Deep Dark Night

Lori Anderson #4

by Steph Broadribb

Fearless Florida bounty-hunter Lori Anderson travels to Chicago to trap the head of a notorious crime family, in a high-stakes, nail-biting mission that sees her trapped in one of the city’s tallest buildings during a blackout…

A city in darkness. A building in lockdown. A score that can only be settled in blood…
Working off the books for FBI Special Agent Alex Monroe, Florida bounty-hunter Lori Anderson and her partner, JT, head to Chicago. Their mission: to entrap the head of the Cabressa crime family. The bait: a priceless chess set that Cabressa is determined to add to his collection.

An exclusive high-stakes poker game is arranged in the penthouse suite of one of the city’s tallest buildings, with Lori holding the cards in an agreed arrangement to hand over the pieces, one by one. But, as night falls and the game plays out, stakes rise and tempers flare.

When a power failure plunges the city into darkness, the building goes into lockdown. But this isn’t an ordinary blackout, and the men around the poker table aren’t all who they say they are. Hostages are taken, old scores resurface and the players start to die.
And that’s just the beginning…

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 5, 2020

About the author

Steph Broadribb was born in Birmingham and grew up in Buckinghamshire. A prolific reader, she adored crime fiction from the moment she first read Sherlock Holmes as a child. She’s worked in the UK and the US, has an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) and trained as a bounty hunter in California.

Her latest novel is DEATH IN THE SUNSHINE - the first book in her new Retired Detectives Club series featuring four recent retirees living in a luxury 55+ resort community in Florida, USA.

Her other novels include the Lori Anderson bounty-hunter series and the Starke/Bell psychological police-procedural books (writing as Stephanie Marland). Her books have been shortlisted for the eDunnit eBook of the Year Award, the ITW Best First Novel Award, the Dead Good Reader Awards for Fearless Female Character and Most Exceptional Debut, and longlisted for the Guardian Not The Booker Prize.

She provides coaching for new crime writers via www.crimefictioncoach.com.

You can find out more about Steph at www.stephbroadribb.com, and get in touch via Facebook (@CrimeThrillerGirl) and Twitter (@crimethrillgirl).

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kickass and all round fearless Lori Anderson returns in this, her fourth outing in the bounty hunter series and once again is a nail biting, tense and highly entertaining thriller that I found as usual, addictive and utterly consuming.
Lori and her tough and rugged partner (on and off the field) JT, join forces with FBI special agent Monroe in an off the books deal that will see all charges against them dropped, if they cooperate and help nail Cabressa - a Miami crime lord. Lori has to ensnare Cabressa in a high stakes poker game and gather enough evidence for Monroe to arrest and jail Cabressa. Easy eh? Well I don’t play poker but during the game I really felt I was sitting around the table, playing my cards and attempting my poker face, so was the crucial attention to detail.
However, before the game can end and Lori can get the video evidence she needs, the city has a total black out and the penthouse suite they’re in goes into panic room mode and everyone is locked in. As the stakes to stay alive during an unexpected game of truth or die escalate, can Lori and JT escape the clutches of a madman who wants them all dead and still get Cabressa entrapped?
I found the story hellishly entertaining and as always engaging, high octane and wonderfully written. I adore Lori and JT, they make a fabulous partnership and I consider Lori to be one of the strongest female protagonist I’ve read of. Coinciding with International Women’s Week, this is aptly published and the author Stephanie Broadribb has created a series that is just crying out to be made onto the big screen, it’s probably my favourite action thriller series of all time. “Deep Dark Night” is book four in the series which although can easily be read as a stand-alone I would recommend reading them all in order to acquaint with the characters fully and of course with them all being exceedingly entertaining they are worth a read anyways.

5 stars

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lori Anderson is a bounty hunter, who along with her partner, JT, are in Chicago, much against their will. But she owes FBI Special Agent Alex Monroe big time for helping her in a previous case and he's called in a favor.

Monroe wants Lori and JT to set up the head of the Cabressa family head .. a man that Monroe has wanted to snag for years.

They will be going undercover to participate in a high-stakes poker game. The only problem .... Lori has never played poker in her life.

(BOOK BLURB) As night falls and the game plays out, stakes rise and tempers flare. When a power failure plunges the city into darkness, the building goes into lock down. But this isn't an ordinary blackout, and the men around the poker table aren't all who they say they are.

And then the bodies start falling .....

This is an exceptional addition to a crime fiction series. Although 4th in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone. However, I do recommend starting at the beginning to follow the life and times of these deftly drawn characters. It is action filled ... a real page turner. The ending is explosive.

Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

AIR! I NEED AIR! CAN’T BREATHE!

If there is one thing I should have learned from reading the Lori Anderson series, it’s to have an oxygen tank at the ready because her adventures always leave me gasping for breath and Deep Dark Night is no different! Throw your gym membership in the bin (not that I have one)! This will leave you with the same amount of adrenaline and energy to get you through three marathons. Just not so sweaty. Bonus!

Lori and JT head to Chicago to work an off-the-books operation for FBI Special Agent Monroe. Using a priceless chess set as bait, Lori must try to entrap the head of the Cabressa crime family and hopefully finally get Monroe off her back along the way. But during a high-stakes poker game in the penthouse suite of one of Chicago’s tallest buildings, the power goes out and shit hits the fan. Things what I learned : stay away from penthouse suites. And poker games. And I should probably add mafia to the list as well.

To say Deep Dark Night is action-packed seems like a massive understatement. It’s pretty much all systems go, all the time. Absolutely relentless! It’s also dark in more ways than one and oftentimes immensely claustrophobic. On top of that, people start dropping like flies all over the place and suddenly all you can think about is if Lori and JT will make it out of this precarious situation alive! Because Steph Broadribb has no qualms whatsoever in putting her characters through the wringer and pushing them to some quite extreme limits.

Steph Broadribb knows how to pull a reader in and keep them enthralled from start to finish. I felt I was right there with Lori and JT, in that high-rise building in the dark, desperately trying to find a way out in one piece. Deep Dark Night is an edge-of-your-seat nail-biter of a book, that at times had my heart pumping so hard I thought it would jump right out of my chest. When I finished it, I felt so darn energised I considered running a few laps around the block. And I do not run, people!

The Lori Anderson is yet another series that just keeps going from strength to strength and all the books would make excellent movies. Each and every book in this series is utterly gripping and addictive. Lori remains one of the fiercest female protagonists out there, most definitely giving all those muscly showing-off kind of male stereotypes a run for their money. I have to say it …. wait for it …. BEST ONE YET and I’ll be first in line to find out where Steph Broadribb takes this series next. Bring it on!

[Kathi Defranc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book in the series, but Definitely need to read them all!! It starts with a group of kids roaming an old basement. A place they are not supposed to be, but kids love breaking rules and having a scary place they call their own. Only today as they enter the dusty, moldy room a different scent assails their senses..causing a primitive knowledge that something is not right..Further inside they encounter a dark, smoldering body,and as one girl looks closer she screams in fear and sorrow...
You are Hooked Already, Right?! Lori Anderson is a Bounty-Hunter, but lately her jobs are turning into shoot-outs with the Mob and scary side jobs! She is a tough lady, but FBI Agent Monroe holds her on a leash, even though she almost died on her last job because He wanted to make the case! She knows that she Must do this one last job to be rid of him, get him off both her and her partners' backs.
But..Will they be able to finish this game..And get Home safely?!
A fast-paced spy game starts, Lori has to learn how to play poker, quickly, and the head Crime Boss of Chicago is the prize Monroe wants to catch! There are many characters causing problems along the way..And Just WHO Started This whole thing..
You can Not close the book once you start, carried on a treacherous ride through the streets of Chicago, wanting nothing more than to get home to your family..while Others try to make sure you Don't! A 5 STAR Story that has You right alongside Lori as she does her thing, with strength,smarts and an eye for a better future ahead..

