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Dark Ugly Places
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26Dark Ugly Places is a psychological thriller of identity, grief, and revenge — a haunting domestic suspense for readers of Verity, Behind Her Eyes, and The Silent Patient.
Some wounds don't heal. They fester. They whisper. They take over.
In Dark Ugly Places, trauma isn't something you survive — it's something that survives you.
Thirty-four-year-old Nicola Holiday loses everything in a hit-and-run: her husband dead, her body broken, her fourteen-year-old daughter Emmy forever changed. With no one held accountable, she spirals into grief, panic attacks, and financial ruin — awakening a hereditary darkness she's spent her life trying to outrun.
That darkness has a voice now. Her name is Martha, and she aches for revenge.
As Nicola's grip on reality loosens, Martha slips into another life — one of wealth, glamour, and moral rot. When she crosses paths with the wife of a famous actor, Nicola's suspicions ignite.
Pulled between vengeance and annihilation, Nicola and Martha collide with a woman whose secrets may be the key to everything — or the thing that destroys them both.
Dark, provocative, and deeply unsettling — a haunting psychological portrait of female rage, obsession, and the terrifying lengths the mind will go to survive unbearable pain.
Because sometimes the most dangerous place isn't the past. It's inside your own head.
PRAISE for Dark Ugly Places
Kirkus Reviews: Our Verdict: GET IT
“Mansour has created a grim, claustrophobic world, populated by people struggling against their bonds, and these battles give the characters an unexpected depth. . . . The sunny skies of Los Angeles also mask an underlying spiritual bleakness. . . . A suspenseful and relentless tale of troubled Californians.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“A tense, viciously readable psychological thriller about the violence that lurks beneath polished surfaces. … Mansour writes with sharp cinematic intensity. … Dark, propulsive thriller of the terrifying places rage can take root.”
– BookLife Reviews
“With fast-paced thrills and gripping psychological drama, Ashley Mansour’s DARK UGLY PLACES serves up vengeance for morally complex characters.”
— IndieReader
Some wounds don't heal. They fester. They whisper. They take over.
In Dark Ugly Places, trauma isn't something you survive — it's something that survives you.
Thirty-four-year-old Nicola Holiday loses everything in a hit-and-run: her husband dead, her body broken, her fourteen-year-old daughter Emmy forever changed. With no one held accountable, she spirals into grief, panic attacks, and financial ruin — awakening a hereditary darkness she's spent her life trying to outrun.
That darkness has a voice now. Her name is Martha, and she aches for revenge.
As Nicola's grip on reality loosens, Martha slips into another life — one of wealth, glamour, and moral rot. When she crosses paths with the wife of a famous actor, Nicola's suspicions ignite.
Pulled between vengeance and annihilation, Nicola and Martha collide with a woman whose secrets may be the key to everything — or the thing that destroys them both.
Dark, provocative, and deeply unsettling — a haunting psychological portrait of female rage, obsession, and the terrifying lengths the mind will go to survive unbearable pain.
Because sometimes the most dangerous place isn't the past. It's inside your own head.
PRAISE for Dark Ugly Places
Kirkus Reviews: Our Verdict: GET IT
“Mansour has created a grim, claustrophobic world, populated by people struggling against their bonds, and these battles give the characters an unexpected depth. . . . The sunny skies of Los Angeles also mask an underlying spiritual bleakness. . . . A suspenseful and relentless tale of troubled Californians.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“A tense, viciously readable psychological thriller about the violence that lurks beneath polished surfaces. … Mansour writes with sharp cinematic intensity. … Dark, propulsive thriller of the terrifying places rage can take root.”
– BookLife Reviews
“With fast-paced thrills and gripping psychological drama, Ashley Mansour’s DARK UGLY PLACES serves up vengeance for morally complex characters.”
— IndieReader
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Ashley Mansour
5 books159 followersAshley Mansour is a bestselling author, award-winning film producer, and storyteller known for creating immersive, emotionally charged narratives that blur the line between beauty and darkness.
Her internationally bestselling debut novel, Blood, Ink & Fire, imagined a world where reading was forbidden — a haunting love letter to the power of stories. After its success and film option, Ashley transitioned into the entertainment world, producing and writing book-to-screen adaptations, including Back Roads, the adaptation of Oprah’s Book Club bestseller by Tawni O’Dell.
In 2026, Ashley returned to fiction, this time exploring the darker sides of domestic life. Her upcoming psychological thriller and haunting domestic suspense, Dark Ugly Places and The Girl That Jack Killed, unravel themes of identity, grief, and the shadows that live inside us all.
Beyond her novels, Ashley is the founder and CEO of LA Writing Coach, where she helps aspiring authors and thought leaders bring their stories to life through her acclaimed systems — The TAP Writing Method™ and The PAE System.
She lives in Irvine, California, with her husband and their Bernedoodle, Bernie, who thinks he’s the main character.
Instagram: @ashleymwrites
Her internationally bestselling debut novel, Blood, Ink & Fire, imagined a world where reading was forbidden — a haunting love letter to the power of stories. After its success and film option, Ashley transitioned into the entertainment world, producing and writing book-to-screen adaptations, including Back Roads, the adaptation of Oprah’s Book Club bestseller by Tawni O’Dell.
In 2026, Ashley returned to fiction, this time exploring the darker sides of domestic life. Her upcoming psychological thriller and haunting domestic suspense, Dark Ugly Places and The Girl That Jack Killed, unravel themes of identity, grief, and the shadows that live inside us all.
Beyond her novels, Ashley is the founder and CEO of LA Writing Coach, where she helps aspiring authors and thought leaders bring their stories to life through her acclaimed systems — The TAP Writing Method™ and The PAE System.
She lives in Irvine, California, with her husband and their Bernedoodle, Bernie, who thinks he’s the main character.
Instagram: @ashleymwrites
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Review of advance copy
Dark Ugly Places by Ashley Mansour is an incredibly well-written psychological thriller that hooked me from the very beginning.
Told through multiple POVs, the story centers on Nicola, whose life is shattered after a horrific car accident claims the life of her husband, Ben. The crash leaves Nicola trapped inside a body that no longer works the way it should and forever alters the life of her daughter, Emmy. Both mother and daughter are struggling to cope, relying on a pharmacy's worth of medications for pain, anxiety, seizures, and everything in between.
At first, the novel feels like a deeply emotional exploration of survival after tragedy. It dives into the realities that many stories gloss over: the PTSD, the crushing financial burden, the strain on relationships, and the slow erosion of hope that can follow a life-changing event. Nothing feels exaggerated. If anything, the spiral that Nicola and Emmy experience feels painfully believable.
Then Martha enters the picture.
Martha isn't exactly Nicola's opposite, but she certainly shakes things up. She's fiery, bold, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore. Just when you think you've gotten a handle on the story, along comes Bambi, bringing an entirely different layer of intrigue and complexity. Each new perspective adds another piece to the puzzle while simultaneously making the overall picture even murkier.
What I loved most about this book is how it constantly shifts your loyalties. Just when you decide who deserves your sympathy, new information comes to light and you're forced to reevaluate everything. It's the kind of story that has you questioning not only the characters' motives, but your own judgments as a reader.
Dark Ugly Places is a gripping domestic psychological thriller filled with tension, secrets, and emotional depth. It kept me guessing, turning pages, and second-guessing everyone involved. By the end, I wasn't entirely sure who I was rooting for anymore, and honestly, that's one of the things that made it so compelling.
Ashley Mansour delivers a captivating story with sharp characterization and excellent storytelling. This was my first book by her, but it definitely won't be my last.
Thank you to Ashley Mansour, Monikher Press, and BookSirens for providing an advance review copy. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Told through multiple POVs, the story centers on Nicola, whose life is shattered after a horrific car accident claims the life of her husband, Ben. The crash leaves Nicola trapped inside a body that no longer works the way it should and forever alters the life of her daughter, Emmy. Both mother and daughter are struggling to cope, relying on a pharmacy's worth of medications for pain, anxiety, seizures, and everything in between.
At first, the novel feels like a deeply emotional exploration of survival after tragedy. It dives into the realities that many stories gloss over: the PTSD, the crushing financial burden, the strain on relationships, and the slow erosion of hope that can follow a life-changing event. Nothing feels exaggerated. If anything, the spiral that Nicola and Emmy experience feels painfully believable.
Then Martha enters the picture.
Martha isn't exactly Nicola's opposite, but she certainly shakes things up. She's fiery, bold, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore. Just when you think you've gotten a handle on the story, along comes Bambi, bringing an entirely different layer of intrigue and complexity. Each new perspective adds another piece to the puzzle while simultaneously making the overall picture even murkier.
What I loved most about this book is how it constantly shifts your loyalties. Just when you decide who deserves your sympathy, new information comes to light and you're forced to reevaluate everything. It's the kind of story that has you questioning not only the characters' motives, but your own judgments as a reader.
Dark Ugly Places is a gripping domestic psychological thriller filled with tension, secrets, and emotional depth. It kept me guessing, turning pages, and second-guessing everyone involved. By the end, I wasn't entirely sure who I was rooting for anymore, and honestly, that's one of the things that made it so compelling.
Ashley Mansour delivers a captivating story with sharp characterization and excellent storytelling. This was my first book by her, but it definitely won't be my last.
Thank you to Ashley Mansour, Monikher Press, and BookSirens for providing an advance review copy. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy
The beginning of the book is terrifying/sad but it paints the picture of the trauma that Nicola has been though. The initial chapter alludes to a separate narrator/voice watching above Nicola as she experiences a traumatic hit and run that leaves her husband dead. The book follows the aftermath of losing her husband, and Nicola dealing with debilitating headache and pain in her leg. Her daughter survived but needed multiple surgeries that leaves her with a large scar on the side of her head – difficulty for any teenager to deal with. As these two are trying to put their life back together Nicola’s mental health is suffering, they are broke and grieving and something or someone at the back of Nicola’s mind keeps trying to come forward.
Across town in Beverly Hills Jason Redfern is a hit movie star married to a model, Bambi. She left her life in New York to come be with her husband. He spends his days on set and nights out with stars which leaves Bambi home and lonely. As the book progresses these four lives intermingle on an intimate level and all the good and bad parts of these lives are exposed.
This was an enjoyable read for me, interesting look in how trauma affects people differently. This is the first book that I have read that throws around medication names frequently almost like the author is a pharmacist. I have been prescribed one of them before so that resonated with me and the crazy side effects it has. The book probably did not need to use brand name of the drugs the whole time and could have just said “migraine pills” or “pain pills.” I enjoyed the character development and how each character deals with their own demons.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Across town in Beverly Hills Jason Redfern is a hit movie star married to a model, Bambi. She left her life in New York to come be with her husband. He spends his days on set and nights out with stars which leaves Bambi home and lonely. As the book progresses these four lives intermingle on an intimate level and all the good and bad parts of these lives are exposed.
This was an enjoyable read for me, interesting look in how trauma affects people differently. This is the first book that I have read that throws around medication names frequently almost like the author is a pharmacist. I have been prescribed one of them before so that resonated with me and the crazy side effects it has. The book probably did not need to use brand name of the drugs the whole time and could have just said “migraine pills” or “pain pills.” I enjoyed the character development and how each character deals with their own demons.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
This was a thrilling and suspenseful story filled with unexpected twists. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the book surprised me. I also thought it was a poignant picture of grief that addressed the daily realities and struggles of trauma. Nicola was a really raw, vulnerable character who personified the inner turmoil many people face as they fight to overcome the darker side of humanity. A central theme of the story was the contrast between our desire to get help and our refusal to admit anything is wrong.
The book was incredibly engrossing with clear character arcs and plot progression until the final chapters, which fell a little flat. Some of the characters' actions just didn't make sense and didn't seem to flow with the rest of the story. Furthermore, I'm not a huge fan of open endings, and there were some loose ends that I wish had been addressed by the end of the novel. However, it was still a satisfying conclusion that was as happy as it possibly could've been and showcased the topics of generational mental health and perpetuating cycles of abuse.
Overall, this was a suspenseful, psychological tale about confronting the worst parts of ourselves. I highly recommend it. *I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
The book was incredibly engrossing with clear character arcs and plot progression until the final chapters, which fell a little flat. Some of the characters' actions just didn't make sense and didn't seem to flow with the rest of the story. Furthermore, I'm not a huge fan of open endings, and there were some loose ends that I wish had been addressed by the end of the novel. However, it was still a satisfying conclusion that was as happy as it possibly could've been and showcased the topics of generational mental health and perpetuating cycles of abuse.
Overall, this was a suspenseful, psychological tale about confronting the worst parts of ourselves. I highly recommend it. *I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Review of advance copy
I hate to say it, but I was disappointed in this novel. I am technically giving this a 2.5.
I will praise the way emotion is written in this book; I felt a good pull from the beginning of the story, but it does soon lose me as the story goes on due to the fact it made me lose any interest in how characters developed over time.
I really expected this to go in a completely different direction.
I struggled to really feel any sense of immersion, and I honestly did not really understand the plot's direction. I felt disconnected from it for most of the time, and I read quite substantial chunks of this story in one sitting.
Without spoiling anything; I did not feel any satisfaction from the build-up, to the ending of this book. The pacing felt very slow. It confused me, more than anything. I get this is supposed to be a revenge plot, but I just did not get what the intention was. I would have preferred the catharsis of true justice, not whatever the writer thought worked here.
One thing I could not get passed was the vapidness of some characters, especially when we are supposed to feel sympathy or be rooting for them.
Yeah, I didn't like this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I will praise the way emotion is written in this book; I felt a good pull from the beginning of the story, but it does soon lose me as the story goes on due to the fact it made me lose any interest in how characters developed over time.
I really expected this to go in a completely different direction.
I struggled to really feel any sense of immersion, and I honestly did not really understand the plot's direction. I felt disconnected from it for most of the time, and I read quite substantial chunks of this story in one sitting.
Without spoiling anything; I did not feel any satisfaction from the build-up, to the ending of this book. The pacing felt very slow. It confused me, more than anything. I get this is supposed to be a revenge plot, but I just did not get what the intention was. I would have preferred the catharsis of true justice, not whatever the writer thought worked here.
One thing I could not get passed was the vapidness of some characters, especially when we are supposed to feel sympathy or be rooting for them.
Yeah, I didn't like this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
★★★★★ A Masterclass in Misdirection
I'd been in a bit of a reading rut lately and nothing was holding my attention. Then this book grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. Nicola Holiday's story hooked me immediately: a hit-and-run leaves her widowed, disabled, and raising a traumatized teenage daughter alone, and from there the book descends into something much darker and stranger than a standard grief narrative.
What makes it work is the psychological unraveling at the center. As Nicola's grip on reality starts to slip, Martha begins pushing her toward revenge, and Mansour handles that fracture with real control. It never feels like a gimmick; it feels like watching someone come undone in real time.
I'll admit I usually see twists coming from a mile away, but this one surprised me. Looking back, the groundwork was all there, but Mansour lays it so carefully that I wasn't able to predict it.
If you're in a reading rut like I was, or you think you've got thrillers figured out, this is the book to prove you wrong. Dark, twisted, and completely absorbing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'd been in a bit of a reading rut lately and nothing was holding my attention. Then this book grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. Nicola Holiday's story hooked me immediately: a hit-and-run leaves her widowed, disabled, and raising a traumatized teenage daughter alone, and from there the book descends into something much darker and stranger than a standard grief narrative.
What makes it work is the psychological unraveling at the center. As Nicola's grip on reality starts to slip, Martha begins pushing her toward revenge, and Mansour handles that fracture with real control. It never feels like a gimmick; it feels like watching someone come undone in real time.
I'll admit I usually see twists coming from a mile away, but this one surprised me. Looking back, the groundwork was all there, but Mansour lays it so carefully that I wasn't able to predict it.
If you're in a reading rut like I was, or you think you've got thrillers figured out, this is the book to prove you wrong. Dark, twisted, and completely absorbing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dark Ugly Places is an atmospheric psychological thriller that leans more into emotional suspense than nonstop action, and that's what makes it compelling. Ashley Mansour creates an unsettling sense of dread while exploring grief, trauma, identity, and the darker corners of the human mind. The emotional stakes feel genuine, and the story raises interesting questions about how far someone can be pushed before they lose themselves.
The reason I'm settling on 4 stars instead of 5 is that the pacing occasionally slows, particularly in the middle, and some twists felt more predictable than I hoped. While the psychological elements are engaging, I wanted a little more momentum before the final act.
Overall, it's a thoughtful, character-driven thriller with strong atmosphere and memorable themes. If you enjoy suspense that focuses as much on the characters' inner struggles as the mystery itself, this is well worth picking up.
The reason I'm settling on 4 stars instead of 5 is that the pacing occasionally slows, particularly in the middle, and some twists felt more predictable than I hoped. While the psychological elements are engaging, I wanted a little more momentum before the final act.
Overall, it's a thoughtful, character-driven thriller with strong atmosphere and memorable themes. If you enjoy suspense that focuses as much on the characters' inner struggles as the mystery itself, this is well worth picking up.
August 22, 2026
To say this book is intense would be putting it lightly. I can’t get over how much happened in a little over 300 pages. 🤯
At first, it seems that Nicola is our main MC. A hit-and-run took the life of her husband and left her and her daughter with injuries, painting a grim picture of her current life. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, we’re introduced to Martha, the darkness that lives inside of Nicola.
As Martha begins to take more and more control over Nicola, dark pasts are uncovered and messed up secrets are revealed. At the end of the day, Martha just wants revenge, and she has no problem doing whatever it takes to get it.
I was hooked while reading, and if you enjoy dark psychological thrillers, I would definitely recommend you check this one out.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the author and Book Influencers for my gifted copy!
At first, it seems that Nicola is our main MC. A hit-and-run took the life of her husband and left her and her daughter with injuries, painting a grim picture of her current life. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, we’re introduced to Martha, the darkness that lives inside of Nicola.
As Martha begins to take more and more control over Nicola, dark pasts are uncovered and messed up secrets are revealed. At the end of the day, Martha just wants revenge, and she has no problem doing whatever it takes to get it.
I was hooked while reading, and if you enjoy dark psychological thrillers, I would definitely recommend you check this one out.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the author and Book Influencers for my gifted copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
A fast-paced and exciting story of survival, grief, and revenge that I could not put down! I was immediately drawn into the book and couldn’t wait to find out what happened. Each character was complex, and their voices and perspectives were clear and unique as the POV shifted from chapter to chapter. I enjoyed trying to piece together the clues in this suspenseful novel, and I was surprised by several key twists. A great thriller that allows the reader some room for interpretation, with moral grey areas and ambiguity about whether the events of the book can be explained by psychology or something more mysterious. A great book for fans of high-energy, suspenseful psychological thrillers and feminine rage!
A fast-paced and exciting story of survival, grief, and revenge that I could not put down! I was immediately drawn into the book and couldn’t wait to find out what happened. Each character was complex, and their voices and perspectives were clear and unique as the POV shifted from chapter to chapter. I enjoyed trying to piece together the clues in this suspenseful novel, and I was surprised by several key twists. A great thriller that allows the reader some room for interpretation, with moral grey areas and ambiguity about whether the events of the book can be explained by psychology or something more mysterious. A great book for fans of high-energy, suspenseful psychological thrillers and feminine rage!
July 5, 2026
I received a copy to review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written psychological thriller. The suspected hit-and-run driver is so abusive that it's easy to cheer Martha on in enacting her revenge. I found it interesting that Emily, Nicola's fourteen-year-old daughter, realizes when her mother isn't herself. At times, I wasn't quite sure where the story was headed, however, Mansour wraps it up cohesively, she has a devious mind. Character development and building suspense is her strength and you will be thinking about it long after you have read it. Reviewed at https://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogs...
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written psychological thriller. The suspected hit-and-run driver is so abusive that it's easy to cheer Martha on in enacting her revenge. I found it interesting that Emily, Nicola's fourteen-year-old daughter, realizes when her mother isn't herself. At times, I wasn't quite sure where the story was headed, however, Mansour wraps it up cohesively, she has a devious mind. Character development and building suspense is her strength and you will be thinking about it long after you have read it. Reviewed at https://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogs...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt the characters were interesting and likeable (or immediately to be detested, as written) and the plot was excellent. Dark Ugly Places touches upon many mental issues including PTSD and trauma management. The way this was written was thought provoking and intelligent.
I enjoyed learning about the backstory to the main character Nicola through a series of flashbacks throughout the book. This eventually led to a purposely unsatisfactory end, leaving us wanting to know more and effectively ensuring the book remains at the forefront of our minds.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I enjoyed learning about the backstory to the main character Nicola through a series of flashbacks throughout the book. This eventually led to a purposely unsatisfactory end, leaving us wanting to know more and effectively ensuring the book remains at the forefront of our minds.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
So was ugly to have an advance copy of this book. Have read various of Ashley’s other books too including Blood Ink Fire. A compelling read that builds a great story and wants you to keep turning the page. You can see why Ashley has had such success already and how she understands how to write. That explains the authors success code and how she is able to help coach would be authors to commute their stories to paper.. make sure you get a copy and inspire your own writing journey. Fabulous as always. Thank you Ashley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dark Ugly Places By Ashley Mansour was such a great book! I was fully committed by the time I finished the first chapter. Nicola is one hell of a woman. She has to overcome the most heartbreaking and earth shattering moment in her life, all while still trying to be a mentally stable mother. Nicola was also dealing with something inside herself, something that began to appear when she was just a child. Nicolas whole life, she just tried to manage...herself. This book was so good! The ending was done very well & I was very happy with that ending. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
First off I want to say thank you to the author for the invite as well as to booksirens for letting me read Dark Ugly Places, not only is Ashley Mansour a new to me author but there’s something about her writing that I like , this one was dark but some how the author does an amazing job of blending in the right amount of grief, and revenge.Plus the author does an amazing job also on the her topic she uses in her story that of the impact of psychological trauma.
First off I want to say thank you to the author for the invite as well as to booksirens for letting me read Dark Ugly Places, not only is Ashley Mansour a new to me author but there’s something about her writing that I like , this one was dark but some how the author does an amazing job of blending in the right amount of grief, and revenge.Plus the author does an amazing job also on the her topic she uses in her story that of the impact of psychological trauma.
Review of advance copy
2.5 stars rounded to 3!
The book starts out very sad and depicts the trauma that the main character Nicola has been through. It was interesting to see how the trauma affected characters differently . However, I didn't feel like I was able to connect with any of the characters. The pacing felt a little slow and while I understood the story was one of revenge, I was hoping for a slightly different ending.
This was ok, but I would not recommend if you are looking for a fun thriller.
Thank you to HiddenGem for the ARC.
The book starts out very sad and depicts the trauma that the main character Nicola has been through. It was interesting to see how the trauma affected characters differently . However, I didn't feel like I was able to connect with any of the characters. The pacing felt a little slow and while I understood the story was one of revenge, I was hoping for a slightly different ending.
This was ok, but I would not recommend if you are looking for a fun thriller.
Thank you to HiddenGem for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
Nicola and her daughter must rebuild their lives after a terrible tragedy. Nicola’s husband Ben is dead, and Nicola remembers flashes of the accident. She thinks she sees the person who hit them on that awful day. Will she find him and make him pay? Will Nicola’s friend Martha help her get over her grief and move forward?
A tense thriller with a great ending, this one was good.
I received an advance copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
A tense thriller with a great ending, this one was good.
I received an advance copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
To be honest, I can't tell if this was a really terrible attempt to write a character with DID, or if Martha was meant to be a mid-2000s ghost that possessed Nicola. It was definitely more entertaining if you read it the second way. Also, immitrex would do absolutely nothing to head off a panic attack, so that confused me as well.
To be honest, I can't tell if this was a really terrible attempt to write a character with DID, or if Martha was meant to be a mid-2000s ghost that possessed Nicola. It was definitely more entertaining if you read it the second way. Also, immitrex would do absolutely nothing to head off a panic attack, so that confused me as well.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance reader copy of Ashley Mansour’s new psychological thriller, DARK UGLY PLACES. I found the characters to be believable and well-developed. The story is gripping and reveals the deep trauma that drives the central character throughout the story. Ashley Mansour has expertly crafted a story that is a page-turner and kept this reader engrossed from beginning to end.
August 22, 2026
A compelling read that draws you into the plight of the characters. A joyfully disturbing thriller that keeps you wanting more. I'd recommend this book if you are a person who enjoys dark thrillers and suspenseful reads. This could easily become a big theatrical success. The length is manageable, being just shy of 400 pages. You should have a subtle disappointment by reaching the end too quickly.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Back 3 days later to change this rating to a full 5 stars. I cannot get this book out of my head.
*4.5 stars rounded to 5.*
Thank you Monikher Press and Ashley Mansour for this ARC provided through NetGalley.
This book is exceptionally written and paced to perfection. I could not pull myself away. I found the story compellingly dark and the characters written realistically.
I love that even in the end, I did not know exactly what the truth was…so intriguing.
Dark Ugly Places is aptly named and well worth the read!
*4.5 stars rounded to 5.*
Thank you Monikher Press and Ashley Mansour for this ARC provided through NetGalley.
This book is exceptionally written and paced to perfection. I could not pull myself away. I found the story compellingly dark and the characters written realistically.
I love that even in the end, I did not know exactly what the truth was…so intriguing.
Dark Ugly Places is aptly named and well worth the read!
Did Not Finish
August 20, 2026DNF. I’m not really sure what to say about this one. I couldn’t get into it, it wasn’t doing anything to grab my attention. I’m not sure if it was the writing style or something else. It just wasn’t engaging for me.
Review of advance copy
Thank you Hiddengems books for the free ARC!
Very outlandish book, but the writing started off excellent and intriguing. When Martha was introduced it became interesting, but overly wild. I would say an average read all in all.
Very outlandish book, but the writing started off excellent and intriguing. When Martha was introduced it became interesting, but overly wild. I would say an average read all in all.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This book had me hooked from the very beginning! So, so good!
Read
June 28, 2026Challenging, engrossing psychological thriller.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
a mother with a mental illness out for revenge? that's that shit i do like
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I tore through this book. Nicola is messy, grieving, and not always easy to trust, so I kept changing my mind about what was really happening. Then there’s Martha! This was dark, unsettling, and hard to put down. Definitively would recommend.
Thanks to Publisher for the advance copy.
Thanks to Publisher for the advance copy.
August 3, 2026
Thank you BookSirens and author Ashley Mansour for this eARC. My opinions are my own.
This book was excellent. A great, psychological thriller. Very emotional and thought provoking.
This book was excellent. A great, psychological thriller. Very emotional and thought provoking.
Read
August 10, 2026review forthcoming from FOREWORD REVIEWS. I liked this one a lot.
Review of advance copy
An entertaining and fast paced read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The writing & the story are both very intriguing.
Review of advance copy
It was really good. I enjoyed the plot and characters, which left me wanting more. I loved the multiple points of view and the way it was written.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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