The Blurb:
When you look at those you love, what do you see?
When Issy, young mother and beloved daughter, seemingly kills herself her family is devastated.
Believing she would never leave son Noah willingly, Jon and Mel determine to discover what really happened to Issy. As they and the rest of the family struggle to come to terms with tragedy, Jon and Mel start to realise Issy's secrets come from a very dark place...
The Dark Place was published by Manatee Books on 27th September 2018. You can purchase it from Amazon.
My Review:
Oh gosh, I think this book broke my heart several times!
We meet 19 year old Issy briefly in the first chapter when she comes home from university. She sees her mum and her little boy, who is cared for by her parents in term time. Then she tells her mum she's heading out before dinner, and never returns. What initially appears to be an accident turns out to be something very different...
The rest of the book details Jon and Mel's desperate search for the reason behind Issy's decision. They are supported by Mel's sister Pam and her husband Justin, Jon's best friend, who loved Issy like she was their own. The story is told from Jon and Mel's viewpoints, in alternating chapters, with the occasional chapter from someone else's point of view.
As a parent myself, I can't imagine how awful it must be to lose a child. It's every parent's worst nightmare. Jon and Mel's pain is raw and real, and exquisitely described. They each deal with it differently, and learn things about themselves and their relationship along the way. But I also need to mention Greg, the lorry driver, who goes through his own pain, and was a standout character for me.
The more they find out about Issy's life, the more her parents realise that they didn't really know her. And what they discover, aided by a kind and diligent police officer, is truly horrific. As they finally face the truth, they must decide what to do, what action they should take.
This is a beautifully written tale, with emotions described perfectly. It made me want to cry, reading their pain. I worked out some of what happened, but not all. This is a story of a broken family, where one person's actions will impact on everyone close to them for years to come. And as a reader, I am still thinking about it now. A quick word of warning though - The Dark Place does touch on a number of difficult, sensitive issues that might be upsetting to some. But a brilliant read.
The Author:
I have always lived in Yorkshire, migrating a whole three miles over the border from South to North Yorkshire and have always loved reading. As a kid, I was always reading when I should have been doing something else and nothing has changed (uncooked or burnt dinners being commonplace in my house – cooking’s overrated anyway). For most of my adult life I’ve worked as a dog groomer, interspersed with bouts of working as a musician, playing drums and saxophone, which has taken me to Germany and Israel. They’re not that compatible really, dog grooming and music – dogs hate the noises saxes and drums make (well mine do; or maybe it’s how I play them.) I have been and always will be, unashamedly, a rock chick.
After ignoring the urge to write for a long time (too busy, no time, kids to feed, books to read) I finally did a creative writing course with Writers’ Bureau, which I loved. I’ve written two thrillers, which is my favourite genre to read, and a couple of children’s books. I’ve also sold short stories to Take-A-Break’s Fiction Feast.
No comments:
Post a Comment