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Out of the Dark: A psychological thriller
Shouldn’t your family keep you safe?
Aren't they meant to give you the courage to step out of the darkness, into the light?
Maddie’s simmering resentment against the world seems determined to keep her down, and dealing with a mother who can’t hide her distaste for her firstborn certainly doesn’t help. She's even struggling to forgive her younger sister for being her mother’s favourite child; the apple of her mother’s eye.
When her father, the only person she can rely on, is killed in a hit-and-run, her all-consuming grief will not be silenced. She will stop at nothing to prove his death wasn't an accident, and to track down whoever was to blame…
But when more deaths occur, Maddie struggles to convince the police that she isn’t the culprit. Will she be able to explain why death seems to follow her wherever she goes?
Aren't they meant to give you the courage to step out of the darkness, into the light?
Maddie’s simmering resentment against the world seems determined to keep her down, and dealing with a mother who can’t hide her distaste for her firstborn certainly doesn’t help. She's even struggling to forgive her younger sister for being her mother’s favourite child; the apple of her mother’s eye.
When her father, the only person she can rely on, is killed in a hit-and-run, her all-consuming grief will not be silenced. She will stop at nothing to prove his death wasn't an accident, and to track down whoever was to blame…
But when more deaths occur, Maddie struggles to convince the police that she isn’t the culprit. Will she be able to explain why death seems to follow her wherever she goes?
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2025
2 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Carol Gulliford
4 books52 followersCarol Gulliford is a British author of psychological thrillers. As an avid reader of mystery and suspense, she occasionally loves something light and funny to lighten the mood, but will always remain a thriller girl at heart! She lives in the south of England with her son and partner.
Her debut novel, Behind the Lies, was released in 2024, and is now available as an audiobook. She also has a twisty quick read, One Final Breath, and a new thriller, Out of the Dark. Carol's first children's picture book, The Popcorn Factory, was released in November 2025.
Connect with Carol:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
https://www.instagram.com/carolgullif...
https://www.tiktok.com/@carolgullifor...
Her debut novel, Behind the Lies, was released in 2024, and is now available as an audiobook. She also has a twisty quick read, One Final Breath, and a new thriller, Out of the Dark. Carol's first children's picture book, The Popcorn Factory, was released in November 2025.
Connect with Carol:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
https://www.instagram.com/carolgullif...
https://www.tiktok.com/@carolgullifor...
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 30, 2025
OUT OF THE DARK
A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
BY CAROL GULLIFORD
Release date set for the 14th of November 2025.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be apart of your first ever arc team ☺.
From the very beginning I felt sorry for the main character Maddie and her sister Lizzie. So much empathy for Maddie especially.
Theres a couple of Horrible and despicable characters that I would of loved to punch in the throat 👊.
I was suspicious of nearly every single character aswel.
Short and sweet chapters that made you keep thinking 'just another chapter'.
I've literally flew through this book.
I loved the writing style and the storyline
A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
BY CAROL GULLIFORD
Release date set for the 14th of November 2025.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be apart of your first ever arc team ☺.
From the very beginning I felt sorry for the main character Maddie and her sister Lizzie. So much empathy for Maddie especially.
Theres a couple of Horrible and despicable characters that I would of loved to punch in the throat 👊.
I was suspicious of nearly every single character aswel.
Short and sweet chapters that made you keep thinking 'just another chapter'.
I've literally flew through this book.
I loved the writing style and the storyline
November 21, 2025
Finished ✅ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another brilliant read from Carol Gulliford.
This is another claustrophobic piece of writing, meaning that it never lets up with the tension.
Maddie, the older sister of two, had a tough upbringing when it came to her mother, who treated her with contempt all her life. Her dad loved both her and her sister Lizzie, but his life wasn’t as straightforward as Maddie thought.
Falling in love at a young age, having to leave home, Maddie’s life falls apart, only having a few close people around her to help.
This book has many layers that make you want to read on.
Well done Carol. I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline, and can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve for future books. 📚
Another brilliant read from Carol Gulliford.
This is another claustrophobic piece of writing, meaning that it never lets up with the tension.
Maddie, the older sister of two, had a tough upbringing when it came to her mother, who treated her with contempt all her life. Her dad loved both her and her sister Lizzie, but his life wasn’t as straightforward as Maddie thought.
Falling in love at a young age, having to leave home, Maddie’s life falls apart, only having a few close people around her to help.
This book has many layers that make you want to read on.
Well done Carol. I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline, and can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve for future books. 📚
November 9, 2025
Maddie and Lizzie have an interesting home life. Their cold, distant mother has an obvious preference for Lizzie, and she’s not afraid to show it. Maddie’s father, Trevor, is the complete opposite. He’s a family man who loves both of his girls equally. However, the family is full of secrets and after a random accident one night outside of a pub, the family will be ripped apart. Lies, secrets, and drama abound! Just when you think you’ve caught your breath, another twist flies in your face!
This is the third book I’ve read by the author and they keep getting better and better. The characters were vivid and I felt like I was there in every scene. Every revelation made me gasp and I couldn’t put this book down!
Yet another amazing book from this author. Highly recommend!
This is the third book I’ve read by the author and they keep getting better and better. The characters were vivid and I felt like I was there in every scene. Every revelation made me gasp and I couldn’t put this book down!
Yet another amazing book from this author. Highly recommend!
October 31, 2025
I found the this book easy to read, and I did not find boring.
The story was written well and I felt connected to the characters.
While there was some unexpected events in this book and it was suspenseful , I didn’t really feel it was more on the thriller side.
I would still recommend this book to read as I really did enjoy the storyline.
The story was written well and I felt connected to the characters.
While there was some unexpected events in this book and it was suspenseful , I didn’t really feel it was more on the thriller side.
I would still recommend this book to read as I really did enjoy the storyline.
November 1, 2025
Great story, really enjoyed it but the ending feels unfinished, what happened next?!
December 20, 2025
A dark, gripping, and emotionally charged psychological thriller that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
Carol Gulliford has a remarkable gift for creating tension so tight it almost hums beneath the surface. Out of the Dark is no exception — this story wraps itself around you from the opening chapter and refuses to let go.
Maddie, the eldest of two sisters, grows up under the heavy shadow of a mother whose coldness borders on cruelty. Her father’s love is the only anchor she has… until he’s taken from her in a hit-and-run that feels anything but accidental. Maddie’s grief is raw, consuming, and painfully real — and Gulliford captures it with an authenticity that makes your heart ache for her.
As Maddie’s life unravels and secrets begin to rise to the surface, the story tightens into a claustrophobic knot of suspicion, family dysfunction, and psychological turmoil. Every chapter peels back another layer, revealing just how fragile Maddie’s world truly is — and how little she can trust the people around her.
What I loved most is the book’s depth. This isn’t just a thriller; it’s a study of how trauma shapes us, how grief distorts reality, and how one person’s determination to find the truth can look dangerously like obsession. The unfolding deaths, the shifting blame, and Maddie’s struggle to prove her innocence kept me racing through the pages.
Carol has woven multiple layers into this story — emotional, psychological, and suspenseful — each one pulling you deeper into the darkness Maddie is fighting her way through.
A brilliantly crafted thriller.
A haunting exploration of family, loss, and resilience.
Well done, Carol. I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline and I can’t wait to see what you bring us next. 📚✨
Read the full review here.
Carol Gulliford has a remarkable gift for creating tension so tight it almost hums beneath the surface. Out of the Dark is no exception — this story wraps itself around you from the opening chapter and refuses to let go.
Maddie, the eldest of two sisters, grows up under the heavy shadow of a mother whose coldness borders on cruelty. Her father’s love is the only anchor she has… until he’s taken from her in a hit-and-run that feels anything but accidental. Maddie’s grief is raw, consuming, and painfully real — and Gulliford captures it with an authenticity that makes your heart ache for her.
As Maddie’s life unravels and secrets begin to rise to the surface, the story tightens into a claustrophobic knot of suspicion, family dysfunction, and psychological turmoil. Every chapter peels back another layer, revealing just how fragile Maddie’s world truly is — and how little she can trust the people around her.
What I loved most is the book’s depth. This isn’t just a thriller; it’s a study of how trauma shapes us, how grief distorts reality, and how one person’s determination to find the truth can look dangerously like obsession. The unfolding deaths, the shifting blame, and Maddie’s struggle to prove her innocence kept me racing through the pages.
Carol has woven multiple layers into this story — emotional, psychological, and suspenseful — each one pulling you deeper into the darkness Maddie is fighting her way through.
A brilliantly crafted thriller.
A haunting exploration of family, loss, and resilience.
Well done, Carol. I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline and I can’t wait to see what you bring us next. 📚✨
Read the full review here.
November 6, 2025
I received an early copy of this book by the author to review and I was impressed! Loved the writing style and easy to read chapters
This suspenseful family drama follows Maddie, a young girl whose father is killed in a tragic accident by an unknown stranger. Along with her abusive mother and overshadowing sister Lizzie, Maddie must uncover family secrets and break free from the control she’s always known to discover the truth.
The book definitely feels like it needs a sequel! I’ll be keeping this author on my list to see what comes next
This suspenseful family drama follows Maddie, a young girl whose father is killed in a tragic accident by an unknown stranger. Along with her abusive mother and overshadowing sister Lizzie, Maddie must uncover family secrets and break free from the control she’s always known to discover the truth.
The book definitely feels like it needs a sequel! I’ll be keeping this author on my list to see what comes next
October 31, 2025
Read in 1 day. Loved it. Coworker came in and asked me something in the middle and I said this mom is such a b**** seriously. 😳
New meaning to keep an eye on those you love and that are closest to you?
Also why the woman detective got to be like that?
Oh and not all Shelly’s are skanky!!! Just saying some of us are nice young ladies 🤣
New meaning to keep an eye on those you love and that are closest to you?
Also why the woman detective got to be like that?
Oh and not all Shelly’s are skanky!!! Just saying some of us are nice young ladies 🤣
November 7, 2025
Maddie can't catch a break; at home, at life, in all of her relationships she seems to get the short end of the stick.
When her favorite person in the world; the only one who seemed to truly love her dies under mysterious circumstances Maddie feels like she needs to take matters into her own hands. Bad things keep happening. When will it ever end?
Great characters! I especially love the relationship between Maddie and her sister Lizzie. Some of the characters you loved, some you hated and some you loved to have.
Short chapters that kept me reading late into the night needing to know what happened next.
Thank you to the author for letting me be a part of her very first ARC team.
When her favorite person in the world; the only one who seemed to truly love her dies under mysterious circumstances Maddie feels like she needs to take matters into her own hands. Bad things keep happening. When will it ever end?
Great characters! I especially love the relationship between Maddie and her sister Lizzie. Some of the characters you loved, some you hated and some you loved to have.
Short chapters that kept me reading late into the night needing to know what happened next.
Thank you to the author for letting me be a part of her very first ARC team.
November 3, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book. I got through it in 24 hours!
The main character is very likable, and I was drawn to keep reading to figure out what happens with her.
The main character is very likable, and I was drawn to keep reading to figure out what happens with her.
November 9, 2025
This was a fast read for me. I was immediately invested and couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the story. There were several twists that I didn't see coming. It was a great read
I gave it 4 stars only because I felt like I needed more at the end. Maybe it was just me. I would still recommend this book.
I gave it 4 stars only because I felt like I needed more at the end. Maybe it was just me. I would still recommend this book.
November 21, 2025
I have read all of Carol's books and enjoyed each one. I'm already looking forward to her next book. If you're looking for a Christmas gift for an avid reader, you can't go wrong with this one.
December 6, 2025
Loved this so much! Hooked me in and I couldn’t put it down. Would recommend!
November 6, 2025
Summary:
Out of the Dark is a haunting and emotional psychological thriller that follows Maddie, a woman whose life has been scarred by a toxic childhood and years of emotional abuse. Growing up under a manipulative mother and overshadowed by her beloved sister Lizzie, Maddie learned to hide her pain behind obedience and silence. But when tragedy strikes and long-buried secrets begin to resurface, she’s forced to confront the darkness that has shadowed her family for years. As Maddie’s past and present begin to collide, she must find the strength to break free from the cycle of control and uncover the truth before it destroys her completely.
Review:
Carol Gulliford delivers a deeply affecting and atmospheric novel that blends family drama, psychological suspense, and emotional recovery. The writing is vivid and intimate, pulling readers straight into Maddie’s fractured world. Themes of trauma, resilience, and survival are handled with sensitivity and depth, making this more than a standard thriller — it’s a powerful story about finding light after years of darkness.
Out of the Dark is gripping, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful.
Out of the Dark is a haunting and emotional psychological thriller that follows Maddie, a woman whose life has been scarred by a toxic childhood and years of emotional abuse. Growing up under a manipulative mother and overshadowed by her beloved sister Lizzie, Maddie learned to hide her pain behind obedience and silence. But when tragedy strikes and long-buried secrets begin to resurface, she’s forced to confront the darkness that has shadowed her family for years. As Maddie’s past and present begin to collide, she must find the strength to break free from the cycle of control and uncover the truth before it destroys her completely.
Review:
Carol Gulliford delivers a deeply affecting and atmospheric novel that blends family drama, psychological suspense, and emotional recovery. The writing is vivid and intimate, pulling readers straight into Maddie’s fractured world. Themes of trauma, resilience, and survival are handled with sensitivity and depth, making this more than a standard thriller — it’s a powerful story about finding light after years of darkness.
Out of the Dark is gripping, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful.
February 9, 2026
Maddie and Lizzie grew up in a deeply troubled home. Maddie bears the brunt of their mother’s rage and cruelty, while Lizzie is favored and doted on. Their father tries to compensate for the imbalance and protect them, but his sudden and tragic death leaves the girls even more vulnerable.
This story had the potential to be a gripping psychological thriller, but I never quite felt the tension I was expecting. I kept waiting for that edge-of-your-seat moment that never fully arrived. The timeline felt a bit disjointed at times, and the main character seemed to endure an almost unbelievable amount of bad luck, which made parts of the plot feel unfinished or underdeveloped.
That said, it was an easy, fast read and clearly well written. I just finished the book, wishing it had pushed further into the suspense and provided a more satisfying payoff.
This story had the potential to be a gripping psychological thriller, but I never quite felt the tension I was expecting. I kept waiting for that edge-of-your-seat moment that never fully arrived. The timeline felt a bit disjointed at times, and the main character seemed to endure an almost unbelievable amount of bad luck, which made parts of the plot feel unfinished or underdeveloped.
That said, it was an easy, fast read and clearly well written. I just finished the book, wishing it had pushed further into the suspense and provided a more satisfying payoff.
November 13, 2025
This book was very fast paced and easy to fly through the chapters. The character Maddie went through a lot and experiences many unexpected incidents and so much grief as she grows up and it draws you in to her character to understand why she is who she is. The writing makes you feel sadness and anger like your standing by her side experiencing what she does. I totally did not expect the ending and how everything concluded in the book! I feel that there could be a second book following Maddie as she continues throughout life as she works on moving past all the grief. I especially loved the way Maddie and Lizzie relationship grew as they went through life!
November 12, 2025
I had the honor of reading this title as an ARC, and I was hooked on Maddie's story from the first page!
From the complex family dynamics to the heartbreaking tragedies that befall her, I found myself rooting for Maddie and hoping she finds the happiness she deserves.
The emotional ups and downs had me fully invested, and the mystery element had me second guessing everyone!
The reveal was unexpected and added a great twist that brought it back to the start.
Overall, it was a gripping, fast-paced read that kept me turning the pages til the end.
Definitely recommend!
From the complex family dynamics to the heartbreaking tragedies that befall her, I found myself rooting for Maddie and hoping she finds the happiness she deserves.
The emotional ups and downs had me fully invested, and the mystery element had me second guessing everyone!
The reveal was unexpected and added a great twist that brought it back to the start.
Overall, it was a gripping, fast-paced read that kept me turning the pages til the end.
Definitely recommend!
November 7, 2025
This is her new HOT release (soon)!!!
This book was very well written. The chapters are smooth and easy flowing.
The bomb she drops is just unbelievable!!! The Suttle approach throughout the whole book is impeccably done by the Author!!
Look forward to the next read by this author for sure!!!
This book was very well written. The chapters are smooth and easy flowing.
The bomb she drops is just unbelievable!!! The Suttle approach throughout the whole book is impeccably done by the Author!!
Look forward to the next read by this author for sure!!!
January 31, 2026
Dark, emotional, and sharply written, Out of the Dark delves into grief, suspicion, and fractured family ties with gripping intensity. A tense read with a protagonist you can’t help but root for.
December 27, 2025
I enjoyed this novel. The characters were interesting to say the least.
I really felt sorry for Maddie. She was unloved by her mother, and emotionally abused by her. Her protector, her father, was killed in a hit and run accident, and not long after that, Maddie was ousted from her home, where she should have been loved and protected.
I liked her determination to find out who exactly killed her father.
There were twists I never predicted, which makes a nice change.
It was a quick read. Emotional, tragic, sad, and dark in places.
Thank you, Carol Gulliford for the opportunity to read and review your novel.
I really felt sorry for Maddie. She was unloved by her mother, and emotionally abused by her. Her protector, her father, was killed in a hit and run accident, and not long after that, Maddie was ousted from her home, where she should have been loved and protected.
I liked her determination to find out who exactly killed her father.
There were twists I never predicted, which makes a nice change.
It was a quick read. Emotional, tragic, sad, and dark in places.
Thank you, Carol Gulliford for the opportunity to read and review your novel.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews