Darkness Within

by James Pinard

The world has woken up to the possibility of past lives and everyone is starting to remember.

Lana Jennings was in high school when she lost her father and that’s when the visions started. What followed was a "gift" to see the past lives of others, but with that gift comes a curse - a darkness that seeks out what we hide inside us. Lana used that gift to help the FBI put a serial killer in prison.

Haunted by visions of past lives, she must race to save a kidnapped boy before the darkness consumes her. Now in college studying criminal law, Lana is on the fast track to Quantico but her latest visions of a boy trapped in a basement will draw her into a new case with her mentor David Halloway and his partner who head up the "Past Lives Crime Unit," for the FBI.

The Shadow Man haunts her visions... Lana will be pulled in to help, but there is someone else who shares her gift and she will soon discover, the more she uses her gifts, the more the darkness will grow inside her… And she's been warned - it's only a matter of time before she must face the Darkness Within.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2026

Reviews

[GCR | Book Realm]

ARC provided by the author.

I went into Darkness Within because the premise immediately caught my attention, and it did not disappoint in that regard. It gave me Criminal Minds meets Medium vibes with the criminal profiling, psychological mystery, and paranormal elements.

My biggest struggle was the timeline. The story jumps between the past and present quite a bit, and while I understood why, that’s something I personally have a hard time following. As an aphantasic reader, once stories start bouncing around timelines, I can lose some of the smaller important details. By the end, I understood the overall story and where everything came together, but I definitely connected more with the big picture than everything in between.

The premise was easily my favorite part. I liked the blend of criminal investigation, psychology, and the past-life concept, and it kept me curious enough to keep reading even when I felt a lost.

I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with paranormal elements, criminal investigations, and stories that ask you to piece everything together as you go.

[Ary.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to James Pinard for providing me with an advance reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

Darkness Within offers a unique blend of paranormal suspense, crime thriller, and supernatural mystery. The concept of a world awakening to memories of past lives immediately pulled me in, and I loved how the story explored both the gift and burden of seeing those past lives through Lana’s eyes.

Lana is an engaging protagonist whose abilities make her both fascinating and vulnerable. Rather than portraying her gift as something purely extraordinary, the novel leans into the emotional and psychological toll it takes on her, which added depth to the story. The investigation surrounding the kidnapped boy kept the pages turning, and the inclusion of the FBI’s “Past Lives Crime Unit” was a creative twist that helped the world-building stand out.

James Pinard does a great job balancing the supernatural elements with the procedural aspects of the investigation, creating a story that feels both imaginative and grounded. The darker force lurking behind Lana’s visions adds a layer of tension that builds steadily throughout the novel and leaves you wanting to know more about where the series is headed.

While there were moments where I wished the pacing had been a bit tighter and a few plot points explored in greater depth, the originality of the premise and the compelling mystery kept me invested from beginning to end.

If you enjoy supernatural thrillers with paranormal abilities, FBI investigations, dark mysteries, and stories that explore the idea of past lives, Darkness Within is definitely worth picking up. I’ll be interested to see where Lana’s journey goes next.

[Marilena EchoHawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, I don’t normally read supernatural books, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going into Darkness Within. But this one surprised me in a good way.
The writing was easy to get into, and I liked how James Pinard blended the supernatural elements with the crime and psychological thriller side of the story. The pacing worked well for me too.
I also liked Lana as a main character. Her ability made for an interesting twist, especially because it comes with consequences. I won’t get into the details because I think this is a book you’re better off discovering for yourself.
Overall, this was a surprisingly enjoyable read for someone who doesn’t usually pick up supernatural fiction.
Thank you James Pinard for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Breanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy supernatural thrillers with a strong investigative element, this is one to add to your TBR. I liked the premise of past lives and the concept of a specialized FBI unit that channels them to solve crimes. It was darker/gorier than I expected, but I really enjoyed following Lana as she unraveled the mystery.

With multiple characters embodying past-life personas, keeping everyone straight could be challenging at times. I did finish with a few lingering questions about the mechanics of the past lives, but overall, I found it to be a thoroughly entertaining read! 3.5

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the concept of this book was fascinating with the past lives and the way they bled into the present. There was a lot to follow but it did all come together and each character had a purpose. This was also surprisingly way darker and deadlier than I expected. I did have a few issues with dialogue and a couple loose ends (what happened to the Shadow Man? I needed more of him!) and a few editing issues that I’m sure will be resolved in the final release. Overall, a good story and I’m interested to see more from this author.



Thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting and original concept. It took me a little while to wrap my head around the past lives and all the different names, but once I got into the flow of it, I really enjoyed it.
I especially liked how dark the story was and the cat and mouse aspect running throughout the whole story. The tension never really let up, and I was keen to find out what happened next! Definitely one of those books that felt a bit different from anything I’ve read before.

Thank you to James Pinard for the e-ARC.

[Books, Woofs, and Wine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC EPUB of Darkness Within. The cover and premise of the book immediately intrigued me.
Lana Jennings is a college student studying criminal law who can see other people’s past lives—a “gift” at a cost, as the more she uses it the more a creeping internal darkness grows. When visions of a kidnapped boy pull her back into a case with the FBI’s Past Lives Crime Unit, the story becomes a race against the clock and whatever is eating away at her from the inside.
The cover’s isolated, otherworldly mood carries through in the writing, especially in parts that lean into dread rather than straight action. Lana herself has real depth. She’s ambitious, haunted, and increasingly aware that her usefulness to the Bureau may be destroying parts of her. The “Shadow Man” and the implication that she isn’t the only one with this curse add solid tension.
It lost a little steam for me in the middle where I wanted more of a balance between procedure and Lana’s deteriorating headspace. Still, the originality, the strong central conflict, and the consistent sense of unease kept me interested. It’s not pure adrenaline thriller or pure supernatural horror, but somewhere in between.
I would recommended this for anyone who likes an atmospheric vibe and crime stories with a paranormal edge.

Thank you to James Pinard for the advanced copy. I look forward to reading more books by you.

[Diana Jasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW ✨️
The vibes and the plot of this book are incredible. I had never read anything like it, and the theme of past lives really caught my attention. If I could give it six stars, I would, because for me, it deserves them.

Imagine having the ability to remember who you were in a past life—and to detect evil in others.

Lana is a young student who, two years ago, helped catch a killer thanks to this gift. But such a gift comes at a price, and she is about to find out just what that is... Now, Lana must help solve another case while fighting to survive and protect those she loves, as darkness closes in on her—driven by an enemy from her past who swore to exact revenge.

The writing keeps you so intrigued that you simply can't put the book down—it’s like watching a movie!

Thanks to the author for the chance to read it. I highly recommend it to all thriller lovers—

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

I probably never would have picked this book up to read had the author not reached out to me and provided the copy. Supernatural is usually an immediate "No, thank you" for me.

That said, while I did struggle to get past the "past lives" aspect, I found the criminal and psychological aspects of this story intriguing enough to propel me through. Initially a slow start, around the 33% mark, I found myself truly invested and I was rooting for our FMC and determined to find out what ultimately happened.

A little spooky, twisty and an overall unique read. If supernatural is your thing, I'd definitely recommend. If it's not, I'd still say try it out. You might be surprised!

[Stefanie Silvestri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read a book by this author before, but it won't be the last. I liked how the idea of past lives was integrated with criminal investigation. In fact, this book reminded me of the TV series Medium. The story feels darker because of the eerie feelings and horror elements. This was definitely a book I could not put down.

[Nadine Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book “Darkness Within” was amazing. The characters were also so interesting. I love the past lives murder mysteries . I couldn’t stop reading. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. This is definitely a good read.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I loved the premise and plot of this book. The idea of past lives crimes is incredibly unique and makes a great supernatural twist on a thriller. I do wish that there had been a little more explanation of how it works- does everyone have past lives? Can anyone come back? There is a prequel releasing soon which I hope answers those questions. There is also a line between a past life and a possession in the book that can be crossed but isn’t always. I wish that there was more about that and the differing degrees. It would help round out the story. I also had a lot of questions about criminal investigations/criminal procedure in relation to the past lives crimes, but that may be more of a me issue.

Overall it is an exciting story with interesting characters. There is a lot of action. I just wish I had more answers to the questions above. I am planning to read the next book amd would happily read a sequel as well.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the concept of this book, clever yet creepy! The characters are complex and three dimensional which I appreciate. I can’t wait to read more from the author James Pinard.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book! Very eerie vibes. I look forward to the prequel and hope there will be more! If you like scary movies with visions and murders- this book is for you!