Has the past come back to haunt the Darkwater Inn?Adelaide Fountaine, general manager, is enthusiastically renovating parts of the Darkwater Inn. Her intentions come to a screeching halt when a skeleton is found behind a makeshift wall—an axe beside it. Something ghastly from the past has come back to haunt the Darkwater Inn.As Adelaide works alongside owner Dimitri Pampalon and Detective Beau … and Detective Beau Savoie, the two men who have been pursuing her heart, she learns the eerie death has tentacles that reach deep into the seedy past of both the Darkwater Inn and the evil underground of New Orleans.
The past and the present collide as the stakes are upped—not only for Adelaide’s heart, but for her very life and her father’s life as well. The threats are deadly, the coils of evil are tightening around everyone involved, and they are more powerful than anyone could have ever imagined.
“Wow, what an exhilarating ride! Unexpected twists, an authentic atmospheric setting, and great characterization make Darkwater Truth an exceptionally fine romantic suspense you won’t want to put down until the last page. This is Caroll at the top of her game.” Colleen Coble, USA Today bestselling author of the Lavender Tide series
“While I hate to say goodbye to Caroll’s Darkwater Inn series, I can’t think of a better sendoff than Darkwater Truth! A complex suspense plot with historical elements and thrilling turns keeps readers glued to the pages, hardly daring to breathe. So, too, does the culmination of the decision Addy has been struggling with since book one – which man truly holds her heart? Darkwater Truth is a multi-layered story in every way, with richly-drawn characters and a subtle-but-solid brush of faith across the pages. A must-read for readers who love a riveting suspense novel!” – Carrie Schmidt, ReadingIsMySuperPower.org
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This is the fabulous finale of the Darkwater Inn series set in New Orleans, where various cults and practicing voodoo folks are based. My favorite characters return in this third in series and the historic Darkwater Inn is home to a very cold case murder. The characters are three-dimensional, and I’m very excited about the changes in Adelaide “Addy” Fountaine’s heart.
Addy has been general manager at the Inn for four years. The Darkwater has been in the Pampalon family since it was built in the 1840’s. Dimitri currently has legal oversight of the Inn. His heart has always been as a chef, so he is head chef for the Inn’s restaurant while Addy manages the operations.
In Darkwater Truth, we follow two time lines, the primary one being the present. We are also taken back to 1918 as a young woman leaves a seven-month boy at an infant’s asylum run by nuns. She is young, has no way to support him, and can’t bring him to her parent’s home. She left a letter with the infant telling about his background so he might one day know why he was left there.
Addy is having remodeling in the Inn. The workers tear down a wall, which quickly crumbles and reveals a skeleton inside a narrow space between walls. Near the skeleton is an axe that may have dried blood on the blade. That section of wall was added in a sloppy fashion, not as a tradesman would typically work. Beau Savoie, a homicide detective, begins to investigate with the assistance of FACES, a fascinating forensic group from LSU-Baton Rouge.
Addy’s father, a best-selling suspense author, asks to see where the skeleton was. He is curious; he had once looked up the background information on the Axeman, a killer with specific means from 1918 and 1919, never to be heard from again. At the same time, a nosy TV news reporter heard about the skeleton, goes to the Inn, and runs into Addy’s father, and does an exclusive interview with him. Within days, Vincent Fountaine is attacked in his home and it is set afire while he lay unconscious inside.
One of the underlying themes has been romance. Both Dimitri and Beau are in love with Addy, Dimitri for a couple years and Beau for most of his life. On her best friend Tracey’s suggestion, Addy, who didn’t know which of the men she thought of as more than a friend, dated both, with their knowledge. I know who I would have selected, but eagerly awaited finding out which young man – if either! – she has romantic feelings for.
The plot has exhilarating twists throughout, several giving “aha!” moments. While I did anticipate some of the steps along the way, I didn’t anticipate the explosive events as the novel raced to the end. Yes, raced; once I reached a certain point, I couldn’t put it down! I appreciated learning about the work of FACES, as I’ve read much about the science in other novels. I enjoyed learning more about Beau, Dimitri, and Vincent, especially watching Beau as he and his partner Marcel work with Dimitri on the case and struggle to find new clues to follow when it appears that a copycat Axeman is targeting people today. This exciting novel has a very satisfying ending, and I admit, I am going to miss the characters and the Darkwater Inn! I highly recommend this novel to those who appreciate Christian thrillers with challenging mysteries, intrigue, and a bit of romance.
From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author, a positive review was not required.
This is the third installment of the Darkwater series and my favorite. This book has action, mystery and romance. It is quite the thrill ride. I am a happy camper with the outcome of the love triangle and I am excited because the series will continue with novellas. Bring them on Ms. Caroll.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author and this is my honest opinion.
‘He’d talk to the devil himself if that’s what it took to make sense of all this.’
Robin Caroll brings us the conclusion to her Darkwater Inn series and she truly brings it! Well done!
Readers have been hanging on since the first book to see who Addy chooses: Beau or Dimitri. Well, I’m not telling. (smile)
The Darkwater Inn has had its share of issues in the last year and they’re not going to stop with this book. The biggest ever: renovation is going on and a skeleton is found behind a wall. Uh oh. What in the world is going on now? There are nefarious things afoot in New Orleans and in the Darkwater. It’s up to Beau and his partner, Marcel, who I really liked in this series, to discover the culprit. Beau, who is so in love with Addy and desperately wants her to choose him. And Dimitri, who wants the same thing. No more of that. There is a great mystery here and one based on an actual serial killer. But this serial killer was on the loose and creating murder and mayhem in 1918! What is going on now? Even Addy’s father is not safe.
I loved this book. The mystery was absolutely wonderful and creepy at times. Caroll is at her very best here and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and she has brought the series to a very satisfying conclusion. I can’t wait to see what she has for us next. Highly recommended.
*Thanks to the author for a preview copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
3.5 stars
” . . it’s intentional. It’s a message.”
When an obviously aged skeleton is found between the walls of the famed Darkwater Inn, general manager Adelaide Fountaine is thrust into yet another set of mysterious circumstances beyond her control. A construction crew not only discovered bodily remains, but the murder weapon was left behind as well. As she, and inn owner Dimitri Pampalon, dive into the investigative process with lead detective Beau Savote, it appears that they have unearthed a legendary evil; one that over a century passed is still alive and well.
Join Robin Caroll as she steers her readers through some of New Orleans’ darkest history while paving the way towards a much anticipated romance; which man will win the heart of Adelaide Fountaine. . . or was it ever even a contest?
Awesome story that blends a cold case into a modern day serial killing. This book had several twists and turns, a lot of suspense, murder, cults, kidnapping, and a little romance added to the story. Highly recommend.
This book is actually my favorite in the series! It starts with the shocking discovery of a skeleton and an axe hidden behind a fake wall at the Darkwater Inn. Who is it? Why was this person killed? Who would have blocked them behind a wall? Those answers prove more and more elusive as the plot thickens and becomes increasingly complex. Halfway through the book, I was still completely stumped along with Addy, Dimitri, Beau, and Vincent as they tried futilely to solve this mystery with very little clues. Then the clues they figured out didn’t point anywhere, and I had NO idea how they could figure it out! The plot was twisted around a real serial killer in New Orleans from 100 years ago who was never discovered. It was also eye-opening to realize the depths of darkness in the underground life of that colorful city. I was hooked from start to end!
In this final novel of the series, Adeline Fontaine once again faces a most unusual predicament. During some renovations in a wing of the Darkwater Inn, a human skeleton is found behind a false wall. Obvious that the body has been there for quite some time, the only clue is a rusty axe found enclosed with the body.
Detective Beau Savoie, Dimitri Pampalon and Addie work together to determine who was in the wall, but first they must determine the date. With the assistance of a beautiful forensic specialist, the estimated date is determined and the work of who and why begins.
When threats against Adeline and her father become deadly, Beau and Dimitri, despite the rivalry for Adeline’s heart, dig deep to find clues. As Addie comes to the realization that it is time for her decide which man has truly won her heart, the suspense and danger increases.
It’s hard enough to be the general manager of the infamous and historic Darkwater Inn, adding a old skeleton buried with a rusty axe, death threats and two men vying for her heart, it is no small matter the beautiful Adeline Fontaine to resolve this newest mystery.
Which man will Addie choose? Detective Beau Savoie or hotel owner and chef, Dimitri Pampalon? Perhaps a more appropriate question would be will Addie, and her father, be able to make a choice or will a killer make it for her?
I highly recommend Darkwater Truth, along with Darkwater Secrets and Darkwater Inn. Actually, might I recommend binge-reading all three novels? Just don’t plan on sleeping anytime soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own.
Has the past come back to haunt the Darkwater Inn?
Adelaide Fountaine, general manager, is enthusiastically renovating parts of the Darkwater Inn. Her intentions come to a screeching halt when a skeleton is found behind a makeshift wall—an axe beside it. Something ghastly from the past has come back to haunt the Darkwater Inn.
As Adelaide works alongside owner Dimitri Pampalon and Detective Beau Savoie, the two men who have been pursuing her heart, she learns the eerie death has tentacles that reach deep into the seedy past of both the Darkwater Inn and the evil underground of New Orleans.
The past and the present collide as the stakes are upped—not only for Adelaide’s heart, but for her very life and her father’s life as well. The threats are deadly, the coils of evil are tightening around everyone involved, and they are more powerful than anyone could have ever imagined.
What a great book. When a skeleton is found at Darkwater Inn, the suspense just keeps going. Who is the person, when were they murdered, how, who did it. It just keeps going. When they find out who the body was there is even more questions. On top all that murders start happening like serial killings of years past. Addy and her father are in danger of being the next victims.
In the midst of the murders Addy makes up her mind about who she loves. I was going both ways about who I wanted her to end up with. Beau and Dimitri are both great guys. I won’t spoil the book and tell you who she picked. But the loser was very gracious. I would love to see his story in a book sometime. This is the third book in the Darkwater Inn series. It’s not necessary to read the first books in the series. But it would be helpful to understand some of the background.
I was given this book by the author for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.