Night Fall by Nancy Mehl

 Nancy Mehl is back - and with another profiler series! I couldn't be more excited! Her Kaely Quinn Profiler series had me completely hooked, and I was so disappointed when it ended at three books. Clearly, Nancy wasn't finished writing this sort of story either as she is back again with Alex Donovan, yet another brilliant FBI Behavioral Analysist.

I was warned before starting this novel that it could get really dark and downright disturbing. I'm not going to refute that. It DOES get dark and the cult that the killer is born into is downright chilling but sadly, not nearly as bad as some of the real life stories I've heard from people that have escaped some terrifying religious cults. This book is not for young readers. I repeat, NOT for young readers.

That being said, I felt that the way this book was written, the feelings of fear and trepidation it evoked, and the suspense it weaved were very well done. Yes, being in the killer's mind was dark and seriously twisted. HOWEVER, there were also some incredibly beautiful and powerful scenes where we were brought into the minds of some amazing Jesus loving believers. It is true what the Bible says, light does dispel darkness. So, there is some awful dark blackness in this story, but there is also powerful light. I found that it balanced, and I wasn't left with nightmares or trouble sleeping afterwards. The plot was well thought out and story well written. Also, I really liked the character of Alex Donovan and I'm glad to have another profiler series by Nancy Mehl.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of mysteries, crime stories, or thrillers.

Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and Baker Publishing House for a copy of this book. 

Back Cover :

For any little boy or girl who hears the Train Man speak,
Who feels his rancid breath caress their pretty cheek,
Must close their eyes, pretend to sleep, and very softly pray,
Or else the evil Train Man may carry them away.

Finally free of her troubled upbringing, Alex Donovan is able to live out her childhood dream of working for the FBI. But soon after she becomes a member of the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit, authorities in Missouri contact them about bodies found on freight trains--all killed in the same way.

Alex never expected to be forced to confront her past in this new job, but she immediately recognizes the graffiti messages the killer is leaving on the train cars. When the BAU sends her to gather information about the messages from her aunt in Wichita, Kansas, Alex is haunted by the struggles she thought she'd left behind forever.

In a race against time to solve the case and recover a deadly virus sample the killer intends to spread, Alex must face how far she'll go--and what she's willing to risk--to put a stop to the Train Man.