The Novice

Darker #1

by M.S. Parker

I don’t date, ever. Casual sex is all I need.

Relationships? Well, my dark past crushed that fairytale fantasy for me. Instead, I’m all into my PI firm. After a snail’s pace start, I have my first big client. There’s just one snag, I have to do research in my hometown, a place I never wanted to see again in my life.

Tough, sexy, and strong, Nyx Phoenix is always in control, until she must return to Savanna, Georgia to investigate a case. Flashbacks from the darkest moments of her life, terrorizes her. Still, she goes. No point rehashing the past when the future is calling. But a chance meeting at the Savannah airport, challenges the safe-haven life she’s created for herself.

Can Nyx prevent her past from dictating her future? Is there any man who can unlock the secrets of her heart?

Genres: Romance, Dark Romance

374 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2020

About the author

Step into the seductive and suspenseful world of M. S. Parker, a USA Today Bestselling author where dark romance meets thrilling suspense. If you crave stories that are both steamy and intricate, with characters that are as dangerous as they are desirable, you've found your next obsession.

M. S. Parker specializes in crafting addictive series that push boundaries and keep you guessing until the very last page. Expect to find dangerous mafia bosses and intense, grumpy billionaires clashing with smart, witty young women who, though perhaps out of their element, are quick to adapt and hold their own. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, where passion is a weapon and love is the ultimate prize. Dive into the darkness. You might just find your new favorite escape.

Connect with M. S. Parker on Facebook at http://facebook.com/msparkerauthor

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Novice is the first book in the Darker series. Nyx started her own company Phoenix Investigations after working at Club Prive. No matter where she goes her past will always find her as she heads to her hometown for her next investigation where some of her most painful memories reside.

We get to catch up with some fav's from the Club Prive series.

A great dark read.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nyx is working as a Private Investigator and her next case send her to her hometown and the last place she never wanted to see again. While there she meets Bradyn, a sexy stranger who is there for her when the painful memories that she has tried so hard to keep at bay start resurfacing. The only question that remains is if he is friend or foe.

This is an intriguing storyline filled with steam and surprises as the puzzle of Nyx’s past is revealed one piece at a time and leaves us needing more of her story.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. It pulls you in right from the start. Nyx is a woman who doesn't believe in love and she has never had a reason to do so. She's also a Dominant zmistress who works at Club Privé for reasons all her control control is something she must have that is until she meets Brayden who slowly starts breaking through her walls and tough exterior. The ending though a cliffhanger will crush you. At this moment I am not sure if I'm rooting for Nyx and Brayden anymore. Off to read book 2 I go.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline and character development made this book a hot and enjoyable read! I could not put it down it was that good!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new series (there is a prequel if you would like to read that as well) Nye has started her PI firm and her first big case is going to take her to a place she doesn’t want to go, home. Her past is haunting her but can Brayden help her survive? This is a fast-paced read that ends in a cliffhanger with loads of drama, steam and emotion. I was hooked from beginning to end. I loved it.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5☆

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The weird thing about this was, I enjoyed the Prequel and couldn’t wait to get started on this one, but I found I actually struggled to get into this for at least the first quarter, even thought about putting it aside and coming back to it (which I NEVER do!) but decided to keep going and then all of a sudden I became totally involved in the story, won’t spoil it for anyone, but will say whoa! Didn’t expect the ending! 😳 Now just NEED the next book!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

⎯» Series Rating: 3.75 Stars

Darker: Prequel (Darker #0.5): 3.5
The Novice (Darker #1): 3 Stars
The Inquirer (Darker #2): 3.5 Stars
The Fugitive (Darker #3): 4 Stars
The Holidays (Darker #3.5) Novella: 3.75 Stars

⎯» Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance

⎯» POV:

#0.5–1: Single—First Person
#2–3.5: Dual—First Person

❥

“Maybe, just maybe, I’d finally found all the pieces I needed to make a real life for myself.”

❥

Synopsis

Being abandoned by her family and failed by the legal system at the age of thirteen, Nyx just wants to build a new life for herself away from her past. The only people she’s let past her defenses and into her heart are her best friend Kaimi and her daughter Rose.

After losing her job as a bouncer at a strip club, Nyx takes a job from a former colleague who needs her to determine if his boyfriend is cheating on him. This leads her to Club Privé, where she is introduced to the world of BDSM.

Carrie and Gavin Manning, the owners of the club, not only help Nyx get the evidence she needs for her client, but offer her a job working security for them once her investigation’s finished. The job gives Nyx a safe place to explore desires that she’d long thought stolen from her, through her role as a female dominant.

