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Stranger Things #2
Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town
Chief Jim Hopper reveals long-awaited secrets to Eleven about his old life as a police detective in New York City, confronting his past before the events of the hit show Stranger Things.
Christmas, Hawkins, 1984. All Chief Jim Hopper wants is to enjoy a quiet first Christmas with Eleven, but his adopted daughter has other plans. Over Hopper’s protests, she pulls a cardboard box marked “New York” out of the basement—and the tough questions begin. Why did Hopper leave Hawkins all those years ago? What does “Vietnam” mean? And why has he never talked about New York?
Although he’d rather face a horde of demogorgons than talk about his own past, Hopper knows that he can’t deny the truth any longer. And so begins the story of the incident in New York—the last big case before everything changed…
Summer, New York City, 1977. Hopper is starting over after returning home from Vietnam. A young daughter, a caring wife, and a new beat as an NYPD detective make it easy to slip back into life as a civilian. But after shadowy federal agents suddenly show and seize the files about a series of brutal, unsolved murders, Hopper takes matters into his own hands, risking everything to discover the truth.
Soon Hopper is undercover among New York’s notorious street gangs. But just as he's about to crack the case, a blackout rolls across the boroughs, plunging Hopper into a darkness deeper than any he’s faced before.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2019
743 people are currently reading
9239 people want to read
About the author
Adam Christopher
48 books706 followersAdam Christopher is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith and Master of Evil, Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town. He has also written official tie-in novels for the hit CBS television show Elementary and the award-winning Dishonored video game franchise.
Co-creator of the twenty-first-century incarnation of Archie Comics superhero The Shield, Adam has also written for the universes of Doctor Who and World of Warcraft, and is a contributor to the internationally bestselling Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View anniversary anthology series and the all-ages Star Wars Adventures comic.
Adam’s original novels include Made to Kill and The Burning Dark, among many others, and his debut novel Empire State was both a SciFi Now and Financial Times book of the year.
Co-creator of the twenty-first-century incarnation of Archie Comics superhero The Shield, Adam has also written for the universes of Doctor Who and World of Warcraft, and is a contributor to the internationally bestselling Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View anniversary anthology series and the all-ages Star Wars Adventures comic.
Adam’s original novels include Made to Kill and The Burning Dark, among many others, and his debut novel Empire State was both a SciFi Now and Financial Times book of the year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 777 reviews
September 7, 2020
***3 stars***
Book two in the Stranger Things extended universe is focused on our favorite policeman, Jim Hopper.
Set in 1984 around Christmas time, Eleven finds a box of Hop's old keepsakes in his cabin. In this box, there's a bunch of stuff regarding one of his cases from when he worked as a homicide detective for the NYPD . El practically begs Hopper to tell her the story behind it and he eventually agrees to.
There are basically two timelines: we get glimpses from 1984 in Hopper's cabin, but most of the story is about his time in 1977, when he was solving a strange series of murders in New York.
My only issue with this book is that it somehow felt detached from the original universe. I think that this could have easily been a completely new story about a murder case in New York City, the author just added Hopper and Eleven into the mix to connect it to the TV show. I wanted Jim to tell something more personal about his life, something more meaningful.. Eleven says she wants to know more about him and I think telling her every tiny detail about a case from the past is not really doing much in terms of "getting to know one".
But all in all, this wasn't a bad story.
I always love me some Jim Hopper
Book two in the Stranger Things extended universe is focused on our favorite policeman, Jim Hopper.
Set in 1984 around Christmas time, Eleven finds a box of Hop's old keepsakes in his cabin. In this box, there's a bunch of stuff regarding one of his cases from when he worked as a homicide detective for the NYPD . El practically begs Hopper to tell her the story behind it and he eventually agrees to.
There are basically two timelines: we get glimpses from 1984 in Hopper's cabin, but most of the story is about his time in 1977, when he was solving a strange series of murders in New York.
My only issue with this book is that it somehow felt detached from the original universe. I think that this could have easily been a completely new story about a murder case in New York City, the author just added Hopper and Eleven into the mix to connect it to the TV show. I wanted Jim to tell something more personal about his life, something more meaningful.. Eleven says she wants to know more about him and I think telling her every tiny detail about a case from the past is not really doing much in terms of "getting to know one".
But all in all, this wasn't a bad story.
I always love me some Jim Hopper
January 23, 2020
A pretty good story though it didn't feel like it had anything to do with stranger things. It could have been just any cop in new york in the 70s. I really wish there had more on Hopper and El, it would have make this ten times better. but I will say I really liked the mystery, it was very interesting, and if Mr. Christopher ever writes more mysteries I would love to read them. This is a 3 and a half out of 5.
July 10, 2022
Hopper is one of my favorite characters in Stranger Things, so I was super excited to read this. I liked getting more of his background. It is interesting to see why he became the way he is. I also liked how El is in this one. Again, as with the first book, I would recommend this to Stranger Things fans who want to fill in some gaps or get a bit more info, and pass some time between now and 5...we have a while to go.
July 9, 2019
Darkness on the Edge of Town provides some insight into Jim Hopper's life as a New York City detective working homicide before he ended up as chief of police in Hawkins. The storytelling method uses a throwback technique (Christmas eve, Hopper and El sitting around as he recounts a case in 1977) which readers will either like or not; unfortunately it didn't work for me, with the method coming across as little more than a gimmick to link this book to the series proper - otherwise reading as a non-licensed cult/crime fiction story (unless I missed something major in the book - entirely possible).
I've always found Hopper an intriguing character with a lot of potential for further exploration and development, particularly from a noir or hard-boiled perspective - and while the second official Stranger Things novel goes some ways to achieving that, it leans heavy towards a more mainstream crime focus with hints of the other worldly thrown in in an attempt to tie it with Netflix series.
As a crime fiction book, there are some really nice things going on in Darkness on the Edge of Town; the idea of a citywide black-out and a crazed cult engaged in battle in the darkness against a range of wild gangs is pretty cool, as is learning of Hopper's former partner and glimpse into his life post Vietnam. However, none of it felt deep enough to hold the story; when I hit page 300, it felt like things were really just starting to get going, then in 100-odd pages we're done; this is one of the few occasions I can say I would've liked an extra 100+ pages to flesh out the plot elements and provide added depth to the story.
My rating: 3/5 stars. The cover is cool. The book is just okay.
I've always found Hopper an intriguing character with a lot of potential for further exploration and development, particularly from a noir or hard-boiled perspective - and while the second official Stranger Things novel goes some ways to achieving that, it leans heavy towards a more mainstream crime focus with hints of the other worldly thrown in in an attempt to tie it with Netflix series.
As a crime fiction book, there are some really nice things going on in Darkness on the Edge of Town; the idea of a citywide black-out and a crazed cult engaged in battle in the darkness against a range of wild gangs is pretty cool, as is learning of Hopper's former partner and glimpse into his life post Vietnam. However, none of it felt deep enough to hold the story; when I hit page 300, it felt like things were really just starting to get going, then in 100-odd pages we're done; this is one of the few occasions I can say I would've liked an extra 100+ pages to flesh out the plot elements and provide added depth to the story.
My rating: 3/5 stars. The cover is cool. The book is just okay.
April 28, 2021
Actual rating is 2.5 stars.
This is the second book that is based on the television series. In this one, Hopper and Eleven are in Hopper's cabin. Hopper tells Eleven a story about when he was a detective in New York during the 1970's. This book is basically one giant flashback.
This is suppose to be a Stranger Things novel. I would argue it isn't as I believe it is a novel that just happens to borrow a character from that show. The only time I believed we were in that universe was when we had little snippets between El and Hopper in the cabin. They were endearing and fans of the show will eat these little scenes up. The vast majority of this book was Hopper's time in New York and this point of view could have been filled by any character. It wasn't specific for Hopper. I did think the author nailed the setting and the time era. The fashion of that era was nice to see or Hopper and his wife debating if Leia will end up with Luke or Han. The story is about Hopper investigating gangs during this era. The case never really pulled me in. I believe part of the problem was on me. When we have a story about gangs in New York during the 1970's and the main character fleeing from these gangs I am going to compare it to The Warriors. This is probably unfair but I do it. And the problem is that this book doesn't compare to The Warriors. I never felt the excitement in this book.
I believe this book is a product of false advertisement. This book is not a part of this universe. I enjoy reading media tie-in books. One of my pet peeves about these types of books is when a story that really isn't part of an established universe uses a character so they can have a larger audience. This is what happened in this book. The story is okay on its own but it borrowed from too many established works. I would skip this one if you are looking to get more Stranger Things in between seasons of the show.
This is the second book that is based on the television series. In this one, Hopper and Eleven are in Hopper's cabin. Hopper tells Eleven a story about when he was a detective in New York during the 1970's. This book is basically one giant flashback.
This is suppose to be a Stranger Things novel. I would argue it isn't as I believe it is a novel that just happens to borrow a character from that show. The only time I believed we were in that universe was when we had little snippets between El and Hopper in the cabin. They were endearing and fans of the show will eat these little scenes up. The vast majority of this book was Hopper's time in New York and this point of view could have been filled by any character. It wasn't specific for Hopper. I did think the author nailed the setting and the time era. The fashion of that era was nice to see or Hopper and his wife debating if Leia will end up with Luke or Han. The story is about Hopper investigating gangs during this era. The case never really pulled me in. I believe part of the problem was on me. When we have a story about gangs in New York during the 1970's and the main character fleeing from these gangs I am going to compare it to The Warriors. This is probably unfair but I do it. And the problem is that this book doesn't compare to The Warriors. I never felt the excitement in this book.
I believe this book is a product of false advertisement. This book is not a part of this universe. I enjoy reading media tie-in books. One of my pet peeves about these types of books is when a story that really isn't part of an established universe uses a character so they can have a larger audience. This is what happened in this book. The story is okay on its own but it borrowed from too many established works. I would skip this one if you are looking to get more Stranger Things in between seasons of the show.
September 1, 2019
Actual rating: 1.5
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ebook.
While I’m a huge fan of Stranger Things, this book, which takes place between Seasons 2 and 3, read way too much like fanfiction. We get a semi-interesting look into Hopper’s backstory (his life as a homicide detective in 1970’s NYC with his wife and daughter), but it only served a limited purpose of going deeper into a character I personally don’t care enough about (sorry, but I don’t).
Sure, for the most part I didn’t hate this book, but I wasn’t necessarily craving an average crime/thriller story slash flashback character study. It could’ve worked as its own separate entity away from the Stranger Things world if the chance was given: as any stereotypical detective story. Because honestly, although written well, it’s packed with crime story clichés, and the baseline here is that it’s simply generic. The actual reasoning of Hopper and Delgado going behind the backs of federal agents and their superiors is flimsy and unconvincing, “This is our city” blah blah blah. I didn’t buy it. I found myself skimming entire paragraphs of overstuffed exposition, too, because this book is also unnecessarily long. It could’ve easily been 100 pages less, and the impact would’ve been a bit better. Instead, it’s wordy, bloated, and frankly boring.
Vignettes between Hopper and El are sprinkled throughout, which was kind of nice, and their “father/daughter” rapport is pretty spot on from what’s been seen on the show, but... I don’t know. I just wasn’t entertained. I wanted more, well, Stranger Things, and this very barely delivered.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ebook.
While I’m a huge fan of Stranger Things, this book, which takes place between Seasons 2 and 3, read way too much like fanfiction. We get a semi-interesting look into Hopper’s backstory (his life as a homicide detective in 1970’s NYC with his wife and daughter), but it only served a limited purpose of going deeper into a character I personally don’t care enough about (sorry, but I don’t).
Vignettes between Hopper and El are sprinkled throughout, which was kind of nice, and their “father/daughter” rapport is pretty spot on from what’s been seen on the show, but... I don’t know. I just wasn’t entertained. I wanted more, well, Stranger Things, and this very barely delivered.
June 10, 2019
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/06/06/...
Darkness on the Edge of Town by Adam Christopher is the second official Stranger Things novel in a series exploring other side stories set in the world of the show. These stand-alone books are great for fans who will no doubt appreciate a lot of the references and Easter eggs scattered about the story, but technically you don’t need any prior knowledge to jump right in and enjoy it either. This time, we’re flashing back to events taking place in the summer of 1977, told as a frame story by Hawkins police chief Jim Hopper, who has just adopted Eleven.
As the novel opens, it is the first Christmas for our little found family, and Hopper is feeling a little out of his depth but still trying his hardest to be a good father to the 11-year-old girl, now called Jane “El” Hopper. Over the holidays though, El has been exploring, digging an old cardboard box simply labeled “New York” out of the basement. Full of questions, El brings the box’s contents to Hopper and asks her new dad for a story. What did he do in New York before he decided to return to his sleepy hometown of Hawkins, Indiana? And why did he leave here in the first place? How come he never talks about his past?
Reluctant to tell El everything she wants to know, Hopper nonetheless knows that being honest and sharing information about himself would go a long way in reinforcing their relationship. The question is, how much to share? Tentatively, Hopper decides to begin with his return to the United States after serving in Vietnam. Looking for a change of pace and more career prospects, he decides to join the NYPD, starting life with his young family in New York City. Soon, he is busy enough working tough cases that frequently take time away with his wife Diane and daughter Sara, but in spite of this, they are happy. That is, until some shady federal agents start showing up, removing the NYPD from their latest case involving a series of bizarre cultish murders and confiscating all the files related to it. However, Hopper isn’t the kind of man to just let these things go, and unfortunately for him, his doggedness has not gone unnoticed.
So far, I’ve been enjoying these new Stranger Things novels and the character backstories that they provide. The first book, Suspicious Minds, was more of a prequel to the show, featuring Eleven’s mother Terry Ives and the story of how she ended up being a test subject in the government’s research into the supernatural and paranormal. Despite being mostly told in flashback, Darkness on the Edge of Town brings us closer to the events as they happen on the show, beginning shortly after the end of season two when Hopper officially adopts Eleven as his daughter Jane. And to be completely honest, while they only made up a tiny portion of the book, these little glimpses into their time together as were some of the best moments. There are so many heartwarming details worked in here and there, especially given what we know of Hopper’s life and what happened to his daughter Sara. He’s always been my favorite character in the show, and reading about his love for El here in this book—and seeing him try so hard for her—made him even more endearing to me.
Still, the main bulk of the story, i.e. the flashback sections to 1977, read more like your typical police procedural involving murder cases and violent gangs. Light allusions to the occult notwithstanding, there really wasn’t much paranormal activity in his one, in contrast to Suspicious Minds, which featured it more heavily. Where Darkness on the Edge of Town wins though, is in the action. The overarching mystery is also intensified by the suspense of Hopper going undercover, as well as the thrills of other genre trappings like car chases and shootouts. It’s entertaining stuff, if a bit standard. That said, I enjoyed the setting as the author takes us back to the 70’s, referencing things like the Star Wars release, Son of Sam, and even incorporating the New York City blackout of 1977 into the main plot.
But at the end of the day, much like Suspicious Minds, I would mostly recommend Darkness on the Edge of Town to fans of the show, and even then, it’s probably not essential. But if you’re impatiently waiting for the new season and want to read something fun in the meantime, this one is sure to tide you over until July and get you in the mood for more Stranger Things.
Darkness on the Edge of Town by Adam Christopher is the second official Stranger Things novel in a series exploring other side stories set in the world of the show. These stand-alone books are great for fans who will no doubt appreciate a lot of the references and Easter eggs scattered about the story, but technically you don’t need any prior knowledge to jump right in and enjoy it either. This time, we’re flashing back to events taking place in the summer of 1977, told as a frame story by Hawkins police chief Jim Hopper, who has just adopted Eleven.
As the novel opens, it is the first Christmas for our little found family, and Hopper is feeling a little out of his depth but still trying his hardest to be a good father to the 11-year-old girl, now called Jane “El” Hopper. Over the holidays though, El has been exploring, digging an old cardboard box simply labeled “New York” out of the basement. Full of questions, El brings the box’s contents to Hopper and asks her new dad for a story. What did he do in New York before he decided to return to his sleepy hometown of Hawkins, Indiana? And why did he leave here in the first place? How come he never talks about his past?
Reluctant to tell El everything she wants to know, Hopper nonetheless knows that being honest and sharing information about himself would go a long way in reinforcing their relationship. The question is, how much to share? Tentatively, Hopper decides to begin with his return to the United States after serving in Vietnam. Looking for a change of pace and more career prospects, he decides to join the NYPD, starting life with his young family in New York City. Soon, he is busy enough working tough cases that frequently take time away with his wife Diane and daughter Sara, but in spite of this, they are happy. That is, until some shady federal agents start showing up, removing the NYPD from their latest case involving a series of bizarre cultish murders and confiscating all the files related to it. However, Hopper isn’t the kind of man to just let these things go, and unfortunately for him, his doggedness has not gone unnoticed.
