This is the 3rd book in the series. This book was intense. It has twists that I didnt see coming. I liked the personal side of Katz and Styles and learning about their childhood.

I enjoyed this book but I thought the plot was a little convoluted. There were really two separate cases but I thought they were a wee bit too alike. I kept having to backtrack to find out which killer I was dealing with. Apart from that it was a pretty exciting read. I love the originality of this series and look forward to the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

D.k. Hood delivers another twisty, dark and gripping thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. Well plotted and intriguing
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Book three in the Agent Beth Katz series and I was as engrossed in this book as I was the first two.

Hood has a talent of developing interesting and complex characters and making them fit into the roles and stories she writes.

Some cameo appearances by the guys from Black Rock which is another fabulous series by this author.

I was so excited to read book 3 in this series as I’ve read the previous two and enjoyed them immensely.

Beth is itching for her secret to come out and play because a serial killer is hunting and killing young women and girls and so far the local police haven’t been able to stop them but can Beth without being caught herself?.

Beth and Dax have an official case to solve too but yet again can Beth solve both without people seeing her dark side?.

I enjoyed seeing how much Beth and Dax have gelled together and Beth actually enjoys his company and regards him as her partner even though she’s always holding back and never shows her true self.

The case was interesting and at the same time disturbing but Beth soon worked out what the perpetrator’s motive was, all that was left was to catch them.

I couldn’t get enough of this story, it kept me interested all the way through and it was that good it’ll leave you breathless near the end.

I enjoyed learning more about both of our main characters, a couple of things came as a shock but i can see how this could be used in further books as a fantastic storyline.

This is a fantastic series and book, they’re all available to read on KU for free so what are you waiting for?.

Book Review:
Dark Hearts (Special Agent Beth Katz 3) by D.K. Hood
Published by Bookouture, 26th February 2024

FBI agent Beth Katz is a delight to read; she is smart, sassy, and is hiding a secret agenda. Teamed with partner Dax Styles and his dog Bear, Beth is hunting down a serial kidnapper and murderer of young girls in the team's latest case. But what Styles doesn't know is that Beth's alter ego is also putting in hours on another case close to home.

Although this is the third in a series, Dark Hearts also reads well as a standalone as plenty of Beth's back story is explained along the way, without feeling too bulky. There is plenty of suspense, and my heart jumped into my mouth at several points when it looked like Beth's secret may have been uncovered. The cases depicted are torturous, and the author's excellent use of twists and turns and multi-layered characterisation ensures a deeply satisfying read.

After finishing Dark Hearts, you'll want to immediately shut yourself off from the world and read the rest of D.K. Hood's work.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture for providing an eARC via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review.

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Another wonderful installment in the Beth Katz series. The plot is good, the twists it takes are wonderful. Just about the time you think you know where the story is going, another twist! I loved it. I cannot wait for the next book

A twisty and and suspenseful thriller with some real edge of your seat moments. I enjoyed learning more about Beth and Dax's past. I do wonder how long Beth can keep her alter ego hidden from not only Dax, but the sharp minds of Wolfe and Jo Wells. She can't avoid Jo forever.
I'm looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of Dark Hearts by DK Hood.
This is the third in the FBI agent Beth Katz series.
Young girls are being abducted and then murdered and abandoned in desolate places.
Beth and her partner Dax Styles will do everything they can to save another girl suffering.

Book 3 in the Special Agent Beth Katz series.
Beth Katz and her partner Dax Styles are called into the convenience store robbery that resulted in multiple deaths and the abduction of Cassidy Wilder. Digging a bit deeper they find out that this is not the first time, and then there is the abduction and killing in another area not that far away. Are they connected? Will Beth be able to keep her secret?
In some ways this series is a bit unsettling to me as we never really think of “good” killing – but it keeps drawing me in.

FBI Agents Katz and Styles are investigating the murders of young girls taken during robberies at convenience stores.
There are no witnesses.
This book is a gripping thriller full of suspense and twists. It kept me turning the pages waiting to see how it would end.
The book is part of a series but could easily be read as a stand alone.

Fast paced thriller. Book 3 and I highly recommend you read book 1 and 2 first. There are two crimes they are tracking. Both are horrendous. I love that we get to see the thought process on both the FBI agents and the Tarot Killer. (Yes I know one and the same) We learn more of Beths history, her abuse in foster homes, her memories and lack thereof. We also see the working relationship and friendship between Styles and and Beth. Bear, our 4 legged reacts to Beth at various times that could call attention to her dark deeds of vigilante justice. There were several occasions where Beth almost got caught in her need to take justice and in her need to redivirt some of the thought direction on the Tarot Killer.
It is always a win seeing Wolfe and others. In this book we also see Alton and Kane. The vigilante justice is a moral issue for many and always has me holding back. Additionally with Alton, Kane, Wolfe, Jo and all being so smart I just cannot see her fooling them long term. That always stays in the back of my head. That being said, my personal issues should not affect my review.. That is not fair to the book, For that reason this book is a 5. A page turning thriller that has you holding your breath. Many thanks for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions! I look forward to reading many more books by D.K. Hood. #DarkHearts #SpecialAgentBethKatz #DKHood #Bookouture #NetGalley

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Time is against Katz and Styx when a robbery leads to multiple deaths and an abduction, but when this robbery is like others, they realise time is running out when the abducted victim is usually found dead the next day.
Soon there are more bodies, but there is also more than one killer, and it won’t be long before Katz thinks about taking matters into her own hands.
This novel had me reading well into the night, my heart was racing at certain scenes I couldn’t put this novel down. Beth Katz is back and does not disappoint. Hood writes us characters that all have depth, and we find out more about our character Beth Katz, which makes us want to know even more.
I love this author’s writing, it’s easy to read and follow, and constantly engaging and I know it will be a great read as soon as I pick it up.
This is a fantastic addition to this series.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Dark Hearts' by DK Hood.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for DK Hood, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 26th February 2024

This is the eleventh book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in her 'Detective Beth Katz' series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'Cross My Heart' (book 12 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Fallen Angel' (book 13 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Don't Look Back (book 13.5 in the Kane and Alton series), ' Pray For Mercy '(book 14 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Kiss Her Goodnight' (book 15 in the Kane and Alton series) 'Her Bleeding Heart' (book 16 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Chase Her Shadow' (book 17 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Their Wicked Games' (book 19 in the Kane and Alton series), 'Where Hidden Souls Lie' (book 20 in the Kane and Alton series) and Dark Angel (book 1 in the Beth Katz series). All of these books can be read as standalones and I would highly recommend each and every one of them!!!

This novel consists of a Prologue, 48 chapters and an Epilogue. The chapters are short medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

OMG!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS SERIES!!! D.K HOOD you just keep getting better and better!!!

Well, Well, Well!!!! Firstly, I must admit that being a humongous fan of the amazing D.K Hood's Detective Kane and Alton series I was a bit dubious when I realised she started a second series. I mean, for starters I had no idea how on Earth is she going to match the amazingness of Kane, Alton and the rest of the gang? How she could make another series just as good or even better that the Detective Kane and Alton books? Well ladies and gentlemen I haven't got a clue how this queen of crime does it but by God she absolutely smashes it out of the water each and every time and I fell in love with Beth and this series after reading the first book in this series 'Dark Angel'!!!! This book may be the third book in the 'Beth Katz' series but if you haven't read the first one, fear not as this can be read as a standalone!! However, I would recommend you read them in order to get the best picture of Beth, Dax and the situation! This is yet another book and series that is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. DK Hood way of writing is perfectly evocative and she has such a creative imagination!! Even with 22 amazing books in the Kane and Alton action packed series and 2 previous books in this epic series she is still coming up with unique and action packed storylines that absolutely grip the reader immediately from page one to the very end!!! Hood's fantastic and evocative writing skills ensured the descriptions were so vivid and realistic I felt myself feeling the fear running through me and the hairs on my arms raise. This has got to be one of the best storylines I have ever read!!!! Just when you've read the best book in this series and it can't get any better BANG DK Hood does it again!! !! LOVE IT!!!!!! This book really will have you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails and even covering your eyes at times!!!! Oh and did I mention the bombshell, jaw dropping and explosive twists and turns throughout??? Well I am gobsmacked that.....Ooops I can't tell you!!! That would just be spoiling it wouldn't it? So if you want to know what the twist is, who the killer is, why they are killing and much, MUCH more you will just have to grab your copy of this epic thriller today!!!! Needless to say I absolutely LOVED the storyline, LOVE this series and LOVE this amazing author!!!. This book is absolutely perfect for any crime lovers as you are literally reading about crime, twists and murder!!! It just does not get better than that!!! Just seriously, I cannot say how brilliant all this book was!!! The storyline is packed with tension, suspense, murder, tension and filled with twists and turns. I was absolutely shocked when everything was revealed and was not expecting it at all!!! I genuinely thought for once I had actually worked out who it was in this amazing series but YET AGAIN DK Hood proves me wrong!! A HUGE congratulations to D.K Hood, it is getting harder and harder to shock me but you did it well!!! D.K Hood has obviously done her research on police procedurals which has absolutely shines through the Kane and Alton series along with this one which is yet another bonus as I've read many crime novels where the authors make massive mistakes due to not doing enough research.This is an absolutely unputdownable page turner and I cannot wait to read the previous and future books in what is one of the best series I have ever read!!

Do not start this until you have cleared yours schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!

Although this is the third book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading without reading the previous books in the series. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I absolutely LOVED meeting and getting to know even more about all these amazing characters in this series again along with meeting some of the amazing characters from her Kane and Alton series again. All of DK Hood's fantastic characters are all realistic and I am completely invested in each and every one of them, regardless of which series they are in/from. The characters have all become like friends to me as I feel like I have got to know them so well and so quickly and I just absolutely LOVE Beth!!!! She is such a dark horse and a dark angel which makes the title for this book perfectly. She reminds me very much of Dexter from the book and TV series. If you are a fan of Dexter then you will love Beth!!! In this fantastic addition to this series we get an even deeper insight into Beth's character as she works with her partner Agent Dax Styles. At the same time my heart was absolutely in my throat because her working with Dax when he is working on 'The Tarot Card Killer'!! I love watching how the dynamics of this team play out in these fantastic books and it leaves me wanting, no needing, more of them each and every time I turn the final page!! I absolutely adore the fact that Dax has a dog called Bear as that is one of the other things I loved about the Kane and Alton series and that is Duke and Zorro (dogs) play such large parts. I am a massive animal lover and even run my own cat rescue called Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice so any animals playing main parts in books are always a huge bonus for me!! DK Hoods fantastic evocative writing skills really brings all these characters off the pages and into real life and I just loved getting to meet them all!!! Anyway, before this turns into too long an essay I will wrap it up by saying I cannot wait to meet all these characters and more again in the second book in this amazing series which is called 'Shadow Angel' which I am yet to read as well as the future books in this series!!

Congratulations D.K Hood on yet ANOTHER HUMONGOUS success!!! Very rarely an authors books get better but you have certainly mastered it!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are one my favourite crime authors!!! Here's to your next guaranteed success 🥂

This book is definitely in my top 5 and considering I've read 1000's this is a HUGE achievement!!! This series is also in my top 3 ♥

Overall an absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night. Another absolutely explosive addition to this absolutely epic series by the amazing D.K Hood

328 pages

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with Kindle Unlimited and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Beth Katz rocks! Have you ever known another Special Agent with such a murky past and a sideline doing exactly what she puts people away for? The Tarot Killer is back in a banging inclusion to the series.

With a convenience store killer seeming to be targeting young girls, it's Katz and Dax who are out to catch a killer.

It's moderately paced, compelling, and just wouldn't be the same without the killer twists skillfully thrown in by Hood.

Favorite Quotes:

She often compared herself to science-fiction characters who by no fault of their own had been the issue of two opposite species. In her case, both sides of her had different ideas of how to deal with monsters and each had a convincing argument for being themselves. Yes, she often referred to herself as two people because in reality that’s what she’d become.

Covering up crimes of the rich and powerful wasn’t new, but it made those responsible as guilty as the perpetrator. Beth might well be a serial killer, but she’d never been corrupt. She followed a set of rules and stuck to them.


My Review:

Silly me for jumping into this series with the third installment yet I didn’t struggle to keep up. However, I am eaten up with a fatal case of curiosity about the prior books and itching to read them as well. The crimes were disturbing and twisted, as were the individuals who were committing them. The storylines were complicated, well-nuanced, and multi-layered while each character was complex and cunningly crafted, even the secondary ones. D.K. Hood has mad skills although I worry for her neighbors if they give her grief.

