Pitch Black [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Crandall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2008

Journalist Madison Wade decides to move to Philadelphia when one of her articles on violence in the city hits too close to home. Madison and her fourteen-year-old adopted son, Ethan, take refuge in Buckeye, a small town in eastern Tennessee where her father had grown up. Despite the tranquility, Madison and Ethan feel like outsiders. But Gabe Wyatt, the local sheriff, is determined to welcome them to the town. He immediately falls for this beautiful journalist from the city. Madison resists Gabe's advances, but he's persistent and unlike anyone she's ever met before. As a romance develops between them, Madison becomes comfortable in the rural setting, and when Ethan becomes friends with Jordan, a fellow outsider at school, Buckeye begins to feel like home. But a tragic death changes everything for them. When Jordan's father is murdered during a weekend camping trip, Ethan becomes the prime suspect. Gabe's investigation of the murder causes a rift in his relationship with Madison. As small town gossip builds a damaging case against Ethan, Madison races to discover the truth. Heartbroken and lost, she struggles to find anyone who will believe in her and Ethan, despite their past.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this taut potboiler from Crandall (Promises to Keep, etc.), Philadelphia reporter Madison Wade moves to a quiet Tennessee town with her adopted son, Ethan, a tough street kid just starting to get his bearings. Madison is beginning a fledgling romance with the local sheriff, Gabe Wyatt when Ethan goes on a camping trip with his new friend, Jordan, and with Jordan's stepfather and a couple of other boys. The trip ends in tragedy: Jordan's stepfather dies; the evidence points to murder; all suspicion turns toward new kid Ethan. That the reader gets to see things from Ethan's viewpoint drains some of the tension from the plot, but the real drama, nicely turned, is among the adults in their attempts to trust one another. (June)
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Review

'Prepare to be thoroughly captivated by Crandall's PITCH BLACK world!' - Karen Rose '...taut potboiler' - Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Forever (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044617856X
• ISBN-13: 978-0446178563
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #838,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Indiana native Susan Crandall's women's fiction and romantic suspense novels have garnered national awards, including the coveted RITA(c). With the exception of seven years in Chicago, she's spent her life in her Indiana hometown. When not reading, writing or watching movies, Susan spends time with her husband, children and plethora of pets.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pitch Black is exceptional, June 24, 2008

By 

Judy "book reader" (Cincinnati, ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pitch Black (Mass Market Paperback)

Susan Crandall's Pitch Black takes a reader on a pulse pounding tale of suspense.

Madison Wade left the big city of Philadelphia to be the editor of The Buckeye Daily Herald. Maddie wanted to give her adopted teenage son a fresh start. Ethan hadn't had the easiest life until she took him into her home. Maddie wants Ethan to fit in and make friends in town so she agrees to let him go camping with a group of friends. When one the boys stepdad is killed on the camping trip, Maddie turns to new friend Sheriff Gabe Wyatt for help.

Gabe Wyatt has been pursuing Maddie for months. Just when he is making some headway with her, her son is the prime suspect in a murder. Gabe doesn't want to believe where the evidence is leading him but with Ethan keeping secrets, Gabe must look into all evidence.

Maddie takes matters into her own hands and hires an investigator. This cause the killer to up the ante and puts her and her son in grave danger

Pitch Black will keep you on the edge and wondering who is behind all the terror. The suspense is fined tuned and chilling. Gabe and Maddie's slow moving romance is funny and sensual. Susan Crandall has another gem on her hands.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pitch Black is Pitch Perfect!, June 22, 2008

By 

Wendy A. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pitch Black (Mass Market Paperback)

I can't think of enough good things to say about Susan Crandall's romantic suspense, Pitch Black. The plotting was tight and the story fast-paced; I could tell I was in good hands from the opening sentences!

But I think Crandall's greatest strength is her ability to create satisfyingly complex characters with deep feelings, realistic relationships, and compelling motivations.

I didn't so much 'read' this book as inhale it! And I think I may already be hungry for more of what Susan Crandall writes so well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Pitch Black", February 6, 2010

By 

Lynx Rufus ("Talk of the Town Trailer Estates Park") - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pitch Black (Mass Market Paperback)

After Madison Wade adopted a teenager, she left
Philadelphia and moved to a quiet town in Tennessee
and became an editor of the Buckeye Daily Herald.
Her son Ethan, had a rough life and their new
surroundings promised to contrast sharply with the
city life he had known. But Madison and Ethan were
not exactly welcomed in the small town since they
were from the north. It was not long before Sheriff
Gabe and Madison developed a mutual attraction, but
any thought of establishing a relationship had to
stay on hold.

Mr. McPhereson took Ethan and three other boys on a
camping trip up the mountain. Madison was concerned
when Ethan hadn't come home. He was overdue, and it
was getting late into the afternoon. She called Gabe
and together they rode to the foothills to see if Mr.
McPherson's truck was parked where he usually left it.
It was, so they waited. Soon, the four boys came down
the hill without Mr. McPherson. It was raining heavily
and the boys looked a mess and cold, and they were
without their jackets. Their lips were darkened by the
cold, and their faces looked pasty. Jordan's arms were
slung around Ethan' neck and his head was slumped
down, and he was dragging his feet. Gabe and Madison
went out to greet the boys and Gabe asked where Mr.
McPherson was. Ethan said: "He's dead."

Gabe was anxious to get a first-hand read of the
situation. He had no reason to believe McPherson's
death was more than a tragic accident. It was his
job to investigate every death. The rain had cleared.
He went up to the mountain with the Search and Rescue
Team and the Medical Examiner, Dr. Zinn.

The next day, Dr Zinn met with Gabe and told him that
she had sent Steven McPherson's body to the Forensic
Pathologist in Knoxville. A few days later, Gabe received
a report of the autopsy. It seems as though McPherson
was murdered. Now, he has to investigate and figure out
which one of the four boys murdered Mr. McPherson.

I really liked the relationship between Ethan and his
adopted Mom. They had so much trust and love between
them. Ethan was very protective of his M. Ethan called
his adopted Mom "M". Pitch Black kept me up all night
until I finished the book. Half-way through the book,
you get a good feel as to whom it is. Susan Crandall
again has written a great suspense thriller.

I highly recommend!