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Cry Darkness
A mind-blowing discovery. A deadly conspiracy. Caught off-guard when she receives an unexpected phone call from an old friend she hasn't seen in 20 years, Dr Sandy Jones gives Connie Pike a polite brush-off. A few days later, she learns that Connie has been killed in an explosion at her Princeton laboratory. Consumed by guilt, Jones heads to New Jersey, determined to find out the truth behind Connie's death - and exactly what Connie had been trying to tell her in that last anxious phone call. Having previously participated in Connie's and her lab partner, Paul Ruder's, life's work, the study of the human mind, Jones becomes convinced the pair had made a momentous scientific discovery shortly before the explosion, a discovery that could change the world as we know it. But who are the shadowy figures who are never far behind Jones as she continues her quest for the truth? As she gradually uncovers evidence of a terrifying global conspiracy, Sandy begins to fear for her life - and the lives of those around her.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2021
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Bonner
36 books30 followersHilary Bonner is an English crime novelist, best known for her psychological thrillers.
Almost all Bonner’s novels are inspired by real life events, often drawing on her journalistic past with The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, and Daily Mirror. The Times described her as ‘keeping on the public agenda the stories our masters would prefer buried.’
She shares her life with her partner, the actress Amanda Barrie, and, with their dog Coco. She divides her time between her house in rural Somerset and her flat at the heart of Covent Garden.
Almost all Bonner’s novels are inspired by real life events, often drawing on her journalistic past with The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, and Daily Mirror. The Times described her as ‘keeping on the public agenda the stories our masters would prefer buried.’
She shares her life with her partner, the actress Amanda Barrie, and, with their dog Coco. She divides her time between her house in rural Somerset and her flat at the heart of Covent Garden.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 19, 2021
I made it though to end, although when I learned there was something called global consciousness involved, I thought maybe it was time to stop. There is a field of study called the theory of consciousness, but it is very different to what we see in this novel. Group consciousness! Give me a break.
I am happy with the idea of US governments wasting badasses, but I'm uncomfortable with them offing ordinary Joes who just happen to know something that might be inconvenient. As they do here.
I like to feel a bit of rapport with the hero, but I found Sandy to be lacking in the charisma department. Too good to be true and not to my taste.
I thought that towards the end that I was seeing a credible ending, but this evaporated in the last few pages.
I have just finished a Stone Barrington novel (I did skip a lot of pages) and in comparison, this book is a masterpiece. OK, but not worth more than three stars.
I am happy with the idea of US governments wasting badasses, but I'm uncomfortable with them offing ordinary Joes who just happen to know something that might be inconvenient. As they do here.
I like to feel a bit of rapport with the hero, but I found Sandy to be lacking in the charisma department. Too good to be true and not to my taste.
I thought that towards the end that I was seeing a credible ending, but this evaporated in the last few pages.
I have just finished a Stone Barrington novel (I did skip a lot of pages) and in comparison, this book is a masterpiece. OK, but not worth more than three stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2021
Sandy Jones drops everything (and it's a lot) to head to the US when her old friend Connie Pike is killed in an explosion. Connie had called Sandy, who brushed her off, just before her death and Sandy worries about what she missed. She's an astrophysicist, BBC commentator, and soon to be chancellor of Oxford. Connie was a philosopher/etc. who worked on something called the Research into Consciousness at Princeton. Somehow this turns into. novel about conspiracies. There are bad guys etc. and some very implausible things, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, I've been a fan of Bonner but this wasn't my favorite of her work,
February 22, 2021
There's never anything ordinary about a Hilary Bonner novel. There's always something extraordinary enhancing her plots. Taking place against a backdrop of America with rules sanctioned to be broken by the most maverick and unpredictable president of all-time, this is a credibly chilling story.
A long-standing scientific experiment at Princeton University may have discovered something more world-changing than the splitting of the atom. Who is at the heart of a conspiracy to find the secrets of human consciousness and its global applications?
This is a fast and furious rollercoaster ride of shocks, and twists and turns, and emotional turmoil. A thrilling and imaginative novel.
A long-standing scientific experiment at Princeton University may have discovered something more world-changing than the splitting of the atom. Who is at the heart of a conspiracy to find the secrets of human consciousness and its global applications?
This is a fast and furious rollercoaster ride of shocks, and twists and turns, and emotional turmoil. A thrilling and imaginative novel.
September 26, 2024
I first came across this author's books in 2003 and I read five of them back then. I have also recently read the first book in a police procedural series set in Bristol. This is however a stand alone thriller and much of the action takes place in the USA.
I am usually good at the willing suspension of disbelief but this story was a step too far for me. When a laboratory at Princeton University is blown up Dr Sandy Jones, an English scientist, goes over to investigate and finds her life in danger. It's pretty silly stuff involving shadowy government agencies though apparently much of the science in the story is factual.
I am usually good at the willing suspension of disbelief but this story was a step too far for me. When a laboratory at Princeton University is blown up Dr Sandy Jones, an English scientist, goes over to investigate and finds her life in danger. It's pretty silly stuff involving shadowy government agencies though apparently much of the science in the story is factual.
April 15, 2021
It's the second book I read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed as it's gripping and entertaining.
Good plot and character development, a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Good plot and character development, a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 16, 2023
A lot of action, not a lot of plot...
March 22, 2021
How Far Will You Go For A Friend In Deadly Trouble
A background, titled “The Facts,” starts the novel that describes the efforts around the world studying the possibility for the human mind to influence outside events. Then, a short prologue has two men sneaking in to a building and planting a bomb in a file drawer. The first chapter has Dr. Sandy Jones appearing. She is very successful academic media figure with shows on BBC. She is enjoying a Monday afternoon after a good lunch. She just learned that she is being offered the chancellorship of Oxford University. She receives a call from Constance Pike, an old colleague from Princeton where she studied. After some catchup talk, Pike let Jones know that things were happening at her work, RECAP — Research into Consciousness At Princeton, where she worked Professor Paul Ruders. Jones needed to cut the call short and told Constance that she will call her tomorrow at the latest. The next day, Jones learns that there was an explosion at Princeton and Ruders and Pike are missing and presumed dead. She was on a plane the next morning to the US. The novel proceeds from this start.
The main storyline captured my interest as Jones navigates through encounters with MacEntee, an old friend and lover, the police, FBI, and unknown and sinister group to learn what happened to her friends and why. Jones has healthy suspicions of most everyone after her first interactions with them. This aspect added an edginess that helped maintain my interest throughout the entire book.
A major portion of the B-storyline on Jones, Pike, Ruders, and MacEntee occurs early in three flashback chapters dealing with her time at Princeton where she met and became involved with all of the above and RECAP. This section also provides background on all of those characters also. Once the timeline returns to present, the author keeps a deep vein of B-storylines merged with the main storyline. This enriched my reading enjoyment in reading this novel.
There are not any intimate scenes. There is some vulgar language but didn’t raise any concerns for me. I believe that it shouldn’t for most readers. A few instances of violence are described as it happens that adds a more edginess. There is one aspect that may turn off some readers; there are two political references in this novel. This did not bother me at all.
There are only two aspects that distracted from my enjoyment. First, the flashback chapters are needed to understand the deep relationships that were formed then. It became for me a little too slow and gave me the impression that the rest of the novel has a science fiction aspect. Once I finished these chapters, the action speed up so do not let this section discourage you from continuing. The last distractor was a loose end that was not tied up by the end of the novel. On the plus side, I found that I could not stop reading this novel late into the evening and would continue upon waking in the morning. One surprising aspect with this novel, it is very different from her last DI Vogel series.
Overall, based upon my enjoyment of reading this novel even with the two distractors, I rate this novel with five stars.
I received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
A background, titled “The Facts,” starts the novel that describes the efforts around the world studying the possibility for the human mind to influence outside events. Then, a short prologue has two men sneaking in to a building and planting a bomb in a file drawer. The first chapter has Dr. Sandy Jones appearing. She is very successful academic media figure with shows on BBC. She is enjoying a Monday afternoon after a good lunch. She just learned that she is being offered the chancellorship of Oxford University. She receives a call from Constance Pike, an old colleague from Princeton where she studied. After some catchup talk, Pike let Jones know that things were happening at her work, RECAP — Research into Consciousness At Princeton, where she worked Professor Paul Ruders. Jones needed to cut the call short and told Constance that she will call her tomorrow at the latest. The next day, Jones learns that there was an explosion at Princeton and Ruders and Pike are missing and presumed dead. She was on a plane the next morning to the US. The novel proceeds from this start.
The main storyline captured my interest as Jones navigates through encounters with MacEntee, an old friend and lover, the police, FBI, and unknown and sinister group to learn what happened to her friends and why. Jones has healthy suspicions of most everyone after her first interactions with them. This aspect added an edginess that helped maintain my interest throughout the entire book.
A major portion of the B-storyline on Jones, Pike, Ruders, and MacEntee occurs early in three flashback chapters dealing with her time at Princeton where she met and became involved with all of the above and RECAP. This section also provides background on all of those characters also. Once the timeline returns to present, the author keeps a deep vein of B-storylines merged with the main storyline. This enriched my reading enjoyment in reading this novel.
There are not any intimate scenes. There is some vulgar language but didn’t raise any concerns for me. I believe that it shouldn’t for most readers. A few instances of violence are described as it happens that adds a more edginess. There is one aspect that may turn off some readers; there are two political references in this novel. This did not bother me at all.
There are only two aspects that distracted from my enjoyment. First, the flashback chapters are needed to understand the deep relationships that were formed then. It became for me a little too slow and gave me the impression that the rest of the novel has a science fiction aspect. Once I finished these chapters, the action speed up so do not let this section discourage you from continuing. The last distractor was a loose end that was not tied up by the end of the novel. On the plus side, I found that I could not stop reading this novel late into the evening and would continue upon waking in the morning. One surprising aspect with this novel, it is very different from her last DI Vogel series.
Overall, based upon my enjoyment of reading this novel even with the two distractors, I rate this novel with five stars.
I received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews