The Darkness That Binds Us

The Darkness Series #2

by Jessica Huntley

Twenty-five years ago, an unimaginable tragedy struck the town of Cherry Hollow, leaving its residents devastated and searching for answers. Grief overwhelmed the town for two decades until five years ago when the truth was finally revealed, but not everyone believed the story … Now, a new family has moved to town, unaware of the secrets and lies that lurk under the floorboards of their new home that once belonged to Amber Walker, one of the five members of the original disaster. Emma and Linda Smithson, and their two children, have moved there for a fresh start , determined to bury their murky pasts and forget about their own life-altering mistakes. But when they find out Amber took her own life, events start to unravel and suspicions begin to surface , as they each deal with their own darkness. Jordan and Brooke, two of Amber’s best friends, are determined to prove that she was murdered , even if it means delving into the past, facing old enemies, and standing up to their previous demons. The ones they swore they’d never speak about again. For the community of Cherry Hollow, it’s not all smiles and sunshine … because the darkness never left … and it won’t rest until it gets what it wants … The Truth. Click BUY NOW to find out exactly what happens when the darkness catches up to you. The Darkness That Binds Us is the second book in “ The Darkness Series ,” a gripping and emotionally charged psychological thriller series that explores the shadier side of mental health and its drastic repercussions. If you enjoy dark thrillers with jaw-dropping twists and creepy, thought-provoking aspects , then you’ll love this hugely anticipated sequel to The Darkness Within Ourselves . CONTENT Anxiety, disappearance, depression, grief, hallucinations, murder, suicide, fire, blood, profanity, cheating, child loss, alcohol use, a person with a substance use disorder, mental health illness, physical assault, death, car accident, body injury, bullying; mentions domestic abuse, child molestation, rape, overdose, and cancer.

Genres: Thriller, Ebooks, Mystery, Horror

354 pages, Paperback

Published September 23, 2023

About the author

Jessica Huntley is an award-winning and best-selling psychological thriller author. She's an ex-British soldier and Personal Trainer and has been writing almost non-stop for the past four years.

She is now the author of sixteen books, including two trilogies, six standalone thrillers, two anthologies, a co-written horror project and a novella. She is both self-published and traditionally published with Inkubator Books and Joffe Books.

She writes books for thriller readers who like their stories dark and twisty with complex, yet memorable characters, who often suffer from relatable mental health disorders.

When she isn't writing, Jessica is either keeping fit, walking her dog or looking after her young son.

Sign up to her email list to receive news about her upcoming book releases, get a first look at covers and some thriller recommendations. Visit her website where you'll also be able to download a short story called "You Die ... I Die".

Reviews

[H. Everend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I think Huntley is done awwing and shocking me, she has to pull another book out of her back pocket and surprise me! It's this series that has a special place in my heart for the author as its predecessor was the first book she released (around the same time as mine) and I feel she has grown as an author. The second in the "Darkness" series - whoa, what a ride! I felt the first one was nicely written and tied things up neat. So, when I heard of a second one coming out, it made me hesitate. But I was wrong! The twists and turns of this story outshine those from the first book and I couldn't put it down! Huntley knows how to keep her readers engaged from the enticing beginning to its shocking end. Cliffhanger...seriously? Please check out her work! This is highly recommended!

[Krystal Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! It had great twists and turns, and always left me wanting to read more every time I had to put it down. I didn't realize it was a second book in a series, but I have downloaded the first book to read now, and will be reading the third when it comes out as well! I discovered a new author I enjoy reading by doing this ARC. Highly recommend!

[Riina - huono_lukija · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I last enjoyed a psychological thriller with a little horror twist, but I really enjoyed reading The Darkness That Binds Us by Jessica Huntley.

It's the second book in The Darkness Series and since I hadn't read the first book I didn't quite know if it would be a good idea to jump in the middle of everything, but after reading it I figured it was, because there was so much more to unravel without knowing what had happened before.

I liked the multiple POVs and the writing style. The little bits and pieces of backround information about the MC's as well as the previous events within the story kept me intrigued. The story got a tight grip on me from the beginning and didn't let go even in the end.

I think I need to go back to the beginning now and read the first book. And I will definitely read the third one when it comes out!


*I received an eARC in exchange for my honest review*

[Christopher Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to get an Arc copy of book Book 2 Of The Darkness That Binds Us. This isn’t my first time reading this author and with each new book her skills seem to be on the rise. The way the story plays out by giving us a brief background to what brought the couple and their children to their new home is well paced. I am trying to works things as to not produce spoilers as this is an ongoing series. The story picks up and changes views in a nice balanced way that leaves you vested in each character right up till the unique ending… But is it the ending? If you want a mystery with a spooky sort of twist then start with book one and then book two. It’s well worth your time.

[Jessica Huntley]

The Darkness That Binds Us is the sequel that was never supposed to happen! It's predecessor was my debut novel and I never intended it to be the start of a series, but my readers wanted more ... so two and a half years later, here it is!

I loved revisiting Cherry Hollow and its residents, creating new characters and developing the story behind the sinister goings-on. Stuff happened I certainly wasn't expecting and this story developed all on its own, going in a direction that truly shocked me.

I think I've grown a lot as an author since Book 1 and have thoroughly enjoyed the process. I hope my readers will enjoy this book ... and maybe creep themselves out a bit too!

Thanks again for supporting me and allowing me to do what I love ... write stories. Jessica x

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Darkness That Binds Us is the second book in the Darkness series and I highly recommend reading them in order. The sequel was as chilling, creepy, eerie and heart pounding as book one. The little town of Cherry Hollow is a pleasure to revisit. The scenery is so vivid, I can see the events happening. Jessica's writing truly grabs you and grips you into her stories. She truly has a masterful skill at storytelling. The way she seamlessly made the 2 books come together, that were not even planned as a series truly blows my mind. It was flawless !

I am usually not a fan of the horror aspect, but the way the author has woven it into the book is flawless. The mental health aspect was once more so well done, done with grace, research and it was spot on. I am truly so invested in this story, these characters and this creepy town. Everything just feels so real, the emotions felt are so relatable.

The ending truly caught me off guard and I was not expecting that at all!! I can't wait to see where Huntley takes it in the chilling finale.

🎧 The narration by Candace Fitzgerald was once more amazing. She truly does this book justice in her narration. Giving us all the chills, the emotions, the fear and the constant building of suspense. She is amazing at voicing all the characters. Highly recommend it!

✨️Thank you to @jessicahuntley for my gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristin Scearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good sequel to The Darkness Within Ourselves, and it was even more interesting to learn that it wasn't initially a planned series. This is billed as being able to read as a standalone, and while I agree with that assessment, as there's enough information/detail provided in this one to explain the events of the first book, I would highly recommend reading them in order, as a) TDWO is a great book, and b) you'll get so much more out of this book if you've already read the first one.

I love the mix of characters from the first book and new characters who are introduced in this one, and the blending of stories is done really well. I did NOT see that ending coming at all, which is always a good surprise, and I'm so excited to see what book 3 has in store!

4 stars

**I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**

[Jamie Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huntley's Best Book Yet!
I enjoyed the first book in the series, but this one was even better! The way Huntley seamlessly introduced new characters and wove their stories with the previous storyline was nothing short of masterful. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book, eagerly anticipating the next twist and turn. The book was filled with intricate layers and unexpected surprises that kept me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had some answers. . . bam. . . another twist. I'm dying to read the next book in this series! Well done, Jessica!

[Celeste Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. It gave me some chills. It is well written and overall enjoy it. The story development was better than the first book but the series will keep getting better. It created a nice set up for the next book in the series. And I’m excited to continue enjoying to read this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you @booksirens / @jessica_reading_writing for this ARC. The book is out on 🔥 October 1st, 2023 🔥 so now is your time to pre-order it! Also plenty of time to read the first book "The Darkness Within Ourselves" (which I recommend you do cos it's awesome!)

I loved being back in this world again, it was so intense! I stayed up far too late last night reading it and finished it with today's stormy weather as some fitting background noise. I was absolutely gripped when we hit a plot twist - which I honestly didn't expect and was like.... Huh, what?!?!

- I liked all the different POVS, being with people we already met from the first book and getting to know the newbies and their drama too
- Some very sad parts, particularly the mentions of grief
- Weird small town with weird people always a fav for me
- Particularly creepy areas within the town that have a name for themselves and the local kids go a bit crazy for
- Lake District setting? Yes please. I'd buy a haunted house too! But not sure I'd want to live in that little town!
- Opening chapter was absolutely 10/10
- Cool kind of surprising ending with a bit of a cliffhanger

What I love most about Jessica's books is how vivid she makes them, despite it being a fair amount of time since I read the first book, I can still picture it so well, as if it was a movie I watched. I felt the same with this book too. I genuinely felt like I was there among the characters, which was a bit spooky but it was kinda like I got a free Lakes holiday too!

[C.A. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Darkness That Binds Us" is a captivating and emotionally charged novel that delves into the intricate web of friendship, guilt, and the consequences of keeping secrets.
With a compelling narrative and well-developed characters, this book takes readers on a gripping journey that explores the outcome of what a single tragic incident can do to forever alter someone's life, giving readers a deep understanding of each character's struggles, motivations, and the internal battles they face.

The pacing of the story is perfect, gradually building suspense and keeping the readers engaged throughout. Jessica masterfully creates a sense of unease and tension, making it difficult to put the book down. As the layers of deception begin to unravel, the narrative takes unexpected twists and turns, further heightening the intrigue and suspense.

This book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, leaving you pondering the fragility of human relationships and the repercussions of our actions. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a deep exploration of human emotions and mental health this book is an absolute must-read.


Thank you for having me a part of your ARC team, it's always a pleasure!

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gripping, dark and creepy thriller that I absolutely flew through! I loved the characters (especially Alex) loved the storyline and the twists were absolutely brilliant! The story was easy to follow and flowed really well. Along with the characters, I too became completely invested in the history of the town and wanting to find out answers. I never really get too invested in a small town with big history tropes, however I think because of the creepiness and what was happening (trying not to write spoilers 😂) it worked so well! I loved the psychological element to it and how each characters backgrounds and experiences were explained, it was very cleverly written. It was also genuinely creepy and full of suspense. As I say, I finished it so quickly because I couldn’t stop reading until everything was wrapped up. I loved the placements of the twists too because it just added to the page turner element of the story as I’d reach a twist or a big event and think “ooh I’ll just read a bit more..” I’ll definitely be reading the third and can’t wait for more Jessica Huntley books to be released!


I was lucky enough to be gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an audio review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. Once again narrated by Candance Fitzgerald, The Darkness That Binds Us is even more heart wrenching than the first book that begins this series; because for friends Jordan and Brooke- they'd been able after the dark tragedy that nearly consumed them to start again. The town of Cherry Hollow is still haunted by what's took place now 25 years past, and even still gossip about these that survived. When a new family of partnered couple Linda and Emma along with Emma's teenage son Alex move into Amber's former home... they were hoping for a fresh start after their own darkness torn the family apart. What they discover is only more pain as the darkness that calls Cherry Hollow home targets their grief and forcing them to face ( like it or not ) to have endure what they wish was only an illusion. When it comes to light that Amber maybe didn't take her own life, Jordan and Brooke take up the journey to reveal the truth of what happened to their friend and find what they thought they finally made peace with the past, isn't done screwing with their own lives.


Highly recommended.

[Vera Rodrigues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite not having read the first volume of this story, it did not impact my reading experience of this second volume. Thestory's framing  was very well done, and I'm sure that readers, like myself, who don't know that there was a first volume, will very quickly pick up the story. The story was written very fluidly, and has a psychological suspense that builds up a huge tension. It just made  me want to turn the next page to find out what comes next. This story has a very peculiar kind of terror, as it explores the terror that resides inside  our minds. For the ones who like stories that make the hairs rise on the back of our necks and get us hooked, this is a perfect book. The only negative point was that I didn't had the opportunity to read the volume 1, but this failure on my part did not impact my reading. Booksirens, thank  you very much  for this fantastic Reading. It was time well spent.

[Melanie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkness incarnate

Jessica Huntley' second novel of human darkness espouses an ancient an ongoing perception of evil. From the Bible: "The sins of the father are visited upon the children…" From Shakespeare: "The evil that men do lives after them…"

In Cherry Hollow, the death of one boy 25 years in the past has visited the town with anguish, crippling mental illness, violent rage, severe depression, crippling agoraphobia, alcoholism, suicide, and murder. A vicious rumor mill victimizes old residents and new arrivals alike, and tales of ""The Creature," a fanged, clawed, red-eyed monster of shadow, terrorize even those who mock its supposed existence. This book is a sort of second generation iteration of the evil now abroad in Cherry Hollow, focused on Emma, her wife Linda, her teenage son Alex, and her young daughter Phoebe. There are further appearances of characters from the first book whose fates were left hanging, and whose stories become interwoven with Emma's family members. Author Huntley builds horror from minute blocks of unease, discrete incidents of escalating disquiet, bits of disturbing revelations, and an accumulating miasma of despair and denial. Despite the occasionally stiff and inelegant prose, the mood builds inexorably to a conclusion of epic tragedy. The coup de grace is in the epilogue, which sets up the next book in the trilogy by casting a chilling new light on nearly everything that has taken place - an "unending" worthy of the best horror fiction. This is a voluntary and independent - and admittedly creeped out - ARC review.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Darkness That Binds Us by Jessica Huntley
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Another excellent Psychological Thriller by Jessica Huntley!
A family moves into a new town and finds out the town is hiding secrets and lies, as well as mysteries, in their house!
This book is very well written and is full of twists and turns and lots of suspense! There is great imagery and details throughout the story. This author is quickly rising to the top of my favorites list!
I was super excited there was a book 2 in the series and now, I can’t wait to read the 3rd!
I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narrator too!

The Darkness Series-
Book 1-The Darkness Within Ourselves🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
*Book 2- The Darkness That Binds Us🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Book 3- The Darkness That Came Before

*All 3 of these books are out now! Make sure to check them out!*

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

- [ ] After reading the first book in the series I most definitely had to read the second book. This one was a continuation of what had transpired in the first book. Some things had changed and I was very sad about the first thing to happen. With a new family moving in Amber’s former home, you can only imagine where the story must go. The Creature is still around to terrorize another family with secrets to hide. I really like how, as you read the book, you are not quite sure if things happen because people are hiding things from loved ones; or if there is really a dark entity that pushes people over the edge. I would guess that either scenario is possible.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, Jessica Huntley nails it again with The Darkness that binds us! The second Darkness book in the series.
Didn't think I could get any better, but I was proved wrong.
It's absolutely worth buying this series if you love thrillers!
Certainly makes you think about how mental health effects people and also how secrets and gossip effects individuals absolutely loving the series so far will be sad to finish it but definitely a series I will read again!
Onto book 3 next sure that will be a fantastic read as well.

[Letsreadagoodbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

that ending blew my mind! I wasn't expecting the second book to be as good as the 1st but boy was i wrong! it was even better!! Alex had me fooled man!!! the whole second story! mind blowing!

Amber whole death was crazy!! not going to even lie i thought it was the husband! and that's a hill I was going to Scream it from!! then I was like maybe it was the best friend! I wanted it to be her! I didn't want her getting close to Jordan LOL

overall super great read! ending was amazing! and blew my mind! gotta get book three

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Huntley has done it again! This book had me gripped from the get go and so many times I was shocked at the twists and turns that I did not see coming. The new characters as well as some of the old worked so well together. Their stories intertwined perfectly.
Yet another cliffhanger ending and I am so pleased to see there will be a 3rd instalment in 2024. Highly recommend this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Darkness That Binds Us: A dark and twisted psychological thriller sequel to "The Darkness Within Ourselves" (The Darkness Series Book 2), my second read from author Jessica Huntley. A dark 362 page read that was hard to put down. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author and in particular The Darkness That Came Before: The heart-racing and thrilling conclusion to "The Darkness Series when it comes out in February of next year. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Ashley Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first book in this series last year and loved it..so when I found out there was a 2nd book, I had to read it!

From the moment I started this book, it had me hooked. I couldn't put it down. The way the author integrated new characters in with the old ones and made the story interesting was incredible. The plot is amazing....the twists and surprises never stopped coming!
I can't wait to read book 3!!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this very much. The overall story was easy to follow along with, and with likeable characters, there is a couple of twists along the way too which are good and add to the story behind the characters.
This can be read as a standalone book as it doesn’t directly follow or link to the first.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I found it really hard to put down, devoured it in one day! The story was told from multiple POV but was super easy to follow and certainly kept me invested in the characters and the storyline. Loved the little twist at the end. Looking forward to book 3!
Thank you BookSirens for the ARC!!

[PAR]

The Darkness That Binds Us is the second book in “The Darkness Series”. This is one of those books that scares you so much that you have to keep turning the pages. You are terrifies to set it down. It is a dark emotionally charged psychological thriller. I can't wait to pick up the next. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. I don't think I even have the words! It had me captivated entirely through the whole story. It started out as a cliffhanger. It was just "calling" you to come back for more. (If you have read the book, you'll get the reference.) I went into this book blind, and the only thing I knew was the title and the cover! I can honestly say that it wasn't what I was expecting, but on the other hand, I don't know what I was expecting! This is actually the second book in a series of 3, but the way it was written, it can be read as a standalone. Starting out some things just didn't make sense, but it was explained later on. I was pleased. I actually ended up getting my hands on the other 2 books in the series before I finished this one! The Creature, The Fear, The Bad Man; it was intriguing.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very interesting and keeps you thinking all the way through and wondering what on earth has happened. when nearly at the end I thought that the author could have put a twist or 2 into it, and then out of nowhere came the twist 😮. I will definitely be waiting for the next installment.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vicky Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great follow up to book one with a good mix of old and new characters.
There's dark and chilling secrets aplenty to keep you guessing until the end.
I enjoyed reading this as part of the indie visible tour and look forward to also reading the third in the series.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about Jessica's books, starting with the stunning cover. An excellent unputdownable psychological thriller filled with so many twists and turns. It's a great series. I can't wait to delve into her next book!

[leanne hedley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn now I need book 3 😂😂