What do you think?
Rate this book
Abigail Boone #2
After Dark
A girl held captive her entire life
After a shocking discovery, the police must unravel a mystery that horrifies the nation.
A detective condemned as a criminal
Violently abducted while searching for a missing woman, D.S. Abigail Boone suffered retrograde amnesia - remembering nothing of her previous life. Defying the law to hunt those responsible, she now languishes behind bars.
A monster hiding in the shadows
In desperation, police turn to Boone - who fears a connection to the disappearance of a child three decades earlier...and a mysterious underworld figure whose name is spoken only in whispers.
Freed from prison, what will Boone sacrifice - and who must she become - to uncover the terrifying truth?
After a shocking discovery, the police must unravel a mystery that horrifies the nation.
A detective condemned as a criminal
Violently abducted while searching for a missing woman, D.S. Abigail Boone suffered retrograde amnesia - remembering nothing of her previous life. Defying the law to hunt those responsible, she now languishes behind bars.
A monster hiding in the shadows
In desperation, police turn to Boone - who fears a connection to the disappearance of a child three decades earlier...and a mysterious underworld figure whose name is spoken only in whispers.
Freed from prison, what will Boone sacrifice - and who must she become - to uncover the terrifying truth?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2020
20 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Dominic Nolan
12 books39 followersDominic Nolan is a British author, known for the Abigail Boone series of crime novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 5, 2020
This was such a fantastic read – immediately immersive and a genuine page turner – Abigail Boone as a character is just utterly engaging with her own peculiar sense of justice and an ironic outlook on life.
After the first in this series I was already hooked – After Dark was, if anything, even better, with an emotionally resonant central story, a mystery element that twists and turns in very human and thought provoking ways, it is exquisitely crafted to keep you in that world from first page to last.
The character relationships are cleverly intertwined and it is an unpredictable, edgy read mostly down to Abigail who never quite does what you think she’ll do.
Overall this was brilliant. I am anticipating the next with much glee. Dark and intelligent just as I like them.
Highly Recommended.
After the first in this series I was already hooked – After Dark was, if anything, even better, with an emotionally resonant central story, a mystery element that twists and turns in very human and thought provoking ways, it is exquisitely crafted to keep you in that world from first page to last.
The character relationships are cleverly intertwined and it is an unpredictable, edgy read mostly down to Abigail who never quite does what you think she’ll do.
Overall this was brilliant. I am anticipating the next with much glee. Dark and intelligent just as I like them.
Highly Recommended.
March 9, 2020
Tragic and lyrical. After Dark is an immersion into grey waters. Is it an enjoyable read? No. We crime fiction lovers, sometimes discover stories that are too dark to be enjoyable or fun. We get our escapism through the thrill of danger and the exploration of the depths of the human mind. My favourite mazes are the ones home to real-life monsters. To face them, writers must create protagonists strong enough to make their reader root for them, or at least, care. I often find one character whose side I’ll take. I usually appreciate intricate plots.
This time, I loved everything. And I almost hated loving reading this book so much. Conflicting emotions fought for over three hundred pages as I was drawn into a world that felt so close to mine it hurt.
When asked what you would consider the worst thing to happen, what would you choose? Having your life stolen and being left to the most horrendous fate? Being turned into a hunter after having faced one too many atrocities? Watch your life crumble when you become a collateral in a war you are not a part of?
To be honest, all answers are valid. Each bring their suitcase of pain that characters have to drag along.
You are probably wondering what I am talking about. Aren’t I supposed to be discussing After Dark, Dominic Nolan’s latest book? I AM. Here is the state I am in right after I finished reading. I won’t tweak my review, because I am a firm believer that throwing all your emotions onto paper (or a screen) is the way to convey your most honest feelings. No time to think too much about how to introduce an element. No over-analysis (I hope) Just the naked truth of how a novel has affected you. Well, I drowned in the waves of After Dark. I kept my eyes out for a light, was knocked out more than once, and left feeling my skin was raw and rough, salted by the sea and the tears. If you haven’t guessed it yet, After Dark wins the ‘crime masterpiece’ award.
‘Loneliness leaked from the shadows and light beat it back into dark corners’
A little girl is found – she can’t speak, she appears to have been abused, she barely understands the world around her. DI Bowen, or Barb for friends and family, quickly comes to the conclusion she has been held captive, and soon, this new case forces her to open old doors. Literally. When hints points to an old investigation, Abigail Boone is offered an out of jail card. Like a Joker, Boone has answers and connections. I should add she is a hunter. Like a dog with a bone, she will stop at nothing to right wrongs. Her past as a police officer is light on the balance of justice, and Boone is determined to dig with all her strength for truths, to hell with procedure.
After Dark is savage. The plot will eat you alive. The characters will rip your heart out. Friendships, family, colleagues, many ties link the pawns in this game, for better and for worse. Dominic Nolan has written an intricate and powerful thriller which won’t help you find sleep. It is plunged in darkness, and we are shown the way out by an author who knows what he is doing, not going for shortcuts. On the contrary, he throws the reader into a forest plagued with traps. Losing myself in it was extraordinary cathartic and absolute torture. I was so angry at the unfairness of life that several times I caught myself thinking ‘give me a break!’ but life doesn’t, and neither does Dominic! Yet, the story is like a punch in the gut, and you want to fight back. Reading After Dark was exhilarating. With an excellent prose and a magnificent characterisation, Dominic Nolan pushed me so far I ended up blurring the lines of good and bad, justice and revenge. No black or white. I wandered a land of beautiful greys and swam in an exquisitely cold sea of pure crime.
I freaking loved this book, and you will too.
This time, I loved everything. And I almost hated loving reading this book so much. Conflicting emotions fought for over three hundred pages as I was drawn into a world that felt so close to mine it hurt.
When asked what you would consider the worst thing to happen, what would you choose? Having your life stolen and being left to the most horrendous fate? Being turned into a hunter after having faced one too many atrocities? Watch your life crumble when you become a collateral in a war you are not a part of?
To be honest, all answers are valid. Each bring their suitcase of pain that characters have to drag along.
You are probably wondering what I am talking about. Aren’t I supposed to be discussing After Dark, Dominic Nolan’s latest book? I AM. Here is the state I am in right after I finished reading. I won’t tweak my review, because I am a firm believer that throwing all your emotions onto paper (or a screen) is the way to convey your most honest feelings. No time to think too much about how to introduce an element. No over-analysis (I hope) Just the naked truth of how a novel has affected you. Well, I drowned in the waves of After Dark. I kept my eyes out for a light, was knocked out more than once, and left feeling my skin was raw and rough, salted by the sea and the tears. If you haven’t guessed it yet, After Dark wins the ‘crime masterpiece’ award.
‘Loneliness leaked from the shadows and light beat it back into dark corners’
A little girl is found – she can’t speak, she appears to have been abused, she barely understands the world around her. DI Bowen, or Barb for friends and family, quickly comes to the conclusion she has been held captive, and soon, this new case forces her to open old doors. Literally. When hints points to an old investigation, Abigail Boone is offered an out of jail card. Like a Joker, Boone has answers and connections. I should add she is a hunter. Like a dog with a bone, she will stop at nothing to right wrongs. Her past as a police officer is light on the balance of justice, and Boone is determined to dig with all her strength for truths, to hell with procedure.
After Dark is savage. The plot will eat you alive. The characters will rip your heart out. Friendships, family, colleagues, many ties link the pawns in this game, for better and for worse. Dominic Nolan has written an intricate and powerful thriller which won’t help you find sleep. It is plunged in darkness, and we are shown the way out by an author who knows what he is doing, not going for shortcuts. On the contrary, he throws the reader into a forest plagued with traps. Losing myself in it was extraordinary cathartic and absolute torture. I was so angry at the unfairness of life that several times I caught myself thinking ‘give me a break!’ but life doesn’t, and neither does Dominic! Yet, the story is like a punch in the gut, and you want to fight back. Reading After Dark was exhilarating. With an excellent prose and a magnificent characterisation, Dominic Nolan pushed me so far I ended up blurring the lines of good and bad, justice and revenge. No black or white. I wandered a land of beautiful greys and swam in an exquisitely cold sea of pure crime.
I freaking loved this book, and you will too.
May 13, 2022
This packed quite a punch. Several punches in fact. In truth it was a little - just a little - too much. For all that I was drawn in, and was compelled to keep reading. For all that I was impressed with the plot and the writing (albeit that at times it felt like Nolan was writing with a thesaurus at hand). This was dark, pretty confusing for the first three quarters, had uncomfortable resonances and inspirations from real-life cases of child abuse and neglect about which I have read. I also found the central character to be a touch superhuman and unrealistically driven at times, another of those hero/heroine folk equipped with resources, contacts, energy always one step ahead of the police who are seeking the same bad guys. Though never completely over the top in this aspect, the top was flirted with. For all this, I did get quite a lot of enjoyment out of it as a grim but exciting ride.
February 4, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of After Dark, The second novel to feature former DS Abigail Boone.
When a young girl is found wandering the countryside DI Barb Bowen is put on the case. The girl appears to have been kept captive her entire life and has been badly abused, but more than that she appears to have links to events that Boone was convicted of an imprisoned. With no choice Barb gets Boone released to help in the investigation but she has her own agenda.
I enjoyed After Dark which has an exciting plot line and well drawn characters. It should be noted, however, that this is not a novel for the faint hearted as the little girl’s abuse is heart breaking, inhumane and horrific. The descriptions are not gratuitous but as an intrinsic part of the plot they are not glossed over either. I don’t know where the author gets his ideas from but he has a very dark imagination.
It centres around Boone and her reckless anger. A few years ago she was captured by the predators she was hunting as a detective, held captive, tortured and thrown out a window. As a result she remembers nothing before the window and has rebuilt her life based on a desire to hunt down predators. Her hunt is wild, dangerous and reckless with unforeseen consequences. I can’t identify with her but I can certainly enjoy the ride along.
The novel opens with the discovery of the girl and Boone’s release from prison and then backtracks to the events that got her convicted and a five year sentence (there fun moments in that). They are linked as becomes clear over the course of the read. It is a wild journey with lots of action and even stronger emotions and quite compelling in a disturbing way. I would like to hope that it bears no resemblance to reality but I have a strong suspicion that there are kernels of it in there.
After Dark is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
When a young girl is found wandering the countryside DI Barb Bowen is put on the case. The girl appears to have been kept captive her entire life and has been badly abused, but more than that she appears to have links to events that Boone was convicted of an imprisoned. With no choice Barb gets Boone released to help in the investigation but she has her own agenda.
I enjoyed After Dark which has an exciting plot line and well drawn characters. It should be noted, however, that this is not a novel for the faint hearted as the little girl’s abuse is heart breaking, inhumane and horrific. The descriptions are not gratuitous but as an intrinsic part of the plot they are not glossed over either. I don’t know where the author gets his ideas from but he has a very dark imagination.
It centres around Boone and her reckless anger. A few years ago she was captured by the predators she was hunting as a detective, held captive, tortured and thrown out a window. As a result she remembers nothing before the window and has rebuilt her life based on a desire to hunt down predators. Her hunt is wild, dangerous and reckless with unforeseen consequences. I can’t identify with her but I can certainly enjoy the ride along.
The novel opens with the discovery of the girl and Boone’s release from prison and then backtracks to the events that got her convicted and a five year sentence (there fun moments in that). They are linked as becomes clear over the course of the read. It is a wild journey with lots of action and even stronger emotions and quite compelling in a disturbing way. I would like to hope that it bears no resemblance to reality but I have a strong suspicion that there are kernels of it in there.
After Dark is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 1, 2023
Very, very good. It's a sequel (to 'Past Life') but can easily be read as a standalone, thanks to a very clever recap in the opening chapter. Once that's been dealt with, we're back into the fascinating story of former detective Abigail Boone and her dogged pursuit of those responsible for stripping away from her any memory, personal or professional, of her life before the attack which almost ended it.
She makes for an absolutely compelling central character because the author makes no attempt at all to gloss over her failings. Boone is impulsive, irascible, driven, almost impossible to live with but she is honest with herself throughout and totally consistent in her response to the challenges life has imposed on her. I found myself wanting to scream at her on occasions but always rooting for her to hunt down those responsible for the havoc that haunts her.
The front cover makes the usual irritating and extravagant suggestion that Dominic Nolan might be Britain's Michael Connelly. He doesn't need that sort of fatuous promotional gimmick. He's a good enough writer to stand on his own talent and make a very big name for himself. He's already established himself, as far as I'm concerned, and I'll be ready for his next book the moment it's available.
She makes for an absolutely compelling central character because the author makes no attempt at all to gloss over her failings. Boone is impulsive, irascible, driven, almost impossible to live with but she is honest with herself throughout and totally consistent in her response to the challenges life has imposed on her. I found myself wanting to scream at her on occasions but always rooting for her to hunt down those responsible for the havoc that haunts her.
The front cover makes the usual irritating and extravagant suggestion that Dominic Nolan might be Britain's Michael Connelly. He doesn't need that sort of fatuous promotional gimmick. He's a good enough writer to stand on his own talent and make a very big name for himself. He's already established himself, as far as I'm concerned, and I'll be ready for his next book the moment it's available.
March 5, 2020
This is the second book in this series. I’ve not read the first book and followed it ok.
When a young girl is found hurt and curled up on a road in the countryside Barb is asked to investigate.
The girl has been badly abused and is unable to speak. Barb soon realises there’s links to Boone who is currently in prison.
Despite her reservations, Barb gets Boone released to help in the investigation but she has her own ideas.
I really enjoyed this book even though the changing timelines were a bit confusing sometimes.
I was intrigued by Boone at first and think she’s a great character in this book.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
When a young girl is found hurt and curled up on a road in the countryside Barb is asked to investigate.
The girl has been badly abused and is unable to speak. Barb soon realises there’s links to Boone who is currently in prison.
Despite her reservations, Barb gets Boone released to help in the investigation but she has her own ideas.
I really enjoyed this book even though the changing timelines were a bit confusing sometimes.
I was intrigued by Boone at first and think she’s a great character in this book.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
May 7, 2020
If you're not aware of the Abigail Boone series, it revolves around a detective who (in Past Lives) goes missing for a number of days, only to be found and suffering from retrograde amnesia - she can't remember anything prior to going missing. After a deadly investigation, we are lead here, recently freed from prison Abigail. After a young girl has been found in a wooded area, Abigail's knowledge is needed to crack the case. With entwining links to Boone's kidnapping, she is the only one that can assist. The world created by Dominic Nolan, has just got a whole lot darker! After Dark is written in parts, where it's flicked between the present day and Abigail's life after the kidnapping - I feel this provides the reader with a much broader perception of Boone's motivation to end all this. I also think it makes it easier for a new reader to understand the going on if they've not read book 1.
The storyline is horrifyingly dark, containing a number of issues including historical abuse, kidnapping and violence. A read that will hold your attention, like a traumatic train wreck that you just can't stop thinking about, a read that you need to put down to allow yourself to breathe but written in such a way that you just can't. Dominic Nolan has a twisted talent in writing psychological thrillers that tick every single box from action, to a ballsy protagonist who you can't help but rally behind and an adrenaline inducing notion. Imagine losing your memory, where you can only remember the darkness in your life? Wouldn't you fight for revenge and justice?!
Although Abigail Boone has become hardened by her experiences, we still see the flare of humanity within her, especially as she investigates a three decade mystery that's filled with gasping horror and dark characters lurking in the shadows. The array of secondary characters build the story up, especially as personal connections between them get shone a light upon, especially the inclusion of a bit of romance. If you add one series to your TBR this month, make it this one!
Dominic has not only created a binge worthy, thrillingly intoxicated read in After Dark, but also an addictive series with taut storylines and quality developed characters. Plots that will shock you and keep you reading, when you didn't think the Abigail Boone series couldn't get any darker, it tugs you further into the shadows.
The storyline is horrifyingly dark, containing a number of issues including historical abuse, kidnapping and violence. A read that will hold your attention, like a traumatic train wreck that you just can't stop thinking about, a read that you need to put down to allow yourself to breathe but written in such a way that you just can't. Dominic Nolan has a twisted talent in writing psychological thrillers that tick every single box from action, to a ballsy protagonist who you can't help but rally behind and an adrenaline inducing notion. Imagine losing your memory, where you can only remember the darkness in your life? Wouldn't you fight for revenge and justice?!
Although Abigail Boone has become hardened by her experiences, we still see the flare of humanity within her, especially as she investigates a three decade mystery that's filled with gasping horror and dark characters lurking in the shadows. The array of secondary characters build the story up, especially as personal connections between them get shone a light upon, especially the inclusion of a bit of romance. If you add one series to your TBR this month, make it this one!
Dominic has not only created a binge worthy, thrillingly intoxicated read in After Dark, but also an addictive series with taut storylines and quality developed characters. Plots that will shock you and keep you reading, when you didn't think the Abigail Boone series couldn't get any darker, it tugs you further into the shadows.
March 19, 2020
When a young girl is found in the countryside, badly abused and unable to communicate, DI Barb Bowen is put on the case. The girl appears to have been held captive her entire life and evidence is discovered which links the case to the events leading to the conviction of her friend and former DS, Abigail Boone. Despite her reservations, Barb arranges for Boone to be released from prison to help the investigation, but will her desire for revenge do more harm than good.
I have to be honest, when I first started reading After Dark I didn’t know if I would be able to get into the story. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and the way the book kept switching backwards and forwards in time was a bit confusing for me. This was mainly my own fault for not reading the previous book ‘Past Life’. If I had, I would have had a good understanding of the history of the characters and the events that led to their current situations in After Dark. However, I am really glad that I continued with it. I became more and more involved as the story developed, it was gritty, dark, violent and the tension towards the end was unbearable. If you like your crime fiction brutal, then this is definitely the right choice for you.
Many thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.
I have to be honest, when I first started reading After Dark I didn’t know if I would be able to get into the story. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and the way the book kept switching backwards and forwards in time was a bit confusing for me. This was mainly my own fault for not reading the previous book ‘Past Life’. If I had, I would have had a good understanding of the history of the characters and the events that led to their current situations in After Dark. However, I am really glad that I continued with it. I became more and more involved as the story developed, it was gritty, dark, violent and the tension towards the end was unbearable. If you like your crime fiction brutal, then this is definitely the right choice for you.
Many thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.
April 5, 2022
This has been sitting on my to be read pile since July, saving itself, because I knew the first time of reading was to be savoured, and I wanted to eke out the wait. And this didn't disappoint. I was better prepared for the impact of the several well-drawn characters; the complications of external relationships, and Abigail's dealing with several inner turmoils. Much less so (despite 'Past life') for the inhumanity of the events which impelled Abigail on a course of revenge. No spoilers but the ending was ... undeserved.
And, preparatory to lending, re-read.5th April 2022 Unusually, I remembered much of the action; the whodunit and the ending, none of which detracted from the pleasure of the reading: such brilliantly satisfying writing
And, preparatory to lending, re-read.5th April 2022 Unusually, I remembered much of the action; the whodunit and the ending, none of which detracted from the pleasure of the reading: such brilliantly satisfying writing
February 26, 2020
This is one of the best thrillers I have read. It is the second book to feature Abigail Boone and I would highly recommend reading the first one, Past Life, for background detail. There is enough explanation for the reader to grasp the context of Boone's background thanks to the author's skill as a writer. The book moves back and forwards in time as we discover a child abandoned in the countryside. I loved the characterisation, the action and the descriptions on this wild journey and the end left me totally surprised. I have no hesitation in recommending this well written thriller. Thanks to Net Galley and Headline for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2020
All of my reviews can be found at https://damppebbles.com/
I received a free copy of After Dark but that has in no way influenced my review.
Wow, this is some book! Gritty and unflinching, I was drawn into Boone’s world from the get-go. With a brilliantly brutal prologue, if, like me, you go into After Dark wondering what to expect from former-Detective Abigail Boone, then the scene is swiftly set. I was instantly hooked and I wanted to find out more. Now I should probably mention at this point that I haven’t read the first book in the series, Past Life but I really want to. I wanted to read it before a copy of After Dark landed in my mitts, as I had heard good things (really, really good things!) from fellow crime readers. After Dark can be read as a standalone but I think it would be beneficial to start at the beginning and follow Boone’s story from the beginning. Boone’s situation is laid clearly before the reader by the very talented Nolan but I felt as though I was missing out, like I’d arrived a little late to the party. Could just be my overexuberant sense of FOMO though!
Former Detective Abigail Boone is a masterpiece, a stand-out character among her crime-fighting peers. If you’re a regular reader of crime fiction then I can assure you that you’ve not met anyone like Boone before. Boone suffers from retrograde amnesia following an accident which could have killed her. The first chunk of her life not even a distant memory. Just a big fat blank. The accident, the consequences and everything Boone lost (and in some strange ways, gained) is touched upon in the novel. Turning her back on the Force, Boone opts to dish out her own brand of justice and it’s compelling reading. Gung-ho, violent, reckless and not for the faint hearted, Boone takes the reader on an intense and thrilling ride, and I loved it!
The story is split between the past (four or five years ago) and the present. It’s a beautifully detailed and intricate tale, but I found I had to concentrate a little more to keep tabs on where in time we were. The reason for that could be something to do with not reading Past Life first, meaning I wasn’t familiar enough with the characters and what had gone before (as previously mentioned – this will be rectified, I will be reading Past Life).
I haven’t even begun to tell you about the plot yet. There really is so much to say about this brilliant book but I’ll try and keep it brief. When a young girl is found wandering the back lanes of Kent on her own, looking malnourished and abused, DI Barbara Bowen (who is glorious!) is called in. This is the main storyline which runs through the book. The abuse the girl has been subjected to is horrific, inhuman and the stuff the very worst nightmares are made of. The author doesn’t go into detail but the abuse is discussed among the characters, conclusions are drawn and the over-riding subject matter of the book is what happened to the poor girl and the search for the monster who destroyed her. Boone is ‘sprung’ from prison early (it’s all very legal and above board) by DI Bowen in an attempt to help catch the predator, evil incarnate.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. But I think it’s worth getting a copy of Past Life and starting there so you can appreciate every brilliant moment of After Dark to it’s fullest. I need more Boone in my life. Gritty, dark, intelligent crime fiction at it’s best. Something a bit different and I flipping loved it! Nolan is definitely an author to watch out for. I’m really, really excited to see what the future holds.
I chose to read and review an ARC of After Dark. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a free copy of After Dark but that has in no way influenced my review.
Wow, this is some book! Gritty and unflinching, I was drawn into Boone’s world from the get-go. With a brilliantly brutal prologue, if, like me, you go into After Dark wondering what to expect from former-Detective Abigail Boone, then the scene is swiftly set. I was instantly hooked and I wanted to find out more. Now I should probably mention at this point that I haven’t read the first book in the series, Past Life but I really want to. I wanted to read it before a copy of After Dark landed in my mitts, as I had heard good things (really, really good things!) from fellow crime readers. After Dark can be read as a standalone but I think it would be beneficial to start at the beginning and follow Boone’s story from the beginning. Boone’s situation is laid clearly before the reader by the very talented Nolan but I felt as though I was missing out, like I’d arrived a little late to the party. Could just be my overexuberant sense of FOMO though!
Former Detective Abigail Boone is a masterpiece, a stand-out character among her crime-fighting peers. If you’re a regular reader of crime fiction then I can assure you that you’ve not met anyone like Boone before. Boone suffers from retrograde amnesia following an accident which could have killed her. The first chunk of her life not even a distant memory. Just a big fat blank. The accident, the consequences and everything Boone lost (and in some strange ways, gained) is touched upon in the novel. Turning her back on the Force, Boone opts to dish out her own brand of justice and it’s compelling reading. Gung-ho, violent, reckless and not for the faint hearted, Boone takes the reader on an intense and thrilling ride, and I loved it!
The story is split between the past (four or five years ago) and the present. It’s a beautifully detailed and intricate tale, but I found I had to concentrate a little more to keep tabs on where in time we were. The reason for that could be something to do with not reading Past Life first, meaning I wasn’t familiar enough with the characters and what had gone before (as previously mentioned – this will be rectified, I will be reading Past Life).
I haven’t even begun to tell you about the plot yet. There really is so much to say about this brilliant book but I’ll try and keep it brief. When a young girl is found wandering the back lanes of Kent on her own, looking malnourished and abused, DI Barbara Bowen (who is glorious!) is called in. This is the main storyline which runs through the book. The abuse the girl has been subjected to is horrific, inhuman and the stuff the very worst nightmares are made of. The author doesn’t go into detail but the abuse is discussed among the characters, conclusions are drawn and the over-riding subject matter of the book is what happened to the poor girl and the search for the monster who destroyed her. Boone is ‘sprung’ from prison early (it’s all very legal and above board) by DI Bowen in an attempt to help catch the predator, evil incarnate.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. But I think it’s worth getting a copy of Past Life and starting there so you can appreciate every brilliant moment of After Dark to it’s fullest. I need more Boone in my life. Gritty, dark, intelligent crime fiction at it’s best. Something a bit different and I flipping loved it! Nolan is definitely an author to watch out for. I’m really, really excited to see what the future holds.
I chose to read and review an ARC of After Dark. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 21, 2020
Strap yourself in kids, you're in for one hell of a ride with Nolan's second offering in the Abigail Boone series!
If you haven't read Past Life in which we were introduced to Boone (who was a police officer who was kidnapped whilst searching for a missing woman and suffered injuries which left her with retrograde amnesia that she has never recovered from), then I highly suggest this as it's an absolute belter of a book.
In After Dark we are four years after the events in Past Life. Boone is in prison(!) and her old colleague and friend Barb is tasked on finding out the perps who have kept a young girl in captivity all her life when she is found in a field. The girl, who they dub 'Molly' is unable to speak or communicate in any way given the abuse she has endured. Barb soon puts the pieces together that the people who kept Molly are linked to the reason that Boone is in prison...she was hunting the same men. Bringing Boone out of prison on a special service to help the police they both target the same thing...but have very different methods.
If you like your stories dark and gnarly, then invest in Nolan's work. I've not read something this captivating in the crime genre for some time. My heart once again broke for Boone and the absolutely appalling way she had been treated given what she has been victim to. I was so frustrated with Barb for viewing her in black and white and the fact that she had her 'police hat' on and judged her with the limitations of the law. She didn't understand Boone's raw emotion and (understandably) hatred for those who had robbed her of her life with a husband and son that she had no memory of.
As wrong as Boone's actions were, I was in parts rooting for her and others wanted to shake her. She only had vengence on her mind and paid no thought for the risk that Barb was taking in releasing her from prison, nor did she think of her ex husband an teenage son.
Nolan is one powerhouse of a writer. Second books in a series can sometimes be a bit of a let down, but this is one sequel that manages to pick up the relay baton and run with it.
The ending really has left me wanting more. I'm a firm Nolan fan!
A fantastic 5 star read for me.
I would like to thank Dominic Nolan and Headline for a copy of this book in an exchange for a review.
If you haven't read Past Life in which we were introduced to Boone (who was a police officer who was kidnapped whilst searching for a missing woman and suffered injuries which left her with retrograde amnesia that she has never recovered from), then I highly suggest this as it's an absolute belter of a book.
In After Dark we are four years after the events in Past Life. Boone is in prison(!) and her old colleague and friend Barb is tasked on finding out the perps who have kept a young girl in captivity all her life when she is found in a field. The girl, who they dub 'Molly' is unable to speak or communicate in any way given the abuse she has endured. Barb soon puts the pieces together that the people who kept Molly are linked to the reason that Boone is in prison...she was hunting the same men. Bringing Boone out of prison on a special service to help the police they both target the same thing...but have very different methods.
If you like your stories dark and gnarly, then invest in Nolan's work. I've not read something this captivating in the crime genre for some time. My heart once again broke for Boone and the absolutely appalling way she had been treated given what she has been victim to. I was so frustrated with Barb for viewing her in black and white and the fact that she had her 'police hat' on and judged her with the limitations of the law. She didn't understand Boone's raw emotion and (understandably) hatred for those who had robbed her of her life with a husband and son that she had no memory of.
As wrong as Boone's actions were, I was in parts rooting for her and others wanted to shake her. She only had vengence on her mind and paid no thought for the risk that Barb was taking in releasing her from prison, nor did she think of her ex husband an teenage son.
Nolan is one powerhouse of a writer. Second books in a series can sometimes be a bit of a let down, but this is one sequel that manages to pick up the relay baton and run with it.
The ending really has left me wanting more. I'm a firm Nolan fan!
A fantastic 5 star read for me.
I would like to thank Dominic Nolan and Headline for a copy of this book in an exchange for a review.
February 24, 2020
📖 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 - 𝔸𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕜 - 𝔻𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕔 ℕ𝕠𝕝𝕒𝕟
⠀
📚
Dominic Nolan is a new author to me. I requested this because I thought it sounded incredible - I didn’t realise it was the second book in a series. I have since bought Nolan’s debut novel, Past Life.
⠀
That didn’t matter though, I didn’t feel like I was missing or misunderstanding parts of the story. There was enough snippets of backstory incorporated. The further I read into this, I was putting pieces together that I imagined was covered in the first book. Of course, I still can’t wait to read it.
⠀
This book was what, 400+ pages, that also didn’t matter, I flew through this in about 24 hours. I found myself waking round with it in my hands - I literally couldn’t put it down.
Nolan’s writing is incredibly engrossing. Almost addictive. It was dark and gritty - a real rollercoaster of emotions. I found myself on the edge of my seat biting my nails as if it were unfolding before me.
I don’t think a crime novel has ever captivated me the way this one did.
⠀
My heart broke my Boone and the way she was treated by former colleagues after what had gone through. Her whole life was stripped from her. However bad some of Boone’s choices may have been, powered by her raw emotions and her vengeance - I followed her through this novel as if she were a friend.
⠀
I absolutely love books that skip in time as this was does - slipping from present day (the discovery of a young girland Boone’s release from prison) to events four years earlier, leading to her being convicted.
Sometime skipping in time can get confusing but this wasn’t the case with this one. Each chapter flowed into the next, leaving me reeling but wanting more.
⠀
It kept me guessing right up until the end and I did not see that twist coming!!!
I am a firm Nolan fan now and I can’t wait for the next one.
⠀
📚
I would like to thank Headline for sending me this proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
⠀
⠀
📚
Dominic Nolan is a new author to me. I requested this because I thought it sounded incredible - I didn’t realise it was the second book in a series. I have since bought Nolan’s debut novel, Past Life.
⠀
That didn’t matter though, I didn’t feel like I was missing or misunderstanding parts of the story. There was enough snippets of backstory incorporated. The further I read into this, I was putting pieces together that I imagined was covered in the first book. Of course, I still can’t wait to read it.
⠀
This book was what, 400+ pages, that also didn’t matter, I flew through this in about 24 hours. I found myself waking round with it in my hands - I literally couldn’t put it down.
Nolan’s writing is incredibly engrossing. Almost addictive. It was dark and gritty - a real rollercoaster of emotions. I found myself on the edge of my seat biting my nails as if it were unfolding before me.
I don’t think a crime novel has ever captivated me the way this one did.
⠀
My heart broke my Boone and the way she was treated by former colleagues after what had gone through. Her whole life was stripped from her. However bad some of Boone’s choices may have been, powered by her raw emotions and her vengeance - I followed her through this novel as if she were a friend.
⠀
I absolutely love books that skip in time as this was does - slipping from present day (the discovery of a young girland Boone’s release from prison) to events four years earlier, leading to her being convicted.
Sometime skipping in time can get confusing but this wasn’t the case with this one. Each chapter flowed into the next, leaving me reeling but wanting more.
⠀
It kept me guessing right up until the end and I did not see that twist coming!!!
I am a firm Nolan fan now and I can’t wait for the next one.
⠀
📚
I would like to thank Headline for sending me this proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
⠀
May 4, 2020
When I first met Abigail Boone in Dominic Nolan’s previous novel, Past Life, she was one of the most intriguing characters I’ve come across in crime fiction. The second book in the series, After Dark, follows on from events in the previous one, so I would recommend that you pick up the first one before diving into the second. Dominic Nolan writes these books so well, and the picturesque Kent landscape brings to life a haunting and atmospheric setting.
Abigail Boone is a former detective, but following a horrific accident during a previous investigation, she now has no memory of anything before that moment. She can’t even remember her own family. Abigail has had to rebuild her life and make the best out of a bad situation. This is what I think makes her character so unique. Abigail has had to start afresh, but you can see how painful this is for her, especially as she feels very little physical connection to her son and her former husband.
But aside from creating intriguing characters, the plot has a strong hook, and it opens with an explosive prologue which drew me into the story from the first page. In the opening chapters, a young girl has been found wandering. But what is shocking to the police and the doctors who examine her, is that she has no identification. She hasn’t developed as other children had, and there are strong suspicions that she has been kept in captivity since birth? But how has she managed to free herself? What sort of person would do something like this?
After the conclusion of the Past Life, Boone has since been in prison, but DI Barbara Brown seeks her help with the investigation at it may be linked to the case Abigail was previously involved in. But Abigail soon finds herself in even murkier waters as another woman seeks her help to find her son who went missing thirty years earlier, and it seems that the cases might be linked.
Boone is such a brilliant character who I am hoping is going to return in future books. I feel that there is a lot more to learn about her, and I’m interested to see how she will develop. I will certainly be returning to find out. After Dark is a gritty crime novel that will keep you invested in the characters and Dominic Nolan weaves together an utterly gripping plot.
Abigail Boone is a former detective, but following a horrific accident during a previous investigation, she now has no memory of anything before that moment. She can’t even remember her own family. Abigail has had to rebuild her life and make the best out of a bad situation. This is what I think makes her character so unique. Abigail has had to start afresh, but you can see how painful this is for her, especially as she feels very little physical connection to her son and her former husband.
But aside from creating intriguing characters, the plot has a strong hook, and it opens with an explosive prologue which drew me into the story from the first page. In the opening chapters, a young girl has been found wandering. But what is shocking to the police and the doctors who examine her, is that she has no identification. She hasn’t developed as other children had, and there are strong suspicions that she has been kept in captivity since birth? But how has she managed to free herself? What sort of person would do something like this?
After the conclusion of the Past Life, Boone has since been in prison, but DI Barbara Brown seeks her help with the investigation at it may be linked to the case Abigail was previously involved in. But Abigail soon finds herself in even murkier waters as another woman seeks her help to find her son who went missing thirty years earlier, and it seems that the cases might be linked.
Boone is such a brilliant character who I am hoping is going to return in future books. I feel that there is a lot more to learn about her, and I’m interested to see how she will develop. I will certainly be returning to find out. After Dark is a gritty crime novel that will keep you invested in the characters and Dominic Nolan weaves together an utterly gripping plot.
February 19, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#AfterDark #NetGalley
The title of the book almost seems like a challenge. Read or avoid 'After Dark', that is the question. Well, I read this after dark, and I am still left with at undefinable sense of melancholy that few writers seem able to evoke in the reader. There is a beauty in Nolan's writing that jars, not without affect, with the darkness at the heart of the novel. This makes 'After Dark' not only a first-class thriller, but a story that can only be told by an author with an astute understanding of the human condition. There is an innate intelligence at play between the pages of this book, that is epic in its intensity and perfectly-calibrated observations of its main protagonists. There is D.S. Abigail Boone for a start. A woman behind bars, suffering from retrograde amnesia. Boone exhibits a realism that seems to defy her fictional existence and she is the perfect, flawed anchor, for the twisty mystery that ensues with such pitch-perfect pacing. This is not a rapid, high-octane reading experience, but it is, without doubt, an engrossing detective mystery from a talented author. Nolan draws you in , almost imperceptibly to the mystery that is Abigail, and the whys just keep coming. Why is Abigail in prison? What traumas have driven her conscious mind into retreat, into the subconscious safety of amnesia? Why, more pertinently, does Abigail's fate seem to be entwinned with a young woman's reappearance after almost three decades of captivity. Why, why, why... The answers come, but not in a way I was expecting. This is largely due to Nolan's brilliance in creating an atmospheric, cerebral thriller, that has style as well as substance. A must-read and highly recommended novel.
4.5 Stars
#AfterDark #NetGalley
The title of the book almost seems like a challenge. Read or avoid 'After Dark', that is the question. Well, I read this after dark, and I am still left with at undefinable sense of melancholy that few writers seem able to evoke in the reader. There is a beauty in Nolan's writing that jars, not without affect, with the darkness at the heart of the novel. This makes 'After Dark' not only a first-class thriller, but a story that can only be told by an author with an astute understanding of the human condition. There is an innate intelligence at play between the pages of this book, that is epic in its intensity and perfectly-calibrated observations of its main protagonists. There is D.S. Abigail Boone for a start. A woman behind bars, suffering from retrograde amnesia. Boone exhibits a realism that seems to defy her fictional existence and she is the perfect, flawed anchor, for the twisty mystery that ensues with such pitch-perfect pacing. This is not a rapid, high-octane reading experience, but it is, without doubt, an engrossing detective mystery from a talented author. Nolan draws you in , almost imperceptibly to the mystery that is Abigail, and the whys just keep coming. Why is Abigail in prison? What traumas have driven her conscious mind into retreat, into the subconscious safety of amnesia? Why, more pertinently, does Abigail's fate seem to be entwinned with a young woman's reappearance after almost three decades of captivity. Why, why, why... The answers come, but not in a way I was expecting. This is largely due to Nolan's brilliance in creating an atmospheric, cerebral thriller, that has style as well as substance. A must-read and highly recommended novel.
4.5 Stars
September 1, 2025
So very bleak and dark quite often but well written with excellent characters as far as I am concerned. I read the first Boone book when it came out some years ago and it always stuck with me. It was a powerful story - cop becomes an avenger in essence. Boone (the avenging cop) is no longer a cop and is in jail. However evidence of further child abuse comes to light and it's thought that Boone may shed some light on it. She does "help" but with her own agenda which is revenge rather than the tedious wait for justice (even if it ever gets that far). Great twists too!
As said, very dark, very troubling, very well written and for me very good indeed. Nolan is a very good writer at times at least. Not all his books have worked for me and he doesn't write many sadly. I'd love another Boone story - I find her very believable (and quite deadly and not alway to the "right" person). 4.5/5 but the second half was so good I'm happily rounding it up.
As said, very dark, very troubling, very well written and for me very good indeed. Nolan is a very good writer at times at least. Not all his books have worked for me and he doesn't write many sadly. I'd love another Boone story - I find her very believable (and quite deadly and not alway to the "right" person). 4.5/5 but the second half was so good I'm happily rounding it up.
February 14, 2020
Dominic Nolan is a new author to me and on the basis of this book I’d say he’s a very talented writer. I was half way through this before I discovered there’s an earlier book with these character, but there’s enough explanation of the backstory to enable a real grasp of what’s going on. I believe a well-written series will allow the reader to pick up any book and it will stand as a story in its own right. This is exactly such a book. It’s fairly long but the tension and action never let up. I was swept along by it and enjoyed it all, horrific as some of it was. I read a lot of crime fiction and this is up there with the best. A stunningly good read.
July 24, 2020
Like the first in the series, I struggled with some of the violence and appalling sexual abuse but the character of Boone and her support network got me through; I found the characters a lot more convincing in this one and was really invested in them; consequently I was really grumpy about the additional tragedy heaped on Boone! I listened to the audiobook in the end (which is why I'm so late with the review) and the narrator was excellent. A very strong thriller with plenty of moral questions for the reader to ponder. More please.
March 12, 2022
I found this a little confusing as I started it. I then realised it is the second volume of a story started in the first which I had not read. Thankfully it became easier as time went on and the major events that had occurred earlier became explained more fully. An intricate plot with lots of characters this is certainly a lively tale with plenty going on. The main character, Abigail Boone is well drawn with a lot of sympathy shown. Mainly set in Kent this is a good start for a developing and new author.
February 14, 2020
Past Life was a cracking debut from Dominic Nolan, and After Dark picks up where that left off. I was a little disoriented to start with as the book moves back and forward in time, but once the story settles down it is thoroughly engrossing. The principal character, Boone, was a cop but she lost her memory and now investigates privately. Both the case itself and her personal life are fascinating and I look forward to further instalments.
February 14, 2020
Started reading this but found it very confusing with many characters. It kept moving back and forth in time which was also difficult to work out.
It appeared to be the 2nd book in a series and maybe this was why I couldn’t get to grips with it. I didn’t really warm to any of the characters- Boone was the heroine but even she did not really pique my interest
I read up to about 40% and then decided to give up.
It appeared to be the 2nd book in a series and maybe this was why I couldn’t get to grips with it. I didn’t really warm to any of the characters- Boone was the heroine but even she did not really pique my interest
I read up to about 40% and then decided to give up.
June 14, 2024
Lordie lord this book is depressing. I knew it would be. I already had it at home so I read it knowing it would be like this. Putting that aside, the storyline felt like it was running on a parallel line to the characters. It felt hard to root for anyone when they felt so uninvolved. So much of it happens in a quick little flashback too, atleast they tied it up satisfactorily. No loose ends and what ifs. Happy to say goodbye to this series here.
July 25, 2025
Second in the series about Abigail Boone the main protagonist of book 1, a former police office who lost her memory after being abducted by seriously bad villains. In the second book events from the past still continue to affect her and those around her and we start the book with her in prison and getting early release to help the police. I really hope this character will return although looks like this might be the end . Definitely a good read.
March 5, 2020
This is book two in the Abigail Boone series. Although I didn’t read book one I was able to jump straight into this story.
This is a superb read by this author. I inhaled this in a day as in all honesty I couldn’t put it down.
The storyline is brilliant, it’s unique but not a story for everyone due to the content.
This will be one of my top reads this year without a doubt.
This is a superb read by this author. I inhaled this in a day as in all honesty I couldn’t put it down.
The storyline is brilliant, it’s unique but not a story for everyone due to the content.
This will be one of my top reads this year without a doubt.
April 27, 2025
I picked this up from the library while browsing the shelves. As I was it I was confused, the author was referring to past events that she hadn't alluded to anywhere. I kept checking the cover and info page but no wherer did it say this was book 2. I now see this is book two (grrr) and I wished I read book one. But for anyone who knows the history of the main character, this is a good read.
August 4, 2025
I’m yet to be convinced by Dominic Nolan’s crime novels. The first half of After Dark was a little slow and repetitive. The second half was thrilling.
I shall persevere.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War, The Summer of ‘39 (all published by Sacristy Press) and Ordinary Heroes (published by I M Books)
I shall persevere.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War, The Summer of ‘39 (all published by Sacristy Press) and Ordinary Heroes (published by I M Books)
December 30, 2020
Gripping and exciting follow-up to 'Past Life'. Disgraced ex-cop Abigail Boone is on special early release after spending four years in prison when her expertise is needed to help track down an underground paedophile sex gang who kept a young teenage girl captive her whole life. A stunningly dark and edgy first class thriller.
July 11, 2024
What a fantastic book I am about to start the first one I didn’t realise there was an order. Although the subject matter is not the nicest this book is amazing great writing, great characters fantastic book
March 16, 2020
This was a dark, gripping thriller. Full of twists and turns. It has an absorbing storyline with intense characters.
June 7, 2020
It was quite a good read but it went back and forth so many times to different dates that I got lost at times and would have to go back again to catch up
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews