Review: Into the Dark by Stacy Green

Into the Dark 

By Stacy Green 

Romantic Suspense 

IT'S THE MOMENTS FROM OUR PAST THAT BIND US. Branch Manager Emilie Davis is having a day like any other-until two masked men storm into WestOne Bank demanding cash. Her hopes of a quick end to her terror are dashed when she realizes one of the men has no interest in the bank's money. Emilie is his prize, and he's come to claim her. When hostage negotiator Nathan Madigan and Las Vegas SWAT enter the bank on a rescue mission, Emilie's captor makes a shocking escape into the abyss that lies beneath the city: the Las Vegas storm drains, a refuge for the downtrodden and the desperate. HOW WILL IT END? Who is the man the media has dubbed the "Taker?" Why is he after Emilie, and what is the connection he's convinced they share? Emilie can't run from the Taker, and she can't escape her own past. As her life closes in on her, she has nowhere to turn but to Nathan. The lines of professionalism blur as Nathan becomes determined to save Emilie. Together they venture into the depths beneath Las Vegas and discover a shocking piece of the puzzle. But the Taker remains one step ahead. Desperate for the threat to emerge from the shadows, Emilie makes a bold move to reclaim her life, and it may cost her everything.

REVIEW:

The action for this story starts on page 1, first paragraph. What starts off like a “typical” bank robbery descends into something very murky. It’s soon clear to Nathan Madigan, the Las Vegas SWAT hostage negotiator, that the branch manager, Emilie Davis, is a target of one of the two robbers. He’s working with the more volatile of the two but gets that something is off. When they enter the bank to rescue all of the hostages, Nathan’s suspicions are confirmed when Emilie’s captor attempts to take her with him as he escapes into the tunnels of the city, a murky and foul refuge for the desperate. Emilie manages to fight him off but from here going forward, it is a mystery and effort to figure out who this man is and why he’s interested in her.

I really enjoyed this story with its unusual premise and plot. It became more than just an investigation into the identity of the perpetrator, given the name The Taker, as he was still committed to capturing Emilie. Though Nathan isn’t a detective, in the short time he was working the robbery in progress, he was able to establish a connection with Emilie and she wanted him to stick around. Their developing attraction is complicated as she’s a victim in an open case and he’s part of the law enforcement investigation. They are both really likeable characters and she’s determined to not be a victim. There’s an interesting cast of characters that further embellish the story along with an exciting climax. This is a well written story that held my interest and baffled me. I’m looking forward to more from this author.