So far, I’ve been enjoying these new Stranger Things novels and the character backstories that they provide. The first book, Suspicious Minds, was more of a prequel to the show, featuring Eleven’s mother Terry Ives and the story of how she ended up being a test subject in the government’s research into the supernatural and paranormal. Despite being mostly told in flashback, Darkness on the Edge of Town brings us closer to the events as they happen on the show, beginning shortly after the end of season two when Hopper officially adopts Eleven as his daughter Jane. And to be completely honest, while they only made up a tiny portion of the book, these little glimpses into their time together as were some of the best moments. There are so many heartwarming details worked in here and there, especially given what we know of Hopper’s life and what happened to his daughter Sara. He’s always been my favorite character in the show, and reading about his love for El here in this book—and seeing him try so hard for her—made him even more endearing to me.
Still, the main bulk of the story, i.e. the flashback sections to 1977, read more like your typical police procedural involving murder cases and violent gangs. Light allusions to the occult notwithstanding, there really wasn’t much paranormal activity in his one, in contrast to Suspicious Minds, which featured it more heavily. Where Darkness on the Edge of Town wins though, is in the action. The overarching mystery is also intensified by the suspense of Hopper going undercover, as well as the thrills of other genre trappings like car chases and shootouts. It’s entertaining stuff, if a bit standard. That said, I enjoyed the setting as the author takes us back to the 70’s, referencing things like the Star Wars release, Son of Sam, and even incorporating the New York City blackout of 1977 into the main plot.
But at the end of the day, much like Suspicious Minds, I would mostly recommend Darkness on the Edge of Town to fans of the show, and even then, it’s probably not essential. But if you’re impatiently waiting for the new season and want to read something fun in the meantime, this one is sure to tide you over until July and get you in the mood for more Stranger Things.
June 26, 2019
An uninteresting police procedural serial killer story with a thin veneer of Stranger Things on top of it, as tonally convincing as cheap laminate wood. This is the kind of tie-in book that makes people hate tie-ins.
June 2, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Stranger Things is one of my favorite shows and I enjoyed the first novel so I was thrilled to get approved for this next installment. I think I actually liked Darkness on the Edge of Town a little more than Suspicious Minds. This novel primarily follows Jim Hopper, my favorite adult character in the series, at Christmas 1984 with Eleven as he tells her about his past as a detective in NYC 1977 with his wife and daughter. The brutal serial killer case he tells her about is that last one he was on before everything in his life changed. I enjoyed this look into Hopper's past. We don't know much about his life before the series aside from the fact that he's no longer married and that his daughter died, but I liked this glimpse into his past. The novel doesn't go into the family tragedy aspect which is just fine with me, but it does a good job of showing just how dedicated he was to his wife and daughter. As a mystery/ crime novel, it really stands up too. There is a bit of a Stranger Things twist, but it isn't as focused on it which still works even if I would have liked a some more on that front. As for the characters, Delgado was easily my favorite of the new characters and Hopper himself felt entirely true to form, but Eleven seemed closer to her season one self rather than how we leave her at the end of the second season. Finally, if you are a fan of Stranger Things on Netflix or even crime novels in general, I highly recommend picking this up. I can't wait to see more of this novel series. Thanks again, NetGalley!
Stranger Things is one of my favorite shows and I enjoyed the first novel so I was thrilled to get approved for this next installment. I think I actually liked Darkness on the Edge of Town a little more than Suspicious Minds. This novel primarily follows Jim Hopper, my favorite adult character in the series, at Christmas 1984 with Eleven as he tells her about his past as a detective in NYC 1977 with his wife and daughter. The brutal serial killer case he tells her about is that last one he was on before everything in his life changed. I enjoyed this look into Hopper's past. We don't know much about his life before the series aside from the fact that he's no longer married and that his daughter died, but I liked this glimpse into his past. The novel doesn't go into the family tragedy aspect which is just fine with me, but it does a good job of showing just how dedicated he was to his wife and daughter. As a mystery/ crime novel, it really stands up too. There is a bit of a Stranger Things twist, but it isn't as focused on it which still works even if I would have liked a some more on that front. As for the characters, Delgado was easily my favorite of the new characters and Hopper himself felt entirely true to form, but Eleven seemed closer to her season one self rather than how we leave her at the end of the second season. Finally, if you are a fan of Stranger Things on Netflix or even crime novels in general, I highly recommend picking this up. I can't wait to see more of this novel series. Thanks again, NetGalley!
April 2, 2023
Dievinu „Stranger things“ serialą. Jame viskas taip gerai, kad kiekvieną seriją ryte surijau. Aktorių parinkimas ir vaidyba, tobulai atkurta aštuonesdiašimtųjų atmosfera, muzika, estetika, ne perspaustas, ne per šlykštus, bet labai paveikus siaubas ir paslaptys, kurias tikrai įdomu lukštent. Žinoma, paaugliška romantika, heroizmas ir Eleven – atskirai nuostabūs kūrinio prieskoniai. Tad kai prieš, jei neklystu, metus pasirodė pirma ST knyga lietuviškai – iškart suskaičiau ir labai patenkinta likau. Ji neatpasakojo to, ką jau buvau Netflixe mačius, o nusakė Eleven praeitį ir jos mamos istoriją. Čia – antroji mano perskaityta serijos knyga, kuri kalba apie Hoperio praeitį iki grįžtant į Hokinso miestelį.
Bevakarieniaujant namuose, Eleven užklausia Hoperio apie rastą dėžę, kurioje pilna keistų bylų, nuotraukų ir, AIŠKU, paslapčių. Nors nenorom (nes nenori mergaitės šiurpinti darbo policioje detalėmis), bet ima jai pasakoti savo istoriją, sušvelnindamas kai kurias vietas. Jam skaudu apie praeitį kalbėti, mat tuomet jis dar turėjo žmoną ir dukrelę, tačiau vis tiek ima pasakoti apie vieną sudėtingiausių bylų, kurią sprendė dar dirbdamas Niujorko žmogžudysčių skyriaus detektyvu.
Byla išties kraupi, ir šita knyga yra labiau detektyvas, nei romanas apie ST veikėjus. Tyrėjas čia Hoperis, o užduotis, kurią gavo – išsiaiškinti, kas atsakingas už ritualines žmogžudystes, prie kurių aukų paliekamos kortelės su keistais simboliais. Viskas veda link keistos grupuotės, į kurią Hoperis, rizikuodamas absoliučiai viskuo – nuo karjeros iki šeimos – privalo įsilieti.
Faina buvo skaityt šią knygą, nes Netflixas už mane jau buvo sukūręs visa knygos pasaulį ir galvoje susikūrusi serialo nuotaika čia puikiai jautėsi. Patiko, jog tarp detektyvinių Hoperio pasakojimų vis įsiterpdavo šiandiena su Eleven, kuri visad turėdavo jam įdomių klausimų ir pastebėjimų. Dar patiko, kad autorius rašydamas apie anuometinį Niujorką įpynė ir realių true crime istorijų apie Semo sūnų (true crime gerbėjai tikrai žino šitą pabaisišką žudiką). Tai va, visa ta ST aura tikrai atliko savo darbą ir apie jau pažįstamus veikėjus skaityt buvo smagu. Kalbant apie patį detektyvą – tai jis labai vidutinis. Mėgėjiškas ir tikrai nenustebins užkietėjusių kriminalinės literatūros skaitytojų. Tai tokia so so knyga – smagu skaityt apie Hoperį ir Eleven, bet jei vertint TIK nusikaltimo ir tyrimo istoriją – vidutiniškas reikalas.
Bevakarieniaujant namuose, Eleven užklausia Hoperio apie rastą dėžę, kurioje pilna keistų bylų, nuotraukų ir, AIŠKU, paslapčių. Nors nenorom (nes nenori mergaitės šiurpinti darbo policioje detalėmis), bet ima jai pasakoti savo istoriją, sušvelnindamas kai kurias vietas. Jam skaudu apie praeitį kalbėti, mat tuomet jis dar turėjo žmoną ir dukrelę, tačiau vis tiek ima pasakoti apie vieną sudėtingiausių bylų, kurią sprendė dar dirbdamas Niujorko žmogžudysčių skyriaus detektyvu.
Byla išties kraupi, ir šita knyga yra labiau detektyvas, nei romanas apie ST veikėjus. Tyrėjas čia Hoperis, o užduotis, kurią gavo – išsiaiškinti, kas atsakingas už ritualines žmogžudystes, prie kurių aukų paliekamos kortelės su keistais simboliais. Viskas veda link keistos grupuotės, į kurią Hoperis, rizikuodamas absoliučiai viskuo – nuo karjeros iki šeimos – privalo įsilieti.
Faina buvo skaityt šią knygą, nes Netflixas už mane jau buvo sukūręs visa knygos pasaulį ir galvoje susikūrusi serialo nuotaika čia puikiai jautėsi. Patiko, jog tarp detektyvinių Hoperio pasakojimų vis įsiterpdavo šiandiena su Eleven, kuri visad turėdavo jam įdomių klausimų ir pastebėjimų. Dar patiko, kad autorius rašydamas apie anuometinį Niujorką įpynė ir realių true crime istorijų apie Semo sūnų (true crime gerbėjai tikrai žino šitą pabaisišką žudiką). Tai va, visa ta ST aura tikrai atliko savo darbą ir apie jau pažįstamus veikėjus skaityt buvo smagu. Kalbant apie patį detektyvą – tai jis labai vidutinis. Mėgėjiškas ir tikrai nenustebins užkietėjusių kriminalinės literatūros skaitytojų. Tai tokia so so knyga – smagu skaityt apie Hoperį ir Eleven, bet jei vertint TIK nusikaltimo ir tyrimo istoriją – vidutiniškas reikalas.
May 15, 2019
I'm a huge fan of the Netflix show Stranger Things. I adore the characters, the small town mystery, and the creep factor. The show relies on the nostalgia viewers have for pop culture and fond memories of their own childhood to make this a binge-worthy show.
I'm thrilled to see that Del Rey is beginning to release official Stranger Things novels that give fans of the show some character back stories!
Darkness on the Edge of Town begins at Christmas in 1984. Police Chief Jim Hopper is enjoying a quiet evening with his adopted daughter, El (Jane). El is growing restless in the cabin because her friends are out of town visiting their relatives for the holiday. Out of boredom she looks through boxes in the basement and finds two she's curious about; one is marked "Vietnam", the other "New York".
Hopper isn't ready to discuss Vietnam but he knows El won't let him off easy so he agrees to tell her about the last big case he worked as a detective for the NYPD. With a pot of coffee brewing, he sits down to share a piece of his past.
The summer of 1977 has NYC residents on edge with the serial killer known as Son of Sam still loose on the streets.
Jim Hopper has a fresh start in New York after returning from Vietnam. Hopper has slipped back into civilian life by climbing the ranks in the NYPD to become a detective and enjoys a quiet life with his wife and young daughter. He's recently been assigned a new partner, Rosario Delgado, and already they're working an alarming case.
A third body has been found and it appears that the city has a second serial killer at large. The brutal murders appear ritualistic and cards with bizarre lines are found at each scene.
When a federal agent shows up to take over the case, Hopper and Delgado aren't ready to stop their own investigation.
As Hopper pieces together the truth, he's forced to go undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang known as the Vipers and discover their involvement with the three murders.
What Hopper discovers is a dangerous man known as Saint John who returned from Vietnam with a dark message.
When a blackout plunges the boroughs into chaos, Hopper must escape the Vipers and the mobs in the streets to make sure his family is safe and stop Saint John from fulfilling his prophecy.
Darkness on the Edge of Town is an interesting glimpse into Hopper's past. Fans of the show know that he's no longer married and his daughter died but we don't have any insight into his life before the events of Stranger Things. While this book doesn't address his family tragedies, it does offer a look at his devotion to his family and explain why he chose to go into law enforcement (without going into detail of his two tours of Vietnam).
If you're looking for the whole cast, this isn't the book to read. The entire book focuses on Hopper's undercover investigation in 1977 with only brief returns to the present timeline of Stranger Things (1984) for Hopper and El to discuss the story he's telling her.
Overall, this is an entertaining story that feels true to the character of Jim Hopper and is a fun addition to the Stranger Things franchise.
Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town is scheduled for release on May 28, 2019.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
I'm thrilled to see that Del Rey is beginning to release official Stranger Things novels that give fans of the show some character back stories!
Darkness on the Edge of Town begins at Christmas in 1984. Police Chief Jim Hopper is enjoying a quiet evening with his adopted daughter, El (Jane). El is growing restless in the cabin because her friends are out of town visiting their relatives for the holiday. Out of boredom she looks through boxes in the basement and finds two she's curious about; one is marked "Vietnam", the other "New York".
Hopper isn't ready to discuss Vietnam but he knows El won't let him off easy so he agrees to tell her about the last big case he worked as a detective for the NYPD. With a pot of coffee brewing, he sits down to share a piece of his past.
The summer of 1977 has NYC residents on edge with the serial killer known as Son of Sam still loose on the streets.
Jim Hopper has a fresh start in New York after returning from Vietnam. Hopper has slipped back into civilian life by climbing the ranks in the NYPD to become a detective and enjoys a quiet life with his wife and young daughter. He's recently been assigned a new partner, Rosario Delgado, and already they're working an alarming case.
A third body has been found and it appears that the city has a second serial killer at large. The brutal murders appear ritualistic and cards with bizarre lines are found at each scene.
When a federal agent shows up to take over the case, Hopper and Delgado aren't ready to stop their own investigation.
As Hopper pieces together the truth, he's forced to go undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang known as the Vipers and discover their involvement with the three murders.
What Hopper discovers is a dangerous man known as Saint John who returned from Vietnam with a dark message.
When a blackout plunges the boroughs into chaos, Hopper must escape the Vipers and the mobs in the streets to make sure his family is safe and stop Saint John from fulfilling his prophecy.
Darkness on the Edge of Town is an interesting glimpse into Hopper's past. Fans of the show know that he's no longer married and his daughter died but we don't have any insight into his life before the events of Stranger Things. While this book doesn't address his family tragedies, it does offer a look at his devotion to his family and explain why he chose to go into law enforcement (without going into detail of his two tours of Vietnam).
If you're looking for the whole cast, this isn't the book to read. The entire book focuses on Hopper's undercover investigation in 1977 with only brief returns to the present timeline of Stranger Things (1984) for Hopper and El to discuss the story he's telling her.
Overall, this is an entertaining story that feels true to the character of Jim Hopper and is a fun addition to the Stranger Things franchise.
Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town is scheduled for release on May 28, 2019.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
October 13, 2019
Vielen Dank an das Bloggerportal und den Penguin Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar!
Inhalt:
Sommer 1977: Es ist bereits der dritte Tote in Folge! In der brüllenden Hitze New Yorks treibt ein brutaler Serienmörder sein Unwesen, doch Detective Jim Hopper und seine Kollegin Delgado finden keinen Hinweis auf den Täter. Als ihnen unter zweifelhaften Umständen der Fall entzogen wird, beschließt Hopper, im Verborgenen weiter zu ermitteln. Schon bald befindet er sich inmitten von New Yorks berüchtigten Streetgangs und riskiert sein eigenes Leben. Aber gerade als er der Lösung des Falls näher zu kommen scheint, wird die Stadt von einem Stromausfall getroffen, der Hopper in tiefere Abgründe eintauchen lässt, als er je für möglich gehalten hat …
Meine Meinung:
Nachdem ich die dritte Staffel meiner Lieblingsserie „Stranger Things“ beendet habe, wollte ich unbedingt mehr über die Serie und die Charaktere erfahren. Da Jim Hopper einer meiner Lieblingscharaktere ist, wollte ich unbedingt seine Vorgeschichte erfahren.
Leider wurde ich enttäuscht, denn die wesentlichen Grundsätze dieses Charakters habe ich nicht herauslesen können. Dazu später mehr.
Zuerst einmal zum Cover: Man sieht Jim Hopper und natürlich Eleven „Elfi“. Der Titel des Buches wurde selbstverständlich in der typischen Schriftart der Serie verfasst, weshalb man als Stranger Things Fan gar nicht an dem Buch vorbeigehen kann. Es sticht einem sofort ins Auge. Das Cover gefällt mir demnach sehr gut, denn es bildet schlicht und einfach die zwei Charaktere ab, um die es primär in dem Buch geht.
Nun zu meiner Meinung und warum mich das Buch eher enttäuscht hat, als begeistern konnte.
Jim Hopper ist ein griesgrämiger Polizist in der Kleinstadt Hawkins, der im laufe der Serie eine große Charakterentwicklung durchmacht und sich ziemlich schnell zum Serienliebling entwickelt. Man erfährt in der Netflix Serie nicht ganz so viel über seine Vorgeschichte, aber ein ausschlaggebendes Ereignis wird ziemlich schnell erwähnt: Jim Hopper hat seine Tochter verloren.
