I am a huge fan of Victor Methos' writing -- he is an auto-read for me. But two books into this series and I just don't know if this is the one for me. These characters are messy and unique but I still don't feel like I have a good enough grasp on them to be invested (although this ended on a pretty big cliffhanger so will probably have to keep going!)

A year after the case that brought them together ended tragically, Lazarus and Piper are working together again on a case of two kidnapped teenagers. 15 year olds Keri and Brad were abducted at their own wedding, and all signs point to human trafficking as a motivation. But unless Lazarus can figure out why these two specific teenagers were taken, he will never be able to find them in time. And when a deeper connection to one of the victims is revealed, it only makes his involvement more complicated.

This had all the makings of a good legal thriller/drama but something about the way the plot unfolded just never hooked me -- uncharacteristic for this author! It was good but not my favorite from his catalog -- I've come to have high expectations for his writing!

The final twist in this book is what makes it 4 stars for me.
This was a good book. It was a thriller with twists and turns throughout.
I did not realize that this was book 2 in a series. I thought it read perfectly as a standalone. I didn't feel that I was missing any information or connection that was essential to the plot of the book by not reading book 1.
I enjoyed the MCs - Detective Lazarus and Piper.
So much corruption happens - politicians, lawyers, insane criminals, and judges.
I do think that the author leaves the book open for another book at the end... what a cliffhanger!
This has short chapters and is a page-turner.
The structure is done fairly well. I did feel the first half of the book felt a bit choppy, but it was much better from midway through the book to the end. The pace was fast, which was ideal for this genre.
The character development was a little bit lacking for me, but I still felt that you could connect with the characters.
This is one that deserves a spot on your TBR. Give it a try!
Thank you to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Happy Reading!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: The Night Collector by Victor Methos

Posted on A Novel Nene

Victor Methos is a name I usually trust when I’m in the mood for a fast-paced legal thriller with a dark twist. The Night Collector definitely delivers on the premise: a chilling killer, a driven prosecutor, and a case that blurs the lines between justice and vengeance.

The opening pulled me in right away — the tension, the crime scenes, and the moral questions at play had me intrigued. Methos shines when he’s writing courtroom drama; you can tell he knows the legal world inside and out.

But somewhere past the halfway mark, the story lost some of its spark. The pacing became uneven, and I found myself wanting more depth from the characters, especially the villain. The ending came a bit too quickly for my taste, and while it wrapped things up, it didn’t quite hit the emotional or psychological note I was hoping for.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read — it had solid moments and Methos’s signature grit — but it didn’t leave a lasting impression like some of his other works have.

Final thoughts: If you’re a fan of legal thrillers and like your crime stories with a darker edge, this one might still be worth a look. Just go in with tempered expectations

The Night Collector is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that had me hooked from the first page. Victor Methos delivers a masterclass in suspense, with razor-sharp pacing, rich psychological depth, and a haunting sense of dread that builds with every chapter.

What sets this book apart is how smart and layered it is; it’s not just a thrilling mystery, but a meditation on justice, obsession, and the darkest corners of the human mind. The writing is crisp and immersive, the characters are complex and compelling, and the twists are genuinely unexpected without ever feeling forced.

Methos proves once again why he’s one of the best in the genre. The Night Collector is chilling, elegant, and utterly unputdownable. If you love intelligent thrillers with real emotional stakes, this one is a must-read.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this arc.

I’m convinced at this point that victor method could rewrite the telephone book and it would be amazing. I have yet to be disappointed by one of his book and this one is no different!!!

“The Night Collector” by Victor Methos is book 2 in the Vegas Shadows series. The main characters in this series are a detective and a young woman who is a youth Guardian at Litem. In this thriller a teenage couple is abducted from their wedding ceremony at a Las Vegas wedding chapel. Although fast paced and interesting court scenes, the story is about sex slavery and human trafficking. The topic was hard for me so although I enjoy this author a lot, this book just didn’t work for me. For those who are not sensitive to this topic, the book ends with a big cliff hanger and will have you eagerly awaiting book 3.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gritty thriller with some very interesting characters,most of whom were not very likeable. Fast paced with what's and turns.

Victor Methos does it again! Each legal thriller he writes keeps getting better and better! He has this beautiful way of keeping his readers’ attention with his storytelling.

THE NIGHT COLLECTOR hooked me immediately. What I liked most were the crazy twists and turns Mr. Methos created for his readers. The final twist was WILD, and I am still in shock!

I was satisfied with the book’s ending. There’s an opening for another book to be added to the series, and I am thrilled about that. I want to learn more about Detective Holloway and how he will battle those demons.

I highly recommend this book to readers! This book will pull you away from a reading slump! Excellent storytelling!

My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Second book in the series, love this author and enjoyed this book thoroughly!!

Detective Lazarus Holloway and Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Piper Danes team up again in this high stakes case. A kidnapping in Vegas where a teenage bride and groom are abducted from their ceremony isn’t what it seems at first.

A lone bracelet the only clue left behind and the stakes are raised at every turn. The kids are in danger, the criminals who have them are insanely dangerous, a trail of bodies is being left in their wake and time is running out.

The further they dig, the more personal this becomes and the more dangerous …. Can Lazarus and Piper find the kids before something worse happens then never seeing them alive again!!