Wow, this is already book 3 in the Beth Katz series. I guess it seems a little longer since it is kinda a spinoff of the Kane and Alton series. And they even make a cameo in this one.

Beth is still looking for her vigilante justice on the tarot card killer, but her boss has other ideas. He assigns her and Styles a case with a missing girl and a trail of dead ones. While there is an underlying story in the series, the missing girl is the stand alone case of the book. This could easily be read as a stand alone, but I almost think this is better if read in order. And since it is only book 3, there isn’t a huge backlist.

I like that in addition to the normal chapters of trying to solve the crime, there are chapters from the victim and the bad guy. But don’t fret, the bad guy chapters don’t let you know who it is and you still get to try and solve things along with speical agents. One of my favorite parts of a crime procedural.

Beth and Styles are still testing out their partnership and there is even a little will they won’t they going on. Styles seems to know there is something up with Beth and with them both having baggage in their past, I think they are maybe getting closer to taking that step and trusting the other.


With Beth’s past vigilante justice trail, it makes her think a little different that normal law enforcement and think outside the box. It is great to watch her unique thoughts mesh with Styles more by the book style as they track down the clues.

I can’t wait to see how the two grow in their partnership as they solve their next crime.

"Dark Hearts" by D.K. Hood is a riveting addition to the series, offering a fast-paced and gripping crime thriller that will captivate police procedural enthusiasts. As the third installment, it is advisable to read the preceding books for a complete understanding of the characters and their intricate relationships. The storyline unfolds with a robbery gone awry, leading to the abduction of sixteen-year-old Cassidy Wilder. FBI agent Beth Katz and her partner Dax Styles spearhead the investigation, revealing a pattern of heinous crimes committed by the elusive Tarot Killer. The narrative delves into Beth's haunting past, adding layers to her character, while maintaining a relentless pace. The dynamics between characters, especially the evolving partnership between Beth and Styles, contribute to the narrative's depth. The inclusion of Wolfe and other familiar faces from earlier books enhances the overall continuity of the series. D.K. Hood's masterful storytelling and intricate plot make "Dark Hearts" a must-read for fans of police procedurals, delivering a thrilling experience filled with suspense, mystery, and compelling characters.

Book 3 in the Special Agent Beth Katz series.

Beth and her partner are call to investigate a series of horrific general store robberies where everyone is shot dead and a young girl is taken hostage. Their battered bodies are always found dumped the next day. They know time is running out to find her alive.

Meanwhile, Beth's alter ego The Tarrot Killer has found a series of girls who've gone missing then found dead in the nearby town of Mischief. But no-one else has linked the. Is it just incompetence or something more sinister. Can she link the two sets of crimes together so she has an excuse to be in the area to investigate? And will she enact her own form of justice?

I really enjoyed this book. It has a great plot with plenty going on to keep you hooked from start to finish. I especially enjoyed learning more about Style's background. I look forward to reading the next one.

A convenience store robbery ends up in a massacre and a missing teenager. FBI agents Beth Katz and Dax Styles are called to the scene. Once the investigation begins, they realize this is not the first attack of this sort, and in the other cases the teenage girl is always found dead the next day. There was already a clock on this crime due to the abduction, but now the clock is shorter and the stakes are higher.

Beth will also have to battle her dark side because she wants to revenge. There are actually two mysteries going on in the book with two madmen on the loose. Beth and Jax are definitely the right duo for the job. Beth is brilliant and ruthless, Jax is tough and relentless in his pursuit of justice.

The chase is on for two killers whose crimes may or may not be connected. This story was pure adrenaline. D. K. Hood's writing style is smooth and easy to follow with characters you will immediately like, so you can easily read this book in one evening You will feel compelled to read it in one evening because you will have to know more. We learn a little more about Beth's tragic history in this book which explains why she is the woman she is today. I feel some fireworks coming soon in this series.

Fans of the Kane and Alton series will enjoy seeing our favorite forensic expert, Dr. Wolfe, be a major part of this story. This is another top notch installment in the Agent Beth Katz series which leaves you yearning for another one soon.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.