this was a fantastic ride. i loved the snark and the characters and the unexpected tenderness that popped up in places. this managed to be both a page turner as well as show depth with these characters (badass women, by the way). and it was surprisingly (to me, anyway; i'd never read her before) well written. i didn't at all mind being caught in traffic because it meant i got to keep listening to this, and it was very very hard to put down. ( )

Excellent! Finally, a good book with strong female main characters. These women are smart, tough and very capable. No rescuing needed here. Interesting plot twists and lots of action. With motherly love! ( )

This story alternates between two narrators. One is Detective Jessica Sanchez with the LAPD, who, ten years earlier, helped send a young woman to prison, Dr. Blair Harbour, a pediatric surgeon who killed her neighbor in the wealthy section of Brentwood in L.A. Blair, now out of prison, is the other narrator.

Blair works as a clerk at a Pump’n Jump Gas Station/Convenience Store, and as the story begins she is held up at gun point by a young girl who turns out to be the daughter of one of her prison mates at the California Institution for Women, Emily Lawlor, called “Sneak.” Sneak comes to see Blair (a violation of their parole conditions) and wants Blair’s help in finding her daughter. Blair is worried about getting caught associating with Sneak, but knows the pain of losing a child; she was pregnant when she was sent to prison and her newborn son Jamie, delivered in prison, was taken from her.

Jessica is having a hard time as well. She is shocked to learn she has inherited a $7 mansion in Brentwood by the father of a murdered girl whose killer she helped convict. The others in her squad, a very evil, slimy bunch, resent her good fortune and try to do all they can to hurt Jessica and ruin the mansion.

The mansion happens to be next door to where Jamie Harbour is now living, and Jamie befriends Jessica, telling her his mom was imprisoned “by mistake.” Jessica, feeling guilty because she likes Jamie so much, revisits Blair’s case and is shocked to see that time and perspective give a very different view of what happened.

Evaluation: There is a lot of tense danger in this story, and the female characters are excellent - nuanced and surprising. The men tend more to the caricatured side, but they are not the focus of this thriller. The women are, and they are strong and resilient, adaptive and persistent in the face of repeated abuse, hardship, and injustice, particularly by the police. ( )

I really enjoyed this book! I have read and enjoyed several books written by Candice Fox in the past so I jumped at the chance to read this book. This story grabbed my attention from the start and kept me eagerly turning pages until the very end. I am so glad that I decided to read this wonderful book.

This story is told from two points of view. Blair was a wealthy doctor at one point in her life but that was before she served time in jail for murder. Blair now works at a local convenience store and is trying to do what needs to be done so she can spend more time with the son she gave birth to in prison. Jessica is the detective that put Blair away. Jessica recently inherited a multi-million dollar mansion much to the dismay of her co-workers within the LAPD. It is apparent that she is at a difficult point in her life. When Blair's friend from prison asks for help when her daughter goes missing, these two will form an unlikely alliance to find some answers.

I really liked the characters in this book. Blair seemed like she was a good person and she was really determined not to get in trouble. She knew what she was risking to help her friend but she couldn't find it in her to say no. Jessica was at a crossroads in her life. She was a good cop and liked her job for the most part. Inheriting the house messed everything up and opened her eyes at the same time. The secondary characters were equally well done. Sneak, Blair's friend, was a vital part of the story and often kept things interesting. Blair's son played a pivotal role in the story and made connections to both Blair and Jessica.

The mystery in this book kept me guessing. I was eager to find out what really happened to Blair's friend's daughter. As things got more complicated and new people came into play, I found myself even more curious about what had really happened and what the motive might have been. I was also very curious about the crime that sent Blair to prison. I was very pleased that the details of that crime were addressed as a second, and equally interesting, mystery in this book.

I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be an incredibly entertaining and well-written mystery thriller that was filled with wonderfully unique characters. I love the fact that the book kept me guessing until the very end. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author's work.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Forge Books via NetGalley. ( )

A former pediatric surgeon, now ex-con, a dedicated cop ostracized within her own department, a thief and a crime boss are thrust together in the search for a missing girl in Gathering Dark by Candice Fox.

Blair Harbour has recently been paroled and is working at a gas station owned by M13 gangsters. She is trying to keep her nose clean and hopes to establish a better relationship with the child she gave birth to in prison. A beat-up teenage girl sticks a gun in her face, takes the cash out of the register and steals Blair’s car. Blair feels sorry for the girl and replaces the money. When her former cellmate shows up the next day looking for her missing girl, Blair realizes it’s the same person and finds herself roped into searching for her against her better judgment. She ultimately turns to the cop who put her behind bars, Det. Jessica Sanchez, for help. Blair has already missed the first 10 years of her son’s life. How much more is she willing to risk for a stranger?

Candice Fox is an amazing writer with a knack for creating memorable characters, interesting locales, deeply involved mysteries, and vivid scenes that will linger with you long after you close the book. The women in this novel are never quite what you expect them to be. They are damaged to differing degrees but they are each strong at their core. They are unapologetic for being who they are even if hinders them from their goals or brings scorn upon them.

Gathering Dark does indeed go to some dark places. Even in the midst of tragedy, Fox elicits a spirit of hope. These characters have a lot heaped on them, but they remain unbowed.

In a crowded field of mysteries and thrillers, Candice Fox stands out. Strong characters with great stories to tell. I hope we see a lot more of them. Fox is a must-read and this book is highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. ( )