In the Dark by Claire Allan
Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Read: 25th January 2023
Published: 19th January 2023
★★★★ 4.5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
I don't know what happened to my daughter. Only that she's missing – and I was the last person to see her…
My name is Nora Logue. You’ve probably heard of me – most people have.
I am the mother of Daisy Logue. Seven years ago, I took her for a walk in the woods. Only I came out.
I have no memory of what happened that day.
I have tried to rebuild my life. Met a man, had another child – Luca. But I can’t let go of Daisy, or give up hope of seeing her again.
And now, I have the chance to find out what happened to her.
But what if pursuing the truth about my daughter risks my son’s life?
A whiplash-inducing, unputdownable crime thriller from the author of The Nurse, perfect for fans of CLARE MACKINTOSH and LISA JEWELL.
MY THOUGHTS:
Ok...so a true crime documentary in the making I wondered which angle this tale would tell. I'm not a fan of journalists and the media frenzy that leeches off other people's misfortune all to get the biggest and best scoop. Sensationalism at its best. But IN THE DARK is different and not what I expected. I should have known...it's Claire Allan and nothing is ever what it seems under her pen.
Everyone knows Nora Logue. She was the mother of four year old Daisy who went into the woods one day and never came out. Nora, on the other hand, did. And to this day, seven years later, she has no recollection of what happened there or to that of her little girl who just simply vanished. But as with all cases such as this, everyone has an opinion and most have no problem airing them. And as a result, Nora has been plagued by hate and vitriol from the public at large because really, how could she not remember what happened in those woods? Or what happened to Daisy? Surely she knows exactly what happened and is playing at the whole disassociative amnesia thing.
Did she see where Daisy went? Did she kill her little girl and try to cover it up? But if that were the case, surely the police would have found her body by now? After all, where else would Daisy's body be but in those woods? Which was painstakingly searched at the time. So what happened to Daisy? And what, or did, Nora have to do with it?
Seven years later, Nora has married Brendan and has a little boy, Luca. Together they are trying to move forward but stil Nora cannot forget Daisy. And, until she knows what truly happened to her, she never will.
Now Nora is approached by true crime documentary filmmaker Izzy Devine, who wants to feature Daisy's case and speak to Nora about her recollections of that day. Together, can they uncover the truth of what happened that day? And reveal what really happened to Daisy? Or will Izzy discover what everyone already suspects - that Nora killed her little girl?
As soon as word gets out that a true crime documentary is being made about Daisy Logue, true crime fans jump on the case and begin to theorise their own ideas and hypotheses about the cold case. And then newcomers join the forum with their own ideas and begin to point the finger at Nora...with hate and malice.
Until a photo surfaces that could change everything...
IN THE DARK is a deep dark psychological thriller that really keeps you in the dark right up to the final pages. Unless you are clever enough to piece the jigsaw together beforehand. The story is tightly plotted and keeps you guessing throughout. Just when you think one thing, along comes something to make you second guess your theory.
The story unfolds through Nora and Izzy's perspectives mainly. Though there are a couple of chapters narrated anonymously by "The Four". Nora is a completely unreliable narrator that we can't trust what she thinks or says as she borders upon delusional, so unhinged by not knowing what really happened in those woods seven years before. She certainly sounds like a candidate for the asylum with her dreamlike imaginings and trances, not to mention her behaviour. But then some of the other characters are unreliable also. I didn't trust either Tom or Brendan though I couldn't quite put my finger on why. I just didn't.
I love missing child thrillers, but IN THE DARK puts a completely different spin on it that it is somewhat unique and easily stands out from the rest. The true crime documentary angle was also an original aspect and interesting plot point.
Overall, a pageturning thriller that even the title will keep you guessing until the very end when you'll then appreciate its meaning.
I would like to thank #ClaireAllan, #Netgalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #InTheDark in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
A former journalist, she published eight contemporary women’s fiction titles with Poolbeg Press in Ireland, establishing herself as a multiple Irish Times Bestselling Author.
Her novel 'The First Time I Said Goodbye' - based on a true story of a love affair between a Derry girl and a US marine became a US Kindle Top Five bestseller.
However in 2016, Claire decided to change genre and to write domestic noir - this secured her her a book deal with Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins.
Her debut thriller Her Name Was Rose has sold more than a quarter of a million copies and has achieved bestseller status around the world.
When not writing thrillers, she can be found penning romantic comedies under her alias of Freya Kennedy.
Claire is currently working on a TV adaptation of her 2020 novel ‘The Liar’s Daughter’ with Hat Trick productions, and as a story consultant for the new BBC cop drama ‘Blue Lights’.
Her sixth thriller ‘The Kindling’ is scheduled for publication in January 2022.
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