What do you think?
Rate this book
The Darkness of Others
Psychiatrist Imani Banks and her restaurateur husband Philip are living the New York City dream. They own a posh townhouse in Brooklyn Heights; their two children are standouts at their private school; and they are well-liked in their affluent community.
Tonya Sayre is living the New York City nightmare. After moving to Manhattan with dreams of becoming a Broadway star, she has found herself stuck in a waitressing job and struggling to support her teen daughter, Layla. She also fears Layla’s father, Brad, who is back in their life.
When Philip’s restaurant closes due to the lockdown, they decide to take on a renter and let the extra rooms to Tonya and Layla. As Tonya begins skipping payments, the tension with Imani grows. She becomes convinced that Tonya is a professional grifter who preys upon the sympathies of men to live rent free. She even thinks Tonya might have been involved in the shocking murders of the Walkers, a neighboring family.
But evicting someone during a pandemic is no easy feat. Imani soon finds herself stuck with a woman whom she believes to be a killer.
Tonya Sayre is living the New York City nightmare. After moving to Manhattan with dreams of becoming a Broadway star, she has found herself stuck in a waitressing job and struggling to support her teen daughter, Layla. She also fears Layla’s father, Brad, who is back in their life.
When Philip’s restaurant closes due to the lockdown, they decide to take on a renter and let the extra rooms to Tonya and Layla. As Tonya begins skipping payments, the tension with Imani grows. She becomes convinced that Tonya is a professional grifter who preys upon the sympathies of men to live rent free. She even thinks Tonya might have been involved in the shocking murders of the Walkers, a neighboring family.
But evicting someone during a pandemic is no easy feat. Imani soon finds herself stuck with a woman whom she believes to be a killer.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 23, 2022
55 people are currently reading
7029 people want to read
About the author
Cate Holahan
16 books893 followersCate Holahan is a screenwriter and USA Today Bestselling author of psychological suspense books. Her sixth novel, The Darkness of Others, was published in 2022. She has had books named to Kirkus' Best Books of the Year and Book of the Month Club's official selections. Notable works include: One Little Secret, Lies She Told, The Widower's Wife.
Her film, Deadly Estate, was on Fox's Tubi in March, and her upcoming film, Dancers on the Darkside, will be coming out this year.
An award-winning journalist and former television producer, she has written for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, and The Record newspaper. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dogs.
She has an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU's Tisch and graduated from Princeton University in 2002.
She is represented by Paula Munier at Talcott Notch Literary.
Her film, Deadly Estate, was on Fox's Tubi in March, and her upcoming film, Dancers on the Darkside, will be coming out this year.
An award-winning journalist and former television producer, she has written for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, and The Record newspaper. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dogs.
She has an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU's Tisch and graduated from Princeton University in 2002.
She is represented by Paula Munier at Talcott Notch Literary.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
May 15, 2022
Life is sweet for Imani and Philip. Then came the pandemic, wiping-out their meticulously crafted world.
Philip is a successful restauranteur. But as we all vividly remember, the service industry was hit hard. And Phillip now fears for his Michelin-star restaurant and his staff, who are more like family. To help one of his furloughed servers and bring in some extra income Phillip brings home Tonya and her daughter. Very thoughtful and generous, but he probably should have run this by his wife Imani first? Just sayin!.💁🏻♀️
Especially given the fact that Imani has profound issues of her own to deal with. First, her best friends’ husband was just killed. And now her friend has disappeared.
Yes! That’s a lot going on! I totally agree. But it works! It reminded me of a large jigsaw puzzle. Once you finally assemble all the pieces, you can sit back and reap the rewards of your finished product!
This is the third book I’ve read by Cate Holahan and looking forward to more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
Philip is a successful restauranteur. But as we all vividly remember, the service industry was hit hard. And Phillip now fears for his Michelin-star restaurant and his staff, who are more like family. To help one of his furloughed servers and bring in some extra income Phillip brings home Tonya and her daughter. Very thoughtful and generous, but he probably should have run this by his wife Imani first? Just sayin!.💁🏻♀️
Especially given the fact that Imani has profound issues of her own to deal with. First, her best friends’ husband was just killed. And now her friend has disappeared.
Yes! That’s a lot going on! I totally agree. But it works! It reminded me of a large jigsaw puzzle. Once you finally assemble all the pieces, you can sit back and reap the rewards of your finished product!
This is the third book I’ve read by Cate Holahan and looking forward to more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
September 18, 2022
The Darkness of Others is a slow-burn thriller set in the early days of the pandemic in NYC.
It opens with the gruesome death of a famed movie director. His wife Melissa has disappeared, and the police suspect she is responsible for his death.
However, psychiatrist Imani Banks is good friends with Melissa and knows she would never leave her daughter behind.
Then there’s Philip, Imani’s husband and Michelin star chef. Before the pandemic, his restaurant was doing well but has since suffered like so many other dining establishments. He doesn’t have much choice but to lay off some staff, including Tonya, who has worked for him for ten years. It couldn’t be worse timing for Tonya, who ends up moving in with Philip and his family when she’s unable to pay her rent.
Imani is immediately suspicious of Tonya’s motives and even suspects she might be involved in the murder.
This is a slow burn thriller with multiple POVs.
The pandemic plays a large part in this story. However, since there’s a bit of distance from those early days and all the restrictions, it was not as difficult to read as I expected. But it’s still not a time I like to be reminded about at this stage.
I enjoyed the writing style, but when I set the book aside, I had no desire to pick it back up. So, it took longer than it usually would to finish this, considering it’s not that long.
There are tons of other more positive reviews, so you may want to check those out before deciding whether to give this a read.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy to review.
https://booksandwheels.com
It opens with the gruesome death of a famed movie director. His wife Melissa has disappeared, and the police suspect she is responsible for his death.
However, psychiatrist Imani Banks is good friends with Melissa and knows she would never leave her daughter behind.
Then there’s Philip, Imani’s husband and Michelin star chef. Before the pandemic, his restaurant was doing well but has since suffered like so many other dining establishments. He doesn’t have much choice but to lay off some staff, including Tonya, who has worked for him for ten years. It couldn’t be worse timing for Tonya, who ends up moving in with Philip and his family when she’s unable to pay her rent.
Imani is immediately suspicious of Tonya’s motives and even suspects she might be involved in the murder.
This is a slow burn thriller with multiple POVs.
The pandemic plays a large part in this story. However, since there’s a bit of distance from those early days and all the restrictions, it was not as difficult to read as I expected. But it’s still not a time I like to be reminded about at this stage.
I enjoyed the writing style, but when I set the book aside, I had no desire to pick it back up. So, it took longer than it usually would to finish this, considering it’s not that long.
There are tons of other more positive reviews, so you may want to check those out before deciding whether to give this a read.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy to review.
https://booksandwheels.com
July 25, 2022
This is the third book I’ve read from Cate Holahan, and it is the best!
Imani Banks lives with her husband and children in a rich Brooklyn neighborhood. Her best friend, Melissa’s, husband is found brutally murdered one morning. Melissa is nowhere to be found. This quickly makes the news as Melissa’s husband was a famous movie director.
Meanwhile, Imani’s husband, Philip, is having financial trouble as the owner and chef of a famous restaurant that’s been hit hard by the pandemic. His best server, Tonya Sayre, has just been evicted and he invites her and her daughter to stay with him and Imani.
Imani doesn’t get a good vibe from Tonya, and can’t help but wonder if she ties into the disappearance of Melissa and the murder of her husband.
This is a fun thriller with interesting characters, multiple POVs that push you to keep reading, and some unexpected surprises along the way. I was hooked, and enjoyed it all the way to its satisfying conclusion. The book takes place right in the middle of the pandemic, but it didn’t bother me. I found it interesting, and highly recommend if that won’t bother you either.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 8/23/22.
Imani Banks lives with her husband and children in a rich Brooklyn neighborhood. Her best friend, Melissa’s, husband is found brutally murdered one morning. Melissa is nowhere to be found. This quickly makes the news as Melissa’s husband was a famous movie director.
Meanwhile, Imani’s husband, Philip, is having financial trouble as the owner and chef of a famous restaurant that’s been hit hard by the pandemic. His best server, Tonya Sayre, has just been evicted and he invites her and her daughter to stay with him and Imani.
Imani doesn’t get a good vibe from Tonya, and can’t help but wonder if she ties into the disappearance of Melissa and the murder of her husband.
This is a fun thriller with interesting characters, multiple POVs that push you to keep reading, and some unexpected surprises along the way. I was hooked, and enjoyed it all the way to its satisfying conclusion. The book takes place right in the middle of the pandemic, but it didn’t bother me. I found it interesting, and highly recommend if that won’t bother you either.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 8/23/22.
July 17, 2023
Painted Black.
Imani's new tenant Tonya is suspect. Is she capable of murdering someone and did she?
Can you imagine having a person in your house who you think killed a person and especially one close to you?
This is Imani’s situation and she’s understandably unnerved. Her feckless husband is no help either and doesn’t appear to be a good judge of character.
Meanwhile, Tonya has her own problems.
I enjoyed this story much more than I’d anticipated. It was easily read and the story flowed although complicated with many pieces. I love reading puzzle type plots and will definitely try additional books by this author.
I received a print copy and want to thank Cate Holahan and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC due to publish on August 23, 2022.
Imani's new tenant Tonya is suspect. Is she capable of murdering someone and did she?
Can you imagine having a person in your house who you think killed a person and especially one close to you?
This is Imani’s situation and she’s understandably unnerved. Her feckless husband is no help either and doesn’t appear to be a good judge of character.
Meanwhile, Tonya has her own problems.
I enjoyed this story much more than I’d anticipated. It was easily read and the story flowed although complicated with many pieces. I love reading puzzle type plots and will definitely try additional books by this author.
I received a print copy and want to thank Cate Holahan and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC due to publish on August 23, 2022.
December 28, 2024
Cate Holahan has released a new thriller, The Darkness of Others, which takes place in New York City during the pandemic. Told from the perspective of five different characters, readers discover a grisly dead body in the opening scene. A maid finds the corpse. The surviving wife talks like she's guilty. A chef is having various issues at his restaurant. A therapist is unhappy with her job. A young mother is worried about money. How do they all fit together? Visually, the book was intense and immediately drew me in. The plot appeared too obvious from the beginning until twist one is revealed - the wife isn't confessing but I won't reveal a spoiler. The young mother soon reveals a second shocker regarding her daughter's parentage -- not the one I expected. And finally in the end, there's a third twist that kinda leaves readers a little curious about what really happened. Holahan always brings the surprises and I enjoy every minute of the ride to get there. A few things were left open-ended which bugs me in a stand-alone thriller, so I couldn't give it five stars, but a solid way to spend a few hours reading!
August 29, 2022
Let’s just start right off with the elephant in the book. Many of the books that are coming out now were written during the pandemic. Our lives still aren’t back to normal, and after the changes of the past two-plus years, I don’t mind that being memorialized in books.
HOWEVER, this book contained so many Covid references, it felt very forced and intentional. Every chapter mentions people’s masks, if someone got within six feet of another, if the elevator and subway are too crowded, if the sanitizer had been applied - it’s a bit much, and distracted me from the rest of the story. I couldn’t afford to be distracted, because keeping this cast of characters straight was an initial challenge. We have:
Nate and Melissa, the (very wealthy) man found dead and his (famous) missing wife
Ava, their teenage daughter
Oksana, the maid who found Nate’s body
Rick and Frank, two criminals who really didn’t even need to be in the story
Philip, pandemic-struggling restaurant owner and his wife,
Imani, a therapist and Melissa’s best friend
Tonya, a waitress at Philip’s restaurant, single mom to…
Layla, Tonya’s pre-teen daughter
You’ll get to read all about them, as this book rambled on for SO LONG. These annoying and flat characters act like they are in a soap opera, and that combined with the constant Covid-19 reminders (I don’t mind it being in a book, like I said - but this was beyond) initially had me about to give the book a 2.5 … then I got to the ending, and it was the best part of the book. I’m going to go with a solid three stars. This one wasn’t for me, but I’m sure some people will love it.
(Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Cate Holahan, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
HOWEVER, this book contained so many Covid references, it felt very forced and intentional. Every chapter mentions people’s masks, if someone got within six feet of another, if the elevator and subway are too crowded, if the sanitizer had been applied - it’s a bit much, and distracted me from the rest of the story. I couldn’t afford to be distracted, because keeping this cast of characters straight was an initial challenge. We have:
Nate and Melissa, the (very wealthy) man found dead and his (famous) missing wife
Ava, their teenage daughter
Oksana, the maid who found Nate’s body
Rick and Frank, two criminals who really didn’t even need to be in the story
Philip, pandemic-struggling restaurant owner and his wife,
Imani, a therapist and Melissa’s best friend
Tonya, a waitress at Philip’s restaurant, single mom to…
Layla, Tonya’s pre-teen daughter
You’ll get to read all about them, as this book rambled on for SO LONG. These annoying and flat characters act like they are in a soap opera, and that combined with the constant Covid-19 reminders (I don’t mind it being in a book, like I said - but this was beyond) initially had me about to give the book a 2.5 … then I got to the ending, and it was the best part of the book. I’m going to go with a solid three stars. This one wasn’t for me, but I’m sure some people will love it.
(Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Cate Holahan, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
August 11, 2022
I love a book that has me puzzling out different storyline threads and characters. Add in multiple POVs + secrets and lies + some amateur detectiving vibes and I’m all in.
THE DARKNESS OF OTHERS is giving me all the things. Wealthy filmmaker Nate Walker is found murdered in his Brooklyn Heights townhouse and his wife, Melissa, is missing and instantly becomes the police's prime suspect. Her best friend, Imani, doesn’t believe it and sets out to prove Melissa’s innocence. The more Imani digs the more secrets she uncovers.
Imani's husband Philip is a chef who is struggling to keep his NYC restaurant open and manage the pressures of pivoting his business model. The book is set near the end of 2020 and while I initially was a little trepidatious about reading a book set in the backdrop of Covid-19 in NY it ultimately added a level of tension and stress that was unique to the pandemic. I think it served the story in a way that not only amped up the stakes but the description of the desolate streets and the fear so many of us had pervades the pages.
We also get the POV of Tonya, who is one of Philip's waitresses, along with a full cast of supporting characters that fill out this story. As their lives intersect we slowly peel away their stories and secrets.
Major thanks to Cate Holahan for hosting the ARC giveaway on her Instagram and for sending me the book. I’m still beside myself with how cool that is! This is not my first Cate Holahan book and is certainly won't be my last.
Keep your eye out for this one coming out on 8/23.
THE DARKNESS OF OTHERS is giving me all the things. Wealthy filmmaker Nate Walker is found murdered in his Brooklyn Heights townhouse and his wife, Melissa, is missing and instantly becomes the police's prime suspect. Her best friend, Imani, doesn’t believe it and sets out to prove Melissa’s innocence. The more Imani digs the more secrets she uncovers.
Imani's husband Philip is a chef who is struggling to keep his NYC restaurant open and manage the pressures of pivoting his business model. The book is set near the end of 2020 and while I initially was a little trepidatious about reading a book set in the backdrop of Covid-19 in NY it ultimately added a level of tension and stress that was unique to the pandemic. I think it served the story in a way that not only amped up the stakes but the description of the desolate streets and the fear so many of us had pervades the pages.
We also get the POV of Tonya, who is one of Philip's waitresses, along with a full cast of supporting characters that fill out this story. As their lives intersect we slowly peel away their stories and secrets.
Major thanks to Cate Holahan for hosting the ARC giveaway on her Instagram and for sending me the book. I’m still beside myself with how cool that is! This is not my first Cate Holahan book and is certainly won't be my last.
Keep your eye out for this one coming out on 8/23.
October 28, 2022
Book Rating: 3.5/5 rounded up
Audiobook Rating: 4/5
If there was one thing that Cate Holahan really nailed in The Darkness of Others, it is how she brought the pandemic to life. This book is set back when everyone was still wearing masks and restaurants were closing up because everyone was stuck at home. Normally, I don't really like reading about the pandemic and how things were when it first took off, but it was really fitting for the story here and ended up not bothering me in the slightest. I also really appreciated Holahan's acknowledgments section where she talks about why she made the decision to have the story be set this way. I loved the way the book began, and it immediately had my interest, but it did tend to drag a bit for me, and I thought it could have been a touch shorter.
Another thing I loved about The Darkness of Others was the constant viewpoint changes and the fact that it wasn't hard to follow. I was able to keep the different characters separated in my head, so even though there are a decent amount I wasn't confused about who was who. I do think Holahan didn't need all of them, but I enjoyed them, nevertheless. I was also really happy with the audiobook which is narrated by Chanté McCormick & Jennifer Jill Araya. It would have been nice to have a full cast, but I thought they did an excellent job and since there are 2 viewpoints that really stand out, it was still a good choice.
I did catch onto the whodunnit before it was revealed but that didn't really bug me. The only thing that was really weird for me was the use of the word "it" to describe the perp. I understand Holahan didn't want to give anything away, but it really grated on me, and I wish she would have done something different. There was also something about the end that is seemingly left hanging, and I would have loved full closure. Maybe one day there will be a second book, but I believe this is a standalone. Overall, The Darkness of Others would be a good one for someone just starting out with thrillers and those who want to play detective a bit.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Audiobook Rating: 4/5
If there was one thing that Cate Holahan really nailed in The Darkness of Others, it is how she brought the pandemic to life. This book is set back when everyone was still wearing masks and restaurants were closing up because everyone was stuck at home. Normally, I don't really like reading about the pandemic and how things were when it first took off, but it was really fitting for the story here and ended up not bothering me in the slightest. I also really appreciated Holahan's acknowledgments section where she talks about why she made the decision to have the story be set this way. I loved the way the book began, and it immediately had my interest, but it did tend to drag a bit for me, and I thought it could have been a touch shorter.
Another thing I loved about The Darkness of Others was the constant viewpoint changes and the fact that it wasn't hard to follow. I was able to keep the different characters separated in my head, so even though there are a decent amount I wasn't confused about who was who. I do think Holahan didn't need all of them, but I enjoyed them, nevertheless. I was also really happy with the audiobook which is narrated by Chanté McCormick & Jennifer Jill Araya. It would have been nice to have a full cast, but I thought they did an excellent job and since there are 2 viewpoints that really stand out, it was still a good choice.
I did catch onto the whodunnit before it was revealed but that didn't really bug me. The only thing that was really weird for me was the use of the word "it" to describe the perp. I understand Holahan didn't want to give anything away, but it really grated on me, and I wish she would have done something different. There was also something about the end that is seemingly left hanging, and I would have loved full closure. Maybe one day there will be a second book, but I believe this is a standalone. Overall, The Darkness of Others would be a good one for someone just starting out with thrillers and those who want to play detective a bit.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 22, 2022
Well dang, that was one hell of a crazy ride!! The Darkness of Others by Cate Holahan is filled with a mystery and a sense of overwhelming dreed. I couldn't figure out who to trust, or where this was going, but I was immeasurably invested. Holahan is assuredly becoming one of my favorite one-click authors.
~Tanja
*Thank you to @grandcentralpublishing for sharing this title with me.
Follow me on
Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿TikTok
~Tanja
*Thank you to @grandcentralpublishing for sharing this title with me.
Follow me on
Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿TikTok
September 11, 2022
The Darkness of Others takes place in New York City near the end of 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic with all its fear, chaos and confusion which plays into this story. I'll confess it's the first book I've read that incorporates events from those dark days into a story and while I was intrigued, I was also a bit skeptical. Still, I took the plunge and dived in.
Psychiatrist Imani Banks and her husband Philip who runs a successful restaurant seem to have it all, but as we all know from living through the pandemic, restaurants were one of the most adversely affected businesses and had to scale back or close their doors completely during the mandatory isolation of the pandemic. Phillip’s managed to keep their dire situation quiet from his wife, but in an effort to supplement their family income Philip rents a spare room to one of his employees Tonya and her young daughter who are struggling. Right away, Imani gets bad vibes around Tonya and tension grows between them when Tonya misses rent payments. Meantime, Imani's friend's husband is murdered and her friend who's a suspect goes missing. Somehow, someway, Imani suspects Tonya of being involved. She can't evict her because it's prohibited during the pandemic. Is a killer residing in their home? Or is Imani paranoid and completely missing the mark?
The Darkness of Others unfolds through the perspectives of five different characters none of which are reliable, giving readers a chance to play amateur detective and pass judgment on each character's version of the truth. The story is highly visual as evidenced with the grisly discovery of a body in the opening scene. Tension is high throughout, and just when you think you have things figured out, just read on because I promise you, you most likely don't. The twists and shockers just keep coming like storm waves. I was a bit leery in the beginning as to how the pandemic would play into this story - would it be dramatized and over-the-top? I'm happy to say it plays perfectly as a catalyst that set a series of events into motion, and it works beautifully for setting the backdrop for this story.
The Darkness of Others has a lot going on with multiple plot lines and threads. Characters are well-developed and ring true. One small fly in the ointment for me is that I felt a couple of the numerous threads were left dangling in the end and presumably this is a standalone. Nothing glaring or major, but I'm a stickler for closure unless a book is part of an ongoing series. Otherwise, I found The Darkness of Others to be a compelling, intriguing read - a tense, fast-paced story that's sure to entertain. Fans of suspense thrillers will enjoy this one!
3.5 Stars
Many thanks to Grand Central Publ. for an arc of this book. My review is published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and Cross My Heart Reviews
Psychiatrist Imani Banks and her husband Philip who runs a successful restaurant seem to have it all, but as we all know from living through the pandemic, restaurants were one of the most adversely affected businesses and had to scale back or close their doors completely during the mandatory isolation of the pandemic. Phillip’s managed to keep their dire situation quiet from his wife, but in an effort to supplement their family income Philip rents a spare room to one of his employees Tonya and her young daughter who are struggling. Right away, Imani gets bad vibes around Tonya and tension grows between them when Tonya misses rent payments. Meantime, Imani's friend's husband is murdered and her friend who's a suspect goes missing. Somehow, someway, Imani suspects Tonya of being involved. She can't evict her because it's prohibited during the pandemic. Is a killer residing in their home? Or is Imani paranoid and completely missing the mark?
The Darkness of Others unfolds through the perspectives of five different characters none of which are reliable, giving readers a chance to play amateur detective and pass judgment on each character's version of the truth. The story is highly visual as evidenced with the grisly discovery of a body in the opening scene. Tension is high throughout, and just when you think you have things figured out, just read on because I promise you, you most likely don't. The twists and shockers just keep coming like storm waves. I was a bit leery in the beginning as to how the pandemic would play into this story - would it be dramatized and over-the-top? I'm happy to say it plays perfectly as a catalyst that set a series of events into motion, and it works beautifully for setting the backdrop for this story.
The Darkness of Others has a lot going on with multiple plot lines and threads. Characters are well-developed and ring true. One small fly in the ointment for me is that I felt a couple of the numerous threads were left dangling in the end and presumably this is a standalone. Nothing glaring or major, but I'm a stickler for closure unless a book is part of an ongoing series. Otherwise, I found The Darkness of Others to be a compelling, intriguing read - a tense, fast-paced story that's sure to entertain. Fans of suspense thrillers will enjoy this one!
3.5 Stars
Many thanks to Grand Central Publ. for an arc of this book. My review is published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and Cross My Heart Reviews
March 3, 2023
2¼⭐
…the bullet points
- murder mystery
- suspense thriller
- takes place during covid pandemic
- way too many POVs
Ugh…this book didn’t work for me on so many levels. First, the minor issue…the setting occurs amid “the big C”…and it turns out, I don’t want to read about that. The more significant issue is with all the POVs. The choice to have this narrated by only two narrators was basically just a recipe for confusion. Also, there were at least a couple, maybe more, POVs that could have been completely eliminated. So…it’s possible that reading over listening would solve these issues but I’m not really sure about that. I’m also not sure why I didn’t just DNF this.🤷♀️
…about the narration
🎙️🎙️🎙️/5 This really needed a full cast for the narration…
- Chanté McCormick & Jennifer Jill Araya were both quite good…but they shouldn’t have been the only narrators for the multiple characters.
...the score
➨ 4.36/10 | Opening-5 | Characters-4.5 | Plot-4 | Atmosphere-4.5 | Writing Style-4 | Ending-5 | Overall Enjoyment- 3.5
…the bullet points
- murder mystery
- suspense thriller
- takes place during covid pandemic
- way too many POVs
Ugh…this book didn’t work for me on so many levels. First, the minor issue…the setting occurs amid “the big C”…and it turns out, I don’t want to read about that. The more significant issue is with all the POVs. The choice to have this narrated by only two narrators was basically just a recipe for confusion. Also, there were at least a couple, maybe more, POVs that could have been completely eliminated. So…it’s possible that reading over listening would solve these issues but I’m not really sure about that. I’m also not sure why I didn’t just DNF this.🤷♀️
…about the narration
🎙️🎙️🎙️/5 This really needed a full cast for the narration…
- Chanté McCormick & Jennifer Jill Araya were both quite good…but they shouldn’t have been the only narrators for the multiple characters.
...the score
➨ 4.36/10 | Opening-5 | Characters-4.5 | Plot-4 | Atmosphere-4.5 | Writing Style-4 | Ending-5 | Overall Enjoyment- 3.5
August 25, 2022
First off, how gorgeous is this cover?!
This was a quick and easy popcorn thriller that I flew through in two days! While the multiple POVs can be slightly confusing at first, once I got to know everyone it really started flowing and I loved how they all intersected.
This one takes place in the pandemic and there’s numerous mentions throughout but it’s never the main focus. I actually really liked how Holahan used it to build the suspense by having characters think hard of who to bubble with and their general skepticism of everyone.
While I found a bit of it predictable, there were certainly several twists I did not see coming! All in all, a solid domestic suspense
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
This was a quick and easy popcorn thriller that I flew through in two days! While the multiple POVs can be slightly confusing at first, once I got to know everyone it really started flowing and I loved how they all intersected.
This one takes place in the pandemic and there’s numerous mentions throughout but it’s never the main focus. I actually really liked how Holahan used it to build the suspense by having characters think hard of who to bubble with and their general skepticism of everyone.
While I found a bit of it predictable, there were certainly several twists I did not see coming! All in all, a solid domestic suspense
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
June 11, 2022
Covid sets the scene in the New York City Thriller.
It's 2020 and Phillip needs to address his failing restaurant. He tries to shelter his wife Imani from the issues but ends up allowing one of his waitressed to move in and rent some of their extra rooms. Meanwhile, Imani's best friend is missing following the murder of her very well known husband. While the police believe the wife (Melissa) is at fault, Imani assumes that not only is she innocent but also in danger. Can Imani trust her
therapist background to assist her with helping her friend? If you like a quick twisty thriller with a side of covid, this book is for you! #GrandCentralPublishing #Netgalley #Thedarknessofothers
It's 2020 and Phillip needs to address his failing restaurant. He tries to shelter his wife Imani from the issues but ends up allowing one of his waitressed to move in and rent some of their extra rooms. Meanwhile, Imani's best friend is missing following the murder of her very well known husband. While the police believe the wife (Melissa) is at fault, Imani assumes that not only is she innocent but also in danger. Can Imani trust her
therapist background to assist her with helping her friend? If you like a quick twisty thriller with a side of covid, this book is for you! #GrandCentralPublishing #Netgalley #Thedarknessofothers
August 21, 2022
This one had me in the beginning and then lost me along the way. Most times I love an ensemble cast and shifting viewpoints but here I think a couple of them were unnecessary and didn’t really add any value. The twists may be surprising to someone who doesn’t read many thrillers but it seemed so obvious to me that I wasn’t surprised at all. It’s also set in the early days of the pandemic and I didn’t love being back in that time period. Not really the book for me, but it was a fast read and the audio version was well produced and probably what kept me reading while I was cleaning. I’ve also enjoyed the authors books in the past and will definitely give her a other try in the future.
July 1, 2022
OH MY GOODNESS! I finished this one so quickly and it was so addicting all the while. Thank you to both Cate Holahan and Grand Central Publishing for sending me an ARC version of The Darkness of Others prior to it publishing day of August 23, 2022.
This was a classic Unreliable Narrator/Multiple POV scenario at its best -- we all know how I love to be confused amidst my reading journey. When Hollywood actress Melissa Walker ends up missing and her husband is found brutally murdered, the fingers get pointed to Melissa by many tabloids, acquaintances, and passerby, basically everyone except for her dear friend Imani who wouldn't even dare to think that low of her best friend.
In the middle of the threatening COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are closing, NYC has become a ghost town and Imani's husband, Philip is struggling to keep his fine dining establishing afloat, without having to furlough his staff - which he ends up succumbing to, Tonya being one of them. Tonya then gets evicted from her apartment after child support from her estranged baby daddy stops pouring in. In this mixed up web of events, all of these characters are hiding something and they all connect in one way or another. When Tonya and her 11-year old daughter begin to take up a guest room residence in Imani and Philip's home, Imani begins to grow suspicious of her tenets both familial and strangers. Who could have killed Nate and why, and where is her best friend in all of this?
This was an excellent read and I was immediately hooked from the start. What a great way to end my reading goal for June.
This was a classic Unreliable Narrator/Multiple POV scenario at its best -- we all know how I love to be confused amidst my reading journey. When Hollywood actress Melissa Walker ends up missing and her husband is found brutally murdered, the fingers get pointed to Melissa by many tabloids, acquaintances, and passerby, basically everyone except for her dear friend Imani who wouldn't even dare to think that low of her best friend.
In the middle of the threatening COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are closing, NYC has become a ghost town and Imani's husband, Philip is struggling to keep his fine dining establishing afloat, without having to furlough his staff - which he ends up succumbing to, Tonya being one of them. Tonya then gets evicted from her apartment after child support from her estranged baby daddy stops pouring in. In this mixed up web of events, all of these characters are hiding something and they all connect in one way or another. When Tonya and her 11-year old daughter begin to take up a guest room residence in Imani and Philip's home, Imani begins to grow suspicious of her tenets both familial and strangers. Who could have killed Nate and why, and where is her best friend in all of this?
This was an excellent read and I was immediately hooked from the start. What a great way to end my reading goal for June.
January 4, 2023
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Just getting through my backlog of ARC’s and I really enjoyed this book! There were well developed characters and an interesting plot revolving around a murdered husband and missing wife. I loved all the twists and turns and couldn’t predict what would happen at the end! The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read for me was that it was difficult to tell what was past/present when a new chapter started and took me a few pages to reorient myself with who was speaking and if it had happened previously. I would totally recommend to readers if mystery and thrillers!
Just getting through my backlog of ARC’s and I really enjoyed this book! There were well developed characters and an interesting plot revolving around a murdered husband and missing wife. I loved all the twists and turns and couldn’t predict what would happen at the end! The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read for me was that it was difficult to tell what was past/present when a new chapter started and took me a few pages to reorient myself with who was speaking and if it had happened previously. I would totally recommend to readers if mystery and thrillers!
January 16, 2025
This had a good plot, but was just a tad bit too slow. It felt like it just took too long to get where we were going and when I finally got there, it was 🫠
August 5, 2022
We have been so go go go this Disney trip that I forgot I’m now behind on book reviews. This morning is a bit of a slow morning so I finally can review a book for you!
Thank you @netgalley and @grandcentralpub for allowing me to read the Darkness of Others by Cate Holahan early! It comes out August 23rd, which is right around the corner.
Cate Holahan is an autobuy/read author for me. Whenever she has a new book come out I jump for it. In this one we follow a variety of people as an affluent man is murdered and his wife has gone missing.
❤️Review❤️
I over simplified the plot, but I also didn’t know anything going into this book. It was fun letting the story reveal itself to me. I loved getting the various perspectives. They were engaging and made you keep reading. It’s a short book that keeps you on your toes. It made it difficult to really see what was coming next. You would think one thing and then it would flip and take you another direction. I found this to be a really quick and fun read!
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#Bookstagram #BooksBooksBooks #BookReview #SuspenseBooks #MysteryBooks #Books #NetGalley #ReviewBooks #BookOpinion #SummerReading #EBooks
Thank you @netgalley and @grandcentralpub for allowing me to read the Darkness of Others by Cate Holahan early! It comes out August 23rd, which is right around the corner.
Cate Holahan is an autobuy/read author for me. Whenever she has a new book come out I jump for it. In this one we follow a variety of people as an affluent man is murdered and his wife has gone missing.
❤️Review❤️
I over simplified the plot, but I also didn’t know anything going into this book. It was fun letting the story reveal itself to me. I loved getting the various perspectives. They were engaging and made you keep reading. It’s a short book that keeps you on your toes. It made it difficult to really see what was coming next. You would think one thing and then it would flip and take you another direction. I found this to be a really quick and fun read!
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#Bookstagram #BooksBooksBooks #BookReview #SuspenseBooks #MysteryBooks #Books #NetGalley #ReviewBooks #BookOpinion #SummerReading #EBooks
November 12, 2022
Imani is a psychiatrist and lives in a fancy brownstone in Brooklyn with her chef husband, Philip and their kids. Her bff is an actress named Melissa, who is married to a director named Nate. When Nate is found dead in their home and Melissa is missing, Imani tries to figure out wtf is going on. Meanwhile, a waitress at Philip’s restaurant (Tonya) falls on hard times and moves into Imani’s house with her daughter and Imani is all kinds of paranoid about affairs and murder and whatnot.
As an FYI, the description for this book on Goodreads doesn’t describe the story correctly. For example: Only one Walker (Nate) is for sure murdered, the other one (Melissa) is missing. Layla’s dad is not “back in their life”, exactly (it makes it sound like he’s an abusive ex-husband or something). Tonya doesn’t “begin skipping payments” - she moves in and exchanges restaurant cleaning for rent until her unemployment kicks in. The NetGalley description is more accurate, but it still makes this story sound much more exciting than it actually ended up being. All of the men are terrible. All of the women are stupid. The kids felt like they were non-existent other than being mentioned occasionally for emotional drama. I did not like this book at all and found it a boring slog to get through.
* thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the NetGalley review copy. The Darkness of Others publishes August 23rd.
As an FYI, the description for this book on Goodreads doesn’t describe the story correctly. For example: Only one Walker (Nate) is for sure murdered, the other one (Melissa) is missing. Layla’s dad is not “back in their life”, exactly (it makes it sound like he’s an abusive ex-husband or something). Tonya doesn’t “begin skipping payments” - she moves in and exchanges restaurant cleaning for rent until her unemployment kicks in. The NetGalley description is more accurate, but it still makes this story sound much more exciting than it actually ended up being. All of the men are terrible. All of the women are stupid. The kids felt like they were non-existent other than being mentioned occasionally for emotional drama. I did not like this book at all and found it a boring slog to get through.
* thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the NetGalley review copy. The Darkness of Others publishes August 23rd.
May 5, 2022
Nate Walker's suspicious death and his wife's disappearnace affecrs the lives of several people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Imani, Melissa's best friend, knows her disappearance has nothing to do with Nate's murder. Melissa couldn't have killed her husband... could she? And why has her loving, honest husband, Phillip, lied about their finances? Then things get worse for Imani.
Insert Tonya, a waitress at Phillip's restaurant who was evicted from her apartment with her daughter and is welcomed into Imani's home by Phillip. When questioned about Nate's death, it seems like Tonya may have something to hide and Imani is determined to find out the secret.
In my opinion, this book was really good! There were a ton of characters that seemed to have no part in what was happening but as I read the book I was able to figure it out. I enjoyed how it took place during the pandemic and only talked a little bit about what was happening versus over explaining the pandemic and drawing too much on that.
Imani, Melissa's best friend, knows her disappearance has nothing to do with Nate's murder. Melissa couldn't have killed her husband... could she? And why has her loving, honest husband, Phillip, lied about their finances? Then things get worse for Imani.
Insert Tonya, a waitress at Phillip's restaurant who was evicted from her apartment with her daughter and is welcomed into Imani's home by Phillip. When questioned about Nate's death, it seems like Tonya may have something to hide and Imani is determined to find out the secret.
In my opinion, this book was really good! There were a ton of characters that seemed to have no part in what was happening but as I read the book I was able to figure it out. I enjoyed how it took place during the pandemic and only talked a little bit about what was happening versus over explaining the pandemic and drawing too much on that.
August 10, 2022
3.5⭐️
A domestic suspense story set during the early part of the pandemic, this was a fun read. I enjoyed the way the author worked Covid into the storyline, the masking and early uncertainty about being around others as well as the impact to bar/restaurants was interesting and well done. There were a few too many characters and I was often confusing them. The shifting narrator helped provide insight into the story, but I found some of the POV’s to be unnecessary. I did predict the outcome and didn’t find any of it to be overly twisty or surprising. It is well written and slow to steady paced with most of the action occurring at the end. I’d recommend this if you are looking for a quick and easy to read popcorn thriller beach read.
A domestic suspense story set during the early part of the pandemic, this was a fun read. I enjoyed the way the author worked Covid into the storyline, the masking and early uncertainty about being around others as well as the impact to bar/restaurants was interesting and well done. There were a few too many characters and I was often confusing them. The shifting narrator helped provide insight into the story, but I found some of the POV’s to be unnecessary. I did predict the outcome and didn’t find any of it to be overly twisty or surprising. It is well written and slow to steady paced with most of the action occurring at the end. I’d recommend this if you are looking for a quick and easy to read popcorn thriller beach read.
December 30, 2025
The Darkness of Others follows a restaurant, it's owner, and several people connected to it during the pandemic in 2020. It's part murder mystery, missing persons, and coping during the pandemic. If you're not ready for a covid read, I would recommend waiting on this one as it's a major part of the plot and storyline.
The novel is told by multiple narrators including Melissa who is presumed missing and who the public has deemed guilty of killing her husband Mark in cold blood. We also follow Mark and Melissa's friends who are struggling to keep their restaurant afloat during the trying times. We meet a housekeeper for both families and we also follow Tanya who works at the restaurant and has fallen on very hard times from the pandemic and is just trying to keep her daughter safe and in school. There are a lot of relationships, layers, and secrets. It's hard to tell who is telling the truth and who is keeping secrets.
Personally, I'm not ready for books that are hyper focused on the pandemic. I lived through it and at times still feel like we're in it, so I think I need several more years. This was a good mystery though and apart from the covid aspect, I did enjoy it. I listened to this novel on audio and appreciated the full cast.
The novel is told by multiple narrators including Melissa who is presumed missing and who the public has deemed guilty of killing her husband Mark in cold blood. We also follow Mark and Melissa's friends who are struggling to keep their restaurant afloat during the trying times. We meet a housekeeper for both families and we also follow Tanya who works at the restaurant and has fallen on very hard times from the pandemic and is just trying to keep her daughter safe and in school. There are a lot of relationships, layers, and secrets. It's hard to tell who is telling the truth and who is keeping secrets.
Personally, I'm not ready for books that are hyper focused on the pandemic. I lived through it and at times still feel like we're in it, so I think I need several more years. This was a good mystery though and apart from the covid aspect, I did enjoy it. I listened to this novel on audio and appreciated the full cast.
December 21, 2022
3.25 stars I found it a little confusing to follow the numerous characters at first. The summary is a little misleading as Tonya is not a grifter and there is no Brad character. The story is interesting enough that I wanted to find out who the killer was and what exactly was going on.
August 20, 2022
Many treats await readers of Cate Holahan’s novel “The Darkness of Others.” Choosing five characters to relate this tale is a seldom-used tool, coupled with the story being told in a chronological style rather than the this-was-happening-at-the-same-time-as-the-last-chapter method.
While the five storytellers seemed a challenge at first, it was soon easy to differentiate between the characters, especially since Ms. Holahan has so excellently defined each of them. One of the treats for me was the inner workings of each person’s mind and how easy it is to judge others through the machinery running your thoughts while seldom identifying the truths that identify the motivations of those being judged. The false conclusions lead to actions that are incorrect for the situation, causing future events to wobble or spin completely out of control.
While I was able to guess who the villain of the story was there are enough surprises throughout and a few red herrings that more than once made me question my choice. This story deals with everyday life situations and demonstrates how quickly things can happen and the horrible “fixes” that many times end up being worse than the original deeds. The suspense element weaves its way through the pages until the climax races to a conclusion. Highly recommended. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
While the five storytellers seemed a challenge at first, it was soon easy to differentiate between the characters, especially since Ms. Holahan has so excellently defined each of them. One of the treats for me was the inner workings of each person’s mind and how easy it is to judge others through the machinery running your thoughts while seldom identifying the truths that identify the motivations of those being judged. The false conclusions lead to actions that are incorrect for the situation, causing future events to wobble or spin completely out of control.
While I was able to guess who the villain of the story was there are enough surprises throughout and a few red herrings that more than once made me question my choice. This story deals with everyday life situations and demonstrates how quickly things can happen and the horrible “fixes” that many times end up being worse than the original deeds. The suspense element weaves its way through the pages until the climax races to a conclusion. Highly recommended. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
September 7, 2022
I finished this title last night but had to take time to mull things over.
I received this book as an advance readers copy from the publisher for my review.
The characters are so very well written that every layer of their being is slowly, expertly revealed. Because, honestly, do we ever show every bit of ourselves to anyone.
Imani and Melissa are best friends, their two daughters are best friends along with Imani's son. One day Imani gets an emergency call from the kids school saying that she has to pick up Melissa's daughter, Ava. Melissa is nowhere to be found and the police suspect that she is the one responsible for her husband's violent death. Imani doesn't believe this in any way shape or form, Melissa would never leave her daughter, period. She believes that whoever killed Nate, Melissa's husband, kidnapped or has killed Melissa elsewhere. And the police aren't even considering it.
As more characters are introduced, a web of intertwined lives grows larger and larger.
The setting during the Covid pandemic just adds the familiarity of recent memory and obstacles. The story unfolds like a really great movie that has you recommended it to your friends and co-workers. A movie is going to take too long, read this book instead.
I usually pass my advance copies onto friends and my book club members. I'm thinking this little darling is staying with me. So, Cate, what else do you have? I think I am going to have to read more.
I received this book as an advance readers copy from the publisher for my review.
The characters are so very well written that every layer of their being is slowly, expertly revealed. Because, honestly, do we ever show every bit of ourselves to anyone.
Imani and Melissa are best friends, their two daughters are best friends along with Imani's son. One day Imani gets an emergency call from the kids school saying that she has to pick up Melissa's daughter, Ava. Melissa is nowhere to be found and the police suspect that she is the one responsible for her husband's violent death. Imani doesn't believe this in any way shape or form, Melissa would never leave her daughter, period. She believes that whoever killed Nate, Melissa's husband, kidnapped or has killed Melissa elsewhere. And the police aren't even considering it.
As more characters are introduced, a web of intertwined lives grows larger and larger.
The setting during the Covid pandemic just adds the familiarity of recent memory and obstacles. The story unfolds like a really great movie that has you recommended it to your friends and co-workers. A movie is going to take too long, read this book instead.
I usually pass my advance copies onto friends and my book club members. I'm thinking this little darling is staying with me. So, Cate, what else do you have? I think I am going to have to read more.
March 8, 2023
Act I of THE DARKNESS OF OTHERS begins with the scene of the crime. A dead celebrity. A bottle and a glass. A cleaning woman who takes his picture with her cellphone. You might expect this to be followed by a flurry of police, CSI in bunny suits, yellow police tape and markers. You would be wrong. The following chapters introduce the cast of characters who seem disparate enough to seem unlikely as suspects… And two police detectives. The dead man's celebrity wife is missing. Oh, and by the way, New York City is in the throes of the corona virus pandemic.
In Act II, subtle connections are made. The two couples where the wives are best friends. A single mom who works for the still-alive husband. The financially insolvent restaurant plagued by the pandemic and two shady characters. Things seem to clarify until the very end of Act II.
In Act III, all slowly becomes clear. It is here that the pulse-pounding thriller takes shape. The mystery resolves, and life goes on… perhaps better than before.
Slow burn is a term often applied to romance novels. I would call THE DARKNESS OF OTHERS a slow burn crime novel. It's character driven plot brings human foibles to the fore while slowly building a case for murder. Pitting the characters against the COVID pandemic adds a surreal sense of reality with which all readers can connect.
As whodunnits go… this one is first rate.
In Act II, subtle connections are made. The two couples where the wives are best friends. A single mom who works for the still-alive husband. The financially insolvent restaurant plagued by the pandemic and two shady characters. Things seem to clarify until the very end of Act II.
In Act III, all slowly becomes clear. It is here that the pulse-pounding thriller takes shape. The mystery resolves, and life goes on… perhaps better than before.
Slow burn is a term often applied to romance novels. I would call THE DARKNESS OF OTHERS a slow burn crime novel. It's character driven plot brings human foibles to the fore while slowly building a case for murder. Pitting the characters against the COVID pandemic adds a surreal sense of reality with which all readers can connect.
As whodunnits go… this one is first rate.
August 23, 2022
After the murder of Nate Walker, an acclaimed movie director in an upscale Brooklyn Heights neighbourhood, the media and neighbours jump to the conclusion that Melissa, Nate's wife who is missing, did it. Melissa's best friend, Imani Banks, is determined to find and prove Melissa's innocence.
On the back of the book, it is described as a "nail-biting suspense for readers of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell", which immediately peaked my interest and made me start this one the minute it arrived!
Written from multiple points of view, I enjoyed the many perspectives and was interested in most of the character's stories and trying to figure out how and if they were connected. I did find the middle of the book (Part 2) to be a little slower for me as I was looking for more focus on Melissa/Nate rather than the other storylines and struggled with a few parts that may have been irrelevant. I was able to guess a big part of the ending about halfway through which didn't bother me as much for this book since I enjoyed putting the pieces together. Part 3 picked up again and I didn't find that there were any major loose ends.
I do want to point out that this book is set during the pandemic, and specifically focuses on the restaurant industry during the pandemic, as some readers may not enjoy this aspect (it didn't personally bother me at all and I thought it was done well).
Overall, I enjoyed this one although it wasn't as twisty as I hoped for! If you are looking for a quick, captivating, suspenseful read set in a wealthy New York neighbourhood with elite schools and high end restaurants that centres on friendships, a murder and a missing person, check out The Darkness of Others! I look forward to checking out more of Cate Holanhan's books in the future.
Thank you to @grandcentralpub for my gifted copy of The Darkness of Others, out August 23, 2022 (today!).
On the back of the book, it is described as a "nail-biting suspense for readers of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell", which immediately peaked my interest and made me start this one the minute it arrived!
Written from multiple points of view, I enjoyed the many perspectives and was interested in most of the character's stories and trying to figure out how and if they were connected. I did find the middle of the book (Part 2) to be a little slower for me as I was looking for more focus on Melissa/Nate rather than the other storylines and struggled with a few parts that may have been irrelevant. I was able to guess a big part of the ending about halfway through which didn't bother me as much for this book since I enjoyed putting the pieces together. Part 3 picked up again and I didn't find that there were any major loose ends.
I do want to point out that this book is set during the pandemic, and specifically focuses on the restaurant industry during the pandemic, as some readers may not enjoy this aspect (it didn't personally bother me at all and I thought it was done well).
Overall, I enjoyed this one although it wasn't as twisty as I hoped for! If you are looking for a quick, captivating, suspenseful read set in a wealthy New York neighbourhood with elite schools and high end restaurants that centres on friendships, a murder and a missing person, check out The Darkness of Others! I look forward to checking out more of Cate Holanhan's books in the future.
Thank you to @grandcentralpub for my gifted copy of The Darkness of Others, out August 23, 2022 (today!).
August 17, 2022
This is my second book by Cate Holahan and I was really looking forward to it. Thank you to @grandcentralpub for my advance copy!
I love a story with multiple POVs and this one gives us five! All characters are vastly different but connected in mysterious ways which I enjoyed connecting. I just love being suspicious when reading and the different POVs really helped keep me guessing.
I loved that we opened up to a grisly scene, which hooked me right from the start! I loved all the secrets, lies and deceptions of this one. It really kept me propelling forward until I figured out the “whodunit” Once I did, I enjoyed finding out the motive and the why behind it. I also felt the mention of COVID made the entire story relatable and thought it was interesting how the author used “masks” in the physical sense and also literal. We have all worn masks in more than one sense of the word.
Another fun one from Cate!
I love a story with multiple POVs and this one gives us five! All characters are vastly different but connected in mysterious ways which I enjoyed connecting. I just love being suspicious when reading and the different POVs really helped keep me guessing.
I loved that we opened up to a grisly scene, which hooked me right from the start! I loved all the secrets, lies and deceptions of this one. It really kept me propelling forward until I figured out the “whodunit” Once I did, I enjoyed finding out the motive and the why behind it. I also felt the mention of COVID made the entire story relatable and thought it was interesting how the author used “masks” in the physical sense and also literal. We have all worn masks in more than one sense of the word.
Another fun one from Cate!
August 12, 2022
The Darkness of Others by Cate Holahan. Thanks to @grandcentralpub @netgalley for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Imani’s best friend, Melissa, goes missing after Melissa’s famous movie director is murderer. The obvious suspect is Melissa. Imani thinks her new tenant may have something to do with it.
I’m glad I kept at this one. It was a little slow going for a bit but got pretty darn exciting at the end. I liked the different perspectives and how everything came together at the end. It comes together in an unexpected way as well.
“”What killed you was rarely what you saw coming. It was something you’d missed.”
The Darkness of Others comes out 8/23.
Imani’s best friend, Melissa, goes missing after Melissa’s famous movie director is murderer. The obvious suspect is Melissa. Imani thinks her new tenant may have something to do with it.
I’m glad I kept at this one. It was a little slow going for a bit but got pretty darn exciting at the end. I liked the different perspectives and how everything came together at the end. It comes together in an unexpected way as well.
“”What killed you was rarely what you saw coming. It was something you’d missed.”
The Darkness of Others comes out 8/23.
August 23, 2022
The story opens up with the gruesome murder scene of a prominent movie director in his home. His trophie wife is missing so of course, everyone suspects she killed her husband in a fit of rage and is on the run. But her best friend is determined to clear her name and find her friend. There are many potential suspects but who actually pulled the trigger?
Start a book off with a murder scene and I’m already hooked. We hear from 5 different POV’s throughout and in the beginning, we have no idea how they’re all connected. Layer by layer, their associations collide. I had several theories going in my mind while I read. The pages just kept turning before I settled on the actual perpetrator. There are side stories that are weaved together to create even more motives.
This was a solid thriller that kept me entertained! The plot takes place during the Pandemic lockdown in NYC so if you’re not ready to read that reality just yet, hold off on reading.
Start a book off with a murder scene and I’m already hooked. We hear from 5 different POV’s throughout and in the beginning, we have no idea how they’re all connected. Layer by layer, their associations collide. I had several theories going in my mind while I read. The pages just kept turning before I settled on the actual perpetrator. There are side stories that are weaved together to create even more motives.
This was a solid thriller that kept me entertained! The plot takes place during the Pandemic lockdown in NYC so if you’re not ready to read that reality just yet, hold off on reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews