Title: Edge of Midnight by Leslie Tentler
Chasing Evil Book Three
Publisher: Harlequin
Impint: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B
Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
The collection isn’t complete without her…
The writer becomes the story when crime reporter Mia Hale is discovered on a Jacksonville beach—bloodied and disoriented, but alive. She remembers nothing, but her wounds bear the signature of a sadistic serial killer. After years lying dormant, The Collector has resumed his grim hobby: abducting women and taking gruesome souvenirs before dumping their bodies. But none of his victims has ever escaped—and he wants Mia back, more than he ever wanted any of the others.
FBI agent Eric MacFarlane has pursued The Collector for a long time. The case runs deep in his veins, bordering on obsession…and Mia holds the key. She’ll risk everything to recover her memory and bring the madman to justice, and Eric swears to protect this fierce, fragile survivor. But The Collector will not be denied. In his mind, he knows just how their story ends.
The Review:
Edge of Midnight, Leslie Tentler’s final installment of her Chasing Evil trilogy, is an intense thriller that is mesmerizing and chilling. Following her escape from the brutal serial killer known as The Collector, reporter Mia Hale and FBI agent Eric MacFarlane join forces to catch The Collector before he kills his next victim.
Mia Hale and Eric MacFarlane are three dimensional characters with realistic flaws and imperfections. Mia and Eric are from vastly different backgrounds; Mia bounced around the foster care system while Eric has a close and loving relationship with his family. Their connection to The Collector irrevocably ties them together as they delve into horrific murders. Their romance is understated but contributes to the flow of the story.
Unlike the first two novels in the Chasing Evil trilogy, Ms. Tentler reveals the identity of the killer early in Edge of Midnight. The novel then focuses on the FBI’s investigation and hunt for the serial killer. Mia undergoes an experimental procedure to recover her memories of her kidnapping and subsequent escape. The reenactment of her ordeal is terrifying and provides valuable clues to The Collector’s identity.
Ms. Tentler takes the unusual approach of writing from various characters’ perspectives in Edge of Midnight. Although the story is mainly written from Mia, Eric or the Collector’s point of view, readers also gain valuable insight from a few minor characters as well. The viewpoint shifts are clear and concise and the reader is always aware of which character is “speaking”.
Edge of Midnight is a fast-paced and engrossing mystery. The characters are engaging and the plot is compelling. The scenes with The Collector are graphic and shudder inducing yet they add to the novel’s intensity and suspense. Leslie Tentler keeps her readers on the edge of their seat as Edge of Midnight comes to a dramatic and thrilling conclusion. A delightful epilogue provides the perfect ending for Mia and Eric’s romance.
Click HERE for my review of Midnight Fear book two of the Chasing Evil trilogy.
