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?

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published 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

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad that I’m the first to review this book here and it’s a lackluster one at that. DNF.

Overall, I found the story very slow and boring. Nothing about the characters or story gripped me. I tried to read this a few times and kept stopping to look for something else. Eventually I gave up about halfway when the dog died (not violently).

SUMMARY: Della’s husband Leo unexpectedly dies. Shortly before he passes, he tells her he saw Ethan, her dangerous brother, in the woods behind their home and that she cannot sell their home/property.

As Della tries to move forward with life (eg go back to the workforce) she starts to learn Leo had secrets and their life was a house of cards.

Thanks netgalley

[Theresa Petty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a suspenseful read.
I do think it could have been cut in half but I appreciate the story the author was unraveling, so I didn’t take any stars away.
Della is about to celebrate her wedding anniversary, but she isn’t sure what they are celebrating. Her husband seems depressed and distant. When she gets the call that he has tragically passed away, she begins to unravel the truth of his life, her life, and their life together. Secrets are abounding in this book, and even though you can see some reveals coming, it doesn’t ruin the twists or the ending.
Thank you netgalley for this one!

[Becky Lyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book and it certainly did not disappoint. I was completely gripped by the storyline and although I saw a couple of things coming, it did not detract from the enjoyment/experience of the read. It was quite dark and sad to start off with, with the characters deep in grief but as each bit of information was released the more gripping it got. As with Hilary Tailor's other books, this is beautifully written and you can really see the locations depicted. Hilary is definitely one of my favourite authors and I will read anything she writes. I will be looking forward to her next release.

[samandip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Had me on my edge the whole time. Suspenseful and a story with different plot twists. The only thing I thought was a bit tiring, was the long detailed description of some stuff that I didn’t find interesting. Other than that the author knows the suspense genre well!

[LilithNeverEve · Rating 3 out of 5]

She Let Fear Run Her Life… Until She Didn’t

This book was… odd. Not bad, but definitely one of those stories where you’re constantly trying to figure out how you feel about it.
Della as a main character really tested my patience. She’s someone who has clearly been through deep trauma, especially from her past with her brother, and you can see how that shaped her. But instead of working through it, she seemed to shrink into herself and hand over control of her entire life to her husband. It was frustrating watching her rely on him for everything, especially when it was clear she could step up but chose fear instead.
Her relationship with her daughter felt distant and uncomfortable at times, which added another layer to how disconnected she had become from her own life. And then there’s the realization that the people around her seemed to know her husband better than she did… that part really added to the unease of the story. The secrets, the tension, the feeling that something wasn’t quite right—it all built a strong atmosphere.
What saved this book for me was Della’s growth. When she finally starts to reclaim herself, it’s powerful. You can see glimpses of who she used to be and who she could have been all along. That transformation felt earned, even if it took a while to get there. And once she stepped into that strength, she was genuinely compelling.
Overall, this is a slow, character-driven story that leans heavily into trauma, control, and identity. It won’t be for everyone, especially if you struggle with frustrating main characters, but there’s something satisfying about watching someone claw their way back to themselves.

[Rose Trevino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book, I truly appreciate it. Thank you Good Reads!

I picked up These Dark Places thinking it was going to be just another emotional story, but it ended up pulling me in more than I expected.

This book isn’t fast-paced or overly dramatic, but it carries a quiet intensity throughout. It really focuses on family, past secrets, and how people deal with pain in different ways. What stood out to me the most was how real the characters felt. They’re not perfect, and at times I felt frustrated with them, but at the same time, I understood them.

As the story unfolds, little by little things start to connect, and it makes you question what you thought you knew at the beginning. I liked that feeling of slowly putting things together.

Some parts did feel a bit slow, especially in the middle, but I think that also allowed the emotional moments to hit stronger. It’s more of a reflective, character-driven read than something action-packed.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy emotional stories with depth and a touch of mystery. It’s one of those quiet reads that stays with you after you finish.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Thank you Lake Union Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own**

When Della's husband suddenly dies all he leaves her with is cryptic last words, financial worries, and an angry teenage daughter. As Della tries to figure out what her husband's last words to her meant and as well as what happened to $200,000 he was supposed to use to pay of their house but didn't she is confronted with her own past as well as secrets she never knew her husband was keeping.

I went back and forth on how I felt about this book. Ultimately, I think there was a really good story here that just never felt fully developed. By the time I finished it, I felt like this would have been more interesting if written as lit fic rather than a thriller because the mystery/thriller element just didn't really work for me. The murder just didn't really seem to actually matter or have any consequences, the interpersonal relationships were more interesting.

[Desiree Gamboa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a compelling and layered read/listen. These Dark Places dives deep into the secrets people keep and the complicated truths that often surface only after someone is gone. What begins as grief slowly unravels into a web of hidden relationships, betrayals, and long-buried realities.

