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The Night Side
Twenty years of secrets. One deadly truth.
When Ruby Carlson was eighteen, she ran away from her home in Stoneybrook, Montana, and vowed she’d never return. Never return to life under the control of her manipulative mother, Ida, a self-styled medium and psychic scammer who made a career out of ruining people’s lives. Never return to the small town where enemies lurk at every turn.
But now, twenty years later, Ruby is back. Her mother is missing, presumed dead, and Ruby reluctantly returns to a home filled with chilling memories to settle Ida’s affairs. Did she really commit suicide by drowning, or is this another dark scheme? Ruby thought she knew everything about her mother, but finds herself unraveling a web of lies and secrets to reveal a story more twisted than anyone could have imagined . . .
When Ruby Carlson was eighteen, she ran away from her home in Stoneybrook, Montana, and vowed she’d never return. Never return to life under the control of her manipulative mother, Ida, a self-styled medium and psychic scammer who made a career out of ruining people’s lives. Never return to the small town where enemies lurk at every turn.
But now, twenty years later, Ruby is back. Her mother is missing, presumed dead, and Ruby reluctantly returns to a home filled with chilling memories to settle Ida’s affairs. Did she really commit suicide by drowning, or is this another dark scheme? Ruby thought she knew everything about her mother, but finds herself unraveling a web of lies and secrets to reveal a story more twisted than anyone could have imagined . . .
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2023
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About the author
M.M. DeLuca
7 books91 followersM. M DeLuca spent her childhood in the ancient cathedral city of Durham in North-Eastern England. She attended the University of London, became a teacher, and then immigrated to Canada. There she also studied writing under her mentor, Pulitzer Prize winning author, Carol Shields. She writes in many genres, including historical, suspense and YA sci-fi. She also writes for screen and TV..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 1, 2025
M.M. DeLuca's latest darkly thrilling tale of survival and obsession, THE NIGHT SIDE—will keep you glued to your AirPods (or pages) from beginning to end. In this twisty, multi-layered domestic suspense of secrets, lies, and a web of deceit, the past and present converge for an explosive finale.
This well-crafted mystery relentlessly uncovers a multitude of dark secrets, leading readers down a delicious path of fear, lies, and long-awaited justice, with an ending that will leave jaws dropping.
Ruby Carlson grew up in a highly dysfunctional family in Stoneybrook, Montana. Her mother, Ida, grew up as a carnie also in a dysfunctional and abusive environment and a fight for survival.
Ida, her mother is a life-long scam artist and will do anything for money. She forces Ruby to go along with her psychic scam or else she does not eat or get clothes. This woman is crazy, dangerous, and a psychopath.
Her selfish mother does not care about her daughter's school work or life, just manipulating and controlling Ruby to continue to scam others and take their money. She is pure evil. Ruby was traumatized; being underage forced to go along with it because there was no escape.
Her only outlet was her best friend, Aidan. However, she had to leave him to escape this madness.
When she turned eighteen, Ruby left and said she would never look back. She escapes to England, cutting all ties with the town and her crazy mother, and becomes a well-respected archaeologist.
Now, twenty years later, she receives a message from Aidan, her old boyfriend and first love, that her mother is believed to have drowned herself and she needs to return to sort out her affairs.
When she arrives in Montana, she learns she has many enemies. Many people lost money and their savings due to their manipulation and cons. However, Ruby is just a child forced to lie and deceive when she does not want to.
However, some liked Ida because she knew how to charm and stab you in the back the next minute. Now, who can Ruby trust in this town?
The more Ruby learns, the more sinister things appear. Is Ida dead, or is this a setup to escape all the debt that now falls to Ruby? Soon, she learns tidbits of the past, and no one is as they appear. Something is going down, and she is determined to solve the mystery. She wants to leave and return to her everyday life in London.
Ruby is forced to revisit memories she's worked hard to leave behind. Ruby's entire life has been a lie, the more she learns.
How far does Ida's manipulation go? What else has Ida taken away from Ruby? (more than you can imagine). From twists and turns leading to a showdown of MURDER. How far will some go to keep their dark secret hidden?
How many people are involved in Ida's scheming, and who will die next? Will Ida and Aidan finally wind up together?
Atmospheric, dark, and sinister, a well-crafted psychological thriller (with a Gothic-vibe) in which the torments of the past return to wreak havoc in the present—the devastating power of family secrets.
THE NIGHT SIDE is a brilliant, wicked, spine-chilling tale of greed, justice, obsession, revenge, and one woman's dark past. The author cleverly depicts psychological terror, trauma, and moral ambiguity in her well-developed characters and the shocking betrayal.
My first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more.
AUDIOBOOK: I listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Helen Laser, who delivered an outstanding performance. She made the characters come alive. INTENSE! Ida's voice was chilling, rooting for Ruby all the way.
I highly recommend the audiobook!
Ideal for fans of Lisa Unger, Jennifer Hillier, Ruth Ware, Freida McFadden, and Ellen Marie Wiseman's The Life She Was Given.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for a gifted ALC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Mar 12, 2024
My Rating: 4.5 rounded to 5 Stars
March 2024 Must-Read Books
March Newsletter
This well-crafted mystery relentlessly uncovers a multitude of dark secrets, leading readers down a delicious path of fear, lies, and long-awaited justice, with an ending that will leave jaws dropping.
Ruby Carlson grew up in a highly dysfunctional family in Stoneybrook, Montana. Her mother, Ida, grew up as a carnie also in a dysfunctional and abusive environment and a fight for survival.
Ida, her mother is a life-long scam artist and will do anything for money. She forces Ruby to go along with her psychic scam or else she does not eat or get clothes. This woman is crazy, dangerous, and a psychopath.
Her selfish mother does not care about her daughter's school work or life, just manipulating and controlling Ruby to continue to scam others and take their money. She is pure evil. Ruby was traumatized; being underage forced to go along with it because there was no escape.
Her only outlet was her best friend, Aidan. However, she had to leave him to escape this madness.
When she turned eighteen, Ruby left and said she would never look back. She escapes to England, cutting all ties with the town and her crazy mother, and becomes a well-respected archaeologist.
Now, twenty years later, she receives a message from Aidan, her old boyfriend and first love, that her mother is believed to have drowned herself and she needs to return to sort out her affairs.
When she arrives in Montana, she learns she has many enemies. Many people lost money and their savings due to their manipulation and cons. However, Ruby is just a child forced to lie and deceive when she does not want to.
However, some liked Ida because she knew how to charm and stab you in the back the next minute. Now, who can Ruby trust in this town?
The more Ruby learns, the more sinister things appear. Is Ida dead, or is this a setup to escape all the debt that now falls to Ruby? Soon, she learns tidbits of the past, and no one is as they appear. Something is going down, and she is determined to solve the mystery. She wants to leave and return to her everyday life in London.
Ruby is forced to revisit memories she's worked hard to leave behind. Ruby's entire life has been a lie, the more she learns.
How far does Ida's manipulation go? What else has Ida taken away from Ruby? (more than you can imagine). From twists and turns leading to a showdown of MURDER. How far will some go to keep their dark secret hidden?
How many people are involved in Ida's scheming, and who will die next? Will Ida and Aidan finally wind up together?
Atmospheric, dark, and sinister, a well-crafted psychological thriller (with a Gothic-vibe) in which the torments of the past return to wreak havoc in the present—the devastating power of family secrets.
THE NIGHT SIDE is a brilliant, wicked, spine-chilling tale of greed, justice, obsession, revenge, and one woman's dark past. The author cleverly depicts psychological terror, trauma, and moral ambiguity in her well-developed characters and the shocking betrayal.
My first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more.
AUDIOBOOK: I listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Helen Laser, who delivered an outstanding performance. She made the characters come alive. INTENSE! Ida's voice was chilling, rooting for Ruby all the way.
I highly recommend the audiobook!
Ideal for fans of Lisa Unger, Jennifer Hillier, Ruth Ware, Freida McFadden, and Ellen Marie Wiseman's The Life She Was Given.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for a gifted ALC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Mar 12, 2024
My Rating: 4.5 rounded to 5 Stars
March 2024 Must-Read Books
March Newsletter
December 16, 2023
I had a hard time getting into this book but once I did I enjoyed it. The story centers on Ruby, who returns home to her small town in Montana when she receives word that her estranged mother, Ida, is missing. Ida was a manipulator who made Ruby’s life hell, prompting her to run away as a teen and leave the love of her life, who of course also lives back home in that small town and is now a police officer investigating Ida’s disappearance.
The story takes place in dual timelines between Ruby’s teen years and the current time. The flashback chapters give good insight into the ways that Ida manipulated and cheated those around her, as well as Ruby’s reluctant involvement. I understood why Ruby did the things she did and felt like she really had no choice but to flee. In the recent timeline, lots of secrets were exposed, which is when I really got into the story. I thought the ending was really well done and liked how it turned out.
Overall, I thought this was a good book despite the slow start and would recommend to those who like psychological thrillers and mysteries. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story takes place in dual timelines between Ruby’s teen years and the current time. The flashback chapters give good insight into the ways that Ida manipulated and cheated those around her, as well as Ruby’s reluctant involvement. I understood why Ruby did the things she did and felt like she really had no choice but to flee. In the recent timeline, lots of secrets were exposed, which is when I really got into the story. I thought the ending was really well done and liked how it turned out.
Overall, I thought this was a good book despite the slow start and would recommend to those who like psychological thrillers and mysteries. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2024
Thank you @mmdelucaauthor and @severnhouseimprint for my gifted copy.
The Night Side is a slow burn dual timeline mystery. M. M. DeLuca does an incredible job developing the characters and the story, slowing unraveling the details at a pace that keeps you interested every step of the way.
Ruby left her home in Montana 20 years ago to distance herself from her family. Now, her mother Ida has disappeared and she has been called back home to make sense of the disappearance.
The past timeline was the perfect way to reveal the past. My heart broke for Ruby, then and now. Such a toxic family, it was heartbreaking.
As more of the story unfolds, it's both shocking and soul crushing since I was so emotionally invested in these characters.
M. M. DeLuca is a great storyteller. This is my 2nd book by her and I will definitely read more!
The Night Side is a slow burn dual timeline mystery. M. M. DeLuca does an incredible job developing the characters and the story, slowing unraveling the details at a pace that keeps you interested every step of the way.
Ruby left her home in Montana 20 years ago to distance herself from her family. Now, her mother Ida has disappeared and she has been called back home to make sense of the disappearance.
The past timeline was the perfect way to reveal the past. My heart broke for Ruby, then and now. Such a toxic family, it was heartbreaking.
As more of the story unfolds, it's both shocking and soul crushing since I was so emotionally invested in these characters.
M. M. DeLuca is a great storyteller. This is my 2nd book by her and I will definitely read more!
January 27, 2024
Another creepy-good novel revolving around Ruby and her mother, Ida. Ruby was raised with her grifting con-artist mother who conned people out of thousands by "seeing" their futures through visions using Ruby as her pawn. Vacillating between the past and present, the book shows us Ruby's current life in England until she is called back to her small town when remains found suggest Ida may be dead. And so begins an incredible tale of who's who and who is responsible for all the crazy things that have transpired since their "fortune telling" days. It's a whirlwind and kept me breathless until I finished!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
October 2, 2023
With the nights getting colder and Autumn upon us, it's time to delve into the darker mysteries and DeLuca (Author) has just that with The Night Side. I actually forgot what this was about before picking it up, so essentially went in blind and I'm glad I did.
This story is told in almost two time lines from the point of view of Ruby. We know that Ruby has no love for her mother, the woman who manipulated poor Ruby for years making her life a pure hell. Step forward twenty years and we find Ruby escaped (Although we don't find out how yet) and has to return to the town of Stoneybrook as her mother is missing, if not dead. The one place Ruby swore she would never return to and especially not for Ida her mother.
This tale is a mystery, thriller. There is some romance, a hint of 'skeptical' paranormal and a lot of lies. I love books where you have to question everything and everyone. I certainly felt that about Stoneybrook! There are a fair few characters you'll meet along the way. Most strongly portrayed and fairly interesting. I felt like I could sense each one of them well. This book is rich in colour and I liked the setting of the age old town, especially when we were back in Ruby's childhood.
I read this over 24 hours in two sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. Right up until the end I was still guessing about some things and loved the conclusion. DeLuca (Author) really reeled me in with this one and I was impressed I didn't work everything out! A solid 4 stars, I will be looking at more titles by the author in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
This story is told in almost two time lines from the point of view of Ruby. We know that Ruby has no love for her mother, the woman who manipulated poor Ruby for years making her life a pure hell. Step forward twenty years and we find Ruby escaped (Although we don't find out how yet) and has to return to the town of Stoneybrook as her mother is missing, if not dead. The one place Ruby swore she would never return to and especially not for Ida her mother.
This tale is a mystery, thriller. There is some romance, a hint of 'skeptical' paranormal and a lot of lies. I love books where you have to question everything and everyone. I certainly felt that about Stoneybrook! There are a fair few characters you'll meet along the way. Most strongly portrayed and fairly interesting. I felt like I could sense each one of them well. This book is rich in colour and I liked the setting of the age old town, especially when we were back in Ruby's childhood.
I read this over 24 hours in two sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. Right up until the end I was still guessing about some things and loved the conclusion. DeLuca (Author) really reeled me in with this one and I was impressed I didn't work everything out! A solid 4 stars, I will be looking at more titles by the author in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
February 1, 2024
I found myself entangled in a web of mystery and suspense that didn't loosen its grip until the very last page. This fast-paced narrative unfolds like a tightly wound coil, each revelation adding another layer of intensity.
The protagonist, Ruby Carlson, pulls you into her world with a narrative that is both haunting and captivating. Her return to the small town of Stoneybrook, after two decades, unravels a tapestry of secrets and deception, centering around her enigmatic mother, Ida. The atmosphere is thick with tension as Ruby delves into the shadows of her past, uncovering a truth that is as chilling as it is unexpected.
DeLuca masterfully navigates the complexities of family dynamics and the long-reaching consequences of deceit. The small-town setting becomes a character in itself, with every alley and hidden corner harboring secrets that keep you guessing. The author skillfully intertwines the past and present, creating a narrative rhythm that mirrors the beating of a heart in suspense.
"The Night Side" doesn't shy away from the darkness that resides in human relationships and the consequences of buried secrets. The atmospheric storytelling, combined with well-crafted characters and unexpected twists, makes this a standout thriller. The sense of urgency and the need to unravel the truth mirror the pulse of the narrative, creating a heart-pounding experience that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.
The protagonist, Ruby Carlson, pulls you into her world with a narrative that is both haunting and captivating. Her return to the small town of Stoneybrook, after two decades, unravels a tapestry of secrets and deception, centering around her enigmatic mother, Ida. The atmosphere is thick with tension as Ruby delves into the shadows of her past, uncovering a truth that is as chilling as it is unexpected.
DeLuca masterfully navigates the complexities of family dynamics and the long-reaching consequences of deceit. The small-town setting becomes a character in itself, with every alley and hidden corner harboring secrets that keep you guessing. The author skillfully intertwines the past and present, creating a narrative rhythm that mirrors the beating of a heart in suspense.
"The Night Side" doesn't shy away from the darkness that resides in human relationships and the consequences of buried secrets. The atmospheric storytelling, combined with well-crafted characters and unexpected twists, makes this a standout thriller. The sense of urgency and the need to unravel the truth mirror the pulse of the narrative, creating a heart-pounding experience that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.
February 8, 2024
This was my first M. M. DeLuca novel, and I was so impressed with both the author’s lush, sophisticated prose and the breakneck pacing of this standalone psychological thriller. This is the story of Ruby Carlson, daughter of a psychic scammer who returns home when she learns of her mother’s suspicious death to dig into her world of secrets, deceit, and perhaps even crime. Expect powerful storytelling and a family dynamic that will give you serious chills.
April 15, 2024
Not the greatest, not the worst. Just a mid-tier mystery/thriller book. I'm not sure I liked the main character very much. The whole book just had a grimy air about it. Was kind of expecting more fanfare to be involved with the missing/presumed dead mother and the flashbacks from the MCs childhood.
October 26, 2023
Ida, scammer extraordinaire, is missing. Ruby, her daughter, and one-time coerced associate, returns to her hometown to lay the ghosts of their past. I use the word ‘ghosts’ advisedly because some of the characters might not be as corporeal as the rest. Ida has always been a grifter, running small cons and scamming strangers, neighbours, friends, and family. From an early age Ruby has been a tool in some of these deceptions but, from the age of about ten she is used as a sort of medium, sort of fortune teller, apparently going into a trance and reporting messages from beyond. She is considered weird by her peers so has only one real friend, Aidan, who becomes her anchor to reality and proper boyfriend as they become teenagers. Ida’s scam meanwhile has matured into a form of emotional blackmail; clients who have lost children, especially babies, are persuaded that Ruby can channel their lost child for a fee, a large fee, a recurrent fee. Once she reaches eighteen, an adult and so free from her mother, Ruby escapes to England, cutting all ties, where she becomes a well-respected archaeologist with an amazing ability to find important relics. After twenty years her cosy world is disrupted by a message from Aidan telling her that her mother is believed to have drowned herself, and that she need to come back to sort out her affairs. It will be a chance for her to reconnect with her first, and enduring, love, but also a return to the small Montana town where everyone know everybody, and all of them hated Ida and haven’t forgotten Ruby’s role.
The story is told entirely from Ruby’s point of view, in alternating chapters; present day in the present tense and events from the past in the past tense. This works extremely well, as the reader learns the background which explains each new incident as it occurs. The possibility that Ruby is really psychic is dangled at intervals, never stated as such but rather presented as “through a glass, darkly”. The plot is well formed and rolls along at a fair pace until the dénouement. The latter is a set piece which unfurls at almost break-neck speed, the speed helping, I think, to disguise the fact that the logistics are a bit off. Overall it’s a very good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
The story is told entirely from Ruby’s point of view, in alternating chapters; present day in the present tense and events from the past in the past tense. This works extremely well, as the reader learns the background which explains each new incident as it occurs. The possibility that Ruby is really psychic is dangled at intervals, never stated as such but rather presented as “through a glass, darkly”. The plot is well formed and rolls along at a fair pace until the dénouement. The latter is a set piece which unfurls at almost break-neck speed, the speed helping, I think, to disguise the fact that the logistics are a bit off. Overall it’s a very good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
September 14, 2023
"Twenty years of secrets. One deadly truth." This is the gripping premise of "The Night Side" by Laurie Anne Forest, a psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
The story revolves around Ruby Carlson, who fled her manipulative and fraudulent mother, Ida, two decades ago, vowing never to return to her hometown of Stoneybrook, Montana. However, when Ida goes missing and is presumed dead, Ruby is compelled to return home to settle her mother's affairs. What follows is a riveting tale of mystery and intrigue as Ruby unravels a web of lies and secrets.
Laurie Anne Forest masterfully weaves a narrative filled with chilling memories, complex characters, and unexpected twists.
The story revolves around Ruby Carlson, who fled her manipulative and fraudulent mother, Ida, two decades ago, vowing never to return to her hometown of Stoneybrook, Montana. However, when Ida goes missing and is presumed dead, Ruby is compelled to return home to settle her mother's affairs. What follows is a riveting tale of mystery and intrigue as Ruby unravels a web of lies and secrets.
Laurie Anne Forest masterfully weaves a narrative filled with chilling memories, complex characters, and unexpected twists.
November 24, 2023
This one would get a 5 star, if it didn't take me forever to get into it. I would read a chapter at a time and I would feel like it was never going to get to the good part. All of a sudden, one night I was lying in bed reading and bam, there it was. It has mystery, romance and thrills. Ruby leaving the small town she was from and then having to come back to face the past was part of what kept me reading. Besides the slow start, I would read more from this author.
April 8, 2024
Overall, this book is a pretty good psychological thriller with enough twists to keep one invested long enough to see it through.
When Ruby was eighteen, she left her small hometown of Stonybrook, Montana and relocated England in hopes of finally escaping her manipulative, narcissistic mother, Ida. Ida was a liar, a scammer, and everything in between. She coached Ruby from a very young age and used her to do part of her evil bidding with her. Because of this, Ruby has lived with quite a bit of guilt (and trauma) and has sworn to never ever return back home..
Up until her mother is presumed to be dead.
Suicide.
Twenty years later and Ruby decides to bravely return home in search of answers. Was Ida really dead? Did this narcissistic, selfish woman not go out with a bang but instead quietly offed herself? Was this "suicide" staged and all another one of a scammer's scam?
Ruby leaves Somerset and returns back to Stonybrook wanting an answer to that one question: What happened to Ida? But instead, she receives A LOT of answers. Way more than she was in for!
This book is pretty good, but there are a few things I didn't like. As small of a detail as it may be, Ruby is an archeologist, and I didnt care for it much because now she is "digging up dirt", both figuratively and literally (digging in Ida's backyard). I didn't care for the whole psychic powers thing. I felt like this would have been a better read if Ida had just made out to be a scammer, scamming. But incorporating her daughter actually having a gift just made it come off as a try hard. Unfortunately, as entertaining as it was meant to be, I didn't care for the family drama towards the end. One revelation would have sufficed, but the multiple lies and revelations just ended up being overkill. The ending was also expected and a bit cliché.
3 stars, however I'd definitely still recommend it!
Thank you NetGalley for another wonderful read!
When Ruby was eighteen, she left her small hometown of Stonybrook, Montana and relocated England in hopes of finally escaping her manipulative, narcissistic mother, Ida. Ida was a liar, a scammer, and everything in between. She coached Ruby from a very young age and used her to do part of her evil bidding with her. Because of this, Ruby has lived with quite a bit of guilt (and trauma) and has sworn to never ever return back home..
Up until her mother is presumed to be dead.
Suicide.
Twenty years later and Ruby decides to bravely return home in search of answers. Was Ida really dead? Did this narcissistic, selfish woman not go out with a bang but instead quietly offed herself? Was this "suicide" staged and all another one of a scammer's scam?
Ruby leaves Somerset and returns back to Stonybrook wanting an answer to that one question: What happened to Ida? But instead, she receives A LOT of answers. Way more than she was in for!
This book is pretty good, but there are a few things I didn't like. As small of a detail as it may be, Ruby is an archeologist, and I didnt care for it much because now she is "digging up dirt", both figuratively and literally (digging in Ida's backyard). I didn't care for the whole psychic powers thing. I felt like this would have been a better read if Ida had just made out to be a scammer, scamming. But incorporating her daughter actually having a gift just made it come off as a try hard. Unfortunately, as entertaining as it was meant to be, I didn't care for the family drama towards the end. One revelation would have sufficed, but the multiple lies and revelations just ended up being overkill. The ending was also expected and a bit cliché.
3 stars, however I'd definitely still recommend it!
Thank you NetGalley for another wonderful read!
September 29, 2023
The Night Side brings a tinge of the supernatural to a twisty thriller about Ruby Carlson, who left home and an abusive mother behind only to return two decades later when her mother goes missing under suspicious circumstances. The small town Montana setting feels just as claustrophobic as the house Ruby grew up in, full of small minds and desperation, and is beautifully portrayed both in the present and in scattered flashbacks to Ruby's strange youth.
Although I enjoyed reading it, The Night Side left me feeling curiously like it should have been a movie instead - the writing has a cinematic quality to it, all set pieces and big personalities, and there are some things in the plot that hit a bit wacky in prose, but would be much easier to pull off as a performance than a paragraph. The climax felt a bit overwrought as happens with a bunch of people freaking out in a room, but again I could picture it so perfectly - someone needs to slide this book on over to Netflix, it could really work!
I'm a tough sell too on the trope of two people falling in love as teenagers and then just literally never getting over it or moving on to a new love, but this book did a better job than most on selling me on the chemistry between the romantic leads. I was pulling for them by the end, although it would have been easy to just have one of them as a divorcée or something (after twenty years!!) to make them both seem less like weirdos. And although it's touched on later in the book a little bit, I was a little disappointed that Ruby's life as (and even path to becoming) an archaeologist wasn't a bigger part of the book - it's such a specific career choice, and one you need such dedication to pursue, that I was surprised it didn't figure in more. It's a really cool and unusual job for an MC to have in this genre, it felt like a missed opportunity to work it in more!
Overall this was a pleasant read with some surprising twists, I'd recommend it as an unusual take on the thriller genre.
My thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Although I enjoyed reading it, The Night Side left me feeling curiously like it should have been a movie instead - the writing has a cinematic quality to it, all set pieces and big personalities, and there are some things in the plot that hit a bit wacky in prose, but would be much easier to pull off as a performance than a paragraph. The climax felt a bit overwrought as happens with a bunch of people freaking out in a room, but again I could picture it so perfectly - someone needs to slide this book on over to Netflix, it could really work!
I'm a tough sell too on the trope of two people falling in love as teenagers and then just literally never getting over it or moving on to a new love, but this book did a better job than most on selling me on the chemistry between the romantic leads. I was pulling for them by the end, although it would have been easy to just have one of them as a divorcée or something (after twenty years!!) to make them both seem less like weirdos. And although it's touched on later in the book a little bit, I was a little disappointed that Ruby's life as (and even path to becoming) an archaeologist wasn't a bigger part of the book - it's such a specific career choice, and one you need such dedication to pursue, that I was surprised it didn't figure in more. It's a really cool and unusual job for an MC to have in this genre, it felt like a missed opportunity to work it in more!
Overall this was a pleasant read with some surprising twists, I'd recommend it as an unusual take on the thriller genre.
My thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2023
I liked this book but I just couldn't get into the story. I didn't like the writing style but overall the story was good.
January 13, 2024
The Night Side, by M.M. Deluca, is set in the small fictional town of Stoneybrook, Montana, where everyone knows everyone. Ruby grew up there, but her memories of the place are intertwined with the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, Ida.
Ida earns a living performing seances for locals, duping them out of their money, a racket she forced Ruby into until Ruby fled to England when she turned eighteen. Ruby returns to Stoneybrook twenty years later when she learns Ida has disappeared, presumed dead.
The chapters alternate between flashbacks to the 1990s/ early 2000s, when Ruby is young, and present day, as Ruby settles Ida’s estate while a growing feeling builds inside her that Ida might still be alive.
I especially enjoyed the flashbacks, where Ruby comes of age with her friend and soon boyfriend, Aiden. These chapters remind me of the way Stephen King writes about kids and teenagers. The adult world is corrupt, and people suck, but what else can you do but go on? Ruby and Aiden understand this, so they live each day like it’s their last.
The writing is vivid, and there are several twists I didn’t see coming. Aiden returns in the present-day chapters to tease the reader with the potential of a romance that’s been on pause for two decades.
If you like plot-driven thrillers, then you’ll love The Night Side.
Ida earns a living performing seances for locals, duping them out of their money, a racket she forced Ruby into until Ruby fled to England when she turned eighteen. Ruby returns to Stoneybrook twenty years later when she learns Ida has disappeared, presumed dead.
The chapters alternate between flashbacks to the 1990s/ early 2000s, when Ruby is young, and present day, as Ruby settles Ida’s estate while a growing feeling builds inside her that Ida might still be alive.
I especially enjoyed the flashbacks, where Ruby comes of age with her friend and soon boyfriend, Aiden. These chapters remind me of the way Stephen King writes about kids and teenagers. The adult world is corrupt, and people suck, but what else can you do but go on? Ruby and Aiden understand this, so they live each day like it’s their last.
The writing is vivid, and there are several twists I didn’t see coming. Aiden returns in the present-day chapters to tease the reader with the potential of a romance that’s been on pause for two decades.
If you like plot-driven thrillers, then you’ll love The Night Side.
March 19, 2024
The Night Side
By M.M. DeLuca
Read by Helen Laser
First of all, I just have to state that I have ranted in the past about books that are supernatural in any way with no mention at all in the blurb.
I'm not a fan of ghosties, psychics, vampires, zombies, succubi, hippogryphs...you take my point.
Now I love a good Harry Potter-esque book, and don't spurn an occasional (very occasional) sci-fi, BUT (and this is a very big one) I do NOT care for starting a book then finding out it's supernatural.
Do NOT kill the kid.
Do NOT kill the dog (or cat, or chicken, or naked mole rat, etc)
And please, PLEASE do not spring a psychic on me.
Now then, it will come as no surprise that this particular book did, unfortunately, do just that. However, out of respect for Netgalley and a very nice publisher, I endeavored to persevere.
That said, Ruby has been living in England since she ran away from home 20 years ago at the age of 18. Her mother, Ida, is/was (not spoiling any more) a con woman who began giving seances and palm readings and the like for her neighbors (although, oddly, they live in a small town so if she should be rumbled, she would pretty much have to move, but I'm digressing) and makes Ruby get involved.
Many things happen, to be explained, and Ruby gets a call saying that Ida is dead. She goes home to wrap up the estate, such as it was, and is told by a rather snarky detective that her mother is actually missing presumed but, until they find proof or a body, Ruby is left in limbo waiting, for no real legit reason IMO. I mean, she's not under arrest and I, personally, would've bidden a firm goodbye and hopped a plane home. What is a small town police department going to do, extradite her?
The only reason I can see is that she has been told all Ida's assets were in Ruby's name all this time, and that she will likely inherit a load of debt. But, as far as I know, England is across the pond, not on the moon. No reason she can't pay bills online like the rest of the world.
Well, to be fair, she also seems to be staying for a "boy" she has upon whom she has been crushing for twenty years, despite having had no word in all that time. When she reaches town, she learns he is now a police detective as well and apparently on the case, and still seems to have no interest in reconnecting with Ruby.
Whatever. The heart wants what it wants and all that.
Other things happen.
Suffice to say, at one foot into the book, I was already shaking my head and rolling my eyes.
It didn't bode well, but still I continued.
The story is told in two timelines, today and "the 90s/2000s". That kept it a bit more interesting in the beginning, as present day Ruby is the one refusing to leave town and, therefore, annoying to me. Eventually, both present and past Ruby got sincerely on my nerves.
Although Ms. DeLuca resides in Canada and studied in England, some elementary Googling to fact check laws and practices in the US would have been prudent. For instance, alcohol is most definitely not available in a go cup or a mug or a bottle from a bar here. You may not order a drink, then stroll out the door. Other facts that could easily have been corrected by at least an editor, if not the author, were wrong. But nothing influential to the plot.
I found Ruby entirely unlikable. Easily influenced, melodramatic, and lacking basic common sense. Ida was pretty predictable in that she performs pretty much stereotypically as a psychic would. Frankly, I'm a bit confused as to why so many people in a small town fall for it. But that's only one thing in this book that is inexplicable.
None of the other characters are compelling in any way. Aiden (the love interest) is the only one who seems to possess any intelligence whatsoever.
At 52% of the book, there was a slight surprise.
At 60% I sped the book up to x1.75 and still found myself skipping ahead. At 66% I sped up to x2. And skipped. I didn't seem to miss anything important.
The reveal wasn't overly shocking or very interesting since I never became overly attached to any of the characters anyway.
As far as the narrator, she reads Ida's dialogue in a quasi-southern accent which grates, as I AM from the southern US and, therefore, HAVE a Southern accent and it's a pet peeve, I guess. I have heard much worse, however, so it wasn't torture. She has a cadence, but not a too obvious one. This is another peeve, as I tend to start listening to the rhythm of the words instead of the meaning during books which have readers who possess that particular foible.
After a complete suspension of disbelief, logic, quite a few contradictions, misused words, and ridiculous coincidences, The Night Side (not super sure what the title means) was a disappointment.
Hopefully others have a better experience than I did.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen in exchange for an honest review.
By M.M. DeLuca
Read by Helen Laser
First of all, I just have to state that I have ranted in the past about books that are supernatural in any way with no mention at all in the blurb.
I'm not a fan of ghosties, psychics, vampires, zombies, succubi, hippogryphs...you take my point.
Now I love a good Harry Potter-esque book, and don't spurn an occasional (very occasional) sci-fi, BUT (and this is a very big one) I do NOT care for starting a book then finding out it's supernatural.
Do NOT kill the kid.
Do NOT kill the dog (or cat, or chicken, or naked mole rat, etc)
And please, PLEASE do not spring a psychic on me.
Now then, it will come as no surprise that this particular book did, unfortunately, do just that. However, out of respect for Netgalley and a very nice publisher, I endeavored to persevere.
That said, Ruby has been living in England since she ran away from home 20 years ago at the age of 18. Her mother, Ida, is/was (not spoiling any more) a con woman who began giving seances and palm readings and the like for her neighbors (although, oddly, they live in a small town so if she should be rumbled, she would pretty much have to move, but I'm digressing) and makes Ruby get involved.
Many things happen, to be explained, and Ruby gets a call saying that Ida is dead. She goes home to wrap up the estate, such as it was, and is told by a rather snarky detective that her mother is actually missing presumed but, until they find proof or a body, Ruby is left in limbo waiting, for no real legit reason IMO. I mean, she's not under arrest and I, personally, would've bidden a firm goodbye and hopped a plane home. What is a small town police department going to do, extradite her?
The only reason I can see is that she has been told all Ida's assets were in Ruby's name all this time, and that she will likely inherit a load of debt. But, as far as I know, England is across the pond, not on the moon. No reason she can't pay bills online like the rest of the world.
Well, to be fair, she also seems to be staying for a "boy" she has upon whom she has been crushing for twenty years, despite having had no word in all that time. When she reaches town, she learns he is now a police detective as well and apparently on the case, and still seems to have no interest in reconnecting with Ruby.
Whatever. The heart wants what it wants and all that.
Other things happen.
Suffice to say, at one foot into the book, I was already shaking my head and rolling my eyes.
It didn't bode well, but still I continued.
The story is told in two timelines, today and "the 90s/2000s". That kept it a bit more interesting in the beginning, as present day Ruby is the one refusing to leave town and, therefore, annoying to me. Eventually, both present and past Ruby got sincerely on my nerves.
Although Ms. DeLuca resides in Canada and studied in England, some elementary Googling to fact check laws and practices in the US would have been prudent. For instance, alcohol is most definitely not available in a go cup or a mug or a bottle from a bar here. You may not order a drink, then stroll out the door. Other facts that could easily have been corrected by at least an editor, if not the author, were wrong. But nothing influential to the plot.
I found Ruby entirely unlikable. Easily influenced, melodramatic, and lacking basic common sense. Ida was pretty predictable in that she performs pretty much stereotypically as a psychic would. Frankly, I'm a bit confused as to why so many people in a small town fall for it. But that's only one thing in this book that is inexplicable.
None of the other characters are compelling in any way. Aiden (the love interest) is the only one who seems to possess any intelligence whatsoever.
At 52% of the book, there was a slight surprise.
At 60% I sped the book up to x1.75 and still found myself skipping ahead. At 66% I sped up to x2. And skipped. I didn't seem to miss anything important.
The reveal wasn't overly shocking or very interesting since I never became overly attached to any of the characters anyway.
As far as the narrator, she reads Ida's dialogue in a quasi-southern accent which grates, as I AM from the southern US and, therefore, HAVE a Southern accent and it's a pet peeve, I guess. I have heard much worse, however, so it wasn't torture. She has a cadence, but not a too obvious one. This is another peeve, as I tend to start listening to the rhythm of the words instead of the meaning during books which have readers who possess that particular foible.
After a complete suspension of disbelief, logic, quite a few contradictions, misused words, and ridiculous coincidences, The Night Side (not super sure what the title means) was a disappointment.
Hopefully others have a better experience than I did.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2023
A dark, twisty and disturbing thrilller that kept me hooked and reading even if I found a bit too slow at times.
Well plotted, poignant and gripping
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Well plotted, poignant and gripping
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 15, 2024
This story follows Ruby Carlson whose Mother Ida recently goes missing and is presumed dead. Told in two timelines from Ruby's pov, we learn that Ida has made a lot of enemies in the past and Ruby is associated with her misdeeds.
It took me a few chapters to get hooked but once I did I was fully engaged in the story as the tension increased steadily until the final reveal. I also appreciated the last chapter which ties up all the loose ends and left me feeling satisfied.
It has family secrets with a little psychic element thrown in. The title seems a bit random to me unless I totally missed how it relates to the book. Other than that a solid read with many twists and red herrings to keep you interested.
It took me a few chapters to get hooked but once I did I was fully engaged in the story as the tension increased steadily until the final reveal. I also appreciated the last chapter which ties up all the loose ends and left me feeling satisfied.
It has family secrets with a little psychic element thrown in. The title seems a bit random to me unless I totally missed how it relates to the book. Other than that a solid read with many twists and red herrings to keep you interested.
May 20, 2024
3.5 stars. I found this book to be both interesting and yet strange, and a bit creepy.
January 6, 2024
Reading Between the Wines book review #2/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Night Side
Author: M.M. Deluca
Available now!
Sipping thoughts: So many secrets, lies, deceit, and evil. Ruby’s childhood was not the loving one that we all dream of. Her scamming mother made her do things that she did not want to. But twenty years later when Ruby returns, she cannot recall what memories and feelings are real or just dreamt. After her mother goes missing and all the ghosts of her pasts return, Ruby realizes she has to face them and figure out what happened so that she can move forward. There were a lot of surprises in this book and some things you can sense coming. I really enjoyed reading this!
Cheers and thank you to @SevernHouse and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheNightSide.
#TheNightSide #MMDeluca #SevernHouse #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Night Side
Author: M.M. Deluca
Available now!
Sipping thoughts: So many secrets, lies, deceit, and evil. Ruby’s childhood was not the loving one that we all dream of. Her scamming mother made her do things that she did not want to. But twenty years later when Ruby returns, she cannot recall what memories and feelings are real or just dreamt. After her mother goes missing and all the ghosts of her pasts return, Ruby realizes she has to face them and figure out what happened so that she can move forward. There were a lot of surprises in this book and some things you can sense coming. I really enjoyed reading this!
Cheers and thank you to @SevernHouse and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheNightSide.
#TheNightSide #MMDeluca #SevernHouse #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult
January 4, 2024
This is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully weaves two timelines through the eyes of Ruby, a woman haunted by her manipulative mother, Ida.
After fleeing from her deceptive mother two decades ago, Ruby reluctantly returns to her hometown, Stoneybrook, to sort out her mother's affairs after Ida’s mysterious disappearance, even possibly her death.
Deluca's narrative skillfully unfolds a suspenseful plot, with the exploration of lies and secrets that are waiting to be uncovered. The tension and intrigue make this novel a compelling and riveting read for fans of psychological mysteries.
After fleeing from her deceptive mother two decades ago, Ruby reluctantly returns to her hometown, Stoneybrook, to sort out her mother's affairs after Ida’s mysterious disappearance, even possibly her death.
Deluca's narrative skillfully unfolds a suspenseful plot, with the exploration of lies and secrets that are waiting to be uncovered. The tension and intrigue make this novel a compelling and riveting read for fans of psychological mysteries.
December 7, 2023
Summary
It’s been twenty years since Ruby left Stoneybrook, Montana, having vowed to never return. Throughout her childhood, her manipulative mother Ida forced her to join her schemes, exploiting Ruby to ravage the local community with false mediumship and psychic scams. With her mother missing and presumed dead, she's forced to return to settle her affairs. However, Ruby has her doubts - what really happened to Ida?
Review
The Night Side by M.M. DeLuca is a mystery thriller that focuses on the life of thirty-something Ruby.
On receiving a call from her old flame, Aidan, she must go home to settle her presumed dead mother's affairs.
It's been twenty years since Ruby Carlson fled Stoneybrook, Montana, and she vowed to never return.
A teenage runaway, she has lived an idyllic life in England since she was eighteen and enjoys a successful career as an archaeologist.
Now she's back in a place brimming with disturbing memories and horrific secrets. Here, she must uncover the truth, what really happened to Ida?
The novel is told from Ruby's perspective throughout with dual timelines, each chapter offering either a present or past account. This allows the reader to understand the extent of Ida's manipulation, coercion and control of Ruby in her childhood and the damage it's caused in adulthood.
Essentially, Ruby must now unravel the truth amidst half-truths, whispers, lies and secrets. While doing so, she also hopes to rekindle her bond with Aidan and then get as far away from Stoneybrook as possible.
DeLuca knows how to keep the reader interested, masterfully revealing snippets of information throughout to guide us through the mystery and keep us hooked.
As we reflect on the chapters set in the past, we see that ultimately, Ruby's life was very lonely. Her only childhood joy was her friendship and courtship with Aidan. Thankfully, DeLuca weaves a blossoming and charming relationship between them in their youth.
As a teenager and spurred on by Aidan, we see Ruby's confidence develop. Eventually, rebelling leads to her ultimate goal, freedom.
However, on her return to Montana in the present, we can almost sympathise with the community in Stoneybrook. Understandably, feelings haven't changed toward Ruby and her mother. Ostracised by most, their past contempt is a feeling Ruby remembers all too well.
In turn, this treatment also seems unfair. Essentially, Ida forced a young Ruby into her fraudulent schemes, exploiting her 'gift' to ravage the local community, especially those she perceived as vulnerable. DeLuca creates a myriad of complex relationships due to this, which has the reader questioning who is right and wrong.
Despite this disdain, Ruby seemingly had little choice as a child, controlled by the manipulative and narcissistic, Ida. She must navigate these hostile reactions, unlock difficult memories and deal with current emotions, all charging at full speed. In doing so, a realistic character is crafted, imperfect and complex. One we root for, hoping she gets the answers she seeks.
In order for Ruby to overcome her past she must fully embrace her present situation. She must solve the mystery and untangle her trauma if she hopes to enjoy true freedom in the future.
Overall, The Night Side is a thrilling read. It offers complex characters, well-illustrated environments and twists aplenty throughout its well-paced narrative.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book, all views are my own*
It’s been twenty years since Ruby left Stoneybrook, Montana, having vowed to never return. Throughout her childhood, her manipulative mother Ida forced her to join her schemes, exploiting Ruby to ravage the local community with false mediumship and psychic scams. With her mother missing and presumed dead, she's forced to return to settle her affairs. However, Ruby has her doubts - what really happened to Ida?
Review
The Night Side by M.M. DeLuca is a mystery thriller that focuses on the life of thirty-something Ruby.
On receiving a call from her old flame, Aidan, she must go home to settle her presumed dead mother's affairs.
It's been twenty years since Ruby Carlson fled Stoneybrook, Montana, and she vowed to never return.
A teenage runaway, she has lived an idyllic life in England since she was eighteen and enjoys a successful career as an archaeologist.
Now she's back in a place brimming with disturbing memories and horrific secrets. Here, she must uncover the truth, what really happened to Ida?
The novel is told from Ruby's perspective throughout with dual timelines, each chapter offering either a present or past account. This allows the reader to understand the extent of Ida's manipulation, coercion and control of Ruby in her childhood and the damage it's caused in adulthood.
Essentially, Ruby must now unravel the truth amidst half-truths, whispers, lies and secrets. While doing so, she also hopes to rekindle her bond with Aidan and then get as far away from Stoneybrook as possible.
DeLuca knows how to keep the reader interested, masterfully revealing snippets of information throughout to guide us through the mystery and keep us hooked.
As we reflect on the chapters set in the past, we see that ultimately, Ruby's life was very lonely. Her only childhood joy was her friendship and courtship with Aidan. Thankfully, DeLuca weaves a blossoming and charming relationship between them in their youth.
As a teenager and spurred on by Aidan, we see Ruby's confidence develop. Eventually, rebelling leads to her ultimate goal, freedom.
However, on her return to Montana in the present, we can almost sympathise with the community in Stoneybrook. Understandably, feelings haven't changed toward Ruby and her mother. Ostracised by most, their past contempt is a feeling Ruby remembers all too well.
In turn, this treatment also seems unfair. Essentially, Ida forced a young Ruby into her fraudulent schemes, exploiting her 'gift' to ravage the local community, especially those she perceived as vulnerable. DeLuca creates a myriad of complex relationships due to this, which has the reader questioning who is right and wrong.
Despite this disdain, Ruby seemingly had little choice as a child, controlled by the manipulative and narcissistic, Ida. She must navigate these hostile reactions, unlock difficult memories and deal with current emotions, all charging at full speed. In doing so, a realistic character is crafted, imperfect and complex. One we root for, hoping she gets the answers she seeks.
In order for Ruby to overcome her past she must fully embrace her present situation. She must solve the mystery and untangle her trauma if she hopes to enjoy true freedom in the future.
Overall, The Night Side is a thrilling read. It offers complex characters, well-illustrated environments and twists aplenty throughout its well-paced narrative.
Read the original The Night Side by M.M. Deluca book review on The LDN Gal
*Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book, all views are my own*
April 15, 2024
Entertaining romp through a woman's memories. Creepy at times, but it was a slow to get into book. When the story starts moving it doesn't stop til you breathlessly reach the end. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced audiobook listen!
April 4, 2024
20 years ago, Ruby Carlson ran away from home to escape her abusive mother who roped her into scamming people out of their livelihoods. Now the notice of her mother‘s presumed suicide draws Ruby back to Montana, to the town she vowed never to set foot in again. But once there, Ruby is quickly reminded that you can never truly leave your past behind.
This was a solid, twisted thriller with a touch of the supernatural (but nothing crazy, like I was afraid it might be after the first chapter). There are some minor inconsistencies - the past storyline skips from the 1990s to the 2000s and back again even though the story is told chronologically; certainly, online shopping wasn‘t much of a thing yet at the beginning of the 21st century; and while Ruby doesn‘t drive her boyfriend to the hospital because she doesn‘t have a license, she has no qualms about driving her passed-out mother home in the next flashback, which takes place one day later - but overall, the story weaves seamlessly between Ruby‘s childhood until she finally left Montana behind and the present day.
My main criticism stems from the stereotypical descriptions of rather useless and annoying law enforcement (for whom DNA results nevertheless take no time at all and who are willing to believe that someone who was shot point-blank in the face not only bleeds out slowly, but also fired off a shot of their own after being mortally wounded), and completely unethical psychiatrists (who let their patient‘s daughter sit in on a hypnosis session, and are also in a relationship with a member of law enforcement). Even more annoying is present-day Ruby, who cannot make up her mind about whether to stay in Montana or leave, going back and forth so much it had me dizzy, and who, despite presumable being an accomplished, successful woman, lets her childhood crush treat her like crap for most of the book. Finally, the showdown at the end was ridiculously over the top (which probably bugged me the most - not sure what that says about my priorities).
Despite these flaws, this was an enjoyable read that kept me hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a solid, twisted thriller with a touch of the supernatural (but nothing crazy, like I was afraid it might be after the first chapter). There are some minor inconsistencies - the past storyline skips from the 1990s to the 2000s and back again even though the story is told chronologically; certainly, online shopping wasn‘t much of a thing yet at the beginning of the 21st century; and while Ruby doesn‘t drive her boyfriend to the hospital because she doesn‘t have a license, she has no qualms about driving her passed-out mother home in the next flashback, which takes place one day later - but overall, the story weaves seamlessly between Ruby‘s childhood until she finally left Montana behind and the present day.
My main criticism stems from the stereotypical descriptions of rather useless and annoying law enforcement (for whom DNA results nevertheless take no time at all and who are willing to believe that someone who was shot point-blank in the face not only bleeds out slowly, but also fired off a shot of their own after being mortally wounded), and completely unethical psychiatrists (who let their patient‘s daughter sit in on a hypnosis session, and are also in a relationship with a member of law enforcement). Even more annoying is present-day Ruby, who cannot make up her mind about whether to stay in Montana or leave, going back and forth so much it had me dizzy, and who, despite presumable being an accomplished, successful woman, lets her childhood crush treat her like crap for most of the book. Finally, the showdown at the end was ridiculously over the top (which probably bugged me the most - not sure what that says about my priorities).
Despite these flaws, this was an enjoyable read that kept me hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read
December 17, 2023Across two timelines twenty years apart, Ruby unravels the shocking secrets of her cruel, manipulative mother. Ideal for fans of suspense written in a straightforward style.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
November 19, 2023
M.M. DeLuca throws the reader into a twisted story of abuse, scams, and a young girls fight to escape the insanity that her mother inflicts upon her. Alternating timelines between present day and Ruby’s childhood, we are shown the horrors she was subjected to alongside trying to understand the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.
This book did a great job of maintaining my interest, with short chapters, frequent twists, and great descriptive writing.
This story did require me to suspend my disbelief a few times but overall was an enjoyable experience and I will be picking up more from this author in the future.
Thankyou to Severn House and Netgalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book did a great job of maintaining my interest, with short chapters, frequent twists, and great descriptive writing.
This story did require me to suspend my disbelief a few times but overall was an enjoyable experience and I will be picking up more from this author in the future.
Thankyou to Severn House and Netgalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
March 12, 2024
The Night Side by M. M. DeLuca is a creepy thriller full of twists, turns, and rotten characters!
This story is told between two timelines, twenty years apart, and learning about the main character Ruby, her unhinged family, and the townsfolk in this way really added to the mystery aspect of the plot. Full of atmosphere, grifters, and characters with dark pasts - I was kept on the edge of my seat! Set in Montana, I loved the mentions of Great Falls, Missoula, and various other cities I have visited!
Audiobook narrator Helen Laser's voice instantly hooked me with its mystery and intrigue; there's a slight smokiness to it that fit these characters and the story perfectly. She also did a fantastic job changing and manipulating her voice, perfectly becoming a child version of Ruby, a deranged Ida, and the multitude of others along the way. Laser performed this book so well she made me forget that there was only one person narrating! (My minor complaint was the slight mispronunciations of Estevan and Saskatchewan as they just didn't flow the way they're supposed to.)
This would be the perfect read for a dark and stormy night as it is perfectly spooky!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary copy to read and review.
This story is told between two timelines, twenty years apart, and learning about the main character Ruby, her unhinged family, and the townsfolk in this way really added to the mystery aspect of the plot. Full of atmosphere, grifters, and characters with dark pasts - I was kept on the edge of my seat! Set in Montana, I loved the mentions of Great Falls, Missoula, and various other cities I have visited!
Audiobook narrator Helen Laser's voice instantly hooked me with its mystery and intrigue; there's a slight smokiness to it that fit these characters and the story perfectly. She also did a fantastic job changing and manipulating her voice, perfectly becoming a child version of Ruby, a deranged Ida, and the multitude of others along the way. Laser performed this book so well she made me forget that there was only one person narrating! (My minor complaint was the slight mispronunciations of Estevan and Saskatchewan as they just didn't flow the way they're supposed to.)
This would be the perfect read for a dark and stormy night as it is perfectly spooky!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary copy to read and review.
June 27, 2024
20 years after escaping from her grifter mom, Ruby returns to her hometown when her mother is missing, and presumed dead… by everyone but Ruby. I felt that Ruby was a very two-dimensional character, existing entirely in Ida’s shadow with little personality of her own, even as an adult. The plot itself was more about her relationship with Aidan than finding out what happened to her mom, as we see through flashbacks what led to her leaving initially. Even though there was a lot happening, I found myself getting bored with the soap-y qualities of the story (TWO sets of twins? Really?) and wanting to get to the end. The final scene felt rushed, and while I’m fine with suspending disbelief for a story, it was a little over the top. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, but the author did seem to tie up the loose ends, even if the explanations were sometimes outrageous. Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy of the book.
December 6, 2023
I’m not a fan of @nything about the paranormal so this was. Leary not one I should have requested. It didn’t hold my interest and I also wasn’t keen on the writing style which seemed to jump about too much.
December 4, 2023
I enjoyed this title by M.M Deluca.. It was an easy read but I did feel from time to time because it want past to present chapter by chapter sometimes i did get a bit confused.. But that could just be me..
Thankyou to NetGalley and Severn House for sending me this to read and review.
Thankyou to NetGalley and Severn House for sending me this to read and review.
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