The Dark Room

Sam Blake has done it again with this dark, atmospheric thriller that makes for an exhilarating read. The Dark Room has two main characters Rachel and Caroline although the spooky rural coastal setting of Hare’s Landing has all the traits of a deeply disturbed character and as a reader you never know whether the goings on are supernatural in origin or those of a menacing threat. It makes for a fast paced read that will set your heart racing as things thump in the night and the two main characters become embroiled in a missing person’s case from thirty years ago. 

Caroline, a crime reporter from New York, has come to Hare’s Landing for a bit of reprieve and finds herself drawn to the mysterious death of the former owner Honoria Smyth and her painting that hangs above the fireplace. 

Rachel has left London for the safety of Hare’s Landing after her partner Hunter ends up in hospital and their home is broken into. 

There’s also the death of Alfie the homeless man who was taking part in Hunter’s documentary. 

Things are not as they seem in the coastal setting of Hare’s Landing and Blake does a fantastic job of creating a suspenseful and albeit dark atmosphere while setting up the plot and the ordeals the two women have to face. The tension is palpable and there were numerous times where I found myself anxious about turning the page and not knowing what to expect next. The plot was exceptional and intricate which made for an engrossing read and a finale that I hadn’t anticipated. 

Over all, this is a perfect winter’s night read, but be warned you will be lacking sleep by the time you’ve finished. Another well deserved 5 star review for Blake and no doubt another bestseller in the making.

‘The Dark Room’ is the latest compelling thriller from Sam Blake. 

There are several distinct strands to the story which combine to create one roller-coaster of a tale: 
•	first up we meet Alfie, a homeless man who is intend on posting a letter which is his “only chance. A letter which means that “everything will change”.
•	then Rachel, visiting Hare's Landing, in West Cork, to search for information about Alfie’s mysterious past. And, to hide from the people who seem determined to hurt her and her family. 
•	Finally, we have Caroline, who returns to Cork to escape from the lawsuit in New York. Both woman are soon intrigued by Alfie’s story and several mysteries from 30 years previously. 

Someone is determined that Rachel and Caroline will not resolve their mysteries. But whether the entire village or just one person is against them is unknown. Plus, there are some unexplained spooky events that suggest someone, something does not want the women to continue their investigations.

From the opening pages, the reader is expertly drawn into the storyline. We know very little about Alfie, but clearly there is a backstory for him and so many questions are raised that the reader is pulled into reading the opening chapters straight away. We quickly learn more about Alfie and his link to Rachel. But there is so much more happening that the reader is not given time to get bored but races along with the swift pace. Blake is careful with the pacing however; while there are numerous events occurring, she gives each of the main protagonists time to settle into their respective storylines so that the reader gets to know the character and can follow easily.  By the time that the characters arrive at Hare’s Landing, the reader has built up a relationship and we are ready for the real kick-off of the story. There are twists a plenty in this story and each time that I though, “Ahah, I’ve got it”, the author threw another twist at me – keeping the rollercoaster moving. 

The characters are very well-drawn and there’s no fear of one-dimensional characters that are boring or disinteresting. I had to laugh out loud on several occasions when Rachel and Caroline were discussing village life and amazed that everyone knew about their arrival. Definitely an accurate reflection of small village life in Ireland. I also loved the spooky aspect of the story. The possibly of a ghostly presence is a constant throughout the story but does not become a main storyline at any point – rather a supporting one and in this ways adds a fun element of surprise, because the ‘ghostly’ happenings occur when we least expect it and don’t take from this dark and exciting thriller. 

‘The Dark Room’ is a stand alone novel and not part of the well-known ‘Cathy Connolly series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I love the sound of Hare's Landing which is where most of the book is set.  The two women at the center of the story find themselves investigating the history of Hare's Landing, in particular the family who owned it back in the 80's/90's - by looking into this their investigations have connections to current foul play involving a homeless man living in London. I found the book atmospheric and became completely immersed in the story - a really enjoyable read.

What links a homeless man in London to a Country house hotel in the depths of Ireland?
Two women find themselves unintentionally on a quest to find out.
Rachel leaves London after her documentary maker partner is nearly killed on his bike, to get a few days peace and quiet in the safety of Hare’s Landing, a hotel on the coast of Ireland along with Jasper, the dog (who very nearly steals every scene he is in).
Crime reporter Caroline flies in from New York seeking refuge from work troubles.
Almost as soon as they arrive, odd things start to happen at the hotel and it soon becomes clear that someone suspects their motives for being there and is not happy about it.
From spooky smells and music to very real bodies and a lot of bumps in the night, this is a definite page turner. Blake draws us into a world of suspicion and suspense and sets up the plot with all the deft twists and turns you could wish for. The tension gradually builds to a final sharp twist that brings all the different story threads together in a surprising finale.
Definitely one to keep you awake at night.

Absolutely brilliant book, one of the best I’ve read for a long time.
The Irish setting was perfect and Hares landing was so atmospheric.
The characters were well written and came to life, I cared about what happened to them, Jasper was gorgeous!
It was fast paced, never dull and the plot itself was eerie and full of good twists.
I will definitely read more from this Author.