This is the second novel in the Vegas Shadows Series and I will say that I love this author and I love this series. It was an immediate download for me on the read now category (thank you Thomas and Mercer) from NetGalley. I abandoned the book I was reading at the time and immediately began this one.

I wasn’t disappointed, however if memory serves me correctly I did like the first book better. That does not mean this was no good… it was excellent I just happened to prefer the first case. I really like that this is different, the GAL and Detective team up is a good one and they make a great team, even though they are both kind of loners with their own baggage. There appears to be no romantic or sexual tension they are literally just here to work a case together. They seem kind of friends but haven’t spoken since the events of the last book which haunt Piper.

You do not need to have read book 1 to enjoy this but I am a sucker for doing things in order and there is only one other… so I reckon do it. Its a good book and lays the foundation of these characters better than just diving in to book two but… you do you!!

I always love a Victor Methos book, they are written with a lot of action packed, and in a way that is easy to read and keeps you wanting to read long after your bedtime. Overall, I highly recommend this book and this series to just about anyone, with the exception of people who don’t like violence or read this genre, in that case… maybe not for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I read Book 1 in this series (and loved it) and recommend starting there first.
*Possible spoiler ahead*
However, I didn’t realize The Night Collector would finish with such a cliffhanger, which I normally don’t mind, but I feel like it abruptly stopped. I went on a long slow burn journey and then the story ended with many loose ends. So many things were going on in this book, and I don’t feel as if got closure to any storyline.

The Night Collector continues to follow Piper, Detective Lazarus Holloway, and Judge Hope Dawson. The book starts action packed, with Lazarus working undercover, then jumps to a young couple getting kidnapped at their wedding. I had so many questions, from how the police were handling the case to Pipers civilian involvement. With about thirty percent left, some of those questions get asked, but again, the story ends in a cliffhanger, so I’ll have to wait and see if a third book ties everything up.

I wasn't aware when I started this book that it is book 2 in a series. If I were to go back and read book 1, I'm sure it would fill in some gaps that had me confused.

A young boy and his girlfriend are abducted from their wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. There are many parties involved that have their own agendas, leaving you wondering what will happen.

There was a cliffhanger at the end, so now I need to find out when the next book comes out so I can get some resolution.

The Night Collector is another hard hitting crime thriller with Detective Lazarus Holloway and Guardian at litem Piper Danes.
A young girl and her boyfriend are violently abducted from their wedding ceremony in Las Vegas, taken to be used as slaves sexual or otherwise. Lazarus asks for Pipers help both are still affected by their last case together.
Here we have corruption at the highest levels of the justice system and other wealthy prominent people. The action is heart pounding and hard hitting as Lazarus desperately tries to chase these abductors down.
As usual the court scenes are engrossing with brilliant cross examinations. This is a fast paced thriller with some shocking moments and some particularly evil characters.
The story ends on a cliff hanger(for me) so await the next book eagerly.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

This is my first book by Victor Methos & although it is book 2 in the Vegas Shadows series, you can read this as a stand alone novel. Detective Lazarus Holloway and Piper Danes work together to find 2 teenagers, Keri & Brad, who were literally abducted from their wedding ceremony and the clergyman had his throat slit. Against the backdrop of Las Vegas they get caught up in the world of modern slavery in the race against time to find the missing teenagers. Very gritty read and the characters, violent & corrupt, are great. Now to read the first novel in the series!!

I received The Night Collector from @netgalley and I loved it. It’s the second book to the Vegas Shadows series coming and it comes out September 16th. I dare say I liked it better than the first one. There are twists and new developments with the characters it kept me on my toes. So if you read The Silent Watcher then you definitely need to read The Night Collector. #netgalley #series #arc #TheNightCollector

The Night Collector Victor Methos. Second in the Vegas Shadows series, Detective Lazarus Holloway and attorney Piper Danes team up again in a page turning, fast paced, intense thriller. Corrupt politicians, judges, lawyers come into play along with a duo of sadistic criminals. Each of the groups have their own agendas which intersect with many twists and turns all leading to more violence. The ending is a true cliffhanger and was left wondering if the Vegas Shadows will rise again.

Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book

I didn’t read the first book so I felt like I was missing some information. But I did enjoy this book and the mystery. Now I’m going to look for the first one.

The writing is ok, but apparently you need to read the first in the series because it feels like I’ve come in on the middle of a conversation. I enjoy book series, but if I happen to come in in the middle, I’d still like to enjoy the book.

Thank you for the opportunity on reading an early copy of the night collector! Took me about a day and a half to get through, i have a toddler so i had to keep taking breaks but every free minute that i got I couldn’t resist picking it back up!

Since reading The Silent Watcher I've been waiting for a sequel. Once I knew it was coming, I've been counting the days til the release of The Night Collector. To have it be available on NetGalley was an unexpected gift!
From page 1, I didn't want to stop reading. I needed the answers to all the questions, I needed to know what was going to happen next. Even now, after finishing the book, I'm sitting pondering everything that happened, giving myself more questions to think about all the while hoping for a Book 3 to give me the answers. I felt all the emotions while reading The Night Collector, the story and characters have left a lasting impression on me. Thank you for telling this story Victor.

I throughly enjoyed this book and would love to read more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC