A Dark Mind

Lizzy Gardner, Book 3

By: T. R. Ragan

Narrated by: Kate Rudd

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

They call him the Lovebird Killer, a merciless fiend unleashing a flood of unspeakable cruelty upon Sacramento’s most loving couples, young and old. This real-life monster’s reign of terror has left the city’s residents paralyzed with fear.

All but Lizzy Gardner. Because hiding from monsters isn’t Lizzy’s style, not since she faced the madman who kidnapped and terrorized her as a teenager. So when a routine workers’ compensation case suddenly leads her and her two young assistants onto the killer’s trail, Lizzy revels in the chase. She is determined to bring this psychopath to justice before he has the chance to claim another victim. She never imagines he could be two steps ahead, watching her every move and plotting his bloodiest, most triumphant conquest of all. He knows Lizzy won’t go down without a fight. And that’s just the way he likes it.…

©2013 T. R. Ragan (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Good Thriller

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

Yes. Very good and plausible suspense thriller.

Which character – as performed by Kate Rudd – was your favorite?

I thought Kate Rudd did a great job narrating all.

Any additional comments?

Very good 3rd book in the series. I don't see any more and certainly hope that Ragan will continue with these. Although there is quite a bit of jumping from past to present it is done in a coherent way that is easy to follow. I also really liked that at the beginning of each chapter there were quotes from real life well known serial murderers. I thought this added to the credibility of this book.

Another great Lizzy Gardner thriller!

A Dark Mind is Book 3 in T. R. Ragen's six book Lizzy Gardner thriller series.It completes my listening to the series. It is a superb thriller as are the other 5 novels in the series. Kate Rudd does an great job of narration of all six novels.

I highly recommend this entire series.

Thrillers are my genre of choice for fiction while romance novels are just the opposite. I remain impressed that romance writers such as Theresa (T. R.) Ragen, Jessica Ann (J.A.) Redmerski, and Lisa Gardner (who writes romance novels as Alicia Scott) also write great thrillers. I suppose I should also mention Nora Roberts who writes thrillers as J. D Robb. and Sandra Brown who writes romance novels using several pen names, but neither of them write thriller novels of the quality of those of Ragen, Redmerski, or Gardner.

Dark, demented, twisted and confused

This installment had a Silence of the Lambs meets Saw feel to it and I was triggered more than the previous books. The main story seemed a bit of a stretch as (1) Lizzy’s investigation connects up with a serial killer, (2) Jessica and Hayley’s investigation also connects to the serial killer, (3) Jerad’s investigation connects with (you guessed it) the same serial killer, and (4) at the same time the serial killer fixates on Lizzy. What are the odds that all paths converge and Lizzy once again becomes a serial killer’s focus?

In addition to all the interwoven plots involving the serial killer, there’s also a lot of subplots, detours, and characters to keep track of. Unlike many series, this is one you need to read in order, otherwise the motivations and actions of Lizzy and the surrounding cast won’t properly resonate.
There’s mini-stories about (1) Lizzy and her FBI boyfriend Jerad, (2) Lizzy, her sister, her sister’s nasty ex, and her niece [and fellow serial killer survivor] Britney, (3) Hayley’s criminal past and her abused mother’s present, and (4) Jessica’s entanglement with a maybe criminal / maybe romantic interest.

Then there were the serial killer’s couple-victims to keep straight, like (1) Michael/Jennifer,
(2) John/Rachelle, and (3) Cassie and Drew. Finally, this book jumps back and forth between 2007 and 2012, and between cities like Davis and Sacramento. Even having heard the previous books, I took notes to keep everything straight. I still enjoyed it, but to get to the thrilling finale, I sure had to work for it.

too many characters...

Too many characters stuggle to finish. Half way through I lost track of who was who. Why did the serial killer need three names? Well really 4 or 5? Then the extra story about the adoption could have been left out. Way too much going on in this book. I enjoy her novels so I will keep going in the series. But good grief the last time I took notes while reading I was in college studying for finals. Reading should be entertaining not work.

Great Book! Did not want to put it down

If you could sum up A Dark Mind in three words, what would they be?

Amazing, Thriller, Action

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

It was a book I did not want to stop.

Any additional comments?

After readying the other reviews I almost didnt download it. There is nothing I hate more in a book that does not wrap everything up. For the person that made the comment about the couple being attacked by those guys. Please go back they did tell what happened to them and it was resolved. I'm not sure if you missed it or did not realize what happened.

the book does jump timelines quite a bit which was some times a little hard to follow but i would def recommend this book!

What a Mess!

This book has so many plots going, that she forgets to tie up all the loose ends, leaving part of a kidnapped couple taken by 4 men instead of the main villain, half resolved. I don't understand why she even included their kidnap/torture because it didn't fit in with the rest of the book in anyway. The reader does a good job of keeping your interest, as she stops short of a monotone, but she can do nothing to this pile of sorted plots make sense.

riviting from beginning to end.

literally cannot stop listening to this series. Except for the first 1. I couldn't listen to it because it sounded like it was being read 1 word at a time. skipped to 2nd in series and NOT DISAPPOINTED!!!

I agree..

I agree with the other audible reviewer who wrote 'What a mess'..the story was all over the place..where did all the killers come from and what in the world happened to them? The ppl that were tortured/killed. where'd they go? And who the heck were some of the characters, getting dropped of somewhat midway and then poof ..gone again. The only thing I knew for certain was that Lizzy herself would be a victim. I'm wondering if the editor actually read this book or just sent it thru knowing it just might sell because of the Lizzy Gardner aspect. Didn't like it. Wouldn't recommend.

It's not "too many characters" if you're listening

This is another great Lizzy Gardner book and I can't wait to start the next one!
Anyone who is saying there's too many characters or too much going on were clearly not really listeningand paying attention. I'm not really sure why you'd buy an audio book if you're not going to pay attention. But.... whatever floats your boat I guess.
Anyway, don't listen too those people. This book is fantastic! Even better than the last one!

So intense

Each book gets better and better just down loaded the next in the series.

Book ruined by narrator

The book I have read and is amazing. Was so looking forward to listening to it but sadly the narrators voice is so grating I managed one chapter and had to delete book. If this were re narrated by someone with a more pleasant voice and more talent with reading aloud it could be a 5* all round as the book itself is fabulous and well written.

Another good one

Another great, well written and narrated story. My fourth so far and I want to read more. TR writes very well and draws you into the storyline and the characters very easily.

Thrilling

Another great book from an amazing author. T R Ragan never disappoints. I amlooking forward to starting the next book in the Lizzy Gardner series.