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In Dark Places
A brilliant female scientist on the verge of a remarkable discovery in psychiatric medicine. A troubled cop with a terrifying secret. A serial killer with plans for both of them. It begins with the killer's escape from a mental hospital. It ends in places darker than anyone's dared to go before...
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
46 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Michael Prescott
49 books167 followersA pseudonym used by Douglas Borton, aka Brian Harper.
Douglas Borton grew up in New Jersey and attended Wesleyan University, then moved to Los Angeles and pursued a career as a screenwriter. After working with several independent producers, he eventually switched to writing novels, a much less stressful occupation. He has published 25 thrillers, starting with horror novels in the 1980s and continuing with suspense and crime novels in the '90s and beyond. His latest book is Bad to the Bone (2015), a sequel to Blood in the Water (2014). After twenty years in traditional publishing, he went the indie route in 2011 and has become one of America's bestselling ebook writers.
Douglas Borton grew up in New Jersey and attended Wesleyan University, then moved to Los Angeles and pursued a career as a screenwriter. After working with several independent producers, he eventually switched to writing novels, a much less stressful occupation. He has published 25 thrillers, starting with horror novels in the 1980s and continuing with suspense and crime novels in the '90s and beyond. His latest book is Bad to the Bone (2015), a sequel to Blood in the Water (2014). After twenty years in traditional publishing, he went the indie route in 2011 and has become one of America's bestselling ebook writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
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January 27, 2018Had to quit reading when I got to the part about the dog fighting pit.
THIS IS NO FAULT OF THE AUTHOR! I have read many of Mr. Prescott's novels and they are incredible - and will no doubt read more. I do have "shell shock" (PTSD) from decades in canine rescue - and literally cannot read or see cruelty to animals without getting sick.
That is why I marked no stars, because it shows me I "read" it but my own personal issue was what caused me to quit reading. My apologies to the author.
THIS IS NO FAULT OF THE AUTHOR! I have read many of Mr. Prescott's novels and they are incredible - and will no doubt read more. I do have "shell shock" (PTSD) from decades in canine rescue - and literally cannot read or see cruelty to animals without getting sick.
That is why I marked no stars, because it shows me I "read" it but my own personal issue was what caused me to quit reading. My apologies to the author.
October 15, 2024
Доктор Робин Камерън е психиатър и вярва, че всеки заслужава втори шанс, дори осъдените убийци. Един от нейните пациенти, който бележи значителен прогрес в експерименталното ѝ лечение, е серийният убиец Джъстин Грей, отнел живота на пет тийнейджърки. Друг от нейните пациенти е ченгето Бранд, страдащ от посттравматичен стрес, след като е застрелял престъпник при изпълнение на служебните си задължения. След един сеанс с Бранд, доктор Камерън започва да подозира, че инцидентът с него не е нещастен случай. Нещата стават още по-лоши, когато при друг сеанс Джъстин Грей успява да избяга, а малко след това дъщеря ѝ Мег, която е на годините на жертвите на Грей, е отвлечена..
Историята определено имаше потенциал и очаквах да харесам тази книга. Анотацията ме заинтригува, най-вече защото щях да се сблъскам с повече от един отрицателен герой.
Започвам да изреждам нещата, които не ми харесаха, понеже не са малко. Стилът на авторът беше елементарен и бе трудно да задържи вниманието на читателя върху случващото се. Действието бе мудно, а през повечето време не случваше нищо интересно, като изключим финалните сцени. Това, което според мен беше най-големият проблем на романа бяха героите. В тях нямаше почти никаква дълбочина и оригиналност, а действията им бяха меко казано странни и лишени от достоверност. Трудно бе да харесаш някого, а още по малко да му съчувстваш. Образът на доктор Камерън беше клише, тя вярваше че може да реабилитира осъдени престъпници и по-този начин да направи света по-добро място. Също така Робин живееше в опасен квартал и постоянно се тревожеше за дъщеря си Мег, но допусна тя да я посети на работа, където имаше възможността да срещне истински сериен убиец, чиито жертви са на нейната възраст!?! Дотук добре, но Мег изглеждаше едва ли не възхитена от Джъстин и дори започна да говори като него. Джъстин Грей също беше доста противоречив образ, мотивите му бяха неясни, а действията му още по-нелогични.
Всички събития в книгата се случиха в рамките на два, максимум три дни, но това с нищо не повиши напрежението. Реалната ми оценка е около две и половина звезди, понеже все пак към края имаше екшън и обрати, макар рано да отгатнах кой в действителност дърпаше конците. Закръглям оценката на щедри три звезди, защото въпреки клишетата и липсата на достоверност в героите, все пак книгата беше съвсем приличен на моменти трилър.
Историята определено имаше потенциал и очаквах да харесам тази книга. Анотацията ме заинтригува, най-вече защото щях да се сблъскам с повече от един отрицателен герой.
Започвам да изреждам нещата, които не ми харесаха, понеже не са малко. Стилът на авторът беше елементарен и бе трудно да задържи вниманието на читателя върху случващото се. Действието бе мудно, а през повечето време не случваше нищо интересно, като изключим финалните сцени. Това, което според мен беше най-големият проблем на романа бяха героите. В тях нямаше почти никаква дълбочина и оригиналност, а действията им бяха меко казано странни и лишени от достоверност. Трудно бе да харесаш някого, а още по малко да му съчувстваш. Образът на доктор Камерън беше клише, тя вярваше че може да реабилитира осъдени престъпници и по-този начин да направи света по-добро място. Също така Робин живееше в опасен квартал и постоянно се тревожеше за дъщеря си Мег, но допусна тя да я посети на работа, където имаше възможността да срещне истински сериен убиец, чиито жертви са на нейната възраст!?! Дотук добре, но Мег изглеждаше едва ли не възхитена от Джъстин и дори започна да говори като него. Джъстин Грей също беше доста противоречив образ, мотивите му бяха неясни, а действията му още по-нелогични.
Всички събития в книгата се случиха в рамките на два, максимум три дни, но това с нищо не повиши напрежението. Реалната ми оценка е около две и половина звезди, понеже все пак към края имаше екшън и обрати, макар рано да отгатнах кой в действителност дърпаше конците. Закръглям оценката на щедри три звезди, защото въпреки клишетата и липсата на достоверност в героите, все пак книгата беше съвсем приличен на моменти трилър.
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June 1, 2025Great book. You didn't know which way it was going until the end. Michael Prescott kept you thinking about the "who did it"all the way through the book. It was definitely dark
November 8, 2015
3 Stars
In Dark Places is a pretty decent thriller about a psychiatrist who is on the verge of having technology that may finally be key in helping criminals who were victim of past violence to break the cycle and keep themselves out of prison and be productive members of society. Her research brings her to Los Angeles where she has been given permission to try her treatment on a serial killer, Justin Gray. A man who killed 5 teen-aged girls before being caught. Dr. Robin Cameron wants to see if she can help Justin and maybe even cure him. She's also asked to take on a police officer as a test subject, a man suffering from what seems to be PTSD after being involved in a shooting where he took the life of another man.
The characters are fairly unsympathetic and for the most part, difficult to relate to. You know that there's something not quite right when you start to root for the convicted serial killer. There were several times where I just wanted to smack Dr. Cameron upside the head and call her a naive idiot. It's okay to have an optimistic outlook and to believe in your research, but when all signs point in one direction and you're stubbornly going the other way? That's just looking for trouble.
Some of the other characters have absolutely no redeeming qualities and others just seemed to be thrown in as an afterthought and lent nothing to the story itself. There were also points where the point of view got lost, it reached a point where it was nearly impossible to figure out who was doing the talking. But...
The story is fast paced and there are plenty of twists and turns throughout the book. I didn't see many of the twists that came about at all. So definitely a thumbs up in that regard. Too many suspense novels are formulaic to the point where you can guess what's going to happen and who is going to do it. I was surprised several times through the story with where the story arc went. If you're looking for a decent suspense novel with good twists, pick this one up.
In Dark Places is a pretty decent thriller about a psychiatrist who is on the verge of having technology that may finally be key in helping criminals who were victim of past violence to break the cycle and keep themselves out of prison and be productive members of society. Her research brings her to Los Angeles where she has been given permission to try her treatment on a serial killer, Justin Gray. A man who killed 5 teen-aged girls before being caught. Dr. Robin Cameron wants to see if she can help Justin and maybe even cure him. She's also asked to take on a police officer as a test subject, a man suffering from what seems to be PTSD after being involved in a shooting where he took the life of another man.
The characters are fairly unsympathetic and for the most part, difficult to relate to. You know that there's something not quite right when you start to root for the convicted serial killer. There were several times where I just wanted to smack Dr. Cameron upside the head and call her a naive idiot. It's okay to have an optimistic outlook and to believe in your research, but when all signs point in one direction and you're stubbornly going the other way? That's just looking for trouble.
Some of the other characters have absolutely no redeeming qualities and others just seemed to be thrown in as an afterthought and lent nothing to the story itself. There were also points where the point of view got lost, it reached a point where it was nearly impossible to figure out who was doing the talking. But...
The story is fast paced and there are plenty of twists and turns throughout the book. I didn't see many of the twists that came about at all. So definitely a thumbs up in that regard. Too many suspense novels are formulaic to the point where you can guess what's going to happen and who is going to do it. I was surprised several times through the story with where the story arc went. If you're looking for a decent suspense novel with good twists, pick this one up.
January 14, 2013
In Dark Places was a fast moving, entertaining thrill ride. But in this book like the last one I read, I found a few issues. Again, in this book, none of the characters were all too like able. I mean, when you are actually rooting for the serial killer part of the time, even though it was part of the plot twist, something isn't right. Which brings up another problem, too many plot twists, it started getting old near the end. My final problem again, was overdetailedness. So much needless info packed into an already long book just makes it feel that much longer. For example, when Dr. Cameron meets Wolper at the cafe or whatever, why did we need to know about the comic book shop across the way getting hit? We didn't, and I'm glad I just skimmed that paragraph.
Now it might seem that with all these complaints I didn't enjoy the book, which couldn't be further from the truth. It was a very enjoyable read, and I always wanted to keep going to know what would happen next. The complaints are pretty minor, and if you don't get "creeped out" to easily, this book is a fun read. Oh yeah, that was another thing, this author also seemed to be trying to go heavy on the "creep out" factor. Again I didn't mind to much, but sometimes it feels like the authors try to pack it in as much as they can just for the heck of it.
Now it might seem that with all these complaints I didn't enjoy the book, which couldn't be further from the truth. It was a very enjoyable read, and I always wanted to keep going to know what would happen next. The complaints are pretty minor, and if you don't get "creeped out" to easily, this book is a fun read. Oh yeah, that was another thing, this author also seemed to be trying to go heavy on the "creep out" factor. Again I didn't mind to much, but sometimes it feels like the authors try to pack it in as much as they can just for the heck of it.
February 26, 2008
I've enjoyed a few of Michael Prescott's thrillers over the years. I usually can't remember which ones I've read, though. The plots don't stay in my mind with most books I read of this nature. Prescott is better than average, though.
Great line from this book:
"Never complain about getting your daily sugar fix. Regular intake of highly sweetened snack foods is the key to happiness."
Amen, brother!!
Great line from this book:
"Never complain about getting your daily sugar fix. Regular intake of highly sweetened snack foods is the key to happiness."
Amen, brother!!
August 26, 2015
Terrific story.
At the beginning you'll be ready to put it down, but story will grabs you and you won't be able to put it down. Thrilling ride, story of two days suspense doesn't let up until the last shocking end. ALERT: bloody animal cruelty described detailed will make you sick.
At the beginning you'll be ready to put it down, but story will grabs you and you won't be able to put it down. Thrilling ride, story of two days suspense doesn't let up until the last shocking end. ALERT: bloody animal cruelty described detailed will make you sick.
March 25, 2021
Eh, cliche after cliche after cliche. Predictable for the most part although there were some surprises that kept me interested. Such as a cop engaging in dog fighting. Never predicted that. Also my heart was pounding when the serial killer was trying to escape. He had to make it before this electro shock therapy machine was turned on.... and it was INTENSE!!!!! (Even though I already knew he was going to escape)
One part had cops shooing away a couple of civilians who stopped to watch an arrest. 'Official cop business. Back away nothing to see here.' Were along the words that were used to disperse the civilians. "That scattered the unlockers. Nobody wanted to get mixed up in any police action." (P.257) I had to roll my eyes at this part. Nowadays people will be filming it on their cell phones for WorldStar.
Characters were really unrelatable. I didn't care what happened to them.
The book has its goofy moments in it. One such exhibition was when the doctor restrains herself onto her hypnotize machine. Think of this contraption as a nonlethal electric chair, the kind you see in old black and white horror movies with the crazy mad scientist.
Is our non-relatable protagonist alone doing this? Heavens no! This professional textbook nerd* is accompanied by a fellow. A fellow researcher who knows what to do with this gizmo? NOPE!!!! But next best thing: a police officer (Never Fear!!!)
So she feels the need to strap herself down and let the officer conduct the test, even though he is not trained for this and has never done it before. She decides not to tell the non-scientists that she shouldn't be induced more for more than 40 minutes because it can be dangerous. I don't know why she didn't tell him this, she's just stupid.
*Oh and Dr Cameron is totally a textbook nerd who recites psychology definitions left and right. But she has ZERO real-world expierence. Totally unrelatable.
Reading from the serial killers POV was a tad bit more interesting than the rest.
She is not "brilliant" no matter what the back cover says.
FINAL RATING: 26%
If you want a quick read of a novel with predictable story.
Some parts were funny but most of the time I was rolling my eyes. Like how many more cliches can they throw in the last 70 pages?
One part had cops shooing away a couple of civilians who stopped to watch an arrest. 'Official cop business. Back away nothing to see here.' Were along the words that were used to disperse the civilians. "That scattered the unlockers. Nobody wanted to get mixed up in any police action." (P.257) I had to roll my eyes at this part. Nowadays people will be filming it on their cell phones for WorldStar.
Characters were really unrelatable. I didn't care what happened to them.
The book has its goofy moments in it. One such exhibition was when the doctor restrains herself onto her hypnotize machine. Think of this contraption as a nonlethal electric chair, the kind you see in old black and white horror movies with the crazy mad scientist.
Is our non-relatable protagonist alone doing this? Heavens no! This professional textbook nerd* is accompanied by a fellow. A fellow researcher who knows what to do with this gizmo? NOPE!!!! But next best thing: a police officer (Never Fear!!!)
So she feels the need to strap herself down and let the officer conduct the test, even though he is not trained for this and has never done it before. She decides not to tell the non-scientists that she shouldn't be induced more for more than 40 minutes because it can be dangerous. I don't know why she didn't tell him this, she's just stupid.
*Oh and Dr Cameron is totally a textbook nerd who recites psychology definitions left and right. But she has ZERO real-world expierence. Totally unrelatable.
Reading from the serial killers POV was a tad bit more interesting than the rest.
She is not "brilliant" no matter what the back cover says.
FINAL RATING: 26%
If you want a quick read of a novel with predictable story.
Some parts were funny but most of the time I was rolling my eyes. Like how many more cliches can they throw in the last 70 pages?
May 1, 2021
In Dark Places was published in 2004 and I found it to be a pretty run of the mill thriller. The juicy twists don't really come along until after page 300. I fear less stubborn readers than myself might pull the ripcord before they reach those twists. I am not averse to reading other books by Michael Prescott however.
February 28, 2023
Quick easy fascinating read.
I hate to use a cliché, but this was a quick easy read, fascinating mystery. Near the end I thought I had it all figured out, yet there was a twist. I will certainly read another Michael Prescott, but very entertaining.
I hate to use a cliché, but this was a quick easy read, fascinating mystery. Near the end I thought I had it all figured out, yet there was a twist. I will certainly read another Michael Prescott, but very entertaining.
November 6, 2019
Another great one
Luv mr Prescott’s books!! This is a great book! I guessed one of suspects never would have thought of real story!! Thanks for a great book!!
Luv mr Prescott’s books!! This is a great book! I guessed one of suspects never would have thought of real story!! Thanks for a great book!!
May 23, 2020
Very good plot, lots of twists and turns. the ending is not what you would expect, and it is good.
December 2, 2023
Wow. This was my first read by this author, but I am already looking forward to the next. What’s a night with no sleep, staying up until 0630?? It is an absolute 5 star book that I will recommend.
