The Dark Inside

Charlie Yates #1

by Rod Reynolds

1946, Texarkana: a town on the border of Texas and Arkansas. Disgraced New York reporter Charlie Yates has been sent to cover the story of a spate of brutal murders - young couples who've been slaughtered at a local date spot. Charlie finds himself drawn into the case by the beautiful and fiery Lizzie, sister to one of the victims, Alice - the only person to have survived the attacks and seen the killer up close.

But Charlie has his own demons to fight, and as he starts to dig into the murders he discovers that the people of Texarkana have secrets that they want kept hidden at all costs. Before long, Charlie discovers that powerful forces might be protecting the killer, and as he investigates further his pursuit of the truth could cost him more than his job...

Loosely based on true events, The Dark Insideis a compelling and pacy thriller that heralds a new voice in the genre. It will appeal to fans of RJ Ellory, Tom Franklin, Daniel Woodrell and True Detective.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Rod Reynolds was born in London and, after a successful career in advertising, working as a media buyer, he decided to get serious about writing. He recently completed City University's two-year Crime Writing Masters course and THE DARK INSIDE is his first novel. He lives in London with his wife and daughter.

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, people were right about this book. Tense, well written, and clever; I'm glad I listened to recommendations instead of following my usual taste, which does not run to crime fiction set in the past. This might well have changed my mindset, that can only be a good thing!

I particularly liked Reynolds use of language, it set the tone and kept my mind firmly in the 40s. I struggled not to mentally read the whole book in an exaggerated, fake American/noir/PI accent.

So Mr. Reynolds, whatever you write next, I'm there. Thanks for opening my mind to a new genre.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. So very very much. Will that do? No? Jeez but you lot are demanding…

The Dark Inside is old school noir – Southern Noir at that – and I have not read a book like it in many years, and when I have they have come from old school crime writers who are almost a dying breed (think James Lee Burke or Flannery O Connor) – but like Rod Reynolds here they have this magic touch when it comes to taking very little time to put you BAM heart and soul into another era.

Here we enter the Texas/Arkansas border in 1946 – alongside Charlie Yates, who having had somewhat of a meltdown in New York has been sent along to cover a series of murders in a small town – to the folks back in the big city very unimportant stuff. But to Charlie it’s about to become everything…

Language is a beautiful thing when in the right hands – it has the power to evoke all the senses, to paint a picture, to bring on a memory, to make you catch your breath and feel an emotion – The Dark Inside has this in spades. Chocka block full of that sort of thing this book is, all the while telling a compelling and really powerful story that will envelop you in the pure texture and realism of that time now passed.

The author sends his main protagonist on a real journey of self discovery, sets him on a perilous path and takes us with him every step of the way – down into the seething whirlpool of fear that this small town has become in the wake of the deaths. The sheer atmosphere and sense of something horrific lurking just below the surface is palpable throughout the telling and as Charlie faces his demons and everyone else’s head on you will be utterly gripped and totally unable to look away. I was really quite tearful by the end simply down to the sheer impact of every single chapter.

This is a debut – something that stops me in my tracks every time I remember it – the writing is both visceral and gentle, a really quite staggering achievement both in character study and incorporation of setting – If Rod Reynolds spends the rest of his writing career (and boy is this guy going to have a career) creating books only half as good as this one, he will still be writing some of the top fiction out there. A truly incredible talent.

I don’t really need to add “Highly Recommended” do I? Not really. You can take that one as read. When I had finished The Dark Inside, devoured it over the course of one gloriously reading mad day, I had that spider sense that told me I’d just made a lifetime commitment. If this author keeps writing I’m going to keep reading. A bit like with Stephen King if he publishes his shopping list I’m probably going to get in the queue to take a look.

I guess you could say I’m a fan. How many people will agree with me remains to be seen. But early buzz from people I respect in the field tells me I’m not going to be alone here – and as one reader to another I’m saying go take a look. Sometimes it really is that simple.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent southern noir book loosely based on true events in Texarkana during the 1940's. Couples are being murdered at local 'parking' spots and Charlie Yates is sent to cover the news story for a New York paper but is also being exiled for his own personal issues that today are called anger management.

What I liked about the book was the pace of waiting for the next murder and all the leads that did not lead anywhere. The ending is excellent. Don't try to figure it out, it is a true Hitchcock reveal.

What didn't I like? The author wrote the book in a style of the 1940's. Yes, it adds authenticity but not all dialog sounds like a tough guy/gangster speak. I also felt the author used the style intermittently and that was irritating. But that's my personal gripe because overall it is an amazing read. Highly recommend if you like noir.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dark Inside – A Thrilling Debut

The Dark Inside is the thrilling debut from Rod Reynolds, based loosely on events known as the Texarkana Moonlight Murders in 1946. What he has done has written an exciting fast paced novel, outside the usual police procedural novel and unlike the real murders which were unsolved, we are made to look harder at this split city and the people that live there.

Charlie Yates had worked the crime beat at the Examiner in New York before he disgraced himself and had been sent south out of the way of the editor. He is sent to cover the murders of two couples over two weekends and if he is lucky the editor might print what he writes. His first impression of the town is not a good one especially as a dog is cocking its leg on the sign at the city limits.

Yates finds that he is not welcome at the Chronicle which is supposed to be his base while he is in Texarkana and has been put up at the Mason Hotel where every other local journalist is based. What he finds is that it is a town full of secrets that is not open to an outsider such as himself. But with the help of Lizzie the sister of one of the victims, Alice, he is about to redeem himself and his perceived cowardice.

Yates, who is not in Texarkana by choice, discovers that it is a town full of secrets and those secrets have their own protectors who will go to any length to keep things quiet. Yates through a mixture of cowardice and bravado wants to find the truth while managing to stay out of the way of the local police chiefs who clearly do not like him.

In a town full of Gis coming home from war, either using the place as a stopover or working at a local supply base he knows somehow are linked to the crimes. The only problem is there are plenty of dead ends and beatings for him, as he endeavours to find the truth. While at the same time his personal life is in crisis and collapsing can he save himself at the same time?

As the story draws you in the more you want Charlie Yates to succeed and absolve himself and solve the crime. Whether he does you will have to read this fast paced exciting thriller and take a step back in time. What Reynolds has given the reader is an exciting read, not knowing who he can trust with a few interesting twists and turns.

The Dark Inside is a thrilling debut, even more so when you find that Rod Reynolds is English not American, but has used the original crimes to make a brilliant story. The cover says for fans of True Detective, and this is definitely in the first series mode and will leave you breathless throughout. A great book, an even better read, and I cannot wait for Reynolds next outing.

[David Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend The Dark Inside highly enough, it's a brilliantly atmospheric debut thriller. A superb detective story that is written rather beautifully in an old-style voice that is just wonderful. It gives the book an amazing feel that's quite intoxicating. I literally couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. Absolutely loved this, it's a debut that I won't forget and would suggest you read it for yourself to see if you agree.

We are transported back in time to 1946 and reporter Charlie Yates is sent from his New York office to investigate a spate of recent brutal murders in the town of Texarkana on the Texas/Arkansas border. Charlie's not there by choice and he has his own demons to manage with problems in his marriage and at work. But his investigation brings him close to the beautiful and fiery Lizzie and when the murders escalate he becomes deeper and deeper involved with her and the towns murky past.

What Charlie uncovers is dangerous and shocking and he finds he is up against some powerful forces that have their own agendas. Author Rod Reynolds weaves a fascinating web of intrigue and it was a thrill to keep turning the pages and finding out what happens next. The story blazed along at a good pace and I was left feeling I was lost in a different era and some place past, but where I loved every minute I was there. A truly exceptional debut novel and I can't wait to read the next book from this exciting new author. (Received ARC)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of sweetheart murders take place in a small town named Texarkana in 1946. Charlie Yates is a New York reporter who is out of favour with his boss. He is told to get out of New York and get the story.
His marriage is over and it looks like his career is heading the same way so he does as he is told. Nobody in Texarkana wants him there, they just see him as a hack who is desperate for his story with no thought for the victims or their families. The police see him as trouble and are very convincingly intimidating in their attempts to drive him out of town.
The Dark Inside is one of the most accurate titles of books that I have read. It is a fantastic novel that is very dark at times. Sometimes a little too much so for me and for a short period I could only read a few chapters at a time. Charlie is hard to warm to initially, he isn't blameless in the collapse of his marriage or for the fallout with his employers. Many of his problems are due to him being unable to participate in WW2, the reasons why are revealed during the novel.
However part way through, after a quite harrowing time for him my opinions changed and I was willing him to succeed. From that moment Charlie wanted to get answers for Lizzie a woman he had feelings for but mainly for himself. To prove everybody wrong.

Before I started this novel I expected it to be similar to Raymond Chandler but I was mistaken. It's so much more bleak than that. I could see it being on the screen, it would need a strong cast to carry of such a great novel and would ideally be in black and white. That is my wish anyway.
Quite violent, very atmospheric and totally different to other books that have been published recently. An excellent debut novel by an author that will go far.
With thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy received by netgalley
,

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always an interesting reading experience seeing an author run with the facts of a true unsolved crime, and carefully construct their own interpretation of who may have been responsible, and their psychological motivation for seemingly senseless attacks. The Dark Inside from debut author Rod Reynolds, is based loosely on the events surrounding The Texarkana Moonlight Murders of 1946, where young couples were singled out at a local courting spot and brutally attacked. The Texarkana Phantom, as the killer was dubbed, killed five people and assaulted three more, but evaded apprehension, with the killings stopping as quickly as they had begun. With this as the central premise for the story, Reynolds takes us on an atmospheric, clever, and entirely plausible trip into a small community racked by fear and suspicion.

The real stand out character of the piece is Charlie Yates, the beleaguered and harried journalist who finds himself sent on a fool’s mission by his eminently dislikeable boss, and feeling forced to demonstrate his instinctive journalist’s curiosity and nous in order to save his job in New York. Yates finds himself at odds with pretty much everyone he encounters as an interloper and suspicious of not only his motives but by what he uncovers below the surface of the more ‘respectable’ folk of Texarkana. Reynolds bestows Yates with a real core of morality, unusual in itself for a press journalist, and I like the way his character pivots between outspoken arrogance to moments of extreme self doubt and emotional vulnerability, shaped by events in his personal life. As he navigates his way around the local press, law enforcement officers, and the mayor in search of the killer, and evading the less than honourable members of these factions, Yates needs his wits about him to get to the truth. I was slightly less convinced by the relationship he forms with Lizzie, as it seemed a little forced in the overall narrative, but his essential moral fibre, doggedness, and sometimes foolhardy actions with which his character is balanced, made up for this slight concern.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-17-at-7_38_06-PMReynolds is to be admired for taking a leap of faith, especially as a debut novelist, to write something so outside of his normal experience, and equally as a Brit setting his book across the water in a community where the ghosts of this crime still loom in the shared consciousness. As an outsider looking in, and this being one of my ‘favourite’ unsolved crime mysteries, the setting and atmosphere of Texarkana felt incredibly authentic, and as I listened to a selection of Texas blues artists whilst reading this, the cadence and rhythm of the book worked perfectly. With this book comparisons have been made to Daniel Woodrell and Tom Franklin, and I would say that in terms of the meticulousness of the setting and period atmosphere this is justified. Add in the easy style of dialogue, reminiscent of an author such as Ace Atkins, and this book will tick many boxes for the American crime fiction fan. Reynold’s careful construction of a viable and believable conclusion to this famous case also holds water. Obviously it would be remiss of me to go to deeply into the culprit(s) but, suffice to say, Reynolds has not made the mistake of going for a too outlandish conclusion at odds with how the story has built up, which was gratifying to see, and which outweighed the slightly (in my opinion) ‘chocolate box’ ending.

All in all an intelligent and atmospheric recreation of some very dark and brutal events indeed, and more than happy to see that a sequel is in the offing. A highly recommended debut.

[Louise Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so beautifully written, so patiently told that each reveal is natural and yet still shocking. Reynolds vividly evokes the claustrophobic/enclosed feel of a 1940s Southern town in America, where secrets naturally fester. Charlie is a flawed, likeable reporter, damaged by divorce and a recent accident, who I grew immensely fond of and was with every step of his journey in uncovering the murderer. The cleverly woven strands all pull together in an amazing climax. Just wonderful, and highly recommended.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice sense of time and place. This is written in a forties environment but also in a forties style. We have a damaged journalist investigating a series of murders with cover ups, red herrings and, of course, the reveals are presented in the last couple of chapters and it all culminates with a classic Mexican stand-off. Apart from a couple of loose ends left hanging this is a satisfying read and a decent first novel.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinister and dark thriller.

[Linda Boa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like Southern Noir? More twists than a barrel of rattlesnakes? Murder, small town secrets? Some highly expert misdirection to keep you guessing? It's set in 1946, and is the best debut of the year, so far, IMHO, and heralds a probable star author in the making.

Join me on the blog tour on September 17th, and I'll fill you in on why you need this book in your life...

So, here we are on the final date of The Dark Inside blog tour. Can I add anything to the superlatives that have been heaped on this book by my fellow crime bloggers – the majority of whom are much more eloquent than me? I’ll do my best – here goes…

When I saw the cover of this book, I asked Rod Reynolds on Twitter if the US version had a different cover (it’s something of a fascination of mine, how different countries choose different covers, and what appeals where.) I was gobsmacked when he said that he wasn’t American, and this was the first edition of the book. Doesn’t it look brilliantly dark and menacing (and very American)? As well it should, as this is a darkly brilliant book. Even more incredible is the fact that it’s his debut novel – yes, I know I say that way too much, but I really felt I was in the hands of a highly experienced writer. It was also incredibly cinematic – more on that later.

When Charlie Yates, our exiled reporter, first reaches Texarkana, “A sign at the town limits read TEXARKANA USA is TWICE AS NICE. A dog cocked its leg and took a piss against it as I passed.” His coat is on a very shoogly peg, as we say up here, at The New York Examiner, and his marriage is over. He’s basically been banished to the middle of nowhere to get rid of him from the office. Initially, no-one in the town will speak to him about the murders. But gradually a few people give him snippets here and there, on the QT. He befriends Lizzie, the sister of the only surviving victim. Also, a barman, Richard Davis, claims to have seen one of the victims arguing with a GI the night she was murdered. However, the two lawmen, Sheriff Bailey of Bowie County, Texas, and his sidekick, Lieutenant Sherman of Texarkana City Police, have their eye on Yates, and won’t have any city reporter showing up what looks like questionable investigative skills. They refuse to even link the two attacks on the courting couples. Then there’s a third couple murdered, again on a Saturday night. Yates warns the lawmen they have a week before he strikes again. Meanwhile, local businessman Winfield Callaway offers a $20,000 reward to catch the killer, which only serves to send the lawmen off on lots of pointless calls. However, Yates thinks he’s found a link between at least some of the victims – but the killer’s motive remains shrouded in mystery. Saying any more would take me into spoiler territory, and I definitely don’t want to do that – I want everyone who reads this thriller to enjoy the way it unwinds as much as I did.

I mentioned the word “cinematic” earlier, and if I could have a dream team who could make this into a movie, it’d be Cary Grant as Yates, Katherine Hepburn as Lizzie, and I’d have Hitch behind the lens. However, as they are all no longer with us, I guess I’d make do with Scorsese in the director’s chair. Or perhaps Nic Pizzolatto could redeem himself for the somewhat messy second season of True Detective. (Not asking much, really…)

I read a lot of crime fiction, and with many books I can fairly easily figure out who the perpetrator is. Not so here. The misdirection was subtly brilliant, and I defy anyone to unknot the tangled web he weaves. I love anything Southern Gothic, and if you enjoy that particular aspect of this book, you’ll love John Berendt’s Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil (which is included in my Top Ten Non-Fiction Books – https://crimeworm.wordpress.com/2015/... ) I’d also point you in the direction of James Lee Burke – The Tin Roof Blowdown, about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, is a masterpiece – but then, all his books are, particularly those featuring Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcel. After all, we’re going to need some reading material while Rod Reynolds works on the follow-up to The Dark Inside! If you haven’t yet read this, get to it – it’s going to be on a lot of end-of-year “Best Of…” lists, including mine. I know I’m often too kind about some books, but this one really is a corker. You can thank me later.

[Janet Emson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley and this is my honest opinion of the book.

Texarkana on the Texas/Arkansas border. There have been a number of brutal killings. Young couple, courting in lovers lanes have been shot. New York reporter Charlie Yates has been sent to cover the story, his bosses desperate for him to get out of the way, Charlie well aware that this may be his only chance to keep his job. As he begins to investigate the story he becomes more involved. He finds himself almost compelled to help Lizzie Anderson, the sister of one the first victims. And as he meets more and more resistance from the people of Texarkana he becomes more determined to find the killer. He soon finds its more than just his job that’s on the line, it’s his life too that is also under threat.

This is the debut novel from Rod Reynolds and he hits the ground running. This is an assured novel, one that draws you in from the first page and keeps you there until the last page. Rod Reynolds has created an old school noir and the language and era it evokes is something to wallow in and enjoy.

The imagery is immediate. I could imagine Charlie narrating his tale, much like hero investigator in old film noirs such as Sam Spade and Phillip Marlowe. I could imagine driving down Texarkana High Street, see City Hall sitting in the middle of the road, straddling the two states. I could see the old automobiles parked outside diners, see GIs walking down the street and picture the fashions of the 40s. Even as I read the story I could hear the southern drawl of the characters.

The characters are well drawn. I liked Charlie, for all his faults, probably because he was well aware of these faults. He is a stubborn man but it is this stubbornness and refusal to back down that powers his investigation. There is a malignant presence in Texarkana that the author hints at in the characters of the power members of town hierarchy. I did get a little side-tracked by trying to remember which police department certain of the characters worked for but this didn’t bring me to distraction and I soon got lost again in the flow of the story.

This book is called The Dark Inside and indeed it is. The story is dark, horrific murders that are terrorising a town. But there is also darkness from the town and its inhabitants. There is a malignant presence in Texarkana that the author hints at in the characters of the power members of town hierarchy. Charlie becomes more aware that the people who are supposed to be helping the town have their own dark secrets to hide. There is a palpable sense of dread created by the author. The reader is aware, slightly before Charlie that he is in danger and it is this that make this reader at least, route for Charlie even more.

What makes this story all the more fascinating is that it is loosely based on true events. There is a town called Texarkana and there were a spate of killings in 1947. Those murders however remain unsolved.

I don’t normally comment on covers but here the cover image perfectly encapsulates the book. It is how I imagined the scenery surrounding Texarkana and hints at the danger the town holds.

I’m not going to say any more about the actual story for fear of giving anything away. If you like dark murder mysteries, novels set in mid century American towns, novels with a conspiracy at the heart of them or novels that draw you in and keep you there until the very end then this book is for you.

A gripping, dark, engrossing read and one which I found highly entertaining. I am impatiently waiting for more from Rod Reynolds.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don’t read a lot of historical crime but this is by far the best I have read for some time. I have a love of Americana in general but particularly crime fiction set in small-town America, so I found The Dark Inside a compelling and engrossing read. Although I should say that I am conflicted here because although the setting had a wonderful, ominous, claustrophobic, small-town feel to it I don’t actually know if Texarkana is small (having never been to that part of the US). With it’s crossing of state lines – partly in Texas, partly in Arkansas – it certainly feels, now that I’m away from the book, a vast and foreboding area.

Charlie Yates is a very appealing character. Despite his flaws, his dogged determination to stop the murders and find out what secrets Texarkana and its tight-lipped community held, put me firmly in his corner. Although he’s not entirely spurred on by a desperate need to fight crime; his motivations come in a more womanly form. Yates manages to surround himself with some dark and devious characters, many of whom I had at some point pinned down as the murderer. However, there was one character I would have put money on being involved. Whether they are or not is for me to know and for you to find out!

Would I recommend this book? I would. This is the first book in the Charlie Yates series and the author’s debut. Which makes this assured mystery with its wonderful setting and cast of despicable characters all the more impressive. I cannot wait to read Black Night Falling now, the next in the series. Devilishly clever, utterly consuming and wonderfully dark. A really terrific piece of historical crime fiction.

Four and a half stars out of five.

[Elite Group · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Monochrome 1940s Whodunnit, 7 Sept. 2015

The novel is set in the 1940s, after WWII and before the beginnings of economic recovery of the ’50s and ’60s. It is also set in the South (USA) with all the associated prejudices and discrimination of the time in a town where several murders have already taken place and more are to follow. In other words the Law and the rich and powerful call the shots.

The anti-hero is a reporter from New York; so someone who is unwelcome and totally out of place and, one thinks, out of his depth. His boss sends him to cover the story to get rid of him. Even the local press reject him and make his life a misery. His only possible solace is in the potential friendship of a local woman. The conflicts this sets up in his own mind are powerful reminders of how each of us needs to feel comfortable in our own environment. He doesn’t. He is self-loathing with no self respect and rock bottom self esteem particularly as we slowly discover why he considers himself a coward. The story is therefore one of rites of passage as much as anything else.

The style is flat without too much emotion – think of the black and white movies of the period. Only during the last few pages is there much excitement. However this approach is the only one which could have been taken to remain true to the period and turns the denouement into an effective climax.

Certainly worth reading but don’t expect fireworks. - mr zorg

Rating: Four Stars.

bestsellingcrimethrillers.com was provided with a copy for review.

[Ross Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a devoted Kindle reader now but I still like to browse through my local bookshop and it was while there that I spotted this one which was just crying out to be read. This is Rod Reynolds debut novel and he has really set the bar high with this dark thriller.
It's 1946 and Charlie Yates is a reporter with the New York Examiner but following a bust up with his editor he is sent to Texarkana to investigate a series of killings of local couples. Charlie has a dark secret in his recent past which stopped him fighting for his country in WW2 and which ultimately ruined his marriage and is also threatening to end his journalistic career. Charlie also runs out of goodwill with the staff on the local paper and also manages to rub up the local police to who resent his presence in the town. What starts out as a reporting assignment soon turns into a personal challenge for Charlie who sees that he might be able redeem himself for the errors of his past.
This is a great debut which is ultimately about secrets. Charlie's secret is slowly revealed during the course of the story and the town of Texarkana also holds dark secrets that the Police and press want to keep buried. The story has a claustrophobic feel and Reynolds evokes the period of post war America well. Charlie has to research through back copies of newspapers, through telephone directories and the local library to find what he's looking for, unlike current times where everything is just an Internet search away.
I'm eagerly looking forward to Reynolds next publication which is another Charlie Yates novel.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit disappointed in this with its "For Fans of True Detective" on the front cover, "it will appeal to fans of RJ Ellory" on the back and lines like "It was unlocked; my bladder almost blew with relief" inside. Everyone else seemed to love it though....

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense and atmosphere the author created was second to none. Can't believe this is a debut book. Would thoroughly recommend this book.

[Lel Budge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie, a journalist who has been sent to cover murders in a small town by his boss who wants rid of him. His wife has kicked him out and he’s a mess, A ‘coward’ with a temper. However, he finds this is a real story, with a serial killer and corrupt cops . Rod Reynolds has written an atmospheric thriller with believable characters, that starts slowly and the tension builds until brutal end. Loved it.

[Nona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well here is something refreshing written in an old style, from the aspect of a disgraced New York journalist. He experiences a great deal in the south, but plods along in-spite of threats and bashings. There is an undertone of romance you have no idea of whether it will flourish.
At times is was a bit difficult to keep track of where people actually were in relation to the town and who exactly was who, but nevertheless it managed to have an ending.
Recommended

[Matthew Ogborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hype train was big on this book but the early chapters delivered handsomely so could sit back and enjoy the ride. Charlie Yates is one of the most flawed protagonists that I have ever encountered in crime fiction. Difficult to make him compelling but not too weak and Reynolds pulls it off. Dialogue was authentic, the plot serpentine and overall very good.

[JC · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐ This started off nice and ended up being a mess. It wasn't a horrible journey but it took longer than it needed to. This taking place in Texarkana in 1946 had lots of potential for interesting plot lines. He could have dealt with multiple city & state jurisdictions or the post war boom changing the town from rural to urban. But this could have taken place anywhere.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a while to get going, but once I had got half way through, couldn't wait to finish it.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fast page turner. Holiday read. Whodunnit detective. Characters a little underdeveloped and stereotypical but doesn't prevent it from being an exciting read.

[Dave · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got to page 70 and it was a real chore to that point. I just couldn't be bothered with the next 250 pages. Wasn't awful, just found it a tad boring

[Stephen Leonard Kinsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10.

Good tension, dialogue, pacing with Twin Peaks vibes. However, the ending was awful.

[Tripfiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller set in small town America (where all is not as it seems…)

It must be fate… The Dark Inside is the third US based debut novel by a British writer that I have read in the past few months. Why the fascination? The other two were the excellent The Killing of Bobbi Lomax by Cal Moriarty and the equally excellent The Last Pilot by Benjamin Johncock. If the standard were to be kept up I would be in for a treat – and I was.

‘I arrived in town four days after the latest killings. Tall pines lined the road in. They only petered out the last mile, where the Texas-Pacific line ran parallel to the blacktop, gunmetal rails running off into the distance. A sign at the town limits read TEXARKANA, USA IS TWICE AS NICE. A dog cocked its leg and took a piss against it as I passed’. The words of disgraced New York journalist Charlie Yates as he drives into town to investigate the horrific murders of courting couples – each in a car on a Saturday night in a secluded ‘lovers’ lane’. Charlie does not remotely wish to be in Texarkana on the Texas / Arkansas border (almost anywhere else on earth would be preferable), the assignment is punishment for falling out with his editor. He works out of the local newspaper offices where he is not exactly made welcome by the local editor and staff. Texarkana is a strange place where the paper prints what it is told to print by the local police department, and where corruption and hidden influence is rife. Not the place for an essentially honest reporter – and Charlie soon makes enemies. He works with the sister of a girl who just survived the first attack (but is now traumatised in hospital) to try and get to the bottom of what is happening – and to prevent more murders. The Dark Inside is a real page-turner with thrills a plenty as the story progresses. I patted myself on the back for spotting the murderer about 100 pages from the end but the final denouement was far more complex and clever than I had expected it to be. A really well thought through and well constructed plot…

The copy of The Dark Inside that I read had a flash on the cover telling me that the book was ‘For Fans of True Detective’. This really drew me in… (as indeed did the excellent cover itself). True Detective (especially Series 1 with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson set in Louisiana) is quite brilliant television. But a lot depends on the relationships, at times somewhat complex, and on the crisp dialogue between the two sets of detectives. That is hard to reproduce in a novel – and I don’t think Reynolds actually tries that hard at characterisation. He is content with the pace and excitement of the book. [Incidentally Nic Pizzolatto, who created True Detective originally saw the work as a novel before it developed into a television series]. This is not meant as a serious criticism, and I can absolutely see The Dark Inside as a major film in the True Detective genre…

The book is, incidentally, loosely based on fact. 1946 saw the Texarkana Moonlight Murders in which a killer nicknamed the ‘Phantom Slayer’ killed courting couple as three weekly intervals on a Saturday night. He was never caught…

The Dark Inside is a truly impressive first US based novel from a new British writer. I am sure we will hear more of Rod Reynolds.

This review first appeared on our blog where the author talks to us about the book and more: http://www.tripfiction.com/thriller-s...

[G.J. Minett · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1946 in Texarkana, a town with one foot in each of Texas and Arkansas and an influx of GIs returning from the war. Charlie Yates is in town to report on a series of murders of young couples. He has not asked to be there but has been sent by a vindictive employer as payback for one altercation too many . . . a scenario which is becoming all too familiar for Charlie. He is making a serious mess of his professional life and doing just as thorough a job with his personal one too.
Resentful of his exile in what he views as a backwater town with few redeeming features, he's close to giving up on the story before he's even looked into it. But one thing he has not lost is his instincts and almost against his better judgement he finds himself being drawn into the investigation. Charlie Yates knows a story when he sees one and despite his doubts about his own bravery, which are constantly reinforced by sneers from others because he didn't serve in the war, he decides on this occasion to stand and fight rather than run away.
This book would be highly recommended on the strength of Charlie's character alone. His self-destructive urges and inner doubts make him a compelling character and his almost desperate search for redemption, which is how he comes to view his pursuit of the truth behind these murders, is completely convincing. But he is far from the only fascinating character - the novel is peopled with a host of supporting acts most actors would love to play - morally challenged small-town lawmen only too eager to put this New York upstart in his place, a young woman desperate for answers as to why her sister has been killed, a newsroom full of reporters who resent Charlie's intrusion and big city ways, a local grandee used to bullying and buying his way through life to get what he wants. If anyone wanted to make a first-rate film with action, intrigue and crackling dialogue that leaps off the page, Rod Reynolds has already done most of the ground work here.
But what makes this an outstanding debut novel in my opinion is the fact that he is English, not American. They say you should write what you know but Rod Reynolds has made something of a nonsense of that particular piece of sophistry by producing an account that lies completely outside his own personal experience and yet convinces on just about every level. The book is loosely based on real events known as the Texarkana Moonlight Murders and the author has paid only minimal lip service to what actually happened for reasons that will become apparent when you read the book. But invented or not, these are real people. You carry them around with you not just while reading the novel but for days afterwards. The pace of the book is superb and if there is maybe a touch of theatricality about the showdown scene I was ready to forgive the author just about anything by the time I got to that stage.
An excellent debut novel? Forget the qualifier. This is an excellent novel full stop and heralds the arrival of a genuine talent. I really look forward to hearing more of Charlie Yates . . . and Rod Reynolds.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

1946, Texarkana: a town on the border of Texas and Arkansas. Disgraced New York reporter Charlie Yates has been sent to cover the story of a spate of brutal murders - young couples who've been slaughtered at a local date spot. Charlie finds himself drawn into the case by the beautiful and fiery Lizzie, sister to one of the victims, Alice - the only person to have survived the attacks and seen the killer up close.

But Charlie has his own demons to fight, and as he starts to dig into the murders he discovers that the people of Texarkana have secrets that they want kept hidden at all costs. Before long, Charlie discovers that powerful forces might be protecting the killer, and as he investigates further his pursuit of the truth could cost him more than his job...
A great debut novel with a fast pace. The author evokes a feel of Southern small-town America that is so authentic and its style is a fine and strong expression of Southern Noir. Could not quite believe the author was British.
The atmosphere in the book was dark,oppressive and menacing. Law enforcement was intimidating and scary.
Charlie Yates is a great character, a reporter from New York sent to Texarkana to cover a spate of brutal murders. His self-destructive urges and inner doubts make him a compelling character and his almost desperate search for redemption, which is how he comes to view his pursuit of the truth behind these murders, is completely convincing.
The descriptions of the town and the people was so well written that as a reader you felt the menace and got jumpy at every street corner,plus as Charlie is our narrator, he invites us into his head – not all at once but slowly as we get to know him. It seems that he is under attack from every side,which justs add to the fear. A good read. Look forward to the next book.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent debut by this author. I don't usually read this kind of crime thriller, so cannot judge it against others of this ilk. However, the writing style seems bang on for the location and time frame. I initially started listening to this via audible, brilliantly narrated by John Moraitis by the way, but got so engrossed and also starting a holiday, I decided to power through and finish off the second half by by reading it on my Kindle. I'm glad I listened to the vocal interpretation on Audible first as it allowed me to read the characters with Mr. Moraitis's tonal inflections in my mind, which gave it so much more life.

The writing and scene setting reminds me of those old black and white American noir crime thrillers set in the forties and fifties, where the main character tells you his thoughts between scenes. The author did a fabulous job with this and really brought the place to life via the main character, Charlie Yates's narration of events. Yates's beleagured and somewhat flawed history coupled with a wiley journalistic insight all leading the reader carefully along a path to the enevitable climax, without giving away the answers to the plot too readily. Even if you figure out the "whodunnit" part fairly early on in proceedings and also possibly the "why", there is much more underlying that deserves the readers time; there are a few neat twists along the way. All is not what it seems, in deepest darkest Texarkana.

A thoroughly absorbing read, very highly recommended.

[lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic Noir fiction at it's best

Loved it, Loved it, Loved it. Rod Reynolds has written a cracking debut novel. Hook and twist.. it had me enthralled.

This novel is based loosely on the "Texarkana Moonlight Murders".

It is post war 1946, disgraced New York reporter Charlie Yates is out of favour with his editor and is sent west to Texarkana, a town on the Texas / Arkansas border. Grudgingly he has the onerous task of reporting on a spate of murders.

"Three Days travel and a million miles from New York. A bullshit assignment...Exiled."

Charlie has hit rock bottom. His life is in tatters and on a fast downward spiral. His marriage is over, and his career is heading the same way... He is on self destruct.

Texarkana - two attacks, three murder victims, one survivor. And that is just for starters.

Texarkana is a town with a murky past, secrets, bent cops, suspicious characters and a dead body count that keeps rising. But who can Charlie trust?

Beautiful Lizzie Anderson, sister of survivor Alice Rose Anderson, despite the circumstances of their meeting lights up his life. She is his inspiration to face his demons, be the brave man he could not be, and sets him on his mission to investigate and solve the murders.

Or die trying.

The ending is a doozy. You have got to read.

- Received book from publisher Faber and Faber on netgalley for honest review thank you