I've really become a fan of Victor Methos over the last couple years, and I know I can turn to him for a solid and engaging mystery when I need a book pick-me-up. I read this one via audio (which was well narrated), and it took my a bit to settle in with all of the characters and places. I think it would have helped me to initially start in print, but I did enjoy the audio once I was able to track all of the characters. This one is full of action and twists, and you will fly through it quickly. I love that Methos' characters are not perfect, and I love how their flaws make them more relatable and the story more engaging. If you haven't checked out Methos yet, do yourself a favor and add him to your TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing The Night Collector. While the premise is intriguing, I had trouble connecting with the story and characters in the early chapters, and it didn’t pull me in the way I’d hoped. That said, readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric thrillers with a slow build and a focus on psychological tension may find this book much more engaging than I did.

What a roller coaster!!! Trying not to give things away but I found myself yelling out loud directions to Brad.
I became pretty invested in if the kids were going to get away or be rescued. The characters are well written and I need to find out what happens with Lazarus.

I rarely read suspense/thrillers, and honestly the only reason I selected this one is because it's read by my favorite narrator, Saskia Maarleveld. If you love bloody thrillers, then I believe you'll love this one. I don't read this genre much, and I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was also my first time reading this author's work, and if I get the urge to read another suspense book in the future I will probably look for another one of his books. As always, Saskia does an incredible job with the different characters voices. I would happily listen to her read Old McDonald Had a Farm and love it.

A fast paced thriller that starts with a kidnapping and doesn't let up. Detective Lazarus and Piper investigates. Well realized characters though I found it hard to like Lazarus. With plenty of twists along the way this audiobook will keep you hooked till the end and Saskia Maarleveld's excellent narration helps her tone is a joy to listen to. Thanks to Brilliance audio and Netgalley for this review copy.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
I love the way Victor Methos tells a legal thriller. It's like he knows so much about the law, you're forced to learn about loopholes, tricks, and random ways to win a case. I didn't read the blurb for this book, I just saw the author's name and assumed this would be another legal thriller. While there are some legal aspects and a small part of the story takes part in a courtroom, this was not what I was expecting. The main character, Lazarus, is in law enforcement (though i wouldn't label this a police procedural either), and he seems to have a somewhat shady past. The book starts with a kidnapping at a wedding, and it turns out that Lazarus has a connection to one of the victims.
I enjoyed this story even though it's not what I was expecting. I haven't read the first book (it's in my Kindle library, I just haven't gotten to it yet), and I think this was fine as a standalone. However, if you plan on reading the whole series, you should probably read them in order. There were things mentioned in this book that are probably spoilers for the first one.
If you have enjoyed other books by Victor Methos, I think you'll enjoy this one as well. The narrator was fine, although there were some words that were mispronounced it didn't ruin the story or anything like that. You'll probably enjoy this book in any format that you prefer.

Absolutely loved this story. I thought this was the perfect way to progress the storyline of Piper and Lazarus. When I thought the story was over I still had 3 hours to go. The twist and turns this story has kept me glued to my seat. I listened to the complete book in one day. Also, the narrators did an amazing job. The transitions were smooth and the conveyed the character’s emotions perfectly. Thank you for this arc.

Wow! This one starts off with a bang, literally, and doesn’t let up until the very last page!!!

Two kids got married in Vegas, with their parent’s permission (15&16 respectively)… but, as this is happening, a man bursts in and kidnaps them! Wait. What??? Oh… and kills the minister… right in front of everyone.

THIS IS THE OPENING OF THE BOOK!
So, where do you go from here? I mean, this. Is. Crazy!

And well, it really just goes off the rails. But, where else can it go???

Everyone is looking for these kids. The parents are a wreck. The police are going crazy too. And then the plot twists. And on and on it goes….

Just when you think you might be getting a handle on the situation…. Nope. You’re wrong!

And did I mention that the kidnappers are nuts?? Well, they ARE!

Lots of gore. Lots of blood. Lots of surprises. Some things I kind-of saw coming, but most I did not! And the twists, well they just keep coming….

