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The Dark
John Ryan has had his share of strange cases. But none as strange as the man who turns up claiming he can’t remember who he is. As John attempts to find out the mystery man’s identity, the lights suddenly go out in Choketown.
And then, the murders start.
The Choketown Killer has returned. And John’s client becomes the number one suspect.
With his city in the grip of a blackout, John begins the hunt for the serial killer as the body count rises and the city teeters on the brink of spiralling out of control.
But the question is: who can he trust?
From the author of BROKEN FALLS and THE DEAD GIRLS comes the latest page-turning installment of the John Ryan series.
And then, the murders start.
The Choketown Killer has returned. And John’s client becomes the number one suspect.
With his city in the grip of a blackout, John begins the hunt for the serial killer as the body count rises and the city teeters on the brink of spiralling out of control.
But the question is: who can he trust?
From the author of BROKEN FALLS and THE DEAD GIRLS comes the latest page-turning installment of the John Ryan series.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 2, 2019
The Dark is the latest offering from Irish author Derek Flynn. I had been meaning to read his books with a while, so when I found the book can be read as a standalone I was happy to throw myself straight in to the middle of this series.
MY THOUGHTS ON THE DARK BY DEREK FLYNN
From the startling first page, to the shocking last page, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Choketown is already a dark place to live, as most of it’s inhabitants have fallen down in life and ended up livng here. It’s across the bridge from the wealthier Cherokee. The haves live in Cherokee and have-nots and have-been-forgotten about live in Choketown. I got a vivid sense of place from the setting and it made me squirm uncomfortably while reading.
The two main characters John, a PI, and his assistant Rachel are interesting characters. I feel this book only touched on their complex lives and I definitely need to go back and read the prior books to fill myself in on their history. I love that there is no romance between them, as that feels like such a cliche, and I’m glad that Derek Flynn didn’t take them down that route.
When the lights literally go out in Chokestown and Cherokee, the scene is set for a gritty, dark, gripping and chilling read. And as if the town wasn’t black enough, we also get an insight to the killer’s mind, and that was darker then blackest black hole you can imagine. You better believe that I was reading this one with all the lights on.
Overall I thought this was a terrifying but engrossing read.
WHO SHOULD READ THE DARK BY DEREK FLYNN
I’d highly recommend this to you if you like dark reads with complex characters who keep you reading late into the night. Fans of Harlan Coben, Liz Nugent and Linwood Barclay should also appreciate this one.
MY THOUGHTS ON THE DARK BY DEREK FLYNN
From the startling first page, to the shocking last page, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Choketown is already a dark place to live, as most of it’s inhabitants have fallen down in life and ended up livng here. It’s across the bridge from the wealthier Cherokee. The haves live in Cherokee and have-nots and have-been-forgotten about live in Choketown. I got a vivid sense of place from the setting and it made me squirm uncomfortably while reading.
The two main characters John, a PI, and his assistant Rachel are interesting characters. I feel this book only touched on their complex lives and I definitely need to go back and read the prior books to fill myself in on their history. I love that there is no romance between them, as that feels like such a cliche, and I’m glad that Derek Flynn didn’t take them down that route.
When the lights literally go out in Chokestown and Cherokee, the scene is set for a gritty, dark, gripping and chilling read. And as if the town wasn’t black enough, we also get an insight to the killer’s mind, and that was darker then blackest black hole you can imagine. You better believe that I was reading this one with all the lights on.
Overall I thought this was a terrifying but engrossing read.
WHO SHOULD READ THE DARK BY DEREK FLYNN
I’d highly recommend this to you if you like dark reads with complex characters who keep you reading late into the night. Fans of Harlan Coben, Liz Nugent and Linwood Barclay should also appreciate this one.
November 1, 2019
originally posted on Don Jimmy Reviews
The Dark picks up after the events of The Dead Girls. John and Rachel are living together (platonically) in the wonderfully named Choketown. John is still working as a PI while Rachel has now become his, somewhat underused and frustrated, assistant.
The story starts with a bang (in more ways than one), as we get an insight into the mind of a killer and how he finds his victims. We get to visit this character from their viewpoint on a number of occasions and one thing becomes strikingly obvious from the off. They are batshit crazy. As a villain they are near perfect, we know what they are thinking, and what their moves are going to be - what we don't know is who they are. As the bodies continue to drop, the cops start looking at anyone suspicious in town. Who is the Choketown Killer? Why are they back? Enter John Ryan.
John is in a bar when approached by a mystery man who claims to be suffering from memory loss. He hires John to help him find out who he is and John agrees, even inviting the stranger to stay in his house. Nobody else trusts this man, especially not Rachel, leading to a rift between the friends. Of course, this being John Ryan, he needs to investigate what is really going on. But can he trust the mystery man? He isn’t even sure himself.
The author has further developed John and he has become even more aware of his failings, even as he struggles to control himself. He is clearly a tortured soul and even as he continues to numb himself with even more harmful activities it is impossible not to root for him. Rachel has come a long way from The Dead Girls and we clearly see how strong she is becoming, and how important the relationship with John has become to her.
Unsurprisingly, this is a hard hitting story in the same vein of previous books. The Choketown Killer is possibly the scariest of the villains from these books so far which made it perfect reading in the run up to Halloween.
The story is written brilliantly, and is aptly titled for more reasons than one. Of course, we have the literal meaning where a community is experiencing a city wide blackout - but I also thought this was Derek's darkest story yet. Touching even further on bad relationships, negative thoughts, and abuse the story delves deeper with what is also Derek's most rounded and scariest villain to date. It kept me guessing all the way through those final pages. If I hadn't HAD to stop reading, I certainly would have read this in one sitting. It screamed for attention and is certainly deserving of your time.
As the nights grow longer The Dark brings us the perfect thriller to curl up with. Derek Flynn's John Ryan Series continues to impress at every turn. Highly recommended.
The Dark picks up after the events of The Dead Girls. John and Rachel are living together (platonically) in the wonderfully named Choketown. John is still working as a PI while Rachel has now become his, somewhat underused and frustrated, assistant.
The story starts with a bang (in more ways than one), as we get an insight into the mind of a killer and how he finds his victims. We get to visit this character from their viewpoint on a number of occasions and one thing becomes strikingly obvious from the off. They are batshit crazy. As a villain they are near perfect, we know what they are thinking, and what their moves are going to be - what we don't know is who they are. As the bodies continue to drop, the cops start looking at anyone suspicious in town. Who is the Choketown Killer? Why are they back? Enter John Ryan.
John is in a bar when approached by a mystery man who claims to be suffering from memory loss. He hires John to help him find out who he is and John agrees, even inviting the stranger to stay in his house. Nobody else trusts this man, especially not Rachel, leading to a rift between the friends. Of course, this being John Ryan, he needs to investigate what is really going on. But can he trust the mystery man? He isn’t even sure himself.
The author has further developed John and he has become even more aware of his failings, even as he struggles to control himself. He is clearly a tortured soul and even as he continues to numb himself with even more harmful activities it is impossible not to root for him. Rachel has come a long way from The Dead Girls and we clearly see how strong she is becoming, and how important the relationship with John has become to her.
Unsurprisingly, this is a hard hitting story in the same vein of previous books. The Choketown Killer is possibly the scariest of the villains from these books so far which made it perfect reading in the run up to Halloween.
The story is written brilliantly, and is aptly titled for more reasons than one. Of course, we have the literal meaning where a community is experiencing a city wide blackout - but I also thought this was Derek's darkest story yet. Touching even further on bad relationships, negative thoughts, and abuse the story delves deeper with what is also Derek's most rounded and scariest villain to date. It kept me guessing all the way through those final pages. If I hadn't HAD to stop reading, I certainly would have read this in one sitting. It screamed for attention and is certainly deserving of your time.
As the nights grow longer The Dark brings us the perfect thriller to curl up with. Derek Flynn's John Ryan Series continues to impress at every turn. Highly recommended.
November 22, 2019
The Dark is haunting, gripping and a complete page turner. I’m delighted to be kicking off the blog tour for The Dark.
Best Read
During a blackout or on the blackest Winter evening for full atmosphere .
Private investigator John Ryan has had some strange cases, none stranger than the man who wants John to find out his identity. With a murderer loose on the streets of Choketown, John invites the man into the home he shares with assistant, young Rachel.
Rachel is suspicious of the man and is out to prove that he is dangerous. Choketown is a town down on its luck and its inhabitants are in the grip of a murderer known as The Revealer and The Chokedown Killer. The book is told from the viewpoint of John, Rachel and The Revealer. This is a very effective mechanism and adds a darker, moody element to the story.
There is a blackout in Choketown, everyone is trapped inside and The killer’s spree ramps up. There is a sense of claustrophobia and paranoia during this part of the story, upping the tension. John and Rachel’s relationship is strained by the mysterious stranger, but both are on the hunt for his identity. John is targeted by the murderer and needs to find The Revealer before he kills again.
The characters in the Dark are realistic, flawed and gritty. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen in every scene, the pace of the book is fast and dangerous.
To summarise, The Dark is a tense, murky and mesmerising crime thriller that’s perfect for those that are looking for thrills and action on pitch black Winter nights.
Best Read
During a blackout or on the blackest Winter evening for full atmosphere .
Private investigator John Ryan has had some strange cases, none stranger than the man who wants John to find out his identity. With a murderer loose on the streets of Choketown, John invites the man into the home he shares with assistant, young Rachel.
Rachel is suspicious of the man and is out to prove that he is dangerous. Choketown is a town down on its luck and its inhabitants are in the grip of a murderer known as The Revealer and The Chokedown Killer. The book is told from the viewpoint of John, Rachel and The Revealer. This is a very effective mechanism and adds a darker, moody element to the story.
There is a blackout in Choketown, everyone is trapped inside and The killer’s spree ramps up. There is a sense of claustrophobia and paranoia during this part of the story, upping the tension. John and Rachel’s relationship is strained by the mysterious stranger, but both are on the hunt for his identity. John is targeted by the murderer and needs to find The Revealer before he kills again.
The characters in the Dark are realistic, flawed and gritty. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen in every scene, the pace of the book is fast and dangerous.
To summarise, The Dark is a tense, murky and mesmerising crime thriller that’s perfect for those that are looking for thrills and action on pitch black Winter nights.
December 16, 2019
Another fantastic read from Derek Flynn. It gripped me from the first page. I'm really looking forward to the next.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews