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This Side of Dark

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Evil is always darkest in the shadows.

Welcome to the little coastal town of Ellis Cove, where bright holiday lights disguise an unspeakable evil. When an 11-year-old girl goes missing, the community rallies around the family. Grace is the only one who sees things as they really are—neglect and abuse lurking in the shadows of Ellis Cove's dead end streets.

As the search for the missing girl intensifies, Grace wrestles with a darker truth:

How far will she go to protect someone she loves?

452 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2023

81 people are currently reading
295 people want to read

About the author

Caren Hahn

18 books231 followers
CAREN HAHN is an award-winning fantasy and suspense author best known for the Owl Creek, small town suspense series, and Hatched, a dragon adventure series. She discovered at a young age that the only thing more thrilling than reading fictional adventures was writing them herself, though it took the disruption from a global pandemic before she was driven to share her stories with the world.

Caren has a passion for writing intense stories without explicit content so they can be enjoyed by a wide audience. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

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5 stars
68 (39%)
4 stars
66 (38%)
3 stars
31 (18%)
2 stars
5 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for Bookaholic__Reviews.
1,180 reviews156 followers
September 11, 2023
Phenomenal book.
Full review coming soon

Updated review:


"Evil is always darkest in the shadows"

In a quaint coastal town called Ellis Cove, as families prepare for the holiday season, an unspeakable evil hides in plain sight. An eleven year old girl with a questionable homelife goes missing. There are your usual suspects, abusive parents, and a homeless drifter. But could the truth be much  deeper and darker?

Complex characters and conflicting timelines blend fact and fiction. Can you solve her murder before it's too late? We all want the best for the ones we love, and most would go to any means to protect them. But what happens if protection comes at the cost of an innocent?

This book is phenomenal.  Hahn successfully wove a tale of deceit that had me questioning and doubting everyone. In combination with some tricky subject matter ( that she handled with grace *wink wink*  and respect), she created a unique storyline that also brings attention to a very real mental disorder.

This was my first foray into darkness with Hahn, but it will not be my last. If you're looking for a new author who is bringing something fresh and exciting to the world of thrillers, definitely check this one out!


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Casey Carter.
232 reviews
September 14, 2023
What a book! This hooks you from the very first page and you get that rush of wanting to know what happens next but not wanting it to end too quickly. The characters are great and well rounded. The plot works well and keeps you interested. The twists within this story are wild and not once did I ever have an inkling of what they were until they hit me in the face. Those are the stories I like and this one is an easy favorite of the year. I highly suggest this book!
Profile Image for Sarah.
97 reviews19 followers
July 11, 2024
Evil is always the unexpected.. and wow this book was amazing from the beginning. Twisty, Dark, so much suspense. Didn't want it to end at the same time I did to know what happened to Diana. I loved the POV of each character and told the story well with it. Definitely well written, had my attention from the start. The ants tho... freaked me out.

Thank you Caren Hahn for giving me a chance to read this amazing ARC!
Profile Image for Erica.
231 reviews21 followers
September 18, 2023
This book is definitely a must read ! I was hesitant because of the different characters and timelines but it was easy to keep track of the story! This was my first book by this author but definitely not my last. It had me hooked from the first chapter. Thank you Caren for the opportunity to read this book in advanced !
Profile Image for Beth.
701 reviews75 followers
March 6, 2024
Thank you Caren Hahn for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

’There’s an edge out there as far as her eyes can see. Beyond that, it’s easy to believe a person would fall into oblivion.’

My ideal thriller is one that keeps me guessing. It was immediately obvious that the characters were all harbouring their own individual secrets, and I couldn’t wait to find out how big or small they were.

The chapters jumped around with various timelines & each one was dedicated to a certain character. Whilst this has the potential to be confusing, it was executed very well in this book and Hahn knew exactly when to switch the timelines & perspectives around to have the maximum impact.

I always value an author who takes the time to fill in the gaps required to wholly imagine a scene, and Hahn is amazing at doing this. They may seem like insignificant details, but describing elements such as the location of windows in a room, or the smell of somebody’s aftershave, go a long way to assist the reader’s perception of the scene.

The story kept me on my toes in the first half, and only left me with more questions as we reached the second half. I was waiting with bated breath to see how the story would pan out by the time I got to the end, which says so much about how great the writing was. The build-up meant that the twist was kind of a slow burn, so it didn’t ‘wow’ me in the way that faster paced thrillers do, but I appreciated how fleshed out the preparation was.

This book was poignantly heart-wrenching; it was a difficult read for sure but the traumatic parts were dealt with in a very sensitive manner. Additionally, the author has trigger warnings on her website which are always greatly appreciated.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
27 reviews2 followers
September 16, 2023
I want to start off by saying thank you to Caren Hahn for providing me with this ARC of "This Side of Dark" for my honest feedback and review. This book takes place in a small coastal town in Oregon. A community is devastated when an 11 year old girl goes missing . Grace is the only character who sees what is truly happening behind the scenes and is torn on what to do...should she risk destroying a family by speaking up or should she continue to keep quiet about what she knows and observe as things progress?

I truly enjoyed River's character, and I appreciate the way that Hahn shines a light on her mental health condition in a respectful yet in-depth way. Grace is an incredible friend to River and only wants the best for her and everyone else around her. The character development was above and beyond with these two characters. The plot and characters are all incredibly unique in their own ways, and the way Hahn sets a scene and describes the surroundings is truly incredible. I always appreciate when an author doesn't skip over the small details (like the aroma of a room, the décor, the architecture, etc.) because these details are important for the reader to be able to truly immerse themselves into a story.

I have read numerous books where transitions in time and/or characters can get confusing, and it is hard to keep track of, but the changing timelines and changes from Grace's point of view to River's, to Evan's, and several others is easy to follow and keeps the reader captivated in the story. I was hooked from the start, but as the story progressed, I found myself unable to put this book down because I needed to know what would happen next! Make sure to read to the end to find out how to access a bonus epilogue to find out what happens to Grace, Evan, and River. It was the perfect ending to a great read.

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend or family member who is interested in thrillers, suspense, or mysteries and have already recommended it to a few people that I know would truly enjoy it and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
4 reviews1 follower
September 10, 2023
Wow!! First I must say that I received a free advanced copy of this book, as an ARC reviewer, and I reiterated that this review is my honest opinion! Now, WOW I got pulled into this book from the beginning. You can’t help but go through all the emotions that the characters are going through. You will find yourself going on a roller coaster of suspicion, confusion, curiosity, sympathy, compassion and rage! The characters, Grace, Evan and River are the drivers of this emotional roller coaster so you better hang on tight because you’re in for quite the ride! Caren Hahn has never disappointed me with any of her books so I expected that “This Side of Dark” would be up there with the best books I’ve ever read! Make sure you read the epilogue at the end because it ties up all the loose ends. Happy reading!
Profile Image for Morgan Whitten.
14 reviews
September 11, 2023
BIG thank you to Caren Hahn for this ARC in exchange for a review!

This book was heavy, twisty, dark, and so well written. My first book by this author and it will not be my last! I loved that this was a truly believable plot. All of the characters are so well thought out and complex, and I feel like I connected with each one.

My only trouble was with the different timelines as well as different characters. I found that I would sometimes have to reread to keep track of what was happening, but I think that is also because my brain is a million miles a minute 😂

This book will stick with me for a while. Great read!
2 reviews
September 12, 2023
This book was AMAZING. I received This side of dark as my first ARC and it did not disappoint at all. I was sucked in immediately by the characters and the way Caren tells the story. When a child disappears in a small town that has a difficult home life, it’s easy to think you know what happened. But the twists in this book, and the complexity of the characters made me keep changing my guess with each chapter. I cannot wait to read all of Caren Hahn’s books! Thank you Caren for allowing me to read an ARC of your book!
Profile Image for Ts1.
11 reviews
September 7, 2023
Thank you for an advanced copy for my honest review.

This was definitely a slow burn, but it was well worth the time spent reading it. There is so much going on with all the characters, but everyone all ties into one cohesive story. The mental illness is respectfully done, and it brings to light some of the issues that people deal with in an honest way... I didn't think that aspect of the book was heavily dramatized, and I wholeheartedly believed the life of the character.

This is a first read for me by this author, and once I got used to her style of writing and storytelling, I wanted more. When the story finally ended, I was craving more... not because I felt the story was incomplete, but because I felt an emotional connection with everyone in the book.
Profile Image for Darlene Ashworth.
44 reviews3 followers
September 4, 2023
OMG I loved this book so much. Having received an ARC of this book I was so excited to read it. Once I picked it up I hated when I had to put it down to take care of daily life requirements. I kept picking it up every free minute! The story of Grace, a music teacher for elementary kids in a small town and her pianist friend River was amazing. The story centered around 11 year old Diana, one of Grace’s students who had a challenging home life and suddenly disappeared after helping to decorate the church Christmas tree. The twists and mystery in the story was absolutely wonderful. I love a book when it is so well written that when you finish the book you are so satisfied with everything in the story. As an added bonus epilogue I cried happy tears and was even more thankful that this book entered my life. Caren Hahn is a new author to me and I can’t wait to read all of her books. This is definitely a must read. Loved it.
Profile Image for Mikaela Hope.
6 reviews7 followers
September 6, 2023
I was so honored to receive the ARC copy of This Side of Dark! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and thought the portrayal of DID was done extremely graciously.

POTENTIAL SPOILER
—in true suspense fashion details aren’t always given at once and this is where i personally needed it all at once - the absolute brain power i gave - making myself reread passages CONVINCED those characters were all-in-one while also gaslighting myself into thinking that’s ridiculous 😂 absolutely loved it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jenny.
13 reviews5 followers
September 9, 2023
Thank you Caren Hahn for the ARC. This is my very first ARC and it did not disappoint. As someone who have English as a 2nd language, this book was easy to read. I got a little confused with bouncing timeline but it was easy to get back on track. The portrayal of the characters also made me question but as I continue reading it all made sense. The whole story keeps me guessing until the end.
3 reviews
September 13, 2023
I'm so grateful that Caren Hahn provided me an opportunity to read this ARC of “This Side of Dark” in exchange for my honest review. Having never read a book by Hahn I went in with an open mind, unsure what to expect - This has turned out to be one of the best books I’ve read all year.

Hahn captured my interest from the first chapter taking me on a journey of “who dunnit”. The way that Hahn bounces back and forth between time periods and character perspectives made it easy to follow along, although there are some confusing characters who make more sense the further into the story you go – once it clicks you understand the way that Hahn executes these characters.

Hahn also has a way of setting the scene with her descriptions without the unnecessary wordiness that some authors provide too much of. Describing the way or pattern in which a light shines or small details of how a floor looks allows the reader to submerse themselves into the scene. These details allowed me to make my own “movie in my head” without taking from the story line.

It is important for readers to review triggers prior to reading the book but Hahn is extremely sensitive to both the character and the reader experience.

This book will take you on an emotional journey and keep you captivated to the very end. Although this is my first introduction to Hahn, it won’t be my last – she did not disappoint!

To note: Although marked as a 4 star book I would rate it more of 4.5 (I hold my stars close).
1 review1 follower
September 13, 2023
I'm so grateful that Caren Hahn provided me an opportunity to read this ARC of “This Side of Dark” in exchange for my honest review. Having never read a book by Hahn I went in with an open mind, unsure what to expect - This has turned out to be one of the best books I’ve read all year.

Hahn captured my interest from the first chapter taking me on a journey of “who dunnit”. The way that Hahn bounces back and forth between time periods and character perspectives made it easy to follow along, although there are some confusing characters who make more sense the further into the story you go – once it clicks you understand the way that Hahn executes these characters.

Hahn also has a way of setting the scene with her descriptions without the unnecessary wordiness that some authors provide too much of. Describing the way or pattern in which a light shines or small details of how a floor looks allows the reader to submerse themselves into the scene. These details allowed me to make my own “movie in my head” without taking from the story line.

It is important for readers to review triggers prior to reading the book but Hahn is extremely sensitive to both the character and the reader experience.

This book will take you on an emotional journey and keep you captivated to the very end. Although this is my first introduction to Hahn, it won’t be my last – she did not disappoint!

To note: Although marked as a 4 star book I would rate it more of 4.5 (I hold my stars close).
Profile Image for Susan.
337 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2023
Wow! What an interesting book! I truly enjoyed it.

It’s Christmas time, and music teacher Grace is preparing her chorus students for the annual Christmas concert.
Her piano assistant, River, is pregnant with her first child.

A few weeks before the Christmas, one of the chorus students, Diana, suddenly disappears. The police step in, but have no leads to follow. Grace is very affected by the missing child, and has a hard time focusing on her job. She grows close to River, as well as the town preacher, Evan.
However, secrets abound!

The story transitions between current time and the time leading up to Diana’s disappearance. Chapters also vaccilate between character’s points of view.
No spoilers, but the book sheds light on many topics, including child abuse,
and dissociative personality disorder.

Thank you to Caren Hahn, for inviting me to read an ARC, in return for my honest review.
5 stars
Profile Image for C.A. Powers.
Author 2 books78 followers
September 12, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐

The blurb of this book had me from the beginning and I will say this book did not disappoint!!

The plot is intricately woven, with plenty of twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. The pacing is just right, with a perfect balance between suspenseful moments and quieter, introspective scenes.

With its well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes, this book is a must-read. It is an engaging and suspenseful
story that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.

Caren in a delicate way, writes about themes of neglect, trauma, and the power of the human mind, which made an impact on me.
Profile Image for Megan.
1 review
September 14, 2023
I want to thank Caren Hahn for the ARC of This Side of Dark in exchange for my honest review. I will admit, at first I was confused by the time jumps. It seemed to go back and forth between past and present every chapter. But, the more I read, the easier it was to understand. It didn’t bother me and made a lot of sense in the end. It is such a well thought out story and the character development is A+. I thought I had the story figured out, but the surprise at the end completely threw me for a loop. I enjoyed reading this story and am excited to check out other reads from this author
Profile Image for Jules MacLeod.
Author 2 books53 followers
August 7, 2025
This Side of Dark is a captivating and emotionally charged well written thriller that kept me hooked throughout. Caren’s storytelling is both suspenseful and heartfelt, with well-developed characters who feel incredibly real. The pacing is perfect, with twists that surprised me without ever feeling overdone. I was moved by the emotional journey of Grace alongside the other characters in the tension-filled plot. This book is a fitting read for anyone who likes a gripping story with depth and nuance. Highly recommend!
6 reviews
September 12, 2023
This story will send you on a thriller journey that forces you into a situation of trying to figure out not only what happened, but what you would do in the same situation. When the lines between right and wrong are not clear and the complexity of disorders and protecting those we care about come into play, how would we respond?
This is a page-turner that one hopes could turn into the next book made into a TV series!
If you like mysteries and complex relationships this story is for you!
3 reviews
September 14, 2023
This was my first read by the author! At first, I was a little confused by the way the timelines/point of views were changing but once I got into the flow of the book, I loved how it was able to all come together to make a beautiful ending. I think it really showed DID in a different light and didn’t make it seem as scary as most portrayals tend to do. Really great read and I’d love to read more from the author!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
480 reviews13 followers
September 19, 2023
"A small town. A missing girl. A woman who knows too much.
Welcome to the little coastal town of Ellis Cove, where bright holiday lights disguise an unspeakable evil.
When an 11-year-old girl goes missing, the community rallies around the family. Grace is the only one who sees things as they really are—neglect and abuse lurking in the shadows of Ellis Cove's dead end streets. As the search for the missing girl intensifies, Grace wrestles with a darker truth:
How far will she go to protect someone she loves?".
What will happen, will the missing girl be found, will secrets come out, you will have to read the book to find out. Great characters, the story builds on them as the book goes along and with the plot. I give this book 4 stars.
Profile Image for Danielle LeFevre Hatch.
129 reviews
November 20, 2023
Another phenomenal read from Caren Hahn. Definitely the most disturbing of her books, but so well written. I shouldn't have been surprised, because I know how her books captivate me, but I had the hardest time putting this down.

I love how Caren handles incredibly sensitive issues in a way that is both delicate and subtle but doesn't minimize the reality of the issues themselves. Very thoughtfully done.

My only complaint is that the lighthouse on the cover is where my husband proposed, and seeing it depicted in such a creepy way is hurtful to me. 😂
Profile Image for Ashleigh Cuteri.
11 reviews2 followers
September 5, 2023
OMG I don’t even know how to put my feelings into words! Thank you Caren for ARC. The author is amazing at being able to follow different timelines for different characters and it not be confusing. The twists and turns in this story made for this book to be very hard to put down and deal with daily life.

This book will be one that stays with me! Definite must read
Profile Image for Liliana Mondragon.
7 reviews
September 10, 2023
Multiple point of views and interesting characters, jumping from the past and present…. The book had me gasping at every turn.

Once the character of Libby was introduced, I couldn’t put it down! Every page turn connected the dots to something in the past. Learning more about the character and the backstory had me hooked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
48 reviews
September 12, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book. It kept my attention and the need for wanting to know what was going to happen.
A few times at the beginning I was a little confused, but that was quickly worked out as I started to understand more about Grace and River.
The ending came quickly with some crazy twists I didn't expect! The author did a great job with it.
600 reviews9 followers
September 6, 2023

This fast-paced thriller portrays the dark side of life! Plenty of twists and turns! It took me on an emotional roller coaster.
Profile Image for Christine aman.
2 reviews
September 9, 2023
This was my first book by Caren Hahn, but it won’t be my last. I love books that are told from different characters perspectives, and this one was done well. I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this book, and it was worth the lack of sleep. Highly recommend.
392 reviews41 followers
September 19, 2023
I loved the book! I liked how the author created the setting on the Ellis Cove. The characters were well developed that you feel a deep immediate connection. The story that grabs you and emerges you into a heartfelt story of a little girl goes missing. I kept turning the pages because I was emotionally invested on what happened to her. The author does a brilliant job creating mystery and unexpected twists. The ending was executed perfectly. Highly recommend
Profile Image for Kali Clark.
28 reviews
December 28, 2023
Many thanks to the author Caren Hahn, for the ARC opportunity. This book was great! It does have a good bit of time jumping around/viewpoint changing so it can get a little confusing when things start to pick up. Overall, I loved it!

Trigger Warnings! There are references to child sexual abuse, but details are very limited to mostly broad statements of it having occurred. There are also points regarding Mental Illness, specifically Dissociated Identity Disorder and some self-harming behaviors. I know these are topics many can be uncomfortable with and like to make readers aware!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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