My mouth was HANGING OPEN at several points in this book! Is that good? You tell me!

#TheNightCollector by @VictorMethos. Narrated nicely by @Saskia Maarleveld.
** Of Note: This is book #2 in the series. I was not able to find book 1 and I read this as a stand-alone and did fine! **

4 psychotic, crazy, bright 🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!

*** THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT SOON!! RELEASE DATE IS 9/16/25!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley #BrillianceAudio and #BrillianceBooks for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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The Night Collector by Victor Methos is the second book in the Vegas Shadows series, but it worked well as a standalone. I enjoyed it so much that I’ll be going back to read the first one.

This fast-paced thriller starts strong and never lets up. The shocking premise—two teens kidnapped at their wedding—immediately pulls you in. Detective Lazurus Halloway and Piper Danes are relentless as they race to find the victims before they are trafficked, which kept me fully engaged from start to finish.

Saskia Maarleveld’s narration is fantastic. I’ve listened to her performances in other books, and once again she brings the story and characters vividly to life.

Thank you to NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for letting me read this ARC.

With each book I read from Victor Methos, he climbs up my favorite author list. Book#2 in the Vegas Shadows series was outstanding and I definitely liked it more than book 1 because it notched up the series - I definitely recommend starting with The Silent Watcher. I've opted to read both in the series vs audio because his writing is an easy, quality read with good chapter breaks. The characters really have intrigued me with alot of dynamics of good, bad, and evil so waiting for the third book in the series is going to be tough. I read this book with no progress indicator on my Kindle which accentuates the term "page-turner" because even getting to the last page was a thrill.

I really don't read anything in the legal thriller genre but all of the books in the Desert Plains and Vegas Shadows series have just enough of it that isn't too technical but yet displays the profession/craft effectively.

The ending had some moments that I questioned where the author was going with it but he impressed me 100%.

I read and listened to this book for comparison purposes. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Saskia Maarleveld and I feel she did very good with distinct, unique voices but I was hoping for a voice to fit the majority of the characters for me but most were different than my reading voice. I also noticed Dance with the Phoenix for all audio chapters so maybe an alternative title but I prefer The Night Collector.

Highly recommended book, series, and author!

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

I have been pleasantly surprised by the books that I've recently read by Mr. Methos. This book is the second book in a new series that features MMC Detective Lazarus Holloway and FMC Guardian ad Litem Piper Danes. The last book was actually the first time I'd ever read about a "guardian ad litem" and it was an interesting profession to learn about (I always love reading and learning new things). Lazurus and Piper are definitely an odd pairing in that they are not together romantically, and their personalities are completely and 100 percent different.

With that being said, this was the first book that I had a hard time with. There are the requisite "bad guys". In this case it is a bad "couple" - kind of in the same vein as Bonnie and Clyde. The bad guys are truly bad. They are both vile and definitely have every single one of their screws loose. The woman is way worse than the man, in my opinion. She ENJOYS the hurting and killing.

The storyline revolves around the kidnapping of a couple of young kids, stolen from the church on their wedding day. When I say young, they are both 15 years old....see, very young. Where I started having problems was with the actual foundation of the plot. Why exactly were the kids taken? Why those particular kids? See, we go through the entire book thinking there was a particular reason, that we would tie it all together at the end, but that didn't happen for me. Yes, I understood the general outline of the characters in particular, but when you have to basically explain everything at the end - something went wrong.

Then there is the supposed "tie" of one of the children to Detective Lazurus. I don't know, to me everything felt FORCED. It didn't flow like it should have and I had a hard time becoming invested because of it. When you do not tell the father of your child that he has a child, but you then tell the child that their father didn't want them and actually left the mother because of them - that's a big deal. And when the father and child are eventually reunited for the very first time, and the father lets the mother off the hook by saying, "it's no big deal" - well to me, that doesn't quite ring true. He missed out on FIFTEEN years of her life. There was a lot of that in this book, where things just didn't FEEL like they should have.

Anyway, the story itself was full of action and drama - so there is that. For the most part, I am usually a huge fan of Mr. Methos so it is okay for everyone to have a bad day. I'll wait for his next book and I'm sure it will be great.

This story was narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, who did a wonderful job with the narration. I especially loved her portrayal of Lazarus - it was a deep, slow and gritty portrayal and I loved it. She is a narrator that is extremely consistent and has become a favorite of mine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this Audio ARC. This book will be out for publication on September 16, 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for this advanced audio copy! When two teenagers are abducted from a wedding chapel during their Vegas wedding, Detective Lazarus is put on the case. With not many leads to go on, Detective Lazarus enlists Piper Danes to help assist. I thought the premise was interesting but overall I thought the story was okay. I really have enjoyed other books by the author. However, I think it's because this type of mystery/investigative story isn't one that grabs me. Following police officer characters find clues and figuring out what happened to victims doesn't hold my attention the way other style mystery/thriller books do. The story ends on a cliffhanger and I'm sure for fans of this series it will keep their interest but it just wasnt for me. I will say that the narrator did an excellent job with the material and I am a fan of her work.

Detective Lazarus Holloway & Guardian ad Litem Piper Danes pair up again in this gritty Las Vegas based thriller! When two teenagers are abducted from their wedding, Lazarus reluctantly becomes involved in the hunt for their captors in a nasty race to find them before the kids are killed or worse.

There are lots of thrillers set on the strip, in high roller suites and big casinos, but Methos chooses to set his stories in the strip's shadow. In the dark world lurking just beyond the lights, Methos introduces some of the most soulless criminals and it really sets his stories apart. I love this setting and these stories they're completely enthralling from start to finish. As an (elder) Millennial who still misses the days of the original CSI and misadventures of Warrick Brown, this series just hits perfectly. I can't wait to see where it goes next! 10/10, add it to your list!

Ended up downloading the audiobook because I work full time and couldn't get through this story fast enough in print. I was hooked already but the narration and the audio format helped me kill it in a day. SUCH a good choice for narrator for this book!

After reading The Silent Watcher, I was excited to dive into this gripping story. It’s a thrilling detective mystery with an intricate plot and well-developed characters, making it captivating from start to finish. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
I love the workplace camaraderie between Lazarus and Piper and their rapport enhances the narrative. Riley also captures my heart in this story.
The subject of sex trafficking is both interesting and a horrifying topic, adding depth to the plot.
This series has become my new favorite in the police procedural/legal genre.
I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing a complimentary advanced copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"If life only gives you bruises, you don't know what to do with a gentle touch."

The second installment in this series was JUST AS BRILLIANT AS THE FIRST!! This can easily be read as a standalone, but why would you want to? 'The Silent Watcher' (book one) was OUTSTANDING and will give you background on the main characters. This time Lazarus is working a case of two teens that are violently snatched from their Vegas wedding; the perpetrators leaving behind a wake of destruction and blood. Naturally, Lazarus seeks Piper's help since she is a fierce advocate for children.

Once again this starts off with a BANG, and doesn't let up the entire time. Multiple storylines entwined to great effect and even I couldn't suss out where things were headed. There's some nasty baddies who are just as intriguing as world weary Lazarus, headstrong Piper and cunning Judge Dawson.

This is my first time listening to Saskia Maarleveld and she is now a favorite! Her performance is nothing short of brilliant and sounds like a full cast of narrators. Each voice is distinctive, not just with individual accents, but also cadence and intonation. I especially LOVED the way Saskia performed Lazarus, with a slow rumble and slightly bored tone as if nothing fazes him, except for when it DOES! If you're an audiobook fan, this one is a must!

THE NIGHT COLLECTOR is raw, gritty, atmospheric, intense and full of depth. Victor Methos manages not only to craft a tense mystery, but also blends taught crime fiction with a whip smart legal thriller. You can expect bad guys you love to hate, gripping courtroom scenes, immersive action and shocking moments! What more could you ask for?
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Notable Quote:

"You know that people with depression score higher on tests of realism and IQ? High intelligence is indicative of mental illness and depression. When our minds understand reality too much, they try to destroy themselves.
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Thank you to Victor Methos, Amazon Publishing & Brilliance Publishing for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.