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Dark Night is the fourth book in the crime series featuring bounty hunter Lori Anderson. With this particular story being set in Chicago, it had an almost darker vibe to it. Not sure if it was because whilst a city can be a wonderful place, they always have a very dark side to them and we really get to see the dark side in this book.

The storyline itself reminded me of some sort of spy thriller. An agent, or in this case Lori, pretending to be someone she is not, to get close to a criminal. I actually enjoyed getting to see a different side of Lori, someone who usually dresses casual due to the nature of her work, dressed up to the nines for appearances sake.

Poker is a game I have no clue about, luckily the author focuses on the players themselves. It was very intriguing finding out more about each one. Some over the course of the story I found myself liking more where as others behaviour shocked and appalled me.

The story had me by the throat as it was as i was so glued to it. When the city plunges into darkness though, that’s when the story really hits the ground running. I was literally on the edge of my seat whilst turning the pages as this felt like Lori’s most dangerous job yet.

Deep Dark Night is a gripping and adrenaline fuelled read that had me clinging on for dear life. As the body count mounts, I really had no clue whether this was literally a case to far for Lori and JT. I have to say I loved seeing JT playing a bigger part in the story and think I have ever so slightly fallen for him. I mean how can I not? Lori is one lucky lady but then she is starting to become a bit of an idol herself I am sure among readers. It’s great to see such a strong female protagonist and kudos to the author for creating such a wonderful one, bringing hours of enjoyment to her readers.

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thriller set in CHICAGO



Deep Dark Night is the fourth book in Steph’s Lori Anderson series. Lori started in Book 1 as a California based bounty hunter. She has now morphed into someone working off the books and off the record for a pretty dubious FBI operative, Alex Monroe. This work is not entirely voluntary. Monroe holds information that could damage Lori’s relationship with her partner JT – and their relationship with their daughter, Dakota. They have no choice.

Monroe is obsessed with capturing the head of the Chicago based Cabressa family. Lori and JT are brought in to help. The bait is a priceless chess set which it is known the family head will go to almost any lengths to secure for himself. But Lori has to win his trust. The set is to be used as Lori’s stake in a high value poker game.

The game is held in a secure apartment on one of the top floors of a downtown residential building. Apart from Lori and the family head, the players are mixed bunch of Chicago high flyers. A fair part of the book is taken up with the details of the game… I do not play poker, but I nevertheless found the descriptions fascinating. Then, as the game heads for its climax, a power outage strikes. The apartment they are in goes into a security lock down – no one can physically enter or leave. The atmosphere gets very heated (in more ways than one). And it turns out that the men around the table are not all who they claim to be. They are there for a reason (and not only to play poker).

The book moves to a thrilling and fast paced conclusion with Lori and JT in great danger.

Deep Dark Night is very different from, but every bit as good as, the first three books in the series. The first three operate in wide open spaces – but Deep Dark Night is much more confined (even claustrophobic). Much of the action takes place in just one high rise apartment looking down on Chicago. It’ll be really interesting to see where Steph takes Lori next and how the next book evolves.

All four books are highly recommended. They are classic American thrillers (written, incidentally, by a Brit!)

[Book Addict Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Steph Broadribb's Lori Anderson series. The first book, Deep Down Dead, made my Hall of Fame and went on to be my favourite book of the entire year in 2016 on my Top Books of the Year list. The next two books in the series were also instant 5 star reads, and so I couldn't wait to read Deep Dark Night. I said on Twitter whilst reading this book that Steph was my favourite thriller writer since Lee Child, and that is a statement I stand by after finishing this incredible story. I have read hundreds of thrillers over the years and so hopefully that statement shows what a real talent Steph is when it comes to writing a gripping and truly unforgettable thriller.

Lori Anderson is a fantastic creation and someone I can't ever see me tiring reading about. She is a strong, ballsy character with a ton of heart. It's impossible not to become endeared to her and genre aside she's one of the best characters I have read about in years, not just in the thriller world. What I most enjoy about this series more than some others is the continuation of the characters and their lives. Whereas in the majority of thriller series each book can be read as a standalone, they just happen to exist in the same world with sometimes a brief mention of past events, Lori's story continues whether it's with her relationship with JT and daughter but also in how the events of previous books drive future books forward. That's not to say the books in this series can't be read standalone, they absolutely can, but the enjoyment and emotional connection felt as a reader is much greater if you read the stories in order.

Steph always comes up with the most adrenaline-fuelled stories that storm ahead at a thousand miles an hour, barely giving the reader pause for breath. Here in Deep Dark Night things are a little different as the story mostly takes place literally over a deep dark night, a Chicago blackout to be precise. Lori has found herself in an impossible situation in working with the FBI. She must trap the head of a notorious Chicago crime family in a high-stakes poker game which sees everything put on the line. I have to say that this change in pace worked brilliantly, and Steph expertly told this story in such a way that meant I struggled to tear myself away from my Kindle. The scenes within the tower this poker game plays were so tense and written in such an immersive way that I felt like I was in the room with these characters. Everything was so palpable, it was like I was experiencing the danger myself, all senses were on high alert whilst reading this story. I have to say also there might be some enjoyment to be had through reading this story in the dark, it'll certainly add to the exhilarating sense of danger felt while you read the story.

The plot here really is incredibly strong and I just love how the story was told. When I first read the blurb it gives away a lot of the story, as blurbs do, but I had no idea what would happen once that blackout arrived and I couldn't read quick enough to find out. The setting of the Skyland Tower was great and allowed Steph to really come up with some inventive ways for these characters to try and come up with some kind of escape plan, all at the same time not knowing who they can trust in the room. There's a real fantastic cast of secondary characters, all with their own personalities and things to add to the story. Some of these characters, whether in their actions in the present, or as we learn about their past, give us a further insight into our main characters, Lori and JT, and allows us to see their thought processes better and understand their motives and moral compasses even more than we have already in previous books. The characterisation here is just as good as the plot.

The last 30% or so is when I knew my Kindle wasn't being turned off until I'd read that final page. I was absolutely glued to the story and couldn't wait to see how things ended. Steph once again delivered a blinding ending. An ending that instantly made me wish that I had the next book on my Kindle to read right away. If you like thrillers with a realistic and believable main character, with unforgettable stories that take you on a truly exhilarating ride as you almost forget to breathe turning the pages then Steph Broadribb is an author who delivers all of that and more with this incredible series featuring Lori Anderson. I cannot recommend these books highly enough and hope that the next one isn't too far away.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lub-dub

Lub-dub

Lub-dub

That was the sound of my heart (I am a doc, that is how my textbooks say the heart beats) when the main character, a bounty hunter, Lori was taught how to play poker by her partner JT.

Lub-dub Lub-dub

Lub-dub Lub-dub

My beats increased when Lori entered the 63rd floor to play high stakes poker with some of the richest along with a crime boss.

Lub-dub Lub-dub Lub-dub

Lub-dub Lub-dub Lub-dub

Heartbeats increased

Then there was a blackout in the middle of the game, the suite transformed into a panic room. A voice announced some truths; the players lost their color. A game of who would tell the truth ensued, and people started dying. Lori and JT had to think fast in order to stay alive. Could she ever escape? My heartbeats started racing, goosebumps covered my body. The tiny hairs behind my neck rose up. I knew the author had me where she wanted – in her cross hairs.

Lub… Lub-dub Lub… Lub-dub

Lub… Lub… Lub-dub

Lub… Lub… Lub-dub

I started getting arrhythmias when the suspense and action in the story rose in intensity, and I could barely catch my breath. The adrenaline coursed through my veins in a fevered pitch as if they could barely be contained. I had to walk to complete reading this book as I couldn’t even start to guess where the author would take me.

I had heard good things about the author Steph Broadribb, but I never knew she would give me a cardiac workout.

The writing was fast like a bullet train racing to reach its destination. My first introduction to this author filled me with stupendous energy. The writing was superfluous, filled with action, raising the whole atmosphere of the story. Locked room mystery is one of my absolute favorites, and the author knew how to lock me in it.

The book was unstoppable. I found that I couldn’t stop reading it once I started. Addictive and compelling was what the story was. I was ensnared in the web of deceit and action, a strange madness in the air. Absolutely enthralling.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 in the Series featuring Lori Anderson, but I found it easy to read as a stand-alone ( but I will be reading the previous 3 now!)

Lori is a bounty hunter and she’s in debt to the FBI. Agent Morgan has a job for her involving the Cabressa crime family. He wants to lock up the boss finally……but at what cost?

Lori has contacted the family offering a prized gold chess set for sale, her offer is accepted but there are conditions. She must play a game of poker! This gives her a few hours to learn the game with the help of JT.

So, dressed to the nines she arrives at the game in a luxury penthouse, but then the power goes out plunging them into darkness and as tensions rise all hell breaks out.

The body count rises and so does the tension. Can Lori and JT escape the building in the pitch dark?

This really is a clever thriller and so well written, from the fierce and strong Lori, to the claustrophobic tension of trying to escape a dark building. It’s a real heart pounder of a read. Brilliant.

Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading: March 13th 2020

"There's no moon, no stars - nothing and no one to bear witness to the events of this deep dark night.
No one, except me."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***



I first met Lori Anderson two years ago when I messed up and accidently read the second book first... Lori, in all her kickass bounty-hunter glory, charmed me almost instantly and I've been on #TeamLori ever since. I'm still not sure why it took me two years to finally catch up with the rest of the series, but trust me, I'm still kicking myself for not doing so before. Although I guess I did have the advantage of being able to binge-read all four books in a short period of time without the long wait in between to find out what Lori has to endure next. Boy boy it has been an explosive and intense few weeks with Lori! I'm still catching my breath as I try to recover from the adrenaline overdose...

So, book number four. Or Deep Dark Night, which is another more than fitting title if you ask me. Before I continue, I have to say that while you can technically read this book as a stand-alone, you won't be doing yourself a favor for two reasons: (1) you might not get the dynamics between Lori, JT and the other characters if you don't read the previous books, and (2) you are depriving yourself of some very thrilling and exhilarating reading hours. I strongly suggest just taking the time to read all four books in order to get the full Lori experience! Got that? Perfect, let's continue with Deep Dark Night. The first thing that stands out is that this book has a completely different feel than the previous three books. Lori and JT still take up the spotlight and are omnipresent, but there is less moving about, less running and the danger feels different too. This doesn't mean that there isn't plently of action and violence though, but Deep Dark Night feels more like a locked-room thriller with a mafia angle rather than the typical bounty-hunter action thriller we've become used to. Coincidentally, as I have a weak spot for any locked-room plot in a story, you won't see me complaining.

This time around, we are not in Florida either, but instead Lori's fourth adventure is set in Chicago. Once again Lori finds herself entangled with mafia business, and this time only because her hands were tied after what happened in book three. I won't go into details to avoid spoilers, but let's just say that Monroe is one slippery bastard I wouldn't under any circumstances trust even with something insignificant... So having Lori basically putting her (and JT's) life in his hands made me feel tense from the very beginning. This feeling of dread didn't leave me for one second either. I found myself to be on the edge of my seat the whole time, biting my nails as I wondered how on earth Lori and JT were going to be able to find themselves a way out of the situation... Deep Dark Night left me more breathless than an intense workout!

While I loved the style of the previous books, I also loved the new direction and the locked-room thriller feel of this story. The majority of Deep Dark Night takes place within a safe room on the 63rd story of the building where an important poker game takes place. Ten people are inside the room when everything escalates and things turn nasty for real... Imagine And Then There Were None, but mafia style, and you get some sort of an idea what might be going on soon after things are starting to go south. The plot development as well as the plot twists themselves are brilliantly handled and show us a perfect image of what Chicago might look like after a blackout. Action-packed, exhilarating and seriously disturbing: Deep Dark Night will go very dark indeed.

The story is told from both Lori and JT's POV, which is great as they are not together all the time and it allows the story to tell us what happens from different angles as well as introduce even more suspense. Both characters have become very dear to me, so my heart stopped quite a few times with all the danger and imminent death around the corner every other chapter. The other characters in play, and especially those in the safe room during the poker game, have each been developed satisfactorily and feel well rounded; they each added their own touch to the story. Likewise, Cabressa makes for an interesting mafia character and you gotta hate Monroe all over again for the tricks he is pulling. It was great to see Lori and JT in action together again though, and that ending make me crave the next book instantly as I NEED to know what happens next...

As you might have guessed already, I'm a huge fan of this series and I'm still 200% #TeamLori. If you love a good action-packed and lighting fast thriller read, you should definitely go meet my favorite bounty-hunter Lori Anderson. Trust me, you won't regret it!

P.S. Find more of my reviews here.

[Rowena Hoseason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A game of two halves, this action-thriller starts slow with a skilful build-up to a high stakes poker game. Bounty hunter Lori attempts to entrap a mobster boss in an off-the-books FBI covert op, and the early cat-and-mouse manoeuvers really ratchet up the tension. The second half switches to a pell-mell chase through a city blackout, jump-cutting between two parallel sequences of cliffhanger chapters with an unknown puppetmaster snipping the strings.

The eventual who / how / why revelations seemed wildly implausible but this is one of those books which is less about credible motivation and opportunity, and all about the breathless chase and rapid reversals of fortune. It’s the fourth in the series but the situation was neatly outlined and easy to absorb, so no need to have read the previous ones if you want to start here.
7/10

There are more reviews of ripping crime-thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth in the author’s series of Florida-set crime thrillers, which feature female bounty hunter protagonist, Lori Anderson. While Loris is based out of The Sunshine State, she’s not averse to travelling out of state in pursuit of a felon and that is what she does in this title, travelling to Chicago to trap the head of major crime family.

Unlike in previous titles in the series, Lori is not tracking down a criminal on the run this time but helping the FBI operate a sting. Employed off the books by the FBI, her target is Cabressa, a major league criminal who is determined to obtain a priceless chess set for his own private collection. Her job is to act as the person in possession of at the chess set in order to get close to him and spring there FBI’s trap. Needless to say things don’t go according to plan and when a blackout plunges the building where the meet has been arranged things spiral out of control.

Lori is a compelling heroine and like previous titles in the series, this is an action thriller with a difference. There’s a lot of thrills and it’s certainly a page-turner, but it’s not as macho and imbued with testosterone as some of the titles that feature male action heroes. Though this is not to say that there’s no action, or that Lori isn’t as tough as nails.

The characterisation is strong, the relationship and complications between the characters compelling, and the plot is tightly woven. This is a great fourth outing for Lori and series continues to go from strength to strength. I look forward to book five.

[Hobart · Rating 5 out of 5]

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---

I’ve always felt an element of fear about the jobs I do. In the right dosage it can help you. It gets your adrenaline firing, makes you think clearer, faster—gets you alert and ready to tackle anything that comes your way. But if the fear builds too much, all that good stuff swings things around; the nerves make you hesitant, jumpy and too cautious. That’s when you start making mistakes. And mistakes, in my world, can be fatal.

After barely getting to take a breath following the events of Deep Dirty Truth, Lori finally gets the chance to work off her debt to FBI Agent Monroe. This puts Lori and JT in Chicago trying to get the mobster Cabressa to take possession of some stolen goods. Once that's done, a series of dominoes will fall and Monroe will be able to put him away for a very long time.

So he insists, anyway.

Step one involves Lori getting an invite to an incredibly exclusive Poker game, Step two involves giving her a crash course in playing Poker so she seems mostly credible in the game. (this isn't presented as a comedic segment, but I chuckled at this part of the book—also, I'm jealous, I wish I could learn how to play like this).

Now, every thriller reader knows what will happen next—no plan, no matter how thorough, how well-thought-out no matter who's involved, will work. If for no other reason than it would produce a dull novel. But also, every thriller reader has heard the line, "no plan survives first contact with the enemy" and knows it to be true. The questions that need to be answered are: how badly will the plan go awry? and How will Lori and JT react to it?

So let me assure you, when this plan is derailed, it's derailed in a spectacular fashion, providing a lot of danger for our heroes, peril for those around them, and more than enough tension to satisfy a hungry reader. Lori and JT respond appropriately, not perfectly (which would be boring), but they display the stamina, resourcefulness, and tenacity we've come to expect from them.

The poker game collected quite the interesting mix of players—sports figures, politicians, as well as shady characters like Cabressa. When things go wrong during the game, it opens things up for a lot of drama and conflicting interests causing trouble for all involved. Suddenly, Lori and JT can't focus solely on getting Cabressa to fall into Monroe's trap—they have to worry about survival—their own, and as many others that they can help. Sure, Cabressa is still their target, but there's a lot they have to go through before they can make him a priority.

I'm not going to get more in-depth than that, I'll leave it there and say there's more than enough going on plot-wise to fuel a book at least half again as long as this one. Broadribb has stacked the deck against the pair and it's great to watch them try to navigate the situation.

The game takes place at the top of a pretty high building in Chicago and the action centers around that location, stories above the ground. In the real world, I'm pretty acrophobic—and occasionally (okay, more than occasionally), a movie can get me to feel the anxiety that heights can bring out in me. I don't remember ever feeling symptoms while reading a book, but I did here. It's not like Broadribb focused all that much on the height and risk of falling (it was there, but she didn't belabor the point), but something about the way that she told the story, flicked that particular switch in my brain. There's something very disconcerting about sitting in a comfortable seat (on the ground level like a sane person) but feeling like I was standing in a precarious* location several feet off the ground. I'm not promising that anyone else will experience what I did, I assume the rest of humanity is a bit better adjusted than I am, but for me that was an unexpected "bonus" to the book.

* Yeah, fine, my definition of a precarious location applies to perfectly safe—even benign—spots.

I'm a little worried about the long-term health of Lori's elbows. She uses them so often as weapons, she probably heads back to Florida with at least one of them horribly bruised. I don't remember this being the case in the previous novels, maybe I just forgot—or maybe she's just relying on the technique in these circumstances (I remember more than once the narration in a Jack Reacher novel talking about the usefulness of that tactic compared to the use of a fist).

As far as long-term character development goes, Lori and JT start a conversation they've needed to have since, well, since we met the two of them about Dakota and why Lori didn't tell JT about her before she did. This will prove helpful in the future and provide the opportunity for the relationship to grow and change. The two of them have some sort of plan going forward about their careers and daughter, but we're going to have to come back to find out what they have in mind. Seeing these two deal with each other and their daughter is almost as rewarding to me as the action-hero kind of thing is, and Broadribb's featuring both sides of Lori like this is a real strength of the series.

For my money, this is the best of the series—she's got a real handle on these characters by now and knows just how to put them through the wringer in a way that provides real tension and thrills. I got more wrapped up in this than I expected to (and I had pretty high expectations at this point in the series), and it was absolutely worth it. Book five cannot arrive soon enough for me.

If you haven't met this bounty hunter yet, you need to—either in the pages of this book or the beginning, either would work (but you might as well just buy the set all at once, you won't be satisfied until you read them all). Deep Dark Night will win Broadribb some new fans and confirm those readers already along for the ride.

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Described as Lori Anderson meets Die Hard, what more inducement do you need to pick up Deep Down Dead which is out now in paperback and ebook!


Lori Anderson is back and not a moment too soon.

From the short, sharp opener which sets the scene, you are then immediately plunged into Lori's first person narrative-smooth, calm and focussed with killer instincts, this is the fourth of her adventures which finds her out of her comfort zone, away from the Everglades and in a whole heap of trouble.

''I've always felt an element of fear about the jobs I do. In the right dosage it can help you.It gets your adrenaline firing ,makes you think clearer, faster-gets you alert ,and ready to tackle anything that comes your way.But if the fear builds too much,all that good stuff swings things round :the nerves make you hesitant,jumpy and too cautious.That's when you start making mistakes. And mistakes in my world can be fatal.''

Hello old friend, it is a pure delight to hear your voice again!

IMHO Lori Anderson is on a par with V.I Warshawski and Kinsey Millhone-I can think of no higher praise for this bounty hunter whose escapades I hold dearly as thrill rides par excellence.

This time around, picking up after 'Deep Dirty Truth' , Lori finds herself in deep , DEEP trouble. She has to play the game of her life passing herself off as a poker player, in the penthouse suite of new mega structure, Skyland Towers, in the company of Chicago mob boss Cabressa, and a host of bad news criminals. Except....Lori cannot play poker.

And in this game, more than just her life is at stake. Ex JT Monroe, father of her daughter Dakota is on voard as her security detail, also undercover. The game is for Lori to no longer be beholden to FBI agent Alex Monroe, tie up Cabressa by dangling a much wanted gold chest set in front of him and get him to admit handling stolen goods and then go home to Dakota. Should be easy, right?

It was all so going well until the lights go out....

Instead of a panic room, the entire penthouse suite is on lock down. Easy enough to write that off as new building wiring issues-until a 'And Then There Were None' style voice rings out and identifies each and everyone of the ten poker players as hiding a secret. One of them is annoymous and hidden crime maven Herron and the gamers have a limited amount of time to work out who it is before they all end up dead.

OMG!! Fingers bitten down to stumps! After a quick recap and re-establishing a connection with Lori and her allies, the reader is whizzed through a blinding fast taster on poker and then , there they are-everything to play for, all the characters in place and the tension sky high. The short chapters ramp up the pressure to unbearable levels as you whizz through the pages, consumed in a story constructed by a consummate plotter.

The emotional resonance is priceless, you care so deeply about Lori and feel that delicious agony between wanting to linger over the story and racing to see if she makes it out to the end. But you can say, hey, I can whizz through this and then read all the books again in order! So a win win situation! But trust me, savour this slowly and enjoy the craft with which this book and its characters have beem constructed. Now, more than ever we need the escapsim that books can bring and the Lori Anderson quartet not only support an independent publisher, they keep writers like Stpeh Broadribb in business.

And that, for us discerning readers, can only be a gamble worth taking, right?

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a big #TeamLori supporter I was thrilled to be able to read an advance copy of Deep Dark Night. And I’m loving the makeover for the covers of this series which have been given a very dark-but bang on trend-overhaul to match this 4th book in the series-Lori Anderson never looked better!

I would recommend starting at the beginning of this series if you’ve never read any before as you really do need the background information to be able to follow Deep Dark Night completely. This is a stand-alone adventure for Lori and JT though as they head to Chicago with Lori helping the FBI to bring in the head of the Cabressa family using a very expensive chess set as an incentive. But things don’t quite go to plan though when they get caught up in a high stakes poker game…

Steph Broadribb has done it again with Deep, Dark Night and delivered one of Lori’s most high octane adventures so far. Told in short, sharp chapters to maintain a high level of tension, the action never stops as Lori and JT work together to trap Cabressa even though they are the ones caught up in a deception where people are running scared for their lives.

I’ve always thought this series would translate well to the big screen but this time Steph Broadribb has totally captured the visual aspect of her narrative so well that I know it would make a brilliant film. The pacing is perfect and well timed whilst the descriptive language maintains those undercurrents without giving too much away. Lori and JT are an intriguing pair and work away from their daughter (and each other!) for pretty much most of the book but they have the same goal throughout which is to make it back to their daughter in one piece!

This is a dark, heart-thumpingly good read that continues Lori’s adventures to a very high standard indeed. I loved it from start to finish!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

So as this is the first book I have read by this author what did I think? Well before I was even a quarter of the way through I thought “This is such a good book” and then followed by another thought… “Why haven’t I read anything by this author before!”

Deep Dark Night is part of a series and I can honestly say it worked really well as a stand-alone. It also left me wishing I had read these in order because even though there was enough details about past stories it also left me wanting to know more about the two main protagonists.

So the main characters are Lori and JT, they are caught up with FBI Agent Monroe and are involved in trying to catch a Chicago crime boss handling stolen goods. Now I know I am not the only reader who immediately gets suspicious when those three letters, FBI, appear in books and this also goes for Lori and JT.

Now the synopsis for this book gives a good amount of details as to what I was going to expect, but the book itself far surpassed what the synopsis hinted at. This book was full on high pace from start to finish, this was ideal for injecting a sense of urgency to the main plot. It also added drama and suspense aplenty.

I really liked how the author had laid out this story. Not only quick sharp and to the point chapters, but also alternating perspectives between Lori and JT. It was a good way of seeing different opinions and also for the odd personal moment as they thought about home and family. If you have read the books you will know what I am referring to.

This is without doubt a cracking read that I absolutely loved, once I started I was unable to put it down. Ideal for readers who like fast paced, action packed reads and crime based mysteries. This is a book I would definitely recommend.

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Dark night is book four in the Lori Anderson series, and despite having not read the previous books I found this easy to read as a stand alone.

Lori, a bounty hunter along with her partner JT head to Chicago to work an off-the-books operation for FBI Special Agent Monroe, who wants them to set up the head of the Cabressa family  a man that Monroe has been after for years but has never had enough evidence to convict. Lori seems to feel she owes a debt to Monroe but JT feels otherwise, though he stands by her as they try to snare the Cabressa family.

To say this was an action packed thriller is an understatement - this was a brilliant read from the get go, just when things look they are settling down and you get a minute to take a breath it goes full throttle again! I love a good thriller that is fast paced and keeps me on my toes and Deep Dark Night certainly ticked all those boxes. And after finishing this I can't wait to go back and start this series from the beginning.

5 stars

[123abc · Rating 4 out of 5]

NB: this is the 4th book in a series (and I haven’t read the first 3). Enjoyed this book, a crime thriller (~80% of the book is about one night) with some unexpected twists & turns. The characters actions/feats are maybe a little too fantastical at times but generally within the realms of possibility. Would like to start the series from the beginning!

[Kelly Van Damme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Dark Night takes us to Chicago on one hell of a ride. Chicago? Shouldn’t Lori Anderson be in Florida, hunting bounty and/or fighting gators and/or the Miami mob? Well, that’s where she wants to be, that’s for sure. Only problem is Special Agent Monroe. If Lori ever wants to be free of him and the constant threat to her peace of mind he represents, she needs to go to Chicago and take down the head of the local mafia, Cabressa. How hard can it be?! Well pretty darn hard apparently! I didn’t like Monroe in the previous instalments and I don’t like him in this one. Aren’t men of the law supposed to uphold the law, and protect and serve the people? I think Monroe may have missed that part of his FBI training, he just dumps Lori in the worst situations and leaves her to fend for herself. Thank God for JT, Lori’s partner, lover and the father of her daughter.

Lori and JT have been in the Windy City for barely two flipping minutes when it becomes crystal clear that taking down the Cabressa crime family won’t be cut and dried at all. The idea is simple enough: Lori has to entrap Cabressa using a priceless but stolen chess set. However, rumour has it that someone named Herron is trying to take over Chicago, so Cabressa is wary and even more suspicious than he usually is. The scene is set, the actual chess pieces and the figurative ones are in place, Lori is playing poker with Cabressa and a few other mighty men and then there’s a total blackout, the luxurious penthouse where the game is being played becomes a giant panic room, nobody in, nobody out, and we have a locked room trope on our hands, and not only that but a hostage situation too.

The thing with a series is you know the odds are in favour of the main character(s) because the author will probably want to write another instalment. Steph Broadribb, however, has proven more than once that she is more than willing to put her characters through the ringer, so I have given up on any faith that Lori and JT will make it out alright! I was completely gripped and I read most of Deep Dark Night in one sitting, until it became rather late at night and I forced myself to put it aside, for fear I wouldn’t get a wink of sleep with all the adrenaline coursing through my body!

I don’t pick up action thrillers very often. The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that I’ve been put off the genre by male authors, who tend to write the same kind of stories with the same kind of heroes. And I can’t deal with such stories reeking of male sweat, Old Spice and testosterone, featuring a hero who is smarter, cleverer, bigger and better than any other man in the history of mankind. No. Just, no. Enter Lori. She’s a badass too, and she’s smart and clever, but never ever is she larger than life. Never ever does she outsmart all the bad guys in seconds. That’s the kind of action hero I want to invest my time and my dime in! The action is high-octane and heart palpitation inducing but somehow also realistic, plausible, if not very likely to happen to just anyone. Steph Broadribb’s characters are well-rounded and three-dimensional. Lori kicks ass but she is also a caring mother. And JT… Well… I might have a teeny tiny bookish crush on him 😄

Deep Dark Night is an excellent addition to a great series, it has the best main characters you just have to root for and some flawlessly executed action scenes that had my heart beating a million miles an hour. I’m #TeamLori all the way! Recommended!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast pace thriller. I enjoyed the book,and will look for more of the books. A great read

[What Do I Read Now · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always being an Orenda Books publication, I knew this book is going to deliver, I knew that before I even opened it. I knew it was going to wow me and leave me wanting more and of course I was right - as always with any Orenda book, I have been left wanting more.

What a pleasure it is to be back in the world of Lori Anderson, I love this feisty, tenacious character. Deep Dirty Truth (Book 3) left Lori in a blood bath of a shootout. She's back, stronger than before. She's a bounty hunter willing to risk her all to get what she wants and this time, Lori wants out of being under Special Agent Alex Monroe's hold. She owes him one and he wants her to help him bring down the main man of the Chicago Mob - Cabressa, he has run Chicago for twenty years under his rulings and Monroe is calling time on it.

Monroe's got Lori to be part of a high stakes, big money poker game, playing with some high profile people - including sporting legends and Mr Cabressa himself. Monroe has got her FBI dollars to use as entry to the game and a one off chess set, used in a game Cabressa took his son, days before his death in a car accident back in 1986. Cabressa wants that chess set and seems he will do anything to get it.

Now that seems fine, until Lori reveals she can't actually play poker. This is where JT, her partner and father of Dakota their beloved daughter comes in, intensive training begins - now I wouldn't stand a chance with this, as I struggle to get my head around the fact that an ace is higher than a 10. But I do have dyscalculia (dyslexia, but with numbers) but clearly Lori is ok and quickly takes the rules on board, though her tells are harder to hide. JT tells her she needs to work on her 'poker face'.

The evening arrives, Lori and JT head up to the exclusive venue - 63rd floor of the Skyland Tower. JT is acting as Lori's bodyguard. He's unnerved when he gets taken to a different floor and only the players are allowed in the room to play the game. Both him and Lori have to go this alone, but both stay on high alert. It's going well, everyone else drops out the game one by one, until it's just Lori and Cabressa left - he wants more than the cash - what can she offer? The pure gold chess set, worth over a million dollars. Suddenly the whole area goes into total darkness, the powers out and the building goes into lockdown. No one can leave, but a voice starts to take control via loud speakers and that's when the real fun and danger begins.

Lori and JT work so well together, its real nail biting stuff. Steph writes with such passion and leaves Lori in some really nasty situations. But Lori has done her research and isn't afraid to take a risk, she thinks out the scenarios and takes the best route she can. I love these books and see a real bit of Jack Reacher in Lori, and Lee Child would know - he said that this book is 'Fast, Confident and suspenseful' and I totally agree.

Fast paced, powerful and full of threat.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep Dark Night by Steph Broadribb is the fourth in the Lori Anderson series and the first I have read – shame on me. This book was easily read as a standalone with enough information for me to know the characters and what had led to the events in Deep Dark Night.

What a thrilling read it was! Lori (Florida based bounty hunter) is to take part in a high stakes poker game with the head of the Cabressa family (local mob). She is already putting her life at risk by agreeing to wear a wire for the FBI when the game (and Chicago city) are plunged into darkness. Cabressa is like a caged tiger, already his nerves are on edge due to rumours that another gangster (Herron) wants to encroach on his territory so soon turns to violence to flush out the truth.

Deep Dark Night is such a claustrophobic read, I don’t think I’d fare very well in a pitch black locked room or climbing elevator shafts. In fact I’m pretty sure I’d be the first one to die after tripping over and hitting my head on a table.

Lori is a fantastic character and I loved her kick ass and no nonsense attitude. Her relationship with JT is total #goals. The couple who play (and bounty hunt) together obviously stay together! At the heart of Lori’s desire for freedom from her ties to the FBI is her and JT’s daughter. This mother will do anything to protect her child.

I will definitely go back and read this series from the start and suggest you do the same.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

I am finally able to share with you my review for this SUPERB book which I think is the best in the series so far!! 

I had been eagerly awaiting this one and it is even better than I thought it would be!!  The plot is excellent, I was completely addicted and the book left me feeling like I needed to catch my breath and have a proper sit down!  

I loved everything about this book from the amazing front cover through to the author's cracking writing style and ability to write such stunning reads.  I have loved all of the books in this series so far and would definitely recommend them all, but this one for me is currently my favourite, I loved the darker vibes you get from the book being set in Chicago!

It is 5 stars from me for this one, it was fast paced, well written, had a brilliant plot, fun and likable characters and kickass Lori was on top of her game again - I loved it - very highly recommended!!

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 5 out of 5]

'A city in lockdown
A building in lockdown
A score that can only be settled in blood….'

Deep Dark Night is the fourth book in this fantastic award-winning series by Steph Broadribb. Published on March 5th with Orenda Books, it sees the return of the, now infamous, kick-ass, hard-talking bounty hunter, Lori Anderson. Described as ‘a whip-smart, nail-biting action thriller set in Chicago Deep Dark Night takes the reader on another fast-paced, page-turning , heart-pumping read.

Lori and her partner JT are heading to Chicago, leaving their family and life behind them in Florida, to work with their longtime nemesis FBI Special Agent Alex Monroe. Lori and JT have one more job to do for Monroe, with the understanding that this is the final one, allowing all involved to go their separate ways. Monroe has brought much anguish and damage into the lives of Lori and JT and they want him gone for good. One more job is all they have to do to walk away, but it is one that carries huge risks to their lives. Their target is the head of the feared Cabressa crime family, a much reviled man with a litany of crimes behind him. He is an untouchable individual, a man whose power stretches far and wide. Monroe wants to bring Cabressa down and, with the assistance of Lori and JT, he has a plan. A priceless chess set is the bait, one that Cabressa will do anything to get hold of. It’s a very dangerous mission but one Lori and JT see that they have very little choice but to accept.

With the promised protection of Monroe, Lori inveigles herself into a very high-stakes poker game with a secluded gathering at a private location. Lori doesn’t play poker but she is a fast learner and with JT as her teacher she prepares as much as she can before hand. Monroe has spectacularly left them down in the past. Can they trust him again?

With JT by her side as her security, Lori enters the penthouse suite, apprehensive but ready. She wants to go home to Florida as soon as possible, eager to see her young daughter Dakota. This is her chance at freedom. She knows the risks but she was not expecting what happened next……

The game begins with much tension in the air but Lori is holding her own. When the city is suddenly, and unexpectedly, plunged into darkness as a power-cut shuts everything down, the atmosphere at the table changes. Something is very wrong, someone has a very different agenda.

As the first body hits the ground Lori immediately knows that this is a fight for survival. What was a poker game now becomes a hostage situation, but to Lori and JT it makes no sense. Who in this room could organise such a catastrophic event and why? Chicago is in chaos as the city loses it’s grip on it’s citizens. Gangs roam the streets with bad intentions rife. Lori and JT need to get to those streets fast..but where is Munroe, where is the protection he had promised?

As Lori and JT gather their strength personalities emerge in the suite and past histories are exposed. As the truth slowly starts to reveal itself, the body count increases and the stakes rise, but this time they are all playing a very different game, they are playing for their lives. Lori has been hardened by years of fighting for survival and protecting her family. She is tough. She is fearless. She is resolute. In this dark suite with it’s scent of sweat and fear, Lori must use every strength she can find to put a stop to this madness, this terror that has not just filled this room but has also brought Chicago to it’s knees…..

Reading this series always brings about a change in my accent, as in my head I talk like Lori, I visualise Lori, I live and breathe as Lori. For a brief time I am Lori (I did say brief!!) I love a book where I can completely escape reality and become totally absorbed with the plot, the characters, the writing. Steph Broadribb provides all this and more in this exciting addition to the series.

Deep Dark Night is a frantic, heart-pumping, adrenaline rush. It is a completely engrossing page-turner, an invigorating ride, a thrill.

It’s a mighty book with some darn mean folk and a series I heartily recommend to all.

[Julie Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think you know what to expect from a series, an author pulls something totally unexpected out of the bag and really shakes things up. Having binge read the first three books in the Lori Anderson series over the past few weeks, I thought had got into the rhythm of Steph Broadribb’s story-telling and then, boom, she has veered off on a totally unexpected and exciting new course with this latest instalment.

Firstly, we have moved away from the sunny settings of Florida and California for this book and are now visiting the lakeside northern city of Chicago, with its skyscrapers, wide, urban streets and the eerie wave-free lake beaches. It is a place I have visited twice and the writing immediately transplanted me from locked-down rural Yorkshire, back to the Windy City.

And, whilst we are back in the world of ruthless mobsters, shady FBI agents and bounty hunters, the author completely alters the feel and tone of the book from the previous novels where Lori was pursuing her prey across open vistas, by presenting us here with a locked room mystery. This time she finds herself trapped in a sealed penthouse with a group of dangerous men, with both time and air running out and a rush to find out who amongst the group is not what they seem before tensions spiral out of control.

Anyone who enjoyed the film, ‘Molly’s Game’ starring Jessica Chastain will immediately relate to the plot set up here, with a young woman hosting a high roller private poker game, but here the background to the contest is far from simple, and throughout the plot we find out, along with Lori, how all of the players are interconnected and what has lead to the situation they all find themselves in when the penthouse locks down.

Placing everyone into a confined space, with spiralling danger and increasing paranoia and rising stakes works brilliantly to crank up the tension to breaking point, in the characters and, consequently, in the reader. You can feel the temperature rising, muscles flexing, heart rates and stress increasing and anticipate the explosion that is imminent. It compels the reader to keep flying through the pages, to see how long it is going to take someone to break and what will be the outcome when it does.

I love the fact that Steph continues to give JT more of his own plot in this book, rather than just appearing as a sidekick to Lori. He is establishing himself in importance and relevance in the minds of the reader, just as he is in the lives and hearts of Lori and Dakota. Here, as in book two, when he and Lori are separated we get to see the action from their distinct viewpoints and it gives us an interesting dual perspective on the story. Seeing how JT reacts when Lori is in peril, and vice versa, allows the reader an intimate insight in to the dynamics of their relationship, which increases our investment in it and, consequently, the value of what is at stake for us as the risk for them increases. It gives the reader a fantastic pay off by the end of the book.

Every volume of this series has drawn me further in to Lori Anderson’s world and made me care more and more about what happens to her and her little family group. I think this was my favourite book yet, it had echoes of all the great mystery books I love, combined with the excitement of this unique thriller series. I really love these books, and I look forward to what is to come next. These books are so different to a lot of what I usually read, I really can’t get enough of them.

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say Lori Anderson hasn't had the easiest few months would possibly be the understatement of the year and with FBI Special Agent Alex Monroe still exerting a hold over her, things aren't about to get any easier. Although Deep Dark Night can be read as a standalone, I would strongly recommend the previous books in the series because the compelling full story of how it is that a Florida based bounty-hunter has become so enmeshed with the Mob deserves to be enjoyed in its entirety to date.
Lori doesn't appear in the prologue which instead features a group of teenagers who explore an out-of-bounds basement under their apartment building and make a horrific discovery., the truth of which isn't revealed until much later. When Lori and her lover, JT are introduced, it initially seems as if they're on familiar territory - in risky situations with people who would kill them without pausing for breath. However, before long it's clear that Deep Dark Night has a different feel from the first three books which were all fast-paced chase stories taking place over numerous locations. Here, the action occurs in a far more intimate setting but still has all the tension and atmospheric scene-setting I've always loved about this series.
There is one obvious comparison to a well-known book as Lori becomes caught up in a deadly locked room drama which has definite echoes of 'And Then There Were None.' However, throughout the novel, I couldn't help but feel that Steph Broadribb had taken the elements of several other classic plotlines; Deep Dark Night could perhaps be described as a modern day Agatha Christie story crossed with a 'one last job' sting, a violent Mob tale and a 'who will survive?' disaster movie! It never feels derivative or obvious and instead constantly kept me on my toes as I tried to figure out how on earth Lori and JT were going to escape the predicament they find themselves in and what the real truth is behind the burning question they are set.
Much of the narrative is written from Lori's first-person perspective and as always, I love this resolute, tough character. She finds herself in these dangerous situations time and again but her drive to protect Dakota and JT means she never gives up, even when things may seem hopeless. Nevertheless, there is a more vulnerable side to her and I was pleased to see several references to the psychological impact of their recent experiences in both her chapters and those that follow JT . Sometimes the protagonists of action thrillers seem almost unbreakable - inside and out - but Lori and JT bear the physical and emotional scars of their adventures and far from thriving on the excitement, they both long to return to Dakota knowing she and they are safe.
Deep Dark Night might be a different sort of book to the previous Lori Anderson novels but that doesn't mean it is any less exciting or addictive. The plot still feels fast moving with everything liable to change at any moment, the sense of place is just as vividly realised and of course the characterisation is everything I've come to expect from this fabulous series. Highly recommended again!

[Claire Stibbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique premise, fast-paced, and easy-to-read makes this a fabulously memorable book. I finished it in one sitting. Sunday has always been my reading day, but today I was too engrossed to cook lunch! Sorry family.

Bounty-hunter and fierce in her pursuit of justice, Lori Anderson is no quitter. With her ‘use whatever you’ve got to get the job done’ attitude, she’s ready to play the game. With the Mob on one hand and the FBI on the other, it’s a very uncomfortable squeeze for Lori. She must survive, no matter what. But the assignment Munroe wants her to do is nothing short of frightening, and ramped-up by impossible odds. Similar to the other books in the series, wiping the slate clean is all that Lori craves. If she fails, she loses Dakota and JT. I liked Lori instantly. Tough and resilient, she must think quickly on her feet. Improvising seems to be her gift. She’s definitely one to champion.

This time, a priceless chess set and a few tough opponents causes the adrenaline to run high. Lori must learn to play a high stakes game, but does she have enough time to prepare? What if Cabressa doesn’t fall for the plan? These were my questions as I read on. Lori’s best chance to keep Monroe off her back is to give him a watertight case against Cabressa. If she does exactly what he asks, then she’s free to live the life she’s always wanted to live. With her daughter and her man. What lady doesn’t have a few tricks of her own? Lori isn’t about to be cheated, after all, if things go south, she needs a fool-proof plan, even if it means withholding one tiny piece of it. With her type of street smarts, things could still get tricky.

Once past the security check, the penthouse is a quiet, intimate space, perfect for a small group. But as the game progresses, Lori is up against her worst fears. Having only played a few games prior to this, I’m amazed she can take on some experienced and hardened opponents. As the game draws closer to its end, Cabressa decides to up the stakes. A two week-old Rolls Royce worth over eight hundred grand for Lori’s chess pieces. The problem is, Lori has made an incomplete bet, and not only that, the whole of Chicago is suddenly engulfed in darkness. Nothing is going to plan and this is where the story takes a menacing turn. I’m not sure I’ve read a locked-room mystery quite like it. 10 people with loaded secrets and only one of them has a carefully guarded identity. It’s a guessing game that has tempers rising to record heights. But if they are to deactivate the lockdown protocols, someone had better guess right. When they do, there may be a price to pay.

I didn’t expect this author to allow her characters to have a clean run. But what I hadn’t expected was the level of skill she demonstrates with her plots. Taken from Lori’s point of view and written in first person, it’s easy to get into her head and understand what she’s going through. I don’t know how else to describe Lori except to say she’s genuine and extraordinary. I was very impressed at how Broadribb etched this character into my mind, so much so, it was hard to let her go after the last chapter.

[Gordon Mcghie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bounty-Hunter Lori Anderson returns for a fourth outing in Deep Dark Night. She has her partner, JT, alongside her and the kick-ass duo are going to need to be at their very best as they are working off the radar to assist an FBI agent to bring down the head of one of Chicago’s crime families.

If you haven’t had the chance to read any of Broadribb’s previous books in the Lori Anderson series you need not fret as Deep Dark Night works extremely well as both stand alone thriller and a great introduction to the series. I am sure there will be many first time readers who will love Deep Dark Night as much as I did and will take the opportunity to catch up on the first three books. A good decision!

But what to expect from Deep Dark Night? Does Agatha Christie meets Die Hard sound intriguing?

Lori and JT find themselves involved in a high stakes poker game. The game is hosted by Cabressa, gangster and general bad guy, the other players are equally dislikable types who can afford the big purse needed to have a seat at this game. The event is being held in the penthouse suite in a Chicago skyscraper. Lori has a seat at the table so she can stake a valuable set of chess pieces which Cabressa badly wants. The chess pieces and Lori’s buy-in purse is provided by the FBI. They will be watching through high tech surveillance equipment and Lori feels safer knowing they have her back.

Unfortunately things do not go to plan. Citywide blackout sees the penthouse going into lockdown. The Panic Room features in the penthouse are activated. Air conditioning, lighting and temperature controls are impacted. Nobody can get in and, more importantly, nobody can get out. So when a recorded voice addresses all the occupants of the penthouse and accuses each of harbouring a dark secret. Tensions are high. The voice announces one of their number is a police informant, another is a murderer and most alarmingly one is HERRON. A rival gangster who has been undermining many of Cabressa’s business opportunities. The voice commands the poker players work out which of their number is the mysterious Herron. If they fail the room they are locked in will lose light then air and they will all suffocate within 90 minutes.

A whodunnit (whoissit?) In the style of Christie. But the shades of Die Hard creep in too as we have 10 desperate individuals fighting for their lives in a skyscraper. The body count will be high.

At this point I should switch the alliteration button on. Deep Dark Night is a pulsating page turner, a rip roaring race against time, a breathtaking blockbuster of a book. You get the gist?

I am very much a fan of this kind of action adventure tale. The mysterious Herron figure remains undetected for a long time but several likely candidates emerge, not least Lori who is a stranger to all the other players and very much a possible candidate. One thing is certain – Herron isn’t surviving the encounter so nobody can risk being accused of being Herron.

Great fun to read. Brilliantly paced and decidedly nasty in places – Deep Dark Night is another great read from Steph Broadribb. Give it a go and join #TeamLori

[David Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm grateful to the publisher for letting me have an advance copy of Deep Dark Night and for inviting me to take part in its blog tour.

I have to confess, there is a soft spot in my cynical blogger heart for Broadribb's books and especially for her hero Lori Anderson and it was an especial please to meet Broadribb a couple of weeks ago when Orenda brought her - and also Simone Buchholz and Vanda Symon - to a launch at the new Victoria Street Waterstones in London. That already seems another era, and looks like being my last bookish evening for sometime.

But while launches and parties may (temporarily, I hope) be no more the books remain, and in this latest instalment - the fourth featuring Lori - Broadribb has shaken things up to give us quite a different sort of mystery-thriller.

If you haven't met Lori yet, she's just about the toughest bounty hunter that you don't want on your trail, fearless, resourceful and determined. Now she's - finally - managed to get the Miami Mob off her back, brokering a peace of sorts (even if she's got sleepless nights from the slaughter she witnessed in so doing). So its natural that she jumps straight out of the frying pan into another high-stakes, high-octane confrontation, this time with Chicago gang boss Cabressa who has a particularly exclusive poker game to which she's been invited.

This is all at the bidding of shifty FBI agent Alex Monroe, who's got Lori into trouble before and now seems to be doubling down. The result is a sweaty, airless confrontation in a locked down penthouse while the city itself is plunged into darkness. Ten players - each with a secret - go into that penthouse. Somebody wants only one to emerge.

While Lori's previous outings have been road trips - if deadly road trips - as she races across the country, chasing the clock to save somebody or rescue herself from betrayal or double-cross, Deep Dark Night is constructed differently. I see DNA here from crime fiction of the Golden Age, with echoes of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None or of classic locked-room mysteries. A bunch of strangers, all with reasons to distrust each other, forced together and under pressure.

So. Much. Pressure.

Lori's driven to her limits as she must protect herself (and partner JT), deliver the deal with Monroe that'll free her from his control, and work out just what is going on. Early in the book we see her learning to play poker, and while I know nothing about that game it's obvious that her skills in bluff, assessing the odds, and defeating her opponents by sheer will and cheek, will be key.

They'd better be - she's had to hand over her weapons at the door...

This is a claustrophobic, race-against-the-clock thrill ride taking place during the course of one single deep, dark, night when there is no backup, no rules - and no mercy.

It is unlike the previous Lori books - but very like, in that central, dauntless hero who just won't lie down.

As I said, if you haven't met Ms Anderson yet, well here she is. Get to know her through this night, and then find out what she's already done in Deep Down Dead, Deep Blue Trouble and Deep Dirty Truth.

[Louise (Bookmarks and Stages blog) Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that this is a book that is published to co-incide with International Women's Month.

So compelling a suspensful thriller with a fast pace, this is. It is such a page-turner.

Who is Herron, whose identity is hidden.

From the off, I want to know what is lurking in the basement. What secrets can there be. I know, basements and you think of horror. This is however a thriller, so apart from instantly thinking "don't go down there." I am as curious as the kids wanting to go there, despite warnings from their parents in the prologue.

Readers then meet, FBI Special Agent Alex Monroe in Chicago and he has a particular interest in Cabressa and the valuable chess pieces he wants for his collection. When more pages are turned and read, the magnitude of these chess pieces become more apparent. They are far from the standard chess pieces and their value is incredibly huge. It's the start of setting the scene, which is done fast. In comes Lori and JT. Lori needs Alex to be off her back and feels she may be forever in his debt, so she, working off the books, to try and nail Cabressa. Critten is far from pleasant and Lori gives as good as she gets back to him, with his bad remarks. I get the sense that Lori is written to be a strong woman, this much is clear in that she isn't going to put up with any nonsense and can certainly stand up for herself. The sense of character that comes so quickly is testament to the writing.

After a tense game of poker, it seems that it's quite a hot relationship between JT and Lori. It's written well. It's not at all cringeworthy, which is a good thing.

As locations need to be looked at and there are people to be met, there are gadgets to be used, just to add another layer.

High stake poker games are played, but even if you have never played before, you still get the sense of the importance of the games.
The setting, created by Steph with the family mob against the backdrop of the Skyland Tower is highly sophisticated and the tension is high. The tension is higher still when a chess piece is missing and all power at a vital moment fails and sees Lori in some trouble.

It gets even more interesting when over a tannoy system, people are told that in the company is a theif, a bankrupt, a killer, an illigitimate child, Herron so on. The change in atmosphere to one of paranoia, threat and entrapment becomes very apparent. The writing is really great and captures the mind's eye perfectly and also leaves you needing to quickly turn the pages to see what will happen next. The fact that Herron is not known, also keeps the suspense going. There are more games and tales of untruths spun as the story goes on.

There's low oxygen, a gun and no easy way out. All the while, the suspense is mounting.

After all the action, the end is rather satisfying and there is, within that last chapter a little bit of unexpected heartwarmth in how a home is described.

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