A Cold Dark Place

Cold Justice, Book 1

By: Toni Anderson

Narrated by: Eric G. Dove

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Justice isn't always black or white. Sometimes it's cold and dark.

Former CIA assassin Alex Parker works for The Gateway Project, a clandestine government organization hell-bent on taking out serial killers and pedophiles before they enter the justice system. Alex doesn't enjoy killing, but he's damn good at it. He's good at dodging the law, too--until a beautiful rookie agent has him wondering what it might be like to get caught.

FBI Special Agent Mallory Rooney has spent years hunting the lowlife who abducted her identical twin sister eighteen years ago. Now, during an on-going serial killer investigation, Mallory begins to suspect there's a vigilante operating outside the law. She has no choice but to take him down, because murder isn't justice. Is it?

When Mallory starts asking questions, The Gateway Project management starts to sweat, and orders Alex to watch her. As soon as they meet, the two begin to fall in love. But the lies and betrayals that define Alex's life threaten to destroy them both - especially when the man who stole her sister all those years ago makes Mallory his next target, and Alex must reveal his true identity to save the woman he loves.

©2014 Toni Anderson (P)2014 Toni Anderson

✫✫ 4 Stars ✫✫

I really need to listen to more Romantic Suspense! I really enjoyed this story. I love how you have 3 POV's and one of them is the killer but you don't actually know who he is. Special Agent Mallory Rooney has a tough past and because of that she is FBI and determined! Alex Parker is a badass and will do anything he needs to keep Mallory save. I love the relationship they have, it is hot and my favorite part is that even though he is who he is, he doesn't doubt that Alyssa can handle herself. I really liked how strong all of these characters are and how things worked out in the end. I will be continuing this series.

The narration was great, I love Eric G. Dove! He is a great narrator even if his female isn't the best.

A Cold Dark Place

What made the experience of listening to A Cold Dark Place the most enjoyable?

The pacing of the book, the narrator was great.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of them = )

What does Eric G. Dove bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great voice

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Almost, I tried but real life came between.

Any additional comments?

Mallory's making a career within the FBI, trying to clear up what happened to her twin-sister when she was abducted, when she's transfered to the BAU team as part of a new investigation with a serial killer.
What she didn't expect was Alex Parker.
Alex a former CIA agent, now part of a government organization that claims revenge when the system can't. He was saved from a moroccan prison in exchange for time within the Gateway Project. He's got no time for feelings, or what Mallory awakens within him.
When the current investigation tangles them up in more than one way, they're about to find out if they've got a chance together.
Suspense, action, mystery and smutty fluff in an awesome combo!
Listened to the audiobook, and the narrator Eric G. Dove was great as well.

Great read/listen..

Any additional comments?

A lot of reviewers complain that authors change Points Of View but I happen to like it. I like knowing what’s going on with Alex then Mallory and then the bad guy. If I wanted to just know about one person then I would read only books written the first person.

This was a really good mystery, about a murderer, a sociopath and a whacko, since his way of seeing his world was a little skewed.

I liked Alex and Mallory a lot. Very little angst between them and no misunderstandings. She let him know from their first meeting that she didn’t date. However, they did continue to see each other and screw like minks, until the end when they decided it would be OK if they started to date.. LOL..

The secondary characters were good: Mallory’s friend Lucas and her co-worker Frazer and her Mother the Senator Tremont.

The sex was wonderfully written and they all got their HEA and the end was simply fantastic. I would read this author again.

As to the narrator: Mr. Dove did a good job. Not as much emotion as I like but OK and the famale voices were pertty darn good. I would listen to him again.

Total thrilling Suspense that kept me on the edge

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would. This was one that kept your heart pumping as the author and narrator kept you on the edge with it's thrilling mystery and suspense of who done it.

What did you like best about this story?

I thought the narrator was outstanding.
The suspense just about killed me.
You were so part of the story you forgot you were listening.
The narrator made it seem like a movie, you could see the pictures in your mind as you listened.

Which scene was your favorite?

I am not sure I had a favorite one, I just loved the whole story. If I had to pick one I would have to say it was the first few pages that really stuck with me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes it was, I wanted to find out who this killer was and why he was killing. What his plans were and if they worked out for him.

Any additional comments?

This is not a book you want to listen to as you drive down a dark lonely highway as I found out. The first part about had me jumping out of my seat every time a car got behind me or I past one. I had to chuckle at myself as I drove to work.

I have to say this was one of my favorite listens, it pulled you in and made you setup as the author and narrator told a compelling story that will break your heart as they take you on a thrilling trip of who done it and why.

What shock me the most was this author is from Canada and had the area down so well. I live in the area she wrote about which added to the read for me since I could relate to the towns or cities in this story. She definably did her research.

This was a well written book that flowed easy for me, it kept me on the edge as they raced to the finish line of who did it. I did not find a boring moment in this book but thrills and suspense of who, why and how. The story was gripping, the characters I felt I knew and became wrapped up in their story from the very beginning all the way to the end. I completely fell in love with Alex and Mallory and it tore at my heart wanting them to be together and for justice to be found.

