Thanks to Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ever wondered what it would be like if a person who has sworn to uphold the law becomes a serial killer?

Meet Beth Katz, FBI agent by day and the Tarot Killer by night, who stars in “Dark Angel” — the first book of the of the aptly-named “Detective Beth Katz” series by D. K. Hood. Beth was a young girl when she had witnessed her father murder her mother, which awakened a monster inside herself. Despite her best efforts, she is unable to overcome the darkness within and hopes to find an outlet for it by hunting criminals through legal channels, similar to the TV show “Dexter.”

Beth usually works within the boundaries and helps capture the hidden monsters of society, but she also kills some of them, particularly those who are clever enough to escape the law. However, her hunt is brought to a halt when she is transferred to a very small town named Rattlesnake Creek in the middle of treacherous mountains, after a particularly brutal case. At her new unit, Beth is teamed up with Dax Styles, who is also a maverick and someone who doesn’t believe in always operating within the lines of the law.

Soon after Beth’s arrival, her team is called to investigate the disappearance of a pair of young girls and the team discovers that this case is the work of a serial killer who has active across a couple of states for many months. The relentless hunter that she is, Beth does everything in her power to flush out the killer, putting herself in danger.

Will the team succeed in capturing the killer? If they do, will Beth give him her brand of justice or will he be handed over to the courts? How will this small community change her?

Hood has succeeded in creating a wonderfully complex character whose moral boundaries are neither solid nor completely steady or right. In fact, there is a possibility that many readers won’t agree with her actions nor will they be able to relate to her. But I absolutely loved this fresh take on a protagonist, who is very much a criminal herself. It will definitely speak to the hearts of readers who might have always wanted a protagonist who sometimes twists the boundaries of law.

Hood possesses a gripping narrative style that is sharp and crisp but also flows without a hitch, carrying the narrative forward seamlessly. The book is almost entirely from Beth’s perspective with a few insights into Styles’ mind. The investigation is portrayed realistically with the reader being shown the lengthy and monotonous process it usually can be. With this book, the author has set a solid base which can be transformed into a compelling series going forward. This is a wonderful start to an interesting premise which I am looking forward to reading more of.

This book gets 5 out of 5 stars.