One thing I really appreciated was how the story explores the grey areas of relationships, especially the emotional weight many women find themselves sorting through after the death of a spouse or loved one who may have taken important truths to the grave. The realizations that unfold feel raw, uncomfortable, and very real.

The themes of love, betrayal, and self-discovery kept me fully invested, and the slow peeling back of secrets made this a really satisfying listen. If you enjoy character driven stories that examine the complexities of relationships and the truths we uncover in grief, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

[Laura Sotillos Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had forgotten how much I like thrillers until listening to this audiobook. This was soooo good, it took me along for the ride 100% and at the end I couldn't stop listening. I liked that the bodies were not female, for once, the people investigating what was going on were women. I did not really appreciate how the story implies to a certain degree that violence and/or psychopathy runs in the genes, as this is not true actually and can stigmatize people from problematic families.
The portrayal of what it is to be heard for the first time in your life, finally... so real!
Ethan was a weird addition to the story, I'm not sure how I feel about the character being in the book, and some of the main character's decisions I did not quite understand (i.e. I would have acted differently or my thought process would be very different), but definitely a thriller that will have you hooked. Also, Robin, ugh.

[Lynn Krueger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Della's husband is dying. On his death bed he makes a confession and a request. He has secrets but we don't know what they are. Enter hours of addictive audio to try to figure it out. The audio narration was impeccable and I enjoyed every minute. I didn't know exactly where the story was going. For me, it started to feel like there were almost too many twists, which made parts of the story a little hard to believe. I can't be more specific without spoiling it though so that's all I'll say!

This is a fast-paced, twisty listen that kept me fully engaged, and I still had a lot of fun with it. I would absolutely recommend this audiobook/book, especially for fans of suspenseful, binge-worthy thrillers.

PS I loved the dog's name being Marmite, what an adorable name!!

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hillary Taylor is a an amazing storyteller.

This story is a quietly gripping psychological thriller that thrives on mood and character rather than shock tactics. The novel follows a woman forced to confront long‑buried trauma when she returns to the rural community she once fled.

Hilary‘s strength lies in her ability to evoke place—shadowed forests, isolated farmhouses, and the uneasy silence of small‑town secrets—while steadily tightening the emotional tension.

The protagonist’s inner conflict is rendered with empathy, making her unraveling feel both intimate and inevitable.

Though the plot unfolds at a measured pace, the payoff is satisfying, with revelations that feel earned rather than engineered.

This is a story about memory, guilt, and the way the past refuses to stay buried, delivered with restraint and a keen psychological eye.

[Carol Werner Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Dark Places
by Hilary Tailor
Pub Date: Mar 16 2026

"Hilary Tailor has delivered a chilling psychological thriller that proves some secrets are better left buried. These Dark Places starts with a bang—a deathbed confession—and never lets up. I loved how the author flipped the 'peaceful cottage' trope on its head, making the forest feel just as threatening as the secrets Della uncovers. While the pacing is 'quietly gripping', the final twists regarding Carrie and Leo kept me guessing until the very end. Highly recommended for fans of domestic suspense who enjoy a slow-burn mystery with a heavy emotional core."

Many thanks to #TheseDarkPlaces #NetGalley, #AmazonPublishingUK and #LakeUnionPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

[Josie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes going into These Dark Places, but unfortunately it didn’t deliver for me. The biggest issue was the lack of a clear, engaging plot. Rather than building momentum or offering a sense of direction, the story felt slow and unfocused, with little happening to keep me invested.
I kept waiting for something meaningful to develop—some twist, conflict, or even a strong narrative thread—but it never quite materialised. Because of this, I found it difficult to stay interested or motivated to keep reading.
In the end, I didn’t finish the book. Without a compelling plot to draw me in, it just wasn’t able to hold my attention. While others might appreciate its style or atmosphere, it simply wasn’t the right fit for me.

[Amber Rothermel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yawn.

My goodness this story was quite boring. Nothing really happened for the first 80% of the book. The brother pyromaniac storyline had promise but that just fizzled out and meant really nothing to the story. How odd?

Definitely didn’t like the part of the story about the dog dying. What on earth did this have to do with the storyline? Also, felt odd.

Nothing about this was twisty, except for maybe the Alex being someone else’s subplot. I wasn’t getting sinister vibes from the neighbor, Carrie either. All emotion just fell flat.

The only redeeming quality of this story was the narrator. She was great! I listened at 2x.

This just was not for me.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of These Dark Places by Hilary Tailor.

This book was unexpected from beginning to end. From the death of Della's husband, to the neighbors who moved in next door. I love a good twisty-turny suspense novel as much as the next guy, but this was almost too much. The ending was especially too much, but also not enough? Like, all that tension and build-up...for that?

I didn't dislike this book, but there was plenty about it that I disliked. It's a solid 3 stars.

[Critter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

These Dark Places is a slow moving book. It took quite a while for the story to pick up. I just couldn't fully get into this book and it felt like the mystery took a backseat to almost everything else in the book. This book definitely explores a lot of the relationships between different characters, but unfortunately I just couldn't quite get into this one.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but sadly it was a bit of a slog for me to get through. Every time I stoped listening, I found it hard to pick it back up. I just couldn’t connect to the story or the characters. The pacing was excruciatingly slow. There were a few twists, but nothing really felt unique or different. I feel like this type of story has been told many times before. Sadly, this book just wasn’t for me.

[Emma Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t holding my attention at all. The characters were actually quite good and the writing was excellent, but the plot was just a snooze. I could not care less what happens, is there even a mystery? I’m halfway through and I could not tell you what we are meant to be investigating yet.

[Jane Crittenden · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Dark Places delivers all the ingredients you'll want from a psychological thriller - it's gripping, chilling, twisty and so much more. Hilary's skill in describing setting becomes a character in itself and with a plot that's deeply layered, just when you think you know where the story's going, it switches direction - utterly brilliant!

[Janice Mcculloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author's descriptive way of writing. How she describes the woods as living and the changing seasons. I also enjoyed the connection of how the flames could change things from good to bad or visa versa. Yes, her writing can seem slow, but I find it very deep and thoughtful.

[Mrs Susan Bickerton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

This was really good, and to think I nearly gave up at the beginning, as it took me a while to get into. Lots of twists that i didn't see coming, have just downloaded another by this author. Very worth while a read.

[Salty Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a 3.75⭐️ rounded up because of goodreads ratings. The narration was ok, the story line was ok. I didnt hate it but I didnt love it either. Trying to get the whole truth unburied after a bombshell confession from her husband on his deathbed, Della finds her life's story was not what she thought. Secrets never stay secret long.

[Isabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5, this book was boring…. But ok I guess

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. Takes twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Also pairs unlikely friends that become a family of sorts.

[mariana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
i really wanted to like this more, because it has a cool setting and a cool concept, but it’s just boring and anticlimactic.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this mystery. It was interesting and had me engaged the whole time without making me sweat.

I really liked the end and the way it wrapped up. It was just the right amount predictable to keep it believable. And the unraveling was satisfying.

I’ll be adding more of Hilary’s book to my TBR after this one.

[Bad Cat Behaviour · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for providing me with These Dark Places by Hilary Tailor.

Oh, the DRAMA... A very unexpected family drama. Of course drama always had a seat at the table, but I went into this anticipating a suspense-thriller; instead, I got a messy family melodrama. I have mixed feelings about this novel. It starts off strong with big events and the allure of mystery, and though my curiosity persisted, my tolerance for the FMC, Della, waned, and the creepy brother subplot was intolerable. Della is a victim of trauma, but it is so hard to be supportive when she is surrounded by bad friends, seemingly has no knowledge of her family or personal finances, and is treated like a doormat by her daughter, a high school student. Della needs a backbone, the ferocity of a mother that fears for her child, and a financial advisor who isn't entangled in her personal life. I admit I was blindsided by many of the twists, but I attribute that to a complete lack of logic.

The story was definitely entertaining, especially towards the end (~80%), but it definitely challenged my ideas of rational thought.

I think the audio format significantly elevated the reading experience, and the narrator did a fabulous job differentiating multiple characters.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

On his deathbed, Della's husband Leo makes a cryptic confession. But that's just the first of many things that will make Della wonder if she ever really knew her husband. Navigating lies, secrets, betrayal, an angry teenage daughter she can't connect with and new neighbours who know way more about Leo than Della is comfortable with, Della must find a way to earn money and learn to navigate in a world she's never truly navigated alone.

The premise for this book was really interesting, but the story didn't quite meet expectations. I struggled to connect with the characters and story in general. I think I was expecting more mystery and unexpected secrets instead of the rather run of the mill things that were revealed.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy of this book.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book with all its twists and turns that kept me guessing. A solid 4 starts.

[The Bibliophile Doctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

These Dark Places
by Hilary Tailor
Narrated by Eilidh Beaton

Audiobook rating : 3.5 stars
Book rating : 2.5 stars
Overall rating : 3 stars

These dark places by Hilary Tailor started out very strong and I was pulled immediately into the beautiful prose and gloomy world that lay ahead in front of female protagonist but as the story moved ahead, it dragged on.

The hype that was created around Della's brother had no impact on the life whatsoever, if he had not existed the story would go on nevertheless, so that element was added only to create a fear factor or dread, giving Della a past she feared. But then when I think of it, it really wasn't important to the story so I didn't understand why so much time was spent on it.

Every character in the book I found mildly annoying to my liking. The story was so slow paced and dragged so much, there were times when I wanted to quit but kept going only because it was audiobook and the narration was good.

It didn't work for me but it might work for other readers who like women's fiction.

Thank you netgalley and Brilliance audio and publishing for audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.