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The Comfort of Black
WINNER ― 2016 Colorado Book Awards (Thriller Category)WINNER ― 2015 International Book Awards (Mystery/Suspense Category)WINNER ― 10th Annual National Indie Excellence Award( Suspense Category)BRONZE ― 2015 Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Book of the Year (Thriller Category) 1st RUNNER UP ― 2016 RONE Award(Suspense Category) Though they seem to have everything, Hannah Parks has watched her husband, Dallin, become increasingly distant. Her hope is buoyed when the couple decides to start a family, but what Dallin reveals in his sleep one night rocks Hannah to her core. As she starts to investigate a much darker side of Dallin than she ever knew existed, Hannah peels away the layers of a diseased relationship closely tied to her own abusive past. When Dallin attempts to have Hannah abducted, she is forced to run, doing so with the aid of a man named Black--an ex-con and expert at helping people disappear. Together they must keep Hannah safe from her husband's far-reaching grasp, all the while trying to solve the mystery behind Dallin's sudden violence. Does Hannah's dark family history hold the key to her survival?
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2015
62 people are currently reading
1758 people want to read
About the author
Carter Wilson
13 books1,566 followersCarter Wilson is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of ten psychological thrillers, known for their intense emotion, tight pacing, and haunting twists. His books have received starred reviews from every major trade publication, have been optioned for film and television, and his 2025 novel Tell Me What You Did was selected as a national monthly pick by Barnes & Noble.
In addition to his fiction, Carter is the creator and host of Making It Up, a podcast featuring unscripted, revealing conversations with fellow writers about the creative process. He is also the founder of Unbound Writer, a company devoted to helping writers find their voice through coaching, immersive retreats, and online classes.
A seasoned public speaker and natural interviewer, Carter is known for his dynamic onstage presence and his deep curiosity about the craft of writing. He lives in Erie, Colorado, and travels frequently to speak at conferences, moderate author panels, and lead writing workshops.
Visit him at www.carterwilson.com and www.unboundwriter.com.
In addition to his fiction, Carter is the creator and host of Making It Up, a podcast featuring unscripted, revealing conversations with fellow writers about the creative process. He is also the founder of Unbound Writer, a company devoted to helping writers find their voice through coaching, immersive retreats, and online classes.
A seasoned public speaker and natural interviewer, Carter is known for his dynamic onstage presence and his deep curiosity about the craft of writing. He lives in Erie, Colorado, and travels frequently to speak at conferences, moderate author panels, and lead writing workshops.
Visit him at www.carterwilson.com and www.unboundwriter.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
January 27, 2023
Hannah Parks appears to have it all, living the dream - a beautiful home, handsome husband, and enormous wealth. She also has a dark family history, and it's about to come back and tear her life apart in the most breathtaking way. This is an intricate story, and you never know where it's going from one chapter to the next. It's a real roller coaster of twists, turns, shocks, and thrills. It's impossible to know who to trust, but it makes for a great read.
June 19, 2015
I wish to thank Net Galley, Oceanview Publishing and author Carter Wilson for an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The Comfort of Black is the debut novel of Mr. Carter Wilson. It is indeed a fine debut, I must say. It’s a story of clever psychological suspense that I very much enjoyed.
The story revolves around Hannah, who appears to have been betrayed by her husband, and is on the lam with a man called Black, he himself a convicted criminal. The book started a little slow for me as I was thinking I was getting into a far simpler story where deceived wife and bad husband dance around each other for 288 pages. All of a sudden the plot took a mighty turn and my interest skyrocketed. Though I wouldn’t say I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, I can say that the story was relentlessly compelling, calling to me whenever I had other things to tend to. The best thing about The Comfort of Black in my opinion is the dizzying issue of who can be trusted! Is Hannah’s husband really a bad guy? What about Black? And Peter, and her psychologist, and even other members of Hannah’s family? Particularly Black. Is he truly looking after Hannah’s best interests or is he playing her to the tune of his own agenda? Hannah’s life depends on whom she decides is worthy of her trust.
There are neat little twists and turns throughout the story, with a real biggie towards the end that I never saw coming. When the dust settles, we are treated to an excellent epilogue that gives us a look into what played out over the next several years. Lots of interesting stuff in that little epilogue, and I am quite content with the ending.
Overall, this is a great debut effort by Mr. Wilson. I recommend it to all lovers of psychological suspense. I will definitely be on the watch for the author’s next offering.
Addendum (6-19-2015): I was mistaken calling this Mr. Wilson's debut novel. He has written two other books. I am now off to Amazon to download them!
The Comfort of Black is the debut novel of Mr. Carter Wilson. It is indeed a fine debut, I must say. It’s a story of clever psychological suspense that I very much enjoyed.
The story revolves around Hannah, who appears to have been betrayed by her husband, and is on the lam with a man called Black, he himself a convicted criminal. The book started a little slow for me as I was thinking I was getting into a far simpler story where deceived wife and bad husband dance around each other for 288 pages. All of a sudden the plot took a mighty turn and my interest skyrocketed. Though I wouldn’t say I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, I can say that the story was relentlessly compelling, calling to me whenever I had other things to tend to. The best thing about The Comfort of Black in my opinion is the dizzying issue of who can be trusted! Is Hannah’s husband really a bad guy? What about Black? And Peter, and her psychologist, and even other members of Hannah’s family? Particularly Black. Is he truly looking after Hannah’s best interests or is he playing her to the tune of his own agenda? Hannah’s life depends on whom she decides is worthy of her trust.
There are neat little twists and turns throughout the story, with a real biggie towards the end that I never saw coming. When the dust settles, we are treated to an excellent epilogue that gives us a look into what played out over the next several years. Lots of interesting stuff in that little epilogue, and I am quite content with the ending.
Overall, this is a great debut effort by Mr. Wilson. I recommend it to all lovers of psychological suspense. I will definitely be on the watch for the author’s next offering.
Addendum (6-19-2015): I was mistaken calling this Mr. Wilson's debut novel. He has written two other books. I am now off to Amazon to download them!
August 29, 2015
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, there have been some AWESOME thrillers released lately! Absolutely fantastic! And this one is no exception, in fact is better than most.
Hannah comes from a troubled past, and now has everything. She has a fabulous life, lots of money, and a wonderful husband. So when she hears her husband say something shocking in his sleep, she is concerned. Next thing you know her perfect world comes crashing apart when her husband tries to kidnap her. Soon she is on the run with a man named Black. A man with an equally shady past. They find themselves having to fight to survive, and discover the truth.
Really loved the premise of this book! I love how Hannah’s perfect life was a farce! How could she be with someone for so long and not know him at all! And the twists and turns were fantastic! Really enjoyed the ride. I joked with my husband that I will be watching him in his sleep!
The book was extremely well written. Totally gripping! I found it difficult to put down. I loved the action scenes! I enjoyed the violence, it was graphic, but not too much so. I enjoy a bit of blood and guts in my thrillers anyway!
I loved the characters. I enjoyed how Hannah’s character developed. I didn’t like her at all at first, but she soon grew on me. And Black, LOVED him! Loved his back story, and I really enjoyed the relationship between him and Hannah. I thought all the other characters were written fantastically. Dallin especially. His character really transformed throughout the book, and not for the better!
Extra points in my books for a bit of sex and romance. Loved the sexiness between Hannah and Black, although I feel after it was explored initially, it kinda just died away. I would have liked to see more tension, maybe have it dragged along a bit longer. However it couldn’t have really been dragged along too much due to what happens!
The story overall was predictable at times, however there were still more than a few massive surprises in there!
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely! The Comfort of Black was a fantastic read! Finished it very quickly, hardly putting it down! Great book!
Thanks to Oceanview publishing via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
Find me on Twitter
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
Hannah comes from a troubled past, and now has everything. She has a fabulous life, lots of money, and a wonderful husband. So when she hears her husband say something shocking in his sleep, she is concerned. Next thing you know her perfect world comes crashing apart when her husband tries to kidnap her. Soon she is on the run with a man named Black. A man with an equally shady past. They find themselves having to fight to survive, and discover the truth.
Really loved the premise of this book! I love how Hannah’s perfect life was a farce! How could she be with someone for so long and not know him at all! And the twists and turns were fantastic! Really enjoyed the ride. I joked with my husband that I will be watching him in his sleep!
The book was extremely well written. Totally gripping! I found it difficult to put down. I loved the action scenes! I enjoyed the violence, it was graphic, but not too much so. I enjoy a bit of blood and guts in my thrillers anyway!
I loved the characters. I enjoyed how Hannah’s character developed. I didn’t like her at all at first, but she soon grew on me. And Black, LOVED him! Loved his back story, and I really enjoyed the relationship between him and Hannah. I thought all the other characters were written fantastically. Dallin especially. His character really transformed throughout the book, and not for the better!
Extra points in my books for a bit of sex and romance. Loved the sexiness between Hannah and Black, although I feel after it was explored initially, it kinda just died away. I would have liked to see more tension, maybe have it dragged along a bit longer. However it couldn’t have really been dragged along too much due to what happens!
The story overall was predictable at times, however there were still more than a few massive surprises in there!
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely! The Comfort of Black was a fantastic read! Finished it very quickly, hardly putting it down! Great book!
Thanks to Oceanview publishing via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
Find me on Twitter
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
October 10, 2017
EXCERPT: Hannah didn't have a plan beyond setting her father on fire.
She hid in her closet tonight as Billy rampaged, cloaked in the dark amongst shoes too small to wear, clothes reeking of cigarette smoke no matter how many times she washed them, and a memory box containing only dried, blackened roses from her first and only boyfriend, a romance that lastednot much longer than the flowers. Hannah had spent much time in this closet before, and time itself stretched into magical proportions in the cramped darkness. Seconds were minutes, minutes were hours. But it would finally be over. Billy was predictable. When his rage ended, it would leave him fatigued, like a cheetah after a kill. He would sleep, and when he did, it would be Hannah’s turn to act.
THE BLURB: Though they seem to have everything, Hannah Parks has watched her husband, Dallin, become increasingly distant. Her hope is buoyed when the couple decides to start a family, but what Dallin reveals in his sleep one night rocks Hannah to her core. As she starts to investigate a much darker side of Dallin than she ever knew existed, Hannah peels away the layers of a diseased relationship closely tied to her own abusive past. When Dallin attempts to have Hannah abducted, she is forced to run, doing so with the aid of a man named Black--an ex-con and expert at helping people disappear. Together they must keep Hannah safe from her husband's far-reaching grasp, all the while trying to solve the mystery behind Dallin's sudden violence. Does Hannah's dark family history hold the key to her survival?
MY THOUGHTS: 3 stars for this very changeable book by Carter Wilson, The Comfort of Black.
The title intrigued me, and the opening sentence definitely grabbed my attention. 'Hannah didn't have a plan beyond setting her father on fire.' In fact, that would be one of the most attention grabbing opening sentences I have ever read.
The first third of the book was well written, taut. I found myself holding my breath as I read. But then all changed. It was almost as though someone else had written the middle third of the book. The Comfort of Black changed from being a psychological thriller to a story that used gratuitous violence to no good effect. In fact I did wonder, once I had finished reading, if the original book when finished was too short and so someone had added these pages to it to stretch it out...... To me, it was entirely out of context and totally unnecessary.
The final quarter of the book picked up the psychological thriller thread to some degree again, but for me the damage had been done.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a digital ARC of The Comfort of Black for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
She hid in her closet tonight as Billy rampaged, cloaked in the dark amongst shoes too small to wear, clothes reeking of cigarette smoke no matter how many times she washed them, and a memory box containing only dried, blackened roses from her first and only boyfriend, a romance that lastednot much longer than the flowers. Hannah had spent much time in this closet before, and time itself stretched into magical proportions in the cramped darkness. Seconds were minutes, minutes were hours. But it would finally be over. Billy was predictable. When his rage ended, it would leave him fatigued, like a cheetah after a kill. He would sleep, and when he did, it would be Hannah’s turn to act.
THE BLURB: Though they seem to have everything, Hannah Parks has watched her husband, Dallin, become increasingly distant. Her hope is buoyed when the couple decides to start a family, but what Dallin reveals in his sleep one night rocks Hannah to her core. As she starts to investigate a much darker side of Dallin than she ever knew existed, Hannah peels away the layers of a diseased relationship closely tied to her own abusive past. When Dallin attempts to have Hannah abducted, she is forced to run, doing so with the aid of a man named Black--an ex-con and expert at helping people disappear. Together they must keep Hannah safe from her husband's far-reaching grasp, all the while trying to solve the mystery behind Dallin's sudden violence. Does Hannah's dark family history hold the key to her survival?
MY THOUGHTS: 3 stars for this very changeable book by Carter Wilson, The Comfort of Black.
The title intrigued me, and the opening sentence definitely grabbed my attention. 'Hannah didn't have a plan beyond setting her father on fire.' In fact, that would be one of the most attention grabbing opening sentences I have ever read.
The first third of the book was well written, taut. I found myself holding my breath as I read. But then all changed. It was almost as though someone else had written the middle third of the book. The Comfort of Black changed from being a psychological thriller to a story that used gratuitous violence to no good effect. In fact I did wonder, once I had finished reading, if the original book when finished was too short and so someone had added these pages to it to stretch it out...... To me, it was entirely out of context and totally unnecessary.
The final quarter of the book picked up the psychological thriller thread to some degree again, but for me the damage had been done.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a digital ARC of The Comfort of Black for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
July 22, 2015
Many thanks to NetGalley, Oceanview Publishing and the author Carter Wilson for the ARC of “The Comfort of Black” in exchange for a honest review.
"The Comfort of Black" is author Carter Wilson’s third thriller novel, following “Final Crossing” and “The Boy in the Woods”. This is the first novel I have read by this author…but it won’t be my last one! This was a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept my interest, and didn't let go until the end. Just how I like it.
This novel is about a woman, a strong female protagonist, Hannah Parks, who left an abusive family, a dysfunctional family, at the age of eighteen, with her only sister, Justine, fifteen, moving from Kansas to Seattle to start a new life. Billy, her father had been sent to prison for beating Hannah to near death. Her mother was an alcoholic who was conditioned to accept this abuse, and when Billy went to prison, the mother committed suicide on booze.
In Seattle, both women made new lives, but Hannah was fortunate to marry a wealthy man, Dallin Leighton, who runs an internet security company in North America. Initially, they had a good marriage, and Hannah, dreamed and planned on starting a family soon.
But things soon go downhill.
Hannah has watched her husband grow distance, he was more “mysterious”.
Dallin was having sex dreams, talking in his sleep, violent and disturbing.
Hannah was concerned about Dallin having a “rape-murder fantasy dream.”
Two issues became apparent; Dallin’s fidelity and violence. Was he hiding secrets from her? When Hannah threatened to leave Dallin he said “Leave me? I don’t think so.” He then assaulted her and she had marks on her neck. When Dallin attempts to have Hannah abducted, she is forced to run, doing so with the aid of a man named “Black”—an ex-con and expert at helping people disappear and start new lives.
But who could Hannah trust? Who was involved in her kidnapping and why? She is driven to uncover the truth. No more lies!
I loved this gripping novel, well-developed plot and exciting strong characters. Lots of surprises and twists and turns to satisfy a wide range of readers. I definitely will be checking out the previous two novels.
"The Comfort of Black" is author Carter Wilson’s third thriller novel, following “Final Crossing” and “The Boy in the Woods”. This is the first novel I have read by this author…but it won’t be my last one! This was a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept my interest, and didn't let go until the end. Just how I like it.
This novel is about a woman, a strong female protagonist, Hannah Parks, who left an abusive family, a dysfunctional family, at the age of eighteen, with her only sister, Justine, fifteen, moving from Kansas to Seattle to start a new life. Billy, her father had been sent to prison for beating Hannah to near death. Her mother was an alcoholic who was conditioned to accept this abuse, and when Billy went to prison, the mother committed suicide on booze.
