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In The Black Room #1
The Black Room, Part One: In The Black Room
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE AMAZON UK #1 HORROR BESTSELLER, 'THE STONE MAN', COMES A NEW MYSTERY TO UNRAVEL...
What Is The Black Room?
There are hangovers, there are bad hangovers, and then there's waking up inside someone else's head. Thirty-something bartender Charlie Wilkes is faced with this exact dilemma when he wakes to find finds himself trapped inside The Black Room; a space consisting of impenetrable darkness and a huge, ethereal screen floating in its centre. Through this screen he is shown the world of his female host, Minnie.
How did he get there? What has happened to his life? And how can he exist inside the mind of a troubled, fragile, but beautiful woman with secrets of her own? Uncertain whether he's even real or if he is just a figment of his host's imagination, Charlie must enlist Minnie's help if he is to find a way out of The Black Room, a place where even the light of the screen goes out every time Minnie closes her eyes...
Part one of a thrilling three-part novel, 'The Black Room, Part One: In The Black Room' starts with a bang and doesn't let go. Each answer only leads to another mystery in a story guaranteed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
What Is The Black Room?
There are hangovers, there are bad hangovers, and then there's waking up inside someone else's head. Thirty-something bartender Charlie Wilkes is faced with this exact dilemma when he wakes to find finds himself trapped inside The Black Room; a space consisting of impenetrable darkness and a huge, ethereal screen floating in its centre. Through this screen he is shown the world of his female host, Minnie.
How did he get there? What has happened to his life? And how can he exist inside the mind of a troubled, fragile, but beautiful woman with secrets of her own? Uncertain whether he's even real or if he is just a figment of his host's imagination, Charlie must enlist Minnie's help if he is to find a way out of The Black Room, a place where even the light of the screen goes out every time Minnie closes her eyes...
Part one of a thrilling three-part novel, 'The Black Room, Part One: In The Black Room' starts with a bang and doesn't let go. Each answer only leads to another mystery in a story guaranteed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2013
69 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
About the author
Luke Smitherd
32 books593 followersLuke Smitherd is the author of The Stone Man (shortlisted for Audible Book of the Year 2015) and its sequels as well as several other novels. A former singer and guitarist, he now writes full time, hosts the comedy music-discussion show Cracker Juice, and performs around Los Angeles as a stand-up comic. He divides his time between the United States and the United Kingdom.
www.lukesmitherd.com
www.lukesmitherd.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 4, 2016
This strange sci-fi caught my attention because of its fantastic premise. Charlie Wilkes awakens one morning to find he is now just a presence inside someone else's head! That someone else is the troubled Minnie. Charlie and Minnie have to work together to find out what is going on. Is Charlie real or is he just a figment of Minnie's damaged mind?
The concept was intriguing from the get go and luckily the whole story, as short as it was, was gripping. Both Charlie and Minnie were likeable characters that were easy to root for. The story had plenty of mystery as each new answer the pair found lead only to more questions. It also had a few touching emotional moments as well as a few horrifying ones!
I enjoyed this weird and unusual sci-fi so I'll be moving straight on to part two of this four part mini novella series.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by the author Luke Smitherd and while his performance was far from perfect it was tolerable.
The concept was intriguing from the get go and luckily the whole story, as short as it was, was gripping. Both Charlie and Minnie were likeable characters that were easy to root for. The story had plenty of mystery as each new answer the pair found lead only to more questions. It also had a few touching emotional moments as well as a few horrifying ones!
I enjoyed this weird and unusual sci-fi so I'll be moving straight on to part two of this four part mini novella series.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by the author Luke Smitherd and while his performance was far from perfect it was tolerable.
March 27, 2013
another fantastic story from my new favourite author! I won't give anything away in this review, other than that it left me dying to find out more! The two main characters are eminently relatable, reassuringly normal and immediately interesting. I honestly can't wait to see how they deal with this insane situation in which they find themselves.
Luke Smitherd's books are all available on Amazon for ridiculously cheap prices and I can honestly say I've never read anything quite like them before. So go and treat yourself to one of his offerings, I promise you won't be disappointed!
Luke Smitherd's books are all available on Amazon for ridiculously cheap prices and I can honestly say I've never read anything quite like them before. So go and treat yourself to one of his offerings, I promise you won't be disappointed!
February 11, 2023
CLIFF HANGER FR!?? U ONLY GOT 2 STARS CUZ TBE STORY WAS GOOD BUT A CLIFFHANGER?!?
January 4, 2017
I thought this book was brilliant. Very original and such a page turner. Sometimes I was mostly frustrated because I couldn't guess the outcome! Im a reader who is very much constantly trying to work out how a story will end, and i really didn't see this ending coming. A few times Smitherd could have taken the story down a few different avenues and maybe some people would find this frustrating but for me it kept me on my toes. And I loved this book for that. The love just seems to burst from this novel from the two characters. I wish I could write like this!
February 10, 2019
I liked the initial concept of this, but I just don't think it grabbed me like I thought it would.
I also felt there was a few silly moments, like explaining obvious metaphors.
It was interesting enough for a free ebook and I'm sure others may like it but personally I don't know if I'll be buying the rest of the story.
I also felt there was a few silly moments, like explaining obvious metaphors.
It was interesting enough for a free ebook and I'm sure others may like it but personally I don't know if I'll be buying the rest of the story.
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April 25, 2022This book gave me a head ache
I have never seen a more boring and 'headachious' book like this.How did you get the title of bestseller .👎👎.I can't give you zero stars ,so I was forced to give u that one star.
By the way I am a girl actually and you will probably think I wrote this to bring u down. On the contrary I have read better books
I have never seen a more boring and 'headachious' book like this.How did you get the title of bestseller .👎👎.I can't give you zero stars ,so I was forced to give u that one star.
By the way I am a girl actually and you will probably think I wrote this to bring u down. On the contrary I have read better books
December 3, 2019
It's Herman's Head just weirder and more lonely
A great start and a mystery that I will solve by reading the other 3 parts. I want to find out who , what and why? I have my own opinions formed already but intrigued to see if I'm completely wrong.
A great start and a mystery that I will solve by reading the other 3 parts. I want to find out who , what and why? I have my own opinions formed already but intrigued to see if I'm completely wrong.
April 11, 2022
Entertaining and likable
This is part 1. It's one of those great stories though where you can say this is silly but allows you relax and park your brain. It's a likable story and I need to track down the rest of the series.
This is part 1. It's one of those great stories though where you can say this is silly but allows you relax and park your brain. It's a likable story and I need to track down the rest of the series.
January 5, 2018
Was glad when it ended. Felt like forever to get there. Great concept, just too slow to get there....
June 3, 2018
Interesting
Unlike most free kindle books, this one kept me reading. I loved it. Will probably have to read the rest now.
Unlike most free kindle books, this one kept me reading. I loved it. Will probably have to read the rest now.
June 29, 2019
I loved this book. Jumping right into the second one.
July 25, 2019
Wait what?
2 chapters....? I mean it was free and I’m curious to know wtf is going on but I think I’ll pass on this “series”
2 chapters....? I mean it was free and I’m curious to know wtf is going on but I think I’ll pass on this “series”
January 29, 2024
Very intriguing premise, can`t wait to read the rest of it
November 3, 2024
Had this one for a long time; read it today and it ended up being a surprisingly enjoyable read. I rate it 4.3 stars.
April 20, 2025
Not exactly my normal genre. Worst part is the author leaves you hanging until you read the next in the series. Because of that I'm rating this one 3.8 stars.
February 11, 2017
Another mind-bending book from Mr. Smitherd. The book style is Mr. Smitherd typical story telling, you can never predict what happens next which is a fantastic alternative to today's mostly commercial "best sellers" with serial releases targeted at fulfilling a contract term or what have you.
I do see some similarity to Blake Crouch, another somewhat of a new comer, give or take, however, Luke does have his unique style.
Keep up the good work. Your work just keeps getting better.
I do see some similarity to Blake Crouch, another somewhat of a new comer, give or take, however, Luke does have his unique style.
Keep up the good work. Your work just keeps getting better.
December 4, 2023
Extremely well written! Definitely mind-bending. Actually gave me very strange dreams.
February 10, 2014
Luke Smitherd could become on of my favorite authors. Smitherd drew me in with the first few paragraphs of this first of four part story. It appears that Smitherd likes writing about the Human Situation (or perhaps its not the Human situation but that of the paranormal). Charlie meets Minnie when he wakes up after a night on the town. However, his surrounds have changed. He's not where he thought he was, he actually doesn't know where he is, and I might add its dark and quite. Then all of a sudden it dawns (pardon the pun) on him that he's never been here (wherever here is) before. Is he in a very dark room or actually in the mind of another person. A person he can talk to, a person who controls when he sees, etc.
This story could, probably should, be made into a movie at some point. I honestly have to believe that Smitherd should contact a producer/director and make a fabulous movie deal. Totally enjoyed the read, especially for a FREEBIE.
This story could, probably should, be made into a movie at some point. I honestly have to believe that Smitherd should contact a producer/director and make a fabulous movie deal. Totally enjoyed the read, especially for a FREEBIE.
December 27, 2016
Strange but awesome
When I was first reading this book I was a little confused but it made me want to read more to find out what was happening.
This book is about a guy named Charlie who is trapped inside someone's mind, who he finds out the mind belongs to a woman name minnie, they try and figure out how he got into her mind and how to sort it out.
I really enjoyed this book, it was different from books I have read before and I liked that.
The writing style was lovely as I could picture everything and piece together what was going on, I can't wait to read the rest of the books and find out what happens.
When I was first reading this book I was a little confused but it made me want to read more to find out what was happening.
This book is about a guy named Charlie who is trapped inside someone's mind, who he finds out the mind belongs to a woman name minnie, they try and figure out how he got into her mind and how to sort it out.
I really enjoyed this book, it was different from books I have read before and I liked that.
The writing style was lovely as I could picture everything and piece together what was going on, I can't wait to read the rest of the books and find out what happens.
August 29, 2016
Brilliant.
This is the first book I have read by Luke Smitherd and what a great read it was. To be honest when i started reading it i didn't even know what the story was about - which is often the best way to enjoy a good read. Let everything be a surprise. Its a completely original concept, and the pace of the story as you (and they) try to make sense of what has happened to Charlie and Minnie really works.
I'm looking forward to reading the following parts of the book and catching up on his other books.
This is the first book I have read by Luke Smitherd and what a great read it was. To be honest when i started reading it i didn't even know what the story was about - which is often the best way to enjoy a good read. Let everything be a surprise. Its a completely original concept, and the pace of the story as you (and they) try to make sense of what has happened to Charlie and Minnie really works.
I'm looking forward to reading the following parts of the book and catching up on his other books.
December 29, 2016
When I was first reading this book I was a little confused but it made me want to read more to find out what was happening.
This book is about a guy named Charlie who is trapped inside someone's mind, who he finds out the mind belongs to a woman name minnie, they try and figure out how he got into her mind and how to sort it out.
I really enjoyed this book, it was different from books I have read before and I liked that.
The writing style was lovely as I could picture everything and piece together what was going on, I can't wait to read the rest of the books and find out what happens.
This book is about a guy named Charlie who is trapped inside someone's mind, who he finds out the mind belongs to a woman name minnie, they try and figure out how he got into her mind and how to sort it out.
I really enjoyed this book, it was different from books I have read before and I liked that.
The writing style was lovely as I could picture everything and piece together what was going on, I can't wait to read the rest of the books and find out what happens.
March 12, 2014
The premise and story are good but I felt that because it is the first of 4 parts (I think ?) it ended too soon for me ..., I understand the premise and I guess it has done its job because I do want to read the next part to find out what happens next, it just left me with no answers and wanting more. Still it was a freebie off Amazon so I can't moan too much. This is my 2nd Luke Smitherd book after The Stone Man, I like his writing style, ideas and sarcastic humour...worth checking out.
January 31, 2015
This is an interesting idea for a book. poor Charlie is having a real bad day when he wakes up inside the body of a woman.What he calls the black room of her mind. Minnie Cooper is at first surprised and skeptical, but as the day progresses, she realizes that something strange is indeed going on. The ending of this short novel leaves the reader hanging a little, but I guess that's where the next book comes into play. good job on a very interesting story.
July 14, 2016
Luke has an amazing ability to capture your attention and take you on a memorable journey. In the darkness thats were you'll know me pulls you in from the first sentence and it keeps you turning the pages until your done. When it's over, you'll wish you had more of it to read! It is genuinely an engaging, unique and intelligent story! I could go on and on about this book and Luke's other books, I suggest you read them!
September 19, 2014
I don't want to give any details about the plot of this book away, as I don't want to spoil another readers enjoyment.
What I will say it this book is very clever, and fantastically enjoyable, so much so that I've already bought the next part as I want more answers!! I love a book that keeps my brain ticking, and this book has done just that.
Very well written, 5 stars!
What I will say it this book is very clever, and fantastically enjoyable, so much so that I've already bought the next part as I want more answers!! I love a book that keeps my brain ticking, and this book has done just that.
Very well written, 5 stars!
August 30, 2015
Can't get why some people are giving this a negative review for being too short or uninteresting ... it's a FREE part 1 of a 4 stage novel.
I found the concept very original and it pulled me in. Part's 2, 3 and 4 are equally brilliant (although Part 3 was my favourite) and on my Kindle they were only GBP 1.99 each.
I enjoyed the story and the ending (of Part 4) excellent.
I found the concept very original and it pulled me in. Part's 2, 3 and 4 are equally brilliant (although Part 3 was my favourite) and on my Kindle they were only GBP 1.99 each.
I enjoyed the story and the ending (of Part 4) excellent.
July 26, 2016
Another great story from Luke Smitherd. Interesting, original, and well written. Have to wait until May 1 to get part 2, which is nice because at least its soon, but not nice because i want to know what happens next NOW :)
April 24, 2014
Another great read!
Another great read!
Just finished Part 1 and waiting for Part 2 to download. I love this story and can't wait to read more! The characters are great, and as in The Stone Man their thoughts are so descriptive which I find very interesting.
Another great read!
Just finished Part 1 and waiting for Part 2 to download. I love this story and can't wait to read more! The characters are great, and as in The Stone Man their thoughts are so descriptive which I find very interesting.
December 19, 2016
this was just a strange read, but it was strangely exciting and absolutely hilarious at time! it's set in England and has a lot of English humour so probably wouldn't be as good for foreign readers but I definitely reccomend!!
June 1, 2014
Didn't live up to the hype from the positive reviews.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews