Into the Shadows

Wow! I loved this book, 4.5 stars! This is the third book in the Associates series by Carolyn Crane. For background, The Associates are a privately funded group of under cover agents looking to take down international crime syndicates with a smarts over brawn. In this installment, Thorn is moving up the ranks of Hangman, one portion of the deadly Quartet crime syndicate with the goal of taking over and bringing the gangs and the government officials that cover for them down. But his former girlfriend, Nadia is causing trouble by stealing from the gangs. He's fighting to protect her while keeping his mission on track.

Thorn is the most complicated and damaged (my favorite) hero yet. He doesn't think he's good enough to be a real Associate, doesn't think he's good enough for the woman he loves and is so broken he doesn't care if he lives or dies so long as he completes his mission first. My heart was breaking for Thorn pretty much from the start. He is so morally sound and yet thinks of himself only as a thug and a loser. Nadia loves him but is afraid of the life he leads and the danger it would bring her and her family. These two made quite great pair and I was pulling for them all the way!

This series keeps surprising me. The characters are so well drawn that I'm hooked on them from page one. I can't wait to see who is next!