In The Dark Side, Danielle Steel looks at motherhood in a terrifying way. Zoe Morgan's sister Rose was diagnosed with cancer at four and died a painful death a few years later. Zoe's parents, especially her mother, dedicated themselves to Rose and neglected Zoe. After Rose's death, they divorced and Zoe was left with a mother who never recovered and was a shell of herself. As Zoe grows up, she becomes a successful young woman who runs a non-profit and is an advocate for disadvantaged children. Zoe meets the man of her dreams and they marry. It takes a while but they finally have a baby, a beautiful daughter. But from the moment they bring their daughter home, bad things happen to the baby. Are they just accidents or is Zoe's neglected past catching up on her? This was a different type of Danielle Steel book, but I really loved it. It is good to see that Steel hasn't lost her touch.

From the very first sentence this book creeped me out in the best possible way. It kept on getting creepier and creepier as I continued. A married couple are new parents. The mother is so careful to make sure nothing happens to her daughter like it happened to her sister when she was young. Her sister died from cancer and after she felt neglected. She vowed to never have her daughter feel this way. The problem is her baby is accident prone and always seems to have a medical issue. To find out the issues was definitely a ride!

It's been a while since I read a Danielle Steel book and I was excited to start this book. I was not disappointed. It was an excellent novel. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read this novel

This is not your typical Danielle Steel book, if it can be said that she has a typical. The Dark Side takes us on a trip through the story of a family wounded by the illness and death of a child. As is the case too often, the family unit does not survive the child's death. The surviving child shows no visible scars, but they are there. As she moves through life, she works hard to excel and reaches her goals while still hiding her pain. Her marriage and family seem perfect, maybe too perfect. The Dark Side is of course about the effects a childhood illness has on everyone around them. How the world will see and ultimately heal this family is a very good story. Danielle Steel may not write this type of "dark" tale everyday but she definitely is one of the best story tellers around.

A long time ago, I used to read a lot of Danielle Steele, and I remember enjoying it. I was excited to read The Dark Side since it sounded like it was going to be like the Danielle Steele books I read in the best, just darker. While I thought the general plot was fine, the writing reminded me of a textbook.

For example, when reading about Zoe's pregnancy with Jaime, instead of any kind of emotion in the writing, I thought I had accidentally picked up a copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting. It was as if Steele did a lot of research to write this book, but then just used the synopsis of each of those books within her own. (This wasn't the only occurrence, but I don't want to give away too much of the actual story.)

And speaking of the story, I don't know if it's my law background, my very short stint with the Public Guardian Child Protection Division, or my life as the mom of a child with lots of medical needs, but this book seemed very obvious in it's big secret, and there was no shock or surprise to me when I got to the end of this book. Perhaps if the big secret wasn't something I've heard of before -- and Steele wrote it as something her characters had never heard of, so maybe it's not actually common knowledge to Steele's readers -- I might have enjoyed it more and learned a thing or two. But as it was, I saw it coming from the beginning of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review. It did not influence my opinion.

The Dark Side is not your typical DS book in that it is a psychological suspense thriller. The book has many twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat quickly turning the pages. You can certainly count on it being well written and well researched , as the topic is a not so well known, nor widely written about behavioral psychiatric condition. This book had me deeply engaged in the storyline, and quickly turning the pages right through to the very end of the book. DS does an awesome job dealing with the legal and ethical decisions that professionals encounter throughout their professional careers. This is an important book, and one that should not be missed!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

Zoe Morgan’s childhood was marked by her younger sister’s tragic illness, watching as her parents dedicated themselves completely to her final days and then divorced. As a young woman driven by these painful memories, Zoe sets the bar high for herself, studying hard and pursuing a career in the nonprofit world, where her deep compassion for disadvantaged children finds a focus.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was another great book by Danielle Steele

As much as I love a good suspense filled novel I feel like this one really didn’t hit home. The beginning was great but I found myself not very interested in the characters or the story line however I do feel like there was much thought put into this novel and I still would recommend it.

