I love the televised series so was excited to read a prequel to some of those events. I was not disappointed! The characters differ somewhat from the series but not in a bad way. Very well written and kept my interest from start to finish. This is not a true mystery in the traditional sense of the word but it’s a great combination of sci-fi and mystery and even if you’ve never read sci-fi before you will enjoy this one. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town is the second novel written as a tie in to the Stranger Things Netflix series. Like the first novel (Suspicious Minds) Darkness on the Edge of Town is a prequel. Unlike the first novel, it doesn't occur in Hawkins. Well, most of it doesn't at least.
Darkness on the Edge of Town tells the story of Jim Hopper. Everything takes place well before the adventures in the TV series yet. In fact, this happens before Hopper settles back in Hawkins. Before that he was a homicide detective in NYC. Yes, you read that right.
This novel occurs after Hopper's time in Vietnam, but before his daughter became ill. Just to give you an idea of where this fits in the timeline.
Don't go into Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town expecting it to read exactly like an episode of Stranger Things. Jim Hopper is there, yes, and there are even cameos from Eleven. But that is the extent of the connection.
This novel could be best described as a procedural crime novel, with hints towards the supernatural (but even then they're fairly slim, as they would be in any crime novel). If you go into this book expecting a crime drama, I think you'll enjoy the read. Or if you're hoping to learn more about Hopper. But if you're hoping for more along the lines of Stranger Things (or even Suspicious Minds), I think you'll be disappointed.

Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town was a fun read, on the whole. I really enjoyed learning more about Hopper's past. I knew that he had gone through hell, but I don't think it really hit me just how much he had actually gone through. So this novel did a great job of reminding me that this character had a life and past well before the events in Hawkins.
I enjoyed seeing Hopper back in the days where he seemed to still be truly invested in doing good. When he still had hopes and dreams for his career. It's a refreshing change (though one can argue that this spark was reignited for Hopper as the Netflix series went on).
The way they tied Hopper's past and present was really quite clever. This whole novel was essentially Hopper telling El about his past. Which is cute, when you stop and think about it. Though admittedly sometimes the breaks for El to talk did break the immersion.
The crime elements in this novel were fun and made me realize I should read more along the lines of this plot. I'm not sure if somebody that read a lot of crime novels would love or hate this novel. But I think it held up. My only complaint would be that it got a little meta in places – bringing real life events into the plot and trying to take credit (or blame?) for them.
I really liked Hopper's partner. In a way I think I would have loved to see the whole novel from her perspective. Okay, not really. I enjoyed Hopper's side of things. I just mean that she was a really interesting character, and a good mirror for Hopper's character.
I still maintain that you need to be aware of what type of novel Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town is. Because your expectations will set your experience, especially here. So please keep that in mind before picking this one up.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy.

I liked the novel but also struggled with the pacing and some of the plot. Besides that I found the characters we well written.
My favorite part of the novel was the interactions between Hopper and El, it was the cutest thing in the world. Full review coming soon!

I recommend checking out this well-crafted look at Hopper from Stranger Things.

What a fabulous book. It took me back to characters met on Stranger Things. Hopper tells Eleven about a case he worked when he was a New York homicide detective. I enjoyed learning more about Hopper’s past, and seeing the interactions between him and Eleven as he navigates being a father again is wonderful.

If you love Stranger Things and want to learn more about theses characters, you won’t be disappointed.

This heart-pounding mystery (sort of - you'll see) is a tie-in to the wildly popular Netflix hit Stranger Things. This was my first time ever reading a book that was written about characters from an already built world, and I was worried I wouldn't be able to get into it. Have you ever watched a movie that was based on a book, and then tried to read the book, but because you knew the ending it was spoiled for you? Probably not. I'm weird; I know. But this is why I ALWAYS read a book before I watch the movie or TV show. And I am not generally one to be massively disappointed, because I compartmentalize (thanks therapy!) and keep the book separate from its on-screen counterpart. Darkness on the Edge of Town is different, though. It isn't a retelling of the show we have already seen. What's more, we get some really fun backstory of one of our beloved secondary characters, Jim Hopper.

The story takes place after season two. It is Christmas, and El finds a box with old files and evidence from one of Hopper's cases back in New York. So, the story takes place in the "current time" (Christmas in Hawkins in 1984) with Jim telling her the story about this particular case back in New York (Summer 1977), during a disgusting heat wave with residents already on edge because of the Son of Sam.

The title of the book shares the title of Bruce Springsteen's 4th album that was recorded during the summer of 1977. Not sure who all noticed that, but felt it deserved mentioning. Adam Christopher DID HIS RESEARCH for this book. As an editor, I am in the habit of Googling random things I come across in books if I don't already have a base knowledge of them, just to be sure it is accurate. Sure, this is fiction, but it also needs to be believable. You can't just use a rag with chloroform to knock someone out, contrary to what people think based on shows and movies showing that for dramatic effect. I actually spent an hour one evening searching how to quickly knock someone out to effectively kidnap them. I don't even want to know what kind of watch lists I'm on. I randomly Google the phrase "I'm researching for a book" and hit search, just in case.

First, Christopher nailed Eleven. Her mannerisms and quirkiness - perfection. I can't say whether he fully grasped Jim Hopper as he's seen in Stranger Things, because he is technically a secondary character, but I have to say I adore this version and hope he is portrayed similarly in July when season three drops on Netflix. I think I just have this still-grieving father stuck in my head and that's all I can associate with him. So I'm actually really thankful Adam Christopher was given this opportunity to shed more light on who Jim Hopper, The Man, actually is.

The flashbacks were good, but I have to say I preferred the scenes with Detective Rosario Delgado. That isn't to say it was only a sub-par story, I just really like the procedural aspect of mysteries/thrillers. Because we know that Jim and Rosario (though we weren't sure about her until about half way through the story) make it through okay, or at least alive, it was hard for me to stay focused through certain parts of the story - that knowledge takes away from the mystery for me. I caught myself skimming some of Jim's repetitive inner monologues.

Now what I want to know is, are we allowed to have another book with Rosario as our main character, after she leaves for D.C. to work for Special Agent Gallup? Because that would be a fun book (or three). I mean, she isn't technically a Stranger Things character, so... Probably just wishful thinking. But I'm sure I won't be the only one wanting some more Detective Delgado in our lives come Tuesday, when this hits the shelves.

All-in-all, this was a very fun whodunit that was easy to read in one sitting, and managed to give me all the feels about Hopper and El as a family unit. Now excuse my while I go raid the bookstore for some of Christopher's backlist, because I really enjoyed his writing style and story-telling.

"Chief Jim Hopper reveals long-awaited secrets to Eleven about his old life as a police detective in New York City, confronting his past before the events of the hit show Stranger Things.

Christmas, Hawkins, 1984. All Chief Jim Hopper wants is to enjoy a quiet first Christmas with Eleven, but his adopted daughter has other plans. Over Hopper’s protests, she pulls a cardboard box marked “New York” out of the basement—and the tough questions begin. Why did Hopper leave Hawkins all those years ago? What does “Vietnam” mean? And why has he never talked about New York?

Although he’d rather face a horde of demogorgons than talk about his own past, Hopper knows that he can’t deny the truth any longer. And so begins the story of the incident in New York—the last big case before everything changed....

Summer, New York City, 1977. Hopper is starting over after returning home from Vietnam. A young daughter, a caring wife, and a new beat as an NYPD detective make it easy to slip back into life as a civilian. But after shadowy federal agents suddenly show up and seize the files about a series of brutal, unsolved murders, Hopper takes matters into his own hands, risking everything to discover the truth.

Soon Hopper is undercover among New York’s notorious street gangs. But just as he’s about to crack the case, a blackout rolls across the boroughs, plunging Hopper into a darkness deeper than any he’s faced before."

If Hopper isn't your favorite character on Stranger Things I'm no longer talking to you.

I had the opportunity to read Adam Christopher's new book "Stranger Things - Darkness on the Edge of Town" prior to its publication. Although I am grateful to the publisher for allowing me this opportunity, my review is my own opinion and not influenced by the publisher or the author.

I should start by saying that this book has little to do with the Netflix television series Stranger Things. If you think you are going to get a story similar to those seen in Stranger Things, you will be very disappointed. Instead, this book looks at the early life of Hopper when he was a detective in New York City. The story starts out as Hopper and Eleven are celebrating Christmas alone in his cabin. Eleven wants to learn more about him and she brings Hopper a box she found under the floorboards containing information about a case of Hopper's when he lived in NYC. The bulk of the novel is basically a police procedural novel. If you like police procedurals, then this book is definitely going to be right up your alley. If, however, you were hoping for something that is more in the Science Fiction genre of the television series, then this would not be a book I would recommend.

Personally, I enjoyed the book, but then I enjoy a good police procedural. The book moves at a pretty clear clip with the occasional flashforwards to Hopper and Elven talking in the cabin in between major pieces of action in the flashback police procedural. In fact, you could probably cut out the Hopper and Eleven interactions and the story wouldn't be altered too much.

It's Christmas 1984 in Hawkins, and all Chief Jim Hopper wants to do is have an easy quiet holiday with his new adopted daughter, Eleven, but she has other plans. After unearthing a box marked "New York" from the basement, Eleven starts asking questions about Hopper's past. Why did he leave Hawkins? And why has he never mentioned New York before? Hopper would rather face off against the Demogorgon again than open up about his past, but Eleven won't budge. Thus begins his tale of being a NYPD homicide detective in the summer of 1977.

After returning home from two tours in Vietnam, Jim Hopper is looking to start over with his wife and young daughter. He takes a job as a detective in New York, so the family packs up and leaves Indiana in hopes of starting fresh in the Big Apple. Soon, Hopper and his feisty partner Delgado are assigned a series of unsolved brutal killings that seem almost ritualistic. Their investigations are halted once a group of shadowy federal agents swoop in and seize all their files. Hopper, not one to let anyone take away his things, decides to take matters into his own hands by going undercover into one of New York's most dangerous gangs. Just as he seems to be closing in on the truth, a blackout hits and Hopper and the boroughs are plunged into a darkness the likes of which have never been seen before.

Jim Hopper is one of my favorite characters on Stranger Things, so I was immediately drawn to this story. Anything about his background and life before he became the grizzly grump we all know and love is right up my alley. It was so interesting reading about his life outside of Hawkins, and I would love it if the show touched upon it as well. What I loved most though were the little snippets in between the story of Hopper and Eleven. I absolutely love these two together. Their dynamic works so well, and you can really feel the fatherly love Hopper has for her. This was such a fast paced, action packed glimpse into Hopper's backstory and a must read for any fan of the show.

Chief Jim Hopper reveals long-awaited secrets to Eleven about his old life as a police detective in New York City, confronting his past before the events of the hit show Stranger Things.

Summer, New York City, 1977. Hopper is starting over after returning home from Vietnam. A young daughter, a caring wife, and a new beat as an NYPD detective make it easy to slip back into life as a civilian. But after shadowy federal agents suddenly show up and seize the files about a series of brutal, unsolved murders, Hopper takes matters into his own hands, risking everything to discover the truth.
Soon Hopper is undercover among New York’s notorious street gangs. But just as he’s about to crack the case, a blackout rolls across the boroughs, plunging Hopper into a darkness deeper than any he’s faced before.

I'm a huge fan of the Netflix series, Stranger Things, so I was super excited to be approved to read this. I loved that this book focused on Hopper, we get to see more of what happened in his past. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Stranger Things!

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of #StrangerThingsDarknessOnTheEdgeOfTown
Pub Date: 28 May 2019

I'm a huge fan of the Netflix show Stranger Things.  I adore the characters, the small town mystery, and the creep factor.  The show relies on the nostalgia viewers have for pop culture and fond memories of their own childhood to make this a binge-worthy show.

I'm thrilled to see that Del Rey is beginning to release official Stranger Things novels that give fans of the show some character back stories!

Darkness on the Edge of Town begins at Christmas in 1984.  Police Chief Jim Hopper is enjoying a quiet evening with his adopted daughter, El (Jane).  El is growing restless in the cabin because her friends are out of town visiting their relatives for the holiday.  Out of boredom she looks through boxes in the basement and finds two she's curious about; one is marked "Vietnam", the other "New York".
Hopper isn't ready to discuss Vietnam but he knows El won't let him off easy so he agrees to tell her about the last big case he worked as a detective for the NYPD.  With a pot of coffee brewing, he sits down to share a piece of his past.

The summer of 1977 has NYC residents on edge with the serial killer known as Son of Sam still loose on the streets.
Jim Hopper has a fresh start in New York after returning from Vietnam. Hopper has slipped back into civilian life by climbing the ranks in the NYPD to become a detective and enjoys a quiet life with his wife and young daughter.  He's recently been assigned a new partner, Rosario Delgado, and already they're working an alarming case.
A third body has been found and it appears that the city has a second serial killer at large. The brutal murders appear ritualistic and cards with bizarre lines are found at each scene.
When a federal agent shows up to take over the case, Hopper and Delgado aren't ready to stop their own investigation.  

As Hopper pieces together the truth, he's forced to go undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang known as the Vipers and discover their involvement with the three murders.
What Hopper discovers is a dangerous man known as Saint John who returned from Vietnam with a dark message.
When a blackout plunges the boroughs into chaos, Hopper must escape the Vipers and the mobs in the streets to make sure his family is safe and stop Saint John from fulfilling his prophecy.

Darkness on the Edge of Town is an interesting glimpse into Hopper's past.  Fans of the show know that he's no longer married and his daughter died but we don't have any insight into his life before the events of Stranger Things.  While this book doesn't address his family tragedies, it does offer a look at his devotion to his family and explain why he chose to go into law enforcement (without going into detail of his two tours of Vietnam).

If you're looking for the whole cast, this isn't the book to read.  The entire book focuses on Hopper's undercover investigation in 1977 with only brief returns to the present timeline of Stranger Things (1984) for Hopper and El to discuss the story he's telling her.

Overall, this is an entertaining story that feels true to the character of Jim Hopper and is a fun addition to the Stranger Things franchise.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.  Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town is scheduled for release on May 28, 2019.