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The Dark
Bianca is terrified of the dark - but this is no stupid, childish fear. Bianca knows what the dark can be hiding. Two years ago she was the only witness to a brutal murder, a murder that's still unsolved. Bianca was so traumatised that she has no memory of that night at all. But she knows one thing - if her memory ever returns, the killer will too.
- GenresHorrorYoung Adult
238 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
1 person is currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Linda Cargill
167 books94 followersLinda Cargill likes to pack up her minivan and tour the country every summer. She explores locales with ghostly or supernatural connections. She listens to local legends and lore. She investigates mysteries. Then she shares her findings with her readers in each new young adult suspense novel. Once in awhile she even pens an historical! All her books are pictured on her website http://www.edwardwarethrillers.org. She lives with her husband, Gary, her son, Kenny, her Abyssinian cat, Putlitz, and her Labrador Retriever, Rommel .Lately she's been putting her pen to the Edward Ware Thriller Series. The first three volumes are now out: Key to Lawrence Special Edition, 1935 Plot, and Captive at the Berghof part 1.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 29, 2023
Bianca wakes up in hospital & is confused as to how she got there. She is told that she was babysitting & that someone broke in & killed the maid, Mrs Ingersoll, & tried to kidnap baby Katie, but Bianca fought them off, grabbed the baby, & ran to get help. Bianca can't remember any of this especially who the killer & would-be kidnapper was. Now she is terrified of the dark but when her memory starts to return, the killer becomes worried that Bianca will be able to identify them & decides to shut her up for good.
I think this is possibly the worst book in the Point Horror series. I've read most of them & I can't remember another that made me want to speedread through it like this did. Almost no characterisation, everyone was really shouty, prone to sudden violence, & really weird. Very much doubt I will bother with the sequel.
I think this is possibly the worst book in the Point Horror series. I've read most of them & I can't remember another that made me want to speedread through it like this did. Almost no characterisation, everyone was really shouty, prone to sudden violence, & really weird. Very much doubt I will bother with the sequel.
January 10, 2018
I remember buying this book from the huge Waterstone's shop in Edinburgh and being in total suspense and fear while reading it. I devoured every Point Horror book I could get my hands on when I was a teen but I think this is the only one which I ever bought.
February 13, 2018
It's not that intense and thrilling for quite a lengthy pocketbook. The ending is quite predictable and honestly, kind of cheesy.
Cheesy in a way that the killer explained every detail of how he managed to do all of his dirty work. I know that it's a way for us readers to realize clearly what really happened and how it was planned and played. But it ruins the mystery and thrill.
If only Bianca discovered every detail on her own, it would be much better, since the story builds up the readers to expect Bianca's memory to be visualized. Yet, it seems like the whole point of it was ruined since the killer revealed himself.
Another downer is that, the killer died in an instant. I consider myself unforgiving for this type of characters, therefore making the killer suffer rather than killing him instantly would make the story even more realistic to me than all those mushy stuff shown in this book's ending, which is visiting the killer's grave daily because the victim considers him as a friend.
If someone manipulated you and used you for his dark intentions in more than just a year - even made you fall in love with him just to protect his reputation - seems sick to me, sicker, absurd and repulsive even more to think that the victim accepted it's alright after all the things that happened.
That is beyond normal. I don't think that's a good ending. It's not realistic, it's dramatically unappealing.
Cheesy in a way that the killer explained every detail of how he managed to do all of his dirty work. I know that it's a way for us readers to realize clearly what really happened and how it was planned and played. But it ruins the mystery and thrill.
If only Bianca discovered every detail on her own, it would be much better, since the story builds up the readers to expect Bianca's memory to be visualized. Yet, it seems like the whole point of it was ruined since the killer revealed himself.
Another downer is that, the killer died in an instant. I consider myself unforgiving for this type of characters, therefore making the killer suffer rather than killing him instantly would make the story even more realistic to me than all those mushy stuff shown in this book's ending, which is visiting the killer's grave daily because the victim considers him as a friend.
If someone manipulated you and used you for his dark intentions in more than just a year - even made you fall in love with him just to protect his reputation - seems sick to me, sicker, absurd and repulsive even more to think that the victim accepted it's alright after all the things that happened.
That is beyond normal. I don't think that's a good ending. It's not realistic, it's dramatically unappealing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2021
Absolutely brilliant. The suspense and twists are amazing and I loved it
December 12, 2022
Reads like a wattpad story...
July 19, 2023
Really good, so many unexpected plot twists.
August 30, 2023
I loved these books as a kid. Point horrors were my favourite- but not this one! I’m hoping I was just unlucky but I’m not reading any more, as I don’t want to tarnish my memories!!!
August 20, 2019
I initially rated this book 5 stars when I first read it in 2009 - when I was 16 years old. It's surprising how much 10 years can change my perspective on this book, as reading it for the second time, I realised that this didn't grip me whatsoever.
I believe it's a matter of writing style. Well, I sure hope so, because I used to love the Point Horror novels and I believed this was one of the better ones, but now I'm worried that I over-rated all of them and my 16-year-old-self were naive enough to think they were good, so I'm a little unsure of reading the rest of the Point Horror novels I have.
Don't get me wrong, though, the storyline, itself, is really really good, and that was literally the only reason I kept reading on, I could literally imagine each of the scenes, but at the same time, there was a lot of detail lacking.
Our main character is Bianca Winters, and her characterisation isn't great, I struggled to connect with any of the characters - add that to not-so-good writing style, it's no wonder I didn't get into the book. Anyhow, Bianca Winters is seventeen years old and she's babysitting, when a robbery takes place that turns into a murder, only she can't remember much of what happened, let alone who it was. Her main goal at the time was to rescue the child and run away from the killer. Now, she's frightened of the dark, and the killer is still out there, can her memory kick in and save her?
I just wish this was as good as I remembered it to be.
I believe it's a matter of writing style. Well, I sure hope so, because I used to love the Point Horror novels and I believed this was one of the better ones, but now I'm worried that I over-rated all of them and my 16-year-old-self were naive enough to think they were good, so I'm a little unsure of reading the rest of the Point Horror novels I have.
Don't get me wrong, though, the storyline, itself, is really really good, and that was literally the only reason I kept reading on, I could literally imagine each of the scenes, but at the same time, there was a lot of detail lacking.
Our main character is Bianca Winters, and her characterisation isn't great, I struggled to connect with any of the characters - add that to not-so-good writing style, it's no wonder I didn't get into the book. Anyhow, Bianca Winters is seventeen years old and she's babysitting, when a robbery takes place that turns into a murder, only she can't remember much of what happened, let alone who it was. Her main goal at the time was to rescue the child and run away from the killer. Now, she's frightened of the dark, and the killer is still out there, can her memory kick in and save her?
I just wish this was as good as I remembered it to be.
August 9, 2016
I've been reading a while range of books lately to look at different writing styles and this was one of the teen books that I decided to read. Unfortunately for me, I hadn't bothered to read any reviews about this book beforehand which would have saved me wasting a few hours of my life.
This book is terrible.
It's poorly written, unrealistic, predictable and in my opinion insulting to people with mental health conditions. This also rings true for The Dark 2.
This book is terrible.
It's poorly written, unrealistic, predictable and in my opinion insulting to people with mental health conditions. This also rings true for The Dark 2.
August 20, 2020
I enjoyed this. Stalker mystery. Predictable but decent enough. Bianca could be a bit of an idiot but what teenager isn't. And there was a touch of romance.
September 10, 2015
Read my review of the second book - sadly this is where it all started.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews