In this exhilarating thriller inspired by real-life serial killer Ted Bundy, FBI profiler Caitlin Hendrix faces off against a charming, merciless serial killer.In southern Texas, on Saturday nights, women are disappearing. One vanishes from a movie theater. Another, from her car at a stoplight. A mother is ripped from her home while checking on her baby. Rookie FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix, newly … Hendrix, newly assigned to the FBI’s elite Behavioral Analysis Unit, fears that a serial killer is roaming the dark roads outside Austin.
Caitlin’s unit discovers the first victim’s body in the woods, laid out in a bloodstained white baby-doll nightgown. A second victim in a white nightie lies deeper in the forest’s darkness. Around the bodies, Polaroid photos are stuck in the earth like headstones, picturing other women with their wrists slashed. The women in the woods are not the killer’s first victims, nor are they likely to be his last.
To track the UNSUB, Caitlin must get inside his mind; he is a confident, meticulous killer, capable of charming his victims until their guard is down, snatching them in plain sight. He then plays out a twisted fantasy—turning them into dolls for him to possess, control, and ultimately destroy. Caitlin’s profile leads the FBI to focus on one man: a charismatic, successful professional who easily gains people’s trust. But can they apprehend him before it’s too late? As Saturday night approaches, Caitlin and the FBI enter a desperate game of cat and mouse, racing to capture the cunning predator before he claims his next victim.
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Excellent. You know the drill, bookstore near you. Buy now, thank me later.
I devoured this book & then went back and bought book 1 in the series. If you like Criminal Minds, you’ll want to read this one.
I like unpredictable, and this one was!
I love being shocked at the end!
Like a now to repetitive TV detective thriller, this book has little surprises but is entertaining and fast to read.
Living in Texas, I felt like I was reading about murders happening just up the road a piece.The author included so many little details that let you know she’d actually spent some time in Texas. Small things like staying in a motel that offered breakfast that included waffles shaped like the state of Texas. Hey, that’s a real thing here.
This book fascinated my as it is about a serial killer which is an obsession of mine. I was pulled in immediately and the fact that it takes place in and around Austin Texas which is where I’m from made it that much better. I love the characters, even the serial killer, I love the cat and mouse games and it just kept me intrigued. It went on a bit long, seeking to drag a bit at parts, but otherwise near perfect
Meg Gardiner thrusts you into the head of a hero and takes you on a thrilling ride. Another winning tale from one of my new favorite authors!
If you’re a writer who needs to learn how to write action scenes or just perfect your action scenes, read this book. Meg is aces at action scenes (particularly in the closing chapters of INTO THE BLACK OF NOWHERE). She perfectly weaves short sentences with description, action, and dialogue and knows just went to throw in a longer sentence. Of course, I am a bit biased because I consider Meg an acquaintance-friend as we’ve worked together a few times and I’ve heard her teach a few times. In fact, if you’re a writer, no matter the genre, and have an opportunity to hear Meg teach, GO. She’s funny, knows her stuff, and knows how to explain it so that everyone understands. Plus, she’s a downright good person. And in this day, if you want to support a good person, buy and read Meg’s books.
Holy cats, this was a great read! FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix is all-too-human hero, balancing her need to empathize with victims while maintaining a professional distance. All the characters are fully fleshed out people (even the horrific “bad guy”). The story had so many mysteries to un-puzzle, with each question answered leading to more puzzles. Meg Gardiner knows how to keep the pages turning, late into the night. Highly recommended! Now I must go read the first book in the series UNSUB.
The book read at a calm pace with the expected FBI/local law enforcement working together storyline of hunting a serial killer. You have an opportunity to learn the characters and who you might believe the killer may be. Then the story bursts into rapidly growing fire of excitement as you are on a ride along with FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix. Caitlin an ex-homicide detective turned FBI agent grapples with her questions about her ability while narrowing down the suspect list. Added to the mix is Caitlin’s long-distance relationship with boyfriend Sean an FBI agent which began in the first book of the Unsub series. This latter story line is smaller and does not take away from the main event of this thriller. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Fans will enjoy this newest installment, book number two of the UNSUB series. Into the Black Nowhere by Meg Gardiner is a great nail-biting thriller and I enjoyed every minute of it.
My favorite character was Caitlin Hendrix, a member of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. She is a smart tough agent but is realistic when she shows some weakness also. The killer in this novel was so good at reading and manipulating people that he was able to pick up on Caitlin’s weakness during their interaction.
I found the book was hard to put down especially when you get to the high-paced and intense “chase” of the killer. Throughout the book the killer toyed with the FBI, drawing them to himself for a showdown at the end. And what a showdown it was!
There was no getting bored with this one as the author brilliantly kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Author Meg Gardiner has written a novel that makes for an edgy and exciting read. If you are a fan of well-written crime thrillers then this is a story you don’t want to miss. I would definitely read more from this author and recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller. Four out of five stars for Into the Black Nowhere!!!
Thank you Meg Gardiner, Dutton Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this book to read.
3.5 stars
This thriller opens with a chilling scene that is sure to suck a reader in. From there, it moves quickly to Caitlin and the FBI being called in to hopefully find the missing woman. Knowing a fair amount of Ted Bundy’s story, some things in the book were predictable, so the element of surprise was lost. The characters were interesting, but having not read the first book, I was a bit in the dark about some things that were mentioned in this one, and from what I gathered, there were some unresolved issues still hanging in the air from that first book. Regardless, a good cat and mouse chase is always intriguing and I enjoyed this story and it’s spine-tingling elements. Without going into details, I will add that the epilogue absolutely threw me for a loop – definitely wasn’t expecting that.