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In the Dark
A secluded mountain lodge. The perfect getaway. So remote no one will ever find you.
The promise of a luxury vacation at a secluded wilderness spa has brought together eight lucky guests. But nothing is what they were led to believe. As a fierce storm barrels down and all contact with the outside is cut off, the guests fear that it’s not a getaway. It’s a trap.
Each one has a secret. Each one has something to hide. And now, as darkness closes in, they all have something to fear—including one another.
Alerted to the vanished party of strangers, homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton must brave the brutal elements of the mountains to find them. But even Mason and Callie have no idea how precious time is. Because the clock is ticking, and one by one, the guests of Forest Shadow Lodge are being hunted. For them, surviving becomes part of a diabolical game.
The promise of a luxury vacation at a secluded wilderness spa has brought together eight lucky guests. But nothing is what they were led to believe. As a fierce storm barrels down and all contact with the outside is cut off, the guests fear that it’s not a getaway. It’s a trap.
Each one has a secret. Each one has something to hide. And now, as darkness closes in, they all have something to fear—including one another.
Alerted to the vanished party of strangers, homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton must brave the brutal elements of the mountains to find them. But even Mason and Callie have no idea how precious time is. Because the clock is ticking, and one by one, the guests of Forest Shadow Lodge are being hunted. For them, surviving becomes part of a diabolical game.
413 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2019
About the author
Loreth Anne White
92 books3,102 followersLoreth Anne White is an Amazon Charts, Washington Post, and Bild bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense. With over 3 million books sold around the world, she is a three-time RITA finalist, an overall Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Arthur Ellis finalist, and winner of multiple industry awards.
A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now calls Canada home. She resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Victoria on Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails with her dog where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears. For more information on her books please visit her website at lorethannewhite.com
Connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loreth.Anne....
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loreth
Or via Instagram: lorethannewhite
Visit her at www.lorethannewhite.com
A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now calls Canada home. She resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Victoria on Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails with her dog where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears. For more information on her books please visit her website at lorethannewhite.com
Connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loreth.Anne....
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loreth
Or via Instagram: lorethannewhite
Visit her at www.lorethannewhite.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,500 reviews
March 9, 2022
You say locked-room mystery, I say sold.
In the Dark starts off with eight lucky strangers being flown out to a secluded wilderness spa for a luxurious vacation. But when they arrive, they realize nothing is as promised. Each guest is hiding a secret that could ruin them if discovered. And as an approaching storm cuts off all access to the outside world, they start to understand there is no escape.
This book is so fun! It's exactly the kind of immersive and entertaining thriller that I enjoy. It hits all the right notes when it comes to suspense and tension and mystery. Once I got into the story, I was turning the pages as fast as I could. When I wasn't reading it, I was mulling it over in my head, trying to puzzle it out.
The way this book is written is really interesting. We follow what is going on at the secluded lodge, while it's simultaneously interlaced with the investigation up to that point. I think the author did a masterful job with this, and it made the investigation as fascinating as the main story.
I was a little worried going in that this would be too similar to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, which this story mimics and heavily references. But I'm happy to report that this isn't a remake and is actually a unique story in its own right. If you haven't read And Then There Were None (one of the best books EVER, in my opinion), you should definitely read that first since this book spoils it thoroughly.
I really enjoy a locked-room mystery when done right, and this one sure does. The writing and the plot are both so compelling, and for such a grim idea, it was loads of fun. This is my first time reading Loreth Anne White, and I must check out more of her books.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The Patient's Secret
~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the Dark starts off with eight lucky strangers being flown out to a secluded wilderness spa for a luxurious vacation. But when they arrive, they realize nothing is as promised. Each guest is hiding a secret that could ruin them if discovered. And as an approaching storm cuts off all access to the outside world, they start to understand there is no escape.
This book is so fun! It's exactly the kind of immersive and entertaining thriller that I enjoy. It hits all the right notes when it comes to suspense and tension and mystery. Once I got into the story, I was turning the pages as fast as I could. When I wasn't reading it, I was mulling it over in my head, trying to puzzle it out.
The way this book is written is really interesting. We follow what is going on at the secluded lodge, while it's simultaneously interlaced with the investigation up to that point. I think the author did a masterful job with this, and it made the investigation as fascinating as the main story.
I was a little worried going in that this would be too similar to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, which this story mimics and heavily references. But I'm happy to report that this isn't a remake and is actually a unique story in its own right. If you haven't read And Then There Were None (one of the best books EVER, in my opinion), you should definitely read that first since this book spoils it thoroughly.
I really enjoy a locked-room mystery when done right, and this one sure does. The writing and the plot are both so compelling, and for such a grim idea, it was loads of fun. This is my first time reading Loreth Anne White, and I must check out more of her books.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The Patient's Secret
~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 13, 2021
To the fans of “And Then There Were None” a.k.a. “Ten Little Indians”: I have to warn you this is not remake, retelling and brand new version of story! It’s about nine people. One missed the plane and there were eight. They start to die one by one. The one left behind stuffing her pockets with cream and sugar. Why the hell she’s doing that. We’re introduced that person who shall not be named in the beginning and might be third degree cousin of Lord Voldemort. The story begins at the diner and the cream and sugar hoarder weird person enters to the interrogation room, summoned by Mason Deniaud, a new transferred officer of Kluhane Bay.
The things I liked about book:
-The mystery behind the killings, eight people’s getting trapped at the cabin in the woods. ( Nope, they don’t have Liam Hemsworth on their team which made me scream aloud and pushed me to throw away the book but I kept reading because of Christie references.) This is also not a Tarantino movie. Those guys are also hateful eight but unfortunately there is no Channing Tatum hid in the basement. (Another reason I screamed again and my husband duck taped my mouth because I’m louder than Narcos’ violent shootout and gun fight scenes. (That’s what he’s told but I think that’s his way of revenge for recording his snoring and sharing at my whatsapp group)
So poor eight people caring too much secrets misdirected and their plan to spend their time at the luxury spa resort turned into being prisoners at the cabin in the middle of wilderness. So their situation captivated my interest and I wonder what’s gonna happen, what these people’s connection with each other? Who is planning to punish them? And again who is the sugar and cream hoarder God dammit!
What I didn’t like about the story:
My head is still spinning because we’re going back in forth between cabin in the woods and the present time: search team and SAR conduct the investigation. There are toooooo many, lots of, tons of characters and two timelines. Damn it, it turned into watching Netflix’s German series “Dark” which is the one of the most amazing things I watched by the way but making characters’ old selves, present and future selves burn your brain selves. I wish Mason and Callie’s story and eight angry mysterious strangers’ story could be divided into two different books because I really felt like I read two books right now!
Other thing I didn’t like is the connections between the eight characters and the revelations about their back stories are a little weak and haphazard for me. I didn’t find them satisfying enough. So I concentrated on whodunit and whydunit part of the story.
Another thing I have to mention: It was great to be introduced with Mason and Callie. I loved them. When we move to the present time: We learn more about Mason Deniaud and his personal past drama, his fear about heights. We also meet with Callie Sutton , SAR expert, bringing her little child to the search area because the sitter bailed out at the last minute. We witness as they continue to search, they start to form a friendship and get to know each other more. But I have to say: this is not a romantic suspense or anything romantic about this book. Maybe at the upcoming books, we may see more romance around those two characters. But this one is all about the investigation and introduction to these characters to the readers.
Overall: I loved main two characters and I loved the mysterious cabin in the woods, there is psycho killer touring around them and references about Christie books. But I wish two parts of the story could be separated. Reading two timelines and too many POVS are confusing, slowing the pace of the story.
So I gave 3.5 stars but I rounded them down for those reasons. I know too many of my reader friends enjoy this book too much and I agree, I loved most parts, too. But it created a whirlwind in my brain.
I wish I could only read mysterious cabin story and see Mason and Callie teaming up for another investigation without too many character POVs. But I’m sure, I’d love to read another sequel of the series.
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The things I liked about book:
-The mystery behind the killings, eight people’s getting trapped at the cabin in the woods. ( Nope, they don’t have Liam Hemsworth on their team which made me scream aloud and pushed me to throw away the book but I kept reading because of Christie references.) This is also not a Tarantino movie. Those guys are also hateful eight but unfortunately there is no Channing Tatum hid in the basement. (Another reason I screamed again and my husband duck taped my mouth because I’m louder than Narcos’ violent shootout and gun fight scenes. (That’s what he’s told but I think that’s his way of revenge for recording his snoring and sharing at my whatsapp group)
So poor eight people caring too much secrets misdirected and their plan to spend their time at the luxury spa resort turned into being prisoners at the cabin in the middle of wilderness. So their situation captivated my interest and I wonder what’s gonna happen, what these people’s connection with each other? Who is planning to punish them? And again who is the sugar and cream hoarder God dammit!
What I didn’t like about the story:
My head is still spinning because we’re going back in forth between cabin in the woods and the present time: search team and SAR conduct the investigation. There are toooooo many, lots of, tons of characters and two timelines. Damn it, it turned into watching Netflix’s German series “Dark” which is the one of the most amazing things I watched by the way but making characters’ old selves, present and future selves burn your brain selves. I wish Mason and Callie’s story and eight angry mysterious strangers’ story could be divided into two different books because I really felt like I read two books right now!
Other thing I didn’t like is the connections between the eight characters and the revelations about their back stories are a little weak and haphazard for me. I didn’t find them satisfying enough. So I concentrated on whodunit and whydunit part of the story.
Another thing I have to mention: It was great to be introduced with Mason and Callie. I loved them. When we move to the present time: We learn more about Mason Deniaud and his personal past drama, his fear about heights. We also meet with Callie Sutton , SAR expert, bringing her little child to the search area because the sitter bailed out at the last minute. We witness as they continue to search, they start to form a friendship and get to know each other more. But I have to say: this is not a romantic suspense or anything romantic about this book. Maybe at the upcoming books, we may see more romance around those two characters. But this one is all about the investigation and introduction to these characters to the readers.
Overall: I loved main two characters and I loved the mysterious cabin in the woods, there is psycho killer touring around them and references about Christie books. But I wish two parts of the story could be separated. Reading two timelines and too many POVS are confusing, slowing the pace of the story.
So I gave 3.5 stars but I rounded them down for those reasons. I know too many of my reader friends enjoy this book too much and I agree, I loved most parts, too. But it created a whirlwind in my brain.
I wish I could only read mysterious cabin story and see Mason and Callie teaming up for another investigation without too many character POVs. But I’m sure, I’d love to read another sequel of the series.
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March 26, 2020
In her latest standalone, Loreth Anne White delivers a potent dose of dark deeds and suspense, set against a stunning backdrop. A one-way ticket to the remote wilderness of Northern Canada, In the Dark is a cunning exploration of redemption and self-preservation.
For readers that have yet to indulge in White’s work, this is a great opportunity to jump in and experience the power of her storytelling without the commitment of a series. Well, for now at least. A girl can always hope there’s more to come. For those seasoned White readers, this standalone is a bit of a pivot from her typically unparalleled romantic suspense, but still compulsively readable. I’ll touch on that more in a bit.
There are quite a few characters to contend with on this daring traipse through the wilderness. Surprisingly enough, the numerous perspectives in no way hinder enjoyment or the ability to connect. Almost immediately, each character, despite their disposition, makes an impression. None more so than Callie and Mason though I’d say.
Eight strangers are transported via private plane to a high-end resort in Northern Canada under the guise of obtaining a contract to provide future services. The remote lodge, marketed as the lap of luxury, proves to be a nightmare. A homage to Agatha Christie’s work—of which I have not personally indulged—the eight strangers find themselves caught up in a deadly game. Sinister rhymes, questionable characters, and mayhem galore lead the strangers to start doubting each other’s motives. Depending on your level of fiction-honed detective skills, White might keep you *in the dark*, flipping the switch at just the right moment.
A somewhat fluid timeline allows readers to keep tabs on the strangers and watch as the search efforts unfold days later. Mason, a newly appointed Sergeant of the RCMP, and Callie, the lead of the SAR team, are thrust into the thick of the rescue operations. From very first glance, there’s a palpable tension clouding the space around these two. An innate connection of sorts, strengthened by the pain they recognize in one another. Yet, given the circumstances, I’m relieved White didn’t take things further with Callie and Mason. While there is no overt romance to be found within these pages, there is a forged friendship and the budding possibility for more. Here’s to hoping Callie and Mason nag White until she too realizes there’s much more story to tell. *wink*
*A fantastic Kindle Unlimited pick and my first completed read of 2020 (gasp!).
For readers that have yet to indulge in White’s work, this is a great opportunity to jump in and experience the power of her storytelling without the commitment of a series. Well, for now at least. A girl can always hope there’s more to come. For those seasoned White readers, this standalone is a bit of a pivot from her typically unparalleled romantic suspense, but still compulsively readable. I’ll touch on that more in a bit.
There are quite a few characters to contend with on this daring traipse through the wilderness. Surprisingly enough, the numerous perspectives in no way hinder enjoyment or the ability to connect. Almost immediately, each character, despite their disposition, makes an impression. None more so than Callie and Mason though I’d say.
Eight strangers are transported via private plane to a high-end resort in Northern Canada under the guise of obtaining a contract to provide future services. The remote lodge, marketed as the lap of luxury, proves to be a nightmare. A homage to Agatha Christie’s work—of which I have not personally indulged—the eight strangers find themselves caught up in a deadly game. Sinister rhymes, questionable characters, and mayhem galore lead the strangers to start doubting each other’s motives. Depending on your level of fiction-honed detective skills, White might keep you *in the dark*, flipping the switch at just the right moment.
A somewhat fluid timeline allows readers to keep tabs on the strangers and watch as the search efforts unfold days later. Mason, a newly appointed Sergeant of the RCMP, and Callie, the lead of the SAR team, are thrust into the thick of the rescue operations. From very first glance, there’s a palpable tension clouding the space around these two. An innate connection of sorts, strengthened by the pain they recognize in one another. Yet, given the circumstances, I’m relieved White didn’t take things further with Callie and Mason. While there is no overt romance to be found within these pages, there is a forged friendship and the budding possibility for more. Here’s to hoping Callie and Mason nag White until she too realizes there’s much more story to tell. *wink*
*A fantastic Kindle Unlimited pick and my first completed read of 2020 (gasp!).
December 20, 2019
FUN!
“Cursed are those who Sin
And Lie to cover their deeds
For a Monster will rise within
And they must Repent.”
In the Dark is an entertaining psychological thriller about a group of people lured under false pretenses to a remote cabin as part of one sick individual’s plot for revenge.
There are many elements that I loved about this book, including the ominous atmosphere and some of the characters (the normal ones and the crazies!).
Told through the eyes of multiple narrators, Loreth Anne White smartly crafts a modern retelling of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Combined with a reality TV Survivor-like premise, what’s not to love?! Although there are many characters and points of view, all of them were developed and easy to keep track of. I recently complained in one of my reviews about too many narrators detracting from the plot and character development, but White balances both with ease.
This book spoke to my inner armchair detective. Many of the characters are twisted and their devious nature kept me guessing! I did guess the murderer early on, but many red herrings, along with some twists had me constantly second-guessing myself. I also loved the chemistry between Callie and Mason, and hope to see them in a future book.
FYI, this includes major spoilers for And Then There Were None, so don’t read In the Dark if you plan on or want to read Christie’s book.
I highly recommend this twisty and atmospheric thriller.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“Cursed are those who Sin
And Lie to cover their deeds
For a Monster will rise within
And they must Repent.”
In the Dark is an entertaining psychological thriller about a group of people lured under false pretenses to a remote cabin as part of one sick individual’s plot for revenge.
There are many elements that I loved about this book, including the ominous atmosphere and some of the characters (the normal ones and the crazies!).
Told through the eyes of multiple narrators, Loreth Anne White smartly crafts a modern retelling of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Combined with a reality TV Survivor-like premise, what’s not to love?! Although there are many characters and points of view, all of them were developed and easy to keep track of. I recently complained in one of my reviews about too many narrators detracting from the plot and character development, but White balances both with ease.
This book spoke to my inner armchair detective. Many of the characters are twisted and their devious nature kept me guessing! I did guess the murderer early on, but many red herrings, along with some twists had me constantly second-guessing myself. I also loved the chemistry between Callie and Mason, and hope to see them in a future book.
FYI, this includes major spoilers for And Then There Were None, so don’t read In the Dark if you plan on or want to read Christie’s book.
I highly recommend this twisty and atmospheric thriller.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2020
Eight (originally nine) guests are lured into going to a remote luxury wilderness spa for ten days. When they arrive it isn't what they expected. The lodge is old, abandoned, and they have no contact with the outside world. They are totally isolated and they begin to realize that they have been tricked into coming. Now they are trapped, and someone out there wants revenge.
I thoroughly enjoyed this riveting suspense book. I really like storylines in which many people are trapped in one place with a killer on the loose. (There were many references in the story to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None".) I loved the eerie setting with the secluded, creepy old lodge and the woods. I was curious to see who the culprit was. I was more and more interested as the pieces of the story began to unfold and the secrets began to be revealed about the characters in the book. The story was tense and exciting. A real page-turner.
A very captivating, suspense-filled read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this riveting suspense book. I really like storylines in which many people are trapped in one place with a killer on the loose. (There were many references in the story to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None".) I loved the eerie setting with the secluded, creepy old lodge and the woods. I was curious to see who the culprit was. I was more and more interested as the pieces of the story began to unfold and the secrets began to be revealed about the characters in the book. The story was tense and exciting. A real page-turner.
A very captivating, suspense-filled read.
February 2, 2020
CURSED ARE THOSE WHO SIN
& LIE TO COVER THEIR DEEDS
FOR A MONSTER LIES WITHIN
& THEY MUST REPENT
Loreth Anne White has geniously come up with a Psychological thriller that is taken by Agatha Christies & Then There were none, she has topped her stance in this genre, I loved every cotton picking minute trying to work out who was going to survive ? & no my detective skills were again wrong.
I was invested in the characters all had something to hide & didn't want anyone to know their reveals which made this an entertaining read, the setting a luxurious holiday in the wilderness with 10 days of no cell communication the wilderness can be a dangerous place BUT WHO CAN YOU TRUST!!
It was a creepy read right from the start to the finish, the pacing was perfect the characters were well written all had flaws & cared only about themselves, Miss White has hit the ball right out of the park with this deliciously psychological thriller that will keep you guessing right to the end.
& LIE TO COVER THEIR DEEDS
FOR A MONSTER LIES WITHIN
& THEY MUST REPENT
Loreth Anne White has geniously come up with a Psychological thriller that is taken by Agatha Christies & Then There were none, she has topped her stance in this genre, I loved every cotton picking minute trying to work out who was going to survive ? & no my detective skills were again wrong.
I was invested in the characters all had something to hide & didn't want anyone to know their reveals which made this an entertaining read, the setting a luxurious holiday in the wilderness with 10 days of no cell communication the wilderness can be a dangerous place BUT WHO CAN YOU TRUST!!
It was a creepy read right from the start to the finish, the pacing was perfect the characters were well written all had flaws & cared only about themselves, Miss White has hit the ball right out of the park with this deliciously psychological thriller that will keep you guessing right to the end.
April 27, 2020
Eight strangers lured to a remote lodge in the wilderness....
One of my favorite Agatha Christie mysteries And Then There Were None, is used as a sort of copycat premise to make these characters question everything and everyone. Apparently they all have read it and seem to know how the mystery plays out. Many of the same devices are used to "get to them". Loved all the references to the classic, though some may be spoilers.
I was completely absorbed in the whole mystery and kept changing my mind on who the killer really was. There is also a bit of a "survival" game going on that had all the characters watching their backs and locking their rooms up at night.
The secluded lodge and eerie woods create a suspenseful atmosphere. I was turning pages quickly. If you enjoy locked room mysteries, this one is super entertaining.
There are quite a few characters that took a minute to sort out, but once I was into the story they became clear. The two investigators, Mason and Callie had such great chemistry that I didn't want their story to end.
Feel like a page-turner mystery? Check this one out.
One of my favorite Agatha Christie mysteries And Then There Were None, is used as a sort of copycat premise to make these characters question everything and everyone. Apparently they all have read it and seem to know how the mystery plays out. Many of the same devices are used to "get to them". Loved all the references to the classic, though some may be spoilers.
I was completely absorbed in the whole mystery and kept changing my mind on who the killer really was. There is also a bit of a "survival" game going on that had all the characters watching their backs and locking their rooms up at night.
The secluded lodge and eerie woods create a suspenseful atmosphere. I was turning pages quickly. If you enjoy locked room mysteries, this one is super entertaining.
There are quite a few characters that took a minute to sort out, but once I was into the story they became clear. The two investigators, Mason and Callie had such great chemistry that I didn't want their story to end.
Feel like a page-turner mystery? Check this one out.
October 12, 2019
I love knowing when I open a Loreth Anne White book, I'm in for an intense, highly atmospheric experience as her uncanny ability to totally engage readers in a story is nothing short of brilliant. Appreciating this, I settled in to read In The Dark and quickly became enthralled by this extraordinarily addictive, richly detailed suspense thriller. Unraveling the mystery that is presented in this book became an obsession that had me eyeing each character with suspicion as I continuously changed my mind about who was trustworthy and who was not. I urge readers to avoid spoilers like the plague and allow yourself a chance to experience this heart racing thriller first-hand. I promise you'll become totally immersed in the dark, twisted plot of vengeance as you search for a common thread uniting this group of misfits - the one that landed everyone on a depraved killer's radar.
In The Dark is a compelling, beautifully crafted, fast-paced mystery suspense thriller. After abandoning a diverse group of characters in a beautiful but remote wilderness with a cunning, vindictive killer, White masterfully manipulates one against the other while meticulously stripping their masks of humanity off to expose the dark, ugly secrets hidden beneath. Take note of chapter headings as the story unfolds through different points of view - a great opportunity to peer through the hazy window into each character's mind as layers are peeled away, exposing identities and revealing the hand each plays in this deadly game of retribution. White flawlessly shifts time periods between events that occurred at the lodge over a ten day period and the present day search and rescue effort led by RCMP Sgt. Mason Deniauld and SAR leader Callie Sutton, granting readers the ability to sense both groups increasing trepidation as time runs out. This author's expertise at creating a dark mood and urgent tone of malice early on is evident, only growing stronger and louder as the story progresses. Until finally, the monster lurking in the darkness within each individual surfaces to stalk the dark of night . . . and the others. They can't outrun the truth as the day of reckoning has arrived. Will anyone survive?
As always, I immensely enjoyed White's potent, visual, trademark writing style in this book. I consider it a bonus that I finished reading In The Dark feeling this one is extra special - methodical even among the panic and chaos that ensues as the plot thickens, lives unravel, and bodies & minds reach their breaking point. I couldn't turn pages fast enough even though I was almost fearful of what the next page would bring in this heart-pounding suspense story. I challenge fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers to grab In The Dark as soon as it becomes available, and carve out time to read it (with the lights on!) because interruptions will NOT be welcome until you finish this thriller. And by the way Loreth - this book left me wanting more of Mason & Callie and the possibilities surrounding them. Great potential for a series! Just sayin'!
*A special thank you to the author for a personalized arc of this book.
**Reviewed at: Cross My Heart Reviews
In The Dark is a compelling, beautifully crafted, fast-paced mystery suspense thriller. After abandoning a diverse group of characters in a beautiful but remote wilderness with a cunning, vindictive killer, White masterfully manipulates one against the other while meticulously stripping their masks of humanity off to expose the dark, ugly secrets hidden beneath. Take note of chapter headings as the story unfolds through different points of view - a great opportunity to peer through the hazy window into each character's mind as layers are peeled away, exposing identities and revealing the hand each plays in this deadly game of retribution. White flawlessly shifts time periods between events that occurred at the lodge over a ten day period and the present day search and rescue effort led by RCMP Sgt. Mason Deniauld and SAR leader Callie Sutton, granting readers the ability to sense both groups increasing trepidation as time runs out. This author's expertise at creating a dark mood and urgent tone of malice early on is evident, only growing stronger and louder as the story progresses. Until finally, the monster lurking in the darkness within each individual surfaces to stalk the dark of night . . . and the others. They can't outrun the truth as the day of reckoning has arrived. Will anyone survive?
As always, I immensely enjoyed White's potent, visual, trademark writing style in this book. I consider it a bonus that I finished reading In The Dark feeling this one is extra special - methodical even among the panic and chaos that ensues as the plot thickens, lives unravel, and bodies & minds reach their breaking point. I couldn't turn pages fast enough even though I was almost fearful of what the next page would bring in this heart-pounding suspense story. I challenge fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers to grab In The Dark as soon as it becomes available, and carve out time to read it (with the lights on!) because interruptions will NOT be welcome until you finish this thriller. And by the way Loreth - this book left me wanting more of Mason & Callie and the possibilities surrounding them. Great potential for a series! Just sayin'!
*A special thank you to the author for a personalized arc of this book.
**Reviewed at: Cross My Heart Reviews
December 22, 2019
Loreth Anne White pens this chilling standalone novel with a mystery that gets better the more layers are revealed. In the rural British Columbia community of Kluhane Bay, hunters find the remains of a prop plane, though no one has reported any missing aircraft. Local RCMP investigate, only to find the pilot murdered within, identity unknown. As the investigation progresses, Search and Rescue are called in to help, though progress is slow going and the story behind the plane is bafflingly vague. Meanwhile, in a parallel narrative set a week before, a collection of eight individuals are mysteriously invited to a not-yet-opened luxury spa and resort, asked to come and place tenders on various services that will be needed. The RAKAM Group is paying for everything and the group must travel by prop plane to this highly secretive location. With the group gathered, things begin to happen that leave those present wondering if they are part of some larger scheme. Additionally, various members of the group are sure they know one another, but no one is saying much of anything. Arriving at an abandoned lodge, a typed poem explains how the group will be whittled down in various fatal events leaves everyone on edge. When the bodies begin piling up, this CLUE-esque story begins to gain momentum. Split between the events with the core group and the aforementioned investigation a week later, the reader is pulled into the middle of this mystery, which has so many twists and slow reveals that there will be few who opt for sleep before finishing this piece. White has laid the groundwork for a stunning read and needs only for readers to commit themselves to go into the dark, unsure if they will ever emerge. Highly recommended to those who love a mystery that requires complete concentration to crack, as well as the reader who enjoys a whodunit where the target continues to shift.
I have read a few White novels before and found myself spellbound, but nothing like I was here. With a brilliant double narrative, the reader learns things on both ends—the event and the investigation— seeking to find the truth somewhere in the middle. With a strong plot and a sub-plot involving all the characters on the trip, the story allows the reader to juggle numerous motives and ideas as they seek to get to the bottom of what is going on in this bucolic BC community. With each character possessing their own intense backstory, it is impossible to choose a single protagonist, though the reader is free to latch onto someone and follow their progress throughout. Blatantly inspired by an Agatha Christie novel—White makes mention of it throughout the narrative—the reader is able to follow the story but can never be entirely sure of what awaits them. With clues embedded within the story and a killer lurking in the shadows (or maybe plain sight), it will take simple time and determination to push through this novel to see how it all plays out. With a mix of short and longer chapters, White taunts the reader and forced them to decide if they can handle ‘just a little more’ before putting it down for the night. Told of the variety of perspectives, the reader gets first-hand information that will help meld the pieces of the story into a cohesive whole. I’d venture to say this is one of those books where a single sitting or late night reading is sure to be common. I cannot say enough about this book, which came out of nowhere and left me seeking more, like a true mystery addict.
Kudos, Madam White, for a stunning piece. This is what real mysteries are all about, where the reader cannot catch their breath at the end of the experience.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I have read a few White novels before and found myself spellbound, but nothing like I was here. With a brilliant double narrative, the reader learns things on both ends—the event and the investigation— seeking to find the truth somewhere in the middle. With a strong plot and a sub-plot involving all the characters on the trip, the story allows the reader to juggle numerous motives and ideas as they seek to get to the bottom of what is going on in this bucolic BC community. With each character possessing their own intense backstory, it is impossible to choose a single protagonist, though the reader is free to latch onto someone and follow their progress throughout. Blatantly inspired by an Agatha Christie novel—White makes mention of it throughout the narrative—the reader is able to follow the story but can never be entirely sure of what awaits them. With clues embedded within the story and a killer lurking in the shadows (or maybe plain sight), it will take simple time and determination to push through this novel to see how it all plays out. With a mix of short and longer chapters, White taunts the reader and forced them to decide if they can handle ‘just a little more’ before putting it down for the night. Told of the variety of perspectives, the reader gets first-hand information that will help meld the pieces of the story into a cohesive whole. I’d venture to say this is one of those books where a single sitting or late night reading is sure to be common. I cannot say enough about this book, which came out of nowhere and left me seeking more, like a true mystery addict.
Kudos, Madam White, for a stunning piece. This is what real mysteries are all about, where the reader cannot catch their breath at the end of the experience.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
November 1, 2019
4.5 stars
This was my first time reading anything by the author, and I enjoyed this one so much I'm gonna have to check out her other novels. This book is kinda like a modern day retelling of the Agatha Christie mystery, And Then There Were None. In fact that book is actually a part of the storyline in this one. Speaking of that, there are quite a few spoilers about And Then There Were None in this book so if you haven't read that one and would like to, make sure you pass on this one until doing so.
Eight lucky guests have been promised a vacation at a fabulous spa located in the wilderness. After they arrive it soon becomes obvious they were lured there under false pretenses. And now they must worry about their lives because it looks like somebody wants to pick them off, one by one. They each have a secret. Is that why somebody wants them dead?
The story alternates between the past in which the murders are taking place as well as the present when we find out someone is alive and homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton are trying to figure out what the heck happened. The author gave interesting backstories to both Mason and Callie and in my opinion they were the most fully developed characters in the book. It is a bit tricky at first to keep track of all the guests as the story bounces around from each of the characters. It does become easier after awhile though, no doubt helped by the fact the character list keeps getting shorter and shorter as people wind up dead.
I read mysteries and thrillers often and I was pretty impressed with this one. It might not be as good as the classic And Then There Were None, but it does stand on its own two feet. The mystery is complex enough I doubt most people would be able to figure out all of the pieces of the puzzle ahead of time. Everyone had something to hide and given you don't know what lengths a person is willing to go to in order to keep their secret, everyone is a suspect.
This is the type of story that I thought was very entertaining. What was interesting to me was even though I knew this was a story in which people were going to die, I still was caught off guard a few times. I found myself surprised more than once at how a person died, as well as the timing of the death. And that's why this was a page turner for me because it felt like the author kept my on my toes for so much of the story.
Definitely recommend this one for mystery fans. It's not perfect but it's a fun read if you like the genre.
This was my first time reading anything by the author, and I enjoyed this one so much I'm gonna have to check out her other novels. This book is kinda like a modern day retelling of the Agatha Christie mystery, And Then There Were None. In fact that book is actually a part of the storyline in this one. Speaking of that, there are quite a few spoilers about And Then There Were None in this book so if you haven't read that one and would like to, make sure you pass on this one until doing so.
Eight lucky guests have been promised a vacation at a fabulous spa located in the wilderness. After they arrive it soon becomes obvious they were lured there under false pretenses. And now they must worry about their lives because it looks like somebody wants to pick them off, one by one. They each have a secret. Is that why somebody wants them dead?
The story alternates between the past in which the murders are taking place as well as the present when we find out someone is alive and homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton are trying to figure out what the heck happened. The author gave interesting backstories to both Mason and Callie and in my opinion they were the most fully developed characters in the book. It is a bit tricky at first to keep track of all the guests as the story bounces around from each of the characters. It does become easier after awhile though, no doubt helped by the fact the character list keeps getting shorter and shorter as people wind up dead.
I read mysteries and thrillers often and I was pretty impressed with this one. It might not be as good as the classic And Then There Were None, but it does stand on its own two feet. The mystery is complex enough I doubt most people would be able to figure out all of the pieces of the puzzle ahead of time. Everyone had something to hide and given you don't know what lengths a person is willing to go to in order to keep their secret, everyone is a suspect.
This is the type of story that I thought was very entertaining. What was interesting to me was even though I knew this was a story in which people were going to die, I still was caught off guard a few times. I found myself surprised more than once at how a person died, as well as the timing of the death. And that's why this was a page turner for me because it felt like the author kept my on my toes for so much of the story.
Definitely recommend this one for mystery fans. It's not perfect but it's a fun read if you like the genre.
November 29, 2019
In the Dark is partially homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and possibly TV shows such as Survivor and The Bachelor (come on, isn’t The Bachelor a fight to the death?) But the story is a so much more, a darker, twisted and terrifying riff on which is better, forgiveness or revenge.
Maybe In the Dark is also a backward rewrite of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s most famous sonnet, Sonnet 43. “How many ways can I kill you? Let me count the ways?
I hate thee to the depth and breadth and height.
My soul can reach when feeling out of sight.”
Oh, In the Dark does not lack in dark inventiveness. Nor does it lack in enthralling details of Search and Rescue operations (SAR). So much so that I absolutely knew author Loreth Anne White must have training in the field.
A group of people are delivered to a luxury wilderness lodge. But wait, this must be the wrong place! Although the location, deep in the woods, far from civilization is as advertised, nothing else is right. No problem, they will just fly out tomorrow, back to their starting point. Oops, a missing plane and a dead pilot make that impossible.
The plane and the dead pilot turn out to be their only chance for rescue. The local SAR team is called out after a group of hunters discover the plane and pilot and the point of departure is determined.
On the team is RCMP homicide cop Mason Deniaud who has just transferred to the little isolated Canadian town of Kluhane Bay trying to escape his own demons and SAR expert Callie Sutton. Callie and her young son are in Kluhane Bay for the opposite reason; their dark tragedy doesn’t allow escape from the area.
Deadly circumstance make the “guests” at the lodge attempt their own rescuing, heading through the unforgiving woods back to their starting point, hoping that someone has reason to be already searching for them. Each person has an ugly past and someone has a bitter idea of vengeance as reason for having gathered the group together.
The story begins almost at the end, and is then unwrapped for us in various time lines; a clever way to enthrall the reader from the beginning. Who is this person stuffing their pockets with cream and sugar and why is she doing this?
The differing POVs slowly peel away the characters’ sins and defenses; but White never makes it too complicated to follow what seems to be an intricate story of retribution, but at heart is a simple story of grief. White keeps the reader guessing and at times shaking their head at being wrong again.
I followed the two journeys, one of escape and one of rescue with total fascination. I have already learned from another Canadian author that the wilderness isn’t actively trying to kill you, (at least I don’t think so) but does it make it very easy to die. Watching what the SARs and the survivors go through held me spellbound for hours and just reinforced my fear of trees.
This is not a romance/suspense thriller. This is thriller all the way. There are hints that a friendship formed may later develop into a romance.
White never falters in her sharp skills of drawing us in, fascinating us, teaching us, and scaring us with the depths to which a person can fail and fall.
I thank Loreth Anne White for sending me an ARC for review in exchange for a fair and honest review. I know I sound like a gushing fan girl, but trust me, she deserves every accolade.
One last comment on In the Dark, from a rework of Sonnet 43 “I shall but hate thee better after death.”
Maybe In the Dark is also a backward rewrite of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s most famous sonnet, Sonnet 43. “How many ways can I kill you? Let me count the ways?
I hate thee to the depth and breadth and height.
My soul can reach when feeling out of sight.”
Oh, In the Dark does not lack in dark inventiveness. Nor does it lack in enthralling details of Search and Rescue operations (SAR). So much so that I absolutely knew author Loreth Anne White must have training in the field.
A group of people are delivered to a luxury wilderness lodge. But wait, this must be the wrong place! Although the location, deep in the woods, far from civilization is as advertised, nothing else is right. No problem, they will just fly out tomorrow, back to their starting point. Oops, a missing plane and a dead pilot make that impossible.
The plane and the dead pilot turn out to be their only chance for rescue. The local SAR team is called out after a group of hunters discover the plane and pilot and the point of departure is determined.
On the team is RCMP homicide cop Mason Deniaud who has just transferred to the little isolated Canadian town of Kluhane Bay trying to escape his own demons and SAR expert Callie Sutton. Callie and her young son are in Kluhane Bay for the opposite reason; their dark tragedy doesn’t allow escape from the area.
Deadly circumstance make the “guests” at the lodge attempt their own rescuing, heading through the unforgiving woods back to their starting point, hoping that someone has reason to be already searching for them. Each person has an ugly past and someone has a bitter idea of vengeance as reason for having gathered the group together.
The story begins almost at the end, and is then unwrapped for us in various time lines; a clever way to enthrall the reader from the beginning. Who is this person stuffing their pockets with cream and sugar and why is she doing this?
The differing POVs slowly peel away the characters’ sins and defenses; but White never makes it too complicated to follow what seems to be an intricate story of retribution, but at heart is a simple story of grief. White keeps the reader guessing and at times shaking their head at being wrong again.
I followed the two journeys, one of escape and one of rescue with total fascination. I have already learned from another Canadian author that the wilderness isn’t actively trying to kill you, (at least I don’t think so) but does it make it very easy to die. Watching what the SARs and the survivors go through held me spellbound for hours and just reinforced my fear of trees.
This is not a romance/suspense thriller. This is thriller all the way. There are hints that a friendship formed may later develop into a romance.
White never falters in her sharp skills of drawing us in, fascinating us, teaching us, and scaring us with the depths to which a person can fail and fall.
I thank Loreth Anne White for sending me an ARC for review in exchange for a fair and honest review. I know I sound like a gushing fan girl, but trust me, she deserves every accolade.
One last comment on In the Dark, from a rework of Sonnet 43 “I shall but hate thee better after death.”
December 6, 2019
Loreth Anne White is a one-click author for me. I love all of her books and to be honest I didn't even read the blurb before requesting this book. Her name alone is a guarantee that I will enjoy the story.
In the Dark is an enigmatic, fast-paced, suspense thriller that left me with a satisfied smile.
The story is told from different POV's. It's a story of revenge and death. One, I couldn't stop reading. I was interested in learning about SAR (search and rescue) operations and I was hooked on the mystery, trying to figure out who the killer was.
In the Dark starts with eight individuals granted an invitation of a lifetime. They have been selected to spend a week of vacation at a remote spa location. But for them, the problems begin when they arrived by plane to the location. Nothing looks like the internet pictures. There's nothing glamorous about the lodge. It's an eerie setting. Then the questions begin, do they know each other? Have they kept a secret? Are they being punished for it? Are they going to survive? Is there only going to be one left alive?
These are all fair questions. Questions that a week later, RCMP Sgt. Mason Deniaud and SAR leader Callie Sutton want the answers to when they find the plane stranded with a dead pilot in it.
I love how Loreth Anne White pays homage to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. I read it a long time ago and I remember its premise. I enjoyed figuring out who was the one trying to off the others. I also love Mason and Callie. Their situations are strange. Both have family issues and I'm not sure if they can become more. For now, a friendship is all they can afford. I do hope this is not the end for them.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Montlake Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
December 31, 2019
Awesome.
“...trap a bunch of people together, throw in some challenges, and see how they turn on each other. And there can only be one winner, one who outwits, outlasts, and outplays the others.”
December 4, 2019
Check out all of my reviews at: http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
IN THE DARK by Loreth Anne White is her new book which is a mystery with a romantic suspense subplot that is now one of my favorite mystery books of 2019. You should set aside time to read this one because you will not want to put it down.
The promise of a luxury spa vacation and the chance to secure a lucrative contract for their companies has eight lucky guests coming together for two weeks in a remote location in British Columbia.
What they don’t realize is each is tied together by one tragic incident. They all have secrets to hide.
As they fly into the remote location, it is not what they were expecting. A storm keeps them trapped at the old hunting lodge and as they inspect the inside, they realize it is not a vacation, but a trap. Suddenly, everyone is suspect and no one can be trusted. They are all pawns in a game that must be played out until there is “one”.
When a seaplane is discovered by hunters, RCMP officer Mason Deniaud and SAR expert Callie Sutton come together to retrieve it and discover a dead body strapped inside. They learn of the other missing people and set out to find them.
The clock is ticking. Will Mason and Callie be able to find the missing people before there are none?
This is a GREAT read! It is a fast-paced page turner that grabs you by the throat, pulls you into the perfectly paced plot and surprises you at the end. The mystery is a cross between Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” and the game show “Survivor”. The malicious and deadly wilderness is a whole other dark and gritty character in this story which adds to the atmosphere of dread. While this is a standalone, I am hoping Ms. White will continue writing more stories featuring Mason and Callie. They are wonderfully flawed characters that fit together well.
I highly recommend this book! I have loved all of Ms. White’s books to date, but this one is very special.
IN THE DARK by Loreth Anne White is her new book which is a mystery with a romantic suspense subplot that is now one of my favorite mystery books of 2019. You should set aside time to read this one because you will not want to put it down.
The promise of a luxury spa vacation and the chance to secure a lucrative contract for their companies has eight lucky guests coming together for two weeks in a remote location in British Columbia.
What they don’t realize is each is tied together by one tragic incident. They all have secrets to hide.
As they fly into the remote location, it is not what they were expecting. A storm keeps them trapped at the old hunting lodge and as they inspect the inside, they realize it is not a vacation, but a trap. Suddenly, everyone is suspect and no one can be trusted. They are all pawns in a game that must be played out until there is “one”.
When a seaplane is discovered by hunters, RCMP officer Mason Deniaud and SAR expert Callie Sutton come together to retrieve it and discover a dead body strapped inside. They learn of the other missing people and set out to find them.
The clock is ticking. Will Mason and Callie be able to find the missing people before there are none?
This is a GREAT read! It is a fast-paced page turner that grabs you by the throat, pulls you into the perfectly paced plot and surprises you at the end. The mystery is a cross between Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” and the game show “Survivor”. The malicious and deadly wilderness is a whole other dark and gritty character in this story which adds to the atmosphere of dread. While this is a standalone, I am hoping Ms. White will continue writing more stories featuring Mason and Callie. They are wonderfully flawed characters that fit together well.
I highly recommend this book! I have loved all of Ms. White’s books to date, but this one is very special.
June 8, 2020
CONFESSION: Even though I am a HUGE fan of locked room mysteries, I still have not read Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, and now I have paid the price for my sin...because there are major spoilers for that book in this one. Oh well!
This is an excellent and unputdownable locked room mystery that I found completely gripping! It’s easy to keep track of who is who, and it’s so compelling to see what brought this group of strangers together on a trip to a supposed wilderness retreat spa. The suspense ramps up often as the body count increases and the police work tirelessly to track down the group. I was hooked until the very last page.
I highly recommend to everyone who is a fan of a serious locked/closed room mysteries.
This is an excellent and unputdownable locked room mystery that I found completely gripping! It’s easy to keep track of who is who, and it’s so compelling to see what brought this group of strangers together on a trip to a supposed wilderness retreat spa. The suspense ramps up often as the body count increases and the police work tirelessly to track down the group. I was hooked until the very last page.
I highly recommend to everyone who is a fan of a serious locked/closed room mysteries.
January 3, 2020
The book started in a really intriguing way and mostly kept my interest throughout although my concentration waned towards the end as I felt it got repetitive. Eight people were lured to a very remote area of British Columbia, Canada on the pretext of tendering for contacts for a new luxury resort and spa. It was fake as all they found was a neglected lodge and soon it dawned on them they had been lured there for revenge. All of them had a past, all had something they wanted to hide. The storyline was based on Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ which was frequently mentioned and I especially liked this aspect of the book. I thought the author did Christie’s premise justice. The story was told in alternate storylines by characters at the Lodge and the Search and Rescue group and I thought this worked well.
There was a lot I liked about this book; there were some very good descriptions, the tension built really well especially as the Lodge group turned on each other. It was intriguing and twisty and you had no idea who was behind the plot to extract the truth although I thought that some of what happened towards the end was a bit convoluted and I didn’t entirely buy it. The tracking of the group by the S and R team was good although a bit overlong. I liked the growing friendship between Callie from S and R and Sgt Mason Deniaud form RCP and I would like to see them feature in another book.
Overall, despite some reservations I did enjoy the book and feel it fully deserves the 4 stars.
There was a lot I liked about this book; there were some very good descriptions, the tension built really well especially as the Lodge group turned on each other. It was intriguing and twisty and you had no idea who was behind the plot to extract the truth although I thought that some of what happened towards the end was a bit convoluted and I didn’t entirely buy it. The tracking of the group by the S and R team was good although a bit overlong. I liked the growing friendship between Callie from S and R and Sgt Mason Deniaud form RCP and I would like to see them feature in another book.
Overall, despite some reservations I did enjoy the book and feel it fully deserves the 4 stars.
December 5, 2019
The plot heavily mimicks and mentions Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. It is a huge part of the story line. We could perhaps even call this is modern version. The red herrings are plentiful, and you will be guessing who-dun-it until the very end. I loved it and I think Agatha would approvingly say "Bravo!"
January 3, 2020
4.25 STARS! A bloody good one, this.
In the Dark might be Loreth Anne White's third book with “dark” (my favourite word) in the title but, unfortunately, it's my first book by her. And I could not put it down!
White creates an eerie and frightening atmosphere. A claustrophobic story of trapped individuals, relying on their wildest and most basic instincts to survive. Yes, that is a common theme for psychological mystery-thrillers, as the author points out by basing her story on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None , but what's important is whether the mood and downward development of characters is captured accurately and impactfully—and in this one, it certainly is.
What's more, even though ⅓ of the way through you'd perhaps know for sure who started this game (as I did), it doesn't matter—because the mastermind is no longer in control. In my opinion, In the Dark succeeded by focusing less on the mystery of who the killer is, and more on the survival story itself. If you want an addicting tale told expertly in scattered bits and pieces, this one is for you.
For a fully terrifying experience, don't forget to listen to my book playlist while reading in the dark (pun intended) 😁
FRTC
“The veneer of civilization is very, very thin. Like the delicate shell of a bird’s egg. The tiniest force will crack it. And the cracks are not where light gets in. They’re where the evil oozes out. That’s where the Monsters live, in that ooze. My games, my scripts...They just help make the cracks. It’s the players who show us the rest. They show us what we all really are, deep down at the core. Beasts.”
In the Dark might be Loreth Anne White's third book with “dark” (my favourite word) in the title but, unfortunately, it's my first book by her. And I could not put it down!
White creates an eerie and frightening atmosphere. A claustrophobic story of trapped individuals, relying on their wildest and most basic instincts to survive. Yes, that is a common theme for psychological mystery-thrillers, as the author points out by basing her story on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None , but what's important is whether the mood and downward development of characters is captured accurately and impactfully—and in this one, it certainly is.
What's more, even though ⅓ of the way through you'd perhaps know for sure who started this game (as I did), it doesn't matter—because the mastermind is no longer in control. In my opinion, In the Dark succeeded by focusing less on the mystery of who the killer is, and more on the survival story itself. If you want an addicting tale told expertly in scattered bits and pieces, this one is for you.
For a fully terrifying experience, don't forget to listen to my book playlist while reading in the dark (pun intended) 😁
FRTC
March 10, 2023
In the Dark is a compelling read, an homage to Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None, with the action transplanted from a windswept island off Devon (UK) to an isolated lodge in the wilds of inland British Colombia, Canada.
The book opens with a tantalising chapter titled "NOW", in which we observe a clearly traumatised unnamed woman's interraction with police. But who is she, and what has she endured?
From this point, the book alternates between narrative threads describing a "SEARCH", featuring Kluhane Bay locals RCMP Sergeant Mason Deniaud and Search and Rescue (SAR) Manager Callie Sutton, and "THE LODGE PARTY", commencing six days previously.
In the latter thread, eight individuals are invited by the RAKAM group to a complimentary 10-day stay at the luxurious newly-refurbished Forest Shadow Wilderness Resort & Spa, located in a secret and remote location in the interior. Each is under the impression that they're being invited on the junket as an opportunity to pitch their respective business interests to the new boutique tourism enterprise.
However, even as eight of the Lodge Party characters, including their seaplane charter pilot, set off for the resort, the ninth, a former cop - turned private investigator, falls suddenly ill and dies.
Meanwhile, Mason Deniaud and Callie Sutton each wrestle their own personal challenges as they embark on a gruelling search for the missing group, with only sparse information as to their whereabouts, and a significant time already having elapsed since any of them were last seen.
In the Dark is a compelling psychological thriller, with a cast of flawed characters and a dramatic setting. Author Loreth Anne White skilfully maintains tension right to the end, using misdirection, foreshadowing and the split narrative structure to full effect. Those familiar with Christie's And Then There Were None will recognise several elements of the plot, but I found this in no way detracted from my overall enjoyment. This is effectively a classic "locked room" mystery in the wildest of outdoor settings, featuring a protracted chase reminiscent of the classic Sidney Poitier film Deadly Pursuit.
The book opens with a tantalising chapter titled "NOW", in which we observe a clearly traumatised unnamed woman's interraction with police. But who is she, and what has she endured?
From this point, the book alternates between narrative threads describing a "SEARCH", featuring Kluhane Bay locals RCMP Sergeant Mason Deniaud and Search and Rescue (SAR) Manager Callie Sutton, and "THE LODGE PARTY", commencing six days previously.
In the latter thread, eight individuals are invited by the RAKAM group to a complimentary 10-day stay at the luxurious newly-refurbished Forest Shadow Wilderness Resort & Spa, located in a secret and remote location in the interior. Each is under the impression that they're being invited on the junket as an opportunity to pitch their respective business interests to the new boutique tourism enterprise.
However, even as eight of the Lodge Party characters, including their seaplane charter pilot, set off for the resort, the ninth, a former cop - turned private investigator, falls suddenly ill and dies.
"Nine Little Liars thought they'd be late.And when Forest Shadow Lodge finally comes into view at the head of Taheese Lake, it is no 5-star Wilderness Resort, but a dilapidated wooden lodge with a rickety jetty, no phone reception and surrounded by forbidding wilderness in each direction. To make things worse, bad weather is quickly closing in, making escape in the seaplane impossible. When the lodge party find a menacing poem beside nine carved wooden figures - one already missing its head - they come to the awful realisation that someone has brought them together for a dark purpose, but who could be responsible and what secrets are each of them keeping? Then one disappears...
One missed the plane, and then there were eight..."
Meanwhile, Mason Deniaud and Callie Sutton each wrestle their own personal challenges as they embark on a gruelling search for the missing group, with only sparse information as to their whereabouts, and a significant time already having elapsed since any of them were last seen.
In the Dark is a compelling psychological thriller, with a cast of flawed characters and a dramatic setting. Author Loreth Anne White skilfully maintains tension right to the end, using misdirection, foreshadowing and the split narrative structure to full effect. Those familiar with Christie's And Then There Were None will recognise several elements of the plot, but I found this in no way detracted from my overall enjoyment. This is effectively a classic "locked room" mystery in the wildest of outdoor settings, featuring a protracted chase reminiscent of the classic Sidney Poitier film Deadly Pursuit.
June 25, 2021
“What lies do you tell? Because we all lie. Every one of us, and whoever claims they don’t is the biggest liar of all.”
In the Dark transports us to the wildness and intrepid isolation of British Columbia, rushing water cold as ice that steals your breath and gaggles of trees lining the seemingly infinite, alive forest, where a group of strangers have been called to meet for the alluring promise of a luxury experience of pampering at a spa in a remote, undisclosed location, only reachable by plane and hard to track down by even the nimblest of eagle eyes. Everything cataclysmically rockets down from there, though, as where they have been sent is not what it purports to be, but a ruse of sorts following in the crooked vein of psychological manipulation, parts of which mirror after Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
As the novel progresses, so does the familiarity that begins to set in that all of these people have vaguely met somewhere before. Each character carries the undeniable, rapidly building weight of a lingering sense of déjà vu. And overarching worry that their deepest, darkest secrets, most of which could be potentially life-changing in their fatality and that they’ve since tried to long keep buried away, could come to be revealed and ruin the more steady façade and new life they’ve strategically built for themselves and in some cases their children.
“An alternate reality. A nightmare dimension. A horror movie. That’s what we’re in.”
The story is brought to life through multiple perspectives and timelines that come together to reveal the true nature of why each of these people have been chosen for this unnerving, deadly game of cat and mouse “where there might only be one or maybe none” left standing. And maybe all that was set in cement as the pair of trackable footsteps needed to be analyzed and preserved for evidence in this building crime scene could be reversed if the dogged manipulation and hunches that people have that the other has something to hide and could potentially be an increasingly fatal foe spirals maniacally out of control with a seething vengeance.
However, the pace and puzzle of this otherwise well-crafted story laboriously dragged in spots and became roiled in a storm not of a completely dangerously unpredictable caliber, but of a doomed sense of predictability as I waited for a more gripping twist. But maybe this story wasn’t meant to be that and it was more a story of how we can be toyed with and teased by a wicked fate, which I can appreciate, but I still unfortunately found parts of the stories and my building of a sense of spirited, invested connection to each of the characters to be a slight slog to wade through as a lot was covered in a comparatively short amount of time that it left my mind reeling. I did, nonetheless, enjoy the way the connection between Mason and Callie was explored, who are members of the search team in this particular case, and how they have both personally endured trauma and could be there for each other increasingly meaningfully and hopefully in a way that warmed my heart and led my spirts to soar. I could read a whole novel dedicated to them as well.
“We’re all wrong. All mad now. We’ve turned feral. A small tribe under assault. A wildness taking hold in our brains where ordinarily logic would reside.”
Ultimately, In the Dark had captivating parts and I can tell was very thoughtfully constructed, but didn’t reach me as emotively as it could’ve in places and I in fact could’ve been a smidge more in the dark about who the master of these cunning games was, and anyone else that could’ve been involved, but perhaps, again, that wasn’t entirely the point and the point was to be pulled in and taken on the journey of how sometimes there’s nothing more mind-bogglingly engrossing as people and how we’re psychologically wired, especially in times of pain and under calculated, considerable duress.
In the Dark transports us to the wildness and intrepid isolation of British Columbia, rushing water cold as ice that steals your breath and gaggles of trees lining the seemingly infinite, alive forest, where a group of strangers have been called to meet for the alluring promise of a luxury experience of pampering at a spa in a remote, undisclosed location, only reachable by plane and hard to track down by even the nimblest of eagle eyes. Everything cataclysmically rockets down from there, though, as where they have been sent is not what it purports to be, but a ruse of sorts following in the crooked vein of psychological manipulation, parts of which mirror after Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
As the novel progresses, so does the familiarity that begins to set in that all of these people have vaguely met somewhere before. Each character carries the undeniable, rapidly building weight of a lingering sense of déjà vu. And overarching worry that their deepest, darkest secrets, most of which could be potentially life-changing in their fatality and that they’ve since tried to long keep buried away, could come to be revealed and ruin the more steady façade and new life they’ve strategically built for themselves and in some cases their children.
“An alternate reality. A nightmare dimension. A horror movie. That’s what we’re in.”
The story is brought to life through multiple perspectives and timelines that come together to reveal the true nature of why each of these people have been chosen for this unnerving, deadly game of cat and mouse “where there might only be one or maybe none” left standing. And maybe all that was set in cement as the pair of trackable footsteps needed to be analyzed and preserved for evidence in this building crime scene could be reversed if the dogged manipulation and hunches that people have that the other has something to hide and could potentially be an increasingly fatal foe spirals maniacally out of control with a seething vengeance.
However, the pace and puzzle of this otherwise well-crafted story laboriously dragged in spots and became roiled in a storm not of a completely dangerously unpredictable caliber, but of a doomed sense of predictability as I waited for a more gripping twist. But maybe this story wasn’t meant to be that and it was more a story of how we can be toyed with and teased by a wicked fate, which I can appreciate, but I still unfortunately found parts of the stories and my building of a sense of spirited, invested connection to each of the characters to be a slight slog to wade through as a lot was covered in a comparatively short amount of time that it left my mind reeling. I did, nonetheless, enjoy the way the connection between Mason and Callie was explored, who are members of the search team in this particular case, and how they have both personally endured trauma and could be there for each other increasingly meaningfully and hopefully in a way that warmed my heart and led my spirts to soar. I could read a whole novel dedicated to them as well.
“We’re all wrong. All mad now. We’ve turned feral. A small tribe under assault. A wildness taking hold in our brains where ordinarily logic would reside.”
Ultimately, In the Dark had captivating parts and I can tell was very thoughtfully constructed, but didn’t reach me as emotively as it could’ve in places and I in fact could’ve been a smidge more in the dark about who the master of these cunning games was, and anyone else that could’ve been involved, but perhaps, again, that wasn’t entirely the point and the point was to be pulled in and taken on the journey of how sometimes there’s nothing more mind-bogglingly engrossing as people and how we’re psychologically wired, especially in times of pain and under calculated, considerable duress.
July 2, 2020
And Then There Were None is one of my favorite books. It’s smart and thrilling and an excellent character study. I found this to be none of those things, but I also seem to be in the minority on this one.
Like Agatha Christie’s classic, a group of people are lured to a secluded place, and each of these people has a big secret. The book then jumps in time and place from the group to law enforcement trying to figure out what happened.
There were so many complex pasts between the group and the investigators that I couldn’t feel like I really got to know the characters. It was so much to cover in a fairly short book, that you only really got to know a handful of characters and fully understand their motivations. This was the best part of And Then There Were None, so I was disappointed that it wasn’t here.
It’s still a page turner, but it was too skimmable. I wanted to know what happened, sure, but I really just wanted to get to the end. For a short book, it really dragged on.
Like Agatha Christie’s classic, a group of people are lured to a secluded place, and each of these people has a big secret. The book then jumps in time and place from the group to law enforcement trying to figure out what happened.
There were so many complex pasts between the group and the investigators that I couldn’t feel like I really got to know the characters. It was so much to cover in a fairly short book, that you only really got to know a handful of characters and fully understand their motivations. This was the best part of And Then There Were None, so I was disappointed that it wasn’t here.
It’s still a page turner, but it was too skimmable. I wanted to know what happened, sure, but I really just wanted to get to the end. For a short book, it really dragged on.
February 18, 2021
Inspired by And Then There Were None, this book is about people who seems to have been lured in a remote lodge for an enigmatic reason.
Unpopular opinion coming!
This book didn't work for me. At all.
At 10%, I decided to read it even if I was bored. I thougt it would get better... But I was wrong! It was soooo difficult to get through it. I didn't care for the characters, thought the "Search" chapters weren't interesting and was disappointed by the ending. I won't say anything else since there are many raving reviews.
I never give 1* ratings, because I usually stop reading when it's not working for me... That's definitely what I should have done.
Unpopular opinion coming!
This book didn't work for me. At all.
At 10%, I decided to read it even if I was bored. I thougt it would get better... But I was wrong! It was soooo difficult to get through it. I didn't care for the characters, thought the "Search" chapters weren't interesting and was disappointed by the ending. I won't say anything else since there are many raving reviews.
I never give 1* ratings, because I usually stop reading when it's not working for me... That's definitely what I should have done.
January 6, 2022
This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last! Eight people are promised a luxurious spa vacation located in the mountains. When they arrive, they soon find out that they were duped. Some sick person has decided to play a game with them. Karma can be a real nightmare.
I loved this fast paced thriller that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
I loved this fast paced thriller that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
October 21, 2021
Eight lucky guests have been promised a vacation at a fabulous spa located in the wilderness. After they arrive it soon becomes obvious that they were lured there under false pretenses. And now they must worry about their lives because it looks like somebody wants to pick them off, one by one. The story alternates between the past in which the murders are taking place as well as the present when we find out someone is alive and homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton are trying to figure out what happened. The author gives interesting backstories to both Mason and Callie making them the most developed characters in the book. It’s bit tricky at first to keep track of all the guests as the story bounces around from each of the characters but because the list keeps getting shorter as more them die it does become easier t keep the characters straight. I read a lot of mysteries and I have to say that I was very impressed with this one. This is not a romance/suspense thriller. This is thriller all the way and should appeal to all fans of the genre.
November 22, 2021
Eight lucky guests have been brought together for a lavish vacation at a secluded wilderness resort.
Each guest is hoping to gain a contract with the company and expand their business ventures, all while living it up in luxury. But all is not what it seems. This is not the getaway they were promised-it's a reckoning. Because each one of them has a secret that binds them together in a horrific way.
As a winter storm approaches, they are all trapped with the sins of their past and someone is going to make sure they pay the ultimate price.
This book is fabulous! I love Loreth Anne White's writing style-it drew me in from the beginning and held me captivated throughout the story. I love the multiple POVs, the misdirection and how everybody's sins were interconnected. This was a clever book, and the closest locked-room style mystery to And Then There Were None that I've read without being a ripoff of the classic. Warning: There are major spoilers for Agatha Christie's novel in this, so if you haven't read it-What are you waiting for-Read it now! But also, read it before reading this one.
Another thing I loved was the setting. There's something about snow that freaks me out and makes me super claustrophobic. (Maybe it's because I grew up in the country and got trapped inside during many a snow storm in my youth). Either way, the snow storm and isolation set the mood and put me on edge.
Beyond the yellow wingtip, ragged mountains speared up from shimmering lakes, and rivers cascaded and sparkled. Pristine snow lay thick upon the taller peaks. Brutal, brown avalanche scars were scored down the steeper flanks. The forests were dark green and endless. She saw no sign of human life anywhere.
Brrrr....I've got chills now!
If I could say one negative thing about this book-I don't care for police procedurals that much and segments of this book are told from the perspective of the homicide detective and SAR expert. Some people may enjoy that, but those were my least favorite chapters.
Otherwise, this is a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves locked-room mysteries.
Each guest is hoping to gain a contract with the company and expand their business ventures, all while living it up in luxury. But all is not what it seems. This is not the getaway they were promised-it's a reckoning. Because each one of them has a secret that binds them together in a horrific way.
As a winter storm approaches, they are all trapped with the sins of their past and someone is going to make sure they pay the ultimate price.
This book is fabulous! I love Loreth Anne White's writing style-it drew me in from the beginning and held me captivated throughout the story. I love the multiple POVs, the misdirection and how everybody's sins were interconnected. This was a clever book, and the closest locked-room style mystery to And Then There Were None that I've read without being a ripoff of the classic. Warning: There are major spoilers for Agatha Christie's novel in this, so if you haven't read it-What are you waiting for-Read it now! But also, read it before reading this one.
Another thing I loved was the setting. There's something about snow that freaks me out and makes me super claustrophobic. (Maybe it's because I grew up in the country and got trapped inside during many a snow storm in my youth). Either way, the snow storm and isolation set the mood and put me on edge.
Beyond the yellow wingtip, ragged mountains speared up from shimmering lakes, and rivers cascaded and sparkled. Pristine snow lay thick upon the taller peaks. Brutal, brown avalanche scars were scored down the steeper flanks. The forests were dark green and endless. She saw no sign of human life anywhere.
Brrrr....I've got chills now!
If I could say one negative thing about this book-I don't care for police procedurals that much and segments of this book are told from the perspective of the homicide detective and SAR expert. Some people may enjoy that, but those were my least favorite chapters.
Otherwise, this is a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves locked-room mysteries.
November 5, 2019
Wow, wow, wow.... this book was fantastic. It was so twisty and very exciting. I received it free from Prime First Reads and I hadn’t heard of this author before, thought I’d give it a go and I’m glad I did. It was the type of book that you can’t stop reading but, you don’t want to finish it as it’s so good.
I would love to give it ten stars if I could but, unfortunately I can’t. I highly recommend this.
I would love to give it ten stars if I could but, unfortunately I can’t. I highly recommend this.
February 10, 2021
It's not so often that I choose a book from the First Reads option on Kindle. Months can pass and nothing will pique my interest but In The Dark did and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.
Told in two timelines and POVs this was a great puzzle. One timeline is the investigator and the SAR team head who are tracking a group through the wilds, after finding a plane with a deceased pilot. The other timeline follows the group of people that have been lured to a secluded location under the guise of trying out a new luxury resort in Kluhane Bay, B.C., that if they like it, can option a tender in the resort. And not long after arrival, it's clear that the brochure was a sham and the group are here for something else altogether.
I'm not going to spoil this but I will say that the mystery unfurls in a satisfying way. My murder board loving heart had all it could want here. Liars, cheaters and killers abounded and the mistrust among them set off reactions that were tense and deadly. When not with the ever-dwindling group, the focus on the investigators themselves came into focus. Sergeant Mason Deniaud is new in the area having transferred from the city after a particularly tragic event. Callie Sutton, is balancing her SAR work and a difficult family situation. I was surprised that I liked this part of the story as much as I did but I found it complimentary of the other thread. Everyone in this story has been touched by tragedy and there are examples of dealing positively and negatively with it and the attendant outcomes. The overall ending was very well done and surprisingly peaceful in some sense.
Now to the slight things that didn't work for me. First, let it be known that if you have not read Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None (aka Ten Little Indians (thought an improvement on an even worse title. Love Dame Agatha's writing but she was problematic as hell in this way!), Ten Little Soldiers), this book has ALL THE DAMNED SPOILERS for that book. I felt that was not cool and this should have a big spoiler tag on the blurb for it. So, if you're thinking of reading that one (and I recommend you do) read that before you pick up this one. The second thing was what was going on with Mason and Callie. I don't want to spoil but this felt like a bit of romantic suspense and then had me wondering if this is a first in a series because it read like there could be more down the line as they work together again. But it was awkward because of Callie's family situation and I wasn't sure what the author wanted to do here.
I'd read another by White and if this were a first in a series, I'd be glad to check in again with Mason & Callie. Recommended.
Told in two timelines and POVs this was a great puzzle. One timeline is the investigator and the SAR team head who are tracking a group through the wilds, after finding a plane with a deceased pilot. The other timeline follows the group of people that have been lured to a secluded location under the guise of trying out a new luxury resort in Kluhane Bay, B.C., that if they like it, can option a tender in the resort. And not long after arrival, it's clear that the brochure was a sham and the group are here for something else altogether.
I'm not going to spoil this but I will say that the mystery unfurls in a satisfying way. My murder board loving heart had all it could want here. Liars, cheaters and killers abounded and the mistrust among them set off reactions that were tense and deadly. When not with the ever-dwindling group, the focus on the investigators themselves came into focus. Sergeant Mason Deniaud is new in the area having transferred from the city after a particularly tragic event. Callie Sutton, is balancing her SAR work and a difficult family situation. I was surprised that I liked this part of the story as much as I did but I found it complimentary of the other thread. Everyone in this story has been touched by tragedy and there are examples of dealing positively and negatively with it and the attendant outcomes. The overall ending was very well done and surprisingly peaceful in some sense.
Now to the slight things that didn't work for me. First, let it be known that if you have not read Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None (aka Ten Little Indians (thought an improvement on an even worse title. Love Dame Agatha's writing but she was problematic as hell in this way!), Ten Little Soldiers), this book has ALL THE DAMNED SPOILERS for that book. I felt that was not cool and this should have a big spoiler tag on the blurb for it. So, if you're thinking of reading that one (and I recommend you do) read that before you pick up this one. The second thing was what was going on with Mason and Callie. I don't want to spoil but this felt like a bit of romantic suspense and then had me wondering if this is a first in a series because it read like there could be more down the line as they work together again. But it was awkward because of Callie's family situation and I wasn't sure what the author wanted to do here.
I'd read another by White and if this were a first in a series, I'd be glad to check in again with Mason & Callie. Recommended.
February 27, 2020
I loved this book...Dita's review snagged me. In the Dark has a similar theme to Christie's And Then There Were None, where a number of seemingly random people are invited (lured) to an all-expenses paid week in a soon to be opened glamorous resort - situated (where else but?) in a remote wilderness. The setting is British Colombia and I wished I was watching instead of listening because my imagination surely did not do justice to what sounded like nature at its harshest and most magnificent. Of course, we know that there's no such thing as a free lunch, and we know (from the reviews and blurbs) that the characters will be picked off, one by one, but who could get enough of this type of mystery? The fun is watching the story unfold and learning the characters' most closely held embarrassing secrets....and finding out in the end, whodunnit. My only criticism of the book is that it was too long and could have used some editing (in my view). I didn't need half an hour of closure at the end of the book and there was some repetition throughout; also, there was no need for the hint of romance or to overly dwell on Mason and Callie’s backgrounds. I didn’t feel that these elements contributed to the well-worn, well-loved plot. There was a section in the middle of the book that was outstanding, where the author expands on the characters’ backgrounds, sowing just enough suspicious clues to the point where you feel that the book could go in any number of directions (I can't pinpoint where, exactly, because I don't have time to make notes or bookmark, but I think anyone would sense it). If you are listening and not Canadian, you might grate your teeth a little at the pronunciation of the words again, against, and been (Canadians probably grate their teeth at hearing the same words read in U.S. English) – but, at least, I didn’t hear anyone say, “Eh?”. In the Dark was another unexpected bonus from Kindle Unlimited with the extra added bonus of free audible listening.
December 5, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In the Dark has everything you need for a spooky winter read: A remote town in British Columbia. A mysterious lodge surrounded by untouched wilderness. A raging snowstorm. A group of shady rich people. A series of inexplicable coincidences. A police officer and a search and rescue team leader, each with their own tragic backstory. I could go on. All these details add up to the perfect atmosphere and ambiance for a slow-burn novel that seamlessly blends elements from several genres: mystery, thriller, procedural, and a dash of horror.
The story follows three timelines simultaneously. In the first timeline, labeled “The Lodge Party,” a group of eight very different but suspiciously connected people have been invited to an exclusive luxury wilderness resort and spa, a trip that goes disastrously wrong. In the second timeline, “The Search,” police officer Mason and search and rescue team leader Callie search for the missing members of the lodge party. And in the third timeline, labeled “Now,” the sole survivor of the lodge party tells their story. To shield the survivor’s identity from the reader, these sections are written in first person and in present tense, while the rest are written in third person and past tense, alternating between the perspectives of Mason, Callie, and the members of the lodge party.
I enjoy multiple timelines and perspectives in mysteries and thrillers and thought this was an effective storytelling technique for In the Dark. It built tension and kept me turning pages. I enjoyed “The Search” timeline the most; I was heavily invested in Mason and Callie (and Oskar and even Gregson) as characters. “The Lodge Party” timeline was intense and scary, but apart from Stella, I wasn’t as attached to those characters. The “Now” timeline wasn’t my favorite, probably because I prefer third person to first person and past tense to present tense and the switch threw me off.
I had a few other, minor complaints. Loreth Anne White’s writing style is somewhat repetitive, overly relying on short, punchy sentences to make her point. I also thought the “Nine Little Liars” poem was pretty lame. In general, creepy poetry is a mystery trope I could do without. It’s almost never as well-written or clever as it would need to be to add anything meaningful to the story. The dialogue was occasionally stilted.
The ending was complex, and I liked it, but I wasn’t totally blown away. I’m stuck between a three and four star rating for this one. Went with four because I’m feeling generous and it was an enjoyable read.
In the Dark has everything you need for a spooky winter read: A remote town in British Columbia. A mysterious lodge surrounded by untouched wilderness. A raging snowstorm. A group of shady rich people. A series of inexplicable coincidences. A police officer and a search and rescue team leader, each with their own tragic backstory. I could go on. All these details add up to the perfect atmosphere and ambiance for a slow-burn novel that seamlessly blends elements from several genres: mystery, thriller, procedural, and a dash of horror.
The story follows three timelines simultaneously. In the first timeline, labeled “The Lodge Party,” a group of eight very different but suspiciously connected people have been invited to an exclusive luxury wilderness resort and spa, a trip that goes disastrously wrong. In the second timeline, “The Search,” police officer Mason and search and rescue team leader Callie search for the missing members of the lodge party. And in the third timeline, labeled “Now,” the sole survivor of the lodge party tells their story. To shield the survivor’s identity from the reader, these sections are written in first person and in present tense, while the rest are written in third person and past tense, alternating between the perspectives of Mason, Callie, and the members of the lodge party.
I enjoy multiple timelines and perspectives in mysteries and thrillers and thought this was an effective storytelling technique for In the Dark. It built tension and kept me turning pages. I enjoyed “The Search” timeline the most; I was heavily invested in Mason and Callie (and Oskar and even Gregson) as characters. “The Lodge Party” timeline was intense and scary, but apart from Stella, I wasn’t as attached to those characters. The “Now” timeline wasn’t my favorite, probably because I prefer third person to first person and past tense to present tense and the switch threw me off.
I had a few other, minor complaints. Loreth Anne White’s writing style is somewhat repetitive, overly relying on short, punchy sentences to make her point. I also thought the “Nine Little Liars” poem was pretty lame. In general, creepy poetry is a mystery trope I could do without. It’s almost never as well-written or clever as it would need to be to add anything meaningful to the story. The dialogue was occasionally stilted.
The ending was complex, and I liked it, but I wasn’t totally blown away. I’m stuck between a three and four star rating for this one. Went with four because I’m feeling generous and it was an enjoyable read.
November 29, 2019
Okay, this was pretty damn good.
I was happy that the novel included much of what I love in terms of “locked room” mysteries. It’s very heavily influenced by Agatha Christie’s famed classic And Then There Were None— a group of strangers with secrets aplenty drawn to an isolated location, where they start to die one by one. The story even brings in the books of Christie, as well as elements from her famous work.
These are my favorite mysteries to read, so on that front, I was pleased. The inclusion of a ‘search-and-rescue’ narrative to buffer the main “locked room” story (in alternating chapters/POVs) was also a worthy addition. *MAJOR SPOILER TAGGED*. Do not read if you haven’t finished the book.
From the start, it shaping up to be a run-of-the-mill mystery: the disgruntled, down on his luck, alcoholic?, middle-aged male detective with a haunted past and a chip on his shoulder. The young, pretty, search-and-rescue woman as his “partner” of sorts, with her own troubles and young son. It’s a typical male/female investigative duo with *hints* of romance .
I think maybe there were too many characters in this book? I mean, as the story progressed, it wasn’t difficult to keep track of who everyone was, but there were just... a lot: the 8/9-or-so on the “spa getaway”, the police officers/detectives, the multiple SAR people...
It all got a little too wordy at times, too. So many names and long-winded paragraphs, and even multiple instances of repetition— whole paragraphs would be repeated from to time time between different POVs as one character quoted another.
I’m glad I picked this book up, though. It was just what I needed to drag me out of my slump.
I was happy that the novel included much of what I love in terms of “locked room” mysteries. It’s very heavily influenced by Agatha Christie’s famed classic And Then There Were None— a group of strangers with secrets aplenty drawn to an isolated location, where they start to die one by one. The story even brings in the books of Christie, as well as elements from her famous work.
These are my favorite mysteries to read, so on that front, I was pleased. The inclusion of a ‘search-and-rescue’ narrative to buffer the main “locked room” story (in alternating chapters/POVs) was also a worthy addition. *MAJOR SPOILER TAGGED*. Do not read if you haven’t finished the book.
From the start, it shaping up to be a run-of-the-mill mystery: the disgruntled, down on his luck, alcoholic?, middle-aged male detective with a haunted past and a chip on his shoulder. The young, pretty, search-and-rescue woman as his “partner” of sorts, with her own troubles and young son. It’s a typical male/female investigative duo with *hints* of romance .
I think maybe there were too many characters in this book? I mean, as the story progressed, it wasn’t difficult to keep track of who everyone was, but there were just... a lot: the 8/9-or-so on the “spa getaway”, the police officers/detectives, the multiple SAR people...
It all got a little too wordy at times, too. So many names and long-winded paragraphs, and even multiple instances of repetition— whole paragraphs would be repeated from to time time between different POVs as one character quoted another.
I’m glad I picked this book up, though. It was just what I needed to drag me out of my slump.
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