The Girls in the Dark

by Avery Bishop

I stare at the security footage, heart pounding in my chest. I know who broke into my home—she has a face just like my own. Twenty years ago, my sister was killed and I survived. So how can she be here now? And what does she want?

For years I have been haunted by memories of the almost five months my twin sister and I were abducted and held in darkness. I see her frightened eyes, staring at me for the last time as I whisper a promise to her, the one I failed to keep. “I’ll come back for you…”

The twentieth anniversary of our abduction brings a swirling sense of dread. And when I find a black rose on the passenger seat of my car, it feels like a warning. Not long after, a figure with a face so like my own breaks into my house. My sister.

I tell myself it can’t be true. Her body was never found and I’m sure she died in that room at the hands of our abductor. But what if I’m wrong and she’s back for revenge?

Because for years I’ve kept a secret about what really happened the night I escaped. And as the threats grow, I start to fear for my life. Now it’s clear someone wants the truth to come to light. But if it does, will it destroy everything?

An addictive and breathtaking thriller, packed with nail-biting tension and a shocking final twist, The Girls in the Dark is perfect for fans of Jessica Knoll, Mary Kubica and John Marrs.

Praise for Avery

“THIS BOOK IS 5 STAR WORTHY. I absolutely loved it. It had me hooked from page one and I could not put it down.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“HOLY MOLY THIS WAS GOOD… Had my jaw dropping several times… I absolutely loved this and honestly wanted MORE!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“This gave me whiplash in just a few pages!!… Perfectly plotted, made my jaw drop when I finally realized what was really going on.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Wow… Sent shivers down my spine!… From the first page to the last, I was hooked!… Left me speechless… Incredible!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I was completely glued to my Kindle… I flew through the pages and the last quarter had me literally biting my nails (well, the ones I had left).” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I LOVED this book!!… So many secrets and twists and things I was literally *shook* over… [A] can’t-put-down read!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“WOW!… Fantastic!… Truly had me up at night… Ten stars for sure! I loved it!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Fiction

404 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2026

About the author

Avery Bishop is the bestselling author of Girl Gone Mad, One Year Gone, and Dear Seraphina.

Reviews

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ This is such a dark, twisty, and emotional thriller about twin sisters who are abducted while out walking their dog in the woods. They’re taken and held captive in cages, controlled with shock collars, and treated like slaves—going through horrific trauma that leaves them both mentally scarred.

What really got me was how, even in those awful conditions, they still try to hold onto each other and come up with a plan to escape. But when only one of them makes it out, the story takes an even more gripping turn. You’re constantly questioning what really happened and what’s actually true.

As the story unfolds, more secrets start coming to light and the tension just keeps building. It completely pulled me in, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. And that ending… I genuinely didn’t see it coming. Such a jaw-dropping twist that changes everything.

If you love dark, emotional thrillers with plenty of suspense and a big twist at the end, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Oulture. And the author Avery Bishop for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Publication date 24th April 2026

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic work. Loved the plot, the hints, the clever planning and slow revelations. It also left an emotional impression, which a book about such a heartbreaking topic should manage to do.

[Bo.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman is forced to confront the trauma of her childhood abduction when strange events make her question whether her twin sister, presumed dead for twenty years, could somehow still be alive. As buried secrets resurface, she’s forced to face the truth about the night she escaped.

I went into this as my first experience with The Girls in the Dark and unfortunately it wasn’t quite the first impression I was hoping for.

I enjoyed the quick pacing and short chapters, which made this an easy thriller to get through, while the themes around trauma and captivity added more emotion to the mystery.

Perhaps I’ve read one too many thrillers with the twin trope because I found myself feeling fairly confident in where things were heading very early on. I spent a lot of the book waiting to see if I was right, and by the ending it played out pretty much as expected, so the final reveal didn’t have the impact it was clearly aiming for. The short chapters also started to feel more like a way of stretching the story out, and personally I think this could have been shorter. I was also left with a few plot holes and loose ends that never fully came together for me.

Having said that, I do seem to be in the minority with my rating and thoughts on this one, so definitely don’t let my review deter you from picking it up if the premise interests you. It just ended up being a bit of a miss for me personally. Despite that, I’d still be open to reading more from Avery Bishop in the future.

[Jindi (readingwithcaffeine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reading/listening experience like no other. I listened to the audiobook (thanks NetGalley) and okay it’s no secret that I would listen to anything narrated by Brittany Pressley anyway - but this was just so, so well done. The last few chapters left me unable to breathe and the build up absolutely paid off! I won’t say much about the plot because I really think it would be best to go in as I did, totally blind.

I sensed the big twist coming and correctly predicted it just seconds before it was revealed and just wow. I was still floored!!!! I finished with tears in my eyes although I really wasn’t expecting to feel so much emotion. These characters felt so real and the author so wonderfully and accurately portrays the relationship between sisters, despite the horrors they’re facing at the hands of their kidnapper.

It’s DARK and disturbing at times, but the use of short chapters & a dual timeline will keep you invested until the very end. A solid fast-paced & gripping thriller - definitely a slump breaker!!!! I would 100% recommend trying the audio, Brittany nails it every time but this has got to be one of her best!

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery Bishop is a favourite thriller author of mine and I was so excited to get my hands on The Girls in the Dark. A dark and twisty serial killer thriller.. what more could you want. I will tell you what was an absolute delight on top of all that..the audiobook is narrated by the amazing Brittany Pressley. She always brings a book up another level when she reads a book. She perfectly captures the fear and anxiety of our main character.

This book has an incredible conclusion, kept me guessing all the way through. I love that this author is never predictable and isn’t scared to go really dark. Stories about twins can be hit or miss for me and this one was an absolute hit for me. I listened to it in a day, unable to stop and needing to know what in earth was going on and what secrets our girl was hiding.

Thank you so much to Bookouture for my audiobook to listen to. Highly recommend if you love fast paced thriller full of surprises.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow!😮 My mouth is open! What an incredible ride that was. This was storytelling at its very best and everything you want in a seriously dark and unforgivable psychological thriller!! Even though I didn’t see that last twist coming, I lied to myself and shouted “I knew it!!” You know it’s good when you get so caught up in the lies and betrayal you start lying lol😂

This is the one that will bring you back and remember why you love psychological thrillers that have you wide eyed on the edge of your seat!! Highly recommend you will not be disappointed. This is so cleverly crafted, dark, twisted and will pull at your emotions at times and for that I say….Thank You Very Much!!! Bravo 👏🏽 👏🏽

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girls in the Dark is another story that made it to my 5‑star reads this year. It was painfully heartbreaking, beautifully written, and deeply moving. I’m honestly lost for words because the tropes included are gut‑wrenching, and yet I found myself completely invested. I finished it in less than two days. This is my first novel from the author, and I’ll definitely be reading more!

It was a rollercoaster of feelings with a mix of found family, betrayal, and survival. I’m not sure which of these three hit me the hardest, but I can definitely say the author handled all of them with so much sensitivity. Megan has just survived a tragic event after being abducted with her twin sister at fifteen, and now she’s receiving threats that make her believe her sister could still be alive… and wanting vengeance. Who knows?

What I Enjoyed:
• Powerful tropes that leave a mark
• Fast‑paced
• Deeply emotional

What Didn’t Sit Right:
• A betrayal I didn’t see coming
• A tragic experience that may be too much for some readers
• The Lie was a bit too explosive

Ratings Breakdown:
• Setting: 4⭐️
• Characters: 5⭐️
• Writing: 5⭐️
• Message: 4⭐️
• Overall: 5⭐️

In summary, this is a highly recommended story for all the thriller girlies like me who feel like they’ve read it all. This one will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you screaming after the last chapter. Wow! Huge thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and author Avery Bishop for my advance copy — my views are my own.

~ JaNnA ~

[Caity’s Reading With Her Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gets 3 stars because I stayed up all night binge reading it. It’s really a 2.5 at best but I will give it credit for being a one sitting, bingeable read. I started it at like 9pm and just plowed right through and finished,

But the twist at the end was terrible. I’m sorry, but it was just not good. And the actual last chapter? I was robbed of a true ending. It was weak. Quite honesty, this book is entirely forgettable.

It has some high points— I enjoyed the way it was written, the dual timelines, the pacing, and the tension that was built. It absolutely gripped me. I needed to know if her sister was alive and taking revenge on her for some reason unbeknownst to us! But the reveal was SO disappointing. A bad trope, with a bad resolution. And then on top of that, a weak last chapter.

This book is full of 4 and 5 ⭐️ ratings and truly, I envy people who had that experience with this because as I read, I had high expectations for the ending.

It was not meant to be. Read this book, maybe don’t read this book… I think you’ll forget about it eventually no matter what you do.

I’m going to spoil the ending for those who need a review to tell them what happens if they decide to DNF it


S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S

A
H
E
A
D

*************
Megan is really Allison. She took Megan’s identity when she escaped. Megan has been dead the whole time. Zoe was embezzling from Beacon’s Light, Ida knew and was prepared to expose her, it’s undetermined if she died by suicide or if Zoe killed her. Zoe did kill Jessica the ghostwriter. The shooter in the parking lot was Stephanie Knowles, encouraged by Jess prior to Jess being killed. Megan’s bones are found and when they are Allison confesses that she is Allison, not Megan. The end.

I’m telling you, it was trope darts. The author put a bunch of trope on a dart board, threw a few, and said “welp, I’ll make a plot out of these!” It’s a plot alright 🥴😩

Side note: we were never given an explanation for the significance of the black rose and the “soon” message, other than Stephanie’s sort of out-of-nowhere rampage. And if Jess knew she was really Allison, why would Stephanie have tried to kill her? I woke up this morning still salty about this book. Maybe I disliked this so much because I really do not like unreliable narrators.

[Magen • Bone Chilling Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was excellent! Kept me hooked from start to finish. It was one of those where I couldn’t wait for the next time I could read.

Loved the storyline and how there were a couple different stories that weaved into each other.

I guessed the biggest twist early on, but I don’t think it took much away from the book for me.

This was my first Avery Bishop book and won’t be my last!

Perfect read for your next vacation or visit to the beach.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much better than the synopsis made it look, as evidenced by my finishing it at 430 in the morning today. It centers on Megan, who was kidnapped and held captive along with her twin sister Allison 20 years ago. Creepy things are happening in the current timeframe that threaten to expose a secret she has kept hidden since that time. The story is told in dual timelines, with some chapters going into detail about the horrors that the girls experienced back in the day.

The story is truly captivating and both timelines added a lot to the story. Megan was a realistic character whose trauma was evident, while also moving on with the rest of her life. There are a couple of tertiary storylines in the current timeframe that were interesting and also served to help the reader understand Megan better. I did figure out one of the major twists, to an extent, but still needed the book to give me the level of detail that made it all make sense. The twists overall were good ones. I liked the end of the book and thought the author did a great job tying up loose ends, which was especially masterful because there were a lot of threads to pull.

Overall, this was a really strong read that I had trouble putting down. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Avery Bishop's books. To say I was elated to see this one is an understatement. I didn't even read the synopsis, I just dove right in.

I was lucky enough to get the audio book and the narration was extraordinary. When I heard the narrator was Brittany Pressley, I may have actually squealed, she is truly one of the best.

The storytelling in this one is incredible. It's a bit of a final girl story

I read a lot of thrillers, soI did have an idea about where this was going pretty early on. Despite me missing out on the surprise factor, I was completely immersed in the story. It was unputdownable!

[aprilreadsthrillers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of the year so far!!
There is suspense that builds every chapter with the dual timelines. This book has everything I look for in a thriller.. it’s fast paced.. TWISTY throughout the book.. dark.. and breaks my heart. There were so many “gotcha” moments that had me questioning every theory I came up with.

I loved it so much that I literally had my husband drive around my father-in-law’s neighborhood before we pulled into the driveway because I wasn’t ready to stop reading. 😂

Check trigger warnings, but if you are fan of Appetite Of Innocence by Lucinda Berry then this one is for you!!!

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her and her sister were kidnapped and locked up for 147 days. One sister made it out to tell her story and one did not. This grabbed me from the very first page and didn’t let go until the end. I did not see the twist coming at all and it was shocking! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy. I was up until the wee hours reading it, glued to each page racing to the end!

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was truly a wild ride filled with unexpected twists and heightened emotions. As someone new to this author, I find myself already hooked! Bravo!

Megan is confronted by a figure resembling her long-lost twin sister, who was believed to have been killed twenty years ago during their abduction. As the anniversary of their kidnapping approaches, she receives a black rose that seems to serve as a warning. Despite believing her sister died, the appearance of this doppelgänger leads her to question the truth of her sister's fate. Megan harbors a secret about the events surrounding her escape, and as threats escalate, she fears for her safety, realizing that revealing the truth could have devastating consequences.

The story unfolds both in the present and the past, allowing us to fully understand the events leading up to Megan's escape and her life afterward. We get to know Megan, Zoe, and Seraphina, and we catch intriguing glimpses of Allison, Megan's twin. Each character is gradually developed with every chapter, but it becomes clear that not everything is as it appears. Trust becomes a tricky subject in this narrative, and at times, I found myself suspecting everyone. Yet, all those lies eventually surface at just the right moment!

This fast-paced story is packed with surprises, and while I may have anticipated the ending, I can't quite put my finger on how I did. Though I wasn't entirely shocked, the timing was impeccable, and everything connected seamlessly. The truth is bittersweet, leaving you wishing for a happier resolution, but it ultimately works out in its own way. This story isn’t just about uncovering whether Megan's sister is still alive; there are a few more dead bodies to solve! So, when I say you’re about to help crack two additional murder mysteries, I'm not exaggerating.

I was fortunate enough to receive both the eBook and the audiobook for review. I love having this combo, as I'm often too busy to sit down and read, but multitasking makes it so much easier. The narrator did an excellent job distinguishing the characters and really brought the story to life. I highly recommend experiencing the audiobook alongside the reading. What a complete adventure that was!

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys thrillers centered around twins. With so many lies, I occasionally struggled to keep everything straight. If you love crime podcasts digging deep into someone's past and revealing questionable details that fit into place, or if you're simply looking to piece together a puzzle that keeps breaking apart, this one’s for you. The dynamics and relationships between these sisters evolve and will resonate with many readers. There’s a moment when one twin strives to be her own person, rather than just the other half. Emotions run high in this story, so I recommend checking for trigger warnings before diving in. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get rid of my dog's electric collar—ouch!

Thank you, Bookouture Audio and Bookouture, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kristen (kristens.killer.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Twenty years ago, my twin sister and I were abducted. Only I survived. Or so I thought..."

This thriller is a master class in storytelling that pulls at your emotions from page ONE. It is a dark, emotional thriller that explores survivor's guilt and deep trauma, and the lasting impact of unimaginable experiences in nightmarish conditions.

My favorite thing about this book is there is no down time. No lulls. No time to catch your breath. Everytime you think there might be, something else explosive happens at the end of the chapter that brings you back to the intensity of the story.

I LOVED how the book was written. The dual timelines really added to the storyline, with plenty of twists and a real depth written into the characters. This book so gripping with vivid descriptions and flashbacks to the trauma that the sisters endured. The ending of the book also broke my heart, but the emotional ride was well worth the payoff!

[Laliene · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The girls in the dark is an entertaining fast-paced, twisty thriller. Thanks to a combination of brief chapters, a dual timeline, and consistent mini cliffhangers, it is an incredibly gripping read that practically forces you to keep going. The fluid writing style paired with great audiobook narration made this a quick, seamless two day listen.
However, it ultimately fell short due to several common pitfalls of the thriller genre. The characters felt somewhat one dimensional and caricatural, the author relies heavily on established tropes so you don’t feel much for the characters (aside from the protagonist). Furthermore, the final reveal felt underwhelming. The early foreshadowing was a bit too heavy handed, the author literally hinted at the “big twist” which was already somewhat of an obvious conclusion, so the shock value was lost. I was also frustrated by several unresolved plot threads and minor details introduced early on that seemed like deliberate setups only to be completely abandoned by the end.

Overall, this is a decent, engaging "popcorn thriller" that serves its immediate purpose, even if it leaves a few too many loose ends.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

[RoRolovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 star

I finished this in one day. This is my first book by the author and definitely won’t be my last.

Megan and Alison are teenaged twins, one is rebellious and the other the good girl. They take the dog out for a walk in the woods and get abducted by a serial killer and rapist. He is a cruel, sadistic man who starves them and does every unimaginable thing to them that a person like this would do. After 5 months of captivity, Megan manages to escape, Alison has never been found and the killer was never caught. Their horror is revealed through 2 timelines, then and now.

20 years later; Megan is now married to a successful lawyer and they have a daughter. She is now famous after writing a book and making the TV show rounds to tell their story.

There are two other subplots in the midst of all that’s going on, and they all tie back to Megan. I suspected what the twist was early on in the book, so I wasn’t shocked, but there are other things happening and I was totally wrong about those. The book is a page turner. I listened to the audio and Brittany Pressley does a great job narrating as always. Highly recommend if you like fast-paced mystery-thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ALC in return for my opinion.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Identical twins Allison and Megan were abducted two decades ago, and only one of them made it out alive. For months, the sisters endured unimaginable torture before Megan’s eventual escape. In the aftermath, she told their story in a haunting memoir. Now, on the twentieth anniversary of their kidnapping, that memoir is being re-released alongside a documentary revisiting the case. But as the spotlight returns, so do long-buried secrets - secrets that refuse to stay hidden.

Stories of abduction - whether fictionalized on screen or explored through true crime - carry an inherent sense of dread. That same unease pulses through this gripping novel by Avery Bishop, drawing readers into Megan’s lingering trauma and the unsettling secrets that resurface with the past.

Megan is forced to confront the unimaginable when a woman appears claiming - or at least suggesting - she might be Allison. The resemblance is undeniable, but it challenges everything Megan believes to be true. Having long accepted her sister’s death, Megan now finds herself questioning her own memories, her past, and even her sanity. Whether this stranger is truly Allison or not, her arrival threatens to unravel truths about the twins’ captivity that Megan would rather keep buried.

I had the privilege of experiencing this story in both ebook and audiobook formats, and the audiobook truly stands out thanks to narrator Brittany Pressley. Her performance adds emotional depth and urgency, perfectly capturing Megan’s fragility and fear. The dual timeline structure - easily moving between past and present - unfolds at a deliberate pace that steadily builds tension before accelerating into sharper, more suspenseful turns. It’s a rhythm that keeps the listener fully engaged.

Having listened to more than a dozen audiobooks narrated by Pressley, I can confidently say she delivers another captivating performance here. While Avery Bishop is a new author to me, this novel has ensured she’s firmly on my radar for future reads.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review notes bc I can’t even write .. will update later

The Girls in the Dark

𝖲𝖼𝖺𝗋𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗀𝗈𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒. 𝖨𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗌.
𝖱𝖾𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗈𝖿 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁.
𝖮𝖿 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗏𝖾 𝗄𝖾𝗉𝗍 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗋𝖾𝗍.
𝖮𝖿 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗏𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗏𝖾. (78)

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥. 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩. (188)

Megan and her twin sister Allison were kidnapped and held hostage as teens, but only one sister made it out alive. Megan sparks public interest with her story, but is it the true story? What is Megan hiding and could her sister really be alive?

It was an ordinary day for the sisters, until it wasn’t. Their lives forever altered in a single few minutes. Blissful to misery in a snap of the fingers.

Classic Avery Bishop, this book was lit af and such a fun and dark read. The story alternates between the now and back when the girls were kidnapped and is full of suspense, horror, and more.

Bishop’s writing is off the charts - why there’s been no adaptions, more eyes, blows my mind.

It’s been 20 years and while half the world thinks JLW - the kidnapper - is long dead, Megan has her doubts and now someone is leaving her mysterious gifts.

This book did not disappoint. One major plot line after the other. Gripping and unputdownable, you’ll binge this one. AHHH SO GOOD!

He kidnapped twins - 3 sets before them.

Working on a documentary - focus on the victims and not the killer/s.

