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Avg. Rating: 4.5
Suspenseful page turner
Dark Room is a suspenseful page turner by Andrea Kane. The protagonist, Morgan Winters, was indelibly marked because 17 years ago, she discovered the bodies of her parents when she was just eleven years old. She has moved on and become a successful entrepreneur, thanks to the loving support of her adopted family and a great deal of therapy. That is all put in jeopardy when it is learned that the person who had confessed to the crime, didn't commit the murders. The killer is still out there.
Pete Montgomery is the retired cop who was never quite satisfied with the confession. Now he is a private investigator and more determined than ever to find the killer so Morgan can rest easy. Unfortunately digging into the past has a price. The price this time is threats to the family that raised Morgan after the murders. The more they dig, the scarier it gets.
The only upside to the situation is Pete's son Lane, who as photographer and analyst for the CIA has skills the investigation desperately needs. The sparks fly between him and Morgan, and as the investigation gets closer to its conclusion, the pair finds themselves charting new territory.
Andrea Kane gives us a terrific story populated by characters that are believable and lovable. There are no cardboard cutouts here. Even the people on the fringes of the story are given strengths and foibles that make them well-rounded and human. I found the story interesting, but the real interest was in how these people interacted with each other and forced each other to grow. In the end the dark room isn't the lab where the photos are developed, but the room inside of each of us that holds our worst fears. Kane gives us a glimpse into that room.
Wow! Enough said.
Morgan Winter had been a ten-year-old girl when her parents, Lara and Jack, were murdered. It happened on Christmas Eve. Morgan found the bodies. During the trauma, only one man could reach the child, Detective Pete "Monty" Montgomery. Monty was the lead detective in the case. When Schiller confessed to the Winters' double homicide, the case was closed. Yet Monty never fully believed Schiller was the person that killed the Winters.
Little Morgan had been taken in and raised by her parents' closest friends, the Shores. Congressman Arthur Shore and his wife, Elyse, treated Morgan as if she was one of their own. Surrounded by the Shores and their children, along with many therapy sessions, Morgan got through the trauma. However, as the holidays approached each year, Morgan dealt with graphic nightmares.
Seventeen years later...
Morgan Winter still considers the Shores to be her second family. She operates an elite boutique social agency called Winshore LLC. Morgan's partner and dearest friend is Jill Shore. Jill, with all her perkiness, is dealing with various holiday decorations and meetings. Morgan is dealing with finding possible matches for clients, when Monty shows up at her door with horrible news: Schiller was not her parents' real killer. The real murderer is still out there and possibly killing more. Even though Monty "retired" five years ago, he is now a private investigator. Morgan hires him on the spot. Jack Winter had been an A.D.A. In fact, he had been the D.A. Office's golden boy. With Jack's golden boy history, Arthur pulling some strong strings, and Monty personally on the case, Morgan has no doubt that the real killer will be found this time around. Problem is that the real killer is not only still out there, but has been watching Morgan since the night of the double homicide, making sure that a dark secret is never revealed. As Morgan and her circle begin to find answers, the killer must convince her to stop searching.
***** There are other major and secondary characters that I do not mention in my synopsis. Since Jack was a prosecutor that had put away many well-connected criminals, he had many enemies. Therefore, the list of suspects is immense. This novel will test your wits as you hang on to every word and analyze every suspect. Lots of drama and tension, yet with a light touch of romance. I expect to find this title on the NY Best Selling list quickly! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
A Good Story, Well Written
As with all of Kane's stories, this one is well written and a pleasure to read. Am looking forward to her next novel.
Great characters but somewhat predictable
Nightmares have plagued Morgan Winter since discovering her parent's corpses when she was ten. During that intense time, she bonded with the detective assigned the case. With the culprit in jail, she felt a small sense of relief until it is uncovered that he confessed to the crimes in order to avoid a cop killing conviction, and the crime is once again unsolved. The now retired detective, Pete Montgomery, always felt that the wrong person was convicted, and now Morgan has hired him to find the real killer. With the aid of his son Lane, a photographer who freelances for several clandestine organizations (thus having great resources and equipment), new details in the crime scene photos pop up to provide more questions. Lane and Morgan form an instant attraction. But as the investigation gets closer to the truth, Morgan becomes a target.
In a follow up to "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" featuring Pete's daughter Devon, Kane's latest is packed with action, but it's a bit predictable (I guessed the culprit within the first couple chapters). In Morgan, she's created a heroine that's both strong and fragile at the same time, and it's nice to see a hero in a job other than police detective. Despite the flaws, readers will be enthralled with how the story plays out as, Kane is a master at creating compelling characters.
Dark Room
When Morgan Winter learns that the man convicted of her parent's murder seventeen years ago did not commit the crime, she is determined to find the real killer. Morgan hires former police detective turned PI, Pete 'Monty' Montgomery. Working with Monty is his handsome, daredevil son and top photographer, Lane.
With the killer desperate to keep his identity secret, the danger to Morgan escalates. Monty and Lane are determined to keep Morgan safe until they find the killer, and they will find the killer because failure is not an option.
Wow! Dark Room is a very intense book! Andrea Kane is an amazing author. From the first paragraph Ms. Kane drew me into the suspenseful world of Morgan Winter. I felt all of Morgan's emotions, from her sadness over losing her parents to her desire for the gorgeous Lane. Who can blame Morgan, Lane is utterly delectable. Smart, dangerous and Alpha, Lane is the full package.
I loved Dark Room! The suspense kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat. The romance was just as thrilling. Overall I couldn't have asked for a better romantic suspense novel!
Annmarie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
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