These Dark Places

by Hilary Tailor

Some secrets should stay buried. Her husband’s won’t.

Della’s life was everything she’d dreamed a loving husband, teenage daughter, and a peaceful cottage in the woods with her own pottery studio. But then her husband, Leo, collapses and on his deathbed makes a devastating confession that turns Della’s world upside down.

Consumed by grief, Della finds the ancient woodland that once sheltered her now feels threatening. The only solace comes from her new neighbour, Carrie, whose kindness gives Della a fragile sense of hope.

As Della digs deeper into her husband’s hidden life, shocking discoveries emerge–about Leo and the life Della thought she knew, and even about Carrie herself. Is her neighbour truly a friend, or is she hiding the most dangerous secret of all?

331 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 16, 2026

About the author

Hilary Tailor is a design consultant, and has worked with clients including adidas and Puma as a colour and trend forecaster. She was raised on the Wirral Peninsula and graduated from the Royal College of Art. The Vanishing Tide is her first novel.

Reviews

[A Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved These Dark Places by Hilary Tailor. It started out strong, with a major event right at the beginning and stayed strong throughout the whole story. It was intriguing and mysterious, but it was also heartwarming and emotional.

After the passing of her husband, Leo, Della is faced with learning to navigate finances and other domestic chores she relied on Leo for. As she and her daughter, Alex, navigate through their new life, she discovers things Leo kept hidden from her, many of them out of character for him. When her new neighbor Carrie moves in next door with her son, Jude, the two women become friendly almost immediately. But when Della becomes aware of another secret, she pulls away. How can she trust anyone including herself.

This is the story of a life journey, complete with tragedy and secrets, and learning how to navigate through the good and bad times. I loved all the characters, as each was strong and resilient, but not without flaws. This made them real. The writing was well paced and riveting, drawing the reader in and keeping them engaged throughout. I haven't read Hilary Tailor before, but I will absolutely be adding her books to my TBR list.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy

[Jenae Gilchrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

These Dark Places – Hilary Tailor

This book pulled me in from the very first pages and did not let go. From the start, the story is layered with tragedy; loss after loss that shapes every character and decision that follows. Grief is not just a background theme here; it is the driving force of the novel, influencing friendships, creating fractures in once-close relationships, and unexpectedly forging new bonds where characters least expect them.

The mystery element is woven in so smoothly. As the past and present collide, secrets slowly surface, and I was constantly second-guessing what I thought I knew. Every chapter revealed just enough to keep me on edge, making it impossible to put down; I ended up reading it in one sitting.

What stood out most was the emotional depth. The author captures how grief can isolate, harden, and transform people, while still leaving room for connection, healing, and hope. The friendships that evolve through shared pain felt raw and realistic, and the atmosphere throughout was tense, moody, and immersive.

A haunting, emotionally charged mystery that balances heartache with suspense. Highly recommend if you enjoy stories that explore grief, complicated relationships, and dark secrets that refuse to stay buried.

[Alanis Winters · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick, fast-paced read, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me overall. I’m not a fan of thrillers that veer into overly mushy territory, and the writing itself felt fairly elementary.
The biggest issue for me was the FMC, Della. She was painfully passive for much of the story. I’m tired of reading about women who allow their husbands to control all the finances without ever pushing back, and that same pattern continued as she later let Tasha and Robin take over at points. She also allowed Alex to walk all over her. At least she was consistent in that regard but it made her incredibly frustrating to read. Thankfully, she does show some character growth in the second half, which was one of the few bright spots. Most of the characters were also irritating, and I disliked Carrie just as much as Della. Tasha was the only character I found remotely tolerable.

I also found the decision to kill the dog completely unnecessary. Peaceful or not, this is something that should come with a content warning.

Overall, while the pacing was good, the characters and writing style ultimately pulled this down for me.

Thank you for the ARC.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went on a real journey with this book. It started with a bang, shifted into a bit of a slow burn, but ultimately finished strong.

While I loved the cozy English woodland setting and the stormy nights, I initially found most of the characters pretty frustrating for various reasons. It was hard to root for anyone (aside from Marmite, the dog!)

That changed in the final third of the book. The story took an interesting turn that I didn’t see coming, and the pieces started clicking together. With some much-needed character growth and a satisfying touch of comeuppance, I ended up loving the ending.

I’m not sure I would consider this your traditional thriller. It has heart to it though. Maybe more of a Lisa Jewel vibe - part family drama, part mystery? Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it for ppl who like atmospheric suspense with a meaningful payoff. I plan to read more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!!

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC.
Wow, what an intriguing and wonderful book, I couldn't tear myself away.
The female protagonist, Della, gets a panicked call to come to the hospital because of her husband. He dies soon after her arrival. All of a sudden she's alone, with a
traumatized daughter, her future dark and terrifying. Her childhood was very unhappy and she's petrified of her abusive brother. Her husband made her feel safe, but now he's gone.
Her journey, from feeling helpless and unable to cope, to finally being strong, independent and part of a happy, albeit unusual family,makes for a wonderful book.

[Sherri Spivey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read—this book grabbed me within the first two pages and never let go. I loved the way the hints were revealed slowly, building suspense all the way to the end. While my suspicions about the ending were confirmed, there was still an unexpected twist that made it even more satisfying. A must-read for anyone who loves a suspenseful book they can’t put down

Thank you NetGalley, for this ARC!

[Hilary Tailor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my fourth book. I wanted to explore the idea of living next door to someone you share your troubles with, only to suspect they might be part of the problem. Thank you for choosing this book and for taking the time and effort to review it.

[Caroline David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This book just didn’t capture my attention the way the synopsis did. I understood the idea but I never put the book down excited to pick it back up. However, I liked the plot enough to hopefully read more of the author’s books.