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John Dark #1
Whitesands
THE BREAKOUT SUPERNATURAL THRILLER FROM ICELANDIC WRITER JOHANN THORSSON
Detective John Dark’s daughter has been missing for two years. In his frantic and unfruitful search for her two years ago, John Dark overreached and was reprimanded and demoted.
Now suddenly back into the homicide department, Dark is put on a chilling case – a man who killed his wife in their locked house and then dressed the body up to resemble a deer, but claims to remember none of it. A few days later an impossibly similar case crops up connecting the suspects to a prep school and a thirty year old missing persons’ case.
Just as he is getting back into his old groove, a new lead in his daughter’s disappearance pops up and threatens to derail his career again.
Time is running out and John Dark needs to solve the case before more people are killed, and while there is still hope to find his daughter.
In the style of True Detective and Silence of the Lambs, WHITESANDS is a thrilling supernatural crime novel.
“Tense, breakneck storytelling. WHITESANDS is a dash of Thomas Harris swirled with supernatural elements that leave you speeding through the pages.” - Kristi DeMeester, author of SUCH A PRETTY SMILE and BENEATH
"Johann Thorsson's fast-moving debut WHITESANDS, packs enough incident for a novel twice its size, until it's impossible to turn the pages fast enough." - John Langan, author of Children of the Fang and Other Genealogies
"... certainly one of the best thrillers I have read this year." - Khasif Hussain, The Best Thriller Books
Detective John Dark’s daughter has been missing for two years. In his frantic and unfruitful search for her two years ago, John Dark overreached and was reprimanded and demoted.
Now suddenly back into the homicide department, Dark is put on a chilling case – a man who killed his wife in their locked house and then dressed the body up to resemble a deer, but claims to remember none of it. A few days later an impossibly similar case crops up connecting the suspects to a prep school and a thirty year old missing persons’ case.
Just as he is getting back into his old groove, a new lead in his daughter’s disappearance pops up and threatens to derail his career again.
Time is running out and John Dark needs to solve the case before more people are killed, and while there is still hope to find his daughter.
In the style of True Detective and Silence of the Lambs, WHITESANDS is a thrilling supernatural crime novel.
“Tense, breakneck storytelling. WHITESANDS is a dash of Thomas Harris swirled with supernatural elements that leave you speeding through the pages.” - Kristi DeMeester, author of SUCH A PRETTY SMILE and BENEATH
"Johann Thorsson's fast-moving debut WHITESANDS, packs enough incident for a novel twice its size, until it's impossible to turn the pages fast enough." - John Langan, author of Children of the Fang and Other Genealogies
"... certainly one of the best thrillers I have read this year." - Khasif Hussain, The Best Thriller Books
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2021
17 people are currently reading
6241 people want to read
About the author
Johann Thorsson
6 books128 followersJohann Thorsson is a writer of dark fiction. A native of cold, dark Iceland. His first novel, Whitesands, is out on August 8th from Canelo.
When not reading or writing, Johann hangs out on Threads and would love to see you there - @johannthors
When not reading or writing, Johann hangs out on Threads and would love to see you there - @johannthors
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
April 17, 2022
This was my first experience with author Johann Thorsson, but it won't be my last!
John Dark, recently returned to the detective division after a lengthy absence, during which he was investigating the disappearance of his daughter, faces a unique murder case. A case where the husband murdered his wife, and then posed her. John and his partner Monique are still working the case, when another murder occurs under the same unusual circumstances. During all of this, John is still hanging on to and working leads regarding his missing daughter, in spite of direct orders for him to knock it off. Will John and Monique solve these murders? Will John be able to locate his daughter? You'll have to read this to find out!
I liked John and I felt for his situation, however I cannnot set aside the fact that some things he did and got away with, would just not be tolerated in real life. Monique and his superiors warned him but he just kept on keeping on. An admirable trait in a protagonist, but realistic? Not so much.
One other thing I should mention is that this copy has a lot of missing words and other errors. I'm not sure if my copy is the finished copy or not, but hopefully these issues will improve in the next book.
What kept me reading though, was the supernatural aspect of this narrative. That portion didn't really get going for a while, but when it finally did, my eyes were glued to the pages. We were introduced to another character earlier on, but then Daniel Hope resurfaced near the denouement with certain, growing skills, and everything about him was intriguing.
Said denouement is going to place John Dark in an entirely new situation. Does that mean we won't be seeing his partner Monique anymore? Does that mean Daniel Hope's story is over? I hope not! These lingering questions, though, they're what's going to draw me into book 2.
I originally rated this 3.5, rounded down to 3, but after thinking about this tale for a night or two, my rating remains the same, but I rounded it up to 4. Mr. Thorsson successfully wove together a great supernatural tale with a good police procedural and I do recommend it!
*Thanks to the author for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
John Dark, recently returned to the detective division after a lengthy absence, during which he was investigating the disappearance of his daughter, faces a unique murder case. A case where the husband murdered his wife, and then posed her. John and his partner Monique are still working the case, when another murder occurs under the same unusual circumstances. During all of this, John is still hanging on to and working leads regarding his missing daughter, in spite of direct orders for him to knock it off. Will John and Monique solve these murders? Will John be able to locate his daughter? You'll have to read this to find out!
I liked John and I felt for his situation, however I cannnot set aside the fact that some things he did and got away with, would just not be tolerated in real life. Monique and his superiors warned him but he just kept on keeping on. An admirable trait in a protagonist, but realistic? Not so much.
One other thing I should mention is that this copy has a lot of missing words and other errors. I'm not sure if my copy is the finished copy or not, but hopefully these issues will improve in the next book.
What kept me reading though, was the supernatural aspect of this narrative. That portion didn't really get going for a while, but when it finally did, my eyes were glued to the pages. We were introduced to another character earlier on, but then Daniel Hope resurfaced near the denouement with certain, growing skills, and everything about him was intriguing.
Said denouement is going to place John Dark in an entirely new situation. Does that mean we won't be seeing his partner Monique anymore? Does that mean Daniel Hope's story is over? I hope not! These lingering questions, though, they're what's going to draw me into book 2.
I originally rated this 3.5, rounded down to 3, but after thinking about this tale for a night or two, my rating remains the same, but I rounded it up to 4. Mr. Thorsson successfully wove together a great supernatural tale with a good police procedural and I do recommend it!
*Thanks to the author for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
July 3, 2024
There were plenty of uncomfortable choices made by the writer (translator?) - I'm not particularly sensitive to that sort of thing and I still cringed. Lots of proofing errors in here, too. It just isn't very good, and you can't entirely blame it on translation.
The MC is a tall, black detective named John Dark (yep.) He's extremely gifted with an instinct for knowing a suspect's guilt or innocence - perhaps because his grandmother's voodoo rituals bestowed him with it as a child (yep.) A few weeks before, his young adult daughter went out with friends one night and was never seen again. This event has understandably devastated his whole life, impacting his family and his career, which he's on the brink of losing. His partner is Detective Moreno, a Hispanic woman (yep, moreno is "brown" in Spanish). Her young adult daughter is heavily mixed up in gangs and drugs (yep) and goes missing for days or weeks at a time, which makes her especially sympathetic to John's plight.
What I liked about this book is that it's a true Paranormal Mystery/Thriller. Most books of this genre hint heavily at the supernatural and it turns out to be something mundane, but this book goes full Monty. However, there were so many plot holes, nonsense developments, and ridiculous twists (that weren't of a paranormal nature) that I just can't recommend this book.
The MC is a tall, black detective named John Dark (yep.) He's extremely gifted with an instinct for knowing a suspect's guilt or innocence - perhaps because his grandmother's voodoo rituals bestowed him with it as a child (yep.) A few weeks before, his young adult daughter went out with friends one night and was never seen again. This event has understandably devastated his whole life, impacting his family and his career, which he's on the brink of losing. His partner is Detective Moreno, a Hispanic woman (yep, moreno is "brown" in Spanish). Her young adult daughter is heavily mixed up in gangs and drugs (yep) and goes missing for days or weeks at a time, which makes her especially sympathetic to John's plight.
What I liked about this book is that it's a true Paranormal Mystery/Thriller. Most books of this genre hint heavily at the supernatural and it turns out to be something mundane, but this book goes full Monty. However, there were so many plot holes, nonsense developments, and ridiculous twists (that weren't of a paranormal nature) that I just can't recommend this book.
December 4, 2021
Ordinarily I don’t like “crime books”, but add in a supernatural aspect and I’m on board!! This was a very addictive read and quite creepy at points.
September 26, 2021
Detective John Dark's daughter went missing two years ago. When he investigated on his own, he overstepped boundaries and was reprimanded and demoted.
He is now back working homicides and still looking for his daughter.
His first homicide case that he and his partner are called to investigate involves the strange death of a housewife. The only other person in the house at the time was her husband. He doesn't remember dressing her body to resemble a deer.
Odder still ... a few days later a similar case comes up. The only connection between the cases is a prep school and a 30-year-old missing persons case.
WHITESANDS introduces readers to Detective John Dark. He is aptly named as this is a cold, dark tale involving murder, Nordic Noir, and an element of the supernatural. This thriller is well-written with plenty of twists and turns guaranteed to keep eyes riveted to the pages. The plot is fascinating, the story line intriguing. Characters are solidly drawn and the conclusion is surprising, unexpected.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
He is now back working homicides and still looking for his daughter.
His first homicide case that he and his partner are called to investigate involves the strange death of a housewife. The only other person in the house at the time was her husband. He doesn't remember dressing her body to resemble a deer.
Odder still ... a few days later a similar case comes up. The only connection between the cases is a prep school and a 30-year-old missing persons case.
WHITESANDS introduces readers to Detective John Dark. He is aptly named as this is a cold, dark tale involving murder, Nordic Noir, and an element of the supernatural. This thriller is well-written with plenty of twists and turns guaranteed to keep eyes riveted to the pages. The plot is fascinating, the story line intriguing. Characters are solidly drawn and the conclusion is surprising, unexpected.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 10, 2021
I had a strong feeling I was going to enjoy this, based on the blurb. However, this actually very much exceeded my expectations. Whitesands is an eerie and atmospheric crime thriller with the perfect mix of supernatural and realism. It made me feel spooked on a couple of occasions, and the spiritual side of the story really pulled at my heartstrings. A thoroughly enjoyable read, with a depth to the story that kept my interest all the way to the last page. I highly recommend this!
December 5, 2021
Whitesands is a mysterious, haunting, and exceptionally ambitious debut novel. It was tragic and lyrical. Johann Thorsson has various examples of excellent social commentaries running through the heart of the plot. Racial prejudice, spousal murder, and child abduction make for an ominous threat. It gave the reader the feeling of a threat hiding in the shadows, and I was willing to discover the stories’ secrets. Dip your toe into the grey waters, it’s not comfortable and it threatens to swallow you whole, there are moments where the subject matter is not enjoyable, but this is crime fiction…its darkness is where we feel at home.
Thorsson delves into the human condition, from feeling the failures of not being able to track your missing daughter, especially as an active detective to looking for redemption in finding someone else’s, we feel a spectrum of emotions in the characters. The mind is a maze, and you feel the protagonist, John Dark being lost within the maze of his mind. He’s trying to search for long-gone evidence and just finding a dead end. I was rooting for him through the intricate plot.
Whitesands features John Dark, a father and police officer that never stops searching for his missing daughter, Emily. Unfortunately, he overstepped boundaries and found himself demoted. He’s now investigating the brutal murder of a successful woman. The husband claims it wasn’t him, however, the physical evidence surrounding the scene can only point in one direction – his. There was no forced entry and no entered or left the house during the time of the murder. He is adamant it wasn’t him – for some reason Dark believes him, but how then do they account for the evidence? Conflicting emotions fought for over 300 pages, did he, or didn’t he?
Whilst investigating the mounting homicides that seem to be connected by a school attended by the accused, Dark is still trying to find a way to locate his daughter, either dead or alive. I don’t think there would be anything worse than failing to find your child, wondering if they are no longer part of this world, wondering if they suffered, wondering if they could still walk through your door. Dark and his wife Loeni have had their lives stolen and are doing everything to just get through each day. They are dragging along a suitcase of pain.
Whitesands is a story that has you feeling in a state of paralysis upon finishing. It’s bleak and unforgiving and will leave your heart feeling raw and ragged. The supernatural element will have you looking over your shoulder and fighting sleep. We were plunged into darkness, but the author gives you a torch, your only tool to fight it – he doesn’t take any shortcuts and his story benefits from that endless supply of grit and determination.
Thorsson delves into the human condition, from feeling the failures of not being able to track your missing daughter, especially as an active detective to looking for redemption in finding someone else’s, we feel a spectrum of emotions in the characters. The mind is a maze, and you feel the protagonist, John Dark being lost within the maze of his mind. He’s trying to search for long-gone evidence and just finding a dead end. I was rooting for him through the intricate plot.
Whitesands features John Dark, a father and police officer that never stops searching for his missing daughter, Emily. Unfortunately, he overstepped boundaries and found himself demoted. He’s now investigating the brutal murder of a successful woman. The husband claims it wasn’t him, however, the physical evidence surrounding the scene can only point in one direction – his. There was no forced entry and no entered or left the house during the time of the murder. He is adamant it wasn’t him – for some reason Dark believes him, but how then do they account for the evidence? Conflicting emotions fought for over 300 pages, did he, or didn’t he?
Whilst investigating the mounting homicides that seem to be connected by a school attended by the accused, Dark is still trying to find a way to locate his daughter, either dead or alive. I don’t think there would be anything worse than failing to find your child, wondering if they are no longer part of this world, wondering if they suffered, wondering if they could still walk through your door. Dark and his wife Loeni have had their lives stolen and are doing everything to just get through each day. They are dragging along a suitcase of pain.
Whitesands is a story that has you feeling in a state of paralysis upon finishing. It’s bleak and unforgiving and will leave your heart feeling raw and ragged. The supernatural element will have you looking over your shoulder and fighting sleep. We were plunged into darkness, but the author gives you a torch, your only tool to fight it – he doesn’t take any shortcuts and his story benefits from that endless supply of grit and determination.
September 27, 2021
Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Detective John Dark is a tormented man enduring a heavy burden he has carried for two years. A desperate search for his missing daughter has resulted in continuous dead ends. When assigned to a grisly homicide case along with partner Monique, a slow decent into uncharted territory begins. The gruesome crime scene appears to be an open and shut case, however upon further examination there seems to be a far more sinister explanation that exists.
Author Johann Thorsson has created a distinctive piece of fiction embracing the true crime genre within the pages of his novel Whitesands. Establishing a combination of cold case and extraordinary crime scenes, he warrants the realization of genuine horror within everyday living. These disturbing and morbid murder sites are savagely orchestrated with elaborate forensic details that are unique to say the least. Chapters of art and abhorrence are written with a ritualistic style of brilliance enveloping everything from discomforting interrogations to evidence of possible supernatural occurrences.
Bringing depth and texture to his book, Thorsson provides an undercurrent of seances, psychics and mediums who speak to the dead. These relate to how the living and the deceased make their presence known between each other’s planes of existence. The search for answers are so intense and so implausible, you will never look at a crime scene photo the same again.
This is a story of one man’s lone journey to find answers to his inner afflictions, while attempting to solve bizarre crime ridden homicides. But how good a detective can you be if you can’t even find your own daughter?
I was truly impressed how Johann Thorsson guides his readers by means of incomprehensible truths. It provides that special edge that so many books lack today. This is a hands down five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Detective John Dark is a tormented man enduring a heavy burden he has carried for two years. A desperate search for his missing daughter has resulted in continuous dead ends. When assigned to a grisly homicide case along with partner Monique, a slow decent into uncharted territory begins. The gruesome crime scene appears to be an open and shut case, however upon further examination there seems to be a far more sinister explanation that exists.
Author Johann Thorsson has created a distinctive piece of fiction embracing the true crime genre within the pages of his novel Whitesands. Establishing a combination of cold case and extraordinary crime scenes, he warrants the realization of genuine horror within everyday living. These disturbing and morbid murder sites are savagely orchestrated with elaborate forensic details that are unique to say the least. Chapters of art and abhorrence are written with a ritualistic style of brilliance enveloping everything from discomforting interrogations to evidence of possible supernatural occurrences.
Bringing depth and texture to his book, Thorsson provides an undercurrent of seances, psychics and mediums who speak to the dead. These relate to how the living and the deceased make their presence known between each other’s planes of existence. The search for answers are so intense and so implausible, you will never look at a crime scene photo the same again.
This is a story of one man’s lone journey to find answers to his inner afflictions, while attempting to solve bizarre crime ridden homicides. But how good a detective can you be if you can’t even find your own daughter?
I was truly impressed how Johann Thorsson guides his readers by means of incomprehensible truths. It provides that special edge that so many books lack today. This is a hands down five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
September 20, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Book Content Warning: Child abduction • Spousal Abuse
Huge thanks to the author for sending this my way.
‘Whitesands’ came onto my radar from Pete Kahle, from Bloodshot Books, who are publishing this release. He was raving about it to me while we were chatting and when Johann contacted me to receive a digital arc, I said absolutely.
I wasn’t completely sure what I was getting into, other than knowing it was a detective story where the main character is trying to find his daughter. Diving in, I wanted to see just how far down the rabbit hole Thorsson took us.
What I liked: Detective John Dark’s daughter has gone missing. Last seen late one night, all leads for her have dried up, but he is still clinging onto hope and following any tip he can. It is this recklessness that has put him into a position where he’s hanging onto his job by a thread and his family by even less.
Thorsson then throws everything upside down by having Dark and his partner, investigate some grisly murder scenes where husbands have killed their wives with no memory of it and soon enough, things get tied together and the chase is on.
The pacing of this book is fantastic and you desperately want Dark to return to the heights that he previously was at in his career, while also finding his daughter.
I liked his partner, Monique, and how she acted as a grounding mechanism for him, as well as had his back no matter what.
The use of security footage was great and the descriptions in these aspects were creepy and fantastic.
What I didn’t like: Ultimately, I found a lot of the police procedural stuff to be a bit off. It’s hard to describe without spoiling stuff, but when certain things happen, the reactions and situations afterwards didn’t really seem believable.
As well, Whitesands itself, and Daniel Hope, seemed very minimally used and even expanded upon, judging from the synopsis and ultimately the massive role they played in the finale of the book.
Why you should buy this: This sets up a second book, which I think may work better with Dark being removed from the Detective aspect. I think people looking for a paranormal, police procedural will have a blast with this one and ultimately, Thorsson left me begging for the book to carry on and to see Dark’s ultimate quest completed.
I’ll be waiting to read that once it arrives.
Book Content Warning: Child abduction • Spousal Abuse
Huge thanks to the author for sending this my way.
‘Whitesands’ came onto my radar from Pete Kahle, from Bloodshot Books, who are publishing this release. He was raving about it to me while we were chatting and when Johann contacted me to receive a digital arc, I said absolutely.
I wasn’t completely sure what I was getting into, other than knowing it was a detective story where the main character is trying to find his daughter. Diving in, I wanted to see just how far down the rabbit hole Thorsson took us.
What I liked: Detective John Dark’s daughter has gone missing. Last seen late one night, all leads for her have dried up, but he is still clinging onto hope and following any tip he can. It is this recklessness that has put him into a position where he’s hanging onto his job by a thread and his family by even less.
