Bunny's Reviews: Dark Obsessions Review Spotlight

Welcome to the book tour for a gritty crime thriller, Dark Obsessions by Marie Sutro! Read on for my review, more details, and a chance to win a great giveaway!

“…a taut and terrifying descent into madness and redemption…brilliant psychological thriller—pop culture entertainment at its absolute best…”

—Jon Land, USA Today Bestselling Author of Strong Cold Dead

Dark Obsessions by Mari Sutro is a twisted thriller mystery novel that will have you on the edge of your seat as Kate Barnes races against the clock to save an unknown number of girls from the dire situation that they have found themselves in. Dark Obsessions is one of those books that will stick with you long after you put the novel down, and will keep you coming back for more of this bad-ass character.

Dark Obsessions is the first book that I have read by Mari Sutro, but the minute I read the blurb of this book my first question was – is there more? LOL! This novel is the second Kate Barnes novel, but it can be read as a standalone novel. Trust me. I devoured this book and I’m already making plans to go and grab book one and am eagerly anticipating book three. Yes, it’s safe to say that this author has acquired a die-hard fan.

Now, just let me say this before we go any further – this book will not be for everyone. I am a zealous fan of horror, mystery, and thrillers and this book check all the boxes. There is some content that some readers might find difficult to read, so while there aren’t explicit details of the things that happen to the characters in this book, it’s best to think of your own mental health if torture and other heinous abuses are too much for you. If you have read the previous Kate Barnes novel and enjoyed it then you honestly know what to expect and I’m sure you’ll dive into this book eagerly.

Kate Barnes is in Washington State originally with one purpose – to find her mom and to get some closure concerning her youth. She has no idea that while she’s there that she’ll be drawn into a case of a murdered young girl stolen away from her home in a foreign country. Kate has been through a lot on a recent case, and she’s made quite a name for herself as well. When the local Sheriff asks her for some insight she agrees. She has no intentions of staying on, but one thing leads to another, and justice calls to be given.

Dark Obsessions is the second Kate Barnes novel, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone novel. The author touches back on things that happened in the first book, but it’s just enough to add some spice to the story and give a bit of insight into Kate’s past concerning the two cases' connection. Kate draws on similarities and familiarities to help ground herself when it’s absolutely necessary. I love Kate’s determination to find the answers regardless of who gets the credit and glory. She follows the rules as much as she can, but working “off the clock” so to speak affords her some liberties that she might not have if she was working in the full scope of the law.

The author’s writing style is truly phenomenal. I’m kept on the edge of my seat wondering – what is going to happen next? What twist is the author going to pounce on me? There was multiple times when my jaw was literally on the floor. There are some elements that I was quick to pick up on – which I absolutely loved, but the author keeps me guessing just the same. Throughout the book, I couldn’t help questioning – how deep does this go? As the puzzle comes together I couldn’t help but be in shock at the revelations the author has in store for readers.

I love the perfect moments of backstory that the author inserts into the novel. I appreciate the author works so hard to give readers a well-rounded image to work with concerning the characters in this book. I love seeing how the characters came to be in the various situations that they find themselves in. While this story does mostly focus on the mystery of the case at hand, the author remembers to give readers moments of Kate’s original objective in coming to Eagle’s Nest. In the process, the author is leaving little clues for readers to pick up on. The twists and surprises make this novel a true page-turner from beginning to end. I love how the clues answer so few questions while creating more at the same time. The horror element is so delicately done that it’s truly beautiful in its own twisted and unique way. I also appreciate that the author includes significant images in this book as well. They add so much to this novel that simple words cannot.

The attention to detail truly makes this novel a true work of art and me greedy to read more by this author. The amount of detail is well done and I love that the author draws on her familial law enforcement history to construct this novel. If you love a good mystery novel with just the right amount of twisted horror then this is the book for you. I cannot wait for the next book in the Kate Barnes series, but in the meantime, I’ll be sure to immerse myself in this author’s debut novel.

This book more than earns a 5 out of 5 stars rating. I ate this book and even when I finished reading it this novel stuck with me. I enjoyed every twisted element wrapped up inside these pages. I could almost see this book playing out in the twisted macabre of a news story on the television. Yes, that’s just how real these characters come off and that is one the true tells of a fantastically written novel. For readers who enjoy the twisted, the macabre, and novels absolutely dripping with mystery this book is a must-read.

Thank you to the author and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! Be sure to check out my fellow bloggers as they share their thoughts on this novel and further information about the author.

Dark Obsessions

Genre: Crime Thriller

Publication Date: April 26th, 2022

Reeling from the trauma of her last case, SFPD Detective Kate Barnes heads to the Olympic Peninsula hoping to heal the present by resolving the past. When the ravaged corpse of an unidentified teen is discovered, her search for personal peace takes a back seat to the quest for justice.

As Kate digs deeper, she discovers the victim was not the only one who had been taken against her will. Racing against the clock to rescue the remaining girls, she uncovers a complex series of ever-increasing horrors. In the darkest corners of Washington state, Kate Barnes will come face-to-face with an adversary so ruthless and powerful that it will take everything she has to save herself, let alone the girls.

