Into the Dark

Echo Falls #3

by Peter Abrahams

In Echo Falls, secrets buried in the past don't always stay there. In the third book in the Edgar Award–nominated and national bestselling Echo Falls series, Peter Abrahams's talent for building suspense shines as Ingrid embarks on her most harrowing adventure yet. Perfect for middle schoolers looking for a good mystery. An idyllic day of snowshoeing on Grampy's land with the sheriff's son, Joey, turns out to be less than idyllic when thirteen-year-old super sleuth Ingrid Levin-Hill stumbles on a body lying in the snow. This discovery sends the town of Echo Falls into a tailspin in which secrets long hidden are revealed and Grampy gets sent to jail. While Ingrid works to clear Grampy's name and uncover what really happened to the man in the snow, she discovers even more secrets she wishes she never knew. Just like the character Gretel, whom Ingid is playing in a local production of  Hansel and Gretel , Ingrid must go deep into the darkness to find the truth. The Kliatt reviewer "I’ve read the two previous Echo Falls mysteries featuring Ingrid  (Down the Rabbit Hole  and  Behind the Curtain)  and enjoyed them, but I think this one may be the best of all."

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Crime, Childrens, Realistic Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Peter Abrahams is an American author of crime fiction for both adults and children.
His book Lights Out (1994) was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel. Reality Check won the best young adult Edgar Award in 2011. Down the Rabbit Hole, first in the Echo Falls series, won the best children's/young adult Agatha Award in 2005. The Fan was adapted into a film starring Robert De Niro and directed by Tony Scott (1996).
His literary influences are Vladimir Nabokov, Graham Greene, and Ross Macdonald. Stephen King has referred to him as "my favorite American suspense novelist".
Born in Boston, Abrahams lives in Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. He is married and has four children including Rosie Gray. He graduated from Williams College in 1968.

Peter Abrahams is also writing under the pseudonym Spencer Quinn (Chet and Bernie Mysteries).

Reviews

[Jim Thomsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, why oh way did this series have to end so soon? After just three books? When there are so many terrible crime-fiction series out there, full of characters and towns and relationships that once seemed fresh but now bob around ceaselessly in a churn of brand-conscious risk aversion so to avoid startling the perceived delicate sensibilities of the established fanbase.

Peter Abrahams is too smart for that, so if the choice to end the series was someone else's, well, that's just as sad for him as it is for us. For I for one — and I can't imagine that I'm the only one — felt that there was a lot more for follow and tell about the Echo Falls series' heroine, thirteen-year-old Ingrid Levin-Hill, than just the three-part story of her thirteenth year. It would be fascinating to know our favorite soccer-playing, play-acting, Sherlock Holmes-loving eight-grader as she gets older: through the open sewer of high school, through college, through her career, whatever it might be. Through marriage and kids, or not, through life as an adult in adult situations, situations Peter Abrahams has rendered with delicious complexity in twenty-some standalone novels for adults.

Much of what gives the series, and Ingrid, special life, is that the plots of these stories are the least interesting parts of the books, and the plots are plenty interesting. It's more how Ingrid learns how to navigate the world by developing perhaps the greatest coping tool a person can develop: a special sense for knowing when not to speak, to let others reveal themselves by what they want without trying to reveal anything regarding their motives or positions. And in the process, knowing how to provoke bad actors to reveal themselves. The way she acts on instinct and later understands what those instincts brought her to in terms of plot knowledge and life knowledge, is never less than fascinating, because these little verbal fencing matches with bad actors, all thrust and parry and block, are the fuel that makes these stories go. Plus the Holmes references are well-seeded and even better-reaped, and should send everybody back to THE COMPLETE STORIES.

But, given that three books about Echo Falls are all we get, I'll try to be grateful for every re-reading, which I am, so why am I lamenting what I don't get? Because I'm a human person, I guess, and we get to be a little whiny sometimes, just as we do when it's late at night and I'm out of popcorn and ice cream and I don't feel like driving to the store. I'll deal with the disappointment. While acknowledigng that the disappointment is there.

[Dayna McEnroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the series. All of these books are so much fun to read. Now that I’m finished, I’m really going to miss reading about these characters. While it’s hard to believe that a middle schooler can find herself in the center of all these mysteries, Ingrid is so much like a typical kid in every other way that it makes it feel somewhat plausible.

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third installment in the Echo Falls series finds our Ingrid, enduring what must be the longest winter in history. (I'm pretty sure it was winter for at least part of the second book.) We find out in this book that only a few months have passed since the first book. But I suppose that makes sense if Abrahams wants to keep Ingrid at a good beginner detective level for a long series. I wasn't quite as enamored with this story. Ingrid didn't seem quite as on the ball as she normally is. Obvious plot clues took her ages to figure out. Maybe I'm losing touch with the abilities of my inner 13 year old. But then again, there wasn't much joy in this story. Lots of dark events taking place at once. Maybe things will look brighter when spring finally arrives, hopefully in the next book.

During Into The Dark, the last of several plot points that were introduced in the first book were finally resolved. (Where has Dad been going when he works late?) One big new story-line was started with Grampy, and relationships continue to develop. There's some nice references to WWII events that might intrigue kids to look deeper into them. (Bataan & the death march.)

The most unusual development? I had to drastically change my mental picture of Nigel, the dog. I had seen him as something like a Newfoundland, but we find out he is actually a black lab mix.

All in all, I am still looking forward to the next book.

[Jeremy Preacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another charming entry, and one that neatly pays off all the storylines that the first two books so carefully seeded. I think in the end, this is a delightful series that, as an adult, I appreciate more for the craft involved in structuring a cozy mystery series that stars a child without breaking any of the genre conventions. I think Abrahams gets it about 90% right - there is a certain amount of unavoidable tonal clash when the stakes need to be dangerously high but kids tend not to end up in such perilous positions. All of the endings suffer a bit from this, I think, although this third book least of all.

Happily would recommend to fans of cozies, and especially young fans. I wish I'd had this series immediately after my Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew phases, because I would have adored them.

[Emily Diffenderfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has everything! Snowshoeing, divorce, WWII history, secret affairs, cutting school, a piglet!

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't as painful as the last book. Yeah, that's how I feel about this series. It's not technical details--though some of the similes are a little distracting--but the characters. They fail to grip, which makes it harder for this thriller to thrill.
Ingrid, the little *dear,* is less annoying this round, mainly because the plot isn't so transparent, letting her not be too stupid. This time she's trying to prove that her beloved Grampy didn't murder someone.
The problem was, I thought he did it. Not ultimately, because Ingrid likes him and anyone Ingrid likes is good, but I think he was capable. The man was pestering him, and Grampy has a fuse the length of a fingernail clipping. I don't like the crabby old loner, and so finding out that *SPOILERS* he's dying of cancer leaves me even less moved than normal. *END SPOILERS.*
The plot is smarter this time round, but I still don't like Ingrid sneaking around without at least a wingman who knows what she's doing and can call for help if she doesn't call in X hours. There's some family drama, but it just makes her parents more of an obstacle than before, so it doesn't matter.
The Verdict: if Ingrid appeals to you, then by all means read this book. I don't like her, so I didn't enjoy it.

[Sidharthan · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a kid's detective novel, this book is surprisingly very realistic. The characters remain kids and aren't these precocious youngsters who can get anything done with their go-getter attitude. They are just flawed normal kids who make mistakes all the time and face the consequences of these mistakes too.

Along with the main murder mystery, this book is also about the pains of growing up. Ingrid's internal life is rich and feels very relatable. We can understand what she is going through and empathize - something that you'd usually not expect from a little-kid-detective-novel.

Given all this though, it was very disappointing that the book follows the trope of good looking people are the good guys and the villains are all marred physically in some way. Barring that and maybe how easy all the coincidences are set-up, this could well have been a book targeted towards adults.

Perhaps there is something lost in the balance between sticking to the feel of an children's book but making it adult. Anyway, makes for a fairly engaging read!

[Claudia Harrington · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book in the children's section. It surprised me, even though this book is not very explicit I don’t believe is an appropriate book for children under 12 (it even has a few swear words in it). It deals with adult matters, like affairs, kidnapping and murder. It’s almost like a CSI episode written for children. (just making it clean enough to past for children's literature) I think this book is better suited for teenagers, and even then, there are better books they can be reading. I have a hard time getting into it. To be fair this is a series of books and this the lastest one (I didn't read the 2 first ones)

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Into the Dark" by Peter Abrahams is the third in a series of YA mysteries with 13-year-old sleuth Ingrid. The three adventures occur only months apart in the series' universe. Once again the plot is muddy and involves something like a conspiracy involving Ingrid's grand father. And, Ingrid sort of solves the mystery. But, it is all a bit confusing as it involves long ago war secrets and present day financially nefarious real estate deals. A bit weird. Still it is entertaining.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped reading bad language- shocked me as it is a you teen novel.

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too boring.

[Saloni (earnestlyeccentric) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ingrid Levin-Hill goes snowshoeing with Joey Strade, the pair find a dead body in the snow. This discovery leads to a chain of events resulting in Grampy being arrested. Ingrid knows her grandfather is innocent. All the teenage sleuth has to do is gather enough evidence to clear her name.

Spoilers ahead.


Plot and Pacing: The story started off real slow. I regretted borrowing the book from my school library. However, the plot picked up its pace sometime in the third or fourth chapter. I realised about halfway through the book it was the third in the series. I still haven’t stopped kicking myself for it. I absolutely HATE reading a series in the wrong order. Now, there’s no point in reading the first two because I’ve already read the third. Ugh.

Anyway, the reason the book started slowly must have been because it was the third. So the author didn’t feel an obligation to keep everything fast-paced. I guess it sort of makes sense. I won’t dwell on it.

The ending was way too rushed. There was a magnificent build-up but it ended too quickly. And the events at the end of the book aren’t ones to be rushed. I mean Ingrid was tied up and set the basement on fire! If that doesn’t require a chapter in itself, I don’t know what does.

I felt Ingrid was waaaaaay too slow in putting things together. I had figured out the whole plot a quarter way of the book. Okay, maybe not the WHOLE plot, but MOST of it. I did say the development and build-up were pretty well done. This was due to Ingrid’s slowness in grasping things and putting two and two together. So, I was frustrated at her sluggish critical thinking but impressed by the insight I got into the different characters and their motives.

The plot escalated quickly in a way I wasn’t expecting. I hate reading the blurb of books (they contain too many spoilers) so I didn’t know I was reading a mystery book. I was expecting a nice fairy tale story based on the cover. I should probably stop judging books by their cover. In my defence, I did read the first few pages and it was about some play Ingrid was part of. It had NO mystery vibes at all.

Anyway, I didn’t think that Ingrid would actually stumble upon a dead body flecked with blood. It felt a tiny bit extreme for a children’s novel. Nor did I think she would end up being whipped and stuck in a basement. It made for an interesting plot point though.

Characters: It was hinted a lot that Ingrid was a clever girl but I, for one, felt she was really slow in putting all the evidence together (as I’ve said countless times in this review). I liked personality though. Plus, anyone who loves Sherlock Holmes is fine by me. I LOVE Sherlock Holmes. The books and the BBC One series.

Anyhow, I liked the constant references to the Sherlock Holmes books. It was also nice to see Ingrid actually using a lot of Sherlock’s advice (from the books) to make her own (slow) deductions. Ingrid didn’t develop much as a character. I’m assuming that all her character development happened in the first two books. This was fine by me. I didn’t want to focus on her. I wanted to focus on Grampy.

Grampy struck me as an interesting character because he reminded me of Ove from A Man Called Ove. He’s grumpy and hates when other people stick their noses into his business. Through the book, we get a better sense of his true personality. Grampy is the sort of person who sticks to his morals and doesn’t care much about other people’s business. He keeps to himself mainly but he’s got a big heart full of love and courage. He cares deeply about his family (and, I think, has a soft spot for Ingrid).

Writing Style: The writing style wasn’t anything extraordinary. It was straight to the point and concise which I appreciated. It was actually a bit difficult for me to get used to Abrahams’ style. He has a way of writing very short sentences which end abruptly. I reread a lot of the paragraphs because they sounded really funny in my head.

Into the Dark is a pretty light read. I’d recommend reading the first two books of the series before picking up this one. It’ll probably improve your opinion of it.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review Into The Dark
The book that I chose to review is Into The Dark, by Peter Abrahams. I read this book because when I was picking my book out from the library, I saw that the genre of the book was mystery. I haven’t read too many mysteries, but this one looked very interesting. This book exceeded my expectations and was actually very hard to put down. Every page was full of mystery and it was like stepping into detectives shoes. I didn't have any initial connections to this book because in my life I have never experienced death first hand and this book really showed me how a murder is treated and how a murder in handled in current times. This was the first time that I have ever heard of, or read this author.
One of the questions that are addressed in this book is how literature helps us to better understand ourselves. In Into The Dark, the main character, Ingrid, really enjoys reading Sherlock Holmes and applying this knowledge to her everyday life. The author says, "Ingrid awoke in the night, sat up with a jerk. She switched on the reading light. The Complete Sherlock Holmes lay in its usual place on the bedside table. She opened it to "A Case of Identity," leafed through to a passage she'd highlighted: You did not know where to look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring you to realize the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace,"(O' Brien 142). Ingrid is trying to figure out a murder, so she thinks about her Sherlock Holmes book and uses its details to try to help her solve this mystery and Sherlock Holmes guides her in her life. Using literature helped her to solve the murder and played an important role in the book.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to young adults. I would also recommend this book to people looking for an intense mystery story with surprises around every corner.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our little Griddie is growing up.

This book's title is truth in advertising: it is much darker than the previous books. We learn the traumatic history of Grampy's time on Corregidor in World War II that was only hinted at in the previous books. The tension between Ingrid's parents explodes. Her father's boss's family is much more than it previously seemed. Even Nigel, the loyal pup, has a secret past.

Through it all, Ingrid continues to make some of the same mistakes she's made before--most notably, going it alone--but she also learns how to think twice and put the pieces together before they fall on her. I have mixed feelings about the fact that this is seemingly the end of the series. I will miss Ingrid, but I'm not sure Peter Abrahams has the chops to write her as an eighteen-year-old, for instance. (If he did, the series would have to grow up, too.)

I considered downgrading it to two stars because a) her boyfriend is a dolt and b) the bad guys are out of an episode of Rocky and Bullwinkle. In the end, however. I have to wish Ingrid goodbye on a better note than that. When she moves to NYC, she will become somebody!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't want to put 4 stars because I really do love the world of Echo Falls but 2 things irked me. Firstly, the mystery was easy to figure out based on one obvious sentence which was really annoying! For once it would be nice if Abrahams didn't lay everything out straight away and actually let the reader guess a little! Secondly, the ending was wrapped up too quickly from the exciting conflict at the end. I felt there were a lot of threads left unanswered which I won't mention here due to spoilers.
I still recommend the books to people as they really are beautifully written, the way solving the mystery helps Ingrid work out the adult world around her, but please return to this world Abrahams and give us a mystery that is not so easily guessable!

[Kate Tcherepov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into the Dark by Peter Abrahams is a mystery and fantasy novel about a girl named Ingrid. She has big family issues, her grandfather is about to lose his farm meanwhile her parents do not get along. What I like about the book is that they change up the plot to mystery because Ingrid and her friend found a dead body lying in the snow. This book is interesting because it focuses on different things throughout the story like it doesn't only focus on the dead body they found which is mystery. It also focuses on Ingrid's family problems which involves drama. I think this would appeal to people who like a bit of a mystery added to there book and some drama. Overall I gave this book four stars because every chapter brings something new and interesting that we could learn about.

[Elby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am incredibly sad to say goodbye to this series. Ingrid made for a wonderful protagonist—thoughtful, feisty, clever. The author has a real knack for writing a child’s perspective while not making it grating or tiresome, and he never infantilises her, but on the same hand doesn’t make her seem like an adult in a child’s body. Writing children is hard and he does it so well. Larger threads of plot occur around Ingrid which you as a reader, with your own adult perspective and experiences, can quickly ascertain but Ingrid is still too young to grasp. The mysteries were tight and interesting. Just wonderful. I sincerely wish there were more! I could read many more of this series. Such a shame.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

In what I think is the final installment of the Echo Falls mysteries, Ingrid's Grampy is charged with murder and is sitting in jail unwilling to offer the evidence that will prove his innocence. In addition Nigel, Ingrid's beloved companion, runs away and can't be found. Her parents are on their way to a divorce and Ingrid can't figure out how to help all of those she loves. But in true Sherlock Holmes fashion, she begins her own investigation since everyone else seems to believe her Grampy is guilty. This is the most realistic and complicated book in the series because it deals with adult dilemmas and because Ingrid's world is about to collapse.

[Adrianna Spooner · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I love the Echo Falls series, I have since I was in high school. I relish the absolute chilling feeling the first two books give me when I read them, absolutely love it. That's why this one is only 4 stars. Peter Abrahams is a fantastic author, love the wit and pace of his writing. This one was a bit slower pace with less chilling suspense throughout, though there was a fantastic final scene as usual. I was a bit upset by the twist with Ingrid's dad, but this revelation wasn't very well hidden, neither was the final reveal. I loved the first two because you were just shocked by the ending. Anyhow, I'm still so happy I got my hands on this, and wish there were more.

[Lia Marcoux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love these books. The language is sparsely beautiful, and even better, the menace is real. It's scary to be a kid and this captures that, as do the other books in the series. They're not sweet or safe - if you think a bad thing is happening, it's probably because it is. Add an emotional core and a Gothic denouement (where Ingrid pulls the trigger!) and you've got a terrific mystery/thriller. I'd read many many more.

[Chaya Freitag · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. First of all, the style of writing kept making me think I was reading a chapter book for an elementary school student. It felt juvenile, and I finally understood my middle school English teacher's aversion to the word said. Additionally, I could see the answers coming from a mile away. The only section I appreciated was at the very end, when during the climax you actually want to see what happens.

[Judy Wollin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This murder mystery is gripping. Ingrid and her friend find a body on her grandfather’s farm. Her grandfather is going to plead guilty, but Ingrid is sure he didn’t kill the man. She sets out to find the answer to the mystery and finds herself in deadly danger.
I enjoyed the mystery and the determination of the main character to find the answers.
Recommended for readers aged ten years or more.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost a star for having all the villains (all 3 books) die the same way! Also Ingrid said her grandpa was "almost 79". Book came out 2008. Bataan Death March was 1942. 66 years from 1942 to 2008. 79 minus 66 would make grandpa 13 y.o. on the Death March. Oops. Good to have a little WWII education in it tho. And I get a kick out of the kids' conversations, especially between Ingrid & Joey: Hi. Hi. Um. Um. The awkwardness seems amusing in its accuracy.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Little homages to detective Sherlock Holmes. Interesting mystery solved by a 13 year old girl with an inquisitive nature, who has a precious relationship with her war hero grandfather, Pappy. Pappy is a short-fused curmudgeon who keeps to himself, but adores his granddaughter, Ingrid.
Audio narration was excellent and realistic for different characters.

[Alice Liu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Into the Dark" reminds me of the Flavia de Luce series...a mystery for adults but written from a child's point of view. I'm not sure that was Peter Abrahams' intention, especially in the very beginning. But that is how it ended up for me. Very clever and heart felt, but odd things here and there that felt out of place.

[P.K. Burian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Abrahams is such a great writer. I love the Echo Falls series. He brings the characters alive on the page. I have read and reread this series several times. I rarely do that with any author.

[Rona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third Echo Falls mystery. Likable viewpoint character, Ingrid, is trying to vindicate her grandfather. She, once again, is more resourceful than any of the adults in this town. I also love her dog.
I had the murderer identified and the motive figured out WAY too early.

[Sophia Yoshida · Rating 5 out of 5]

It kills me that this is the last book. I want more! It's another fabulous entry and I could go on for ages again about how much I love Ingrid and her worldview. She's mature without losing her innocence or curious nature. She faces darkness and comes out shiny. I love this series.

[Summer Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great end to the trilogy - though enough is left open ended that there could be more! I hope Peter Abrahams returns to echo falls some day, it’s such a fun series.

A resolution to the threads laid in the first book about the dad and gramp

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fab series. Gutted there aren't anymore!