How you have to be this perfect victim

Born 7 mins apart - Megan takes the role of the big sister. Would their personalities have been different had they had each other’s name. Does a name make you part of who you are?

Thought-provoking !


Mem
Farting during test lol - making your sibling laugh in bad situations right on par for me

Some will find it predictable but it’s not about the twists - this book was so fking good.

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d give *The Girls in the Dark* a solid 4 stars. The story follows Megan, who survived a horrific childhood experience where she and her sister were kidnapped and held captive. The narrative moves between past and present, slowly revealing what happened while showing how those events continue to shape Megan’s life.

The dual timeline worked really well and kept me engaged throughout. The past chapters were especially gripping, building tension and emotion as the story unfolded. Megan is a strong and compelling main character, and it was easy to stay invested in her journey.

While the ending felt a bit predictable, the overall execution of the story made up for it. The pacing, atmosphere, and emotional depth were all handled effectively.

I also listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life. Their performance added an extra layer of intensity and made it even more immersive.

Overall, a well-done and engaging thriller that’s definitely worth the read (or listen).

[Sammy's Study · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

What a great thriller!!! This is a fast paced story, filled with tension and twists, that just keeps you hooked!! I have to say that the ending was absolutely beautiful. Which is a bit odd, I have never said that about a thriller, I think 😅

I reallyyyyyy felt like the chapters written about the captivity about the girls was done with so much research and respect! This left like a true crime documentary, so wel done Avery Bishop! The focus on survivors guilt and trauma were done so nicely.

Britney Pressley did a great job in bringing these characters to live! I do feel like the audiobook really lifted this story to a new level.

I don't really like the cover of the book to be honest. It doesn't do the content justice and I don't understand why they chose that specific red flower? The cover is so generic, but the story definitely is not!

Save to say it will be adding more books by Bishop to my tbr!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Bookouture Audio publishing for this ARC! ❤️💙

[Yasaman S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Girls in the Dark had a premise I wanted to love: twin sisters abducted as children, only one survives, and years later the past may not be buried after all. That setup had so much potential for a tense, emotional thriller.

For me, though, it was too long for the story it told. The twin angle was interesting, but the twist felt very basic and didn’t deliver the shock or depth I was hoping for. I kept waiting for a bigger payoff that never really came.

Not terrible, just underwhelming. A strong idea that needed sharper execution.

[Glory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book completely got me out of my reading slump 😭💜

It’s fast-paced, super addictive, and full of short chapters that made it really hard to stop reading. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter,” and before I knew it, I was fully invested.

What I loved most was how it constantly made me question everything. Just when I thought I understood what was going on, something would shift and keep me guessing.

It does get dark at times, but that adds to the tension and makes the story more impactful.

Overall, I had a really good time with this one, and I’m so glad I picked it up. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys twisty thrillers.

[Chapters_and_Cabernet · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review!
The Girls in the Dark by Avery Bishop.
Release date - 4/24/26

Gripping ✅
Edge of your seat ✅
Atmospheric ✅
Dark ✅
Twisty ✅
Suspense✅

If you’re looking for a book to keep you hooked the whole time, this is it!
15 year old twins Megan and Allison are kidnapped while walking their dog in the woods, and their lives become a nightmare, trapped by their captor for months and held in cages. When they finally get a chance to escape, only Megan makes it out. Twenty years later, Megan has a stalker and security footage shows an intruder at her home. Shockingly, Megan sees her twin sister’s face on the monitor.

The story is packed with tense moments that kept me guessing the entire time. I loved that the FMC had a secret too. It gives it that that “oh snap!” moment in a book that I totally love and adds more intrigue to the premise. In fact, it seemed like everyone had secrets! I thought at times I had figured out the twist and then again I wasn’t so sure…

The dual timelines added extra tension, and I found myself racing through the final chapters.

The descriptions of the scenes were really vivid, especially the scenes while they were held captive. It brought that creepy feeling to life. I’m still going back and forth with the ending, while the ending worked, I did find myself wanting just a little bit more from those final moments! A certain part of it gave me all the feels, I just can’t speak on it even though I want to because I don’t want to give anything away. Definitely a great read!


Thank you @averybishopbooks @netgalley and @bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.

Wow, what an emotional roller coaster this book was from start to finish. I kept thinking I had it all figured out, but I’d flip the page and realize I didn’t. If you want and mystery that you won’t solve until the reveal, pick this up asap.

[Lauren Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE GIRLS IN THE DARK by @averybishopbooks
📖/ 🎧 ARC/ALC review • out 04.24.26
narrated by: @britpressley
length: 10h 21m / 404 pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

thank you @bookouture, bookouture audio, @thrillerbookloversthepulse for my gifted ARC/ALC

🚨 ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR 🚨
his last book (girl gone mad) is one of my favorite thrillers and so I jumped at the chance to read this one early and it absolutely lived up to all expectations 👏 his work is highly underrated and more people need to read them!! guys, they’re so good!

I read the first half on my kindle, then saw an option for audio so I requested that so I could continue the book even when I couldn’t sit and read. And Brittany Pressley 👏👏 she narrates so well and really brings the vibes of a woman desperate to escape her past.

what to expect:
•thriller about twins
•20 years ago she escaped her kidnapper
•her sister wasn’t as lucky
•now she’s being blackmailed
•is it possible her sister is still alive? 👀

[Nurse Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to The Girls In The Dark audiobook in just over one day, not wanting to turn it off. It was such a refreshing take on psychological thrillers because I didn’t spend the entire time trying to pick apart characters to anticipate the twist.

The horrific story of twin teenage girls, kidnapped by a psychopath, locked in cages, and desperate to return home. The story is told from the perspective of one of the twin survivors, both in current and “while captive” timelines. It was super easy to navigate between the two timelines, though there was a lot going on in the current time line that felt overwhelming at times. The story elicited a lot of emotions during the time spent in captivity, a palpable hopelessness. The twist at the end wasn’t necessarily predictable and the author was successful with creating a sleight of hand distraction for the reader.

Overall, an easy listen with a great voice narrator. The story was great at keeping the reader’s attention and creating a “one more chapter” sense of suspense! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ALC!

[booked.with.julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
What if the story you survived… wasn’t the truth?

Twenty years after escaping a childhood abduction that took her twin sister, Megan is still living in the shadow of that night. She is still overcome with guilt the guilt of surviving and the events that happened during. Suddenly, she finds a black rose on her car, which feels like a warning. As memories and mysteries come to the surface, she begins to question everything she thought she knew..is her twin sister still alive???

This book had me questioning everything alongside the main character. All of that emotional weight, slow build of tension and revelations kept me hooked from the beginning to end. It’s definitely one of those books that will linger long after you finish it.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girls in the Dark by Avery Bishop. Thanks to ThrillerBookLoversPulse, Bookouture, and the author for the gifted signed copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Twenty years ago two identical twins are kidnapped. Now, one has survived and lived to tell her story; her sister’s body never found. Now a documentary is planned, and it’s bringing back the memories and someone who is leaving signs as black roses.

This one starts off strong. I loved how the prologue is so exciting, showing that there will be some serious action in the story. It was really the perfectly done dual timeline because despite the tension in the past scenes, I still enjoyed the current timeline as well. Intrigue and secrets were hinted at, which made the current timeline suspenseful as well. Anyone who enjoys kidnapping and tense stories, definitely pick this one up.

Read if you like:
-Kidnapping stories
-Dual time lines
-Stories about twins or sisters
-Documentary tropes

“On the whole, people are normal and nice and harmless. But then you’ve got a group of people not so normal or nice or harmless. Those who don’t see the world like everyone else. Those who are unstable. Who might even be unmedicated. And then there are those who are simply twisted.”

The Girls in the Dark comes out 4/24.

[Melissa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan and Alison were abducted 20 years ago and Megan survived to tell their story. Haunted by memories, she now believes she’s seeing her sister everywhere, but how can that be?

This story is told in the before and after and the story is quite compelling as we don’t know how Megan escaped or what exactly happened in regards to her sister. This was definitely a fast read that had me on the edge of my seat! The twist at the end quite literally floored me which is hard to do. I did NOT see that coming at all! Well done!