She’s talented. Perhaps it all started when she was younger and her great aunt showed her how to repair porcelain dolls or it’s her own strict attention to detail, Rory is great at her job. As a forensic reconstructionist, Rory gives everything she has, when she is working. It begins with the task of restoring a porcelain doll which belongs to a grieving father and extends to Rory tending to her father’s affairs after his death. Rory attention to detail, investigation and competition extends to all aspects of her life, no matter the outcome.

Reconnecting with her great aunt in a new environment, Rory uses the toy to try to reconnect her great aunt to the real world. The simple closing of her father’s business, after his death, turns into a major undertaking as she uncovers some information about her father. Where exactly that puts Rory now that she is part of her father’s business is another question she has to consider?

I thought this was a fast read and I couldn’t put it down/stop thinking about it after I got about halfway through it. I liked the twists and turns that this novel provided in the second half. I enjoyed the characters and I liked that Rory felt like a normal, everyday person. I enjoyed the drama. I couldn’t get too comfortable, as something would change in the novel and I would have to readjust my thinking. This is my first novel by this author but I am looking forward to more by Charlie. 4.5 stars

I received a copy of this novel from Kensington Publishing Co. & NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion. - thank you!

A fast paced gripping thriller. Well developed characters, an amazing intrincated structure and so many twists and turns, plus the writer has a brilliant style.

Some Choose Darkness

by Charlie Donlea

I am very conflicted as I finish Charlie Donlea’s Some Choose Darkness. The reason? It turned out to be more of a thriller than I had anticipated. This reader’s taste leans towards Agatha Christie and cozy mysteries. I cut my teeth on Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. I avoid thrillers because they stir me up too much. I chose to read Some Choose Darkness because I had read a book by Donlea previously and enjoyed it. Somehow I did not expect an intense work of fiction about a serial killer. The problem is that although in some ways I didn’t enjoy reading it, I felt compelled to finish the tale, to make all of the pieces fit together. Donlea has masterfully crafted a thriller with so many layers and connections that rapid page turning is a necessity. Add to the plot not one, but two characters with autism and obsessive/compulsive disorder and this retired teacher is all over it.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery and Thriller

Publication: May 28, 2019—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

With Lane’s reputation as a forensic psychologist and criminal profiler for the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, and Rory’s credentials as a reconstructionist who pieced together the very findings the algorithm looked for, they made the perfect team. Police departments listened to their conclusions, and many had started using Lane’s software to track homicides on their own.

Like a tuning fork that has been tapped, the vibration from the mystery surrounding the woman was at once barely audible but yet impossible to ignore.

Rory’s greatest gift was her ability to piece together cold cases, to pore over the facts and discover things other investigators missed until a picture of the crime—and sometimes the perpetrator—became clear in her mind. Her understanding of a killer’s thinking and motive came from examining the carnage he left behind.

BOOK REVIEW: Some Choose Darkness by Charlie Donlea

Description- A modern master of suspense, critically acclaimed author Charlie Donlea returns with a taught, gripping novel about deadly secrets hiding in plain sight.....

Well, he's done it again!
This story is not one to miss.....and I'm not a thriller, murder mystery reader, until this particular author's stories, came my way.....

An alluring, compelling, page-turner that will not let go. Mr. Donlea has created a fluid portrayal of thrilling content.
Suspenseful, gripping and engrossing.

A story of murder, obsession and search for truth has been masterfully compiled in true Charlie Donlea style. It pulses with intrigue and leads you to wanting more.

The characters portrayed are strong, flaws and all, and add to the depth of this narrative.

If you've never read this particular author, I highly recommend you do.

Thank you to Kensington Publishers for this ARC in order that I may read and review, and to the author for yet another first-rate read.

5 Stars

#SomeChooseDarkness
#CharlieDonlea
#KensingtonPublishing

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Excellent Thriller from Charlie Donlea. I enjoy all his books and this one does not disappoint. 5stars

Not my very favorite, but definitely not the worst book I have read. While it had some great aspects and a fun premise, with the cold case, I felt it was a bit slower paced than I enjoy. I think it’s a good read though, just not mind blowing for me.

This was one thrilling breath holding book. This author never fail to keep me glued to the pages and the ending was very good!

Donlea delivers again with a brilliant crime novel. I've loved his books since "The Girl Who Was Taken" and this one did not disappoint. I'm a bit late in sending my review for this and as a result I can say that I have been hand selling this and have had a lot of customers come back and thank me for it and look for more recommendations. 5 stars.

Kensington Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Some Choose Darkness. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Rory Moore is a forensic reconstructionist who specializes in solving cases for which the police have exhausted all avenues. When her lawyer father's unexpected death thrusts Rory into his professional world, forcing her to become the attorney of record for a parolee convicted of murder, will her natural ability allow the woman to see a pattern that others did not? Will Rory be able to reconcile the disappearances of five women decades before, solving what was before unsolvable?

Rory has issues dealing with people, but can solve complicated puzzles that have been long since abandoned by law enforcement. I liked how the author shows her processing strengths via the reconstruction of the porcelain dolls. Rory is able to fit seemingly unrelated pieces together, coming up with a complete picture. When she comes face to face with her own past, the woman makes a decision that is not entirely in keeping with her character. Some of the plot points are so transparent, which ruins the suspense for me. I am not really a fan of the dual perspective format of Some Choose Darkness, mainly because the author spends too much time keeping the plot lines separate. Overall, I did like the character of Rory Moore and think she is interesting enough to read more about if the author writes another novel featuring her. The novel was good, but Some Choose Darkness was missing the essential spark to make it great.

A serial killer tempted by the ultimate ecstasy even if it costs him his life and a lawyer suffering from stress. They are connected in some way and the answer will help put someone in prison for their crimes.
Rory is a forensic reconstructionist with a love for restoring China dolls and a strong aversion to people. After the death of her lawyer father she is forced to take on one of his clients due for release after long term incarceration. She searches his office for information as to why he would have taken on such high profile case.
Angela is a woman with an incredible ability to link large amounts of information. After five young woman are murdered she becomes fixated on finding the connections missed by everyone else. The results are far worse than she imagined and may even cost her her life. Neither of these women fit into mainstream stereotypes and share similarities including an aversion to people.
Rory was my favourite character and that was due to her being a little different to the usual female in police mystery thrillers. It was unusual she wasn't given any love interest but it made a welcome change from the usual. If I can have another favourite it would be Angela as I admired how she pulled herself from the brink to find happiness and fought hard to stay there. Despite her problems she manages to uncover a killer and place her own life at risk.
One will die and the other unlock answers to her past in a gripping hunt for a twisted murder thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Roy Moore, a forensic Reconstructionist investigator and solves cold cases,
She has OCD. She's definitely not always likable. Now she's been given a Cold Case dealing with a man being released from prison after 40 years, was only convicted of one murder suspected of being a serial killer..... this book pulled me in from the very first page and I wasn't able to put it down it took me a minute to pick it up but once I did I could not stop reading I would definitely read more books from this author thank you so much for this I recommend it to everyone.

First of all i love cold cases, which is what got my attention straight away. I was emotionally connected with the characters straight away. I was so caught up in the book and couldnt wait to read more at any opportunity. It has a time travel theme in the book as well. You wont be disappointed with this one. I cant wait to read the other books written by Charlie. This book has changed the title in Australia it is called The woman in Darkness.

3.75 stars Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Publication was May 28, 2019.

This book was definitely character driven. Which as I understated it, is a habit of Charlie Donlea. This being my first book by him, I am sure it will not be my last.

Going back to a serial murderer called The Thief, this book takes place in 1979 and also in current day. As is so popular, this story is made up of alternating chapters.

One of our main protagonists is Rory, a forensic reconstructionalist, who works on cold cases for the Chicago PD. Soon after her attorney fathers' death she finds out that he has been a substantial partner of the incarcerated serial murderer. What is the connection? And why has her father kept this a secret?

Our other main protagonist is Angela, an autistic woman leading the 1979 story line, who had come close to solving the crimes of the The Thief, however no one wanted to believe her. The question now is whether she is still alive. The Thief was imprisoned for her murder - the only one that they could prove - however her body was never found.

The tension in this story is riveting making it so easy to turn pages. And the ending!! Nothing that I saw coming. Great all around mystery thriller - with another book coming - that also highlights Rory, the forensic reconstructionalist.

Rory Moore is a forensic reconstructionist. In addition to restoring old china dolls to their original perfection, she also has a unique ability to see crimes, patterns and offenders in ways that others cannot, which makes her a valuable asset to Detective Ron Davidson, who frequently utilizes her abilities. After a six-month hiatus, he’s tossed another case her way, in the form of a broken Kessler doll – who’s young owner was murdered. Shortly thereafter, she receives a call from her father’s assistant, informing her of his death that morning, at home.

As Rory struggles to come to terms with her attorney father’s death, she has to reassign all of his casework to other area attorneys. While doing so, she finds records of a client that her father has done over 30 years of work for – and his parole board meeting is coming up quickly – leaving Rory no time to reassign the case. A lawyer herself, she must assume her father’s role in the proceedings. In researching his case, Rory learns of a young woman, Angela Mitchell, who 40 years ago, diligently worked to gather evidence against a suspect known only as The Thief, submitting it to law enforcement, before she too, became a victim. Rory feels a strange kinship with the woman, who is the only victim that The Thief (and her present client) was convicted of killing. But no trace of her body was ever found.

As Rory works to secure her client’s release, she begins to explore the mystery of Angela Mitchell, The Thief, and the missing victims he’s believed to have killed, and in doing so, unwittingly opens the door to a past that was best left buried…

Told in excerpts from Angela’s life in 1979, the killers life and Rory’s investigation in the present, the storylines converge with wild twists and turns as Rory attempts to put the pieces together, and all lines converge in a surprising (or not so surprising, but no less thrilling) climax that will keep you turning pages well into the night! I very much enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery. Hoping that we’ll be seeing more of Rory Moore in the near future as well!! Great read!!

I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

I didn’t totally connect with this one. The writing style was a bit different and not my favorite. There are multiple points of view and timeframes. The transitions between these were well handled. This took me time to get into as not much happens for quite some time.

I liked the idea of Rory but the actual character itself didn’t always come across as the super sleuth I was led to believe she’d be. Other than that aspect, I enjoyed the character. It was refreshing to see a strong, capable individual actually living life even when they reside on the spectrum.

I figured out some things pretty easily but not everything. I thought things were going to go one way and on that I wasn’t even close. The conclusion was alright, not entirely believable and with a few holes but it’s fiction! Pls give it a shot though because so many reviewers that I follow and trust really like it, it just may have come at me at a bad time...

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Kensington Books for a copy in exchange for a review.

Would I be taking it too far when I say this book made me a little obsessive-compulsive? I don't know how I stumbled upon Charlie Donlea, but I am so glad that I did. Every free second I had, I had this book in my hands. There is something so comforting about this author and the stories he's able to bring to life. I honestly wouldn't mind this turning into a series because how Rory's brain works is super intriguing.

"The trust is easy to miss, even when it's right in front of us."

As a person who has always been fascinated with serial killers and their own certain *rituals* or *marks*, this book really fit into my wheelhouse of thrillers to read. What's especially special about this book is Donlea's two main female characters being on the Autism Spectrum. While I don't have a ton of knowledge about this, I do know that in the past autism would be diagnosed as something else and would be a detriment to the person afflicted. Donlea definitely manages to showcase this in a very respectful but harrowing way.

Both Rory and Angela are extremely fascinating characters. I love that both are strong women that deal with their own secrets and share the commonality of extraordinary minds that give them that something special in seeing things others may not. This works well especially for Rory in her line of work in solving old cases.

This book is a bit darker than the only other book I've read by Donlea, but not so much as to deter any reader. The opening and ending are sandwiching the amazing filling that never wastes words in the telling of the story. What I love about Donlea is his way of smoothly revealing any of the little twists we find throughout. There's no big slap in the face but rather a "gooooootcha, there it is... wow" type of feel. Some things I think were fairly obvious but others I wasn't expecting.

This was a little bit of a slower pace than I typically like. However, I was help captivated about what where the story was going. I did feel like the ending did leave room for a potential sequel but to be honest, I hope not as I think this book stands alone strongly and to be honest, there are enough sequels in my life that I'd be remiss to have to promise myself to another (though if this did move on into a series read, then it wouldn't be hateful and OF COURSE I'd read it!).

"Some choose darkness, others are chosen by it."

I liked this book a lot. I was a bit let down with the ending but it still had a fast-paced solid storyline throughout.

<i>Some choose darkness, others are chosen by it."</i>

"The Thief" is a serial killer suspected of killing six women in 1979. He would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for Angela Mitchell. It is her unique way of puzzling together the evidence of his crimes that leads to his arrest. Now 40 years later Inmate Four-Six is up for parole. The case falls in Rory Moore's lap after the death of her father. She is immediately drawn to Angela Mitchell's story and she can't help but wonder what her father true intentions were when he took on this case. <b>Some Choose Darkness</b> is my first Charlie Donlea novel. It has just the right mixture of twists and turns to keep you in suspense and enough character development to get you invested in the storyline. I particularly liked how he used what some might see as weakness in his two protagonists their strength.

<i>Special thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for access to this work.</i>

I am one of many that count myself as a fan of Charlie Donlea after having read several of his previous novels so it wasn’t a question that I wanted to read Some Choose Darkness. This one is a thriller that again has multiple points of view and also alternates timelines.

The one thing standing out the most to me with Some Choose Darkness was immediately noticing the quirkiness to the characters and finding what we have here is a novel with not one but two high functioning females with autism. I seriously applaud the author for tackling their distinct personalities and bringing them to life realistically in this book.

Rory Moore is our lead in the story in the present timeline who is a forensic reconstructionist by choice but also holds a law degree although she chose not to practice. Rory finds herself brought into her father’s firm to clean up his cases when he suddenly passes away.

Rory found most of the work was easy to delegate and clear up but did find one particular case to be a problem. A decades old file on a criminal known as The Thief who was thought to have murdered multiple women only to end up charged with the murder of one, but was that one still alive?

As usual with Charlie Donlea’s stories readers will find wonderful writing that just sucks readers right into the mystery and suspense and doesn’t let go until the end. As mentioned the characters are brilliantly done and certainly nothing cookie cutter to them or to the story overall. Definitely an engaging thriller leaving me to rate this one at 4 1/2 stars.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.