Danielle Steel is not as good as I remember her being years ago. Is it me or is it her?

Zoe Morgan’s childhood was marked by her younger sister’s illness. As a young woman driven by these painful memories, Zoe sets the bar high for herself. So when she falls in love and has her own child, she is determined to be a perfect mother.

I finished this book pretty quickly because I was interested in how Zoe’s story would play out. There was something intriguing and gripping about her story. However, I found it didn’t have a lot of depth or emotion. Another turn off was Steel’s repetition of the same details over and over again. I got it the first time! All strings are pulled and all doors closed by the end of this story, which was its saving grace.

While Steel’s writing has more than likely changed over the years, so have my reading tastes and opinions. This isn’t a bad book, it simply didn’t appeal to me, but it most certainly could appeal to you.

I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my thoughts. All opinions are mine.

As I've mentioned before, Danielle Steel's books are one of my guilty pleasures. Those are usually the fluff books that I read when I don't want to have to think too hard about what I'm reading; like background noise- but with books. So, despite the name and the ominous looking cover, I expected more of the same out of this novel. Hoooo boy was I ever wrong. This one made me stop and check a few times to make sure I was actually reading one of DS's books.

The story starts out with two sisters, one of which is diagnosed with a severe form of cancer. She dies young. The remaining sister, our main character, Zoe, essentially learns to take care of herself because her parents are too busy recovering from losing their child to worry about the one they have left. She grows up, and eventually has a child of her own, Jaime.

Jaime is a problem child from the beginning. She won't nurse, she has acid reflux, colic, all normal things for a baby, but terrifying for someone who had a sister die at a young age. As she gets older, Jaime starts to have more and more "accidents" including broken bones, animal bites, and almost drowning. We begin to wonder if there is something more sinister than just a clumsy child going on.

Honestly, I sort of called it after the broken arm, mainly because I just finished watching/reading/researching everything I could about the Gypsy Rose Blanchard (I refuse to put an E at the end of that because that's NOT how my maiden name is spelled or pronounced) case, and I knew where it was going, but it didn't make the book any less terrifying. As a mother who gave birth to a premature child, I prayed for weeks on end that my baby would learn to breathe on her own and be okay, I cannot imagine intentionally putting her in harm's way. I felt so bad for the dad, because as much as his baby loved her mom, he knew that getting her away was the best thing for her.

All in all, this was not a typical HEA Danielle Steel sort of read, but I enjoyed it. It reminded me of why I fell in love with her books in the first place. It was an emotional read, for sure, but one that will stick with me for a while.

The Dark Side: A Novel by Danielle Steel

Random House Pub
August 27, 2019
Fiction, digital book
288 pages
Rating: 4/5

I received a digital copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.

It has been awhile since I have had the pleasure of reading a novel by this talented author.

Interesting story which is narrated in the third person. An immediate theme seemed apparent initially but then had me wondering only to discover my instincts were correct. Coincidentally, this is not true for the protagonist of the novel which makes it ironic. The story unfolds gradually with hints of “something is wrong here” which overshadows the gravity of the theme.

Zoe Morgan grew up in the shadow of sister Rose who required extensive medical care to treat her leukemia. Life had been extremely difficult with Zoe left in the care of her father so her mother could attend to Rose. The illness and eventual death of Rose has long lasting consequences from which the family never recovers. When Zoe’s parents divorce, she lives with her despondent mother who does little to provide support or closure regarding the loss of Rose.

Zoe and Austin Morgan seem to live the idyllic life. Zoe wrangled with finding a career which would satisfy her. She eventually dropped out of medical school and found her passion working for a nonprofit shelter helping abused children. Austin works as an attorney who often does pro bono work for the shelter.

When Zoe becomes pregnant, her anxiety of becoming a mother escalate. She overcompensates by reading and researching all sorts of information. Unfortunately, she formulates a rigid and unconventional philosophy of child rearing. Zoe is unable to tolerate anyone who doesn’t support her unreasonable demands. Many excuse her peccadilloes as the excessive worries of a new mother who still mourns the loss of her sister as a child.

The couple become well-known to their pediatrician, Cathy, who never seems to mind alleviating the many concerns Zoe always seem to have regarding Jaime. It seems that since birth the child has required many trips to the emergency room which only heightened Zoe’s distress. When Zoe decides to return to work after a lengthy maternity leave, it seems finding a nanny who will meet Zoe’s inflexible expectations proves challenging.

Eventually, the family seems to settle into a routine which is often disrupted with sudden emergencies to attend to Jaime. Although the frequency of medical attention, much suspicion is cast aside for the overly protective loving mother. Some of the tragedies, such as Jaime falling down the stairs and breaking her arm, could’ve been prevented if not for Zoe’s unconventional theories of “respecting the child” to learn independently.

Austin seeks advice from his mother, a retired therapist, regarding Zoe’s obdurate convictions. He grapples with wanting to support his wife and protect his daughter. A catastrophic event during their vacation in Florida provides Austin with the clarity he needs to seek assistance to save Jaime.

Initially, I had become unimpressed with the culminating events until I had time to contemplate the entire story. As I was frustrated with the series of events it occurred to me how frustrating it must be for the family and friends who have lived this nightmare. The denial and desire to overlook the obvious must be overwhelming since the truth is unbearable.

WOW, WOW, WOW! Thank you Net Galley and Random House for an early copy. Danielle Steel really did well stepping into a psychological thriller. This was a fast pace, gripping book. I wanted to race through it, NOT to finish BUT to find out what happens! I hope she starts writing another one like this right away.

I think this is my favorite book written by Danielle Steel! It is unlike her other books, the writing style is different, the flow is different, the subject matter is different. I am a sucker for psychological dramas, especially ones with children involved, and this one is at the top of my all time favorites. The characters are fantastic, the plot is incredibly intriguing and engrossing, and the writing flows easily and smoothly. I read this book in one day and loved every single page. I hope this is the new genre for Danielle Steel! I was growing bored of the usual and predictable novels - I am so happy that I didn’t give up on reading her novels!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital version of this book to review!

Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 5
Plot development: 4
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 5
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

This is darker than your average Danielle Steel but with the kind of writing style that she is known for. The plot was fantastic but the writing style was kind of an overview, a glazed over rendition and very surface. It’s been so long since I’ve read a Steel book that I had forgotten her style. The book kept me engaged but I’m not sure the darker plot works with the detached writing style. I wanted more emotion, more substance, and more feeling instead of the overview that I received. I quite enjoyed the story but it was missing a little oomph to take it to the next level. Thank you @randomhouse for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Chilling story of a wife and mother fighting the demons created after losing her sister at a very young age, losing her father to divorce, and losing her mother to depression. She wants to give her daughter the love and respect that she never got, but her daughter keeps getting hurt, and her husband is concerned...

The Dark Side is a change from what the reader expects from most Danielle Steel books. I do enjoy when Danielle Steel switches things up. The title fits this book perfectly. The book is filled with suspense. I found myself near tears several times while reading.

Thank goodness for this book. I read it on a long flight to San Francisco last week, and it made the trip so much more interesting. This story is now what I would have expected from Danielle Steel. There's not a love story to be found in this story--instead, we're treated to a psychological suspense book involving a shocking case of child abuse.

When Zoe's sister Rose dies of leukemia, her parents' marriage falls apart, and she finds herself feeling neglected and alone. Her sister's death leaves her with emotional scars that time can't erase. Even when Zoe marries Dan and has a daughter of her own, the past comes back to haunt her in ways I didn't see coming.

I don't want to give away the major twist that comes up in the middle of the book. Suffice it to say, the story takes a very dark turn that is atypical for Danielle Steel, but it pays off in spades. I couldn't put this book down even after the plane landed. I stayed in my seat even while everyone around me was getting off the plane just so I could read the last few pages of this novel. This is probably one of Steel's best books--and that's saying a lot. I highly recommend reading this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Dark Side, Danielle steels latest novel is a departure from her typical family dramas and romance novels. This psychological thriller will rock you to the very core. The story explores the dark side of motherhood and how trauma early in life can impact you, even years later.
The story line that includes childhood mortality and adult psychosis may be triggering for some, I found the story fascinating and hard to put down. 5 stars.

The Dark Side by Danielle Steel is a different type of story that I have become used to by this author. The Dark Side is exactly what the book is, a dark and somewhat depressing tale of an illness that threatens the life of a child. I will say that the Dark Side was excellently written by Steel, as she starts off with a heroine we sympathized with and was likable, and totally turns it around in the last third of the book, taking us by surprise. This was a suspense thriller all the way, but it was also a hard book to read.

Zoe Morgan is our heroine, and we meet her as a child, when she grieves over the loss of her younger sister to leukemia and watches her family fall apart after her death. Years later, Zoe becomes successful in her career of taking care of abused children. She meets and falls in love with Austin, our hero, and they get married. A short time later, Zoe gives birth to Jaime and is determined to be a great mom. Over time, Jaime is a very rambunctious child, and Zoe and Austin are happy. The only problem, is poor Jaime tends to have accidents, or sickness, making many visits to the hospital. It is Austin’s mom, who shows her concern that Jaimie’s constant ailments might be something different; she feels that perhaps Zoe is suffering from Munchausen. Austin will begin to research this, even if he does not want to face this possibility. He will confide in Jaime’s doctor, who happens to be a good friend to Zoe.

Just for those who may not know what Munchausen is: Munchausen relatively rare behavioral disorder that is a psychological, marked by attention-seeking behavior by a caregiver through those who are in their care. The deliberate actions of the mother or caretaker can often make the symptoms worse putting the child’s life in danger.

What follows is an intense, dark and tragic adventure to save Jaime, and prove that Zoe does indeed have this horrific illness. At this point, when investigators, Austin and the doctor delve deeper the suspicion is confirmed and the story becomes more twisted and chilling. To tell too much more would be spoilers, as this is a book that needs to be read in the fullest. The Dark Side was a shocking and different read for me, but also though depressing, it was very well written and informative.

Danielle Steel has done it again! Another great story that will draw you in and grab your attention from beginning to end. This was a subject that I did not know much about but was amazed at how someone could even do this to their own flesh and blood! This was a very different read from Danielle Steel but one that I really enjoyed!

Zoe has been dealt a bad hand and had a rough upbringing. With her younger sister Rose's battle with cancer taking pretty much all of her mom's time and most of her dad's towards the end, Zoe was put on the back burner and pretty much forgotten. After Rose passed away, their father begged their mother to get counseling with him but she would not hear of it. Things became tense in Brad and Beth's marriage and they eventually split up causing even more hard times for Zoe. While Zoe never really dealt with her emotions of loosing her sister, things began to build up for Zoe but no one could tell that she was haunted by ghosts from her past.

Zoe marries Anthony and they have a little girl named Jamie. Zoe and Anthony are good parents and are even looked on as model parents from the pediatrician that they take Jamie to. When things start happening to Jamie, no one things anything about it for awhile and then things start to seem sort of strange after numerous ER visits, broken bones and several sets of stitches for Jamie.

We learn about a crazy disorder that seems too crazy to even exist. I enjoyed learning a little more about this disorder/disease and the extent that some people go to to satisfy their own need for attention. Very well done by Danielle Steel. I know this one will draw you in just like it did me and you will be wondering how you read it so fast!

All opinions are my own and voluntary. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

I typically associate Danielle Steel with a mindless romance that I enjoy at the beach. When I requested this ARC, I didn’t read the description of the book (whoops) and just assumed that was what I would get. I couldn’t have been more wrong, but in the best possible way.

The Dark Side is more of a psychological suspense (if thats even a genre) than a romance.

The novel starts early on in Zoe’s life, as her family faces and loses her sister Rose’s cancer battle. After the devastating loss, Zoe’s family falls apart. Her mother distances her self from everyone, her father leaves, and neither of them prioritze a relationship with her. Flash forward twenty years and Zoe has raised herself, completed college, gotten a masters degree, and has a thriving career running a shelter for children. She’s happily married but when her daughter is born – things don’t go as planned. Slowly but surely Jaime starts to get hurt and sick more often than not, and Zoe’s husband Austin starts to get worried. Whats causing young Jamie to keep getting hurt? Why does it mainly happen when she’s around her mother?

I honestly cannot rave about The Dark Side enough. I am excitedly giving this book five out of five stars and have already pre-ordered it for my mother to read upon release.

The Dark Side has to be the best Danielle Steel work I have read in a long time. It was suspenseful, engaging, and easy to read. I flew through this, gripping to the edge of my seat hoping to figure out what exactly was happening, and what the end would hold.

*Important Note* I was given a digital Advanced Readers Copy of this book thanks to the author, NetGalley and Ballantine (Random House Publishing Group) and Delacorte Press. All opinions are my own. Cover art was obtained from NetGalley.

WOW! This book really grabs you and hooks you in!

I love that DS fills you in on the background of the characters instead of just a slight mention, as this plays an important part of the plot. As a young girl when Zoe's baby sister dies of Leukemia and the family unit crumbles from this devastating loss.. Zoe feels that she is completely alone and forgotten by her family.

When Zoe the perfectionest gets married to Austin they thought they had the perfect life when their daughter Jaime was born. But, Jaime had a castrophe or illness - one right after another, until Austin's mother became suspicious (Bravo). Was it just bad luck or was something dark and evil going on?

I loved this book because as a child (age 3) I lost the sight in one eye by an unattentive babysitter, which I am still paying the price today. But if this story helps save the life, or health of just one child then I would call DS a hero.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in advance.

Read it for yourself and buy copies for friends and family

It was a real eye opener (no pun intended)

I will also go over to Goodreads to post my review.

I was really torn about this one. On the one hand, I appreciated that the topic and tone were departures for Steel, and I always want to applaud breaking from your comfort zone. The MBP theme was absolutely fascinating and I felt stressed by reading this book (which I think shows I had a genuine connection to the characters, so I appreciate how they were developed). However, the writing seemed a bit stale here. There was so much telling and not enough showing, which made me feel like I was reading a detailed summary rather than an engaging story.

This started so emotional and then was slightly boring to follow in the middle with the third person writing that I find a little annoying to follow sometimes. But knowing this author as I do, I’m glad I stayed with it, because the ending was so charged and full of angst. The outcome was expected, yet powerful. What a way to make me understand a disease on a personal level when it captured me into the story. Great book!

💥💥💥💥💥WOW, what an awesome read. This is a psychologically twisted story, with an engrossing plot. It does end abruptly and it felt unfinished. You could not help but feel sorry for the child at the beginning of the book, the mental illness that is the focus is one I was unfamiliar with but was very interesting and scary. Add this to your TBR list.

Danielle Steel tells a gripping family story of death, lies, and heartbreak in The Dark. Zoe grew up in a picturesque family with loving parents and a younger baby sister she loved dearly. Her sister got sick with cancer and her world as she knew it completely changed for the worst. Zoe was left alone and no longer felt loved in her family. Zoe as an adult was over achiever all her life and married a man named Austin who she loves dearly. Austin and Zoe finally have a little girl of their own and couldn’t be happier. Zoe is anxious over everything and wants to be the perfect mother. She has the perfect career and so does Austin as an attorney for abused children. Jamie is the blessing they waited for. This book has so many twists and turns in it and is so dark. The characters have some serious complex issues that come from their past. It’s a great story that involves family, loves, and psychos.

Definitely a different kind of story telling for this author---and thoroughly enjoyed from the beginning to the end.
This title is a bit of a psychological suspense that will engage and keep the reader glued from page to page while exploring how the past has shaped the future for this particular mother. I could not put the book down--enjoyed every word and the writing. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this title prior to publication---I just loved it!!!