Dark Spaces

Lilly Valentine #5

by Helen Black

Lilly Valentine tries to help a damaged teenager - but has she been horrifically abused, or is she lying to save her own skin?

Having recently split up from the father of her baby, Lilly is not in a happy place, matters being complicated further by the arrival of her ex-husband, needing a sofa to crash out on having been thrown out by his girlfriend.

In the midst of all this Lilly is asked by a child psychologist if she will help one of her patients: a girl currently sectioned having stolen a car while extremely drunk. While Lilly visits her she is introduced to Chloe, another unstable teenager who slips Lilly a note saying: 'Help us'.

And then Lilly's client is killed and Chloe accused of her murder. Her case is not helped by the fact that the words 'Help us' have been carved on the dead girl's stomach...

Genres: Crime

319 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2013

Reviews

[Jody Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not read a Lilly Valentine in a while

I had forgotten how good this series was thoroughly enjoyed this one so many twists and turns it kept you guessing all the way through.

[Cveta Trajcevska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top read

[E.L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The weirdest thing about this book was how amateurish it was. It wasn't exactly bad and actually, I found myself 'enjoying' it much more than the turgid Val McDermid (?) book that I read at the beginning of the year. I'm reading all this genre stuff for research, it is NOT my usual fare. This was alright. What was wrong with it, apart from seeing who the 'baddie' was on practically pg 1 was that you felt oddly unmoored throughout. So, you never knew where anyone was, physically, I mean. Now, I'm a huge 'underwriter' myself but I've never noticed it in any published book that I've ever read before and here it was glaringly obvious. It struck me that it should really be more suited to a screenplay or something, 90% of what was happening was conversations...Never believed the 'bad girl' subplot which was trite and never explained adequately but the oddest thing was a subplot running in the present tense at the same time which didn't hook up or connect with the main plot ever really, oh, until about 5 pgs before the end. Odd....not terrible but felt unfinished, rushed.

[T.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The Protagonist was feisty and flawed, a good combination. The story and characters were engaging and the humor a welcome relief from difficult subject matter. I have not read any of the previous books but well definitely be going back to the beginning.
I listened to the audio book and the reader was excellent. Very expressive and engaging. My only disappointment is that I have since learned Lilly Valentine is a Yorkshire lass but was read with a Southern accent. A shame I thought as reading about the author and get explanation of her character, being a Yorkshire lass is important to her and to who the character is which means something was lacking from a reading as a Southerner.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding and unputdownable, this thriller races along to a nail biting climax. Would definitely recommend this novel and will be looking for more by this author in the future.

Lilly Valentine is called in to speak to a young teen who has been sectioned after stealing a car while drunk. On a visit, she receives a note from another young teen, Chloe, asking for her help. When Lillys' own client is found dead, suspicion falls on Chloe but as the investigation gets underway, more and more accusations come to light. Are they lies to divert attention; delusions of a mentally ill mind, or may there be some truth lurking behind the walls of the Grove?

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lilly Valentine is trying to support a disturbed young woman when murder intervenes and complicates everything. At the same time she is struggling to cope with her young baby, whose father has a new, very determined, girlfriend. Deals with the darker side of life

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is certainly not a pretty story. It beggars belief that people can be so cruel to others particularly so when they are in such a position of trust.Thank goodness for the good people out there who go above and beyond to help those in need

[Vicki - I Love Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just OK, as far as the story goes, since I guessed who the killer was quite early. The audio narrator was good but, on the whole, I found the subject matter very depressing.

[ladylassitude · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story ruined by poor research, poor editing and lazy characterisation

[Vee Dowdie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn’t get into this book like I did with all the others, but Helen Black is still one of my favourite authors

[Lesley Eirich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preposterous story, but very well told, and, in this case, excellently read.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't judge a book by its cover!! I very nearly didn't read this book because of the tacky front cover, but i was in short supply on holiday! Extremely good, read in one sitting