The Dark Room

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on Waterstones.com
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 7 Jan 2021 | Archive Date 8 Dec 2020

Talking about this book? Use #TheDarkRoom #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

A pacey and thrilling tale from the author of the number one Irish Times bestseller, Keep Your Eyes on Me.


Hare's Landing, West Cork. A house full of mystery...

Rachel Lambert leaves London afraid for her personal safety and determined to uncover the truth behind the sudden death of a homeless man with links to a country house hotel called Hare's Landing.

New York-based crime reporter Caroline Kelly's career is threatened by a lawsuit and she needs some thinking space away from her job. But almost as soon as she arrives, Hare's Landing begins to reveal its own stories - a 30-year-old missing person's case and the mysterious death of the hotel's former owner.

As Rachel and Caroline join forces, it becomes clear that their investigations are intertwined - and that there is nothing more dangerous than the truth...

A pacey and thrilling tale from the author of the number one Irish Times bestseller, Keep Your Eyes on Me.


Hare's Landing, West Cork. A house full of mystery...

Rachel Lambert leaves London afraid...


Advance Praise

'I absolutely love a tale of women scorned getting revenge and this one did not let me down. I loved the escapism of it - I was living vicariously through those characters, I tell you. It was pacey and exciting and totally joyous.'  - Jo Spain on Keep Your Eyes on Me 

'A delightfully dark and satisfying thriller that had me anxiously cheering on the wronged women in their quest for revenge.' - Roz Watkins on Keep Your Eyes on Me 

'Original, twisty and very gripping - this is a roller-coaster ride to be savoured.' - William Ryan on Keep Your Eyes on Me

'You don't know who's manipulating whom until it's far too late - terrific.' - Alex Marwood on Keep Your Eyes on Me

'I absolutely love a tale of women scorned getting revenge and this one did not let me down. I loved the escapism of it - I was living vicariously through those characters, I tell you. It was pacey...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781786498601
PRICE £12.99 (GBP)

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)

Average rating from 39 members


Featured Reviews

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.

Was this review helpful?

‘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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: