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Dark Ride
Sometimes the person you least expect is just the hero you need
Twenty-one-year-old Hardy “Hardly” Reed—good-natured, easygoing, usually stoned—is drifting through life. A minimum-wage scare actor at an amusement park, he avoids unnecessary effort and unrealistic ambitions.
Then one day he notices two children, around six or seven, sitting all alone on a bench. Hardly checks if they’re okay and sees injuries on both children. Someone is hurting these kids.
He reports the incident to Child Protective Service.
That should be the end of it. After all, Hardly's not even good at looking out for himself so the last thing he wants to do is look out for anyone else. But he's haunted by the two kids, his heart breaking for them. And the more research he does the less he trusts that Child Protective Services —understaffed and overworked—will do anything about it.
That leaves…Hardly. He is probably the last person you’d ever want to count on. But those two kids have nobody else but him. Hardly has to do what's right and help them.
For the first time in his life, Hardly decides to fight for something. This might be the one point in his entire life, he realizes, that is the entire point of his life. He will help those kids.
At first, trying to gather evidence that will force the proper authorities to intervene, Hardly is a total disaster. Gradually, with assistance from unexpected allies, he develops investigative skills and discovers he’s smarter and more capable than he ever imagined.
But Hardly also discovers that the situation is more dangerous than he ever expected. The abusive father who has been hurting these children isn’t just a lawyer—he also runs a violent drug-dealing operation. The mother claims she wants to escape with the kids—but Hardly isn't sure he can trust her.
Faced with a different version of himself than he has ever known, Hardly refuses to give up. But his commitment to saving these kids from further harm might end up getting the kids, and Hardly himself, killed.
Twenty-one-year-old Hardy “Hardly” Reed—good-natured, easygoing, usually stoned—is drifting through life. A minimum-wage scare actor at an amusement park, he avoids unnecessary effort and unrealistic ambitions.
Then one day he notices two children, around six or seven, sitting all alone on a bench. Hardly checks if they’re okay and sees injuries on both children. Someone is hurting these kids.
He reports the incident to Child Protective Service.
That should be the end of it. After all, Hardly's not even good at looking out for himself so the last thing he wants to do is look out for anyone else. But he's haunted by the two kids, his heart breaking for them. And the more research he does the less he trusts that Child Protective Services —understaffed and overworked—will do anything about it.
That leaves…Hardly. He is probably the last person you’d ever want to count on. But those two kids have nobody else but him. Hardly has to do what's right and help them.
For the first time in his life, Hardly decides to fight for something. This might be the one point in his entire life, he realizes, that is the entire point of his life. He will help those kids.
At first, trying to gather evidence that will force the proper authorities to intervene, Hardly is a total disaster. Gradually, with assistance from unexpected allies, he develops investigative skills and discovers he’s smarter and more capable than he ever imagined.
But Hardly also discovers that the situation is more dangerous than he ever expected. The abusive father who has been hurting these children isn’t just a lawyer—he also runs a violent drug-dealing operation. The mother claims she wants to escape with the kids—but Hardly isn't sure he can trust her.
Faced with a different version of himself than he has ever known, Hardly refuses to give up. But his commitment to saving these kids from further harm might end up getting the kids, and Hardly himself, killed.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
233 people are currently reading
10493 people want to read
About the author
Lou Berney
9 books1,101 followersLou Berney is the Edgar Award-winning author of Double Barrel Bluff (November 2024), Dark Ride (2023), November Road (2018), The Long and Faraway Gone (2015), Whiplash River (2012), and Gutshot Straight (2010), all from William Morrow. His short fiction has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, the New England Review, and the Pushcart Prize anthology.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 495 reviews
February 16, 2024
DNF
Loved the writing. This author is topnotch. His prose is like sixteen lacquer coats on a 1969 Pontiac GTO, polished to a high sheen. Wish I could write half-as well. Wonderful prose. Absolutely adored November Road. The character in this one reminds me of The Dude in the Big Lebowski. Loved that movie and the character. Berney resurrects him here with excellent writing and characterization.
The problem for me, (and no one else will have this same problem), is the flawed premise. It's my background that keeps me from enjoying this one. For a few years I was the CPS (child protective service) supervisor monitoring the cases for the station advocating for the children. And being an author I understand there are two worlds, the reader's world and the real world.
But, (and sorry this is a big but) the conflict in the premise could simply be resolved with one phone call to the police. Once The Dude figures out the who and the where of the children one phone call ends the story.
So this one is a huge: "It's me and not you," type of situation.
Pick it up and give it a go. You'll love the character and the wonderfully polished prose.
d.
Loved the writing. This author is topnotch. His prose is like sixteen lacquer coats on a 1969 Pontiac GTO, polished to a high sheen. Wish I could write half-as well. Wonderful prose. Absolutely adored November Road. The character in this one reminds me of The Dude in the Big Lebowski. Loved that movie and the character. Berney resurrects him here with excellent writing and characterization.
The problem for me, (and no one else will have this same problem), is the flawed premise. It's my background that keeps me from enjoying this one. For a few years I was the CPS (child protective service) supervisor monitoring the cases for the station advocating for the children. And being an author I understand there are two worlds, the reader's world and the real world.
But, (and sorry this is a big but) the conflict in the premise could simply be resolved with one phone call to the police. Once The Dude figures out the who and the where of the children one phone call ends the story.
So this one is a huge: "It's me and not you," type of situation.
Pick it up and give it a go. You'll love the character and the wonderfully polished prose.
d.
March 21, 2023
Well, it was right there in the title. Of course, it’s great. It’s Lou Berney.
August 27, 2024
Sorry to report that this was a disappointment for me. I loved November Road and The Long and Faraway Gone, so I had great hopes for this.
The biggest problem is that the crux of the story is all on the surface. The MC, “Hardly” is a 26 yo dude who works at a “haunted” Western theme park when he isn’t getting stoned with his 2 BFFs. One day at the DMV he notices two children waiting on a bench while their mother takes care of business inside. He is horrified to see cigarette burns on both children, and makes feeble efforts to get Child Protective Services to take action on their behalf. When this fails he becomes obsessed with getting them and their mother away from the abusive father themselves.
Along the way this turns into a coming-of-age story. Not my favorite genre, but ok. Except that we aren’t able to infer this for ourselves. Berney beats us over the head with Hardly’s ongoing reflections about how he’s changed and he’s a new man who can pull off complicated and important tasks.
I prefer more subtlety. I like books that make me think. This one didn’t.
But it’s getting 3 stars anyway, because Berney is basically an excellent prose stylist. Oh, I didn’t care for the narrator either. Annoying voice. I haven’t watched NFL games in decades, but I remember flinching at Chris Collinswood’s voice while he was the color commentator. That’s the voice.
The biggest problem is that the crux of the story is all on the surface. The MC, “Hardly” is a 26 yo dude who works at a “haunted” Western theme park when he isn’t getting stoned with his 2 BFFs. One day at the DMV he notices two children waiting on a bench while their mother takes care of business inside. He is horrified to see cigarette burns on both children, and makes feeble efforts to get Child Protective Services to take action on their behalf. When this fails he becomes obsessed with getting them and their mother away from the abusive father themselves.
Along the way this turns into a coming-of-age story. Not my favorite genre, but ok. Except that we aren’t able to infer this for ourselves. Berney beats us over the head with Hardly’s ongoing reflections about how he’s changed and he’s a new man who can pull off complicated and important tasks.
I prefer more subtlety. I like books that make me think. This one didn’t.
But it’s getting 3 stars anyway, because Berney is basically an excellent prose stylist. Oh, I didn’t care for the narrator either. Annoying voice. I haven’t watched NFL games in decades, but I remember flinching at Chris Collinswood’s voice while he was the color commentator. That’s the voice.
April 11, 2025
Hardley is at the DMV for a continuance on yet another parking ticket. Two small kids are playing together in the sitting area and Hardley notices both have multiple cigarette burns on their ankles and necks.
He decides to do something about it and calls and then visits CPS. He realizes the overworked case worker isn’t going to help save these children anytime soon and decides to do something about it himself.
This one’s a winner and the audio is fantastic!
He decides to do something about it and calls and then visits CPS. He realizes the overworked case worker isn’t going to help save these children anytime soon and decides to do something about it himself.
This one’s a winner and the audio is fantastic!
August 11, 2023
Hardly (Hardy, but nobody calls him by his real name) is a college dropout, a stoner who works at an amusement park for minimum wage. He’s a young man of no ambition, floating aimlessly through life, when a day at the DMV changes everything.
After getting a continuance on his ticket, he’s about to leave the building when he sees a young boy and girl on a bench. They are silent, not playing, not even fidgeting. Where are the parents? When he goes to talk to them, he sees it: cigarette burns, on both children. Before he can do anything, their harried mother comes out and they leave.
Hardly leaves too, but he can’t stop thinking about those kids, the ones with dead eyes who are obviously being abused. The burns on their bodies were methodically placed; those weren’t accidental. He goes to Child Protective Services to report the abuse, but they tell him it could be ages before anything can happen. Hardly isn’t sure that these kids have that much time to wait.
Soon, after CPS turns out to be no help, he becomes a sort of private detective, trying to find out who these kids are. Once he finds out their identity, where they used to go to school, and their parents’ names, he begins devising a plan. He was a foster child, but a lucky one who had loving foster parents. He wants these kids to get a chance at life like he did, and he won’t stop until they’re safe.
The whole book is Hardly plotting to rescue the kids and their mom. He gets a couple of friends involved, and they all try to figure out the best way to help. You’d think a book with a singular plot line like this would be a bit boring, but it wasn’t at all. It was at times funny, but mostly thought-provoking and touching. The ending was done well, and you’ll be waiting to get there to see what happens!
I quite enjoyed this book - not only the fictional parts, but the very real way that social services work in America. It explains to the reader how easy it is for people to fall through the cracks, and how difficult it is to get help. Hardly grew on me as a character, especially as his character slowly grew up throughout his quest to save these kids. There were also some good side characters, and the whole thing was very well done. Four stars!
(Thank you to William Morrow, Lou Berney, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 19, 2023.)
After getting a continuance on his ticket, he’s about to leave the building when he sees a young boy and girl on a bench. They are silent, not playing, not even fidgeting. Where are the parents? When he goes to talk to them, he sees it: cigarette burns, on both children. Before he can do anything, their harried mother comes out and they leave.
Hardly leaves too, but he can’t stop thinking about those kids, the ones with dead eyes who are obviously being abused. The burns on their bodies were methodically placed; those weren’t accidental. He goes to Child Protective Services to report the abuse, but they tell him it could be ages before anything can happen. Hardly isn’t sure that these kids have that much time to wait.
Soon, after CPS turns out to be no help, he becomes a sort of private detective, trying to find out who these kids are. Once he finds out their identity, where they used to go to school, and their parents’ names, he begins devising a plan. He was a foster child, but a lucky one who had loving foster parents. He wants these kids to get a chance at life like he did, and he won’t stop until they’re safe.
The whole book is Hardly plotting to rescue the kids and their mom. He gets a couple of friends involved, and they all try to figure out the best way to help. You’d think a book with a singular plot line like this would be a bit boring, but it wasn’t at all. It was at times funny, but mostly thought-provoking and touching. The ending was done well, and you’ll be waiting to get there to see what happens!
I quite enjoyed this book - not only the fictional parts, but the very real way that social services work in America. It explains to the reader how easy it is for people to fall through the cracks, and how difficult it is to get help. Hardly grew on me as a character, especially as his character slowly grew up throughout his quest to save these kids. There were also some good side characters, and the whole thing was very well done. Four stars!
(Thank you to William Morrow, Lou Berney, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 19, 2023.)
May 7, 2024
Ah man, this was so lame. I loved November Road and went into Dark Ride with high expectations of a quality noir thriller.
But Dark Ride is not a serious book. It's silly, implausible, and has one of the most insipid and annoying narrators I've ever read. His motivations are at best questionable, at worst laughable.
Everything about it is unbelievable and I am hugely disappointed.
But Dark Ride is not a serious book. It's silly, implausible, and has one of the most insipid and annoying narrators I've ever read. His motivations are at best questionable, at worst laughable.
Everything about it is unbelievable and I am hugely disappointed.
November 4, 2023
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Dark Ride by Lou Berney. (2023).
**Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review; published 4 October 2023**
21-year-old Hardy AKA Hardly is drifting through life - good nature, easygoing, usually stoned. But one day he notices two young children sitting all alone and sees they are injured. He reports it to Child Protective Services. That should be the end of it but he learns that CPS is understaffed and overworked. For the first time in his life, he decides to fight for something: help these kids. At first he's a disaster but with assistance from unexpected allies, he discovers information about the family. And the situation is even more dangerous than what he thought... but he won't give up.
I thought the synopsis of this one was interesting, but I didn't really get into it. I felt like the storyline just wasn't believable although I appreciated the idea of it. Hardly is a super chill (probably because he's constantly stoned) young man who happens across two young children with visible injuries. He reports it but then quickly discovers that it's unlikely anything will happen. He then becomes obsessed with saving the kids and through the help of a motley cast of acquaintances, learns a lot of identifying information about the family and gets very involved. I thought the ending was quite abrupt, rushed and I wasn't a fan.
Overall: I didn't really think much of this book, but it was an easy and quick read; other readers have really enjoyed it so worth a try if the synopsis interests you.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Dark Ride by Lou Berney. (2023).
**Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review; published 4 October 2023**
21-year-old Hardy AKA Hardly is drifting through life - good nature, easygoing, usually stoned. But one day he notices two young children sitting all alone and sees they are injured. He reports it to Child Protective Services. That should be the end of it but he learns that CPS is understaffed and overworked. For the first time in his life, he decides to fight for something: help these kids. At first he's a disaster but with assistance from unexpected allies, he discovers information about the family. And the situation is even more dangerous than what he thought... but he won't give up.
I thought the synopsis of this one was interesting, but I didn't really get into it. I felt like the storyline just wasn't believable although I appreciated the idea of it. Hardly is a super chill (probably because he's constantly stoned) young man who happens across two young children with visible injuries. He reports it but then quickly discovers that it's unlikely anything will happen. He then becomes obsessed with saving the kids and through the help of a motley cast of acquaintances, learns a lot of identifying information about the family and gets very involved. I thought the ending was quite abrupt, rushed and I wasn't a fan.
Overall: I didn't really think much of this book, but it was an easy and quick read; other readers have really enjoyed it so worth a try if the synopsis interests you.
November 28, 2023
Ugh. I had a really detailed not super nice review typed out but that’s unnecessary. To keep it short and simple, the MMC is an absolutely insufferable douche bag, the plot is ridiculous, the writing is subpar, and that I don’t recommend it one bit.
August 3, 2023
This is the third Lou Berney book I've read (November Road and The Long and Faraway Gone being the other two) and Dark Ride is Berney at storytelling his best. His characters are well-drawn and the story engaging.
Hardy "Hardly" Reed is happy with his life. He has no ambitions, is currently working as a sheriff in a rundown wild-west theme park and is stoned most of the time. His aimless life takes an abrupt turn when he encounters Jack and Pearl, aged six and seven, on a bench in the Department of Motor Vehicles waiting for their mother. He notices injuries on the children consistent with abuse and knows he must do something. Fanagiling the mother's information from a clerk who helped her, he contacts Child Protective Service, only to have the caseworker walk off the job in the middle of his report! Frustrated by the inaction and bureaucracy, Hardly gains a purpose in life: save these two children. What follows is an often cringe-worthy journey for Hardly as he transitions from an aimless life into a person who realizes he is the only person who can save these two children.
I did enjoy this book although the description of the child abuse was sad. Hardly is a wonderful, hapless character. who, once he got a goal, shifts gears and goes into savior mode. His friends are quirky but big-hearted. All-in-all, this is another excellent story from Lou Berney.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy for review. The publication date is September 19, 2023.
Hardy "Hardly" Reed is happy with his life. He has no ambitions, is currently working as a sheriff in a rundown wild-west theme park and is stoned most of the time. His aimless life takes an abrupt turn when he encounters Jack and Pearl, aged six and seven, on a bench in the Department of Motor Vehicles waiting for their mother. He notices injuries on the children consistent with abuse and knows he must do something. Fanagiling the mother's information from a clerk who helped her, he contacts Child Protective Service, only to have the caseworker walk off the job in the middle of his report! Frustrated by the inaction and bureaucracy, Hardly gains a purpose in life: save these two children. What follows is an often cringe-worthy journey for Hardly as he transitions from an aimless life into a person who realizes he is the only person who can save these two children.
I did enjoy this book although the description of the child abuse was sad. Hardly is a wonderful, hapless character. who, once he got a goal, shifts gears and goes into savior mode. His friends are quirky but big-hearted. All-in-all, this is another excellent story from Lou Berney.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy for review. The publication date is September 19, 2023.
March 1, 2025
Ugh, Hardly has my broken heart!! 😭 What a good book this was, with very fast pacing, and lovably flawed characters. The narration on the audiobook is stellar, with Grandma being the best rock and roll-loving, hell-raising character ever. I read this book super fast!
August 5, 2023
I received an ARC of this through my work. I don't usually read Thrillers but the premise of this was so intriguing.
The good: It is very well paced and I really enjoy Berney's writing style. It was an exciting read all the way through and Berney knows how to keep the reader on their toes. The characters were all unique and I became really fond of Hardly, Eleanor and Salvador (god Salvador has my heart he's so sweet and awesome and I want to adopt him) Honestly this could have very easily been a four star read for me.
The bad and the reason I knocked off a full two stars: As I said I don't really read thrillers so I don't usually know what to expect as far as endings go.
I am incredibly disappointed by the ending. And honestly, maybe that's indicative of how good this writing is.
(Do not proceed to the next part of the review if you don't want spoilers) I was so into the story and the writing impacted me so much that when that ending turned up it broke my heart so much it put a bad taste in my mouth. The dynamics between the characters were so wonderful and I loved them all, I screamed with fear when Salvador got shot. It's left ambiguous if he makes it or not (he better) but I still am bothered by.
And then Hardly. He went through all that work, finally discovering something he was passionate about only to brutally die. Leaving both of his friends, people whom I believe didn't really have any friends, behind. And it wasn't just the death it was how abrupt it was. There was no falling action in this book at all. It was dirty and cruel and again, maybe that shows how strong these characters are that I cared about them so much. But I just cannot personally take such hard endings like this. Hardly was done dirty and deserved to live, in my opinion. Perhaps that's not realistic.... but I really wanted something happier and I just couldn't handle this ending.
The good: It is very well paced and I really enjoy Berney's writing style. It was an exciting read all the way through and Berney knows how to keep the reader on their toes. The characters were all unique and I became really fond of Hardly, Eleanor and Salvador (god Salvador has my heart he's so sweet and awesome and I want to adopt him) Honestly this could have very easily been a four star read for me.
The bad and the reason I knocked off a full two stars: As I said I don't really read thrillers so I don't usually know what to expect as far as endings go.
I am incredibly disappointed by the ending. And honestly, maybe that's indicative of how good this writing is.
(Do not proceed to the next part of the review if you don't want spoilers) I was so into the story and the writing impacted me so much that when that ending turned up it broke my heart so much it put a bad taste in my mouth. The dynamics between the characters were so wonderful and I loved them all, I screamed with fear when Salvador got shot. It's left ambiguous if he makes it or not (he better) but I still am bothered by.
And then Hardly. He went through all that work, finally discovering something he was passionate about only to brutally die. Leaving both of his friends, people whom I believe didn't really have any friends, behind. And it wasn't just the death it was how abrupt it was. There was no falling action in this book at all. It was dirty and cruel and again, maybe that shows how strong these characters are that I cared about them so much. But I just cannot personally take such hard endings like this. Hardly was done dirty and deserved to live, in my opinion. Perhaps that's not realistic.... but I really wanted something happier and I just couldn't handle this ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2024
So apparently I missed Lou's big hit. I picked up this book when I saw the reviews and that my library also had this in the fast checkout lane. This has got to be the worst book I have ever read in my entire life. If I could give this book negative stars I would. The people who read this and gave it 5 stars clearly were paid. I read the first 100 pages and thought, I'm not finishing. Saw a review that said the last 60-80 pages were the most thrilling. They lied. The most thrilling part of this book was the fact that it was over.
September 20, 2023
Going to the DMV is always a “Dark Ride.” Hardy aka Hardly finds himself there to get a continuation on a parking ticket when he notices two children who appear to be alone. When he goes to ask if they are okay, he sees they’ve been hurt by someone. From there Hardly makes decisions that will put himself in harms way to save these children. Most people have it in them to be a hero. Hardy is a decent young man, he just lacks ambition and drifts through life until he’s faced with a situation where he feels he has no choice but to take action.
I listened on audio and the narrator for me was over the top and was distracting to the story. He was actually yelling at some points and near mumbling in others which required me to constantly adjust the volume. I believe this is the same narrator who did November Road, but I don’t remember that being an issue. It sadly impacted the story for me and if I had a printed copy, I would have stopped listening. Overall the story itself is good. I didn’t love it like November Road, but there is no question Lou Berney is a talented writer. I’d recommend reading this in print if an over zealous narrator bothers you too.
“The most dangerous thing in the world is a first impression.”
Pub date: September 19, 2023
Pages: 248
My GR rating: 3.5/5
July 1, 2023
4 1/2 stars
Lou Berney's characters are not people who stand out in a crowd. They are just everyday people caught up in a situation that is out of their control but they have to try. Hardly is waiting to fix a ticket when he spies two little kids and their mom who seem off. A glimpse of fear in her eyes and a hastily covered cigarette burn on the kid's wrist sends him wanting to help those kids be safe. What can a guy who works at an amusement park horror house do? His friends say to leave it to the authorities but the more Hardly tries to report it the less confident that anyone will do anything. For the kids and their mom's sake he will take on a David and Goliath situation that is doomed from the start. Some authors make you feel too much and yet we willingly come back for more heart wrenching. His many fans will be happy as will fans of Willy Vlautin, Amor Towles and underdogs everywhere. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
Lou Berney's characters are not people who stand out in a crowd. They are just everyday people caught up in a situation that is out of their control but they have to try. Hardly is waiting to fix a ticket when he spies two little kids and their mom who seem off. A glimpse of fear in her eyes and a hastily covered cigarette burn on the kid's wrist sends him wanting to help those kids be safe. What can a guy who works at an amusement park horror house do? His friends say to leave it to the authorities but the more Hardly tries to report it the less confident that anyone will do anything. For the kids and their mom's sake he will take on a David and Goliath situation that is doomed from the start. Some authors make you feel too much and yet we willingly come back for more heart wrenching. His many fans will be happy as will fans of Willy Vlautin, Amor Towles and underdogs everywhere. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
March 9, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. Not really a thriller until the end, but more of a character study of Hardly, who meets two abused children and becomes obsessed with helping them, with no real explanation of why he cares so deeply. We witness the transformation of Hardly from a stoner/slacker into a man with a purpose. Along with his unlikely allies, Salvador and Eleanor, he is on a dangerous mission to save these children. The entire plot is implausible, but the book was so well written that I was rooting for Hardly all the way. The story was dark, and it was difficult to read about the abuse, although it was handled well without being too graphic, and the ending was not what I expected. A short, readable book, but totally unbelievable.
October 23, 2023
This was very good!! I thought the pacing was good, and I really liked the characters and felt very invested in them, especially our main character, Hardy Reed (Hardly). He's 23 and a not very motivated stoner. He's happy enough just living an average life working at an amusement park. One day while at the DMV he notices 2 children with their mother, sitting alone and looking like they are not well cared for. They show signs of abuse, and he cannot stop thinking about them. He finds out who they are and makes a report to CPS. He knows they will slip through the cracks and he's willing to go out of his comfort zone to try and save them from a horrible life! Hardly, for the first time in his life is feeling the urgency to do whatever it takes to help. This was more of a character study. We read about the hard life that Hardly has had and why he is the way he is. You really are rooting for him throughout the story and just care about him so much. The reason I didn't give this the full 5⭐ was because of the ending. It really was sad. I would've wanted it to end differently. You know a story is well written when you feel such a connection to the characters and I can say that I did. This is a short book, but such a good one.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
September 26, 2023
Better than the average book but not better than the average Lou Berney book. 3.5 stars for me. The narrator was good but the direction of the book was too obvious, the conclusion almost for drawn from early on in the book. I guess there were 2 possible outcomes but this one seemed most obvious. I had higher expectation based on prior works but this won't deter me from his next book and as I rated, still better than my average read over the years.
March 12, 2024
Definitely not the book I expected. It seems like Lou Berney doesn’t want to repeat himself. His books that I read previously featured some serious hard-boiled stuff and then some James Ellroy level conspiracy plots.
So this book comes off to me as a cross between Inherent Vice and something Joe Landsdale would have produced. A stoner with a heart of gold who embarks on what feels like a shaggy dog story of salvation (not for him) with maybe a surprising conclusion.
I really enjoyed the book, and he sprinkled it with a lot of leading players who were all very distinct from one another, in a way that kept it interesting. Although two of the principle female characters seemed to overlap a little bit to me.
But four stars instead of five, I kind of felt like the whole plot ran a little loosey goosey, not everything held up, not everything was wrapped up at the end, and some things didn’t quite make sense.
Just as one example of this, the story has a villain, Nate, and despite the fact that he’s the bad guy, we don’t exactly know what he did, or why he did it, or even if he is as truly evil as we are led to believe.
Still, a lot of fun, a quick read, nothing's perfect but this is quite good, and as far as crime novels go, it strays off the beaten path far enough to make it worth the trip.
So this book comes off to me as a cross between Inherent Vice and something Joe Landsdale would have produced. A stoner with a heart of gold who embarks on what feels like a shaggy dog story of salvation (not for him) with maybe a surprising conclusion.
I really enjoyed the book, and he sprinkled it with a lot of leading players who were all very distinct from one another, in a way that kept it interesting. Although two of the principle female characters seemed to overlap a little bit to me.
But four stars instead of five, I kind of felt like the whole plot ran a little loosey goosey, not everything held up, not everything was wrapped up at the end, and some things didn’t quite make sense.
Just as one example of this, the story has a villain, Nate, and despite the fact that he’s the bad guy, we don’t exactly know what he did, or why he did it, or even if he is as truly evil as we are led to believe.
Still, a lot of fun, a quick read, nothing's perfect but this is quite good, and as far as crime novels go, it strays off the beaten path far enough to make it worth the trip.
October 16, 2023
I liked most of the characters but I don't know what this book was trying to be. It just didn't go deep enough into any of the genuinely interesting things it brought up - Eleanor, who maybe lost her job, but Hardly hardly notices. Nathan, what's he doing with the meth junkies and all the bodyguards - is he a drug lord? I mean, why would he party with the junkies in the middle of a nice suburb, he'd keep any association with the actual users rather far away. Hardly himself, the kids, Tracy, they're all a bit of a cipher. Tracy mostly - she is free to take the kids to the park and such, she takes them close to where people can observe them, which is how a stoner like Hardly got to see them in the first place. But she never thought about checking for resources for abused women and children? It's not perfect but it is available. I get that she was abused and wasn't thinking straight, but, she had regular time away from Nathan to get some clarity.
I also wasn't sold on the ending, because what was that ending.
I also wasn't sold on the ending, because what was that ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2023
Previously I have LOVED all of Lou Berney's novels. This one I found only so so. Although the character was unusual (a 23 year old stoner with aspirations to somehow be better), there did not seem to be much development, and not much suspense. The book was readable, but somehow felt more two-dimensional than Berney is capable of.
October 31, 2023
There were some great humorous quos but beyond that the story wasn’t really plausible. Investigating a potential CPS case on a whim of distrust ?
August 9, 2023
I received a free copy of, Dark Ride, by Lou Berney, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Hardy Reed is not doing anything at all with his life, until one day he meets 2 kids who are abused, Hardy decides to fight for these kids, because nobody should be abused, but he finds out there father should not be messed with, he has way too much power and control. What a dark and twisted read, I have not figured out if I liked it yet, wow!
February 8, 2024
Hardly is an amazingly lovable character. The whole second half of the book, I kept shouting, “this book is killing me!” It was so tense and foreboding, I could hardly stand it.
August 16, 2023
This book is supposed to be a thriller and it seriously fell short on the thrills for me! The last 60 to 80 pages were the only thrills in the book. Don't even get me started on the ending! I give this book 2 stars and that I me being nice.
March 11, 2024
What in the heck did I just read. I need to learn how to tell myself that I’m not a failure if I don’t finish a book. If you have trouble sleeping then this is the book for you. What was up with the ending? Save your time and money.
September 26, 2023
Berney's writing is masterful, his characters lively and vivid, his story heartfelt and genuine. This relatively small book will stay with me.
July 22, 2025
Silly and unbelievable plot, disliked all the characters, especially the narrator
February 7, 2025
This is the ultimate 'I just couldn't mind my own business' story and I loved it. Hardly's drive to save 2 kids that he's never met was so sincere and sweet. How he came to the conclusion that this is what he was meant to do was so simple but so bizarre. He just dropped everything in his life and made this his sole purpose.
I feel like we could all use a friend like Hardly; a total stoner that won't give up on those who need it.
I feel like we could all use a friend like Hardly; a total stoner that won't give up on those who need it.
February 18, 2024
What a ride! I FLEW through this one. I randomly grabbed an audio copy on Libby because it was in the “available now” section. The audio is EXCELLENT by the way. I was so enthralled by the story that I couldn’t listen fast enough so I checked out the E reader version as well. Phenomenal pacing and A+ character development. I really enjoyed getting to know the ragtag group of characters and their personalities.
February 15, 2025
PROTAGONIST: Hardly "Hardly" Reed
RATING: 4.25
WHY: Hardy "Hardly" Reed is a slacker who has no ambition and just coasts through lifek, ssmoking pot with his friends and working a low-end job playing a dead sheriff at a "haunted" amusement park. One day he goes to a government office to deal with some parking tickets when he sees a young boy and girl waiting on a bench. He notices that each of them has 3 cigarette burns on their bodies. From that point on, his life changes drastically. He becomes obsessed with trying to "save" the children, who he finds out are named Pearl and Jack. In doing so, he finds some purpose in life and discovers, to his own amazement, that he has useful skills. he is aided by a 16-year old misfit who he works with and an asocial worker from the government office.
Hardly's journey into trying to rescues the kids is riveting; how he thinks and how he plans when he didn't believe himself to be able to do anything like that. Berney's development of the characters is pitch perfect, and his chronicle of Hardly's growth rewarding.
RATING: 4.25
WHY: Hardy "Hardly" Reed is a slacker who has no ambition and just coasts through lifek, ssmoking pot with his friends and working a low-end job playing a dead sheriff at a "haunted" amusement park. One day he goes to a government office to deal with some parking tickets when he sees a young boy and girl waiting on a bench. He notices that each of them has 3 cigarette burns on their bodies. From that point on, his life changes drastically. He becomes obsessed with trying to "save" the children, who he finds out are named Pearl and Jack. In doing so, he finds some purpose in life and discovers, to his own amazement, that he has useful skills. he is aided by a 16-year old misfit who he works with and an asocial worker from the government office.
Hardly's journey into trying to rescues the kids is riveting; how he thinks and how he plans when he didn't believe himself to be able to do anything like that. Berney's development of the characters is pitch perfect, and his chronicle of Hardly's growth rewarding.
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