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Le Bénéfice Du Doute
Mélissa, une jeune trisomique, est retrouvée étranglée dans une mare avec, dans son poing fermé, un grelot de collier de chat. Le chef de la police, Nalen Storrow, est troublé par cette découverte. Il y a quelques mois, son fils Billy s'est compromis avec plusieurs camarades en abattant à la carabine cinq chats, ensuite décapités. Les mêmes garçons semblent liés au meurtre. Malgré les protestations d'innocence de son fils, Nalen, en proie au doute, se suicide. Dix-huit ans plus tard, sa fille Rachel, devenue officier de police, apprend que son frère figurait parmi les suspects et rouvre le dossier. Quand une amie de Billy est tuée comme Mélissa, Rachel s'interroge : son frère est-il le sadique qui hante la ville ? Malgré ses appréhensions, elle entame une quête difficile. Pour son premier roman, vite devenu un best-seller, Alice Blanchard a frappé fort. Elle utilise avec virtuosité les bons vieux ingrédients du récit criminel pour faire douter son lecteur jusqu'au bout de ce suspense diabolique. --Claude Mesplède
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
1160 people are currently reading
1211 people want to read
About the author
Alice Blanchard
11 books752 followersAlice Blanchard is an award-winning author of psychological thrillers, mysteries, crime thrillers and dark fantasy.
Her bestselling thriller, “The Breathtaker,” was an official selection of NBC’s Today Show Book Club, and her debut mystery, “Darkness Peering,” was a New York Times’ Notable Book. "Trace of Evil” was selected as an Amazon Best Mystery and an Indie Next Pick.
Her story collection won the Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Short Fiction, and she has received a PEN Fiction Award, a Centrum Artists award and a New Letters Literary Award, among other honors for her writing. Her books have been published in 16 countries.
Alice's Amazon Page: amazon.com/author/alice-blanchard
Website: www.aliceblanchard.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aliceblanchard.author/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alicebooks33...
Twitter: twitter.com/AliceBooks333
Her bestselling thriller, “The Breathtaker,” was an official selection of NBC’s Today Show Book Club, and her debut mystery, “Darkness Peering,” was a New York Times’ Notable Book. "Trace of Evil” was selected as an Amazon Best Mystery and an Indie Next Pick.
Her story collection won the Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Short Fiction, and she has received a PEN Fiction Award, a Centrum Artists award and a New Letters Literary Award, among other honors for her writing. Her books have been published in 16 countries.
Alice's Amazon Page: amazon.com/author/alice-blanchard
Website: www.aliceblanchard.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aliceblanchard.author/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alicebooks33...
Twitter: twitter.com/AliceBooks333
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
January 6, 2022
Blanchard's first novel is really quite something, a psychological thriller, a whodunit and a police procedural wrapped into one. Yet, it transcends these categories as well along the lines of a Tana French Dublin murder squad novel, for it is the relationships among the characters and the questioning of the human condition that make it special. French utilizes police procedural and a classic whodunit framework to elicit human subjectivity, but the whodunit aspect is really secondary, almost an afterthought. While Blanchard uses a similar 'framework', the whodunit aspect is primary and vital to the story as well.
Our main protagonist is Rachel Storrow, a police detective in a small town in Maine. Her father was the police chief there 18 years ago until he took his own life; the novel starts with a tragic murder that remained unsolved and perhaps drove him to suicide. The town of Flowering Dogwood is old and the old industries there have moved on, but a school/college for visually and hearing impaired is well funded and provides a lot of jobs. Shortly after Rachel opens the unsolved murder from 18 years ago, after being on the job for three years, one of the teachers at the school goes missing. Her car was parked downtown, but her leaving a cafe was the last anyone saw her. So the missing person case cements the story, but again, it is really the interpersonal relations that drive the story. We have Rachel's relationship with her brother, a suspect in the old murder and also romantically involved with the missing teacher. Then we have the various relations among the cops.
While I have read a lot of thrillers in my day, it is not my preferred genre. This one, however, is pretty special and stands up well over time (it was published 20 years ago). Yes, there are some nasty scenes associated with various crimes, but this is not a gore fest by any means. Blanchard manages to get us invested in the (flawed) characters and pulls us along with her atmospheric prose. I was not expecting much when I picked this up, but highly recommended to thriller fans and fans of Tana French. 4.5 stars!!
Our main protagonist is Rachel Storrow, a police detective in a small town in Maine. Her father was the police chief there 18 years ago until he took his own life; the novel starts with a tragic murder that remained unsolved and perhaps drove him to suicide. The town of Flowering Dogwood is old and the old industries there have moved on, but a school/college for visually and hearing impaired is well funded and provides a lot of jobs. Shortly after Rachel opens the unsolved murder from 18 years ago, after being on the job for three years, one of the teachers at the school goes missing. Her car was parked downtown, but her leaving a cafe was the last anyone saw her. So the missing person case cements the story, but again, it is really the interpersonal relations that drive the story. We have Rachel's relationship with her brother, a suspect in the old murder and also romantically involved with the missing teacher. Then we have the various relations among the cops.
While I have read a lot of thrillers in my day, it is not my preferred genre. This one, however, is pretty special and stands up well over time (it was published 20 years ago). Yes, there are some nasty scenes associated with various crimes, but this is not a gore fest by any means. Blanchard manages to get us invested in the (flawed) characters and pulls us along with her atmospheric prose. I was not expecting much when I picked this up, but highly recommended to thriller fans and fans of Tana French. 4.5 stars!!
January 5, 2021
I’ve never read Blanchard before and didn’t expect much from this book, it was a kindle freebie grab and based on the author’s other work (going strictly by covers), it seems like it would be a fairly trite genre thriller. But…this is actually an older book of hers, this book and the story is old enough to drink now. Meaning it was written before the proliferation of these female authored female driven thrillers and the rise of the formula for it. Meaning, this novel did it straight by the book (old book), a standard police procedural that is yes, led by a female detective, but it stays with the same narrator, same timeline, etc.
Much like the young second generation detective Rachel Storrow, it follows the clues until the lead to nabbing the killer. Because this is a small town in Maine, she often works alone, getting herself in all sorts of dangerous situations, but she’s tough enough to manage.
Rachel is a complex protagonist with a lot to prove, her father killed himself while on the job 18 years ago, having discovered something he was unable to live with. Now all that remains of her family is her older brother Billy, a smart but aimless 34 year old who works in a local school. A school where his coworker and love interest, a beloved teacher disappears suddenly and without a trace it seems. A violence that echoes an unsolved murder of a 14 year old girl all those years ago that affected the small community so much. (Then again what do people expect? It’s Maine. A state where fictional terrors occur on regular basis as chronicles by dark fiction writers for decades).
Anyway. Suddenly all the ghosts are rising up to haunt, all the same suspects from the now 18 year old crime are back in place, including, much to Rachel’s dismay and terror, Billy. So she has to uncover the truth, while trying to be a good sister and balancing her affair with the married police chief. Busy, busy girl.
Fairly standard small town police procedural. What makes it stand out is excellent character writing, striking (really striking) violence of the crimes and the dramatic resolution. Being an armchair detective extraordinaire, I did figure out the culprit(s), but not too soon and I believe the solution was well enough snowed over to puzzle most mystery readers. So that was great and pretty clever. All in all, it was a good read, I enjoyed it more than an average procedural and somewhat more than an average thriller of this sort. Very dark, the psychological darkness here is stygian, as it should be. Pretty great for not having expected much. Recommended to genre fans.
Much like the young second generation detective Rachel Storrow, it follows the clues until the lead to nabbing the killer. Because this is a small town in Maine, she often works alone, getting herself in all sorts of dangerous situations, but she’s tough enough to manage.
Rachel is a complex protagonist with a lot to prove, her father killed himself while on the job 18 years ago, having discovered something he was unable to live with. Now all that remains of her family is her older brother Billy, a smart but aimless 34 year old who works in a local school. A school where his coworker and love interest, a beloved teacher disappears suddenly and without a trace it seems. A violence that echoes an unsolved murder of a 14 year old girl all those years ago that affected the small community so much. (Then again what do people expect? It’s Maine. A state where fictional terrors occur on regular basis as chronicles by dark fiction writers for decades).
Anyway. Suddenly all the ghosts are rising up to haunt, all the same suspects from the now 18 year old crime are back in place, including, much to Rachel’s dismay and terror, Billy. So she has to uncover the truth, while trying to be a good sister and balancing her affair with the married police chief. Busy, busy girl.
Fairly standard small town police procedural. What makes it stand out is excellent character writing, striking (really striking) violence of the crimes and the dramatic resolution. Being an armchair detective extraordinaire, I did figure out the culprit(s), but not too soon and I believe the solution was well enough snowed over to puzzle most mystery readers. So that was great and pretty clever. All in all, it was a good read, I enjoyed it more than an average procedural and somewhat more than an average thriller of this sort. Very dark, the psychological darkness here is stygian, as it should be. Pretty great for not having expected much. Recommended to genre fans.
January 5, 2016
I've never read this genre of book. I was surprised to have enjoyed it as much as I did. Reminded me of a crime show/movie. Very good read. Keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat for more information.
September 15, 2014
I loved this book. Unlike a lot of mysteries I've read, I did not see the ending coming. Am awesome creepy read for the Halloween season.
November 3, 2013
I stumbled across this one as I was re-organizing or trying to re-organize my room of books I have yet to read ... and I am so glad I did! This was released in 1999/2000.
18 years ago a young woman was brutally murdered ..... that crime has never been solved. The sheriff at the time had suspects .... one of them his own 16-year-old son. Rather than turn him in, he made an earth shattering decision.
Forward these last 18 years, the deceased sheriff's daughter is a detective, her brother working at the School for the Blind. Their father's decision so many years ago has made a profound difference in the lives of his children.
And then another woman is found dying after being brutally attacked. Another young teenager and her boyfriend go missing. Is there a connection to the first killing? It is up to Detective Rachel Storrow to decide .. and once again, her brother is a possible suspect.
I really liked this book. The characters are firmly fleshed out .. warts and all. Several twists and turns really keep you guessing until almost the very last page. I thought the ending was brilliant.
If you like mysteries, you're sure to like this one!
18 years ago a young woman was brutally murdered ..... that crime has never been solved. The sheriff at the time had suspects .... one of them his own 16-year-old son. Rather than turn him in, he made an earth shattering decision.
Forward these last 18 years, the deceased sheriff's daughter is a detective, her brother working at the School for the Blind. Their father's decision so many years ago has made a profound difference in the lives of his children.
And then another woman is found dying after being brutally attacked. Another young teenager and her boyfriend go missing. Is there a connection to the first killing? It is up to Detective Rachel Storrow to decide .. and once again, her brother is a possible suspect.
I really liked this book. The characters are firmly fleshed out .. warts and all. Several twists and turns really keep you guessing until almost the very last page. I thought the ending was brilliant.
If you like mysteries, you're sure to like this one!
December 8, 2020
Darkness Peering’s author Alice Blanchard, who is not a good writer, writes the way she thinks a good writer might write. She seems to think her contrived writing is clever instead of simply awful, awkward, clumsy, and even embarrassing.
At one point she described a corridor “whose carpet was a lovely shit brown.” At another point, “He felt her anger like a blast of muggy laundromat air.” At yet another point, “His dark hair grew out straight but ended in little waves, like the ruffles on a potato chip.”
Describing a conflict between a married couple, she writes that he “felt this sore spot between them like a slippery drop down a granite gorge, icy as glacial melt water.” She described trees “shooting into the sky like life’s exposed wires.” A character “shivered like a horse after it’s been running for a long time.” A living room “was all patches of color embroidered with their stunned faces.”
Likening a main character’s wife to a milk carton, she writes, “The date on this milk carton had definitely expired.” And in describing this character’s feelings for his wife, “he was once again reminded that all his love for her, all of his deep and desperate need, swung in a soft sack between his legs.” Yes, you read that correctly: A swinging soft sack between his legs.
Indeed, the entire book is contaminated by an endless parade of perhaps the worst metaphors and analogies you will ever encounter, too often inserted where none were needed. Highlighting them became my main amusement as I slogged through the story.
The story opens in 1980 with the discovery of the murdered body of a 14 year old girl with Down syndrome in a small town in rural Maine named Flowering Dogwood. We meet the police chief with the swinging soft sack, his milk carton wife, his troubled teenage son, and his 9 year old daughter Rachel. The son was a suspect in the murder because he and a group of friends had shot and decapitated some cats about six months before. Never mind that the murdered 14 year old girl was neither shot nor decapitated, but she had been clutching in her hand what could have been a bell from a cat’s collar. And they had taken the girl for a ride in their car the day she was murdered.
Fast forward 18 years. The girl’s murder is still unsolved and Rachel is now a detective in Flowering Dogwood’s police department, though her father is no longer the chief and her brother, at least as this new chapter begins, is no longer a suspect.
Flowering Dogwood, however, is not the Maine version of Mayberry. There is plenty of criminal activity to keep the police busy, even before another girl is gruesomely murdered. Is there a connection between that crime and the unsolved murder of that girl from 18 years ago?
To find out, the author would hope to have her readers barrel through her book with the kind of eagerness people reserve for sex and steak dinners (to cite another example of her awful writing). Truth be told, borrowing her poor metaphor, the ending of her book was as disappointing as a badly cooked steak dinner.
In a 2018 interview, the author said that what always works for her is to follow Hemingway’s advice to “write the truest thing you know.” It’s clear from this book that the truest thing Alice Blanchard knows is how to write badly — very badly. That may always work for her but not so well for her readers. Or in my case, her former reader.
At one point she described a corridor “whose carpet was a lovely shit brown.” At another point, “He felt her anger like a blast of muggy laundromat air.” At yet another point, “His dark hair grew out straight but ended in little waves, like the ruffles on a potato chip.”
Describing a conflict between a married couple, she writes that he “felt this sore spot between them like a slippery drop down a granite gorge, icy as glacial melt water.” She described trees “shooting into the sky like life’s exposed wires.” A character “shivered like a horse after it’s been running for a long time.” A living room “was all patches of color embroidered with their stunned faces.”
Likening a main character’s wife to a milk carton, she writes, “The date on this milk carton had definitely expired.” And in describing this character’s feelings for his wife, “he was once again reminded that all his love for her, all of his deep and desperate need, swung in a soft sack between his legs.” Yes, you read that correctly: A swinging soft sack between his legs.
Indeed, the entire book is contaminated by an endless parade of perhaps the worst metaphors and analogies you will ever encounter, too often inserted where none were needed. Highlighting them became my main amusement as I slogged through the story.
The story opens in 1980 with the discovery of the murdered body of a 14 year old girl with Down syndrome in a small town in rural Maine named Flowering Dogwood. We meet the police chief with the swinging soft sack, his milk carton wife, his troubled teenage son, and his 9 year old daughter Rachel. The son was a suspect in the murder because he and a group of friends had shot and decapitated some cats about six months before. Never mind that the murdered 14 year old girl was neither shot nor decapitated, but she had been clutching in her hand what could have been a bell from a cat’s collar. And they had taken the girl for a ride in their car the day she was murdered.
Fast forward 18 years. The girl’s murder is still unsolved and Rachel is now a detective in Flowering Dogwood’s police department, though her father is no longer the chief and her brother, at least as this new chapter begins, is no longer a suspect.
Flowering Dogwood, however, is not the Maine version of Mayberry. There is plenty of criminal activity to keep the police busy, even before another girl is gruesomely murdered. Is there a connection between that crime and the unsolved murder of that girl from 18 years ago?
To find out, the author would hope to have her readers barrel through her book with the kind of eagerness people reserve for sex and steak dinners (to cite another example of her awful writing). Truth be told, borrowing her poor metaphor, the ending of her book was as disappointing as a badly cooked steak dinner.
In a 2018 interview, the author said that what always works for her is to follow Hemingway’s advice to “write the truest thing you know.” It’s clear from this book that the truest thing Alice Blanchard knows is how to write badly — very badly. That may always work for her but not so well for her readers. Or in my case, her former reader.
May 1, 2009
Sometimes reading a book for a second time doesn't create as much anticipation and the initial reading but this novel is as fresh and engrossing as ever.
Melissa D'Augustino, age 14 and mentally retarded is murdered. Her body is found in a pond in a cow pasture. Police Chief Nalen Storrow of Flowering Dogwood, Maine is at the scene and leading the investigation.
Nalen is deeply troubled, not only because a crime like this couldn't happen in his quiet town but also because he feels protective for his 9 year old daughter, Rachel and fear that his 18 year old son might be involved. There is stress at home and tremendous stress on the job. This inner pressure takes its toll and the first part of the novel ends with Nalen trying to cope with his fears.
Eighteen years go by and Rachel is now a detective and her brother works as a teacher's aide in the school for the blind and special needs.
Claire Castillo is the teacher under whom Billy works as an aide. They have different approaches to the students but both are well liked by the children under their care. Claire does feel that Billy is becoming too friendly with a sixteen year old girl and has to remind Billy that although she has special needs, she is a young woman and he should be more professional. Off the job Billy and Claire seem to be developing a deeper relationship when Claire disappears. Old memories return, Rachel invesitgates and Billy is again a suspect.
Blanchard has written a compelling story. She deals with the disabled children intelligently and her development of Rachel as a character is supurb. I enjoyed this portion of the story immensly but would have liked more psychological development of the time when Nalen was the police chief.
Toward the end of the novel, when the reason behind the murder's actions are unraveled, this reader would have liked a better resolution. However, I feel that Blanchard was giving a lesson that all things in life do not come to satisfactory endings and justice doesn't always prevail.
Highly recommended.
Melissa D'Augustino, age 14 and mentally retarded is murdered. Her body is found in a pond in a cow pasture. Police Chief Nalen Storrow of Flowering Dogwood, Maine is at the scene and leading the investigation.
Nalen is deeply troubled, not only because a crime like this couldn't happen in his quiet town but also because he feels protective for his 9 year old daughter, Rachel and fear that his 18 year old son might be involved. There is stress at home and tremendous stress on the job. This inner pressure takes its toll and the first part of the novel ends with Nalen trying to cope with his fears.
Eighteen years go by and Rachel is now a detective and her brother works as a teacher's aide in the school for the blind and special needs.
Claire Castillo is the teacher under whom Billy works as an aide. They have different approaches to the students but both are well liked by the children under their care. Claire does feel that Billy is becoming too friendly with a sixteen year old girl and has to remind Billy that although she has special needs, she is a young woman and he should be more professional. Off the job Billy and Claire seem to be developing a deeper relationship when Claire disappears. Old memories return, Rachel invesitgates and Billy is again a suspect.
Blanchard has written a compelling story. She deals with the disabled children intelligently and her development of Rachel as a character is supurb. I enjoyed this portion of the story immensly but would have liked more psychological development of the time when Nalen was the police chief.
Toward the end of the novel, when the reason behind the murder's actions are unraveled, this reader would have liked a better resolution. However, I feel that Blanchard was giving a lesson that all things in life do not come to satisfactory endings and justice doesn't always prevail.
Highly recommended.
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December 13, 2019
Potential but I never felt drawn into the plot or the characters.
May 21, 2023
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This review originally appeared in the BOULDER CAMERA
Thirteen horrifying reads for Halloween
by Vince Darcangelo
Posted: 10/24/2008 02:34:00 AM MDT
October is the time of year to indulge those horror cravings. As the leaves turn, and a haunting chill fills the evening air, there's nothing better than curling up with a good thriller, be it a psychological mystery or supernatural scare, a genre gore-fest or high-minded literary horror.
We've compiled 13 can't-miss Halloween reads that will have you sleeping with the lights on. To get into the spirit of the season, crack open one of these terrifying tomes ... if you dare.
"Darkness Peering" -- Alice Blanchard
Blanchard's 1999 crime novel is one of the most promising debuts ever.
Sadly, she has yet to live up to this standard with her later works, but "Darkness Peering" is a mind-bending psychological thriller set in rural Maine (classic Stephen King country). Detective Rachel Storrow is still haunted by an 18-year-old unsolved murder that happened when she was a child, and a recent disappearance has brought that case back to the forefront. For Storrow, the killer might be closer than she thinks. If ever a book was written for a stormy October night, this is it.
This review originally appeared in the BOULDER CAMERA
Thirteen horrifying reads for Halloween
by Vince Darcangelo
Posted: 10/24/2008 02:34:00 AM MDT
October is the time of year to indulge those horror cravings. As the leaves turn, and a haunting chill fills the evening air, there's nothing better than curling up with a good thriller, be it a psychological mystery or supernatural scare, a genre gore-fest or high-minded literary horror.
We've compiled 13 can't-miss Halloween reads that will have you sleeping with the lights on. To get into the spirit of the season, crack open one of these terrifying tomes ... if you dare.
"Darkness Peering" -- Alice Blanchard
Blanchard's 1999 crime novel is one of the most promising debuts ever.
Sadly, she has yet to live up to this standard with her later works, but "Darkness Peering" is a mind-bending psychological thriller set in rural Maine (classic Stephen King country). Detective Rachel Storrow is still haunted by an 18-year-old unsolved murder that happened when she was a child, and a recent disappearance has brought that case back to the forefront. For Storrow, the killer might be closer than she thinks. If ever a book was written for a stormy October night, this is it.
November 13, 2020
Gripping right out the gate! The writing continued to pull you further into the story trying to figure out who could be responsible for such heinous crimes, but never once does it give you the pieces to actually know for sure who the killer is. The characters are written well rounded, and incredibly human in every mistake, decision, and who they decide to love. Even if, those things lead to many people hurt or possibly dead. This book is definitely worth the time to read not just for the reasons above, but the story is so very plausible that it makes it so much more believable. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did.
May 26, 2018
story of the unsolved murder of a young mentally challenged girl and how her death affects the family of the investigating sheriff. Son of sheriff is guilty and when the sheriff realizes this he commits suicide. Younger daughter grows up to be deputy in the same town. She investigates a murder at the local school for the blind where an alumnus seeks revenge for childhood blindness from emergency room doctor by kidnapping, raping and killing his daughter. The near 20 year old plan to seek revenge seemed a bit far fetched. First novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2013
I quite enjoyed this book. The writing is smooth and atmospheric, and the setting adds very nicely to the air of menace and mystery. My main gripe comes with the conclusion of the story. It didn't really provide as much close as I would have liked. Still, a good read.
November 16, 2020
Excellent thriller! Alice Blanchard is my new favorite author. I've only read 2 of hers so far but you can't put them down. You're immediately sucked in to the story- she's an amazing writer! Must read!!
November 4, 2010
Did a real good job of keeping the suspense up until the end.
February 2, 2016
I enjoyed this book. It is well written with a great story. I would recommend it to those who enjoy thrillers/mystery.
December 30, 2013
Not bad. Not great either. There were just such an excessive amount of weird similes and descriptions. They totally ruined the book (which was never that great anyway). The author compared the sky to the colour of celery at one point. Uh, is she delusional or has she just not yet realised that celery is green.
"Dark curls as thick as sausages clung to her forehead"
"He exploded like popcorn"
"Grateful, Nalen lifted his head to the light and sat for a while, as if he were waiting for a turkey sandwich"
Those aren't even the weird ones. Some of them were so terrible I almost cried. Oh yeah, and there was more than three. There was about 50 billion of them, I swear, it was awful.
The author would go into far too much detail of random things that nobody cared about. I think she was trying to sound clever or something but I don't know it was just weird. Seriously, I don't want to know the colour of the curtains in every single freaking house in the fictional neighbourhood.
Basically the book was about a few murders. The main character, Rachel, was a police officer trying to solve the mystery of who the murderer was. And then it related back to another murder like 18 years ago that her father was trying to solve before he killed himself because he thought his son Billy was involved. I don't know it was weird. Then there were random connections that supposably mean Rachel's brother Billy must be responsible for the recent killings too (he wasn't). The wacko author started going off about some plastic toy turtle or something at one point. Er, no. It was like a 10 year old saying to you, "Quick! Look over there! Made you look you dirty chook. I totally tricked you." Yeaah no.
Man I'm so critical these days. It's not even that terrible of a book, I liked it. The story line was okay, a bit random at times, but still half decent. But those bajillions of similes and overly detailed – so detailed it's almost creepy – descriptions just got to me. You have no idea how irritating it is until you read this book. Like I've never read such an annoyingly detailed, simile plagued book. Sorry to be harsh.
The last thing I'll rant about is the author's excessive use of the word 'retard/retarded' early in the book when referring to the disabled girl that was murdered. Like can you not. So many people would be offended by that.
Darkness Peering by Alice Blanchard had me interested most of the time, and it was a fairly okay book, but it wasn't great. There were a lot of flaws. I rate it 2/5 stars.
"Dark curls as thick as sausages clung to her forehead"
"He exploded like popcorn"
"Grateful, Nalen lifted his head to the light and sat for a while, as if he were waiting for a turkey sandwich"
Those aren't even the weird ones. Some of them were so terrible I almost cried. Oh yeah, and there was more than three. There was about 50 billion of them, I swear, it was awful.
The author would go into far too much detail of random things that nobody cared about. I think she was trying to sound clever or something but I don't know it was just weird. Seriously, I don't want to know the colour of the curtains in every single freaking house in the fictional neighbourhood.
Basically the book was about a few murders. The main character, Rachel, was a police officer trying to solve the mystery of who the murderer was. And then it related back to another murder like 18 years ago that her father was trying to solve before he killed himself because he thought his son Billy was involved. I don't know it was weird. Then there were random connections that supposably mean Rachel's brother Billy must be responsible for the recent killings too (he wasn't). The wacko author started going off about some plastic toy turtle or something at one point. Er, no. It was like a 10 year old saying to you, "Quick! Look over there! Made you look you dirty chook. I totally tricked you." Yeaah no.
Man I'm so critical these days. It's not even that terrible of a book, I liked it. The story line was okay, a bit random at times, but still half decent. But those bajillions of similes and overly detailed – so detailed it's almost creepy – descriptions just got to me. You have no idea how irritating it is until you read this book. Like I've never read such an annoyingly detailed, simile plagued book. Sorry to be harsh.
The last thing I'll rant about is the author's excessive use of the word 'retard/retarded' early in the book when referring to the disabled girl that was murdered. Like can you not. So many people would be offended by that.
Darkness Peering by Alice Blanchard had me interested most of the time, and it was a fairly okay book, but it wasn't great. There were a lot of flaws. I rate it 2/5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2018
2.5 stars. The plot seemed somewhat contrived but as a debut novel showed a lot of promise. There were some weird analogies and the overuse of descriptions for irrelevant things. I did not care enough for the main characters to care what happened to them.
The setting is Flowering Dogwood, a town in northern Maine. Chief Nalen Storrow investigates the murder of a young girl. He becomes increasingly disturbed as he begins to suspect the killer may be his teenaged son, Billy. He also has a younger daughter. His relationship with his wife is doing poorly, partly due to his long absences at work and lack of communication at home. His wife seems unstable. The girl’s murder remains unsolved and there is an abrupt jump to 18 years in the future.
Now his grown daughter, Rachel, becomes obsessed with the unsolved case. She is now a police officer. Her older brother, Billy, who was once a suspect has accomplished little in the intervening time with his University degree. He claims to be writing a book, but has not written a single line. He is presently working as a teacher’s aid at the local school for the blind.
Shortly after Rachel starts to investigate the 18 year old cold case, Billy is on the verge of a relationship with a teacher who directs him in the classroom. When this woman vanishes Billy again becomes the main suspect. Not long after the teacher’s younger sister also disappears. Is there a serial killer on the loose, and how does this crime relate to events surrounding Billy and some friends many years ago? Rachel is conflicted in her suspicion that Billy may be involved.
I felt a lack of professionalism with Rachel. She is too emotionally involved to be taking on both cases and don’t think this would be permitted in most police departments. She gets her own way because she is involved in a sexual relationship with the Chief of Police who has a family. She recklessly goes out on her own without any partner and interviews people who may be witnesses or involved in the past crime or the current ones.
Once the recent crimes are solved there is a big unforeseen twist. There were some interesting storylines for some of the suspects which were unfortunately dropped. We also never find out the motive for the long ago murder.
The setting is Flowering Dogwood, a town in northern Maine. Chief Nalen Storrow investigates the murder of a young girl. He becomes increasingly disturbed as he begins to suspect the killer may be his teenaged son, Billy. He also has a younger daughter. His relationship with his wife is doing poorly, partly due to his long absences at work and lack of communication at home. His wife seems unstable. The girl’s murder remains unsolved and there is an abrupt jump to 18 years in the future.
Now his grown daughter, Rachel, becomes obsessed with the unsolved case. She is now a police officer. Her older brother, Billy, who was once a suspect has accomplished little in the intervening time with his University degree. He claims to be writing a book, but has not written a single line. He is presently working as a teacher’s aid at the local school for the blind.
Shortly after Rachel starts to investigate the 18 year old cold case, Billy is on the verge of a relationship with a teacher who directs him in the classroom. When this woman vanishes Billy again becomes the main suspect. Not long after the teacher’s younger sister also disappears. Is there a serial killer on the loose, and how does this crime relate to events surrounding Billy and some friends many years ago? Rachel is conflicted in her suspicion that Billy may be involved.
I felt a lack of professionalism with Rachel. She is too emotionally involved to be taking on both cases and don’t think this would be permitted in most police departments. She gets her own way because she is involved in a sexual relationship with the Chief of Police who has a family. She recklessly goes out on her own without any partner and interviews people who may be witnesses or involved in the past crime or the current ones.
Once the recent crimes are solved there is a big unforeseen twist. There were some interesting storylines for some of the suspects which were unfortunately dropped. We also never find out the motive for the long ago murder.
February 5, 2021
Great read
Wonderful characters, tons of twists and turns, and plenty of heartbreak. One of the best female detective books I’ve read.
Wonderful characters, tons of twists and turns, and plenty of heartbreak. One of the best female detective books I’ve read.
November 29, 2009
A good book about murder in a small town. The book starts off with Police Chief Nalen Storrow investigating the murder of a young mentally disabled girl. Years later, his daughter Officer Rachel Storrow investigates the abduction of another young girl. As Rachel delves into the case, questions arise about Billy's guilt now and for the past murder. This was a good, involving mystery that had me glued to the book for the better part of the novel. There were two weaknesses for me that knocked the book down one star. One was the suicide, which always disturbs me; that's a personal issue for me and shouldn't reflect badly on the book for others. The other is the character of Ozzie and his daughter Brigitte. The author went to a great deal of trouble to involve them in the plot, and pursued a storyline that involved the mother moving out of town and Ozzie potentially losing daily contact with his daughter. Once the main murder storyline took off this particular thread was abandoned, which annoyed me. Other than than, good story told well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2020
Slow at points but over all there were enough twists and turns to keep my attention.
June 18, 2015
It was creepy and a delicios read. I had a few issues with the story...it kind of felt like she wanted to leave it as a cliff hanger...but it just left me...hungry for answers. I really wish that in the end she shined light on the first murder... why why why??
I also wish that the main character wasn't so weak...was it obvious to anyone as it was to me that she was having an affair with her father's Ex Lieutenant now turned Chief of police, because she was still chasing her father's ghost.
Twisted plot check
Mysterious crime check
Attention to details check
lots of lose ends check (not good for me, hence one less star)
I also wish that the main character wasn't so weak...was it obvious to anyone as it was to me that she was having an affair with her father's Ex Lieutenant now turned Chief of police, because she was still chasing her father's ghost.
Twisted plot check
Mysterious crime check
Attention to details check
lots of lose ends check (not good for me, hence one less star)
January 28, 2014
Well, this mystery was better than the first book of hers I read - The Breathtaker. And the finale definitely seemed inspired by Silence of the Lambs... But that aside, the plot was solid and rather unpredictable. The very end, however, was perplexing and a little pointless, in my opinion. Also, some of the police procedural details seemed very wrong - why was Rachel going everywhere without a partner??
February 26, 2016
A terrific first novel! The murder of a young girl with Down Syndrome results in a police detective’s suicide when his son is a prime suspect and the detective finds evidence that could convict him. Eighteen years later, the case is reopened by the detective’s daughter, Rachel, after another girl disappears and is subsequently found to have been brutally tortured, and now Rachel must deal with her suspicions about her brother, her memories of her father (whose suicide remained a mystery to her), and her own fears as she is drawn more and more into a dangerous investigation.
November 2, 2020
Without giving anything away, I liked the ending to this book and understood the main character's actions at the end, although I didn't feel particularly sympathetic or drawn to Rachel Storrow.
September 25, 2008
I was very impressed with this book! I can't read a book unless it keeps me interested where I don't want to put it down. This book kept me involved with the lives of all the people and in the community itself. Ms. Blanchard did a great job with descriptions of everything. It wasn't overly descriptive where you get bored with it but it was descriptive enough where you could put yourself there and try to figure out the mystery yourself, like you are another character in the book
October 29, 2020
An excellent mystery very carefully plotted and with intriguing characters! The story begins 18 years ago with crimes being solved by a Chief if Police. 18 years later his daughter is a detective in the same department and new cases relate to unsolved cases in the past. And a new case brings back former
Suspects. A wonderfully written mystery with all the wrong roads followed initially.
Suspects. A wonderfully written mystery with all the wrong roads followed initially.
October 15, 2018
Brilliant.
What a chest-tightening read this was! This brilliantly devious and complex scenario of payback to the person who caused a small child's severe disability. The years spent waiting and collecting items and then waiting for the right moment to exact his revenge. This was a cleverly constructed novel that had me on the edge of my seat. High praise to the author.
What a chest-tightening read this was! This brilliantly devious and complex scenario of payback to the person who caused a small child's severe disability. The years spent waiting and collecting items and then waiting for the right moment to exact his revenge. This was a cleverly constructed novel that had me on the edge of my seat. High praise to the author.
February 14, 2019
5+++ stars
This is a remarkable book! From the very first page to the last line it is filled with incredibly descriptive phrases that absolutely transport you to the scene! The mystery is emotional, tangled, and dark, and surprises the reader at the end. If you love a good detective story you definitely need to read this book!!!
This is a remarkable book! From the very first page to the last line it is filled with incredibly descriptive phrases that absolutely transport you to the scene! The mystery is emotional, tangled, and dark, and surprises the reader at the end. If you love a good detective story you definitely need to read this book!!!
December 2, 2020
YIKES!!!
This is a very dark book, from beginning to end. It's sad, and kind of hard to read, I suspect because you know deep down that people like this exist in our world and it's frightening. Well written and gripping...just be sure you are in the right frame of mind for it's darkness.
This is a very dark book, from beginning to end. It's sad, and kind of hard to read, I suspect because you know deep down that people like this exist in our world and it's frightening. Well written and gripping...just be sure you are in the right frame of mind for it's darkness.
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