Into the Black Nowhere

An UNSUB Novel

By: Meg Gardiner

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

From award-winning author Meg Gardiner, co-author of Michael Mann’s Heat 2--In this exhilarating thriller inspired by real-life serial killer Ted Bundy, FBI profiler Caitlin Hendrix faces off against a charming, merciless serial killer.

In southern Texas, on Saturday nights, women are disappearing. One vanishes from a movie theater. Another, from her car at a stoplight. A mother is ripped from her home while checking on her baby. Rookie FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix, newly assigned to the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit, fears that a serial killer is roaming the dark roads outside Austin.

Caitlin's unit discovers the first victim's body in the woods, laid out in a bloodstained white baby-doll nightgown. A second victim in a white nightie lies deeper in the forest's darkness. Around the bodies, Polaroid photos are stuck in the earth like headstones, picturing other women with their wrists slashed. The women in the woods are not the killer's first victims, nor are they likely to be his last.

To track the UNSUB, Caitlin must get inside his mind; he is a confident, meticulous killer, capable of charming his victims until their guard is down, snatching them in plain sight. He then plays out a twisted fantasy—turning them into dolls for him to possess, control, and ultimately destroy. Caitlin's profile leads the FBI to focus on one man: a charismatic, successful professional who easily gains people's trust. But can they apprehend him before it's too late? As Saturday night approaches, Caitlin and the FBI enter a desperate game of cat and mouse, racing to capture the cunning predator before he claims his next victim.

Critic reviews

Praise for Into the Black Nowhere

“Excellent. You know the drill, bookstore near you. Buy now, thank me later.”—Stephen King

“Chilling new cases to dive into on a long winter’s night.”—Bookpage

“With a plot that moves at a breathless pace and a heroine with a history of her own issues, Gardiner’s gripping nail-biter will please fans of Alex Kava, Tami Hoag and even Thomas Harris’ Hannibal Lechter novels. Be ready for requests.”—Booklist

One of “The Most Anticipated Crime, Mystery, and Thriller Titles of 2018...a fast paced thriller that also functions as a travel guide, with mouth-watering descriptions of taco stands providing relief from stomach-churning crime scenes.”—LitHub

“Gardiner once again does serial killing to a turn.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Excellent...Gardiner expertly integrates the FBI science of profiling with a suspenseful plot and believable characters. It’s no wonder a TV drama based on this series is in the works at CBS.”—Publishers Weekly

“Riveting...[Caitlin Hendrix] is a strong female character who is never the victim, and that is rare in this genre.”—Associated Press

“Gardiner skillfully builds tension as the pace accelerates toward the most dramatic, exhausting, and satisfying ending I’ve read in quite some time. Woman power, y’all.”—Lone Star Literary Life

“Gardiner, who has 13 well-received titles to her name, including Edgar Award winner China Lake, has turned in another winner with Into the Black Nowhere. Crime-thriller fans appreciate her compelling, well-developed characters—both good and bad- her sense of plot, her master of heart-stopping twists, and her pace, which is TV-ready, as her recent accomplishment shows, combine to create a rollercoaster of a reading ride.”—The Florida Times-Union

“Robust character study mixed with an engrossing police procedural...Gardiner knows how to push the terrifying envelope.”—Oline Cogdill, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel

OMG!!!!

Wow! That's all I can say. Meg Gardiner somehow topped UNSUB with Into the Black Nowhere. This story just doesn't stop. The plot continues to plow through. This book is an emotional roller-coaster. It will make you frightened, uncomfortable in your own skin, laugh, cry, and everything in between. This is a cover-to-cover nonstop adrenaline rush. I was so incredibly impressed with this book, that I ordered some of Gardiner's older books last night. I flew through this book in less than 24 hours. The only thing I didn't like was that the book had to end. Don't wait another minute, and order this fantastic thriller by Meg Gardiner.

The narration is ideal for the character as well. Great, great job!

Loving this series!

Tried this author on a road trip and realized I’d started with 3rd book in series. Went back to listen to the others. She’s quickly become a favorite author.

This title was a terrific thriller that kept me interested and guessing. Loved it all.

ANOTHER HIT

I loved this just as much, if not even more, than the first book. I loved how the author didn't drag out who the killer was unnecessarily like a lot of authors in this genre do to create false suspense. This was real , what is going to happen next suspense 😄! We are connecting even more with our main character and I can't wait to see what is next!

Good but sometimes dragged

Good extension of the main character’s new life in FBI. Not predictable. Not always as immersed as I was in previous book. I think the mirroring of the Bundy story was distracting.

Thriller!!

Great story. I was captivated from beginning to end!! A must read! Looking forward to the next book.