This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Val Costa is asked to help with another case. One of the victims is hiding a big secret. Can the killers be found? Someone is watching Val waiting patiently for the perfect moment.

Book #3 in the Val Costa series and this book is another great addition to the series. Val,Brady and the team are back uncovering the death of Mike and his son. What you think might be a robbery turns into a revenge murder. Did Mike's past catch up with him? It's up to Val to uncover the mystery while still having the nagging feeling that her stalker "the bear" is close by. Love this very suspenseful series especially love Val and Brady! Looking forward to the next book !!! Read this series of you love a great ongoing series that your totally invested in and can't wait for more books!!

4 1/2 STARS!

Addictive and fast paced intrigue! The third book in Christie's Val Costa series does not disappoint as Val is knee deep in an investigation yet again during her supposed retirement from the FBI. We get to reconnect with her family and coworkers who have been her support system from the beginning of the series and go along for the ride as she works night and day to solve the murder of a family who from the outside looking in don't seem a likely target. Val's previous serial killer captor is still surrounding her and the anticipation after the set up for a bit of what is to come in the next book is high. Great suspense, believable characters and satisfying conclusions. I can't wait for more!

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a police procedural story with a strong female lead who always gets justice for her cases.

Another intense and fast paced read in the former Special Agent Val Costa series. It was fast, intense and I really like the strong character development, Val is easy to like and I am loving the renewed partnership with Brady, I hope we see more of this in the next book. There is lots of detail in the writing style, which I like, but I don't like the fact that Val shares so much information with so many other people out with law enforcement. A good plot with plenty twists which kept me interested until the end. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Hidden in the Dark (Val Costa Book 3) by H.K. Christie is a creepy crime thriller.

FBI Agent Val Costa is drawn out of retirement once again when the Cramer family is found dead in their home. She falls to her knees in despair at the sight of little Michael Jr. curled up on the couch. What monster would take the life of an innocent child? Val vows to find justice for the mother, Stephanie Cramer, who survived the attack but is fighting for her life in hospital.

I've read each book in this series, and this is a great addition. So many twists and side stories to hold my interest. I like getting to know the characters more and look forward to seeing what is next for Val.

The story is fast-paced, with lots of good red herrings and a surprise ending.

I would recommend this book and this series.

#HiddenintheDark #NetGalley @bookouture

This was a strong third entry in the Val Costa series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the other two books. The characters had that element that I wanted and worked with the crime thriller element. H.K. Christie wrote this well and left me wanting to read more in this series and from H.K. Christie.

I loved this book.. Val is a complex and brilliant character and I can understand why the author wants to keep writing this series.

It is a pacy, sometimes dark but always tense thriller and the story unfolds brillaintly. I am quiet happy to still be infirm and read away the hours. With books such as this it's quite a thrill..

This one had me stumped for a bit. It definitely kept my interest on what was going to happen next. I absolutely love Val and Brady! If you’re looking for a great, fast paced, never lose focus, keeps you wanting to read more thriller; HK Christie is your girl!!! This was the 3rd book in the Val Costa series and it’s amazing. Now I have to wait on the next one!!

This was a book that i found myself reading into the night. It is an excellent part of a series of books. I look forward to reading more of this series. My hope is Val will find the happiness she deserves.

Hidden in the Dark by H.K. Christie is an intense, fast-paced thriller that keeps the suspense at an all-time high. Book three in the Val Costa series, it brings us back into the complex world of former special agent Val Costa as she consults on another tough case for her hometown police department. Val is a refreshingly real protagonist: smart, capable, and balanced by a deep care for her family, particularly her mom and son, which adds a heartfelt layer to the story.

Val’s character development really shines here. She knows when to take charge and when to step back, and it’s this balance that makes her such a relatable, multidimensional lead. Her partnership with Brady adds another layer of chemistry to the story, and their combined expertise and teamwork keep you hooked. Their dynamic, plus the many points of view, ratchets up the tension with unexpected twists and turns that make this book difficult to put down.

What I appreciated most is how the ongoing serial killer investigation lingers in the background, adding complexity without overwhelming the main case. This allows the novel to feel both complete on its own and connected to the larger arc of the series, making it perfect for returning fans as well as newcomers. Though a few clues seemed a bit too easy to miss, and some personal oversharing raised eyebrows, these elements didn’t detract from the story’s fast pace and gripping suspense.

H.K. Christie has created an addictive crime series that only gets better with each book. Hidden in the Dark is a must-read for fans of crime thrillers, especially those who love strong female leads and compelling storylines that keep you on the edge of your seat. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—highly recommend this for a thrilling binge-read!

Tight and complex murder mystery, red herrings at every turn, secrets everywhere, and a team so well developed and real that you feel you know them - and root for them! Non-stop action and tense moments propell the story to the end - with a few hanging on for next time. Don't miss this series!

Wowza. This was an absolutely unputdownable. Fast, twisty, complicated and edge of your seat. I am ready for Val Costa to have her showdown with the Bear. I am also more than ready for a Brady & Val. IYKYK

Can’t wait for the next in this series.

This book was fantastic!
Just wow…🤌🏻🤌🏻

Hidden In The Dark is book #3 on the Val Costa series. I really loved the tension and the intensity, leaving me on the edge of my seat.

So intriguing, packed with surprises, and fast paced. You really can’t put this down.

I loved the characters, and the writing style was so rich in details. Every book gets better and better. This series is amazing!

Thank you so much to H.K. Christie for being part of your ARC Team., and NetGalley.

If you haven’t read this series yet, is not too late to start. You get so invested while reading and it goes by really fast.

I highly recommend!

Coming out on 12/12/2024

Oh my gosh!!! This book! I can not get over this. It was intense, it was sad, it was happy, it was all the things! Get ready for goosebumps and a wild ride with this one. Well done HK Chrisitie!

Former special agent Val Costa is used to take control whist working a case. At the moment she still is in her home town and being asked to help the police department for the third time as a consultant. They would like her to work for them permanently, but she has not decided what she wants yet and thus the role she has now fits her perfectly.

What I like about Val is that she knows her place. She knows she should not take the lead as she used to do and she knows when to take a step back. Her colleagues though don't mind her being the leading lacy, because they know she has a lot of expertise and she always respects the team. 

She also is a family woman always looking out for her mom and her son. Maybe it's time for her to invest a bit in herself now. I feel like she is on the right track. :)

Although she is successful in her job, heer family is safe and sound, there is a dark cloud closing in...

I am a huge fan of this series and of the author's storytelling. I cannot wait to read the next book. I have a strong feeling it is going to be a heavy one. 5 stars

Thank you

After reading the first two books in this series, I jumped at the opportunity to read this one!
It was amazing! I loved that there was more than one mystery involved and it kept you on the edge. Val is extremely motivated to solve this case as well as a personal one too! I loved her relationship/friendship with Brady - the two make a good team!

Can't wait to see what happens next!!

I love thriller and crime novels, and Hidden in the Dark did not disappoint. Though it's the third in The Val Costa Series, I haven’t read the first two, but I’ll definitely be picking them up.

Valerie and Brady are such a great team, with Valerie being a strong, relatable lead who’s not only a skilled investigator but also grappling with personal trauma and exploring the possibility of a new relationship.

One thing I particularly enjoyed was that there’s more than just the single investigation in this book. The ongoing serial killer investigation is threaded throughout in the background, and it’s intriguing enough to make you want to read the previous books if you haven’t already, as well as keep you hooked for what’s coming next.

The many POV added to the fast-paced tension, and some of the twists were genuinely surprising, keeping me on the edge of my seat. My only frustration was how long it took the investigators to pick up on some obvious clues—it felt like they were wasting time on dead-end leads.

That said, it’s still an amazing, cozy crime read, perfect for a 24-hour binge session. Even though it’s part of a series, it works well as a standalone, so you can dive in without feeling lost.

Book three in the Val Costa series yet again does not disappoint. Finally as Val and Brady get their act together it looks like the bear is even closer to her than she realises and he is not done with her yet. As they investigate a brutal murder of a father and his young son is the biggest battle of her life still on its way and will she be able to outsmart The Bear.

A family is attacked by unknown assailants in their home, and the woman is left for dead.
There seems to be no motive for this brutal attack, but there are lots of secrets to uncover.
Val Costa is called in to consult on the case.

This is another instalment of a series I have enjoyed so far. Val is a top notch investigator, and finds it easy to take the lead on the case.
She has great instincts and together with Brady, unearths clues and they ask the right questions.

I do like the way Val is close to her son and Mom, and that her Mom has close friends to take the pressure off Val when Val is working a case.

However, something that does irritate me, is Val's tendency to talk about her cases to all and sundry. Her son, her mother and the friends, and to Kieren. Yes, I realise these are trusted people, but I really thought this is a no-no in the law and order community?

Another cliff hanger, and am waiting almost impatiently for the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.