Then Came Darkness

by D.H. Schleicher

An epic historical thriller about greed, revenge, and survival set against the sprawling backdrop of the Great Depression...

Summer. 1936. Upstate New York. First, the banks were coming for their farms. Then, a record heat wave scorched the land. And then came Joshua Bloomfield, driven by revenge and greed, seeking to reclaim an inheritance of blood money and the family he believed was rightfully his. Will Evelyn Kydd find a way to save her farm and protect her family from the monster in their midst, or will they all be devoured by the darkness descending upon the hills?

Genres: Historical Fiction

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2018

About the author

D.H. Schleicher’s new novel, West Falls Revisited, launched in the summer of 2024. He is also the author of two thematically linked short story collections, When We Come Back (released in 2023), and its predecessor, And Then We Vanish (released in 2020). His earlier novel, the historical thriller Then Came Darkness, plumbs the depths of greed, revenge, and family dysfunction during the Great Depression. He currently resides in the South Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife and son.

You can follow his blog TheSchleicherSpin.com where he shares his views on books, movies, and travel.

Reviews

[Cat Bowser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique Thriller in a Forgotten Time

I was intrigued by the title but wasn’t real sure what to expect. I heard good things from friends and I’m happy to report, they were right.

This historical thriller is set through many different time periods and you can tell the author did their homework. The settings feel authentic, spiced up with little details.

Our characters are fun to follow and I adored their manner of speech. It gave them both a uniqueness but also helped cement the time period, which helped draw you in.

There is some jumping back and forth in time which I really don’t prefer. It left me pretty confused at first. But this is primarily in the first half of the book and grew less as it went on.

Our villain is such a deplorable bastard but he’s also smart and clever, all aspects I love to see in these adversaries.

Well worth your time!

[M.E. Aster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book club I’m in chose Then Came Darkness as our monthly read and I’m so glad they did because I’m not sure I would have picked this book up otherwise.

Although this is outside the genre I usually read in, I found myself fascinated by this story, and I was unable to put it down until I finished it, which hasn’t happened in quite a while.

Then Came Darkness is a gritty tale of a murder for money, betrayal, broken dreams, and the effect it’s had on everyone involved. Told in a back and forth manner in many different POVs we got to see through numerous eyes how one small event changed countless lives.

Although it didn’t end at all how I excepted, I truly enjoyed this book. It was a change of pace for me as a reader and I think Schleicher did a fantastic job capturing the time frame and mentality of his characters. I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

[Christi M · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I sit here contemplating the book, varying thoughts enter my mind shaping my thoughts and opinions only to alter them again. This thriller contains complex characters and story lines that gave me a lot of think on and ponder over.

Thoughts:
Then Came Darkness is a historical thriller that spans three different decades: the late 1910’s, 20’s, and 30s. The present is mid 1930s, but much of the narrative is dependent on understanding all the choices the characters made along the way that a good portion of the first part of the book is spent weaving through the past showing us these initial decisions and circumstances.

In the central part of the story we find a woman named Evelyn Kydd and her children along with a man named Joshua Bloomfield who seeks vengeance against those who he believes has wronged him. Although there are many different characters you get to know, I never really felt there was a true main character in the book. Instead, we are shown moments within their lives as the narrative continues to display to us the consequences of poor decisions and effects of the Great Depression, leaving us with an overall sense of sadness as we realize no one is really happy or has found contentment in life. And those who have a chance to be happy because they are young and haven’t made poor life choices yet, can’t be happy because they are being impacted by someone’s else poor choices. Everyone has flaws in this book. Everyone – and it was truly difficult to find a character to root for. Except for Sue. Sue is awesome.

Overall, the book is a nice historical piece I found well researched. The times were hard and all the individuals in this felt its impact. An example of this is how the dust bowl especially weighed on Tyrus’s mind as he worries about it reaching their family even though they don’t live anyone near the dust bowl region. Evelyn even comments to herself that her children haven’t really even known what it is like to not live in the Great Depression. Joshua is an excellent antagonist – a sociopath who feels slighted by people and acts his vengeance on those whom he feels has wronged him. But in the end, the book also left me with a sadness that I’m finding difficult to overcome. Thankfully, the Epilogue does have a few moments within it that gave me a reason to cheer, even if that cheer came with a touch of sadness too.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to the author for the reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest opinion.

[C.D. Tavenor · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I confess, I purchased Then Came Darkness purely based on its book cover. I loved it. The simplicity of the dark background, the single light, juxtaposed against the title—it’s all well designed. So I bought it on first look.

Now, for the story itself? Solid. It’s historical fiction, but not the sort of historical fiction many readers might expect. It’s not a book that explores a significant event in history from a new perspective. Rather, Schleicher thrusts readers deep into the early part of the twentieth century, with real people living real lives and experiencing a thrilling, suspenseful tale.


The story follows a whole swath of characters as conflict converges upon them, hopping between different points in their lives. Joshua Bloomfield seeks treasure and vengeance he believes is rightfully his. Evelyn wants to live out her life in peace with her children. Samuel just doesn’t know what he wants. Sally and Tyrus want to see their mother safe, and a better future than what they have now. And more.

Then Came Darkness is certainly well researched. From little details about the nature of baseball in those decades to the language to which movies are at the theater, Schleicher did his homework. You feel as if you’re in this world alongside the characters, and the characters . . . they’re wonderful, and terrible, and special in each of their own ways.

And Schleicher plays with non-linear story telling, which is hard to do! I’m not sure if he executed perfectly, but it may be one of those books that requires a re-reading to note all the foreshadowing occurring throughout the tale. However, at times the writing, point of view, and time jumps confused an otherwise intriguing and gripping narrative.

Yet, even with those subtle flaws, I read the second half of the book over the span of two days, so it didn’t slow me down in the slightest.

Onto the scores!

Writing: 6/10. I must give it my average writing score, because nothing about the writing itself stood out to me as special, and the point of view and non-linear organization of the novel was sometimes hard to follow. Creative use of punctuation and dialogue juxtaposed against these choices I see as potential lows provide the average 6.

Characters: 9/10. Joshua. Samuel. Evelyn. Tyrus. Sue. Sally. Doc Long. Doris and her husband the sherriff. Myra. I’m listing these character names off the top of my head because I remember them all. And even the ones whose names I can’t recall, I remember the role they played in the story. With only 250 pages, to create so many memorable characters is a difficult task, and Schleicher pulled it off superbly.

Plot: 8/10. It’s a good plot. There’s nothing especially original about it (the rising conflict and relationships between characters reminded me of one of the classics I read in high school, but this time, I was reading it for pleasure!), but it’s good. It’s executed well, and the slow build of the tension culminates in a gripping and unexpected ending.

Setting: 8/10. You can tell, throughout the book, Schleicher did his research and understood the world of the 1910s and 1920s. It’s authentic, and it grounds the book in truth.

Overall: 7.75/10. A solid four star rating. Well done, D. H. Schleicher!

[Jenna Moquin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple months back I ran a poll on Twitter asking people what the most important thing was in a novel. The response with the most votes was: The Characters. And D.H. Schleicher created some great ones in his novel Then Came Darkness.

The setting of The Great Depression and a harrowing opening set the mood for the book, and it's dark, which is right up my alley. One of my favorite characters was Evelyn Kydd, because in many ways she was so real. Many authors (especially male authors) tend to divide women into two categories: good girl or bad girl. Evelyn Kydd was a little bit of both, like real women tend to be. She fell for the wrong men, made some bad choices, but she did the best she could for her children with the means she had. And I sort of liked that she wasn’t some helicopter parent, which would make it too hard for the kids to develop as characters anyway.

One of my favorite sections in the book was when Evelyn was hanging out with Odette, a mischievous but troubled woman. Part of me wanted to see the two of them take off Thelma-and-Louise style! And Evelyn's daughter Sally, who we saw more of toward the end, had unexpected traits that I loved as well. I wished we'd seen things from her POV more often throughout the story. Same thing with Myra, who was brought into the story early-on and I liked her, but we didn't see much of her again which was a bit disappointing.

On that note, there were some parts that I felt were glossed over a bit too quickly, and I thought they warranted more time such as the early romance between Joshua and Evelyn. It would've given more depth to Joshua's character and more sympathy toward Evelyn's choices. Joshua didn’t seem to have any redeeming qualities, which made it odd that Evelyn was attracted to him, and that Tyrus trusted him so easily.

There were some romantic scenes between the deputy and his wife, who weren't central to the plot, that I didn't feel were necessary. And there were several POV shifts within scenes—third-person omniscient POV is a literary choice that works great for character development, but I personally prefer to have each POV shift occur in different scenes/sections of the story, instead of jumping back and forth between POVs within the same paragraph. I have seen other authors do this (Alice Hoffman comes to mind), and it’s just a literary choice that works for some readers but not all.

I was somewhat disappointed with the ending, I guess I was expecting something different (but that happens to me a lot when I read novels). There was a suspenseful build-up throughout the story and I wasn’t sure what was about to happen, and I had imagined a bunch of different scenarios for a climax but none of them panned out, so in that regard bravo author—I didn’t see the ending coming.

Overall, it was definitely a page-turner with a dark slant, morally gray characters who were flawed yet likable, realistic and multi-faceted with certain twists I didn’t see coming.

[Judy Ferrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betrayal through the generations.

A tale of betrayal across a generation ending in murder. A mystery unlike many with a plot twist that is unexpected. Taking place during the turbulence of the depression this mystery shows you some of the struggles many faced.

[Frances Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gripped by this book, its atmospheric story-telling and compelling characters. The story unfolds gradually, beginning with questions and providing the answers later, but throughout there was a sense that something terrible was going to happen to the fragile family at its centre. When it did, it didn't stop. The ending didn't work for me -- on the one hand too neat and the other unresolved, but that didn't detract from the pleasure of reading it.

[John St. Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel left me stunned!

After I finish reading a book, I like to wait about a day—before writing my review. This is to ensure I've given my due diligence in reflecting on what I've just read. I must confess that D. H. Schleicher's “Then Came Darkness” is a story I cannot stop thinking about. The world within its pages is atmospheric, tense, and jarring.

The author's writing style, when married with the deep, complex, and all too believable characters, will transport you into an existence that brought me sheer joy (and terror) when reading. I honestly found myself thinking about this work, when I wasn't turning its pages rapid-fire. I couldn't wait to dive back in each day. There are a host of colorful characters and many moving parts here—and I'd honestly hate to spoil anything in this review. I went into this novel completely cold, and was rewarded beyond my wildest expectations. I urge you to stop reading my words, and just go straight to “Then Came Darkness!”

There are multiple genre elements in play—historical fiction, thriller, mystery, heist, horror, and drama. I am in awe of the author's ability to tell this intricate tale in a non-linear fashion as well. It's a major plus for me as a reader—having the patience to figure things out. Nothing is simple in this story, and I promise the payoff is worth it. This book is so good, I immediately want to read it again!

D. H. Schleicher's novel is now at the top of my list for favorite reads of 2022. Just go read it!

[Margaret Adelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is much more complex than the synopsis lets on. There's definitely a man with murder on his mind, but it's not just about him. It's a narrative with a lot of threads. Admittedly, the first chunk of it can be a little confusing, as it's told in a non-linear way. There's a lot of jumping back to past memories to explain the plot. But once you get a sense of the overarching plot, there's a lot going for it.

Now this is a dark story where most of the major characters, save for a couple children, have done something horrible at some point in their life. Very few of the characters are entirely likeable (although I found Doris and Pinky endearing) but I don't mind characters with grit.

The atmosphere is tense and brooding. The Great Depression makes a perfect backdrop for the story, putting this pall over everything that sets the mood for a murderous man out for vengeance. It was like"Grapes of Wrath," only creepier and with a lot more murder. Joshua is a man you can almost pity at some parts and outright despise at others.

While I did thoroughly enjoy it, there were some aspects that kept it from being a perfect five star. There were some character death's that needed more gravity than what they got in the narrative. And the ending left me feeling like some plot threads were undone. But the tension of something evil stalking the rural hills of upstate New York made for a delightfully dark read.

[Jane Hartsock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dread.

My dad was born in 1931 and I heard him talk about the Great Depression when I was a kid. He described it as a quiet, sneaking anxiety. And it just went on, you never knew how bad it was going to get or when it would end.

This book captures that mood perfectly. It's hard to do that in a book--no sound track, no "blue-filter" on the camera. Just the words of the book. And Joshua exists as that element of dread, lurking, very much like a monster but--like the Depression--lacking the jump-scare qualities of a monster in favor of the quiet, sneaking anxiety, the questions of the reader--How evil is he? How bad will this get? How many people will be destroyed?

I also will note that it seems like there aren't a lot of books that are set during the Depression but for which that economic reality is not the central plot point but merely the setting. This is something that really appealed to me, as well. The way the setting is woven into the story, contributing to the tension, the bleak, barren mood of the story--that's done expertly here. You feel it. This story couldn't have happened at another time in history, or it couldn't have happened in this way. But the kind of heavy-handed "Once upon a time, in the age of The Great Depression..." is not done here. This contributes to an authenticity of the story telling and insulates the story from some of the more cliched fictional accounts of this time period.

My only criticism is that I didn't find myself connecting to the Kydd kids as much as I would have liked to. I felt a fear of Joshua and, certainly by the end, just an intense animosity for him (loved the epilogue). But particularly Sally and Evelyn, I never felt like I was quite connected to them.

Other than that, this was a great read by an indie author, whose story is a nice departure from a lot of what's on the mainstream shelves these days.

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.H. Schleicher is a master with words. He puts the reader into the heart of the dust bowl era where a heaviness of doom hangs in the air. I found myself holding my breath several times from the foreboding sense that something atrocious was about to happen.

The story itself is gripping yet unsettling. The majority of the characters have an abundance of flaws. Finding a hero is difficult. In times such as these, people do what they must to survive. The time frame the story takes place is especially harsh, where even children must mature quickly or suffer the consequences.

The storyline does jump back and forth in time, especially in the first few chapters while defining characters. This writing technique is not my personal favorite, as I like my stories linear. However, once you settle in, the story moves quickly. The opening pages make it clear we are dealing with a psychotic killer. I flipped back to the beginning a couple of times to make sure I had people straight in my head.

What’s never in doubt is the children are the real stars. Through the toughest of times, they find their moments of peace and joy. Whether it’s jumping on a bed, skipping stones, or having a rare ice cream treat on a sweltering day, kids will find a bit of happiness. I don’t want to forget Sue, the dog. She has a point of view in this unique mystery.

Then Came Darkness is an intense historical fiction thriller. As much as I disliked some of the main characters, I never once considered putting the book down. The story is gritty, real, and believable. The author crafted the perfect ending for such a dark, brooding tale.

I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, murder mysteries, and thrillers.

[sureshot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts by introducing us to Joshua. He’s going to visit an old acquaintance who might know about the location of something Joshua wants. The author did a good job establishing Joshua’s personality and sparking interest. Next we’re introduced to Myra. She’s traveling on a train and seems to have an interesting past of her own. I like how she met the stranger on the train in a sort of revealing fashion. The interactions between Joshua sand Myra really thickened the plot. They also painted a bigger picture of Joshua. I was wondering if he was a bad guy or maybe more like an antihero. Either way, the author did well here because I wanted to read on. Next, it was the Kydd family and others that came into the picture. The author did a good job establishing them too. The story proved to be a rich historical thriller. The author did a great job establishing realistic characters against the backdrop of difficult times. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a thrilling historical piece.

[E.P. Stavs · Rating 4 out of 5]

We picked this book for our book club this month. If it weren’t for that, I doubt I would have picked it up on my own. The genre isn’t one of my usuals and the cover could use a revamp. But I read it, and overall I’m glad I stuck it out. The characters are fantastic, really well developed with distinctive personalities that I enjoyed. The plot is intriguing, a one-handed man out to find the treasure he was robbed of (so to speak) years ago and offing anyone who gets in his way. The era and the financial depression of the characters involved adds a gritty desperation to it all. There were a lot of time jumps, flashing back and forth via different characters perspectives that I found a bit disconcerting, but for the most part I was able to follow the story quite well. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys gritty, character driven thrillers.

[David Arrowsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this beautifully written and gripping novel. It captivatingly combines nostalgia and beauty with a mounting dread and creeping darkness. A perfect setting (1936 dustbowl America), beautifully drawn characters (especially the children) and a compelling plot all combine for a wonderful read. It reminded me, by turns, of Stand By Me, The Luminaries, Treasure Island, The Sisters Brothers, Once Upon A Time in the West and the works of Steinbeck, Faulkner and Henry James. And yet it was completely original, very much its own story. Well plotted and paced, this is an assured, mature novel that fans of American literature, or just readers looking for a great new book, should certainly check out.

[Meredith Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, enthralling read. There are some glaring weak points, but its strengths make up for that. I won't reiterate the plot. You can read that in the blurb and/or the other reviews!
Okay, always give bad news first. So, here are the "weak" points that I observed:
What didn't work for me:

The typos.
A lot of these were homophones (sound alike, different spelling/meaning), the curse of writers everywhere. There were quite a few, which is why I mention them.

The order of the chapters in the first section.
The first few chapters worked their way backward in time. March 1936. Then a few days earlier. Then 6 months earlier. Then even further back in time, when Evelyn and Joshua met; you could say that the story's conflict began then.

It's an interesting way of beginning a novel, but I'm not entirely certain if it works. Sometimes (as is the case throughout the novel), it becomes difficult to tell when an event is taking place because it is told in a flashback during a scene with no significant action, or, as in the beginning, it's told out of chronological order. My personal preference would be for the action of the first chapter to occur, then the rest of the flashbacks be told in chronological order. As I said, this is a personal preference!

Myra
I liked Myra's character. She seemed vain, weary, intelligent, and conflicted about her relationship with Edison. But she disappears too quickly from the story. After her initial POV chapter in the opening section, she never reappears. I half-expected her to show up at the end. I wanted more of her!

Enough of the negative. Let's move on to the positive!
What I liked:

Deep characterizations

Schleicher delves deep inside his characters. He's not afraid to have unlikable but realistic people in his story. All the characters have a certain darkness that tinges their actions.

Joshua, of course, is the darkest of them all.

Evelyn is another dark, well-developed character. Prone to epileptic fits, she requires constant need of medical attention and watches her ambitions erode from her medical issues and her ne'er do well husband. Schleicher does a good job picking apart her complicated emotions when she sees her teenage son fall in love with the much-older Myra; he does an equally good job showing the reasons for her infidelity while neither condemning nor excusing her behavior.

But even the vile characters have good aspects. Joshua has a small (as in, minuscule!) moment of quasi-redemption at the end. It's a bit strange to see him spare someone's life. But he does. (Though he also beats his victim unconscious for good measure.)

The portrayal of children

I've observed that most fiction writers aiming for an adult target audience do not know how to handle children in a story. The kids are

1. too good (only showing up when it's convenient for the adults),
2. too precocious (using language and reacting like people much older than themselves, geniuses, prodigies, etc.), or
3. too irritating (too cutesy, too funny, providing comic relief).

Usually the kids seem like an afterthought: not fully developed and only used to increase the stakes in the adult conflict. Even writers who HAVE children/teens don't necessarily portray them accurately. (I struggle with this issue myself.)

Schleicher excels at portraying children. His child characters are just as developed as his adult ones. They have strong points and weak points, fears and goals and desires, just like the adult characters. And their goals are sometimes at odds with the adults' goals. They can even do horrible, evil things.

Gasp!

Shocking, I know. But how many times have you read a book where the kid represents Innocence and Light and is the Undeserving Victim of XYZ Horrible Crime?

All the children (Sally, Tyrus, and Tyrus' young friend, Mostlee) have their dark sides: lying, keeping secrets that shouldn't be secrets, issues with authority. Common problems with this age group, really. But the things they lie about, the secrets they keep, are weighty problems that no child should have to deal with. They also observe the adults around them but don't understand their observations. They don't know how much they know!

This dichotomy of world-weary wisdom and childish innocence makes them believable as children and as characters.

Tyrus is my favorite. He's a "child full of secrets" who has to handle things no child should have to handle. He has a big heart. But as his sister Sally worries,

"that her little brother's heart was so big, there was a danger of darkness taking refuge inside of it, and then his heart would turn black and devour everything" (pg. 58).

What's true for Tyrus seems true for most of the characters in this book: there's the potential for darkness to overtake the good inside them.

The atmosphere

There's a great sense of dread threading its way throughout the novel. It's as if some horrible, nameless darkness, represented by Joshua, is coming and catching up to all of them. There is violence but Schleicher wisely uses a matter-of-fact tone and understated words to describe murder. Thankfully, certain things--sexual violence, for example--are left off the page.

The strong points of this novel outweigh the weak points. It's a good novel, well worth reading.

[Anya Pavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man missing on hand on a train. A desirable woman with an expensive necklace. Some missing money. A burning desire for revenge. Covert affairs and secrets. These are all of the things you'll find in this novel, which is part historical and part crime as other reviewers have said. The novel jumps between time periods and points of view, but I didn't find that bothersome because I like books that slowly tease out mysteries in this way.

[Mike Trippiedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atmospheric depression era thriller which reminded me in tone of the movie, "Night of the Hunter." This novel is full of wonderfully flawed characters, a simple, yet complicated story, and a villain whose mere presence makes the reader a nervous wreck with every chapter he appears in. Schleicher, like he did in his other novel, "West Falls Revisited," labels each chapter as an "episode," which gives the book a cinematic "Netflix series" sort of feel. Highly recommended.

[Allen Madding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerized

Mystery, adventure, murder, treasure, baseball, loyal dogs, sibling rivalries, this story has it all. It will keep you reading. Recommended

[Jennifer Schell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Once I started i couldn't stop! This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Everything about it worked perfectly together. The plot, characters, and setting were amazing. Loved it!

[C. Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough about this book! Is 'family dysfunction' the new norm? I don't know, but this author doesn't pull any punches! Well written!!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Depression has been the setting for many works. Novels, notably in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, films like Wild Boys of the Road and There Will Be Blood, and in photographs by artists like Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange. It’s a fascinating period brought to life in this moody, dark, novel by David H. Schleicher. I was drawn into the story by the well done Depression era setting and the author’s ability to paint characters that are well-drawn, coming off as real three dimensional folks. Maybe, not likable at times but believable. Then Came Darkness is a fascinating read.

[Harriet Helfand · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this captivating book says it all. It conveys a pervasive darkness--of spirit, foreboding, and atmosphere. The period details add to the feeling of "what then?" and the fate that awaits the characters who are layered with histories that haunt them.

This story is compelling and brings the reader along, wondering what will happen next. Will darkness prevail, or will there be hope? Follow this excellent novel, page by page, to find out.

[Vigilant Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title – Then Came Darkness
Author – D.H. Schleicher
Genre – MST
Word Count 76,000
Rating 4 stars out of 5
No. 46 - 2018
Posted 12/26/2018

My Impressions: dark, moody, evil psychopath, dysfunctional family.

Main Characters:
Evelyn Kydd – mother and wife of Samuel Kydd. Has some mystical powers.
Samuel Kydd – lazy, drunken lout of a husband and father.
Edison Kydd – elder son, minor ball player, all around good guy with a secret he won’t share.
Sally Kydd – eleven-year-old sibling with her mother’s mystical power of seeing the future.
Tyrus Kydd – nine year old sibling with a penchant for getting in minor trouble.
Joshua Bloomfield – Evelyn’s first lover, a one armed, evil psychopath who randomly murders when it suits him..

Then Came Darkness is mostly set in 1936 upstate New York state. Frequent flashbacks deal with the earlier information to flesh out character descriptions and build the conflicts in the story. And conflicts and tension abound.
Evelyn Kydd is the matriarch of the wildly dysfunctional Kydd clan.
The end of the Great Depression is still three years off and most people struggle to pay mortgages and buy food. Evelyn has frequent seizures that debilitate her and leave the children to wander and fend for themselves. Under the duress of the times, good neighbors often share their meager supplies with others even less fortunate.
During several flash backs we form a picture of a demented Joshua Bloomfield who feels he was cheated out of a small fortune he paid a heavy price for but didn’t receive. His normally antagonistic personality is further inflamed by greed and revenge. He professes willingness to torture and murder anyone in his way to learn who has the money he claims and learn where it is hidden. His hostility and anger run deep.
Joshua is at the heart of the story from the beginning and lets his temper and violent nature murder the one person he is sure knows where the money is hidden. From there is slinks around observing the Kydd family and causing many people to suffer his violence.


Editing isn’t terrible, but there are far too many missing, extra, misspelled and wrong words that caused me to stop and reread or trip over sentences.
Most sentence structures are good but too many need reorganizing.
Character development is excellent. The reader has insight into the character and fears of all the main characters.
Details are meshed to the time and happening of the day and indicate careful research.
The plot is deep and convoluted. Character interactions work perfectly.
The writing style is dark, moody, mysterious, and sometimes exaggerated. Some word choices don’t mesh cleanly to paint a clear, coherent picture.
Scene changes run together and make for abrupt reader confusion to catch up. The manuscript is in need of a professional editor.

I enjoyed Then Came Darkness and highly recommend it in spite of the numerous flaws.


This review was provided in exchange for a free book.
Vigilant Reader Book Reviews.

[Eve Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Then Came Darkness is a moody, unsettling read that leans heavily into atmosphere and psychological tension. From the opening pages, the tone is somber and foreboding, pulling the reader into a world where uncertainty and unease quietly build rather than explode all at once. This is a story that asks for patience and attention, rewarding readers who enjoy slow-burn narratives and darker emotional terrain.

What worked well for me was the author’s ability to sustain tension without relying on constant action. The sense of dread unfolds gradually, creating moments that feel introspective and haunting rather than overtly frightening. The themes of isolation, fear, and the unknown are handled with restraint, allowing readers to sit with discomfort and draw their own conclusions. At times, the pacing slows more than expected, and a bit more clarity or tightening in certain sections could strengthen the overall flow. Still, the story’s commitment to mood and psychological depth remains consistent throughout.

Overall, this is a thoughtful and atmospheric read that will resonate most with readers who appreciate darkness rooted in emotion and tone rather than shock value. A solid entry for fans of reflective, shadowy storytelling that lingers in the mind after the final page.

[Kindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiction and Suspense
I enjoyed Then Came Darkness because it delivers a strong mix of historical fiction, suspense, and emotional tension. I liked the Great Depression setting and the way the author creates a harsh, believable world where survival shapes every choice. I thought the atmosphere was one of the book’s biggest strengths. The mood feels heavy, dark, and uneasy from the start, and that sense of dread keeps building.
I appreciated how the story combines family struggle, greed, revenge, and mystery without losing its focus. The characters felt flawed and human, which made the story feel more real. I felt especially drawn to the Kydd family and the pressure they face as danger moves closer. Joshua Bloomfield is also a strong villain presence, and he adds real menace to the book.
The writing felt literary and descriptive, but still readable. I liked that the book takes its time to build tension instead of rushing. Some readers may find the time jumps a little confusing at first, but I thought the payoff was worth it once everything came together.
Overall, this is a dark, gripping, and well-crafted read. I recommend it to readers who enjoy historical thrillers with strong atmosphere and complex characters.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

THEN CAME DARKNESS is a 1930’s historical fiction novel that centers on an angry man named Joshua Bloomfield and the greed and vengeance that are his undoing. To start with, there are lots of things I loved about this novel. The writing really nails the time period, getting you into the feel of the Great Depression and immersing you in the day-to-day life of various characters. The characters are mostly interesting and well-drawn. I really enjoyed the scenes with Mostly and Tyrus. Sue the border collie was my favorite character. Joshua is a deeply disturbed man who kills quite a few people. I liked the exploration of his character and backstory. It's a dark book without many (or really any) bright spots, but still an interesting read. There are frequent pov/time jumps which I felt made the book hard to follow in places, especially during the first half of the novel. I was really interested to see how the novel would conclude and felt very invested in the characters by the end of the book. I would have liked more time spent on the ending as I felt it was a bit abrupt for my tastes. 4/5 stars.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Then Came Darkness is set in Upstate NY during the Great Depression on the cusp of World War II. We meet the Kydd family who have been hit by hard times, made worse by the decisions and near constant absence of the father, Samuel. We know before we meet the Kydd children (Edison, Sally and Tyrus) that their father won't  be returning from his latest absence, as his past finally caught up with him in Richmond, VA.

It was hard not to be mad at Samuel for his poor choices and to roll my eyes at Evelyn's lack of care for her children. She had an unnamed illness that resulted in seizures, however, it seemed to be more emotional than physical.

While Evelyn worked sporadically and carried on a relationship with a local doctor and Samuel lay dead down South, the Kydd children suffered through various close (and not so close) calls with accidents and the evil element that was Joshua Bloomfield.

Read my complete review: https://whatwouldjoannaread.wordpress...

[D.H. Schleicher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I am the author, and I'm rating my own novel 5 stars. But if I'm not passionate about my work, how can I expect readers to be passionate about it?

I'm thrilled that THEN CAME DARKNESS continues to find new readers every year.

This was a labor of love written over the course of many years where I did extensive research to get the period setting (the Great Depression) right. The novel had many influences from the world of film, literature, music and art. It was a special exhibit of Walker Evans’ Depression era photography at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY where the first seed of an idea was planted.

You can read more about the inspiration for the novel here:
https://theschleicherspin.com/2025/10...

Thank you to all those who have taken a chance and entered the darkness already.

Who will enter next?

-DHS