Search - The Darker Side (Smoky Barrett, Bk 3)

An excellent continuation of the Smoky Barrett series. I've given Book 1 and Book 2 five stars; this one gets four from me. Has a bit more religious quotes than I like, but still an excellent page-turner. The book definitely stands on its own, but I recommend reading at least "Shadow Man" (Smoky Barrett Book 1) first. This book has a lot of references from Book 1, and it will be a richer reading experience if you have some familiarity with the characters.

Don't miss this one! If you sometimes feel, as I do, that each new serial killer book is more "same old, same old," this novel is a breath of fresh, if twisted, air. The killer's motivation and methodology are unusual, complex and compelling; some of the good guys seem at least as crazy as some of the villains, and there are enough twists to keep you guessing for quite a while. I'll definitely be looking for more of this author's work.

This author will find himself right up there with Patterson, Coben, Lutz and more. This will bring you up to date on the personal side of Smoky Barrett along with the serial killer line probably already used in other books but still interesting to the end.

Another great one for McFadyen. The Darker Side, is just that, the darker side of everyone. Everyone has secrets, some more so than others. Some more horrible than others. Someone is killing sinners.... sinners they believe have not confessed the full truth to God, and must be punished for it. They force their final confession so they can release them from life to go to God. To bad they forgot that murder is a sin, even if your delusion is that you are doing God's work. Smoky and her team must work fast to find the killer before they "hear" the next confession. Confession 145. After 20 years the killer wants to be heard, for their work to be known. And for the world to rejoice in their efforts to help others find God. And in the midst of this Smoky has to figure out where her head is at with Tommy and Bonnie. Life goes on after tragedy, and Smoky must make the decision to forgive herself and move on with happiness, while chasing another psychopath to the wateringhole.

If you haven't read the first two in this series, start there. The characters are well developed. McFadyen shows all their flaws and their best traits. They have lives and worries, and in the process of living, they chase psychopaths. McFadyen's series is very dark and is not for the squeamish, but it keeps you on the edge. I really love the ride.....

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