Too Dark to Sleep

by Dianne Gallagher

Time to wake up…

Maggie Quinn was the top homicide detective in Chicago's Area One before she suffered a devastating loss. Now Quinn is damaged… perhaps beyond repair. Once the best detective in Chicago, she is haunted by dreams of a faceless man she could never catch. When the killer returns, Quinn agrees to serve as a consultant, but most cops in Area One tag her as a hazard. Except rookie detective Nick Dublowski who quickly realizes the only way the Chicago Police will catch this elusive killer is with the help of Maggie Quinn.

Back on the job, Quinn becomes as tenacious and sharp as ever. But as the investigation closes in on a suspect, the escalating murders hit dangerously close to home. Quinn’s sanity again begins to fray and her judgment is questioned. Did the suspect really do it? Or is Maggie’s tormented mind pushing her to ruin the life of an innocent man?

Avid readers of crime fiction, noir or psychological thrillers will find Too Dark to Sleep a fresh take on their favorite genre. This is the first book in a gripping new series and not to be missed.

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

390 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2012

About the author

Dianne has learned one big lesson. Life is never a straight line.

Starting in theatre with a BFA from the University of Minnesota, Dianne focused on performance intially, but then discovered playwriting with several of her competition-winning plays being performed at the University. A move to Los Angeles gave her the opportunity to do a little screenwriting. While working on her own spec material, she formatted, edited, critiqued scripts... and even wrote a redux of that B-movie classic, The Crawling Eye.

Now in the Chicago area, Dianne has put her energy into novels. After increased success in ghosting and editing, she started writing for herself. The result is the debut novel, Too Dark to Sleep.

Reviews

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hell had frozen over and I was lost in its endless labyrinth.”
----Cameo Renae, an American author

Dianne Gallagher, an American first-time author, has spun a mind-blowing psychological thriller, Too Dark to Sleep that will grip your mind with fear from the very first page.

Synopsis:
Time to wake up…

Maggie Quinn was the top homicide detective in Chicago's Area One before she suffered a devastating loss. Now Quinn is damaged… perhaps beyond repair. Once the best detective in Chicago, she is haunted by dreams of a faceless man she could never catch. When the killer returns, Quinn agrees to serve as a consultant, but most cops in Area One tag her as a hazard. Except rookie detective Nick Dublowski who quickly realizes the only way the Chicago Police will catch this elusive killer is with the help of Maggie Quinn.

Back on the job, Quinn becomes as tenacious and sharp as ever. But as the investigation closes in on a suspect, the escalating murders hit dangerously close to home. Quinn’s sanity again begins to fray and her judgment is questioned. Did the suspect really do it? Or is Maggie’s tormented mind pushing her to ruin the life of an innocent man?

Quinn has gone a lot through her life- from getting divorced to facing the death of her daughter to being admitted to the psychic ward after her attempt suicide to losing her job as a detective. But she was called upon to catch a serial killer since she was the best homicide detective in Chicago One area and is assigned to work under Detective Nick Dublowski, who was the only person who believed in her. But will Quinn's broken self be able to play the role of a detective without any cloudy judgements? Can she catch the killer? Read the book to find out the mystery.

The writing is brilliant and the author have unfolded her story in a compelling manner by keeping the twists and turns tightly under wraps and throwing us off the edge when she delivered those twists into her plot. The element of mystery was quite strong and with her evocative prose, she has managed to set the right mood for her readers. The narration is absolutely engrossing enough to keep us turning the pages of the book.

The best part is that the protagonist is mentally unstable and the author embodies herself into Quinn's character to guide us through her unstable mind. Her darkness is so evident from her grim demeanor. And as the story progressed we feel more into Quinn's dark world, so in that way we got to see the story from her eyes, and also gives us a new perspective into her world. Her pain and her struggles are not only intricately detailed but are also quite striking enough to make us feel it. Quinn's character is strong yet sad and dark, but her flaws and instability is what makes us fall for her demeanor. The rest of the cast like Quinn's father or the new rookie cop, etc are well developed and quite believable.

