And After That, the Dark

by Charlotte Hughes

Prepare yourself for a top-notch thriller. Charlotte Hughes grabs the reader on page 1 with, "I was 15 the night Daryl Buckmeyer died." Emily Wilkop witnessed Daryl's murder and the memory haunts her for years. Now 30 and responsible for her late sister's emotionally troubled daughter, Emily finds the fear of that night rushing back at her. Someone is after her and no one will listen, not even the former Chicago cop who recently moved to town. Hughes' talent leaves you impatiently waiting for her next book.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Suspense

361 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 1997

About the author

Charlotte Hughes published her first category romance in 1987, a Bantam Books’ Loveswept, titled Too Many Husbands, which immediately shot to #1 on the Waldenbooks Bestseller list. She went on to write almost thirty books before the line closed in 1998.

Although Charlotte is widely known for her laugh-out-loud romantic comedies, she went on to pen three Maggie-Award winning thrillers for Avon Books in the late nineties, before resuming her first love, funny stories about people falling in love. She thrilled readers with her hilarious books, A New Attitude and Hot Shot, the latter of which won the Waldenbooks Greatest Sales Growth Achievement in 2003.

Her books received so many accolades that she was invited to co-author the very popular Full House series with mega-star author Janet Evanovich.

With that series behind her, Charlotte began her own, starring psychologist Kate Holly; What Looks Like Crazy, Nutcase, and High Anxiety, creating a list of somewhat kooky but always loveable and funny ensemble characters.

Charlotte is currently launching Tall, Dark and Bad, starring Summer Pettigrew and bad boy Cooper Garrett. She is writing a series set in the Lowcountry that is a WIP.




www.readcharlottehughes.com or her blog at http://blog.readcharlottehughes.com"

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book while browsing BookSwap. I love Charlotte Hughes and just clicked Ship. When I got it I naturally put it on my To Read Romance shelf (I have a number of different shelves of books waiting to be read). I picked it up last week to read and was into it about ten pages and kinda wondered about the theme. I peeked at the spine and imagine my surprise when it said Suspense. I don't read many of those kind of books--mysteries (mostly cozies), but not suspense. Still I was enjoying the story so I decided to read on. Boy am I glad I did.

This is Charlotte Hughes first suspense novel and it was Good. She had me guessing till the very end and it wasn't until the last few pages that I figured it out. I definitely recommend this one.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this at a little free library on holidays. Brought it home 1/2 way done and it ended up on my massive tbr shelf. The story was easy to pick up after all that time. Witness to a terrible crime as a child, Emily is still troubled 15 years later. She and her niece, Molly, deal with the darkness growing in their town.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't aware that before she made her name as a comedy writer Hughes wrote 3 award-winning mysteries...this is one of them & I wasn't overly impressed - though to be fair I did have high expectations.
It got off to a slow start, picking up once Clinton came on the scene. While it didn't grip me like I had hoped it would, it was interesting enough for me to keep reading rather than giving up on it but I would have liked more depth in the characters - & some tension & banter between Emily & Clinton wouldn't have gone amiss. There were a few red herrings but the lack of possible villains means you'll have worked out who's doing it long before the end!

[Rayven · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cleaver thriller on who was the killer and I had my suspensions but it kept throwing you off, I got it right in the end 😅

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had a lot of holes in the plot.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Religion, the Deep South and mystery engulf this novel. Emily, the 'good' child, witnesses a murder. Fifteen years later, her older sister Lurlene dies under mysterious circumstances. At that time Emily acquires her niece, Molly, who slowly melts her heart. The story continues with unexplained attempts on Emily's life and Molly changing her temperament. Neither understands why bad things are happening now.

Meanwhile, Clinton, who worked for the law in Chicago, has moved to their town. Feelings between both of them start to simmer while he keeps a watch over Emily. Written in the first person, I did not have a problem with the story. There is plenty of tension to this mystery. Who is after her and who can she trust? Will something come of her relationship with Clinton? You'll need to read the book to find the answers. Comment | Permalink

[Andrea Hickman Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good mystery story, if a little on the obvious side. At least, it's obvious if you've read a pile of these books (like me!). The characters are engaging and the plot is almost completely believable. One of the things I had trouble with is the idea that a (modern) thirteen year old is really going to believe all the religious nonsense that is thrown at her given the fact that the majority of the people she interacts with do not seem to believe the same things. Maybe I don't know enough about how religious brainwashing works, but I don't think you could do it like that.

Anyway, this is a fun light mystery, perfect for an after-supper bath.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I picked it up to glance at it and ended up sitting down with it until it was finished. The suspense was enough that when the back door opened itself and I went to close it, I took a heavy object with me! However, about two-thirds of the way through the suspense began to unravel and I pretty much knew whodunnit. I will definitely be pursuing Charlotte Hughes' other two psychological thrillers.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

And After That, the Dark (Charlotte Hughes)

A light thriller with a good plot. I did figure out who the killer was, but I am a fan of Charlotte Hughes. She certainly knows how to switch genres, and does it well.

Emily Wilkop, at age 15 witnessed a murder, she kept the secret and never told. Now 15 years later things begin to happen, it appears someone is out to scare her, or maybe worse even kill her.

[Marianne Stehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started this book I felt like Charlotte Hughes should keep writing comedy, but about half way through this book took off and the thrills started coming nonstop. It was a great suspenseful read.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thriller. I didn't see the twist coming and was shocked.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it.

[Anne Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her romantic comedies are better

[Cyndi Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

actually I finished it in 3 days really enjoyed it

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story...hard to put down.

[Mel]

good,suspencful