Thorsson then throws everything upside down by having Dark and his partner, investigate some grisly murder scenes where husbands have killed their wives with no memory of it and soon enough, things get tied together and the chase is on.
The pacing of this book is fantastic and you desperately want Dark to return to the heights that he previously was at in his career, while also finding his daughter.
I liked his partner, Monique, and how she acted as a grounding mechanism for him, as well as had his back no matter what.
The use of security footage was great and the descriptions in these aspects were creepy and fantastic.
What I didn’t like: Ultimately, I found a lot of the police procedural stuff to be a bit off. It’s hard to describe without spoiling stuff, but when certain things happen, the reactions and situations afterwards didn’t really seem believable.
As well, Whitesands itself, and Daniel Hope, seemed very minimally used and even expanded upon, judging from the synopsis and ultimately the massive role they played in the finale of the book.
Why you should buy this: This sets up a second book, which I think may work better with Dark being removed from the Detective aspect. I think people looking for a paranormal, police procedural will have a blast with this one and ultimately, Thorsson left me begging for the book to carry on and to see Dark’s ultimate quest completed.
I’ll be waiting to read that once it arrives.
December 30, 2024
A supernatural thriller that delivered in so many ways, with beautiful atmosphere, tragic and cracked characters and a riveting plot with several strands, so that there never was a dull moment.
I loved the main character Detective John Dark with his brilliance, and a matter-of-fact attitude, (but not devoid of empathy), tainted by the loss of his daughter, still missing. This event is what defines John Dark’s past, present and future, impacting all aspects of his life, even his work.
As I said, there are several plots running in parallel, with the main one revealing itself bit by bit, becoming always more compelling and original. A ghost story like no others, very well executed, without resulting preposterous. I was truly surprised by the ending and I felt satisfied somehow, albeit wishing to read more about John Dark and Daniel Hope. This last character was equally brilliant, both in his depth and characterisation, and for what an impact had on me as a reader, despite his lesser role.
I really recommend this read for those looking for a dark supernatural crime novel with great characters and beautiful atmosphere.
Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
I loved the main character Detective John Dark with his brilliance, and a matter-of-fact attitude, (but not devoid of empathy), tainted by the loss of his daughter, still missing. This event is what defines John Dark’s past, present and future, impacting all aspects of his life, even his work.
As I said, there are several plots running in parallel, with the main one revealing itself bit by bit, becoming always more compelling and original. A ghost story like no others, very well executed, without resulting preposterous. I was truly surprised by the ending and I felt satisfied somehow, albeit wishing to read more about John Dark and Daniel Hope. This last character was equally brilliant, both in his depth and characterisation, and for what an impact had on me as a reader, despite his lesser role.
I really recommend this read for those looking for a dark supernatural crime novel with great characters and beautiful atmosphere.
Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
July 27, 2021
Whitesands is a haunting, thrilling book that has the twists and turns of The Killing, the blend of realism and the supernatural in True Detective, and the heartbreak of The Lovely Bones. A captivating story of love, loss, and justice.
September 30, 2021
Wow! This a first novel? Crime, horror, social commentary, mental illness.. revenge ghost!
Detective John Dark is living the nightmare of his own missing daughter when he and his partner get wrapped into 2 murder investigations that don’t make sense. Something else is working in the darkness.
This is a full length novel and even anything more of a review is a spoiler.
I couldn’t put it down! I read the book during work time, at 2am in the morning, waiting in line for fast food!
Once I started making connections I yelled out loud a time or two, “No Freaking Way!” Startling my family.
Probably the best book of 2021 so far for crime horror.
Release date on 9/26/21. Read the book description and know this book is much deeper, there is a lot going on in here. So much…
There better be a book 2 soon! It was left with an open ending for a reason…
I need to know……
Order a copy immediately. Please don’t wait and do it now. Highly recommended!!
Detective John Dark is living the nightmare of his own missing daughter when he and his partner get wrapped into 2 murder investigations that don’t make sense. Something else is working in the darkness.
This is a full length novel and even anything more of a review is a spoiler.
I couldn’t put it down! I read the book during work time, at 2am in the morning, waiting in line for fast food!
Once I started making connections I yelled out loud a time or two, “No Freaking Way!” Startling my family.
Probably the best book of 2021 so far for crime horror.
Release date on 9/26/21. Read the book description and know this book is much deeper, there is a lot going on in here. So much…
There better be a book 2 soon! It was left with an open ending for a reason…
I need to know……
Order a copy immediately. Please don’t wait and do it now. Highly recommended!!
January 1, 2022
A strong 3.5 stars for the first book of the year! This supernatural thriller is a mix of true crime, possession, and mental illness that swirls together to create a really interesting mystery.
We are thrust into Detective John Dark's life which has been turned upside down by the disappearance of his daughter Emily. He is in the middle of working himself back onto more high profile cases when he is brought in on a strange murder. A husband calls in the murder of his wife, but is found with blood all over him and no forced entry. The husband's wife is arranged in an extremely odd way with branches and the husband denies knowing anything about the murder.
It gets even stranger as the nearly same exact events occur a few days later.
We meet several integral characters that bring different viewpoints of the same story and while one crime is being solved another is opened.
This is the first book in the series and I'm beyond excited to read the next!
We are thrust into Detective John Dark's life which has been turned upside down by the disappearance of his daughter Emily. He is in the middle of working himself back onto more high profile cases when he is brought in on a strange murder. A husband calls in the murder of his wife, but is found with blood all over him and no forced entry. The husband's wife is arranged in an extremely odd way with branches and the husband denies knowing anything about the murder.
It gets even stranger as the nearly same exact events occur a few days later.
We meet several integral characters that bring different viewpoints of the same story and while one crime is being solved another is opened.
This is the first book in the series and I'm beyond excited to read the next!
February 5, 2022
‘Detective John Dark’s daughter has been missing for two years. In his frantic and unfruitful search for her two years ago, J Dark overreached and was reprimanded and demoted.’
‘Now suddenly back into the homicide department, Dark is put on a chilling case – a man who killed his wife in their locked house and then dressed the body up to resemble a deer but claims to remember none of it. A few days later, an impossibly similar case crops up…’
WHITESANDS, A John Dark Case, is not only heartbreakingly good but also Thorsson’s debut novel. I hope this won’t be the last we see of John Dark, hint hint, perhaps a series??
The only issue I had, if you can call it that, are that some of the reactions of the characters felt I little over the top—but not enough to pull me out of the story as I eagerly wanted to know more.
Highly Recommend!
Thank you, Sadie Hartmann (Mother Horror) and Headshot Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of WHITESANDS at the request of an honest review.
‘Now suddenly back into the homicide department, Dark is put on a chilling case – a man who killed his wife in their locked house and then dressed the body up to resemble a deer but claims to remember none of it. A few days later, an impossibly similar case crops up…’
WHITESANDS, A John Dark Case, is not only heartbreakingly good but also Thorsson’s debut novel. I hope this won’t be the last we see of John Dark, hint hint, perhaps a series??
The only issue I had, if you can call it that, are that some of the reactions of the characters felt I little over the top—but not enough to pull me out of the story as I eagerly wanted to know more.
Highly Recommend!
Thank you, Sadie Hartmann (Mother Horror) and Headshot Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of WHITESANDS at the request of an honest review.
December 17, 2021
Wow wow wow wow and guess what wow! This is everything I wanted and needed in a book. I saw the cover and I knew it was a book I needed to read. This book hooked me in from the get-go and neither John nor Daniel would let me go.
Opening up with us meeting John, he is searching for his missing daughter and my heart was breaking. I couldn’t imagine what he was going through, however, through Johann’s writing I felt it. I felt the lows of the cold case, the hope, false or otherwise to find his daughter, and well the highs were minimal.
However, we then meet Daniel, and my heart went out for him and his situation and I seriously had no idea how he would slot into this story. When we start to see the magic of these threads by the author, I didn’t foresee this story.
The case Dark is forced on, one to shut quick to get back on the team with his partner, is just so bizarre and creepy! I was thrilled by it, by the description of how things played out and the arrangement. Yes, they are terrifying but there was something quite ethereal about it.
Between these murders and Daniel, I had such a strong feeling of the Hannibal TV show. The way they introduced Will Graham and how he sees the world and how the murders are done, artistically, horrifying and something kind of beautiful, which is exactly what you find here. Daniel views the world in a similar fashion and well the murders…..they have the same effect of awe and shock. I was mesmerised by the language, description and writing by Johann. To have me feeling all of these feelings about murders and people is just amazing.
Not only did he hook me in, keep me dangling with the side stories, but that ending, that epilogue! I mean jeez! What a clanger and a banger of one! I need to read the next book, I need to know more about that epilogue and the darkness coming, how it will all link together and will we get any closure.
I really have been so excited about this book. I loved every aspect of it, as we explored so much, we see Detective Dark, we see John Dark and we see John. During this book, we live with his different personas and aspects of his life. This book has played on my mind and I am still thinking about it.
There is so much to discuss but I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair to do, but what a book! If you like crime thrillers, with a lot of added twists and thrills then pick this up. However, if you have that sensation that your body isn’t yours anymore, that someone is in your house….RUN
Opening up with us meeting John, he is searching for his missing daughter and my heart was breaking. I couldn’t imagine what he was going through, however, through Johann’s writing I felt it. I felt the lows of the cold case, the hope, false or otherwise to find his daughter, and well the highs were minimal.
However, we then meet Daniel, and my heart went out for him and his situation and I seriously had no idea how he would slot into this story. When we start to see the magic of these threads by the author, I didn’t foresee this story.
The case Dark is forced on, one to shut quick to get back on the team with his partner, is just so bizarre and creepy! I was thrilled by it, by the description of how things played out and the arrangement. Yes, they are terrifying but there was something quite ethereal about it.
Between these murders and Daniel, I had such a strong feeling of the Hannibal TV show. The way they introduced Will Graham and how he sees the world and how the murders are done, artistically, horrifying and something kind of beautiful, which is exactly what you find here. Daniel views the world in a similar fashion and well the murders…..they have the same effect of awe and shock. I was mesmerised by the language, description and writing by Johann. To have me feeling all of these feelings about murders and people is just amazing.
Not only did he hook me in, keep me dangling with the side stories, but that ending, that epilogue! I mean jeez! What a clanger and a banger of one! I need to read the next book, I need to know more about that epilogue and the darkness coming, how it will all link together and will we get any closure.
I really have been so excited about this book. I loved every aspect of it, as we explored so much, we see Detective Dark, we see John Dark and we see John. During this book, we live with his different personas and aspects of his life. This book has played on my mind and I am still thinking about it.
There is so much to discuss but I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair to do, but what a book! If you like crime thrillers, with a lot of added twists and thrills then pick this up. However, if you have that sensation that your body isn’t yours anymore, that someone is in your house….RUN
September 22, 2021
An atmospheric, supernatural thriller written in a way to suggest darkness and despair at every turn. Dark's pain at not being able to find his daughter interferes with his gut instincts about the case and yet sets the stage to believe the unbelievable.
This supernatural thriller is evenly paced with some unexpected twists. Some of the dialogue is choppy but not distracting. Dark's story arc is reminiscent of Peter James's Roy Grace character that I enjoyed very much. If this is a book series, like I suspect it is, then we'll probably see this mystery play out over the next few books.
A promising debut from Johann Thorsson .
Thank you to Sadie (Mother Horror/Nightworms) for the ARC.
This supernatural thriller is evenly paced with some unexpected twists. Some of the dialogue is choppy but not distracting. Dark's story arc is reminiscent of Peter James's Roy Grace character that I enjoyed very much. If this is a book series, like I suspect it is, then we'll probably see this mystery play out over the next few books.
A promising debut from Johann Thorsson .
Thank you to Sadie (Mother Horror/Nightworms) for the ARC.
July 28, 2021
Johann Thorsson provided me with an ARC of this debut novel, and I must honour this fantastic piece of fiction with a review.
I am always in for a ride-along with a brooding, damaged detective trying to keep his life together while solving crimes. John Dark is just the man for this. His life was turned upside down when his daughter went missing, and with minimal sleep he utilizes the tools at the precinct to try and track steadily-cooling leads to locate her. His real job seems like it’s just getting in the way of what he really needs to do and his conscience will not let him rest, “If you were a proper detective, you would have found her by now.” When some strange and gruesome homicides come to light and John and his partner Monique are put on the case, his focus is forced elsewhere for a while and things take a supernatural turn. Parallel to John is the life of Daniel Hope, a programmer who carries the anchor of schizophrenia that proves to be a blessing and a curse.
The writing in this book is phenomenal. Thorsson paints with words. He makes me feel like I’m in the rain with John Dark, in the labyrinth that is Daniel Hope’s mind, and lost in the ether with the dead.
