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In the Dark

Loreth Anne White (Goodreads Author)

4.06 · Rating details · 15,621 ratings · 1,034 reviews

A secluded mountain lodge. The perfect getaway. So remote no one will ever find you.

The promise of a luxury vacation at a secluded wilderness spa has brought together eight lucky guests. But nothing is what they were led to believe. As a fierce storm barrels down and all contact with the outside is cut off, the guests fear that it’s not a getaway. It’s a trap.

Each one has ...more

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Kindle Edition, 407 pages

Published December 1st 2019 by Montlake Romance

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Average rating 4.06 ·

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· 15,621 ratings · 1,034 reviews

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Nov 12, 2019 Dita rated it it was amazing

FINALLY! For months I've been skunked by my monthly free read from Kindle Unlimited, but you guys??? DAMN.

I will start by saying that I have huge love for "closed/locked room" mysteries and this one was excellent. I could not wait to learn who was knocking these folks off one by one and why.

I will say this however to anyone who has never read Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, "Dafuq is wrong wit you?"

I'm just kidding.

Maybe.

Seriously, And Then There Were None is one of the best books i ...more

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Mar 26, 2020 Melissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020, fantastic-writing, dark-and-twisted, unputdownable, suspense-mystery-thriller

In her latest standalone, Loreth Anne White delivers a potent dose of dark deeds and suspense, set against a stunning backdrop. A one-way ticket to the remote wilderness of Northern Canada, In the Dark is a cunning exploration of redemption and self-preservation.

For readers that have yet to indulge in White’s work, this is a great opportunity to jump in and experience the power of her storytelling without the commitment of a series. Well, for now at least. A girl can always hope there’s more to In her latest standalone, Loreth Anne White delivers a potent dose of dark deeds and suspense, set against a stunning backdrop. A one-way ticket to the remote wilderness of Northern Canada, In the Dark is a cunning exploration of redemption and self-preservation.

For readers that have yet to indulge in White’s work, this is a great opportunity to jump in and experience the power of her storytelling without the commitment of a series. Well, for now at least. A girl can always hope there’s more to come. For those seasoned White readers, this standalone is a bit of a pivot from her typically unparalleled romantic suspense, but still compulsively readable. I’ll touch on that more in a bit.

There are quite a few characters to contend with on this daring traipse through the wilderness. Surprisingly enough, the numerous perspectives in no way hinder enjoyment or the ability to connect. Almost immediately, each character, despite their disposition, makes an impression. None more so than Callie and Mason though I’d say.

Eight strangers are transported via private plane to a high-end resort in Northern Canada under the guise of obtaining a contract to provide future services. The remote lodge, marketed as the lap of luxury, proves to be a nightmare. A homage to Agatha Christie’s work—of which I have not personally indulged—the eight strangers find themselves caught up in a deadly game. Sinister rhymes, questionable characters, and mayhem galore lead the strangers to start doubting each other’s motives. Depending on your level of fiction-honed detective skills, White might keep you *in the dark*, flipping the switch at just the right moment.

A somewhat fluid timeline allows readers to keep tabs on the strangers and watch as the search efforts unfold days later. Mason, a newly appointed Sergeant of the RCMP, and Callie, the lead of the SAR team, are thrust into the thick of the rescue operations. From very first glance, there’s a palpable tension clouding the space around these two. An innate connection of sorts, strengthened by the pain they recognize in one another. Yet, given the circumstances, I’m relieved White didn’t take things further with Callie and Mason. While there is no overt romance to be found within these pages, there is a forged friendship and the budding possibility for more. Here’s to hoping Callie and Mason nag White until she too realizes there’s much more story to tell. *wink*

*A fantastic Kindle Unlimited pick and my first completed read of 2020 (gasp!). ...more

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Dec 20, 2019 Meredith rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

FUN!

“Cursed are those who Sin
And Lie to cover their deeds
For a Monster will rise within
And they must Repent.”

In the Dark is an entertaining psychological thriller about a group of people lured under false pretenses to a remote cabin as part of one sick individual’s plot for revenge.

There are many elements that I loved about this book, including the ominous atmosphere and some of the characters (the normal ones and the crazies!).

Told through the eyes of multiple narrators, Loreth Anne White smar ...more

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Jan 06, 2020 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it liked it

To the fans of “And Then There Were None” a.k.a. “Ten Little Indians”: I have to warn you this is not remake, retelling and brand new version of story! It’s about nine people. One missed the plane and there were eight. They start to die one by one. The one left behind stuffing her pockets with cream and sugar. Why the hell she’s doing that. We’re introduced that person who shall not be named in the beginning and might be third degree cousin of Lord Voldemort. The story begins at the diner and th ...more

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Jan 19, 2020 Sandra rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Sandra by: AgentScully

Shelves: mystery-suspense, contemporary, kb

Eight (originally nine) guests are lured into going to a remote luxury wilderness spa for ten days. When they arrive it isn't what they expected. The lodge is old, abandoned, and they have no contact with the outside world. They are totally isolated and they begin to realize that they have been tricked into coming. Now they are trapped, and someone out there wants revenge.

I thoroughly enjoyed this riveting suspense book. I really like storylines in which many people are trapped in one place wit ...more

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Jan 20, 2020 Yun rated it really liked it · review of another edition

In the Dark starts off with eight lucky strangers being flown out to a secluded wilderness spa for a luxurious vacation. But when they arrive, they realize nothing is as promised. Each guest is hiding a secret that could ruin them if it is discovered. And as an approaching storm cuts off all access to the outside world, they start to understand there is no escape.

This book is so fun! It's exactly the kind of immersive and entertaining thriller that I enjoy. It hits all the right notes when it co ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 Lisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: psychological-thrillers

CURSED ARE THOSE WHO SIN
& LIE TO COVER THEIR DEEDS
FOR A MONSTER LIES WITHIN
& THEY MUST REPENT

Loreth Anne White has geniously come up with a Psychological thriller that is taken by Agatha Christies & Then There were none, she has topped her stance in this genre, I loved every cotton picking minute trying to work out who was going to survive ? & no my detective skills were again wrong.

I was invested in the characters all had something to hide & didn't want anyone to know their reveals which ma ...more

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Apr 26, 2020 Holly B (semi-hiatus until Nov) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: had-to-finish, 2020-favorites-shelf, couldn-t-put-down, read-in-2020

Eight strangers lured to a remote lodge in the wilderness....

One of my favorite Agatha Christie mysteries And Then There Were None, is used as a sort of copycat premise to make these characters question everything and everyone. Apparently they all have read it and seem to know how the mystery plays out. Many of the same devices are used to "get to them". Loved all the references to the classic, though some may be spoilers.

I was completely absorbed in the whole mystery and kept changing my m ...more

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Sep 11, 2019 Sandra ~ ♥ Cross My Heart ♥ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller, loreth-anne-white, arcs-from-author, psychological-thrillers, suspense, dec-2019-release, favorites-2019

I love knowing when I open a Loreth Anne White book, I'm in for an intense, highly atmospheric experience as her uncanny ability to totally engage readers in a story is nothing short of brilliant. Appreciating this, I settled in to read In The Dark and quickly became enthralled by this extraordinarily addictive, richly detailed suspense thriller. Unraveling the mystery that is presented in this book became an obsession that had me eyeing each character with suspicion as I continuously changed my I love knowing when I open a Loreth Anne White book, I'm in for an intense, highly atmospheric experience as her uncanny ability to totally engage readers in a story is nothing short of brilliant. Appreciating this, I settled in to read In The Dark and quickly became enthralled by this extraordinarily addictive, richly detailed suspense thriller. Unraveling the mystery that is presented in this book became an obsession that had me eyeing each character with suspicion as I continuously changed my mind about who was trustworthy and who was not. I urge readers to avoid spoilers like the plague and allow yourself a chance to experience this heart racing thriller first-hand. I promise you'll become totally immersed in the dark, twisted plot of vengeance as you search for a common thread uniting this group of misfits - the one that landed everyone on a depraved killer's radar.

In The Dark is a compelling, beautifully crafted, fast-paced mystery suspense thriller. After abandoning a diverse group of characters in a beautiful but remote wilderness with a cunning, vindictive killer, White masterfully manipulates one against the other while meticulously stripping their masks of humanity off to expose the dark, ugly secrets hidden beneath. Take note of chapter headings as the story unfolds through different points of view - a great opportunity to peer through the hazy window into each character's mind as layers are peeled away, exposing identities and revealing the hand each plays in this deadly game of retribution. White flawlessly shifts time periods between events that occurred at the lodge over a ten day period and the present day search and rescue effort led by RCMP Sgt. Mason Deniauld and SAR leader Callie Sutton, granting readers the ability to sense both groups increasing trepidation as time runs out. This author's expertise at creating a dark mood and urgent tone of malice early on is evident, only growing stronger and louder as the story progresses. Until finally, the monster lurking in the darkness within each individual surfaces to stalk the dark of night . . . and the others. They can't outrun the truth as the day of reckoning has arrived. Will anyone survive?

As always, I immensely enjoyed White's potent, visual, trademark writing style in this book. I consider it a bonus that I finished reading In The Dark feeling this one is extra special - methodical even among the panic and chaos that ensues as the plot thickens, lives unravel, and bodies & minds reach their breaking point. I couldn't turn pages fast enough even though I was almost fearful of what the next page would bring in this heart-pounding suspense story. I challenge fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thrillers to grab In The Dark as soon as it becomes available, and carve out time to read it (with the lights on!) because interruptions will NOT be welcome until you finish this thriller. And by the way Loreth - this book left me wanting more of Mason & Callie and the possibilities surrounding them. Great potential for a series! Just sayin'!

*A special thank you to the author for a personalized arc of this book.
**Reviewed at: Cross My Heart Reviews ...more

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Nov 01, 2019 Katie B rated it really liked it

Shelves: canada, read-in-2019, thriller, mystery, kindle

4.5 stars

This was my first time reading anything by the author, and I enjoyed this one so much I'm gonna have to check out her other novels. This book is kinda like a modern day retelling of the Agatha Christie mystery, And Then There Were None. In fact that book is actually a part of the storyline in this one. Speaking of that, there are quite a few spoilers about And Then There Were None in this book so if you haven't read that one and would like to, make sure you pass on this one until doing 4.5 stars

This was my first time reading anything by the author, and I enjoyed this one so much I'm gonna have to check out her other novels. This book is kinda like a modern day retelling of the Agatha Christie mystery, And Then There Were None. In fact that book is actually a part of the storyline in this one. Speaking of that, there are quite a few spoilers about And Then There Were None in this book so if you haven't read that one and would like to, make sure you pass on this one until doing so.

Eight lucky guests have been promised a vacation at a fabulous spa located in the wilderness. After they arrive it soon becomes obvious they were lured there under false pretenses. And now they must worry about their lives because it looks like somebody wants to pick them off, one by one. They each have a secret. Is that why somebody wants them dead?

The story alternates between the past in which the murders are taking place as well as the present when we find out someone is alive and homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton are trying to figure out what the heck happened. The author gave interesting backstories to both Mason and Callie and in my opinion they were the most fully developed characters in the book. It is a bit tricky at first to keep track of all the guests as the story bounces around from each of the characters. It does become easier after awhile though, no doubt helped by the fact the character list keeps getting shorter and shorter as people wind up dead.

I read mysteries and thrillers often and I was pretty impressed with this one. It might not be as good as the classic And Then There Were None, but it does stand on its own two feet. The mystery is complex enough I doubt most people would be able to figure out all of the pieces of the puzzle ahead of time. Everyone had something to hide and given you don't know what lengths a person is willing to go to in order to keep their secret, everyone is a suspect.

This is the type of story that I thought was very entertaining. What was interesting to me was even though I knew this was a story in which people were going to die, I still was caught off guard a few times. I found myself surprised more than once at how a person died, as well as the timing of the death. And that's why this was a page turner for me because it felt like the author kept my on my toes for so much of the story.

Definitely recommend this one for mystery fans. It's not perfect but it's a fun read if you like the genre. ...more

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Dec 21, 2019 Matt rated it it was amazing

Loreth Anne White pens this chilling standalone novel with a mystery that gets better the more layers are revealed. In the rural British Columbia community of Kluhane Bay, hunters find the remains of a prop plane, though no one has reported any missing aircraft. Local RCMP investigate, only to find the pilot murdered within, identity unknown. As the investigation progresses, Search and Rescue are called in to help, though progress is slow going and the story behind the plane is bafflingly vague. Loreth Anne White pens this chilling standalone novel with a mystery that gets better the more layers are revealed. In the rural British Columbia community of Kluhane Bay, hunters find the remains of a prop plane, though no one has reported any missing aircraft. Local RCMP investigate, only to find the pilot murdered within, identity unknown. As the investigation progresses, Search and Rescue are called in to help, though progress is slow going and the story behind the plane is bafflingly vague. Meanwhile, in a parallel narrative set a week before, a collection of eight individuals are mysteriously invited to a not-yet-opened luxury spa and resort, asked to come and place tenders on various services that will be needed. The RAKAM Group is paying for everything and the group must travel by prop plane to this highly secretive location. With the group gathered, things begin to happen that leave those present wondering if they are part of some larger scheme. Additionally, various members of the group are sure they know one another, but no one is saying much of anything. Arriving at an abandoned lodge, a typed poem explains how the group will be whittled down in various fatal events leaves everyone on edge. When the bodies begin piling up, this CLUE-esque story begins to gain momentum. Split between the events with the core group and the aforementioned investigation a week later, the reader is pulled into the middle of this mystery, which has so many twists and slow reveals that there will be few who opt for sleep before finishing this piece. White has laid the groundwork for a stunning read and needs only for readers to commit themselves to go into the dark, unsure if they will ever emerge. Highly recommended to those who love a mystery that requires complete concentration to crack, as well as the reader who enjoys a whodunit where the target continues to shift.

I have read a few White novels before and found myself spellbound, but nothing like I was here. With a brilliant double narrative, the reader learns things on both ends—the event and the investigation— seeking to find the truth somewhere in the middle. With a strong plot and a sub-plot involving all the characters on the trip, the story allows the reader to juggle numerous motives and ideas as they seek to get to the bottom of what is going on in this bucolic BC community. With each character possessing their own intense backstory, it is impossible to choose a single protagonist, though the reader is free to latch onto someone and follow their progress throughout. Blatantly inspired by an Agatha Christie novel—White makes mention of it throughout the narrative—the reader is able to follow the story but can never be entirely sure of what awaits them. With clues embedded within the story and a killer lurking in the shadows (or maybe plain sight), it will take simple time and determination to push through this novel to see how it all plays out. With a mix of short and longer chapters, White taunts the reader and forced them to decide if they can handle ‘just a little more’ before putting it down for the night. Told of the variety of perspectives, the reader gets first-hand information that will help meld the pieces of the story into a cohesive whole. I’d venture to say this is one of those books where a single sitting or late night reading is sure to be common. I cannot say enough about this book, which came out of nowhere and left me seeking more, like a true mystery addict.

Kudos, Madam White, for a stunning piece. This is what real mysteries are all about, where the reader cannot catch their breath at the end of the experience.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
...more

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Oct 27, 2019 Maureen Carden rated it it was amazing

Shelves: just-so-damn-good, mystery, police, thriller

In the Dark is partially homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and possibly TV shows such as Survivor and The Bachelor (come on, isn’t The Bachelor a fight to the death?) But the story is a so much more, a darker, twisted and terrifying riff on which is better, forgiveness or revenge.
Maybe In the Dark is also a backward rewrite of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s most famous sonnet, Sonnet 43. “How many ways can I kill you? Let me count the ways?
I hate thee to the depth and breadth In the Dark is partially homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and possibly TV shows such as Survivor and The Bachelor (come on, isn’t The Bachelor a fight to the death?) But the story is a so much more, a darker, twisted and terrifying riff on which is better, forgiveness or revenge.
Maybe In the Dark is also a backward rewrite of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s most famous sonnet, Sonnet 43. “How many ways can I kill you? Let me count the ways?
I hate thee to the depth and breadth and height.
My soul can reach when feeling out of sight.”
Oh, In the Dark does not lack in dark inventiveness. Nor does it lack in enthralling details of Search and Rescue operations (SAR). So much so that I absolutely knew author Loreth Anne White must have training in the field.
A group of people are delivered to a luxury wilderness lodge. But wait, this must be the wrong place! Although the location, deep in the woods, far from civilization is as advertised, nothing else is right. No problem, they will just fly out tomorrow, back to their starting point. Oops, a missing plane and a dead pilot make that impossible.
The plane and the dead pilot turn out to be their only chance for rescue. The local SAR team is called out after a group of hunters discover the plane and pilot and the point of departure is determined.
On the team is RCMP homicide cop Mason Deniaud who has just transferred to the little isolated Canadian town of Kluhane Bay trying to escape his own demons and SAR expert Callie Sutton. Callie and her young son are in Kluhane Bay for the opposite reason; their dark tragedy doesn’t allow escape from the area.
Deadly circumstance make the “guests” at the lodge attempt their own rescuing, heading through the unforgiving woods back to their starting point, hoping that someone has reason to be already searching for them. Each person has an ugly past and someone has a bitter idea of vengeance as reason for having gathered the group together.
The story begins almost at the end, and is then unwrapped for us in various time lines; a clever way to enthrall the reader from the beginning. Who is this person stuffing their pockets with cream and sugar and why is she doing this?
The differing POVs slowly peel away the characters’ sins and defenses; but White never makes it too complicated to follow what seems to be an intricate story of retribution, but at heart is a simple story of grief. White keeps the reader guessing and at times shaking their head at being wrong again.
I followed the two journeys, one of escape and one of rescue with total fascination. I have already learned from another Canadian author that the wilderness isn’t actively trying to kill you, (at least I don’t think so) but does it make it very easy to die. Watching what the SARs and the survivors go through held me spellbound for hours and just reinforced my fear of trees.
This is not a romance/suspense thriller. This is thriller all the way. There are hints that a friendship formed may later develop into a romance.
White never falters in her sharp skills of drawing us in, fascinating us, teaching us, and scaring us with the depths to which a person can fail and fall.
I thank Loreth Anne White for sending me an ARC for review in exchange for a fair and honest review. I know I sound like a gushing fan girl, but trust me, she deserves every accolade.
One last comment on In the Dark, from a rework of Sonnet 43 “I shall but hate thee better after death.” ...more

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Dec 01, 2019 Sheyla ✎ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, best-2019, dark, favorite-authors, netgalley, 2019, 5-fangs, publisher, violence, suspense

Loreth Anne White is a one-click author for me. I love all of her books and to be honest I didn't even read the blurb before requesting this book. Her name alone is a guarantee that I will enjoy the story.

In the Dark is an enigmatic, fast-paced, suspense thriller that left me with a satisfied smile.

The story is told from different POV's. It's a story of revenge and death. One, I couldn't stop reading. I was interested in learning about SAR (search and rescue) operations and I was hooked on ...more

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Dec 31, 2019 A. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: _mystery-thriller, out-in-the-cold, pov-1st-person, stranded-and-alone, watch-out-for-triggers, middle-of-nowhere, the-darker-the-better, loved-the-writing, pov-3rd-person, pov-multiple

Awesome.

“...trap a bunch of people together, throw in some challenges, and see how they turn on each other. And there can only be one winner, one who outwits, outlasts, and outplays the others.”

...more

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Dec 02, 2019 "Avonna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: net-galley, gifted-from-publisher

Check out all of my reviews at: http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

IN THE DARK by Loreth Anne White is her new book which is a mystery with a romantic suspense subplot that is now one of my favorite mystery books of 2019. You should set aside time to read this one because you will not want to put it down.

The promise of a luxury spa vacation and the chance to secure a lucrative contract for their companies has eight lucky guests coming together for two weeks in a remote location in British Columbia ...more

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Dec 31, 2019 Mary S. R. rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, faves, sociology, horror, adult, crime, psychology

4.25 STARS! A bloody good one, this.

“The veneer of civilization is very, very thin. Like the delicate shell of a bird’s egg. The tiniest force will crack it. And the cracks are not where light gets in. They’re where the evil oozes out. That’s where the Monsters live, in that ooze. My games, my scripts...They just help make the cracks. It’s the players who show us the rest. They show us what we all really are, deep down at the core. Beasts.”

In the Dark might be Loreth Anne White's third b ...more

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Jun 08, 2020 Michael David rated it it was amazing

CONFESSION: Even though I am a HUGE fan of locked room mysteries, I still have not read Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, and now I have paid the price for my sin...because there are major spoilers for that book in this one. Oh well!

This is an excellent and unputdownable locked room mystery that I found completely gripping! It’s easy to keep track of who is who, and it’s so compelling to see what brought this group of strangers together on a trip to a supposed wilderness retreat spa ...more

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Dec 04, 2019 Cherie rated it really liked it

The plot heavily mimicks and mentions Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. It is a huge part of the story line. We could perhaps even call this is modern version. The red herrings are plentiful, and you will be guessing who-dun-it until the very end. I loved it and I think Agatha would approvingly say "Bravo!"

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Sep 04, 2020 Gabrielle Grosbety rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction

“What lies do you tell? Because we all lie. Every one of us, and whoever claims they don’t is the biggest liar of all.”

In the Dark transports us to the wildness and intrepid isolation of British Columbia, rushing water cold as ice that steals your breath and gaggles of trees lining the seemingly infinite, alive forest, where a group of strangers have been called to meet for the alluring promise of a luxury experience of pampering at a spa in a remote, undisclosed location, only reachable “What lies do you tell? Because we all lie. Every one of us, and whoever claims they don’t is the biggest liar of all.”

In the Dark transports us to the wildness and intrepid isolation of British Columbia, rushing water cold as ice that steals your breath and gaggles of trees lining the seemingly infinite, alive forest, where a group of strangers have been called to meet for the alluring promise of a luxury experience of pampering at a spa in a remote, undisclosed location, only reachable by plane and hard to track down by even the nimblest of eagle eyes. Everything cataclysmically rockets down from there, though, as where they have been sent is not what it purports to be, but a ruse of sorts following in the crooked vein of psychological manipulation, parts of which mirror after Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

As the novel progresses, so does the familiarity that begins to set in that all of these people have vaguely met somewhere before. Each character carries the undeniable, rapidly building weight of a lingering sense of déjà vu. And overarching worry that their deepest, darkest secrets, most of which could be potentially life-changing in their fatality and that they’ve since tried to long keep buried away, could come to be revealed and ruin the more steady façade and new life they’ve strategically built for themselves and in some cases their children.

“An alternate reality. A nightmare dimension. A horror movie. That’s what we’re in.”

The story is brought to life through multiple perspectives and timelines that come together to reveal the true nature of why each of these people, handpicked like high-hanging fruit from a cherry tree, have been chosen for this unnerving, deadly game of cat and mouse “where there might only be one or maybe none” left standing. And maybe all that was set in cement as the pair of trackable footsteps needed to be analyzed and preserved for evidence in this building crime scene could be reversed if the dogged manipulation and hunches that people have that the other has something to hide and could potentially be an increasingly fatal foe spirals maniacally out of control with a seething, biting vengeance.

However, the pace and puzzle of this otherwise well-crafted story laboriously dragged in spots and became roiled in a storm not of a completely dangerously unpredictable caliber but of a doomed sense of predictability as I waited for a more gripping twist. But maybe this story wasn’t meant to be that and it was more a story of how we can be toyed with and teased by a wicked fate, which I can appreciate, but I still unfortunately found parts of the stories and my building of a sense of spirited, invested connection to each of the characters to be a slight slog to wade through as a lot was covered in a comparatively short amount of time that it left my mind reeling. I did, nonetheless, enjoy the way the connection between Mason and Callie was explored, who are members of the search team in this particular case, and how they have both personally endured trauma and could be there for each other increasingly meaningfully and hopefully in a way that warmed my heart and led my spirts to soar. I could read a whole novel dedicated to them as well.

“We’re all wrong. All mad now. We’ve turned feral. A small tribe under assault. A wildness taking hold in our brains where ordinarily logic would reside.”

Ultimately, In the Dark had captivating parts and I can tell was very thoughtfully constructed, but didn’t reach me as emotively as it could’ve in places and I in fact could’ve been a smidge more in the dark about who the master of these cunning games was, and anyone else that could’ve been involved, but perhaps, again, that wasn’t entirely the point and the point was to be pulled in and taken on the journey of how sometimes there’s nothing more mind-bogglingly engrossing as people and how we’re psychologically wired, especially in times of pain and under calculated, considerable duress. ...more

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Jan 03, 2020 Ceecee rated it really liked it

The book started in a really intriguing way and mostly kept my interest throughout although my concentration waned towards the end as I felt it got repetitive. Eight people were lured to a very remote area of British Columbia, Canada on the pretext of tendering for contacts for a new luxury resort and spa. It was fake as all they found was a neglected lodge and soon it dawned on them they had been lured there for revenge. All of them had a past, all had something they wanted to hide. The storyli ...more

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Nov 09, 2019 Kara rated it it was ok

Shelves: mystery, thriller

And Then There Were None is one of my favorite books. It’s smart and thrilling and an excellent character study. I found this to be none of those things, but I also seem to be in the minority on this one.

Like Agatha Christie’s classic, a group of people are lured to a secluded place, and each of these people has a big secret. The book then jumps in time and place from the group to law enforcement trying to figure out what happened.

There were so many complex pasts between the group and the inve ...more

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Nov 05, 2019 Alayne Emmett rated it it was amazing

Wow, wow, wow.... this book was fantastic. It was so twisty and very exciting. I received it free from Prime First Reads and I hadn’t heard of this author before, thought I’d give it a go and I’m glad I did. It was the type of book that you can’t stop reading but, you don’t want to finish it as it’s so good.
I would love to give it ten stars if I could but, unfortunately I can’t. I highly recommend this.

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Sep 22, 2020 Kimberly rated it really liked it

An amazing mystery that kept me guessing the entire time. I was afraid with so many characters they might become flat with no difference between their narrative voices, but the character development was well done.

So why four stars instead of five? There was an over use of the f-word which at moments took me out of the story. And there were a few scenes where the details were a bit more graphic than I cared for.

Overall, Loreth Anne White wrote a well thought out mystery with very memorable chara ...more

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Nov 25, 2019 Darinda rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller, kindle-first-reads

Eight guests travel to a secluded lodge for a luxury spa vacation. They soon learn everything is not as described. A storm is heading their way, but they are trapped. Not only can they not get away, but one of them is responsible for luring the group there. Meanwhile, a search team is looking for the missing group.

Told with multiple points of view and alternating timelines. The viewpoints include the lodge guests and two members of the search party. The timeline for the search party is set in th ...more

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Dec 02, 2019 Ash rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: mystery/thriller fans

Shelves: arcs, read-2019, 4-stars, mystery

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the Dark has everything you need for a spooky winter read: A remote town in British Columbia. A mysterious lodge surrounded by untouched wilderness. A raging snowstorm. A group of shady rich people. A series of inexplicable coincidences. A police officer and a search and rescue team leader, each with their own tragic backstory. I could go on. All these details add up to the perfect atmosp Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the Dark has everything you need for a spooky winter read: A remote town in British Columbia. A mysterious lodge surrounded by untouched wilderness. A raging snowstorm. A group of shady rich people. A series of inexplicable coincidences. A police officer and a search and rescue team leader, each with their own tragic backstory. I could go on. All these details add up to the perfect atmosphere and ambiance for a slow-burn novel that seamlessly blends elements from several genres: mystery, thriller, procedural, and a dash of horror.

The story follows three timelines simultaneously. In the first timeline, labeled “The Lodge Party,” a group of eight very different but suspiciously connected people have been invited to an exclusive luxury wilderness resort and spa, a trip that goes disastrously wrong. In the second timeline, “The Search,” police officer Mason and search and rescue team leader Callie search for the missing members of the lodge party. And in the third timeline, labeled “Now,” the sole survivor of the lodge party tells their story. To shield the survivor’s identity from the reader, these sections are written in first person and in present tense, while the rest are written in third person and past tense, alternating between the perspectives of Mason, Callie, and the members of the lodge party.

I enjoy multiple timelines and perspectives in mysteries and thrillers and thought this was an effective storytelling technique for In the Dark. It built tension and kept me turning pages. I enjoyed “The Search” timeline the most; I was heavily invested in Mason and Callie (and Oskar and even Gregson) as characters. “The Lodge Party” timeline was intense and scary, but apart from Stella, I wasn’t as attached to those characters. The “Now” timeline wasn’t my favorite, probably because I prefer third person to first person and past tense to present tense and the switch threw me off.

I had a few other, minor complaints. Loreth Anne White’s writing style is somewhat repetitive, overly relying on short, punchy sentences to make her point. I also thought the “Nine Little Liars” poem was pretty lame. In general, creepy poetry is a mystery trope I could do without. It’s almost never as well-written or clever as it would need to be to add anything meaningful to the story. The dialogue was occasionally stilted.

The ending was complex, and I liked it, but I wasn’t totally blown away. I’m stuck between a three and four star rating for this one. Went with four because I’m feeling generous and it was an enjoyable read. ...more

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Nov 05, 2019 Sarah rated it it was amazing

For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...

This was awesome! A brilliant read! I could not put it down but at the same time, wanted to prolong my finishing the story because it was that good. In the end I could not resist temptation and had to finish it. I was not disappointed and am still blown away by my first read from White.

For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/... ...more

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Feb 26, 2020 Denise rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Here I am on a plane flying over the Pacific Ocean eagerly awaiting my arrival in Maui (and trying to convince myself that every passenger cough is not the coronavirus), and functioning on very little sleep but still all I can do is read! I have finished two books on my marathon flights - In The Dark being one of them.

I have to preface my review by saying that And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is one of my all-time favorite books, so I knew this retelling (sort of) couldn’t help but f Here I am on a plane flying over the Pacific Ocean eagerly awaiting my arrival in Maui (and trying to convince myself that every passenger cough is not the coronavirus), and functioning on very little sleep but still all I can do is read! I have finished two books on my marathon flights - In The Dark being one of them.

I have to preface my review by saying that And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is one of my all-time favorite books, so I knew this retelling (sort of) couldn’t help but fall a little short in my eyes. I’m torn though because while I loved, loved, loved the lodge chapters of the book, the SAR/wilderness chapters made my eyes feel oh-so-heavy, and I found myself skimming them. I think perhaps it is because it almost felt like two completely different books, and it just didn’t completely work for me.

The premise is much the same as Christie’s book, except in this one, nine “strangers” are invited to be exclusive guests at a soon-to-open luxury spa located in the boonies of Canada. Upon their arrival, they learn they have been duped, as there is only a creepy, rundown lodge with sparse amenities. They quickly begin to realize that they are all loosely connected to one another and that they have been brought to the lodge to account for their nefarious deeds. Throw in a creepy chess set with headless pieces, a debilitating storm, and a freezer full of bodies, and you have all the makings of a new classic - until we add in the Search and Rescue/Law Enforcement piece. I wanted to love the Mason/Callie storyline, but it was just a bit too Harlequin romance-ish for my taste (I definitely see these two being recurring characters in a future series by White). Maybe I’m just plane-weary at the moment, but I think the plot would have been stronger without that angle.

Overall though, I thought the lodge storyline was brilliant, and I was not exactly correct in my whodunnit assumptions, which is always a plus. I definitely recommend this one (especially to any AC fans out there). ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

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Jan 01, 2020 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 5000-2019, dec-19, wom-2019

A really good read with an intriguing plot and compelling characters!
The 8 guests invited to a remote lodge are linked by an event unbeknownst to themselves. Each has a secret and they all have something to fear. One by one they are being killed as they try to survive in the middle of nowhere.
A homicide cop and a search and rescue team brave the severe elements to find them.
Will there be any survivors?
A gripping game of cat and mouse!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for an arc of this ...more

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Nov 29, 2019 Kyle rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller

Okay, this was pretty damn good.

I was happy that the novel included much of what I love in terms of “locked room” mysteries. It’s very heavily influenced by Agatha Christie’s famed classic And Then There Were None— a group of strangers with secrets aplenty drawn to an isolated location, where they start to die one by one. The story even brings in the books of Christie, as well as elements from her famous work.

These are my favorite mysteries to read, so on that front, I was pleased. The inclusion Okay, this was pretty damn good.

I was happy that the novel included much of what I love in terms of “locked room” mysteries. It’s very heavily influenced by Agatha Christie’s famed classic And Then There Were None— a group of strangers with secrets aplenty drawn to an isolated location, where they start to die one by one. The story even brings in the books of Christie, as well as elements from her famous work.

These are my favorite mysteries to read, so on that front, I was pleased. The inclusion of a ‘search-and-rescue’ narrative to buffer the main “locked room” story (in alternating chapters/POVs) was also a worthy addition. *MAJOR SPOILER TAGGED*. Do not read if you haven’t finished the book. (view spoiler)

From the start, it shaping up to be a run-of-the-mill mystery: the disgruntled, down on his luck, alcoholic?, middle-aged male detective with a haunted past and a chip on his shoulder. The young, pretty, search-and-rescue woman as his “partner” of sorts, with her own troubles and young son. It’s a typical male/female investigative duo with *hints* of romance (view spoiler).

I think maybe there were too many characters in this book? I mean, as the story progressed, it wasn’t difficult to keep track of who everyone was, but there were just... a lot: the 8/9-or-so on the “spa getaway”, the police officers/detectives, the multiple SAR people...
It all got a little too wordy at times, too. So many names and long-winded paragraphs, and even multiple instances of repetition— whole paragraphs would be repeated from to time time between different POVs as one character quoted another.

I’m glad I picked this book up, though. It was just what I needed to drag me out of my slump. ...more

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Oct 28, 2019 Eve (Between The Bookends) rated it really liked it

This book was actually fantastic. I loved it takes place in Canada (my home country). The setting was beautiful, suspenseful, and atmospheric. It was brilliantly written and paced. The characters intriguing and well fleshed out. The mystery, although very well done overall, had a *touch* of predictability to it. Never the less, it was a cracking excellent read, and I definitely would recommend it. ...more

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Crime, Mysteries ...: GENERAL: In the Dark by Loreth Anne White - November 2020	1	25	Oct 13, 2020 05:01PM
YA Buddy Readers'...: In the Dark by Loreth Anne White - Starting August 11th 2020	13	14	Aug 19, 2020 06:51AM
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About Loreth Anne White

Loreth Anne White

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Loreth Anne White is an Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense. With well over 2 million books sold around the world, she is a three-time RITA finalist, an overall Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Arthur Ellis finalist, and winner of multiple industry awards.

A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now calls Cana ...more

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Quotes from In the Dark

“Because we all lie. Every one of us, and whoever claims they don’t is the biggest liar of all.” — 3 likes

“I’d like to go over again, in detail, what happened after the group left the lodge.” Another memory flash. The sound of gunshots. A body swinging by the neck. Screams—such terrible screams . . .” — 1 likes

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