All the characters were outstanding by the time you get to the end you feel you know them and they are apart of your family. Even the killer you hate but you do feel sorry for him, he was pulled into the killing when he was young with the taking of Mallory's twin. There is one place where you even root for him and than you just feel sorry for him and grow to pity him. You are more than glad to see justice done but you are still sad because I do feel he wasn't really a bad man just pulled into something out of his control. You just want him caught so no more women will be killed.

My heart broke for each character as they rush to find the killer and hope to save a few women from harm. This story does have a wonderful happy ending but at the same time it is sad. Ms. Anderson pulled me in and hooked me from the start, the narrator kept me there with his wonderful narration. I do have to say I loved the vigilante I know we should not but he did make sure all those he took out were guilty before giving them justices. I was cheering him on as he shot and killed the killer. I didn't feel guilty at all, does that make me bad?

I love Toni writing style the way she pulls you in and keeps you. I am so looking forward to reading and listening to more books by her. She has been added to my all time favorite authors list.

Excellent Audiobook!!

This is a mystery/suspense/thriller/romance that has many layers and is fabulously well-written. It's my first book by this author, and Toni Anderson spins an intricate and tangled web that just impressed me to no end. I am definitely getting more audiobooks in this series!

Eric G. Dove's flawless performance pulls you into the story with no distractions to remind you that you are listening to an audiobook. You're just THERE. He is absolutely awesome in every genre he performs. Being the picky, OCD-grammar chick that I am, I tend to notice any mistake and can usually count on at least one mispronunciation, SO I must point out that EGD even managed the almost-always-mispronounced words, "cavalry" AND "infinitesimally" without a hitch. I want to send him a trophy, seriously.

Totally credit- and cash-worthy, but I lucked out and got this for only $1.99 on a Kindle/Whispersynch deal, so check out that option. You won't regret it, and you're gonna love this!!

Exciting Suspense Thriller!

This book starts of with FBI Special Agent Mallory Rooney searching for a serial killer. Mallory became a FBI Agent because she is hoping to close a cold case of 18 years of an abduction (her own twin) Peyton Rooney.

Ex CIA Assassin Alex Parker landed in a Moroccan prison. The CIA acts like they don't know him. A special secret group called The Gateway Project gets him released under the agreement he works for them for so many days (years) undercover. Everything must be hush hush. The Gateway Project is a vigilante group backed by the government that kills off pedophiles and serial killers.

While searching for the same suspect Mallory & Alex's paths cross. They start dating and then fall in love. Mallory doesn't have a clue yet...

The serial killer who has been on the loose for over 18 years has them all fooled. No one would ever suspect who the real killer is. Who abducted Peyton Rooney all those years ago?

This book is so well written! I was on the edge of my seat so many times and glued to my computer listening to this book! The author, Toni Anderson has all the needed effects for a great book... a great plot, lots of suspense & thrilling moments to make your hairs stand at attention! There is even some romance in this story. Most of all, this author has a fantastic narrator, Eric G Dove who delivers this book flawlessly! Fantastic voices & accents along with plenty of raw emotions! Kudos to you both! I loved this book! So exciting!!!

OMG

Oh my gosh, I'm speechless this book is the bomb digging bomb. I love the plot the twist the suspension. thank goodness I listen to it instead of reading cause I would of jump to the end. I couldn't stop listening to it. I'm hook o hope the rest are as good as this one. I'm not going to discribre this book to no one. you just have to find out yourself. I promise you will not be disappointed. you should try audio. the narrator is awesome.

Dark, dangerous and Intriguing

Intriguing, dangerous and dark story. I love the way this author weaves her story with so many twists and turns that make me want to keep listening. I love the strong characters and the way they're fierce yet vulnerable and that they got my attention and held on to the last page. This story is full of romance and danger and lots of suspense so grab it and read it because it doesn't disappoint! I have both read and listened to this book. The narrator does an amazing job bringing the characters to life and giving the story that something extra that makes for a great listening experience.

Twisted

This book had one twist and turn after another. Due to that fact, I had to concentrate on parts I would have otherwise just merely listened to when I was driving and looking for street signs. This was not your 'ride along' listen and I was excited by that prospect.
Their dangerous lines of work and their pasts made both former CIA assassin Alex Parker and Special Agent Mallory Rooney emotionally unavailable, but the chemistry that sparked at their first meeting wouldn't be denied. The more interaction they had with one another, the harder it was to stay away from one another.
You have one very intelligent, and underestimated special agent hot on the trail of an organization that is governed by it's own law and a scarred and almost broken beyond repair, assassin who works for the organization that falls for her. And that's only the beginning of their complicated relationship.
Toni Anderson does a brilliant job of wrapping it all up in one fast-paced, steamy and suspense-filled novel and Eric Dove voice and talents took it to another level. I have a penchant for male narrators in suspense and action-filled audio books. Mr. Dove is in my top 5 because he just that good.
Together, Ms. Anderson and Mr. Dove make for a 5-Star listen.

amazing beginning to a great series

I started this series at book 2 and after book 5 i doubled back to book 1. I spent FOUR books falling in love with Alex's brain and by the time I finally listened to book 1 i was so smitten with him. And his story just proved i wasn't wrong.

WOW!!! I just KNEW I'd totally love Alex & Mallory's story. I loved that Alex was alpha but was a such a sweet thoughtful guy while also being totally kickass and deadly. Mallory was smart and not a pushover. She also didn't have pissing matches with Alex which was a relief. She did have one moment of "oh honey what the hell are you thinking" but one lapse in judgment is better than a book full of them.

Having listened to this book little tidbits in the other books make sense now.

Story - 3.75
Narrator - 4

Eric Dove can do no wrong!!

A Cold Dark Place

A suspense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. So many twists in this book that some you see coming while others will knock you flat on your back. I really enjoyed this book and am glad to see that there was a happy yet bittersweet ending.

Romantic suspense at its best

This is a really good example of romantic suspense at its best. In a world where nothing is black and white, and nothing is what it seems, Alex Parker is an ex CIA agent who has been coerced into becoming an “off the books” assassin for an unofficial governmental organisation, whose members have decided that it is easier to assassinate serial killers and paedophiles, rather than deal with the cost and inconvenience of a trial which messily requires evidence and proof to convict someone. Mallory Rooney is the FBI agent who has been assigned to uncover him and his sources within the FBI, while also trying to solve the abduction of her twin sister 18 years previously, and help with a serial killer investigation that may or may not be linked to her missing sister.

The attraction between the two is unwanted, and is resisted by them both. However they are both upfront and honest about this attraction, with both being aware of the pitfalls of any connection between them, even when failing to resist that connection.

This story never lags and never stops developing, with several plots that all come together at the end. In the final chapters, the reader gets the POV of someone who was previously just a side character, asking those questions that the reader will be asking, in a situation where it is impossible to decide what is right and wrong, because there is just no “right” answer.

Murder and romance.

I sometimes think that listening to the audio version of a thriller makes it harder to follow. No matter how well narrated it is, it's still difficult to go back over the bits you've missed, and as I'm usually doing something else at the same time, driving, ironing, washing-up, it's also easier to find yourself in that position. So, in order to write this review I have just been back and replayed the beginning of each chapter - especially the finalé. It was quite interesting listening again, knowing who was guilty.

Mallory Rooney is an FBI agent. She was parted from her twin sister eighteen years previously, when Paton was abducted from their bedroom. Mallory has joined the FBI in the hope that she might be able to shed some light on her sister's disappearance, and she is definitely not looking for a romantic relationship.
Professional assassin, Alex Parker, is also not looking for a love interest, but he and Mallory are drawn to each other from their very first meeting.

There is a killer on the loose, who is targeting young women; and women who go missing for no apparent reason have been tuning up some time later, dead, with the initials 'PR' cut into their skin. Mallory wonders about the coincidence that these were her sister's initials, but has no reason to connect the two.
However, it is when Mallory starts to suspect that she may be the killer's next target, that the tension builds.

Interestingly, there are a few chapters narrated from the point of view of the killer, although we do not know who s/he is. A couple of the victims have a chance to air their POVs.

Eric G. Dove did an excellent job of narrating A Cold Dark Place, although I found myself surprised that it was narrated by a man, I felt I'd expected a female narrator, given that a lot of the story was told from a woman's perspective.

My only problem with the book was the rather overplayed love scenes, which could have been seriously edited, but that's just my opinion.

3.5 stars.

A perfect blend of chilling and steamy

I love books that take a simple premise and turn it into something I can't predict. Toni Anderson nailed it with this hunt for a serial killer whose victims share very specific traits, both ante and post-mortem...
This is the second book I've read in this series and I'll definitely be reading the rest!
Eric G Dove is the narrator, and gives a great performance for both male and female characters.

Fantastic

What a great story! An FBI agent, haunted by her past, is intent on solving the mystery of the vigilante.. She's also searching for her sister, who was kidnapped as a child. The mother, the vigilante, and the agent all come together in a climatic finish. This is a love story, a mystery, and a cover-up that goes deep. The final scene left me listening with bated breath to see what Mallory would do. Which is deeper, respect for the job or revenge? I couldn't stop listening. The narrator does an excellent job with a clear voice, a believable female voice that isn't irritating (as some males trying to be female can be), and brings the characters to life, especially Mallory and Alex.

I'd like to thank the author for providing me a complimentary review copy of the audio. I look forward to moving on to book two.

Romantic Suspense at its Best!

I loved this book! There is romance, suspense, murder, vengeance, betrayal, redemption all woven together! The author wrote a gripping story that pulled me in from the very beginning. I love it when I do not anticipate all of the twists or have it figured out.
The narrator did an outstanding performance with his distinguished voices for various characters. He put so much emotion into the characters and added to the enjoyment of the book.
This book is a standalone listen and part of a series. I can’t wait to listen to the next book. I purchased the e-book and received this audiobook as a gift and have voluntarily written this review. My review is not a synopsis of the book, but rather my opinion of it. I do not like to give away spoilers in my review either, and with that said, this listen was so good. I loved it!