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Dark Circle
When Sarah Solomon and her husband, Cole, move to northwestern Vermont, it’s to get a fresh start. But strange things are happening in their gated community.
Why are the new neighbors so hostile? And who is the old Abenaki woman in the woods? Is Sarah, recovering from a psychiatric stay, imagining these things? As she tries to unravel the mystery, the community’s secrets are dug up along with a history that dangerous people want very much to stay buried.
Why are the new neighbors so hostile? And who is the old Abenaki woman in the woods? Is Sarah, recovering from a psychiatric stay, imagining these things? As she tries to unravel the mystery, the community’s secrets are dug up along with a history that dangerous people want very much to stay buried.
278 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2014
1 person is currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Choquette
24 books66 followersJ.P. Choquette is the author of suspense novels set in Vermont. Atmospheric pageturners, her novels are gothic inspired and frequently tie in the themes of art, nature, and psychology.
When not writing, J.P. enjoys sipping hot drinks with a great book and adventuring with her family. She's a Believer, a vintage lover, and never turns down chocolate.
Learn more about J.P. by visiting https://jpchoquette.me/
When not writing, J.P. enjoys sipping hot drinks with a great book and adventuring with her family. She's a Believer, a vintage lover, and never turns down chocolate.
Learn more about J.P. by visiting https://jpchoquette.me/
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 25, 2014
I read an early edition of this book for critique in Sisters in Crime. I loved the rich flavor of the characters and the rural Vermont setting. The action had me page turning from the very beginning.
I look forward to more great works from J.P. Choquette!
I look forward to more great works from J.P. Choquette!
May 6, 2014
How did this book get sonny stars? Flimsy story, pointless details and nothing to get invested about. Nothing happens.
December 30, 2025
This is honestly one of the worst books I have ever read. I know, I know. The author worked hard on this, but did she? The writing is lazy. The book is riddled with continuity mistakes that took me right out of the immersion, errors in facts that the plot was supposedly based upon, two dimensional characters or stereotypical characters. It was agony to read and the only reason I read it was because it is our next book club book. I blame the beta readers and editors as much as, maybe more than, the author.
You want specifics? Sure. For example, the story takes place after 2011 because there is mention of Hurricane Irene towards the end, but there is an absence of cell phones and internet for more than half the book. The main character states at the beginning of a chapter that "John won't be in today" then 5 pages later that same day writes "John may be in the office now" she goes over to see and finds out he just left. WTF? On p. 60 the library opens at noon, by p. 94, the library opens early. She goes to the library to do research because this is the part of the book where there's no internet. She even drives to library to find out it's closed because she didn't call ahead for the hours - she says this - even though presumably by 2012 a library would have a website with hours posted. On page 139 she suddenly has a cellphone and on page 147 she Googles someone after researching with microfiche in the library for hours. Please! The book is written in first person present, but on p. 160 the narrator becomes omniscient to impart information (that really in the scheme of things is not even necessary) stating, "I don't look up at the tall window ... I never see him extract a cell phone or hear his words..." WTF? From page 103 to 125 there is a sunset that lasts for 3 hours in March.
The author tries to weave in facts and history and it is just cringe. The narrator and her husband live in a gated community in St. Albans, Vermont, as if. There are no gated communities in St. Albans, and there is no federal penitentiary in Newport which the author also mentions. If you're going to write about a gated community or penitentiaries in Vermont, at least make it a fictional city or town. The author introduces the Abenaki Indians and then has the ... spoilers below.
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gated community built on an Indian burial ground. Yes, the haunted Indian burial ground trope. The neighbors are basically satanic worshipers complete with chanting, possession and an altar in the woods - another trope. I just can't with this book.
The only positive thing I can say about this book is that if you're an aspiring author you may want to read it because it will give you confidence to write that book you've been putting off. There is no way you could write a worse book.
You want specifics? Sure. For example, the story takes place after 2011 because there is mention of Hurricane Irene towards the end, but there is an absence of cell phones and internet for more than half the book. The main character states at the beginning of a chapter that "John won't be in today" then 5 pages later that same day writes "John may be in the office now" she goes over to see and finds out he just left. WTF? On p. 60 the library opens at noon, by p. 94, the library opens early. She goes to the library to do research because this is the part of the book where there's no internet. She even drives to library to find out it's closed because she didn't call ahead for the hours - she says this - even though presumably by 2012 a library would have a website with hours posted. On page 139 she suddenly has a cellphone and on page 147 she Googles someone after researching with microfiche in the library for hours. Please! The book is written in first person present, but on p. 160 the narrator becomes omniscient to impart information (that really in the scheme of things is not even necessary) stating, "I don't look up at the tall window ... I never see him extract a cell phone or hear his words..." WTF? From page 103 to 125 there is a sunset that lasts for 3 hours in March.
The author tries to weave in facts and history and it is just cringe. The narrator and her husband live in a gated community in St. Albans, Vermont, as if. There are no gated communities in St. Albans, and there is no federal penitentiary in Newport which the author also mentions. If you're going to write about a gated community or penitentiaries in Vermont, at least make it a fictional city or town. The author introduces the Abenaki Indians and then has the ... spoilers below.
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gated community built on an Indian burial ground. Yes, the haunted Indian burial ground trope. The neighbors are basically satanic worshipers complete with chanting, possession and an altar in the woods - another trope. I just can't with this book.
The only positive thing I can say about this book is that if you're an aspiring author you may want to read it because it will give you confidence to write that book you've been putting off. There is no way you could write a worse book.
August 10, 2016
Took awhile to get into this book. Found the first 50 pages or so boring. It was an ok read.
This was one of the giveaway books I received.
This was one of the giveaway books I received.
April 27, 2014
Quick read.
April 30, 2014
Super fast read. Entertaining!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews