I really enjoyed this book - an easy read with an engaging plot and plenty of twists and turns. Initially I thought this book would be one with implausible coincidences driving the story, however everything is very neatly plotted - my only critism would be the ending - I think this could have been wrapped up in a more dramatic fashion but that's my opinion only - all in all enough to hold my interest and I finished the book in 2 days so definitely give it a go - a great beach read

It kinda took me to long to get into this story to enjoy it properly but I read it to the end and yes some nice twists along the way ..

3. 5 Stars. This was a fun mystery. The plot was solid and there were no slow points. I would have liked to have been more engaged with the main two characters, whose personalities could have been fleshed out a little more to make the reader care more about the final outcome. Still a solid book, I still recommend.

A good mystery thriller that I enjoyed my time with. A new to me author that I discovered and will be reading more from in the futurez

Thank you Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

1.5 rounded down.

THE PLOT

Leonard is processing some of his mystery film when he finds a photo of a woman he watched die 5 years ago. But in this photo, it looks like she's just died again more recently. What's going on!?

MY OPINION

I have a bunch of ARCs on my NetGalley shelf so I asked the good people of Bookstagram what I should read; they picked this (duh). Welp. Lol. That was the only reason I finished this other than yeeting it.

I didn't know who I was supposed to support. Why would I care that a 37-year-old cheating cokehead got scammed? Why would I want him to figure out who scammed him? Free my girl Martha from the bondage of this ain't shit guy who doesn't even shorten his creepy ass name to Leo to be more respectable. Now that I'm typing this... Martha and Leonard have to be two of the most unfortunate names out there.

Next we have the plot which resembled a slice of swiss cheese—meaning it had lots of holes. The story itself was extremely repetitive and there was zero suspense. I didn't give two wet farts about the "sexual tension" between Leonard the cokehead and Martha the sad ass stalker... big pass from me. There was lots of math not mathulating like: a cab in NYC costing $10 (when Leonard said "keep the change" excuse me sir you're $40 short...)and a freelance journalist rocking Dior Sauvage cologne AND the matching deodorant plus living in a 2 bed apt near hell's kitchen. Simply impossible.

I tossed it a half of star (which isn't reflected unfortunately in the rating) because one of the final twisty twists was unexpected, although tbh that didn't quite make sense either but whatever lol.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: my internet friends picked this

Cons: writing, plot, ending, worst MC on the planet

Wow! What a ride. Leonard Blaylock is a reporter who"s life falls apart after one night with a mystery woman. Years later he tries to figure out what really happened to him that night and who was behind it with help from a fellow mystery film enthusiast Martha.
This book had me hooked right from the beginning and didn't let up, I felt suspicious of everyone and loved seeing the relationship between Leonard and Martha unfold. If you are a fan of twisty thrillers then I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC #TheDarkRoom #NetGalley

This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. Mystery and intrigue. The characters are not really likable, but that is often the case in a mystery...the story moves slowly, at times, but the author is gifted at weaving a story that comes to a surprising ending. Enjoy.

What a great read ... a truly exciting novel full of twists and turns and a shock ending. Two people (Leonard & Martha) brought together through the hobby of developing discarded rolls of film. Behind the hobby and linking them is a 'Honeytrap' murder - the murder of an attractive woman hired to trap unfaithful men for money. The storyline develops as the two friends investigate the honeytrap and murder. A brilliantly crafted novel, hard to put down and well worthy of five (5) stars.

My first read by this author and I was not disappointed. Full of great twists and turns.. Highly recommend if you are looking for a quick mystery.

Good book! Some crazy twist in this one! this book also had suspense, intrigue, and many twists and turns! The storyline was interesting and flowed nicely! I will recommend reading this book as it was worth reading! It wasn't one of my top favorites but still worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Leonard Blaylock an ex crime reporter spends his days on an unusual hobby developing forgotten and discarded rolls of film he loves the small mysteries the photographs reveal to him then Leonard finds something no one would ever expect or want to see captured on film the murder of a young woman but that’s impossible because the woman is already dead Leonard was there when it happened five years earlier he has never been able to shake his guilt from that terrible night it cost Leonard everything
A really enjoyable read but abit slow starting then it livens up
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Uk
I just reviewed The Dark Room by Lisa Gray. #TheDarkRoom #NetGalley

Thank you so much to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It took a couple of chapters to get into the story, but once the action started I couldn't put the book down. I thought it was really well-plotted and well written. The dialogue was great and easy to read and the characters were all suspicious, which is perfect as it kept me guessing throughout. I was thinking it was wrapped up all way too easily when the last two chapters blew me away! I did not see the ending coming and I was totally surprised!

I haven't read anything from Lisa Gray before but I would definitely read more from her in the future. I would recommend if you're looking for a quick read and a twisty, entertaining thriller.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I don't see the appeal of developing other people's discarded camera films myself, and it must be a hobby with a rapidly diminishing shelf life, but I assume it is a thing. It's certainly the premise of this novel. I found this well-plotted and fast-paced, with plenty of twists and turns. The final chapters explain exactly what went on for the benefit of the reader, which I always think is a sign the clues weren't sufficiently seeded in the main narrative, but they did put to rest things which were nagging at me.

Recommended as a gripping, undemanding read.

WoWzers! While the book took a few chapters to get into it, once it did, the book really took off! I absolutely loved the circumstances surrounding the investigation – a mystery film developer. Maybe I loved it because when I was in high school and college, I developed 35MM film at a store. It was always so interesting to see people’s photos. I was very much like Leonard in that aspect, and so for me, the author came up with something very creative. The first big wow moment was around 36% of the book, and then the wow moments never stopped. Just when you think you have the answers, BAM, another twist. There are so many OMG moments in this book. AND when I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong (once again!). The ending was equally shocking.

This is a definite must read.

Thanks so much Amazon Books UK and NetGalley!

Leonard, an ex reporter, has a unique hobby. He develops strangers' forgotten rolls of film. While doing so, he comes across a murder scene. The victim is someone that he thought died several years before and he believed he had been responsible. He's now in investigative mode trying to figure out what happened.

OKAY CAPS LOCK TIME. THIS WAS AN AMAZING RIDE. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THIS BOOK DESERVES SO MUCH PRAISE. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I FINISHED.

There are more twists and false leads in this than you can imagine. No one is as they seem - right up to the last pages. The characters are intriguing as they are not particularly likeable and yet you become fully enmeshed in their mission and lives. A dark, seedy mystery which will leave you satisfied!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I've read all of the Jessica Shaw PI novels and have enjoyed them. Leonard Blaylock is a minor character that was introduced at one point. Unfortunately not very memorable and definitely not likeable. Leonard has some issues and he's clearly an unreliable narrator as he is trying to piece together what really happened to a woman who was murdered. His memory and the pictures he found are contradictory. Leonard teaming up with a woman who is a stalker and creepy made this read really uncomfortable and not so interesting. I struggled with it and would suggest skipping it. Maybe next time we will see Jessica in action.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the copy of The Dark Room. I wish at least one of the characters had been likable or at least sympathetic, but they were all reprehensible. The writing never grabbed me and some of the descriptions were distracting. (The table was flimsy and describing HOW flimsy seemed like filler.) This book had such a great premise and I love the idea of ‘mystery film' and people who develop it. I liked the story for the most part and the ending was great but the way it was revealed was clunky and disappointing. This could be a great book for you, it just didn’t work for me.

After reading twist after twist nearing the end, revealing the killer... I felt a bit duped. And smiled at myself for being so seriously about books. However, after reading the final chapter, all I could think was... hmmm these games these characters were playing....

This was a quick and easy read that was well written, tense and fast paced. There was a good amount of mystery in the plotline and I thought that the characters were engaging but I felt like they could have been slightly more well developed, but I still enjoyed the book

I was very excited to have received the ARC of this book because the synopsis sounded very intriguing. Unfortunately, I couldn't get on with the book and had to stop reading it after about 20%. I felt there was no depth to the characters and the writing style was stilted. The conversations were odd and unbelievable and the whole thing felt very much like a first draft that hadn't been edited or fleshed out yet. It might have just been me, comparing it to books I've read recently that hooked me in the first chapter. I am very sorry that I couldn't have finished the book because maybe the ending was worth the struggle but it didn't feel like it was worth my time. I will give 2 stars for the synopsis and the chance that it might have just caught me on an off day.

WOW...what a great book. It has a great story line and plot and truly does keep you intrigued the whole time. The ending is very twisted and unexpected. Totally loved it and recommend it.

(Thank you, NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.)


"It turned out the biggest sliding-doors moment in Leonard Blaylock's life was getting into a taxi with a stranger on a cold November night." When I read this quote in this book, I knew I was hooked! The Dark Room starts with a roll of film with a horrifying picture on it. I loved the plot twists throughout the story and how the characters were twisted themselves. It kept me guessing what was going to happen and the ending took me by surprise. I would recommend this to anyone who loves plot twists and thrillers.
(Quote is directly from the book. )

This was trully such a joy to read! It's everything you want from a psychological thriller/ domestic noir. The twists and turns were just impossible to see coming and they never stop!!! I flew through this on holiday and it made waiting in queues part of the highlight of my trip since it meant I xould snatch a few more pages. The characters are so well written and you just get absolutely drawn into the story Nd trying to figure out what's going on. Loved it!!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Leonard keeps seeing a woman who he saw die several years ago. His life changed for the worse after that incident. He decides he needs to figure out what is happening. I liked this book.

I hugely enjoyed this. Takes the whodunnit portion of a crime novel and involves us in the search. Loved the twists which I didn't see coming!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have enjoyed everything this author has written and this was no exception. A fast paced well written thriller that will have you guessing right to the end.

I was intrigued by the storyline and the characters in The Dark Room. Immensely engrossing and very different and I didn't want to put it down.

I found this book hard to get into at first, but after a while the plot picked up and I started reading faster. I thought I'd guessed who the actual murderer was, but I was wrong. I found it a good book and am planning on re-reading it to see what clues I missed

Wow! What a book! I was completely hooked on this book pretty much from the first page. The plot was really good and I really didn't expect the twist at the end.
I really enjoyed this one, it's full of twists, thrills, excitement and warmth.
I'd definitely recommend this book to others.

Lisa Gray did a great job with a compelling story. I didn't know developing film was a hobby, but after reading this book I found out it really is something people do. Leonard had his life destroyed and now has stumbled onto a picture that changes his perspective. There was an intensity throughout the book that was just enough to keep me reading throughout the night. I honestly had no idea who might have committed the murder, broke into the homes or did countless other questionable items. Gray unfolded the story at just the right pace and provided enough description to give the reader information on a need to know basis. I like that she laid everything out for me at the end of the novel. There were some items that I wouldn't have been able to piece together on my own. Fun read!

I absolutely demolished this book! Read it in a day and my only regret… there’s not another or a follow up on NetGalley for me to read.

Lisa Gray is a new author to me and omg am I pleased I requested this book. It was absolutely brilliant. So easy to read, absolutely captivating and thrilling and yet so believable.

Right from the off we have a very interesting situation… what would you do if you discovered evidence of a crime? And would that reaction change if you knew the victim?

This book and the way in which it unfolds is simply a masterful bit of writing - let alone planning. I loved how as a reader you’re questioning everything and yet not really looking. The twists, turns and developments within the ‘case’ are so thick and fast you can’t help just taking everything found at face value. It’s only when you get to the end and there’s nothing left that you truly question what you read - and that my friends is brilliant writing! Not something you get very often and not that easy to pull off without giving away too much.

Needless to say I loved this mystery and I loved Lisa Gray’s writing style. So easy on the eye and every chapter is well constructed with good pace and each revealing a new ‘truth’. The whole book just drags you through it’s slip stream of big reveals and new dilemmas and spits you out the other end - reeling with excitement of what you just read and wanting more!

Absolutely brilliant. Preorder/Buy it now!!

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ex–crime reporter Leonard Blaylock spends his days on an unusual hobby, developing strangers’ forgotten and discarded rolls of film. He loves the small mysteries the photographs reveal to him. Then Leonard finds something no one would ever expect, or want, to see captured on film—the murder of a young woman. It’s very well written and definitely worth a read.

I absolutely LOVE Lisa’s Jessica Shaw series, so when I spotted The Dark Room I was super excited. Even better it was a stand alone. It was almost an addiction, unable to actually put it down until I was done. What a plot! What a twist! By the end you’ll see that everyone has something to hide and no one is ever truly innocent,

Amazing. Really twisted... couldn't put it down.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. This was an excellent read.
Thoroughly recommended

Leonard Blaylock has never rebounded from the night he accidentally killed a woman. His guilt led to the end of his engagement, a lost journalism position, and a regular life. While writing on a unique hobby, Mystery Film, where one develops random film rolls he finds a photo which changes everything.

I liked the character development (not the characters as people) and the choices made were understandable. Good set up of events and unraveling of the plot. The chapters have a variety of character viewpoints to help understand the "why".

I finished The Dark Room last night and was stunned. The story veered left. I had to stop to re-read several sentences again as my brain rearranged the facts. It was so good!

I did enjoy this yarn. I engaged with the two lead characters believable and likeable even though you knew most of their faults early om in the book. There were a few turns that didn't appear to go anywhere but overall it was a well thought out book with just the right amount of pace.

My main criticism is that the ending was a bit rushed - I think that could have been fleshed out a bit. It could have been a bit more suspenseful at the end and left the reader wondering what would happen next rather than tying it all up neatly.

It was a good read that I wanted to pick up and get to the end of as soon as I could; always a good sign.

3.5, really. A little bit simplistic, but not offensively so. Reads super fast, which was for the best.

First book I’ve read from Lisa Gray and I read it in one sitting thoroughly good murder mystery.
Leonard Blaylock was a crime reporter for a New York paper, was engaged to be married, socially active before his nervous breakdown. Now he does freelance work, his fiancé is married to an older man and he no longer socialised with friends.
His one joy in life is finding old cameras and undeveloped spool’s which he develops in his own dark room in his apartment He developed one of the spools he recently bought at a flea market and was shocked to find a photo of a murdered woman but he was shocked and confused because this woman had died five years ago and he was there when it happened !!!!
What happens next will keep you reading until the end.
Highly recommend to all murder mystery lovers.

This was an interesting read, the whole story gets unfolded from different perspective, the ex-journalist Leonard whose hobby of developing old film reels which he picks up from curios and other shops , the photographer friend whom he befriends online and then gets her entangled in solving a mystery, his ex-fiancee, the person whom his ex-fiancee had succeeded and last but not least the mystery woman who was the cause of his breakdown. Lots of twists and turns with a surpise ending, this was an enjoyable read.
Thank you Netgalley for sharing a copy of this book for my unbiased feedback,
Overall Rating 3.5 stars
Worth a read once.

A man is intrigued by lost rolls of film and develops a photo which sends him reeling. A photo of a woman he recognises.
A tale of lies and photographs, of deception and betrayal, of revenge and redemption.

This was an intriguing mystery, plot was a little different than most. I did have a hard time connecting, or even liking, the characters, so it did make this book read a little slower than others by this author. Overall a good book with a great ending.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Question Everything..
Question everything and believe nothing in this tense thriller. Leonard has an unusual and unexpected hobby. He develops strangers old, discarded film reels. Odd. However, from these he can create mysteries of his own making. He enjoys this, until one day he develops a film that makes him stop dead. An intriguing premise and an interesting mystery within but with a cast of mainly unlikeable characters, with few redeeming features, although some nicely done plot twists.

I’ve persisted in trying to read this book despite its formatting issues however, I have given up at 53%. There is a ‘strangeness’ to the story that is quite unique: did he/ didn’t he.commit murder? His devastation and despair is understandable. Less understandable is his willingness to engage a stranger in his search for answers…. A book that I would have relished in its difference has been spoilt by the formatting. Not the fault of the author or the content and my rating reflects that fact.

For a book with such a promising and exciting premise, Lisa Gray’s upcoming novel, The Dark Room, missed the mark completely for me. You can’t tell me that coming across old film of a murder isn’t a plot you’d eat up. I don’t think I’m the only one who disliked it either, so I don’t feel as bad as I usually would for such a low rating. A strong start went downhill a lot quicker than I though possible, which resulted in me taking so much time to read this book, which could also be an element that contributed to the low rating. There just seemed to be a lot of unnecessary filler for my liking, and I will admit that I expected a lot more action and police drama than we get.

Leonard Blaylock is a long time developer of what is called “mystery film”; undeveloped camera film which he develops at home, basically for the thrill of having a window into a complete stranger’s life, that is until one day, the film he develops contains murder scene photos of a girl he saw die 5 years earlier, so what happened?

Personally, I thought the plot had so much potential, but it was executed terribly, and to go along with this, I didn’t find any of the characters likeable. Usually I can withstand disliking one or two characters, but none of them in this book grabbed me and held my attention; there was never really any interest after I’d been introduced to them all.

I know it seems that this book was abysmal, but I actually had hope in the beginning and then it went downhill, and as for the reveal, I will admit I didn’t expect it and found myself wondering who could have actually done it, so, this book does deserve me saying that the twist was great; probably the best thing about the book in general.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC!

This is the first novel that I have read by this author. I enjoyed the book, and I could see what she was trying to do however there was some issues with the unfolding of the story. The author tried hard to build the characters and make the storyline exciting, however the book became a little dry in the middle. This was still an enjoyable read and would recommend. I would certainly be prepared to read another by this author.

This book was a definite departure from the Jessica Grey series. I'm still not sure what my thoughts are about this book even after reading it! I think if you go into it not expecting it to be like Jessica's story then you will quickly get into the story!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of The Dark Room, a stand-alone thriller set in New York.

Leonard Blaylock has an unusual hobby - he searches out undeveloped 35mm film and develops the pictures. One day develops a film which has images of a murdered woman, a woman that Leonard saw die five years ago and not in the same way, a woman whose death and his guilt cost him his life as he knew it.

The Dark Room has an interesting premise - it is crime fiction so coincidence isn’t usually a feature and that begs the questions of who set Leonard up 5 years ago and why do they (if it’s the same person(s)) now want him involved (if it’s not another setup)? These questions persist throughout the novel, but the execution lacks the spark and excitement that would turn the novel into a compulsive read. I never heard the siren call luring me back when I put it down.

To be fair to the novel this lack of excitement on my part may be down to my mood and other things I have going on, because it is full of twists and has an unexpected solution, which surprised me. I liked the format, although it takes away a certain amount of immediacy. It is told mostly in the present from Leonard and his friend Martha’s points of view, but whenever they make a new discovery the novel goes back to the past to explain what happened from more than Leonard’s point of view.

Leonard reached out to Martha for help after discovering the photos, until then she had been an unidentified contact on the missing photo forum. I don’t pretend to understand why he would immediately trust her or she would want to help him when they are essentially strangers. Anyway, the bottom line is they both have secrets. I don’t think their characters are well enough drawn for the reader to invest in their quest.

The Dark Room is an easy read.

I think the book had amazing potential, but the only problem with the book was the characters. I like unlikable characters as much as the next reader, but when you take it to the extreme, the reader no longer cares about what happens.

The Dark Room is a stand-alone thriller set in New York.
Leonard Blaylock is a NY crime reporter who buys undeveloped 35mm film spools and develops the pictures. One day he develops a film which has images of a murdered woman on. Leonard recognises the woman as he witnessed her death five years previously but not in the same way. The film is dated beyond this date so how can this be?
To find out, read the book, it is a twisty, dark tale with a cast of characters you will love to hate and a plot which will have you guessing through out.