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Know Your Own Darkness
It's been thirty years since they witnessed the accidental drowning of their friend.
Those who were present - now parents themselves - have begun to receive messages claiming to be from the boy who died.
The troubling notes become more alarming when a child disappears.
Time is running out for Detective Inspector Jack Munday as he balances the sensitive case alongside personal problems and a demanding new superior officer.
In the maelstrom of head-versus-heart, one thing is certain; whoever is sending the messages wants revenge.
Those who were present - now parents themselves - have begun to receive messages claiming to be from the boy who died.
The troubling notes become more alarming when a child disappears.
Time is running out for Detective Inspector Jack Munday as he balances the sensitive case alongside personal problems and a demanding new superior officer.
In the maelstrom of head-versus-heart, one thing is certain; whoever is sending the messages wants revenge.
404 pages, Paperback
Published November 28, 2020
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 8, 2020
Howard Robinson says he likes to place ordinary people in extraordinary situations and see how they react, and that’s exactly what he’s done in his latest novel ‘Know Your Own Darkness’ which taps into the worst fears of every parent.
I started it yesterday and finished it today, which goes to show that it's a real page-turner; pacey, believably chilling and well written.
The book starts with the tragic drowning of a child and then jumps ahead 30 years to show how the destructive ripples of that day are still impacting on the lives of the people who witnessed it. Those who were present have all in some ways been under the shadow of their buried trauma ever since. It’s rarely spoken about, but still haunts their lives, and when some of them start to receive disturbing messages claiming to be from the boy who died, it’s clear that something truly frightening is about to happen.
There are some great characters in the book – Detective Inspector Jack Munday is very believable as the cop trying to balance a complicated personal life alongside his work. But my favourite character is the feisty DI Jenny Jacobs, Munday’s new superior officer who like to quote famous lines from movies much to the bemusement of her less film aware subordinates. She reminds me of Detective Inspector Viv Deering from one of my favourite TV detective series, ‘No Offence’, and that’s no bad thing.
Although the story is fiction, part of its inspiration comes from a real life incident when the author, aged just 7, witnessed the accidental drowning of a child. Like the characters in his book, he says it’s never really been spoken about and yet he still thinks about it 30 years on.
The themes of lingering trauma, revenge, regret and depression, combined with two gripping and well-plotted crime plots (I haven’t even mentioned the murder of a high-class prostitute!) make for a great read – highly recommended.
I started it yesterday and finished it today, which goes to show that it's a real page-turner; pacey, believably chilling and well written.
The book starts with the tragic drowning of a child and then jumps ahead 30 years to show how the destructive ripples of that day are still impacting on the lives of the people who witnessed it. Those who were present have all in some ways been under the shadow of their buried trauma ever since. It’s rarely spoken about, but still haunts their lives, and when some of them start to receive disturbing messages claiming to be from the boy who died, it’s clear that something truly frightening is about to happen.
There are some great characters in the book – Detective Inspector Jack Munday is very believable as the cop trying to balance a complicated personal life alongside his work. But my favourite character is the feisty DI Jenny Jacobs, Munday’s new superior officer who like to quote famous lines from movies much to the bemusement of her less film aware subordinates. She reminds me of Detective Inspector Viv Deering from one of my favourite TV detective series, ‘No Offence’, and that’s no bad thing.
Although the story is fiction, part of its inspiration comes from a real life incident when the author, aged just 7, witnessed the accidental drowning of a child. Like the characters in his book, he says it’s never really been spoken about and yet he still thinks about it 30 years on.
The themes of lingering trauma, revenge, regret and depression, combined with two gripping and well-plotted crime plots (I haven’t even mentioned the murder of a high-class prostitute!) make for a great read – highly recommended.
December 19, 2020
I’ve been really struggling to
‘get into a good book’ in recent months, so was really grateful to Howard Robinson when, after reading the first few pages of his latest book, I was gripped. This story, based on a real life tragic incident that took place over 30 years ago, is a classic example of how society has changed, for the better. Back then the children who witnessed this awful and traumatic event, the drowning of their friend, were offered no support and the adults around them seemed to believe it was best not to talk about what happened. The story shows us the impact and ripple effects of brushing things under the carpet and how, as adults, the people who witnessed this sad event were struggling emotionally. Howard Robinson is skilfully able to unpick how each person feels and consider the impact, for some, quite profound, that fateful day has had on each of them. I read the book in a few days and slowed down towards the end, in the way I often do when wanting a good book to last a little bit longer.
‘get into a good book’ in recent months, so was really grateful to Howard Robinson when, after reading the first few pages of his latest book, I was gripped. This story, based on a real life tragic incident that took place over 30 years ago, is a classic example of how society has changed, for the better. Back then the children who witnessed this awful and traumatic event, the drowning of their friend, were offered no support and the adults around them seemed to believe it was best not to talk about what happened. The story shows us the impact and ripple effects of brushing things under the carpet and how, as adults, the people who witnessed this sad event were struggling emotionally. Howard Robinson is skilfully able to unpick how each person feels and consider the impact, for some, quite profound, that fateful day has had on each of them. I read the book in a few days and slowed down towards the end, in the way I often do when wanting a good book to last a little bit longer.
December 6, 2020
It took me a while to get into it, because the first few chapters all have different point of view characters, and I had a hard time remembering them. But several chapters in, Inspector Jack Munday makes his appearance, and from then on, I was hooked. Munday is dealing with two crimes: the murder of a young woman and semi-threatening text messages sent to people who were present when a child drowned decades ago. As I got toward the end, I read faster because I wanted to know how things turned out. If you’re patient at the book’s start, you should enjoy this.
December 27, 2020
I don't normally write reviews, but I found this book very well written and very easy to read.The storyline was interesting and different, with the first half of the book establishing the characters and the history involving them.Whereas the second half turned into a thriller, with the police investigating two crimes. In these days of tiers and lockdowns, reading this book, is a good way to fill in your time.
December 24, 2021
Thirty years after a boy drowned, those who were present at the time receive messages from someone purporting to be him. Initially, this seems less serious than the death of a young woman of eastern European origins in a London hotel. Jack Munday and his colleagues investigate both. After a slow start, the tension ratchets when a schoolboy disappears.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews