Random Things Tours - The Dark Room

 

TITLE: The Dark Room

AUTHOR: Sam Blake

PUBLISHER: Corvus

PUBLISHING DATE: January 7, 2021

PAGES: 304

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: 

Rachel Lambert leaves London afraid for her personal safety and determined to uncover the truth behind the sudden death of a homeless man with links to a country house hotel called Hare's Landing. 

New York-based crime reporter Caroline Kelly's career is threatened by a lawsuit and she needs some thinking space away from her job. But almost as soon as she arrives, Hare's Landing begins to reveal its own stories - a 30-year-old missing person's case and the mysterious death of the hotel's former owner. 

As Rachel and Caroline join forces, it becomes clear that their investigations are intertwined - and that there is nothing more dangerous than the truth...

MY THOUGHTS: I'm always in the mood for a good thriller, especially when there is a creepy home involved.  That's one of the main reasons I considered picking up The Dark Room and I'm glad I did.  One day Rachel's partner is knocked off his bike in a hit-and-run accident and it just happens to be the that the subject of their most recent documentary, Alfie Bows, has also disappeared. Thinking it has to be more than coincidence, Rachel travels to London to visit the only place really connected to Alfie, Hare's Landing.  There she meets up with the only other guest at the hotel, Caroline Kelly.  A lawyer who is in much need of a rest, Caroline and Rachel gravitate toward each other and both start working together to unravel the mysteries of Hare's Landing.  

If you really like cozy mysteries, this is a great thriller to grab.  It really is reminiscent of a cozy and I thoroughly enjoyed both the mystery and the setting.  I also like that the book features two strong and capable female protagonists.  It also doesn't hurt that the book is told in alternating perspectives of Caroline and Rachel which just happens to be a writing technique I love.  The books is full of suspense and some plot twists which always kept me engaged and there may even be some paranormal aspects thrown in - I guess it's all up to interpretation.

The Dark Room is a great read and as I know some people really seek out stand-alones, this is definitely the place to look.  I would recommend it to both mystery and thriller lovers as well as individuals who like smart female characters.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sam Blake is a pseudonym for Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin, the founder of The Inkwell Group publishing consultancy and the hugely popular national writing resources website Writing.ie. She is Ireland's leading literary scout and has assisted many award-winning and bestselling authors to publication. As Sam Blake, she has written four previous novels and has topped the Irish bestseller chart.