Over the three years that Nyx worked at Club Privé, she was able to reclaim her sexual desires. On top of that, she managed to gain the experience and money necessary to open her very own private investigation business, Phoenix Investigations.

Her first official client is Min, a lawyer who is representing her clients, Carmine and Kathie Douglass.

“Kathie – maiden name Mae – had always heard rumors that one of her mother’s ancestors had actually come to America before the Revolutionary War. There had been other rumors too. Rumors that said this same ancestor had been freed before that war, then re-enslaved by a white family who’d also stolen their land. A family who could possibly have descendants still benefitting from what had been stolen.”

This is where Nyx comes in:

“Min had hired me to find out that truth. As much as people could find online, some things needed to be done in person. People’s memories weren’t on the internet. There were old documents that hadn’t been scanned, that could even have been lost.”

Unfortunately, these answers are found in Savannah, Georgia—a place connected to the nightmares from her past. Refusing the case could mean the death of her business that she only just opened. Accepting it would force her to face the demons she was running from.

❥

Thoughts/Opinions

Book One
I’m really picky when it comes to my heroines, so it was shocking to grow so fond of Nyx while reading the trilogy’s short prequel. I started the first full length book with high hopes, which became a bit dimmed when I found myself growing bored before 20%. This stayed true until the very end of the book. However, book two was immensely better.

Book Two
Nyx’s romantic relationship felt more substantial than if did in the previous book. More of her past is revealed, and not only that, but it’s becoming more clear that it’s somehow connected to her case. And her investigation for the truth is growing more dangerous as she uncovers dark and twisted secrets. All of which makes for a compelling story.

Book Three
This was my favorite book out of all of them. Parker did a brilliant job at writing scenes that tugged on your heart strings. The range of emotions that Nyx went through—confusion, acceptance, betrayal, despair, hopelessness, humiliation, guilt, determination, vulnerability—I could feel all of them, they were that substantial. And the character development was vast and shocking. This was a great end to the story.

❥

⎯» Labels:
(To avoid spoilers, I haven’t included any tropes, archetypes, etc that are introduced after the end of book one.)

•Cliffhanger
•Contemporary
•M-F Romance
•BDSM—Dominant Heroine
•Heroine Sleuth
•Tortured Heroine
•Badass Heroine
•Running from Past
•Familial Abandonment
•Ongoing Coverup
•Corrupt Prominent Families/Leaders
•Coverup of Ancestor’s Crimes
•Exposing the Truth
•Family Secrets
•Unknown Past

⎯» Triggers:
(Please Note: the following list covers the series as a whole, meaning some triggers are only alluded to until later in the trilogy.)

•Abuse—emotional, verbal, physical, child abuse
•Death
•Hate Crimes
•Incest
•Racism
•Rape—sexual abuse, sexual violence, pedophilia
•Slavery
•Trauma—PTSD, victim blaming
•Violence—physical assault

[Gemma Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start… but the end just killed my heart

I’ve put off reading this for a while now. I don’t know why, but I did. Now, after reading almost all of M.S Parker’s work, I’m of the opinion that she writes great stories that pull you in, no matter how hard you try not to be dragged in.

I have to admit something here though… Nyx Phoenix drives me insane. I get it… I really do. Her past is so dark and shaded that she has to be guarded to keep from tipping over the edge, but there’s dark and then there’s almost black. Nyx is hovering nearer to black, apart from when she’s in Aunty mode with Rose or talking to the Huxley’s.

Then there’s Bradyn Traylor. He’s sweet, supportive and incredibly understanding. The way he deals with Nyx’s standoffish nature and gives her every opportunity to trust him and see him for what is, well it’s nothing short of chivalrous and gallant. But so many times, Nyx throws his genuine and kind nature back in his face.

I think what really annoys me the most though is the way Nyx uses sex as a means of pushing people away. It’s like she thinks that any man she is having sex gives her the right to lower her expectation of them. If they want to have sex with her, then it puts them immediately in the ‘we can’t have anything more than a physical relationship’ category. She’s so detached from the emotional side of being attracted to someone, that when she does find it with Bradyn… she finds every excuse to believe that he’s not the man he portrays himself to be. Utterly infuriating. I mean come in ladies… who wouldn’t want someone like Bradyn Traylor literally falling at your feet?

The last part though… I had very mixed feelings. I still do. Part of me thinks that after he way she treated Bradyn that I’m not surprised and that she kind of deserved it. Another part of me is devastated for her. If only she’d called instead of hiding away her true feelings for him and being honest about what she had found out about his family.

I’m now intrigued to find out what happens in book two. I’m hoping it’s all a big misunderstanding, but who knows? Maybe Bradyn Traylor isn’t the man we all thought he was?

[Mrs D · Rating 5 out of 5]

So following on from prequel, it has been 3 years since the end of that book. Nyx has been both working as security and as a Domma at the BDMS club. She now decides it’s time to leave and follow her dreams of being a PI. Her first major job involves finding the truth in a family tree, who were slaves? Who were Freemen? Was there theft and cover ups in days gone by. She is working through a third party, and not much is disclosed to the reader. She has to go back to Georgia where we know something from the past has had a huge influence on Nyx’s life. Time spent in juvie, her one and only friend Kaimi, and her PTSD. Hints show there is a huge back story but we only have small flash backs and thoughts. During her time in Savannah, Georgia, Nyx meets another Dom Bradyn and they start something that isn’t quite a relationship but Nyx is starting to let her walls down and shares small bits of her past. The book finished on a cliff hanger, and for that l am not a fan. I loved where the story was going and l am really desperate to read on. Myself, l will choose only to read series when all books are ready to read, that’s the type of reader l am. I am completely besotted with M S Parker’s writing and am a complete fan. So, 25/09/20 can’t come quick enough for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traveling to a place she never wanted to see again, her hometown

Darker: The Novice is the first book, there is a Prequel, in this trilogy about Nyx Phoenix. This book finds Nyx three years on from the prequel. Nyx has become a private investigator, as she has a talent for it, and is now working a case. She has also claimed her other talent, being a Domme. She has a sub and let's just say enjoys the BDSM world and the release it gives her. This latest case is taking her to a place that she never wanted to return to, her hometown of Savannah, Georgia. As with so much in the south there are complicated families, stories and people. Along the travel there she meets Bradyn and they start seeing each other while in Savannah. He ends up being a big help to her but he may also be mixed up in her case as his family crosses her investigation.
Be warned that this book does end with a cliffhanger that will continue in the next book, Darker: The Inquirer.

This is nicely written with a story-line that is multi layered, just as Nyx is. Things are starting to be revealed about Nyx, like little breadcrumbs, but the big thing is not yet known. This book also gives an little update on Kamini which was really nice.

I read an advanced copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary and honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Ingrid Vermeulen-Quakernaat · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting story in which Nyx tries to establish her name as PI. She has to go to Savannah for work, but knows that this is a trigger for her because of the accent. Her past is partly revealed in this story and that gives insight into her interests in the world of BDSM.
In Savannah, she meets Bradyn with whom she begins a relationship and with whom she feels safe enough to unravel her past. But the more her research develops, the more Bradyn appears to be part of it. Did he accidentally cross her path or did he do so on purpose?
The story ends with a cliffhanger ... a very naked one.

If you have read the prequel to this series you will see the change that Nyx is going through. She warms up a bit as a woman. She gently admits another. But whether that benefits?
You can feel the sexual attraction between Nyx and Bradyn seeping through the sentences. Very intensely like 2 Doms love each other and both try to stay in control.

The story changes in tempo, so I had the feeling that not much was happening and then I was dragged back into everything that happens. I am curious about the sequel

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terri Zumbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I had trouble starting this book because I read the prequel and for some reason found it off - putting, not in the sense that it wasn’t a good story or well written but in the sense that I didn’t connect with it at all.

However, having read several of M.S. Parker’s books, I read this one and was glad I did. It starts a few years after the prequel and for some reason that changed the tone of the story for me and I really got into the story.

Aside from the continuation of the BDSM Dom theme from the prequel, Nyx moves on career wise from doing security at Club Prive to becoming a PI. In the course of her investigation, we get snapshots that there is something of consequence in her past and of course as a reader I am trying to anticipate what that is before it is revealed. The layers of the past are peeled away at just the right time.

I really don’t like cliffhangers, so I wait as long as possible before reading the books to time things for when the next one comes out. This one does have me anticipating the next book and I encourage you to read DARKER I: THE NOVICE.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
After whetting my appetite reading the prequel, I could not wait to sink my teeth into where Nyx would go and it seems as if she is coming full circle when a new case involves her returning to Savannah, Georgia where she grew up. Nyx had a tumultuous childhood as she was subjected to various forms of abuse and did a stint in juvenile detention so returning to Georgia was not going to sit well and it would also bring back her PTSD. However, trying to buffer things is Brayden, the stranger Nyx meets on the flight from NY, who becomes somewhat of a life line until he is not. Brayden and Nyx are opposites but somehow, they work well together. There is so much going on in this well written storyline that readers will be hooked on the drama, twists and turns and the steamy action throughout. As it ends in a cliffhanger, fortunately there is not too long of a wait until the next installment which is set to release September 25th. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Virginia VanSaders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 1 of The Darker Trilogy

This is the story of Braden & Nix. Braden works in Georgia giving riding lessons to girls, although who he truly is, he doesn't want Nyx to know. Nyx has some very deep rooted problems from childhood. She has hardened herself and has PTSD. They are both dominants. She has become a PI and is working a case that her to Georgia. It's a very complicated case, with family trees and different families. It also includes slavery. She bumps into Bradyn at the airport after she lands. This is a very dark story with misunderstandings. This book sucks you in from the first page. There is a cliffhanger, also. M.S. Parker, you have done it again. A very well written book. I'm writing this review, and I still feel emotions after reading it, wanting to read the second book immediately.

[Magali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely darker than the prequel but excellent
4.5
Very good first part of this trilogy, in which we discover a little more the dark and traumatic past of the heroine, the private detective Nyx, but also her present as a dominatrix in New York. She has to face her past for the sake of an investigation, but she's also going to have to face a different side of herself that she doesn't suspect when she meets Bradyn.
The story is very well written with very good characters and the investigation mixes Georgia's southern past with the present. We feel that the rest will be more and more tense, beyond Nyx's personality and her lack of confidence in everyone.
I really like the character of Bradyn which remains quite mysterious for the moment.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nyx has a dark past, that she would rather forget, and luckily she has a great friend (Kaimi) and her daughter (Rose) to help her get past it, and move on. Nyx use to work security at Club Privé, but now she is moving on with her own private investigation firm. Her first case, might draw he back into her past, and a place she didn't ever want to return to. She runs into Bradyn, and he just keeps popping up and saving her. Is he really the nice guy he seems to be? What turns will her investigation lead her in? I love Nyx she is tough, determine, and the darkness around her is intriguing. Bradyn is a great guy, he has some secrets, but he was easy to love. I look forward to the next book, and what happens between them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nyx has left her job at Club Prive, where she worked security, to start her own PI business. She gets her first case and has to go to Savannah, Georgia. Going back to Savannah is something she thought she'd never do. She hopes she can make it through her research there, without anything triggering her about her past.

She meets and begins seeing Bradyn. However, it's looking like his family is part of the case she's working. She can't help but think her meeting/collision with him at the airport was a set up.

I love Nyx and Bradyn together! They have that special chemistry going on that makes me love a story. However, I really wish Nyx had stayed at Club Prive. Her being security would have been a lot more interesting than the PI case she took. I'm not a fan of her first case at all, and just skipped those parts all together.

[Kathy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nyx is a very independent, dominant woman, who has a horrible past, that affects her relationship with people. Being into the bdsm lifestyle gives her the control she needs. Starting her own private investigator firm is something she's worked very hard to achieve. Her first official job takes her into the South, which is a huge trigger for her. The author is so descriptive about Nyx's struggles with panic attacks and ptsd that it makes you truly understand the horrors she must have suffered. Bradyn just happens to be in the right place at the right time. Since running into each other the two seem to be drawn together, and the explosive chemistry between these two is smoking hot! My only complaint is that the case that Nyx is investigating is a little hard to keep track of. Interesting plot twist with a cliffhanger ending. Definitely will be reading the next book.

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Darker Stars 🌟

Wow, this story certainly pulled me in and held on right up until that ending😱 Nyx as we know from the prequel has started her own Private Investigation company - Phoenix Investigations after working at Club Prive and saving for a few years😁 Her investigation leads her to Savannah, which brings on some emotional trauma for Nyx due to her past but while there she meets a man who somehow makes her feel safe. This brings her out of her comfort zone slightly but her investigation leads her to a place she never could’ve predicted and now she’s making her way back to Savannah to find out more❣️

I can’t wait to read more as I really want to know what happens next. I received an advanced copy via Booksprout and I voluntarily leave my honest review❤️

[me1966 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three years after the previous book left off, Nyx is making a career change & opening her own one-woman PI company. Her first case requires her to return to a place she had no desire to go back to, Savanna, Georgia, where she grew up.

Literally, as she arrived, she bumps into Bradyn. This story is about them. Is he the man who will help her overcome her past?

I am enjoying the storyline so much that I was disappointed when this book ended and the next one is not available yet. There is mystery as well as emotional rollercoasters in this book that are so well described that I feel like I am there witnessing in person.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg what a book. This author is defo one I will be reading other books from in future. Nyxs has had a very tough upbringing wich has affected her whole outlook in life and she obviously has big trust issues especially with men, until she meets Braden. And that's where it all gets very interesting and complicated. This book kicks off quick right from start and gets you hooked from the start and I will say this continues right through all 3 books. Nyxs goes on a job with her new PI business that plunges her back In to her past and brings it all crashing down around her. Secrets twists and turns all along the way. Brayden is a good guy but the same cant be said for the family he comes from and both there pasts all are connected in ways you dont see coming. You have to read these books

[Trina Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

The investigation continues

Nyx has opened her PI business and has her first big job. While she’s going over all the information she was given by her client she realizes that she will need to do research in a different town. Not just a new town but a different state! And it’s not a place she has ever wanted to go. Even the thought of going there makes her stomach knot up.

Bradyn is a hard working man and a gentleman. He’s not looking to settle down with anyone. He gets a call from a policeman friend about a young woman who’s in trouble and goes to see what he can do to help. To his surprise it turns out to be the young woman who ran into him at the airport

This is how it all begins

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This story is magnificent. It is full of drama with twists and turns throughout it. It has so much going on with this bit of mystery thrown into it. I loved Nyx and her feisty attitude. Even though she has tough times she still knows how to bounce back. Bradyn is a fantastic male lead. I loved the support characters and the elements they add to the story. The story does touch on a few subjects that may be triggers for them but the way they were written were beautifully developed with taste and class. The story does end in a cliffhanger but goodness it is so worth getting to that end. I am super excited for the next book in the series. This is an absolute must read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first installment of the series after the prequel. We get snipets into what had happened to Nyx. This story takes place three years after the prequel. Nyx became a PI and is working a case. Nyx is also a domme at Club Prive and has a sub that she can take out some of her emotions, being the domme gives her some control, which I think she needs to have that control. Nyx gets a PI job and has to return to her home town of SavanahGeorgia. She meet Bradyn while on her PI job. This is a fabulous story well written and compelling. MS Parker is rocking this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracie Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am adictted to reading the story of Nyx and Bradyn. This book is so good if you like a woman in control and a guy falling hard for her you will love this book. Nyx is in Savannah following a case she is working for. She has a few rough mins when she gets there including bumping into the very ALPHA Bradyn at the airport. Who will end up helping her when she gets arrested. This book is funny at times and yet so heart felt at other times. Can not wait to read the next part to see if they end up together. Boy I hope so

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is is the first part of the series which comes with a prequel. I highly recommend you start with it and then move into this fantastic, twisted story. I absolutely love Nyx, this girl is so damned complicated she will pleasantly make your head spin.. NYC is just starting out as a PI and catches her first case, its turning into a doozey. This part ends on a ' Oh H*LL No'. If you like a darker story and are not a sensitive reader, pick these series up! You will find me pacing until the next part is released. :) Enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Adalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars of Strength and Sassiness

Wow...
I almost chunked my reader. Because, Darker: Novice is truly an emotional and adventurous read. If you haven’t read the prequel, this is the time to do it. Get the back story.
That is why I loved the prequel. Nyx is definitely a woman of Strength and Sassiness. I’m so looking forward to seeing more of how Nyx’s past and her future will come to fruition.

Matter of fact, I think I missed something, and I’m going to read it again. KU here I come.

Any opinions expressed within this review are solely and uniquely made by me and I am happily leaving this review. I voluntarily received an advanced copy of this book via bsprout.

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nyx's story continues from the Darker: Prequel. This was a bit tough for me to get into after the prequel, but once the story got going. Nyx is a complex character and that's hat keeps my interest. Although terribly scarred from childhood, she hides it well, most of the time. She is on a case that takes her back to her hometown Savannah, Georgia. She meets Brayden, is also a dominant and she is a domme. Hum, we'll see how that goes. There is chemistry, some twists, perceived betrayal and this is only book 1. What will book 2 hold. I can't wait to find out

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tend to love M.s. Parker books but I’m on chapter 11 of this one and she was arrested. The hotel, which she is a guest at did not allow her to defend herself, did not believe her and insisted she be arrested. Then the officer also did not hear anything, just arrested her. In the real world, this never ever ever happens. Hotels just do not want to be involved. Police officers do not want to fill out the paperwork let alone be accused of discrimination. When the bartender questioned what was going on. Everyone would have been questioned. Even the guest.
So.. 2 stars. I’ll keep reading but...seriously. Have real world settings not the world is awful to me settings. Please