionist, yet there is a luxury vehicle in the driveway. Where is the money coming from? Then they discover a burner phone under the driver's seat, and the cracks really begin to break open. When a dark secret from Mike's past is revealed, Val knows she is racing against time to solve the case before Stephanie wakes from her medically induced coma and starts talking - and the murderer comes back to finish the job.

This is the third book in the Val Costa series. I admit, I haven't read the first two books, but I feel like they must all be able to be read as a standalone because I wasn't lost. The chapters were told in the alternating viewpoints of Val, some of the other characters, and randomly interspersed with chapters in the viewpoint of someone called "secret admirer". The secret admirer may be a carryover from one of the previous books - you really don't find out much about them except that they are watching Val. This book had a good mystery that kept me guessing, and I enjoyed FBI Agent Val Costa's character. If you are a fan of mysteries & suspense, then you should definitely check this out.

A fast, twisty read with edge of your seat moments.
The beginning starts out strong and pulls you in right away.
Retired FBI agent Val Costa is asked by the local police to help them figure out why someone would kill a family.
There are many secrets to unravel to get answers.
I do have to say…..I feel “the bear” aspect needs to be resolved soon. It is getting time to put that to rest.
I recommend reading the books in order as there is so much back story to main character, Val Costa.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Hidden in the Dark is the third book in the Val Costa series but the first I have read. I didn’t have trouble keeping up with the story in this book but it is worth noting Val has someone from her past that is stalking her through these books. Val retired from the FBI after being kidnapped by a serial killer and escaping. Now she helps the local police department on certain special cases. The latest case involves the murder of a father and son and a shot to the head for the critically injured mother. It quickly becomes apparent that someone was targeting the family due to the father’s past. The case is interesting and wraps up neatly by the end of the book. Val’s serial killer stalker leaves off with the pursuit continuing into the next books of the series. The characters are likable and the touch of chemistry and hints of romance between Val and Brady just enhance the story for an enjoyable, page-turning mystery. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley! I haven’t previously read any of this author’s work so the Val Costa story was new to me. It was definitely my type of story. I love a good detective story. It definitely made me feel for the characters

Thanks to Boukouture for my early copy of this book. I’m really enjoying the Val Costa series. She is a strong female lead and there is also good development of other characters from book to book. This instalment had a good premise and plenty of twists in the investigation to keep me hooked. Really looking forward to the next in the series and highly recommend to fans of this genre!