In the Dark: Volume 2

In the Dark #2

by Jin Shisi Chai, Beans (Translator)

A chance encounter separates Xie Lanshan from Shen Liufei. Though physically apart, a mysterious letter to the police department entangles them in the same case involving a years old murder and a current hostage situation. Seeking a way out of the dire situation, their hearts become inexplicably drawn toward each other. Meanwhile, Xie Lanshan's former teammates arrive to investigate the sudden proliferation of drugs in the city. Although they used to fight alongside one another, not everyone is convinced of their unsung hero's loyalty. Adding to the stakes is Song Qilian. Unable to let go of the man from her past, she conducts her own investigation into Xie Lanshan's identity. Hidden memories grow ever clearer, and Xie Lanshan comes ever closer to answering his question, "Who am I?" Though, everyone else may already know the answer…

Genres: Mystery, Romance, LGBT, Thriller, Contemporary, China, Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2023

Reviews

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear to god these book are on complete crack cocaine. Truly batshit crazy, seriously unserious, insanity.

The first arc included a locked room murder mystery with a bunch of overly privileged teenage girls….and Xie Lanshan….on a luxury yacht. Cause after hitting one of the girls with his car, Xie Lanshan gets invited on the ship due to a mistaken identity of being a male host and decides to just go along with it cause he wants a holiday 😂😂 cause of course.

The second arc includes the reemergence/ copy cat killings of an old serial rapist and murderer.

All the while the background mystery from Xie Lanshans undercover days continues (and what the actual fuck was that twist???! 😂😮) and we slowly get more of Shen Luifei’s tragic backstory.

My main criticisms of the first volume continues here, this translation is just so rough as an English reader. Which is a shame cause I’ve read some beautiful Danmei translations so I know it’s possible to do. I found it especially disappointing cause it drains a lot of the chemistry out of the intimate scenes between Xie Lanshan and Shen Luifei.

I can’t even begin to guess how the conclusion to this story will go. This whole thing is so dumb but I’m having a great time lol.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could NOT put this down! Right when things were revealed I was instantly hooked! Possible spoiler but I found the Xing Ming from Lip and Sword was in this volume!

[Stacie]

LOVE when the second book in a series is even better than the first. Very fast-paced with lots of twists and great characters. Very satisfying yet ended on a cliff-hanger again… I don’t know how to judge crime/thriller books because I rarely read them but I have loved that it’s not predictable or boring. It’s danmei so there is a m/m relationship which SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE FIRST BOOK is adorable and complicated. There is a lot more plot than relationship stuff but you can tell their relationship is central to the story. Immediately starting the third and final book.

[madi ☆◦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly. This was a ROLLERCOASTER I swear.

[✨Meli the bookworm✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are all born alone until we overcome solitude.
We are all born with egos until we overcome our own limits.
We see through the purest evil in humanity until we overcome the abyss of darkness and share benevolence with the world around us.
Without me, there would be no you.

HOLY MOTHER OF THE PLOT TWISTS!!!
I will be the first one to admit I COMPLETELY underestimated this novel. I thought it was going to be a mystery solving novel, with some splashes of romance here and there to keep my mind distracted from the dumpster fire that is my real life right now, and what I found IS SO MUCH MORE.

The dreadful reveal that gets heavily hinted towards the last part of Vol1 hits in you in full swing within the first few chapters of this book and let me tell you, even though I consider myself to be quite good at picking up this kinda stuff *ahem ahem*, nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for the blunt force trauma I got when it happened. I was dazed and confused for almost an entire hour, going back just to make sure I had read correctly.

Without doing any spoilers, this reveal is so viscerally shocking that it basically destroys Xie Lanshan's life and any sense of self. Everyone turns his back on him because there is no way that they can accept anything so dreadful and horrible, EVERYONE- except one person.

And I know that even I described Shen Liufei as 'cold' when I read the first volumen, but you see there is a reason. A big one, which is why he is always in a deep and constant conflict to allow himself to open up to Xie Lanshan.

And VOILA! And that is when the author just unbuckles your safety belt and unloads a rollercoaster of plot twists that will take you on the ride of your life.

I am a bit salty that this official eng translation for whatever reason left out A LOT of the uncensored scenes that were in the raws, mostly all the explicit sex scenes, because during/after those moments some very honest conversations happen between Xie Lanshan and Shen Liufei that really allows you to fully grasp their relationship. At one point, and right before shit really hits the fan Shen Liufei asks Xie Lanshan to runaway with him to the US or anywhere else where they can start anew because he is really worried about what will happen when Xie Lanshan returns to face all these people who can not see him as Lanshan. In my humble opinion, leaving this part out of the translation doesn't really allow you to see Shen Liufei's character growth and the real extent of his feelings towards the other one, just perpetuating a very annoying trope (he is aloof and cold) when the truth is that they are really good for each other. They are truly good for each other.

Remember that I love you.
Remember to always remember this.

That being said, as I said before HOLY MOTHER OF THE PLOT TWISTS! Just read it. You will not regret it!

[Queens Love Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Like every one of you, I want to love and be loved. I deserve to love and be loved. That’s why I will stand with my head upright and proudly walk under the light.”



In the Dark: Volume 2….. I’m completely hooked. This volume takes everything up a notch, from the intense cases to the ever-growing tension between Xie Lanshan and Shen Liufei. The first case, which takes place on a luxury yacht, was wild and had me on edge the entire time. Xie Lanshan somehow gets mixed up in a murder mystery involving a group of privileged teens, and the whole situation is just crazy, but in the best way possible.
I’ve seen reviews from Danmei groups saying that books 2 and 3 are a downgrade from book 1, but I honestly loved In the Dark: Volume 2 even more than the first. The moment I picked it up, I couldn’t put it back down. The twists kept coming, and the way Xie Lanshan and Shen Liufei’s connection unfolded just made everything more intense.
What really stood out in this volume was the deeper dive into Xie Lanshan’s psyche and the exploration of his past. There’s a constant push and pull between his fractured identity and Shen Liufei’s complicated feelings toward him. Their chemistry has become more intense, and the way their connection unfolds, especially with the revelations about their past, left me wanting more.
The mystery elements were solid again, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story would take another unexpected turn, and I loved that. The reemergence of old cases and unresolved trauma added even more depth, making the whole plot feel layered and complex.

[任煦涵 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Regardless of whether a heart is good or evil, both are creations of our consciousness. Knowing the difference between good and evil gives us morals and allows us to do good, while the power of knowledge exorcises evil.”

I loved this volume even more than the first volume. The chemistry between the mc and ml is so good. However, it definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. The ML is the stoic and quiet type while the mc is the flirty but disturbed type.

The mystery aspect was also very good and the cases were intriguing to follow.

[kaylina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember that I love you.

Remember to always remember this.

i adore this author’s writing.

the rush of reading through the entire first arc of this volume as it majorly took place in a rocking ship; the brilliant characterization of xie lanshan in his duel personalities; the intensity of his & shen liufei’s dynamic that only becomes stronger when finding out how far back they’re actually connected; the careful way the mysteries are depicted as the author mixed the firestorm of the media with a bleak case revolving around the murders of young women; the way no side character is left to fade into the background as we see one in particular become the center of that bleak case;

AND!!! xing ming (mc of lip and sword) cameo!!!!!!!!! i can’t even begin to tell you how much this boosted up the story higher than it already was seeing my favorite character, even if it was only for one chapter.

all of it was just so good that i couldn’t help but read it all in less than a couple of hours. i only slept about four hours before inevitably waking myself up again to finish this story, all because there was so much going on.

jin shisi chai really is a new favorite of mine. there’s just something so compelling about the way she writes her characters and xie lanshan’s voice becomes even more interesting when you discover just why he sometimes acts so unfamiliar. despite how twisted it was, i was so amazed by how it got balanced out with the eventual intimacy him & shen liufei have together.

again, it only became even stronger when it’s revealed how these two were connected far longer than xie lanshan realizes. and it also made me become more obsessed with them, because all of their feelings for each other are entirely genuine, despite the gory past that lies between them??

i love that dichotomy so much, they were very sweet and intense, and i ate up all of it. it was epic as hell :’)

all in all, the author wasn’t afraid to show these characters’ most repulsive selves and the sides to them that are hard to shake. it added so much dimension to them in seeing how empathetic the author was towards their arcs as it made such a huge impact on the story. my favorite thing about procedural stories like these that are narrated on a case by case basis is that they all connect to the characters and their pasts, only going to uncover everything that they may be hiding.

this was a really twisted tale to stomach at parts, but it was one done incredibly well and i had an amazing time, genuinely.

[Xantababy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll start with volume 1. The first book was okay. The build-up was there and it definitely caught my attention. The mystery plot was intriguing, with a lot of details hidden in the shadows, making it hard for the readers to guess what’s to come. Romance wasn’t quite there yet for the first book.

Now the second book was my fave out of all three volumes. The plot was so dark, extreme and exciting! I didn’t particularly enjoy reading the first crime scene. It was a bit too far-fetched for me. However, the rest after had my heart racing with suspense. I initially continued reading the second book as a read before hitting the sheets but it left me wide awake from the excitement and curiosity afterwards. Although the romance aspect for the couple have started at the start of the second book, I still found it abrupt. I honestly didn’t feel the chemistry between them as much as I did when I read the manhua. And that remained all throughout until the end of the main story. It’s unfathomable on how close they suddenly got when they barely interacted on an emotional level.

Disappointment hit me the hardest when I read the last book. The author seemed to be in a rush to end the novel. It all ended all too fast. With such a long plot build-up, I would have thought the ending would be mind-blowing, but no. Something was missing that I couldn’t pinpoint. The dots weren’t well-connected and the chemistry just wasn’t there from the start to the end. The contradictions stopped me from getting deep into it. Instead of drowning myself in the story, I kept on floating back up. I didn’t feel emotional for the main story and did so for the extras, which was quite ironic.

I do have to admit that maybe because I read the manhua first, it took away all the excitement I should have felt while reading the novel.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Hundreds of thousands of years ago, almost as long as the start of creation, there lived a group of people on this land. They were helpless wives and enduring mothers. They were benevolent and kind ones, who still offered love and compassion to the world that only turned its fangs to them.
And so gentleness must be accompanied by sharp teeth.’

THIS WAS SO GOOD!

WOW, what a turnaround from volume 1. Volume 1 was good but it didn’t drag me in like this one. There is so much going on here! First we have a murder/mystery/kidnapping in the first part. Then we have identity issues and secrets being revealed in the second part. And lastly we have another murder/revenge plot in the end. It’s bloody and violent and so good!

This felt like 2-3 stories all in one book but it was actually cohesive to me. It made sense. The strange behaviors that Xie Lanshan displays throughout the first and second book make much more sense after finishing this. Shen Liufei’s behavior towards Xie Lanshan is also starting to make more sense too.

I audibly gasped numerous times reading this because those secrets?! The plot twists?! I was baffled because nothing could have prepared me for allat. The amount of information that’s piled into 333 pages is crazy work.

I really enjoyed this and I was a bit nervous at first because I wasn’t a huge fan of volume 1, and I’ve also read volume 1 of Lip and Sword from the same author and I wasn’t a fan. ALSO! Xing Ming from Lip and Sword is in here hah.

[Zoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until this book, I didn’t really care about the main pairing of this series. They still aren’t my favorite, but I can understand where the author was going with them. Originally meant to be on opposite sides, they found themselves to be more similar than they thought. From that familiarity sparked something more, and they’re growing to be each other’s pillar. In that way, they’re nice to read.

However, they aren’t what makes the book interesting, or at least their romantic relationship doesn’t. It’s the concept of identity, of losing it and rediscovering it, or in Shen Liufei’s case, intentionally hiding it. Xie Lanshan’s situation is really intriguing because he didn’t choose to abandon his previous self, but now that he has been implanted with the original Xie Lanshan’s memories, who can really say that he’s not Xie Lanshan? Even Shen Liufei wants to believe that he’s simply the good cop that everyone thinks he is. He doesn’t want to question himself for falling in love with the one person responsible for the destruction of his life. That can be seen when he admits to Xie Lanshan that he doesn’t blame the culprit behind his family’s murders. He doesn’t want to hate Xie Lanshan even when he knows he should. These emotional complications along with Mu Kun’s return had me completely absorbed. I have no idea how this series is going to end in the third book, but I’m very excited.

[ㅤmelli ꧔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was batshit crazy damn-

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was the first book where I was instantly pulled in and then just sat there saying what the fuck over and over again.

[pareidolia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After getting used to how ridiculous this story can get, I enjoyed it more than the 1st volume. Partly because the big twist, silly as it is, is based in actual scientific research - with snails, okay, but it's not completely made up. The first case, where Xie Lanshan randomly joins a bunch of teenage girls on a cruise ship just to get entangled in a new case (because of course) is also a lot of fun. The second case engages with the fact that the only thing the public eye hates more than a woman who dares to survive sexual abuse, is a woman who survives and refuses to be a perfect victim. I appreciate the sentiment - the resolution is still a bit silly, but silly seems to be the name of the game here, so that's not really a criticism.

A pity that the story gets dragged down by a lackluster translation that could've used several more rounds in editing, especially wrt continuity. It sometimes reads like they translated sentence for sentence without ever checking how the sentences fit together. Not to mention all the comma splices.

[Alyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

***semi-spoilers ahead***

In the Dark Volume 2 hits the ground running with a well executed reveal to the main mystery set up in volume 1. Everyone is now well aware of who Xie Lanshan is and that goes about as well as to be expected.

Which is to say, it was an utter nightmare. If you like your stories heavy on the hurt, you're in for a real treat with this one. TW- suicidal ideation, depression, low self-worth, non-con touching (Mu Kun looking at you. Again) and feelings of isolation so real and ridiculously intense despite the fact that the plot depends on brain/soul transplants of all things.

Over the course of the novel we watch as Lanshan's entire life goes up in flames, while what's left of his sense of self becomes fractured. Because of what was done to him, he is essentially beaten down, ostracized and abandoned, later to be hunted down like a common criminal.

Shen Liufei, his lover and the matching piece to all of Lanshan's sharp and jagged edges, is the only one to stand beside him. Their relationship continues to be one of the best parts of the novel and despite how clearly messy their previous ties are to each other, it is amazing how well they work in context.

When Lanshan reaches for him, Liufei ALWAYS reaches back despite how he is characterized as unfazed and unaffected while doing so. They are rough with each other but unerringly affectionate- the comfort to all of the previous hurt and the last bit of hope and light in a world that's quickly becoming Lanshan's personal Hellscape.

That being said, at this point you may think you have everything relatively figured out, and that's okay.

You are allowed to be wrong and while I could go on and on about various interesting plot points and the like, I think you get it.

This novel had so many interesting twists that are foreshadowed throughout the novel so seamlessly that it's easy to miss on the first read, but exciting to pick up on the second. Additionally, the translation is much smoother this go around for those who struggled in volume 1.

So TLDR; please join me as I continue to lose my mind over this story about two shady boys working through past and current traumas, all the while affirming their love for each other. Highly recommended.

[Amanda Hudgins · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the actual fuck.

[roseaj · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely ludicrous scenarios. Dnf'd at 57%

[NiaKantorka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars rounded down

The plot definitely took some turns in this second book of the series. The writing style was still captivating but seemed more erratic than in the first book (not sure if I just overlooked it back then).
I saw some twists from a mile away but others - yay - totally caught me by surprise (which was superb because that’s what I’m after in a story about cops). What I definitely didn’t see coming was Xie Lanshang’s alter ego. I’m still not sure how to feel about that.

The relationship between XLS and Shen Liufei progressed a lot even faster than I thought it would. Guess, SLF had to burry his demons and dove right in. The physical aspects felt a bit rushed because I’m not sure they are both on the same page mentally. Anyway, it was a nice surprise to actually get some action (lol, I’m so used to Chinese books to shy away from sex that this one seemed rather explicit in comparison. It’s still harmless (if you ask me) and the violence and gore are much more intense and deserve more of a warning.

Yes, I still like In the Dark, but I wasn’t as in a flow in this second volume as I had been in the first volume.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am glad I continued this series. If you stopped reading because of whatever reason then you missed out. As I said in the last review the writing is choppy in places and sometimes very split personality. There is a reason for some of it. The rest I am attributing to translation. Noticeable but not enough to make me really want to stop reading. There is more than enough to keep me hooked here.

The writing between our two MCs Lanshan and Luifei is where the writing seems weakest. Unfortunately. I was hoping for more enjoyment there but the writing isn't doing it for me. Love the boys but writing could be a little more.. just more. That said the storyline and writing when it is surrounding the case or setup for the next mystery or twist is great. Everything seems to be coming together and making things make sense. I am interested to see where Mu Kun really comes into play and how that is going to change things. I am starting the last book now and can't wait to find out how this ends.

[donutdot · Rating 4 out of 5]

final rating: ★★★★☆

oh my god. screaming crying and all the verbs. In the Dark really picked up with all the loose threads and actual plot in the second volume and everything blew up and that cliffhanger?? i think i do like Jin Shisi Chai's writing now. i did not see myself getting into police danmei yet here i am. I AM CONVINCED.

(spoilers ahead)

i am also finally convinced of the romance. took awhile to get there, but the cruise arc blew me away with all the yearning from across the sea and the way Shen Liufei and Xie Lanshan always know what each other thinking and always trusting in each other. and the truth is revealed!! the body Xie Lanshan is inhabiting killed Shen Liufei's family (plot twist!!) and he doesn't want his revenge anymore. god. i can't wait to see Xie Lanshan realise this. and Mu Kun is back!!

special shoutout to the side couple Tao Longyue and Su Mansheng for getting through the ordeal. next book awaits!

[سیما تقوی · Rating 4 out of 5]

عجب پایانی داشت این جلد!
جلد دوم به نسبت جلد اول از هیجان بیشتری برخوردار بود، برخلاف جلد اول که به شکل گرفتن رابطه‌ها پرداخته بود، جلد دوم در مورد اسرار و ناگفته‌های بسیاری صحبت میکرد و یکدفعه ژانر کتاب از برومنس/جنایی، به حتی علمی-تخیلی/برومنس/جنایی تغییر پیدا کرد!
البته این تغییر ژانر و اضافه شدن یک واقعیت باورنکردنی که البته، در جلد۱ خیلی جزئی و خیلی زیرپوستی به آن اشاره شده بود خوشبختانه سیر داستان را خراب نکرد و برعکس، هیجان ماجرا را حتی بیشتر هم کرد!
پرونده آخر که در مورد قتل‌های زنجیره‌ای بود یک مقداری بیخود بود و نه هیجان آنچانی داشت و نه چیزی به ماجرا اضافه یا کم میکرد. یکجورهایی حتی پرونده خوبی هم نبود و جای سئوال بسیار داشت که در نهایت هم به هیچکدامشان جوابی که باید و شاید نداد اما پایان بسیار هیجان‌انگیز و غیرقابل تصوری داشت که مشخصا نوید جلد سوم بسیار خوبی را به خو��ننده می‌دهد!

[yamzreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤 Book Review 🖤
In the Dark Vol.2 | Jin Shisi Chai | Mystery Crime | 4.75 🌟
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🖤 Thoughts 🖤
Yallllll, the way this book was literally has me hooked was insane. The chemistry between the mc and the ML was top tier, and I definitely enjoyed this more than the first book. In this book, we finally get to know the backstory of both the ml and the mc and tbh I did not expect that at all and it had my jaw on the floor (it was literally something I would have never guessed at all) 🤯. I definitely enjoyed the flirtatious and serious banter between the ml and the mc and I definitely enjoyed how crazy crack vibes this book was. Buckle up for a wile ride when you read this one cause I feel like it's gonna get crazier in the final volume!

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man this series continues to be absolutely wild. Every single chapter was an adventure because I never knew what was coming next. I was even fooled a bit about the killer in that final case (or at least about the overall case). I really enjoyed getting to see Shen Liufei and Xie Lanshan’s relationship develop further in this book and I also loved all of the continuation of other plot points from the previous book. Is this a work of art? No. Is it realistic at all? No. But is it just a really fun, dramatic, wild ride? Absolutely. Can’t wait to read the last one and see how this whole sordid affair ends.

[xime ִֶָ࣪☾. · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was better than the first book. it was really entertaining and i couldn't put it down! i devoured it in one day because i truly was entranced with the plot and the characters.

there are some details that bother me more that they should. for example, at the end there's a exchange between our main character and a minor antagonist about a criminal case, and somehow xie lanshan knows details that he shouldn't??? it doesn't make any sense!!!!!

aside from that, i like the characters more and romance was a little better (and more believable) in this volume.

it ended on a cliffhanger, so i hope the third book doesn't disappoint.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75/5 this book had so many twists and turns. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, something new popped up and threw me on a loop. Everything is much more complicated than you at first think, and everyone is intertwined in ways you don't expect. Poor Xie Lanshan is in for the the biggest blow to his sanity in the next book, and I don't know if She Liufei will be able to keep him together.

The urgency of the second case was affected by the monologue, but how it ended was great. I'm so intrigued by how this whole story will wrap up now that Mu Kun is most firmly back in play.

[Helen (they or he) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, probably steepling her fingers: everything is going according to keikaku.

Me, face against the window glass: Hahahahaha YES! YES!

I don't know how or why people are so blindsided by the scifi aspect in this series. This fucking guy stayed underwater, not breathing for five minutes on PAGE ONE. He dreamt about the people who were being killed in THE FIRST CHAPTER. Come on. Where's your sense of... I don't know. Sense? The signs weren't even that subtle.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far out of the 2 volumes of 3 so far. 2 is my favorite. I will say I read the original 2 book volume release of this series when they had cut alot out. Im very glad they rereleased thos series to a 3 volume set, it flows better then the original 2 volume set did. The parts that were cut definitely add to the story.

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly speaking, extremely unrealistic and off the wall, but also very entertaining lmao. The plot twists included in this volume were surprisingly dark and twisted (as it were), which I liked even more lol.

[Shyam · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was much better than vol 1. the writing style got much better and the story flow was good. i can't keep it down and the chemistry of the leads were very good. the only fault I could see is the timeline. they were kind of confusing.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

even better than the first one!