Review: DARKER THAN MIDNIGHT by Maggie Shayne

Cassandra “Jax” Jackson goes to Blackberry, VT after being offered the job as the new Chief of Police.  Who said small towns are sleepy?  When an escaped mental patient saves her from drowning, Jax makes it her mission to clear him of the murder of his wife and unborn child. 

Michael “River” Corbett used to be a hero at the NYPD, but after taking a bullet to the brain, he suffers from blackouts and missing time.  Did he really kill his pregnant wife?  He doesn’t remember.  With Jax’s help, he intends to find out once and for all. 

Aside from being somewhat predictable, this is actually a decent romantic suspense novel.  I liked the characters, the police work, the action.  Having the girl with ESP conveniently getting clues from dead people at the end, nearly ruined it for me, but not completely.  ESP girl could have worked had she been more involved in the first half of the book.  I was also disappointed that the reader (meaning me) was able to figure out the killer before the two seasoned cops and without the aid of ESP girl. 

While the mystery left me lukewarm, the relationship between Jax and River was red hot!  I really loved the compassion they showed for each other and the gradual descent into love.  Jax’s father was also a very touching secondary character.  Rex the dog was cute, too.

While this is the first book I have read by Maggie Shayne, it is actually the third in a series.  Coming in where I did was not confusing.  Shayne does well with getting the reader up to speed. 

Overall, I give Darker Than Midnight…

Plot – 2 ½ bookmarks

Character Development – 3 bookmarks

Use of the Paranormal – 1 bookmark

Love Story – 3 bookmarks

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) – Mark Wahlberg (River), Anna Torv (Jax)