Add to Goodreads

Excerpt

DEPUTY JENNA WHEATON slammed the door of the patrol car shut. The sound bounced off the walls of the abandoned quarry, doubling and trebling before finally fading in the late afternoon stillness. Spinning on her heel, she cast a final warning glare at the two teenage passengers huddled in the backseat. Exhaling, she turned toward the abandoned warehouse which stood across from the edge of the vast mining pit.

The setting sun reflected off a narrow row of windows running above the structure’s main entrance, lighting the surrounding forest ablaze in a fiery glow. Averting her gaze, she strode toward the set of stairs leading up to the double door entry. Bits of gravel crunched softly under her boots as she walked, amplifying the overall sense of desolation.

Jenna’s shadow kept pace with her as she moved—exaggerating her lean, lanky, features topped off by a shoulder-length mop of blonde hair. Exuding the air of a woman not to be trifled with, she remained convinced she was on a fool’s errand. There was no way the old warehouse would yield the unimaginable find the teenagers had reported when they had burst through the doors of the sheriff’s office over an hour ago.

She had been finishing up a domestic violence report on the other side of town when the call had come in. The DV complaint had been a farce—an adolescent attempt to punish a parent for failing to buy a new cell phone.

Jenna had finally convinced the ill-mannered fifteen-year-old daughter to apologize to her overworked mother when her radio had come to life, recalling her to the station. Once there, two more teens had been dumped in her lap. There was every reason to believe the two wanna-be skater boys sitting in her patrol car were fueled by the same adolescent angst, wayward hormones, and abject stupidity.

Foregoing the rusted railings on either side of the stairs, she jogged up to the porch. The right-side door stood open; a broken chain dangled from the handle—the padlock still intact. Beyond the first few feet of the doorway, darkness pervaded.

She unholstered her flashlight and stepped up to the threshold, glad she had taken the time to lock the boys securely in the car. The last thing she needed was for the miscreants to pop up from behind and scare the shit out of her—just their way of passing a boring Friday afternoon.

Truth be told, she could not really blame them. Eagle’s Nest was high on nature but low on things to do. Other than the bowling alley downtown, there was little going on within the town limits. It was a reality she knew all too well.

Divorced at thirty-eight, with a nine-year-old son in tow, Jenna had ached for a change from the predictability of life in small-town America. She had been about to accept a position with the Seattle PD when a sudden heart attack had prompted Sheriff Selby to retire early. With no local candidates for the position, the town had been forced to look elsewhere.

After three months, they had found a unanimous favorite. Far more handsome than any of the local singles, Sheriff Luchasetti, who was only a few years older than Jenna, had immediately infected her with some form of Disney-esque brain fever. Abandoning her senses, she had turned down the Seattle offer.

In hindsight, it had been a ridiculous move. After a few months of intense flirting on her part, Tony had made his disinterest clear by turning down Jenna’s invite for a nightcap at her place. He had claimed he could not risk his new position by fraternizing with a deputy. But Jenna knew better. Any man who made it to forty-four without signing a marriage license or siring a child had no sincere interest in either one.

Swallowing past the year-old frustration, she stepped over the threshold into the cavernous space. Her right hand settled on the butt of her Glock as she entered, evidence of good training and experience rather than anticipation of actual trouble.

The beam from her flashlight was not strong enough to reach the back of the building, but she moved ahead anyway. Had she even partially believed the boys’ outlandish story about finding a dead body in the concrete pit up ahead, she may have proceeded with more caution.

She had only made it about five feet before a vile stench—reminiscent of a cross between motor oil and animal fat—hit her like a semi. Steeling herself against the aroma, Jenna focused on the goal ahead. If the boys had seen something, it was certainly nothing more than a sick animal that had sought refuge here in its final moments.

As she continued, the rubber soles of her shoes squeaked softly against the dusty concrete. Arriving at the fifteen-foot-square opening in the floor, Jenna pointed her flashlight down. Her eyes tracked the circle of visibility as it traveled down the opposite wall of the shaft.

A moment later, the light revealed a pale arm. As it swept over a mutilated breast, then worked its way across the rest of the slender human form, the deputy staggered backward. Her right hand clawed at her shoulder, grasping for the radio affixed to her uniform. When her fingers finally closed around the device, it took an entire minute before she was confident she could speak without shrieking.

Available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Marie Sutro is an award-winning and bestselling crime fiction author. She is also a member of Sisters in Crime whose writing has been inspired by the combined service of her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father in the San Francisco Police Department.

Her bestselling debut novel, Dark Associations, was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Award for the Best New Voice in Fiction. A proponent for literacy, she volunteers with California Library Literacy Services, helping adults learn to read and write.

She resides in Northern California and is currently at work on the next Kate Barnes story. To learn more about Marie, visit her website at mariesutro.com.

Marie Sutro | Instagram | Twitter

Click the link below for a chance to win a copy of Kate Barne's first case, Dark Associations!

a Rafflecopter giveaway