Being a serial killer isn’t easy. Take, for example, the one who buries their victims alive—an exhausting amount of digging is involved. And in the scorching heat of San Angelo, Texas, no less. Not to mention the hassle of dealing with that sticky clay soil. But don’t think I’m trying to drum up sympathy here—anyone who does this sort of thing is a total scumbag and deserves to suffer for it. Still, what about the victim (in this case, as is often the norm, a pretty young woman) who suddenly finds herself buried in the darkness? …
… Zoe Bentley and her partner, Tatum Gray, once again delve deep into the twisted mind of a serial killer in this second installment of the series.
Something’s Missing in In the Darkness
What’s most lacking is a distinctive voice—something truly original that would set Mike Omer’s writing apart from the dozens of other thrillers featuring serial killers.
In many ways, In the Darkness is an average piece of work. The characters aren’t particularly compelling, the plot lacks genuinely exciting twists or scenes, and the writing as a whole feels rather bland.
The acknowledgments at the end of the book give a telling glimpse into just how many collaborators it took to piece together something coherent. It gives the impression that Mike Omer might not be capable of putting a finished product on the table by himself. And maybe that’s the case.
On the other hand, there’s something there’s a bit too much of: Marvin and the crazy cat, who serve as a constant source of humor. Sure, they’re genuinely funny, but the downside is that they stick out awkwardly from the rest of the book, giving it a slightly parodic feel.
As for the irritatingly incompetent lieutenant? He’s not funny at all—just plain annoying.
Something’s Lost Along the Way In the Darkness
One of the central elements in the first book of the Zoe Bentley series was the relationship between the two protagonists—or rather, Tatum’s yearning for the cold, aloof, emotionally detached Zoe, who even exhibited mild autistic traits. That dynamic? It’s completely gone. Cut off as if with a knife. Yet in mysteries with a similar setup, this kind of interaction often provides the spice of the story (see: Joanna Schaffhausen’s No Mercy).
Another striking difference is Zoe herself. In the first book, she was portrayed as almost entirely asexual—detached and utterly absorbed in her work. But now, she’s… less asexual. Which, to be fair, isn’t a problem—except maybe for poor Tatum.
But the Investigation is Truly Thrilling!
Yes! And this is why readers looking for an exciting mystery will still find satisfaction in Mike Omer’s book. From this angle, In the Darkness is top-notch. There are, of course, crime novels where the detective interrogates suspects one by one and then suddenly slaps their forehead and exclaims, “Aha, I’ve got it! I know who the killer is!” (Think: any Agatha Christie mystery or any Robert Galbraith story. See: Murder on the Orient Express or Troubled Blood.)
But let’s ask ourselves: isn’t a mystery much more engaging when we follow the detective through the investigative process step by step, from one clue to the next, with all the dead ends and unexpected revelations along the way?
And that’s exactly what In the Darkness delivers! The psychologist, Bentley, and Agent Gray are integral to the investigation, not just ornamental additions. In many mysteries, the FBI agents merely play a supporting role to the local detective, chiming in with the occasional extra question. But Bentley and Gray repeatedly prove that without them, the police would be stuck in place. They clearly come across as more intelligent and better prepared than their local counterparts.
It’s equally rare to find a crime novel where the investigation feels like a convincingly portrayed process, with detectives’ hard work incrementally bringing them closer to the culprit. While reading In the Darkness, both the reader and the killer can feel the noose tightening.
And speaking of the deranged serial killer, they also get their own chapters, as is customary for the genre. Omer does a good job here. He delves into the villain’s psyche, laying bare the steps that inevitably lead them to madness.
A Rushed Ending
The hardest part of any crime novel is nailing the ending. While Mike Omer avoids the mistake of inserting an unnecessary action scene at the end, he can’t resist the often-overused trope of making the detective personally involved in the events.
In the Darkness would have worked just as well—if not better—without this.
Similarly, the killer’s identity feels like it was chosen for convenience. A faceless, ore elusive antagonist might have been a better choice here. It would have been much harder to catch them, too! It’s as if Omer opted for the easier route.
The same applies to the mind games with the killer. While it’s unrealistic to expect every fictional serial killer to exude the bone-chilling malevolence of a Chris Carter villain (see: The Caller), the impact of any well-constructed thriller can be undermined if the big bad turns out, in the final pages, to be nothing more than a pitiable, easily duped fool.
Rating: 7.6/10
In the Darkenss (Zoe Bentley #2) by Mike Omer
414 pages, Paperback
Published in 2019 by Thomas & Mercer
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Review of the previous book:
A Killer’s Mind