The investigation that goes on in the story is completely real, and the way the author explained it will make you feel as if the whole investigation is unfolding right in front of your eyes. The emotional aspect of the book is also quite strong, and those raw emotional moments were quite compassionately described by the author.

Verdict: If you are a huge fan of serial killers then go for this book!

Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Dianne Gallagher, for providing me with a copy of her book, in return for an honest review.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free download of "Too Dark to Sleep" by Dianne Gallagher through Making Connections-ARR-Thriller, in exchange for a honest review. This was such a gripping novel , I couldn't put it down. This was a psychological crime thriller at it's best.

Former Detective Maggie Quinn was called in to consult on a recent murder case, the Phillip's case. She was the top homicide detective in Chicago's Area One. But she would be looking at two previous strangulations, Cramer and Rosenberg. Maggie had worked the two strangulations before she had a breakdown and spent considerable time in a psychiatric ward after attempting suicide. She had survived a lot; a bitter divorce, the loss of her young daughter, Erin, slitting her wrists, time spent in a psych ward and loss of her job. She needed to solve this case both for the department and for herself.

Maggie was assigned to work with Detective Nick Dublowski, a rookie first day on the job, that she took under her wing, and trained in the science of Homicide, based on her expertise skill level. A pattern started to emerge of the killer... they were random, similar backgrounds, financial status, physical features and left-hand dominant. But was it one killer or two?

"That's what made Maggie a good detective. A crime was nothing more than a puzzle. The biggest obstacle was finding all the pieces."

This novel had it all, gripping plot, believable characters, cover ups, lies, deceit, political liaisons, and police kickbacks. This was an amazing thriller and I will definitely following this author in the future.

[Maggie Thom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This story, Too Dark to Sleep, is awesome. Gritty. Real. It's a really good psychological thriller but the main character isn't your usual type. She's broken and struggling to find her way back out of a very dark place.

Maggie gets called in to help with the latest murders because they think there is a serial killer on the loose and she was one of the best homicide detectives before her life fell apart. This story is a bit dark but so engrossing. The author has woven a story that you will pull you in and you will feel every dark thought, every fear, every loss that Maggie feels. What a tough journey.

The characters are very well defined. I could visualize each and everyone of them. I think the author did an outstanding job with grabbing you right from the start and not letting you go until the end. This isn't your typical story, your typical character or the typical ending but it all works and all fits it really well. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Well done.

I was given a copy for an honest review and believe me this is how I truly feel about it.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

This story has an unlikely character in the darkness. It creeps, reaches out, smirks and giggles as it tries to overcome Maggie and drag her back down into its depths. It becomes the lead character in the psychological warfare that has become Maggie Quinn's life.

A once-brilliant detective in Chicago's Area One, Maggie succumbed to the darkness after the death of her only child and only the chase to find a serial killer motivates her to resist its advances.

This is a noir thriller with great depth of character. There's broken Maggie, struggling to come back to life and finally put a face on the killer that haunts her dreams. There's her father, who showed his loyalty to The Outfit by taking a fall that landed him in prison for life, where his loyalty is rewarded with influence. There's Rayney, who understands Maggie like nobody else and knows he needs to be strong if she's going to come back from the pit of darkness. There's Nick Dublowski, newly made detective, who has a lot to learn and finds his best mentor in the broken Maggie. There's a killer, playing games with Maggie and her already screwed up head, but Maggie gives as good as she gets as she pulls away from the darkness to strike back.

I was on the edge of my seat. I was totally confused and I loved it. Was Maggie right about the killer? Who would win the war? Could Maggie hold herself together and push back the darkness long enough to solve it? I even gasped in surprise a couple of times.

By the time I finished, I felt washed in Maggie's darkness. There's no real redemption in this story, but that's okay; nobody is looking for redemption. I felt I knew Maggie as much as anybody could know her, and I felt her pain.

Sink into the darkness with Maggie. It's an uncomfortable place to be, but I couldn't put it down.

[Gayle Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A KILLER TO CATCH. NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE. (FRONT COVER)

BLURB:
Maggie Quinn has nothing left. Raised by a father who was a "troubleshooter" for the Outfit, she has an ironically solid foundation as a Violent Crimes detective for the Chicago Police. With the highest solve rate in the city, she's also the best person to unravel recent string of strangulations. But nothing prepares Maggie Quinn for the death of her only child, loss of her job and the darkness that follows.

Quinn now lives with the dark -- an intimate, stalking darkness. And, she carries a relentless need to catch the one person she knows committed these gruesome murders. But did he really do it? Or is Quinn's tormented mind pushing her to ruin the life of an innocent man?

THIS IS NOT A DREAM AND THERE ARE NO RULES.

EXCERPT: (part of Chapter 1)
Pausing in a small patch of light, Maggie Quinn tasted the dark, hot and metallic. The detective forced herself to remain calm. There was no time to panic, so she didn't. Instead, she moved. There was a door ahead and he might be there.

Behind the next door.

Every muscle strained as she inched closer. Wet with sweat, the detective turned the knob and flung the door open.

The smell slapped her.

Maggie's stomach heaved. She swallowed and ordered it to stay in its place. The odor meant nothing. Just garbage that hadn't made it to the curb or rats, poisoned and left. Something form the corner of her eye twitched. She spun to her right, turning toward the empty pallets stacked against the wall.

"Not there," she whispered.

He wouldn't try to take her from behind. He was too arrogant. When he came for her, he would come head-on. Maybe. Of course,Maggie had been wrong before. Something to her left flickered. She turned again, trying to control the gun in her hand as her elbow cramped with its weight.

Nothing. There was nothing but darkness.

"A fucking raindrop in the ocean. Maggie heard her father's voice in her head and almost smiled. She'd been wandering in what could be an empty warehouse for hours. And for what? To stop him, the detective told herself. Maggie Quinn needed to stop her man.

There. Behind her.

She spun.

Something moved.

In front of her.

She spun again.

"Cool it," she ordered herself.

Anywhere, her brain whispered. He could be anywhere. And Maggie would lose, but she couldn't afford to lose. Not now. Not yet.

Light.

Under the next door.

That's where he was.

Maggie ran for the door. For the light. For her man.

A sound.

She stopped in her tracks and listened. Was it him? That sound. Was that him? Hard to say, but it was something and something was definitely better than nothing. Her breath ragged. Her heart pounded. Calm, she ordered herself. Stay calm and listen.........


OVERVIEW:
Readers of Crime and Psychological thrillers find that TOO DARK TO SLEEP is a new take on perhaps, their favorite genres. This is book 1 in a new series.

Maggie Quinn was an ace homicide detective in Chicago's Area One. That was before she suffered a devastating loss. She now struggles with each day. She becomes obsessed with solving her last case. This case keeps her from wearing bars her from wearing a badge. Has she got the right person or has her mind been pushing her to ruin the life of perhaps, an innocent man?

I really enjoyed this book. There were twists and turns, ups and downs. You wonder what is going to be on the next page. A definite page turner. The main character was sympathetic but strong. But, as everyone, there were the flaws. No one is perfect.

The book was set in Chicago. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into this kind of genre. The story was well written and very descriptive. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. You won't want to put it down.

I would give this book 4 1/2 Stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, TOO DARK TO SLEEP from the author Dianne Gallagher for this unbiased review.

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[Steve Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too Dark to Sleep (3.5 out of 5 stars) is an intriguing story that immediately pulls you in, especially if you like graphic serial killer mysteries a la James Patterson. The author builds very interesting and complex characters, particularly in the flawed heroine, Maggie Quinn. Quinn is a top tier detective who is on indefinite medical leave from her department, following a family tragedy, attempted suicide, and stay in a mental hospital. She is called back to consult on a case because even in her fragile state, no one is better, and the killer on the loose is the same criminal Maggie was pursuing prior to her breakdown, who now haunts her dreams. Her partner is an under-qualified greenhorn detective who she takes under her wing, and her father is a mob boss who wields considerable power and influence from prison. A bit over-the-top perhaps, but it works. Following her breakdown, Quinn has developed an irrational fear of the dark, and perceives it as a living creature, constantly hunting her down and literally tearing at her. She is unable to function in even the slightest shadows, thus the title. Her nemesis, Marcus Galen, an accomplished cardiac surgeon, is a narcissistic slime bag and her prime suspect.
There are deep relationships between the large cast of characters and the author builds excellent tension between them as the story moves along. The detail described when Maggie is in her investigative mode is fantastic, and a real strength of the book. The Chicago cop scene feels gritty and authentic. The author is highly skilled at pulling you into the scenes which are raw and intense. You find yourself rooting for Maggie to break through her fears and get her man. It is an ambitious novel for a first time author, and an overall good read.
The book could have been improved with some additional editing, in my opinion. There is no attempt to maintain point of view throughout scenes. The constant "head hopping" was very distracting and for me, disrupted the flow of the story. The book also felt too long as it dragged at times, and I love long books. Descriptions of Maggie's ongoing recovery, and sections of "back story" could have been tighter to keep the pace from falling off. I got a bit tired of the melodramatic descriptions of THE DARK attacking Maggie in almost every chapter. I also found the ending to be anti-climatic. I was waiting for the big twist at the end that never came. There was a good reveal of Maggie's motivations for being less than a clean cop, but the resolution with the killer was disappointing.
That being said, I would recommend this book to lovers of the serial killer v. detective genre, especially those who like tough, complicated female lead characters.

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ex-detective, ex-wife, and ex-psychiatric patient Maggie Quinn, is just trying to take one day at a time. A former top detective with Chicago Area One, she tragically lost her daughter at a young age and then lost her mind. Her suicide attempt with an exacto knife down both arms backfires and she survives only to be placed in a psychiatric facility for months, and now she’s out of a job.
But the job calls her back. Not as Detective Maggie Quinn; instead, she is given the job title of “Consultant.” With it being an election year for the city of Chicago, you can’t hire a lunatic to catch a killer and expect the voters to vote for you...or can you?
Maggie agrees to come back to work as a “consultant” only if she can do it her way. It’s obvious they need her as the previous crime scenes worked by the other detectives are compromised and are of no use. No evidence, no witnesses, just dead bodies with their chests surgically cut open. Until the next murder. Just like the previous ones, there are strangulation marks and a surgically sliced open chest cavity, but Maggie sees that something is different about this one.
This latest crime scene is an obsession for Maggie because she knows this will be her only chance to catch this killer. Other than her new partner, Nick Dublowski, who is as green as algae, she must catch this killer and be home before dark. Sometimes, she doesn’t make it and the walking nightmares start to play games with her head.
Maggie is chasing a top cardiac doctor, convinced he is the killer. But is he? Is she going to ruin the career of an innocent man just to save her own?
An outstanding, suspenseful novel you don’t want to end. Maggie is a character to cheer for, be afraid of, and feel sorry for. We can only hope that this isn’t the end of Maggie.
Reviewed by Sherri Nemick for Suspense Magazine ■

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

TOO DARK TO SLEEP by Dianne Gallagher is an exciting psychological Thriller/suspense set in Chicago. Follow Maggie Quinn,on a hair-raising journey of danger,grief,the loss of a child,loss of a job,suspense,mystery,a string of murders,and a darkness she may never overcome. In the blink of an eye she losses everything she once held dear. Once the top Chicago Violent Crimes detective now she is just trying to save off the darkness that is threatening to overtake her. But can she find a murderer before it is too late,is all she thinks she knows just a dream or a witness' foggy memory? "Too Dark to Sleep" is a high octane,fast paced,action filled psychological thriller that will grip you from the very first page and hold you there until the last and longer. A must read! A page turner. If you enjoy psychological thrillers,suspense,danger around every corner,police procedures,than you will enjoy "Too Dark To Sleep". Avid crime fiction readers will adore this story. I can hardly wait for the next installment of Maggie Quinn. I would highly recommend this title. Ms. Gallagher is a great storyteller,her characters engaging,believable,and the plot intriguing. Written with vivid descriptions. BE WARNED: highly dangerous to the mind,it is a thriller from beginning to the end,with twists and turns you won't see coming until to late.Received for an honest review from the author.
RATING: 4.5
HEAT RATING:
Mild: Mild detailed scenes of intimacy,mild violence or profanity.
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for a review from Goodreads, Read and Review series.

August 10th

OMG. What a thriller. Have to quit reading. This book and story will cause me to lose sleep tonight. What an awesome debut novel!!!

August 11th

Well, I finished it. What a GREAT book!!!

The story was about a great detective, Maggie Quinn, who was very well thought of, prior to the death of her five year old daughter. Then her life went downhill. She suffered from depression, tried to kill herself and spent months in an asylum.

Prior to her breakdown, Maggie had been working on two deaths that seemed related. Shortly after Maggie leaves the asylum another death, hinting at a relation to the two prior deaths occurs. Maggie is brought in as a consultant and asked to help a new detective solve the crimes. A consultant no one wants to work with.

The perpetrator of these crimes is a scheming, confident, narcissist who enjoys playing with Maggie's fragile mind.

This thriller was a heart beating, hair raising and pulse racing story that I could not believe was a debut novel. I literally had to stop reading it and do something else before bedtime, because I knew I would not get any sleep if I didn't. It's that good!!!

I have given the book 4 stars (it should be 4 1/2 stars) because I think the fast pace slowed down a little too much in the end and kind of dragged a little. However, I would still highly recommend this book.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had received this from the Author Dianne Gallagher as a download for my review and have to say, this was an Awesome read!!

Maggie Quinn was one of the best homicide detective for Chicago Area One before she had suffered a loss of her child and seen her life began spiraling down. Maggie wasn't handling it well and attempted to take her life and was institutionalized. For her actions, Maggie was barred from the department and her shield had been taken away. But with her expertise, Maggie was brought in as a consultant to work with rookie Detective Nick Dublowski on a murder case where women being found cut open. The murders were showing signs that this was being done by someone who knew what they were doing. Slitting their chest cavity open and exposing their organs and in some case their heart being removed but found close by. With Maggie consulting, she had good suspicions of who the killer was as well has him knowing that she knew. When thinking she had him, he had already covered up his tracks. This was making the department look bad and was showing how unstable she was. The chief had removed her from the case but Maggie had much bigger plans to work on her own to bring this monster down, even if bribing an inmate or having evidence planted. Maggie was not going to do whatever it took.

Characters and the plot was very believable.
Great read, highly recommend it!!

[Simon Jenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is much more than just another serial killer tale. Its strength lies in how the reader gets into the mentally unstable head of Maggie - the ex-homicide detective who recently tried to commit suicide. I could feel the dark trying to hurt her and appreciated the struggles she went through just to fake a 'normal' life never mind trying to put a murderer behind bars. I enjoyed Rayney's part, especially his sarcasm, and his relationship with Maggie helped us understand her even more. Her 'partnership' with Dublowski was also interesting to read - she gave him a hard time but he was still willing to learn and a mutual respect grew from there. Although you know quite early on who the serial killer is, the back and forth between Maggie and the baddie is another strong element of the book. For me, those were the parts of the book where I couldn't put it down, particularly the scenes in the restaurant and with the photos. My only disappointment was with the ending, not that it was a bad ending, just that I was hoping for a different outcome. Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Skye Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

***RRC received by author in exchange for an honest review***

Brilliant!! 4.5 stars. I was close to giving 5, but it just didn't quite get there for me. After being slow to get going, The ending was not what I thought it would be and seamed a little rushed.

Maggie is a well developed character. I was easily drawn to her and formed and instant connection.
A Violent Crime detective for the Chicago Police, Maggie Quinn suffers horrifically after her only child, a daughter, Erin is taken away forever. The darkness traps her and
After Attempting suicide she is kept medicated under supervision of a hired nurse, after leaving the psych ward.
I felt so much for this woman. She lost everything, so quickly. Her husband, Her job, her daughter, her mind.....

Lots and lots of twists and turns, ups and downs a truly great story!
Just when I though I had it all figured out BAM wrong, please try again!! I love every minute once it got going!

I found myself checking my room before bed!!

I would really enjoy reading more from this author and hopefully more from this series.

Very happy to recommend this book.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was thoroughly unexpected! To say the least it was a dark, twisted story with a completely unforgettable heroine. Maggie Quinn is insightful, smart and totally flawed but one of the few characters in any books that I have read recently, that will haunt me long after turning the last page. The author takes you on a psychological journey that is disturbing & frightening, as you walk along with Maggie, feeling what she feels, knowing what she knows and realizing that this is a path you don't want to go down even as a casual observer, because there, but for the grace of god, go any one of us.

As detective novels go, it is on point with all the drama and frustration that comes from a legal system that is not always just and a villain that uses that fact to his advantage and then some. I would definitely read more from this author as I feel that I invested a lot of emotional currency in Maggie Quinn and need to know where she ends up.

I received this eBook free in exchange for an honest review.

[Maegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It had a lot of intriguing turns and twists and I spent a lot of the book wondering how the main character was going to get her man...if, indeed she ever did.
I also liked the way the main character was portrayed; sympathetic but tough. And flawed. I dislike intensely perfect main characters. The way the darkness within her/around her was portrayed in a sympathetic but very effective manner and I definitely related to her.
Of course I liked the Chicago setting as well, because that is a place I know, but even for people unfamiliar with Chicago, it is well-imagined.
This book took me 2 days to read because I had to finish up some tripe I was reading the day before yesterday (I never review books of a certain genre, though they are nice escapist stuff from time to time), and life got in the way of my finishing it before this morning. I would read this book again and recommend anything this author would write because, yes, she's that good.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Chicago, Gallagher dishes the corruption about which, those of us who actually live here and care, drop our heads in shame. Maggie Quinn, fractured former detective, struggles with her inner and the outer demons which causes the reader to race to discover the finale. The description of Quinn's inner demons as well as the supposed serial killer darkly enraptured me. I did not want to leave their life stories by placing the book down. Gallagher's diction pulls the reader into Maggie's world and does not release. For this reason, thank goodness there will be another book.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free to review it.
I really love mystery/thrillers. This book had a lot of detail and sometimes switched character perspective so quickly I would have to read things over again just to understand which persons perspective i was reading. Once I got used to the writing style I really enjoyed the book. The characters really drew me in and the ending left me wanting a sequel just to see how the main character moves on in life.

[Mauverneen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It kept me up way past my bedtime for too many nights. Maggie Quinn, the main character, is a completely different type of detective than we've seen. The story line was gripping, and it had all the elements - suspense, plot, character...
I highly recommend this book for lovers of crime fiction! I'm hoping there is at least one more in the series - and soon!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERDICT: A stunning new voice in psychological thrillers. An amazing battle of the brains you are not going to forget.


my full review is here:
https://wordsandpeace.com/2016/08/17/...

[Lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book caught me off guard in a good way. I still wish we could give 6 star reviews, but since I’m sure Amazon & GR aren’t going to change their rules for me I will stick with giving this a 5 star review. :)While it wouldn’t have fallen in my “6 star category” since the underlying themes won’t be have me thinking about them months later; the sheer enjoyment and solid writing kept me riveted to the book. For that, I believe it earns its 5 stars.

Quinn, a damaged ex-cop is fighting not only to bring a killer to justice but also to pull her own life together. While this is a crime novel/suspense, you find out who the killer is early on in the book. The part that made it so interesting to me was the police procedure involved to bring a killer to justice. Especially when that person has the means to falsify evidence and Quinn’s reputation is already shot from her days back on the force. However, she’s the best at what she does. The question is how can she overcome her own demons and bring down the killer, especially now that he knows her secrets?

What drew me into this book the most was the emotions. Quinn, Antoine, Nick, and the other characters leapt off the page. They were real as I read the book. Watching Quinn struggling to overcome her darkness was heart wrenching yet amazing all at once. I liked the idea of a scarred heroine, fighting her own fears, her old team, and the world all at once. I really enjoyed watching the game of cat and mouse with the killer and herself. The way she transformed into a new person had me on my toes. The ending was satisfying, but I still felt an undercurrent of sadness as I think Gallagher wanted her readers to feel. So while the characters drew me in, the plot kept me hooked. For me, if I can connect with the characters and have a plot that keeps me on my toes I’m in heaven. And this book provided!!

Gallagher has a true talent for creating great characters (I loved Paddy) and putting together a solid plot. SPOILER ALERT*********Although, I do think the police would have been able to catch the killer and pin him down I’m positive that sometimes there simply isn’t the time or resources for that especially with Quinn’s history. I just hated to see others take the fall, even though the ending for the killer was satisfying. I still wanted them to nail him to the wall.*******END SPOILER

Gallagher drew me in from the first few pages and I was hooked. While this seems to be written as a standalone novel, there are loose ends and clues from her last case that could potentially lead to another book. I certainly hope it does. I want to see what happens next with Quinn and everyone else from her world. Gallagher did a wonderful job creating Quinn’s world as well as inventing characters that were relatable. I will absolutely be looking for other books by Gallagher and hoping that she makes another book with Quinn. Create a follow up, pretty please!! I can’t get enough of Quinn and Paddy and want to see her survive and thrive!

If you can’t tell, I truly enjoyed this book and want more. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys crime novels as well as those that simply enjoy a good read with a vulnerable protagonist, who pulls herself up into a cold as steel adversary.

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is this a story of a serial killer, but it is also a story of a woman's descent into madness after the death of her child.

Maggie had tried to commit suicide and there was no doubt in anyone's mind that she had meant business. The scars went from wrist to elbow. She entered the Darkness and could not seem to find her way back to the light.

She was approached to act as a consultant on the case she was working before she had tried to commit suicide. Two young women had been murdered, and she believed it was the same killer. Now there was a third.

She thought for some time, before she made the decision to take it on.

They teamed her up with a rookie, Nick Dublowski, who seemed to smile his way through life.

Would the case save her, or finish her off?

5 STARS - Would buy it for them (lol)

I won this book in a Giveaway on I Read A Book Once. I received the signed paperback and couldn't help but start to read it immediately. I mean, look at the cover. And the title, so descriptive of the book. Thank you for the wonderful Giveaway.

Dianne Gallagher did an excellent job of making her psychological terror seem as if the dark were a physical being stalking Maggie. The details had chills running up and down my spine as I got up and turned on the lights. What was that flash out of the corner of my eye? I swear I keep seeing something. Goosebumps make the hair on my arms stand up as if by static electricity.

The suspense kept me engrossed in the book, unable to put it down.

I loved her description of Maggie:

"Everything about the woman should've read frail, but it didn't. It was like looking at a knife blade in the sun. Cold. Hard. Sharp."

I think the book did a great job of addressing depression, showing how it can dominate and take over a person's life, leaving them feeling as if there is only one way out. BUT I don't want you to think this book is only about depression.

It's also about Maggie's determination to make a serial killer pay for his crimes. It becomes her life's mission, after he makes it personal. When you think it can't get any deeper or darker, it does. It is a thriller of a highest caliber.

The ending blew me away. I would love to tell you about it, but you will have to read the book. If you like thrillers, this is one you don't want to let pass you by.

This is Dianne Gallagher's debut novel. If this is the beginning of her writing career, I can hardly wait to see what the future holds. Well done Dianne.



Dianne Gallagher

[Harmony Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by Harmony Kent
14th October 2013

(I received this book free in return for an honest review)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Maggie Quinn was the top homicide detective in Chicago's Area One before she suffered a devastating loss. Now struggling to face each day, Quinn becomes obsessed with solving her last case for the department that now bars her from wearing a badge. But is she targeting the right person or is Quinn's tormented mind pushing her to ruin the life of an innocent man?

MY THOUGHTS:
An incredibly well written book, that pulls you right in as though you were watching rather than reading. This is a gritty and realistic crime thriller, that takes you inside the head of the main protagonist Maggie Quinn. It is about more than violent crime however, as you also join her on her journey from despair and mental instability - literally from the darkness - back into the light. And you are then forced to stand by and watch whilst she wobbles when faced with yet another major trauma.
Some of the content could be disturbing to the more squeamish reader, but if you are up to it then this is a not to be missed book. If you are into the likes of Jo Nesbo, then this one is going to knock your socks off.

THE STRUCTURE:
A well edited book, easy to read and you always know which point of view you are reading from. The copy I read was slightly marred by a few errors, so the proof reading needs a little brushing up. Ordinarily I would have deducted a star for this, but the rest of the aspects of this book were so overwhelmingly good that I simply couldn't give it less than 5 out of 5 stars. Look out for more from this author, I am sure she will be a best seller.

[Kassandra Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This psychological thriller/police procedural kept me up most of the night. Former police detective Maggie Quinn is clawing her way back to sanity after the death of her child when her former employer, the Chicago Police Department, asks her to help them find a serial killer. Partnered with an eager but inexperienced detective, she teaches him how to work a scene and gather evidence, only to have the killer slip through their fingers again and again. Meanwhile, it is a constant struggle to keep the demons in her mind from pulling her back into the darkness.

There are quite a few twists and turns in this story, some of them gut-wrenching. While dark and gritty, it is populated with realistically flawed characters who are nonetheless quite likeable (except for the ones you’re not supposed to like, of course).

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars was because I had some trouble getting into it at the beginning.

I’m not saying that to discourage readers. The exact opposite. Get this book and keep reading. It will grab you at some point, and not let go until you’ve turned the last page.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book more stars! I want to thank the author for sharing her book with me! Firstly, I think it is fair to say, that if you are someone who are easily frightened and a bit squeamish this is not the book for you!
That said, the book was expertly written! It is not often that you find an author who is capable of transporting you into a different world than your own. I experienced the anguish, pain and so many other emotions that Maggie, the hero of the story, experienced! The dark and almost hopeless situation that she found herself in was so well written, that I do not have words to express, how well it was really done!It verges on poetic!
So many times with these types of books, one instinctively know how it is going to end, what the bad guys will do and what your hero will do. Not this book, prepare to be shocked and surprised!

I can go on and on about all the aspects of this book that I absolutely loved, but I will leave with this last comment: Watch out world, here comes Dianne Gallagher! Remember that name!

[Aditi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous read - great crime novel! It was very well written and kept my attention. Usually, a tragic but strong heroine gets to be too cliche', but this was done tastefully. Moms of young kids may have a hard time with this story, as I did, because the main character suffered a great loss before the story begins. I found some parts hard to read, but it made the book all the more exceptional. I love this author's writing style and will seek out other books from her now. The ending was unexpected, which was another nice characteristic of the book.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too Dark to Sleep by Dianne Gallagher, after a slow start, was a terrific psychological thriller. Full of suspense.
Maggie Quinn is trying to stay sane after the death of her only child, a suicide attempt, a long hospital stay and a divorce, is now living at home, with a full-time nurse. She is medicated and spending her days trying to sleep and her nights awake, trying to keep the darkness at bay.
Once she was an excellent homicide detective...does she still have what it takes to catch a serial killer?

[Penelope · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a page turner! It was hard to put this book down. A psychological thriller that was very emotionally intense and well crafted. This is not typically the genre that I read, but it was riveting and I was completely drawn into the story. Even after finishing the book I am still there. That is what makes a book stand out for me.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a outstanding book,can't believe it is her first.I just loved this book,didn't want to put it down.This book was well written with great characters.Maggie was a tough as nails ex detective called into help a rookie detective catch a killer.Maggie had few friends but the ones she had were loyal.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different kind of story, with a few twists I didn't see coming. I raced thru the last half to see what Quinn would do. I was a little surprised it went down the way it did, but it made it even better.

[Kent District Library]

“Too Dark To Sleep is a dark suspenseful thriller set in Chicago about former police detective Maggie Quinn. Fast-paced and interesting this is a gripping summer read.”--Kaitlin at KDL's Tyrone Township branch

[Babette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the writing style, so much so it drew my interest. Thriller/Mystery is not one of my usual genres, so I was surprised to be drawn in. I do however feel that the author gave too much detail/description which made the story lag for me a bit.