Nun erwarte ich, als Fan der die Vorgeschichte von diesem Charakter präsentiert bekommt, eigentlich, dass dieser Verlust eine große Thematik in dem Buch ist. Ich bin mit der Erwartung an das Buch herangegangen, dass wir erfahren, was mit seiner Tochter geschehen ist, wieso er New York verlassen hat, um einsam und alleine in Hawkings zu leben. Leider wird dieses Thema nicht einmal erwähnt. Es geht in dem Buch nicht darum, wie er seine Tochter verloren hat. Nein, es wird dem Leser einfach nur ein damaliger Fall von ihm präsentiert. Von diesem Fall erzählt er Eleven, wo wir auch schon bei etwas Positivem wären, was dieses Buch wenigstens ein bisschen mit Stranger Things verbunden hat: Die Szenen in der „Gegenwart“, in denen er mit Eleven spricht.
Diese Szenen haben mir wirklich wahnsinnig gut gefallen, weil der Charakter von Eleven perfekt rübergebracht wurde. Dieses leicht „unwissende“, aber taffes Mädchen hat er sehr gut umgesetzt und in diesen Momenten hatte ich auch das Gefühl, dass ich endlich über Jim Hopper lese und einen Roman, in dem es in irgendeiner Weise etwas mit Stranger Things zutun hat.
Die Szenen aus Jim Hoppers Vergangenheit hätten jedoch ein ganz normaler Thriller sein können, ein langweiliger Thriller. Denn trotz meiner Liebe zu diesem Charakter, kam sehr selten Spannung auf. Ich hatte oft in dem Buch das Gefühl, dass ich auch einfach einige Seiten überspringen und der Handlung trotzdem noch folgen könnte. Es gab für mich wenige spannende Momente, in denen ich das Buch nicht weglegen wollte.
Natürlich wird das Buch auch damit geworben, dass es Leute lesen können, die Stranger Things noch nie gesehen haben. Von daher war mir schon irgendwie klar, dass keine mystischen, gruseligen Stranger Things Momente vorkommen werden, aber mir haben trotzdem diese typischen Jim Hopper Charakterzüge gefehlt. Nach dem Buch hatte ich nicht das Gefühl, dass ich mehr über den Hopper aus der Serie erfahren hat, denn ich habe immer noch die gleiche Frage, die mir die ganze Serie über im Kopf herumschwirrte: Was ist mit seiner Tochter passiert?
Zum Schreibstil kann ich sagen, dass er mir gut gefallen hat. Das Buch ließ sich flüssig und schnell lesen, er hat an den richtigen Stellen die Szenen der Gegenwart eingebaut und die Nebencharaktere gut ausgearbeitet.
Alles in allem muss ich jedoch sagen, dass mich das Buch nicht überzeugen konnte und leider nur zwei Sterne von mir bekommt. Für Fans von Stranger Things (wie mich) ist es leider kein so tolles Buch. Für Leute, die die Serie nicht kennen, könnte es vielleicht etwas besser sein, weil man sich die eigentlichen Fragen über Jim Hoppers Vorgeschichte gar nicht stellt und somit nicht so hohe Erwartungen hat. Aber auch als normaler Thriller war das Buch eher schwach.
Inhalt:
Sommer 1977: Es ist bereits der dritte Tote in Folge! In der brüllenden Hitze New Yorks treibt ein brutaler Serienmörder sein Unwesen, doch Detective Jim Hopper und seine Kollegin Delgado finden keinen Hinweis auf den Täter. Als ihnen unter zweifelhaften Umständen der Fall entzogen wird, beschließt Hopper, im Verborgenen weiter zu ermitteln. Schon bald befindet er sich inmitten von New Yorks berüchtigten Streetgangs und riskiert sein eigenes Leben. Aber gerade als er der Lösung des Falls näher zu kommen scheint, wird die Stadt von einem Stromausfall getroffen, der Hopper in tiefere Abgründe eintauchen lässt, als er je für möglich gehalten hat …
Meine Meinung:
Nachdem ich die dritte Staffel meiner Lieblingsserie „Stranger Things“ beendet habe, wollte ich unbedingt mehr über die Serie und die Charaktere erfahren. Da Jim Hopper einer meiner Lieblingscharaktere ist, wollte ich unbedingt seine Vorgeschichte erfahren.
Leider wurde ich enttäuscht, denn die wesentlichen Grundsätze dieses Charakters habe ich nicht herauslesen können. Dazu später mehr.
Zuerst einmal zum Cover: Man sieht Jim Hopper und natürlich Eleven „Elfi“. Der Titel des Buches wurde selbstverständlich in der typischen Schriftart der Serie verfasst, weshalb man als Stranger Things Fan gar nicht an dem Buch vorbeigehen kann. Es sticht einem sofort ins Auge. Das Cover gefällt mir demnach sehr gut, denn es bildet schlicht und einfach die zwei Charaktere ab, um die es primär in dem Buch geht.
Nun zu meiner Meinung und warum mich das Buch eher enttäuscht hat, als begeistern konnte.
Jim Hopper ist ein griesgrämiger Polizist in der Kleinstadt Hawkins, der im laufe der Serie eine große Charakterentwicklung durchmacht und sich ziemlich schnell zum Serienliebling entwickelt. Man erfährt in der Netflix Serie nicht ganz so viel über seine Vorgeschichte, aber ein ausschlaggebendes Ereignis wird ziemlich schnell erwähnt: Jim Hopper hat seine Tochter verloren.
Nun erwarte ich, als Fan der die Vorgeschichte von diesem Charakter präsentiert bekommt, eigentlich, dass dieser Verlust eine große Thematik in dem Buch ist. Ich bin mit der Erwartung an das Buch herangegangen, dass wir erfahren, was mit seiner Tochter geschehen ist, wieso er New York verlassen hat, um einsam und alleine in Hawkings zu leben. Leider wird dieses Thema nicht einmal erwähnt. Es geht in dem Buch nicht darum, wie er seine Tochter verloren hat. Nein, es wird dem Leser einfach nur ein damaliger Fall von ihm präsentiert. Von diesem Fall erzählt er Eleven, wo wir auch schon bei etwas Positivem wären, was dieses Buch wenigstens ein bisschen mit Stranger Things verbunden hat: Die Szenen in der „Gegenwart“, in denen er mit Eleven spricht.
Diese Szenen haben mir wirklich wahnsinnig gut gefallen, weil der Charakter von Eleven perfekt rübergebracht wurde. Dieses leicht „unwissende“, aber taffes Mädchen hat er sehr gut umgesetzt und in diesen Momenten hatte ich auch das Gefühl, dass ich endlich über Jim Hopper lese und einen Roman, in dem es in irgendeiner Weise etwas mit Stranger Things zutun hat.
Die Szenen aus Jim Hoppers Vergangenheit hätten jedoch ein ganz normaler Thriller sein können, ein langweiliger Thriller. Denn trotz meiner Liebe zu diesem Charakter, kam sehr selten Spannung auf. Ich hatte oft in dem Buch das Gefühl, dass ich auch einfach einige Seiten überspringen und der Handlung trotzdem noch folgen könnte. Es gab für mich wenige spannende Momente, in denen ich das Buch nicht weglegen wollte.
Natürlich wird das Buch auch damit geworben, dass es Leute lesen können, die Stranger Things noch nie gesehen haben. Von daher war mir schon irgendwie klar, dass keine mystischen, gruseligen Stranger Things Momente vorkommen werden, aber mir haben trotzdem diese typischen Jim Hopper Charakterzüge gefehlt. Nach dem Buch hatte ich nicht das Gefühl, dass ich mehr über den Hopper aus der Serie erfahren hat, denn ich habe immer noch die gleiche Frage, die mir die ganze Serie über im Kopf herumschwirrte: Was ist mit seiner Tochter passiert?
Zum Schreibstil kann ich sagen, dass er mir gut gefallen hat. Das Buch ließ sich flüssig und schnell lesen, er hat an den richtigen Stellen die Szenen der Gegenwart eingebaut und die Nebencharaktere gut ausgearbeitet.
Alles in allem muss ich jedoch sagen, dass mich das Buch nicht überzeugen konnte und leider nur zwei Sterne von mir bekommt. Für Fans von Stranger Things (wie mich) ist es leider kein so tolles Buch. Für Leute, die die Serie nicht kennen, könnte es vielleicht etwas besser sein, weil man sich die eigentlichen Fragen über Jim Hoppers Vorgeschichte gar nicht stellt und somit nicht so hohe Erwartungen hat. Aber auch als normaler Thriller war das Buch eher schwach.
July 10, 2019
Reading this book feels like reading the script of an episode of a crime drama. Cop with sassy partner gets assigned case, Despite being achingly predictable, the story could be enjoyable if not for the fact that there are simply NO STAKES and NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
The case Hopper is relaying is just a case, like any other. There is absolutely no reason for Hopper and Delgado to . They have no personal interest in the case, nor are they irreplaceable. It's also hard to believe that Hopper, And all this to reveal that the Big Bad's Ultimate Master Plan is... I realize the effect could be disastrous, but it read anticlimactically after a 400-page build-up.
Despite the lack of reason to emotionally invest in the story, one could have been caught up in the action were it not for the frequent interruptions. Hopper the Storyteller frequently pauses to bring the reader back to 1984 Hawkins. Presumably this was to increase the connection to Stranger Things, since as I said, this crime drama could have been straight out of any TV show. But it made for uneven reading, and occasionally felt preachy, with the listener clearly telling the reader how the reader should respond to the story thus far.
But the most disappointing aspect to the story was the utter lack of character development; something that the show's Stranger Things excels at. The only way the reader knew the Jim Hopper of the novel was the same Hopper in Stranger Things was by his name.
I'm guessing the author did not have much choice about what subject the novel could cover. There were so many more interesting aspects of Hopper's life that I wish they had taken this opportunity to expand upon--What were the events surrounding the death of his daughter? What was his relationship with Joyce in high school? Did he grow up in Hawkins? What went through his mind Any of these would have been more interesting than weaving this predictable crime drama with bland characters.
The case Hopper is relaying is just a case, like any other. There is absolutely no reason for Hopper and Delgado to . They have no personal interest in the case, nor are they irreplaceable. It's also hard to believe that Hopper, And all this to reveal that the Big Bad's Ultimate Master Plan is... I realize the effect could be disastrous, but it read anticlimactically after a 400-page build-up.
Despite the lack of reason to emotionally invest in the story, one could have been caught up in the action were it not for the frequent interruptions. Hopper the Storyteller frequently pauses to bring the reader back to 1984 Hawkins. Presumably this was to increase the connection to Stranger Things, since as I said, this crime drama could have been straight out of any TV show. But it made for uneven reading, and occasionally felt preachy, with the listener clearly telling the reader how the reader should respond to the story thus far.
But the most disappointing aspect to the story was the utter lack of character development; something that the show's Stranger Things excels at. The only way the reader knew the Jim Hopper of the novel was the same Hopper in Stranger Things was by his name.
I'm guessing the author did not have much choice about what subject the novel could cover. There were so many more interesting aspects of Hopper's life that I wish they had taken this opportunity to expand upon--What were the events surrounding the death of his daughter? What was his relationship with Joyce in high school? Did he grow up in Hawkins? What went through his mind Any of these would have been more interesting than weaving this predictable crime drama with bland characters.
September 14, 2022
3,5/5⭐
¿Alguna vez habéis querido saber qué era de Hopper antes de Hawkins? Si la respuesta es sí, este es vuestro libro.
A oscuras en la ciudad nos traslada a la cabaña de Hopper en algún punto de la segunda temporada, donde Jim, tras las curiosas preguntas de Eleven, le cuenta su historia en el Nueva York de 1977 como inspector de homicidios, cuando una serie de crímenes asolaron la ciudad.
He querido imaginármelo como un capítulo más de Stranger Things, uno de esos en los que ves el pasado de los protagonistas. Eso sí, si esperáis encontraros al resto de personajes de la serie, olvidadlo. No aparecen en ningún momento salvo durante una pequeña mención a ellos. Tampoco esperéis ninguna conexión con la serie más allá del uso de dos de sus personajes. Es una historia policiaca al uso que bien podría haber funcionado fuera del universo de la serie y con otros protagonistas.
Aún así, es un libro muy disfrutable y que os recomiendo tanto si os gusta el género como Stranger Things. Hopper siempre es bien.
¿Alguna vez habéis querido saber qué era de Hopper antes de Hawkins? Si la respuesta es sí, este es vuestro libro.
A oscuras en la ciudad nos traslada a la cabaña de Hopper en algún punto de la segunda temporada, donde Jim, tras las curiosas preguntas de Eleven, le cuenta su historia en el Nueva York de 1977 como inspector de homicidios, cuando una serie de crímenes asolaron la ciudad.
He querido imaginármelo como un capítulo más de Stranger Things, uno de esos en los que ves el pasado de los protagonistas. Eso sí, si esperáis encontraros al resto de personajes de la serie, olvidadlo. No aparecen en ningún momento salvo durante una pequeña mención a ellos. Tampoco esperéis ninguna conexión con la serie más allá del uso de dos de sus personajes. Es una historia policiaca al uso que bien podría haber funcionado fuera del universo de la serie y con otros protagonistas.
Aún así, es un libro muy disfrutable y que os recomiendo tanto si os gusta el género como Stranger Things. Hopper siempre es bien.
❝Porque había personas dispuestas a creerse cualquier historia, si se la contaban de la manera adecuada.❞
February 4, 2020
"El shook her head as she adjusted herself on the couch, pulling one leg up underneath her." Was Saint John like me?"
Hopper worked his jaw for a couple of moments." Like...you? "
El nodded." Special...different."
Hopper worked his jaw for a couple of moments." Like...you? "
El nodded." Special...different."
December 6, 2019
Generic crime drama. Stranger Things characters could've easily been replaced with different names and it wouldn't have made a difference.
Read
July 1, 2022Dnf at 46%
It’s not bad per se, but it could be just literally a story about any random cop from the 70s. This doesn’t scream “stranger things” to me at all
It’s not bad per se, but it could be just literally a story about any random cop from the 70s. This doesn’t scream “stranger things” to me at all
June 11, 2025
Knyga dar mažiau susijusi su "Stranger Things" pasauliu, nei Stranger Things. Įtarūs protai. Išmetus intarpus iš 1984-ųjų, kurie istorijai nieko neduoda, lieka tik labai skystas detektyvinis trileris. 3/4 knygos veiksmo beveik nėra, o siužetas kažkoks palaidas. Įdomiausia knygos dalis - 1977-ųjų Niujorkas - ne turtingas ir klestintis kokį mes matome dabar, o skurstantis ir bankrutuojantis. Vaizuodamas ir 77-ųjų Niujorko blackout'as - sunku patikėti kiek chaoso gali sukelti vienai nakčiai dingusi elektra.
Bendrai paėmus patiko labiau nei "Įtarūs protai", bet vistiek ne kažką.
Bendrai paėmus patiko labiau nei "Įtarūs protai", bet vistiek ne kažką.
March 22, 2021
Coming back from Vietnam, returning to Hawkins, Indiana, had been like stepping into some kind of parallel universe. He’d given his blood and his sweat and, he sometimes thought, a part of his sanity to fighting a war that didn’t seem to end, that was being fought for no kind of reason he could really understand, and meanwhile life in Smalltown, U.S.A., had entered some kind of loop in time, changing not one iota by the time he got back. Hopper wondered if it really ever would, or even could.
The moment I discovered that there were Stranger Things tie-in novels, and that there was one entirely based on Hopper's backstory as a homicide detective in New York, I instantly pounced on it and read it because I love! Jim! Hopper!! And there's some good character beats and moments here, as he celebrates Christmas with Eleven in their cabin together, and they wind up staying up late through the night as he tells her the story of a particularly strange case he worked back in NYC.
Good things: more fleshing-out of his life with Diane and Sara, more on Hop's motivations for going into policing, the way it anchors him post-war and gives him something to hang onto, his constant earnest drive to do the right thing, his occasional grappling with his toxic temper, his growing dynamic with his female Latina detective partner (I love platonic brotp partners dynamics!!), and their investigation into the work of a cultish serial killer.
That said: My interest plummeted pretty hard once the slow hardboiled investigation suddenly switched gears into an undercover op, and the narrative ripped open with a bunch of action. Car chases and firefights just work better on-screen rather than on the page, so I ironically found myself more bored the more sensational and over-the-top things became and as the entire city is plunged into chaos -- it was all so much, when I honestly would've been here for a quieter, noirish murder investigation and growth of the relationship between two partners instead. The prose was nothing to write home about, either, which may have been part of why I struggled with this towards the end and it took me a while to get through.
I'm still here for anything to do with Hopper, though, and the occasional between-chapter father-daughter interludes with Eleven are just the greatest.
April 21, 2023
3.5/5
Novela dentro del género policíaco basado en el pasado de Hopper como inspector de homicidios en Nueva York.
Novela que se hace corta y ligera a la lectura en lo que respecta a los capítulos. Hay constantes idas y venidas entre el presente del 1984 y el pasado del 1977 donde se aclara que fue de Hopper antes de volver a Hawkins. A modo de historia que le cuenta a Once relata el extraño caso de homicidio que tuvo que resolver y del porqué volvió al pueblo que todos conocemos en la serie.
La historia sería más bien como un spin-off del personaje para conocer más bien su pasado pero tampoco te esperes un pedazo de historia a la altura de la serie ni mucho menos. En algunos momentos se hacía lenta sin haber nada de chicha o acción pero bueno. Esta bien sin más, ni mucho menos para tirar cohetes pero bueno, not bad.
¿Que si recomendaría esta novela? Pues como complemento a la serie para conocer el pasado de este sheriff tan querido en la serie pues si porque no leelo adelante, pero si te esperas algo a la altura de la serie pues no. La serie es demasiado legendaria y épica para que una novela la supere.
Novela dentro del género policíaco basado en el pasado de Hopper como inspector de homicidios en Nueva York.
Novela que se hace corta y ligera a la lectura en lo que respecta a los capítulos. Hay constantes idas y venidas entre el presente del 1984 y el pasado del 1977 donde se aclara que fue de Hopper antes de volver a Hawkins. A modo de historia que le cuenta a Once relata el extraño caso de homicidio que tuvo que resolver y del porqué volvió al pueblo que todos conocemos en la serie.
La historia sería más bien como un spin-off del personaje para conocer más bien su pasado pero tampoco te esperes un pedazo de historia a la altura de la serie ni mucho menos. En algunos momentos se hacía lenta sin haber nada de chicha o acción pero bueno. Esta bien sin más, ni mucho menos para tirar cohetes pero bueno, not bad.
¿Que si recomendaría esta novela? Pues como complemento a la serie para conocer el pasado de este sheriff tan querido en la serie pues si porque no leelo adelante, pero si te esperas algo a la altura de la serie pues no. La serie es demasiado legendaria y épica para que una novela la supere.
July 14, 2019
Mit „Finsternis“ folgt die Vorgeschichte des nächsten Charakters aus Stranger Things. Wir begleiten Detective Hopper beim Morddezernat des NYPD – und erleben seinen größten Fall als eine Geschichte, die er selbst Jahre später der neugierigen Eleven erzählt.
Nimm die Szenen raus, in denen die Gegenwart von Hopper und Elfie betrachtet wird, ändere die Namen, und du hast einen x-beliebigen Kriminalroman ohne Bezug zu Stranger Things. Mir ist bewusst, dass das Buch Hoppers Vorgeschichte darstellt – dementsprechend rechnete ich nicht damit, denselben Mann wie in Hawkins anzutreffen, aber meiner Meinung nach fehlten grundlegende Charakterzüge, die den grummeligen Detective zu einem Sympathieträger machten. Und mal abgesehen davon, dass ich Hopper selten wiedererkannt habe, hätte ich auch von der Geschichte etwas anderes erwartet.
Beinahe jeder, der Stranger Things kennt, erinnert sich an den Moment aus der 1. Staffel, als die Suchtruppe durch den Wald gelaufen ist, den Namen von Will Byers durch das Dunkel schallen ließ, und beiläufig erwähnt wird, dass Hopper seine Tochter verloren hat. Ein Moment, der unser Verständnis erweitert und unser Herz geöffnet hat. Bin ich die einzige, die damit gerechnet hat, dass dieser Verlust thematisiert wird? Immerhin ist das ein Erlebnis mit Bezug zur Serie, das ihn geformt hat und uns die Chance gegeben hätte, mehr über ihn zu fahren. Und sollte es nicht darum gehen?
Ich habe das Gefühl, dass die Verbindung zu Stranger Things komplett auf die Momente heruntergebrochen wurde, in denen Hopper mit Elfie spricht. Und selbst da wird Hopper eher dürftig getroffen. Ansonsten haben wir hier einen Kriminalroman, den man auch mit einem beliebigen anderen Protagonisten hätte durchspielen können. Dass der Fall interessant ist und Elfie immer wieder auftritt, wie eine Lichterkette, an deren Lichtern man sich entlang hangelt, begründet die 2 Sterne. Der Schreibstil ist dabei an manchen Stellen für meinen Geschmack fast zu ausführlich – ich hatte das Gefühl, ich hätte Seiten überspringen können, ohne etwas in der Handlung zu verpassen, obwohl trotzdem viel passiert und Spannung aufgebaut wird.
Nimm die Szenen raus, in denen die Gegenwart von Hopper und Elfie betrachtet wird, ändere die Namen, und du hast einen x-beliebigen Kriminalroman ohne Bezug zu Stranger Things. Mir ist bewusst, dass das Buch Hoppers Vorgeschichte darstellt – dementsprechend rechnete ich nicht damit, denselben Mann wie in Hawkins anzutreffen, aber meiner Meinung nach fehlten grundlegende Charakterzüge, die den grummeligen Detective zu einem Sympathieträger machten. Und mal abgesehen davon, dass ich Hopper selten wiedererkannt habe, hätte ich auch von der Geschichte etwas anderes erwartet.
Beinahe jeder, der Stranger Things kennt, erinnert sich an den Moment aus der 1. Staffel, als die Suchtruppe durch den Wald gelaufen ist, den Namen von Will Byers durch das Dunkel schallen ließ, und beiläufig erwähnt wird, dass Hopper seine Tochter verloren hat. Ein Moment, der unser Verständnis erweitert und unser Herz geöffnet hat. Bin ich die einzige, die damit gerechnet hat, dass dieser Verlust thematisiert wird? Immerhin ist das ein Erlebnis mit Bezug zur Serie, das ihn geformt hat und uns die Chance gegeben hätte, mehr über ihn zu fahren. Und sollte es nicht darum gehen?
Ich habe das Gefühl, dass die Verbindung zu Stranger Things komplett auf die Momente heruntergebrochen wurde, in denen Hopper mit Elfie spricht. Und selbst da wird Hopper eher dürftig getroffen. Ansonsten haben wir hier einen Kriminalroman, den man auch mit einem beliebigen anderen Protagonisten hätte durchspielen können. Dass der Fall interessant ist und Elfie immer wieder auftritt, wie eine Lichterkette, an deren Lichtern man sich entlang hangelt, begründet die 2 Sterne. Der Schreibstil ist dabei an manchen Stellen für meinen Geschmack fast zu ausführlich – ich hatte das Gefühl, ich hätte Seiten überspringen können, ohne etwas in der Handlung zu verpassen, obwohl trotzdem viel passiert und Spannung aufgebaut wird.
August 6, 2019
3.5 stars.
Stranger Things is one of my favorite tv shows. I'm obssesed with it. In fact, I binge watched the whole third season the day it came out because I couldn't get enough of it. Therefore, when I found out there was a book based on the show, I knew I had to read it. I picked up Darkness ofn the Edge of Town as soon as I could get my hands on it. I thought it was an enjoyable book, even if it had a few flaws.
At first, I was a little hesitant going into Darkness on the Edge of Town. Hopper is without a doubt my favorite character on the show. I wasn't sure if Adam Christopher was do his character justice. However, I had nothing to worry about. He wrote the character and the plot so well that when I was reading the book, I could see it playing out in my head, almost like it was an actual episode of Stranger Things. I loved hearing Hopper's backstory, and seeing him thrive in a different setting than what the viewers of the show are used to.
There is one major thing that I didn't enjoy about the book. Towards the middle of the book, Hopper gets caught up in a situation. I won't go into details about that situation in this review because I don't want to spoil it for those that haven't read it. However, after that certain part happens, I thought that the story became boring. It seems like when he was in that situation, it took forever for anything to happen. It felt like the story dragged on and on until about the last 30 pages or so. After that, it picked up again and became interesting.
Despite the pacing issues, I found myself really enjoying Darkness on the Edge of Town. I thought it was an interesting look into Hopper's life before Stranger Things begins. I enjoyed it so much that I want more. I would love a prequel show about Hopper's time as a detective in NYC, and more cases that he had. I also really want to see more of Delgado. I loved her character is this, and think it would translate well on a Netflix show.
Stranger Things is one of my favorite tv shows. I'm obssesed with it. In fact, I binge watched the whole third season the day it came out because I couldn't get enough of it. Therefore, when I found out there was a book based on the show, I knew I had to read it. I picked up Darkness ofn the Edge of Town as soon as I could get my hands on it. I thought it was an enjoyable book, even if it had a few flaws.
At first, I was a little hesitant going into Darkness on the Edge of Town. Hopper is without a doubt my favorite character on the show. I wasn't sure if Adam Christopher was do his character justice. However, I had nothing to worry about. He wrote the character and the plot so well that when I was reading the book, I could see it playing out in my head, almost like it was an actual episode of Stranger Things. I loved hearing Hopper's backstory, and seeing him thrive in a different setting than what the viewers of the show are used to.
There is one major thing that I didn't enjoy about the book. Towards the middle of the book, Hopper gets caught up in a situation. I won't go into details about that situation in this review because I don't want to spoil it for those that haven't read it. However, after that certain part happens, I thought that the story became boring. It seems like when he was in that situation, it took forever for anything to happen. It felt like the story dragged on and on until about the last 30 pages or so. After that, it picked up again and became interesting.
Despite the pacing issues, I found myself really enjoying Darkness on the Edge of Town. I thought it was an interesting look into Hopper's life before Stranger Things begins. I enjoyed it so much that I want more. I would love a prequel show about Hopper's time as a detective in NYC, and more cases that he had. I also really want to see more of Delgado. I loved her character is this, and think it would translate well on a Netflix show.
July 25, 2019
The story opens in Hawkins, 1984 and Hopper and Eleven first Christmas together. Let there be Eggos™! She wants a story, one about his past life and she pulls out a box marked New York. Hopper reluctantly shares his last case there. One that took place in the summer of 1977, one that forever changed him….
And I was hooked! Narrated by David Pittu I was quickly pulled into the boys’ club at the NYPD as Hopper and his new “female” partner are working a weird case of homicides only to have federal agents come in and pull their files. Hooper can’t let it go and once you open pandora’s box there is no going back. Street gangs, ties to the past, and strange happenings had me hooked.
Car chases, power outages, creepy vibes and sinister plots made for an entertaining mystery. The author brought the late 70s to life with pop cultural references and even successfully wove in the 1977 New York Blackout into the tale giving it a vibe of plausibility.
David Pittu narrates and does a good job with the characters, atmosphere and enhances the overall tale. This was a fun listen.
While it isn’t necessary to have watched Stranger Things to enjoy this story, I think fans will appreciate this and other stories between seasons when they are in need of a fix. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
And I was hooked! Narrated by David Pittu I was quickly pulled into the boys’ club at the NYPD as Hopper and his new “female” partner are working a weird case of homicides only to have federal agents come in and pull their files. Hooper can’t let it go and once you open pandora’s box there is no going back. Street gangs, ties to the past, and strange happenings had me hooked.
Car chases, power outages, creepy vibes and sinister plots made for an entertaining mystery. The author brought the late 70s to life with pop cultural references and even successfully wove in the 1977 New York Blackout into the tale giving it a vibe of plausibility.
David Pittu narrates and does a good job with the characters, atmosphere and enhances the overall tale. This was a fun listen.
While it isn’t necessary to have watched Stranger Things to enjoy this story, I think fans will appreciate this and other stories between seasons when they are in need of a fix. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
December 22, 2020
Sedmdesátá léta, New York. Rituální vraždy. Sériový vrah. Bronx, gangy. Vzpomínky na Vietnam. A náčelník Jim Hopper proti tomu všemu.
S druhou dějovou linkou skáčeme k Vánočnímu večeru 1984, kde právě Jim vypráví Eleven svůj příběh.
Na prvních sto stránkách se toho moc nedělo, malinko jsem se snažila zorientovat, možná bylo, ale jen krapet, znát, že jsem Stranger Things nikdy neviděla. Zkrátka trochu déle trvalo, než jsem se začetla, než mě děj pohltil.
Ale pak se to pořádně rozjelo a akce trvala až do konce!😍
Po nějaké chvíli jsem knížku už jen stěží odkládala. Temnota na okraji města nabízí opravdu napínavý příběh s nádechem detektivky i hororových prvků. Bavilo mě číst nejen o fungování, hierarchii gangů, ale i celkově o životě v NYC před padesáti lety.
Ke konci pak děj vážně perfektně gradoval, všechno najednou zapadlo do sebe, utvořilo mnohem komplexnější příběh a samotné rozuzlení nemělo chybu!
Jsem si jistá, že pokud Stranger Things milujete, z knížky budete ještě o chlup nadšenější, než já. Zatímco já si užívala skvěle popsanou atmosféru, zákulisí gangů nebo policejní práci v utajení, vy navíc mezitím zjistíte tolik Hopperovi!😁
Řekla bych, že pokud jste fanoušky ST, tenhle titul zkrátka nemůžete minout, ale nevadí ani když si ho přečtou lidé seriálem nepolíbení. I těm má Temnota na okraji města co nabídnout. Chvílemi jsem ani neměla pocit, že bych četla něco s ST tématikou, to bude spíš plus pro nediváky, ale přesvědčte se sami.
S druhou dějovou linkou skáčeme k Vánočnímu večeru 1984, kde právě Jim vypráví Eleven svůj příběh.
Na prvních sto stránkách se toho moc nedělo, malinko jsem se snažila zorientovat, možná bylo, ale jen krapet, znát, že jsem Stranger Things nikdy neviděla. Zkrátka trochu déle trvalo, než jsem se začetla, než mě děj pohltil.
Ale pak se to pořádně rozjelo a akce trvala až do konce!😍
Po nějaké chvíli jsem knížku už jen stěží odkládala. Temnota na okraji města nabízí opravdu napínavý příběh s nádechem detektivky i hororových prvků. Bavilo mě číst nejen o fungování, hierarchii gangů, ale i celkově o životě v NYC před padesáti lety.
Ke konci pak děj vážně perfektně gradoval, všechno najednou zapadlo do sebe, utvořilo mnohem komplexnější příběh a samotné rozuzlení nemělo chybu!
Jsem si jistá, že pokud Stranger Things milujete, z knížky budete ještě o chlup nadšenější, než já. Zatímco já si užívala skvěle popsanou atmosféru, zákulisí gangů nebo policejní práci v utajení, vy navíc mezitím zjistíte tolik Hopperovi!😁
Řekla bych, že pokud jste fanoušky ST, tenhle titul zkrátka nemůžete minout, ale nevadí ani když si ho přečtou lidé seriálem nepolíbení. I těm má Temnota na okraji města co nabídnout. Chvílemi jsem ani neměla pocit, že bych četla něco s ST tématikou, to bude spíš plus pro nediváky, ale přesvědčte se sami.
June 27, 2019
Now THIS is the Stranger Things book that I wanted. After the very disappointing "Suspicious Minds", Adam Christopher gets us back on track with "Darkness on the Edge of Town." The Premise: It's the day after Christmas, 1984. El finds a box of Hopper's detective stuff from when he lived in New York with his family in the 70's. He then tells her the story (with regular flash back to the "present") about a serial killer investigation he did in the summer of 1977 and the insanity that followed. The ultimate resolution feels very Stranger Things without going too far. This book really fleshed out the character of Hopper and was entertaining from start to finish. I'm super excited for Season 3 now!
July 1, 2022
I enjoyed this! The framing device of El finding files in Hopper’s cabin and getting him to tell her the story of when he was a cop in New York City worked well to introduce some of Hopper’s backstory. The plot of him hunting down a serial killer in grimy 1970s NYC was pretty fun. However, I was hoping to see a bit more of him interacting with his wife and daughter Sarah.
For where this book fits in the Stranger Things timeline, it takes place a tiny bit after the end of season 2. I liked getting to see more of Hopper in that era because I was not a fan of what they did with his character in season 3.
For where this book fits in the Stranger Things timeline, it takes place a tiny bit after the end of season 2. I liked getting to see more of Hopper in that era because I was not a fan of what they did with his character in season 3.
December 1, 2022
This felt like more of a Criminal Minds book then a Stranger Things one. There’s really nothing ST-related in it, except for the main character being Hopper and the whole book being disguised as a story he’s telling Eleven. Also.. idk. It didn’t sound like Hopper to me, the way he talked and narrated and such. The bits about how traumatic war can be and how hard a toll PTSD takes on veterans were good, good to shed light on that, as was the post-prison bits where they talk about how going back into the real world is so difficult for people, but the whole “cop = good guy” thing was BLECH.
December 9, 2020
I enjoyed reading this with my daughter. As others have said, it is not deeply connected to the Stranger Things universe other than the fact that the story revolves around Hopper's earlier career as a detective in New York. That said, it is well written with some interesting twists and dialog. The action is engaging and parts pull you in.
June 28, 2019
Ressenya en català el 4 de Juliol del 2019 a: https://youtu.be/Vwn_TtFFkWU
Vid review in english will be available here https://youtu.be/aqUyHA3fuLk on July, 3rd, 2019
Vid review in english will be available here https://youtu.be/aqUyHA3fuLk on July, 3rd, 2019
October 11, 2022
this hopper doesn’t seem to be as hot as he is in the show
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