Thorsson wrote something that I found thought-provoking and also revealing of the vivid interior of Daniel’s mind, “Everyone has problems of their own that they think negate the urgency of others. Everyone can help. Daniel was distracted for a moment by this realization, and his mind cascaded down a river of philanthropic logic. There is always someone who has less than us, so if everyone just gave something it could flow downhill until all was even. Until everyone had the same. Why didn’t they? He felt like he had just discovered a great potential truth, a way to change the world but couldn’t grasp it. Too big for one mind. His mind too dynamic to hold onto it.”
The fact that the author is well-versed in horror and literature makes this story richer, darker, and also more empathetic to the pain of humans experiencing racism, mental illness, and loss. I noticed this because he makes direct and subtle references to the movies “Paranormal Activity,” “E.T.,” and “Poltergeist” while also touching on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz,” and Stephen King’s “The Body” and “IT.”
Truly, this book has it all: horror, crime, the supernatural. The characters are likeable and relatable and the writing is spot-on. With these winning combinations, Johann Thorsson will you have you begging for more John Dark cases.
Do yourself a favour: pre-order a copy so you can read it when it comes out on September 26th!
I am always in for a ride-along with a brooding, damaged detective trying to keep his life together while solving crimes. John Dark is just the man for this. His life was turned upside down when his daughter went missing, and with minimal sleep he utilizes the tools at the precinct to try and track steadily-cooling leads to locate her. His real job seems like it’s just getting in the way of what he really needs to do and his conscience will not let him rest, “If you were a proper detective, you would have found her by now.” When some strange and gruesome homicides come to light and John and his partner Monique are put on the case, his focus is forced elsewhere for a while and things take a supernatural turn. Parallel to John is the life of Daniel Hope, a programmer who carries the anchor of schizophrenia that proves to be a blessing and a curse.
The writing in this book is phenomenal. Thorsson paints with words. He makes me feel like I’m in the rain with John Dark, in the labyrinth that is Daniel Hope’s mind, and lost in the ether with the dead.
Thorsson wrote something that I found thought-provoking and also revealing of the vivid interior of Daniel’s mind, “Everyone has problems of their own that they think negate the urgency of others. Everyone can help. Daniel was distracted for a moment by this realization, and his mind cascaded down a river of philanthropic logic. There is always someone who has less than us, so if everyone just gave something it could flow downhill until all was even. Until everyone had the same. Why didn’t they? He felt like he had just discovered a great potential truth, a way to change the world but couldn’t grasp it. Too big for one mind. His mind too dynamic to hold onto it.”
The fact that the author is well-versed in horror and literature makes this story richer, darker, and also more empathetic to the pain of humans experiencing racism, mental illness, and loss. I noticed this because he makes direct and subtle references to the movies “Paranormal Activity,” “E.T.,” and “Poltergeist” while also touching on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz,” and Stephen King’s “The Body” and “IT.”
Truly, this book has it all: horror, crime, the supernatural. The characters are likeable and relatable and the writing is spot-on. With these winning combinations, Johann Thorsson will you have you begging for more John Dark cases.
Do yourself a favour: pre-order a copy so you can read it when it comes out on September 26th!
October 25, 2021
John Darks daughter disappeared 2 years ago, he exhausted all options to find her going beyond his line of duty, meaning demotion from his job. A murder throws John back into homicide. The murderer claiming that he was not responsible for the killing of his wife although there is no indication of any other party being involved.
Daniel Hope is a young man diagnosed with Schizophrenia who hears the dead when they have not been able to move on from the living world.
John does not feel that the man being charged with murder is responsible but is unable to figure out what his rationale is for this thought. Daniel seeks out John with some information relating to the murder which casts doubts on the man being held for the crime committed.
John all the while continues to struggle with the loss of his daughter and feeling that he has failed in finding her.
I enjoyed the story and found it kept my interest throughout.
Daniel Hope is a young man diagnosed with Schizophrenia who hears the dead when they have not been able to move on from the living world.
John does not feel that the man being charged with murder is responsible but is unable to figure out what his rationale is for this thought. Daniel seeks out John with some information relating to the murder which casts doubts on the man being held for the crime committed.
John all the while continues to struggle with the loss of his daughter and feeling that he has failed in finding her.
I enjoyed the story and found it kept my interest throughout.
July 27, 2024
Johann Thorsson's 'Whitesands' starts very promisingly as a supernatural detective crime novel, and ends up delivering a riveting ghost story brimming with originality, suspense, and empathy for all the characters involved. Although the writing isn't always up to par, the pacing is uneven, and the characters sounded too wooden for my taste, I have to admit that I enjoyed the story immensely and the supernatural aspects of it carried it through successfully. By all accounts, this is meant as a first volume, since only one issue is resolved; still, the resolution of that one issue is very satisfying, and builds up to an exciting (sort of) conclusion. The one character with mental issues, Daniel, turned out to be my favorite and the one I cared for most. Most scenes involving him were creepy, spooky, and portrayed compellingly in ways many ghost shows fail at completely. I really hope we'll see him again.
September 2, 2021
Detective John Dark’s teenage daughter has been missing for over a year, but he has never stopped looking for her. This made the character immediately relatable and the story compelling and emotional and engaged me from the start.
I loved the character of Daniel Hope and I wish he had been in the book even more. His story arc was so interesting.
I loved the murders in this book. The weird folkloric stagings of the victims were striking, and I loved the mixture of the serial killer and paranormal genres.
My only nitpick was that I found some of the conversations about racism a little heavy handed in delivery and not as organic with the characters as I would have liked.
I found this a gripping and emotional read and I hope it is the first of many John Dark novels.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I loved the character of Daniel Hope and I wish he had been in the book even more. His story arc was so interesting.
I loved the murders in this book. The weird folkloric stagings of the victims were striking, and I loved the mixture of the serial killer and paranormal genres.
My only nitpick was that I found some of the conversations about racism a little heavy handed in delivery and not as organic with the characters as I would have liked.
I found this a gripping and emotional read and I hope it is the first of many John Dark novels.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
November 21, 2021
Brilliant debut. It works as a crime novel, a supernatural thriller, a whodunnit, and a social critique.
September 26, 2021
The debut novel from Johann Thorsson takes on a story that dares to enter the arena with one of the greats, Thomas Harris (assumption for this comparison solely rests on this reviewers shoulders). Specifically, of the Hannibal Lecter series, Whitesands shares the same tone, set of balls, and brutality as The Silence of The Lambs. Think Lambs with supernatural elements. It's as great as you may think it'll be.
This ain't some rookie detective, however. He's seen a lot of shit in his time. Is on a mission to find his daughter that's been missing for two years. Has a fraying marriage.
Then we have another character who we later get in their head. A computer programmer. He may seem random at first, but Thorsson's comparison to Harris is a fair one when it comes to the layers he built into this story.
Everything falls into place, what the story is about can be found in the synopsis section wherever you're reading this. How the story made me feel can be found in the next line:
I liked it at first, then I found myself curious, asking why, following our protagonist around wondering what the hell some of these paths have to do with the main storyline. Then, about fifty percent into the story we find ourselves in an abandoned theme-park that is themed from The Wizard of Oz film. At that point, from the description of what's found there and (I wish I knew what came after the and, but something magical just clicked in my head)...
Next thing I knew, I loved this story. I was even more so in than previously. It has an ending that makes sense. I can see some readers being upset, maybe sad, hell... knowing how extreme folks are with their reviews at times, I can see some people flat out pissed about the review.
It's a good story that will have pretty strong reactions. It's a debut, and like any debut that isn't afraid to say whatever the hell it wants to say, it's a showcase of how damn talented the writer is.
This ain't some rookie detective, however. He's seen a lot of shit in his time. Is on a mission to find his daughter that's been missing for two years. Has a fraying marriage.
Then we have another character who we later get in their head. A computer programmer. He may seem random at first, but Thorsson's comparison to Harris is a fair one when it comes to the layers he built into this story.
Everything falls into place, what the story is about can be found in the synopsis section wherever you're reading this. How the story made me feel can be found in the next line:
I liked it at first, then I found myself curious, asking why, following our protagonist around wondering what the hell some of these paths have to do with the main storyline. Then, about fifty percent into the story we find ourselves in an abandoned theme-park that is themed from The Wizard of Oz film. At that point, from the description of what's found there and (I wish I knew what came after the and, but something magical just clicked in my head)...
Next thing I knew, I loved this story. I was even more so in than previously. It has an ending that makes sense. I can see some readers being upset, maybe sad, hell... knowing how extreme folks are with their reviews at times, I can see some people flat out pissed about the review.
It's a good story that will have pretty strong reactions. It's a debut, and like any debut that isn't afraid to say whatever the hell it wants to say, it's a showcase of how damn talented the writer is.
October 4, 2021
It’s been two years since Detective John Dark’s daughter went missing. Two years of dead ends and sleepless nights. When a chance Facebook memory brings a lead into the case, John is split between the hunt for new information and a chance to prove that he still is a capable officer.
A man has murdered his wife. A unfortunately common occurrence, but what should be an open and shut case is fuzzy at the edges. The murder is brutal. The body is uniquely staged. The house was locked. No one came in or out, there is only one person who could’ve done it.
But he has no memory of what happened and swears someone else was in the house.
When another murder happens the coincidences seem too much. But coincidences usually have an element of truth, and a secret from the pasts of the accused may be the key to what’s going on.
Could it be a murder pact from 20 years ago, or a vengeful spirit out for revenge? Will John find out what happened to his daughter?
This has all the elements of a great police procedural thriller with a supernatural element, setting up a follow up. What more can you want?
Thank you to Sadie (motherhorror) for arranging this arc.
A man has murdered his wife. A unfortunately common occurrence, but what should be an open and shut case is fuzzy at the edges. The murder is brutal. The body is uniquely staged. The house was locked. No one came in or out, there is only one person who could’ve done it.
But he has no memory of what happened and swears someone else was in the house.
When another murder happens the coincidences seem too much. But coincidences usually have an element of truth, and a secret from the pasts of the accused may be the key to what’s going on.
Could it be a murder pact from 20 years ago, or a vengeful spirit out for revenge? Will John find out what happened to his daughter?
This has all the elements of a great police procedural thriller with a supernatural element, setting up a follow up. What more can you want?
Thank you to Sadie (motherhorror) for arranging this arc.
September 14, 2024
This stunning debut novel is as dark as a long Icelandic winter night. It veritably hums with macabre menace. The plot is taut, twisty and scarily atmospheric.
I love the way the author has taken the tropes of a traditional crime novel and applied them to a story of supernatural horror.
By making John Dark a sceptic Johann Thorsson has pretty much insured his readers will not be. He treats schizophrenia with compassionate understanding, and the sense of loss is poignant with the ever present risk of grief providing a deep emotional focal point.
I hope to read more from this very talented writer.
I love the way the author has taken the tropes of a traditional crime novel and applied them to a story of supernatural horror.
By making John Dark a sceptic Johann Thorsson has pretty much insured his readers will not be. He treats schizophrenia with compassionate understanding, and the sense of loss is poignant with the ever present risk of grief providing a deep emotional focal point.
I hope to read more from this very talented writer.
September 27, 2021
Superb! Atmospheric, mysterious and a cracking crime novel with a large dose of the supernatural. I was slightly sceptical about how the above would blend together but it was absolutely seamless and also sensitively covered aspects of schizophrenia and mental health.
The main detective on the case was a little cliche, problems unsolved in his own past and fallen from grace at work. He was, however, immensely likeable and relatable and I felt I knew him well together with his vulnerabilities. The story was utterly compelling and I raced through this, very enjoyable.
The main detective on the case was a little cliche, problems unsolved in his own past and fallen from grace at work. He was, however, immensely likeable and relatable and I felt I knew him well together with his vulnerabilities. The story was utterly compelling and I raced through this, very enjoyable.
November 19, 2025
I love a supernatural detective novel but why is a white Icelandic man writing black and Latinx characters called Dark and Moreno?! Possibly an attempt to introduce diversity into Icelandic fiction, but it was set in America? And why is the person who can see ghosts schizophrenic and off their medication? A lot going on. Choices. The 2 stars are for the (spoilers) ghost posessing people bits. I wanted to love this!
December 17, 2021
Short Take: A captivating mix of Nordic Noir, ghost stories, and murder mysteries in Big City, USA, which is something I never thought I’d type.
(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)
Greetings Duckies!! It’s been a hectic week, and it’s shaping up to be even busier in the days ahead, so let’s dive right in, shall we?
In Whitesands, Detective John Dark is, to put it mildly, Not Doing Well. His daughter Emily has been missing for two years, and despite his willingness to Break Every Rule in his desperate search, there’s been no movement in her case. His wife and son barely speak to him, and professionally, he’s all but frozen out of the force.
That is, until a very strange murder occurs. A husband has stabbed his wife to death (I know, that’s not the strange part, just stay with me) and arranged her body in a bizarre, ritualistic fashion. The thing is, the guy swears he didn’t do it, despite irrefutable evidence. Of course, they all say that, so hubby goes in the clink, case closed, until a very similar murder happens across town - wife dead, husband crying innocent despite airtight evidence, surrealist staging of the corpse.