This is not your typical Danielle Steel romance but instead more of a psychological thriller and one that I had a hard time putting down. The Dark Side is the story of Zoe Morgan and the things that happened in her past to shape her into the person that she is now. Zoe lost her sister at a young age which caused her to have a somewhat different childhood than the norm. Now she is a wife, mother, and a friend to those around her. She finally has the life that she has always wanted. This book is a real page-turner that I did not want to end. This book is well written, and the characters are very well developed. It gives you a window into a world that you may not have even considered. Thank you to Danielle Steel, NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

The Dark Side is a tale of psychological suspense by Danielle Steel. Steel is the author of many bestsellers but this novel is different from her standard fare.

Zoe Morgan has a difficult childhood because her younger sister, Rose, is diagnosed with leukemia and dies when Zoe is ten years old. Zoe’s mother spends all her time with the seriously ill Rose and then retreats into deep despondency after Rose’s death, leaving Zoe very isolated. Zoe’s father remarries and has two more children but isn’t involved in Zoe’s life. Zoe eventually attends medical school but withdraws to work at a nonprofit for abused children.

Austin Roberts is a well-known child advocacy attorney who takes pro bono cases for children and is member of the board of the nonprofit. Austin comes from a completely different family background. He’s from a close family and enjoys spending time with them. He loves his brothers, and their wives and children.

Zoe and Austin marry and conceive their daughter, Jaime, through in vitro fertilization. They’re both over the moon happy, but Zoe has some unusual parenting ideas. She’s totally against schedules for babies and insists she will nurse on demand for at least the first year. Also, she believes that children should be given the freedom to make choices about things that may be harmful to them. Austin is taken aback, but he’s a first-time parent as well so he goes along with Zoe’s plan.

From the beginning parenthood proves difficult. Zoe has problems breastfeeding. They overcome that issue but it’s only the beginning of a litany of issues for little Jaime. Austin’s mother comes to him with her concerns, and he is no longer able to ignore his own suspicions. He’s now faced with possibly one of the most difficult things a parent ever has to do. He’s looking directly into the dark side.

Though this novel has a different tone than the average Danielle Steel novel, it is still just as well-written. The actual subject matter is well camouflaged until the author is ready to reveal it. I was fully captivated. The characters are relatable and believable, but not all likable. I rate The Dark Side 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to all readers who enjoy fiction with a bit of suspense.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine 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.

It's been quite awhile since I've read a book by Danielle Steel, but The Dark Side is different than what I've seen in the past. The story starts a little slow. Incredibly sad, but slow, and I'll admit that I was confused about where this one was going. That said, once Zoe marries and has a child, I started to get it. From there things get a bit darker with each incident, and the tension slowly rises. The story is disturbing and at times downright chilling. It's also a thoroughly compelling read, and once it starts to really take shape, I had a hard time putting it down. Looking back on it, that earlier part of the book may have moved slowly, but it offers some insight into why Zoe acted the way she did. It doesn't excuse it by any means, but it does help with understanding what started Zoe's spiral. Steel's detached writing style may cause a lack of connection for some, but it worked for me. This one hits on a hard topic to understand and for me, it all came together to create a story I won't soon forget.

The Dark Side is darker than Danielle Steel’s other novels, but it still contains her unique and engaging writing style. The Dark Side is a fascinating story that quickly pulled me in and had me staying up late to finish it. The book is well-written with a good flow and steady pacing. I like that the story is written in the third person. Zoe Morgan is a developed character, though, not likeable. Her childhood shapes her whole life. Zoe becomes an overachiever determined to excel at everything she does and that includes motherhood. I like how the story gradually evolves as you move through the book. The Dark Side deals with a topic that is rarely addressed and is very hard to prove (I do not want to say too much and spoil it for you). It is an emotional story that will touch the heart of parents. The Dark Side is a psychological suspense that will linger in your mind long after you finish it.

A little darker than usual for Steel, but I loved it. Instantly pulled in by the question of whether a mother could really harm her own daughter, when each incident seems just a mishap. This suspenseful book will keep you interested through the very last page.

I really wanted to like this book more. I really felt for Zoe in the first chapter with everything she went through of losing her sister and basically raising herself being ignored by her parents. I even enjoyed her when we first see her as an adult and she eventually gets with her husband Austen. However, once she became a mother I quickly despised her. I was feeling terrible for Austen and Jaimie and kept silently yelling at him to just take his daughter and leave. Zoe went from strange theories and beliefs to basically a crazy person. I’m happy with how the story ended but it was predictable. The overall writing was decent but I felt like it shouldn’t have taken so long for the characters to realize what was going on and finally act upon it

This is Danielle Steele at her best. She likes to write books where kids are the victims.
Zoe’s family falls apart after her little sister passes away. She basically raises herself. She does well in school and doesn’t get into any trouble. For someone who doesn’t have parental guidance she foes really well.
She meets Austin and falls in love. They have a baby girl and it all seems like the perfect family from the outside looking in. But looks can be deceiving. For someone who lived without anyone showing love for her, Zoe seems perfect. But she has a lot of fears and a very serious problem lurks beneath it all.
I felt bad for Jamie, she seemed to be very accidental prone but it was always when she was with one person. Austin’s mother starts to suspect things from everything she’s heard.
Zoe and Austin are really good friends with Jamie’s pediatrician so it’s easy to run things by her. Jamie has so many accidents they know her and her parent by name.
I highly recommend this book. It’s very interesting.

I haven’t read a book by Danielle Steel for several years now. I think she meant this to be a suspenseful thriller but it doesn’t read that way due to her detached style of writing. Zoe, the main character, had a very detached childhood given an overwhelming medical condition and ultimate death of her younger sister. Her parents dealt with their grief in their own way, with a divorce and abandonment of love or care for Zoe. We then see her as the parent of a newborn who seems to struggle with nursing for several weeks before she is a frequent visitor to the ER. Right from the beginning I guessed the end of arc. result. The writing was matter of fact and surface level with not enough depth for this topic. I did enjoy the book as it is very different from her typical novels. It is a compulsive read. Written in the style of His Bright Light she would have knocked this one out of the park.
Many thanks to Danielle Steel for bringing this topic to peoples attention, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read and enjoy this arc.

The Dark Side is not the usual Danielle Steel book I'm used to but I still loved it. Zoe's life journey started out great until her sister got leukemia and passed away tearing the family apart. When she grew up she decided she was going to be the best mom and wife until her past hits her hard. This heartbreakingly beautiful, dark and twisted, well written story has intriguing characters and a storyline that pulled me in and had me on the edge of my seat wondering how Zoe's story would end.

It is very rare for me to not finish a book I have started, especially if the author is one I have read frequently. Normally, I go to one of Danielle Steel's books for light reading, engaging story lines and enjoyment. with the knowledge that the writing style is inferior to other authors I read. However, after reading 20% of The Dark Side, I made the decision to not continue reading as I was troubled by the story, by the main character and the fact that I was not enjoying my time reading. If a reader is looking for a typical Danielle Steel book, this is not it.

I thank NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of the Dark Side in exchange for an honest review.

This was a dark and depressing look at a horrible problem. It's impossible to understand people who behave the way Zoe did. The book wasn't really suspenseful to me because I guessed very early on what was happening. I felt sorry for Zoe as a child, but disliked her when she was older and of course that feeling didn't change as the book progressed.

A very different kind of book for Danielle Steel

A very different story line from Danielle Steel but a book that I could not put down, The story flowed very easily. It touches on a subject that is most likely much more common than we want to think. Zoe didn't have a good childhood with her younger sister dying but now as a wife/mother she wants to be that perfect mother until her past starts to haunt her.

This is a book that I could not put down, a psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages. I only wish there was an epilogue.