Fighting a global cyber threat will take all their survival skills…

After the accident that killed her best friend and left her an amputee, Kenley Bates has made it her life’s mission to get justice for other victims.

Using her hacking skills to infiltrate the dark web is risky business, especially when Kenley uncovers a global security threat.

Jude Mason is her best hope of saving the world. Ex-military, Jude knows how to protect and defend.

But breaking the code and outwitting an adversary bent on destruction thrusts the cybersecurity experts into a cat and mouse game deadlier than they could have ever imagined…

Titles in the Secure Watch series include:  Dark Web Investigation ~ Tracing Her Stolen Identity ~ Deadly Security Breach ~

This series is a spin-off of the Secure One series.  Expect to see some familiar faces, and although it’s not “necessary” to have read the earlier series to enjoy this one, I’d highly recommend both series as they are simply amazing in story, delivery, and intensity.

This is an adult 18+ story that contains language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  Dark Web Investigation
Series:  Secure Watch #1
Author:  Katie Mettner
Published:  July 1, 2025
Publisher:  Harlequin Intrigue
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Dark Web Investigation begins the Secure Watch series (a spinoff of the Secure One series) with Kenley’s and Jude’s fast-paced romance. You don’t need to have read the Secure One series to enjoy Secure Watch… but it was (is) an amazing series that I would definitely recommend. We’ll run into some familiar faces from that earlier series, but no worries if you haven’t read it yet; the explanations of who is who can be found in either the dialogue or the narrative. I happen to love being able to return to a world I enjoyed through a spinoff series, and Dark Web Investigation did not disappoint one little bit (maybe I loved it even a bit more).

After an accident in a defective ATV where Kenley’s friend lost her life, and Kenley lost a foot to amputation, she’s made it her life’s passion to ensure that the same doesn’t happen to anyone else by holding companies accountable. Her research takes her to the dark web, where this time she’s uncovered something monumental and reached out to a friend/colleague for advice. Only the person who answered her cell was Jude, who’d had her friend’s phone while she was on her honeymoon. He’ll immediately step into action, and thus begins a race against time where the enemy always seems to be one step ahead of them, and more deadly than they suspected.

I loved Dark Web Investigation by Katie Mettner. The intensity of this story takes off from the first page and rarely lets up until the final page. Both Kenley and Jude are people I’d want on my side during any fight, as they are relentless in bringing down this nasty piece of work. I also admired the portrayal of Kenley. As the daughter of a double amputee mother and the mother of a disabled son, it will always capture my attention and admiration when any disability is presented honestly in fiction (that’s not always the case). A disability of any kind does not stop anyone from finding love and a fulfilling life, and Dark Web Investigation shows that quite clearly, which I appreciate.

If you love a well-written, intense romantic suspense, with believable characters, and situations that could easily be ripped from the national headlines, then Dark Web Investigation by Katie Mettner is a perfect fit for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

If you enjoy this author’s work, please visit our Katie Mettner page for other titles you may have missed over time.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)