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The Essence of Darkness
Five unexplained child disappearances have plagued the small town of St. Marys in the space of four months. All the elements indicate that these are abductions. FBI Special Agent Eliott Cooper is sent to investigate.
Little by little, he uncovers facts that he can’t rationally explain. Soon, he discovers that a dark and very ancient evil seems to have taken over the forests around the city. This is only the beginning of his investigation...
Little by little, he uncovers facts that he can’t rationally explain. Soon, he discovers that a dark and very ancient evil seems to have taken over the forests around the city. This is only the beginning of his investigation...
447 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2020
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118 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 9, 2020
The Essence of Darkness is a Horror/Mystery/Thriller. I love mysteries and thrillers and am working on getting a better grip on horror. This novel was translated from French and I think that the translation was a good one.
Still, I had trouble liking the main character at all. He's described as handsome without being aware of it, a man that almost all women are attracted to, a great lover, great at his job with the FBI, but his aloofness, even when we are seeing the story through his eyes, made it hard for me to care about the character. I really could have done without the descriptions of his sex life, some of which came from his soul mate, sometimes hook up, FBI co-worker. I just couldn't really care about this hunk of a sexually awesome man.
All of the above made the story less than entertaining to follow but I may not be the right audience for the book. I think I was expecting more about the 5 missing children when this book is really about something else. Thank you to Moonlight and NetGalley for this ARC.
Still, I had trouble liking the main character at all. He's described as handsome without being aware of it, a man that almost all women are attracted to, a great lover, great at his job with the FBI, but his aloofness, even when we are seeing the story through his eyes, made it hard for me to care about the character. I really could have done without the descriptions of his sex life, some of which came from his soul mate, sometimes hook up, FBI co-worker. I just couldn't really care about this hunk of a sexually awesome man.
All of the above made the story less than entertaining to follow but I may not be the right audience for the book. I think I was expecting more about the 5 missing children when this book is really about something else. Thank you to Moonlight and NetGalley for this ARC.
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July 13, 2020DNF
April 11, 2020
I found “The Essence of Darkness” an extremely difficult book to read. The dialogue is unrealistic (no one talks like this) and the lack of research on the subject matter is shocking. I was barely through this novel and the amount of errors was on its way to becoming a mountain.
The book is translated from the French, but I don’t think that is the problem. Author Thomas Clearlake loves a lot of description, but when it is allowed into the dialogue, the characters quickly become unrealistic. With the lack of credible dialogue, the author loses chances to flesh out Agents Cooper and Chambers. This leaves the reader with poorly drawn characters that prevent one from getting deeply involved with the story.
What we learn about the characters is a series of contradictions (and at times, simply not true). Agent Cooper is described as someone who has complete trust from the FBI, and can do whatever he wants when on a case. A conversation with his boss shows this is not true, although he is allowed to be on a case and living in a forest for weeks, which is an unorthodox procedure when you are searching for missing children. The descriptions of FBI procedures are more fancy than fact, reminiscent of a poor made-for-TV movie. One should not write about federal agencies, their procedures, and weapons (“She cocked her automatic…”) without performing at least a minimum of proper research.
There are numerous passages where the description repeats itself by using different words. Perhaps the author is trying to emphasize different aspects of the scene, and by describing something in different forms he hoped to achieve greater comprehension. When used constantly in every chapter, the word count rises unnecessarily, and we no longer need to wonder why the book is a massive 447 pages. In its present form, this book is a good first draft.
A shining note is that Mr. Clearlake does have a talent for writing horrific scenes. These are emotionally wrenching, stomach-turning moments that stand out. Unfortunately, you can’t write an entire book with only these passages, and so the best parts get lost in the mix.
Overall, this is a disappointing offering. Two stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Moonlight for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
The book is translated from the French, but I don’t think that is the problem. Author Thomas Clearlake loves a lot of description, but when it is allowed into the dialogue, the characters quickly become unrealistic. With the lack of credible dialogue, the author loses chances to flesh out Agents Cooper and Chambers. This leaves the reader with poorly drawn characters that prevent one from getting deeply involved with the story.
What we learn about the characters is a series of contradictions (and at times, simply not true). Agent Cooper is described as someone who has complete trust from the FBI, and can do whatever he wants when on a case. A conversation with his boss shows this is not true, although he is allowed to be on a case and living in a forest for weeks, which is an unorthodox procedure when you are searching for missing children. The descriptions of FBI procedures are more fancy than fact, reminiscent of a poor made-for-TV movie. One should not write about federal agencies, their procedures, and weapons (“She cocked her automatic…”) without performing at least a minimum of proper research.
There are numerous passages where the description repeats itself by using different words. Perhaps the author is trying to emphasize different aspects of the scene, and by describing something in different forms he hoped to achieve greater comprehension. When used constantly in every chapter, the word count rises unnecessarily, and we no longer need to wonder why the book is a massive 447 pages. In its present form, this book is a good first draft.
A shining note is that Mr. Clearlake does have a talent for writing horrific scenes. These are emotionally wrenching, stomach-turning moments that stand out. Unfortunately, you can’t write an entire book with only these passages, and so the best parts get lost in the mix.
Overall, this is a disappointing offering. Two stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Moonlight for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
April 12, 2020
The basic premise of this book is a good one -- five children disappear from a small Pennsylvania town and the FBI comes to investigate. Soon the case morphs from a criminal investigation to something straight out of the X-files....there is something very, very wrong happening in St. Marys.
I have to be completely honest in my review....as I am with every book I review. I had a hard time getting through this book. It was translated to English from the original French....I'm not sure if it lost something in translation, but the story just fell a bit flat for me. Some of the horror scenes were bloodcurdling-ly awesome. But those scenes just aren't enough to carry the entire book. The writing style, slow plot, over-explanation, and thin characterizations pretty much threw off my enjoyment of this horror novel. The dialogue seems stilted in places because of word choices that people just wouldn't use in conversation, especially during an investigation. I never connected with the characters...they seemed like caricatures to me. The main character is described over and over again as a sexy, virile man that women love but he doesn't realize how awesome he is. And the details about his sexual encounters just seemed unnecessary. After awhile, I found him boring and pretty much unlikable.
Not every story is for every reader. And this one was not for me.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Moonlight. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I have to be completely honest in my review....as I am with every book I review. I had a hard time getting through this book. It was translated to English from the original French....I'm not sure if it lost something in translation, but the story just fell a bit flat for me. Some of the horror scenes were bloodcurdling-ly awesome. But those scenes just aren't enough to carry the entire book. The writing style, slow plot, over-explanation, and thin characterizations pretty much threw off my enjoyment of this horror novel. The dialogue seems stilted in places because of word choices that people just wouldn't use in conversation, especially during an investigation. I never connected with the characters...they seemed like caricatures to me. The main character is described over and over again as a sexy, virile man that women love but he doesn't realize how awesome he is. And the details about his sexual encounters just seemed unnecessary. After awhile, I found him boring and pretty much unlikable.
Not every story is for every reader. And this one was not for me.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Moonlight. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
April 8, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. I mean, I tried to finish it but at the 54% point it was getting difficult to carry on. The concept of the story might have been a good idea -- to mix mystery with horror, science fiction, and add some romance. Somehow, however, everything got disconnected. The story became "choppy" and at that point, all fluidity was lost.
There were some good points. The horror part of the story was horrific, and there were enough graphic details to make the story gory.
I wish that I could have enjoyed the book. It seemed as though it had promise. Unfortunately, this novel did not click with me. Rating it one star -- I didn't like it.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
There were some good points. The horror part of the story was horrific, and there were enough graphic details to make the story gory.
I wish that I could have enjoyed the book. It seemed as though it had promise. Unfortunately, this novel did not click with me. Rating it one star -- I didn't like it.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 28, 2020
Like Horror with a bit of Mystery/Thriller thrown in? Then The Essence of Darkness by Tom Clearlake should be on your to-be-read shelf. The novel was translated from French to English and the translation reads smoothly.
FBI Special Agent Eliott Cooper is assigned to investigate a series of disappearances in an otherwise peaceful town. Agent Cooper begins his investigation as he does all others, but is soon contemplating bizarre evidence. Are the strange revelations related to his original case or is there something else at play here?
The Essence of Darkness is billed as horror but is just as much mystery/suspense. The horror elements are very vivid and appropriately terrifying. The rest is still interesting, though there are unnecessary details. The characters are confusing at times, not their development, but their actions in relation to the story. The scenery is vividly detailed and positively adds to the overall feel of the novel. The plot is good, if not necessarily what I expected. Ultimately, I enjoyed this book. I give it 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers who like horror with a bonus.
My thanks to Moonlight and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
FBI Special Agent Eliott Cooper is assigned to investigate a series of disappearances in an otherwise peaceful town. Agent Cooper begins his investigation as he does all others, but is soon contemplating bizarre evidence. Are the strange revelations related to his original case or is there something else at play here?
The Essence of Darkness is billed as horror but is just as much mystery/suspense. The horror elements are very vivid and appropriately terrifying. The rest is still interesting, though there are unnecessary details. The characters are confusing at times, not their development, but their actions in relation to the story. The scenery is vividly detailed and positively adds to the overall feel of the novel. The plot is good, if not necessarily what I expected. Ultimately, I enjoyed this book. I give it 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers who like horror with a bonus.
My thanks to Moonlight and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
October 13, 2024
I have to imagine that the reason I wanted to read The Essence of Darkness by Tom Clearlake back in the day was because of the synopsis. It sounded like a great mystery with a procedural factor and the FBI thrown in. What this actually is, is a very strange mix of horror, sci-fi, mystery, and a dash of romance. It looks like this initially came out in French as we have a French author and was translated, but I don’t think the translation has anything to do with the strangeness of the story itself. It honestly stopped making sense at around the 50% mark and just became extremely outlandish and at some times ridiculous, even for the otherworldly storyline.
The disappearance of the children is at the start of this mess, but it devolves, and it felt like Clearlake was trying to cram too many things into one book. It was also a very slow moving plot and the romance between Eliott and Lauren didn’t really make sense. It went from just being a throwaway affair to an obsession and it left me shaking my head. There was also a spicy scene described from Lauren’s POV where you can tell this is written by a man who isn’t even TRYING to write from the woman’s viewpoint. Overall, I didn’t actually skim much but I feel like I wasted my time, and the author was clearly writing some of his bias into the ending which I could have done without. Would not recommend and would not read another book by this author. 🤷♀️
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The disappearance of the children is at the start of this mess, but it devolves, and it felt like Clearlake was trying to cram too many things into one book. It was also a very slow moving plot and the romance between Eliott and Lauren didn’t really make sense. It went from just being a throwaway affair to an obsession and it left me shaking my head. There was also a spicy scene described from Lauren’s POV where you can tell this is written by a man who isn’t even TRYING to write from the woman’s viewpoint. Overall, I didn’t actually skim much but I feel like I wasted my time, and the author was clearly writing some of his bias into the ending which I could have done without. Would not recommend and would not read another book by this author. 🤷♀️
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 27, 2022
A new author for me and what a sick mind. A mystery thriller well sprinkled with horror. Something has awakened and has designs on the human race. It all starts with abducted children. I literally could not put this book down. Definitely got my heart racing and in places gave me goose bumps on my goosebumps. Reminds me of the Necroscope series which I devoured when I was younger. This author has a very furtile and twisted imagination which had me reading late into the night. As the author himself says this is the first of his books to be translated and I can't wait to read more. An easy four stars and a MUST READ for all lovers of this genre.
May 11, 2020
The Essence of Darkness by Tom Clearlake is a book that I was very excited to read; unfortunately, it was a difficult read for me. This book was initially written in French and was translated into English; I am not sure if there was something lost in the translation because this book was all over the place. I love the mystery, thriller, and horror genres, but this book fell short trying to be all three of these genres all at the same time.
Agent Elliott Cooper is sent to the small town of St. Marys to investigate the disappearance of five children. What he finds is something he never expected. Agent Cooper unwittingly becomes entangled with what he discovers. There is a dark ancient evil lurking in the woods of St. Marys biding their time, building strength. That is all I can say about the story without revealing spoilers.
I liked the way this book started with the premise of being an FBI procedural thriller. However, it quickly morphed into a supernatural horror thriller. Maybe the problem for me as I wasn’t expecting this book to go in the direction it took. Be that as it may, there were other things, I had problems with this book. The main thing being the dialog, it felt stiff, forced, and unrealistic. There was an element of romance thrown into the story, and I don’t think that it added anything. If anything, I felt that it distracted from the story. The romantic scenes fell flat and were uninspiring. Did the author throw this bit of romance to appeal to female readers? Not sure, but it sure felt like it.
Character development was lacking, especially from the main female character. Lauren Chambers, the main female character, annoyed me to the point of distraction. Lauren and Elliott met and had a “kind of relationship” when she was a recruit, and he was training her. That’s when I started to dislike Elliott, and I never fully liked or had any respect for Lauren.
As I got more into this book, I found myself skimming whole pages, the plot inched along at a snail’s pace, far too detailed, and Mr. Clearlake’s over descriptiveness of almost everything was exhausting to read. The very beginning of this book was good. Still, as I read more, it slowly drifted into being unrealistic and unbelievable and contradicted itself many times, trying to be too many things. Unfortunately, this book was not for me, and if I am honest, I am not sure I would read another book by this author.
** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley and Moonlight publishing. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. **
Agent Elliott Cooper is sent to the small town of St. Marys to investigate the disappearance of five children. What he finds is something he never expected. Agent Cooper unwittingly becomes entangled with what he discovers. There is a dark ancient evil lurking in the woods of St. Marys biding their time, building strength. That is all I can say about the story without revealing spoilers.
I liked the way this book started with the premise of being an FBI procedural thriller. However, it quickly morphed into a supernatural horror thriller. Maybe the problem for me as I wasn’t expecting this book to go in the direction it took. Be that as it may, there were other things, I had problems with this book. The main thing being the dialog, it felt stiff, forced, and unrealistic. There was an element of romance thrown into the story, and I don’t think that it added anything. If anything, I felt that it distracted from the story. The romantic scenes fell flat and were uninspiring. Did the author throw this bit of romance to appeal to female readers? Not sure, but it sure felt like it.
Character development was lacking, especially from the main female character. Lauren Chambers, the main female character, annoyed me to the point of distraction. Lauren and Elliott met and had a “kind of relationship” when she was a recruit, and he was training her. That’s when I started to dislike Elliott, and I never fully liked or had any respect for Lauren.
As I got more into this book, I found myself skimming whole pages, the plot inched along at a snail’s pace, far too detailed, and Mr. Clearlake’s over descriptiveness of almost everything was exhausting to read. The very beginning of this book was good. Still, as I read more, it slowly drifted into being unrealistic and unbelievable and contradicted itself many times, trying to be too many things. Unfortunately, this book was not for me, and if I am honest, I am not sure I would read another book by this author.
** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley and Moonlight publishing. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. **
May 6, 2020
Nothing is as it seems in The Essence of Darkness by Frech writer Tom Clearlake.
That not only goes for the story but for the mish-mash of genres the novel falls within. FBI Special Agent Elliot Cooper ends up in a small town to investigate the disappearances of five children. The police procedural within the pages is nonexistent. It lacks believability on that end, which would have rooted the novel firmly in reality.
Tracking the children deep into the woods, Cooper uncovers an ancient hidden evil. The Essence of Darkness rapidly descends into a horror, mystery, supernatural thriller. Hints of religious orders and secret organizations further pepper the pages, taking this novel from the norm and catapulting it well outside the lines.
A few hours of research would have been a tremendous benefit. Planting Elliot Cooper in the firm grip of the real world procedurals of the FBI would have helped Clearlake succeed in delivering on the chills and frights. For readers who often read Police Procedural Thrillers, The Essence of Darkness will be a disappointment.
This book marks the author's first foray into translations for other languages. Perhaps one of the reasons why The Essence of Darkness struggles is due to the language barrier. The rendering from the native tongue to foreign ones can be delicate. Nuiances can be lost, and where this most prominently shows in the characters.
Clearlake delivers a gripping subject and offers plenty of horror.
Many thanks to Tom Clearlake, Moonlight Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
That not only goes for the story but for the mish-mash of genres the novel falls within. FBI Special Agent Elliot Cooper ends up in a small town to investigate the disappearances of five children. The police procedural within the pages is nonexistent. It lacks believability on that end, which would have rooted the novel firmly in reality.
Tracking the children deep into the woods, Cooper uncovers an ancient hidden evil. The Essence of Darkness rapidly descends into a horror, mystery, supernatural thriller. Hints of religious orders and secret organizations further pepper the pages, taking this novel from the norm and catapulting it well outside the lines.
A few hours of research would have been a tremendous benefit. Planting Elliot Cooper in the firm grip of the real world procedurals of the FBI would have helped Clearlake succeed in delivering on the chills and frights. For readers who often read Police Procedural Thrillers, The Essence of Darkness will be a disappointment.
This book marks the author's first foray into translations for other languages. Perhaps one of the reasons why The Essence of Darkness struggles is due to the language barrier. The rendering from the native tongue to foreign ones can be delicate. Nuiances can be lost, and where this most prominently shows in the characters.
Clearlake delivers a gripping subject and offers plenty of horror.
Many thanks to Tom Clearlake, Moonlight Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2020
Description
Five unexplained child disappearances have plagued the small town of St. Marys in the space of four months. All the elements indicate that these are abductions. FBI Special Agent Eliott Cooper is sent to investigate.
Little by little, he uncovers facts that he can’t rationally explain. Soon, he discovers that a dark and very ancient evil seems to have taken over the forests around the city. This is only the beginning of his investigation...
I was invited to read this and admit I haven't read this type of book in a long time. It reminded me a lot of Dean Koontz and Stephen King style of writing -- at one point the main character "jumped up and ran to vomit a stream of hemoglobin out the the cabin window." I figured that part was just lost in translation from French to English. It was also hard to read at times because the words pandemic, virus and cities being wiped out completely were part of the story line, especially with what is going on in the world today.
I gave it three stars for the abrupt ending. It left me with so many unanswered questions at 11:00 at night that I found the author on Facebook and PM'd him about them, I haven't ever done that before! I hate when a book ends like that but I guess books aren't always meant to end neatly with a bow, so I'm told. I'll edit the review if he ever answers me.
Thank you to #Moonlight for an honest review and an advanced copy. The #Pub Date 18 Apr 2020.
#ThrillerMysteryHorrorSuspenseFantastiqueDarkRomanceTomClearlake #NetGalley
Five unexplained child disappearances have plagued the small town of St. Marys in the space of four months. All the elements indicate that these are abductions. FBI Special Agent Eliott Cooper is sent to investigate.
Little by little, he uncovers facts that he can’t rationally explain. Soon, he discovers that a dark and very ancient evil seems to have taken over the forests around the city. This is only the beginning of his investigation...
I was invited to read this and admit I haven't read this type of book in a long time. It reminded me a lot of Dean Koontz and Stephen King style of writing -- at one point the main character "jumped up and ran to vomit a stream of hemoglobin out the the cabin window." I figured that part was just lost in translation from French to English. It was also hard to read at times because the words pandemic, virus and cities being wiped out completely were part of the story line, especially with what is going on in the world today.
I gave it three stars for the abrupt ending. It left me with so many unanswered questions at 11:00 at night that I found the author on Facebook and PM'd him about them, I haven't ever done that before! I hate when a book ends like that but I guess books aren't always meant to end neatly with a bow, so I'm told. I'll edit the review if he ever answers me.
Thank you to #Moonlight for an honest review and an advanced copy. The #Pub Date 18 Apr 2020.
#ThrillerMysteryHorrorSuspenseFantastiqueDarkRomanceTomClearlake #NetGalley
April 26, 2020
The Essence of Darkness by Tom Clearlake
I really am kind of at a loss of words to describe this book, it is so different than what I was thinking....it is a mystery, it is sci-fi'ish, a touch of horror and a hint of romance, interesting premise with interesting characters, I know I know I am not really telling you what this book is about...I can tell you if you want a different read this may be the one for you, give it a try. This is my first from this author and I will be reading more. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC and giving you my opinion. 3.5 stars if it were possible
I really am kind of at a loss of words to describe this book, it is so different than what I was thinking....it is a mystery, it is sci-fi'ish, a touch of horror and a hint of romance, interesting premise with interesting characters, I know I know I am not really telling you what this book is about...I can tell you if you want a different read this may be the one for you, give it a try. This is my first from this author and I will be reading more. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for allowing me to read this ARC and giving you my opinion. 3.5 stars if it were possible
May 30, 2020
I made it to 10% of the book and I just could not keep reading this. The writing is so convoluted and repetitive. I was unable to get into the story either. I rarely do not finish a book. Especially one provided by NetGalley for review. I just couldn't continue. This was just very challenging. It makes me wonder if the essence of the book got totally lost from the translation from French to English.
I received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2020
Many thanks to Moonlight Editions for offering me to read this book once translated into English.
This book is a rereading, I had read it in French version "L'essence des ténèbres". I find the translation from French to English well formatted. I had no problem understanding the story that I found so captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with characters as endearing as ever.
We learn that in the small town of Saint-Marys there have been five unexplained disappearances of children in four months. These can only be kidnappings for the FBI. Their Special Agent Elliott Cooper is being sent to the scene. But when he gets up there, he's going to come across some things he didn't expect to see. He's going to discover the dark and ancient evil that has taken over the forests around this little town.
This book kept me in suspense from beginning to end, in both English and French, the translation is so perfect. Can't wait to read the next book by this author who has an addictive pen, I'm a big fan.
This book is a rereading, I had read it in French version "L'essence des ténèbres". I find the translation from French to English well formatted. I had no problem understanding the story that I found so captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with characters as endearing as ever.
We learn that in the small town of Saint-Marys there have been five unexplained disappearances of children in four months. These can only be kidnappings for the FBI. Their Special Agent Elliott Cooper is being sent to the scene. But when he gets up there, he's going to come across some things he didn't expect to see. He's going to discover the dark and ancient evil that has taken over the forests around this little town.
This book kept me in suspense from beginning to end, in both English and French, the translation is so perfect. Can't wait to read the next book by this author who has an addictive pen, I'm a big fan.
April 20, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis was good and had piqued my interest. The story has potential. It just didn’t deliver. The story lagged in a lot of places. The main character wasn’t very likable. I had trouble connecting with him. There were some contradicting scenes and or parts in the story. There are some good scenes. Just not enough to keep my interest. I had to DNF (did not finish) at 22%. This book wasn’t for me but it may be for someone else. If it catches your interest, check it out for yourself. I give this 2 stars.
October 1, 2020
I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Moonlight for giving me access.
Where do I find the words to express my opinions on this?
I am a big horror/thriller/mystery/paranormal fan. The premise of this book is what drew me in, child disappearances in a small town? Sign me up!
Now, there was child disappearances and all that, but the execution on the story was lacking. The dialogue jumped around a lot and it seemed like the author even forgot his thought of what the MC was doing mid paragraph.
Very choppy and not at all what I was hoping for. Maybe something was lost in translation for me, but if you can read French, then this may be the book for you if you read the original French translation.
Where do I find the words to express my opinions on this?
I am a big horror/thriller/mystery/paranormal fan. The premise of this book is what drew me in, child disappearances in a small town? Sign me up!
Now, there was child disappearances and all that, but the execution on the story was lacking. The dialogue jumped around a lot and it seemed like the author even forgot his thought of what the MC was doing mid paragraph.
Very choppy and not at all what I was hoping for. Maybe something was lost in translation for me, but if you can read French, then this may be the book for you if you read the original French translation.
June 4, 2020
When I read the description of The Essence of Darkness, I imagined this book would be a horror with supernatural aspects. And I guess it is, in its own way. However, I only made it 15% of the way through before I gave up. 15% of the way through got me to Day 16 of FBI Agent Eliot Cooper's investigation into the unexplained disappearances of 5 children in rural Pennsylvania.
This book is a translation from French to English.,and French is clearly the author's first language. Though the actual translation may be correct (I've read some say its well translated), the syntax is way off. The conversations Cooper has with colleagues as well as his internal dialogue feels stilted, and it's where it is most obvious that this is a translation.
Cooper's thoughts, recollections, and investigation bounce around a lot, and that makes the story hard to follow. There's not a fluid flow, and the transitions just don't make a lot of sense. I think cutting out some of Cooper's repetitive actions (going back and forth to the same spot) and some really good editing from an American publisher could help this story.
An ancient darkness in rural Pennsylvania does sound like a great plot. I tired to keep reading even when I got to the monstrous creature and the resulting gore. But when I got to the part where Cooper is trying to explain what he''s seen to his FBI "rival", I just couldn't keep going.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this book free in exchange for my honest review which I've given.
This book is a translation from French to English.,and French is clearly the author's first language. Though the actual translation may be correct (I've read some say its well translated), the syntax is way off. The conversations Cooper has with colleagues as well as his internal dialogue feels stilted, and it's where it is most obvious that this is a translation.
Cooper's thoughts, recollections, and investigation bounce around a lot, and that makes the story hard to follow. There's not a fluid flow, and the transitions just don't make a lot of sense. I think cutting out some of Cooper's repetitive actions (going back and forth to the same spot) and some really good editing from an American publisher could help this story.
An ancient darkness in rural Pennsylvania does sound like a great plot. I tired to keep reading even when I got to the monstrous creature and the resulting gore. But when I got to the part where Cooper is trying to explain what he''s seen to his FBI "rival", I just couldn't keep going.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this book free in exchange for my honest review which I've given.
April 10, 2020
What starts off as a FBI police procedural suddenly plunges into a mystical thriller. In small town St Marys , Pennsylvania 5 small children have mysteriously disappeared without an apparent clue. Special agent Scott Cooper is sent to investigate the suspected kidnappings. Instead of uncovering a heinous crime, he stumbles upon a diabolical ritual involving 3 mystical women (witches?) and a child sacrifice.. He intervenes by unloading his gun into the apparent high priestess, only to have her dissipate into a cloud of swirling black particles which then envelops and consumes his body. The narrative then is woven into a supernatural dilemma involving leather bound grimoire of evil origins that allows entry into a diabolical dimension. Scott's person progressively metamorphoses into the ethereal entity of The Sentinel ... a flesh eating beast. The main plot involves an ancient culture .. Hominum Primus ... they are considered the progenitors of the human race ... and, refer to themselves as The Elders. To regenerate and return to their "rightful" position, they plunge the world into chaos ... unleashing a viral pandemic ( sound familiar?) with ensuing world wide economic collapse.
While the premise appears very interesting and compelling the actual book falls far short ... the characters are inadequately developed an appear uni-dimensional. I really had to push on to finish ... I suspect many readers will give-up on this 3 Star novel. Basically, some good ideas and concepts but not developed properly.
Thanks to NetGalley and Moonlight Books for providing an electronic uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com
While the premise appears very interesting and compelling the actual book falls far short ... the characters are inadequately developed an appear uni-dimensional. I really had to push on to finish ... I suspect many readers will give-up on this 3 Star novel. Basically, some good ideas and concepts but not developed properly.
Thanks to NetGalley and Moonlight Books for providing an electronic uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com
April 12, 2020
I was really looking forward to reading this one, however, I think it’s just a bit too...unpolished (?) for me. I do feel the translation from French to English was well done.
The Essence of Darkness starts off with an FBI agent investigating 5 missing children in a small rural area. I don’t like to give spoilers, so I’m just going to say that once he goes off searching in the woods alone, the story takes on a more sci fi/paranormal-ish type of turn, with romance thrown in there as well.
I think this story has a ton of potential. I’m a huge fan of H.P Lovecraft, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, etc. I’m also a huge sci fi fan. This book should have been right up my alley. I truly believe that if the author took time to refine the story, this would be a 4-5 star read for me. He’s a very descriptive and “technical” writer, which remined me a lot of Dean Koontz. However, Dean Koontz does a TON of research and I felt as though more research needed to be done for a quite a few areas of this book.
I also had a very hard time connecting to the characters. There was just too much filler content that I feel could have been used for character development instead.
I think some people might really love this book, it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Moonlight for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review
The Essence of Darkness starts off with an FBI agent investigating 5 missing children in a small rural area. I don’t like to give spoilers, so I’m just going to say that once he goes off searching in the woods alone, the story takes on a more sci fi/paranormal-ish type of turn, with romance thrown in there as well.
I think this story has a ton of potential. I’m a huge fan of H.P Lovecraft, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, etc. I’m also a huge sci fi fan. This book should have been right up my alley. I truly believe that if the author took time to refine the story, this would be a 4-5 star read for me. He’s a very descriptive and “technical” writer, which remined me a lot of Dean Koontz. However, Dean Koontz does a TON of research and I felt as though more research needed to be done for a quite a few areas of this book.
I also had a very hard time connecting to the characters. There was just too much filler content that I feel could have been used for character development instead.
I think some people might really love this book, it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Moonlight for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review
April 15, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Essence of Darkness was poorly formatted with strange spaces between words and no formatting to define the dialogue. And that dialogue was just plain strange, reading more like a screenplay than a novel. I understand the author usually writes in French so I can say that the book was well translated although could use some heavy editing.
I was really close to a DNF at less than 20%, but decided to stick it out. Just past 50%, it turned into a semi-decent thriller, but still unbelievable with at least one jaw-dropping scene that made no sense and the author should be ashamed for writing. It did nothing for the plot and was in very poor taste. Then the last 10% came and I was glad I hung in. It was absolutely silly, but also a wild freefall roller coaster ride but I am glad it's over.
Overall, this book is not recommended without some heavy editing and reformatting. But I learned I need to stop taking ARCs that don't require a request. This book couldn't choose a genre, POV, or format. Kudos for writing a book but please get an editor.
Finally, what the heck Pizza Hut has an indoor playground OR cappuccino?!?!?
The Essence of Darkness was poorly formatted with strange spaces between words and no formatting to define the dialogue. And that dialogue was just plain strange, reading more like a screenplay than a novel. I understand the author usually writes in French so I can say that the book was well translated although could use some heavy editing.
I was really close to a DNF at less than 20%, but decided to stick it out. Just past 50%, it turned into a semi-decent thriller, but still unbelievable with at least one jaw-dropping scene that made no sense and the author should be ashamed for writing. It did nothing for the plot and was in very poor taste. Then the last 10% came and I was glad I hung in. It was absolutely silly, but also a wild freefall roller coaster ride but I am glad it's over.
Overall, this book is not recommended without some heavy editing and reformatting. But I learned I need to stop taking ARCs that don't require a request. This book couldn't choose a genre, POV, or format. Kudos for writing a book but please get an editor.
Finally, what the heck Pizza Hut has an indoor playground OR cappuccino?!?!?
April 18, 2020
This novel was translated from its original French version and had a synopsis that was very intriguing. Missing children in the small town of St. Mary’s with the hint of an old and forgotten evil lurking behind the scenes. I couldn’t resist the temptation of this mystery thriller steeped in the genre of horror.
Unfortunately, what started as a captivating read quickly turned into a very in-depth rollercoaster that took too many directions. Missing children, romance, global war, viral pandemic, witchcraft and so much more than I can list without giving away the plot synopsis.
Personally, I could’ve followed this more if it stuck to the simpler small town abductions and tied that into a local evil instead of branching it worldwide. Even sticking with one type of genre would’ve helped because I did not see the romance and science fiction side of this novel coming and it just didn’t feel like a good fit.
I was highly captivated in the beginning. The writing can throw you off at times and I think that may be due to the translation. I just couldn’t connect with characters or follow the plot. There was just too much in one book for this reader.
I am thankful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Unfortunately, what started as a captivating read quickly turned into a very in-depth rollercoaster that took too many directions. Missing children, romance, global war, viral pandemic, witchcraft and so much more than I can list without giving away the plot synopsis.
Personally, I could’ve followed this more if it stuck to the simpler small town abductions and tied that into a local evil instead of branching it worldwide. Even sticking with one type of genre would’ve helped because I did not see the romance and science fiction side of this novel coming and it just didn’t feel like a good fit.
I was highly captivated in the beginning. The writing can throw you off at times and I think that may be due to the translation. I just couldn’t connect with characters or follow the plot. There was just too much in one book for this reader.
I am thankful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel for an honest and unbiased opinion.
May 15, 2020
First off, i want to thank the publisher and the author, Tom Clearlake and Netgalley for advancing me this opportunity with the Paperback ARC to review. As this being a novel that is translated from an originally French publishing, it tends to get lost in translation at times, with that said let me tell you this was definitely what i was expecting, and this is a good thing. FBI agent Elliott Cooper takes on a case of 5 missing small children, ages 3 to 5 in the small town of St. Mary's in Pennsylvania.
What you think is going to start out as a lot of detective and police procedural thrills, takes a slow turn into something almost like an Aphganistan war drama, but hold on; it changes. It took me almost 80 pages to get into the story line and I almost put the book down. What pursues is quite a very different book of demonic possessions, the supernatural, romance and witchcraft!! Yes, stick with it but the gore can get gory which i liked, however if that is not up your alley, you might not like it. I had never heard of this author, and i look forward to reading more from him. Hopefully the next wont be as hard to 'translate to understand it' which is why this does not get a 5 star rating from me.
What you think is going to start out as a lot of detective and police procedural thrills, takes a slow turn into something almost like an Aphganistan war drama, but hold on; it changes. It took me almost 80 pages to get into the story line and I almost put the book down. What pursues is quite a very different book of demonic possessions, the supernatural, romance and witchcraft!! Yes, stick with it but the gore can get gory which i liked, however if that is not up your alley, you might not like it. I had never heard of this author, and i look forward to reading more from him. Hopefully the next wont be as hard to 'translate to understand it' which is why this does not get a 5 star rating from me.
April 14, 2020
From reading the book description, I thought that this story would be about an FBI agent working to discover what happened to five missing children. That played a small role in The Essence of Darkness as this was not a police procedural with a supernatural element. Special Agent Eliott Cooper may have been chosen to investigate these crimes, but his first trip into the woods bordering the disappearances, lead him in a whole other direction.
The story quickly shifts into something ancient and evil and horrific, and honestly, I don't know if it was because of translation issues, but I had a very hard time connecting with the plot and the characters. I am not going to say much more, because in this case, this story just wasn't a good fit for me. I do think if I had a better understanding of what the book was about, I might have enjoyed it more. I couldn't get past my preconceived notions, and this is one of those times that I would like to be able to read this again for the first time, knowing it is a supernatural horror story.
The story quickly shifts into something ancient and evil and horrific, and honestly, I don't know if it was because of translation issues, but I had a very hard time connecting with the plot and the characters. I am not going to say much more, because in this case, this story just wasn't a good fit for me. I do think if I had a better understanding of what the book was about, I might have enjoyed it more. I couldn't get past my preconceived notions, and this is one of those times that I would like to be able to read this again for the first time, knowing it is a supernatural horror story.
April 23, 2020
FBI agent Eliott Cooper is tasked with finding 5 children who have disappeared in similar circumstances in a dark and mysterious wooded location. What starts out as a simple detective story explodes in the most unexpected way introducing elements of horror, science fiction and ancient rituals culminating in a human crisis…”a secret that has remained hidden for thousands of years”…A very enjoyable first novel, with an excellent translation from the original French, and boasting some stand out snappy dialogue….”The scent of the woods that filled his lungs was intoxicating and he relished it”…..”Evil took root and spread in the night. The moon rose majestically” ……”All life seemed to be missing from the woods as if death itself held these places in the palm of its hand and was blowing macabre silence from its withered mouth”……..
Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
April 14, 2020
I received this book from a request through NetGalley.
I was not a fan of the main protagonist. He is described as if he was a God who can do everything perfectly and All women would fall at his feet. This sets him up as unbelievable and hard to relate to by us mere mortals.
The story is described to be about missing children but there is not much in the book about that plot point.
Overall it was a dislike of the main character that ruined this book for me.
I am a fan of both mysteries and horror books so this one seemed to combine the two but an unlikeable protagonist destroyed the book for me.
I was not a fan of the main protagonist. He is described as if he was a God who can do everything perfectly and All women would fall at his feet. This sets him up as unbelievable and hard to relate to by us mere mortals.
The story is described to be about missing children but there is not much in the book about that plot point.
Overall it was a dislike of the main character that ruined this book for me.
I am a fan of both mysteries and horror books so this one seemed to combine the two but an unlikeable protagonist destroyed the book for me.
May 13, 2020
Five unexplained child disappearances have plagued the small town of St. Marys all within the span of four months. While tracking the children deep into the woods, FBI agent Elliot Cooper uncovers an ancient hidden evil. This is a book of horror, mystery, and supernatural. Interspersed are hints of religious orders and secret organizations making this quite the thriller.
The Essence of Darkness follows a gripping subject matter but the main character along with the writing did not keep my interest. Perhaps it is in part due to the fact that it is a French translation.
This is a good book,but not for this reader.
The Essence of Darkness follows a gripping subject matter but the main character along with the writing did not keep my interest. Perhaps it is in part due to the fact that it is a French translation.
This is a good book,but not for this reader.
September 7, 2020
Essence of Darkness is a supernatural horror story that will have you wondering what sick and twisted mind conjured these truly terrifying words. Tom Clearlake is a French author so this book was a translation which was actually pretty good compared to other experiences I’ve had.
Reading Essence of Darkness felt like driving with your eyes closed- your heart is racing, you start sweating profusely, your mind starts racing with thoughts and you think you might throw up from the unknown!
Essence of Darkness begins with FBI agent Eliot Cooper investigating the disappearances of children in a small town in Pennsylvania. While you may immediately think you know what's going on….spoiler…..you DONT !
This novel really pushes the envelope of paranormal and covers a broad spectrum of themes from supernatural, cults, religion, thriller, suspense, drama with the barest touch of romance and self-discovery.
While Essence of Darkness is definitely outside of the realm of my usual reads, I do think it is a solid story with appeal to those who favor horror, murder and thrillers.
Reading Essence of Darkness felt like driving with your eyes closed- your heart is racing, you start sweating profusely, your mind starts racing with thoughts and you think you might throw up from the unknown!
Essence of Darkness begins with FBI agent Eliot Cooper investigating the disappearances of children in a small town in Pennsylvania. While you may immediately think you know what's going on….spoiler…..you DONT !
This novel really pushes the envelope of paranormal and covers a broad spectrum of themes from supernatural, cults, religion, thriller, suspense, drama with the barest touch of romance and self-discovery.
While Essence of Darkness is definitely outside of the realm of my usual reads, I do think it is a solid story with appeal to those who favor horror, murder and thrillers.
July 15, 2024
FBI Special Agent Elliot Cooper is sent to investigate a case of missing children in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. There he encounters and is transformed into an unexplained entity. Lauren Chambers an ex trainee and lover offers to help Elliot after a series of unexplained occurrences. I wanted to like this book more than I ended up doing. The premise was a good one and drew me to the book. It was too descriptive in some parts and I kind of got lost. The ending was a bit ambiguous and seemed rushed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and freely given.
**This book was translated from French and unlike other translated books this one was easy to read.**
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and freely given.
**This book was translated from French and unlike other translated books this one was easy to read.**
July 1, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
A highly experienced, intelligent FBI agent is sent to a small town in Pennsylvania to find and bring back, alive, some very young children that have gone missing without a trace of evidence. They were not seen or heard; nor had they been left alone and yet they were gone. It is Agent Elliot Cooper’s job to find out what happened and bring the abductor to justice. A job he is entirely capable of completing. Until the perpetrator dissipates into thin air transforming into a black swirl enveloping Cooper.
This frightening tale of Hominum Primus claiming the right to possess earth because they were first to inhabit it is the downfall of Cooper’s investigation. As the black swirl engulfed him, he became less and less human. The investigation into the disappearance of the children was now in danger of remaining unsolved. Or was it? Could Cooper continue in his humanity or would he be lost to the influence of the ancient humans? Where would it end? Could Cooper save humanity?
A highly experienced, intelligent FBI agent is sent to a small town in Pennsylvania to find and bring back, alive, some very young children that have gone missing without a trace of evidence. They were not seen or heard; nor had they been left alone and yet they were gone. It is Agent Elliot Cooper’s job to find out what happened and bring the abductor to justice. A job he is entirely capable of completing. Until the perpetrator dissipates into thin air transforming into a black swirl enveloping Cooper.
This frightening tale of Hominum Primus claiming the right to possess earth because they were first to inhabit it is the downfall of Cooper’s investigation. As the black swirl engulfed him, he became less and less human. The investigation into the disappearance of the children was now in danger of remaining unsolved. Or was it? Could Cooper continue in his humanity or would he be lost to the influence of the ancient humans? Where would it end? Could Cooper save humanity?
June 24, 2020
I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from Tom Clearlake and Moonlight publishers through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book has been translated from the original French text. I will say that I found the writing to be more verbose than I enjoy but this may be a style of writing more commonly used in French books. The first half of the book included a lot of detailed and lengthy descriptions that almost made me give up on the book. Once that background information was laid down and we got into the nitty gritty of the book I didn’t want to put it down.
So, if I had given up before reaching the halfway mark, I would have given this book one or two stars. However, the second half receives four stars as it was exciting, fast paced, and kept me interested in learning what would happen next. Which is why I am giving this book three stars as the overall rating.
This book has been translated from the original French text. I will say that I found the writing to be more verbose than I enjoy but this may be a style of writing more commonly used in French books. The first half of the book included a lot of detailed and lengthy descriptions that almost made me give up on the book. Once that background information was laid down and we got into the nitty gritty of the book I didn’t want to put it down.
So, if I had given up before reaching the halfway mark, I would have given this book one or two stars. However, the second half receives four stars as it was exciting, fast paced, and kept me interested in learning what would happen next. Which is why I am giving this book three stars as the overall rating.
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