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In The Black Room #2
The Woman In The Night
What Is The Black Room?
There are hangovers, there are bad hangovers, and then there's waking up inside someone else's head. Thirty-something bartender Charlie Wilkes is faced with this exact dilemma when he wakes to find finds himself trapped inside The Black Room; a space consisting of impenetrable darkness and a huge, ethereal screen floating in its centre. Through this screen he is shown the world of his female host, Minnie.
How did he get there? What has happened to his life? And how can he exist inside the mind of a troubled, fragile, but beautiful woman with secrets of her own? Uncertain whether he's even real or if he is just a figment of his host's imagination, Charlie must enlist Minnie's help if he is to find a way out of The Black Room, a place where even the light of the screen goes out every time Minnie closes her eyes...
Part two of a thrilling three-part novel, 'The Black Room, Part Two: The Woman In The Night' continues the story of Charlie Wilkes and his efforts to solve the enigma of The Black Room, and to uncover the truth behind a new element; The Woman In The Night. Each answer only leads to another mystery in a story guaranteed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
There are hangovers, there are bad hangovers, and then there's waking up inside someone else's head. Thirty-something bartender Charlie Wilkes is faced with this exact dilemma when he wakes to find finds himself trapped inside The Black Room; a space consisting of impenetrable darkness and a huge, ethereal screen floating in its centre. Through this screen he is shown the world of his female host, Minnie.
How did he get there? What has happened to his life? And how can he exist inside the mind of a troubled, fragile, but beautiful woman with secrets of her own? Uncertain whether he's even real or if he is just a figment of his host's imagination, Charlie must enlist Minnie's help if he is to find a way out of The Black Room, a place where even the light of the screen goes out every time Minnie closes her eyes...
Part two of a thrilling three-part novel, 'The Black Room, Part Two: The Woman In The Night' continues the story of Charlie Wilkes and his efforts to solve the enigma of The Black Room, and to uncover the truth behind a new element; The Woman In The Night. Each answer only leads to another mystery in a story guaranteed to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
- GenresScience Fiction
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2013
1 person is currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Luke Smitherd
32 books594 followersLuke Smitherd is the author of The Stone Man (shortlisted for Audible Book of the Year 2015) and its sequels as well as several other novels. A former singer and guitarist, he now writes full time, hosts the comedy music-discussion show Cracker Juice, and performs around Los Angeles as a stand-up comic. He divides his time between the United States and the United Kingdom.
www.lukesmitherd.com
www.lukesmitherd.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 5, 2016
The second part of Luke Smitherd's unusual sci-fi novella series The Black Room was every bit as engaging as the first part. We got more mystery and a few new revelations!
All in all a quick and enjoyable read.
I'll be moving straight on to the third instalment as I'm eager for more Charlie and Minnie!
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by the author Luke Smitherd and while his performance was far from perfect it was tolerable.
All in all a quick and enjoyable read.
I'll be moving straight on to the third instalment as I'm eager for more Charlie and Minnie!
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by the author Luke Smitherd and while his performance was far from perfect it was tolerable.
June 2, 2020
The Black Room story continues...
(3 & 1/2 stars)
The story of Charlie stuck in a black room in Minnie’s mind is engrossing enough that I want to ride it out to the end. (Two more parts to go.) Mr. Smitherd is a very imaginative writer and storyteller. The reason for my going down a star this time is that the unexplained elements of the plot are beginning to wear a bit thin. It reminds me of a frustration I had with some Koontzbooks a couple of decades ago—I had to get very far into the story before he even revealed the smallest hint about what was really going on. In this case, the central question of why & how Charlie is in Minnie’s head is still almost entirely unknown. Also, I like the “inside” passages of TBR better than the “outside” ones, and this part 2 is about half “outside.” Still, I want to know what will happen, and there’s no way I will miss the rest of this!
(3 & 1/2 stars)
The story of Charlie stuck in a black room in Minnie’s mind is engrossing enough that I want to ride it out to the end. (Two more parts to go.) Mr. Smitherd is a very imaginative writer and storyteller. The reason for my going down a star this time is that the unexplained elements of the plot are beginning to wear a bit thin. It reminds me of a frustration I had with some Koontzbooks a couple of decades ago—I had to get very far into the story before he even revealed the smallest hint about what was really going on. In this case, the central question of why & how Charlie is in Minnie’s head is still almost entirely unknown. Also, I like the “inside” passages of TBR better than the “outside” ones, and this part 2 is about half “outside.” Still, I want to know what will happen, and there’s no way I will miss the rest of this!
April 10, 2016
The second part went very quickly, as Charlie starts to figure out what is going on and he and Minnie grow even closer. He survived the peril from the end of the last episode and finds himself home and tries to find out how it happened. Charlie starts to remember a "Woman in the Night", who he thinks is Minnie, but he can't figure out where he knows her from. Charlie also figures out how to get back and forth, although he is a little worried about being trapped, especially after what he finds out while he is home.
He goes back to tell Minnie what he's learned. Minnie seems depressed and Charlie makes her laugh and feel better. They may end up having a "Paranormal Romance" after all. It's funny how they seem to accept the situation of "The Black Room" so much easier now after having been so freaked out in the first part, but the situation they are in kind of promotes closeness and trust. As this part ends, Charlie is not at all happy about what is going on with Minnie and...someone else.
There are still these snippets of memories from almost drowning that have not been explained, but must have something to do with the story or else why would they be there? Maybe a near-death experience gave Charlie special powers of some kind. I don't know.
Charlie is very funny, but the funniest line in the book comes straight from the author's mouth: "...Charlie had never been pedantic enough to worry about typos; these people didn't have paid-for editors after all..." I laughed out loud when I read that. Anyone who has read the author's afterwords or some of the reviews knows why.
On to part 3.
He goes back to tell Minnie what he's learned. Minnie seems depressed and Charlie makes her laugh and feel better. They may end up having a "Paranormal Romance" after all. It's funny how they seem to accept the situation of "The Black Room" so much easier now after having been so freaked out in the first part, but the situation they are in kind of promotes closeness and trust. As this part ends, Charlie is not at all happy about what is going on with Minnie and...someone else.
There are still these snippets of memories from almost drowning that have not been explained, but must have something to do with the story or else why would they be there? Maybe a near-death experience gave Charlie special powers of some kind. I don't know.
Charlie is very funny, but the funniest line in the book comes straight from the author's mouth: "...Charlie had never been pedantic enough to worry about typos; these people didn't have paid-for editors after all..." I laughed out loud when I read that. Anyone who has read the author's afterwords or some of the reviews knows why.
On to part 3.
February 13, 2014
This, the second in "the Black Room" series was most interesting. Did it clear up the mystery of the "Dream" sequence for me? No....but isn't there two more books to come. In Book 2, Charlie does some research, tries to find out just WHO Minnie "is" or "was". I would love to tell you more in this review, but then I'd be soiling the read for you. So I will simply say, that if you've read Book 1, you'll understand my hesitation. If you haven't read Book 1, you best do it now, as you have quite a bit to catch up on. Now, for the rest of us, go directly to Book 3, do not pass go, do not collect any further information until you do.
December 21, 2013
I am loving the mystery, but am also worried about what will happen in the end. So many things like this have delicious mystery, but are ruined by a crappy ending (Lost anyone?). Hopefully Smitherd can pull this one out of the bag and deliver a memorable story.
April 25, 2014
Great continuation from Part 1
Great continuation from Part 1
This second part did not disappoint! I'm definitely reading the next. Very well written, could not put it down - I can hardly wait to see how this develops!
Great continuation from Part 1
This second part did not disappoint! I'm definitely reading the next. Very well written, could not put it down - I can hardly wait to see how this develops!
February 5, 2015
Move over, Stephen King and Dean Koontz, meet your worthy successor! Yes, Luke Smitherd is that good. I've read all his books - they are amazing. I look forward to reading more from this gifted writer.
May 4, 2013
devoured this in one sitting. the continued story of charlie and minnie is every bit as engaging as mr smitherds other books. can't wait for part 3! highly recommended!
April 21, 2014
I'll probably write something longer after finishing all parts.
So far so good.
Loved that bit about 10%.
That's very true.
So far so good.
Loved that bit about 10%.
That's very true.
August 4, 2014
Not as good as part 1, but wanted to see where it went...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews