Straight from the mind of a forensic psychologist comes an addictive series of betrayal, lust, revenge, and murder. These doctors earned their degrees from the dark side.
The Doctors of Darkness e-book bundle contains the first three books in the series: Daddy Darkest, The Hanging Tree, and The First Cut.
Daddy Darkest: Bury your secrets. Bury them deep... A month after her high school graduation, small-town-girl Samantha "Sam" Bronwyn boards a plane with her best friend, Ginny. Destination: San Francisco. But when Ginny disappears inside an airport bathroom wearing Sam's letterman jacket, it doesn't take her long to figure out she was the intended target.
Alone in a strange city, Sam's on a run for her life--drawn into a dark past she never knew existed. A past where secrets aren't all that's buried and where revenge comes at the highest price. Who is Sam really--and who can she trust? The mysterious stranger in 4A who secreted a gun in his backpack? The guilty ex-con? The disarming FBI agent? Her own mother?
Only one thing is certain. Someone is after her. Someone who knows more about her than she does. Someone who wants to teach her a hard lesson: There are worse things than murder.
***
The Hanging Tree:
What if you couldn't remember the worst night of your life? What if you couldn't forget it?
May 13, 1994. On her thirteenth birthday, newly orphaned Evie, witnesses a brutal attack at the hanging tree. She wakes the next morning on a bus to Los Angeles, dazed and bruised and desperate to remember. Her best friend died that night--she's sure of it. But there's no body, no crime scene, and no witnesses.
Twenty three years later, the whole night is still a blur. The murderer, a faceless, nameless man. Fresh out of a stint in juvie, Butch kills a girl, strangles her. Twenty three years later, he walks out of prison a free man. But a haunted one, the ghost of his past at his heels.
When another body turns up at the hanging tree--a girl, strangled--Evie is certain her lost memory holds the key. Can Butch help her find the faceless man? Or is he hiding the darkest secret of all?
***
The First Cut:
There’s a thin line between love and murder.
When “Love Doctors” Ian and Kate Culpepper are brutally murdered in their Carmel mansion on Valentine’s Day, Ava knows it’s karma. Because Ian’s leaving her for perfect Kate four years ago had cut her bone deep. And then they had the nerve to show up here, on her turf. With their perfect house and their perfect daughter and their matching perfect smiles.
It’s no wonder Ava can’t stop watching. It’s no wonder she can’t let go.
But Ian is far from perfect, and Ava owes a debt too. For the unforgivable thing they’d done together. The dark deed that severed their marriage in two. When Ava’s name is found inked in blood at the crime scene, a reckoning seems inevitable. Someone knows what she’s hiding. Someone sees what she’s done. And karma is ready to collect its pound of flesh.
Forensic psychologist by day, novelist by night, Ellery Kane has been writing--professionally and creatively--for as long as she can remember. Just like many of her main characters, Ellery loves to ask why, which is the reason she became a psychologist in the first place. Real life really is stranger than fiction, and Ellery's writing is often inspired by her day job. Evaluating violent criminals and treating trauma victims, she has gained a unique perspective on the past and its indelible influence on the individual. And she's heard her fair share of real life thrillers.
Ellery lives in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, a picturesque setting that provides the backdrop for many of her novels. If you don't find Ellery interviewing murderers behind prison walls or pecking away at her latest novel, she is probably at the gym landing a solid jab-cross to a punching bag; riding bicycles with her special someone; or enjoying a movie the old-fashioned way--at the theater with popcorn and Milk Duds.
Ellery was previously selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition and is the author of the Doctors of Darkness, Rockwell and Decker, and Legacy Series, with two standalone thrillers from Bookouture coming in 2022.
If you'd like to receive a notification when new books are released, please sign up for Ellery's newsletter at ellerykane.com. Ellery also signs e-books on authorgraph.com.
This series was my first read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last. If you’re looking for a chilling psychological thriller, this is it! Each book can be read as a standalone but some characters make appearances so it helps knowing their background. Overall I enjoyed these books. Each story was chilling, intense and suspenseful. Fast paced and well paced these reads were intriguing and compelling. Each story articulated a new murder mystery.
so many dark and twisty things in this series and it was fun to read about.haha whatever could go wrong.. i think did.. this series was interesting and fast paced.. kept me interested and on the edge of my seat. i enjoyed it a lot
**Presented with an ARC via HiddenGems in exchange for an honest review.**
Move over James Patterson, put your pen down Michael Connelly, there’s a new author in town!
To be completely honest, when I first grabbed up this book, part of me was expecting a mix between Criminal Minds and Nip/Tuck, but it’s so much more than that. So much better.
Within the tale of Daddy Darkest, you meet Samantha Bronwyn, a star basketball forward, and her best friend Ginny. The promise of fun and adventure in San Francisco, a city so unlike the small hometown in Texas they’re from, turns into one of fear and uncertainty, intrigue and mystery as everything Samantha knew is turned upside down, and buried secrets are unearthed.
Past and present are expertly woven together to create one incredible experience. Where the story of Clare Keely will remind the reader of a mix of Profiler and the love story of Harley Quinn and the Joker, the story of Samantha Bronwyn will remind you a bit of Nancy Drew (The CW).
The next two books in this Boxset are just as engaging and captivating, but I want to leave a little mystery for the reader. This is a Boxset I highly recommend to any mystery and/or psychological thriller fan.
I really enjoyed these books. I didn't really get the 'darkness' element, but the books were well written, kept me entertained and definitely turning the pages as fast as I could read.
The second book's ending was somewhat disappointing, I'm hoping they were setting it up for a sequel, as that would be quite interesting to read.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with interesting characters and plenty of plot twists, then this is perfect for you. 10 out of 10, highly recommended.
This is a great box set of three intense psychological thrillers. I would highly recommend it to others! You won't regret reading it. I couldn't put it down from the very first page. This author has a way of putting you inside the head of her characters and getting you immersed in the story. I will not soon forget these books and I am sure to read them again in the future.
Ava was forever changed the day she saw her father’s body, feeling responsible for his death. The tragedy shapes her whole life, you can see it’s effects in the choices she makes. She becomes a psychotherapist, marries a psychiatrist believing that all is well with the world. What happens when you spouse has more issues than you? This is a twisted tale of revenge, narcissism and murder. I will admit to sussing out the murderer before it was revealed, but there were still unrevealed pieces to this puzzle. A much different ending then the first 2 in this series. Very Good Read
1) Daddy Darkest Samantha Bronwyn and her best friend Virginia "Ginny" Dalton are heading to San Francisco after graduation but their plans change quickly. When Ginny disappears from a bathroom in the airport Sam is desperate to find her but she has no idea who to trust.
Fellow passenger Levi Beckett seems to be everywhere that Sam is but is he really who he says he is and how is his life linked to Sam's? When a serial killer is out on the loose could he be after Sam?
Can Sam get to the bottom of everything and get to Ginny in time?
This was an interesting read with lots of twists and turns to keep you involved from the start to the end.
I really liked Sam and I can't imagine what she was going through when she discovered Ginny was gone. I was a little shocked that she was allowed on the trip by herself as I couldn't imagine going to San Francisco with one friend at such a young age. That being said she was smart but out of her comfort zone and there were a few things she did that definitely had me freaking out.
One of the characters that we meet at the beginning is Levi and initially you have no idea which side of everything that he is on. He was interesting and I liked learning more about him and his back story and how everything linked up with Sam.
It was super interesting reading about Clare Keely and how she factored into the story with serial killer Clive Cullen. It was interesting seeing how the two dealt with everything in prison and everything each of them were up against with how they were treated by others.
There were so many twists and turns that lead you on a super interesting ride and I loved how slowly everything began to fall into place. I was shocked by a couple of things but there were a few other things I was expecting.
Looking forward to the next book in the series! 2) The Hanging Tree Doctor Evelyn Maddox was found when she was 13 years old bruised and battered and newly orphaned with no memories of what happened to her. Now as an adult she stares at a tree outside her office, which she has named The Hanging Tree and knows it has relevance to her past.
Butch Calder has spent the last 23 years in jail but has never forgotten about events that led him to jail in the first place. Now he is off to figure out the truth behind the events.
Can Evie get her memories back in time and will Butch be able to help her or is he just leading her down the wrong path?
This was a good book but I enjoyed the first one more. This one was still enjoyable but not as much and at times I found myself drifting off a little.
I liked Evelyn but initially I found the hitchhiking totally out of character and she really got herself in a bad situation. Yet the more we learn about her we discover how she grew up and how dangerous it had been for her. I was surprised at her job occupation given what had happened to her in the past but it was like something was drawing her to those type of people.
I liked Butch but he definitely made a huge mistake with Gwen. Butch needed answers to his own past and I liked that he was a good guy beneath his gruff exterior which was why he ended up rescuing Evelyn at the beginning before realizing it was her.
There were lots of twists and turns with how everyone was linked together and I was definitely surprised with a few of the revelations.
The end had me worried for sure with the situation that Evelyn got herself into but she was lucky that things turned out the way they did. 3) The First Cut Madison Culpepper is 4 years old when her parents Ian and Kate are brutally murdered in their home. Known as the "Love Doctors" who could have killed them on Valentine's Day? Dr. Ava Lawson is shocked by the murders but can't help think that it could be karma for Ian leaving her for Kate. Now Ava is dating police officer Luke Donovan and soon she finds herself under suspicion for the murders. Can Ava clear her name and can she figure out who could be setting her up before she's found guilty? This was a great book and it got me engaged like the first one did which made me super excited! Ava had quite the past and was linked to some unsavory characters through the book but it my heart I was pretty sure she did not commit the crimes! I really enjoyed her tracking people down and trying to piece everything together and I could tell slowly that she was getting closer and closer to the truth. I wondered what was going to happen between Luke and Ava as suspicion began pointing towards her and I wasn't surprised with everything that happened between them although I was really disappointed in Luke. There were various characters that I was mad at through the book for events that happened but things started looking up with a letter that was found although I was mad at what happened next! I loved when I found out the twist with Kate as I wasn't expecting it but things just fell into place after that! Things got so intense after that and I could not put the book down!! The end was super exciting and I was finally a little grateful for Ricky Sherman and who he brought with him! I felt bad that it still wasn't over for Ava but I was so proud of her at the very end of the book! - By Rebecca
A fantastic boxset. I have to admit on the first book I wasn't completely sold and it fell a bit flat for me but in the other two things really picked up. I'm so glad I decided to stick with this series.
This was an intersting read but it didnt captivate me like I thought it would - in other words I read it but my mind would wander. It did not grab me and keep my attention through out. The writing is not fluid and I found the characters lacking in depth.
This was an interesting read with lots of twists and turns to keep you involved from the start to the end.
I really liked Sam and I can't imagine what she was going through when she discovered Ginny was gone. I was a little shocked that she was allowed on the trip by herself as I couldn't imagine going to San Francisco with one friend at such a young age. That being said she was smart but out of her comfort zone and there were a few things she did that definitely had me freaking out.
One of the characters that we meet at the beginning is Levi and initially you have no idea which side of everything that he is on. He was interesting and I liked learning more about him and his back story and how everything linked up with Sam.
It was super interesting reading about Clare Keely and how she factored into the story with serial killer Clive Cullen. It was interesting seeing how the two dealt with everything in prison and everything each of them were up against with how they were treated by others.
There were so many twists and turns that lead you on a super interesting ride and I loved how slowly everything began to fall into place. I was shocked by a couple of things but there were a few other things I was expecting.
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
2) The Hanging Tree
This was a good book but I enjoyed the first one more. This one was still enjoyable but not as much and at times I found myself drifting off a little.
I liked Evelyn but initially I found the hitchhiking totally out of character and she really got herself in a bad situation. Yet the more we learn about her we discover how she grew up and how dangerous it had been for her. I was surprised at her job occupation given what had happened to her in the past but it was like something was drawing her to those type of people.
I liked Butch but he definitely made a huge mistake with Gwen. Butch needed answers to his own past and I liked that he was a good guy beneath his gruff exterior which was why he ended up rescuing Evelyn at the beginning before realizing it was her.
There were lots of twists and turns with how everyone was linked together and I was definitely surprised with a few of the revelations.
The end had me worried for sure with the situation that Evelyn got herself into but she was lucky that things turned out the way they did.
3) The First Cut
This was a great book and it got me engaged like the first one did which made me super excited!
Ava had quite the past and was linked to some unsavory characters through the book but it my heart I was pretty sure she did not commit the crimes! I really enjoyed her tracking people down and trying to piece everything together and I could tell slowly that she was getting closer and closer to the truth.
I wondered what was going to happen between Luke and Ava as suspicion began pointing towards her and I wasn't surprised with everything that happened between them although I was really disappointed in Luke.
There were various characters that I was mad at through the book for events that happened but things started looking up with a letter that was found although I was mad at what happened next!
I loved when I found out the twist with Kate as I wasn't expecting it but things just fell into place after that! Things got so intense after that and I could not put the book down!!
The end was super exciting and I was finally a little grateful for Ricky Sherman and who he brought with him! I felt bad that it still wasn't over for Ava but I was so proud of her at the very end of the book!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
In the Doctors of Darkness Boxed Set you get three full length stories. Or the First three books in the Doctors of Darkness Series. Daddy Darkest, The Hanging Tree and The First Cut.
In Daddy Darkest Samantha Bronwyn and her very best friend in the world Virginia "Ginny" Dalton are on their way to San Francisco. It is their after graduation trip. However it quickly takes a turn when in the bathroom in Samantha's letterman jacket Ginny disappears. Sam is desperate to find her but doesn't know who to trust and the guy they met on the plan that warned them to be careful just keeps showing up all of the places Sam is. Levi Beckett is either a enemy of a foe and Sam just isn't sure which one. All she knows is their is a serial on the lose and he was proably after Sam. Now can she save Ginny in time? This book is so filled with twists and turns and will have you on the edge of your seat. You will also see how Sam and Levi are linked and how Sam had no idea. This one will keep you guessing and is so worth the read when everything starts to fall in place.
The Hangin Tree is the story of Doctor Evelyn Maddox. She was abandoned as a teenager and was found badly bruised. She has no memeory of how she got there or what has happend to her to suddenly make her a orphan. However as an adult and a doctor she has this interest in a tree that is right outside of her office. She stares at if often and has dubbed it The Hanging Tree. She just knows that it somehow holds the answers to her past. Meanwhile in jail you meet Butch Calder. He has been ther for the past twenty three years. The events that led him there have never been forgotten and now he just needs to know the truth of the things that ended up putting him in jail. I really liked these two characters and the twists and turns that this book took. It will leave you guessing and your mind blown.
The First Cut is the story of Madison Culpepper. When she was four years old her parents, known to everyone as the "Love Doctors", are brutally murdered in their home on Valentine's Day. Dr Ava Lawson use to date Ian and is shocked by his murder and feels that it could possibly be karma for how he left her for Kate. However she is now in a happy relationship with police officer Luke Donovan but soon finds herself a suspect in the murders of Ian and Kate. This book is just as good as the first one and I must say this one and Daddy Darkest are my favorite of the two. They leave you breathless and one the edge of your seat and have you guessing all over the place though you know your not going to be able to figure any of this out. This one will put you through the ringer for sure.
If you like good psychological romances that are not easy to firgure out and are good book then you will like this boxset. I am so glad that I got to read this book It is the first time I have ever read Ellery Kane. I enjoyed her writing style and her ability to keep you on your toes with stories that you can not figure everything out in.
Book Review: Doctors of Darkness Boxed Set (1-3) My Rating: 5 Stars Author: Ellery A. Kane Publication Date: 2/5/2019 Reviewed by: Tammy Payne- Book Nook Nuts
REVIEW I have read and very much enjoyed each gripping story in this 3 book set.
Book 1: Daddy Darkest One moment your graduating high school and hopping on a plane with your best friend to California and the next you're searching for your best friend who has now gone missing. And top that off with the fact that no one seems to believe you. Enter a guy named Levi who was on the plane with these girls. And he will play a big part in what is going to take place. Life takes it's toll on a person when nothing you knew all your life is the truth. When your parents turn out to be total strangers and worse. This book is gripping, suspenseful and downright dark. It held me captivated until I finished it. It's that good.
Book 2: The Hanging Tree All I can say is WOW!!!! This book kept me gripped til I devoured it. The past, The present, It all collides into one very twisted nightmare for Evie. Butch whom she had a huge crush on is back in her life and it has helped Evie figure out things she hid deeply in her mind. She is a therapist now but it may seem she is the one in need of therapy. The young Evie went through more things in her short life than any human could possibly cope with and is still standing strong. Amazing story and I can't wait to see what this author gives us next.
Book 3: The First Cut If you have read the first two books in this series then you are going to absolutely love this one. Book Three starts off with a bang and the chills and thrills just keep getting better throughout the story. This is a story that keeps you guessing as to who did what and when. The author has knocked it out of the ballpark with this book and I can not wait to see what she gives us next. ~Absolutely rocks... And your Valentine's Day may never be the same...
All three books in this boxed set are brilliant, chilling, thrilling, and fantastically well written. You won't be able to sleep until each story has reached its conclusion, and you will probably love every moment like I did!
Daddy Darkest: This is an expertly written dark and twisted psychological thriller. Having read Ellery Kane's YA dystopian series already, I had high expectations (and excitement levels) upon beginning this book. I was not disappointed. I found it very difficult to put down this riveting read. I particularly enjoyed the duel perspectives and the refreshingly different tones as the story alternated between those two perspectives. Multiple unpredictable plot twists also keep this fast-paced story fascinating.
The Hanging Tree: An absolutely brilliant, well-written, disturbing book by Ellery Kane. A real psychological thriller that hooked me from the first page, I was utterly captivated by the characters the author brings to life so incredibly well. An absolute must read for all loves of the genre, and for those who aren't sure about it as well.
First Cut: Chilling, haunting, and brilliantly written. I loved this book and admit I didn't sleep so I could finish it. Ellery Kane manages to squeeze every last drop of terror and psychosis out of her characters, drawing us in so deep that we start to question what we thought we knew about the characters and about ourselves. The lingering doubt, the questions, the nervous biting of nails and clenching of teeth... All the brilliant side-effects of this author's incredible approach to this genre. Would give six stars if I could.
If you are looking for some psychological thrillers that will have you sleeping with the lights on, look no further. This series is a set of three books that could be read a standalone books, each book is about different people.
The first book Daddy Darkest is about a women who fell for the wrong man years ago. In present day her daughter narrowly avoids a kidnapping at an airport. The story bounces between the two women as both try to survive the present and the past.
The Hanging Tree has a teenager witness her best friend being murdered. A young man is sent to prison for killing a girl. But in present day he is out, the girl can’t be sure who she really saw kill her friend and the past may repeat itself.
The First Cut has a husband and wife being brutally murdered in front of their 4 year old daughter. To the side is the husbands ex-wife who thinks that its karma catching up with him for leaving her. But when the ex’ name is found in blood at the crime scene it seems she has a bigger role to this story.
I love this series. It will give you the creeps and make you think twice about people. Ellery Kane knows how to get under your skin, burrow down deep, and leave you scared to death but wanting more. I strongly recommend checking out this series, you will not be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review of this book.
I haven't read anything by Ellery A. Kane before this, but I will definitely be adding her to my watch list. This is a box-set of three previously released individual stories that are part of the Doctors of Darkness series.
They all have great suspense and drama. The plot twists, character design and dialogue are fantastic - I couldn't read fast enough!
Daddy Darkest follows Samantha as she struggles to find her friend Ginny, who has gone missing on their way to San Francisco for a graduation trip. Levi is a shady character they met in their travels who is more involved in the situation than anyone could guess.
The Hanging Tree is Evelyn's story. She is missing some early childhood memories, but as an adult finds herself drawn to a tree outside her office. Alternatively we have Butch, who has been in jail for more than 20 years and is trying to solve the puzzle of how he ended up their. This one was a completely mind blowing reveal, I never saw it coming!
The First Cut is about Madison, whose parents were murdered when she was a child. Ava was her father's lover before he and her mother married - and now she's a suspect in their murder. Tons of twists and turns and again, I couldn't figure this one out which is always a bonus for me!
Highly recommend this box set if you need some great suspense and mystery in your life!
"Secrets come unearthed, rising like bones from a shallow grave."
This is a deeply disturbing psychological thrill ride from the very beginning. At times, you want to grab a character and give them a good shake because you know nothing good is going to come from their actions. The main characters in each of the books constantly put themselves in danger trying to find out the truth.
The stories move at a fast pace, the characters are well-developed and memorable, and darkness pervades the entire series. The author delves into the human psyche, revealing that each of us has a dark side that is trying to get out.
The author, Ellery Kane, has a wonderful writing style, drawing the reader into her stories. The stories are suspenseful, full of angst, cringe-worthy decisions by the characters, and twisted endings.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, characters that make you want to grab them and shake some sense into them, and plenty of twists, you need to read this series. Each of the books are standalones, but once you get started with the first book, you will want to continue reading. Even though the books deal with violence and murder, they are not unnecessarily blood or gory.
I look forward to reading more books by Dr. Kane in the future.
It isn't too often I go with five stars - Daddy Darkest the first in this series absolutely captivated me and would not let me go As the journey continued I found each book just as captivating and entertaining There was just something so enticing about the chaos - the tone - the way I kept wanting more with each turn of the page - If you are looking for a psychological thriller that has intense drama -heart-pounding suspense with slightly twisted psychological undertones- No need to look any further- This series has it all - All the darkness you seek in a true thriller Suspense that speeds up your heart rate - small divulgences that cause you to stiffen your spine and tighten your fist - Kane was a new author for me and I was looking for something that would have me keeping the lights on for a bit after I closed the pages- I will definitely be looking for more from this series as well as following this author I read these books independently via kindle unlimited
I haven't read anything by Ellery A. Kane before this. The blurb sounded really good some of it was really good but some of it wasn't. By overall they were really good.
They have great suspense and I love suspense.
Daddy Darkest follows Samantha as she searches for her friend, who has gone missing during a graduation trip.
The Hanging Tree is Evelyn's story. She can't remember some of her childhood and she struggles to remember as an adult, but she oddly finds herself drawn to a tree outside her office. Then you have Butch, who has been in jail for more than 20 years and is trying to figure out how he ended up their. How it all ends left me saying WHAT!
The First Cut is about Madison, whose parents were murdered when she was a child. Ava was involved with Madisons father before he got married and now Eva is the prime suspect in their murder. So many twists and turns, I couldn't figure it all out!
I have read all 3 of these books and must say that Ellery Kane has done a great job with the suspense and plot twists in them. Warning!!! You might not get anything done when you start reading them.
This is a great series. It has fresh intriguing plot lines and interesting characters. These stories were page turners that I didn't want to put down. I definitely recommend this if you want a suspenseful/thrilling read.