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Dark Room

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 21 ratings · 8 reviews

DI Andrew Hicks thinks he knows all about murder. For Hicks, however horrific the act, the reasons behind killing are ultimately all too explicable. So when a woman is found bludgeoned to death, he suspects a crime of passion and attention focuses on her possessive ex-husband. But when a second body is found, similarly beaten, Hicks is forced to think again about his suspe...more

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published July 19th 2012 by Orion (first published 2012)

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Jul 17, 2012 Luca rated it 5 of 5 stars

A seemingly straight forward police procedural opening, perhaps even a little slow, with the introduction of Detective Andy Hicks. He and his partner Detective Laura Fellowes are called out to a murder of a young woman. Hicks sees murder as a straight-forward process. Each murder has its own hallmarks, which can be placed in certain areas or 'rooms'. He immediately suspects a crime of passion, and concentrates on the woman's ex husband. Then, another body is found. And another. Suddenly, Hicks i...more A seemingly straight forward police procedural opening, perhaps even a little slow, with the introduction of Detective Andy Hicks. He and his partner Detective Laura Fellowes are called out to a murder of a young woman. Hicks sees murder as a straight-forward process. Each murder has its own hallmarks, which can be placed in certain areas or 'rooms'. He immediately suspects a crime of passion, and concentrates on the woman's ex husband. Then, another body is found. And another. Suddenly, Hicks is faced with a killer he cannot pigeon-hole...one who kills randomly and seemingly without reason. Hicks is forced to face up to his inability to provide logic to murder, and the prospect of something he doesn't believe exists...evil.

The first thing I look forward to when reading Mosby's books, is the setting of the story. One aspect of his novels which changes with each book. Dark Room introduces a near-future bleak environment, which pulls in influences from Northern England and Eastern European cities. From my reading anyhow. That's one thing about Mosby's novels, everyone will view it differently. The backdrop is just a part of the overall story, not really important, but also complimenting the story perfectly.

The characters instantly jump off the page. Minor characters steal the show with one chapter. Early on, there is a beautifully written scene where an old man makes a candle. A candle making scene in a thriller. It shouldn't work, but it just does. It absorbs you into the story. Hicks' partner in the police, Fellowes, is an excellent supporting role, never over-bearing, complimenting the main character well.

And so we come to that main character. Hicks. A gloriously drawn character. His partner Rachel is pregnant with their first child. Hicks is not dealing with it at all well, and there's a growing distance between them. There are reasons behind it, yet the reader isn't let into those reasons for much of the book. And then when that is revealed...wow.

The serial killer aspect...I've read tons of them. It takes a lot to shock me now. There is a reveal in this book with a video, which is the most difficult and powerful thing I've ever read in this genre. It's incredible. The puzzles the killer leaves are highly original. In fact the whole concept is unlike anything I've ever read. As the bodies pile up, it never becomes exploitative. It's all about the game being played out between Detective Hicks and a killer unlike he's ever faced before. When the letters begin to arrive, Hicks' reactions mirror the readers. There's a loss of power to be regained, which as a reader you cannot help but become a part of that journey.

There's more a police procedural element to Dark Room, than the more conventional psychological thrillers Mosby has delivered more recently. However, he has done this before with The 50/50 Killer. Dark Room is the older and wiser sibling to this previous work. More confident, more aware of itself.

There are so many parts to this novel, it's difficult to go into the myriad of different aspects of it. The patterns which run throughout, which connects characters and can be seen as metaphors for life and death. It's also difficult to convey the feeling you get as you read. It's intense. It's absorbing. It's horrific. Violent imagery, mixed with the beauty of people and the world. It's heartbreaking in some places, heart-warming in others. Overall, it's a powerful novel, one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure and displeasure to read. It is a massive step up for Mosby, and one which should garner a whole raft of new readers. It's darker than anything he's previously written, but on a far more emotional level than a visceral. He plays with the reader's expectations, giving us a very different idea about how crime fiction usually pans out.

I'm doubtful if there will be a better British crime novel released this year. Extremely doubtful. This is a must read for anyone wanting an excellent example of the talent we have lurking on the outside of the bestsellers. I don't think it will be much longer until Mosby joins them.(less)

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Aug 24, 2012 Raven rated it 4 of 5 stars

Steve Mosby ranks highly in my list of favourite crime authors having read all of his previous novels and ‘Black Flowers’ is one that I constantly recommend to crime readers. I can assure you that this, his latest, does not disappoint either!

The key thing that sets Mosby apart, in my view, is his ability to avoid the obvious in his plotting so with each book you are immersed in a multi-stranded narrative which as a reader becomes more of a challenge as you seek to determine how these strands wil...more Steve Mosby ranks highly in my list of favourite crime authors having read all of his previous novels and ‘Black Flowers’ is one that I constantly recommend to crime readers. I can assure you that this, his latest, does not disappoint either!

The key thing that sets Mosby apart, in my view, is his ability to avoid the obvious in his plotting so with each book you are immersed in a multi-stranded narrative which as a reader becomes more of a challenge as you seek to determine how these strands will meet together in the whole structure of the plot. One subject that defines the whole plot of ‘Dark Room’ is the theme of randomness, which is evident within the first few chapters and throughout the book. Instantly you are confronted with three completely unrelated plot lines which as the story develops, effectively have you wondering if there can possibly be any connection between them. The greater theme of randomness is developed within the central murder investigation as Detective Hicks and his colleagues are faced with the terrifying prospect of a completely indiscriminate killer whose choice of victim is so random that it completely disempowers their investigation where no discernable pattern or connection can be made between the killings- the essential key to tracking down a killer. The killer’s victims are different genders, ages, social class and so on, which then leads to an additional quandary on the part of the police as these crimes singularly defy the neat compartmentalising of the killer as a mass murderer or a serial killer. A mass murderer would suggest a completely random series of killings, but equally the team cannot ignore the possibility that these victims have been specifically targeted for reasons unknown and, however shrouded the selection of victim is, conform to some kind of pattern. Needless to say I cannot possibly reveal the outcomes of these plots but the pacing is perfectly controlled by Mosby to reel you in and keep you guessing as long as possible…

Another aspect of this book I found particularly appealing was the depiction of Detective Hicks himself. I’m not a great fan of well-adjusted plods whose investigations progress smoothly and end up wrapped up in a nice neat parcel. Hicks is undergoing a fair amount of crisis in his personal life as his wife is pregnant, but their relationship has deteriorated to near breaking point as Hicks has his own deep-seated worries about the notion of bringing a child into the world, coloured by his own experiences as a child. He has the shadow of a previous case looming large over him during the course of the book and also finds himself in the uncomfortable position of a killer becoming his pen-pal. Hicks, despite the emotional baggage, proves himself to be a focused and smarter than average detective as he grapples with the notion of a killer who defies all existing patterns of behaviour whilst balancing the demands of being subject to his own personal crises. And further on the strength of characterisation, Hicks’ story is carefully interwoven with that of an elderly candle-maker Levchenko and his wife Jasmina whose personal grief is tangible throughout the plot due to the murder of their daughter and who are two beautifully realised yet understated characters adding much to our perception of Hicks as an individual and his emotional impulses.

Overall a great read and if this proves to be the first Mosby you read I can guarantee it won’t be your last!(less)

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Aug 11, 2012 Victoria rated it 3 of 5 stars

The torture and murder of humans tends to make for interesting reading and plot in my opinion (especially when the book is as well written and with such well developed characters as this). Torture and murder of animals is NEVER acceptable - ruined the book for me. Would have been 5 stars otherwise. :-(

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Nov 21, 2012 Gillian McNally rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another great book from Steve, this one had me guessing right till the end.
I only have one complaint about it Steve, I didn't quite believe the detective's wife was a microbiologist - she would never have put the end of her pen in her mouth! And definitely not in the lab!

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Mar 16, 2013 Serena Cloos rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks

Door het vele werken afgelopen weken heb ik iets langer over dit boek gedaan, maar vanochtend heb ik het dan toch eindelijk uitgelezen.
Ik ben een boek van deze schrijver gaan lezen omdat zijn schrijfstijl veel op die van Cody McFadyen zou lijken. Hier ben ik niet helemaal mee eens, hoewel de moorden die gepleegd worden behoorlijk gruwelijk zijn.
De uiteindelijke ontknoping is er eentje die ik totaal niet verwachtte en die het verhaal ineens een heel andere wending geeft. Absoluut een goed boek!!!

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Aug 20, 2012 Deborah rated it 3 of 5 stars

A bit slow / plodding. Plus I still don't know what it was called Dark Room.

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Sep 08, 2012 Darren Hosken rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tense and gripping and a unexpected ending.

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May 22, 2013 Chantal is currently reading it · review of another edition

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May 20, 2013 Liz Wilkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

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May 05, 2013 Fred rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Shelves: thrillers

Apr 19, 2013 Iris marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 08, 2013 Caitlin Sagan rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Mar 08, 2013 Yvonnenl rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Feb 17, 2013 Aline rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Shelves: 001-ebook

Feb 03, 2013 Malcolm Cross rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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