In Seattle, both women made new lives, but Hannah was fortunate to marry a wealthy man, Dallin Leighton, who runs an internet security company in North America. Initially, they had a good marriage, and Hannah, dreamed and planned on starting a family soon.
But things soon go downhill.
Hannah has watched her husband grow distance, he was more “mysterious”.
Dallin was having sex dreams, talking in his sleep, violent and disturbing.
Hannah was concerned about Dallin having a “rape-murder fantasy dream.”
Two issues became apparent; Dallin’s fidelity and violence. Was he hiding secrets from her? When Hannah threatened to leave Dallin he said “Leave me? I don’t think so.” He then assaulted her and she had marks on her neck. When Dallin attempts to have Hannah abducted, she is forced to run, doing so with the aid of a man named “Black”—an ex-con and expert at helping people disappear and start new lives.
But who could Hannah trust? Who was involved in her kidnapping and why? She is driven to uncover the truth. No more lies!
I loved this gripping novel, well-developed plot and exciting strong characters. Lots of surprises and twists and turns to satisfy a wide range of readers. I definitely will be checking out the previous two novels.
September 1, 2015
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I absolutely loved this book. Honestly, I think I would be hard pressed to come up with a critque if I was asked. The story moved quickley and was filled with suspense and distrust for just about everyone at some point in time, the writing was superb, the editing was even pretty great too. I am sure you have heard or even written the cliche ( I know I have ), "I couldn't put this one down", well that was never more true with this novel. I read this as a buddy read and each of us at one point in time read ahead of the decided upon chapter, not intentionally , but because we were so caught up in the story!
THE PLOT
With a book like this it is hard to give the reader a feel for the plot without revealing some of out it. Suffice it to say that the main character, Hannah, who has a troubled past full of abuse. thinks that for the most part she's living the charmed life. She hasn't seen her abusive father in years, doesn't even know where he is, is married to an extremely successful man and the two have made a nice life together in Seattle. Sure,he's been somewhat distant for the past two years but his business has really boomed. Plus things have been improving over the past few weeks. Until... Until that night her husband says some extremely strange things in his sleep. Things she can't just ignore. So begins the roller coaster ride that Carter Wilson takes his readers on for the rest of the novel. We meet another main character shortly thereafter, called Black. A mysterious guy who seems to want to help Hannah, protect her. But does he? Who can she trust? Can she even trust herself?
MY THOUGHTS
This book, in my opinion, is the definition of a suspense novel. Wilson kept me guessing thoroughout the book, who is behind it? Who should she trust? I love books that keep me on the edge of my seat, with turns at every corner. This book was one of them. I honestly could feel ok with giving this book 5 stars but I reserve that for few and far between. Plus, as this is only Carter Wilson's third novel, I'm certain he will outdo himself! Highly recommeded for all readers of suspense!!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Carter Wilson, and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
I absolutely loved this book. Honestly, I think I would be hard pressed to come up with a critque if I was asked. The story moved quickley and was filled with suspense and distrust for just about everyone at some point in time, the writing was superb, the editing was even pretty great too. I am sure you have heard or even written the cliche ( I know I have ), "I couldn't put this one down", well that was never more true with this novel. I read this as a buddy read and each of us at one point in time read ahead of the decided upon chapter, not intentionally , but because we were so caught up in the story!
THE PLOT
With a book like this it is hard to give the reader a feel for the plot without revealing some of out it. Suffice it to say that the main character, Hannah, who has a troubled past full of abuse. thinks that for the most part she's living the charmed life. She hasn't seen her abusive father in years, doesn't even know where he is, is married to an extremely successful man and the two have made a nice life together in Seattle. Sure,he's been somewhat distant for the past two years but his business has really boomed. Plus things have been improving over the past few weeks. Until... Until that night her husband says some extremely strange things in his sleep. Things she can't just ignore. So begins the roller coaster ride that Carter Wilson takes his readers on for the rest of the novel. We meet another main character shortly thereafter, called Black. A mysterious guy who seems to want to help Hannah, protect her. But does he? Who can she trust? Can she even trust herself?
MY THOUGHTS
This book, in my opinion, is the definition of a suspense novel. Wilson kept me guessing thoroughout the book, who is behind it? Who should she trust? I love books that keep me on the edge of my seat, with turns at every corner. This book was one of them. I honestly could feel ok with giving this book 5 stars but I reserve that for few and far between. Plus, as this is only Carter Wilson's third novel, I'm certain he will outdo himself! Highly recommeded for all readers of suspense!!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Carter Wilson, and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
February 17, 2016
I've been on a roll lately reading so many amazing books and I wonder if I would have rated this 5 stars if I had read it first....
The Comfort Of Black is a fast moving suspense that draws you in right from the get go.
Hannah Parks has it all-handsome husband, beautiful home, and the financial means to have whatever she wants. So what if her husband has been a little distant lately...they've been trying for a child so that should make everything better again. But then she hears him talking in his sleep...saying things that change everything she thought she knew about her husband and her life.
The story really takes off from there, taking you on a roller coaster ride that reveals a past family life wrought with dysfunction and abuse, a present filled with danger, lies and betrayals, and a future that has come to depend on the help of one man-Black.
I really did enjoy this read, but I held back on the 5 stars because some aspects of the story just seemed too over the top and unbelievable. Made for a great story, but one more suited for a made for TV movie I think.
Absolutely will keep my eyes open for more from this author though as she really knows how to keep the story moving and wanting you to keep turning the page!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
The Comfort Of Black is a fast moving suspense that draws you in right from the get go.
Hannah Parks has it all-handsome husband, beautiful home, and the financial means to have whatever she wants. So what if her husband has been a little distant lately...they've been trying for a child so that should make everything better again. But then she hears him talking in his sleep...saying things that change everything she thought she knew about her husband and her life.
The story really takes off from there, taking you on a roller coaster ride that reveals a past family life wrought with dysfunction and abuse, a present filled with danger, lies and betrayals, and a future that has come to depend on the help of one man-Black.
I really did enjoy this read, but I held back on the 5 stars because some aspects of the story just seemed too over the top and unbelievable. Made for a great story, but one more suited for a made for TV movie I think.
Absolutely will keep my eyes open for more from this author though as she really knows how to keep the story moving and wanting you to keep turning the page!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
April 24, 2015
I just couldn't put this book down today. I started it last night and even took it to the dentist with me.
This is a fast paced book.
Hannah is married to Dallin. On the surface they have a good marriage, but like any marriage it does have its difficulties at times and Hannah has watched her husband grow distance.
She wants a child, maybe that is why he has distance between them, so one day she asks him about it. He said its not the reason, and their sex life resumes.
However, whilst he is asleep one night something happens, something frightening and worrying that she has to listen to.
When she is telling someone about this and it actually putting it into words, the reasoning behind her husbands words is not all what she thinks.
Shes asked if they have an 'active' sex life.
She's asked if he wants anything 'unusual' in the act of love making.
This stops her, she has to think about this.
She starts to investigate Dallin more, what is he hiding? What is his past? who the hell is her husband!
Dallin arranged for Hannah to be abducted and she has to run for her life......relying on a virtual stranger named Black.
This is a VERY good book, so well written that I couldn't put it down, not at all. I hardly did anything today except read this. YES it was THAT good.
I never wanted it to end :(
Let me thank the author Carter Wilson who I have never heard of before [that is going to change] and to Oceanview Publishing via Net Galley for my wonderful copy
This is a fast paced book.
Hannah is married to Dallin. On the surface they have a good marriage, but like any marriage it does have its difficulties at times and Hannah has watched her husband grow distance.
She wants a child, maybe that is why he has distance between them, so one day she asks him about it. He said its not the reason, and their sex life resumes.
However, whilst he is asleep one night something happens, something frightening and worrying that she has to listen to.
When she is telling someone about this and it actually putting it into words, the reasoning behind her husbands words is not all what she thinks.
Shes asked if they have an 'active' sex life.
She's asked if he wants anything 'unusual' in the act of love making.
This stops her, she has to think about this.
She starts to investigate Dallin more, what is he hiding? What is his past? who the hell is her husband!
Dallin arranged for Hannah to be abducted and she has to run for her life......relying on a virtual stranger named Black.
This is a VERY good book, so well written that I couldn't put it down, not at all. I hardly did anything today except read this. YES it was THAT good.
I never wanted it to end :(
Let me thank the author Carter Wilson who I have never heard of before [that is going to change] and to Oceanview Publishing via Net Galley for my wonderful copy
June 26, 2015
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and author for a advance copy for a honest review.
Though they seem to have everything, Hannah Parks has watched her husband, Dallin, become increasingly distant. Her hope is buoyed when the couple decides to start a family, but what Dallin reveals in his sleep one night rocks Hannah to her core. As she starts to investigate a much darker side of Dallin than she ever knew existed, Hannah peels away the layers of a diseased relationship closely tied to her own abusive past. When Dallin attempts to have Hannah abducted, she is forced to run, doing so with the aid of a man named Black—an ex-con and expert at helping people disappear. Together they must keep Hannah safe from her husband's far-reaching grasp, all the while trying to solve the mystery behind Dallin's sudden violence. Does Hannah's dark family history hold the key to her survival?
Carter Wilson has given us a strong leading character in Hannah, and some great other characters including Dallin, Black and the father Billy, and sister Justine.
From the very first shocking, irreverent, and chilling line, you know The Comfort of Black is anything but your average thriller.
The plot has been written in a really interesting and different way. You get shocked at every twist and each turn is completely unexpected. It thrills you, excites you and you just cannot stop reading waiting for the next twist which keep coming right till the book ends. It is more than a page turning novel!
Fast paced, action packed, a mystery, combined as a thriller, with great shocks, and I do highly recommend this book and this author.
An easy four stars for me.
Though they seem to have everything, Hannah Parks has watched her husband, Dallin, become increasingly distant. Her hope is buoyed when the couple decides to start a family, but what Dallin reveals in his sleep one night rocks Hannah to her core. As she starts to investigate a much darker side of Dallin than she ever knew existed, Hannah peels away the layers of a diseased relationship closely tied to her own abusive past. When Dallin attempts to have Hannah abducted, she is forced to run, doing so with the aid of a man named Black—an ex-con and expert at helping people disappear. Together they must keep Hannah safe from her husband's far-reaching grasp, all the while trying to solve the mystery behind Dallin's sudden violence. Does Hannah's dark family history hold the key to her survival?
Carter Wilson has given us a strong leading character in Hannah, and some great other characters including Dallin, Black and the father Billy, and sister Justine.
From the very first shocking, irreverent, and chilling line, you know The Comfort of Black is anything but your average thriller.
The plot has been written in a really interesting and different way. You get shocked at every twist and each turn is completely unexpected. It thrills you, excites you and you just cannot stop reading waiting for the next twist which keep coming right till the book ends. It is more than a page turning novel!
Fast paced, action packed, a mystery, combined as a thriller, with great shocks, and I do highly recommend this book and this author.
An easy four stars for me.
March 17, 2016
This was my first book by Carter Wilson and I now want to read more of his work. I do not usually read Thrillers, but I am drawn to psychological thrillers. This was perfectly executed. I was hooked right from the first chapter.
The comfort of Black is just a whirlpool of emotions. Hannah had always had struggle in her life, first an abusive father Billy. It was a long time ago that she took desperate measures with him. Then she found love. For eight years she had thought they were happily married. Now her marriage seemed to be falling apart and was based on lies. Words that Dallin had mumbled in his sleep set her on a search for the truth abut him. Something was wrong, it was unexpected and she was fighting for truth. Maybe she had inherited something from Billy that might be helpful.
During a kidnapping attempt Black stepped in. Could she trust him? Could she trust anyone? She was not sure of anything any more. It is intense and full of conflicting emotion. Black is not telling her anything about himself and Hannah is not happy with that arrangement.
So much detail made it bring the story to life. The story line has pulled me in and kept me involved and intrigued. Twisting back and forth like a roller coaster, You never know what is going to happen next, nothing is as it seems.
The narration was amazing in the Audio book. The voices were individualized and were easily identifiable. My first occasion to hear Rebecca Roberts as a narrator and she is very good. Her men's voices are also really great. The inflection and the feelings were right there for me to hear and it totally added to the intensity. Just a great audio book.
The comfort of Black is just a whirlpool of emotions. Hannah had always had struggle in her life, first an abusive father Billy. It was a long time ago that she took desperate measures with him. Then she found love. For eight years she had thought they were happily married. Now her marriage seemed to be falling apart and was based on lies. Words that Dallin had mumbled in his sleep set her on a search for the truth abut him. Something was wrong, it was unexpected and she was fighting for truth. Maybe she had inherited something from Billy that might be helpful.
During a kidnapping attempt Black stepped in. Could she trust him? Could she trust anyone? She was not sure of anything any more. It is intense and full of conflicting emotion. Black is not telling her anything about himself and Hannah is not happy with that arrangement.
So much detail made it bring the story to life. The story line has pulled me in and kept me involved and intrigued. Twisting back and forth like a roller coaster, You never know what is going to happen next, nothing is as it seems.
The narration was amazing in the Audio book. The voices were individualized and were easily identifiable. My first occasion to hear Rebecca Roberts as a narrator and she is very good. Her men's voices are also really great. The inflection and the feelings were right there for me to hear and it totally added to the intensity. Just a great audio book.
May 13, 2015
Hannah survived childhood abuse and raising her younger sister to become a very happy woman with a handsome and loving husband, who also happens to be very rich. The only thing missing from her life is a child of her own to love.
As with most marriages, problems crop up here and there, and Hannah can only wonder why the spark has gone out of their marriage. The one night she hears her husband talking in his sleep .... almost admitting that he has raped and killed at least one woman.
Instead of running, she confronts him, wants to know what's happening in his life. He responds by throwing her against the wall and choking her.
She finally gets the message when she is nearly abducted and a man named Black intervenes to save her life.
From here on out, it's like a roller coaster of lies, lies, and more lies. You really can't trust anything you see or hear, and you don't dare trust anyone you know ... not even your own family.
Quite a convoluted story! I absolutely got lost in trying to figure out who was who and what was truth and what was fiction. Couldn't put it down ... I was too afraid of forgetting all the little bits and dabs that were driving the story.
If you like mysteries or puzzles, I think you will like this one!
As with most marriages, problems crop up here and there, and Hannah can only wonder why the spark has gone out of their marriage. The one night she hears her husband talking in his sleep .... almost admitting that he has raped and killed at least one woman.
Instead of running, she confronts him, wants to know what's happening in his life. He responds by throwing her against the wall and choking her.
She finally gets the message when she is nearly abducted and a man named Black intervenes to save her life.
From here on out, it's like a roller coaster of lies, lies, and more lies. You really can't trust anything you see or hear, and you don't dare trust anyone you know ... not even your own family.
Quite a convoluted story! I absolutely got lost in trying to figure out who was who and what was truth and what was fiction. Couldn't put it down ... I was too afraid of forgetting all the little bits and dabs that were driving the story.
If you like mysteries or puzzles, I think you will like this one!
August 14, 2015
4.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Carter Wilson for an ARC of this book, in return for an honest review.
I loved this book, I really did. I lost all sense of time when I was reading it and the one constant thought that accompanied me throughout the book, was that this book would make a truly tremendous movie.
Hannah seems to have it all. A beautiful house, a handsome husband and opulent wealth. All she longs for now is a child of her own. She also has a dark past, one filled with violence and abuse that she suffered at the hands of her father, and her past continues to impact on her life, as she struggles with alcohol addiction and battles her demons with the help of therapy.
When Hannah's husband Dallin becomes detached and starts behaving strangely, Hannah's concerns are raised. When she hears Dallin speak violent and terrifying words in his sleep one night, her concerns become all the more real, particularly when she decides to confront Dallin and is left feeling more confused than ever. Her world suddenly becomes dark, her future uncertain. More so when Hannah, by chance, meets Black - the enigmatic and mysterious stranger who claims he can help her unravel the nightmare that her life is about to become.
It's difficult to talk about this book without giving anything of the ensuing plot away but what transpires next is nothing short of a roller coaster ride. Who to trust? Just when you think you have worked out who's to be trusted, you start to doubt things. At one point, I trusted no one, not even Hannah. In my opinion, the author has done such a fantastic job in mixing things up with this book, it was fun thinking I had things worked out, only to have to revise my opinion with each new chapter!
It was very difficult to pace myself whilst reading this book, when I could have easily devoured it in one or two sittings. I was reading this novel together with a friend, and I'm sure she'll agree with me wholeheartedly when I say it was very difficult, and frustrating, to have put this book down and pace it out! The action was non-stop - I can honestly say there were no slow parts, no padding of the novel with unnecessary minutiae - it was gripping from start to finish.
A highly engaging read, a definite page turner, I'll be looking out for more from Carter Wilson in the future and would highly recommend this book to all lovers of thrillers with a twist.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Carter Wilson for an ARC of this book, in return for an honest review.
I loved this book, I really did. I lost all sense of time when I was reading it and the one constant thought that accompanied me throughout the book, was that this book would make a truly tremendous movie.
Hannah seems to have it all. A beautiful house, a handsome husband and opulent wealth. All she longs for now is a child of her own. She also has a dark past, one filled with violence and abuse that she suffered at the hands of her father, and her past continues to impact on her life, as she struggles with alcohol addiction and battles her demons with the help of therapy.
When Hannah's husband Dallin becomes detached and starts behaving strangely, Hannah's concerns are raised. When she hears Dallin speak violent and terrifying words in his sleep one night, her concerns become all the more real, particularly when she decides to confront Dallin and is left feeling more confused than ever. Her world suddenly becomes dark, her future uncertain. More so when Hannah, by chance, meets Black - the enigmatic and mysterious stranger who claims he can help her unravel the nightmare that her life is about to become.
It's difficult to talk about this book without giving anything of the ensuing plot away but what transpires next is nothing short of a roller coaster ride. Who to trust? Just when you think you have worked out who's to be trusted, you start to doubt things. At one point, I trusted no one, not even Hannah. In my opinion, the author has done such a fantastic job in mixing things up with this book, it was fun thinking I had things worked out, only to have to revise my opinion with each new chapter!
It was very difficult to pace myself whilst reading this book, when I could have easily devoured it in one or two sittings. I was reading this novel together with a friend, and I'm sure she'll agree with me wholeheartedly when I say it was very difficult, and frustrating, to have put this book down and pace it out! The action was non-stop - I can honestly say there were no slow parts, no padding of the novel with unnecessary minutiae - it was gripping from start to finish.
A highly engaging read, a definite page turner, I'll be looking out for more from Carter Wilson in the future and would highly recommend this book to all lovers of thrillers with a twist.
August 25, 2015
This book is action packed. There is so much that happens that the reader has no idea where the story will end up. As a child, Hannah experienced emotional and physical abuse from her father. He was arrested and put in prison for nearly killing her. As an adult, Hannah is still struggling with her past, however she has married a successful businessman and has been happily married for 5 years. Things start to change for Hannah quite quickly and she begins to learn that her husband isn't the person she thought he was. There are a lot of twists and turns that keep building up so the reader doesn't know who Hannah can trust and what is reality.
At first I found the story really compelling and struggled to put it down. I was shocked with the turn of events and really wanted to know what was going on. However, as the book progressed I struggled more and more to engage with it. For me, I think some of the events in the novel were a bit over the top and it just felt a bit far fetched. I know I am in the minority with my thoughts on this one. In saying all that, I did like reading the book and I think Carter Wilson is a good writer, I guess I just didn't really connect with the story as much as I would've liked to.
Thank you to the publisher via net galley for my copy to read and review.
At first I found the story really compelling and struggled to put it down. I was shocked with the turn of events and really wanted to know what was going on. However, as the book progressed I struggled more and more to engage with it. For me, I think some of the events in the novel were a bit over the top and it just felt a bit far fetched. I know I am in the minority with my thoughts on this one. In saying all that, I did like reading the book and I think Carter Wilson is a good writer, I guess I just didn't really connect with the story as much as I would've liked to.
Thank you to the publisher via net galley for my copy to read and review.
October 24, 2017
I'm in mixed minds about this one. It's a novel that came recommended from like minded readers. Hannah is a young married woman with a past. Coming from a violent background of an abusive father and drunken mother. Hannah and her sister manage to turn things around after the girls' are left without parents. Billy, the father is in prison for domestic violence and and their mother passes away. Her drinking demons catches up with her in the end.
Hannah is now married to a successful businessman, Dallin and understands now what it is to be married to a millionaire. One night Dallin utters some words in his sleep that shocks Hannah and there begins a storyline of secrets, lies and much deceit as Hannah's life is thrown into complete turmoil. The story itself kind of reads like a tv movie and this is how it played out in my head so suspending belief here was not too difficult. What I found irritating was Hannah. Many times she had questionable thought processes culminating in odd decisions. Sometimes she seemed together other times I found her bordering on the ridiculous.
Overall, the book is a fairly good one and is indeed compelling enough to keep reading to the end fairly quickly; which I did. But I didn't love it; enjoyed it? Overall, yes but it certainly wasn't without its problems.
See for yourself, I know many others have loved it.
Hannah is now married to a successful businessman, Dallin and understands now what it is to be married to a millionaire. One night Dallin utters some words in his sleep that shocks Hannah and there begins a storyline of secrets, lies and much deceit as Hannah's life is thrown into complete turmoil. The story itself kind of reads like a tv movie and this is how it played out in my head so suspending belief here was not too difficult. What I found irritating was Hannah. Many times she had questionable thought processes culminating in odd decisions. Sometimes she seemed together other times I found her bordering on the ridiculous.
Overall, the book is a fairly good one and is indeed compelling enough to keep reading to the end fairly quickly; which I did. But I didn't love it; enjoyed it? Overall, yes but it certainly wasn't without its problems.
See for yourself, I know many others have loved it.
July 26, 2015
The Comfort of Black is a fast paced, very addictive thriller that packs quite a punch - it also manages to incorporate a fascinating character study when it comes to main protagonist Hannah - a woman whose past truly haunts her.
Hannah is seemingly happily married. They are wealthy, live a good life and despite Hannah's propensity to hit the bottle all seems mostly well. Then a sleepy muttering and a disturbing video turn Hannah's cosy world upside down and she begins to wonder if she ever really knew the man she married..
I thoroughly enjoyed this one - there is a little bit of an unlikely streak when it comes to some of the very comprehensive and well written twists and turns - but in a way that all adds to the overall feel of the story being told as Hannah hits a brick wall of sinister revelations that make her run for her life.
I do think this is perhaps the most appropriately titled novel I have read for a while - in that the author brings the title into the narrative in a sublimely clever way in several plot strands. There is a beautiful exploratary depth to the unfolding drama that hides just beneath the surface of the action packed portions - one of those character driven tales that manages to thrill and make you shiver whilst exploring realistic themes of nature v nurture and the inner strengths that can surface within us when faced with adversity.
The plot fairly crackles along - it is paced pretty perfectly with some wow moments placed in harmony with the rest of the shenanigans, the character dialogue is fast and occasionally ironically humerous and all in all I would definitely recommend this one for fans of action and psychological thrillers alike.
Happy Reading Folks!
Hannah is seemingly happily married. They are wealthy, live a good life and despite Hannah's propensity to hit the bottle all seems mostly well. Then a sleepy muttering and a disturbing video turn Hannah's cosy world upside down and she begins to wonder if she ever really knew the man she married..
I thoroughly enjoyed this one - there is a little bit of an unlikely streak when it comes to some of the very comprehensive and well written twists and turns - but in a way that all adds to the overall feel of the story being told as Hannah hits a brick wall of sinister revelations that make her run for her life.
I do think this is perhaps the most appropriately titled novel I have read for a while - in that the author brings the title into the narrative in a sublimely clever way in several plot strands. There is a beautiful exploratary depth to the unfolding drama that hides just beneath the surface of the action packed portions - one of those character driven tales that manages to thrill and make you shiver whilst exploring realistic themes of nature v nurture and the inner strengths that can surface within us when faced with adversity.
The plot fairly crackles along - it is paced pretty perfectly with some wow moments placed in harmony with the rest of the shenanigans, the character dialogue is fast and occasionally ironically humerous and all in all I would definitely recommend this one for fans of action and psychological thrillers alike.
Happy Reading Folks!
February 24, 2016
My original The Comfort of Black audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
When I initially read the blurb for this one, I was expecting some straightforward husband versus wife relationship drama, but it turned out to be far more complex and unpredictable.
Hannah and Dallin have a seemingly nice life, plenty of money due to Dallin’s business, and they’re trying to start a family. It’s a far cry from Hannah’s childhood with an abusive father. Still, her past has left marks, and she’s in therapy and tends to drown her sorrows in plenty of alcohol. When Dallin becomes increasingly distant and mutters some terrifying things in his sleep one night, Hannah starts to wonder how well she actually knows her husband. When she is about to confront him, she meets Black, a mysterious stranger. Then Hannah’s world falls to pieces and she finds herself on the run with Black.
The Comfort of Black was an utterly compelling psychological thriller from start to finish. I had no idea whom I could trust and how this would play out. It was full suspense and shocking twists. I had real problems putting this away for long enough to get some sleep. I just had to find out what would happen to Hannah. There was no padding, no slow parts, just suspenseful action, a tiny bit of romance, and a lovely epilogue that brought closure.
Carter Wilson has written two other books previously, which I’ve added to my list because I’ve thoroughly enjoyed his writing here.
Rebecca Roberts did an amazing job with the narration. I was in awe of her portrayal of the male characters, especially Hannah’s father. Great job of making him sound menacing and evil. The various emotions were expressed so skillfully. You felt the protagonist’s hurt but also her determination. Smooth and clear delivery. Absolutely flawless narration! Until I checked out the narrator’s name on Audible, it hadn’t clicked that I had actually listened to another of her books recently. That was a 5-star narration as well, but I think it speaks of her talent that I didn’t recognize the voice here at all. She just seems to have an amazingly wide range of different personas she somehow manages to adopt and they then fit the particular book seamlessly. There were no issues with the production.
Fantastic audiobook! Highly recommended for thriller fans!
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
When I initially read the blurb for this one, I was expecting some straightforward husband versus wife relationship drama, but it turned out to be far more complex and unpredictable.
Hannah and Dallin have a seemingly nice life, plenty of money due to Dallin’s business, and they’re trying to start a family. It’s a far cry from Hannah’s childhood with an abusive father. Still, her past has left marks, and she’s in therapy and tends to drown her sorrows in plenty of alcohol. When Dallin becomes increasingly distant and mutters some terrifying things in his sleep one night, Hannah starts to wonder how well she actually knows her husband. When she is about to confront him, she meets Black, a mysterious stranger. Then Hannah’s world falls to pieces and she finds herself on the run with Black.
The Comfort of Black was an utterly compelling psychological thriller from start to finish. I had no idea whom I could trust and how this would play out. It was full suspense and shocking twists. I had real problems putting this away for long enough to get some sleep. I just had to find out what would happen to Hannah. There was no padding, no slow parts, just suspenseful action, a tiny bit of romance, and a lovely epilogue that brought closure.
Carter Wilson has written two other books previously, which I’ve added to my list because I’ve thoroughly enjoyed his writing here.
Rebecca Roberts did an amazing job with the narration. I was in awe of her portrayal of the male characters, especially Hannah’s father. Great job of making him sound menacing and evil. The various emotions were expressed so skillfully. You felt the protagonist’s hurt but also her determination. Smooth and clear delivery. Absolutely flawless narration! Until I checked out the narrator’s name on Audible, it hadn’t clicked that I had actually listened to another of her books recently. That was a 5-star narration as well, but I think it speaks of her talent that I didn’t recognize the voice here at all. She just seems to have an amazingly wide range of different personas she somehow manages to adopt and they then fit the particular book seamlessly. There were no issues with the production.
Fantastic audiobook! Highly recommended for thriller fans!
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
November 14, 2015
First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley, Carter Wilson and Oceanview Publishing for a copy of this book in exchanged for an unbiased review.
The Comfort of Black is a pretty good psychological suspense novel by Carter Wilson. Carter has written a very creative and original psychological suspense. It is quite an amazing plot and storyline development. Kudos to Carter for accomplishing this feat.
Hannah discovers that her multi-millionaire husband Dallin has been cheating on Hannah with whores. Hannah was naive enough to believe that there marriage was perfect. In fact, after a little rough spot, they were going to try to have a child. GOING. That is, until Hannah’s sister Christine needs to borrow one of their laptops. What Hannah finds on the computer crushes her. She decides that this is it for her and Dallin. Her perfect life with all of the money and what it would buy was coming to an end. Dallin resorts to mild violence. Hannah leaves and stays for a couple of days with her sister Christine and her kids from different dads.
She agrees to a public meeting with Dallin in the 4 Seasons Hotel. But, then once she gets there she agrees to go to a private meeting room. Duh. From there, Hannah is kidnapped by a man named Black, or is she?
Hannah goes back and forth from this point with her trust or lack there of. Should she trust Black? Should she trust Dallin? Information keeps flowing into the reader like intravenous feedings. The story mounts and intensifies. The book becomes harder to put aside. What is going to happen? Will Hannah make a clean break? Will Dallin prevail? Who all is involved? Who is a bad guy and who is a good guy? And, then Dallin does some things that convince her they are finished. And, she begins to fall for Black …
When something doesn’t quite fit, Carter Wilson just throws something else in. This is one of two things that bother me about The Comfort of Black. Black just happens to show up at the coffee shop? Black just happens to shoot a cop that disappears? A hillbilly in the middle of nowhere knows the details of the kidnapping? Hannah makes more bad decisions than the entire cast of a horror film. Billy, aka Smooth (really?), enters prison a loser,he beats women, he is not too smart, he is not someone that you would trust, the only place that he gets his way is at home, and he is only assigned menial work. However, he graduates in prison (just joking) to the point is that he is somewhat trustworthy, quite a bit smarter, able to enable people to disappear if they so wish, and able to track money and paper trails. Yeah, right. Also, I get the feeling that I am being told a story, which I guess that I am, and that if I question anything in the story, Carter just throws in something else. This doesn’t make The Comfort of Black a bad book, it just distracts from the story a little.
Carter Wilson has written a pretty good psychological suspense with The Comfort of Black. Wilson is probably a writer that we may want to keep in our sights. I can see good things coming down the pipeline. I am very glad that I was approved, and would have no problems recommending this book to anyone who is a reader of this genre. I would give this somewhere in the 3.75-4.00 stars rating.
Cam
The Comfort of Black is a pretty good psychological suspense novel by Carter Wilson. Carter has written a very creative and original psychological suspense. It is quite an amazing plot and storyline development. Kudos to Carter for accomplishing this feat.
Hannah discovers that her multi-millionaire husband Dallin has been cheating on Hannah with whores. Hannah was naive enough to believe that there marriage was perfect. In fact, after a little rough spot, they were going to try to have a child. GOING. That is, until Hannah’s sister Christine needs to borrow one of their laptops. What Hannah finds on the computer crushes her. She decides that this is it for her and Dallin. Her perfect life with all of the money and what it would buy was coming to an end. Dallin resorts to mild violence. Hannah leaves and stays for a couple of days with her sister Christine and her kids from different dads.
She agrees to a public meeting with Dallin in the 4 Seasons Hotel. But, then once she gets there she agrees to go to a private meeting room. Duh. From there, Hannah is kidnapped by a man named Black, or is she?
Hannah goes back and forth from this point with her trust or lack there of. Should she trust Black? Should she trust Dallin? Information keeps flowing into the reader like intravenous feedings. The story mounts and intensifies. The book becomes harder to put aside. What is going to happen? Will Hannah make a clean break? Will Dallin prevail? Who all is involved? Who is a bad guy and who is a good guy? And, then Dallin does some things that convince her they are finished. And, she begins to fall for Black …
When something doesn’t quite fit, Carter Wilson just throws something else in. This is one of two things that bother me about The Comfort of Black. Black just happens to show up at the coffee shop? Black just happens to shoot a cop that disappears? A hillbilly in the middle of nowhere knows the details of the kidnapping? Hannah makes more bad decisions than the entire cast of a horror film. Billy, aka Smooth (really?), enters prison a loser,he beats women, he is not too smart, he is not someone that you would trust, the only place that he gets his way is at home, and he is only assigned menial work. However, he graduates in prison (just joking) to the point is that he is somewhat trustworthy, quite a bit smarter, able to enable people to disappear if they so wish, and able to track money and paper trails. Yeah, right. Also, I get the feeling that I am being told a story, which I guess that I am, and that if I question anything in the story, Carter just throws in something else. This doesn’t make The Comfort of Black a bad book, it just distracts from the story a little.
Carter Wilson has written a pretty good psychological suspense with The Comfort of Black. Wilson is probably a writer that we may want to keep in our sights. I can see good things coming down the pipeline. I am very glad that I was approved, and would have no problems recommending this book to anyone who is a reader of this genre. I would give this somewhere in the 3.75-4.00 stars rating.
Cam
May 19, 2025
Spoiler free review coming this weekend on my YouTube channel. https://youtube.com/@bookreviewswithb...
February 29, 2016
Hannah's life hasn't always been easy, but now she has a handsome and successful husband, money and a happy life, but does she? When Dallin starts to become distant and less loving, Hannah is worried, but it's not till he talks in his sleep that Hannah discovers that her husband might not be who she thinks! She starts to delve deeper into his life only to have hers put in danger. Dallin attempts to have her abducted only for her to escape with the help of an ex-con named Black. As things start to become clearer though, Hannah doesn't know who to trust, and with past and present on a collision course, Hannah must do all she can to survive.
Well this was a roller coaster to say the least!! When you think you know where it's going, bam, the author throws in something to turn the book on it's axis!! You never know who you can trust and you have no idea where it's going. It's an exceptionally well written and developed story and I loved it!! The whole way through you are questioning everything which, to me anyway, marks a great book.
Character development was well done. Poor Hannah has had a hard life and finally thought all the hurt was behind her. She loves her husband and wants to start a family with him. My heart broke for her when the story took off. She finds out some devastating things, yet she still pushes through. She is by no means an angel, which you will find out when you read it, but you can't help but root for her. She is determined, has a strong spirit and is brave.
Black was my favourite though. His story was heartbreaking!! I'm not going to say anything about it because he is a mystery better left alone and it adds to the story when you try to figure him out!! I loved the interactions between Black and Hannah and enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.
In all this was an incredible psychological thriller and one I can't recommend enough. It hit all the right notes and I devoured it. This is definitely an author I need to check out.
Rebecca Roberts gave a flawless performance! Her portrayal of Hannah was superb as was her other tones for Black and Dallin. She captured the emotions of all the characters perfectly and totally made this book come alive. Never once, in all the books I've listened to read by her, has she failed to give her all!! She is a narrator I'd recommend time and time again.
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
Well this was a roller coaster to say the least!! When you think you know where it's going, bam, the author throws in something to turn the book on it's axis!! You never know who you can trust and you have no idea where it's going. It's an exceptionally well written and developed story and I loved it!! The whole way through you are questioning everything which, to me anyway, marks a great book.
Character development was well done. Poor Hannah has had a hard life and finally thought all the hurt was behind her. She loves her husband and wants to start a family with him. My heart broke for her when the story took off. She finds out some devastating things, yet she still pushes through. She is by no means an angel, which you will find out when you read it, but you can't help but root for her. She is determined, has a strong spirit and is brave.
Black was my favourite though. His story was heartbreaking!! I'm not going to say anything about it because he is a mystery better left alone and it adds to the story when you try to figure him out!! I loved the interactions between Black and Hannah and enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.
In all this was an incredible psychological thriller and one I can't recommend enough. It hit all the right notes and I devoured it. This is definitely an author I need to check out.
Rebecca Roberts gave a flawless performance! Her portrayal of Hannah was superb as was her other tones for Black and Dallin. She captured the emotions of all the characters perfectly and totally made this book come alive. Never once, in all the books I've listened to read by her, has she failed to give her all!! She is a narrator I'd recommend time and time again.
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
August 5, 2017
"Black" is associated with bad guys wearing black hats, witches with black cats, and darkness where evil lurks. So, the "comfort" of black seems all wrong, doesn't it? Not so in this book.
Hannah's father was abusive to her and her mother. She eventually escapes, taking her sister with her, while her father is imprisoned. Hannah begins a new, successful, happy life. But why does she drink so much? Why is her marriage falling apart? What has her husband done? And who are these people hellbent on destroying her life?
While I felt much of this story was highly unlikely to occur in real life, it is after all fiction and I found it very enjoyable! It's a crazy ride with questionable decisions and trust issues. I liked Hannah and her savior. There were some twists that I saw coming and some I didn't expect.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!
Hannah's father was abusive to her and her mother. She eventually escapes, taking her sister with her, while her father is imprisoned. Hannah begins a new, successful, happy life. But why does she drink so much? Why is her marriage falling apart? What has her husband done? And who are these people hellbent on destroying her life?
While I felt much of this story was highly unlikely to occur in real life, it is after all fiction and I found it very enjoyable! It's a crazy ride with questionable decisions and trust issues. I liked Hannah and her savior. There were some twists that I saw coming and some I didn't expect.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author!
May 5, 2016
3.25
I'm not saying it was a bad book. I'm not even really saying I didn't like it. But, I was waiting for the suspense and thrill to start and got to 90% before I actually realized it wasn't going to happen.
This was, however, very dramatic.
Yes, there were a few homicidal moments, mostly in inner thoughts. There were a few wth moments in the plot. I won't elaborate so as not to spoil it for those yet to read it.
This one just wasn't for me, though.
I'm not saying it was a bad book. I'm not even really saying I didn't like it. But, I was waiting for the suspense and thrill to start and got to 90% before I actually realized it wasn't going to happen.
This was, however, very dramatic.
Yes, there were a few homicidal moments, mostly in inner thoughts. There were a few wth moments in the plot. I won't elaborate so as not to spoil it for those yet to read it.
This one just wasn't for me, though.
May 3, 2015
I received this book via NetGalley to read and provide an honest review.
This author was new to me so I didn't know what to expect, but the synopsis tempted me to give it a try, and I'm very glad I did. This is an intriguing psychological thriller, with plenty of twists in the story which kept me hooked, a well thought out plot, and no loose ends to leave me wondering. There was not quite the happy ending that I secretly hoped for, but I guess that's the way life is! The characters, particularly the main character, were credible and provoked a range of feelings and stimulated thought.
I usually read fiction which is set in the UK, and this was set in the US. I wasn't at all distracted by use of American English and at times I could completely forget where in the world the book was set, so I would say that in my opinion it is extremely well written. I look forward to reading more of Carter Wilson's work.
This author was new to me so I didn't know what to expect, but the synopsis tempted me to give it a try, and I'm very glad I did. This is an intriguing psychological thriller, with plenty of twists in the story which kept me hooked, a well thought out plot, and no loose ends to leave me wondering. There was not quite the happy ending that I secretly hoped for, but I guess that's the way life is! The characters, particularly the main character, were credible and provoked a range of feelings and stimulated thought.
I usually read fiction which is set in the UK, and this was set in the US. I wasn't at all distracted by use of American English and at times I could completely forget where in the world the book was set, so I would say that in my opinion it is extremely well written. I look forward to reading more of Carter Wilson's work.
November 21, 2015
First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley, Oceanview Publishing and Carter Wilson for a copy of this book in exchanged for an unbiased review.
The main character, Hannah grew up in an abusive household. She escapes that environment, determined to make a better life for herself and her younger sister Justine. She marries Dallin, and is living a comfortable life, planning to start a family. Surprise! Her life is not at all what she thought it was. The twists and turns start here! She discovers secrets about her husband that make her question who he is and her marriage. While waiting to meet her sister to discuss what she should do, she meets Black, an escaped convict who helps people disappear. Can she trust him? Who can she trust? No one in her life seems to be who she though they were. This book keep you guessing until the very end. Well done Mr. Wilson. I look forward to reading more!
The main character, Hannah grew up in an abusive household. She escapes that environment, determined to make a better life for herself and her younger sister Justine. She marries Dallin, and is living a comfortable life, planning to start a family. Surprise! Her life is not at all what she thought it was. The twists and turns start here! She discovers secrets about her husband that make her question who he is and her marriage. While waiting to meet her sister to discuss what she should do, she meets Black, an escaped convict who helps people disappear. Can she trust him? Who can she trust? No one in her life seems to be who she though they were. This book keep you guessing until the very end. Well done Mr. Wilson. I look forward to reading more!
October 9, 2016
Hannah Parks survived an abusive father and found love with a successful and increasingly wealthy businessman. Then his affections seem to wane, and what he says when he talks in his sleep sends Hannah investigating and discovering his dark secrets. They separate, but she is stalked by his minions and rescued from an abduction attempt by the mysterious Black, a man who claims he helps people start new lives. But can he be trusted with hers? Chilling, paranoid thriller, menacing, gritty, suspenseful. Lots of plot twists and a vulnerable heroine. Audio highlights her dilemma and emotional state.
May 30, 2017
One thing is for sure : the book opens with a bang. I had to read the first sentence twice because I thought I misread, but no. The second time the sentence was still the same. And the bangs keep on coming. When you think you have figured it out... well, think again. The twists and turns leave you open mouthed. I loved the story. Emotion, suspense, love, hate, deceit, .. It simply has it all. For sure, one of my favourite books.
April 16, 2015
Outstanding thriller! If you enjoy Gillian Flynn, you will love The Comfort of Black!
November 22, 2015
I finished this book in one sitting. It's a fast paced, suspenseful thriller. I loved it and highly recommend it.
February 27, 2016
This book is about, Hannah, a woman whose life is turned upside down when she finds out that her husband, Dallin, isn't the man she thought he was. After confronting him things go downhill quickly for Hannah. She is framed for embezzlement and someone from Dallin's company comes after her for damage control. After they attempt to abduct her, she is rescued and forced to go on the run with a man named Black. Black's job is to help people disappear. Dallin isn't willing to to give up looking for Hannah so easily. As the danger and lies continue to spiral out of control. Hannah must keep running with Black while trying to figure out which parts of her life are real.
Hannah was a strong female heroine. She didn't fall apart under all the stress and pressure. She wanted answers. Sometimes it was a bit hard for her to let go of the past but she was doing what any person in her situation would.
I didn't like Dallin at all. He was manipulative and spineless. He loved Hannah at first but then his world fell apart quicker than he could handle and she didn't matter.
Black was dark, broody and had a sexy edge to him. He was full of secrets and each time Hannah let her guard down and thought she could trust him she found more secrets.
This book was an intense rollercoaster ride. Each time I thought I knew what was going to happen I was wrong. Usually I'm one step ahead of the main character when reading psychological thrillers but I was just as shocked as Hannah when things would happen.
The narrator did a really great job portraying each of the characters. You could feel the fear and anxiety coming off of Hannah. Black had a distant, confidence about him. I think that Hannah's father was portrayed the best though. He was so cruel and full of hate. It was particularly well done being that the narrator was a woman. The narrator also did a good job at keeping up the pace and suspense. I couldn't stop listening.
I was given an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hannah was a strong female heroine. She didn't fall apart under all the stress and pressure. She wanted answers. Sometimes it was a bit hard for her to let go of the past but she was doing what any person in her situation would.
I didn't like Dallin at all. He was manipulative and spineless. He loved Hannah at first but then his world fell apart quicker than he could handle and she didn't matter.
Black was dark, broody and had a sexy edge to him. He was full of secrets and each time Hannah let her guard down and thought she could trust him she found more secrets.
This book was an intense rollercoaster ride. Each time I thought I knew what was going to happen I was wrong. Usually I'm one step ahead of the main character when reading psychological thrillers but I was just as shocked as Hannah when things would happen.
The narrator did a really great job portraying each of the characters. You could feel the fear and anxiety coming off of Hannah. Black had a distant, confidence about him. I think that Hannah's father was portrayed the best though. He was so cruel and full of hate. It was particularly well done being that the narrator was a woman. The narrator also did a good job at keeping up the pace and suspense. I couldn't stop listening.
I was given an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2015
Trust your instincts to the end, though you can render no reason. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hannah Parks grew up in a violently abusive household. Her childhood ended with her father going to prison, her mother killing herself and Hannah raising her younger sister.
So now she's happily (for the most part) married, very wealthy and thinking of starting a family. UNTIL she hears her husband talking in his sleep one night. Then the SHTF and nothing will ever be the same in Hannah's life.
I really enjoyed the twists, turns and loopdidoos of this story. Just when I thought I had something figured out, there'd be a 180° turn in the tale and I'd be shaking my head and rereading passages to see what I missed the first time around.
Hannah is a strong female protagonist and she gains more strength and abilities as the story continues.
The storytelling was strong, too, and, while a bit "out there," it was a fast-paced and satisfying read.
I especially appreciated the epilogue to the story that tied up all the loose ends.
NOTE: I received this book from Ocean view Publishing through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Hannah Parks grew up in a violently abusive household. Her childhood ended with her father going to prison, her mother killing herself and Hannah raising her younger sister.
So now she's happily (for the most part) married, very wealthy and thinking of starting a family. UNTIL she hears her husband talking in his sleep one night. Then the SHTF and nothing will ever be the same in Hannah's life.
I really enjoyed the twists, turns and loopdidoos of this story. Just when I thought I had something figured out, there'd be a 180° turn in the tale and I'd be shaking my head and rereading passages to see what I missed the first time around.
Hannah is a strong female protagonist and she gains more strength and abilities as the story continues.
The storytelling was strong, too, and, while a bit "out there," it was a fast-paced and satisfying read.
I especially appreciated the epilogue to the story that tied up all the loose ends.
NOTE: I received this book from Ocean view Publishing through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
June 13, 2016
A Review of the Audiobook
Read by Rebecca Roberts
Duration: 9 hours, 21 minutes
Unabridged
Hannah Parks is a survivor. She grew up in an incredibly verbally abusive home and watched her mother be physically abused by her father on a regular basis. But, one day, she fought back and now her father is in jail and she is married to a tech genius whose start-up has become a major corporation.
But, Hannah and her husband have been growing apart. When she hears him dreaming about raping a woman and discovers a secret porn file on his computer she confronts him only to have him fly into a violent rage. She leaves him only to have him try to kidnap her.
But, a man named Black intervenes. A man she doesn't even know kidnaps her away from the kidnappers and now Hannah's life really starts to disintegrate...
If you love a book with a lot of plot twists, well this is your book. Personally, I thought the book had so many plot twists that it got to the point of ridiculousness and I hung around to the very end just to see how ridiculous it got. The answer? ...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2016/...
Read by Rebecca Roberts
Duration: 9 hours, 21 minutes
Unabridged
Hannah Parks is a survivor. She grew up in an incredibly verbally abusive home and watched her mother be physically abused by her father on a regular basis. But, one day, she fought back and now her father is in jail and she is married to a tech genius whose start-up has become a major corporation.
But, Hannah and her husband have been growing apart. When she hears him dreaming about raping a woman and discovers a secret porn file on his computer she confronts him only to have him fly into a violent rage. She leaves him only to have him try to kidnap her.
But, a man named Black intervenes. A man she doesn't even know kidnaps her away from the kidnappers and now Hannah's life really starts to disintegrate...
If you love a book with a lot of plot twists, well this is your book. Personally, I thought the book had so many plot twists that it got to the point of ridiculousness and I hung around to the very end just to see how ridiculous it got. The answer? ...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2016/...
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