April 29, 2013
This is a very solid, well done mystery/thriller novel. The plot, at first, seems quite straightforward, but as the pages start flying by, it quickly becomes more and more complex. Even the more predictable elements to the plot are superseded by some of the surprises thrown into its climactic conclusion. For a standalone novel, there is actually a pretty large cast - a variety of LAPD officers, the psychologist and her daughter, a serial killer. Prescott makes sure to give each character a complete and fairly distinct backstory, so it is easy to keep them all straight. But, this does slow down the pacing of the beginning of the novel as all these introductions are made. But, once these introductions are firmly made, the plot escalates. Prescott maintains a consistent level of tension that rises as you near the end. It’s an exciting read with well-rounded characters and a plot with plenty of surprises. I am looking forward to reading some of Prescott’s other novels!
July 31, 2010
Robin Cameron is a brilliant scientist on the verge of a breakthrough in psychiatric treatment for mental patients. But first she must enter he unforgiving darkness of their minds.One patient is Justin Gray-a serial killer who favors teenage girls. For all Robin's research, she'll never understand his true motive or guess what he has planned next...beginning with his escape.Another patient is traumatized LAPD cop Alan Brand. He doesn't want Robin playing with is memories-because he has a secret about his last night on the streets that no living soul should ever know.Then Brand disappears. So does Robin's teenage daughter. Now it's time for Gray to play with Robin's mind and lead her to a place far darker than she's ever ventured before.
January 30, 2016
Wow, this book definitely should be if not an "American Suspense Classic". This was one of my first novels that I read on this level. I'm still amazed how twisted and surprising it is. Prescott walks you through the life of a psychiatrist who experiments with both a criminal and a cop with her daughter hanging in the balance. The author continues to walk you through a deep dark rabbit whole of clues that inevitably brings you back full circle to Robin's (psychiatrist) mental experiments on her patients. A real page turner. Enjoy this suspense thriller!
Stone Michaels, Author of Defining Atlas
Stone Michaels, Author of Defining Atlas
November 27, 2010
It's official now-- I must be old! I read this book and loved every minute of it and then when I finished and added it to my list of books I've read by this author I realized I had read it before!!!! Well, all I can say is I enjoyed it the second time and gives hope to me in my old age that I won't have to buy new books but just reread the ones I have!
Prescott always keeps you in suspense with his twists and turns and you never know who is going to be the villain!
Prescott always keeps you in suspense with his twists and turns and you never know who is going to be the villain!
January 13, 2014
Another on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller! Although I found it somewhat hard to believe Robin's luck, bravery, insight, what have you that she is able to piece things together so nicely, the book is a good read regardless. Just when I thought I had things figured out, a horrifying twist is thrown in by Prescott. AGH!!! This story makes it hard to trust anyone anymore.
November 1, 2015
This is the tenth book by Michael Prescott that I've read, and it's pretty much what I expect from this author. A quick paced thriller that held my interest from the beginning right up until the end. There weren't any likable characters here, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. I changed my mind on who the villain was several times, it definitely kept me guessing.
May 25, 2013
not a bad book. one of those, sigh, everyone is evil, except the main character, every cop is on the take, etc. maybe that was supposed to be mistaken for a twist, but i felt the author put in to many bad seeds to be believeable. not a bad book, great read, though.
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April 14, 2008Thriller
March 29, 2011
Pretty good. It didn't end the way I expected it would. Justin lives! He'll be in a sequel, I'm sure....
April 8, 2011
Wow..what a fantastic ride this book was...Had me hooked from the start and had alot of "Huh?" moments from me mixed with a ton of twistedness! I will def. be seeking out more from this author!
February 25, 2012
Another Michael Prescott book, good read.
March 25, 2012
IN DARK PLACES is as totally unbelievable, unrealistic and implausible as a novel can be. R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps books have more realism than this book.
April 2, 2012
This book was okay. It was a page turner, but I was always able to stop at the end of a chapter... I have a copy if you want to read it!
June 13, 2012
awesome book....highly recommend
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July 6, 2012awful! i couldn't make it 50 pages into this book, and i have read a lot of crap in my day and i could not stomach it.
August 7, 2012
It definitely keeps you at the edge of you chair. The ending is not so powerful though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews