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Gus Monet #1
Dark August
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
“Dark August is a tightly-paced cauldron of a thriller about small town corruption, murder and mayhem, in the vein of Sharp Objects and All The Missing Girls. A macabre and confidently twisty debut.” — Lisa Gabriele, internationally bestselling author of The Winters
An electrifying, page-turning debut about a young woman haunted by her tragic past, who returns to her hometown and discovers that there might be more to her police detective mother’s death—and last case—than she ever could have imagined.Augusta (Gus) Monet is living an aimless existence with her grifter boyfriend when she learns that her great grandmother—her last living relative—has just died. Ditching her boyfriend, Gus returns to the home she left as a young girl. Her inheritance turns out to be a dilapidated house and an old dog named Levi. While combing through her great grandmother’s possessions, Gus stumbles across an old trunk filled with long-lost childhood belongings. But that’s not all the trunk contains. She also discovers cold case files that belonged to her mother, a disgraced police detective who died in a car accident when Gus was eight. Gus remembers her mother obsessing over these very same documents and photographs, especially a Polaroid of a young ballerina.
When Gus spots a front-page news story about the unearthing of a body linked to one of the cold case files from her childhood trunk, she can’t resist following her mother’s clues. As she digs deeper, determined to finish her mother’s investigation, her search leads her to a deserted ghost town, which was left abandoned when the residents fled after a horrific fire. As Gus’ obsession with the case grows, she inadvertently stirs up the evils of the past, putting her life in danger. But Gus is undeterred and is committed to uncovering long-buried secrets, including the secrets surrounding a missing geology student, the young ballerina in the Polaroid, a prominent family’s devastating legacy, and a toxic blast that blew an entire town off the map.
But is Gus ready to learn the truths that culminated on one terrible August night, more than a decade earlier, when lives were taken, and secrets were presumed buried forever…?
Dark August introduces a bold new voice and will leave readers guessing until the final startling conclusion.
“Dark August is a tightly-paced cauldron of a thriller about small town corruption, murder and mayhem, in the vein of Sharp Objects and All The Missing Girls. A macabre and confidently twisty debut.” — Lisa Gabriele, internationally bestselling author of The Winters
An electrifying, page-turning debut about a young woman haunted by her tragic past, who returns to her hometown and discovers that there might be more to her police detective mother’s death—and last case—than she ever could have imagined.Augusta (Gus) Monet is living an aimless existence with her grifter boyfriend when she learns that her great grandmother—her last living relative—has just died. Ditching her boyfriend, Gus returns to the home she left as a young girl. Her inheritance turns out to be a dilapidated house and an old dog named Levi. While combing through her great grandmother’s possessions, Gus stumbles across an old trunk filled with long-lost childhood belongings. But that’s not all the trunk contains. She also discovers cold case files that belonged to her mother, a disgraced police detective who died in a car accident when Gus was eight. Gus remembers her mother obsessing over these very same documents and photographs, especially a Polaroid of a young ballerina.
When Gus spots a front-page news story about the unearthing of a body linked to one of the cold case files from her childhood trunk, she can’t resist following her mother’s clues. As she digs deeper, determined to finish her mother’s investigation, her search leads her to a deserted ghost town, which was left abandoned when the residents fled after a horrific fire. As Gus’ obsession with the case grows, she inadvertently stirs up the evils of the past, putting her life in danger. But Gus is undeterred and is committed to uncovering long-buried secrets, including the secrets surrounding a missing geology student, the young ballerina in the Polaroid, a prominent family’s devastating legacy, and a toxic blast that blew an entire town off the map.
But is Gus ready to learn the truths that culminated on one terrible August night, more than a decade earlier, when lives were taken, and secrets were presumed buried forever…?
Dark August introduces a bold new voice and will leave readers guessing until the final startling conclusion.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2020
652 people are currently reading
8101 people want to read
About the author
Katie Tallo
5 books341 followersKatie grew up in Ottawa, studied English, Film and Television, married a bartender, and had a daughter. She spent several decades writing screenplays and making films and TV shows. In 2013, Katie won top prize in a UK writing competition. Her publishing debut came in 2020 with the thriller Dark August which became an international bestseller and inspired a trilogy which includes Poison Lilies and Buried Road. She still works in video production as a scriptwriter and director. Katie lives with her husband in the Wellington West neighbourhood of Ottawa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 597 reviews
June 28, 2020
This is a juicy mystery thriller that packs a punch, and it will be out in the world next week! Augusta, who goes by Gus, is just getting by. She doesn’t have much to focus on in life, and when her great-grandmother dies, her last living relative, she makes some moves to right her life. She travels home to accept her inheritance, a rundown old house and a dog named Levi.
While searching through her great-grandma’s things, she finds cold case files that belonged to her police detective mom who passed away in a car accident years ago. Gus finds some clues in her mother’s notes, and she decides to follow them.
Dark August is paced well with a compelling storyline and an endearing main character. The fluid writing makes it easy to read quickly, which is just how I like my thrillers. I think this may still be a slow burn for some, but when it takes off, it flies, and the ending is SO very good. It’s hard to believe this is a debut from Tallo, and I am waiting with grabby hands for her second!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
While searching through her great-grandma’s things, she finds cold case files that belonged to her police detective mom who passed away in a car accident years ago. Gus finds some clues in her mother’s notes, and she decides to follow them.
Dark August is paced well with a compelling storyline and an endearing main character. The fluid writing makes it easy to read quickly, which is just how I like my thrillers. I think this may still be a slow burn for some, but when it takes off, it flies, and the ending is SO very good. It’s hard to believe this is a debut from Tallo, and I am waiting with grabby hands for her second!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
July 7, 2020
This is a debut thriller that I would describe as solid, but ultimately it was just okay for me. I think Tallo has much promise as an author, but the first part of the book was very slow, and while it did eventually pick up the pace, I still didn't race through it.
Gus Monet, a grifter of sorts, is stuck in an aimless existence with her loser boyfriend when she receives the news that her great grandmother has passed away. Gus lived with her great grandmother for a brief period of time after her mother, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, died tragically when Gus was only eight years old. She heads back to Canada, where she has inherited everything in her grandmother's estate. Upon her return, Gus cannot stop thinking about her mother and the past, especially after she discovers documents regarding one of her mother’s old cold cases in a trunk in the basement. Gus decides she’s going to follow the case and see if she can figure out what happened to her mother all those years ago. It becomes painfully obvious right away that someone does not want her investigating, as everyone she speaks with about the case ends up "mostly dead" (to quote one of my favorite Princess Bride lines). Gus soon learns that she can't trust anyone around as she discovers shocking evidence that someone is still willing to kill for.
What I liked:
- The dog, Levi. Best book dog in a long time (although even he ends up "mostly dead" at one point, which was odd as well).
- The small town setting with plenty of mayhem. The burned-out town of Elgin storyline was also very intriguing.
- June and Gracie Halladay. I was very interested in the chapters about them and how their story would ultimately play out.
- Short chapters. If it had not been for the short chapters, I may have DNF'd this book near the beginning.
What I didn't like:
- This was a thriller where characters are all nearly killed and maimed in a variety of ways, but ultimately survive so that they can share more information with the protagonist. It was a bit of a stretch for me.
- I wasn't surprised by the twists or by the ending. I figured out the majority of the plot around the middle of the book, which is always disappointing.
- Some of the elements were just too far-fetched. I have no trouble suspending reality if it all works, so to speak, but this one had a few too many eye-rolling moments for me i.e. the hidden file in the dog collar.
Overall though, I liked Gus Monet's character and the Canadian setting, and if this is going to be a series (it had that feel to me), I would definitely read the next book. I see many 4 and 5 star reviews, so take it for what it's worth, but for me it was a solid 3 star read.
Gus Monet, a grifter of sorts, is stuck in an aimless existence with her loser boyfriend when she receives the news that her great grandmother has passed away. Gus lived with her great grandmother for a brief period of time after her mother, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, died tragically when Gus was only eight years old. She heads back to Canada, where she has inherited everything in her grandmother's estate. Upon her return, Gus cannot stop thinking about her mother and the past, especially after she discovers documents regarding one of her mother’s old cold cases in a trunk in the basement. Gus decides she’s going to follow the case and see if she can figure out what happened to her mother all those years ago. It becomes painfully obvious right away that someone does not want her investigating, as everyone she speaks with about the case ends up "mostly dead" (to quote one of my favorite Princess Bride lines). Gus soon learns that she can't trust anyone around as she discovers shocking evidence that someone is still willing to kill for.
What I liked:
- The dog, Levi. Best book dog in a long time (although even he ends up "mostly dead" at one point, which was odd as well).
- The small town setting with plenty of mayhem. The burned-out town of Elgin storyline was also very intriguing.
- June and Gracie Halladay. I was very interested in the chapters about them and how their story would ultimately play out.
- Short chapters. If it had not been for the short chapters, I may have DNF'd this book near the beginning.
What I didn't like:
- This was a thriller where characters are all nearly killed and maimed in a variety of ways, but ultimately survive so that they can share more information with the protagonist. It was a bit of a stretch for me.
- I wasn't surprised by the twists or by the ending. I figured out the majority of the plot around the middle of the book, which is always disappointing.
- Some of the elements were just too far-fetched. I have no trouble suspending reality if it all works, so to speak, but this one had a few too many eye-rolling moments for me i.e. the hidden file in the dog collar.
Overall though, I liked Gus Monet's character and the Canadian setting, and if this is going to be a series (it had that feel to me), I would definitely read the next book. I see many 4 and 5 star reviews, so take it for what it's worth, but for me it was a solid 3 star read.
May 20, 2022
I absolutely loved this debut! Annnd another Canadian author, yes please!
I really enjoyed the descriptions and the writing style. Flew through this book and enjoyed every minute. Fantastic plot and interesting characters, Gus was such a bad ass!!
Thanks for Sweetreads for including this in their Summer Suspense Box!
I really enjoyed the descriptions and the writing style. Flew through this book and enjoyed every minute. Fantastic plot and interesting characters, Gus was such a bad ass!!
Thanks for Sweetreads for including this in their Summer Suspense Box!
January 25, 2021
Ohh how I enjoyed this book!! and I was a resister too... if you aren't Canadian, you cannot know the feeling of growing up under CanCon regulations in the 1980s, which required that we didn't lose our Canadian Identity living so close to the United States. We had to listen to a percentage of Canadian music, Canadian tv shows, Canadian Lit in school and there was often a collective groan. When I got ahold of this book, I didn't realize it was Canadian and on the first few pages after reading the 401 and Ottawa, I groaned. and then... I got over myself, thankfully!! Because not only was this book so amazing, it also made struck cords of places and names that I know. I wonder if this is how people who live in Boston feel when they hear their towns and streets names in books, its an odd familiar yet out of context experience.
Sorry, enough about me and my growth and on to this fabulous book!
Dark August is an enthralling and heart racing journey of mystery that you take with our heroine, Augusta Monet. She returns to her Grandmother's home in a small town near Ottawa, leaving behind a criminal life on the streets in Toronto. This is a place full of conflicting memories for her and we get watch her work through her memories of her Mother, who died when Gus was young, and her Grandmother, who sent her away shortly after that death. There is a lot to unpack here for Gus and it immobilizes her. She becomes immersed in her Mother's old police case files, ones that Gus remembers her Mother working on when she herself was young. Will she regret digging around in business best left in the past? Will her Toronto life catch up with her? Can a young adult cope with the only impressions of her past family being ones made prior to age 8?
You need to add this to your must reads and find out!
It is so well written, I raced to get to the finish but at the same time, didn't want the story to end. I felt I knew all of these characters so well. There were twists and turns and I was thrown for a loop many times throughout. Gus and her little pup Levi took me on a journey I really loved being on.
Well written, lovely settings, believable characters, corrupt small town perfection! Loved it and ++ recommend!
Sorry, enough about me and my growth and on to this fabulous book!
Dark August is an enthralling and heart racing journey of mystery that you take with our heroine, Augusta Monet. She returns to her Grandmother's home in a small town near Ottawa, leaving behind a criminal life on the streets in Toronto. This is a place full of conflicting memories for her and we get watch her work through her memories of her Mother, who died when Gus was young, and her Grandmother, who sent her away shortly after that death. There is a lot to unpack here for Gus and it immobilizes her. She becomes immersed in her Mother's old police case files, ones that Gus remembers her Mother working on when she herself was young. Will she regret digging around in business best left in the past? Will her Toronto life catch up with her? Can a young adult cope with the only impressions of her past family being ones made prior to age 8?
You need to add this to your must reads and find out!
It is so well written, I raced to get to the finish but at the same time, didn't want the story to end. I felt I knew all of these characters so well. There were twists and turns and I was thrown for a loop many times throughout. Gus and her little pup Levi took me on a journey I really loved being on.
Well written, lovely settings, believable characters, corrupt small town perfection! Loved it and ++ recommend!
October 28, 2020
Although well written, I would have enjoyed this debut more if it was faster paced and not quite so lengthy. There were plenty of twists and surprises, but I struggled to stay engaged.
My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️’s (rounding down)
Published: June 30th 2020 by Harper Paperbacks
Pages: 448
Recommend: Yes
@TalloKatie @HarperCollins
#DarkAugust #NoRulesJustThrills #Mystery #BookReview
After publication, my reviews can be found:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amz...
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/takemeaway21
BN.com, BookBub
My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️’s (rounding down)
Published: June 30th 2020 by Harper Paperbacks
Pages: 448
Recommend: Yes
@TalloKatie @HarperCollins
#DarkAugust #NoRulesJustThrills #Mystery #BookReview
After publication, my reviews can be found:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amz...
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/takemeaway21
BN.com, BookBub
December 3, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up because I liked the story.
Twenty year old Augusta (Gus) leads a drifting life with no purpose except to assist her drug dealing boyfriend Lars - sometimes as his punching bag. She receives a phone call from her great-grandmother's nurse. Her great-grandmother is dead. She's left everything to Gus so she heads back to the old house and memories of her police detective mother.
I read a lot of books with sheriffs, detectives, and private investigators so the story seemed implausible that a 20 year old girl with no experience whatsoever was going to solve a cold case. Once you get past this plus the slowness of the first half, the book gets better. I wasn't enjoying myself too much until after halfway when I realized the story was coming together and I liked it. I liked the dog Levi. I really liked Gus by the end. I thought the scene with Alice in the nursing home was cute.
This debut novel is solid and I ended up liking what I was reading.
Twenty year old Augusta (Gus) leads a drifting life with no purpose except to assist her drug dealing boyfriend Lars - sometimes as his punching bag. She receives a phone call from her great-grandmother's nurse. Her great-grandmother is dead. She's left everything to Gus so she heads back to the old house and memories of her police detective mother.
I read a lot of books with sheriffs, detectives, and private investigators so the story seemed implausible that a 20 year old girl with no experience whatsoever was going to solve a cold case. Once you get past this plus the slowness of the first half, the book gets better. I wasn't enjoying myself too much until after halfway when I realized the story was coming together and I liked it. I liked the dog Levi. I really liked Gus by the end. I thought the scene with Alice in the nursing home was cute.
This debut novel is solid and I ended up liking what I was reading.
February 6, 2023
Book Blog | Bookstagram
Augusta “Gus” Monet is basically a poor, aimless girl with little to her name and an abusive, shady boyfriend. When her grandmother dies, Gus comes into a little (seriously, very little) inheritance in the form of a rundown house and whatever is inside of it, including an old dog named Levi. And the dog is honestly the best part of the whole novel, but I did spend a lot of time being paranoid something terrible was going to happen to him. If you're the kind of person who (like me) needs to know if the dog dies going into a story click here ->
Gus takes the opportunity to leave her shit boyfriend behind and move into her Grandma’s house, which is exactly what I would have done. But it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s leaving trouble behind.
Gus stumbles, as one does, upon an old police case involving a deserted town, a dead child and a powerful local family. Her detective mother was working on that mystery right before she died unexpectedly. Gus picks up where her mother left off and this takes us all over the Niagara and Ottawa areas discovering secrets, abandoned places that should definitely be haunted and a creepy pseudo-uncle who is also a stupid cop. And I’m not saying that like, “cops are stupid,” though some of them are. I’m saying it like, this guy was seriously bad at his job.
This is definitely gloomy, but it never really kicks up the sinister feels that I felt were missing. It's definitely a slow-burn if I’ve ever read one. While I did like the characters and the setting, I’m not sure I loved the execution. And at almost 500 pages, it was just a little too indulgent. Even when the pace picks up, the plotting of events seems to drag on. You get the sense that something seriously exciting is coming, but nothing ever does.
Honestly, it pains me to say, but I think it might be just a bit too Canadian. It’s too nice. It’s tiptoeing around unsavoury topics. That just makes it too polite. But it has its moments of suspense.
For me, it was too long and sacrificed thrills for politeness, but it was still an interesting read with prose that flow so naturally, and amazing character building.
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded down
Augusta “Gus” Monet is basically a poor, aimless girl with little to her name and an abusive, shady boyfriend. When her grandmother dies, Gus comes into a little (seriously, very little) inheritance in the form of a rundown house and whatever is inside of it, including an old dog named Levi. And the dog is honestly the best part of the whole novel, but I did spend a lot of time being paranoid something terrible was going to happen to him. If you're the kind of person who (like me) needs to know if the dog dies going into a story click here ->
Gus takes the opportunity to leave her shit boyfriend behind and move into her Grandma’s house, which is exactly what I would have done. But it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s leaving trouble behind.
Gus stumbles, as one does, upon an old police case involving a deserted town, a dead child and a powerful local family. Her detective mother was working on that mystery right before she died unexpectedly. Gus picks up where her mother left off and this takes us all over the Niagara and Ottawa areas discovering secrets, abandoned places that should definitely be haunted and a creepy pseudo-uncle who is also a stupid cop. And I’m not saying that like, “cops are stupid,” though some of them are. I’m saying it like, this guy was seriously bad at his job.
This is definitely gloomy, but it never really kicks up the sinister feels that I felt were missing. It's definitely a slow-burn if I’ve ever read one. While I did like the characters and the setting, I’m not sure I loved the execution. And at almost 500 pages, it was just a little too indulgent. Even when the pace picks up, the plotting of events seems to drag on. You get the sense that something seriously exciting is coming, but nothing ever does.
Honestly, it pains me to say, but I think it might be just a bit too Canadian. It’s too nice. It’s tiptoeing around unsavoury topics. That just makes it too polite. But it has its moments of suspense.
For me, it was too long and sacrificed thrills for politeness, but it was still an interesting read with prose that flow so naturally, and amazing character building.
⭐⭐⭐½ | 3.5 stars rounded down
October 18, 2020
This is a great debut.
Although the pace is slow the storyline is quite intriguing.
I enjoyed the writing style and the structure and I found the main character to be quite interesting and I wouldn’t mind reading a sequel to see how she will mature.
The ending felt rushed but I found it acceptable.
Although the pace is slow the storyline is quite intriguing.
I enjoyed the writing style and the structure and I found the main character to be quite interesting and I wouldn’t mind reading a sequel to see how she will mature.
The ending felt rushed but I found it acceptable.
June 28, 2020
I love small town thrillers and this one certainly did it for me. It was quite the atmospheric read that I buried my nose into this weekend!
Augusta ‘Gus’ Monet learns that her great grandmother—her last living relative—has just died, and returns to her hometown. She inherits an old house, and an old dog named Levi. In her grandmother’s house she discovers some cold case files belonging to her mother who was a detective that died when Gus was eight. A recently discovered body links to her mother’s investigation. Gus’ obsession also unearths and stirs up long buried secrets that risks her life.
Tallo wrote an addictive, suspenseful and thrilling novel that peeled the layers of the story so perfectly with the right pacing that had me on the edge of my seat. I definitely could see this book in a movie one day and that would be amazing.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and recommend for thriller lovers!!
Augusta ‘Gus’ Monet learns that her great grandmother—her last living relative—has just died, and returns to her hometown. She inherits an old house, and an old dog named Levi. In her grandmother’s house she discovers some cold case files belonging to her mother who was a detective that died when Gus was eight. A recently discovered body links to her mother’s investigation. Gus’ obsession also unearths and stirs up long buried secrets that risks her life.
Tallo wrote an addictive, suspenseful and thrilling novel that peeled the layers of the story so perfectly with the right pacing that had me on the edge of my seat. I definitely could see this book in a movie one day and that would be amazing.
Overall I really enjoyed this one and recommend for thriller lovers!!
September 13, 2022
An absolute cracker of a book. I loved Gus and Levi, the atmospheric setting, and the incredible, heart-pounding mystery. A fabulous, highly recommended read!
November 6, 2020
THE DETAILS✎ ❐ MY RATING➯ 3¾ STARS ❐ A HAUNTED, ALMOST SULTRY ATMOSPHERE ❐ SLOW-BURN MYSTERY ❐ ONTARIO, CANADA SETTING ❐ AMATEUR SLEUTHING ❐ ONE COOL ASS DOG NAMED LEVI & A GHOST TOWN ❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 12 HOURS, 18 MINUTES ❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY
I do love a story with a dog in it...and Levi the dog was pretty awesome...but then most dogs are.
A small-town girl goes home and stumbles upon the last case that her mother was working on before she was killed in a car accident...something about it doesn't sit right with and her so she starts digging into it...and someone seems to be determined to stop her, but who??? And far will they go to stop her?
Overall, a good solid story ...just took forever to get anywhere with it...with overly descriptive writing this was definitely a slow-burning mystery and I'm not always a fan of this style of writing. So I forgot to pay attention quite often while listening and I didn't really feel like I had missed all that much most of the time...although, I did rewind it a couple of times.
The narration was performed well by Piper Goodeve...bringing the slow almost sultry, creepily spooky atmosphere to the forefront. Admittedly, maybe a tad too much. I kept checking to see where the setting was...because it felt like this was southern gothic.
BREAKDOWN✎
Narration ➯ 4½ STARS
Plot ➯ 3.8/5
Characters ➯ 3.7/5
The Feels ➯ 3/5
Pacing ➯ 2/5
Addictiveness ➯ 3/5
Theme, Tone, or Intensity ➯ 3.5/5
Originality/Believability ➯ 3.5/5
Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 2.5/5
Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 3.5/5
Ending ➯ 3/5
SUMMATION ➯ 3½ STARS
I do love a story with a dog in it...and Levi the dog was pretty awesome...but then most dogs are.
A small-town girl goes home and stumbles upon the last case that her mother was working on before she was killed in a car accident...something about it doesn't sit right with and her so she starts digging into it...and someone seems to be determined to stop her, but who??? And far will they go to stop her?
Overall, a good solid story ...just took forever to get anywhere with it...with overly descriptive writing this was definitely a slow-burning mystery and I'm not always a fan of this style of writing. So I forgot to pay attention quite often while listening and I didn't really feel like I had missed all that much most of the time...although, I did rewind it a couple of times.
The narration was performed well by Piper Goodeve...bringing the slow almost sultry, creepily spooky atmosphere to the forefront. Admittedly, maybe a tad too much. I kept checking to see where the setting was...because it felt like this was southern gothic.
BREAKDOWN✎
Narration ➯ 4½ STARS
Plot ➯ 3.8/5
Characters ➯ 3.7/5
The Feels ➯ 3/5
Pacing ➯ 2/5
Addictiveness ➯ 3/5
Theme, Tone, or Intensity ➯ 3.5/5
Originality/Believability ➯ 3.5/5
Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 2.5/5
Twisty-ness/Mystery ➯ 3.5/5
Ending ➯ 3/5
SUMMATION ➯ 3½ STARS
November 30, 2021
I know, I know, another thriller. A female protagonist hunting down some ark secret from her past. A female author. It all sounds so familiar, like it’s been done and done and done (pun it) to death. And yet…these books when done right can be so much fun and this one, I’m happy to report, was one right. Not perfect, it’s a debut and has some debut quirks (more on that later), but really good all the same.
So meet Augusta (Gus) Monet. Beloved daughter of two cops and now a 20 year old orphan who since her mother’s death has spent 12 years going straight from boarding school to bouncing from one low rent motel to another living and assisting her small time criminal boyfriend. Now suddenly she is tracked down and told she has inherited her estranged greatgrandmother’s estate. So Gus ditches her bf, steals some cash from him and goes to claim her inheritance. Which isn’t actually even that impressive financially, but it does bring her to some of her mother’s paperwork from her last case, the one she died solving.
And, because solving crimes beats cleaning up grandma’s place to get it ready for sale, just like that, on a dime basically, Gus transforms from a fairly useless and unskilled young adult into an ambitious and surprisingly decent amateur detective. And then proceeds to NancyDrew the crap out of this old case involving a small town’s wealthiest most prominent family and their dark legacy. With the assistance of her most excellent and loyal shaggy quadruped companion, who steals scenes like they are biscuits.
Since Gus isn’t actually a trained professional (or maybe she’s just one of those stereotypical protagonists who just plows though life doing heroic deeds while everyone near them gets brutalized by their splashback), people she meets, interviews, etc. tend to end up severely messed up as a rule. Gus is a dangerous girl to know. But nowhere near as dangerous as people who are apparently after her, people who wants their secrets to stay buried as they’ve been all these years in the ashes of the fire that took an entire town with it.
Gus is aware of the dangers, but bravely/recklessly continues on, consistently putting herself in a variety of dangerous situations. Is it genetic? After all, both of her parents died young, doing dangerous things. Or is she just that dedicated? Well, the latter is a more noble option, so let’s go with that. And so follow Gus on her detective adventures which might make her stronger or might kill her. You know how these things go.
So there you have it, a murder mystery thriller. A well done one. Would I prefer a more mature protagonist? Sure. Someone who isn’t quite so impetuous and daredevilish, someone more analytical and reasonable. Or more practical for that matter. Just wait until you find out how Gus is with money. Do I buy her sudden character transformation? Well, it’s more likely that that one character who goes from a dedicated sadist with homosexual leanings suddenly turns prince charming after meeting the right young woman. So maybe the author needs to work on her character building and consistencies, but that’s fairly minor in the grand scheme of things and there are plenty of other characters who present as much more reasonable constructs. Are some of the plot elements over the top? Well, sure, but that’s the genre. The audience has read it all, it needs fresher thrills. But overall, one of my main asks for this sort of a story is for it to surprise and excite and this novel did both. It went dark (positively creepy at times with the old mansion and a burned down town), it went wild with suspense and twists and it did surprise now and again very nicely, some predicted and some whammies. And so this was that much sought after thriller that genuinely thrills. You know, the one where you can’t put it down, just have to find out what’s next. Sure, Gus is pinwheeling her arms at times just to stay on track, but her shortcomings can be excused by her youth. And her increasingly good detective skills can be admired in spite of her youth. So yeah, this was fun, Lots of fun. It even read quite quickly despite the hefty page count, paced just right. Check it out, genre fans. Recommended.
So meet Augusta (Gus) Monet. Beloved daughter of two cops and now a 20 year old orphan who since her mother’s death has spent 12 years going straight from boarding school to bouncing from one low rent motel to another living and assisting her small time criminal boyfriend. Now suddenly she is tracked down and told she has inherited her estranged greatgrandmother’s estate. So Gus ditches her bf, steals some cash from him and goes to claim her inheritance. Which isn’t actually even that impressive financially, but it does bring her to some of her mother’s paperwork from her last case, the one she died solving.
And, because solving crimes beats cleaning up grandma’s place to get it ready for sale, just like that, on a dime basically, Gus transforms from a fairly useless and unskilled young adult into an ambitious and surprisingly decent amateur detective. And then proceeds to NancyDrew the crap out of this old case involving a small town’s wealthiest most prominent family and their dark legacy. With the assistance of her most excellent and loyal shaggy quadruped companion, who steals scenes like they are biscuits.
Since Gus isn’t actually a trained professional (or maybe she’s just one of those stereotypical protagonists who just plows though life doing heroic deeds while everyone near them gets brutalized by their splashback), people she meets, interviews, etc. tend to end up severely messed up as a rule. Gus is a dangerous girl to know. But nowhere near as dangerous as people who are apparently after her, people who wants their secrets to stay buried as they’ve been all these years in the ashes of the fire that took an entire town with it.
Gus is aware of the dangers, but bravely/recklessly continues on, consistently putting herself in a variety of dangerous situations. Is it genetic? After all, both of her parents died young, doing dangerous things. Or is she just that dedicated? Well, the latter is a more noble option, so let’s go with that. And so follow Gus on her detective adventures which might make her stronger or might kill her. You know how these things go.
So there you have it, a murder mystery thriller. A well done one. Would I prefer a more mature protagonist? Sure. Someone who isn’t quite so impetuous and daredevilish, someone more analytical and reasonable. Or more practical for that matter. Just wait until you find out how Gus is with money. Do I buy her sudden character transformation? Well, it’s more likely that that one character who goes from a dedicated sadist with homosexual leanings suddenly turns prince charming after meeting the right young woman. So maybe the author needs to work on her character building and consistencies, but that’s fairly minor in the grand scheme of things and there are plenty of other characters who present as much more reasonable constructs. Are some of the plot elements over the top? Well, sure, but that’s the genre. The audience has read it all, it needs fresher thrills. But overall, one of my main asks for this sort of a story is for it to surprise and excite and this novel did both. It went dark (positively creepy at times with the old mansion and a burned down town), it went wild with suspense and twists and it did surprise now and again very nicely, some predicted and some whammies. And so this was that much sought after thriller that genuinely thrills. You know, the one where you can’t put it down, just have to find out what’s next. Sure, Gus is pinwheeling her arms at times just to stay on track, but her shortcomings can be excused by her youth. And her increasingly good detective skills can be admired in spite of her youth. So yeah, this was fun, Lots of fun. It even read quite quickly despite the hefty page count, paced just right. Check it out, genre fans. Recommended.
October 4, 2020
Thank you, Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read this book!
This is the PERFECT October read! Dark August by Katie Tallo is a small-town crime thriller. Augusta Monet goes by Gus. She hasn’t been home in years. Her mother was a detective and she died when she was younger. However, she receives word that her grandmother died and left her an inheritance. So she returns home and while going through her family’s possessions she comes across her mother’s old case that haunted her until her death. Gus picks up where her mother left off but little does she know that investigating will put her in danger. The same danger that killed her mother…
This book has mystery, suspense, and corruption! This mystery spans generations in this small-town. Gus is the only one who can connect all the dots. One of my favorite aspects is the detail of the town’s history. Everyone knows everyone and everyone’s secrets.
The mystery is complex and not at all predictable which is a huge plus! However, this book is pretty slow. There are moments that just drag on for too long. However, I kept going because my favorite character is the dog. I feel like he is the reason a lot of plot points come to pass. And the dog is always the best part of any novel. So overall, I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
This is the PERFECT October read! Dark August by Katie Tallo is a small-town crime thriller. Augusta Monet goes by Gus. She hasn’t been home in years. Her mother was a detective and she died when she was younger. However, she receives word that her grandmother died and left her an inheritance. So she returns home and while going through her family’s possessions she comes across her mother’s old case that haunted her until her death. Gus picks up where her mother left off but little does she know that investigating will put her in danger. The same danger that killed her mother…
This book has mystery, suspense, and corruption! This mystery spans generations in this small-town. Gus is the only one who can connect all the dots. One of my favorite aspects is the detail of the town’s history. Everyone knows everyone and everyone’s secrets.
The mystery is complex and not at all predictable which is a huge plus! However, this book is pretty slow. There are moments that just drag on for too long. However, I kept going because my favorite character is the dog. I feel like he is the reason a lot of plot points come to pass. And the dog is always the best part of any novel. So overall, I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
July 16, 2020
A very good debut mystery novel. A young girl's great grandmother passes away and she decides to return home to claim her inheritance. Upon her arrival to her hometown, she decides to reconnect with her past and investigates her mother’s death. A kind of gothic novel with an extravagant and well crafted mystery. It starts as a pure paper trail investigation that eventually turns into a somewhat violent affair as she begins to discover the secrets of a town destroyed by environmental disaster. I am not a big fan of “flashbacks”, since they tend to breakup the story line because they distract from the main story. I found myself annoyed at times by the flashbacks in this book. Do not get me wrong the book was still fascinating and I loved the main character and the smooth writing. I am looking forward to the author’s next book.
July 18, 2020
Sadly, I am very disappointed with this book. I am not sure if it was because the previous posters raved about it or because the ending was so macabre and a reminiscent of "Psycho." Also, there were a quite a few things that seemed so unrelatable for a story that is supposed to be taking place in 2018. For example, Calling 411 to find someone's address? 411 does not anymore. If you want to find an address you just Google it, look in Whitepages.com or pay for Spokeo.com. The notion of a check being made out to cash sitting around for 5 years is also laughable. Checks go stalemate after 60 days. Using the phrase "like a record skipping" is only relatable to individuals over 30. Gus takes a taxi? A 20 year old in the year 2018 would take an Uber or a Lyft not a taxi. Do they actually give liver transplants to dogs? And how did they just happen to have a liver donor available immediately? Perhaps I am missing a whole genre on the life saving measures available to animals. Gus goes to Radio Shack for help with how to use a memory stick? Radio shack is as outdated as trying to call 411. She would most likely go to BestBuy or a FedEx Kinkos for help. It seems like this book was written eons ago and the author was too lazy to update it and bring it into the 21st century. Hence, Gus not knowing how to use modern technology. And for the PP's who did not see the plot twist coming...apparently you don't read enough to be able to anticipate those things. It ALWAYS the characters you least expect! Geesh! I was so excited to read this book and now I just feel meh... about it.
September 14, 2020
Far too long, far too silly, and, ultimately, far too nice to be a satisfying thriller. But Ms. Tallo's desire to protect her main characters from anything too terrible compels me to forgive her for the chapter-length exposition, hysterically convenient placement of major pieces of evidence ("what is this solid rectangular object in the freezer where I just stuck my face to overcome the sedative I've been given?"), and sentence fragments. Lots of them. As if the author couldn't wait to finish the book either. But the heroine teams up with a dog named Levi, and the last person thanked in the acknowledgments is the author's own recently deceased pup Levi. I can't be too mean.
February 26, 2020
Amazing debut novel! It started a little slow (honestly, I started and stopped several times before I finally just sat down and read all the way through), but then .... non-stop reading. Enjoyed the mystery and the twists & turns. I did figure out a couple of the twists but it didn't detract my enjoyment of the story. Great story, great characters, great plot. I can't wait to see what this new author comes up with next!
Thank you #netgalley and #HarperCollins Publishers for the eARC.
Thank you #netgalley and #HarperCollins Publishers for the eARC.
September 12, 2020
Many thanks to Harper for the advance copy of Dark August!
3.5 Stars, rounded up.
As some others have stated, it was a bit slow going at the beginning of the book. However, once it got going I became totally drawn into the story. I absolutely loved Levi, the dog. (Of course!) And I loved how Gus's present-day story started blending with her mom's story from the past as Gus followed the leads her mom had left behind from the last case she was working on before she died.
I hope this isn't too nit-picky but when Gus started reading Gracie's diary from when she was 7 years old, Gracie's spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure were better than a lot of adults I know.😉
All in all, this was a solid debut and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
3.5 Stars, rounded up.
As some others have stated, it was a bit slow going at the beginning of the book. However, once it got going I became totally drawn into the story. I absolutely loved Levi, the dog. (Of course!) And I loved how Gus's present-day story started blending with her mom's story from the past as Gus followed the leads her mom had left behind from the last case she was working on before she died.
I hope this isn't too nit-picky but when Gus started reading Gracie's diary from when she was 7 years old, Gracie's spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure were better than a lot of adults I know.😉
All in all, this was a solid debut and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Read
July 19, 2020This is a DNF for me at page 150, so I will not rate it. The DNF is enough. Although the writing was not bad, my interest was flagging greatly, and, at 437 pages long, I did not have the motivation to slog through it.
February 1, 2020
The description of this book really caught my attention along with the beautiful cover. I love a suspense, or thriller, genre of book. This was right up my alley!
Gus inherits her great grandmothers house when she passes and finds information on an old cold case file her mother hid in her childhood trunk. Gus cant help herself and starts following in her mothers footsteps. It did start a little slow for my taste. It didnt really pick up until close to 30% into the book. Id love a quicker start to the suspense on this. I am glad I stuck it out though because Katie Tallo sure knows how to weave in insanely intricate story with ties to things and people you'd never expected or guessed!
I loved the main character and her juxtaposition to her parents as the story starts and how she evolves throughout following this cold case. She is a likable character who had a hard childhood.and she really grows on you. Her dog is also my other favorite character! Levi is a real gem and a great sidekick for Gus.
Overall I would highly recommend this book as long as you are ok with a fairly slow build up, in my opinion. Fantastic plot, great world building, and beautiful wrap up to the story and characters.
Gus inherits her great grandmothers house when she passes and finds information on an old cold case file her mother hid in her childhood trunk. Gus cant help herself and starts following in her mothers footsteps. It did start a little slow for my taste. It didnt really pick up until close to 30% into the book. Id love a quicker start to the suspense on this. I am glad I stuck it out though because Katie Tallo sure knows how to weave in insanely intricate story with ties to things and people you'd never expected or guessed!
I loved the main character and her juxtaposition to her parents as the story starts and how she evolves throughout following this cold case. She is a likable character who had a hard childhood.and she really grows on you. Her dog is also my other favorite character! Levi is a real gem and a great sidekick for Gus.
Overall I would highly recommend this book as long as you are ok with a fairly slow build up, in my opinion. Fantastic plot, great world building, and beautiful wrap up to the story and characters.
September 5, 2020
First off this is a debut novel.
This Canadian author is amazing! Love the Tim Hortons references and Canadiana lingo.
Augusta Monet, is a 20 year old who returns to her great-grandmother’s hometown, upon her death. Augusta (Gus) has had a traumatic childhood where her mother and father were killed as RCMP officers. She delves into their history as well as a corrupt family living within the town. Gus becomes obsessed and can trust no one.
This would of been 5 stars but it started slow. It does warm up; so much so, that parts at the end of the book had me a little squeamish. No punches were held. A well written suspense and mystery.
All that, and the cutest little lovable dog named Levi. 🥰
This Canadian author is amazing! Love the Tim Hortons references and Canadiana lingo.
Augusta Monet, is a 20 year old who returns to her great-grandmother’s hometown, upon her death. Augusta (Gus) has had a traumatic childhood where her mother and father were killed as RCMP officers. She delves into their history as well as a corrupt family living within the town. Gus becomes obsessed and can trust no one.
This would of been 5 stars but it started slow. It does warm up; so much so, that parts at the end of the book had me a little squeamish. No punches were held. A well written suspense and mystery.
All that, and the cutest little lovable dog named Levi. 🥰
April 11, 2022
“Dark August” is a clever play on words, describing a time, as well as the the main character August “Gus” Monet’s state of mind at the book’s outset.
Gus has been hanging out with a low level criminal for some years, and we soon find out she’s the child of a single mum who was a RCMP detective, before her mother died in a car accident when Gus was a child. Before that, Gus’ mother had become obsessed with some cases, including one of a girl around Gus’ age, to the extent that Gus was very jealous of what little time her mother gave her.
When Gus is notified that her great grandmother Rose has died and left her something, Gus returns to Rose’s crumbling and neglected home, reuniting with her mother’s now old dog Levi, whom Gus refuses to initially care about as she felt Levi was adopted to salve her mother’s guilt over all the time she was spending away from Gus.
When Gus finds her mother’s case files on some old investigations, she begins following up on the one about the missing girl, as the case took place in Elgin, located not that far away. Gus unearths information about the girl’s family, wealthy and prominent in the town, and finds several things tied to the case: resource extraction and the environmental disaster it caused in the town, business and police corruption, deaths, neglected children, and increasing numbers of accidents amongst the people Gus talks to. The whole thing wraps up with a violent confrontation when Gus solves the case.
The story has enough twists and turns to keep me happy, as well as a main character full of anger over her resentment and incomprehension over her mother’s actions long ago. Gus’ progression from who she is at the beginning of the book to who she becomes by undertaking her own investigation was believable. Though the culprits weren’t that hard to deduce, the book held my attention. And Levi was a standout.
Gus has been hanging out with a low level criminal for some years, and we soon find out she’s the child of a single mum who was a RCMP detective, before her mother died in a car accident when Gus was a child. Before that, Gus’ mother had become obsessed with some cases, including one of a girl around Gus’ age, to the extent that Gus was very jealous of what little time her mother gave her.
When Gus is notified that her great grandmother Rose has died and left her something, Gus returns to Rose’s crumbling and neglected home, reuniting with her mother’s now old dog Levi, whom Gus refuses to initially care about as she felt Levi was adopted to salve her mother’s guilt over all the time she was spending away from Gus.
When Gus finds her mother’s case files on some old investigations, she begins following up on the one about the missing girl, as the case took place in Elgin, located not that far away. Gus unearths information about the girl’s family, wealthy and prominent in the town, and finds several things tied to the case: resource extraction and the environmental disaster it caused in the town, business and police corruption, deaths, neglected children, and increasing numbers of accidents amongst the people Gus talks to. The whole thing wraps up with a violent confrontation when Gus solves the case.
The story has enough twists and turns to keep me happy, as well as a main character full of anger over her resentment and incomprehension over her mother’s actions long ago. Gus’ progression from who she is at the beginning of the book to who she becomes by undertaking her own investigation was believable. Though the culprits weren’t that hard to deduce, the book held my attention. And Levi was a standout.
April 15, 2020
This is the story of a young woman age 21 named Augusta (Gus) for short. Her great grandmother dies and the housekeeper calls her home to take care of things. Early morning she slips out leaving her loser drug dealing boyfriend relieving him of $400 and heading for a town in Canada.
Gus, an orphan lost her parents both in tragic accidents. She stayed with her grandmother for a time, but due to the housekeepers whining she was carted off to boarding school, and once she was kicked out, she made a new life and never returned home. Her new life however was full of criminal activity, so once again she runs.
Her mom was a cop obsessed with a wealthy man and his dirty dealings. In Gus' old trunk she finds the case that her mother worked on an totally ignored her for. Gus takes it upon herself to find out what all these articles and people mean to one another, and what the great mystery is. This gets her in deep trouble with local law enforcement, and concerned others.
Who is the little ballerina in the pink tutu? Who is the man in the hoodie with the cauliflower ear? What does the mineral rights deed have to do with these people? But most importantly is how and why did her mother drive her car into a lake? Was it an accident, suicide, or murder? Why did the town of Elgin burn?
This story is jam packed with mystery, and can chill you to the bone in pars. A thriller I couldn't put down, I had to answer all the question. Some of it I figured out, but some I didn't unveil until the end. I was thoroughly intrigued and captivated by this tale.
I was given this story in exchange for a fair but honest review, all opinions are totally my own and have no ill intent towards the author, publisher or promoters of this book. I loved it.
Gus, an orphan lost her parents both in tragic accidents. She stayed with her grandmother for a time, but due to the housekeepers whining she was carted off to boarding school, and once she was kicked out, she made a new life and never returned home. Her new life however was full of criminal activity, so once again she runs.
Her mom was a cop obsessed with a wealthy man and his dirty dealings. In Gus' old trunk she finds the case that her mother worked on an totally ignored her for. Gus takes it upon herself to find out what all these articles and people mean to one another, and what the great mystery is. This gets her in deep trouble with local law enforcement, and concerned others.
Who is the little ballerina in the pink tutu? Who is the man in the hoodie with the cauliflower ear? What does the mineral rights deed have to do with these people? But most importantly is how and why did her mother drive her car into a lake? Was it an accident, suicide, or murder? Why did the town of Elgin burn?
This story is jam packed with mystery, and can chill you to the bone in pars. A thriller I couldn't put down, I had to answer all the question. Some of it I figured out, but some I didn't unveil until the end. I was thoroughly intrigued and captivated by this tale.
I was given this story in exchange for a fair but honest review, all opinions are totally my own and have no ill intent towards the author, publisher or promoters of this book. I loved it.
January 30, 2020
I read the first couple of chapters of this book and almost didn't continue. The story is written in third-person PRESENT tense, which I do not enjoy. Additionally, I found the author's writing style offputting. Only because I was given an ARC of this novel by NetGalley and the publisher did I feel obligated to push on....And I'm glad I did.
With each chapter, the story gained momentum and turned into a captivating and well-crafted suspense novel that was hard to put down. Our protagonists, 20-year-old Gus and her dog, Levi, were easy to root for and care about. Though I guessed the key villains' identities, there were still a couple of twists--one in particular--that I didn't see coming, and they delighted me. I also enjoyed how Tallo pivoted each chapter around a person or place. All in all, this is a well above average and unique thriller.
With each chapter, the story gained momentum and turned into a captivating and well-crafted suspense novel that was hard to put down. Our protagonists, 20-year-old Gus and her dog, Levi, were easy to root for and care about. Though I guessed the key villains' identities, there were still a couple of twists--one in particular--that I didn't see coming, and they delighted me. I also enjoyed how Tallo pivoted each chapter around a person or place. All in all, this is a well above average and unique thriller.
February 1, 2020
With a lead character named Monet, I expected Dark August to be written in a subdued, atmospheric style reminiscent of the painter with the same name. Instead, Dark August is more reminiscent of Seurat. Katie Tallo paints with words. Vivid dots that pack an emotional punch. The staccato style is full of gripping, raw emotion that will keep you turning the pages. Once Katie Tallo has laid the last dot you will appreciate Dark August for what it is – a masterpiece.
March 14, 2020
A fantastic debut! This was incredibly well written and suspenseful. I was thoroughly perplexed by the mystery and enjoyed the first hand seat as it unraveled. This was an edge of my seat read with a very satisfactory ending. The twists were well timed and caught me by surprise. I am wholly impressed by this debut and look forward to reading more by this author! My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
February 12, 2020
A great read! Intensely raw and suspenseful story that will keep you up reading into all hours. The intimate connections to the characters and surrounding areas of Ottawa makes this book extra special. Having known Katie for many years, it's exciting (but no surprise) to see her creativity and sharp literary skills come to life on these pages. So proud! Highly recommend!
February 16, 2020
Wow! This was really good! I knew within the first 5 pages it would be a story I couldn’t put down. And I was right. The story telling is amazing and the characters are real. Lots of twists and turns. Was going to give it four stars but the last 10% of the book catapulted it. Very, very good! Will definitely recommend to friends to read! #netgalley #darkaugust
May 20, 2022
What It's About:
Set in Elgin, Ontario, Augusta (Gus) Monet, returns to her hometown upon learning the passing of her great-grandmother. Soon after finds herself trying to solve a cold case belonged to her detective mother who died in a car accident when Gus was just a little girl.
My thoughts: I really liked the small town mystery element in the story. It was labyrinthe yet straightforward (not sure if this makes sense!). Gus' investigation into the cold case and her mother's death were really interesting. The plot thickens with every piece of the puzzle she finds. It was like layers and layers of mystery and this kept me invested in the story.
I personally felt this was more of a character driven story with good characters depth. There was a lot of characters which I find pretty challenging to keep up at times. As much as I liked the plot, the story did slow down and dragged a bit in the middle.
Regardless, I ended up liking this story. The mystery was pretty good with some twists in it and Gus is a character that will grow on you. Oh yes, there is also an old dog named Levi and you will fall in love in him!
My thoughts: I really liked the small town mystery element in the story. It was labyrinthe yet straightforward (not sure if this makes sense!). Gus' investigation into the cold case and her mother's death were really interesting. The plot thickens with every piece of the puzzle she finds. It was like layers and layers of mystery and this kept me invested in the story.
I personally felt this was more of a character driven story with good characters depth. There was a lot of characters which I find pretty challenging to keep up at times. As much as I liked the plot, the story did slow down and dragged a bit in the middle.
Regardless, I ended up liking this story. The mystery was pretty good with some twists in it and Gus is a character that will grow on you. Oh yes, there is also an old dog named Levi and you will fall in love in him!
February 7, 2021
I got quite wrapped up in this thriller pretty much from the beginning, possibly because it takes place in and around Ottawa, so the constant references and details were super-interesting to me. And I also quite enjoyed the mystery. Augusta Monet is a 20 year old who, after her great-grandmother dies, returns to Ottawa and starts looking into why and how her mother died years earlier. I didn't really connect with Augusta but I was rooting for her! The writing is fine, nothing to say either way about it. Good story, good setting, and good pace.
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