Although John Dark is a brilliant detective, his knotty personal life means that he’s damaged goods in the eyes of both his colleagues and himself. His confidence is shot, his coworkers don’t put a lot of stock in his findings, and well… unbreakable evidence. Needless to say, there is More Than Meets The Eye with these murders.
Although the plot is a lot of fun, and kept me guessing for some time, my real joy in this one is Mr. Thorsson’s style. It swings from hard-boiled detective narrative, complete with short choppy sentences and a world-weary outlook, to lyrical, even poetic prose, and somehow, none of it feels out of place.
I should add that I was expecting Whitesands to lean more heavily toward the Nordic Noir end of the book pool. I have read a lot of NN books in my day, but to me, they tend to be hit or miss - so many descriptions of icy weather, or coffee and cheese sandwich meals, or names with like 6 consonants in a row just shuts me down. But Mr. Thorsson opted to set his book squarely in the good old US of A, which allowed me to connect with it more, and also gave him the chance to weigh in on some current social issues.
This is a tricky bit to review, because although the author is not WRONG in what he observes and discusses about this country (he actually hits it pretty dead-on), I didn’t always like the way he went about it. Some of his points, although valid and correct, felt like they were shoehorned in just to make those points, without really adding anything to the story or serving any real purpose other than a soapbox.
I also feel like the author would have benefited from a cranky editor with a big red pen. There were some silly contradictions, like a character saying “I’ve got the file on Alice Whitacre here” and then a few paragraphs later asking “Alice Woodacre, right?” while still holding the file folder with the correct name on it. There were also a few cases of switching he/she pronouns randomly, or using the wrong word with things like palate/palette, that kind of thing. Those things are absolutely not dealbreakers, but they can be distracting.
I have to give it to the author on one major personal pet peeve. Mr. Thorsson was able to do the nearly-impossible: Write the first book in a series in a way that it both has a satisfying ending, AND leaves enough open that sequels would make sense. If you’ve read my reviews of other series-kickoffs, you’ll know how picky I am about those.
The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and some hideous police station coffee, I still have a lot to do and my hiney is dragging.)
(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)
Greetings Duckies!! It’s been a hectic week, and it’s shaping up to be even busier in the days ahead, so let’s dive right in, shall we?
In Whitesands, Detective John Dark is, to put it mildly, Not Doing Well. His daughter Emily has been missing for two years, and despite his willingness to Break Every Rule in his desperate search, there’s been no movement in her case. His wife and son barely speak to him, and professionally, he’s all but frozen out of the force.
That is, until a very strange murder occurs. A husband has stabbed his wife to death (I know, that’s not the strange part, just stay with me) and arranged her body in a bizarre, ritualistic fashion. The thing is, the guy swears he didn’t do it, despite irrefutable evidence. Of course, they all say that, so hubby goes in the clink, case closed, until a very similar murder happens across town - wife dead, husband crying innocent despite airtight evidence, surrealist staging of the corpse.
Although John Dark is a brilliant detective, his knotty personal life means that he’s damaged goods in the eyes of both his colleagues and himself. His confidence is shot, his coworkers don’t put a lot of stock in his findings, and well… unbreakable evidence. Needless to say, there is More Than Meets The Eye with these murders.
Although the plot is a lot of fun, and kept me guessing for some time, my real joy in this one is Mr. Thorsson’s style. It swings from hard-boiled detective narrative, complete with short choppy sentences and a world-weary outlook, to lyrical, even poetic prose, and somehow, none of it feels out of place.
I should add that I was expecting Whitesands to lean more heavily toward the Nordic Noir end of the book pool. I have read a lot of NN books in my day, but to me, they tend to be hit or miss - so many descriptions of icy weather, or coffee and cheese sandwich meals, or names with like 6 consonants in a row just shuts me down. But Mr. Thorsson opted to set his book squarely in the good old US of A, which allowed me to connect with it more, and also gave him the chance to weigh in on some current social issues.
This is a tricky bit to review, because although the author is not WRONG in what he observes and discusses about this country (he actually hits it pretty dead-on), I didn’t always like the way he went about it. Some of his points, although valid and correct, felt like they were shoehorned in just to make those points, without really adding anything to the story or serving any real purpose other than a soapbox.
I also feel like the author would have benefited from a cranky editor with a big red pen. There were some silly contradictions, like a character saying “I’ve got the file on Alice Whitacre here” and then a few paragraphs later asking “Alice Woodacre, right?” while still holding the file folder with the correct name on it. There were also a few cases of switching he/she pronouns randomly, or using the wrong word with things like palate/palette, that kind of thing. Those things are absolutely not dealbreakers, but they can be distracting.
I have to give it to the author on one major personal pet peeve. Mr. Thorsson was able to do the nearly-impossible: Write the first book in a series in a way that it both has a satisfying ending, AND leaves enough open that sequels would make sense. If you’ve read my reviews of other series-kickoffs, you’ll know how picky I am about those.
The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and some hideous police station coffee, I still have a lot to do and my hiney is dragging.)
March 29, 2022
Twisted!
Full of plot twists and intriguing characters. What would you do if you lost a child, not dead, probably, just missing? And if you were a police detective, what rules would you break?
Combine this with a series of baffling murders and you have a gripping story.
If numerous typos are a real problem for you, maybe skip this one.
Full of plot twists and intriguing characters. What would you do if you lost a child, not dead, probably, just missing? And if you were a police detective, what rules would you break?
Combine this with a series of baffling murders and you have a gripping story.
If numerous typos are a real problem for you, maybe skip this one.
September 16, 2021
Thank you to LoveReading for letting me have an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book starts out quite clinical and sparse with little description creating a creepy, isolated atmosphere but then the story and characters gradually build along with the intensity of the story. When the supernatural part kicks in the story really takes off which is what makes this book so good and unique. It is a great combination of crime thriller/supernatural thriller. This book felt like it was building for a series so I hope to meet John Dark again some time soon.
This book starts out quite clinical and sparse with little description creating a creepy, isolated atmosphere but then the story and characters gradually build along with the intensity of the story. When the supernatural part kicks in the story really takes off which is what makes this book so good and unique. It is a great combination of crime thriller/supernatural thriller. This book felt like it was building for a series so I hope to meet John Dark again some time soon.
October 24, 2021
This is a twisty, dark, supernatural thriller that will keep you up late into the night to finish the book. The characters are well written and the writing flows smoothly. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
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