Her Dark Grave is the twelfth book in the Madison Knight Series. I'm not sure how I missed the rest of these. I read the first and now this one. This is a police procedural psychological thriller.

The story begins with a killer in secret looking forward to a kill. We then see Maddie is struggling with nightmares. Trying to escape from them she is driving in the middle of the night and runs out of gas. While waiting for roadside assistance, she gets out of the car and finds a suitcase in the ditch. Opening it slightly she sees a finger and a body inside in it. Madison and her partner Detective Terry Grant take the lead on the case.

This is an intense mystery that kept me engaged. I am disappointed I missed all the books prior. There is something to be said about character history that adds to the story. I would recommend starting at the beginning not that this isn't a stand-alone read but I believe I missed a lot that lead to this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this compelling book

detective madison knight is out late driving around as she cant sleep, when her car suddenly stops...which it would do when it runs out of petrol... having to call out for help isnt something she is happy about but then she finds something in the ditch and its not long before emergency services are surrounding the area

a body was found cut up in a suit case
identifying the body is paramount and finding the perp

it was a strong start to a book and kept going though i didnt warm to madison at all...

when a 2nd body shows up a day later and no clue who the perp is tempers get frayed

can madison and her partner work it out before another body is found...

not a bad read

A rush from beginning to end! We know from the very first page that Detective Madison Knight and her partner Detective Terry Grant are facing off against a serial killer who wants to know and enjoy the kill. During her late-night drive, Madison is stranded on the side of the road and discovers a body in a suitcase. She drives late at night to avoid the nightmares from a previous case. When another body is found, in the same manner, she and Terry must find the killer before more lives are lost. The victims are all young attractive women, with no real obvious connection, but they must find a connection before more women are murdered. When they have a suspect in custody, they don’t have the evidence and have to let him go. Another woman is now missing, will they find her before it is too late? The killer knows they are on his trail, but he hasn’t counted on Detective Madison Knight’s determination to find him and stop him. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Detective Madison Knight has been having nightmares and her way of dealing with them is to go for a ride in the dark of the night. This leads her to discovering a suitcase with a dead body in it. As Knight and her partner Grant work the case, they seem to be having more conflicts centering around how to handle the case than usual. Is it because she's more stressed and tired? Or is there something going on with Grant?

While they are pulling at threads to solve who murdered Tara Jackson and why, another body turns up. They follow up on all potential leads, until the pieces finally start to fall in place. And toward the end Knight finally learns what her partner has been trying to tell her.

The first time I have read this Author but I enjoyed the style of writing. A solid four star read. Great premise. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Detective Madison Knight goes out for a drive to clear her head from the monsters who invade her mind and deprive her of a peaceful night of sleep. On one nightly drive she runs out of gas and makes a gruesome discovery on the roadside. A beautiful woman's life has been cut short. Her mutilated body has been stuffed in a suitcase and inhumanely discarded in a roadside ditch like a bag of trash. It is a senseless death from a person with no moral compass or regard for life. You are introduced to this depraved individual in the first few pages as a young teen. A devouring darkness is threatening to consume all that is good in Stiles unless Madison and her partner, Terry can catch this vicious killer with a warped mind.

As they begin their investigation, they find that the victim, Tara Jackson, was a woman with many secrets and a heart of gold. When another woman's mutilated body is found, the need to find this killer is ratcheted up.

This is a great police procedural and mystery with a team of characters that have distinctive personalities. Madison is at times stubborn and single minded in her quest for her pursuit of justice and finding out the truth, which often causes strife for her partner and herself. Terry tries to balance out her bullheadedness, especially when he is acts as a buffer between Madison and their boss, Sgt. Winston. Sgt. Winston quite obviously enjoys being large and in charge which at times makes Madison's job harder. He is a very unlikeable character, but he is the boss. However, some of the difficulty is brought on by Madison's attitude. Madison is definitely not all sunshine and roses, but she definitely cares about the victims and truly wants justice for them. She is not a polished character, but this makes her a little more real to me and her true sense of justice endears her to me.

This entire mystery is bone chilling and frightening at times, but it will wrap you in its tentacles and not let you go until you tap to the final page. This was a captivating serial murder mystery with a twist of macabre. There is an occasional chapter interspersed throughout the book from the viewpoint of the disturbed killer which will give you chill bumps as you read their viewpoint. So, you will probably need to read this one with the lights on.

Thank you Hibbert & Stiles and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Once again, Carolyn Arnold has penned a strong and impactful tale in the twelfth book in the Detective Madison Knight mystery series, Her Dark Grave . Readers know this will not be an ordinary book given the insight into the killer’s mind as a teenager in the prologue. Madison has been having nightmares and taking drives through the countryside to clear her mind and calm down. When she runs out of gas one night, she gets out of the car to wait on roadside service and finds a suitcase in the ditch. Opening it means a call to dispatch when she finds a body in it. Madison and her partner Detective Terry Grant have the lead on the case.

Madison is strong and independent, but her mouth often gets her in trouble; especially with Sergeant Winston. She tends to react first, often jumping to conclusions without fact, and seems to attract confrontation. Madison is not as likeable as many protagonists, but her faults make her feel more realistic than the perfect strong female lead. Driven to solve crimes and seek justice, Madison often goes on instinct, which doesn’t always mean she keeps an open mind. Terry is a good balance for Madison and she respects him. He is fair and balanced, keeps her grounded, and challenges her when it’s needed. Readers get some insight into the antagonist through the occasional chapter from the killer’s point of view.

The book has a good mix of suspense and police investigation and has an action-filled ending. Readers are quickly pulled into the story line with a writing style that grabs and holds one’s attention. Fluid writing, great characterization, and a mystery to be solved kept me engaged. The storyline is gripping in this unsettling thriller that is alarming at times. I also enjoyed the threads weaving Madison’s person life into the story. Themes include murder, friendship, domestic violence, and more. The real-world issues added depth to the narrative.

Overall, this was a story that captivated me from the first page to its last. The author did a great job of building suspense throughout the story and weaving the threads together. I look forward to seeing what is next for Madison and Terry. Readers of mysteries and police procedurals will likely enjoy this series. By reading the series in order, the character growth and the relationships that develop over time are more obvious. However, this novel can be read as a stand-alone.

Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. and Carolyn Arnold provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 17, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

This is book 12 in the Detective Madison Knight series. This is the first book I’ve read in the series so I’m not up-to-date on the back story. I was able to read it as a stand-alone and would recommend the read.

Detective Madison Knight is struggling to sleep and is out for a late night drive when she has car trouble. She she looks around the area and discovers a suitcase discarded in a ditch. Further inspection reveals the body of a young woman inside.

Tara Jackson was just 21. The daughter of a wealthy surgeon, she made the choice to use her talents to help the needy and forgo her family money. It seems like most people liked Tara so who wanted her dead?

When another victim turns up with the same look as Tara, Madison fears a serial predator could be behind the murders. She starts looking for other cases and clues to find the person responsible. Will she find out the identity before anyone else is killed?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Carolyn Arnold has done it again!
Another great installment in the Detective Madison Knight series!
Detective Madison Knight has so much going on in her life…..so much she is struggling with. Will she be able to fight the demons that plague her????
Madison and her longtime partner, Terry, start to investigate horrific murders of young women. Can they find out who the killer is before there are more murders?
On top of everything going on, Madison is having strange feelings about her partner. Why is he acting so strange? Is he hiding something from her?
The twists and turns throughout this investigation are unbelievable and disturbing.
I hope to see Madison and her fiancé move forward in their relationship.
I was thoroughly pulled into Her Dark Grave right from the beginning. Perfect book for fans of thriller mystery and police procedurals.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Carolyn Arnold, for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’d like to thank Hibbert & Styles Publishing Inc and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Her Dark Grave’, A Detective Madison Knight mystery written by Carolyn Arnold, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Following on from her previous case, Detective Madison Knight can’t sleep and has taken to driving at night. During one of her nocturnal trips she runs out of gas, comes across an old suitcase in a ditch and on closer inspection finds inside a dismembered body. Madison’s partner Detective Terry Grant recognises the body to be that of Tara Jackson but despite following leads they can’t identify the killer. Then a second body is found in similar circumstances and they realise that time is against them if they aren’t going to get a third victim.

Although prior to ‘Her Dark Grave’ I’ve read just one book in this series but I don’t feel at a disadvantage for not having previous background knowledge of Detectives Knight and Grant. This is a thriller with a lot of intrigue, suspense and twists and turns that I’ve given four stars to, and if it wasn’t for the brusque and insensitive way Madison talks to people which in my opinion lets it down slightly I’d award it the full five. Despite this the story is gripping with an involving plot that kept me guessing the identity of the perpetrator and had me reading long past bedtime.

Madison Knight may have finally reached her breaking point--she can't sleep due to nightmares, none of the houses her fiance takes her to see are quite right, and her long-time partner is acting squirrely. When she discovers a suitcase with a dismembered body during one of her late-night aimless drives (Madison's car ran out of gas!) she gets pulled into the chase for a relentless serial killer. A satisfying police procedural.

Thanks to Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

A superb mystery thriller.
It keeps you guessing, on your toes from the start and is worthy of reading.
The ending is very abrupt sadly and seems slightly rushed, almost like it had to end in a certain number of pages that was required.
All in all, a recommended read for fans of Carolyn Arnold and a good continuation of Madison Knight’s story and career.

I am very used to reading something in between a series so I had no problem picking this book up. The plot is interesting where Madison and her partner investigates a gruesome murder where a body was stuffed in a suitcase that she found in a ditch. But it’s really hard to support a character who thinks the world revolves around her and expects everything to be done her way. Yes, I am aware she IS the main character and while the way she’s portrayed might be to show that she’s determined to solve the case and it being her top priority, she came off as arrogant and self-entitled to me.

That being said, I really enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns in this fast paced crime thriller with short chapters!

Detective Madison Knight always gives 100% to any investigation, but this time she'll be the one questioned as a witness, after making a shocking discovery in a remote location.
She and partner Detective Terry Grant must ensure they've got all the evidence to arrest the killer before he strikes again.
Will they be in time to save the latest victim?

A fantastic offering from Queen of the Crime-Thriller, Carolyn Arnold, Her Dark Grave is a chilling title for the 12th Madison Knight novel. Sure to be a 5-star winner and runaway success, get your copy today and prepare to be gripped firmly by the imagination throughout!

Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold is the 12th book in her Detective Madison Knight series. As I have noted a number of times in previous reviews, Carolyn Arnold always gives us exciting suspenseful murder mysteries, led by great Detective Madison Knight; and Arnold’s knowledge of police procedurals makes these investigations perfect.

Madison continues to fight her PTSD nightmares from her previous Russian case; she can’t sleep, and goes out in the middle of the night for drive to clear her mind. When she runs out of gas, she awaits a tow truck to bring her gas, and decides to walk around in the dark. She spots a suitcase, and to her horror, she discovers the mutilated body of a young woman; the victim is identified as Tara Jackson, a 21 year old woman. Madison and Terry (her partner) take over the case, and interviewing some of her friends and those she knew at work. In a very short time, another mutilated body is discovered, who sort of looks a bit like Tara. Maddie and Terry try to find clues to see if both murders are somehow related, with them also looking into missing person and cold cases. They bring a few suspects to be interrogated, but they have to let them go, due to not enough evidence. Madison becomes desperate when a homeless women is now missing. Did the murderer kill her, after she interviewed the woman.

What follows is an exciting, tense, action filled thriller with many suspects, as well as surprising developments with the help of Cynthia (Maddie’s police friend). This is a very nasty case, with an evil murderer. Maddie concentrates solely on the case, not spending time with her fiancée, Troy. She also discovers that Terry is hiding something he is planning, and the Sargent Winston, continues to be nasty to her. I thought in this book, Maddie was very harsh and a bit abrasive, being very unlikeable throughout; at the end was the only time she seemed nice when she was with Troy.

Her Dark Grave was another fantastic, exciting, tense, riveting police procedural, so very well written by Carolyn Arnold. Madison Knight is a great detective, though I as noted previously, more annoying in this book. I will say I love Detective Amanda Steel a lot better. If you enjoy mysteries, police procedurals, a tough as nails cop, then you need to be reading this series, as Carolyn Arnold is one of the best in police procedure stories.

Detective Madison Knight is still healing emotionally from her last case that nearly cost the lives of two people who are very dear to her. Plagued by nightmares and insomnia, she often takes long drives in the middle of the night, without her fiancé (Troy) knowing. One one of those drives, she makes a gruesome discovery -- a dismembered woman's body in an old suitcase. This begins a hunt for the killer. When another body is found in similar condition stuffed into a duffle bag, Madison and her partner (Terry) rush to find the connections between the two women, other than their similar looks, before another victim is found. While chasing down leads that go nowhere, Madison senses that something is off with Terry, but she can't figure out what is going on with him. Also, Madison and Troy are searching for a house to call their home. It's a great mystery with twists and turns that keeps you guessing until the end.

I love this series and could not put this latest book down once I began reading.
Madison and Terry are investigating the gruesome murder of a young woman, popular, kind and generous. With few leads, and even fewer motives, they begin to get frustrated. Then there is a second victim. Are they connected? Clues start to trickle in, but putting them together is a huge challenge. In the middle of it all, both Madison and Terry are dealing with some personal issues, which may change their working dynamics in the future.
I love how effortlessly Carolyn Arnold's stories flow from scene to scene , slowly building a mystery that has twists and turns, and a great ending. Highly recommend. While this is a series, this book can be read as a stand alone.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the twelfth in the Detective Madison Knight series. Although I have read some others in the series, this one can work as a standalone.

Suffering from nightmares related to a past case that put her in danger, Madison escapes them by taking nighttime drives. On one of them, she discovers a suitcase with a dismembered body inside. Soon after, a second similarly dismembered body is found. Can Madison and her partner, Terry, solve the case before anyone else, including Madison, loses their life? On a personal level, what secret is Terry hiding from her, will she ever learn to get along with her annoying sergeant, and will she and Troy finally set the date?

This was an engrossing, fast paced read. Arnold knows how to capture and maintain her readers’ interest. Arnold writes a few different series; Madison Knight is not my favorite character. She is abrasive, impetuous, tenacious. But she is good at her job and has a strong sense of responsibility and justice.

This latest addition to the series is sure to please fans of police procedurals/mysteries. Trigger warning; the murders are quite gruesome.

Her Dark Grave, the twelfth book in the Detective Madison Knight series, is a bone-chilling crime thriller. It is late at night when Madison is out driving and runs out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Walking around as she waits for the tow truck, she finds the body of a young woman stuffed in a suitcase. As Madison and her partner Detective Terry Grant investigate, another body turns up in a sports equipment bag, one who looks remarkably like the first one. As the detectives keep working on the case, they find that another girl who went missing several years prior is a doppelganger to the two victims. Madison may be getting close to the truth, but in doing so, she will become the hunted. Knight and Grant will have to work together to solve this case before the demented killer makes Madison the next victim. The characters are quite believable in this suspenseful and dramatic novel. The storyline is filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Carolyn Arnold has done it again.

Detective Madison Knight is in the habit of going for midnight drives when she is plagued by nightmares. Her car breaks down and she finds a suitcase in a ditch with a dismembered body of a young woman in it.

During the investigation, another body is found, in a sports equipment bag, the girl looks very similar to the first girland the race is on to find the killer before he kills again.

The answer to who the killer is lies in the past.


I really enjoyed this novel. It was gripping and I like that the lead detective is female.

The police work is solid and methodical, and the book also reveals some of the characters personal life, which makes the characters more human in my opinion.

There is also some focus on the relationship between Madison and her partner, after working together for a number of years, she is suspicious of him, and she feels as though he is hiding something from her. Including this in the book also makes the characters real.

I can recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.