Author: T.R. Ragan
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Published on: June 18, 2013 by Thomas & Mercer
A serial killer is terrorizing Sacramento, preying on happily married couples and unleashing unspeakable cruelties upon his victims. The ordeal rekindles disturbing memories for private investigator Lizzy Gardner, who barely escaped a serial killer clutches only years ago. But while most Sacramento residents are hiding in the shadows, paralyzed by fear, Lizzy is compelled to go after the Lovebird Killer. So it no surprise that, when a routine workers- compensation case suddenly leads her and her two young assistants onto the killer trail, she welcomes the chase, determined to bring him to justice before he can claim another victim. She never imagines he could be two steps ahead, watching her every move and plotting his bloodiest, most triumphant conquest of all.
A Dark Mind is a great third entry in T. R. Ragan's mystery/thriller Lizzy Gardner series. The titular character is back and fitter than ever. She enrolled in a fitness program during the events of Dead Weight. It's good to see Lizzy's realized that self-defense is most effective when you're strong. Not to mention she's also given up her beloved Rice Krispies Treats.
Lizzy's latest case involves an investigation into a bunch of murders. They're believed to have been the work of a serial killer dubbed the Lovebird Killer. At first, it seems like he's your typical serial killer. You know he's highly dangerous, but you assume he'll make a mistake sooner or later. Not this one. Lizzy has just met her strongest foe since Spiderman. (Read Abducted if you don't know who he is).
Aiding in the investigation is the FBI, and by extension Lizzy's boyfriend, special agent Jared Shayne. I feel readers don't get to know him as well as they get to know Lizzy in the previous two books of the series (at least, I didn't). This time around, we see more of Jared. Lizzy moved to his house, but she's struggling with the unfamiliar surroundings. She is a creature of habit, used to having her stuff where she likes it to be. Jared loves Lizzy, so he's patient and helps her adjust.
The Lovebird Killer is an interesting villain. I wasn't able to figure out his identity until just before Lizzy did. It was because the novel shows some of the couples the Lovebird Killer targets. One of them is confusing...but if I say more, I might spoil it. Anyway, investigators assume the Lovebird Killer targets couples because they have something he yearns for: true love. Apparently he feels that if he can't have that, then no one can. Readers get to learn much about the LK through his present deeds and his early life. He proves to be extremely hard to catch. The LK is cunning and seriously overconfident, thinking himself uncatchable. He also looks up to other serial killers, especially Spiderman, the man who changed Lizzy's life. The LK is curious and puzzled about how she managed to take Spiderman down. As Lizzy makes it her mission to catch the Lovebird Killer, he decides to take the challenge and “put her in her place”.
Another character who returns in A Dark Mind is Hayley Hansen, one of Lizzy's assistants. She was sent to juvenile after taking revenge on the man who wrecked her life. Hayley is released, but on the condition that she wears an ankle monitor. Unsurprisingly, she soon finds a solution to cheat the device. Hayley is one of the most interesting characters in this series. She's smart, but very reserved and hardened. Hayley doesn’t form relationships easily. This girl is also not someone you'd want to cross. Even the Lovebird Killer is afraid of Hayley! Don't forget that she bravely confronted Spiderman in Abducted. However, for a character on the side of the good guys, Hayley has quite a bit of darkness in her soul. The Lovebird Killer accuses Lizzy of being a "ticking time bomb waiting to explode and lose it." I feel that statement might apply to Hayley a lot more.
Lizzy also has the help of her longtime assistant, Jessica Pleiss. She's quite more naive, no-nonsense, and self-righteous than Hayley. Jessica aspires to become an FBI profiler, though she's getting a lot of field work as Lizzy's employee. Aware of the dangers of the job (Jess has already got shot and kidnapped), Lizzy decides to fire her for her own good. Jessica resigns before Lizzy can do that. This doesn't create any hard feelings. Jessica felt ready for a change of direction in her life. I look forward to see what's next for her.
I really enjoy this series. Mysteries/thrillers featuring private investigators are among my favorite kind of books. The covers of this series are also well designed. I was going to deduct a star because the design/typesetting isn't as well done as the first two books in the series. When I change the default font on my Kindle, the header changes in A Dark Mind but not in the others. It's a minor flaw not likely to annoy anyone, plus I found this book to be better than its predecessors. I'm not going to take a star off for that. This is the most thrilling installment in the Lizzy Gardner series so far. I highly recommend it.
My rating: ★★★★ 1/2
4.5 stars - A fantastic page-turner!
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